October 2021

ALEXANDER JAMES COLLINS---- WOW------- 2 years 5 months old tomorrow! It has been 7 weeks since you started at Beth's house. Everyday is a new experience for you and everyday when you come home is a new experience for Mom. The first day of Beths' there were tears and since then you wake up with a smile and say, "Beth's house, Mommy pick me up." It is the greatest feeling in the world that you look forward to going there everyday. You have so many other boys to play with and she loves keeping you outside which is awesome. Riding on toys, playing with sports equipment, even cooking on Wednesdays it has been awesome. When you having "cooking Wednesday," she bought all your own apron and you each have your own ingredient to add in the recipe- so far you have made delicious cookies and cupcakes- and we get to sample all of them, thanks Beth :) There is the cutest girl Keeley and you remind me everyday that keeley went to the dentist. You have the memory of an elephant. It is really unbelievable. A boy of many words has lately come home acting like a baby since being around 21 month old Graham, but that is okay we try to reprogram you each day. When I would pick you up we went from cuddling on the coach to picking up sissies then Aj's crib for a nap. Then it turned to snack and nap...and now it has turned in to AJ screaming in his crib like a teradactyl, yelling Mom, singing, and straddling the crib railing. At first I would go in and try to reprimand you and put you back down in your crib but you laughed each time I did that and continued the behavior so that got frustrating and I just took you out. Then Daddy just let you do all those bad things and eventually you laid down and slept so I am trying. I just don't want you to get hurt. You aren't sad to be in your crib you just know at Beth's Graham is not taking his nap so you are imitating the bad behavior. You like to tell me "AJ bad boy" and say "damn it," so we need to work on that too. Your song choices you sing in your crib are but not limited to: Pour Some Sugar on Me, We Will Rock You, Burning down the house, ABC's and Teapot. Lately it has been a lot of, "So, before you go." Let me mention that all songs are on key. You have an amazing singing voice, I keep thinking you could be the next Frank Sinatra, John Bon jovi, or Justin Bieber, only time will tell... However, you do like to wear a fedora so maybe you know something I don't know about the genre of music you already identify with LOL! From stading in your chair turning the lights on and off, putting you cereal bowl in the sink when you are done drinking from it as it spills all over your clothes, pulling your sister's hair, wanting to do everything yourself...We are officially in the 2's. Restaurants are a hit or miss and trust me, living in a pandemic I want to go to restaurants, but time there with you is a thin line. You really like cook in front of you and sushi places. We give you your own sake cup that you pur water in and drink. You try to order sushi and sake yourself. It is beyond adorable. You say, "thank you buddy" to all the servers. You are a very smart and vocal boy, so when you come home acting like a baby that just screams, that is where the reprogramming comes in. I can't wait until Graham gets his words because I would love to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. You like to pick out your won clothes and are very proud when you look nice. I have evened out your mullet in the back and continue to cut your bangs straight across. We will give you a real hair style soon, just not yet. Mommmy does not want you to grow up although I keep telling you that you are a big boy not baby. On our morning rides to school after dropping off sissies and saying hello to the door attendants at school, we get in the car listen to music, you remind me every time we pass the gas station to get a lotto ticket. Then you remind me, "Mommy pick me up." We walk up to Beth and you have to have your bag and buckled just like your sisters, even for our ten foot walk to and from Beth's house to the car. It really is adorable. You have so much presence in your walk too so it makes it even more a sight to see. Each day I really don't know what AJ I am going to getm but you went from Daddy clingy and now back to Mommy clingy and I am not going to lie I LOVE IT. Having a little one hold your leg or ask for "uppy" melts every parent's heart especially mine. I couldn't ask for more kind kids then I have. You all love each other so very much and that is all we can ask for.

FIRST DAY AT BETH'S HOUSE

Let the flood gates open..... for Mom and Dad. Spiderman you are off and running! OMG! Honestly, the pandemic gave us TIME and now that time has flown by! I miss you already and more than ever. I can't believe what a big boy you are, but I know you are going to have the best time making new friends, playing with kids, playing with BOYS. We just dropped you off...and "I will be right back," to get you. If I haven't mentioned earlier you really like spiderman, although I am pretty sure you don't really get it. You can identify him and you like to cast webs with your fingers, so today you wore your spiderman shirt to beth's house. You keep repeating in the car, in your big boy car seat "Going to Beth's house." I hope you have the best day, I can't wait to see you! 25 months and such a brave, strong, smart, loving, big boy! I miss you SOOOOO much! First day SUCCESS! no more tears since!!!!

Happy BIrthday AJ and down the stretch they come!

What a party we celebrated your 2nd birthday with a Kentucky Derby themed party with over 50 people all dressed in their fancy hats and here to celebrate you. The gifts were so generous but the company even better. You had the best time and at 8:00 your night was over, in your little jockey shirt. You blew everyone kisses for night night and we continued to celebrate you, with you dreaming about your special day. Happy Birthday was the best part of the party. We practiced so many times and you love the song so much that it was s smash hit when everyone started to sing. It was an 80' sunny and windy day but when it was time to blow out your candle there was no wind! WE gave you a few blows before you got it out. IT WAS SO AWESOME! I am smiling typing about it. Sarah made a smash cake and although you did not smash it you did get a finger in both cakes and gave it a lick so that was a big step. Sarah made sure to sneak you a spoon and that made all the difference; you loved your special cake. During the party had some play time with Alec, and all the big kids. Charli and Danica did a great job getting you involved when they could and keeping you safe outside and playing. You loved eating the mac and cheese and honey ham too! When I woke you from your nap the party had already started so you really did not know what you were in for. You squeezed your legs tight around me and when you saw Grandma- you said "sassy." What a special day for everyone! Guess what the horse that won the race actually ended up disqualified- just some trivia for you later in life. If you can believe it, I started writing that above paragraph on 5.10.21 and here we are 8.16.2021. When I say time is flying it really is. Your first 2 years of life has been some of the most monumental of times, with the Black lives matter movement, the most highly promoted Presidential race and the need to vote, to a global pandemic. When I realize I haven't written a month summary it is because we are just too busy living life. AJ, you have been home with us every day since March of 2020. I can't even believe we got to have this time with you. Daddy never returned to the school 2020-2021 school year, he spent his time with you. Time he will never regret, time that is so precious that it may have been the greatest gift. Last night we were out boating with Terry and Neil and again time precious time. I can't even think of what makes me happier than you and your sisters faces in my face all day and night. I love you all so much it is crazy to think that of all the kids in the world I was blessed with the best, how did I get so lucky! I thank the stars every night. This summer we have watched you make monumental steps! We have watched you come in to your own. From a baby to a little big boy, although when I ask you if you are a Big boy or a baby, you tell me " Baby." Yes, you will always be my baby. You are so happy. Happy, happy, happy. Funny, smiling, running fast, falling down and saying "die" which we continue to tell you "boom." You spiderweb like spiderman, you pick out your own clothes. You are starting to speak in 3-5 word phrases. You are an amazing communicator. You can count to 10, keep a beat, sing songs. Memorize songs. You have a memory like no other. You are honestly so smart, the world has no idea what greatness you are going to bring to it. I love how you call you sisters, sissies but now you are starting to call them by name. "Chali" and "Danca" and of course "Rboots!" OUr house is just the perfect storm of on the go, all the time. You took a science class with me this summer and were so well behaved. We also did tot rock and I watched you throw up a balloon and catch it, repedidly. Is that supposed to happen??? We had so much fun, singing, parachute, running, playing instruments- roll it roll it roll it ROCK! I can't believe that is my last tot rock class. "Clock on the wall says its time to go..." It's the truth, time is everything and we are making the most of it with all of you. You have really taken an interest in trucks and cars and you line all of them up very neatly. You do the same with all the animals in your crib. You tuck them in and then sleep in the other corner, it is very sweet. You named your 2 dogs in the crub, 1 & 2 and you honestly do not screw their names up- I just love it. Nap time and bed time is still amazing for you. Even if you wimper to not go up, you fall asleep within minutes. You soothe yourself by saying all the names of people you know and then saying good. "Daddy good, Mommy good, Eric good." It is the sweetest. In the morning you do the same or sing songs or just talk. You LOVE to talk. At restaurants you have the best manners, "thank you buddy" to all the servers. You are something else, in the best way. You light up every room you walk in to. Now coming to you from Palatine, IL weighing in at 29.2 lbs. AJ the Destroyer! You continue to come on our scale and wait for your introduction and the say , Mowr ( More). We hear Mowr a lot during the day! You love to eat, drink milk, have your blue cup, wear your crocs. I can't really say there is anything you don't like--or except for high chairs at wrestling and not using the big people drinking glasses. Those are really are only struggles if that is even a struggle. The fact that you can sit and engage for long periods of time is incredible. Let me get in to all the events you did this summer. School ended and we went to Naperville to swim at Grandmas and you jump off the diving board! We went on lots of stroller walk/run/jogs and we would see bubbles and sing songs. You really like Twinke Twinkle and when I play with your piggies. Then we went to Milwaukee where you were the ring bearer for Courtney's wedding. That didn't go as planned but sometimes that makes the best story. You ran out from the back you found a flower on the floor ( your sister were the flower girls) so then you yelled out Sissys-- and tried to find them running every where and laughing. Then you found them when they walked down the aisle and you followed them laughing until we caught you and Daddy took you outside so the ceremony could continue. Make sure you watch the video it is the cutest ever. Not to mention your long blonde hair-- sorry buddy I am not ready for a big boy cut yet, so I just keep cutting your bangs out of your eyes. You are just too cute, forgive me. You stocky legs, everyone keeps telling me you will be a hockey player. LOL. Those cuts and bruises though, they are all boy. You are just my handsome little boy that likes when the girls put a pony in your hair. Can't say Eric and Daddy like it but it it too cute. I think we will go for a mohawk next! After Milwaukee and the public market we went to the outlet mall in WI and you got some new Nike shoes for your upcoming school year at Miss Beth's with new friends. I will get to that later. Then back home and back out the same week to Lexington KY for the 4th of July and a Zamarin party. We went to a horsefarm and you rode a pony! How fun was that, we also stayed an extra night to swim in the pool and just spend family time before our 6 hour ride back home. Then we had some time to swim, play, go out to eat. Let me tell you, as I mentoned you are an amazing eater. From edamame, to sushi, to tres leche you are living it up! Let's see Christopher and Kayla got married and you and I sat in the child room in the church, after they were pronounced Husband and wife every one started to cheer and so did you. I think I shared some tears in that room, again because my heart was so full it wanted to explode. We continued the summer with more trips to the pool, boat rides, visits from friends, and of course some of you favorite babysitters like Sarah. To start the school year you have been with Aunt Tam, Aunt Ter, Uncle Neil, Sassy, and soon Miss Beth. Be strong Mommy, be strong AJ. It will only be a few hours a day and you will get to play with abunch of boys. Yes, boys! New friends, new experiences, trucks. I will miss you every millisecond we are away from each other. I can't even believe the time has come for you to spread you little wings and fly a little. Insert tears from Mommy and Daddy. We can do this! I have to remember that after every work week is a weekend! And after every work day is family time and fun. In the mean time there are hugs and kisses from a far. I love you and I am going to be so proud of you on your "First Day." I will be so proud of Mommy and Daddy on the their last "first day." We can do this together. In our family there is always something going on, something to do, someone to play with, someone at the door, a dog barking, a room that needs to be cleaned, up, a place we need to go, a car ride, a stroller, a ziggle. We got it all and from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed we fill up all those moments with happiness. Even when their are thigns to do like mow the lawn, you get out your bubble mower and do the same. You smile, you run, you swin on swings, you look for frogs. You hang with the bog kids, you cuddle like a baby, but the best part is that with your face or your words you are always expressive and this summer you said the words any parent longs to hear. "I love you Mommy." I love you more AJ and I always will. My baby boy my little poopy butt. Life would never be the same without you! From big kicks and splash splash in the bath tub to diaper chnages and soon to be going on the potty to swim lessons where you cried for 30 minutes the first day. We are doing it! We are living it up. I can see it in your eyes that we are doing it right. Thank you for that AJ, thank God for you. I will try my best to keep the excitement coming and you can count on that the love will always be number one. WE love you! Can't wait to update some more soon!

Time Flys When You Are Having Fun!

AJ Collins, I can't even begin to tell you that every day with you is pure joy. I am so sorry I have not updated in a while but that is for good reason. We have been spending all of our time with you! Yep! Everyday, Mommy, Daddy, Reilly Boots, and AJ! Covid has impacted the world and in our situation it gave us time. Time to spend with you. Watching you grow, learn, laugh, play, sing, dance, jump, roll--- I mean if I name it you can do it. Since March 13, 2020 we have been able to stay home and spend all of our time with you. AJ, you are the happiest little boy with so many expressions and just love to laugh. You crack yourself up and then crack everyone else up while you do it. Light brown/almost strawberry hair with an undescribable blue, grey, hazel, brown eye. Silly little teeth that are starting to fill in. You really went from no teeth, to five teeth, to a whole mouth of teeth. Long hair that has yet to be cut, except for your bangs every so often. You are my little Amish boy. A stocky little physique and the best disposition of anyone I have ever met. We hit the jackpot with you kid, no doubt. It is no lie to say that sleeping arrangements in this house are not normal. Your 6 year old sister, Danica, is being bribed to sleep in her bed by herself, which is yet to happen. As far as you, it is too good to be true but it is true. You like your crib, you ask to go in your crib, you sleep through the night, you soothe yourself in the morning, you take naps, sleep through the night. I mean this actually happens daily. We have people over and around 7:00 you give everyone a kiss and say good night and you go to sleep. There is no fussing, no crying, no latching on to us. You justt go to bed! IT IS AMAZING! NO credit to us, we don't do it right, you did this buddy not us! We say quiet time and ask to lead the way. You have your own little language. Your top words are "MO," which actually means "no." You love to say "too tight," this especially when you are asked to sit in your seat at the table. You like the word, "stop," "Truck," "seat," "Elbow" which is what you call your woobie and the dog! Huh means yes...You love to talk about your elbow or leg, so we sing head shoulders knees and toes. You love ring around the Rosie with your "Sissies." You have started to T and Knee for Aunt Terry and Uncle Neil. Mom and Dad you have had down for quite sometime as well as AJ. Now weare workign on I llove you, although when you repeat, I then Love, right after you say AJ! You favorite song is Happy Birthday and we have been working on blowing out your candles for your second birthday and you have done a great job. We can hear you humming and signing some of the words to happy birthday in your crib. I think you are for sure musically inclined, can carry a tune, and repeat both notes and rhythms after hearing them. It is quite impressive, I'd say. You love to dance, eat, run around and you love trucks. Whether you line them up or drive them around it is waht you flock to. That means you love the "mailman" and the garbage truck. We have to see them everyday! The summer will be so fun seeing them outside rather than through the window when it has been cold. Since I went back to work you have had bonding time with Dad and I know you love car rides especially now with your big boy seat that is facing forward. You love when every one is in their seat. Lot's of pointing and head nodding goes on with you and it crazy that you can understand everything we say. You still have this little saying, "Day bo te," and we have no idea what it means but we all repeat after you and you just laugh. I'd say you are doing pretty good AJ, whether it is fine motor, psyhcomotor, reading a book, singning a song, kicking a ball, meeting new friends, or playing with your family you are in it! You are great at restaurants, in the car, on face time with Sassy, independently playing. You really are such an independent little guy even though you tell me you are a "baby." That works for me, since you will always be my baby. We all kind of don't remember life without you, that is just how much you are the center of our universe. I am beyond blessed to have had this time with you and the safety knowing you are always with us. I don't even want to think about any time away from you as every moment with you makes my world. We llove you buddy! Looking forward to what 2 will bring! Thank you for being a great eater, a kid who likes to get his diaper changed, likes to take baths ( bubbles), likes to do clean up and doesn't make a mess and when you do you tell me it is ICKY. I mean we tried to get a handprint with paint and you cried for 10 minutes and you don't cry. This is how clean you are, just like sissys. Oh and you love to brush your hair, your teeth, and pick out your own outfits and shoes. Mr. Independent, never lets the dishwasher stay open or a drawer or door for that matter. Knows how to safely climb stairs, and seems to follow all the rules, except that you are trying to sit in your own big boy seat at the table no more high chairs or boosters. Wish us luck!

November, December, January here we come!

So much has happened since my last post in reagrds to your new adventures. Present time, we are still living through the Covid-19 global pandemic and as I write this I am pretty sure I have Covid....I am waiting for my test results but at this time I have no sense of taste or smell and do not feel well. I have been wearing a mask every time I am around you for the past 4 days, which is less than ideal to say the least. Currently, it is a drury day in January and you are peaceful dreaming in your crib, kind of makes everything else seem so irrelevant knowing how amazing you are. I mean seriously we have been able to have this time with you that I don't think I could have even imagined and we will continue to have this time at least for a few more months. First off, let me just tell you for future reference that this illness is no joke. I am not sure exactly what even hit me. I am not sure where I got it but it is unlike anything I have had before. Slight fever, sore throat, constant head pressure, excesive, sweating, and no taste of smell- it is down right nasty and it has taken on 1,000,000 casualties in less than one year. I think it was almost one year ago today that there was a buzzingin the air about a spreading virus...and here we are one year later- at home withe the virus, with a vaccine circulating and the hopes of life returning to some way we knew before. We learned this holiday season that your life has been anything but "normal." I do know that you are growing so fast and your amazing temperment remains the same; the happiest, sweetest boy around. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a small group of family and sadly our cousin Mark missed seeing you for the Annual Pre-Thanksgiving night party (which I actually held for him) as you had already gone to bed by the time they arrived. Mark suddenly passed a week later...and it is still devastating. I was so excited for him to watch you grow. He resembled your Grandpa in so many ways and he ways truly the closest link we had to the Ilich family. All I know is that he loved you and Kathleen said he felt almost like a Grandpa figure to you, Charli, and Danica...to me that means you will forever have a guardian angel in Mark. rest in peace Dear Cousin I hold a special place in my heart for you always, rest in peace. Looking back in writing this today it is almost crazy how a minute, even a second, can truly last forever and months and years can just fly by. December seems like almost a blur in the beginning because it was. We are so blessed to have the close family and friends we do that we were able to share some safe space and time with and watch the first semester of school come to a close. Then we were able to head out for some sun, music, and relaxtion in our getaway Siesta Key. What a trip. What an experience for you--- to see people. Yes, real people. To feel the sun on your face, to be in the water, and the feel of sand between your toes. You did it all with pure joy and amazement written all over your face and complete happiness. Your "firsts" take on a whole new meaning for all of us as we relive them in your eyes. Unlike your sisters, the "Best Beach in America's" sand did not make you cry. You were uneasy for a moment and then the only time you wanted to cry was when we were taking you out of it. The water and waves of the Gulf, also no sweat for you little one, you would have stood in there all day no matter the temperature. You made every person that passed you smile, and boy do people need a smile these days. Oh and the pool, you loved the pool or "swim swim/backstroke" as I like to refer to it. You are truly a little water bug with your "splash splash" as you call it and make the motion of spalshing that water. I think Daddy played "1,2,3" for at least an hour with you and like clockwork each time he let you jump in you asked for "more." It makes me smile ear to ear thinking of your little language. Especially "Elbow" which is what you call your Elmo woobie, it is what you call every Woobie. Each day is just a blessing from the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed, which in Florida happened more in your stroller or our bed and didn't happen at all on the outbound flight but did once you were in your car seat. You like a structured routine and you like your stuff. Your room, you bed, you cup, your "Elbo." You like a routine and we are sticking to it buddy I promise. What else was awesome about the warm weather in Florida was that we were able to go on our walks again and see the trucks. We also go to hear live music, and see people. YOu made a lot of new friends young and old and I am pretty sure you are starting to understand that there are more people out there than just us, and other little boys for that matter. What a crazy thing, right?! your constant amzement and smile assures us we are doing something right. You have a maturity already at 20 months of know about babies and you like to be indepedent. You want to use a fork, you want to color, you want your food in whole condition and not broken in to little peices. And trsut me with those teeth, you are on to something. All of a sudden you went from no teeth to TEETH! Louie Anderson is still in the building! And now that you are starting to let us take pictures of you saying "cheese" has never been so cute EVER! I cut your bangs a little bit the other day but other than that you are growing it out and your party in the back has a slight curl to add to the cuteness. We comb your hair back after your bath and you are a playboy. I mean seriously this strawberry blonde hair and almost green brown blue grey eye color you are too much. You are as stocky as they come and you are all boy. I don't even know what that means but you are a tank. A tank who like to get his dipaer changed, you let us know and oyu will lay down any where to get changed!!! A cleaning machine just like your sisters, give you a wipe and you will clean the whole house. In Florida, I couldn't find a water toy and when I did I realized just how smart you are. C&D made a space for their American girl dolls in the linen closet and you did the same with your toys- I couldn't believe it. You put your woobies, your dogs, and the toy I was looking for. You are such a smart boy with insance head eye coordination. An amazing athetlic ability in jumping and resilency and the best persoanlity. I mean the best, anyone who you catch laughing for the sake of laughing is someone anyone wants to be around. I appreciate your ability at 20 months to just go with the flow, get your diaper changed, take a bath, get your hair combed, put on shoes, sit in your seat, eat anything in front of you, and let us complete a family meal. I mean that is YOU. YOU ARE AWESOME and oyu keep getting more awesome how is this even possible!