4 days to go and still no tree...

Well Christmas is in 4 days and I have yet to wrap a single present. It has taken a long time for me to get into the commercial Christmas spirit. We haven't put up a tree, haven't decorated, and we didn't buy a single gift until this past weekend, and like I said none of those are wrapped. It's so hard to spend the time (3+ hours to put up our tree) decorating when I know all I'm going to be doing is corralling Kinsler to keep him from pulling the whole thing over, he's a monster! :) We are also going to spend 4 days away from home to see family so all I can think about is the time spent decorating and then not even enjoying it on the holiday.
I am slowly but surely getting into the spirit but I have never forgotten the "reason for the season". Our Father blessed this world with the perfect gift and I am so happy that I can call him my Savior.

I will leave you with a little present...

Isn't he the most handsome thing you've ever seen? He was growing tired of all the picture taking.

Me? A mom?

It is often times hard for me to think of myself as a mom. Every time I think about being called mom I think  that it can't possibly be true. Yet, all I have to do is look at this precious baby boy and realize yep, that's me...a mom. Then I count my blessings and praise God for the greatest treasure I have here on Earth.

Kinsler, mom and daddy love you so much. You are more than words can describe. You are our everything.

Wave "Hello"

Chris pointed out that it was "Momma" and "Dada" in the pictures so Kinsler thought it would be sweet to wave "Hello" to us. That boy is just precious! He has captured both our hearts.

The grind...

We haven't been up to much these past few weeks. I have been focusing on school and am finally to a slow point which is great!!! This is my first weekend all semester that I haven't been stressing to finish a paper or project for class on Monday. Chris is finally done with volleyball so we've been enjoying a little more family time this past week. We even made it out for several walks this week!! We bought a new jogging stroller and Kinsler loves it! No crying for him when we head out! (Unlike the old stroller where he would cry in less than 5 minutes of being strapped in.)

No pictures today...my computer is being slow and does not want to upload the ones I have picked out. Sorry. :(

A month of milestones…

Wow… who knew turning eight months old could be so busy!

Kinsler is now taking baths in the big tub and loving it!

He is now crawling at an unfathomable speed. He is pulling up and reaching for other objects close by as well. I’m sure he’ll be walking before we know it. Not sure how I feel about that. He’s already into everything as it is. 

The biggie for mom has been the process of weaning. I had no idea I had become so attached to the idea of nursing but it is time. Kinsler now has 6 teeth and has the tendency to bite so, we have been introducing formula for about the past week and a half. (Thank goodness he’s used to bottles already.) Hopefully by the end of the month we will be a breast milk free home.

 

The biggie for Kinsler is putting himself to sleep for naps and at bedtime! For about the past 3 days we’ve been working with him on putting himself to sleep. He’s doing so well!!! Continued prayers for this feat would be lovely!

Since I have a moment...

Looking forward to another week that brings me closer to graduation. I am tired of running silly everyday trying to finish homework and make sure I have my lesson plans ready to turn in to my teacher and on and on it goes. Sheesh. :) Now that that's out of the way.
Chris only has two games this week! WAHOO!!!!!!! Daddy will be home to play with us!

Kinsler is now crawling..full speed ahead. Except for when he gets distracted and slips back into the worm crawling. He is also saying "bye bye" and Chris swears up and down that as soon as I got out of the car today he said "ma ma". We've thought he's been saying "ma ma" for a couple of days but I haven't gotten too excited over it yet. Chris said this one was a for real "ma ma" with no extra "ma's" behind it. So, I'm going to be on the look out for a real "ma ma" soon! Kinsler is now actively pulling hisself up and getting into everything! Pretty sure I was/am not ready for a mobile baby, especially one as active as Kinsler! He literally NEVER sits still! But, he sure is cute when he grins at you when you tell him to stop...and he knows it too!

Busy little beavers

The Collins family is busy busy busy. We have all started school/work and for the past two weeks we have barely seen or spent any time together. :( We just keep reminding each other through texts, hugs, and kisses (That is, when we are together for those few hours before we go to bed.) that we can make it through this difficult year and come May it will all be worth it.

So, if you don’t see or hear from us as much please don’t be offended. It just means Chris is either at practice or a game, I am at school, internship, or doing homework, and Kinsler is at daycare or asleep. We love you dearly.

Here are a few recent pictures of Kins. His new favorite thing is to stick his tongue out at you and to smack his lips when he eats. He will take a few drinks or bites, smack his lips then grin really big at me to make sure I’m watching. Too cute! I can’t help but smile.

What mom, I’m just reading.

 

Nana, this book sure is good!

He crawled down the hallway after Chris to come check and make sure I was doing my homework.

New videos of Kins

Here is a video of Kinsler "crawling" and one from our dinner last night. The second will melt your heart. (Feel free to giggle because we did.)

 

The perfect baby doll…

Today Edy came over for a few hours to play. Edy is going to be a big sister in a few short months and I think she’s going to be a great help! Let me show you why I think this…

She knows how to use the snot sucker and wipe noses.

She’s good at being the boss. (Which everyone knows is a requirement as the first born.)

She’s fun to hang out with and

knows how to use the baby as a baby doll.

Miss Edy, we had fun today. Come back to play anytime!

July, July, July

This past week two friends came over to play with me and Kinsler. Heather and Annie came by to have lunch and play. (Forgot to grab the camera and get some pictures. :( ) and also Jennifer and Jazzy came to play. Jasmin is sooo pretty! Too bad she's almost two and will have her eyes on older boys than Kins. haha.

Also, a BIG thank you to Chrissy who decided Miss. Bella needed a Jenny jump-up instead of a Johnny. :)

Last but not least, Kinsler really enjoys bath time. His favorite part is getting a couple swigs of water from the sprayer when we rinse his hair.

That's just a little sample of our life this month.

Branson

Chris and I had the luxury of spending the night in Branson last Friday night while his parents kept Kinsler for us. It was our first time away from him together. (I have taken Kinsler to Jonesboro to visit his Poppy and Nana over Spring Break, so Chris has been away from him before.) I was super nervous to be away from him, but the hardest part was leaving. After we left the house and started our little adventure I was able to concentrate on the exciting things we had planned to do.
First, we just had to make it to Branson. Let me just preface by saying neither of us have been to Branson in YEARS! So, we knew the general way we wanted to go and struck out. Of course we have a handy dandy GPS in our car and of course our ever ready iPhone's ready to rescue us should we get lost. We apparently set out for the scenic trip by following our car's GPS to Rogers and through the back woods of AR and MO and then back into AR before actually arriving in Branson. At one point our GPS wanted us to turn down a dirt road that was next to a farm with some very trashy cars with some not so nice things printed on them about our current president. Needless to say we decided that was a little too sketchy for us and looked for an alternate route. This is where we ended up crossing the state line several times. What's a road trip without a little adventure!?

We made it to Branson just in the nick of time to see The Dixie Stampede by 5:30. We both LOVED the show! I think next time Chris will smuggle in plastic silverware, I on the other hand dug right in and didn't mind being a little messy. After the show, Chris surprised me with Imax tickets to see Eclipse. Needless to say I loved this as well. So by the time we actually made it to our hotel it was almost midnight. No time to worry about Kinsler before falling asleep. The next morning we got up and walked the stores at the Landing before checking out of our hotel and hitting the Tanger outlet mall. After shopping we headed home via the correct route we intended on taking to Branson and made it home in a little over 2 hours.

All in all we had a wonderful time enjoying each others company and yes, even a small break from our lovely son. I will leave you with a few pictures I found on my camera of Kinsler.

From this...

to this in a matter of seconds.

Berenstain Bears

In an attempt to get Kinsler to bed I decided to try reading to him. Chris hounded is mom for weeks to dig up his old Berenstain Bears books because they were his absolute favorite especially the one titled No Girls Allowed. So, I went to the book shelf and selected one of the books and began reading. Well, he didn't just magically fall asleep to the sound of my amazing reading voice, like I had planned/hoped, but it did calm him down enough that after two books I was able to rock him to sleep.

I think he really enjoyed looking at the bright colors on the page and listening to me. I hope he loves books as much as Chris and I do. Maybe one day he will share our love of Harry Potter and just maybe the Twilight Saga. Who knows!?

This isn't the best quality because Chris was trying to be sneaky.

Such a blessing

Over the past few days I have just been hit with overwhelming motherly love. I think it just finally hit me what a mother's love really is, something I didn't understand until a day or two ago. Having to be away from him this month while Chris gets Kinsler's undivided love and attention every morning is killing me! I am so jealous! Tonight when I tried to feed him his oatmeal he only had eyes for Chris. I have to say my feelings were a little hurt and excited over the bond they are forming. It's all I can do to pay attention in class and not text Chris every minute to see what they're doing and to see if Kinsler is doing anything new or cute. I can't get enough of Kinsler's excitement and smiles when I come home to him after class. It is quite possibly the best feeling in the world.

The joy he brings us is astounding. Everything from his smiles, laugh, and yes even his cry is such a wonderful blessing that I am thankful to be a part of.

God has blessed me and Chris with (definitely a personal bias here) the most perfect, beautiful, and loving son. I can't wait to see how he develops and grows. We pray everyday that we are being Christ's example to him and that we continue to do so as he grows.

Time to hit the pool!

Kinsler has now been to the pool two times and loved every minute of it! He is now rolling from his back to his belly as well. This new trick is causing Chris and I to stress come bed time. He is such a flopper he is getting himself wedged in the corner of his crib on his belly and unable to roll back over so he wakes up crying in the middle of the night.

Today we went to the doctor for his 4 month check up. Yes, you read correctly he is now FOUR months old! Time flies when you’re caring for a baby! Haha. He weighed 14.1 pounds and was 25 1/4 inched long.

Also, this month I am in summer graduate school in the mornings so Chris has been watching Kinsler. This is proving to be a little stressful for both of them because they are having to adjust to one another. Kinsler is having to adjust to the way dad does everything and Chris is adjusting to the constant needs Kinsler has. If you think about it say a prayer for both of them.

Well that’s an update on the Collins family. I will post pictures and a video of Kinsler swimming. Enjoy!

I forgot to mention his Nana and Poppy (Aunt Em and Uncle Alex too) came to visit and bought him an exersaucer. Which he loves because he is soooo nosy!

*Video would not load. I’ll try again later so check back!

New trick

Yesterday May 4 was Kinsler’s 3rd “monthaversary”. On this very special day Kinsler decided he was sick of tummy time and rolled over. Yes you read correctly. Kinsler learned how to roll from his belly onto his back!!!! I can’t express in words how excited and proud I am!!!

 

 

Naked boy

One afternoon Kinsler was in a great mood so I just had to get some pictures. He loved being naked! haha.

 

Easter outfit

I only managed to get a few pictures of him on Easter because he had a complete melt down. So here are a few…

Shop til you drop

So while Chris was at a softball tournament in Van Buren, Kinsler and I ventured to the mall for some Easter outfit shopping. So we arrived and of course he wakes up as soon as I set him in the stroller and is cranky because he didn’t get his nap out. As we walk I try and hold his bottle and push the stroller and shop. He then poops and it is the loudest explosion ever. (We have now officially had more blow outs in our disposable diapers than clothe, thank you very much mother.) So, we head to the JC Penny bathroom to change and it is everywhere. Well apparently every other mother in the store had to change their kids diaper at the same time so I just set up shop in the waiting area and change him on the chairs because I am not waiting in line for 30 minutes just to use the changing table. Now we are changed, have a full belly, and are cranky. My mission is simple - walk til he drops. I won and was then able to shop with ease.

Okay my only complaint from the day is not that it took me 3 hours to get ready to leave the house, that Kinsler had a dirty mess in the middle of the trip, or that Target would not take my return. My one and only complaint from today’s outing is that out of 5 stores non of them offered any kind of selection for baby boy’s. Is it necessary for girls to get all the cute stuff?! Is it necessary to offer 50 racks of girl outfits and 3 for boys? With 2 out of 3 racks being sleeper outfits!? Honestly! Anyone with a creative bone in their body should take a leap of faith and start designing clothing for little boys. I’m willing to bet they’d make a killing!

That being said I did find Kinsler an Easter outfit. Here it is: 

I also managed to dig and look hard enough to find a few more things too.

All of this for under $45.

Meeting the Fam

For spring break we took a journey to Jonesboro and Piggott and then on our way home we stopped in Perryville. Wednesday morning we started off on the 5 hour drive to Jonesboro to see Nana, Poppy, Auntie Em, and Uncle Alex. Kinsler did fantastic in the car! He slept the entire way except for 20 min around Beebe when he woke up for a quick snack. Thursday we headed to Piggott to meet all the Grands. On two sides of the family Kinsler makes 5 generations. I was a little worried how he would do being passed around by so many people and being in and out of the car so much in such a short amount of time but once again he surprised and he did great! Friday night Kinsler hung out with Nana and Poppy while Mom and Dad went out on a date. We had hopes of going to dinner and a movie but in the end we just settled on dinner at Chili's and took our time enjoying the opportunity talking and enjoying each others company.

Today Kinsler took his first nap in his own bed and I read him his first book. I think he enjoyed it!

5 generations- Nana, Memaw, Mom, GreatGreat Grandpa O'Dell, Kinsler

5 generations- Pepaw, Nana, Kinsler, Great Great Grandma Toombs, Mom

Great Great Aunt Gay

Great Grandma Gookin

Cousin Jason

Poppy I'm tired!

Family Picture!

Dad, Pop, Memaw, Kinsler- 4 generations

Great Aunt Sara Jane, Memaw, Kinsler

I had to post this one because he let me strap him in his carseat this morning without crying!

I guess that's all for now!

Where has the time gone?

Kinsler will be 6 weeks old tomorrow!! It has been lots of fun having this bundle of joy. Stressful and exhausting at times yes but oh so worth it! Here are some recent pictures.

Today during tummy time.

Don't mind the hair or lack of make-up.

This is his Hog T-shirt and my favorite pair of jeans I bought him. Doesn't he look handsome?!

I love his feet!!