Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Happy Birthday Coen



His first birthday cake (at his party on Saturday), he waited patiently and blew out the candle on the first try. We didn't get that one on film :) Happy birthday Sweet Baby

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Nine years, one year

Our wedding anniversary is in March, but for years, January 25th was what we considered our "anniversary" - the day we started dated. Today marks 9 years that we have known each other. It seems like we've been together forever and yet, it seems like just last year that we met at that college cocktail party :)

On this day last year, January 25th's meaning changed a bit for us. It was the very first time that we saw this photo:



We were waiting to be matched with 1 or 2 children, 0-4 years old. When we saw this photo, we guessed that this little guy was 2 or 3, but something about him tugged at us. By the next morning, we were "matched" and were shocked to hear that he was "Just under 1 year". With his birthday on January 31st, he really was JUST under a year.

Looking at this photo now I see it - my baby. Of course he was only 12 months. He has grown so much this past year. It hurts a little to know that he has only known us for 5 months and that we missed so much of this past year with him (not to mention his first year), but I'm grateful that we have this photo and the others that we collected over the year from other adoptive parents. It helps to fill in the gaps.

Love you Little Man

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Carter says..

Carter: Mom, you feeding your baby?
Me: What?
Carter: You feeding your baby in your tummy?
Me: What?! You think I have a baby in my tummy?
Carter: Yeah.
Me: Why do you think that, Sweetie?
Carter: 'cause you eat lots and put a baby in your tummy.

He had me rolling on the floor with this one. Thank you Sweet Baby Man for keeping mommy in check. Reminder to self in 10 years: make sure to clarify with Carter that babies are not made simply by eating too much - didn't want to tackle this one yet.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Gumbo....er....limbo

Carter brought me the broom today and wanted to gumbo! It took about 5 minutes, but I finally figured out that he meant limbo (apparently Mickey had a party on TV and he had seen this). Coen would walk up and stick out his pouty lip and just stand in the way... He gets so cranky when he's tired!

1st Dentist visit

Coen had his first visit to the dentist. He actually let them clean his teeth, but he wouldn't even sit in the X-ray chair. He cried about the bib being on him, he cried about sitting in the chair... It was not fun. Meanwhile, in the other chair, Carter was acting like he was at Disneyland.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Where we've been

Man, my posts are getting farther apart aren't they?

So this week, Coen gave us a big scare. He woke up from a nap with a temperature of 102.2 and just laid on the couch. Coen. On the couch - still. As in, not moving. This child RUNS through the house all day. We dealt with the temperature with Tylenol and Motrin, but when he woke at 2:30 in the morning with a temp of 103.6, I took him straight to the emergency room.

What I have learned about Coen is that he does NOT like anyone who appears to have anything to do with the medical field. As soon as they come near him he started crying and clawing at me, screaming with all he has. So, our hours in the E.R. were filled with fun. After taking blood and x-rays, they decided to give him an antibiotic shot and we headed home at 6:30.

I grabbed a Starbucks on the way home anticipating Carter getting up when I got there, but as luck would have it, he had a bad dream and went to our room to sleep with Chris who couldn't sleep because Coen and I were at the E.R. which made it hard for Carter to sleep. Sooooo, Carter was still passed out in our bed. I crawled in and slept until 8, took a shower and then decided to wake both boys at 8:30 to try to keep our schedule somewhat normal. It worked out well. We all took a nap later :)

Today we went to see Dr. V to check back in and he is pretty sure that Coen has roseola. He was much better today with only a slight fever after his nap and only 2 doses of Tylenol all day. We'll be keeping our eyes out for a rash..

For some lighter news, Carter got some new underwear. Yep. When I first bought him underwear, I deliberately got plain undies. Grey, blue, white, basic undies.. I didn't want to have any "BUT I WANT MY BATMAN UNDERWEAR!!!" issues in the morning. Then the other day we were at Kohl's and he spotted Sesame Street underwear. He just had to have them. Since they were on sale and I had an additional coupon, I got him his "treat" ( I need to savor this time when new underwear is a treat, it won't last long).

Best $3 I've spent in a long time.



Along the same lines, I didn't change Coen's diaper once today. He kept telling me when he needed to potty. We'll see if it lasts.

Monday, January 16, 2012

MLK Day 2012

I have a dream that one day, ..... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. 1963

I cannot believe that this speech took place less than 50 years ago. It took place during my parents' lifetime.As I sit here in my living room watching my sons, one black, one white, play together, I am moved by the celebration of today more than ever before.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

40 under 40!

Wow. Can't believe it has been about 10 days since I posted last! Good thing this post is HUGE!!!

I just found out that Chris made the Portland Business Journal's 40 under 40 list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I say "I" just found out because apparently he found out on Thursday, but was so busy that it completely slipped his mind to tell me. I guess that's what it takes to make the list - serious dedication. I'm so proud of him! I cannot believe that of all possible candidates in the Portland area, HE made a list of the top 40. Well, actually, I CAN believe it. He so deserves it!

check it out here

Friday, January 6, 2012

Sneak peek at Coen's party

I can't believe we are getting ready to celebrate Coen's birthday! Here's a sneak peek. Are those tire tracks on those candy bars?!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The importance of a thank you

Carter is finally getting his thank you cards out to friends for his birthday gifts. Took him long enough! Geez, who IS this kid's mother!

Cute Coen

As we entered the building to pick up Carter from school:

Coen: I coming. Carter where are you? (in his high pitch baby version)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

How you know you have a great sitter

The other night I mentioned that Veda would be coming to play today. Coen immediately ran to the front door. Chris figured out what he was doing and had to yell "Coen, Veda is not here now! She'll be here this week"

Today, before nap time, I told the boys that Veda would be coming to play today after their nap. I have a ton to do so asked if she would come give me some relief so that I can try to get it done prior to having dinner guests. Carter got up from his nap like this:

Rubbing his eyes, he saw me and was immediately let down that it was ME and NOT Veda so he whined "Veda?"
Me: She's not here yet, but she'll be here soon.
Carter starts to whimper
Me: Bud, she'll be here soon! You like Veda, don't you? She's fun, huh?
Carter: Ya (still whimpering)
Me: What do you like about her?
Carter: Her hair.
Me: She does have pretty hair, doesn't she?
Carter: Ya!

This kid cracks me up. I'm so happy that they love their babysitter that I can't even be upset that he would cry when he saw it was me and not Veda.

Monday, January 2, 2012

A little conversation



Ignore the video. It was too dark, but I wanted to capture what a conversation with Carter is like. Too cute. We were on our way for ice cream on New Year's Eve.

Christmas shades