4 years old!

Collin had a great 4th birthday today! I was so determined to make this day fun for him since he's had to endure a lot of stuff lately that was not fun for an almost 4 year old. He's been super throughout church visits, long car rides, hotels, and many nights out of his own bed (the kid loves to sleep in his own bed), and meeting tons of new people. He's been so anxious about moving that I wanted to make sure today was really special.

We started our day with a breakfast celebration with one gift-a Darth Vader t-shirt from Uncle Stu.

Then, after someone came to take pictures of our house, we went to Dave & Buster's for lunch & games.

He also got to open one more present, a special one from Mom & Dad. (A few months ago Collin decided he needed a watch "with letters"-meaning numbers & hands instead of digital, so we got him a Lightning McQueen watch with his name on it. I'm not sure why he decided he was ready for that, since he can't even read a digital watch, but maybe he can learn from his new one.)

After the games we turned in our tickets & redeemed them for lots of cool prizes.

We we got home Uncle B & Grandad were waiting for us. So we played with them while we waited on Grammie to arrive. Then we had more presents, pizza, & birthday cake.

I think Collin had a great day (at least he said he did)!

Here's a link for some pictures from the day:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=99009&id=677653110&l=5743b29e7c

Good Behavior

I'll admit, most of my parenting techniques are not from a book. Most of the time, I just try something and if it doesn't work, or stops working after a while, I move on to something else. The priorities in our house, when it comes to discipline, are to disciple out of love, not anger, and to teach Collin to grow up to be an awesome man of God.

Collin has always been a bit of a challenge to discipline. He never fits into any of the discipline molds that all those books out there suggest. Even advice other, more experienced, mothers give me seems laughable to Collin! I like the ideas presented in most of the books, but I just can't seem to make them work! (Maybe Bailey will be easier. I can't hope, can't I?) One day in March I noticed that all I was doing was focusing on Collin's negative behavior, instead of aknowledging the good behavior. We talk a lot about making choices in our house, but I thought "how can Collin ever learn to make good choices if I don't ever let him know when he's making one?" So, the Good Behavior Jar was born. The jar I bought was a little large, so when Collin decorated it, I put a line for him to reach so that he didn't have to fill it all the way up! I didn't want him to forget what we were trying to accomplish. Collin decorated the jar himself and he and I agreed on behaviors that would get him an M&M in the jar. Then we agreed on a prize to look forward to after filling the jar. Collin wanted a real bicycle with 2 wheels (he hasn't noticed that there are really 4 wheels on his bike). He finally filled his jar (which took a little longer than planned because we couldn't fill it when we were out of town). Collin is so proud of himself every time he gets to put an M&M in his jar, he's spending less time in time-out, and he is able to identify poor choices and good choices. Spencer and I are so proud of him. It's so hard to believe how fast he's growing up.

Collin in March, after he decorated his jar.

Last week, after he filled his jarCollin & Daddy putting together his new bike

Going for his first ride

Look at him go!

Collin is doing really well on his bike. He just forgets to look where he's going! I really never worried about him making it to the age of 5 until now! On the plus side, I have one more activity to help burn all that energy!

She's WALKING!!!

Bailey's been walking for a few weeks, and she's getting better every day. It's been almost impossible to get a good video of it. Until now! I think she looks like such a big girl in her night gown & now walking!

Pictures

Last weekend we went to a wedding in the Austin area. Bailey got car-sick on the way and I didn't have another dress, so I had to borrow one from a cousin. It actually worked out well, since Collin was already in white!

The Festival of Ladybugs!

Collin has been referring to Bailey's first birthday party as the festival of ladybugs! I think he's probably accurately named it!

Here's a link to the pictures from the party:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=87948&id=677653110&l=0142a37869

I can't believe Bailey is 1 year old already! Time has flown by!

She's got so much personality now, and it's so different from her brother! Here's some interesting things about Bailey for you to know...

• She is a "Mommy's girl" (which is an adjustment for me-Collin was not!)


• She LOVES to eat, so beware if you're eating near her-you'll have to share!


• She likes to push around Collin's cars


• but now she has a purse, so she loves to empty it and fill it up, with anything she can find, and carry it around on her arm


• She's been very good at walking behind a walker, but has refused to take even one step without assistance (and why should she? she's a speed crawler)


• but...yesterday she took her first unassisted step!


• She loves to climb, and she's pretty good at it. She's very careful. She usually can even get herself down from whatever she's climbed on!


• She makes lots of sounds, has said "mama" whenever she wants something, but no official first word yet


• Most of her sounds are LOUD! I'm thinking cheerleader....


• She likes to "sing"


• Her favorite game is peek-a-boo! If there is a sheet, blanket, or anything she can hide her face behind or under, she loves to play!


• We've tried the sign language thing, but she's not into it (Collin loved using sign language), but she's so loud that we respond pretty quickly, and we usually get right what she wants! She definitely has her own way of communicating what she needs.


• I'm sure she's reached all the appropriate developmental milestones, but she's the second child & I just don't have time to keep up with them all! I know she's passing things from one hand to another, picking up small things, doing well with shape sorting blocks, & imitates what we do with various items. (I think that's all the important ones)


• She's so cute & has so much hair, but it's so fine that bows won't stay in (very disappointing).

We finally finished unpacking!

We've been in Austin since the end of August, 2007, and we finally put away the last box yesterday! Thanks to the Memorial Day sale at Ikea, we got some new furniture for the gameroom and started a major reorganization project. We're having a garage sale in June now that we've reorganized and have some things we don't need anymore (or have a place to put).

Finally!

Who wouldn't want to play in that room!

Some pictures & a video

Bailey loves to look outside. This day it was raining and she wanted to climb on the ledge to watch the rain, so her big brother stood behind her to make sure she didn't fall.

Collin liked his dinner...

and so did Bailey!

This is why the table stays outside!

Yeah Summer!


Bailey still won't let go & walk, but she is really fast when she's behind her walker!

Not much else going on here except what you see! We have a really good time! Sometimes I wish I had more to say, but the pictures do a pretty good job of letting you know what's going on with us. Plus, by the time I get these two off to bed, I'm really too tired to say too much.