Marggie & Collin

Picture Challenge- day 4

2011-04-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

This was taken a few weeks ago, but most of my nights look like this. I spend each night sleeping next to Collin, my co-sleeping baby. I love him the most!

Picture Challenge- Day 3

2011-04-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

I doubt this picture comes as a suprise to anyone. I am a total GLEEK! (Glee Geek). Slush anyone?

Picture Challenge- Day 2

2011-04-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

A picture of of myself with with the person I've been closest to the longest

I chose this picture because I really do feel that I have the best big sister in the world. As kids we didn't really get along, but now that we are older (and more mature) we really have become best friends. I can call Rachel anytime and she will always find time to talk with her baby sister. I have certainly been blessed to have such a wonderful, caring and loving big sister. Love you ChoCho

30 Day Blog Picture Challenge

2011-04-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

A picture of yourself and 10 facts

1. I love singing.... in the car, at church and in the shower ;)
2. I have the best and most supportive family in the world! I honestly don't know what I would do without them.
3. I'm really good at doing hair! I was a little worried when I started school but it really has become something I enjoy and do well.
4. Shopping is a habit of mine for sure. I always look for the best deal though ;)
5. My adorable son is my world and I wouldn't have it any other way!
6. Bordeaux bars from See's Candies can solve almost any of my problems.
7. I have a firm testimony in Jesus Christ and the restored gospel!
8. I love fantasy books the most. Anything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings.... give me something to escape the world with please!
9. Baking helps me relax and I love to share recipies, tips and anything I bake.
10. I hate cleaning. I think it's a family trait.

Junior Firefighter, Boeing Fire Department

2010-12-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Benny came home from work today with the coolest early Christmas present any little boy could ask for. One of his co-workers went to a potluck lunch with the Boeing Fire Department and told him that his boys (both in their 20's) wouldn't want a plastic hat but figured any little boy under 5 would. Let's just say Collin has been the happiest little boy on the planet all afternoon. Thank you to the random Boeing employee for the hat. We LOVE it!

As you can see, Collin wouldn't let me get a very good picture due to enjoying himself for too much.

Gingerbread Choo-Choo

2010-12-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

So, I did all of the decorating but Collin loves to oooh and ahhhh over it daily. He really liked the super sugary icing that came with the kit too!

Hanging out with Auntie Steve

2010-12-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

Ever since I started cosmetology school, Collin has been spending his afternoons and evening with his aunt and his wonderful grandparents. I know he's in good hands for sure! I was looking through the pictures on my camera and found a few adorable ones that must've been taken while I was at school. Collin has really bonded with Stephanie over the past 10 weeks and really enjoys his time with her. I'm not so sure Stephanie feels the same way but at this point she has no choice. HA!

These pictures really make me laugh because they were taken right after I had totally botched a haircut on collin and had to do a #3 buzz cut. Poor kid :)

Coloring with Green and Orange

2010-12-17T22:16:00.000-08:00

It has obviously been far too long since my last post so today we're playing catch up! About 2 months ago I took some adorable pictures of Collin coloring something for Halloween. Let's just say very little was on the paper, ok? Right, I also found out that there are two different types of Crayola markers..... washable and non-washable. Am I the only mother out there that thought all Crayola products were washable? At any rate, it took an extra good scrubbing for a few days to remove the green and orange. The markers were thrown away though.

Scholz Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Collin and I took grandma Becky along to the pumpkin patch. We had so much fun touching and feeling the pumpkins. Collin even found one that was just his size! This family farm we went to had fun little exhibits to look at, a corn maze and a few animals to check out. Collin had so much fun and was very sad when it was time to go home. I think we may be going to another pumpkin patch this weekend :)

The first pumpkin we found

He sat for a quick second for a picture with Grandma

seriously love this one

He LOVED the tractor

Had to have one with mom

Checking out the chickens

Collin's favorite pumpkin

nose to nose with a piglet

Helping out the farm ;)

Favorite things

2010-09-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Being the mom of a 16 month old has taught me alot of things, but the most important thing that I've learned is to try, try again. We've used many different products and I figured it would be nice to share with anyone else that cares. Here is the list and images of a few of the items we hold dear :)

This lotion is awesome! We both use it and it makes our skin silky smooth

Works better than anything else, even the prescription creams!

perfect for us sensitive skinned people

Collin is super active and these diapers take it all!

Awesome cup! No spill or drip and super easy to clean!

Perfect for on the go eating and playing

Spongebob Jammies

2010-09-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I found these silly jammies at walmart the other day. You can't beat $2 a pair so I bought them in 3 sizes :) We decided to do a photoshoot in them last night to show everyone how silly he gets right before bed time.

watching tv instead of smiling for the camera

wild child!

silly boy! check out his teeth :)

and his new trick! He sticks out his little tongue :)

Do the Puyallup!

2010-09-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

Every year my entire family looks forward to the Puyallup Fair. This year I went with my friend Holly and most of her family. We had 3 strollers and 3 very happy little boys. Most of our time was spent either eating all the yummy fair food or walking around checking out all the cool animals. Collin really liked the miniature horses and the cows. He even cried when I pulled him away to head off toward another cool exhibit.

smiling at the camera

checking out the huge cows!

He couldn't take his eyes off those cows

Checking out the chickens

Pointing to the baby chicks with their mommy

He wasn't quite sure what to think about these big birds

Mall Choo-choo

2010-09-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

During the wild ride

We went to the Supermall here in Auburn last Saturday. Collin didn't care much for the shopping but he LOVED the choo-choo!

After the ride :)

The "car" shopping cart

2010-09-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

I LOVE that our Safeway has these shopping carts! Collin has gotten to the point that he HATES sitting in the front of the cart and these car ones have saved my sanity.

Adventures at Walmart

2010-09-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

We went to Walmart yesterday with Grandpa Benny to get an oil change. It took longer than we expected so to pass the time we danced in the radio/speaker area and played with a few tires. From prior experience I know they don't really allow people to take pictures at Walmart so we had to sneak around with the camera.

Shirt and Tie

2010-09-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

While on vacation in Utah I purchased two ties for Collin to wear to church. I must say he looks soooo handsome in his white shirt and tie. I think the best part is that his tie is pink ;)

Playtime with Collin

2010-09-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo update from Summer 2010 :)

Bubbles in the sunshine

Trying to stay steady on the grass :)

trying to play one key at a time

looks a lot like chopsticks :D

playing with grandma's shirt

Now with his head in the sleeve

Running away from the sprinkler

Playing in the sprinkler

Birthday Celebration

2010-05-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

My baby is offically 1! We had a wonderful party for him up at the church and everyone had a blast! I was so worried about making it enjoyable for everyone but in the end realized it didn't matter. Everyone knows that a 1st birthday is really about visiting and watching the baby either smash the cake or freak out about the dirty mess. I'm happy to say Collin enjoyed it all for the most part. He didn't eat any of the cake but he sure played in it! :) Here are a few pictures! Thanks to everyone that came and celebrated with us. We love you all soo much!

Birthday Planning

2010-04-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been has been almost a year since Collin was born. Time is just FLYING by! I have seen so many fun ideas for birthday parties and decorations and cakes and basically everything inbetween, but none of it has really been that "perfect fit". I want to make sure that his party is something that I can make special but at the same time he's not really going to remember it. A friend of mine had this FANTASTIC idea to have everyone at the party write him a letter (she did this for her kids too). I Think I'm going to do the same thing. That way I can put them in a book for him to read later on in life. Honestly, other than that I don't have much planned. I was considering maybe a park pavillion and just doing cake and small finger foods or something. I hope it turns out ok. I know that I can always fall back on using a room at the church and everything would be fine (just in case the weather isn't all that great).

Other than that, Collin is doing fantastic with his health right now. His levels are stable right now which means that his treatment is going great and we just have wait and see how things go as he gets older.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin <3

Mr. Big Stuff

2010-02-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

Collin has offically decided to be big. He crawls, pulls to stand and is cutting two teeth at the same time. I am amazed how strong this little man is. He looks like a 4-5 month old but is doing everything right on track. I think it amazes people sometimes when they see him. The other day we were at the grocery store and someone asked me why he was sitting in the front of the cart. I promptly replied that most 9-10 month olds do. She did a double take and just walked away. I don't mind people asking questions but come on now, he's a big boy and big boys sit in the front of the cart all by themselves.

I put Collin in his crib the other day so that I could take a shower and this is what I found when I entered the room.........

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Sunny day in Washington

2010-02-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

The other day it was super sunny and I figured it would be so nice to go for a real walk. I took Collin to Point Defiance and took a walk at Owen's Beach. It was such a beautiful day! The only drawback was the deceptiveness of the sun. It was beautiful but very chilly, especially since most of the boardwalk is shaded. We did the whole walk and then spent a good half hour sitting in the sunshine to warm up a bit. It was so nice to just get out of the house and do something different. I got some fun pictures of our adventures as well.

Enjoy all!

Marggie and Collin

About........ Me (Margaret that is)

2010-01-30T16:44:00.000-08:00

My sister posted this on her blog and I thought I'd do it too.

If I were:

If I were a month, I'd be December

If I were a day of the week, I’d be Saturday.

If I were a time of day, I’d be 10:00 AM

If I were a planet, I’d be Pluto (oh wait, it's not a planet anymore)

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a baluga whale.

If I were a direction, I’d be West.

If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a china cabinet.

If I were a liquid, I’d be delicious Dr. Pepper, with all of the calories magically removed. (stated perfectly by my sister.)

If I were a gemstone, I’d be a Pearl.

If I were a tree, I’d be a Cherry tree.

If I were a tool, I’d be an electric sander.

If I were a flower, I’d be white hydrangeas.

If I were a kind of weather, I’d be a sunny fall afternoon.

If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a susaphone.

If I were a color, I’d be a happy shade of pink.

If I were an emotion, I’d be content.

If I were a fruit, I’d be a seedless watermelon.

If I were a sound, I’d be Wind Chimes.

If I were an element, I’d be air.

If I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari (in yellow of course!).

If I were a food, I’d be a perfectly baked chocolate chip cookie.

If I were a place, I’d be a art galary.

If I were a material, I’d be crushed velvet.

If I were a taste, I’d be Chocolatey.

If I were a scent, I’d be a floral with a touch of musk.

If I were an object, I’d be a well oiled machine.

If I were a body part, I’d be a thumbs up.

If I were a facial expression, I’d be that happy look when you see a loved one.

If I were a song, I’d be the one that you can never get out of your head.

If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be a hot pair of heels that you can't stand to wear but just had to purchase :)

Santa Baby

2009-12-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas again!

Marggie and Collin

My sister, best friend and confidante

2009-12-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

I was going through some of our old family photos the other day and found some gems of my big sister. I Love her so much. We had our differences as kids, but now that we're grown-ups we have found that we are the best of friends. I don't know what I would do without her and I know that she feels the same way about me. It's hard to live so far away from your best friend and I am conforted that she is only one phone call away. Rachel, I love and miss you so much..... oh, and here are some of my favorite pictures of you. Enjoy.

The "blue" ghost.

The eternal optimist (hahaha)

I love you Rachel!

Marggie and Collin

Happy Holidays

2009-12-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Collin was singing along with the Christmas carols that we were singing at a "holiday" party we went to for a group we are part of at the childrens health center. He was so fun! He loved Santa and all the military volunteers thought he was adorable. I got a chance to talk to a few of the other parents and it was wonderful to hear that alot of the babies in our group are getting alot healthier. I love to hear success stories because they give me hope for the future. We have another visit with the nephrologist today and I hope to hear good news about Collin's kidney health. The last update we received stated that his kidney function is improving but not yet where they would like it to be. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and praying for his health.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Sippy Cup and Solid Foods

2009-11-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

We finally got the approval from the doctors to have solid foods! Collin has high potassium levels so we can only pick from a smaller list, but at least he's eating the food. So far, he really enjoys peaches, green beans and applesauce. The nutritionist at the WIC office also said it would be smart to start him on a sippy cup. I got one that is similar to a bottle to start out and he seems to like it better than a bottle. I snapped a few shots of him today while feeding (which is much harder than I thought!) and he just loved it! Collin really is such a ham and totally knows what is going on when he sees a camera.

Check out the peaches

Sitting up in his bouncer. What a smarty pants :)

Collin

2009-11-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

I know I need to update this blog more often, but I tend to forget or am too busy to do so. So, here are a few pictures of Collin from the past few weeks........ and yes, he is the happiest baby in the world.

Collin's First Hair Cut

2009-10-17T23:36:00.000-07:00

Today Grandpa Benny and I took Collin to get his hair cut. He was such a good kid and didn't cry at all. He basically sat there and let the nice lady do her job. I know that this will probably be the only time he does that but I was so proud of him. I took a few pictures at the salon and at home. He looks so grown up!

My son, the look alike

2009-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

So, a friend of mine was looking at a few of my pictures on my Facebook page. He thinks my son looks kinda like Chris Farley.... here's the comparison.

How funny!

Margaret and Collin

The Hair

2009-09-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

So, I really need to get my sons hair cut. He's adorable and everyone stops me in stores and says, "WOW! Look at all that hair!" or "Your daughter has amazing hair" or even "Look how beautiful your little girl is". I love him and never mind the attention he gets. I mean, he's the cutest baby ever, but the comments about him being a girl are really starting to irritate me. I know that my sister Rachel is probably thinking to herself, "well, he's a beautiful baby and it's ok that people think he's a girl sometimes". But I beg to differ. Honestly, I'm not one to get angry and freak out. I just smile and somehow get in the word "son" in the conversation I have with the random people that stop me at Walmart. I thought I'd share some before and after pictures of my favorite little guy.

Loves,

Margaret and Collin

Feeding tube

2009-09-10T14:43:00.001-07:00

Collin had surgery on September 1st to have a feeding tube placed in his tummy. It's called a G-tube or gastric feeding tube. He was such a trooper at the hospital. He loved the nurses that looked after him and even smiled at the phlebotomist after she drew his blood. I'm so glad everything went well and that Collin is getting more nutrition. He gets fed through the tube the entire night and does normal feedings the rest of the day. I know we're lucky because during the class for caring for the tube another family was there and their daughter has continuous feedings 24-7 with her tube. We are so blessed that Collin is thriving and such a happy baby.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

The Heat Wave

2009-07-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the past few days have been super duper hot here in Washington. I thought that by moving up here I could escape the heat and get a little rain during the summer, but I was sure wrong. Yesterday we had record breaking heat! It was 110 in Tacoma at 3pm. Can you believe it?! It doesn't even get that hot in Utah. Well, it's really been taking a toll on my little guy. He doesn't seem to be eating all that much and is pretty cranky. I did catch a super cute picture of him hanging out with Grandma Becky in her room the other morning. I love that Collin looks like a little man all the time. He's so stinkin' adorable! I just hope that it starts to cool down enough for him to get his appetite back soon.

Love ya,

Marggie and Collin

My Baby

2009-07-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

Collin is my favorite person in the whole world and I can't even imagine my life without him. He is learning to do so many things. I love it when he coos at me or attempts to laugh. He is super strong and is continually trying to sit up or kick to stand. He is such a sweet baby. My sister keeps nagging me to put more pictures on here every time I talk to her. So, Rachel, here you go. I'm giving you three today.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Bath Time

2009-07-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

So, Collin really enjoys taking baths. He kicks the water around and doesn't even mind getting water in his eyes. I love watching him grow and learn. He's starting to giggle and is recognizing faces and voices. He really loves his grandma and her silly baby talk.

More to come later.

Loves,

Marggie and Collin

Cool Dude

2009-06-15T19:15:00.001-07:00

Collin is doing much better now that he's at home. He's eating on his own (with a little help from the feeding tube) and is enjoying life.

Love ya,

Marggie and Collin

Update

2009-05-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back in a room at the hospital. They thought that Collin was doing really well last week, but he has had a set back. These past 4 days have been pretty rough for him. Collin is having a hard time eating and is now being fed through a feeding tube that is down his nose. He seems to be taking his feedings this way much better. They told me that his electrolite imbalance may be causing his issues with eating. We're taking everything one day at time, hoping that he will start getting better soon. We don't know when he'll be coming home, but his getting excellent care from the nurses and doctors here at the hospital. I'm so thankful for all the prayers that are being sent our way. Please keep them coming.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Update

2009-05-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

So, Collin is doing so much better! His acid levels are starting to equal out and his liquid intake has almost doubled. From what the doctors have said, it looks like we're going home this Saturday. We are being sent home with a scale to weigh him daily to make sure that he maintains his weight and stays healthy. I'm so glad that the end is finally in sight. I've known the whole time that things would work out, but it's good to see the end. Please keep praying for my boy, I know that it has helped him so much.

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Collin Update

2009-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello world! This past week has been super crazy! There have been setbacks and happy news. Today Collin had a procedure to check his kidney and bladder for any changes. His kidney no longer has cysts and his bladder is functioning just fine now. He still has a chemical imbalance which means that basically he doesn't have enough acid in his system. We've been on two medications for it and the second med seems to be working better than the first. (Plus it doesn't taste gross!) Things are going much better and I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep praying for my little boy!

Love you all,

Marggie and Collin

Baby Collin has arrived!

2009-05-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

WOW! The past week has been super crazy and I'm still not seeing an end to all the excitement. On Sunday, May 10th, 2009 I finally gave birth to my beautiful son Collin. He weighed in at 7lbs 11oz. He's 19 inches long and only has one kidney. I was told from the beginning that things might be rough once he was born, but I never thought it would be like this.

I've been in the hospital since Friday the 8th at around 2:30 pm not knowing I was going to be induced that day. It was a very long labor, 34 1/2 hours to be exact. I spent most of my labor walking the hospital and watching the clock. I honestly thought it would never happen. Thing started getting intense late saturday evening and was finally given an epidural later that evening. I slept through the night and then it all started to happen. Early Sunday morning I started having back labor due to Collin turning during the night and was given more epidural to help ease the pain. A few hours later, with the assistance of a vacuum, Collin was finally born. I was so relieved!

On day two of Collin's life he was taken in for tests to check his kidney function and to make sure all of his other vital organs were performing properly. We found out that he had a concentrated amount of acid in his system and is taking medication for that along with an iv for extra fluids. It was also announced today that he has a bladder infection and is now on two antibiotics to balance that out as well. If all tests come back positive, we may finally be able to leave the hospital on Sunday or Monday. I don't know how long they'll have a room for me, but I'm hoping against all hopes that I will be able to stay with Collin during his time in the ICN (Intermediate Care Nursery). Here are a few pictures.

Love ya,

Marggie and Collin

First Day of Spring

2009-04-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

As we all know, the seasons in western Washington kind of fade from one to the next. Yesterday was one of those beautiful, sunny days that hardly ever happen. Days such as this get almost everyone out of their houses and down to the water. Yesterday was no exception for me and my family. We walked the waterfront in Tacoma and decided to finally take a few pictures of my pregnant self. So, here are the pictures everyone has been waiting for. At this point in my pregnancy, I have just less than 4 weeks remaining and am quite the sight to see, especially taking a stroll down the boardwalk. I had quite a few people ask me how many days I have left, if I'm past my due date or wow, that must be uncomfortable. In all actuality, the walk felt wonderful and I love being outside, just not in the rain.

Happy Monday to you all!

Loves

Collin Bowen Lee

2009-03-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I finally had my ultrasound! It was amazing to see my little guy for the first time. And yes, I am having a boy. My dad and sister Stephanie both came with me for some extra moral support and were equally excited about seeing my little one. I was worried that because I was having the ultrasound so late in the game that we wouldn't be able to determine the sex of the baby. Things are starting to get really cramped inside my belly, but that was the first thing we saw. The technician had some trouble getting good pictures of Collins profile and some of his internal organs, but said that everything is growing at a normal rate and that my due date may be a little later than planned. I'm not too worried though. 4 days isn't too much of a difference. I'll be scanning the picture they gave me of the ultrasound soon and I finally took some pictures of my belly to post as well. Those should be coming within the week.

Loves.

Doctor's Appointment

2009-02-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

So, I went to the doctor on Wednesday and everything is going great. I think the most exciting part about all of this is that I have only gained 9 pounds since November. It seems like I've been growing in more ways than one and I am extremely happy that I haven't put on too much weight thus far. I have another appointment in two weeks but the most important thing is that I have my ultrasound next Thursday. My mom was with me at the appointment and she asked my nurse when we could have an ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. The nurse didn't like that too much and went on to explain what the ultrasound was really for, but I really don't think my mom cared all that much. For some reason it seems like knowing the gender of my baby is more important to her than making sure everything is growing at a normal rate and that there aren't any birth defects. Well, I certainly thought that was funny. I am really looking forward to seeing my baby and making sure everything is in order. And as always, there is more to come.

Loves.

Firsts

2009-01-24T17:47:00.001-08:00

Well, I figured I had this blog and I should probably use it to keep those who love me posted. For those who don't know, I am expecting a baby in early May. It's been exciting, overwhelming and crazy all bundled up in a sweet little package. I'm very excited for the prospect of being a mommy and all the adventures that will come with it. I haven't taken any pregnant pictures yet, but I figured this would be the perfect place to post them when I do. Also, I don't know what gender the baby is yet and am very excited to find out very soon. I'll keep everyone posted. No worries.

Loves, Marggie