Brothers

I can't get enough of these two playing together. I'll admit, at times it can be tough keeping the peace, but when they are getting along, it is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Cohen says, "I wuv my bwrother. I wuv Henry."

Then Henry wrecks the perfectly constructed train track Cohen has been working on for 10 minutes, then all hell breaks loose. Trains and track pieces are hurled through the air, bouncing off Henry's head. Cries followed by time out. "I don't want Henry." These two love so hard but can fight just as hard. Henry has started biting as a defense mechanism and Cohen now squeezes Henry's arms and legs and pushes his head. I know this is just the beginning of brotherly fights and learning how to share. These two are learning from each other, and that's the best part of having them so close in age. Cohen plays the role of "big brother" really well, and for the most part, is very patient and sweet. Henry, who is one of the most active, headstrong 16-month-olds I've ever seen, looks up to his big brother and is just trying to keep up.

The other day, we went to Monkey Joe's and they each had to wear a Monkey Joe t-shirt and matching frog rain boots. So cute.

The weather has been beautiful, so we are outdoors as much as possible. It is a necessity with these boys of mine.

Update: Cohen's latest: "Mommy, I want to put my bwrother in the trash can. I want the trash truck to take him away."

Oh, Mr. Sun

Our long-lost friend, Mr. Sun, finally came back out this afternoon right before nap time. It has been grey and rainy for a while, so we took full advantage of the light, swinging on the front porch. Cohen and Henry rotated between the hammock and swing, and I ran back and forth pushing them, "really, really high!"

And we sang one of Cohen's favorite songs, "Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!"

January Quickie

I haven't been very good about posting this month. The constant grey that January brings can be tough at times. Good thing I have Cohen and Henry to brighten my days! Here are some pictures snapped on my phone. Most are of Henry because Cohen absolutely refuses to have his picture taken these days. Henry, on the other hand, loves it. "Cheese!"

Henry hiding with all of his Gabba friends. He loves to play hide-n-seek, and even says "boo!" when he pops out.

Henry had to wear the Buzz Lightyear wings.

Nature Museum fun:

We are so lucky that Liz is part of our family! We love her so much.

Cohen the bug.

Henry is constantly "talking." He follows all the directions we give him, and he tries so hard to communicate. Right now, he almost has please, balloon and ball down.

These two love taking a bath. Sometimes we take bubble baths just for the heck of it in the afternoon.

On school days, we have to "run in the circle" when we pick Cohen up. There's a big garden area where all the children can meet up after school is out to keep the fun going. Henry loves trying to keep up with the big kids, and Cohen and his friends run wild, play hide-and-seek and pick berries and find sticks. We are so lucky that Cohen is having such an amazing preschool experience, and we love all the wonderful friends we have made!

Cohen and one of his best buddies, Hunter. These two have way too much fun together! Thank goodness they are in the same class at school.

Happy New Year

We spent the end of 2011 in Jacksonville. It was wonderful to wrap-up the year with our family and good friends. Every last minute of our visit was filled with fun, smiles, hugs and sharing memories.

Cohen and Henry are lucky to have three sets of grandparents who love them to pieces! We spent two nights at Nana and Pop's house and the other two nights with Granddad and Nona. The boys also played a lot with GG and Papa, who had visited us in Charlotte before Christmas. I think the grandparents were exhausted by the time we had to leave.

New Year's Eve was spent with our friends and family at Jon and Anna's beach bonfire party. It was one of the best parties of all time and definitely an amazing way to ring in the new year...surrounded by people we love! (Fuzzy phone picture below)

The Hummer. Enough said. These boys could have driven around Nana and Pop's neighborhood until dark.

Hendog will be 16 months in two days.

And this Stinka gets sweeter and smarter by the day.

It's funny - Growing up at the beach, David and I never really spent time during the winter months there. With Cohen and Henry, we had to hit the sand daily. And it was beautiful!

The water was still, the sand was chilled, and we had the place to ourselves. Peaceful.

My boys.

We had a hard time keeping the boys out of the cold water.

Happy 2012! I have a feeling this year will be one for the record books.

Merry!

Merry Christmas to everyone! What a wonderful year. We have so much to be thankful for.

This month has been packed with holiday fun - long walks to see "Big Eyes Frosty," playing with good friends and neighbors, baking cookies, singing songs, eating too much, relaxing and watching our all-time favorite Christmas movies.

The Christmas Eve church service was memorable this year...memorable and short. We couldn't contain Henry, who decided to play hide-n-seek and peek-a-boo between the pews. He and Cohen were talking up a storm as loudly as possible. Cohen kept asking if "Baby Jesus comin' on now? On the TV?" (the big screen in the church). We tried to keep them quiet with candy canes, but that only bought us a few extra minutes before we decided that it was a good attempt and quietly snuck out the back.

Melt my heart. My boys. I think Cohen is hugging his little brother.

Cohen and I wrote a letter to Santa. He asked me to write, "Please weave lots of pwesents."

Santa didn't mind that Cohen ate a cookie or two off his plate before heading to bed.

The boys went to bed so quickly and easily. They couldn't wait to wake up in the morning.

Santa brought Henry the last of the five Gabba friends - Plex. His set is now complete! Henry carries his Gabba friends around everywhere.

Two happy boys

Hooray! It was spectacular.

We are excited to see our family and friends in Jacksonville later this week!

"Fwee!"

Cohen is "fwee" today! He loves showing three fingers when he says it too.

How in the world is our sweet boy already three-years-old? I have vivid memories of bonding with him as a teeny baby. Now he is a little man, full of life and sweet to the core.

Cohen is my everything. He makes each day fun and filled with laughter. I can't wait to see what this year holds for this amazing boy of ours.

Happy birthday, "Stinka!"

Bobby

This little guy arrived on our doorstep yesterday. Santa sent one of his elves to spend the holidays with us! Cohen is so excited to have "Bobby" (this is what Cohen named him) in our house. Fingers crossed that Cohen and Henry are on their best behavior this month so Bobby can give a good report to Santa!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

We have had a weekend filled with holiday cheer! Friday morning, we met David Uptown to see the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra (aka, the "singing bears"). Cohen and Henry ran all over Founders Hall, ate Chick-fil-A and danced to the Christmas tunes. Saturday morning, we ate breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts then headed to the Christmas tree lot. The boys could have played hide-n-seek there all afternoon.

Sitting in Santa's sleigh - It is impossible to get a picture with both smiling and looking at me.

Cohen was such a good tree decorator! He loved hanging is favorite ornaments.

Cohen cracks me up. He had to do a "crazy face" next to the tree. Check out his decorating skills - he might have set a record for the number of ornaments hanging from the same branch. And look at that apron. He keeps begging me to bake Christmas cookies with him. He calls the apron "cookies."

Saturday night, we had a Santa spotting in Plaza-Midwood! He was in town for the Annual Holiday Central. Sunday morning, Cohen and I went back to the tree lot for another round of hide-n-seek.

This holiday season is off to a fantastic start!