Cohen's 2nd Ice Cream party

This weekend we celebrated Cohen's 2nd birthday with an Ice Cream party!

The party was very small and simple.

We had friends over to celebrate our guy with cake, an ice cream sundae bar and swimming!

After cake and ice cream we headed over to the neighborhood swimming pool.

Everyone had a great time.

Cohen was happy.

Success!

Happy 2nd birthday my baby.

Dream BIG...

love, Mommy

Mommy made ice cream cone cake.

Our family

Our family with MiMi, Pop, and Tio.

This boy, that dimple, and that thumb.

Best mad face EVER.

Ice Cream Sundae bar with a hand sneaking in for some gummies! 

Hi!

My world

Monkey boy!

Make a wish and dream BIG my baby...

Cohen opening his gifts

After swim playground fun.

Cohen Jacob {2}

Loveable. Funny. Smart. Sweet. Wild. Strong. Leader. Strong will. Daredevil. Beautiful. Cuddly.


Dear Cohen,

Just like that I am writing to you on your 2nd birthday.  It seems like just yesterday I heard the words "it's a boy" and I was able to hold you for the first time!  You have been such a special addition to our family.  I can't remember life without you!

You are such a light in this world!  Your smile is adorable and your dimple MELTS me.  Your brothers love you so much!  You are always just 1/2 a step behind and following EXACTLY what they are doing.  You have a masters degree in climbing.  That is probably why you have already been to the emergency room two times.  Take it easy on me boy...

You are funny and love to make us laugh.  You tell us "knock knock" jokes.  You laugh and that makes your jokes even funnier!  Your favorite song is "happy birthday to you."  I never want to forget the way that you call my name.  There has never been a sweeter sound!  I take mental snap shots in my mind of you at this very age.  I always want to remember your little rabbit teeth, killer dimple, and beautiful big blue eyes.

You are so special and I am so glad that God selected me to be your momma.  You are a blessing to all who know you!  Keep smiling and the world is yours!  Happy birthday and dream BIG my baby.  You are a good boy and will do great things in this world...

All my love,
Mommy

Make a wish and dream BIG my baby...

911 what seems to be your emergency...

One evening Kenton was working late.  The boys were all quietly playing and I sat down for a quick and uneventful dinner.  I noticed Cohen playing with the house phone.  The thought in my head was, "that may not be the best idea, but he is being really good.  Leave him alone.  When was the last time you had a meal in relative quiet?"  So, I left him alone.  He played with the phone for quite some time.  (When Cohen plays with the phone he is really funny.  He mimics me on the phone.  He holds it up to his ear, chatters away, and walks around the house. Right.... just like his Momma!)  

As I was putting the dishes away I saw 2 police cars pull up to the front of our house.  There was also a knock at the door. {GULP...}  I looked out the front door and saw 3 armed police men standing there and looking in.

Police man #1- "Ma'am is everything okay?"
Me- "Yes sir everything is fine."
Police man #1- "Someone from this residence placed a call to 911.  Are you SURE you are alright?"
Me- (I was screaming in my head "LARRY!!!") "Oh yes sir.  The baby was playing with the phone and must have called 911? (how in the heck does a baby call 911.  It is not like he knows his numbers much less has the ability to dial the proper numbers in the correct order to notify the police to come to our home!!  Perhaps he is a child prodigy?  Are a major drama stirrer?!? Jeeze...)

As this conversation was happening at the front door I could hear Roman yelling from the bathroom.  As the time spent with the police officer continued his voice began to elevate.  The sound screaming from the bathroom was, "MMMOOOOMMMM WIPE MY TAIL!"  I heard these demands loud and clear.  I would have to believe that the officers did too.

Moments later Police man #2 busted out in a snorted laugh.  He said, "Ma'am, he doesn't have any clothes on."  At that point Police man #1, and Police man #2 joined in on the giggles.  I turned around to see Roman standing in the living room fully in the nude.  Awesome...

Police man #1 proceeded to say, "looks like you have your hands full."  Indeed I do.  Indeed I do!!!

LARRY....

Tie and shoes

I took photographs of the boys wearing their Daddy's tie and trying on his shoes.

I really love this series.

I believe this is the last series I have of the boys as babies.

It makes me sad that they grow up so quickly!

I cherish these photographs.

It keeps each age and stage fresh in my mind.

I love these little people more than words can ever say...

Griffin 16 months

Griffin

Roman 17 months

Cohen 18 months

Mischief has a face...

Hey Ma.  Enough with the pictures.

Cohen's 1st haircut

Cohen got his first haircut on October 11.

This was just 2 days shy of his 15 month birthday.

15 months of hair growth.

I would say that he gave it a pretty good run!

I would have let it go a tad bit longer, 

but we have family pictures coming up in a few weeks 

and I didn't want to go into pictures with a fresh cut.  

This is my 3rd first haircut.

I know the drill.

Baby walks into salon.

Boy walks out.

Just like that with a few snips of the scissors your baby is gone.

Without fail,

that is exactly what happened again.  

He may look like a big boy now,

but he sure is a cute big boy!

(and will always be my baby)

Just as we walked in.
Cohen was rocking the "business in the front..."

"...and party in the back 'do!"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, his hair had a slight resemblance to Joe Dirt.

He was not sure about this hair cut thing.

Ummm, safe to say he didn't love it.

"Hey Ma.  Help me."

Boy, that was rough!

Once loaded in the car he realized it wasn't so bad after all!

And he's off...

As of September 13, 2013 Cohen is officially a walker.

This marks his 15th month birthday.

He has been "able" to walk for quite some time.

I believe he just really enjoys being lugged around rather than walking on his own will!

What can I say?

He is a smarty pants!

Once he took a few steps on his own he was so incredibly proud of himself.

I must say, we ALL were!

He would walk. Grin ear to ear. Then clap wildly in celebration.

Crawling is still his preferred mode of transportation. 

He is quite quick and efficient as a crawler.

While his steps are still slightly wobbly and unsure. 

Each day he takes a few more steps.

We are so proud of our baby boy! 

Cohen "I do my own stunts" Jacob

Dear Cohen,

Oh child.... 

You are a handful.

Everything that you do is BIG.

You smile big and scream even bigger.

You may be little, but you will never be forgotten.

You are always in the mix with your brothers.

You set your sights on something and then you hold your own.

You don't have much interest in walking.

For you climbing is where it's at!

You bump your coconut several times a day.

I'm thinking about equipping you with a helmet and possibly some landing gear.

Oh child, you are something else!

You are still and always will be my little sunshine,

Mommy

You love you some selfies.  You see yourself in the camera and say "HI!"

You now let yourself out of the house.
I found you in the street twice yesterday.
Door now stays locked and the door chime is enabled.
Boy. Boy. Boy...

You could no longer be contained at the Children's museum.
You let yourself out of your stroller and was off to play!

Hey Ma!

Male modeling for the camera.

Oh just hanging out ON the fire station.

Visions of 15 years from now...

Up to no good.

Following big brothers.
They try to protect you.
You can't understand why?

Dancing in your high chair.

This would be the reason why we
no longer keep stools at the counter.

Nothing and I mean NOTHING sweeter than a {thumb sucking} sleeping baby.

Our newest member of the MOPs steering team.

Baby long legs and Daddy long legs.

This happens often.  You find yourself in a pickle.
I let you sweat this one out for a minute.
Thought it might slow you down.
Nope...

Up again.

When you cuddle with me, even if just for a second, you make
my world a better place.

Shopping with you is quite a challenge.

Oh how I love to watch your little personality form.  Keep smiling and flashing that dimple.  The world is yours baby boy...