Holiday Cheer

Ava learned several Christmas songs at school the past couple of weeks, and with all the excitement going on, couldn't stop singing them. We also thought we'd post a video of TO hanging out being TO, almost 6 weeks old...
Merry Christmas to all, and hopes that you have a wonderful holiday break!

4 weeks old!

Tristan is 4 weeks old today, hard to believe! He's getting so big, and starting to be awake and lift his head up a lot. We shot a video today of him talking to his mommy...

little chef

Ava is quite the helper in the kitchen, in fact she has her own apron and spatula! We decided to make some cookies for our new neighbors, so Ava stepped right up to help Jillian. The photo-op was too cute to pass up!

snow(*ish)

Tuesday evening after the temperature dropped like the stock market the past couple of months, we actually got some *snow* in central Texas. Now, let me be frank, there were little white flakes falling, but as you can see from exhibit A, it's not what our friends in the northern part of the US would refer to as a snow storm. In fact, there's probably laughing at this picture. But hey it was fun for a few hours. Jillian was laughing when the news showed people with 1 foot tall snowmen...

mommy's festive boy

Jillian loves the holidays, thus our children love the holidays... or will anyway :)

What if?

This video was played during worship this past Sunday. I've been thinking about it, and wanted other people to see it as well...

little TO... chillin'

We wanted to put some video up so everyone could see how handsome Tristan is... :)

By the way, he's three weeks old today! Where does the time go!!!!

Dizzy Dance & Q&A with a big sister

Ava wanted to put on her 'outfit' and do some dancing. Well it turned out to be some dizzy dancing. Then Jillian did some questions & answers with her. Too funny!!

baa baa black sheep

Ava's really been into singing songs and nursery rhymes. Last night she went into baa baa black sheep. The first time was really sweet, so I got the video camera, however she changed the ending a bit... enjoy...

first day of school

Several months ago we pre-registered Ava for a Montessori school for after she turned three and was potty-trained. Well we got the phone call last week, Ava was being called up to the big leagues! We went for a couple of visits last week and this morning was her first day at 'the Montessori school' as she calls it. Ava's fine, but mommy's struggling a little bit... we can't believe how big she's getting...

funny girls

So when our friends the McLeod's were in town last weekend, the girls had a bit of fun. Be sure to check out the pictures and video over here...

first picture with new friend

Our friends from church, the Dennington family, also have a very new addition. Jessica gave birth early to Skylyn two days before Jillian had Tristan. Ironically they both due for the first week of December. We were all at worship this morning, and couldn't resist a picture of the mothers and babies.

in honor of number 1

Since A&M is doing horribly bad, it's a nice compensation that the other team I like is still ranked number 1. Of course I'm speaking of Alabama, which is also Pappy's team. Aunt Mary was kind enough to send some roll tide gear for Tristan.

Celebrating Alabama's shut-out of Auburn with Pappy

Sporting his new Alabama hat! (still a little big)

fun times at thanksgiving

Ava with her thanksgiving 'hat' she made at school

Ava helping Nana and Brandi make pies

the bird...

Ava got early Christmas time with Chris & Kristy, here she's diligently working at the computer program they got her. BTW, she's already traced several letters!

family time

This last week for thanksgiving we had lots of family at the house during the week. Tristan got to meet his uncle Terry, as well as uncle Chris and aunt Kristy! We were so blessed to have them here for a while along with my parents, and Jillian's mom. Below are some family shots, and I'm going to post some fun pictures as well.

Tristan snuggling with Grandma Lori

Tristan meeting uncle Terry...

and aunt Kristy...

and uncle Chris!

T.O.'s first worship service

We decided to be brave this morning and go ahead and take Tristan to worship service with us this morning at Westover Hills. It was a great morning, until he decided to scream his loudest during a prayer and Jillian had to take him out. Oh well, I'm sure there will be lots more of that! It was great having the whole family there this morning, and everyone was excited to see Jillian and meet Tristan.

Fun with friends

We had quite a few friends come and visit us this weekend. The McLeod family came through to see all of us and Ava got to spend some playtime with Mackenzie. John tore up the kitchen (in a good way!) cooking a few meals for us to freeze. The Mitchell family also stopped through on their way home from San Antonio to Denton. Ava also had playtime with Hayden, and it was great to see the family! Some of Jillian's co-workers brought some food by and got to hang our for a little while too. It was quite busy, but also very fun to see some friends!

Cara Beth getting some baby time

Uncle Rodney with T.O.

Aunt Melanie with the cuddle-bug.


Jillian's co-worker Rachael.

Jillian's co-worker Crystal.

Tristan's Slideshow

Okay here goes everything-
We had our friend Tanya who did Ava's three year old pictures come over last night to do Tristan's first photo shoot. All I'm going to do is post the link, because I'm simply in awe...

http://cozyimpressionsphotography.com/CollinsNewborn/

first bath pictures

I thought I'd do a separate post from below with the first bath pictures. Enjoy!

first 24 hours home

Tristan has had a good and somewhat eventful first day at home. He is feeding very well (if you ask at night, Jillian might say TOO well). He definitely prefers to be held rather than being laid in his crib.
Last night my brother Terry's girlfriend Brandi and her daughter came by to drop off a really nice blanket for Tristan. Holly (her daughter) and Ava have been fast friends and it was good for Ava to have a friend over for a little while.
We spent the day doing various things such as having the first bath at home (those pictures will be in another post). I also went and sold my Mustang. It has given me 7 great years of service, but it's way to difficult to load kiddos in the back. So some might say I'm now officially an old man, the Mustang is gone.
Our good friends the Johnston's came over tonight and brought some wonderful tortilla soup, and their kids got to play with Ava while Niki had her some baby time.

the little man chillin'

Niki's baby time

Ava and Holly playing with all the dolls

Brandi's baby time

The super cute blanket from Brandi

bringing home baby

After a busy Sunday morning, full of being circumcised, another shot for Jillian and lots of paperwork, we came home as a family. It was nice to get home and have both Jillian and my parents in town to help. Ava was very excited for her brother to come home, and can't wait to help him do everything!

day one updates

Today was a pretty good day, a fair amount of nurses shuffling about getting tests done, etc.
Tristan got to meet his other Grandpa, Owen Phillips today who made it in. He also spent the rest of the day off and on with the other grandparents and big sister Ava.
Our children's ministers from church, Adam and Denise, came by to meet him which was lots of fun. Adam prayed over Tristan and the family before leaving which was awesome.

The plan is for us to go home tomorrow, probably around mid-day. Tonight Tristan gets a few more tests done, including one for jaundice. We pray it goes well, as he started to look a little yellowish this evening. So far he is doing very well with nursing (much better than Ava was), Jillian should get her full milk in pretty soon, which will please him very much!
Tomorrow morning he'll be circumcised, then we'll go through the rest of the check out procedures before we leave. We ask for continued prayers for this procedure tomorrow, and for the start of our transition home.

daddy's boy

family of four pictures

More first day photos

First Pictures

First Videos of Tristan

Here are a few videos of our little guy. Pictures will come later, I didn't grab my SD card reader. Enjoy!!

And then there were 4

Welcome baby Tristan Owen Collins
7lb 10oz
19in long
8:07am

Pictures to come soon...

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Sent from my mobile device

Progress

Jillian's at 9cm, contractions coming on good. Shouldn't be too long now!

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Sent from my mobile device

Epidural is in

The good Dr got the epidural in about a half-hour ago. Things are
looking good, no pain now.

BTW, so no one thinks I'm some sorta freak, I'm doing these updates
from my phone- I :heart: technology

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Sent from my mobile device

It is time!

Jillian's water broke at 3am, so we're at the hospital!
Stay tuned...

Prayers please :)

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the waiting game

Yesterday we went to the Doctor's office for Jillian's 37 week appointment and sonogram. Baby #2 is looking very healthy and was weighing in at 6lbs 15oz yesterday.
The doctor would *like* Jillian to make it another week, but will not stop labor if she happens to enter into it any day. Swelling, blood pressure, etc on the other hand was of concern, so she is now staying at home, not working!
So now we play the waiting game. Contractions are still around (had some real ones last Saturday), and she's dilated to 2 cm.

So we appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we begin to anticipate the arrival of #2!!

Bookworm & daddy's girl

Ava woke up early during the time change (shocker) so she had some extra time to read books before going to bible class on Sunday. Jillian and I were getting ready, then walked into the play room to discover her reading on a pile of books!
Jillian also found these cool pants at some crazy baby extravaganza in Austin a few weeks ago. Since A&M won this weekend, I figured I'd post it now!! Too cute!!