Snow 2010

We have gotten so much snow this year. I think we have a new benchmark - the Snow of 2010. Just as last year, Coco isn't a fan of the white stuff. Cold & wet are two of her least favorite things so what should we have expected? She & Daddy did manage to build a snowman (at warp speed) and we made snowcream (that she likes!). Sebastian can't stay well long enough to enjoy the outdoors but we did manage to get a photo op. It's too soon to say if he'll like it or not. Hopefully, we'll get some next year and find out!

Daddy, Coco & our snowman

This is our driveway; it looks like a postcard!

Grammy teaching Coco how to make snowcream.

Sweet baby boy (9 mo.) posing in the snow!

Uh oh...fun's over.

Us and the snowcream! The kids love it just like Mommy. I won't repeat what Daddy says it tastes like.

And the winner is..."Jack"

It's official. We have identified Sebastian's first real word*: Jack! He loves our furry family pet and the feelings are mutual (Jack prefers to be in Sebastian's room when I'm rocking him. I think he would sleep in there if we allowed it!). Every time Sebastian sees him, he points at Jack and says "Ack." It's adorable. The honor of first has been given to the dog; I wonder who will be next?!?!

*A previous post indicated that his first word was Momma. As sad as I am to admit, I think that was a premature announcement. He hasn't really said it again so I'm losing the trophy and giving it to Jack.

Update on Sebastian

I wanted to post an update on Sebastian since so many of our blogging friends have been faithful to pray for our little guy. He had a second MBS (swallow) test Tuesday and we got good news. Well, not great but MUCH better than the alternatives (CF, feeding tubes, scary stuff)! When he swallows, his "flapper" is still delayed even with the nectar consistency thickener we've been using. The first few swallows are fine but as he continues to drink, he aspirates. This is what has been causing the recurring pneumonias. He was switched to a thicker thickener, honey consistency, and we are crossing our fingers this will solve his problems. Thank you to everyone for your calls, e-mails, posts and texts of concern. We appreciate your prayers and feel more blessed than ever to have a happy, healthy baby!

Firsts

Sebastian said his first word today...Momma! I put him down to fix some juice for Coco and he started crying & crawling toward me saying over and over...mamamamama!!!!! It's nice to know all the practicing has paid off.

This is a picture of another "first." His first piece of real food: an apple slice. He loved it! He chewed on it for quite some time making applesauce with his bottom teeth.

Pumpjama Party!

Bear with me as this post is extraordinarily late, but I would be remiss to not include Coco's 3rd birthday party for our family scrap blog!

The Birthday Girl decked out in all things Ariel from head to toe:

hairbow, pj's, slippers & necklace!

We had a Pumpjama party at Pump It Up to celebrate Coco & Jansen turning 3. All the kiddos looked adorable in their pj's and had a blast. Seriously, whoever came up with the idea of huge rooms filled with inflatable jumps is a genius. She had so much fun and talks about going back to the "bounce house" all the time.

Coco & Jansen riding in their gift wagon.

Coco & Daddy sharing some serious play time.

Time to eat!

Coco & Momma: just being silly

Coco & Jansen in the birthday chair. We are singing Happy Birthday to them. Coco is getting a little shy & Jansen is totally clueless!

The Ariel cupcakes on a stick!

(Jansen's were Spiderman but I forgot to get a picture before they were all eaten.)


This is the aftermath of Coco oh-so-quietly opening all her presents! You know what they say about quiet toddlers. We should have known she was up to something. When I walked into her room, she said with utmost amazement, "Oh Momma, Look!"

Prayers for Sebastian

I post this to ask for your prayers for Sebastian. He has pneumonia again (3rd time in as many months) and is a very sick baby. All of his "first" holidays have been clouded by illness: Halloween, Thanksgiving and now Christmas. Obviously it's not "normal" to get pneumonia that often so we are about to embark on the journey of figuring out the root of the problem. Specifically, the doctors want to test for aspiration and cystic fibrosis. We won't be able to start testing until his lungs are clear. Please pray neither of these issues are the cause of his sickness. We are so worried and hopeful that the cause is a more simple issue: like being allergic to Jack. Finding a new home for our four legged family member wouldn't be nearly as hard as a feeding tube or a life sentence of not being able to breathe. There are so many possibilities, we will have to rule them out one at a time starting with these 2 most likely. We are nervous and scared but know God is in control and have faith in the power of prayer; which is why I am asking all of my blogging buddies to put Sebastian on your prayer list. Miracles happen every day and I can't wait to see the one God works in our baby boy's life!

Happy Birthday Coco

Our December flower turned 3 years old today. Man how time flies! We had a busy day but were determined to make sure her day was properly celebrated. Simply enough, an Ariel birthday cake & Disney princess gift bag were all it took to put a heart melting smile on her face.

Happy Birthday Coco!