Madelyn and the young Padawan - Month 1

Madelyn,

Since Colin has arrived you have really grown into an even more sweet, caring and helpful girl than you already were.  Colin has not been the easiest baby, and has required a lot of Mommy and Daddy's time and attention and although you have definitely tested your limits, you haven't shown any anger or jealousy towards him.  The more he cries and the more attention he demands the more you want to love him and help which melts my heart.

We have tea parties at least once a day, Colin always has his own tea cup.  You like to try to play with him while I'm nursing him, which involves you stacking toys on him while he is eating.  Every morning when I come into your room with him, or come downstairs with him you get so excited, "there's baby Colin!"  The amount of hugs and kisses he receives from you daily is more than most people receive in a month, and you tell him at least once a day, "I love you baby Colin, I love you very much."

Today marks day 6 of potty training!  You have always been able to make us laugh but this potty training has taken that to a whole different level.  When you go into the bathroom you insist the door be closed, and once you're finished you come out proudly with your underwear around your ankles pointing and smiling at your potty yelling, "I did it!"  Daddy and I have really worked hard on keeping our excitement level up every time, even if you pee 5 times in an hour we put on quite the display to show how proud we are of you, it's usually, hugs, kisses, high five, knuckles, sticker on your chart, treat, and lots of praise.  By the time we are done celebrating sometimes you already have to go again!

You are definitely learning because you love to repeat constantly.  

Madelyn, "Where's baby Colin?"

Me, "In the other room sleeping."

Madelyn, "He in other room sleeping?"

Me, "yes, Shhh, Colin is sleeping."

Madelyn, (usually too loudly), "OOOH, SHHHH baby Colin sleeping MOM!"

All of this repeating causes quite a bit of chatter in our house and it is never quiet here.

9/23/15 Welcome home Colin!

And the lovin begins...

You're learning to be gentle, but sometimes you are SO excited to hold him, or be by him and just hold his hand you squeeze a little too tight :)

A true beauty Madelyn

Our little Jedi.  

Hanging with the Kotenkos

Colin you are actually pretty well behaved when we have visitors or we are out at someones house, so if we were never home or always had people over you would be perfect!

First family outing!  FYI Colin, this carrier is where you spend 90% of your day right now, you love it, and insist on being in it, that said, once you get your first pay check you can put it towards a spa day for Mommy, including a back massage :)

You and Howie are lucky dudes that you have each other, for now it's chillin on the blanket, one day you will be chasing each other around, playing sports, talking about girls...but for now the only girls you talk about are your mamas :)

sibling comparison shot!

        

 

Colin, we are lucky enough to have brief moments in the day, usually at least once when you are happy and may even laugh of smile!  Other than that you pretty much just want to be held, ride in your carrier, eat, or sleep, which is ok because you're a baby, and that's really all you need to do right now!  I have learned that Jedi training must require a lot of crying, and you are really excelling at this, you also must have some ESP abilities, you can sense when I'm about to eat dinner, leave the room, go to the bathroom, or set you down; these are things that make you require immediate attention. You are very particular, and want things to be just right in order for you to be happy, usually it's something like, "pick me up, no don't hold me that way, put my feet in the blanket, no I want my feet poking out of the blanket, hm, nope just my left foot.  I'll take my pacifier now, ew gross, what is that thing you're putting in my mouth, I don't want it.  I'm hungry, no I don't think I'll eat now, I'll just lay here with you if that's ok."  And so on.  WE LOVE YOU COLIN! :)

Chilling at the park, Madelyn's friends just had siblings too, this makes for some very exciting play dates now!

Madelyn you are truly a good friend; you're always sharing, making sure others are alright and having a good time, and if they aren't you always try to include them or cheer them up, it is really adorable to get to watch you interact with your friends.

Happy one month buddy!  Here you are looking THRILLED for your one month photo!

That's OK, any lack of excitement from you was made up and then some by your big sister!

Well, she held off long enough...couldn't resist some smooches for her baby bro.

Mommy and Daddy are so lucky, you two are our world 

August 18th, 2015: INTRODUCING Mr. Colin Eric Hergott!

August 18, 2015; 1:50am:  Introducing Colin Eric Hergott!  We got to the hospital Monday the 17th around 5:30pm;  Mommy and Daddy walked the halls of the hospital for over 2 hours to get this labor going!  After all the walking and lots of help from the great nurses and  an amazing mid wife, mama was able to have a drug free, natural labor for you just like she wanted and there you were 8lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long, so perfect, so handsome and so loved already!  And now for LOTS of pictures of our handsome baby boy.

Mr. Colin, you gave us quite the scare your first few hours of birth, you decided you would forget how to breath just to get all the nurses attention (ladies man).  This little stunt of yours bought you a ticket to the NICU and that's where you stayed for the next 5 days.  After lots of special care and attention from the great nurses at Beaumont and assorted tests that all came back normal, we were told you were fine and good to go home where you belong!

8/19/15 First family photo :)

You big sister was already so proud of you and happy to finally meet you.  She brought you a bear and wanted to help cover you with blankets and take care of you!

Our time in the NICU was stressful, but, we had lots of alone time to just spend time together, bond, and cuddle :)  The nurses  all joked that you were the biggest baby ever in the NICU!  You were already such a sweet boy, my little snorter, you snorted all the time!  When you were hungry, trying to nurse, or crying, you would snort like a little piggy!

  :

After 6 days at Beaumont we were ready to go home!

All packed and headed home....let the adventures begin!

Summer Adventures with The Hergotts!

So far it has been a great summer filled with trips to the zoo, splash pad, parks, pool in the back yard, our first family road trip and more!  We are having lots of family fun all while getting prepared for the arrival of Baby H #2 :)

6/1/15 Zoo fun with Grandma and Lilly!  The train was a huge hit!

"Choo Chooooo!"  You yelled and cheered while zipping around on the train, smiling and waving the whole time!

We got a van!!!  You love your new van Madelyn.  The first few days we got it you would wake up in the morning and run to the window to look to see if it was still there, you affectionately say, "blue van," when it's time to go anywhere!

Hanging with Grandpa Dan at Aunt Katies baby shower

Cousin bumps, these lucky guys will be just about a month apart...oooh the fun they'll have together :)

Dressing up with Mama, you love wearing scarves, and trying on my clothes while I get dressed. 

Snuggly girl, you carried this dog around for days, named him, woof woof, "woofy" for short.  You took him on walks, took him to school, and even to bed with you!  You are really very good at taking care of animals, dogs, anything really, I know you will be a great big sister. 

Cool chick!

Happy fathers day to this handsome guy.  Madelyn and her little bro are so lucky to have you, we love you Daddy!

Date night for Mama and Daddy who got to head out for a wedding!  Madelyn this was your first night away from us and we missed you like crazy!! 

6/28/15 Mama is 34 weeks pregnant and baby brother is the size of a butternut squash!  Hard to believe that soon we will be able to hold him in our arms instead of all these fruits and vegetables that are his size!

Happy Fourth of July!  We got to enjoy a beautiful morning boat ride with Aunt Katie and Uncle Danny. 

Fourth of July by the water.  Daddy gave us quite the set up here with your slide and pool.  You love to push your toys under the slide then ask us, "where'd they go?"

On the left is baby brother around 33 weeks, and you are on the right just about the same time.  I see a lot of resemblances!

Madelyn, at just over 2 you continue to amaze us every day.  Over night your vocabulary seems to have exploded!  You try to be so independent and adventurous.  We often find you just playing with your toys, talking, acting out little scenarios with them, you're very creative!  You started to make up your own songs, turning pages in a book and randomly singing about the animals on the pages.  

Bridal shower fun, you were such a well behaved little lady. 

First family trip!  We spend the weekend with the Foxes and visiting with Great Grandma Ellis!  Madelyn had a BLAST with Courtney, Kaitlyn and Megan!  There was lots of swimming, playing dress up, playing with dolls and watching Frozen of course!  You followed those big girls around and wanted to do everything they did, you have three beautiful, talented (and very patient) girls to look up to and it's so fun to watch you imitate them and show off  your own talents like singing and dancing to them!

Snuggled up to watch Frozen with Grandma

You saw cousin Megan diving of course wanted to dive just like she does :)

Madelyn meeting her cousin Ayla!

Hanging on the lake with Uncle Danny!  Madelyn even got to drive the boat!