Easter 2011

Busy doesn’t even begin to describe how our Easter weekend was. Gosh. I love the holiday, but sometimes I wish it was easier.

We had plans to visit as much family as we could that was south of Conway. This would also be Collin’s first over night road trip. Wow. Stressful for Mommy! I started earlier in the week shopping for the perfect little outfit for little man. I found the cutest overalls at The Children’s Place. So, Collin was set. Eric and I both have nice clothes, but something about Easter Sunday that makes you want to wear a nice new outfit! So, for Eric, I went to a couple of places and took pictures of shirts I liked. Then Eric picked out the one he liked. Easy enough. Then it dawned on me that I didn’t have anything to wear. Why is it that when you have kids, suddenly what they are wearing is way more important than you!? I guess it only matters that they look cute!

I finally was able to go look for me something to wear one night after work. I found a cute purple dress. Exactly what I wanted! Yay!

We started Saturday. Eric left for Benton earlier that Collin and I did. He wanted to spend some quality time with his mom. I packed up everything we would need for a one night stay with my Mema. It was ridiculous. I think I could have filled a U-Haul. We were finally off a couple of hours later. We got to Eric’s dads and step moms house. It was so good to see them! I hadn’t got to see them in several weeks! After visiting for a little bit, Eric left his truck there, and we all drove down to Arkadelphia. My whole family was already there. We had a great night all together eating and visiting.

The next morning we were all getting ready to go to my Mema’s church when my dad realized he forgot his pants for church! So, my mom stayed back with him and the rest of us were off to church. Mema was so cute. She had my sister and Kyndall, Collin, Eric, and me. She introduced us to everyone she could.

After church we had a great lunch, and an Easter egg hunt! I made Collin’s Easter basket because I couldn’t find one that I liked. The Easter bunny was able to find him and Kyndall at Mema’s house.

On our way back to Conway we stopped once again at Eric’s dad’s house to get his truck. To our surprise, Eric’s Aunts and cousin were there too! Collin LOVED his Aunt Sandy.

It was a crazy busy weekend. We were on the go all weekend. It was nice to be around all of our family. Collin was worn out! I can’t wait for the day when we get to share the meaning of Easter with Collin. I pray every single day that Collin will be open and receptive to our precious Lord Jesus.

4 Months! (4/7/11)

Your stats:

*weight: 12 lbs 3 ounces
*length: 24 inches long
*head: 14 3/4 inch

 
Collin Blake,

You were actually 4 months old earlier this month, I wrote this a few weeks ago, but didn't post it. This has been a rough month for Mommy. I went back to work, started leaving you every day with a sitter, am away from you for 9+ hours a day, and have been battling some severe anxiety and depression.

We did take your 4 month pictures. You weren’t as cooperative this month as you have been in the past. It might have been because I took them after your doctor check up! Mommy made a mental note not to try to have a photo shoot after you get shots!

Your 4 month appointment was very eventful. If your Daddy hadn’t been there with me, I probably would have lost it. Your Daddy is such a great Daddy. He was there rubbing my back after you were given your shots. That hurts me probably just as much as it does you.

We were actually given some news during the appointment that upset Mommy. I’m sure is very common, but Mommy took it pretty hard.

- You favor your right side. So as a result, the right side of your head is “significantly flat”. So, we are propping you on your left side to try to fix the problem.

- You were supposed to be getting vitamin D drops. Mommy was not told this, so I didn’t know. You are now getting them put into a bottle every single day. We tried to put them directly into your mouth, but despite how wonderful they smell, they taste AWFUL! I don’t blame you for gagging!

- Your car seat was in the wrong spot in the car. Your daddy and LeLe worked so hard to get that car seat base into Mommy’s car. Then when we were taking you home from the hospital the nurse moved it to behind the drivers seat. The worst spot you could have been. So, we are now riding with you in the middle.

- Your “private area” had some problems as well, but I won’t display your business for everyone to read. I am happy to report this is much better now!

- Mommy was also upset because you haven’t met some of your milestones yet. I know it’s just because you were born early, but after getting all of the news above, I just couldn’t take much more. I had to answer “no” to a couple of milestones that most 4 month olds have already done.

Mommy is very hard on herself. She is working really hard on this. I just want to be the best mommy I can be for you. I try to be perfect, when perfect just doesn’t exist.

*You are still wearing size 1 diapers. You fit comfortably in 0-3 month clothes.

*You are still only eating breast milk. Mommy pumps at work. You take bottles during the day and I nurse you at night.

*You are smiling like crazy. You are such a happy baby. You are happiest right when you wake up. Mommy is not a morning person, but you have changed that! I can’t help but smile when you do.

*We are going to hold off on the rice cereal for a while.

*You coo, squeal, and laugh all the time now...especially when you are on your play mat or laying on mommy and daddy’s bed.

*You aren’t a huge fan of your paci. You like it sometimes, and other times you don’t.

*You LOVE your fist. Sometimes you try so hard to get both of them in your mouth at the same time.

*You go to bed every night between 8 and 8:30. You usually sleep until around 3:00. I feed you and you go right back to sleep until 6 when we get up for the day.

*You LOVE bath time. You actually cry when I take you out. Mommy used to put your bathtub on top of the counter in the bathroom, but you kick so much that water was going all over the mirror. So now we put your bathtub down inside the big bathtub.



**You are the sweetest baby boy ever. People still tell us all the time how cute you are. I love you Collin Blake. I couldn’t be more happy that you are in my life.

Mikey's Salon

When my sister and I were little we hated getting our hair washed. We had (and still do) extremely thick wavy/curly hair. Add that to a tender scalp and you can see the problem. We would cry and beg to wash our hair "tomorrow night" knowing when tomorrow night came we would beg for another night.

My parents had it rough with two girls with this crazy hair. So they got creative. My mom would help us with bath time and dad to take care of our hair. I think he liked the challenge!! My dad really enjoyed washing our hair. One at a time, he would lay us on the kitchen counter with our heads over the sink. He even rolled up a towel to put under our neck. He turned into "Mikey" our hair professional. He even had this voice he would use. I really wish I could remember it. He claims to not remember it either.

Anyway, he would wash our hair and talk to us about our day. Making us totally forget our hatred for hair wash night. He used the sprayer to get all the shampoo out. This was my favorite part!

Every time I give Collin a bath I think back to all those times my dad picked me up and put me on the counter and turned into his character. All just to make something I hated more enjoyable. I hope and pray for as much creativity and patience as my dad has when Collin has things he hates that have to be done!

For the record: Collin loves bath time very much! He actually cries when I take him out! I hope he continues with that love!

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Kroger without a budget...

Dangerous? Maybe. Irresponsible? Probably. Needed? YES!

I admit, sometimes when I say "we have no food in our house" that should translate into "we don't have food that is my first choice". But this time when I say it- I mean it!

You see, today I got my first paycheck after being back from maternity leave. Its April 8th. The last time I got a paycheck?? DECEMBER. Geez that's a long time.
I feel like I should clarify that we by NO means went hungry or skipped meals. We just had to be smart about our grocery shopping. We had to get creative with meal time. Buy things that were on sale. Fix meals and eat leftovers. Then eat leftovers again. Eric isn't a leftover fan. Who can blame him?

So- what am I most excited about spending my first paycheck on?? Food at Kroger!! I am going to buy us GROCERIES! I can't wait to get things my family enjoys but doesn't necessarily need! Chocolate chip cookies anyone? Or canned fruit cocktail? Or how about those TGIFridays loaded baked potatoes? Yes, please. One trip to Kroger like this isn't going to break the bank! I really just don't want to have to add while putting things in the buggy. (Within reason)

Eric, I promise to not go overboard and buy the whole store. I am going to buy you a bag of beef jerky. It is one of your favorite things and you haven't had it in a while. You deserve it. You have worked so hard lately.

Yay for Kroger in the morning. I'm so excited. Feel free to make fun of me now.

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Dear Collin

Dear Collin,

Here in our house we sleep when it is night time. Waking up every 2.5-3 hours does not qualify as sleeping. Don't worry, Mommy isn't mad at you, I'm just very sleepy. I will be taking a nap with you today! Was that your plan all along? I would have gladly taken a nap with you without being up all night.
One last thing. Smiling at me every time I try to explain this to you is a great trick! Did Daddy teach you that? You are so stinkin' cute, it makes me forget the lack of sleep.
So, Collin bear, it is 6:24 on Saturday morning. We are going back to sleep. We will talk about how we sleep in on Saturdays later.
I love you very much.
Mommy

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with mommy

Going to work with mommy made Collin one tired little boy.

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THE Day

Friday was the day. The day that I dreaded more than any other day in my whole life. Back to work after having my little cutie. Gosh, it was a sad day. I woke up extra early Friday morning just to have some extra time with Collin. He was appreciative. Okay, so maybe he just slept, but he slept for a while next to momma, so I’d like to think he was appreciative.

We left the house 7 minutes later than I was supposed to. I had it all planned out down to the minute, and failed. I still made it to work on time, so I guess those 7 minutes didn’t hurt.

We got out to the sitters house. Collin fell asleep on the way. He was snoring when we got there. So sweet. I got him inside, and all of his 4 huge bags full of every single possible thing he could need. He was only there for 7 hours, I had enough stuff for him to stay 7 days.

I said my goodbyes and handed him over. I am blessed to have found such a wonderful lady to keep our sweet boy. She is amazing. I made it all the way down her driveway before I lost it. I called Eric, because that’s what I do when I’m upset. I talk to my husband or my mom. Eric answered the phone, didn’t even say “hello”. He said “Are you okay?” Then I REALLY lost it. After talking to my husband for a little bit, I called my mom. She talked to me the whole way to work. She talked, I cried. Not the cute cry either, that ugly cry. I cried the entire way.

I finally got to work and went inside, red faced and all. After I had been there for a little bit, I went and checked my phone to see if I had a message about Collin. I didn’t have a message, I didn’t have ANY messages. My phone wouldn’t work!!! Apparently, I had cried too much because it wouldn’t do anything! It had gotten wet, and there was no saving it. I tried EVERYTHING.

Then the panic set in. I had no way to check on Collin. Tina had no way to get in touch with me if something was wrong. I didn’t even know her phone number! It was in my phone- that I couldn’t even turn on! STRESSED! Finally I realized that I could get on the work computer and send her a message on Facebook. Yes, I used the work computer to get on Facebook. It was an emergency! HA!

Because it was the Friday before Spring Break, my kids had early dismissal. The day went by really quickly. Praise the Lord. My last kid left at 2:00, and I couldn’t get out of there quick enough. I went to Verizon to get a new phone. Thanks tears, you cost me a lot of money!

I went and picked up my little guy. He was fine. Just like I knew he would be. I made it through one day. One day at a time. I can do this… maybe.