Happy Birthday, Scooter and Saty!

Today is my mom's birthday, and it's also my bro bro's birthday.  We are a family that loves to get together to celebrate just about anything, but when it's birthdays, things get turned up a notch or two.  I was in charge of dinner, which took absolutely forever to finish.  Somehow, everyone stayed entertained.  Here is a snippet of the conversation going on in the kitchen:
Clay: "So, did Scott have more crushes on your friends, or did you have more crushes on Scott's friends growing up?"
Me: "Oh that's easy.  Scott definitely had more crushes on my friends.  It's the only reason we became friends in middle school."
Scott: "I mean, past Elizabeth Corona, I didn't have crushes on any of your friends."
And the breakdown went on from there.  Who liked who, who-asked-who to Homecoming.  Scott loves reliving the glory days.

We were so engrossed in this conversation for a while, that we didn't realize everything that was going on around the corner...

Sometimes, I really don't know what we did before we had kids.  I mean, what did we talk about?!

After dinner, we had a delicious cake from Olexa's- Scooter's favorite!

It looks like Saty thought there were 61 candles on that cake!

What would I do without Scooter and Saty in my life?  I am thankful for you both in so many ways, and I know that I would not be where I am today without your significant impact on my life.  In a literal sense, Clay and I might not be together if it wasn't for Scott- at least that's what he reminds me of all the time.

Saty, I'll borrow Uncle Ed's quote one more time, because it is so fitting of our relationship.  "The woman you know as my daughter is a direct product of my wife's efforts.  It was my wife who raised this girl who is getting married tomorrow.  It was her love, her advice, and her efforts that has grown this woman up to be wise enough to choose the man she is marrying."  How in the world would I have made it this far without you by my side?  You are such a selfless mom, and I am daily thankful for who you are in my life, in Clay's life, and in George's life.  You are a blessing to us.

Happy birthdays, Scooter and Saty!  Love you both so much.

Beach 2012

I almost titled this post 'Romar 2012' because I can't remember a summer when we didn't stay at Romar Place.  Suffice it to say, Capri was a definite upgrade from Romar, and we had the best beach vacation there.

George had the best time!  He definitely had a love-hate relationship with the actual beach, but I think that had more to do with the sun than anything else.  He slept great, and napped even better, which makes for much happier days for everyone involved.

From this point forward, there will be a LOT of pictures with short captions.  Just know if you're not a grandparent, the pictures might get a little boring.  It was hard to narrow down my 250 pictures to the few I'll put on here!

This picture will always crack me up.

#1- the trash bag on the chair.  We did take it off because it was a little overkill.

#2- George's face.

#3- The fact that this picture proves who Saty's favorite grandchild is! (just kidding...)

Ready to go to the beach!

Story time with Saty

 Racing cars on the porch

Fun times in the tunnel!

 Saty and Rogers have a special relationship

George, Rogers and Frannie ready to go to the beach!

 George and Lucy were thick as thieves on this beach trip.  Based on the picture above, I'd say Georgie liked his new friend.

 Playing in the baby pool on the beach.

Best friends.

 Clay got to the beach on Wednesday, and then the fun really started!

'Jump jump' time was usually during 'rest period' (as Clay called it) just before afternoon naps.

 Look at those little legs!

Even George got in on the fun.

 George really loved playing with Clay 

 Papa T- the Ultimate Bocce player

 Saty and Frannie

 Love this picture.

 Best friends forever.

This is the 'hate' side of the love-hate relationship George had with the beach.

This is the 'love' side.

 Mama Shay and Lucy

 Saty and Rogers flying a kite.

 I'm not sure if there is a picture of these two that doesn't melt my heart.

Do you see George's hair BLOWING in the wind?  

I love that kid.

By the end of the week, George had really embraced the sand and ocean.

 Our condo had a double-edged sword: the indoor pool and hot tub combo.

While an indoor pool always provided fun despite the weather, it was also really stuffy and the smell of chlorine just about knocked you over when you walked in.

It was renamed 'the sweaty pool' on Monday.

 We still managed to have fun inside.

 Rogers REALLY loved the hot tub.  Actually, most of the kids really loved it.

No one seemed to mind that it was 90 degrees outside- those kids were getting in the hot tub at some point every day.  I was secretly glad that George was too young for the hot tub.

 We got to have lots of early morning snuggles, and George was the most cuddly on this trip!

 George and Rogers in their chairs.

 Unc and the boys on our last night.  

 While we were packing up, Rogers found 'George's room' (the closet in mine and Clay's room) and was fascinated with the pack & play.

George did everything he could to slow down our packing- he didn't want to leave!

If you're still reading this post- you must be immediately related to us, so I hoped you enjoyed the George pics!  If you're Saty (or if you're Pop and have found your way on the interweb to my blog) thank y'all so much for an unforgettable week at the beach.  I have a newfound respect for all of those years you took me to the beach, played with me all day long, went shopping, took me crabbing, and everything in between.  Thank you for making this trip so special for me, and even more so for George.  I'll make sure he knows he got to sleep in the master bedroom one year (even if it was in the closet).

End of Summer

We just got home from our beach trip today, and it was honestly the best trip we've taken as a family.  But the beach week will have to be a separate post another day.  

George is starting Mother's Day Out tomorrow, and I really am so sad to not get to spend every day with him.  But after being at the beach surrounded by people, kids, and pretty much constant activity, I know that he is going to love his little class this year.  

So, technically, summer is over for Mommy and Georgie, but goodness, it's been the sweetest summer I can remember.  And could there be a more exciting way to end the summer other than George turning ELEVEN months?!  I seriously cannot believe our first year is almost under our belt.  

George has at least three more teeth (all molars), giving us a total of 12 teeth.  It's really hard to tell, because Clay or me looking in his mouth is quite possibly his least favorite activity hands-down.  He eats just about anything we put in front of him (except pineapple), and really loves feeding himself.  He can walk around holding my hands, and sometimes can walk holding just one hand.  I know it sounds silly, but the thought of walking around holding George's hand one day makes me so excited.

George, becoming a mom has always really intimidated me- even this time last year.  I didn't know if I could love you enough, or have enough patience for you, or even know how to meet your needs.  And the truth is, I know I can't, and haven't, been able to do any of these things for you in completion this year.  The Lord has used you to teach me more about claiming His strength in my weakness every single day.  

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

We used to worry about being the perfect parents for you, but we have realized that is not what you need.    The only thing you need in this life is to know Christ's love, and goodness gracious, do we see the love of our Lord in you, George.  So, thanks for making this 'transition' into parenthood for us full of grace and forgiveness.  We love you so much!

  

Vacation

We've had to replace the word 'vacation' in our vocabularies if Georgie is going to be present on the trip.  Every year, since before I was born, my parents have been going to the beach with our good friends, the Cordell family.  For the last five years, the number of Generation 3 has grown, and this year there will be seven kids under the age of 5.  For the last 28 years, my beach trip looked something like this:

My biggest concern was where we were going to go to dinner, and how long I could possibly stay out on the beach before I had to go up to take a shower.  While 'trips' with George are so much fun, they are filled with non-stop action, too.  George's love for people, new experiences, new places, etc. always takes precedence over his desire (or need) to take a nap.  But at least he's happy, right?!

Usually by this point in the summer, I also have a pretty good base tan.  A few weeks ago, Clay pointed out that I was not tan, which if you know me, almost broke my heart.  It's a good thing that Clay charms me so easily...

While this year is going to look pretty different from beach trips in the past, I know we will have so much fun.  George absolutely loves being around people, and seeing as how there will be 22 people ranging from 3 weeks to 60+ years old with us in Perdido, I know he will be in absolute Heaven.  

...and just because I know I won't be posting any George pics for the next week or so, here's a few from the last few days!

 George uses his toys in the strangest ways.

 Getting used to the Pack & Play for our trip.  Fingers crossed he'll sleep in it!

Post-work snuggles.

Uncle Scott and Aunt KK were so sweet to let George use this little walker since Rogers is running all over the place, and well, Frannie won't need it anytime soon.  George has really been disinterested in it, even though we've really tried to get him to use it.  All of a sudden the other night, he just got behind the handle bars and took off!  You can just see how proud he is of himself all over his face.

Hope y'all have a great week!

Tears

There have been a lot of tears shed here in the Cochran house over the last week.

George has really been the ring-leader in the crying arena.

He cut his first molar (is that normal for a 10-month old?!) and literally has four teeth trying to break through at the same time.  Here is how we know when George is cutting a tooth:

* eczema patch on the face: this is a bizarre side effect from teething, but every-single-time a tooth shows up, he has a red rash on one of his cheeks.

* FUSSINESS- that one doesn't really need an explanation

* biting- George will bite on anything.  The other morning I was cooking breakfast, and George was playing in the den.  The next thing I know I feel these teeny tiny teeth gnawing on my feet.

* there are other symptoms, but Clay said they weren't blog-appropriate to mention on here.

We have found a few things that successfully distract him from his misery:

Going to the pool.

PraiseBaby DVD.

Riding the train at the zoo.

He really has been such a trooper to pretty much constantly have a tooth coming in for the last 6 months.  He has a lot of happy moments, and keeps me laughing most of the day.  He comes up with new tricks all the time, and is truly so proud of himself when he figures out how to do something new.  His newest trick is standing up by himself, which he does for about 2 seconds and then sits down.  Clay thinks that George is scared of heights, but hopefully he'll overcome that one day.

I've been shedding my fair share of tears watching the Olympics.  I'm going to go ahead and admit that I even get a little weepy at the P&G commercials.  I just don't know what came over me every time I saw Missy Franklin in an interview or watched her swim.  

Or when the Fab Five won the gold.

Or even when they replay old Olympic events from previous games.  I have just found that I am somehow so emotionally invested in these Olympic Games.  Clay says that I am NBC's target audience for all of the coverage, interviews, and background stories.  Maybe if I get emotionally attached to a story or an athlete, then I don't really care that they never showed the men's gymnastic rings event whatsoever.  And I don't.  All I want to see are the tense moments with the hilarious commentators, who say exactly what is going on in my head such as:

"Woops!  That was a huge mistake. Huge."

"Oh man!  Did you see that?"

"He's going to have to swim a lot faster if he wants to catch up with him."

Clay's favorite commentating so far has been in the trampoline event.  It is classic.

Now that swimming is over, maybe I'll be able to hold it together.  Unless Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh can win beach volleyball.  Then I'll be right back where I started.

Hope everyone has had a great weekend!