Jaida's Birthday Party

Colin just loves Jaida! We got to celebrate her 3rd birthday (a little early) with her today. She had her party at Chuck E. Cheese...one of Colin's favorite places. He had a blast! Brennan is a little yound ot really enjoy the place, but he was there too! Happy birthday Jaida!

Days 1-3 of Reading

Like I stated in an earlier post, I've just started teaching Colin to read using a method in a book that I purchased. The first 2 days were gravy! Today, the lesson was a little longer than the first 2, and Colin got stuck on 1 particular section. We didn't make it through all of today's lesson yet...maybe half way. Right before dinner, we'll try to bang out the 2nd half.

Colin is doing great! He is still excited each day to learn. It's only been 3 days and he can already identify and make the 'a', 's' & 'm' sounds! Yay Colin!

Teaching Colin to Read

I've been wanting Colin to learn to read for a while now. I was a very early reader, and he shows the same potential and eagerness as I did (so states my mother). He's always reading books...either making up stories based on the pictures, or memorizing them from when we read them to him. We read to him ALL THE TIME. He just seems to ready to learn! I've ordered (and received) 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'. It came recommended by a friend who had some friends use the system. The lessons only take about 12-15 minutes per day, with a maximum of 20 minutes if there is a lot of redirecting. I've read through the beginning of the book where they explain why and how the system works. It seems like it really will work! I plan to do 1 lesson per day 5 days a week. We will see how that goes! I plan to start tomorrow!

15 Months Old

My baby Brennan is 15 months old today! I can't believe how the time has flown! He's turning into such a big boy! Not quite walking yet, but almost there! I'm taking him for his 15 month portraits next week, so I'll post his official pictures when I get them back! His 15 month well baby check is next Monday, and I'll post his stats then!

15 Month Comparison

Colin - TOP Brennan - BOTTOM

I think they look very different now. Both super cute, just in their own way!

Double Pink Eye

Poor Colin was complaining yesterday about his Left eye 'getting bigger'. It did look a little puffy, but I just thought that he was rubbing it. I also noticed a little yellowish gunk coming out of it, but didn't think too much of it. He then slept over my mom's house last night, and when he woke up this morning both eyes were puffy and had green gunk coming out. GROSS! I just got back from taking him to his pediatrician's office, and he has conjunctivitis in both eyes. He has some Vigamox drops to put in, and hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.

Project 365: Week 1: January 1 - January 7

Week 1 summary. All of the pictures and the explanations can be found on my smugmug.

New Year, New Template

Ok, so it's definitely time for a new look. I've got this one up now, but it still needs some tweaking...like, why is my title off center? All problems for Miguel ;-) to fix when he has time. I'll learn this stuff one day. Yeah, one day. Until then, you are stuck with this. Ha!

My Cutie Pie!

I took a few pictures of Brennan today that I thought were just darling...so, I had to share. I think I have a little heartbreaker in the making...The rest are on my smugmug.

Happy New Year

A fresh start to a new year. What will this year bring? I'm not one for resolutions, but there are still some goals/things I want to do this year...

• Well, if I find some free time, I'd like to change up my blog layout a bit. This one's getting old...and, it's for the summer.
• I'd like to do more reading. I LOVE to read. I always have...I just don't have the time to do it as often I would like.
• I want to teach Colin to read. I want him reading by the time he turns 4. He's a smart boy, and loves books, so I think he will be open to learning!
• I want to be healthier. I want to eat healthier and to exercise more. Shedding a few pounds couldn't hurt either ;-)
• I want to save up some money. You never know with this economy...and I think it's important to have a decent amount in savings. This one is important to Miguel too, and we've been working on it recently.
  

Those are just a few of the many things on my metal 'to-do' list.

BTW - I did great last night! I got tired around 3:00 am and got my second wind around 4:30 am. I think that I could totally switch to full nights!

Project 365

I've decided to participate in Project 365. Every year I say I'm going to do it, and then I don't. This year I AM! Casey, Emily, & Bonnie are also doing it. I don't think that I'm going to post every day on my blog, but I will post everyday on my smugmug with a description of the picture and then I'll post a weekly summary of that weeks photos on my blog.

Brennan & Tonight

Brennan has been sick for 2 days now. We took him to the doctor yesterday b/c I couldn't keep his fever down. He'd gotten up to 105.7. That scares even me just a little. He was negative for the flu (yay!), but we don't know what it is just yet. His pediatrician thinks that it's just a virus, but he didn't want to draw blood just yet. I trust his doctor, and know that he has Brennan's best interest in mind, so I didn't question his course of action. Hopefully he'll get to feeling better soon.

On another note, tonight is New Year's Eve. This is my first time to work New Year's Eve. This will also be the first time in over 1 1/2 years that I'll be working a 12 hour shift...it will also be my first full night shift ever. I'm excited to see what the night will bring, but also to see how I do!

Everyone, be safe in your evening...b/c I don't want to have to take care of you tonight!

More Steps

Brennan is now up to 4 steps at a time before he falls. He thinks it's a game that he's playing with us! It is soooo adorable to watch him!

First Steps

What a joyous day! When things started settling down, some of us were sitting on the floor playing with the kids, and Brennan took his first steps! It was only 2 steps, but that's all he's ever done! Whoo-hoo! Maybe he'll be walking soon!

Merry Christmas

I had such a wonderful Christmas this year! The tradition changed a little bit this year...
It started off with my mom coming over in the morning to open presents with us. Colin and Brennan had huge piles of gifts, and thoroughly enjoyed opening all of them!
I hosted Christmas dinner at our house for the first time. Mom wasn't feeling up to it this year, since she just got out of the hospital a few weeks ago. I had the whole family over, and some friends. We had LOTS of food, lots of game playing and lots of time just enjoying the company of family. Our house is a little small to accommodate our large (and ever growing family), but we made do, and I felt so blessed by it! Since I was bust in the kitchen most of the day, I didn't get very many pictures of the family time :-(.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always celebrated at Frances' (my MIL) house. We eat a traditional dinner then open presents then eat dessert. Brennan didn't stay awake this year, but Colin did...and he enjoyed every minute of opening his presents!
The boys wore their matching Christmas pajamas...a tradition, we we made sure to take the 'mess' picture after everyone opened their presents.
The rest of the photos are on my smugmug.
I'm super excited b/c tomorrow I'm hosting Christmas dinner at our house for the very first time!

A Festivus For the Rest of Us!

Jonny & Whitney hosted their 3rd annual Festivus celebration at their house. This years theme was Luau. It was so much fun! The food was delicious...kabobs, coconut shrimp (vegetarian...and SOOOOO Good!), fried rice, lots of pineapple & coconut things, punch etc. We had a blast, and of course the Festivus episode of Seinfeld was playing!

Christmas Card

Here is this year's Christmas card!

Brennan Stood Up!

Well, my boys are slow walkers. It's a fact. Brennan turned 14 months old yesterday, and isn't walking yet. He's been cruising for a while. He's gotten good at it. This afternoon, I watched him try and try and try and try and try to stand up from sitting on the floor. I didn't think he would do it...but he just kept working at it. I had the camera on my phone ready to snap just in case...and he did it! I'm so proud of him! He stood up, looked around, watched tv and then sat back down. I was able to snap a picture the second time that he did it b/c I wasn't fast enough the first time!

Dentist Visit

Colin and Brennan had dentist appointments today. It was Colin's 2nd appointment and Brennan's 1st.
Colin - He did much better than he did on his first visit. He picked out a black toothbrush with a giraffe on it. The hygienist cleaned his teeth, then brushed and flossed them. There was minimal crying...and it was b/c Colin didn't want to lay back; he wanted to sit up. The took x-rays this time, as he wouldn't calm down enough last time to do it. He has all of his baby teeth and you could see his adult teeth under the gums. It was kind of freaky.

Brennan - He did AWESOME! Colin picked out a blue toothbrush for him. The hygienist cleaned, brushed and flossed Brennan's teeth as well. He barely cried at all! They didn't do any x-rays this time. They did mention that Brennan has a very large frenulum (the tissue that connects the top lip to the gums) and that it connects much lower than usual. So, if he bumps his mouth, it will probably bleed a lot. It's also causing a gap between his 2 front teeth. The dentist said that it usually corrects itself in between baby teeth and adult teeth, but if not, then he could have a frenectomy (basically snipping it and reattaching it a little higher). That's not anything that we have to worry about for a few years though.

Their next appointment is in 6 months!