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We Are Moving

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The Best Mother’s Day Gift

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Corinne’s Monthly Updates

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Corinne – Two Months

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Corinne – One Month

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Siblings

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Pregnancy Update

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Painted Easter Eggs

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Our Family is Growing!

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Easter Holidays

Easter 2016

June 14, 2016

It has been well over two months since Easter, and I just realized I skipped over that holiday over here too. I am really failing at this recording memories thing lately. Oh well.

We started our Easter morning by digging into baskets to see what the Easter bunny brought. They each got a couple of outfits and books. Cullen got some of his favorite candy, and Colette got a few new headbands.

Cullen wanted to eat his candy right away of course, and Colette was more impressed with the eggs.
After Church we went to my parents’ for lunch and an egg hunt. We usually have a big get together with the whole extended family, but that didn’t work out this year, so it was just Cullen and Colette hunting for eggs. And Colette fell asleep so Cullen hunted his eggs and then found some for his sister as well. He was just as excited to find eggs for her as he was for himself, which was just the sweetest!

In all that egg hunting, Cullen also came across a little inch worm. What could be more fun for a little boy than to let a worm inch its way across your arm?!
It was a low-key, simple Easter, but we had so much fun just being together. I am looking forward to next year and seeing Colette get in on the egg hunting fun!
Monthly Update

Colette: Thirteen Months

June 7, 2016
Just popping in for a quick thirteen month update for Colette (a couple of weeks late!)
I love that we are getting to see so much of her personality these days. Happy almost all of the time. Most of the time, she is happy to play with Cullen or by herself. Occasionally she is extra clingy, but only if she is really tired. And she can be kind of loud when she gets mad; she won’t hesitate to scream at me. Who knew such a tiny girl could make so much noise. But like I said, mostly happy and playful!
Her newest trick is blowing kisses. So sweet! Every once in a while, she will even give real, open-mouth kisses, but those are mostly reserved for the dog. 
He iron has almost come back up to normal levels, which means she doesn’t have to be on an iron supplement too much longer, and she can have dairy again. Yay cheese!!! Colette is still eating everything we put in front of her. And she is doing great with weaning. I’ve stopped pumping at work and she drinks from a cup during the day. At this point, just nursing first thing in the morning and after dinner and right before bed.

She is thisclose to walking. Over the past week, she has taken a couple of steps here and there, so I’m sure it will be any day now that she just takes off! This little girl keeps us busy, but we love her so!
snow

Snow Day

May 20, 2016
Another of Colette’s firsts that has been skipped over? Her first snow day. Which was back in February. Colette was not impressed, but she tolerated the cold white stuff on the ground. Much like Cullen’s first and second snow days.

We only had snow on the ground for a few hours before it all melted away, but we all bundled up and had fun making snow angels, starting snowball fights, and trying to convince Colette it is fun to play with frozen water.

After we took all the cold we could handle, we headed inside for hot chocolate (which sadly, Cullen did not like) and snow cream. It was a pretty fun day, and fun to think back on. But if I’m being honest, one snow day a year is all we really need.

Christmas

Christmas 2015

May 19, 2016
So this past Christmas was Colette’s first. And I have yet to write anything about it. Like everyone else, it is such a crazy time of year for us, and the day after Christmas, I jumped right into party planning mode for Cullen’s third birthday. Mom fail and second child problems. So here goes. Its May and I’m going to share at least some pictures from our Christmas.
Cullen was a huge help in decorating the tree this year. He put most of the ornaments on and only moved one or two afterwards; he had near perfect ornament placement!
Cullen was so excite to wake Colette up for her first Christmas! But we made him wait until she woke up on her own. Then we let him go in to say “Good Morning” before we went downstairs to open gifts.
Their big joint gift from Santa was a play kitchen complete with pots, pans, and lots of food. It was the first thing they both went to and we had to pull them away long enough to open stockings and the other presents.

They did finally open their other gifts. We didn’t go crazy with packages this year. In addition to their play kitchen, they each got something they needed (sippy cup for Colette and tennis shoes for Cullen), books to read, clothes to wear, and a couple of smaller toys. It was nice to take our time with each gift and they didn’t feel overwhelmed with new toys.
After celebrating with just us, we had family over for lunch. It was a nice and easy Christmas day highlighted by good food, great time with family, and all the joy that comes with watching little ones celebrate and play. 
Maybe next year I won’t be so late with this post, but who knows. As I’ll share more in a post in the next week or so, we are taking time this year to slow down and enjoy the present, so I’m not going to stress over a late post or two. Merry (very late) Christmas!

Monthly Update

Colette: Twelve Months

May 11, 2016
Where has the past year gone?

Colette seems to be as rough-and-tumble as her older brother. She is fearless and not afraid to get dirty. We are constantly pulling non-edible things out of her mouth, pulling her off of her older and much bigger brother, and stopping her from climbing on everything. Thankfully, Cullen helps keep an eye on her and keeps her in line. We cannot baby-proof enough!

Her growth is still right on track. She is just going to stay a tiny peanut, which is totally okay. We did find out at her twelve month well check that she is anemic, so she is on a daily iron supplement and a high-iron diet, which seems to be going well. But since calcium interferes with iron absorption, she is not allowed to have dairy. Poor little girl is having to go without her favorite food group: CHEESE! (OK, maybe I sneak her some occasionally. A girl has got to have cheese!) 


There haven’t really been a lot of other changes over the last month. She has four teeth now, which she loves to bite with, biting fingers is especially hilarious. She has started blowing kisses, which is the cutest! Other than that, she is the same happy little girl. Getting into everything and cruising around the house. 

I think what I most want to remember about Colette about this age, is her sweet little laugh. I love hearing her laugh out loud in the backseat when we are in the car and Cullen makes silly faces and noises at her. She laughs when she is happy, when the tiniest thing is funny, and sometimes, just because she sees someone she loves.

Happy Birthday Colette! We love you so much!!!
Birthdays First Birthday

Colette’s Garden Party

April 26, 2016

Saturday was Colette’s first birthday, and we celebrated with a garden party with our closest friends and family.

There were flowers everywhere, our favorite brunch foods, cupcakes, and macarons. We ate, played and talked with our guests, and opened gifts. I put out chalk and bubbles for the older kids, and they of course pulled out all of Cullen’s outside toys too, so I think everyone had a great time!

Colette showed very little interest in the actual cake. She was happy to eat the flowers off the top, but even after a taste of buttercream, she only ate a few tiny bites. She was happy to share with others though.

Colette’s favorite thing about opening presents was the cards. Who would have thought? But she held onto one card while we opened all of the other gifts and kept the biggest smile on her face the whole time.

Happy Birthday sweet little Colette! We love you so much!!!

Monthly Update

Colette: Eleven Months

April 2, 2016
Colette’s newest skills include pulling to standing, saying “mama”, climbing, and clapping. She is growing and learning so much every day; I am afraid I’m going to miss something if I blink. And she has started dancing, which is one of my favorite things to see! Tiny baby dances are adorable, though I don’t think her Daddy is too proud. Too much hip shaking for his little girl.

Her favorite things right now are bath time (so much splashing!), food, her brother and anything he is playing with, and being outside. You should hear the squeals just walking to the door elicits!
Right now, she is working on her third tooth, possibly her fourth. And she is putting those chompers to good use by eating everything in site. I haven’t really found anything she won’t eat. Cheese and pasta are still favorites. She eats meats, veggies, fruits, bread and pasta of course, and then anything remotely interesting that happens to be on the floor.

We thought Cullen was going to be our strong-willed child. Turns out we couldn’t have been more wrong. Colette is already starting to show her stubbornness. For the past two weeks, she has refused to take a bottle when she is away from me. While I am at work, she will eat real food like a teenage boy, but refuses to drink anything. We have tried every type of sippy cup available, warm and cold milk, water, offering it before food and after. Nothing works. She just shakes her head and pushes it away. It turns out, she has decided that she only wants to nurse, she will hold out all day long until we both get home. At this point, the plan is to keep offering and hope she changes her mind soon. We are going to have our hands full with this little girl. I have already purchased a copy of The Strong-Willed Child.
For now, I’m off to spend some time with my almost-one-year-old. If I can catch her that is. 

Travel vacation

Puerto Vallarta

March 20, 2016

About a month ago, we actually left on Valentine’s Day, we had the chance to take a family vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a week full of hours in the pool, delicious food, and nothing to think about aside from how often we applied sunscreen.

I was pretty nervous about travelling to another country with two little ones. I had only flown once before, and never with two kids in tow. I was afraid of not packing everything we needed, nervous about navigating airports without losing anyone, and definitely anxious about flying. I do not fly well. But it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Aside from forgetting wipes, which we were able to purchase at the resort, we remembered everything, made it through each airport without too much trouble, and we all had a wonderful time.
We almost missed our first flight, because there was an issue printing Colette’s boarding pass, but once we were on the plane, both kids were so well behaved. We flew from Greenville to Dallas, had a two hour layover, and then from Dallas to Puerto Vallarta. Both kids slept almost the entire time we were in the air and we didn’t have a single melt-down. All in all it was a very successful trip. And to top it all off, Cullen got to sit in the cockpit after our last flight and push all the buttons. I think it was the highlight of the trip for him, and it is something we will never forget!
Our trip home was a little more eventful. Our flight out of Mexico was delayed for about six hours. After a total of eight hours in the airport in Mexico, three hours of sleep in a hotel in Dallas, and an early flight to Greenville the next morning, we ended up making home eleven hours after we were supposed to. But both of the kids were wonderful throughout the whole trip home. They were so well behaved, which made things a little less stressful. 
We stayed at the Grand Velas Rivera Nayarit, by far the most beautiful place I have ever stayed. This was the view from our balcony, and those are the pools we played in all week.
There were a few big group dinners, and a few nights were we ate dinner on our own in the restaurants on the resort. The group dinners always had activities for the kids, like pinata and kite making. We ordered lots of room service, especially at breakfast. And we either ate lunch pool-side or at the oceanfront restaurant. We all came home a few pounds heavier, but it was so worth it. Even Colette ate her weight in guacamole and quesadillas. 

We went down to the beach a few times, but after jumping in the waves for a few minutes, Cullen was ready for the pool again. And I don’t blame him, the sand there was really too course to play in.

Cullen only got out of the pool to order another round of apple juice (if he didn’t just swim up to the bar to order). He had the best time, jumping in the pool, swimming circles around his Daddy, and make lots of new friends. He also really enjoyed the kids show they had every afternoon. He got to sit at a picnic, eat a couple of popsicles, and watch a puppet show or a sea lion, then hop right back into the pool.

Colette and I played in the water a good bit as well, and she LOVED it! But we also spent a lot of our time in the shade, sipping (virgin) fruity drinks and napping. 

And can I just mention that this little girl can pull off a floppy hat like no one else. I’m a little jealous. 
After a full day at the pool, Cullen pushed Colette back up to our room where they both napped until we made them get up for dinner. Or just let them sleep while we ordered room service.

We had originally planned on spending one day in town, because it seems a little silly to us to go to another country and not even leave the resort. But at the last minute we decided the kids would enjoy the pool more than shopping and happy babies makes for a happy Mommy and Daddy. But we did get to see some peacocks and iguanas just running around, so at least that was something we don’t usually see at home. And we have plenty of beautiful pictures to keep as souvenirs.
I could not have dreamed up a better week. It was the most relaxing week I have ever had with two kids, we got a break from some cold weather back at home, and we all got some much needed Vitamin D. We had a great time, Puerto Vallarta, and we hope to visit again soon.
Monthly Update

Colette: Ten Months

March 8, 2016

We all know that children grow up way too fast. It seems like you blink and they are three years old already. But have you ever had a day where it seems like they change into a totally different person overnight? That was Colette the day she turned ten months old.

One day she was a quiet little baby who was very timidly crawling. From the minute she woke up the day she turned ten months, she has been crawling all over the house. Getting into the dog bowls, pulling groceries out of bags before we can get them put up, and scooting under and around furniture. And she finally started babbling. Lots of “ba-ba-ba-ba” and “ma-ma-ma” all day long. She is like a whole new little girl.

Her newest trick is waving and saying “bye-bye”. And it is the cutest thing ever!

I can already tell that Colette with be our eater. She will eat anything put in front her. Broccoli, carrots, potatoes, quesadillas, guacamole, pasta, literally anything. She will also eat anything she finds on the floor. Which translates to me having to watch her like a hawk and vacuuming nearly every day.

I also had the shocking realization that my tiny baby will be a year old in just two months (even less as I write this)! She is already becoming more independent and less baby-like. I can put her in the floor with some toys and she cruises all over the room and just goes after whatever she wants. I’m able to get more done during the day without a baby on my hip. And she is starting to be so fun to be around, and more than just in the sweet baby coos kind of way. She interacts with us and Cullen, explores and examines toys, expresses her on opinions like she hasn’t before.

We love you sweet little Colette! Happy Ten Months!!!

Birthdays

Cullen: Three Years Old

March 5, 2016
Cullen has been three years old for over a month and a half now. I have been writing this post for as long. I am having a really hard time capturing in words everything I want to remember about Cullen at this age. I wish I could just follow him around with a video camera for a week, but I don’t think that’s very practical. So I’m going to do my best to express the very best things about this little boy.
I asked Cullen what some of his favorite things are, and these are his answers:
Favorite Thing to Watch: Curious George
Favorite Toy: Puzzles and Plus Plus Blocks
Favorite Food: Frosted Mini Wheats 
Favorite Place to Go: the park
What makes him laugh the most: silly noises and silly faces
In addition to his answers, he also still loves helping me in the kitchen. He will cook any chance he gets. And he likes helping take care of Macey. He fills her dog food bowl up almost every day; though it takes about 10 minutes because he fills it up five pieces at a time and asks “is this enough” over and over. I love how much he wants to help around the house and be involved in whatever we are doing.
But he is also into typical boy things. Its all planes, cars, bugs, and dirt around here. I can’t even count how many times I’ve had to tell him to put a dead worm down. We have to stop and watch every plane that flies overhead. There are currently three dump trucks in our living room, and at any one time there are no fewer than fifteen Matchbox cars parked in our floor. And if he is awake he is going ninety miles an hour, jumping off furniture, and bouncing off the walls. I am now fully immersed in life with a boy and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! 

Then there are those little things at every age that I want to remember forever. Small quirks or things he says that make us laugh every single time. Like how he says something is “degrossting” when he means disgusting. And the way he puts his hand on his chin and looks up when he thinking. How he walks around with his hand in his pocket like gown ups do. And how opinionated he is about what song is on the radio. The best is when he says “I look like a penguin” in a long drown out silly voice, most often when there is tension in the room. 
Cullen has fully embraced his roll as big brother. He takes his job very seriously and keeps a close eye on his little sister. He picks her up and moves her if he thinks she is going where she might be in danger. He tries to pick her up and put her in the stroller. He does his best to soothe her when she is upset. And he even shares his toys with her, almost always willingly. I knew from the first moment her saw her that he would love her with all of his heart, but it has been so much fun to see how he much fun he has taking care of her and playing with her. He definitely has those first born, take charge instincts, but in this case, it just melts my heart.

As sweet and loving as Cullen is, he is also truly a threenager. (Who came up with that term? It perfectly describes this age!) I don’t know how one little boy can have so much sass and attitude. Lots of eye rolls and “uh, fine!” when we ask him to do something. And everything I say to him gets thrown back in my face. Things like “I told you that three times already!” It is really difficult to parent effectively when you want to laugh at everything they do, even when you shouldn’t!

We love you so much Cullen! These past three years with you in our lives have been absolutely wonderful. I am so excited to see what God has planned for you and where life takes you as you grow!