Happy birthday Jesus

I love Christmas....mostly for all the family time. We had a wonderful Christmas day in Kalamazoo at my parent's house with the extended Cochran side. 10 kids under 3....whoa! It was so fun to catch up, eat a ton, and just relax. We even got a picture of all 10 kids on the couch together..very impressive. (I'll post a pic later--it's 230am and I am up at work.)
Our two beautiful blessings were ready for Christmas. Lucy was really excited about Santa this year. She left him cookies and milk, and seemed mesmorized that it was gone this morning when she got up. She loved the kitchen that he brought for her. Her favorite is stirring things, putting things in her microwave, and this morning she was serving a lot of coffee. She is also really into calling people "hun, honey, and sweetie"...."it's OK hun"--she tells Kadence. She loves playing with her cousins, and finally getting to see Uncle Ryan. She even got some quality snuggle time with Ryan towards the end of the night.
Kady would have been excited for Christmas, I'm sure--It was her first one, but today was the day she decided to get her first tooth. Thank you for that Santa. I don't think that was what mommy and daddy wanted when they didn't know what to get her for Christmas. It was definately not pleasant...I felt so bad for her. She obviously was in pain...and there wasn't much that seemed to help. It's new for us too because we never were able to tell when Lucy was teething, it didn't seem to phase her. So lots of extra snuggly love to Kady this Christmas.
We didn't send out many cards....long story....but we were thinking of you all and hope that you all are able to enjoy time as families and friends and give thanks for the true blessings that Jesus has given us!

bedtime

It is now 9:30--here is how bedtime has gone so far. Kady--in bed and right to sleep at 8. Lucy--potty, brush teeth....try to run away and hide.....caught....runs away again...threaten to not read stories....crying, begging, pleading ensues. Mom gives in...daddy kisses Lucy good night. Mom reads three stories...smiles, kisses, and handed more books....I try and tuck Lucy in....she jumps on the bed singing about 2 little monkeys. I lay Lucy down and try to pray...and recieve a smack to the face.....very unhappy mommy. I leave the room and turn down the light.



Out of room once (I'm actually downstairs on the computer denying that I can hear her jumping around above me--maybe she'll just get tired and sleep)--she brings me a diaper all the way downstairs. She must have attempted the potty. THis is a new diaper, not the one previously on--so she must have been hanging out in Kady's room "I was really, really quiet momma, I promise" "you checking things on the 'puter?" (she talks without taking a breath to avoid me interrupting and sending her back to bed--pretty cute most nights)



Second time--she is bringing her potty seat down the stairs to show me she went....good girl, on with the diaper....more stories about gas, pooh, dora, tomorrow etc.... "love you too mommy...good night"--oh, hug and kiss "I forgot those" THis time I leave and she follows me out...still telling stories about singing "away in the manger" ohhh "I need some more lotion--(her poor thumb she sucks is cracked)" "ok--I want some, I was crying because I want some"



I'm waiting on the third sighting tonight of our little girl (which may not happen--I did tell her her bedroom door would be shut if I saw her again--and for anyof you who really know Lucy--that could be the beginning of the end of the world)



Note to self: Don't buy M &M's at target at 7 pm--because you have to have them--and have the little girl in the back say "what in your mouth mommy?" Can I have some "yum yums...please" . Knowing full well that what I was eating was definately not green or orange or healthy, and because your husband had to work till 8 you felt like this was a "special treat" for the two of you. Note to self.

7 months young

Kadence Joy: 7 months

What a change it has been going from one to two! Kady's highlights:

• You roll all over to get to something you want on the floor, I even thought I saw you trying to scoot this morning

• You are very vocal. You blow, squeal when you are happy, say momma, and lots of other little sounds

• You love to eat. You will eat everything and anything we serve (very different from Lucy)

• You weighed 16 pounds 10 ounces at your checkup--50-50%tile for weight and height

• You can sit unsupported, but I still put you up with pillows around, you have a tendency to throw yourself backward when you get excited, or even more so when Lucy takes a toy that you want. Such a personality

• you are working on getting in your two bottom teeth, but don't seem too bothered by it

• You no longer take zantac....quite by accident that you stopped taking it, but didn't seem to be in pain so we didn't see any reason to start giving it to you again (that makes me think it was more colic than reflux for your first few months)

• 
  You play peek-a-boo with anything you are able to take up over your face. You love that you are able to communicate in this way!
  You are so happy. It is so easy to get a smile from you or make you laugh.

• You pat me when I pick you up out of your crib, our little hug....I LOVE it!

• You are an excellent sleeper--12 hours a night and two naps during the day! More like your mommy than your daddy

I thank God every day that you have changed our lives in this way. You have made my heart bigger and given me more reasons to love.

potty training

a random post, but I missed quite a few weeks of posts with pictures, so I included some of Lucy's highlights over the last month!

Lucy LOVES the snow....only when she can eat it! There was just enough on the tree to pick at a couple of weeks ago, now she just doesn't know what to do!

Today was a success!!! First day of potty training--kindof on a whim. I was just taking my cues from Lucy.......and she stayed dry all day! --we even had a dry trip out to target to pick out new dora undies! (I really was feeling brave, and I was ready for the I told you so-if there happenend to be an accident- about taking a kid in undies who had yet to be "trained"). She even made a call to "Unca Wyan" to share the big news!

Lucy schools Jim and I at memory. (isn't it cute that they are both laying on a pillow!!)

So that was my day! It's the little joys and pleasures in life. Now it is onto Christmas stuff, wrapping, shopping, baking....I love it all. Why does the Christmas season have to be so short? I think it should last as long as the snow does.

Lucy's last night of gymnastics! She was getting really good at everything! She did a summersault in front of everyone before getting her medal!

Family

hmmmm...I wonder what would happen if I could grab that hair under his nose?

Reagen and Lucy playing the piano

We have headed into the "busy" holiday season....but the reason that I love it so much is that we get to spend so much time with all of our families. Thanksgiving was wonderful. We got two days of Koops family fun, bowling and everything (and for all of you who know my bowling history it was a record breaking year--136!--an award for the most improved) (by the way it's not hard to improve on numbers in the teens!) We also got to spend a fun night with santa and the extended Koops family last night! We seem to always have a bunch of snow for the night, but we all made it there and back safe and sound!

He looks so familiar!

Lucy got a little closer to santa this year!--but not quite on his lap!