7 Months.

Dear Colin,

Today, you turn 7 months old. This past month has been my favorite so far, of those we have spent together. The weather is getting warmer & along with it, you have become such a little person. This month you have officially learned how to sit on your own and enjoy sitting and playing on a mat in the living room. As long as they are toys surrounding you, you could sit there for hours, talking, playing and chewing on toy after toy. While on your stomach now, you kick and flap your arms like crazy. You so desperately want to move and I so desperately want you to stay in once place for just awhile longer (at least until the cupboard doors arrive). It is amazing to me how you are already so good and figuring toys out. You have your favorites, and those toys are well chewed on and examined. Every so often, I go into the big toy drawer and pull out something new for you to explore & that becomes your favorite for at least a week until you have studied each and every inch of it.

You have a pretty extensive menu of vegetables and fruit now, and definitely do not like peas. I have received the message loud and clear, don't worry. We will wait a little while before we try those again. Like every other baby who ever was, you love your fruit and tolerate the vegetables.
You are a good eater so let's hope that continues! You are still big & many, many people like to remind me of this every day. We are always stopped in Superstore or the mall for everyone and anyone to comment on just how big (and cute) you are. You have definitely stated slowing down in the growth department but are still large and in charge.

No teeth for us yet. So many times I was sure that they would pop through at any moment but so far the drooling and chewing has been one big bluff. A few weeks ago, while talking to another mother of a boy about a month younger than you, she commented that her son has 4 teeth and that you must be behind for your age. After my initial annoyance with her comment, I started thinking about how competitive this whole mothering thing can become if you let it. Not only does it not bother me in the least that you don't have any teeth yet, you are not behind at all. In fact, I hear that the longer it takes to have teeth come in, the stronger they are (although I am pretty sure this is like the whole good luck if it rains on your wedding day thing). Teeth will come when they come. For now, I am just happy that the other, more important things are happening all at the right time and you are a happy, happy boy.

Sleeping is slowly getting better as well. I really cannot complain at all. Both nighttime and naps have been great. Your 3rd nap is a daily decision as some days you really don't seem to need. Instead, we have started walking during that time so that you can decide whether or not you want to sleep & the pup gets a good walk. Since we end up walking at the same time every day, we also see the school bus coming to drop off any Donald Rd kids like clock work at 4:15. Sometimes I think I should warn the bus driver about the plethora of boys she will have to deal with on this route in just a few short years. Seeing the bus, and the kids piled in it, has made me think about you and what type of kid you will be, heading off to school & returning on that same yellow school bus. I can picture you running down our driveway, late again, trying to get to the bus on time as you yell to your friends to get the driver to wait for you. Boots untied, jacket undone and school bag half open, I am sure this will be a reoccurring sight as you are already a take your time kind of eater in the morning. These days will be here before we know it and because of that, I am going to soak in every moment of your awesomeness right now.

Don't worry buddy, you are still, by far, my most specialist little man. You are so much fun to be around I can hardly stand it. You laugh & yell, telling me lots of stories and trying out all the sounds and noises you can make all day long. You smile at everyone we meet and put up with me and my craziness. You smile at me and your Dad like you smile at no other which makes time away from you all better the second we walk into the house. I sometimes still have such a hard time actually believing that you are here, that you are you, and that you are ours. Each and every day it sinks in a little more and becomes a little more real. This life we are creating for ourselves is pretty fantastic and through the every day go, go, goes, your smile and laugh remind me to slow down and enjoy. To breathe and to relax. Thank you for that, buddy. Mama owes you.

You are still my most specialist little man.

Love you to the moon and back x7.

Mama
xoxo

Countdown to Summer.

As promised over the weekend, the garage was shingled and windows were installed.

As I have previously mentioned, I do not roof, however apparently I do windows. Sunday, J and I house wrapped the garage (at least most of it) and installed the 4 windows that have been patiently waiting under the deck for the last 7 months. It also gave us an opportunity to clean up outside and stack a wood pile that has also been patiently waiting to be stacked...for 7 months.

It was so nice to be outside (even if it was only in 2 hour increments while Colin napped) and to get some of these projects done. The garage is definitely usable now and will be even more once the steps are added to the installed landing.


It sure does feel like spring is here and in this house we are hoping that the warmer weather is here for good. Our walks have increased exponentially and both Colin and Jake seem to be loving the fresh air and sunshine.

Yes summer is just around the corner & we are pumped around here. Good thing there are still a few more months to get our beach bodies in check...

High Five to Me.

This weekend, with some help, Jason plans to shingle the garage as well as put the windows in. Hopefully, there might be some extra time to also build and install the landing and stairs from the garage to the house so we can start actually using that entrance. Because the garage was not built until well into winter, it had filled with snow before the walls and roof were constructed. That snow has now turned to ice from months of being stepped on and the warmer/colder/warmer/colder days we have been experiencing. In order for the steps to be put in, the ice needed to be gone so that the whole thing could sit on the actual garage floor. Cue me.

Today I spent a nap and a half chipping, chipping, chipping away at the ice and removing it from the landing area in the garage while Colin slept and Jake whined at the door. I'm not going to lie, my shoulders are presently on fire and my hands are tingling. That being said, I am pretty proud of myself! For one, it was a good workout and for two, I now feel like I have helped, at least a little bit and hopefully made the weekend a little easier on the boys. High five to me!


The tools...

The removed ice/snow...


After finishing and coming inside, I promptly booked a Hammam for next week as a reward. Just kidding, I already had the hammam booked...now I just feel like I deserve it!

The other night after Colin went to bed, Jason and I spent some time outside, cleaning up & talking about what we see for the outside of our house this summer. My main goal is simple...go from living in mud, to living in a somewhat usable outdoor space. Hopefully it will include a back deck, a portion of sod, a fenced-in area for Jake and maybe even some planting!

Victory!

For a refresher as to why this is a BIG deal...read this.

Champs.

Since my career as a basketball player ended, I have had the opportunity to coach a variety of teams. This past year, I helped out with the University of Winnipeg Collegiate girls for the second year in a row. JoAnne, a great friend and past teammate of mine and I started off the season unsure as to where we would end up in March. The team consisted of a mixture of some players back from last season, some Junior Varsity girls from last year, as well as a few brand new girls to the team and school. To start the season off in December of last year, after only 2 practices, we were thrust into our two first games. Let's just say those games are better off forgotten. We were pretty bad & lost both very badly. Nevertheless, we regrouped. The season had its share of ups and as always, its downs as well, however we seemed to peak right at the perfect time.

This past weekend, we competed in the AAA Provincial Championships. We went in #1 and came out #1 - just as we planned. For the second year in a row, JoAnne and I got to be part of team that came together, competed hard and got the job done and we couldn't be happier or more proud of each and every girl.

There is nothing I want more as a coach than for every girl to have a positive experience with basketball and the team. Some may go on to many more years of basketball and competition, while for some, this might be the last time they are part of team. I hope that for both, they remember this experience fondly and will enjoy the experience for years to come.

These 5 girls below are the grade 12 girls that we had on the team. Each one is so very different but all 5 worked extremely hard all year. I am so unbelievably proud of each of them & am so glad they could finish their grade 12 year with a championship.

Great job, girls - you earned it!


The season was somewhat rough on our little man as practices and games stretched him & his waketime often. He was, thankfully, such a trooper and toughed it out. We spent yesterday sleeping & playing, something he (and I) have so desperately missed. Thank you buddy for dealing with the loud gyms, long games and hour after hour in the baby bjorn. You are awesome.

The Professor

This week, Jake turns 4 years old. We are not entirely sure what exact day is his birthday, so instead we just make it a week long celebration. Each one of Jake's birthdays feels like a pretty big accomplishment for us all, mostly because of the 3 brushes with death he has had over the past 4 years. Each one of those times, I was pretty unsure as to whether or not we would make it to another one of his birthdays so we are always extra glad when this time of year roles around and we are still with the pup.


These two are noticing each other a little more every day and Jake has even started to warm up to Colin. Unfortunately, this new development is coinciding exactly with Colin's grabbing stage, therefore creating a few uncomfortable moments for the pup! We are working on being gentle...something I am sure will be an ongoing subject around here. I love watching Colin watch Jake, especially when he is in his exersaucer or high chair. I can only assume Colin sees Jake as a big, moving toy, however know (hope) that one day they will be great friends.

We love you, puppy!

I guess just like many others, he too is needing glasses in his old age :).

Mover & Shaker

I swear he started on the mat...


By the way, for all of you who haven't heard already, Carl was reunited with his owners only a few hours after we dropped him off at the Humane Society. Carl is actually Bruce and apparently they were quite relieved to find him safe and sound. We kind of miss him around here...good thing I am still vacuuming up his hair as a reminder why we're better off without him!