Welcome Dylan Franklin!

On March 22nd we welcomed Dylan Franklin to our family. He weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20.25 inches.

Dylan has been such a joy and Colin has really been enjoying being a big brother. They have both been doing great. In fact, Dylan slept through the night last night at exactly 4 weeks of age so I can't complain about that. Colin continues to go to daycare so it's just me and Dylan at home which has been nice. Overall, he's been a great baby and I forgot how much newborns sleep.

I've been enjoying my time off work. I have high hopes for completing several projects while I'm on it but we'll see how much I get done as I love just holding Dylan and don't want to lay him down.

Brad's achilles continues to heal. He still has to wear a brace for another month or two but can manage getting around the house without wearing it. He has hopes for going turkey hunting yet this spring but we'll see how he's doing.

Happy 2011!

Wow! Did not realize it's been almost a year since I posted on here. Colin is already over 2 years old now. I can't believe he's that old already! He's really been such a joy and he is mister independent these days. He loves to help do anything, especially clean.

Brad ruptured his achilles tendon at Colin's 2 year birthday party in October. He's been in a cast for 3 months and on crutches. He will get his cast off on Monday and then he'll wear a brace for 3 months. We think he'll be able to get around using only a cane for the next 3 months. It has been a long recovery process.

So about the same time that he's hopefully recovered, we'll be expecting our 2nd child. Yep, we're expecting March 30th which is my mom's birthday. We didn't find out what we're having but we're both predicting another boy.

Hope all is well with you and your families and I'll try to update this more frequently.

Karen


Colin this summer


You been farming long?


Helping Grandpa with the harvest this fall.


Helping Grandma and Grandpa

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Hope everyone is doing well. After this harsh winter, wish we were going some where warm...but doesn't look like we'll be doing that. Work has been pretty busy yet for both Brad and I. Colin has had a few illnesses this winter also. My mom and dad have really been getting hit hard with winter this year as well. They celebrated their 46th wedding anniversay yesterday!

Since my last update...we obviously had Christmas! We went to Lawler for the Costigan Christmas which was great to see everyone. As we were leaving Brad's grandparents house, I remember saying to him....I felt like I didn't get to talk anyone b/c spent my time chasing Colin. I guess that's what happens when you have a toddler. We were suppose to go my folks then for Christmas Eve, but after a big snow storm hit, we weren't able to make it. It was my first Christmas away from my folks...guess I have to grow up some time. Rob, Keri, Joe and Laura came over though for Christmas Eve and we had a great time being snowed in. We went back to Mom and Dad's then the first weekend of January.

We've pretty much laid low the rest of January and the first part of February. This is a good time though for me to stay in town as very busy at work. Got to get all of those farmer's loans made so they can purchase more Pioneer seed! ;)

Hope all of you are doing well and staying warm!




Colin with Grandma and Grandpa and cousins - Aaron, Tyler, Ashley, Jacob, Joe, Laura and Elizabeth




Colin with cousins Isabel and Olivia at Christmas.

Storm of the Century!

Well, we're all three snowed in today due to the "Storm of the Century." I never thought you could get snowed in living in the city, but I guess I was proven wrong. This is only the 3rd time that Pioneer has closed in the 10 years I've worked there. Wow, I can't believe I've worked there for 10 years, my anniversary is in January. Principal is open but Brad can't get there due to the fact that they haven't plowed our streets and there are some pretty major drifts. Anyway, here's some updates since my last one.

Colin took his first steps the end of Sept. and then refused to walk again for about 3 weeks. Oct. 17th, he took off and hasn't looked back. The last couple nights he started waking up in the middle of the night, which isn't like him. It took me a couple of nights, but now realized he just got 2 molars in on top and is working on two bottom ones so this adds to the 6 teeth he already before the molars. He's enjoys eating almost anything! He didn't even make a face the first time he ate pickles and actually likes black olives and mushrooms....good for him, I guess. ;)

October - Wow, October was a busy month. Colin turned one on Oct. 23rd! That year absolutely flew by quickly. Everyone says they grow up so quickly....and now I realize how much that is true. We had his birthday on the 25th and my whole family was able to make it. Mom and Dad, Rob's family and all of Kim's family as well. Brads folks and also his brother, Kyle, and his family were able to attend also. We had a great time.

Colin at Howell's pumpkin patch.

There was a pretty cool corn maze that you could walk through there too.

Colin's birthday party!

October also brought Halloween. Why this was technically his 2nd, it really felt like his first since he was only a week old last year. Anyway, the weather was really bad here so he didn't go out and trick or treat at all but helped me answer the door on Beggers Night.

November - Colin went to Mom and Dad's in early November to help Granpda combine for the first time. He rode in the combine with Grandpa and also with Brad who helped haul in. This was really the first experience of Brad helping harvest and think he really enjoyed it. Have a feeling Grandpa might be getting a little extra help again next year from both of my boys. ;) We had a great time and I think Grandma and Granpda had fun with him around helping.

Colin going to do chores with Grandpa and Dad.

We then went to back to Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving. The whole family was able to make it so we got to see everyone again. On that weekend, we drove up to Brad's hometown, Lawler, to attend the last of the Hackman Christmas's. This was his mom's side Christmas but unfortunately his Grandma, Rita, passed away earlier this year so this was the last Christmas. We'll miss seeing his mom's side of family every year during the holidays. Here we are with Brad's siblings and their families.

December - So, here we are in December already. Last year I was still home on maternity leave yet....some days wish I was still at home so could spend more time with Colin. I really do enjoy my job though and we're in our busiest time of the year now for about the next 4 months. Oh, we took Colin outside to enjoy his first snow on Monday night after we got about 1 or 2 inches of snow. He was SO funny....like a weeble wabble.....but he could fall down and couldn't get back up. Took us 10 minutes to get him dressed up to go out and we were probably out there for only 5 minutes...oh well. I'm hoping he might get to go sleeding this weekend.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Karen, Brad and Colin

Wow, I can't believe Fall is already here!

I'm so sorry that I haven't updated this in such a long time. I truly can't believe where the summer went this year. I think time goes faster now that I'm a mother. ;) Ok, so what's been going on since my last post?

July - We went to the Mississippi River with most of Brad's family for the 4th of July . That's their family tradition. We had a great time and Colin LOVED playing in the sand. We then made an impromtu trip back up to Lawler as Brad's grandma, Rita Hackman, passed away. Brad celebrated his 32nd birthday on July 20th.

August - We went back to my parents and also to the Snodgrass family reunion. Then we went to Okoboji for several days. Colin got to play on the beach and also to really swim in the pool for the first time. He loved splashing the water and his feet were so shriveled when he came out of the water. We then went from there over to LaCrosse, WI, to visit Brad's sister Tracy and her family. We enjoyed going to Irish Fest while we were there. Then, we headed down for a weekend at the Mississippi River again at his dad's place. I got to go on my first Costigan women's boating trip. I had a great time and hope to go again.

September - Not much has been going on so far. We went home to my parents Labor Day weekend for my dad's 66th b'day. Colin is really moving around. He loves walking along furniture and has recently gotten in to moving the kitchen chairs around. It amazes me how he knows when he gets stuck to go around the other side and start pushing in another direction.

I'm really looking forward to this fall this year as we'll take Colin to a pumpkin patch and he can really enjoy Halloween this year. I can't believe he's almost 1 already.

Anyway, here's some photos to enjoy.....

Playing in the sand at the Mississippi River.

Going for a spin around the block.

Had to take this picture since I work for Pioneer. ;)

Got one with Grandma and Grandpa too since we were in their corn field.

Meeting Grandpa's cattle......

With dad at Okoboji.

First time in a pool.

Just being cute.

Colin with cousin Olivia waiting for the big game to start!

Go Cyclones!

June Flew By!

I can't believe June is already gone and Colin is already 8 months old! He is such a good little guy! He's actually sick right now but the little stinker is so happy that he doesn't even tell us when he's sick. He sooo close to crawling now...up on all fours but just deosn't go anywhere. Also, he walks if you hold on to his hands....he's getting so big!

June was busy. We went to Chicago the weekend of June 12th with Brad's brother and his family - Kyle, Abbi and Olivia (4 months old) to visit Brad and Kyle's uncle and his family - Dan, Susan and Genna (3 months old). I think everyone thought we were crazy to take a 8 month and 4 month old on a 5 hour trip to see another 3 month old. It went great though! Only took us 6 hours to get there with one planned stop there and on the way back...the kids did great!

Brad's first Father's Day also happend in June. His niece, Olivia, was baptized on Father's Day so it worked out that he got to spend his first father's day with his own father....which was a first in years so that was nice.

Work has been busy for both of us. Pioneer went through a re-org in June. My job is still basically the same but unfortunately had some reporting changes. Brad has been busy with softball as well with his first season team wrapping up their games next week.

Happy July 4th to everyone and hope you have a safe holiday! We'll be heading to WI to the Mississippi River w/ Brad's family again this year.

Here's some pics for the month....

I've had the good fortune of two of my best friends having babies the same time as me (all of our first.) Cari and Ethan (4 months), Jen and Will (10 months) and me w/ Colin (7 months)

Just laying' around....

All of the "Pauls"....my sister's 40th b'day party.

Family pic in Chicago...no, not Boston. ;)

Yep, we even ventured to downtown Chicago w/ the babies....

Dan and Susan (Genna), Karen and Brad (Colin) and Abbi and Kyle (Olivia)

Colin just being cute...

Update

Sorry for the delay in updating. Things have been busy lately (or should I say still). Colin is now rolling over in every direction, sitting up on his own, and going in reverse. He is also working on cutting his first tooth. This past Memorial Day weekend we visiting our friends, Bobbi and Bryan, in Pleasant Plain and then were in Cedar Rapids for Brad's cousin's graduation party. The trip went well except he was a little fussy on Monday due to his tooth. Probably will pop through by the weekend. He's becoming quit the little talker now too and has such a great personality. He is very laid back and still never fusses (except when he cried for no reason Monday b/c of this tooth and we didn't know what to do b/c he never cries...he he!)

Colin's first Easter!!!

Our first family Easter picture. We spent it in Lawler this year w/ Brad's family as the first time that all three grandkids were together.

Here are all of the Costigan grandkids together for the first time. Olivia (2 months), Isabel (15 months) and Colin (6 months)

Colin's 6 month picture!
He's getting so big!

Colin with cousin Liz riding his first horse at his cousin Laura's b'day party.

Probably the first picture of just mom and dad in 7 months! This was us at our friend's, Nancy Buchholz-Janss, wedding reception. We had a babysitter that night. Thanks Jen and Don!

One of mom's photo shoots at home.

And yes, have to show off the ISU clothing! :)