Fall Frolic

I took Colin to a Parents as Teachers Fall Frolic last night at a neighborhood park. It was a lot of fun for him. They had events for toddlers to preschoolers, so some of the stuff was a bit over his head--like the craft projects. If Scott had been there we might have tried more, but just trying to keep him seated on a picnic table is a full time job w/o helping him make everything. We did ice a cookie -i.e. he watched me ice a cookie. He then sat perfectly still at a picnic table (turned facing out), eating his cookie and watching the commotion. He was so cute--as were many of the kiddos. He raked leaves, scooped corn, sorted fall stuff, listened to sounds of fall things (like those nasty annoying seed pods, gum balls, acorns, etc) tasted apples, dug for apples in straw. The raking and digging were major favorites. Things he could have done but we didn't do was a wagon ride--line was too long, and various craft projects--fruit loop string necklace, playdough shapes, and a couple other things. He did get to play on the playground, but he doesn't climb up to the slides by himself yet, so it was hard for him to play since it was so crowded.

Colin LOVES the outdoors, and he generally throws a major fit when we have to come inside or leave a park. Here's a photo of him pining for outside right after we came inside.

Finally...pictures part 4

Watching the game
Enjoying his first ever hot dog (and probably last for a while)

This past Sunday enjoying the parade in Arnold. He LOVED the bands and the dogs in the parade. When the music played or drums beat he would stomp his feet. It was so cute. I couldn't get a picture of him from the front b/c I was watching him alone. He was so well behaved b/c he was able to move around as much as possible.

Finally...pictures part 3

Working on his lion.

Finally...pictures part 2

Playing with a ball and pal Dylan

One of the rare times he lets himself be held while you sit.

What a sweet face.

I swear balloons make him happy--despite this picture. It at least makes his head look smaller.

Finally...pictures

I said we pray, pray, pray, pray. I got to pray just to make each day. --MC Hammer
Check out those monster feet.

Go Mizzou!!! He made it through the whole first half.

Have you seen my belly?

Cute face.

Update

So, I spoke to the nurse on the phone, and she said she was stumped by my symptoms, but doesn't think I have the flu b/c of lack of fever. She said I could come in, but I could wait for my insurance card since I didn't seem like I have the flu. So I'm just going to see how it goes. If I still feel badly next weekend, I'll go see the doctor.

Swine flu anyone

So I'm becoming paranoid I might have this. I have no respiratory symptoms, but I woke up Sat with excrutiatingly sore calves--continued through yesterday. Then Monday I woke up w/incredibly soar arms--biceps and forearms and shoulders--neck too. I feel just weird. I haven't worked out, so I shouldn't be sore. I have a low fever--99.6, and just tons of muscle fatigue and soreness. Not sure what I should do since I'm here alone w/Colin. Should I stay in denial b/c I'm waiting on an insurance card for gap coverage or head to the doctor. What to do?

Still no pictures and a 14 month update.

I need to get out my video camera and camera and set them out to catch some shots. He has been up to lots of tomfoolery. He loves Jillian Michaels' (Biggest Loser chick) workout video. He hears the music or her voice and he starts dancing. He runs to the tv-waves, smiles, talks to her, and of course dances. I can hardly peel him away from it.

When I was making his bedtime bottle (the only bottle he gets a day), and he followed me and said yea, yeah, yea, and sort of jumped/jiggled up and down---undescribable really. He loves his night-time bottle, and walks around drinking it, and trying to make a general mess.

He learned to pull a small wagon this past weekend, which was really funny and cute.

He still doesn't really talk. He knows lots of words, but seems to have minimal interest in vocalizing them. You can give him direction, and he usually knows what you're saying. Whether he chooses to comply is another thing entirely.

On another note--Bloomington seems nice, and we found an apartment for Scott. So sad that he's leaving in 3 days. I really hope our house sells, but we still have had NO ONE come look. So frustrating!!!

In a picture drought

Not sure why--maybe keeping everything picked up (camera included)--but we haven't taken many pictures over the last month. It could also be that Colin has spent more time fussing than being fun? I don't know if he's picking up on our stress--impending move and all--but he's not been the happy-go-lucky kid of late. My diagnosis--lack of sleep and teeth. I think he's been waging war against me the last couple of weeks refusing to sleep. I've re-evaluated my strategy (with the help of mommy friends) and am determined he return to the wonderful napper of old. I forced him to stay in bed this afternoon for 2 hours. It took him over an hour to fall asleep, but he finally did. I had only been making him stay in for an hour, evidently a mistake that was confirmed by today's experiment.

So what is the takeaway? Take more pictures and make Colin feel more rested. Scott and I will be checking out Bloomington and Peoria in a couple of days, so I'll let you know how it goes.

It's going to be a long day

You know it's going to be a long day when screams wake you at 5:30 in the morning. He did go back to "sleep" for about 75 min before the screaming began again. I think I dozed in between. I tried to bring him in my bed at 6:45 to play and cuddle. NO luck! He hates to lay in a big person bed--I think he thought I was still trying to get him to sleep. He helped Scott pick out his shoes for work, and then was angry and ready for breakfast on the double. He throws a fit until he get his toast, which the toast gives me time to cook his egg.

He seems happy post breakfast, but we'll see how the day unfolds.

It's Official

Our house is on the market. We even have a big sign in the yard. It looks so weird. We are listed on the website as well, but the pictures aren't up yet. I hope it goes fast.