#ohCecilia

I'm sitting here during "cuddle time" - June 21, 2016.  Cecilia Mae Collins was born this morning and she could not be more perfect!  She and her daddy are fast asleep, and I thought this would be the perfect moment to add our newest episode to the blog!  Sweet little Cecilia was born at 8:30 and it could not have gone more smooth.  She is little!  7lbs 6oz- and very vocal!  We are smitten.  My probably overly emotional thoughts right now are just simply how blessed we are as a family.  I thank the Lord for all of these babies! So healthy and happy.  Thank you!  In a world full of yuck, our babies are just an absolute ray of sunshine.  Pure joy.  I can't wait to see what turns the Kate and Willie show makes this year!  Just one episode at a time....

2 years of Sullivan and sweet big boy Brooks.

Oops. 2 years ago, we had a baby! RECAP.

I am a blog failure.  However, when I look back on these posts I am filled with JOY.  What a great way to remember these moments.  I barely remember Brooks at two until I read this, and then the memories come flooding in!  So, here is what I can remember of the last two years.

• Sullivan was THE easiest baby.  He slept very well, although not always at night!  We did CIO around 6 months to get him past that 2am feeding.  He is STILL a rockstar napper, he consistently did two naps a day until maybe 18 mos and now loves his 2-3 hour afternoon nap.  
• Brooks spent year 3 in timeout.  Lol.  3 was a little difficult for him (never had the terrible twos) and he went through a temper-tantrum phase!  Thank God I had Sarah to ask what had possessed my sweet child.  She calmly reassured me that whatever the behavior, it was normal.  And, that whatever the behavior, Ellison had already done it, but worse.  Our Ellison, heart of gold but never a dull moment.
• Sullivan walked just a few days before his first birthday.  Everyone thought he would walk early because he is so... energetic (Willie hates when I call him my crack baby).  But, he was right on target.  He started walking, then running, then climbing and now climbs most of every day!  My mother tells me I was the same way, Karma I guess.  He is unbelievably active and keeps me constantly on my toes.  He is also a HEARTBREAKER like is brother.  Beautiful, big, round eyes that look RIGHT into you when he wants something.  He is currently talking in FULL sentences (at the age of 2 years and 1 week) and a few examples of his speech tonight are:
• "Mommy, whats that in your eyes? (I think he was looking at my contacts!)
• "Mommy, I want out of here"  (done with the highchair)
• "Brooksie hit me,"  "Brooksie did it," "Brooksie, I hat it firsth." and "Brooksie, I luf you."
• "I wake up" 
• "I ready to go to thchool"
• "Mommy, I hungry"
• The thing with Sullivan, is he is busy, but also so cuddly.  He loves to rock and sing Barges.  He loves to sit in my lap.  He loves to have his blankie and paci and watch Curious George.  He says "I lub you" and it just about breaks your heart.  He is precious.
• Brooks has started his summer of "activities"- and he LOVES them all.  I have been only working part time the last 6 months so have been taking advantage of "trying" out all the sports.  We have tried swimming lessons, basketball, gymnastics and zoo camp.  He has loved them all.  I love asking him how his day went and trying to read into the responses.  I hope every day that he makes friends and is a kind child.  Thankfully most of his activities are with his amazing cousin Ellison who basically doubles as his bodyguard.  
• Sullivan started 3 days of MDO this week since I will start working full-time again soon.  He LOVES Mrs Bobbie, Mrs Laynie and Ms Lauren, just as Brooks did.  He blows me away with what he knows.  Sullivan lost part of a tooth at MDO earlier this year.  Just a simple slip and smash of the face on tile.  But between the paci and the missing half a front tooth, he has a very pronounced lisp.  I, of course, take full advantage of this and ask him to say words that start with S as often as possible.
• The boys both LOVE rough housing with their dadda.  They request a "wrestle fight" match most evenings and a towel swing after most baths.  It fills my heart so to see the three of them together.  I don't know how other dads play, but these boys are so lucky to have Willie to play with them like he does.
• Most nights, I put them to bed.  They are the sweetest to rock and cuddle and read stories.  I try to contain the joy I feel at night and quietly be thankful for that time.  It is very easy for me, and most people, to want to rush through bed time to get back to what they are doing.  So, as much as possible we go in early, shut the door, and just play and read.  I love their little personalities and how fun they are starting to play together.  I love the love between them.  I love how much they love me.  I love being a boy mom.  I love that they want me to rock them and sing to them.  

So, in summary, the past two years have been a blessing.  I thank GOD that these boys are mine!  I'll be better at this blog; I don't want to miss a thing.  

Baby S

And he's here!  Well, he has been for four months!  Sullivan James Collins.  8lbs 1 oz of pure JOY!  We had a great experience the second time.  He looks NOTHING like his brother and came out with a full head of black hair!  



He's a chubby, chubby doll!  His current stats from his 4 month appointment are 25inches and 17lbs!!  What a husker!  

Sullivan LOVES to roll over (already, yikes!) and he just sat in his highchair for the first time this week.  See above.

Sullivan is so absolutely chill, he loves his brother, and he laughs the most at his daddy.  When we were in the hospital, he and I just hung out and watched HGTV all day.  He hardly ever cries (but when he does its in the middle of the night!  Ha!).  He is currently sleeping 7:30 - 4:00 and then has a snack but goes back to sleep until 7:00.  He is the easiest baby to fall in love with and I am constantly just wanting to EAT up those rolls.  See below.

Sullivan makes me want to have 10 more babies, but I'm still working on finding a daddy for those extras.  Brooks cracks us up by calling Sullivan his full name "Sullban James Collins" when prompted.  Brooks loves his brother and has not really acted out very much.  Brooks has started referring to himself as "Brooksie" since joining Ellison's class at MDO.  Even his teachers call him that now!  I love every day I get to spend with these two.  Blessed and so happy!  

Upcoming Season...2 weeks to go!

The date is set, our bags are packed, the crib is out and the breast pump is sterilized.  While I wanted to write a post about how excited I am about meeting our new bambino... I can't help but feel extremely sentimental about my little busta', Brooks.

I am fully aware that I have an influx of hormones running through my blood, but it seems like these last couple of weeks I've spent hours just staring in awe of my little baby boy.  I've spent more time than usual cuddling, snuggling and just telling him I love him.  I know everyone loves their kids, but he honestly is the cutest, sweetest toddler I could possibly imagine.

Brooks loves to look right at you and tell you he loves you.  He gives big hugs and kisses, and pats your back when he's going to sleep at night.  Brooks tells me "I have to be real easy" when hugging Mommy and then jumps with all his might when hugging Dadda.  He has the sweetest disposition, and he still says "Mommy hold you" about a dozen times a day.  Thank the Lord he still wants me to pick him up and puts his head on my shoulder when he's tired or sad.  We moved him to a toddler bed a couple months ago and have been laying down with him at night until he falls asleep.  I have heard this is a bad habit, but truthfully it is the best part of my day.  He says "Mommy, you wanna lay down wit me," or "Dadda, lay down wit me," and then pulls your hand over his little body to snuggle.    I get so excited when he wakes up in the morning.  He crawls out of his bed and shuts his door, then walks into our room with his blankie and says "I wake up!"

Brooks loves cracking eggs with me in the morning, loves making coffee and toast, and starting the blender for "pooddies" (smoothies).  He loves going to "school" (MDO) and has the best class of mostly little boys.  He loves Mrs. Bobbie, JJ and Nate.  He says "Have a good day at school" when I drop him off and runs with all his might to me when I pick him up.

Brooks loves playing cars, trains, and "making coffee" on his workbench.  He knows the names of several Thomas characters and especially loves the Crane from "Down by the Docks."  He wants to read the longest books he can every night, to postpone the inevitable night night time.  He also is currently obsessed with Monster Trucks.

Brooks loves his Dadda, and runs to the door when he comes home at night.  He loves his Mawnee, Grandpa, Grandma, Pappy and GiGi.  He loves YaYa and Bubba, and would spend every waking moment with his cousin Ellison, if they weren't always on the verge of World War III. 

We are blessed beyond measure.  And while my heart leaps when I think about meeting our new little man, I tear up or sob uncontrollably when I think about how much I care about the little fella curled up in his bed right now.  My heart could burst.  

I thank God every day that I get to be the Mommy to that little busta' - and I can't wait to get one more!  

Brooks is 2!

I just wanted to take a minute for myself to document how fun 2 is for us!  I know the "terrible twos" are coming, but so far Brooks is just an absolute hoot and I love hanging out with him.  First of all, I heard horror stories about little boys verbal development and just assumed he wouldn't actually formulate understandable words for some time.  However, our little dude is a talking machine!  Just a few weeks over 2 now, he can literally hold a conversation with you.  He loves to talk about his guitar, and he can sing all the words to Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver.  He also asks to watch John "Denber" songs on you tube - I am certain I created a monster.  He is quite the hit with several friends when he pulls out his REAL mini guitar and starts strumming away.  He also, I just discovered last night, can sing the whole song That's The Way Love Goes.  His Daddy sings it to him on his bedtime nights and I had no idea!  He currently is also sitting watching the movie Rudolph - circa 1995.  Willie got it in the $1 section at Target and Brooks LOVES it!  It is the only movie he will watch (longer than 5 minutes on you tube).  He repeats a lot but yesterday told me he "went to the park earlier" - which I thought was very advanced - isn't that an adverb or something?  Some of his favorite lines are:

• "I'm so cute"
• "Whatcha wanna eat" - which is what he says when he is hungry
• "Mommy- it's the Snow Monster" - from the Rudolph movie
• "I play with JJ and Nate" - his friends from school
• "Love you, see ya later" 
• "I need help"
• "I go to Mawnee's house"- my Mom
• and of course "No," "that's mine" and "it's my turn"

He loves playing with his cousin Ellison which we are lucky enough to be able to do a couple of times a week.  He and Ellison are basically the same size and have so much fun having tea parties, eating cookies, and generally destroying wherever they are playing.  Currently sharing is not really a practice they understand and Ellison usually gets her way, but we are worried about the day he realizes he can beat her up!  Hopefully he'll stay this sweet.

Just to be fair, and to remind myself in the future; It took me 40 minutes to write this post.  I was disrupted by the spill of an entire cup of water, a blow-out poopy diaper, a banana an peanut butter refill, and Brooks request/demand to "get his clothes on and go to Mawnees."  Haha!  Two.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

What a blog failure I am!  It's been almost a year since my last post.  I still love looking back and reading what I had written so I am pressing on... and jumping back on the wagon.  

The big news!  We have just found out we'll soon be a family of 4!  Well, soon being next June.  The Kate and Willie show has taken a fun turn again.   Brooks will soon be 2 and will have a little bambino sibling when he is 2.5.  We are so blessed!

Unfortunately, I am currently in the throws of horrible "morning" sickness.  I'd like to strangle the man who came up with the term since most women I think experience symptoms all day.  I am just one of "those" girls who seems to have utterly unbearable nausea day and night.  My poor, sweet, patient, kind and annoyed husband has been waiting on me and taking care of little Brooks for several weeks now.  It hasn't been easy for either of us, but I'm afraid he's bearing the brunt.  Luckily, we are at 11 weeks so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Hopefully just a few more weeks!

Next post, updates of Brooks.  Stay tuned!