Full of Thanks

We really have so much to be thankful for.  Thanksgiving proved that once again this year.  We were surrounded with amazing family all weekend - ate delicious food and got to visit with friends and family while we were in Dothan.  I have a healthy husband and child that I couldn't be more thankful for!  Plus we have the best parents anyone could ask for.  God's blessing are in abundance and I am really in awe of who He is.  He is a mighty God full of grace, forgiveness and love in a way that I can not even fully understand.  I am thankful that He sent His only Son to be born and save us from ourselves! 

  

The weather couldn't have been more drastic....Hot on Wednesday, Thursday and part of Friday and cold on Saturday and Sunday.  I am so thankful for this colder weather, if you haven't noticed by now I love cold weather and it has been way too warm for me these past few weeks.  I just hope that the cold weather is here to stay through the rest of this winter. 

See what I mean about being HOT...Collier played in the water and tried to spray every one in sight.  He had a blast playing in the water.

These two cousins played a little more 'together' this weekend.  Collier wasn't sure what to do when Ash grabbed him by the hand and said "come on Collier lets go play, it's going to be fun'.  He ran away a few times.  Way to funny.  They had a blast playing in this tent and hiding in the closet.  So sweet.

It turned cold and all Collier wanted to do was.....swing!  The wind off of the lake plus a swing makes a little man's nose cold and red.  He didn't care and Momma didn't want a sick baby.  He just doesn't understand the need to be inside. 

Struggle

struggle with running that is...I haven't run in three weeks.  Last night I ran for the first time (only 2.5miles) and it was a little rough.  I didn't get to truly enjoy the opportunity of running with my husband because I was cramping up.  I was cramping because I didn't properly hydrate myself.  I guess I forgot since it has been so long.  Gracious!  Today, we ran again (3 miles) and I did a little better.  It is hot as crap - I don't like that it is almost December and temperatures are near 80 degree's - that is just not right.  So, here is to my running vacation because IT IS OVER!

On a different note.  I am thrilled to gather with all of our family to enjoy Thanksgiving.  So much to be thankful to God for.  CH is waking up from his nap...off to get his lunch started.  Hope that you and your family have a special and fun Thanksgiving tomorrow.  Gobble Gobble.

Our night

was a little rough last night.  With Collier's back four teeth coming in he has had a few night when he will cry out in the middle of the night but he never gets up, he just rolls around and is a bit restless (thank the Lord for video monitors).  I usually don't get up because he settles down as quick as he starts.  Last night was quite different.  He started a little after midnight and by 12:30 he was sitting up screaming.  Motrin to the rescue or so I thought so I went in and held him for a few minutes and thought for a second he had maybe had a bad dream - he was clingy tight to me and wanted to snuggle into my neck as close as he could.  After about 5 minutes of singing and bouncing and giving a dose of Motrin I put him back down.  He cried just a minute and seemed to settle back to sleep.  With in 20 minutes he was crying again.  This continued for about an hour before I finally gave in and he and I went to the couch.  I didn't want to turn the tv on in fear of waking him up too much, but he was so funny sitting in the dark and trying to make sense of the room.  He kept pointing all around the room and grunting like huh?  I just chuckled and laid back and he finally laid down with me, Oh sooo sweet.  To have my sweet little man curled up in my arms sleeping was worth every second of this sleepless night.  It brought a tear to my eye to have him laying with me totally comfortable and cozy!  It unfortunately didn't last long and he was sitting back up with in 20 minutes again.  We did this a few times dozing off and on for about 2 hours.  Around 3am I decided to put him back in his bed - I was so afraid that I would fall asleep and that the alarm would go off and wake up both up and then he would be up way too early.  I turned his music on and he went right to sleep and slept until about 8am this morning. 

Justin and I decided early on that we wouldn't put our kids in the bed with us in hopes of preventing a bad habit (strictly a personal preference).  We are very snuggly people and I personally love the snuggly time with my husband every night and with a baby in the bed I would be neglecting that time with Justin.  So, we have worked hard not to do that and I think that we have been very successful.  Collier has only slept in a bed with us one time, and it was only for 2 hours when he woke up really early one morning at the beach.  I love that he will go to sleep on his own and requires very little when going to for bed (either for naps or night time).  But there is a catch to this independence...Collier isn't suggly in the bed with us.  On weekend morning we will put him in bed with us and it is all about play time and not so much about snuggly time, which from time to time I would really love.  So, this morning with him in my arms was really sweet and special.  I don't think that he has laid in my arms like that to sleep since I stopped nursing him.  I just wish that it wasn't because he was hurting or not feeling good!  He is just so busy and never slows down enough to climb in my arms to rest.  As I was laying there, Thanking God for this sweet moment and thinking how content he felt in my arms - I took a deep breath and pictured that we were in the arms of Jesus taking in the rest and peace that only He can provide.  I hope that you will find that kind of rest and peace in Christ today too!

Climbing

Right now, climbing is our thing. He climbs on anything that he can.  He has successfully mastered climbing into Justin's recliner (which sits a little higher than most furniture).  He is always being chased off of the coffee table by a wooden spoon.  He has tried to climb out of the bathtub and onto the toilet (with the lid closed thankfully) and who knows what is next!  But this is what we started over the weekend.......



side note: this video camera thing is a bad thing because I realize how much of a redneck that I sound like.  Secondly, I do not usually try and re-enforce behavior from behind a camera which is not affective what so ever...the actual discipline is!  However, I did want to capture (and share) the excitement that he displays when he accomplishes something....even if it is something he isn't supposed to be doing.

He did it again...

Collier went down for a late afternoon nap and never work up.  He slept a total of 14 hours last night!  It has been month's since he has done that so I was very surprised.  Matter of fact for a few weeks he was only taking a long mid-day nap and no more.  But in the past week he has been taking shorter mid-day naps which results in the need for a late afternoon nap, but those normally last about an hour!  Except yesterday...14 hours.  I just couldn't believe it.

Friday Collier and Mom and I went to the zoo for Collier's first trip.  It was fun and I think that he enjoyed the freedom of running around.  The first part that we went to had chickens running around and I didn't think that we would make it past that part, finally I had to put him back in the stroller to help him understand there was a lot more to see.  Many of the animals were napping and the best part was the Primates.  We were going to ride the train but I didn't see where to buy the tickets at the station, so we'll have to do it next time.  They are doing a lot of construction to add a new 'African' exhibit in the spring that looks like it is going to be awesome.  Over all a good trip and gave Collier something new to experience.  As long as he was out of his stroller he wanted to be pushing the stroller...cracks me up!



  

After the zoo we dropped Mom off and played outside for a little while before we headed to the airport to pick up Justin (he was gone all of last week at his annual sales meeting) I was so glad to have him back home. Not fun to have him gone for an entire week!

Yesterday was full of football!  War Eagle! With all of the Cam Newton controversy I just hope and pray that it isn't true....I've said it myself a hundred times: 'where there is smoke there is fire'.   It is sad to think his dad, a pastor, would illegally accept money from anyone Auburn.  Rick Burgess made the point of the implications that this will have on the church, on Christianity.  How this may turn someone away who is on the fence and open the door for Satan and evil to attack the church as a whole.  Yeah, I want it to all be right so that Auburn won't have any troubles and that Cam can continue to focus on the game (and win) and not all of the other stuff...but more important is the impact of the Kingdom of God!  It was really eye opening to think of it from this perspective rather than just football and the game and winning/losing!  What is really important and what really matters?



It has been over a week since I have even thought about a post.  Lot's going on but I did want to take the time to update with Collier's stat's from last week.  It was really awesome to have Justin go with me to Collier's doctors appointment, Daddy gets to hold that sweet boy when the shot nurse arrives.  It was nice to not be that person for a change!  Perfectly healthy and happy One and a half year old!

Weight: 26LB 8OZ, just above 50th percentile
Height: 32.25", in between 50th and 75th percentile

Last weekend I got a girls night away to go to my SIL's baby shower in Rome, GA.  It was delightful and so much fun to have extra time with her and my MIL.  It is always so much fun to see sweet PINK baby stuff.    This week has included painting (after CH goes to sleep) and organizing and re-organizing after Collier undoes everything that I try and do. 



Yesterday my mom called twice while I was at work.  The first conversation was how you would think that Collier goes to day care and has picked up some 'rough' habits.  He doesn't, which means that we can't blame it on someone else but the child is just sort of rough.  He finds hitting and kicking at the dogs funny...NOT FUNNY at all.  He likes to run things (brooms, trucks, trains, anything that can be pushed) into our feet and the dogs.  The dogs run which Collier thinks is funny...NOT FUNNY!  I now know why Brinkley is not as into Collier...he basically terrorizes her.  We are working hard on 'gentle' and 'easy' behavior.  The second conversation with mom was: 'He needs a big brother to put him in his place'.  Well its a little late for that.  But gosh, to be a child who stays with his Grammie all day he certainly has some rough tendencies.  We have had to introduce the wooden spoon for some disciple.  I just need Grammie to buy into it to...not yet. 

He also had his first real bubble-bath over the weekend and he was so funny with the bubbles.  He kept scooping them up and messing with them.  Trying to make sense of what it was and what he was supposed to do with them. He wouldn't stop looking at them, he even tried to hand them to me! 

Falling back off of Day Light Savings has thrown Collier's sleeping routine off just a bit.  He gets tired much earlier and is awake much earlier.  When he is awake earlier than normal it makes it a little more difficult to get out the door in the mornings, you would think opposite.  But it is just how our routine works out.  We're working through it and I hope and pray that he will adjust back to his normal old time and that this isn't the new norm!

Costume and 18 Months

As promised I wanted to share about Collier's costume.  I just love it and was thrilled that it fit Collier so well.  My cousin Stephanie (who I have blogged about here and here)  made it for her first baby, Landon.  The second that I saw it on him I fell in love with it.  She and my Aunt Rena slaved over the costume and it turned out perfectly.  Every one of her boys have worn it and every time I would see them in it I would think 'gosh when I have kids one I want them to wear it' and when I did FINALLY have Collier she was kind enough to share it with me.  Collier did really good and wore the head piece for most of the time at the party on Saturday.  He was really cute, if I can say so myself, even if I am a little biased.   Steph, thank you so much and it is in really great shape even after 9 years!!

We had a great time on Saturday and Collier got to bounce in a 'bouce house' for the first time. He enjoyed it as long as there were other kids in there and did pretty good.  I had to get him out once the big kids started taking over.  Then we put him on the trampoline and he ran from side to side as fast as he could and would almost dive in our arms....it was soo funny but it made just way to nervous and so that ended that.  I agree it could be a little dangerous if one of us wasn't ready for the dive, but he was having a blast while it lasted. 

With the help of my crafty, handy and very skilled in-laws we did some major kitchen renovations this weekend but I will post before and after pictures when we are actually done.  I have cleaning, painting and organizing to do before I can share.  Mr. Charles is so good and quick and I just can't even believe that they were able to get done as much as they did.  He builds furniture (so if you need any speciality pieces built he is awesome - there is my plug) and can picture how something can turn out and make things happen and he makes it seem and look so easy.  Justin's quote of the weekend...'I went to Lowe's to get grout and came out with a wall full of cabinets'.  That is your hint.  Thank you Mr. Charles and Mrs. Pam for all of your help and hard work!  I am in love with it already!

Saturday Collier was official One and a half!  I just can't believe it and realize day by day how much of a big boy he is becoming.  His favorite words are: tractor, bird, and brink brink.  He almost has thank you down, but it sounds more like tack-ah.  We go on Wednesday for his doctor's appointment and I will be sure to update with his stats.  He is becoming more and more independent and knows exactly what he does and doesn't want.  Shakes his head with the most serious expression when he doesn't want something and if you insist a stomping of the feet and whining/crying fit will break out.  He has gotten tall enough to open the front door - can open all of the door's at my mom's house and we have really had to keep doors to the outside locked to keep from escaping.  He loves to sweep and use the blower to blow all of the leaves, and even loves the vacuum cleaner.  I hope he would continue to be such a big helper as he gets older.  He enjoys reading books and has become quite a little snuggler!  Every stage brings something new and with it new challenges as well as fun qualities and learning.  Being a mom is so rewarding and exhausting at the same time.