Summer Photos

Here are the photos we had taken of the boys by our good friend and photographer Elizabeth. Check her out at elizabethduvallphotography.com

The Dog Returns

So, we had another run in with the dog last week. Of course, he came by the same day we were getting our new roof, so it was absolute chaos all around. I opened the front door with both kids about to head out to my mom's house, when I see the dog in our front yard bounding towards our open door. Pete was home (thankfully!) monitoring the roofers and I called for him to come help me. I did not want to repeat my last crazy run in with the dog...me, two kids, way too many bags, running and screaming around the yard, getting jumped on- all around 7 am in the morning!

I carried Kent, who was screaming, and Pete carried Cohen, who was laughing. We started down the steps, dodging the shingles being thrown off the roof and I noticed a ball in the yard. The dog did not come alone; he brought a toy with him. It was at this moment that I realized that this crazy, energetic dog was not trying to terrorize my family. I think he is just neglected and comes by every so often to "play". Pete grabbed the ball and threw it as far as he could out of the cul de sac and told me to run. The dog took off with his broken leash dragging behind him.

I was strapping Kent in and I could hear the dog coming back towards me really fast. All I can remember thinking about was how bad it was going to hurt when the dog jumped on me and his nails scratched my legs. Can you tell that I'm not what you would call an animal lover? Thankfully, the dog brought the ball straight back to Pete who threw it off again so I could strap in Cohen. As we drove away, I waited for Kent to quote the part of Toy Story that I heard him say over and over a few weeks ago, "Stupid Dog!". I was so proud when he didn't say that, but he did choose some Toy Story inspired words. Reminding me of one of the final scenes in the movie he said, "Mommy, I want to jump on that dog's back, spank his hiney and pull on his eyelids!"

I'm glad it didn't come to that!

9 month checkup...a month late

I realize that Cohen is now actually 10 months old, but I wanted to go ahead and post the stats from his nine month check up. I mean I remembered to take a picture at the doctor's office and everything!!!! He had a great visit and we are all really excited about how clear Cohen's skin has been lately. Maybe the eczema is going away! His blood test came back with him not allergic to milk, (the mystery continues), but positive allergies to eggs and peanuts. We are now headed to the allergist for his opinion on the milk issue and skin testing to help verify the other allergies.

Cohen is a really happy baby who loves to play and crawl everywhere. He is pulling up on all the furniture and walks along the couch and tables with one hand. He still can't make it up the step from our living room to our kitchen, which keeps me a happy mommy. ;) I know my days are numbered with this though and he will soon be roaming the house. He is just starting to babble and dance and is still flashing those big smiles all the time. Such a joy, Cohen is always so fun to be around. Kent loves having his brother to play and laugh with. Cohen's laugh is so cute, but he gets the hiccups everytime you get him laughing.

Here are Cohen's stats:

Height- 28 1/2 inches

Weight- 19 lbs 8 oz

Kent at 9 months:

Height- 30 1/4 inches

Weight- 22 lbs 7.5 oz

Weddings 2009

We have been travelling off and on for the last three weeks, which explains the lack of updates. Hopefully I can get back on track and figure out the best way to report all of our adventures!

June was wedding month for us. Pete and I each had a friend get married and we had a lot of fun at both weddings. We were childless, thanks to my parents, and had two weekends in a row to ourselves! My friend Julie's wedding was first. Julie and I went to college at UGA together and we now teach art together everyday! The wedding was on a plantation in Conyers. Outside and in the evening, it was warm (100 degrees), but absolutely beautiful. You will all have to trust me on this because I did not take any pictures!!! Sorry Julie! I hate watching things happen through the screen on my camera, so I am a notoriously bad wedding picture taker. I danced very late into the evening with all of Julie's sorority sisters from college and Pete and I stayed up even later chatting with the other people staying in our cabin on the plantation. None of the other couples our age at the wedding besides us and the bride and groom were married. They were all quite amazed that we had been married for seven whole years and had two kids already....

The next weekend we headed up to North Carolina for our friends Chris and Emily's wedding. Pete has known Chris since high school and I have known him the entire time I have known Pete. Chris was a groomsman in our wedding and we were just so excited that he and Emily were finally getting married! We headed up a few days early as Pete was a groomsman. I decided to take pictures after my absentmindedness the week before. The wedding was at Lake Junaleska, a popular Methodist retreat. It was absolutely beautiful and I really think that we Baptists need to get with the program and create some type of organized retreat like this!!! We got to take part in all the pre wedding festivities, explore the downtown area, shop, and spend time with Chris' sweet family.

The little stone chapel where Chris and Emily got married. The stained glass was beautiful!




Chris is in the center, his older brother John (single!!!) to his right,

and then my handsome guy!

Emily wore her mother's veil.

We stopped to take a picture of the view on our way back to Georgia.

While Cohen is Sleeping

Kent and I have been having lots of fun while Cohen has been napping. We have been doing things that we simply cannot do when Cohen is around getting into everything! Kent is loving putting puzzles together and it's best when his little brother is not tearing them apart as he does it. Here he is with the first puzzle that he put together entirely by himself. He was super proud!



Later we went out and cut some flowers for a bridal shower that I was going to. Kent had a great time helping me and carrying the basket.