Meet......

"Todd"

Todd is our newest addition to the family, if you wanna call him that. Todd is Cohen's fish! We got him a fish for Christmas b/c he LOVES fish! He calls them shoes. He knows what shoes are, and he knows what fish are, but for some reason the SH sound is difficult for him, therefore resulting in calling his fish "shoes".

I told Zach to name the fish... Todd is what he came up with. Don't ask. He also named the Wii "Randy". His name selections puzzle me sometimes. Cohen loves the time of day that he gets to gets to get Todd down from the top of the fridge and feed him.

Todd lives on top of the fridge b/c if anyone has ever met Cohen, they know that he would be capable to get the fish out and perhaps feed him to his baby brother.

I apologize....

One of the things on my list of "perfect family" attributes is sending out the perfect Christmas card each year. You know the ones. They arrive in the mail sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day displaying the perfect, polished, professional pictures of smiling, happy children and an adoring husband.

That did not happen this year. Caleb's arrival came right about the time I would begin working on our card. So I got somewhat "distracted" and Christmas cards just kept moving down my "to do" list. Next thing I know, its Dec 11th and I have no picture nor card to send.

So I get Cohen dressed in his Christmas attire, next I dress little Caleb and we all go sit by the tree for a picture.


Heres what happened next:

I sat Cohen beside Caleb and he acted as if his brother was the plague. He refused.

I asked Cohen to kiss baby brother, he blew him a kiss instead. Which I couldn't capture on camera.

I gave Cohen a book and asked him, very politely actually to read it to Caleb. He threw it at him.

These are reasons Christmas Cards were not sent out.

Needless to say. We had the best Christmas ever minus my lack of wishing everyone a Merry Christmas via postal service. Least I saved on stamps ;)

3 letters that terrify me.

T---- W---- O

In just one month our first born will be TWO! I can't believe it! Here are some fun facts about Cohen at 23 months!

• Weigh 30 lbs.
• Wear size 2T in clothing
• Size 7 shoe
• Size 6 diaper. Looks HUGE compared to Caleb's!
• Love Dora, Blues Clues, or Thomas.
• Love to play with Legos and Cars
• Sleeps in twin bed.
  
• Goes to bed at 8:30 and wakes up anywhere from 6-7.
• Sleeps with 2 blankies.
  
• Drinks ALOT of milk. Lactose Free of course
• Still lactose intolerant, one bite of cheese, he will vomit :(
• Can say at least 25 words and can even say short sentences (ex. "my ear hurt)
• Loves to go to "chuch, gammes, or popaws" Everytime we get in the car he states those 3 words.
• You love your tricycle that Momaw gave you from 1980 far better then anything new we could buy you.
• Love to feed "Todd". (post to follow)
• You like to dance to choo choo theme songs.
• Favorite word... "uhh ooo"
• Favorite foods: applesauce, yogurt(soy), chicken, and hotdogs
• Love giving kisses to mommy, daddy, duke and rarely your brother.

Sweetest little boy I know.
:)



Off to party planning!

I want you to meet....

My niece Lena!

She was born 19 days after Caleb! They are so close in age :)
We can't wait to meet her!


(Its crazy seeing a December baby wearing summer clothes but its 80 degrees in Guam!)
Jealous that they get to enjoy stroller rides outdoors!

in just one year...

Look at the changes in just a year!

(last years Christmas Photo)

Look at how much Cohen has changed,:)
So glad Zach has to shave for his new job!



And the biggest change of all.....
A beautiful new addition,
Caleb

Merry Christmas from our family to yours....

You will have JOY and GLADNESS and many will REJOICE at His birth.
Luke 1:14

Glamorous? To me it is : )

When I was 7 months pregnant I gave into the tug at my heart to quit my job and stay home and prepare for the birth of Cohen. Those days were boring, I sat, I walked Duke, I got on facebook, I cleaned, I slept, I read, etc. Then Cohen arrived and my job title immediately changed to a "stay at home mom". 23 months later, Caleb arrived and then I became a stay at home mom to TWO boys!

I have been thinking about how glamorous my job is. Here are just a few of the realities of my life at home .... ; )

Fact #1:
I have bags under my eyes from lack of sleep due to a newborn and a 2 year old who escapes his bedroom.

Fact #2: I get dressed up to go to playdates, yep thats a big deal to me these days :)

Fact #3: I have been in public and noticed lollipops on my shirt, and cheerios stuck to my pants, etc.

Fact #4: My car has taken an interior crucial beating. Yes there are milk stains on the floor board, not to mention red juice stains. If I haven't vaccummed in a week you could probably find gummies stuck to the door, or a juice box on the floor.

Fact #5: I strongly dislike the tension I feel when someone asks, "So what have you been up to"? Especially when that person asking is not a Mom. I have nothing to say other then "Well, you know, changing dirty diapers, feeding Caleb, dragging both children to run my errands and watching Dora the Explorer with my almost 2 year old...." Although I love all these things...some people may not think they are that interesting... but that is "what I have been up to!"

The other day I was driving and Cohen was bobbing his head to the worship song Mighty to Save and I look at Caleb through the rearview mirror into his baby mirror and he is looking around very intrigued as if he is discovering life for the first time. In that moment I was so incredibly thankful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to do what I do. I am a stay at home Mom and I get to be there for all of these moments. I love it. I am going to rock the spit up on my shoulder, the bags under my eyes, and cheerios on my pants... Yep...I'm a stay at home mom!

Psalm 63

Oh God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

My soul thirsts for you;
My flesh faints for you;
As in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
In your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my BED,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
For YOU have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy;
My soul clings to you;
Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8 ESV