Birthday Week and Swimming Lessons...Day FIVE, SIX and SEVEN

DAY FIVE

Today was a little more relaxed...I packed us up for the lake (jumperoo and all) and loaded up the car. Dixie, Colt and I headed to go meet Yaya for a little shopping at my new favorite boutiques before swimming lessons. I thought I could leave my car on and keep Dixie in there with the air blasting while we shopped, but I quickly learned that my car won't lock if the keys are in it. It was WAYYYY to hot to just leave her in there sooooo...Dixie got to come shopping too. I told the sweet girls at the front that Dixie would be super good and wouldn't pee/chew on anything. She is practically human. They said it was completely fine and assured me that all was well seeing as they used to have a "store dog." Dixie and Colt just watched us shop and try on clothes.

Sweet kids I have! Great shoppers too! :)

Haley and Nick took a half day at work so they could come see Colt swim! SO SWEET! Since Blake couldn't be there, Haley got in the water and took his place. He did SO wonderful! DID NOT cry ONCE! I would say "Colt, we are going under 1, 2, 3" and he closed his eyes, gasped and went under. Came up with no crying. He even laughed and splashed this time! He did great. I was so proud and so happy that Haley and Nick got to see him in action. Thank you Haley and Nick for coming to support Colt. Thank you Tammy and Joe for getting to come before you left for your duties at the lake. Thank you Mom and Dad for coming everyday! It really meant a lot to me for all of you to be there. I know this wasn't as eventful as it will be next year, but I know you love Colt and will always be there for everything. I have the best family!
After swimming came to a close, Colt, Dixie and I headed up to the lake. When we arrived, there were over 30 people at the house for the annual "Kreck family fish fry." We got there just in time for ice cream, cake, bathtime and night night time!

DAY SIX

Saturday we did the usual...slept late, ate and headed out on the lake. This weekend we had l9 people in on all the fun. We went to the beach as we normally do, floated and just hung out. The kids and Tammy ran off to somewhere and told me to sit on this lifejacket on the beach. Tammy put a "homemade" birthday hat on me made out of a wine box and cake mix box and all the kids came running out of the bushes with a banner and sprayed me with silly string and bubbles. Tammy had made wonderful cupcakes for us all to enjoy. It was a fun surprise! Thanks guys , I was definitely surprised!

This may or may not have been my 4th cupcake :)

Its my BIRTHDAY...DAY SEVEN

I slept until 11am! I LOVE when that happens! I walked into the living room to see Colt's shining face in his jumperoo and Tammy greeted me with my present from she and Joe. A few months back, Mom and I went to Sugarland for my friend, Meredith's, Stella & Dot launch party. My mom got the most beautiful tourquoise necklace I have ever seen! I didn't get one and figured I could borrow her's. Tammy & Joe felt like I should have my own and were so sweet to remember how much I LOVE this necklace. Thank you Tammy & Joe!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and will wear it lots!

Colt took a 3 hour nap not long after I woke up. After he woke up and ate lunch I figured it was time to show the world his new trick before we went to swim. Isn't he precious?!! Sitting up like a big boy at 5 months old! I just prop him up and he balances on his arms. I bet in a few weeks he will be sitting up on his own.

...then off we went to swim in the lake. He loved it. I even dunked him as we did at swimming lessons. He didn't mind it at all and had fun splashing and kicking like a big boy. He is definitely a water baby! No doubt!

Family pyramid :)

Colt loves his floaty...I love that his has a shade on it

Once again, Colt and I decided we didn't want to leave the lake so we are here for another week. YAY! My sweet friend and cousin in law find out if baby Stidham is a boy or a girl on WEDNESDAY!!! I am so excited and we all have been highly anticipating the news. She asked me to help her register. She only lives about 45 minutes from the lake so I will probably drive in to register with her and then come back just in time for Will, Erin and Brylee arrive to play!Fourth of July is approaching us and who isn't looking forward to fireworks?!!!!!! I hope everybody has a fabulous week and stay safe on the fourth!

XOXO, The Krecks

Birthday Week and Swimming Lessons...Day FOUR

Swimming Day FOUR

Today was a "so so" day. Colt didn't have a nap and he was tired and hungry. He didn't so much cry as he did gripe. He still did awesome and went under like a champ. Today, we sat the babies on the side of the pool, counted 1, 2, 3...then pulled them into the water and up they came...then you take them back to the wall. Survival mode type drills. Another successful day of swimming under our belt. Will got to join Erin and Brylee for the day. She enjoyed having her daddy in the water too.

Tonight, we had our family night dinner to celebrate my birthday. We went to one of my all time favorite places, Snuffers! Colt got to try a lemon for the first time. He loved it and wanted to keep sucking on it. Blake showed everybody Colt's new trick. He counts 1, 2,3 as if he's going to dunk him underwater and Colt preps himself by closing his eyes real tight and he even gasped!!! It was hilarious! Repetition has really payed off!!!

Thank you Haley for my armband! I love it

Time for bed Colt T...just wait and let me finish uploading my photos...

Birthday Week and Swimming Lessons...Day THREE

Swimming DAY THREE I just have to be a proud mama for a second...Colt did AMAZING Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We started out swim class as usual and went over the same drills as the past few days. The first two times (of holding breath/dunking) Colt decided to trade his cry for just a gripe! I felt that was an improvement. After that, I guess he decided to change his outlook and just go with it. It was great. No crying!!!!!!!!!!! I was so impressed. Blake would say, "ok Colt we are going under, 1, 2, 3" blow up his nose, dunk him, and pass him to me. He came up like a champ and didn't cry at all!!!!!!! I guess the third day is a charm! I was so proud. I just held him up toward all of the audience and said, "do yall see this?!!! no crying!!!" I'm sure they thought I was crazy, but I was so proud!!!!!! Good job Colt!

Birthday dinner with friends

Tonight, about 15 of us met at Cuba Libre in uptown to celebrate my birthday. It was so fun and so great to see everybody! Thanks for coming, I love yall!!

Birthday week and Swimming Lessons...Day TWO

I got to spend my afternoon at the spa thanks to Colt and Blake. They gave me a "day at the spa" for mother's day complete with message, facial and lunch. IT WAS WONDERFUL and I was there for three hours. Then it was off to swimming lessons with Colt!

Swimming Lessons Day TWO

Class today was similar to yesterday. We still worked on holding our breath as well as kicking. Colt has now started to anticipate the "dunk" by closing his eyes on the count of 3. Its sooooo cute! He still cried after coming up, but the last 2 times he did it with NO crying. YAY Colt!! We did a cute little drill where all the parents got in a circle holding our babies and took turns dunking and "swimming" to the next person. By the end of the drill EVERY baby was crying. It was precious. All of the babies are such troopers and in the end it will all be worth it. The teacher said that this is the age (5-6mos) when you need to start the baby with lessons and parent's that "don't get their child's face wet are doing them a disservice." Blake swam with us today and Colt loved it! Colt loves the water and he even has webbed toes! Who knows, he could be the next Michael Phelps.

Erin, Brylee, Blake, Colt

5 Months!

My beautiful boy is 5 months old! He is changing everyday and is always doing something new everytime I turn around.

So far Colt...

* has mastered all of the stage one veggies. Green beans, peas, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes etc...

*loves his jumperoo!

*still sleeps all night

*talks to his "froggie" saying "oh oh oh"

*Cracks up laughing when you say "wash the spider out" during the itsy bitsy spider song

*is very tickleish

*takes a great 2-3 hour nap in his crib

*has been pacifier-less for over a month!!

*loves his bath time

*loves social interaction. He will look at whomever is speaking and give them his full attention

*focuses when you read him books. Doodad said he read Colt the same book 5 times in a row with Colt's full attention each time.

*anticipates actions

*is starting to recognize my signs (I think) :) Everytime I take him out of his highchair, jumperoo, swing, car seat etc... I sign "out." Colt was crying in his jumperoo and I said Colt do you want "out?"( while signing "out") and he stopped crying and smiled with his arms raised. He has done this a few times. When I sign "jump" he laughs and jumps

*stands proud when you stand him up complete with a big grin and arms spread out wide

*Everytime he gets put on his back he rolls to his belly and stares up at you.

*Puts his feet and knees under his belly and pushes his rear in the air. This accomplishes nothing for him, but its good excercise and looks funny :)

*grabs your face when you get close to his face.

*He is a master hair puller

*He HATES being held like a baby. He likes to be held outward so he can see.

*loves being outside

*LOVES music. Anytime he is fussy, I can put music on and he immediately stops

*He loves Papaw's guitar playing

*does great in church while we sing for the first 30 minutes...after it stops he just starts talking outloud. So he may get to start going to the nursery :)

If any of you can think of something I left out, let me know. I'd like to document it on here

Birthday Week and Swimming Lessons...Day ONE

***sidenote***I was reading over yesterday's post (after it was posted) and I mistakenly implied that Blake doesn't open doors for me or treat me like a lady. Haha! We all know that is NOT true. I MEANT that he doesn't open CAR doors for me. Sorry babe. You know I love you long time :) You're my BFF for life and I couldn't live without you.

Hurricane Harbor

For birthday week day ONE, Lanna and I headed out to Hurricane Harbor for our first annual trip! I used to go there all the time when it was called "wet n wild" and I haven't been since I was 16!!!! It is one of my favorite places and I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun we had today! I felt like a little kid again. We got there right when it opened and stayed about 4 hours until it was time to go get Colt for swimming lessons. We rode almost every ride and ate my FAV...Papa Johns pizza!!! Things are a tad different since the last time I was there. They now offer wrist bracelets with bar codes to rent lockers as well as paying for food. We rented a locker and to open it all you do is wave your wrist band in front of a sensor and your locker pops open! No key to carry around! And to pay for food etc...all you do is pre pay and they add the balance to your wrist band. So when we got food, we never had to go to the locker and get our money, they just scanned our wrist band. Coolest thing ever!! I will be back...soon! Who's with me?!

We all know how I collect the hand painted Lolita wine glasses...Lanna gave me the WILD CHILD one for my birthday!! I was so surprised and shocked that she found it! I love it Lanna...Thank you thank you!!! It is now safe and sound in my china cabinet with the rest. I love birthday week :)
Swimming Lessons Day ONE

Today was Colt's first day of his week long swimming lessons. A sweet friend of my family has taught swimming lessons for YEARS. She was the one that taught me how to swim and now she gets to teach Colt. Colt had a good audience today as Blake, Yaya, Doodad, Gertie, and Poppy came to watch. It is a "mommy and me" type class and he is the youngest out of 5 other babies in his class. He did very well. Today we learned the basics...hold breath while going under water. Basically, you blow in there face and it makes them gasp and hold their breath. You then dip them under real quick. Colt let me know very quickly that he didn't think it was awesome. Next, you flip them to their tummy and lay their chest and head on your shoulder, grap their legs and kick them. Lastly, you go to the wall and put their hands on it like they are pulling them self up on the wall. All of these repetitious excercises help them grasp the idea of holding their breath and swimming to the wall like if they were to fall in etc... I can't wait for tomorrow's class :)

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the best dad in the world!!! When Colt was about 2 months old, I took this picture of him sitting on dad's shoulders. It turned out to be his favorite picture and keeps it by his side of the bed. My mom had a wonderful idea to have the picture put on canvas. It turned out great and I gave it to him for Father's Day. Thanks dad for being a good example, wonderful father, encourager, friend and the one I always call for advice. You give the best hugs and your sense of humor always cracks me up. You make the best banana pancakes (from scratch) EVER and they wouldn't be complete without your crispy bacon and a glass of milk!!!! Some memories I will always cherish are how we would always say our goodnight prayers together and you would rub my back and my head as we talked about the day. This continued until I graduated from high school and left for college. You always prayed the same prayer over me that I would grow up to be a christian mommy and a christian wife. I say the same prayer over Colt. You always prayed for my future husband and I always thought that was a little strange when I was in elementary school, but I went with it :) and now I get it. I married somebody who is practically your twin. So that should tell you something. You both are crazy-obsessed with hunting and you both are KILLER salesmen and wonderful husbands and dads. We always had date night once a week. You opened the car door for me (and still do) and showed me how a man should treat a lady. Blake doesn't do that so maybe you could take him on a date and show him how :) I kid. I kid!! I could go on and on...Dad, I love you so much. Thank you for being the wonderful christian man that you are. Even though I'm all grown up, married and have my own little family...I still watch you and you still are a good example :)

This was also Blake's first father's day. He got hung up at the lake and didn't make it in for church or lunch (sigh) but once Colt and I got home...They played and enjoyed the rest of the day together.

Blake showing Colt how to throw rocks into the lake...They love eachother

SURPRISE!!!!!!!...

When Colt and I got home, I was unloading my car and saw that Blake had 3 wrapped presents in the living room. He told me that they were my birthday presents and he wanted me to open them now. I hesitated because I like to open my presents on my birthDAY which is not until next Sunday. So I told him I'd wait and he said I needed to open them now. So I did...and boy am I glad I did because low and behold he got me the fabulous CANON REBEL camera!!!!!!!! Complete with a 4 gig SD card, an extra super awesome lense and carrying bag! I am still shocked and charging the battery as we speak. My in laws have this camera and I'm obsessed with it. I walk around the lake with it around my neck like I'm a tourist. I feel like such a big girl with a mommy camera :) Just talking about it makes me excited! It was such a surprise...All I asked for was a new armband for my iPhone because my other one broke and putting it in my sports bra while running is getting old :) Thanks babe for the gift that will keep on giving. Its possible that I will use this camera for a lifetime. Yippee Skips!!