Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

I have received several requests for more pictures... there is so much that I should document here, but lack the time and energy as I adjust to life with 2 children (I had 4 more weeks to get ready, but life doesn't happen the way I plan!)

minutes after her arrival

sleeping with daddy

getting ready to go home

yes I am crazy and took both kids to church without Bryce here... my family was here to help, but Porter and I spent most of the time in the foyer (he was not behaving at all!)

relaxing wherever I'm put and sunbathing by the pool w/mom while brother swam

one in the bed and the little one said roll over, roll over!

some have asked how bad her eye got... it was puffy and red for a few days, but got this bad over the few hours before her dr apt and on the way to the hospital/specialist. I didn't even want to take a picture, but we decided we should to see how much better it has gotten.

since this has previously been Porter's blog, here is one picture of Porter... he went swimming twice since we've been home (since I won't be able to take him for awhile). Once with Uncle Eli and Aunt Elisha and once with Grandma and Grandpa... loved it both times and is becoming quite the little swimmer with his water wings (I was afraid he was too young, but once again he proved me wrong and loves it!) He isn't in love with his little sister (yet!), but has grown up a ton in the last week and a half... talking, tantrums, his first kiss, amongst other growing up moments! And he feels like a brick all of the sudden! =)

Fun times... we've enjoyed my family being here and look forward to visits from Grandma Cox and Becky and Jocelyn... and eventually Grandpa Cox... if anyone else would like to visit don't hesitate to call, we'd love to have you (if you can stand the arizona heat)!

Things Don't Always Go as Planned

I spent the afternoon writing her birth story and putting the pictures I have from my mom and katie (we forgot my camera cord), its was pretty good considering my current brain state... then I clicked publish and it was blank... nothing nada zilch. I don't have it in me to write it all again right now so here are the pictures, and here's her basics the story will have to come in time =)

Avery Elizabeth Cox

May 17, 2009 4:43am (28 days early!)

6lbs 7oz, 19 inches

practically perfect in every way (except the clogged tear duct that makes her look like she's already been in a fight!)

(we took her outside in the courtyard while brother played... she loved the sun my little ball of a girl quickly threw her limbs out and basked in the sun! she'll fit right in in AZ)

sleeping with dad, sleeping with mom... pattern of a preemie! getting kissed/mauled by brother

Porter was very interested that she has a head, and hands and feet

she had visitors!(i don't have all the pics there were others!) not as many as porter (there is a small advantage to showing up when you are suppose to! but she will get to spread them out a little more than brother it will be so much fun!)

(and we became 4)

Porter's Birthday Pictures

Here's the long awaited birthday pictures... the night before his birthday I was at the store so he got 6 birthday balloons which he loved and played with all night (best present ever!).

On his birthday his dad actually ended up staying home and so he got to hang out with dad some and I worked on his birthday cake. Anyone who knows Porter well knows his obsession with letters so I made him a letter 'P' for Porter and then put the alphabet around it. He seemed to like it... he ate a ton of it =)

pancakes for breakfast... helping make his cake

In addition to his big boy bed and sheets he got some airplanes and helicopters, some more magnetic letters, discovery channel animal books from grandpa and grandma cox (he loves them!), airplane sheets from grandpa and grandma bird (loves those too), books from auntie melissa... which I get to read multiple times a day, Paul and Jeannie got him Pinnocio and we still have to decide what his great grandma is getting him (she sent $... I'm thinking a slide or a trike or both if craigslist works out one of these days)

He grows up so much every day lately... we had a rough week after turning 2 with him asserting his 2 year old-ness in the form of tantrums and not listening, but it seems to have passed this week and he has been helpful and adorable. He is starting to understand a baby is coming... when shopping for a few things yesterday he kept saying for baby and when he feels like it he'll kiss the belly... other times he punches and slaps the belly so this little girl better watch out.

His vocabulary is improving he copies a lot of what I say to him... now if he could just understand saying what he wants =) My favorite thing is when he gets hurt or is told 'no' and is upset... after a minute he says 'i okay, i okay.' And he needs a kiss to make sure you aren't mad at him. I don't love that he gets upset or hurt, but its adorable the way he wants to make everything okay and cares so much about mom and dad not being upset with him.

For example... I have a tension rod with a sheer curtain over his closet in place of doors... he has loved to play in it lately and often it gets pulled down. Last night he comes running to me upset and takes me back there and it has fallen down... not a big deal we'll just hang it back up, but he was distraught until I said 'its okay' and kissed him.

He's growing up so fast... if I could only press pause so I could catch up =)

In the spirit of keeping up here are a few random pictures:

the other day he brought a diaper box from his room into the living room and started putting all his books inside... guess he's moving out?!? He took every single one of his books he could reach and put them in the box.

his dad took this picture for blackmail someday... just him in his swim diaper (much better than the disposable ones)... I do NOT make him wear a speedo and never will!

on mother's day he helped dad make brownies... they were awful, i'm not kidding! something wasn't right and even though Bryce tried to fix them he agreed they were horrible and we threw them out... my breakfast in bed was wonderful, as well as a yummy lunch, and Bryce made me curry for dinner (not his favorite thing, but he knows I loved it before we were married so he made it happen). My favorite mother's day present... Bryce painted my toe nails... I smile everytime I actually see my toes because I definately have a hard time reaching them these days! I have the best boys ever (I forget to tell them very often but I do love them).

COMING UP: father and sons campout this weekend... I'll send the camera, but we'll see if we get any pictures back... maybe I'll get something for little girl done with no boys around to keep me on my toes, remember baby girl name suggestions are welcome =)

one last video for fun... he randomly spins... A LOT... it makes me sick to watch him! But he also asks us to do songs with him a lot (probably withdrawls from lack of storytimes... the library isn't doing them till SEPTEMBER!!!)

Its been forever since I posted, but I've just been worn out. Its been on that list... the one that never gets finished =)


I did however finish this... a little project to get me in the 'we are really having a girl' spirit. It turned out all right. I forgot the before picture, it was a gender neutral tan one that we got so that we could use it no matter what kind of baby we had... but I got bored. Last night Bryce said to me 'you know if the doctor is wrong and we have another boy we are just buying another carseat cause I can't bear to see you take that apart.' =)

Next on the list for the little girl... a name (suggestions welcome... I may even have a little vote once I get a list together to help me decide)... a place to sleep. I need to get it together 32 more days!!! She has become quite the little tease (like Porter was) with poking her little toes up in my ribs, dad and her play... its pretty cute.