Saturday, December 23, 2017
Barry Manilow
The weekend before Christmas Margaret and I went on a girls trip to Palm Springs to see Barry Manilowat the McCallum Theatre . It was a fun and relaxing weekend with Marissa, Jennifer, marci, Reese and Sidra. We rented a house and just sat around eating, talking and laughing! Margaret was never put down and loved being a part of it all! I got my hair blown out, went shopping in Palm Springs and of course saw Marcis favorite person Barry Manilow. He is 74 and can still sing well and moves around the stage putting in a great show. He played his music mixed with Christmas music. Margaret looked adorable on her noise canceling headphones and love watching and listening to everything. Right before the show stares Margaret had a huge blowout, but it was needed and I had backup clothes! In the end she fell asleep on me and we snuggled while listening to Barry. She will always be a fanilow since it was her first concert! She was amazing on the car ride, hardly cried! I look forward to more girls trips in the future!
Family of Five
Our family has so much love. Are days have our ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a thing with these crazy kids!
Margaret
having a little girl just completes the McCollem family. The boys still love her an want to help bathe her, hold her and talk to her. She is a great eater and still very smiley. She enjoys breakfast out with friends, she wants to be facing out and part of the conversation. She is still very chatty and likes to be held, but is overall good if she needs to be put down. She does at least a 5 hour stretch, feeds and goes back down for 3. Her hair has not fallen out and keeps getting longer and is definitely her biggest compliment since most babies have little to no hair. She is good about wearing her bows. She is very drooly. She loves bath time and mamas singing voice. She giggles when you use the suction on her nose. She still sleeps with her hands near her face like when she was in my belly. She is very ticklish. She had to get 5 shots at her 2 month checkup, she was very sad and needed some Tylenol. I say it hurt her more since her legs are not as chunky as her brothers!
2 Month Checkup
12 lbs 65%
23.5 inches 88%
Head 97%
Nathan
Nathan is doing great in pre K. He has been reviewing site words with Darren at night and doing well with them, he wants to read so badly. He had his winter concert and did a great job. He sang ever song and knew every move! He started gymnastics after school on mondays and seems to really like it. He is doing much better at church and has memorizes the Are Father and most of the Hail Mary. He memorizes things well and has a very good memory! He still speaks very well and loves playing with friends his age or older. He thinks he is one of the big kids when he plays outside. He is better at riding his bike with the training wheels. He loves to sing and dance still and puts on a show for anyone! He has started to act up a little lately with not getting as much attention because of me tending the the baby. So I have been trying to make more of an effort. He loves his brother Brice and always wants to know when he will be home from school. He is always talking to Margaret and I am constantly saying be gentle bc he takes her legs and pretends she is kicking him. He is a good boy and always trying to make others happy.
Brice
Brice is doing great in 2nd grade. His teacher Ms. Fisher said to me that she wishes every kid was like Brice, he is respectful and gets his work done. I got to go on a Giles trip with his class to The Museum of Natural History. I had a small group that was well behaved so it was nice and felt we could enjoy the museum. I also got to go on my first date with him since the baby at the mother son dance at his school. I love spending individual time other the kids, it is a different and great experience. Brice was invited to Cooking Club by his teacher after school on Mondays and Thursdays. He LOVES playing Pokémon go with his dad and brother and is what he talks about half the time. He has also been back to Religious Ed and had his first reconciliation! We did classes together and studied what he was to do and what sins we have. When it was time to go confess his sins the door was closing and he mouthed to me “what do I do???” I just laughed. He made it through and we did our prayers at their alter together. He has been pushing my buttons lately, but he is still a sweet, smart, handsomely and kind kid.
Things we have done as a family in the last 3 months (in no particular order)
- The zoo - once as a family and we had our first family photo with the dinosaurs and a second time with the Hulihee’s.
- We all got a cold even poor Margaret had a stuffy nose, luckily it stayed in her nose and she got over it.
- The boys, darren and I went to see The Nashville Tribute Band at Higley High and listened to them play Christmas music. Brice fell asleep and Nathan wanted to spend time in the lobby, but overall it was nice.
- Multiple play dates with friends at the park.
- Drove around to see Christmas lights and our favorite light show on Comstock which donates to Make A Wish Foundation.
- The boys, Margaret and I survived fall break in October with Darren in houston for 4 days of it.
- We had the Hulihees over for Halloween. Margaret was a cute witch, Nathan was Spider-Man and Brice went as pikachu again. Our neighborhood is great on Halloween!
- The Gateway Fall Carnival that I put together was a great success and made money. The boys had a great time and we got to show off Margaret!
- We made Christmas cookies for a couple neighbors.
- Margaret had her first thanksgiving and only she and I went to my moms, the boys had a stomach virus. She finally met her Auntie Lauren, Auntie Kyla, Uncle Jake and cousin Riley.
- Darren’s been able to take off a couple fridays here and there with his new role so it has been nice having a 3-day weekend with him.
- Darren put the house Christmas lights up a week before thanksgiving, if you know darren that is a Big deal. We decorated the Christmas tree in the front room and put up the decorations and have been listening to Christmas music non stop!
Christmas is just a couple days away and the kids are hyped up and ready they are off for winter break so I am sure we will have a lot more fun activities I will need to write about!
Margaret
having a little girl just completes the McCollem family. The boys still love her an want to help bathe her, hold her and talk to her. She is a great eater and still very smiley. She enjoys breakfast out with friends, she wants to be facing out and part of the conversation. She is still very chatty and likes to be held, but is overall good if she needs to be put down. She does at least a 5 hour stretch, feeds and goes back down for 3. Her hair has not fallen out and keeps getting longer and is definitely her biggest compliment since most babies have little to no hair. She is good about wearing her bows. She is very drooly. She loves bath time and mamas singing voice. She giggles when you use the suction on her nose. She still sleeps with her hands near her face like when she was in my belly. She is very ticklish. She had to get 5 shots at her 2 month checkup, she was very sad and needed some Tylenol. I say it hurt her more since her legs are not as chunky as her brothers!
2 Month Checkup
12 lbs 65%
23.5 inches 88%
Head 97%
Nathan
Nathan is doing great in pre K. He has been reviewing site words with Darren at night and doing well with them, he wants to read so badly. He had his winter concert and did a great job. He sang ever song and knew every move! He started gymnastics after school on mondays and seems to really like it. He is doing much better at church and has memorizes the Are Father and most of the Hail Mary. He memorizes things well and has a very good memory! He still speaks very well and loves playing with friends his age or older. He thinks he is one of the big kids when he plays outside. He is better at riding his bike with the training wheels. He loves to sing and dance still and puts on a show for anyone! He has started to act up a little lately with not getting as much attention because of me tending the the baby. So I have been trying to make more of an effort. He loves his brother Brice and always wants to know when he will be home from school. He is always talking to Margaret and I am constantly saying be gentle bc he takes her legs and pretends she is kicking him. He is a good boy and always trying to make others happy.
Brice
Brice is doing great in 2nd grade. His teacher Ms. Fisher said to me that she wishes every kid was like Brice, he is respectful and gets his work done. I got to go on a Giles trip with his class to The Museum of Natural History. I had a small group that was well behaved so it was nice and felt we could enjoy the museum. I also got to go on my first date with him since the baby at the mother son dance at his school. I love spending individual time other the kids, it is a different and great experience. Brice was invited to Cooking Club by his teacher after school on Mondays and Thursdays. He LOVES playing Pokémon go with his dad and brother and is what he talks about half the time. He has also been back to Religious Ed and had his first reconciliation! We did classes together and studied what he was to do and what sins we have. When it was time to go confess his sins the door was closing and he mouthed to me “what do I do???” I just laughed. He made it through and we did our prayers at their alter together. He has been pushing my buttons lately, but he is still a sweet, smart, handsomely and kind kid.
Things we have done as a family in the last 3 months (in no particular order)
- The zoo - once as a family and we had our first family photo with the dinosaurs and a second time with the Hulihee’s.
- We all got a cold even poor Margaret had a stuffy nose, luckily it stayed in her nose and she got over it.
- The boys, darren and I went to see The Nashville Tribute Band at Higley High and listened to them play Christmas music. Brice fell asleep and Nathan wanted to spend time in the lobby, but overall it was nice.
- Multiple play dates with friends at the park.
- Drove around to see Christmas lights and our favorite light show on Comstock which donates to Make A Wish Foundation.
- The boys, Margaret and I survived fall break in October with Darren in houston for 4 days of it.
- We had the Hulihees over for Halloween. Margaret was a cute witch, Nathan was Spider-Man and Brice went as pikachu again. Our neighborhood is great on Halloween!
- The Gateway Fall Carnival that I put together was a great success and made money. The boys had a great time and we got to show off Margaret!
- We made Christmas cookies for a couple neighbors.
- Margaret had her first thanksgiving and only she and I went to my moms, the boys had a stomach virus. She finally met her Auntie Lauren, Auntie Kyla, Uncle Jake and cousin Riley.
- Darren’s been able to take off a couple fridays here and there with his new role so it has been nice having a 3-day weekend with him.
- Darren put the house Christmas lights up a week before thanksgiving, if you know darren that is a Big deal. We decorated the Christmas tree in the front room and put up the decorations and have been listening to Christmas music non stop!
Christmas is just a couple days away and the kids are hyped up and ready they are off for winter break so I am sure we will have a lot more fun activities I will need to write about!
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Margaret Joy McCollem
Margaret Joy came into this world a week and a day late on September 5, 2017 at 5:08pm! She was 9lbs 8oz and 21 inches long. She came out with a full head of hair that keeps on growing! She is beautiful and just perfect!
Birthing Story
The early morning of September 5 started having contractions. By 730 I told Darren to drop the kids off at school and come home and I may be ready to go to the hospital. While he was doing that I started timing contractions and they were five minutes apart. He grabbed my bag a we headed to the hospital. The nurses recognize me from the day before when I had a nonstress test because Margaret was a week late. I think they thought I was there trying to be induced. I could not get an epidural until my platelets were checked and they would not draw my blood until they saw I was dialated. My contractions got very strong and the nurse did a check and I was at 6cm. I continued to wait to get the lab to count my platelets. It felt like forever To wait while they checked my platelet count and when the count came back they were at 101 just enough to get an epidural. They then walked me over to an L and D room and got me an epidural pretty quickly. After that I was very comfortable. Another doctor was on call so I thought my doctor would not be there to deliver her. Just as I was talking about my Dr to the nurse Dr. Kudlinski walked in the room. She was preparing for a surgery. She didn’t check to see how far along I was and decided she was going to do her surgery and come back for me to push. A few hours later she was back in the room and we were ready to deliver Margaret. I pushed about three times for each contraction and on the forth contraction she was out. Darren predicted an hour earlier that she would be born at 5:10 PM she beat him by two minutes. Margaret was put on my chest for some skin to skin and she started to do some grunting. The nurses took her and weighed her and made her cry to make sure her lungs were clear it out. She was much bigger then I expected. We both fell in love instantly!
We had a lot of visitors after that. Many of Darren‘s coworkers came to see her since they were already at the hospial. My grandparents came and then my parents and Ruth. My favorite visitors were of course the boys. I have the cutest video of them entering the room with big smiles on their faces so excited to meet there baby sister. There was so much joy in that room it made my heart full. I was very tired by this point so many visitors and nurses in the room and checks that I decided I was ready to go home. The nurses worked hard and get me out on September 6th at 9:00 PM. It was very nice to be back in my own bed and Margaret was an excellent sleeper from the start. It worked out well because Ruth was there so the boys could stay in the house and she got them ready for school.
We really enjoyed having grandma Ruth here. The boys got to have fun with her and enjoyed her company. Week two I pulled my trapezius muscle and had a blood clot behind my knee so I end up going to the emergency department to check it out and luckily it was a superficial clot. Right after Darren had one week Margaret home he started his new job. So having Ruth was extra helpful and it is always sad to say goodbye after having her for three and half weeks.
Margaret has been very chill and happy baby girl. She was smiling by week two and even giggled in her sleep. The boys love holding her and talking with her. Brice can hold her and she falls asleep on him. Nathan loves holding her and talking to her the most but he can’t control himself with the touching her face and her feet and her hands so she doesn’t get much sleep with him and starts fussing, too much love. The boys are very helpful and will get me things if I need it and help me bathe her. I keep asking if you want to change your diaper so far I’ve had no takers.
Margaret is the perfect addition to our family and we couldn’t be more happy!
Birthing Story
The early morning of September 5 started having contractions. By 730 I told Darren to drop the kids off at school and come home and I may be ready to go to the hospital. While he was doing that I started timing contractions and they were five minutes apart. He grabbed my bag a we headed to the hospital. The nurses recognize me from the day before when I had a nonstress test because Margaret was a week late. I think they thought I was there trying to be induced. I could not get an epidural until my platelets were checked and they would not draw my blood until they saw I was dialated. My contractions got very strong and the nurse did a check and I was at 6cm. I continued to wait to get the lab to count my platelets. It felt like forever To wait while they checked my platelet count and when the count came back they were at 101 just enough to get an epidural. They then walked me over to an L and D room and got me an epidural pretty quickly. After that I was very comfortable. Another doctor was on call so I thought my doctor would not be there to deliver her. Just as I was talking about my Dr to the nurse Dr. Kudlinski walked in the room. She was preparing for a surgery. She didn’t check to see how far along I was and decided she was going to do her surgery and come back for me to push. A few hours later she was back in the room and we were ready to deliver Margaret. I pushed about three times for each contraction and on the forth contraction she was out. Darren predicted an hour earlier that she would be born at 5:10 PM she beat him by two minutes. Margaret was put on my chest for some skin to skin and she started to do some grunting. The nurses took her and weighed her and made her cry to make sure her lungs were clear it out. She was much bigger then I expected. We both fell in love instantly!
We had a lot of visitors after that. Many of Darren‘s coworkers came to see her since they were already at the hospial. My grandparents came and then my parents and Ruth. My favorite visitors were of course the boys. I have the cutest video of them entering the room with big smiles on their faces so excited to meet there baby sister. There was so much joy in that room it made my heart full. I was very tired by this point so many visitors and nurses in the room and checks that I decided I was ready to go home. The nurses worked hard and get me out on September 6th at 9:00 PM. It was very nice to be back in my own bed and Margaret was an excellent sleeper from the start. It worked out well because Ruth was there so the boys could stay in the house and she got them ready for school.
We really enjoyed having grandma Ruth here. The boys got to have fun with her and enjoyed her company. Week two I pulled my trapezius muscle and had a blood clot behind my knee so I end up going to the emergency department to check it out and luckily it was a superficial clot. Right after Darren had one week Margaret home he started his new job. So having Ruth was extra helpful and it is always sad to say goodbye after having her for three and half weeks.
Margaret has been very chill and happy baby girl. She was smiling by week two and even giggled in her sleep. The boys love holding her and talking with her. Brice can hold her and she falls asleep on him. Nathan loves holding her and talking to her the most but he can’t control himself with the touching her face and her feet and her hands so she doesn’t get much sleep with him and starts fussing, too much love. The boys are very helpful and will get me things if I need it and help me bathe her. I keep asking if you want to change your diaper so far I’ve had no takers.
Margaret is the perfect addition to our family and we couldn’t be more happy!
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Baby Girl Birthday Predictions 2017
Steph - Aug 25, 8-6. 20.5 inches brown hair blue eyes! 😍💗
Kristin - 8/26, 8lbs 2oz, 21 inches, a lot of brown hair, brown eyes. Adorable!😘👶🎀
Katie - 8/23, 7lbs 11oz. 21 inches. Brown hair and green eyes 👀
Megan - 8/26 brown eyes, "blonde-ish" hair, I want a mini-Siobhan! 8 lbs 11 oz and... 21 inches!
Heidi- August 22, 8 lbs 7 oz. 20 inches! I think blue eyes and and light hair!
Mom - Aug 23. 7lb11 oz
Dad - August 27th 8lb 2oz
Meg - My guess is August 24 (less than a week!! 😳) 8lbs 3oz
Grandpa Russ - Russ says Monday the 21st during the total eclipse. It will be a spectacular entrance & you can name her Moonbeam!
Grandma Ruth - I think two days early on the 26 & 8lbs
Lauren M - 8/24 8lbs 5oz
Liz - 8/26 8lbs 7oz
Lauren E - August 28, 8lbs 5 oz
Jennifer - August 21st at 10:32 am. 7 pounds, 11 ounces
Marissa - Baby M will be born the 24th at 5:15 in the morning, weighing 8 pounds 9 oz!
Marci - 8/24
Jenny - August 24 at 1:10pm. 8lbs, 15oz. 🎀🎀🎀 lots of brown hair 👶🏻👧🏻
John- September 3, 9lb 5oz
Riley- 8 lb, 14 oz and bday of 8/29.
Nathan - 8/28 8lb 5 oz. brown hair and blue eyes!
Brice - 8/25 7lbs blue eyes, blonde hair
Jessica - 8/26 8lb 1oz
Ava - 8/27 8lb 2oz
Amy - 8/30 7lb 14oz
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Funny things the boys say
Brice and Nathan are very much alike and very much different. They are very close brothers which I am so happy about.
Brice
Brice is my very serious child he takes things very literally. He cracks jokes every once in a while trying them out and they're getting better with age. He can also be very sincerely sweet and has a sensitive side.
Brice and Riley in the car
Riley " zombies will be so scary people will be screaming their heads off!"
Brice "well their heads won't actually come off."
Riley "I know Brice it is an expression."
Brice " oh right I know."
Me "what do you do an art today for kindness week."
Brice " I drew a picture of me holding a rattle for baby girl well you went and made her some milk. She threw the milk you handed her and just looked at me and wanted me to play with her and the rattle. I stayed with her the whole time you made her milk."
Me "papa is watching you guys this morning while he works please do not bother him until Grandma gets home, unless there is an emergency."
Brice "yeah we can go get papa if Nathan fell off the couch and breaks his arm. Or if someone comes inside the house that we don't know. Or if the TV falls or, or , or....."
Nathan
Nathan is my goofball. He cracks jokes all the time trying to get everyone and anyone to laugh. He's always singing and dancing and making up songs. He is still nonstop touching baby girl in my stomach. She is the first one he talks to you in the morning. He is a very loving and sweet boy (sometimes sincere and other times to get what he wants.) He is also a child that is never wrong and will not admit to being wrong. He picked up that McCollem gene somewhere along the line.
School questions of the day are posted daily and three children get to answer a teacher's question.
Week 1 "Nathan M. wants to be everything he can be.!" ( he later told me it was supposed to say I can be everything I want to be except a spaceman.)
Week 2 " Nathan M went for a jog. He saw five poisonous frogs and two regular frogs."
Week 3 " Nathan M got to eat a Nutri-Grain bar at night. "
Brice
Brice is my very serious child he takes things very literally. He cracks jokes every once in a while trying them out and they're getting better with age. He can also be very sincerely sweet and has a sensitive side.
Brice and Riley in the car
Riley " zombies will be so scary people will be screaming their heads off!"
Brice "well their heads won't actually come off."
Riley "I know Brice it is an expression."
Brice " oh right I know."
Me "what do you do an art today for kindness week."
Brice " I drew a picture of me holding a rattle for baby girl well you went and made her some milk. She threw the milk you handed her and just looked at me and wanted me to play with her and the rattle. I stayed with her the whole time you made her milk."
Me "papa is watching you guys this morning while he works please do not bother him until Grandma gets home, unless there is an emergency."
Brice "yeah we can go get papa if Nathan fell off the couch and breaks his arm. Or if someone comes inside the house that we don't know. Or if the TV falls or, or , or....."
Nathan
Nathan is my goofball. He cracks jokes all the time trying to get everyone and anyone to laugh. He's always singing and dancing and making up songs. He is still nonstop touching baby girl in my stomach. She is the first one he talks to you in the morning. He is a very loving and sweet boy (sometimes sincere and other times to get what he wants.) He is also a child that is never wrong and will not admit to being wrong. He picked up that McCollem gene somewhere along the line.
School questions of the day are posted daily and three children get to answer a teacher's question.
Week 1 "Nathan M. wants to be everything he can be.!" ( he later told me it was supposed to say I can be everything I want to be except a spaceman.)
Week 2 " Nathan M went for a jog. He saw five poisonous frogs and two regular frogs."
Week 3 " Nathan M got to eat a Nutri-Grain bar at night. "
Baby showers
Baby girl is officially spoiled! She got not one, not two but three baby showers. Women love to celebrate cute little babies. We are officially overflowing with clothing!
Baby shower #1
The nurses that work with Darren through a potluck and baby shower for us. There was a lot good food, a lot of diapers and a lot of girly girl clothes. Nurses are always super generous.
Baby shower #2
My mom and sisters put on a very nice baby shower at my moms house. What of my friends came to celebrate baby girl and spoiled us with lots of books, clothes, diapers, wipes and love. They put together a nice spread of sandwiches and sides and an adorable cake and goodies and my mom decorate her house in pink for baby girl!
Baby shower #3
The Directors at Darren's work held a "surprise" baby shower for Darren. I knew about it and met them for happy hour at the Keg. They pitched in and got some more girl clothes and diapers.
Auntie Liz and Uncle Scott sent us a car seat and her mattress will be here in a few days. I am currently rocking in baby girls room procrastinating putting things away and decided to catch up on my blog instead! I think we can say we are officially ready for whenever baby girl arrives!
Baby shower #1
The nurses that work with Darren through a potluck and baby shower for us. There was a lot good food, a lot of diapers and a lot of girly girl clothes. Nurses are always super generous.
Baby shower #2
My mom and sisters put on a very nice baby shower at my moms house. What of my friends came to celebrate baby girl and spoiled us with lots of books, clothes, diapers, wipes and love. They put together a nice spread of sandwiches and sides and an adorable cake and goodies and my mom decorate her house in pink for baby girl!
Baby shower #3
The Directors at Darren's work held a "surprise" baby shower for Darren. I knew about it and met them for happy hour at the Keg. They pitched in and got some more girl clothes and diapers.
Auntie Liz and Uncle Scott sent us a car seat and her mattress will be here in a few days. I am currently rocking in baby girls room procrastinating putting things away and decided to catch up on my blog instead! I think we can say we are officially ready for whenever baby girl arrives!
Baby Girl Update
This week I'm 37 weeks pregnant! Baby girl has finally flipped and his head down. Hooray! I was starting to worry that we may have to do another version like we did with Brice but thankfully there is no need. At my last appointment she was measuring normal and we had an ultrasound to prove she was head down. After all that excitement that she was they then told me I had low fluid. The Doctor explained what that could mean and wanted to get me down for a nonstress test immediately. I went down to Banner Gateway and had the baby monitored. It was pretty cute because she had hiccups on the monitor. Everything sounded and looked great. I was then sent to a more thorough ultrasound where they check the umbilical cord, the placenta and the fluid. In the end my fluid was just fine. I was at 12.9 fluid and when I went in they thought I might have 3. There are pockets of fluid all around the baby that the first ultrasound couldn't pick up. I had to get my blood redrawn to check my platelets and should find out at my appointment tomorrow what they are. I'm hoping they are at normal level and I can just have smooth sailing the next couple weeks until baby girl arrives!
Darren thanks baby girl will have…
Brown eyes and brown hair.
Brice thinks baby girl will have...
Blue eyes and blonde hair and will look like him.
Nathan thinks baby girl will have...
Blue eyes and brown hair.
I know baby girl...
Is going to be absolutely adorable!'
💗💗💗💗
Darren thanks baby girl will have…
Brown eyes and brown hair.
Brice thinks baby girl will have...
Blue eyes and blonde hair and will look like him.
Nathan thinks baby girl will have...
Blue eyes and brown hair.
I know baby girl...
Is going to be absolutely adorable!'
💗💗💗💗
School Days 2017
School officially started on July 24. We had a meet the teacher the week before and both boys are gonna have a great school year. Brice got the second grade teacher he wanted Miss Fisher he said she's beautiful. Nathan has Miss Burnette and she is going to be great for him in pre-K. We have started week three of school and so far so good. I've had a little sadness from Nate saying he wants to go home with me but is fine once we get there and he gets in with his friends. Brice has already been on green which is for good behavior and if you get anything above green you get to put your name in a raffle for the end of the week for a prize. This is so up brices alley, he is motivated by winning and things!
Here is to a great school year!!!
Here is to a great school year!!!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Boys Update
I have tried to keep the boys busy this summer. Normally we would go to California and visit my sisters, but being in my third trimester it's best to stay home and not have my ankles swell! So we are facing the heat this summer and keeping the boys active so they are not wrestling and fighting with each other constantly. I signed them up for swim lessons and both are doing awesome. Brice is in level 4 and has to swim the length of the pool multiple times he's doing amazing with it. He's learning all the different strokes. He says his favorite is the butterfly! Nathan has really grown from swimming last year. He can swim/float on his back, forwards with "ice cream scoops" and swim under the water. He started wearing googles, but has since decided he doesn't like them. Nathan also started a 10 week karate program this summer. He really seems to enjoy going and looks very cute in his karate outfit doing his moves. My parents gave us their old Wii and games and the boys really seem to enjoy playing that. It keeps them moving and gets some energy out. I love watching them play Just Dance. Brice has mastered boxing while Nathan has dominated tennis. We have checked off a lot of boxes on our Summer Fun List.
✔️ Swim lessons
✔️ Sleep over grandma and papas
✔️ Play the iPad
✔️ Go to Urban Jungle
✔️ Build a fort
✔️ Sleep on the couch
✔️ Join The summer reading program
✔️ Karate
✔️ Go to the movies (Lego Batman and Despicable Me 3)
✔️ Swim lessons
✔️ Sleep over grandma and papas
✔️ Play the iPad
✔️ Go to Urban Jungle
✔️ Build a fort
✔️ Sleep on the couch
✔️ Join The summer reading program
✔️ Karate
✔️ Go to the movies (Lego Batman and Despicable Me 3)
Baby Girl Update
On July 17th, 2017 I will be 34 weeks pregnant. Below are the good and the bad. Although nothing is really bad, just some minor setbacks to being pregnant with a third child!
Good
Baby is healthy
Her heart rate is great
I have gained the least amount of weight with her
She is a mover
All her ultrasound look great
It is looking like she will be my smallest baby
Ultrasound is showing she has a lot of hair. Perfect for Bows!
The not so good
She is still breach
I have mildly low platelets
Sleeping is difficult
I am having restless legs with her
Some varicose vein's have shown up
I am eating Tums like candy
Good
Baby is healthy
Her heart rate is great
I have gained the least amount of weight with her
She is a mover
All her ultrasound look great
It is looking like she will be my smallest baby
Ultrasound is showing she has a lot of hair. Perfect for Bows!
The not so good
She is still breach
I have mildly low platelets
Sleeping is difficult
I am having restless legs with her
Some varicose vein's have shown up
I am eating Tums like candy
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Memorial Day Cookout
We had a cookout with friends and there families on Memorial Day. It always seems to be my favorite cookout. It's hot but the pool still feels nice and everyone is freshly out of school and excited. I love seeing the kids run around playing and it's great having adult conversations!
Steph's Baby Shower
I took a weekend trip to go to Colorado for Steph's baby girl shower Darren stayed home the weekend with the boys and have their own fun. It was great to get up there in the cooler weather and spend time with great friends. I stayed at Kristin and Chris's house which was very comfortable and very quiet. Kristin put on a great baby shower for Steph and Steph's baby got spoiled with a lot of great gifts. I got to see their houses and have some great food and great conversation. It is pretty cool that our baby girls will only be 6 weeks apart!
Summer Break 2017
It is officially hot and summer break is upon us. The boys have either been playing wonderfully together or wrestling and calling each other names.
Brice 1st grade recap
Nathan's preschool recap
We made a list of things that we would like to do over the summer things like summer reading, a tent in the downstairs, Sleepover at grandma, birthday party for Brice, swim lessons, playing with friends, iPad time, a sleepover in the living room, movie nights, going to the movies etc. Nathan took his early kindergarten readiness test and we will find out in a week if he goes to kindergarten next year at Gateway. I think he is more than ready and will be going. He is very excited to be a gator like his brother. There's already been a lot of swimming this summer, lots of playing with the neighborhood kids and is already finished their first round of swim lessons. Brice is a level 4 and they are already teaching him butterfly, freestyle, backstroke and he's picking up on it pretty well. Nathan was hesitant at first in our pool even though he was swimming last year, but since we've been in it almost every day he's right back to where he was jumping and swimming.
Brice 1st grade recap
- Got academic achievements each quarter for first grade.
- Had two field trips I got to chaperone. Went to the science Museum and went to the zoo.
- Made his first shoebox diorama and had to do the habitat of a walrus.
- Has excelled in reading. And is doing very well with the math.
- Ms. Newsom said she wished all of her students would be doing as academically well as Brice.
- He loves that I come into volunteer in the class. And I love being able to volunteer in class.
- He did 34 laps at his school fun run.
- He mostly had white clip behavior. White is where everybody starts for the day if you go down to blue that's bad but if you go up to green that's good. We had handful of blue clip days mostly due to chatting. One day he was seeing who was taller and they decided to stand on chairs and see who is taller.
- He still needs to work on his hand writing.
- Families got to go to a nice end of year first grade breakfast.
- One of my favorite first grade quotes from Brice is " William is moving to California. That means I am now the smartest kid in my class."
Nathan's preschool recap
- Has gotten so much better at writing his first name.
- Is very articulate and is not afraid to use large words.
- Teacher says he likes to sing a lot in class.
- Has made a lot of friends in his class. Likes to play with the twin boys Jaden and Bryson and his friend Zane at recess.
- I got to volunteer on water day and see all the kids have fun.
- Nathan loves when I come into volunteer. And I love going in tovolunteering. Preschoolers are so innocent and sweet.
- The preschoolers put on a very cute end of year performance. Nathan memorized all three songs including their dance moves.
- Nathan absorbs a lot of information and asks good questions and remembers. His brain is a little sponge.
We made a list of things that we would like to do over the summer things like summer reading, a tent in the downstairs, Sleepover at grandma, birthday party for Brice, swim lessons, playing with friends, iPad time, a sleepover in the living room, movie nights, going to the movies etc. Nathan took his early kindergarten readiness test and we will find out in a week if he goes to kindergarten next year at Gateway. I think he is more than ready and will be going. He is very excited to be a gator like his brother. There's already been a lot of swimming this summer, lots of playing with the neighborhood kids and is already finished their first round of swim lessons. Brice is a level 4 and they are already teaching him butterfly, freestyle, backstroke and he's picking up on it pretty well. Nathan was hesitant at first in our pool even though he was swimming last year, but since we've been in it almost every day he's right back to where he was jumping and swimming.
Hawaii
Darren and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary a little early in Kauai and it was amazing! My parents watched the boys for 8 days so we could go. The flight felt a little long and my ankles were swollen when we arrived, but it was a small price to pay to sit and relax by the beach! We stayed at the Kia Kea resort which is a small resort but very quaint and relaxing. It was a small walk to poipu beach and had walkways all along the beach. We rented a car and got to go see Waimea Canyon and the waterfalls. We enjoyed the resorts lawn and pool. Got to see the endangered Hawaiian sea turtle and endangering Hawaiian monk seal's which are out almost every day on the beach. We thought they came out every day but apparently they are only there every once in a while so we lucked out. We drove to the north side of the islands and stop to see the lighthouse their but it was awfully rainy so we didn't get to do much. The whole drive was pretty much on the coast it was very pretty. We enjoyed the Kauai coffee tour. One day was particularly rainy so we went shopping at a couple of their shopping centers. We went to a really awesome luau at a family garden and they had great food and a great show. We also did a catamaran snorkel barbecue trip which started out great and the snorkeling was pretty cool Darren got to snorkel with the endangered turtles and we saw a ton of spinner dolphins and bottleneck dolphins. But after the snorkeling after sitting and bobbing darre got seasick. A nice lady gave him something to help and it did. We could not see The Nepali coast because it was too rough of seas over there so we saw the southside which was still very pretty. Darren did runs most mornings while I sat in the relaxing lunch chairs and actually finished an entire book! It was a great trip and I'm so glad we got to go and reconnect a little! We would FaceTime with the boys at grandma and papas and Nathan was so sweet and would just burst into tears when he saw me. Brice was a very good big brother and would try to hug him and tell him that I'd be home soon and try to get him to play something else to get his mind off of it. Seeing my boys and missing that made it easier to leave the beautiful island.
28 weeks with baby girl!
I have hit my third trimester! This pregnancy has been going the fastest for me. I have been having much different symptoms and with the boys. I definitely have restless leg syndrome at night and my right lower lip will go numb or tingly every once and a while. I still get nauseous from time to time but overall they do smaller meals throughout the day I do fine. She's already gone on a couple adventures one to Hawaii and to Colorado! We had a second ultrasound and she was very active and gave us some good pictures! The ultrasound tech kept saying how cute she was :) I had my glucose test done and I am not diabetic or have low iron, but I do have mildly low platelets which they will keep an eye on. I can feel her move all the time which I love. The boys have been able to see and feel her kick. Nathan is still obsessed with baby girl and touching my stomach all the time and talking to her. Darren found a cute side table that I repainted with chalk paint to put books and other things in for her room. I also repainted the crib with white chalk paint because it got faded in the garage. I also finished the pictures for her room. Just need to hang pictures, put up her wallpaper and put some clothes away! Darren and I are so excited to see and hold baby girl! Now we just need a name!!!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Spring Break 2017
The boys are off in March for two weeks for spring break since school is modified year-round. It is hard to keep them entertained all day, and I hear a lot of I'm bored. So far we have gone to the Legoland discovery Center with friends, had dinner at our friends the Lindros, planted pumpkin seeds and some sunflower seeds with hopes that they will grow, visited the library, went to Bahama bucks when they opened for a snow cone and smoothie, had a picnic in the park with Grandma, boys went swimming even though the pool is pretty darn cold, had friends and neighbors over to swim and barbecue, had a St. Patrick's Day dinner at my parents house, and let the boys stay up late watching movies. The boys also find it a very special treat to sleep on the floor at night we normally only let them on the weekends, but they've been able to since they have been on break.
Good Bye Renaissance
My nice part time job ended unexpectedly when I got me laid off in the beginning of March. I was told there was not enough work for me to do, but it definitely had politics involved. I'm looking at the bright side and excited that I'll have more time to spend with baby girl when she arrives.
Trips and Holidays 2016
We had a couple nice trips in 2016.
We visited our friends Steph and Brandon at their house in San Diego and stayed with them for the July 4 weekend. We got lots of beach time and some great catching up. It was a very relaxing weekend.
We took a trip up to Prescott into the Pinetree's to get away for a weekend and have some cooler weather. And my cooler weather it was pretty cold at night. We stayed in a house that was deep in the woods so the stars looked amazing at night and you could hear even a whisper through the trees. The house was near the lake in Preskett and the four of us actually got the canoe together. The boys were so worried about falling in the lake they sat so nice and still while Darren and I paddled them around the lake. The only downfall to our trip was for some reason the fire alarms kept going off both nights in the middle of the night. The boys got to make a little log fort and Walker got to come and enjoy all the smells of the forest. Dear would come through yard at dusk. And the boys got enjoy Smore's and hot cocoa by the fire.
For October break we went back to California and stayed with our friends Jenny and Steve and their children. We went to brick or treat at Legoland one night and let the kids go to candy in their costumes. Then went back to Legoland the next day to enjoy the park. We stayed a couple nights with Janey and Steve and a couple nights at Legoland hotel. Then we ventured up to Laguna Beach for a few nights and stayed at a hotel on the beach and got to enjoy the sunset over the water every night. After we left Laguna we traveled up to LA to visit my sisters and got to hang out with the boys cousin Riley.
For Thanksgiving my sisters came to town and we had Thanksgiving at my parents house. As usual there was a puzzle to be made, delicious food and a nice family time.
Christmas was quiet for us which was nice it was just the four of us. On Christmas day we had grandmother and grandpa Jack over for a Christmas dinner.
For New Year's Kyla Jake and Riley were in town and they stayed with us to celebrate the new year. We also had a Hulihee family over to bring in the new year.
We visited our friends Steph and Brandon at their house in San Diego and stayed with them for the July 4 weekend. We got lots of beach time and some great catching up. It was a very relaxing weekend.
We took a trip up to Prescott into the Pinetree's to get away for a weekend and have some cooler weather. And my cooler weather it was pretty cold at night. We stayed in a house that was deep in the woods so the stars looked amazing at night and you could hear even a whisper through the trees. The house was near the lake in Preskett and the four of us actually got the canoe together. The boys were so worried about falling in the lake they sat so nice and still while Darren and I paddled them around the lake. The only downfall to our trip was for some reason the fire alarms kept going off both nights in the middle of the night. The boys got to make a little log fort and Walker got to come and enjoy all the smells of the forest. Dear would come through yard at dusk. And the boys got enjoy Smore's and hot cocoa by the fire.
For October break we went back to California and stayed with our friends Jenny and Steve and their children. We went to brick or treat at Legoland one night and let the kids go to candy in their costumes. Then went back to Legoland the next day to enjoy the park. We stayed a couple nights with Janey and Steve and a couple nights at Legoland hotel. Then we ventured up to Laguna Beach for a few nights and stayed at a hotel on the beach and got to enjoy the sunset over the water every night. After we left Laguna we traveled up to LA to visit my sisters and got to hang out with the boys cousin Riley.
For Thanksgiving my sisters came to town and we had Thanksgiving at my parents house. As usual there was a puzzle to be made, delicious food and a nice family time.
Christmas was quiet for us which was nice it was just the four of us. On Christmas day we had grandmother and grandpa Jack over for a Christmas dinner.
For New Year's Kyla Jake and Riley were in town and they stayed with us to celebrate the new year. We also had a Hulihee family over to bring in the new year.
What the boys are up to
Brice William McCollem
Lost his first tooth on June 4, 2016. The tooth fairy brought him $1.50 and a nice little note.
Is doing extremely well in first grade getting academic achievements in both first and second quarter.
Went on his first field trip in November to the Science Museum I got to chaperone.
In November 2016 but I started writing his bike with no training wheels.
He finished his second season of basketball and has improved a lot.
In March he started coach pitch and has a pretty good swing but needs to work on his fielding.
He had a Pokémon birthday party for his 6th birthday.
He was Pikachu for Halloween.
Loves playing Pokémon go with Darren.
Loves the iPad.
Wanted for the longest time to be a consultant like pop up when he was older but recently changed his mind to be a paleontologist.
At his six-year physical he still in the 100% for height.
Brice is a sensitive boy. He is still extremely friendly and loves the friends he has. He makes friends easily but can get frustrated when they don't want to play what he wants to play (always wants to be the leader). He is still very emotional extremely happy or things are the worst. As he gets older he's gotten much better about controlling his emotions. He is starting to become very helpful. He is very good about including Nathan when they play with friends. He and Nathan already have a strong bond. There's definitely plenty of fighting and a lot of love between them as well.
Nathan Guy McCollem
Loves to sing. Memorize the songs on the radio and sings to them pretty easily.
His favorite song is "Can't stop the feeling" and sings and dances to it all the time.
Loves the attention and will sing and dance for anyone.
Nathan still takes naps even at 4 1/2 and can fall sleep anywhere.
He will still crawl into bed at night and snuggle with Darren and I.
He loves to dress up as ash from Pokémon he puts on his back pack a pair of gloves with finger holes and his hat and loves to pretend.
Still has a huge imagination and it's great to see you at work.
He loves taking pictures on the iPad and our phones. And has a pretty good eye.
Had A Star Wars birthday party for his 4th birthday.
Was Squirtle for Halloween.
At his four year check up he had to get his kindergarten shots and was very brave.
He started brilliant beginnings again in July 2016 and did much better with classes. We are going to test him in early for kindergarten. We think he is ready and he is so excited to be at the gator school with Brice.
He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. And loves learning about space.
He still plays with his earlobes when he's tired or thinking.
He never stops talking.
Nathan is my funny kid. He loves to make people laugh and enjoys playing with his brother and friends. He wants to do whatever his brother is doing. He's going through a big testing phase but instantly says he's sorry and tries to butter you up with his big blue eyes. Overall he's pretty easy-going, but definitely holds his own if Brice or someone else tries to get them to do something that he does not want to do. He is never "wrong" and will try to convince you why he's right. He does some pretty cute things and I love that he still wants to sing and dance with me.
Lost his first tooth on June 4, 2016. The tooth fairy brought him $1.50 and a nice little note.
Is doing extremely well in first grade getting academic achievements in both first and second quarter.
Went on his first field trip in November to the Science Museum I got to chaperone.
In November 2016 but I started writing his bike with no training wheels.
He finished his second season of basketball and has improved a lot.
In March he started coach pitch and has a pretty good swing but needs to work on his fielding.
He had a Pokémon birthday party for his 6th birthday.
He was Pikachu for Halloween.
Loves playing Pokémon go with Darren.
Loves the iPad.
Wanted for the longest time to be a consultant like pop up when he was older but recently changed his mind to be a paleontologist.
At his six-year physical he still in the 100% for height.
Brice is a sensitive boy. He is still extremely friendly and loves the friends he has. He makes friends easily but can get frustrated when they don't want to play what he wants to play (always wants to be the leader). He is still very emotional extremely happy or things are the worst. As he gets older he's gotten much better about controlling his emotions. He is starting to become very helpful. He is very good about including Nathan when they play with friends. He and Nathan already have a strong bond. There's definitely plenty of fighting and a lot of love between them as well.
Nathan Guy McCollem
Loves to sing. Memorize the songs on the radio and sings to them pretty easily.
His favorite song is "Can't stop the feeling" and sings and dances to it all the time.
Loves the attention and will sing and dance for anyone.
Nathan still takes naps even at 4 1/2 and can fall sleep anywhere.
He will still crawl into bed at night and snuggle with Darren and I.
He loves to dress up as ash from Pokémon he puts on his back pack a pair of gloves with finger holes and his hat and loves to pretend.
Still has a huge imagination and it's great to see you at work.
He loves taking pictures on the iPad and our phones. And has a pretty good eye.
Had A Star Wars birthday party for his 4th birthday.
Was Squirtle for Halloween.
At his four year check up he had to get his kindergarten shots and was very brave.
He started brilliant beginnings again in July 2016 and did much better with classes. We are going to test him in early for kindergarten. We think he is ready and he is so excited to be at the gator school with Brice.
He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. And loves learning about space.
He still plays with his earlobes when he's tired or thinking.
He never stops talking.
Nathan is my funny kid. He loves to make people laugh and enjoys playing with his brother and friends. He wants to do whatever his brother is doing. He's going through a big testing phase but instantly says he's sorry and tries to butter you up with his big blue eyes. Overall he's pretty easy-going, but definitely holds his own if Brice or someone else tries to get them to do something that he does not want to do. He is never "wrong" and will try to convince you why he's right. He does some pretty cute things and I love that he still wants to sing and dance with me.
It's a Girl!!! 💗
Time to post the exciting news that I am pregnant with a baby girl! I took a pregnancy test on January 4, 2017 and wrapped it up and gave it to Darren as a birthday present. I told him it was the best birthday present I could get it. I made an appointment with the doctor thinking I was not as far along as I was and when I went in for my ultrasound I was pleasantly surprised to be two weeks later and we got to see arms and legs and everything measured great. Because of my "advanced maternal age" I took a blood test to test for any genetic defects and it would also tell us the sex of the baby. But before we had a reveal party we needed to start telling our family. Darren and I knew we cannot tell the boys to early because they would not be able to keep their mouth shut. So one Sunday we made valentines cupcakes and told boys that I was pregnant. I wish I had videoed Nathan's reaction because he just started giggling with excitement. Brice asked about three questions very logically one being "where is the baby going to fit in our room" and then said I'm so excited we're going to have another sister or brother. We then went to my parents house to share the news and put Nathan and his new shirt that said promoted to big brother and her brothers hand them the alter sound pictures we go. Another great reaction from my parents. We then slowly started telling the rest of the family Darren's parents through Skype his dad ran and got a beer. When the doctor had the news that everything looked great with the baby she put the sex of the baby in a number lope and I brought to the bakery to have surprise cake made. We invited my parents over and skate with Darren's parents and cut into the cake. Nathan was hoping for a little girl Brice was hoping for a brother to wrestle. Darren and I were very excited to find out we were having a baby girl!
How I'm Feeling
I have been feeling pretty nauseous and my taste buds have completely changed. Sweets are making me sick and I am craving salt. After 12 weeks I was starting to feel a little better but it still depends on the day depending on what I eat. I just tell myself baby girl is growing nice and big and healthy.
Growing Family
The boys are very sweet with me. Nathan constantly comes up and touches my belly and in a very deep voice says "chubby little baby". He is always talking to me and the baby and is very excited it's a little girl. Brice will come up and give me a hug every once in while and ask how I'm feeling, he also tells me all the names I picked he really likes. They both asked me what size fruit or vegetable the baby is. It is nice that they are excited and welcoming for our newest family member.
I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and will have our 20 week ultrasound in just two weeks!
How I'm Feeling
I have been feeling pretty nauseous and my taste buds have completely changed. Sweets are making me sick and I am craving salt. After 12 weeks I was starting to feel a little better but it still depends on the day depending on what I eat. I just tell myself baby girl is growing nice and big and healthy.
Growing Family
The boys are very sweet with me. Nathan constantly comes up and touches my belly and in a very deep voice says "chubby little baby". He is always talking to me and the baby and is very excited it's a little girl. Brice will come up and give me a hug every once in while and ask how I'm feeling, he also tells me all the names I picked he really likes. They both asked me what size fruit or vegetable the baby is. It is nice that they are excited and welcoming for our newest family member.
I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and will have our 20 week ultrasound in just two weeks!
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