Christmas Letter 2005

Hello and Happy Christmas!

This is my first year doing this letter, so I hope I do it real good!

I suppose you heard I joined the world on May 9th of this year. I was bored in there, so I decided to come early. Mommy thought she was having appendicitis so she went to the hospital, but it ended up being a placental abruption. Even though she didn’t want a c-section, the doctor said it was necessary to save me. Unfortunately it happened so fast that Nana was the only one who made it to the hospital in time! And then I came out all bruised because of a near-fatal low platelet level. I don’t know what that means, but everyone said I looked like I’d been in a bar fight! I had to have a transfusion, but because I’m so tough, I started making my own platelets. I’m healthy now, and don’t need any more transfusions!







I don’t remember too much about my first few months, because I was nursing like 16 hours a day! But I did get to spend some time with my half-sister Madison… she is six years old and so much fun. She’s pretty cute, too… I’m going to have to get big and strong quickly so I can fend off all the boys that like her!




I also got to meet some of Dad’s family from Alaska when they visited in June. They are a blast! Grandma Ardie went up to the cabin with us, and Uncle Chris went to fireworks with me on my very first Fourth of July. Cousin Cheryl and Aunt Deb also came all the way to Arizona to meet me!






I had a really busy time in August, when Mom and Dad and I went to Seattle to meet up with some of Mom’s Australian friends, and then went to Alaska to meet the rest of Dad’s family.

Dad & baby fishing for silver salmon / Meeting my first moose! / Going to Homer in the motorhome

As soon as we came back from Alaska, we had to leave for Colorado, because we got some sad news… Mom’s Aunt Shirley died from breast cancer. I am so bummed I never got to meet her. She must have been an incredible lady, because there were so many police cars in the procession that they blocked off the main street in town (she worked for the police department). I felt like we were in a parade… all the people on the sidewalk took their hats off and waved. I’ve never been to a funeral before, but Mom says this one was extra special.

4 generations!

So before I was even four months old, I visited five states! I think I must have inherited my mother’s love of traveling!



Daddy is still working for Qwest, and running an eBay business too. Mommy is taking a leave of absence from work, but she has been writing, and helping Daddy.

My Papa went back to Orlando to work after all the bad hurricanes this year. He’s been gone since September. But he came back for my baptism, which I thought was really cool! And whenever I see him, he dances with me and makes me laugh. Nana is visiting him in Florida right now. Papa says he’s going to retire this month. We have a feeling he’ll be busier than ever!




Aunt Shelli and Uncle Jody still have their locksmith company, and they bought another company this year (with a storefront), so they are incredibly busy! The twins turned ONE in October. Wow! Xander is nearly walking, and Abby can combat crawl so well, I think she should be a Marine! They’re only eight months older than me, but I try hard to keep up with them. My cousin Caden is in all-day kindergarten. He looks very grown-up in his school uniform. He is my special buddy, and always gives me lots of love when I visit.

These days my favorite past-time is going out in public so I can show my gorgeous smile to everyone (and I do like the ladies)! I get so much attention everywhere I go. I am still little (10th percentile) but I’m very strong. I can crawl, pull myself up, and stand for a long time! I also got my first tooth this week -- and I’ve been waking Mom up every hour at night to tell her about it.

I also like to scare my Mommy by rolling off furniture. I have been rolling since I was a week old, and I’ve rolled off the bed, the couch, and anything else I can manage. Mommy says I gave her her first gray hairs!

Mom wants me to tell you about another miracle in our family this year. The doctors say Nana’s macular degeneration is completely cured! They have no idea how or why, but her eyes are better! And to think, she retired early because she was told she’d be blind by now. I’m glad Nana will be able to see all my future antics! We are truly blessed!!

Hope this letter finds you healthy and happy! Until next year…

Much love,

Colin