Colin Gabrielsen Cormier Arrives July 5, 2011

Colin Arrives! 

Colin arrived 4 hours short of being a "4th of July baby!" but just in time to share the same birthday as my dear friend Kira... and he came with little warning and in a hurry! 

Around 1:30 am I felt some light cramping... I didn't think it was the start of labor, rather a rumble in my stomach from something I had eaten at the 4th of July parade...I got out of bed, and noticed that they were coming about every 20 minutes... I woke Erik up, who had just gone to sleep one hour prior, and told him we may need to go to the hospital. He gave me a look of panic and disbelief.  I went back and fourth on whether this was labor or indigestion... I decided to play it safe and head to the hospital.  We woke Finnly up, packed him in the car and started on our way to the hospital.  I called my mom to arrange for her to pick Finnly up... and then decided that I wasn't in labor... called my mom's pick up off, had Erik turn the car around and we headed home.  AND then, a painful contraction came... by now it was around 1:45... I told Erik to turn around and go to the hospital, I called my mom back and she agreed.

2.5 hours later...Colin arrived. He was 7 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long.  And like Finnly, the labor was so fast, I didn't get an epidural until 9 cm...The nurses told me they wished I had videotaped the birth because it was "perfect"  Exactly how you want every baby to arrive... We are very lucky.  

Finnly arrived with my dad later in the day... I was nervous and excited to see how Finnly would react to seeing Colin.  He was adorable.  He said "hi baby"  and gave him a pet on the head. We had bought a Fire truck for him and said it was from the baby... he was much more interested in that then anything else.. 

fathers day

Although it was fathers day, and riding a train wasn't exactly what Erik or my dad wanted to do...enjoying time with Finn was.  So, we did what any two year old would want to do with their dad and grandpa, aka, "gechop."  We rode the train from the boardwalk to Roaring Camp.  Finn was a little scared when we first got on the train... he kept saying "no train dada, no train"  and pointed to the exit... but as he realized that we'd be moving and he saw other kids boarding, he became less scared and eventually really excited and content. So content, he fell asleep :-) 

On the way back, Finn was very happy to be on a train and play with his trains...I'm still wondering how long this train obsession will last... we're going on 1 year.

Finnly in his kitchen

Sailing

 Some friends of ours from Finnly's playgroup and us rented a sail boat for the day.  Sean, one of the other dads, is an excellent sailor and was our captain.  Erik was 2cd crew... lucky for us, because he hadn't sailed since he was about 10 in Cape Cod.  This boat was a 38 ft Catalina... and was the real deal. I braved the wind with 2 toddlers and a 6 month old... the toddlers both had monkey leashes on, which I've never used out of embarrassment... but on this day, it was NEEDED.  We had a wonderful time sailing out in the bay and then anchored down by the Santa Cruz pier while enjoying Tied House beer, and lots of yummy snacks.  Midway through the day, the rocking of the boat had put Finn into a deep sleep...and Erik and I got to breathe easy for a while.

Kyla and Micheal's Wedding... La Quinta CA

Kyla happened to get married on the same weekend as Prince William and Kate in London.  To pay homage to this fantastic event, Kyla and her mom hosted high tea for all the bridesmaids, close friends and family.  We wore "British" hats, eat scones, tiny sandwiches and sipped on tea.  

On our way to the rehearsal dinner.

Kyla and Michael met through a running group.  In honor, they hosted a 5K run on the morning before they got married!  

Wagner Family... and Cory, the winner of the race! 

Erik getting pumped! 

We stayed at La Quinta Resort... It was beautiful.  Over 10 pools, golf, shops, restaurants, a spa... the works! 

Finnly was the ring bearer... so he had a lot of down time in the bridesmaid suite, waiting for his ride down on the eh on his scoot bike... 

 Siena, the flower girl, loved to give kisses... Finnly was not to excited about it.  But it did make some really cute pics of his first kiss :-) 

I was so nervous that Finn would refuse to ride his bike down the aisle...but I was wrong, he hopped on his trike and cruised down with no hesitation. 

Easter

We had three Easters... One at Finnly's friend Holland's house on Friday, at my parents and then a big hunt at my uncles house on the farm in Watsonville.  On Easter we went to Sunday mass, for the Cormier's annual visit to church :-) Finnly was kept occupied by eating cheese puffs and looking at his Thomas the Train book.

  At Holland's house, he kids got to "practice" their egg hunting skills.  Finn proved interested, but not to aggressive.  He was more interested in eating the candy in each egg he had, then getting more.  

Easter at my parents house... with Gram C and Papa Cormier's eggs that they sent Finnly.

At the farm with cousins and family. 

Finn was more interested in the cats then the eggs...

Finnly's 2cd Birthday: Live Earth Farm

Last year I took Finnly to a little farm in Watsonville, Live Earth Farm.  It was the most darling farm with berry bushes, flowers, chickens, goats, apple orchards and much more... I thought "what a great place to host a party!" and a year later, when I called to inquire, I was told that they've never had a private party do a birthday...not sure why, it was the perfect place to host a 2cd birthday!  I had WAY too much fun planning for it, and went a little overboard, according to Erik... But I think everyone had a wonderful time... We got to hold chickens, baby goats and eat lots of yummy strawberries! 

 Carmon aka "mimi" brought Finnly a Thomas the Train cake... a big hit with all the kids! And the other with the adults.  Willow's friend made this cake... it was amazing in every way! 

 Finn waiting for his friends to come.  

 We thought Erin was going to take a little goat home :-) 

 Eating strawberry's straight from the patch... highlight of Finnly's day...

After around 2 baskets of strawberries...

Home opening all his great gifts!