Choose your WORDS wisely

A friend and I talk about things that I never thought I would think about in this lifetime.  She and I are able to get things out to one another that no one understands.  We now look to life differently than most. We look to the little moments, the things no one really thinks about.  We happened to have a recent conversation on "words"...
I am sure everyone has heard the saying..."Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!"  This is such a lie. Words can hurt someone more than anything.  There are some words we say and don't know the utter meaning to them or how hurtful they can be. I for one, have said things in context and didn't think before I spoke.
We have all used the word retard time and again, but when we get to a certain age we need to let that word go.  We should delete it from our vocabulary. There is some innocence when one is young, but there is not excuse as we get older. It is not right to call someone A retard.... We tend to use the word in many different contexts and none are acceptable.  I have recently heard friends say this word without thinking twice about it.... So choose your words more wisely as you don't know how that word can hurt others. Who are you to judge someone in that context... Many think they are "NORMAL" if they have no physical characteristics wrong with them, but I can promise you not 1 person in this world is normal nor perfect! Normal now has a similar meaning to perfect in my mind... And I don't think there is anyone who classifies as normal or perfect! Tonight please read this carefully because the quote should change..."Sticks and stones may break my bones, and Words CAN hurt me."

Gotta have Faith...

Well I have been meaning to write all week but with Mardi Gras and our schedules being a little off it has been hard. I am finally taking a time out tonight to write...
We didn't do much for Mardi Gras. Since Sawyer still can't really go out and about from her RSV spell we have been "home bodies".  I do have to say this has given us some good family time... I mean look at those 2... 2 peas in a pod! I never thought that having to keep Sawyer home would benefit us... But it has been really nice! We haven't really been on the go so we are able to spend more time together... Cohen is itching to get outside, and now that it is finally warming up we can all go outside to play!

We managed to take Cohen to the parades on Monday night.  My parents came to our house to watch Sawyer so that we could bring Cohen.  He wasn't amused one bit... Cody and I literally played football with him 98% of the time we were out there.  So, I didn't feel guilty one bit that we didn't have plans to go out for the parades on Tuesday.

I finally got Sawyer a little chair so that her and Cohen could have bath time together...
Oh my gosh adorable. Sawyer laughs at Cohen when he talks to her and plays with all of his bath toys.
I just sit there and watch in amazement how they interact. Cohen looked at Sawyer the other night and said, "Sawyer you are my princess, and I am your superhero!" Okay.... Really... This kid... What a heart. Then he proceeds to tell her, "and dada is your superhero too." I then asked if I could be a superhero and his response... "No momma, you are my princess with Sawyer!" Tear... If he only knew  that little moment in time will stick in my brain forever! What a kind heart he has.

I never understood how people said their kids changed them... Changed them to what? Well watching these two has changed me.  As we enter Lent I realize now that I have never really given anything up or done anything different. Wow! I am 28 years old and I have never taken Lent serious! This year I am still not planning to give anything up, but to gain faith.  Cody and I have refrained from taking Cohen to church for over a year now because he is verbal and mobile... Well this year I am vowing to take Cohen to mass and once Sawyer can get out we will then go as a family. This Lent I have come to realize how thankful I need to be. I have 2 HEALTHY kids and a loving and healthy husband. Yes we have had a trials these past few months, but I can honestly say I now, more than ever believe HE won't give you more than you can handle!   "Faith is the belief in something more than what you know".

I know he will continue to give me strength when needed.... Others in my position may ask the question, "why me"... "why us"! Now I say "WHY NOT?!" I am so happy to have this family and wouldn't change a thing! .... So tonight I am going to sleep with Thanks on my mind! Thanking God for Cody, Cohen, and Sawyer... I honestly couldn't ask for more!

Down, Set, Hike...

Mr. Florida Gator himself.... Cohen is our football star! This kid just amazes me... He can throw a football with a spiral and directly to you. AMAZING!
Well our weekends normally consist of football...football...football... Many have the rule "no throwing balls in the house".... that RULE is out the window in ours~

We all have to take our turns playing football with Cohen and letting him tackle us. Even the dog...He truly thinks that Mackie plays football with him.  That is why he tackles him! Poor Mackie just rolls with the punches! When I was pregnant for Cohen I worried about what Mackie would do with a baby in the house. Would he bite him, would he play with him, etc. Well this dog is wonderful as you can see below...

Quarterback

Receiver

Tackle...

As the boys play football little miss priss is the Cheerleader! Sawyer will watch Cohen's every move when he is in site. It cracks me up at how she is so aware of him! Guess this just shows the bond they already have. 

Waiving to the fans....

Weekends are so nice to relax and enjoy the little things. I know when Cohen is older I am going to remember the moments I would let him throw me to the ground for the football and when Sawyer would just sit pretty!

Love is in the air

Love... There are so many different ways to love. When you fall in love you have feelings you never knew existed.  I remember the day I fell in love with Cody, and I remember my wedding day and the way the entire day was centered around Cody and I. Little did we know that simple feeling would lead us to where we are today and the family we have. When I look at our wedding pictures I get those butterflies that I had the day we got married.  I never knew that the Love we share would lead us to a different kind of love for our children.

The love one has for their children can not be explained. I remember when we had Cohen I didn't think it would eve be possible to have this much love for another child.  And when Sawyer was born I learned that it is possible. Somehow our hearts are big enough to love each of our children the same and  SO MUCH...
SO... This valentine's day I had memories of my wedding, memories of the day Cohen came into our lives, and memories of the day Sawyer arrived.  How our family has grown and oh how I LOVE THEM!

Well I got the kids dressed this morning... and our course both in RED!

Cohen had a Valentine's Day Party at Miss Martha's

Sawyer had her own party at MeMe's

We do holidays a little different in our house. Cody and I exchange our presents the night before the holiday and let the kids have the day centered around them.  Cody gave me a pretty pearl wrap bracelet as well as flowers when I got home from work today. I got Cody a new Polo Golf windbreaker. 

But today...Cohen was my Valentine as Sawyer was Cody's. So I got Cohen things I knew would make him smile. I decided to go to Academy and get him some baseball goodies.... The dude is hilarious! He made us put him in his pants, batting gloves, baseball shirt, and of course asked his daddy to take him outside to put on his cleats and play baseball. 

Loves his baseball goodies

Cody got Sawyer a bunch of bows and an adorable pacifier clip for the UL baseball games.
Which she looks so good in... Thank gosh she still has a patch of hair to put her bow on!

Remember Valentine's day is only 1 day out of a year. We don't need Valentine's day to tell the one's that we love... I LOVE YOU! I make it a point to tell my family I love them daily. Live life everyday to the fullest! This will help you enjoy every moment of life...

"Live each day to the fullest you can,
not guaranteeing their will be tomorrow,
not dwelling endlessly on yesterday"
        

Date Night

Well Cody took Cohen to the UL basketball game on Thursday night and WE had a girls night... Sawyer and I enjoyed our night as Cohen and daddy enjoyed their "man's night".  Cody and I have been taking Cohen out on dates so that he can get some one on one time. Since "THE PRINCESS" has arrived, we really haven't been able to get out much with her and Cohen is use to being on the goooo.... 


Sawyer and I relaxed at home and enjoyed our girl time.

Sawyer and I definitely enjoyed our night. There are moments when you look back and then realize how memorable that moment will one day be.  Looking at these pictures just make me smile. It makes me realize that I am lucky... Lucky to have Sawyer as my daughter. Lucky to have Cohen as my son. Lucky to have Cody as my husband. Lucky to have this life. Yes LUCKY!  

Her laugh is hilarious! First she gives you a big smile from ear to ear... Then she tries her hardest to keep it in but before you know it she is laughing... 

Mother daughter moments are just as special as mother son moments. So we took full advantage of our alone time.  I could just kiss those cheeks all day long! 

These are the moments to live for.  These are the moments where there are no regrets... These are the moments to cherish.  This little girl has taught me so much more than I ever expected her to!  

Thank You Sawyer... Momma Loves You!

I always want her to believe in herself! One of the biggest things I hope to teach my children is to know they can accomplish whatever it is they want. No matter what the odds are, you are an individual. Statistics don't make you who you are. 

"She believed she could, So she did!" 

Ragin Cajun ready

We are ready for baseball season... Oh how I love these clothes.

Cutest Cajun Fan I know....

A friend of mine from middle school started a UL and LSU (more schools to come) clothing line for little boys. They just went live and had a pre-show party for friends and family. So Cohen and I went to try on some of their clothes and ended up buying this outfit along with another shirt and pair of shorts as well. 

Oh he just looks so stinking cute! I can not wait to go to the baseball games and show this dude's new attire off! (JVCLOTHIERS.COM)

When he puts on his "cajun gear" he thinks he is a baseball player. (As he is watching me type this he is saying.... Cohen, baseball player... Cohen, baseball player)! Guess it is because I keep telling him he will wear that to the UL baseball games.  

Since Cody played baseball at UL we try to make some of their home games being we are a sports family.  I would much rather go to a baseball or football game than a dance revue (which I now have to go to once a year to watch my niece). And I am sure one day Sawyer is going to want to dance her little heart away. 

We are waiting for the SuperBowl to start in this next picture.  

Our Super Bowl party was very low key since, Sawyer can't get out or be around many people for a little longer to help build up her immune system. As you can see Sawyer is not more interested in the game more than the man in the moon.  Cody and I made a bet on the game... Cohen and I went for the Giants as he was defaulted to root for the Patriots!  THE BET: The team that lost would have middle of the night feedings with Sawyer for a week! Looks like this momma will get a good week of sleep in! HaHaHa and it was HIS idea to bet! Better luck next time daddy :)

Out with the Old... In with the New

A lot has happened since Sawyer was born. We have been a pretty busy family...

We celebrated Cohen's 2nd birthday...

Just 3 weeks after Sawyer was born we threw Cohen's birthday party at our house. We are lucky that we have good friends that live next door because Aunt Lin babysat Sawyer for us. Since Cohen LOVES sports we gave him a sports themed party.

We baptized Sawyer...

She wore my baptismal gown which was so special. When Cohen was born he wore Cody's. We decided that our kids would have the same God-Parents since I only have 1 sister and Cody only has 1 brother.

We had our official first play date...

Ainsley came in town with Beckham (who is only 2 days younger than Sawyer), 

Angela came with Georgie, and Tiffany came with Ryder, while my two were here as well. Cohen was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the babies... But soon got use to it and pretty content for pictures.  We had so much fun catching up with all of our babies together.  We definitely plan on making this a ritual. 

New BEST FRIENDS...

With fate on our sides Sawyer and I made life-long best friends not long after our test results came back with Sawyer's diagnosis. I can't explain the impact John Talbott and his mommy Ramsey have had on us and how they have changed our lives.  John Talbott was born only a few months before Sawyer. Ramsey and I hit it off the minute we first spoke. Sometimes there are people who are meant to be in your life. I truly believe that this family is meant to be in ours, as I hope they feel the same way about us. Ramsey is my "go to" person. When no one else UNDERSTANDS, she does... She really does... She understands my bad days, she understands my good days. She is there as a friend to discuss my day at work, my shopping trip, my everything.  I could go on and on to tell how much her friendship means to me but we would be here forever. I thank God everyday that he brought them into our lives. Sawyer has a lifelong best friend and it makes me smile to think she won't be alone in this journey. She will have her best friend to lean on when she is sad, and her best friend to smile with when she is happy.


2011 Family Pictures...

Every year my sister, Shenee, and I take pictures of the kids to give to our parents for Christmas. It is the Christmas gift that is so easy, yet so special. This year we added another one to the mix and things got interesting. Sawyer was so tiny, Carlyn (Shenee's oldest) got to hold her. Oh the smile on her face as you can see, was priceless. 

Thanksgiving...

 

We had a very low-key Thanksgiving.  I didn't even take many pictures. Sad to say I think these are the only 2 I have. Oh well.... At least I have one of Cohen and Sawyer.  

Learning to Love just a little bit more... 

We learned to love just a little bit more... Cohen still looks at Sawyer with such joy. He asks to hold her daily with a smirk on his face. I love to look at pictures of the two of them together. Nothing is better than sibling love. I cherish every moment of our lives. Cody and I are learning to live in the moment. It makes life so much more worth while. 

Christmas...

Christmas Eve we have a family ritual of going to my God-mother's house and joining for dinner along with the opening of presents. It is so much fun when the family is together and the kids go crazy with so much love and gifts. I love to see the family grow and cousins playing. There is no sweeter sound then running and yelling with joy! 

Christmas Day we open presents at our house right when we wake up.  Cohen said "OH MY GOSH" about 50 times while opening his presents this year. Santa must have thought he was a really good boy this year. He was so sweet I remember him asking where Sawyer's presents were (they were on the other side of his...). I think he was just making sure Santa didn't forget about her. 

We then go to my parents house to open presents with my sister, my neices, brother in law, and parents. We usually stay for lunch then we go to Cody's parents to finish the day off with more presents. 

Bringing in a new year....

Cohen got a virus that had us home with him and Sawyer at my mom's. We felt like Sawyer would not know the difference where as Cohen was sick (and who doesn't want their momma when they are sick).

Sawyer started to smile. Oh and her smiles go from ear to ear.... Her smile is so contagious, but she is pretty stingy with it. You are lucky to get a picture of her smiling because the minute she sees the camera she stops and stares. 

Sawyer took her 3 month pictures. She was awake for most of them. She still looks so tiny, guess that is because she really is.... I love to see how she is growing daily. My little "itty bitty" is going to stay my itty bitty for a while. But who doesn't want to have their babies stay babies for a little bit longer?

Cohen is only 2 and has more athletic ability than I have ever seen. We have to play football, baseball, basketball, and soccer daily. He even makes us "practice" which requires jumping jacks, running in place, and having him tackle us.  His absolute favorite toy are his daddy's "football men".  Wow who would have thought sports figures from 1980 would entertain a 2 year old. He even knows their names and that really amazes me...

And they still love each other more and more each day... The way he giggles when he gets to hold her melts my heart. Look at that face! 

We have had many adventures in 2011 and I am sure that 2012 has even more in store. Can't wait to see what the new year has waiting for us.