Terrible Twos

Colin apparently got a hold of a job description for "Two Year Olds" and is striving to cover every possible angle of this delightful age. Lucky for him his mom still thinks he's adorable and entertaining, even if she does spend half her day parking him in his time out chair.

Colin turns 2!

Colin turned 2 on August 30. He is a little bundle of passion and energy. A lover and a fighter. A clown and effortlessly cool. He keeps us entertained and frustrated.

He got to celebrate his birthday twice, once with Grammy and Papa before they left, and once on his actual birthday. Grammy made him an ocean/fish cake. He's clutching the present she and Papa gave him.

Ethan told me Colin wanted a train cake, "cuz he likes trains."

Colin takes birthdays very seriously.

Showing off his presents.

With mom and dad. I can't get this kid to smile for the camera. He's a very happy kid until the camera comes out. Then he gets deadpanned or looks away.

He's healthy and happy and stubborn and independent. He'll say "Bye. Later." and go out and play in the sandbox by himself for an hour or more. I have to drag him inside. He's very tall...97th percentile for height and only 65th for weight. He just started preschool (and LOVES it). He adds so much joy to our family. We love him to pieces!

One Month!

Madeline is a month old. She is still mellow and completely adored by her family. She has occasional fussy periods but overall is very easy going. She loves to be held and does not seem interested in being on any kind of schedule, but she sleeps pretty well at night and usually goes back to sleep immediately after her middle of the night feed. At 4 weeks, she is 8 lbs, 12 oz, 22 inches long and as smiley as can be.

Ow

We had a great week. My mother-in-law came to visit and help out with the kids, Ethan started kindergarten, Maddie turned 3 weeks old. All very fun and eventful. I'll have to post pictures later. Last night at 2 am my father-in-law flew in to meet Maddie and spend the weekend. This morning Jason took Ethan and my in-laws on a 3 mile hike in the state park by our house. I stayed home with Madeline and Colin. Twenty minutes before they were due back, Colin really wanted to carry Maddie to the couch to hold her. I was carrying her down at his level and he was "helping" me. We were 3 feet from the couch when I walked into the wheel of a metal Tonka dump truck. I wasn't even walking fast. It really, really hurt, but I didn't think much of it. I sat on the couch and it hurt more and more. I looked down and knew my toe was broken, because it was sticking out at a 30 degree angle and swelling fast. I called Jason, and we spent the afternoon at the ER (expedited because he's a doctor at the hospital we went to, thank goodness). They set it, taped it, and gave me a lovely boot to wear for the next week. I feel clumsy and stupid and I'm in pain, but at least I'm not stuck using crutches with a newborn to take care of.

First Day of School

Ethan started kindergarten! He was a little sad the first day, but loves it now. He's in school for 30 hours a week. That seems like so much, and by the end of the week he's exhausted, but he loves it and is really happy. He's growing up so (too!) fast.

Dear Grandma,

Thank you so much for all you've done for us since Maddie was born (or more accurately, since one hour after I went into labor). The babysitting, overnights, the crucial delivery of the peanut butter milkshake to the hospital, the laundry, meals, cleaning, baths, baby holding, etc. It would have been a much harder adjustment without you! And thanks for leaving the brownie mix in the pantry. Colin loved "helping" us make them this afternoon:

P.S. Dear Grandpa: Thanks for all your help and support, too, and especially for fixing my dresser drawer. It works great!

Love,

All 5 of us

Clones

When we first saw Madeline, Jason and I were shocked at how much she looks like Colin. Ethan even comments on it all the time.

Madeline at 2 weeks.

Colin at 4 weeks.

We think Colin's pretty cute, so it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned!