Collier

This post is way overdue.  But the reason that I have been slacking on posting about my precious boy and his big entrance into his 4th year (that's turning 3, by the way) is probably because of him.  I mean, who wants to sit in front of a computer screen when they can stare at this pretty face in person!!?  

Collier has had a great year and I have absolutely loved watching him grow into a little boy.  We still have a long way to go before I will stop calling him (and treating him like) my baby…(that includes diapers, pacis and his crib!) but it is pretty obvious that he has graduated from toddlerhood and making his way into boyhood.  His increase in vocabulary and fine motor skills has been so fun to witness. 

There is something about him that captures your heart, which must be the why we have survived the moodswings, the stubbornness, and the screams. When he is sweet, man there is nothing sweeter.  And when he wants to give you some love, it's cozy snuggles and precious smiles.  

Best ways to describe Collier at 3 so far:

Beautiful, smart, strong-willed, interesting, cautious, committed, obsessive, gentle, exhausting, perfect.

He has the most adorable little voice and I could sit and listen to him chat (most conversations involve trucks) all day. Some of the notable phrases that he says often:

"That's salwee." (= that's silly)

"Don't say that word!" (= don't say that to me or don't make that face or don't laugh)

"Kay?" (= ok? (says a lot!))

"I don't have to do that."

"It's spicy!" = says about any sugary or flavored drink or something that doesn't taste quite right to him! Only water for this guy!

"Don't check me." (after pooping…could sit in a dirty diaper for hours)

And my all time favorite: "I want to carry you." I carry him a lot.  Way more than I should, but I know it's not forever and one day I won't be carrying him at all, so I'm soaking it up!

Collier has 3 main obsessions that have not wavered since he was very young.  Those are trucks, puzzles and drums.  This kid knows what he likes and can be extremely focused when playing with any of these things.  

If it has wheels, he's all about it.  We read lots of books to Collier, but most of them involve trucks.  And when he's not playing with trucks he's probably watching them on the iPad.  He's never been one to get too interested in watching cartoons, but show him some youtube videos of real-life trucks and he's a happy dude.  When we drive around town, most of the time we spend commenting on the different vehicles on the road.  He is an encyclopedia for all vehicles and knows way more about them (especially construction trucks) than I do.  He loves making his own construction scenes outside using sand, dirt, rocks, or whatever makes the biggest mess.  

When I found an adorable construction worker Halloween costume (complete with tattooed arms!), I knew he would love it!  Because of his obsession with stop signs, I decided to make him his own, and that was his key to happiness on Halloween!

Big sis, unicorn, always watching out for her brother.

There was no doubt in our minds that Collier would be getting some drums for his 3rd birthday.  We looked into getting him a real drum set because all he wants to do is make beats on anything that slightly resembles a drum in our house…trash cans, pots, tabletops.  And then I thought better of it when I remembered just how small our house is and that a 3 year old plus a real drum set could equal my loss of sanity!

We got him a drum mat instead!  He likes it, but still prefers trash cans, pots and tabletops.  

One of my favorite memories.  On his birthday I made him a small drum cake.  One of the presents he received was a new firetruck with a ladder and he decided it needed to be there to tend to the fire on the candle (makes sense).  Here is is screaming because he is waiting for the fireman to get rid of the fire (and meanwhile refusing to blow out the candle).  He's no dummie.

Christmas came just 10 days after his birthday and Santa made his wish come true with a new firetruck.  Poor kid was getting over a stomach bug, so he was not feeling so hot, but the firetruck helped.

The family went on a fun New Year's trip to Kiawah Island with our best friends, The Kneisels.  Here are the cute little "Godbrothers" playing with Collier's new firetruck.

Finally we had a fun snowstorm!  All kids enjoyed playing outside in it this year, especially Collier, since snow is the perfect stuff for his trucks to push around!

About a month after his real birthday I decided to throw a little party for my sweet truck loving boy.  It was so much fun to transform the bakement into a construction zone and to see his face light up when he saw it!

I got some great ideas for this party with some internet searching - here is a fun and easy way to pound "nails" (golf tees) into "wood" (styrofoam).

A little Collier drool helped to blow those candles out!

One of Collier's other favorite things is chocolate!  He couldn't wait to dig into the giant chocolate bunny on Easter morning!

Happy boy at the neighborhood Easter egg hunt!

Beautiful Spring weather meant an impromptu picnic at Freedom Park on a Saturday morning.

I am so thankful for the love these two kiddos have for each other.  And mostly, I am so proud of my girl and impressed by her patience and kind heart that she shows Collier every day.  Collier requires more patience than most.  He loves his sister but he is not always so nice to her.  She is ALWAYS nice to him and goes out of her way to make him happy and to protect him.  My parents might say they had a similar experience with their kids.  And I was the Collier.

Isabelle loves to read to Collier before bed. And he loves it just as much!

Sibling snuggles

One of those mornings at the playground over Spring Break when my heart could just burst with love and happiness!  They were 2 peas in a pod the whole week.  I'm a crazy mama, but I honestly didn't want them to go back to school.

Bathtime giggles.

One of Collier's favorite activities is to "have a band."  He mostly plays the drum, but occasionally switches to other instruments.  Isabelle is always enlisted as his vocalist.

My boy and his truck.  

He's got my heart!