My favorite Color and other stuff.

Look what we found today! I think Robins eggs are the perfect color. We are excited to see what happens with these four little eggs!

Cohen has learned to climb to the top of the playhouse. I can't describe the feeling I got when I looked over (from across the yard) to see my toddler at the top of the ladder. It was a mixture of nausea, panic and pure unadulterated FEAR! But here he is, safely at the top! Who doesn't want to kiss that face?!

Speaking of his cute face....here's my boy in the bathtub. He is learning to wash himself. It is so funny but my favorite is when he washes his face. It always looks so sweet!!!

Oh, and remember a few weeks ago when Claire shut the window on Cohen's fingers? This was 2 days later. Poor baby!!! I have a few more pics that I want to post, but Blogger won't let me at the moment. So, maybe tomorrow!

80 is the new 50

On Thursday April 11th we celebrated Grandpa Georges 80th birthday! We enjoyed getting together with most of the family and of course missed those who couldn't join us! Here's a few pictures from the evening. Thanks Auntie Karen for ALWAYS taking great pics and then sending them so quickly! You're awesome!! And of course....HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA GEORGE!

My Coco

Baby Bump #2


Don't worry, we actually took the tags off before he wore this outfit!

Playing in Nanny & Papa's "river"

Cohen's Dedication invites

5 Months on his most favorite quilt.

So here's a little about my sweet boy and what makes him so special to me.

Name: Cohen Wayne (his middle name is in honor of My Grandpa Giddens, Dad, Jarad and Hunter. It is in memory of John Lewis a very close friend of the family who passes away when I was young.)

Age: 1 year 6 months 25 days 11 hours and 23 minutes

Eyes: 2 blue ones

Hair: Blond curls (unless he just woke up...then it stands straight up.)

Favorites

Food: "CaCake" (pancakes)

Drink: Sprite (yes, he gets sprite from time to time....go ahead and judge me!)

Game: It's a toss up between "turn off the t.v. while my sister is watching then laugh while she screams her head off" and "let's see how many times I can flush the potty before mommy ruins my fun."

Book: Baby Says

Sister: Claire

Friend: Mommy of course

Thing to do on a sunny day: Go outside

Thing to do on a rainy day: Go Outside

Thing to do when it is 10 degrees outside: Go outside

Song: If you're happy and you know it

Stuffed animal: Puppy or Rexy

His Story

When I suspected I was pregnant with Cohen we had only been trying for a few weeks. I woke up with a nosebleed and KNEW I was prego. Brian and I decided since he was the last to know with Claire, he would be the first to know with this one. So I peed on the stick and sprinted out of the bathroom. When he went in and looked he asked me how dark the second line had to be for me to be pregnant. BINGO! We were now the parents of 2! So I rushed out and bought a t-shirt and iron-on letters to make Claire a big sister shirt so we could start spreading the news. That was Friday. Saturday we told a few people and noticed Claire had a small rash. She woke us up in the middle of the night covered in a HORRIBLE rash and we rushed her to the ER. They admitted her and she was there for a few days. We never figured out what it was. Guess we should have taken her to the ER in Kansas City. No sooner had we walked through the door and I started feeling awful. I became terribly ill and was in a really bad mental state. It took about a month to get to feeling better and get my emotions in check. After that, I was convinced that it was a boy and NO ONE could tell me different! We went for the ultrasound and of course...I was right! We celebrated our 4th anniversary in Labor & Delivery because I was having very strong and regular contractions. I went back again about a month later and then again September 1oth. That time they kept me and I was in labor all night. They came in and stopped my labor and told me that the baby was around 7 & 1/2 pounds (give or take 2 lbs.) and I could go anytime now. So we rushed around and got pics taken of our family and the belly. We had a shower that Kristen and Delphia threw for me that was wonderful! The only thing is, I had contractions through the whole thing and was just sure I was going to have him the night of my shower. Nope. So a few nights later, we walked...and walked...and walked. All I could think of was this 7 &1/2 to 9 & 1/2 pound baby in my womb that was getting bigger by the minute and I was on a mission! BUT, I got tired and hungry and gave up. "Forget it. Let's just go eat at Lamberts. I want meatloaf. I'll have this baby another day." So I stuffed myself went home and got in bed....hmmmmm.....yup! Time to go! At about midnight we went to Labor and Delivery (4th time's a charm!) and they checked me. I was at t 6! Awww yeah, epidural time! Meanwhile, my contractions didn't hurt. But I was too chicken to risk not getting the epidural. My water wouldn't break on it's own and the doc on call didn't want to get out of bed to do it, so I waited until the next morning. Dr. McCall broke my water and 13 minutes later I was holding my big blue baby boy! He came out so fast he was bruised ALL over. I heard a "crunch" when he came out but we all assumed it was my tailbone. Wrong. It was my poor baby's collar bone breaking in half! It healed itself and never really caused him a lot of trouble but I am convinced it is why he wouldn't eat. This was why when he was 1 week old they put him back in the hospital for....are you ready for this? "Failure to thrive." Yes, my little boy that weighed 36 pounds at the age of 1 was labeled "FAILURE TO THRIVE." He had me worried for a few days but on his due date, he woke up and started eating like a champ! He has slept all night since he was about a month old and was such an easy baby.

Now he is a little more work, what with the walking and all. He doesn't talk much but knows the important words cookie, cake and night night. (he knows a few more just isn't as passionate about them!) I mean do you really need anything else? He signs some words which has been really helpful as one of them is "more"!! He recently got bumped up to a size 10 shoe which was quite a shock for this mommy who had him in size eights. For those who don't know, I am up for mother of the year. (please note the hint of sarcasm.) He hates to shop. This is a problem, but we are adjusting. When I say "we" I mean, "I" and I mean I'm not shopping much these days! (I love walking the aisles of Target with my mom! We may or may not buy a thing, but it's therapeutic!) He loves a good massage ("shhaaaaaaaa!" he says while rubbing his belly.) He likes to lick the Baby Magic off his feet after his "shhaaaaa!" He loves his "cakey" which is his blanket. Any blanket will do, as long as he has one when he gets sleepy, he's good to go. He can eat 3 bananas in one sitting. He is my junk food junkie. He likes to sweep the floor. He can dance like no other. He won't watch TV although "Bob the Builder" is looking promising these days!

Above all, he is my little lovebug. I've never seen a boy (besides his Daddy) who loves to cuddle soooo much! He never gets up in the middle of the night, but on the rare occasion he does....I eat it up!!! I love to cuddle up with him when it's quiet and just us. God has blessed me indeed.

Cohen,

I love you little dude. I didn't know what this family was missing until the day you were born!

Love

Mommy

New Bible Study

I started a new Bible study on Monday. The timing couldn't have been better. I spent much of the day in prayer. My very good friend Jenny had what we thought was a seizure and her amazing husband (also a lifelong friend) Jeremy saved her life by giving her CPR until help came. Things were very tense until she woke up. Come to find out she has Long QT Syndrome and ended up going into cardiac arrest on Wednesday and is now the proud new owner of a pacemaker/defibrilator. She is doing great now but it was really hard waiting. I needed to be with a group of strong Christian women to keep my focus on God and my faith. He picked just the right group! We are reading "Created to be his Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. We all agreed that she is a little harsh sometimes, but for the most part has a lot to offer on the subject of being the kind of wife that God has instructed me to be. I am learning from the book, but I feel I have even more to learn from the women in the group. I LOVE to listen to them talk. I left feeling so encouraged and uplifted. I never once felt out of place or judged. I have connected with an old friend (hi Jess!) and really look forward to our Monday evening dinners before Bible study.

I have seen God working this week. He carried Jenny and Jeremy through REALLY scary time. I watched a man who I have known since elementary school put every single ounce of his faith in the Lord. I watched Jenny glow as she held her two month old baby in her arms like it was the first time. I saw God so many places this week. My faith could have been tested this week. But God knew this was in the plan. That is why he put me in Arkansas with two of my best friends the day after her first episode. When I got the message that Jenny had coded, he placed me in the company of one of the most faithful women I know. She stayed so calm. We grabbed up our girls and went to my truck and prayed like there was no tomorrow. 5 more minutes and I would have been on the road by myself with Claire. Thank you Lord for being so faithful!

So now, we pray as we wait for the results of Steph's scan. That's all we can do is pray and wait....wait and pray! I am also praying for my Aunt Donna and Uncle Bobby and their family as they grieve the loss of Aunt Donna's mother. I am praying for Pam and Steve and their family as they also grieve the loss of Steve's mother who died the same day. May you all find peace during this hard time. As I said on Steph's blog the other day....IT IS POURING around here. Literally and figuratively!!

Easter pics

Here is the website with Claire and Cohen's Easter pics! Type in Claire George and click on one of the albums. The password for both albums is family. There are two albums so be sure to look at both! Thanks so much to Auntie Karen for taking such great pictures! Claire was being a typical 3 year old for us that evening. It was hard to catch her with a "normal" smile on her face! Cohen on the other hand, did great despite the fact that he had ear infections! Enjoy and be sure to look at both albums! www.weddingimagesonline.com

To another Jeff....

I received an e-mail this morning from Ms. Holly (Claire's teacher) saying that her husband passed away at 12:45 this morning. He was diagnosed in October with Melanoma and now, he's gone. My heart is broken for Holly and their two beautiful little girls. Her blog www.nevergonnabreakmyfaith.blogspot.com sheds a lot of light on what a wonderful man he is. I have been inspired by their strength and their faith. They have changed me. I told Holly that because of them, I tend to stop before I get mad about picking up a pile of dirty clothes on Brian's side of the bed. I think twice before I get grumpy about him coming home a little late. Instead, I thank God that I had him here last night to make that mess. I rejoice because he has an amazing job that keeps him busy into the evening and provides us with a roof over our heads and food on the table. I didn't even get upset when that table that holds the food became a canvas for Cohen's recent hobby...fork carving. It puts things into perspective. The endless piles of laundry means I have 3 other beautiful people in this house that dirty them up! The crumbs all over the floor mean we have little hands learning how to use silverware. All of the screeching and laughing means we have a sister and brother in this house who adore each other. I am thankful for every second I get with the people I love. Whether I am playing games with them, coloring, painting, working around the house, watching TV with them, shopping with them, working out with them or sharing a meal. Every person who is in my life is so valuable to me. The Melton's situation has reminded me that we are only guaranteed this very moment on earth. We don't know God's plan and we don't know when he will call us or our loved ones home. Take the time today to pick up the phone and call someone you love just to chat. Spend an extra minute in that embrace before running off to start dinner. Let them splash water on the bathroom floor just for fun. Read an extra bedtime story. Don't turn on the TV this evening. Invite a single mom out for lunch or over for dinner. Wake up each day and ask yourself, "What can I do today to make someone's day special." It doesn't matter if it is your kids, spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, friend or a complete stranger. Just do it. You may not have another chance. If you are the "prayin' kind" please pray for Holly, Ashtyn and Lauren. Pray that they feel the presence of the Lord more than ever right now. Visit their blog and send a positive thought or a Bible verse. Have a blessed day!

Thanks Jeff!

I have this weird thing I do when I want to avoid doing what I am really SUPPOSED to be doing. I will go to my blog and click on the "next blog" button at the top. I have found some really great blogs that way! Blogs that inspire me. Some are in Chinese and my Chinese is pretty rusty, so I skip ahead and have been led to some great little stories. The day that I posted about my friend Jeff who had CF I finished the post and clicked on "next blog." I found "Confessions of a CF Husband." There is a link to his blog on my site list. Check it out and consider donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I don't think I need to say anymore. His blog speaks for itself! I know Jeff led me to that site! So...THANKS JEFF!