Tricks & Trucks

In the last week, George has shown us a few tricks he's had up his sleeve.

He's sitting up and playing with toys!

He thinks pulling up on his crib is absolutely hilarious.

He is trying his best to figure out the crawl.  

This is not a mode of transportation yet, but he's getting awfully close.

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Saturday was the day that never ended for George.

It started with a birthday party.

Then we went through the zoo.

We had dinner on the patio at Rojo on Highland.

Then we went by to see our dear friend, Fritz, at the Homewood Fire Station.

George was in awe of the fire trucks, and the firefighters in the truck were waving and smiling at us, too.

They thought it would really make George excited to hear the horn on a fire truck.

After a complete meltdown, George was reduced to this:

After the truck left, George loved it!

Thanks for hosting us, Fritzy!

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Lastly, Saty has been out of town on one of her infamous hiking/biking/camping/etc. trips.

She has been gone for two weeks, and we are glad to have her back!

She came over to see George, 

and give him a few things she picked up for him on her trip.

There's a shirt that matches the hat, 

but I'm pretty sure we'll be using that for Halloween.

Saty, we are so glad you're home, and thank you for all of George's presents!

Hope y'all have a great week!

The Incredible Catherine Mayo

A few weeks ago, we went to Botanical Gardens to take some pictures of 

George at six months.

Catherine Mayo took George's newborn pictures in October, and I still love to look through them all the time.  I was so excited to see what she could do with a baby that is more interactive.

We took these pictures on the same day of the Rumpshaker 5K and George was pretty exhausted by the time 3:30 rolled around that afternoon.

He was fussy, sleepy, and cutting his two front teeth all in the same day.

Here's a sampling of what Catherine captured that day:

That Catherine Mayo is a magician when it comes to baby photography.

I know we will cherish these pictures for years to come.

Happy Day!

Today is a special day in the Cochran family.

Today, George turns Seven Months.

 Happy Seven Months, Georgie!

 George is working on sitting up these days.

 He almost has the hang of it.  

His teachers at daycare say, "George has better things to do than to just sit up."

This always makes me feel better about the fact that George squirms and rolls ALL over the place.

 Only one handed!

Oh George.  You are so hilarious to your dad and me.  You are talking all the time in your own little language.  We love to hear your sounds and watch your facial expressions as you babble.  It is so funny to us how you love some foods and other foods make you down right angry.

You hate to hear us sneeze.  Or laugh if we're not including you on the joke.

I look at these pictures and my heart is completely full.

Your dad and I were reading the other night in a little book called Jesus Calling and this is what we read:

"When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities...I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for my kingdom."

"From the ends of the earth I call to you, 

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Psalm 61: 2

What a promise for us!  Based on past blog posts, I'm sure you can all tell that we are out of our normal routine.  George, the Lord uses you to point your dad and me to the Rock that is higher than both of us.  And we pray that He will use us to do the same for you.

In other news in the Cochran Family...

 Chase Cochran turns TWO today!

I feel like this picture really captures Chase's love for life.  

Chase, you are such a great big cousin for George, and we are so thankful for the way you love him, and his parents, so well!

Happy Birthday, Chase!

The Day Everything Fell Apart...

...there is a happy ending to this story, so hang on until the end!

Here's a little re-cap of today in the Cochran Family:

Clay and I got up and started getting ready.

George woke up, and wanted a little bottle.

Clay gets George dressed and his bag for daycare packed for the day, and heads to work.

I pack up my car and drive George to daycare, only to find out that he is sick, and can't stay at daycare.

I drive straight to my mom's house, not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish there, but find my mom still asleep, and wake her up to a hysterical daughter with a sick baby.

Saty was so gracious to take George, hug on me, and help me calm down for the day.

I get back in my car, and stopped cruised through a stop sign, and saw this in my rearview mirror:

Here's what the officer found in the car:

I'm pretty sure he was a little scared by my current state, so he helped me calm down, and head to work at 7:57am.

I make it to work and a sweet co-worker had this waiting for me:

...which of course, for some reason, made me cry more.

So the start to my morning was, what I consider to be, pretty rough.  

We had state testing today, so I had about 2 hours of total silence to consider my day.  I felt like the Lord was showing me all the ways He has provided for me in such incredible ways:

* My mom was home and was able to take care of George for a while.

* Clay was able to leave work and work from home- and was excited to do it.  I realize what a blessing it is that Clay is the very definition of a 'family man', in that his family will always be his first priority and his greatest earthly love.  This is a huge blessing to me.

*It was a late start day for school, so even though I was 'late', I wasn't actually late.

I got to come home to this:

Great is the faithfulness of our God.  I see these pictures, and I am overcome by how He has provided for our family abundantly.

I have found some humor in my day, and hope my day makes you feel better about yours.

Happy Thursday!

Easter 2012

This was such a special Easter.

George slept a whopping 13 hours Saturday night.  When he sleeps this long, he is truly giddy with happiness.  And so are his parents.  

We let him go through his Easter basket before we started getting ready for the day.

We headed to church which was definitely a highlight of the day.  I am always so encouraged by the community at Cahaba Park, and we are always challenged by Murray's sermons.  It was the perfect start to a great day.

After church, we went to the Cochran's for lunch.  

It still amazes me that Clay has three grandparents who get to come to fun family events.  What a blessing Nana, Granny, and Grandaddy are to our family. 

 Grandaddy and George

(that toy was from Nana for Easter.  Nana- he has not been separated from it since yesterday!)

 The whole Cochran family 

 Happy Easter from The (Cahaba Heights) Cochran's!

Three generations of Cochran men

 The Blankenships

Post-lunch playtime with Chase!

 I'm not sure that it matters what Chase is doing- he's always doing something cute!

 Big hit of Easter: BUBBLES!

It was time to leave when we noticed that George literally could not hold his eyes open.  One day I'll get better at picking up on his tired cues, but its a little difficult when you're having so much fun with everyone!

Sunday night we had dinner with the Howell's, without Scott, Katie, and Rogers.  They were surely missed, and we'll get to celebrate Aunt Erin's birthday with them this this weekend.

 Aunt Erin with one tired Georgie

 Pop got a little smile out of George

 Saty & George

We celebrate Easter because we believe that Jesus conquered sin when He arose from the grave.  I am thankful for families on both sides who celebrate this holiday for this very reason!

"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." 

Romans 10:4

"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?  He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted.  

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53: 1-6

Happy Easter, y'all!