Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto

Colin received a shirt with a picture of a friendly robot on it from Aunt Kelly and Uncle AJ as a Christmas gift. It is closer to fitting Colin now, the little dude. I picked it out the evening before as we prepped for school on Friday and showed Colin. He usually gives a flip about his clothes, but "hey, what's that?" I said there's a robot on your shirt and you can where to school tomorrow. Robot? he asked. So we practiced our robot sounds and groovy moves. Eee Errr Eee Ooo Beep! And moved our arms like a robot. Colin thought that was pretty cool.

At drop off in the morning, Colin wanted Blankey-B, Dog and Hat. He didn't want his jacket as that covered up his Robot shirt. And kudos to Miss Annie for asking right away, "wow, what's on your shirt, Colin?" Oh, big grin.

Can We Build It? Yes, We Can!

We finally busted out all of Colin's tools from a Christmas or so ago. We had a cable guy at the house doing installation and Colin was all about helping with the project. We had to keep him busy with other fix-it projects around the house.



Colin had a hard time bending over with the all of the tools on the belt. Adding tools required some assistance.

Somebody Liked the Video Camera

A Better Second Week

As everyone said, it will take at least two weeks for Colin to settle in to the new routine at his school. Last week, Colin was very clingy and his sleep pattern was way off. Anytime we tried to talk about how exciting it was to be in school, Colin would say in a sad voice, "no school". Bill and I were so sad for him.

I think we are returning to normal. Pick ups are fun as Colin wants to show you everything at school. He knows where everything is and how to get ready to go home. He's talking the entire time (half of which we don't understand yet) while getting his things together. The teachers say he is warming up easier each day. Drop offs are a still clingy and weepy, but this morning once he gathered up his Blankey-B, Dog and his hat, he was resigned to the fact that I was leaving and he went to sit in Miss Annie's lap.

One day this week snack time included bananas. Miss Jackie said Colin went crazy silly for the bananas. Oh yeah, I said, bananas are his favorite food. "Anana! Anana!" (as he was taught by Lourdes).

1st Day of School

Colin started at his new “school” this week as an official Penguin. I don’t know where they come up with the names. The other toddler room is Chickadees. At least he knows what a penguin is.

Colin is the youngest and smallest kid in the class. There is a three year old girl who could be 4 or 5 size wise. When the two of them stand next to each other, it's a funny prom image.

Drop off went fine the first day. We pulled out a puzzle and talked about the room for a few minutes while one of the teachers got the children organized. Then she came over by Colin as I got ready to leave and encouraged him to say ‘bye mommy’. This was harder to leave him than when I first started him in homecare at 3mos! I could see his wheels turning in his head assessing the situation. Bill picked him up and the teacher said he had a great morning and nap then was a little weepy in the afternoon wanting Mommy and Daddy, but overall was doing very well in the transition. Bill said Colin cried when he saw Bill come to get him. Awwww...

The 2nd day was a little harder since Colin knew what was coming. He didn't want me to put him down, but we pulled out a puzzle and while we looked at it, Miss Annie came over to help and I was able to say bye and head out. I don't think he ate much today, Chicken Noodle Soup (probably a taste aversion from puking that up on New Year's Eve -note previous post) and peas (green food! no way, Jose!), because he ate a huge meal at dinner. Tomorrow is Tofu and brown rice. Should be interesting.

Miss Ashley, the afternoon teacher, was impressed that Colin knew all of his colors. Duh! Sorry, proud momma typing. I think I said once he gets settled in and starts talking everyone's ear off he'll soon be telling you all the shapes and numbers he knows too! She gave me a look like, umm okay, whatever, they all still poop in a diaper.

Well, the little man is ready for bed after all of the new activity this week! Joy!

Happy New Yearrralph

I think this was first for us. We “celebrated” the New Year in every time zone from 9PM to 8AM the next morning! With Colin projectile vomiting. Shifts were scheduled to man the little guy through the night as he was not about to lie down. He brought back up lunch, dinner, water, etc. He was able to keep down flat coke and watery jello to sooth his tummy. Bill got the worst of it, stepping in it when he went to see why Colin was upset in his crib, and then catching the next bout on his arm and pants. Yuck! Nana and Papa T. were in town for a visit which helped us out a lot in getting things cleaned up and Colin settled.

It was either a virus or just part of the exciting molar process. It took a few days for his appetite to return and he had a lot of drool and mucus. That cough is ever present. A little buckwheat honey soothes the throat, if we can get Colin to take it.

Anyway, we exchanged gifts with my folks and Duplo-mania hit our house...along with some markers and coloring books.


When he wasn't destroying lego town, Colin was busy talking on the phone,



playing the harmonica,


and shaking his race cars.

Merry Christmas

Though he doesn’t grasp the whole presents thing yet, Colin did a great job over the holiday at Nana and Papa W.



He loved his grandparents, aunts and uncle and cousins who were his audience for four days. Colin received some great big blocks to knock down, a Sesame Street coloring book and crayons (he loves to colour –he says things with a French accent like wateur), his own toolbox with tools (again a hammeure, not hammer)and a fab recycled dog lunch bag to name a few items. Daddy got him a race track and you just shake the cars to make them run. The big kids seemed to enjoy it too.



Colin enjoyed playing with Great Gma Kate's Tickle Me Elmo doll. He tried to keep Elmo from falling over.



The family party this year saw several little ones 2 yrs and under join the holiday gathering. It was fun to see them interact and run around the house.

On the way home from being with the family, Colin started to practice the word "mommy". He said it a dozen or more times, seeming to try it out. Since that drive, we've become Mommy and Daddy instead of mama and dada. Big boy stuff, ya know.