UPDATE from COLLIN

I know that some of you can check up on what Mommy and I are doing by looking at my KaKa's blog, but since soooo much has happened since I was only 1 month old - I am going to do some filling in for you this time.
Let's see - the last post was 1 day after I turned a month old. Daddy was very, very busy getting ready to go to Iraq to fly this big, big new plane. It is named after a bird - the Osprey - this is a dangerous bird of prey. So my Daddy is really smart because he knows how to fly this special plane. It takes off like a helicopter, and then he turns the rotors with just his thumb,and it flies like a plane!! WOW!! So we spent lots of time getting everything together and packed for Daddy. He spent lots and lots of time lletting me sleep on his chest. It is my favorite way to sleep. Mommy was home with me every day and we spent most of our time together with me eating. I am a growing boy!! During February, I took a trip to meet some more of my family. I met MeMe, my great grandmother in Sumter, then on to Laurens to meet Grandma MaryLou, Uncle Paul, Aunt Erika, Uncle Brian, Winston and Wilson. This was a great weekend with lots of my family!!! I got a new toy that I love,love, love. I can lay on the floor and play for a long time!! Mommy likes this toy, too.
I turned 2 months old on March. Then there was Easter - Mommy dressed me up!! Everything was OK until she put that hat on me. I bet I don't have to wear one next year. AND - a bunny came by our house and left treats. What's up with that?? I guess it's all part of being a kid. I traveled to Charleston for a long weekend. I met PaPa, KaKa and Kelly there. That was a blast, except that it turned very cold. I visited the Citadel - not so sure that I would want to go to school there. I think that I was born to be a Gamecock - but that's my secret. That same night we rode to Beaufort so all of the grownups could eat seafood. I met my cousin, Charlie. Charlie looks like Daddy, and I look like both of them. I look like a mini-Charlie. A really nice guy, who took Mommy and Daddy's wedding pictures, met us at the Waterfront Park. They kept putting me on this cold, cold rock to take my picture!! Did I say that it was cold and windy outside, and we were near the water?? My NaNa came to stay with me for a week when Mommy had to go back to teach school. We had so much fun!! She read books to me, and I really do like that. I bet that I am going to be very smart with all of the teachers around!! The next week we had even more company. My Grandpa Wayne and Brian came to visit Daddy, then Aunt Kelly came up, and then PaPa. Daddy left on March 26th for a big airfield in Iraq. He is going to be flying the Osprey to protect all of us. Then Kelly left to go back to school.

KaKa drove up to help PaPa take care of me for a week while Mommy worked at the school. She teaches 8th graders and I think that must be a very hard job. I think those kids must be very hormonal!! The first day that they stayed with me they took me to see the doctor. He took all of my clothes off, and then stuck me in both legs with something sharp!! I still can't believe that they did that to me!! This better not happen again!! We had a birthday party at my house for KaKa - from the way everybody was talking - I think she is getting old. PaPa spent 2 whole days working in my yard. Beaudreau dug these huge craters in ouir backyard - they are big enough for me to go swimming in. PaPa was trying to fill up all of the holes and especially the ones under the fence so that Zack wouldn't run away. Beaudreau has gone for a very long visit to Grandpa Wayne's house while Daddy is gone.
Now we are in April - Miss Debbie flew all the way here from Tampa to spend a week with me!! This was a fun week. Miss Debbie loves to exercise - someone told me that she used to be a PE teacher!! So we worked out all of my new muscles while she was here. She likes to cook, too. We had a real good time, and shye and Mommy talked alot!! The next week was awesome!! Mommy had something called a spring break. We rested, nested and then took a little trip south. We went to Sumter to see MeMe - sometimes they call her a Steel Magnolia. We also got to see NaNa, Grandpa Wayne, Aunt Erika and Uncle Brian. I think we were in Gamecock country finally and out of that crazy Tarheel place!! The next week was a real surprise. My second cousin - not removed or anything because she is Mommy's first cousin - Anita came to stay with me. She did a great job of taking care of me because she already has two little girls. They are cousins, too. This is Kelly's last week of school. As soon as she finishes up her exams she is going to come and stay with me and Mommy for a long, long time. That means that I don't have to go to daycare, and Aunt Kelly is lots of fun. She really does like sports and ESPN. For a girl, that's a good thing. I am going to know all about everything that Mike and Mike talk about when Daddy gets home. He is going to be so proud of me.
I love it when Mommy and I get to talk to Daddy. I am starting to make lots of noise - it's funny. I can make noise into the phone and Daddy can hear me all the way around the world.
PaPa and KaKa came to visit for Mother's Day. It was a fun weekend. Daddy and I sent Mommy beautiful flowers. Wonder how we did that??? There were some crazy, scary storms this weekend. I never heard thunder like that before. PaPa and KaKa flew home on Monday - so it was back to ESPN and Mike and Mike with Kelly.
At the end of May, Mommy, Kelly and I took another road trip. This time we went to the beach near Charleston for a long Memorial Day weekend. We had such a great time. I can't wait to do that again!! It's June and that means that Mommy is almost finished up with school. She is working way too hard because she is teaching school, and she goes to school, too. She is in graduate school at East Carolina. Mommy has to plan a big dance for the 8th graders. It sounds like it is going to be fun, but I don't get to go.
It's June already!! One more week of school - PaPa left for a trip to help some people in Africa and KaKa is here for a litlle visit. Guess what - she took me back to the same doctor and he stuck me again!! What is going on here? Maybe she just shouldn't come back and visit!! I am getting so excited about going on vacation. Mommy is all done with her school and we are going to visit NaNa and Grandaddy Wayne for a long time. I am so glad - I will make them laugh at all of my new tricks and how much I like to talk. I hope that I get to see everyone in the family. When we leave their house I am going to see MeMe and then to Florida to see PaPa and KaKa. This will be my first trip to Mommy's old house. Kelly and Zack are going with us. Today, when we were getting ready to leave on our big trip - Mommy took me to the doctor. Yep, I got stuck again!! Why do they keep doing this to me??
This has gotten really long - but I have just been a busy boy since I arrived. I am going to sleep because we are leaving early, early in the morning for the big vacation. I talked to Daddy tonight - he is safe and working so hard. We miss him and he misses us. I bet he wouldn't take me to the place where people stick me with needles!!!

Nesting

So everyone talked about this nesting instinct that was supposed to kick in just before Collin was born and it didn't. As a matter of fact I think Robert was more into getting the house organized than I was. Now, all of a sudden when I'm getting no sleep and trying to figure out this mom thing I'm nesting like crazy. Everyday when Collin goes down for a nap I am deep cleaning something. The ridiculous part is that I must have let things go way too far while I was pregnant because it is taking forever. Hopefully, I'll be done by the end of the week.

Little Gamecock

We took Collin on his first trip to the University of South Carolina. Yes, we are already grooming him to be a gamecock fan. It was a wonderful trip. He had his first visits with 2 great grandmothers, a great uncle and his Aunt Erika and Uncle Brian. We all got a huge surprise when Kaka, Papa and Aunt Kelly showed up. We knew they were going to be close, but didn't think they were going to have time to stop by and then in they walked. It was a quick visit, but a great one as 3 generations spent a wonderful evening together. Then it was off for a quick lunch at the hospital with Aunt Erika, it's a good thing we got to see her later that night as well because she doesn't get much time for lunch. After that we headed to visit USC and get a new gamecock outfit. Collin is sure to be as well dressed, if not better dressed, as his dad :) A phone call from Grandpa Wayne, anxious to see his grandson, prompted our departure and we were headed to Laurens for a wonderful visit with the Wicker family. Another gathering of 3 generations of a family, it's just amazing.
So, we're home and spent the week recuperating..next week, we have some lunch dates :) Mom is going to enjoy this stay at home thing while she can.

Lazy Days

As my return to work looms ever close I am very concerned about how I will adjust. I'm quite certain that Collin will be fine seeing as he will have his ever doting grandparents and aunts to play with all day and I will be back to the hormonal, dramatic world of middle school. It's so hard to imagine that those big, attitude full 8th graders were once precious babies that their mothers could hardly bear to part with. I wonder if this will make me a "softer" teacher...mmmm...maybe not :) We are still on an "adjusted" sleep schedule which is fine when I can take a nap until about 9 or 10 in the morning, but may be a much more difficult when I'm headed to school at 7 am.
Collin and I are enjoying are last couple of weeks together as I am quite certain I am creating really bad habits that will have to be broken later, but as my mom says when else in his life will I be able to just sit and hold him. So, we're enjoying it. It's only been a month and he's already gotten so big.

SuperBowl Sunday with a Son

Today is Collin's very first superbowl with his Dad!! Have a great day together!!

love, KaKa

and....months later

Collin Robert Wicker

January 25th, 2008

5:04PM

6 lbs., 13 0z.

First Post

Here it is, baby post number 1!!!! Robert has been in CA for two weeks and is supposed to return home this coming Friday. I spent the weekend at my grandmother's house in Sumter, SC with my family and had a wonderful time! It is always so great to get to spend time with them, very rejuvenating. Of course, it was the opening weekend for college football and the gamecocks were playing the ragin' cajuns from LA. Kelly, Dad and I were able to get tickets to the game and it was GREAT!!!!! I LOVE football, especially Carolina football. Shopping for a new shirt before the game I found my new motto, "REAL Women LOVE football, the rest of ya'll stay in the kitchen." I'm hoping this love of football is being passed on to the peanut. He/She (we don't know yet) has officially been to his/her first football game and yes, he/she has heard 2001 for the first time!!!!!!!