Big Boy Underwear!

Collins is wearing big boy underwear for the first time today! Here he is picking out which pair he wants:

Getting approval from Daddy and showing Mommy his back side as requested:

The irony...big boy underwear and a paci. He says he "needs it." I think we're going to have a time getting rid of that thing!

We got this note last week :)

Big News!

Guess who's going to be a big brother! Collins is!!

We are expecting another little one on or around August 27th! We are excited. And a little nervous/scared, but that's normal, right? Mostly excited :)

I found out the night of December 20th because I had a suspicious feeling. I waited to tell Jake until the next day because he had already fallen asleep on the couch and wouldn't have believed me anyway in that state of mind. SO HARD to keep this secret from him even for under 12 hours!

I had already been able to plan a lunch date with Jake for the next day, which is kind of a big deal given his hard-to-predict schedule at times. We had talked about a few different places to eat, but with news like this to deliver I suggested DePalma's :)

I waited to tell him until after we ate since he was having to take care of some work stuff on the phone. He tried to ask me to pay the tab and let him go on and run an errand before we met at the house to assemble stuff for Santa. I didn't go for that. I asked him to come sit next to me on the booth. I told him I wanted him to see a picture on my phone and showed him a pic of the positive pregnancy test! He was excited! He said he definitely didn't expect news like this during lunch :)

Here is a picture of us right after I told him. It's horrible, but in the name of documentation:

We were able to keep quiet during the holidays, especially since we had not yet been to the doctor to confirm anything. I told my sister earlier than I intended, only because it was an opportunity to tell her in person this time. Last time I had to send her flowers and tell her on the phone. This way was more fun! Then, Haylee convinced me to go ahead and tell Mama and Daddy so she could be there to witness their surprise. I hate to tell people secrets like this and then make them swear to silence, but...I did it anyway!

Christmas Day! About 5 weeks!

The night we told my parents and sister!

Just got the news!

This was my impromptu way of announcing...on Collins' menu he'd been coloring on at Desperado's!

 

About 10.5 weeks

Always a fun part...thanks FB :)

 
I don't have any pictures of us telling Jake's parents :( I have the whole thing on film, though, and it's pretty funny, but too long to post. They are excited as well!

I am feeling good overall. I have been nauseated a good bit, but have thrown up only twice. I often tell Collins that I feel queasy. He says, "Ooh feel cheesy?" Yeah. Pretty much. I forgot how much your bathroom trips increase when you're expecting. Particularly around 3:30am.

I have had two doctor's appointments with one ultrasound. So, so good to hear that little heartbeat! Last week when we heard it the bpm was 163. Thankful for a strong heart so far! I am 13 weeks now, so pretty much out of the first trimester!

Collins knows there's a baby in my tummy, but I don't think he really grasps the whole concept yet. How could he?! He will be a great big brother, though. He has said he thinks the baby is a brother. Named Sister. Sometimes he says he thinks it's a girl. If it's a girl he wants her name to be Lucy. Go figure! And if it's a boy he thinks the name is "Mack. Little tiny Mack" because 'Big Boy Mack' is in his classroom. Oh, and once when I told him a baby was in my tummy he told me Jesus was in his. :)

Another random tidbit...I cannot find my maternity clothes. How does that happen? I have a few pieces, but I know of several that I cannot find. Jake looked in the attic and says they're not there. I let Casey borrow them, but both she and I remember her returning them. All in one big container. Luckily, Casey returned the favor and is letting me borrow her clothes, so I'll be okay. But that's just weird (and frustrating!)

I am praying each day for another safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery, and am praying each day for this little one. Having a child already makes it easier to realize how fast this all will go. I am so thankful Jake and I were chosen to borrow another one of God's children. What a wonderful God He is!

Crazy Hair Day

This was all I could come up with that wouldn't make him look like a girl. If the water, gel, and hairspray hadn't worked (I use that term loosely), I was going for tin foil.

Thank goodness for conditioner!

Conversations with Collins

• Collins has two imaginary friends. Poco and Mahjon. Both live outside. They are "ah-doh" (yellow) and blue. He sometimes opens up his bedroom door and calls for them. 
• Stands in front of the pantry and ponders: What me want?
• Mama, I coperate! 
• Loves some Fute Poops for breakfast. But not as much as breakfast "ca-role."
• Has a new afternoon teacher at preschool that he loves. Her name is Miss Elizabeth. He calls her "Mii Bii Beff."
• I pointed out one morning that we got a new sign at our church! He asked, "Who made it?" I said, "Those men who were working on it." He said, "Jesus?!" I said, "I'm sure He helped them!"
• We were reading a story one night and I was going to let him finish the sentence for me like he often does. It was a Hello, Big Al book and the sentence was talking about a pep rally. I said, "Big Al went to the steps of Gorgas Library to join the band for a pep..." Collins said, "pa-mint" (peppermint). Not exactly. The child loves peppermints. Almost as much as suckers.
• It's hilarious to hear him read Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? He says, "Bewn bewn bewn bewn...ooh see?" He knows the book in order and gets it right most of the time.
• We walked into McDonald's one night for supper. We go up to order and Collins looks up at me and asks, "Eat more chicken?" I said, "No. I'm lovin' it."
• During said McDonald's date, he was playing with his toy and said, "Rahhhh!!!" Playing along, I said, "Ahh! You're a monster!" He said, "I not a monster; I pecious!" (precious) Well, yes he is! He said Mrs. Anna told him that :)
• Says "mocca dove" for microwave!
• Tells me these directions frequently: "Go right dare under" or "It's right dare under." 
• When asked questions he sometimes responds, "Ummm...can't member."
• Has learned "See ya later alligator!" But can't say the response, so he says, "Da da da da da da" to the tune of "After a while crocodile!"
• Calls me: Baby Mama, Baby Mommy Doodin, Mommy David Doodin, or (still) Mommy Tiff, and Jake: Daddy Jake Philip Doodin, Daddy Philip Doodin, and Daddy Jake. Mostly just Mommy and Daddy though :)
• Told me one day, "You my baby durl (girl)!" Sweet :)
• Pretending to hunt in Daddy's office, he said: "Shoot dat nut!" He thinks squirrels are called nuts. Cracked me up! (Pun intended ;)
• There's a picture of a jelly fish in one of his books. At first he'd say, "Yummy to my tummy!" I guess it does sound like something you'd eat!
• During his blessing one night: "God our Falther; God our Falther; Once a din; Once a din; ...whatever...; ...whatever...; we wa ike da dank ooh; ah da men; ah da men." I'm thinking he got "whatever" from me, but luckily Lucy got the blame.
• Another night during the blessing: "...once a din...I love you...we wa ike da dank ooh....come on, bessin'...ah da men." I think he was encouraging his words to hurry up.
• Got in his car seat one morning and proclaimed, "I did it! All my big self!"
•  One morning in the car he pulled a tiny little strand of stuffing out of his giraffe, Stretch. He said, "Look!" I said, "What is that?!" Him: "A feather. Stick in his hat; call maccawoni!" hahaha
• Refers to his Ninja Turtle as "Waff-E-ale" (Raphael)
• One morning during breakfast I tried to get him to taste a hash round from Hardee's. He kindly said, "It's not my favorite."
• Watching a fishing show on Saturday morning, he says to Jake and my parents: "That's huge, man!"
• Going to his room with Daddy to rock for a nap, he kissed and hugged me and told me to cry (he likes for me to pretend cry). Agreeably, I 'cried.' He looked at me like I was a pathetic wimp and said, "I just hugged you..."
• He loves to read his toddler Bible. One of his favorite stories is when God told Adam and Eve, "Don't eat that fruit from that tree." On the next page it shows them leaving Eden and they're sad because they can't live there anymore. One night Collins tried to give them great advice: "Spit it out!!!" If only they had thought of that!
• Collins feeds Hank just about every night. It is one of his favorite chores. One night Jake had the fridge door open while Collins was heading for the pantry with Hank's dish. As he squeezed by Jake he said, "Get out of my way." He didn't mean a thing by it. It was hilarious to me because it was just so matter of fact. We had to do a little explaining on that one :)
• Likes to say "mer-ah-cee" (merci) so he can "speak French."
• Thinks I work at "New A!" instead of UA. 
• Has been playing mailman recently. He pretends there's mail in the bucket on the back of his tricycle and delivers it to us all the time. He also cooks on his play grill a lot. He likes to grill bacon, cupcakes, and oatmeal. 
• Last weekend we asked how he slept and he responded, "Pitty well." 
• Sunday night after his nap, we were all three in the living room and he was playing. We had been talking about what to have for supper and Collins said he wanted oatmeal. We discussed it for a while, then got off subject. Bringing us back to focus, Collins shrugged his shoulders and asked, "Who gonna feed me?"
• On Monday when I drove up to preschool I said something to the tune of, "There's Miss Kathryn's truck!" He popped back with, "How bout dat." Has said it one other time since then. Love it!
• The other morning he wanted me to ride his tricycle. I explained that I was too big and might break it. He concluded, "You fat." I said, "No, we don't tell people they're fat. And we don't tell people they're ugly." He said, "Yes ma'am; not uh-huh." "Yes, that's right." Funny to me that fat, ugly, and uh-huh are all on the same level!
• Collins weighs about 31ish pounds and I already can't remember how tall he is. It's in the 30s I think. I'm bad at that part. Will have to check with the doctor so she can refer to his chart ;) He goes to bed at about 7:45-8pm but doesn't go to sleep till probably 8:30 or so. We read three books (except for the nights I cave and read one more), then he turns on his puppy dog (that projects stars on the ceiling), turns off his lamp (always a battle), and we rock until he says, "Lay down side me." Then I put him in his crib, kiss, and hug him, cover him up, and lay down next to him on the floor, but only until "dat puppy dog go night-night." It stays on 15 minutes. Lots of times I actually fall asleep in there.Then he tells me it went off, we hug and kiss again. I have learned not to even try to rush the kiss. It's going to be lengthy or else we're going to do it again. Then I cover him up again, the ball blanket first and then the big blanket. Then we hug one more time. :)

Valentine's Day!

Collins had his first Valentine's Day party at preschool this year! I was his valentine, of course :) Here's the treats he took to school:

The boy loves nothing more than a 'sucka' so the fact that he shared some with his friends makes him a trooper. 

His goodies from Mama and Daddy!

 

Doing his chore :)

I love that ham!

One lucky mama!

Excited to go to the party!

Look at my stud muffin!

This was actually the next day, the day he had surgery. We got our card from Granny and Granddaddy and package from MawMaw that day. He opened them right after having a snack.

Look at that intensity. He saw his $5 from Granny and told Daddy, "Don't take it."

You can't tell here, but his mouth is wide open!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to "Daddy Jake Philip Goodin"! Collins and I love you WHOLE MUCH and are so glad you're ours! Hope you've had a wonderful day!

Tubes

We finally had Collins' surgery last Friday. We ended up using a different doctor who operates at a different facility, and I was much more settled this time. I can't explain where the other feeling came from, but everything worked out great!

We had to be there at 6am. Jake and I prayed the night before for things to go according to plan, and for Collins not to even desire something to eat or drink since he couldn't have anything. And he didn't! He was so good in the waiting room (asked everyone their name), and during pre-op. He definitely got on the nurses' good sides! Not even any crying when he went back to the operating room with him. Such a drugged big boy!

The doctor ended up taking out his adenoids (we talked about this possibility at the consult this time!) because they were so swollen. The hardest part was coming out of anesthesia, but even that wasn't bad. Poor baby just wanted to sleep and people kept waking him up!

When we got home (11am), I sat down on the couch holding Collins. I had no idea he'd go to sleep right then and there. I had to adjust myself so I'd be half way comfortable in case the nap lasted three hours. Kinda like when he was an infant! Jake went to pick up the prescriptions and get some lunch for him and me. When he got home Collins was still napping. So Jake had to sit next to me and feed me my Subway sandwich, drink, and cookie :) It looked like I was the patient!

Poppa came soon after we got home and that was helpful when Collins woke up; he was happy to see him! He played good, ate a little, and took a long nap in the guest bed with me. Even went to sleep easily that night.

I am really hoping this surgery will help our baby not have so many infections. Collins has already told us several times, "Too loud." It's been sounding like he's in a tunnel for months, and is finally clear!

In the waiting room.

The most important aspect of your anesthesiologist is his choice of footwear.

Mrs. Vickie tried to get him to put on his hospital bracelet. But Collins won.

Just had a little Sprite and sedative cocktail...getting groggy!

Right when they let us see him again. Mrs. Julie was holding him.

Daddy's got him!

Mommy holding the baby boy.