Visit from the Landrys

I think we are finally getting better. We all have a lingering cough, but everyone seems to be feeling happier. Today, our friends JP and Carmen came over with their baby, Joseph. And oh, my, is he ever cute. We just hung around the house, since it was 28 degrees outside.
It was so great to have them over and catch up. They live a little less than an hour away, but we don't see them nearly enough.

It seems Cooper has a little nervous habit of putting his fingers in his mouth.

Jackson was showing off his new room and decided to plop down on the chair next to Joseph. I put Cooper over there for a picture. Don't my boys look like giants?

Jackson "read" some books to Joseph (just not out loud),
while Cooper wondered, "who is this baby?)

Love how they both have their tongues out.

Then we had to check out Cooper's new room.

JP had fun building something on the workbench.

Once our boys went to sleep, Joseph rolled around on a blanket.
He is so sweet and happy.

We can't wait to see them again!
It won't be long, and all of the boys will be running around together.

Today

I just had to share this video. Someone sent it to me many years ago, and it still makes me laugh everytime I see it. Hope it brings a smile to your face, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFHMbVzxJiA

15 Month "Well" Visit

Cooper went in to the doctor today for a "well" visit, even though he wasn't well at all. We had taken the boys in on Thursday because they both had developed horrible coughs. IT looked like RSV - or some similar virus. So, no medicine (except tylenol/motrin) and just wait it out. Well, the coughs were just as bad when we went today - and what do you know - now they both have ear infections from all the drainage. Cooper's had a TON of drainage in his throat, and it wasn't looking so pretty. I swear, we have had sick kids since September. What's up with that? I mean, hello? I breastfed them each for an entire year - shouldn't that make them the perfectly healthy little geniuses that La Leche League told me they were sure to be? (ha)
Anyway, our doctor said unless they develop another infection, the cough should clear up in about two weeks. TWO WEEKS!! Doesn't she have a magic pill that will get rid of this snot and congestion. I love my children dearly, but this is just so gross. Oh, and Colin and I are sick too, which definitely adds to the fun of fussiness, sleeplessness, crying, etc.
Well, even though we passed on the vaccinations, Cooper still got checked out, and here are his stats:

weight: 25.7 (61%)
height: 31.5 (59%)
Head Circ: 18 3/4 (62%)

So, we're just a little above average! I do believe his was in the 95th percentile maybe higher, around his 2 mo. check. So, he is slowing down now.
I'll post some pictures once they don't have snot on their faces. What I should do is take and post a video of me trying to hold Cooper down while I suction stuff out of his nose with the battery-operated, music- playing aspirator. The music is supposed to be distracting and keep him calm. Hmm.

Yard Work

Luckily the frigid weather has left, and we have been able to get outside a little more this week. We haven't had much time between all of our dr appts, but the boys have enjoyed every moment of it. They both LOVE being in the backyard. Colin let them "help" while he cut back some plants and tried to clean things up a bit.

Cooper has a ring around his mouth from the dirt he was eating -
and some extra on his sleeve, too.

Then he spent quite some time attacking this ball. He will run up to it and roll over on top of it and land on the other side. He giggles and then does it again.

Jackson spent almost the whole time moving dirt from one pot to another.

Cooper scaled underneath branches to reach the tennis ball.
Safety first.

And then decided to taste some more dirt.

A Visit from the Speckmans

On Friday, some of our favorite friends came to visit! Amanda and Tyler are friends from our college days. And their precious 2 yr old, Peyton, is my godson! How cute is that smile?
While Colin cooked the hamburgers, we took the boys outside to play. Our yard is so sad right now with dead grass, plants that haven't been cut back, and lots of old hay floating around from Cooper's birthday party in October. Anyway, the boys didn't seem to care about the unkempt lawn.

At one point, Petyon decided to give Jackson a hug .

Tyler helped them with their golf game.

Saturday morning we took the kids to Wiggly Play Center. I hadn't gone before, because I didn't want to brave it with both boys alone. And I think that was a wise decision. It was a little crazy. It was fun for the boys - not so much for the parents. But, as always, it's nice to see them enjoy themselves. Plus, our reward is that they took long naps that afternoon.
I was a little nervous about Jackson and trying to use the potty there. But, he did great, and managed not to pee all over the bounce house.

We were sad that the Speckmans had to leave early and head back to Shreveport. Amanda wasn't feeling very well. But we were so glad to have them here - even if for a short visit!

Potato heads

I captured some sweet moments on camera before nap time today. Well, actually, Jackson never ended up napping. Nonetheless, here are some pictures of the two monkeys before we went to "bed." They keep me laughing. I was fussing at them to head upstairs with me, when they came around the corner with the Mr. Potato Head sunglasses on their faces. Cooper was giving me a look that said, "What? Don't you like my glasses?" And Jackson was giggling away, imitating his little brother.
The only way the glasses stay on Cooper's face is if he squishes his cheeks together and pushes them on.

In other news, Jackson woke up on Tuesday and announced that he would like to wear his underwear. I'll spare you all the details of the last few days. Here's the recap: I'm exhausted. COMPLETELY exhausted. Jackson started requesting on his own today, and hasn't had an accident since yesterday morning. Staying positive is the key.
I don't have any energy to say anything more about it. But, I think he really has the hang of it, now! Next step: staying dry when we're away from the house. Wish us luck!

Our Weekend

On Friday, one of my oldest friends, Chelsi, was in Dallas for a conference, so she came by to visit. And, when I say she is old, I don't mean age. We grew up down the street from each other.
It was great to see her. She came bearing sweet gifts for the boys.
Cooper is in love with this giraffe. Jackson is quite possessive over it, too!
And she also brought them a cute pig and the book, If You Give a Pig a Party. I have read the book ALOT since she gave it to them on Friday. ALOT. Luckily, it's a super sweet book! Cooper crawled up into Jackson's chair and read through it for a while, too.

During naptime, I made some cupcakes to bring to our friends, Rebekah and Tom. They had a little baby girl, Margaret, on Thursday. I went down to the hospital to meet the newest addition on Friday evening. I planned on taking lots of pictures, but even better, I got to hold her the whole time. Oh, sweetness. She is so cuddly and warm and tiny and perfect. I have had two babies in the past 2 years, but I still forget how little and completely dependent they are at first. Anyway, here is a link to her blog, so you can see how adorable she is. http://louisfam.blogspot.com/

When I got home, Colin had taken some pictures of the boys with their cupcakes after dinner.
And Cooper wanted to make sure all of it made it in his mouth ...
every last little bit....

Today, after church, Jackson and I headed back down to Dallas to meet Chelsi and some friends for brunch at Bread Winners. YUM. Yum, Yum, Yum.
It was beyond nice to have such great one-on-one with Jackson. Life with one kid, and a kids that is 2 1/2 yrs old, is SO calm, quiet, and, well, easy. I actually had conversation during lunch. And we were there for 2 hrs or so. He did so great, and really enjoyed his lunch. He took a long time to finish, but he enjoyed ALL of it. He kept us all laughing.

And afterward, a cupcake for dessert. It's been a high-sugar weekend. I think it took him over 20 minutes to eat the cupcake, and we had a small crisis moment when some of the icing slid off the top, but in the end, he was fine. And he never even ate the cake - just the icing.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Dad, I miss you so much, and I wish you were here.
I'd make you a birthday cake.

I love you.

Last night I had a dream where the two of us just rode around in your old pickup truck,
and you showed me all your favorite places and memories.
I always pray that I will dream about you, so that I can hear your voice and your laugh again. My heart is full of joy this morning after such a wonderful dream.

Delaney Family Christmas

On Wednesday Colin's parents arrived to visit and celebrate Christmas with us. Jackson was excited to get MORE presents! I didn't do a great job taking pictures, but here are a few ...

Cooper - enjoying the new bean bag.


Courtney and Alison


This truck was definitely the favorite present of them all.
As you can see, the boys are sharing it very nicely.

Here is Jackson - proud of his potty chart!
We had made some progress this past summer, and never really pushed him to try without diapers. But, it lost it's appeal pretty quickly.
About 4 or 5 weeks ago, we decided to try and take him out of his diapers, and load him up with juice. Let's just say it wasn't successful. Turns out he doesn't care if he pees all over himself and the carpet. Maybe we will try as he gets a little closer to 3.
So, no more underwear, but he does sit on the potty after every meal, and now he is fine with that. He is successful every time now, and loves his chart.
I'm crossing my fingers that he is going to really catch on in his own time. My only requirement is that he is done with diapers before June gets here. I cannot handle the idea of three boys in diapers.

And, here is Cooper as Santa Claus.
mmm, yogurt.

After the Trains

I forgot to include the best picture of all from our visit to Northpark Mall. Here are the boys posing with me. I asked some lady with a train hat to take our picture. Don't they look thrilled?


After we were done with the trains, we walked around the mall for a little while. I only had the single stoller, so Jackson got a workout. It's a BIG mall. We stopped and watched the fountain shoot water, and then headed for the little "pond" in the middle of the mall with ducks and turtles in it. The boys were in heaven. Jackson couldn't believe that ducks and turtles lived in the mall.