Balance Bike and Blowing a Lead

It was recommended that we buy Collin a gift "from Maya" to try and create goodwill for the little baby that would rock his single-child-for-three-years world.  Cas LOVES to buy gifts and gave Collin several action figures and stickers before Maya's arrival, but managed to restrain himself from giving away his biggest gift until after Maya's birthday.  Collin wasn't as thrilled with the balance bike as Cas was to give it to him, but we took it for our first big spin last week and we were all happy with the experience.

 

Geared up in my helmet (after he outgrew his two helmets in the garage) and knee pads, he gets set up with Cas



Off on his first stretch down the sidewalk.  It was a family affair, with Maya a few feet away "watching" her big brother from her bouncy seat and the dogs pacing the sidewalk -

Big grin as Daddy helps on the feet up part - 

No tears, no falls = successful first bike ride

Next door, our neighbors (who are 10 & 7) were practicing their sprints for baseball.  Collin thought they were racing and invited himself to their workout.  They were so sweet and humored him, even as he gave himself a 20 yard lead in the 40 yard sprint!

Chris caught up to Collin, but in his defense, my three year old was weighed down in his bike safety gear -

The summer is off to a great start, with bikes and races outdoors and sweet family time in the comfort of the A/C during the majority of the day!

A Wink and a Nod (off)

Last week when we were posingin our front yard in our purple outfits, most of Collin's poses included a stick -

This area of trees always provides weapons for Collin -

Inside, I was trying to capture my handsome guy's long lashes -

But he preferred to show me his wink.  Grandma Libia taught him how to wink and encouraged him to show off his winking skills one day at HEB, where he entertained a group of cashiers and baggers.

 And my sweet girl in her purple romper - 

Sharing the couch with Bruno - who later put his head on the Boppy pillow - 

Collin Sayings & Birth Announcement Pictures

Collin makes us laugh daily with things like:

• Overheard on the monitor to Eric his Cabbage Patch when he was supposed to be going to bed, "Do you want to come to my house?  We have marshmallows and tigers."
• To me when he was upset, "You're not my favorite girl anymore."
• To me when he was jealous, "I don't want you to hold babies anymore.  I want you to drop baby Maya.  I want you to gently drop her."
• To me when he wanted to be the only one responding to Maya when she was crying, "No Mommy, I want you to get Maya zero times."

And here are a few more pictures that include the ones we used in Maya's birth announcement.  Our pretty girl with a split-second smile -

The best of our disasterous sibling photo session.  The train track is in the shape of a heart, which got cut off, but considering we got Collin smiling with eye contact and Maya not wailing, this was the one we had to use-

In a big Texas-sized bow, fast asleep -

Our sweet sleeping ballerina -

And finally our family shot -

Superheroes and Sweetness

About half the time around here, Collin will not answer to his name.  Instead he is Scar from Lion King or Superman or Thor.  We are enjoying his imagination and listening to the stories he makes up, which was part of the inspiration of the blog name. 

Flying high with the of Uncle Tony -

He's no dare-devil, needing quite a bit of encouragement to release his death grip of his uncle's arms and spread his arms to fly -

But he needs no encouragement to pick up a sword, stick, or any object that can be crafted into a weapon (fly swatter, remote control, even the boppy pillow).  Outside the front and back door we normally have a stock-pile of sticks that are used to fight bad guys outside but are not welcome indoors.  Collin in his Iron Man costume -

And he's already introducing his 11-month old cousin, Nico, to super-hero costumes, in the Hulk outfit.

A few months ago, Collin was introduced to the Hulk Hands at Amber's house and was a big fan.  A few days afterwards, I was trying to get him to be braver at gymnastics, and I mistakenly bribed him with the hands from Wal-mart if he'd participate in the child-only activities (rather than sit by me on the wall, which is what he had done the previous week).  It never dawned on me that the Hulk movie was out years ago and the Hulk Hands might be difficult to find.  After an unsuccessful trip to the store, I found them on-line for $80!  What a rookie mistake, I could have bribed him with a Hershey Kiss and it would have been equally effective!

My mom was telling the story to our friend Stephanie, and she gifted Collin with Hulk Hands that her husband had received as a gag gift.  They have been a huge hit at our house!

One of the many nicknames we've given to Maya is "Sweetness."  We use it throughout the day except from 7-9pm, when we call her "Fussypants."  Here she is sporting her red, white and blue on her first Memorial Day - 

A half smile as she rests in my arms -

Big blue eyes in her first monogrammed shirt from Cas' office -

Dressed up in an outfit that my mom gifted my friend Amber, was then passed down to my friend Kelly, and now is being worn by my daughter -

And finally our girl in her first swimsuit.  Our sweet neighbors invited us to swim and then we had dinner together.  Maya dressed the part, though she only splashed her toes in the pool - 

And finally the biggest source of sweetness at our house is watching my children play together.  Collin loves when Maya is awake, bringing me books to read her, asking to hold her, or cheering for her as she raises her head in the infant play gym.