"Friend"

Friends come in and out during the course of ones life... Some friends are there for certain experiences and fade over time. When Cody and I got married and started having kids we began to see that friends change... People change.  Some friends are so rare and special they stay with you through life. Sometimes we lose touch with certain people but circumstances bring you back together by fate! Then sometimes you find the friends you always longed for, the ones you know will be there until the end! These friends are hard to find.  I can't imagine not having a sister, just the comfort in knowing that she will ALWAYS be there is a relief.  She is my sister but also my friend... And I know that my kids will feel the same way about each other (I think they already do...)

This past year has made me think a lot about who my "True" friends are.... And I have come to realize that "True" friends are REALLY hard to find!  The people who step up when you need them most are the Friends who won't fade. They won't be a phase of life.  I can't begin to explain the gratitude I have for the ones who stepped up for me almost 6 months ago! The ones who were there to listen, the ones who were there to talk, the ones who gave me advice,  the ones who were there to meet our precious girl... I can't begin to say how thankful I am to you! I also can't imagine exploring this journey of life without Cody.  My husband is my best friend and it is wonderful to know we will be by each other's side with all of the experiences we will live. He is my Rock!

As I look a these following pictures... I realize that my kids already have "True" friends... 

Ramsey and I always say how lucky we are to have each other and how lucky Sawyer and John Talbott are to have one another. But really... Cohen is as lucky to have Caroline and Parker... and so is Sawyer.  These kids are going to have one another to lean on.  I never thought about how thankful I am that Ramsey has 2 older kids. Cohen won't be alone in his journey either. Because this is his journey as well!  They will all experience the remarkable experiences of life and they have no clue the amazing people their younger siblings will bring them to become.

Look at the way they are looking at each other. I felt comfort in knowing that he will be there to protect Sawyer and Cohen (especially when they are all in school together :))

Sawyer felt completely comfortable when she woke up to find Parker on the side of her. Look at how sweet, he is holding her hand... I actually just noticed this in the picture. 

These are the lifelong friends that we all so desperately desire.  And it is amazing to know that these 2 kids will keep us together.  Cohen has only seen them a hand full of times and I can't explain the excitement on his face when I told him we were going to their house the other night. When we pulled into their driveway he couldn't get out of his seat quick enough. Then he saw Caroline and Parker run around in the front yard to come and meet him. When he finally got out it was like he had known them forever.  He was at complete ease, like he knew he belonged and I think they felt the same way with him. That was such a special moment. 

 

Our two families have so many mutual friends it is amazing that we did not know each other before. It is complete fate how Ramsey and I both talk "a mile a minute", how Kevin and Cody enjoy hanging out and having a nice, cold beer, how Caroline and Parker get along so well with Cohen, and how close in age Sawyer and John Talbott are... I mean come on, complete fate!  I could not have hand picked a better family! I can only imagine how many memories we will all share together.

I believe that one can have many acquaintances, but you really only have a handful of True friends. 

Embrace the Unexpected

Ramsey sent me a text today to let me know it was "WORLD Down Syndrome DAY". Okay to be honest here, my heart sank... A day of different? A day to represent something out of the ordinary! Why?!?! 

After we texted I can honestly say I didn't think much about it. 

Then I came across this video on her facebook page! Okay really this is something to be proud of.  I can't say I have ever watched a video centered around DS and had a smile on my face. But this video... Just explained it all....Something I pray my friends and family watch and form a different mind-set. We don't want you to look at us differently, we don't want you to feel sorry for us, we are perfectly fine... And this video says it all. It says everything I want to say... It says all of the feelings I can now embrace. We are no different than we were before.... 

Kevin, Ramsey, Caroline, Parker, and John Talbott Ayers.... We can not begin to explain the happiness we have with your family in our lives. It is hard to believe that 1 extra chromosome from Sawyer and John Talbott has given us lifelong friends who we now call family!

So once again! EMBRACE the UNEXPECTED... You don't know what you're missing out on!

Our Family

The Ayers

The race is on....

Cohen was in a model contest for a new collegiate clothing line on facebook. He was coming out on top then slowly lost his 1st place spot.  But, the contest ended a few hours early due to suspected cheating by someone voting for the child in first place. And needless to say he didn't win the... But we don't need anyone to tell us that this face can be a model...

He is definitely model material to this momma...
I can not believe how fast he is growing... And this picture makes him look older than her really is...


So as I am writing this post, one of my Dr Phil episodes is playing in the background. I was not paying that much attention and all of a sudden I hear the word abortion... I never really payed too much attention to this word until I had Sawyer and found out that 90% of babies with Down Syndrome are aborted... I have always had my personal belief that abortion is WRONG... But Okay really... 90% aborted just because they have DS! Who are we to choose what we are given... And why do so many think they have to put a "label" on things... Just because your baby has DS, doesn't mean they don't have a heart, eyes, a nose, a mouth, can one day... walk, talk, express feelings, and better yet... LIVE!!!!!... Who would want to give up seeing this face?

NOT ME! She is like any other baby... Really. she cries, eats, sleeps... and has a attitude like most females.... Can't imagine life without her... DS or NOT... IT IS NOT WHO SHE IS!
She is Sawyer!

So on to my original post thoughts....
We woke up bright and early and went to the Susan G Comen walk on Saturday.  My mom asked us to walk for one of her friends, Mrs. Mel.  We all went not only to support Mrs. Mel but my mom as well. She had colon cancer and I hope to never experience that kind of news again.  She was one of the lucky ones. They were able to catch the cancer early so it didn't spread and she didn't have to undergo chemo. Thank goodness. I will never forget those feelings of helplessness... I cried thinking about what life would be like without her.  I couldn't imagine it! I still wasn't married, didn't have kids and wanted her to be there for all of those milestones, plus more. I just prayed that everything would be okay and it was... it is...  She has been cancer free ever since and has experienced my wedding, my babies... and will be here for many more experiences.

So we all went to the walk with pride and support for those who battle cancer of any kind.

This was before the walk. Carlyn and Cohen shared our jogging stroller. Cambri was crying... and Sawyer was sound asleep.

Sawyer and I didn't make it too far on the route because sister was hungry. So we literally got 100 feet and had to stop and eat....

Miss attitude...

Sawyer and I made it to the finish line first and patiently waited on everyone else.

and waited... 

Then Shenee and Cambri came and met us and we made our way back to the, end of the race games. Cohen was enoying a game of basketball (with his long t shirt) and Carlyn was playing as well

                                

Everyone was tired after a long 5K. As you can tell....

We raced for a cure... A cure for cancer and the unknown.  

The Clan...

Hello Blog! I am back... I feel like this past week flew by. Now that Sawyer can actually be out and about  and the weather is nice we have been non-stop!

Cousins are wonderful, but 1st cousins are the best! I love the way my kids will be able to experience being close to their 1st cousins. Shenee and I didn't get so lucky. My mom is an only child and my dad has 1 brother who has never lived here so we were never able to have that bond.

Carlyn is the leader of the pack! She is 5 going on 20 and an attitude out of this world! My how she is growing up quick. I remember when she was still this little..... I called her a "drama queen" then and she still has the name today!

Cohen and Cambri are only 2 months apart so they have a "love / hate" relationship.  I remember when they would sit next to each other peacefully! Now we are lucky to have those kind of moments when they are that close!

Sawyer is the baby of the pack and treated like a baby doll! Cohen and Cambri talk to her like they are so much older! With there little "baby" voices!  I still can't get over how much she has grown.  It is hard to believe she was so tiny when she was born. She was so small she could fit in my wedding shoe box. I have to say I do have trouble remembering her this little...

So the other night I asked them to take a picture all together and this is what I got....

Take 1- Sawyer is holding on for dear life! 

 They had complete excitement on their faces.... Like it was such a treat to lay on the floor all together and take these pictures. And yes... They were yelling!

Take 2- Her grip is tight... Watch your hair girls! 

 Cambri didn't get the memo that we were continuing on the picture taking. She decided that her face had a little itch! And yes she does have a black eye (clumsy mumsy ran into a cot at school).

Take 3 - Finally... Cheese! 

I am so happy they will all get to grow up together. This clan can't be touched. Cohen looks up to Carlyn more than she realizes. And when Cambri isn't around he asks for her... But I dare him to act like he loves her in person. haha... That is a joke! And don't let that sweet face fool you! She has got the word "slick" down pat!  I think Sawyer has just completely stole all 3 of their hearts!

Many don't realize how lucky they are to be close to their 1st cousins and to tell you the truth our kids won't either. You never realize how lucky you are when you have something. It's the things you don't have that make you think...  They will only know life with their cousins. I hope that I can be the aunt to these 2 girls I always dreamed of being. The aunt I always wanted... Shenee and I never had that. We never had the bond with an aunt or uncle. It makes me smile to know that my kids will have an aunt and uncles (Maybe one day their Parrain (Cody's brother) will get married... (only to someone we approve of) and they will have more 1st cousins to love....)!

"Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends"
          - Anonymous

Little Miracles

Have you ever wondered how the grass grows or why it is green? How the sky can look so close when you lay down and look up at it, but it is really so far away. And how on the prettiest day the sky  is so blue...
This past weekend I enjoyed the little miracles of life...

The miracle of Sawyer being able to hold and play with her toys... Wow never thought I would look to that as a miracle, but it is... it really is

And how bubbles can make anyone smile. Cody blew bubbles to Cohen and he wanted to catch them so bad... Cohen's laugh, his smile, and his desire to play with bubbles... So precious

5 months old and so happy. That smile makes me laugh at the tears I cried 5 short months ago... Who knew that those tears would turn into such JOY? Guess I knew deep down inside and so did the man upstairs... So now I say THANK YOU!!  

They joys of eating goldfish and rice krispy treats! He is so funny and growing so fast. He has learned how to spell his name... Looks like he will be a smarty pants with a smile that will get him out of trouble :)

Look at little miss sit in that bumbo! She watching Cohen's every move outside. I don't think she could turn her head fast enough to keep up with him but she sure tried! Look at those eyes glued to his big bro... 

Noni made a surprise visit this weekend... Cohen had nothing but excitement on his face when Noni sneaked into the fun jump.... 

             

and simple miracle of sibling LOVE...

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

        - Albert Einstein

First time for everything

Well we have celebrated a few FIRSTS recently.

We celebrated our next door neighbor / Cohen's best friend, Thomas' birthday... Little man turned 1... It is so crazy how times flies by! Thomas enjoyed his presents...

Even though his side kick could not understand why he didn't get any "Birthday Presents!" So Uncle Mike took his mind off of things...

Lin and Mike got Thomas a fun jump so the kids had a great time in there. 

Cohen loves balls so it is not surprising that he ended up in a huge pile of them!

And while the boys played at the party... Sawyer slept soundly in her swing at home. Cody stayed with Sawyer for the first hour while I was with Cohen at the party... Then we switched. It sure is nice to have our besties right next door! Definitely made it easier on us since we want to keep Sawyer out of big crowds for just a little bit longer.... (After a week in the hospital I will do whatever it takes to not go back!)

Once the party crowd left we went back next door with Sawyer and had dinner! Papa John's to the rescue... The boys enjoyed playing with all of Thomas' new toys!  They even took a bath together for the first time... Hilarious! 

Sawyer had her first Dr appt where she was actually on the growth chart... I never thought I would be so darn excited that one of my children were on the growth chart!  Cohen had no problem with that... At Sawyer's age Cohen weighed over 17 lbs. Definitely my chunky monkey! I know you should not compare your kids but I can't help but look at pictures of Cohen when he was Sawyer's age! It brings back the memories and how the time flew by.  So like I always say it will be nice to have Sawyer stay smaller just a little bit longer. Here are picture of each of them at almost 5 months old... 

Cohen at 4 1/2 months

Sawyer at 4 1/2 months

Sawyer had her FIRST taste of rice cereal by spoon.... First few bites were a little different... Then after that honey bunny got the hang of things and really enjoyed it!

Sawyer went on her FIRST walk with her Brother and Thomas at her side

Sawyer ready to walk

Cohen and Thomas after our walk

Sawyer after the walk... Peacefully sleeping

So there's a first time for everything... I know we will have many many more firsts, but we sure did enjoy these! People always say I can't wait until ... can walk, talk, sit, stand.... When Cohen was a baby I always said... I CAN WAIT... Cohen is already 2. Time flies by when you're having fun! So again... I can wait. I am enjoying all of our firsts but I can wait! I don't want my babies to grow up to fast! Can we keep them in a bottle?!?

"Treat today as a present, because you never know what tomorrow holds"