Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day is not different from most other days. Every day I am grateful to have been chosen to be the mom of these two amazing boys.




But, it's a fun day to be recognized and to recognize my own mom, who I am so very grateful for!




This year we enjoyed a nice brunch and day by the pool. It was so relaxing! I even got to take a nap with Weston when we got home!




I live for these two!




I couldn't do it without my other half!








Life is crazy fun with these boys!




I'm thankful for my brothers (and brothers in law) too. What amazing Uncles they are! I love how they love my kids!

My sisters in law are amazing too AND awesome mommies.




When mommy hood gets rough, these babies know just how to put it all into perspective. They make me laugh, cry, and love with my whole heart!








Do they remind you of two young boys? This is Daddy and Uncle Sammy. Wow! I see this and I see Cohen and Weston.












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The Latest Happenings

We have been busy as usual around here. Our friends welcome their beautiful baby girl into the world and asked John and I to be her godparents. What a special honor!




Here is Cohen holding her very sweetly. It feels like just yesterday this was him and Weston.


The kids got to play in our beautiful Texas Spring weather.



Our team has reached the playoffs. It's such an exciting time to break out the t shirts, jerseys, and car flags!




We've also spent a lot of time at a local food truck park. So fun!








Cohen has been such a loving big brother and teacher to Weston. It's so fun to watch them. I feel very blessed!

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Fun at Mimi's

I had my last ladies church group the other night and my mom has been so kind to watch the boys each first Monday of the month for me so I could go again this year.

It's a night every month I look forward to not cooking and just being with the girls without our kids. It's a time that allows me to regroup, connect with God, listen to my wise mentor, and to relate to me friends. I LOVE this night and can't wait for it to start up again in September.

Mimi shot some cute pics of the boys. They LOVE that Mimi of theirs! Cohen has started to figure out that Mimi is his "grandma" and when he talks about it he cracks me up. Like I shouldn't be allowed to call her Mimi because she's not MY grandma. Or he will say, "I have a grandma and her name is Mimi." (In his very serious matter of fact tone)

So, as Mother's Day approaches - here's to Mimi. Last year I gave her a framed wooden decor that said, "The best thing about having you as a mom, is my kids having you as a Mimi!" So true!













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He Wants a....

Cohen said the cutest thing yesterday. He keeps asking me for a sister and then finally he said its ok mom I have sisters -"Arley, Aubrey and Cheyanne".




Melt my heart!


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Fifteen Months

No really, how did this just happen? My little babe is 15 months old! (April 11)




He's a firecracker!
At his well check, we discussed continuing him on a no dairy diet until mid summer and then slowly possibly reintroduce it. He loves his soy milk and soy yogurt. Cheese has been easy to leave out of things.
He's growing like a weed length wise but only 22 pounds still. I'm not surprised. He's following brother's path. This kid eats us all under the table, so he must definitely have a wonderful metabolism.
Weston's language skills aren't where I thought they'd be as of now, but can you believe I am not worrying myself crazy? I can understand the things he is saying and his receptive language is getting better every day. There's a slight possibility we will look into speech therapy if Dr thinks its necessary at 18 months. The things he does say:
Mama, Dada, Ki-ca (kitty cat - we don't have one, every animal is a Ki-ca), was this?, haw (hot), and there have been words I think he has said but not for certain. I know he is learning every day!
He loves to laugh. This baby laughs and laughs. He dances when he hears music and sometimes when he just wants attention. He leaves one foot down and does "the pivot". It's so funny.
He loves to run wild around the house and follows his brother anywhere.
He likes to play peek a boo, brings me little things he picks up off the ground, and the other day I caught him scrubbing the toilet with the toilet bowl wand! Gross!
His eyes are still a beautiful blue, his hair is a crazy strawberry blonde. His hair gets comments almost daily.
He has some cute little habits like when I am bringing him food he throws both hands in the air, smiles real big and opens and closes his hands like gimme gimme gimme! When I hold him he pinches the back of my arm and it hurts! He knows when it's nigh nigh. After bath he instinctively begins to rub his eyes, calm down, let me rock him, and lay him down. Such a huge change from his little baby days.
The things that interest him most right now are trucks, trains, helping me clean and pick up, opening and closing cabinets, playing in sand and dirt, dogs, planes, books, and food of course!
My sweet boo bear is such an amazing gift and I am so thankful for him each and every day, yet so sad he is growing up so fast.




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Viva!

Our city has been in celebration mode for the past two weeks. We haven't braved many of these events the past few years with the boys, but today we decided to go to a parade and festival with Mimi and Joan. The boys had so much fun!





We brought the wagon and decorated it. It was the perfect seat for watching the parade.
























I'm so glad we went!


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Pink Eye

Cohen woke up on Monday morning with two swollen eyes shut with "eye boogies". Daddy took him to the doctor and she sure enough, it was pink eye!

Pink eye has a downfall. You have to miss two days of school. The plus side is, after the first application of eye drops you immediately start to feel better.





So this little man has had a two day vacation and spent time with daddy and ninja turtles, then Mimi and Bailey. We are glad that pink eye is behind us for now!



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Weekends Never Last

The weather has been so wonderful and we have been enjoying our days outside.




The other day, Cohen got a surprise sno cone! He wasn't expecting it and he savored every bit of it!




Weston turned 15 months old on the eleventh. He looks more like a little boy to me now. I attempted to cut his hair the other and he screamed every time I got near him, so I totally botched it. I took him to the salon the next day and he sat as quiet as a little mouse. Go figure!




Cohen had a soccer game this morning bright and early at 9:00 am.




Allie came in town to visit her sister so she came to breakfast with us!




Then we stopped at Kate's for some cupcakes and cookies! I loved seeing both of my brothers girlfriends today!




My sweet friend Krystal brought us dinner! She is such a blessing to me!




Tonight we cruised around the neighborhood for an hour and made it home just in time for baths and bed!
Now the neighbors are coming over for wine and game night. :) Weekends never last, but summer will be here in 37 days!
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Dairy Free

Weston was tested for allergies almost two weeks ago. His antibodies produced reactions to cow's milk, which doesn't necessarily mean he is allergic but it could be the cause of his rhinitis (itchy, runny nose) which in turn could be the cause of his coughing/wheezing.
So as a test measure to rule out seasonal allergies which he also produced reactions to, the specialist asked me to take him off dairy for two weeks to see if the rhinitis resolved.




We have switched from "legular" milk, as Cohen calls it, to soy milk and the boys have actually liked it better. We usually get original, vanilla, and chocolate.
We find it in bulk at Costco. Kirklands has a brand that can actually sit in the pantry until you open it. Or you can purchase the three pack of Silk. Weston will need one gallon a week at Mrs. M's and Cohen can purchase a soy milk box at school every day.




It was hard for me to find a dairy free yogurt at my normal grocery store without going to a speciality store, but I did find this and they love it! Whole Soy and Co. yogurts are a huge portion for them and contain chunks of real fruit.
Those are really the two big changes we have made. Obviously I haven't made Weston anything with cheese or cream. If we go somewhere or I make something, I find alternatives. He is not a picky eater and will eat anything. It's been kind of fun to see what we can substitute.

As of now, he has his fifteen month well check next week and I will be following up with the allergist at the end of the month. He has not had a runny nose since the day I took him off dairy. It's amazing. I'm pretty sure that since it has been working for us we will continue to go dairy free for him.
I am not a mom who says "never". I have had people say I would never do this or I would never do that. Yea, I used to believe that BEFORE I became a mom. Then I got smart. I will do what is best for my kids, whether or not someone has an opinion on it. If my pediatrician or my heart says different, than those are the two things that give me direction! I would've never considered taking Weston off cow's milk without the professional opinions and results. For now, this is working for us!

The Things He Says...

I'm always writing in my notes app about the silly things the bug says:




Most of the time, when you ask him to do something he respond with a "Sure!" It's the cutest. I'm loving this curious silly age!



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