Four months!

I can not believe how fast Collin is growing.  I also can't believe what a different parent I am to Collin than I was to Will.  With Will we couldn't wait to see what he would do next.  By 3 months he was sleeping in his crib in his own room.  Collin still sleeps with us.  I say it is because I don't want him to wake Will during the night, but reality is you could drive a freight train through Will's room in the middle of the night and he would never know, it's just that I want to keep Collin a baby for as long as possible.  It goes too fast and before I know it he will be five!   

Merry Christmas!

This was Santa's big project this year!  I found a picture of this while we were finishing the basement and told Mike I wanted him to make it for the playroom.  We bought the baskets last Christmas with a gift card from Grandma and Grandpa Repede thinking the project would have been finished sooner.  Mike purchased the lumber this fall and it sat while we tended to another small project, Collin!  After Thanksgiving I pushed Mike to get in done for Christmas (Mike HATES woodworking deadlines!).  It was down to the wire, but Santa (or Harry Pottery Barn as I was calling him) pulled through! 
Here we are on Christmas morning.  Will asked Santa for a $400 Star Wars Lego Death Star.  I'm not sure which was worse, the price tag or the 3,803 pieces so we got him a Millenium Falcon toy (5 pieces) instead. 

He also got a new scooter.

Will helped Collin with his stocking from Grandma and Grandpa Sharpe. 

Will showed Collin his Winnie the Pooh Santa.  I have a feeling Uncle Kevin picked that one out! 

Will got REAL tools and a toolbox from Dad. 

Collin got new shoes from Aunt Chris and Uncle Milan. 

Will got new clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Repede.

Will showed Collin a new toy from Santa. 

Collin also got new shoes from Aunt Bridget. 

New diapers from Grandma and Grandpa Sharpe!  Collin is so excited he peed in his pants! 

The aftermath. 

'Twas the night before...

Our Christmas eve was busy with last minute baking and woodworking projects.  Since my baking almost always involves some sort of mistake or injury, I'm afraid Will may have expanded his vocabulary this Christmas Eve. As long as he still thinks Ralphie actually said "fudge" we're okay!   

Here we are baking some chocolate mini loaves for breakfast at the Winters'.  Collin likes to be part of the action so I wore him in the front carrier while Will and I baked.  I thought this system was brilliant until Collin had an unexpected sneezing spell while we rolled dough!  Sorry Winters!!  

I got this cute shot of the boys playing in their undies before church.  I have learned not to dress them until the last possible second! 

This is the cheesy fireplace shot before church! 

I wanted to get a cute one of the boys...

but think this one is my favorite.  We're convinced that if Collin had subtitles to his cries or a running commentary of his thoughts, the language would be PG-13 at best.  

Here is the (pre-baked!) gingerbread house (kit!) Will and I put together on Christmas Eve.  Collin was sleeping and Mike was in his workshop finishing some last minute details so Will and I had a really nice time baking cookies.  I'm in love with the sugar cookie sheets!  Pre-mixed and pre-rolled, just punch and bake!  

Will is leaving cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  

I had to take a close-up because Will also left Santa floss and chapstick for after the cookies!! 

A shot of the boys in their matching jammies before bed.  

Collin and Dr. Will

This was just too cute! I had to share! 

Collin's Big Brother

As Collin had gotten older and more interactive it has been exciting to watch the relationship with his big brother develop.  Collin thinks Will is hilarious.  Will has been very patient with his baby brother and has been pretty good about sharing/giving up most of his parents' attention.  

Here Will is helping Collin take a bath.  This was the second bath they had taken together.  The first one was supervised by dad.  When I came upstairs Collin was out of the tub and was crying.   I asked Mike how it went and he said fine.  As I was getting Collin's pajamas on, Will yells from the tub "Collin is crying because he accidently went all the way under the water."  I guess dad accidently left that detail out of the report.  

On occasion Will lets Collin participate in bedtime stories with Dad. 

This is Collin in his "3D glasses"  We had just gotten home from picking Will up from school.  I asked Will to entertain Collin for a minute while I ran to the bathroom.  I could hear Will talking to Collin about his "3D glasses" and came out to find this.  

Will helped change his first diaper today!!  Luckily (for everyone involved) it was only wet.  

Snow Fun

Overnight we got about 6 inches of snow, leading to school closings and delays in the area.  Will's tennis lesson was cancelled and since tennis lessons, playing with friends after tennis and then having lunch with them eats up a good chunk of our Tuesday, we were left with nothing to do.  We decided to invite the tennis friends over to our house for lunch and sledding on the hill in our backyard. Will and Collin plus three friends, four siblings and three moms makes for an exciting day!  

Here we are trying to get 8 kids bundled up to go outside.  I don't know how preschool teachers do it. 

Kris at the top of the hill with Liam and Fiona

Kris gives Fiona and Tracy a push as Josh and Will watch

Carolyn and Jacob coming down the hill

Josh and Emily

Don't worry Kris, I didn't post any pictures of Collette-no one will know she cut afternoon preschool to go sledding ;) 

Henry-we missed you today!  We hope it isn't too hot in Disney World!!  

Santa at Macy's

This photo is from our visit with Santa at Macy's on State Street.  He was a great Santa!  He told Will (and Collin) how smart his parents were and how important it is to listen to them!  Santa will be getting extra cookies this year!! 

Chicago

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday visiting family in the Chicago suburbs.  We headed out for Collin's first road trip on Tuesday morning.  He did really well!  Since he spends much of day in his carseat being hauled around to Will's activities he didn't seem to mind a day in the car.  

On Wednesday we got up early and took the train into the city.  The boys saw Santa at Macy's on State Street and we had a wonderful lunch at The Walnut Room.  We saw the windows, did a little shopping at Crate and Barrel and headed home.  Kim and I could have spent much more time stimulating the economy but we are now outnumbered by FOUR Repede boys!

On Thursday we visited Great Grandma Repede before having a wonderful dinner with Grandma, Grandpa,  Aunt Chris and Uncle Milan.  

On Friday Grandma and Grandpa took Will to the movies, GameWorks and Legoland!  We met Mike's Aunt Lois and Uncle Greg and their foster baby who is 3 days older than Collin and his cousin Jill and her boyfriend Andy for pizza at Lou Malnati's!  YUM!  

We're thankful for our family and a wonderful weekend!