Realest Thing Ever

Future musicians??

2011-01-19T08:38:00.001-08:00

Here, the boys are testing their instrument abilities... on the piano. They love instruments. And again, posing on Christmas day 2010.

Big brother, little brother

2011-01-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

I suppose its been quite a while since I posted about Collin last. He is the greatest big brother ever. His little brother Seth has shown to be quite the handful. They bicker and fight like cats and dogs on a routine basis, but they play and get along great just the same.

Collin just recently turned 4, he has started reading, still won't eat hamburgers or red meat, plays soccer, rides his bike and has a fondness for the Bible. He especially loves the story of David and Goliath because as he puts it, "it teaches me how to defeat the bad guys!"

Seth Rivera, my little wonder, just recently turned 2. He knows his alphabet backwards and forwards, knows all of his colors and shapes, and likes to give out commands to all of us, and questions his authority... he always asks "Why?" He has given us a run for our money in this parenting game, but I would not have it any other way.

back in the saddle

2009-09-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

So its been almost a year since I posted last, but I am willing to keep it going. This time with a new addition.... Seth. Here is Collin on Easter Sunday and with his cousins. I realize that time goes by so fast. Baby Seth is now 9 months and playing with Collin all the time. They are becoming the best of friends and it is amazing to be able to watch the process as it unfolds. I will post pictures more frequently.

Collin's first time to the zoo... part one!!

2008-08-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

What is it? A zebra of course!!!

Collin is ready to be a big brother...

2008-08-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since the last post, so here is a small photo update of what the "big brother" is up to now....

there's no one like Nana!!!

2008-05-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

So our Mothers Day was amazing... as usual!! Every year, our husbands treat us to the best food, quiet time, a couple glasses of wine, etc. And this lasts all day long!!!

This year, we found out we were pregnant yet again, which means Collin will indeed be a "big brother." I think he will do an outstanding job when the time comes. But we have a long road ahead of us. Here is a pic taken on Mothers Day with his Nana. He loves her very much and got some extra bonding time with her when we lived with my parents for a short while as our house was being built. Since then, the times they get to spend together just seem to get better and better. I think she is especially drawn to his independent spirit.

an easter memory

2008-05-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

I meant to post some easter pics sooner, however, didn't get to it until now. Here is Collin and his cousins... "attempting" to pose for a cousins pic. Its like, okay kids, get together and smile for the camera.... and uh... NO!

It looks like my son is being totally unruly here, but..... well, forget it, he is indeed being totally unruly here.

Three cheers for first family vacation!!!

2008-04-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

So, my wild child has found his ever-growing independent spirit. Which is why we, as parents, are afraid.... VERY afraid!! The other day my niece was wearing a shirt with the letter "A" on it and Collin looks at it and goes "a?" Because everything he says now ends with a question mark on it.

Here we were at the bouncehouse in San Antonio's Seaworld, and Collin was running amok. He now gets this crazy look in his eyes when he tastes a little chance of pure freedom or rebellion. I guess thats just the boy in him, but it wears me out! I'll need to post a pic soon of a night that Collin was eating dinner and was already at his fruit. He ate some fruit from his bowl, then while we weren't noticing, turned the bowl of fruit upside down... on top of his head. So he's wearing a bowl of fruit on his head, with syrup dripping down and it isn't enough. He smears a strawberry nutrigrain bar in his hair and down his nose... again we didn't notice until it was too late. I'll post the pic soon for those interested in what a hot mess of a baby looks like.

Here's to change!

2008-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

My little boy is getting so big now!! This video was taken a few weeks ago, when we first moved into our house. Since then, he has been at a new sitter, who is just awesome. He gets to play with a couple other kids, make friends and be social. I am astounded how he is growing leaps and bounds.

Collin loves his Stella

2008-01-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Here is Collin confessing his undying love for his oldest doggie, Stella. He can say a number of words now, but one of his greatest accomplishments is commanding his dog Stella. Actually, Stella is MY dog, which I've had for close to six years now. She is an amazing dog, really, and has always been there for me. Now she can be there for Collin. He goes up to her and hugs her neck, then of course, attempts to bop her on the head with a plastic hammer.... so now I'm teaching another wonderful word to Collin.... "GENTLE"

Here is Collin promoting Chick-fil-a

2008-01-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

A cow goes... mew??

2008-01-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

So my son is now officially talking!!! He can count to TWO!! He also knows his animals. He can tell me how a cow goes, a monkey, a dog, a duck, a fish and occasionally a wolf. Sometimes he is really clear in what he is saying, and others we are stretching it!! He knows "up" and "out" and of course "no."

I will undoubtedly post a few videos of him talking, but here's a picture from when his baby cousin Courtney was born. As usual, he was trying to jump out of his fathers hands. He was about 9 months and we were visiting my sister at the hospital. He was the baby of the family for a matter of months before Courtney took the crown. Maybe thats why he is angry here.

It's birthday time!!!

2007-12-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

We went to Houston this past weekend to celebrate Collin and Breanna's first birthdays. Nick and Lisa were so hospitable and we had such a fun time. Unfortunately, it started off with Collin feeling under the weather. The Thursday we left, his pediatrician diagnosed him as having an ear infection. And to make matters worse, he had fever and a cough. So we bundled up our poor little baby and traveled that night for 4 hours. The next day he was still sickly, but the day of their birthdays he woke up as a boy on a mission. All their cousins showed up to help the kiddos celebrate, and even some new friends were made. Technically, Collin's first birthday isn't until the 18th of December, but that didn't matter. The party was a hit, and so was the chocolate.

So who does he look like more??

2007-12-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

Here is Collins curly little locks. I figured I'd take a picture of it so that we have it documented. He'll probably grow out of his little curls, but for now..... I absolutely love them.

Playground love

2007-11-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

Our little Collin is easily amused. Both Chris and I have our own little ways to make him crack-up, this is just one of Chris's..

2007-11-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

So this past weekend we had the Ewing thanksgiving!!! It was tons of fun and all the children had a blast. Collin got to cut it up with Johnny, Dylan, Amber Rae and Breanna and there were no accidents all weekend. Collin had this moment in which he was just being a "loner" a rebel, if you will. I don't think I've posted any clips of him taking some steps now that he has been walking for a couple of weeks now. He still needs to work on sharing, but for now, walking will do.

Restriction is half the fun!

2007-11-09T08:22:00.001-08:00

As far as I can tell, this little boy is a dare devil. He is not afraid of anything and will try anything presented to him (foodwise). So lately, since he's gotten in his bottom two front teeth, he thinks he's carnivore extraordinare. Chicken!!! Chicken is his main thing right now. He'll eat it in any form, but BABY FOOD?!? How dare I?

He gives me these looks like, "you do realize I'll be eating pizza by the slice in a matter of weeks, right?"

This is Collin climbing up his playskool slide that his Nanny has for him. He crawls up the slide and peeps through the hole, and watches Baby Einstein through the hole or standing on top of the entire toy altogether. Whichever is most dangerous is his preference.

competitive cheer

2007-11-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

Oh, before I forget. Collin attended his cousin's first cheerleading competition in Denton, TX. Needless to say, he really is entertained by cheerleading. We're not talking about standing around with cute pom-poms and chanting, we're talking about the real-deal tumblers and gymnastic type cheerleaders. Talent doesn't come easy. So, Collin sees these girls flying all over the performance mat and realizes that it is the greatest sport he's ever seen.

2007-11-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

He loves his auntie Ashley. This was taken the day he turned 10 months. She makes him laugh uncontrollably. She and I almost look identical, so I wonder sometimes if he believes there are two mommies in his little world. However, she is the fun one, since I am the one to clean his face, give him baths, change pampers etc...

If you can't tell, Collin is a ham.

2007-11-02T12:52:00.001-07:00

Lets back-track to when Collin was just a baby. Well, technically, he is still a baby, but he has done so much since this picture was taken. Here he is about to slap the camera out of my hand, a thing he likes to do.

Collins first blog

2007-11-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

I will be blogging on behalf of our son Collin Christopher (aka the master of disaster). I will update often being that he is already 10 months and I should've started this a long time ago.... BUT I didn't. Hope that doesn't make me a bad mommy.