Happy Birthday, Colin!

Our baby boy is ONE!

Colin's first birthday party was based on the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I always call Colin my bug or love bug, so I wanted to do something with this in mind. The book provided me with so many ideas...I love how it came together! I read somewhere that a kid's birthday party is like a love letter to them...This really resonated with me. I know Colin won't remember his birthday, but I wanted to make it special because he is so special to me! I love you Colin James Whalen! Happy 1st Birthday!

In this cute, caterpillar t-shirt, he looked the part.

His "Happy Birthday" banner.

All his birthday friends.

I made picture banner showing how he's grown/ changed over the months.

His yummy cakes thanks to his Aunt Ashleigh and "Aunt" Emily.

Every birthday boy needs a hat....even if they refuse to wear it! :)

He liked his cake, but he didn't love his cake. Hence, he didn't get too messy!

We had a fruit plate for each day of the week...

On Monday, he ate through one apple, but he was still hungry.

On Tuesday, he ate through two pears, but he was still hungry.

On Wednesday, he ate through three plums, but he was still hungry.

On Thursday, he ate through four strawberries, but he was still hungry.

On Friday, he ate through five oranges, but he was still hungry.

Water bottles with cute little painted caterpillars.

Like most kids, Colin enjoyed the wrapping paper and bows just as much as the presents. He received so many nice gifts. Thank you so much to our family and friends for making his birthday such a great day! xoxo

Happy Days

Mother's Day and Father's Day were both happy, happy days. I love being a mom, and I know Kevin feels the same way about being a dad. On Mother's Day, we enjoyed a yummy breakfast at home and then took a picnic over to a winery for lunch. We gorged on sandwiches, cheese/ crackers, and a yummy bottle of wine. Check out the crab-tini Kevin made for dinner. It was so creative and thoughtful!

So with the bar set really high, I didn't want to disappoint when it was time to celebrate Kevin. Again, we had a yummy breakfast at home and then headed out to the duck pond in Temecula. I bought a loaf of bread thinking the ducks would be thrilled by our treats. I was wrong. They turned up their noses at our bread! I guess next time I need to bring something a little more gourmet....deli meat perhaps?!? We decided against lunch because I made ribs for dinner... a favorite of Kevin's and he wanted to be extra hungry.

We are very thankful for our family and each other!

Rollin'

This is how we roll...

The bike seat was a Christmas present to me from Colin. The helmet was an Easter present to Colin from us. He likes the former and HATES the latter.

Eleven Months

You are almost a year old...This year has flown by.

You are a dare devil. You will nose dive off any chair, lunge for what you want, and climb up the stairs without any help. You love the remote control, the telephone, the stereo, and flinging books off the book shelf in the office. You throw temper tantrums worthy of a two year if you don't get what you want. Your food menu has increased from fruits, vegetables, and tofu blends to include turkey, chicken, pretzel sticks, and crackers. You don't like egg yolks or pasta. You'll spit both out. You no longer take a bottle, just a sippy cup. You've still never had formula, so we don't know yet if you have any of your daddy's allergies. You are starting to push your walking toy unprompted, but seem to be a ways away from walking. You can open and close doors by standing on your tippy toes and reaching for the handle. You really have to stretch, but you can do it. Your Papa Gaebel baby proofed the kitchen, which bums you out because you really enjoyed playing with the BBQ tools. You still have access to the tupperware and pots/pans, which you throw all over the kitchen. You've started pooping in the bath on a semi-regular basis...mostly on the nights when your daddy gives you baths. (You're a smart kid!) You have your mom and dad wrapped around your little finger.

And you're done!

Go Dodgers!

Last weekend, we saw the Dodgers get beat by the Padres. Colin enjoyed his second baseball game, but was very upset by the loss.

We told him to sit tight... it was still early in the season. This made him feel a little bit better.

Hanging out with his friends helped too.

Kevin's best high school buds and the wives: April, James, Lauren, Shan, Baby Minna, Josh, Kevin (with Colin hidden), Me, Kristie, Baby Shayne, and Andy

Spring Fever

I have spring fever BIG time! Have I mentioned there are only eight more weeks until summer vacation?!?! The last few weekends have been so fun and busy, and we can't wait for more fun minus the Monday-Friday mundane.

A few weekends ago, we headed out to Arizona for a spring training baseball game...Angels vs. White Sox. We had such a great time! (I believe this was the weekend where my spring fever and count-down to summer really began.) The whole family met up in Surprise for a weekend of family, baseball, and of course good eating and drinking! It was an awesome trip!

Molly, Brendan, Me, Colin, Kevin, and Seamus

Colleen and Me

Uncle Dave, Cousin Riley, Papa Whalen (aka Baby Whisperer) and Colin

Colin got to meet his big cousins Seamus, Jack, and Brendan and his crazy Uncle Rick who may have given him his beer bottle to suck on a time or two (this may later make him Colin's favorite Uncle). He loved all the attention!

It was great relaxing with everyone and hanging out at the AZ Whalens' favorite hangout-- the Irish Wolfhound.

I don't think I'm alone in saying that I can't wait to go back next year!

Ten Months

Ok, so Colin is more like 10 1/2 months old...life has gotten a little busy. This working full-time thing is getting in the way of my blogging. Blah! (Eight more weeks until summer break-- woohoo!)

Colin is on the go. He's pulling himself to a standing position on his own, walking along the coffee table, and takes a step or two with his walker. He loves to play peek-a-boo and even pulls the blanket over his own face. He's starting to say dada and mama with more consistency...unfortunately, I think I hear dada more regularly. (Kevin had spring break a couple weeks ago, and I think they secretly worked on it.) He loves Cheerios. People say everything is a phase. I would call this phase in Colin's life the Cheerios phase. I find them everywhere. Luckily, we've had a break from the teething, but that hasn't stopped him from chewing on everything. He was chewing on his crib like a little beaver (unfortunately, there are teeth marks to prove it), so his cute little bed now has not so cute rail protectors. He went to his first major league baseball game last month and got to meet his Uncle Rick and cousins Seamus, Jack, and Brendan. His latest and greatest trick...giving real kisses. You pucker up, ask for a kiss, and he leans in and brushes his (open) mouth against yours. It's the best! :)