Retro-blogging: Collier is 5 Months Old!!

5 Months Old
August 23, 2012

Our sweet Collier-Bug,

What a busy month we have had!  With mommy returning to work, you starting with the babysitter, and getting used to this new normal, this month has flown by even faster than the previous four.  You have done remarkably well with all the changes, though, continuing to grow and learn new things all the time.  You're getting more difficult to get good pictures of, because you are so busy wiggling around.  Here are a few of us trying to get your 5-month shot.

Maybe I need to eat my chair...

Sneak attack from Avery!

You don't mind her kisses

There's that sweet smile!

You've had a month of so many transitions and new things, and you've adjusted so well!  You love your babysitter, Mrs. Ryan--you smile at her every morning when daddy drops you off.  You love to play with the other babies Jayden, Ethan, and Olivia, and laugh at the older babies.  You take your bottles so well (eating 7 ounces at a time) and nap well for her too (thanks for that, by the way--I tried to get you to nap for the entire 4 months we were home together, and you were having none of it!).  You are on a pretty well-defined schedule too.  You wake up at 7:00 in the morning, take three naps (8:30, 1:00, and 5:30), and go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00.  You seem much happier when you know what to expect during your day;  you seem to like a bit of structure in your day.  This month, you also had your first "real" food (rice cereal), and your baptism. What a blessed day!

I think you kind of like your daddy... :)

You got a new jumperoo this month--and you love it!

You also had a visit from Mimi for your baptism

You're continuing to develop new talents.  This month you can roll both directions (but you're better at going from your back to your belly), wiggle all over the place, reach and grab toys from in front of you, and pull everything to your mouth.  You're now sleeping on your tummy, and we've had some nighttime sleep issues this month (the 4-month regression, the books call it).  You've been waking up 2/3 times a night, every night, for the past month.  Maybe it's teething, or getting used to not having mommy at home all day, but you need extra midnight cuddles.  It's alright with us, but our bedtime has gotten much earlier to compensate!

You finally, officially, like bath time!  Hurray! :)

...and you like the cuddle-time after bath too .

This is your new sleep position--bottom always in the air.

Your personality continues to develop more and more--still the quiet observer, you seem curious about everything around you.  You sometimes get overwhelmed by new situations and people, and definitely prefer to be with mom or dad.  You're clearly excited when you see us, which is totally awesome :).  You love songs and books--your favorite song is "The Unicorn Song" by Shannon Tanner. You always get quiet when we sing it, and smile really big--precious boy.  You are ticklish all over, and laugh when we blow raspberries on your tummy.

You look right at the pictures whenever we read to you.  Obviously this means you're brilliant! :)

Daddy loves that he gets to teach you all about Tennessee football soon!

You add so much to our lives, sweet boy.  The busy-ness that comes with you being here is so full and complete--we can't imagine our lives without you.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Retro-blogging: Collier's Baptism

Before Chris and I got married, we had several L-O-N-G talks about our faith/religion and how this would play into our future.  He was raised Catholic, and I was raised Baptist--two faiths not known for their similarities.  After a few of these talks, we realized that we didn't differ much (if at all) on our beliefs:  that we are all created by one God, whose son was sent to save us from the death we so deserve, and who covers us with grace and mercy.  We also decided that once we got married we would visit churches until we found one that we felt comfortable in, and worship there.  We knew early on that worshiping as a family was so important; and Collier has been in church since he was just a little blueberry-sized nugget.  Actually, the first time I felt a real kick when C was in-belly was during a service at our church.  At any rate, the decision to baptize Collier was not a real decision at all; more a matter of when, than of if, we would.

Looking handsome, and he knows it :)

At our church, First United Methodist in Winchester, we do an infant baptism; where the family asks God to be present in the raising of the child, the church promises to support the family, and God's blessings are asked upon the child, in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit (that's where the water comes in).  Collier was baptized on Sunday, August 12th, with a wonderfully sweet audience of friends and lots of family.  It was such a special moment for Chris and I; adding another connection that ties us to our little man, and asking God to be with us, and guide us, as we try our best to raise him in the light of the Cross.  

Brother Randy and Rachel (who is Collier's "Birthday Buddy") performing the ceremony.

Collier getting his sprinkle.  No tears from this big guy!

All of our sweet family:  Amanda, Brian, Gram, Papa, GG (Cowan), Great-Grandaddy, Great-Grandmother, Callie, Brady, Eli, Maddie, Grandpa, (Nancy--hiding), Uncle John, Aunt Jerrie, and Mimi

We had a bunch at our house (which Collier slept right through) for all of our family, who made the trip for this special day.  They brought Collier several sweet gifts--Bible Story books and keepsakes. 

Collier's First Food

Hello all!  It's time to get caught up, so I'll be back-dating a few posts.  It's hard to use this blog to document our bug's milestones if I don't sit down and write!

August 8th, 2012--Collier's First Foods

At Collier's 4 month checkup in July, his doctor mentioned that we could start solids any time that we'd like to.  I was a little hesitant because the AAP says breastmilk or formula only for the first 6 months, and this milestone would bring us one step closer to the time when C needs me just a little less.   But after several weeks of returning to two or three night wakenings, and the advice of many (mostly Chris' sweet patients...those who have parented and grandparented several times over) promising that after a little rice cereal, he'd sleep right thought the night.  So, we tried it 3 weeks after his 4 month "birthday".  The Verdict? He liked it!  After our one snack session, he was covered in cereal, and opening his mouth for his spoon.  It did not, however, help him sleep through the night any better...Oh well...3 am cuddles are alright with me :)

Here we go!  He did several lip smacks trying to figure this new stuff out.

Still trying to decide...

I tried to get a smile, but he's a serious little dude...he'd rather just take it all in. 

Here Dad, just let me do it!

We made it!!

I've officially made it through my first week back at work!  I was so happy to be able to ease back into things.  This week, I spent three days just going into school in the mornings to work in my room, before our first required day back on Thursday.  I'm so happy (relieved, surprised) to report that we have all done better than I anticipated.  I teared up some on Monday morning, but we made it through the majority of our goodbyes this week with no waterworks.  Also, Collier seems to be doing GREAT at the sitter's.  He's eating wonderfully from his bottle (relief), and taking amazing naps (jealous) for our sweet sitter, Ryan.  While I'm sure that I'll always be worrying about our bug a little bit, this week has proven that I have much less to fret over than I had thought I might.  

Our big man, ready for his first day at school! :)

As I returned to my classroom to get set up for the year (a huge challenge, by the way, because I was packed and moved from my old classroom to a new one while I was on maternity leave.  I had no clue where anything was!), I had a total "God moment".  Don't you just love those?  So, on Monday morning, I decided to tackle my desk area first.  Some of my teacher-friends had packed me up, but I had to dig trough several boxes and sort through a lot of stuff.  At any rate, as I'm sorting, I stumble upon this, left for me by one of my former students for Mother's Day. 

Sweet, right?  Well, it just so happens that this little sweetie (who wasn't so sweet when he was in my class) doesn't have a mom in his life.  He and I spent lots of time "discussing his behavior" (teacher-speak for me lecturing him about his misbehaviors) and I didn't think that he cared for me one bit.  As I read his sweet card, God's voice was clear to me...I am called to mother more than just my biological child.  He's called me to mother the kiddos that walk into my classroom each day, because I have more influence on them than I think I do.  That little reminder makes going back to work just a little easier.

Now...only 37 weeks of school until summer. :)