Today was an exciting day!  Rory started pre-kindergarten.  We were thinking that she wouldn’t be able to go to preschool this year just because of the feasibility of me getting her picked up, dropped off, taken to daycare, all of that.  The timing wasn’t working with my work schedule, and I was a little bit disappointed.  But last week, there was a last minute cancellation at the one school that would work for us, and we got the spot! 

Last night, she had picked out her outfit and told me a million times what she wanted to bring in her lunch.  When we got to the school, I was getting her out of the car, and when she saw me grab my camera, I could tell she was a bit annoyed.  “We JUST need my backpack, mom,” she said.  LOL!  I had grabbed a photo at home just in case, but she did let me get a couple more when we got there.  I have to admit that I laughed at her reaction as we walked into the school and saw the halls filled with kids.  I think she was a bit intimidated by all of the kids she saw there.  But as soon as we got to the room, she was off, and didn’t really care if I stayed or left.

And the best part of it all…when I got there to pick her up, she said she wasn’t ready; she wanted to play some more.  I reminded her that she had to go to daycare, and immediately her face lit up.  “And see Cohen?!”  It made me smile to hear her say that.  I guess she missed the little stinker.

Last weekend (always at least a week behind on my blogging), we spent most of Sunday out at grandma and grandpa’s house.  They’re preparing to sell the farm, so I thought it would be great to get some photos of Rory out there.  Of course, there are much more exciting things to do at the farm besides getting your picture taken by your mother.  She was busy watering the flowers, but she gave me a few minutes without complaint.

He’s pretty much been called Cohen Monster by the whole family since he came home with us, so a monster party was only fitting.  The poor guy is dealing with a cold, and a nose that has been running like a faucet, so he was a little out of it for part of the day, especially after not much of a morning nap, but I think he had a great birthday.  It was so nice to have all of our family and friends there, so thank you all for helping us celebrate!  I was worried it was going to be unbearably hot, but we had plenty of shade, and it seemed the weather was perfect!

I hardly saw Rory the entire time.  She was having so much fun at the playground with all of her friends.  She came out for the pinata and treats, though!

I loved how the invites turned out…

Lots of little monsters and polka dots!  Cohen LOVED the big balloons!

It was a great way to end a great year!

You’re sweet, snuggly, funny, mischevious, smart, busy, and best of all…mine.  Here’s to one of the fastest years of my life.  I feel like there is no way it was already a year ago that I met you, and even though you’ve grown and changed so much, when I’m rocking you to sleep and I look at you, to me, you are the same tiny baby we brought home.  I love you! 

It’s late, and I don’t have much else to say but that I LOVE these babies.  So, so much.  Looking through these as I post them, I get tears in my eyes because I am just so grateful to be their mother and so grateful for our family.  Sometimes stress and sleep deprivation get the best of me, and I have a hard time keeping it all in perspective, but at the end of the day, I love them more than I did the day before.  How that’s even possible, I don’t know.

As I was editing those images from Father’s Day, this one came up on my monitor, and I instantly remembered a shot from a  couple years ago that was nearly identical.  Ironically, these were both taken on June 20th, only two years apart.

When I look at these, the fact that things have changed pretty much smacked me alongside the head!  Obviously she has changed in too many ways to list.  Her hair is longer; face is slimmer.  But I also see how I have changed.  I see a handful of things that are technically wrong with this image, yet I remember the day I took it and how perfect I thought it was.  It’s kind of fun to see where you’ve come from and where you are now. 

Oh boy.  I am so behind on my blogging.  These photos were actually taken on Father’s Day, so right around the time Cohen turned 11 months.  In the last month he has reached two huge milestone.  Four teeth have FINALLY made their way through.  I never thought this would happen, I really didn’t.  The poor guy has been struggling with those teeth for so long.  For over three months, his gums have been white, puffy, and swollen.  Practically every day, one of us has said, “Any day now!” and that day never seemed to come.  Just this past Sunday night, before I put him to bed, that forth tooth was not yet through.  That night, he was up at 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 when he finally was able to sleep until 7:00 when I had to wake the poor kid up, but the next morning…the tooth was there!

The next big piece of news is that he is walking!  The kid was holding out on us for this one, too.  For several weeks, he could stand in the middle of the room.  Play around, almost fall, catch his balance, squat down, stand back up.  He could do it all, but he would not take a step.  Finally, one night I bribed him with the suncreen bottle that he is so attached to, and he did it.  Rory and I both let out a simultaneous “YAY COHEN!”  We were both so excited, and I was so happy that I was home this time around.  When Rory took her first steps, of course, I was gone.

So, here we are in the eleventh month, gearing up for a big first birthday party, and wondering where in the world the time has gone.  I love rocking him to sleep and looking at his little profile.  He still looks exactly the same as the day he was born.  And looking back on photos and videos of Rory at this age, I see a ton of similarities that I don’t see every day. Mostly in their expressions.

He’s much too busy to pay much attention to me these days.  But I love those sweet little lips.  The purple eye lids that are a sure sign that he’s tired.  The slightest red tint to his hair that only shows up in certain light.  And that middle finger. 

This girl loves playing outside and loves the water.  No doubt about that.

What a beautiful day!  I really can’t say much more than that about this wedding.  The night before, Josey and I were sitting in the very back of the church watching the rehersal, and I made a comment that they seemed SO young.  Then it dawned on me…we were that young when we got married, too.  Wow, how so much can change in such a short period of time.  David and Courtney, I wish you both the very best, and I hope in five years you are sitting in the position I was in that night.  Thinking about how much this day changed your life, and wondering how you could be so blessed.

the most beautiful children you’ve ever seen?  I know I certainly think so!

Courtney & David got married this past weekend, and as I had mentioned before, Rory got to be the flowergirl.  I think she did a great job, and of course, she was beautiful!  Cohen was looking pretty handsome, too.  Rory had waited all day for the dance to start, and when it was finally time, and she was able to get out there, I put my camera down and went out to the dance floor with her.  The pure excitement and happiness on her face…I will never forget that!  Oh, to be four again.

It was such a nice day, and I am just getting to sorting through the tons of photos I took that day.  I can’t wait to share.  Courtney was such a beautiful bride!

Well, my first baby is four years old!  I am not going to get all sentimental here because I can’t take it right now, so I’ll just let the photos do the talking.  We celebrated pretty much all day on Saturday with a fun, girly tea party per her request.  I had so much fun this year making the decorations!  It started out at lunch time with all of her little friends, then a break for a quick naps for both kids, followed by supper with some family.  Thank you ALL for coming to celebrate!  It meant so much to us all to have you there.  To say she had a fun day would be an understatement!

This girl has no character at all!  LOL!