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.

7 Years Ago Today!!!

7 years ago today, Pete and I got married! We've actually known eachother much longer (11 1/2 years) and I've been going through pictures today. I came across a lot of memories during Cohen's naptime today! Kent is quite dismayed at the fact that there are memories of mommy and daddy without Kent. He keeps saying that he doesn't like any of these pictures because he is not in them! Well, I warn you now that this post is lengthy and it will not contain any pictures of the boys! ;) Happy anniversary Pete!

Pete and I met my senior year in high school at a friend's house. Our first scheduled date was my senior formal. We actually went out a couple times before that and by the time senior formal (Valentine's Day) came around, we were officially a couple. Here we are in thinner and younger days.

Later that year, during the summer of 1998, we both went to the Cornerstone music festival with a bunch of friends from Noonday.

This is at UGA's Baptist Student Union's annual Christmas Dance my sophmore year. My hair is getting shorter and shorter and Pete's is getting blonder and blonder!

Here we are again at Cornerstone in 2001. I know it's 2001 because we got separated one night- there were only about 10,000 people there!! Anyway, Pete drew a cartoon drawing of me with an arrow pointing to my blond hair and a very large ring on my finger, so we must have been engaged. And yes, if you can spot it, Pete does have black nail polish on!

Later that summer, we were in Illinois at my cousin Abby's wedding. In 2001 boy bands were big and all the younger girls would ask Pete for his autograph. They thought he was Lance Bass from N'Sync!!! Seriously, this happened at least four times that I can remember!

In the fall of the same year, we took our engagement photos. Looks like we were both back to more natural hair styles!

Here we are dancing at our wedding! Pete is always making me laugh!

Very happy on our honeymoon at Universal Studios. It was our compromise- I wanted the beach and Pete wanted lots of entertainment, beaches were boring to him then. Neither of us had been there before and we had a great time.

One of the last pre kids photo I could find of the two of us. I think we were at Six Flags.

Sadly, the last time we went to the beach in September of 2007. This is our favorite beach to go to, Gulf Shores!!!

Mom and Dad kept the boys for us Saturday night and we went out for our anniversary. I managed to remember to get a photo taken of the two of us. Pete, no one makes me laugh as much as you and I thank you for loving me even though the clothes you want to wear are never clean and dinner is never ready when you want to eat! I Love You!!!

Men, Women, Boys & Girls

We must go over everyone's title in our family several times a day. Kent is always saying, "Cohen's a baby, Kent's a boy, Daddy's a man and Mommy's a girl." Well, I tried to mix it up last night and asked, "Isn't Mommy a woman?" Kent immediately answered, "NO, Mommy's a girl." I tried to explain, "Daddy is a big boy- a man and Mommy is a big girl- a woman, right?" "No, Mommy is a girl" was all Kent would say. I pressed further and asked, "What about Grandma?" "Well, Grandma's kinda like a girl" Kent answered. I replied, "So, if Mommy and Grandma are girls, who is a woman???"

Immediately Kent came back with, "Wonder Woman- she's a super hero!"

Hmmmm....

Eczema, What's That!?!

Cohen's eczema has been so much better the past few days, we had to take a mini photoshoot to document his oh so cute face! He is loving eating rice cake pieces.

He is always smiling so big his eyes shut!

I have had to take Cohen to the doctor twice in the past week for a suspicious bump on his finger. It turned out to be ant bite that wouldn't go away. Ironic, I know, but I assured Pete that it could have happened anywhere- outside, in the car, etc. It is finally healing now. When I took Cohen to the doctor last Thursday, he weighed 18 lbs 10 oz and then when I took him Tuesday, (5 days later), he weighed 19 lbs 2 oz! This kid is really growing!!! The doctor and I discussed his upcoming 9 month appointment and since we suspect he is allergic to milk already and with our family history, she wanted to go ahead and do allergy testing. So, there will be more to update soon.

Lunch Buds

We went to "Donald's", as Kent calls it, with some special friends this week. This was an especially trying day, full of 4 year old tantrums and a strong will like I have never seen--ok well maybe I've seen it before in the mirror (as mom often reminds me and yes, I'm still apologizing).
Kent loves his friends Whit and Annie. Whit is one of his only boy-friends. There are a lot of girls around here! Kent just loves Annie to pieces, always asking if he can give her a hug.

These pictures were taken right before Kent set off the alarm (no, I am NOT kidding). I made Kent say "I'm sorry everyone" to EACH person we passed. We won't discuss what happened at Walmart after lunch. Let's just say that mommy was in such a hurry to get out of that store that she left her purchases behind and she was very grateful that no one in the crowd watching the spectacle called the police...

Those eyes!

Cohen had to get in on the action- such a munchkin!

Summertime!

Summertime is the best time! Here is a photo of some flowers that two of my favorite *!former!* seniors brought me during post planning. So pretty--lilies are my favorite! Thanks Macy and Emily!

When No One is Looking...

I stepped away from the boys for one minute and I came back to Kent yelling to me, "MOM, Cohen has tape in his hair!" I wonder how that got there.



My favorite face that Cohen makes:

Open Wide!

I promised this picture to one of my friends. When Cohen eats, he sticks his tongue all the way out and opens his mouth as wide as possible so I can shovel as much as I can in! Too funny...and kinda scary!!

Sock It To Me

When Kent likes a movie he becomes obsessed with it (not unlike other 4 year olds). We had our run with The Bee Movie, The Incredibles and Monsters INC. Lately he has been all about Cars, as you may have noticed from some of my other posts. This week Pete tried to mix it up with Toy Story. We have seen Toy Story A LOT this week. I noticed right away that Woody calls Buzz Lightyear a moron and stupid quite frequently. I now really feel like a mom complaining about the negative influences of kid movies. Thankfully, Kent has not started repeating those words...yet. He has picked up a few things from the movie, though. Apparently, someone in the movie must say "oh nuts" when they are disappointed, because Kent has been saying "Oh Nut!" (yes, just nut, not nuts) whenever something doesn't go right. That's pretty funny. The other not so much... Yesterday, while on the potty, Kent was talking really rude to me. I walked into the bathroom and said the usual, you will not talk to mommy like that, it is rude and naughty, etc. He then looked right at me and without any emotion he said, "hit me in the face mommy, come on, do it. Do It!"

I was completely shocked! It was funny to hear him say that and it took me so off guard; I just tried not to laugh, because that would really send the wrong message. So I gathered myself and went into the whole we do not hit other people, especially in the face; we don't want to hurt people and make them sad, do we? speech. I could not figure out where he got this from. Today, while watching Toy Story, I was pretty shocked to see a fight scene between Woody and Buzz Lightyear where they keep punching eachother in the face (under a car at a Dinoco gas station by the way). I have seen the movie probably 100 times, but I felt like I was seeing it for the first time! A fight scene! REALLY!?!?! Then Kent looks up at me and asks if he can hit Cohen in the face because Cohen hits him in the face all the time....

Needless to say, we will be switching movies again!

More Firsts for Cohen

It's been a big week for Cohen. He is just trying all kinds of new things! The boys took their first bath together. Kent loved it at first, but then decided that Cohen was cramping his style. Cohen kept trying to stand up, which would have been normal enough except he was REALLY slippery and that little laundry basket has wheels! We'll just say it was a quick bath for Cohen. I think this picture is so funny because they are sitting in almost the same position. The definitely have the same chin!



We finally got the highchair out and Cohen seems to like his new vantage point. He tried some of Kent's soymilk mashed potatoes (not a fan) and played with his new sippy cup. He hasn't quite figured out the cup yet, but he's getting there. He's actually much better at drinking out of a regular glass. I can never have a drink to myself with this kid around!

Swinging with Grandpa

My Dad took Cohen for his first swing the other day. When the boys go outside with my Dad, they have always had to follow his rules: No paci and you have to wear your camo hat! This is typical Cohen, big smile and legs going so fast you can't see them clearly!!!