Chocolate milk & tickles

This one's for you Coco. I can't let this phase in your childhood go by without recording it. Getting you to sleep is quite a challenge right now. You do NOT like to go to bed and will oftentimes take up to 2 hours to get to sleep! I blame your Daddy; he's not much on sleeping either. Your bedtime routine consists of a sippy full of chocolate milk and lots of "tickling." The chocolate milk is non-negotiable and the "tickling" is really just scratching. Sometimes you want your back scratched, maybe your arm, maybe your face or maybe even your head! After you've so sweetly asked for me to lay down just a minute, you immediately say "tickle me." The way you say it is so funny. Your Daddy and I will always remember your chocolate milk and tickles!!

VBS 2010

Coco had her first Vacation Bible School experience this year! I was super nervous about letting her go to a real class. She would be traveling for snack, music and craft without me! As usual, Coco proved that she was up to the challenge. She did great! Her teacher was Miss Michelle and she had a blast. It does have me a little worried about her starting Preschool in the fall. By Wednesday, the excitement had worn off and she said she "didn't want to go to school today. I already went!" Family night was so much fun. We got to watch her stand on the big stage and sing with all the songs she learned during the week. She got a tad bit shy but persevered. There were moments when her head was down and her finger was on her mouth but we were so incredibly proud. My heart was full!

Since I was co-director this year, Sebastian had to go the nursery every day. For a stay at home Mom who is not used to a schedule, just getting 2 children awake, dressed and fed by 8am is quite an event. Leaving my baby boy for 3 hours every day was even more difficult. After a few tears each morning, Sebastian ended up having a fun time at VBS too. He bonded with Mrs. Brenda and by the end of the week, cried every time she left the room. (Ironically, the prayer card I got had Mrs. Brenda's name on it.) I'd like to think that the extra prayer is what made the difference; not that he was getting used to me leaving him!

Braxton Glenn Apfel

Braxton Glenn Apfel made his debut into this world on June 5, 2010. He was 10 weeks early and weighed in at a whopping 3lb 8oz! He is absolutely adorable but has a a long few weeks ahead of him in the NICU. Cory is a super proud Daddy. It is so strange to talk to Cory "parent to parent." He's had to grow up practically over night. While the circumstances are far from perfect,one thing is certain: this baby boy is already loved so very much. Our church, family, friends (and anyone else we can ask!) is praying for him. I have faith in knowing our mighty God is the great Healer and is surrounding Braxton with angels right now.

Memorial Day 2010

We had a low key Memorial Day celebration this year but it was really fun. Grilled hotodogs, banana pudding and giant water slide were all it took for us to have a party.

Coco coming down the slide! Grammy is ready to catch! She was not sure about it at first but by the end of the night, Coco was climbing up all by herself.

Sebastian LOVES his $7 pool. It's one of life's simple pleasures, huh?

Awww...aren't we cute?!?!

Sebastian's first rib...seriously! He loved it!

I had to include this one becuase of the shirt Namps is wearing. The old faithful, ever (not-so) stylish American flag inspired tye dye tee! No kidding, it's 18 years old in this picture!

Grammy's near wet t-shirt entry! Ha!

We have a great big slide to play on but they are all piled in the baby pool. Go figure!

I had to snap quick for this one. The brothers are too big to pose.

Say "Ahhhh!"

Coco had her first dental appointment May 27, 2010. At almost 3 1/2, I thought it was time for her to at least get used to going. The appointment started off a little questionable but thanks to a very patient but persistent hygenist named Miss Leslie, Coco had a wonderful first visit. When we walked in the exam room she saw a little boy lying on a table with a woman leaned over him wearing a mask, goggles and holding a sharp object. Hmmm...I wonder what could have set her off?? While she never did lay down on the table, Coco had a very thorough cleaning and examination (sitting straight up). I am happy to report she has 20 very healthy, very pretty pearly whites. Mr. Tim (for obvious white coat syndrome reasons they don't like to use the word "doctor") said she has excellent spacing between her teeth with plenty of room to grow and hopefully, fewer cavities. Way to go Coco! Looks like all that brusing with the electric Ariel toothbrush has paid off!

This is the picture they took at the office AFTER the visit. True to form, our beautiful girl just doesn't like to cooperate with the camera. :-)

Happy 1st Birthday Sebastian

The lollipop cake!

I joke that Sebastian won't take a paci but he will take a Dum Dum!

THE BIRTHDAY BOY

Wow! Can it be that Sebastian is already 1? I think the fast forward button was pressed down for the entire last year! Since our "plan" is not to have any more children, I have tried my best to breathe in every moment of his "babiness." Literally...breathe it in. I smell him almost every time I hold him and promise myself I won't ever forget. But, I know better. Life goes on and time makes the small moments blurry so this is why I blog about everything!
Sebastian's first year was full of some trying moments and lots of worry but mostly it was filled with wonder and excitement watching him grow! He has such a fun personality and smiles so big it's contagious! His little nose turns up just like Mommy's!

Because his party wasn't until the 24th, we couldn't let his actual birthday day go by without celebrating. We started the day with a fashion show at the Chamber center! All of the models carried balloons in honor of the birthday boy and he totally worked the crowd. Afterwards, we had a picnic lunch at Faith and Sam Harri's house and headed down to surprise Daddy at work. We came unannounced to Fineberg armed with cake for everyone! It was such a fun day.


For his first official party, we invited family and close friends for hotdogs and cake at the Family Life Center. He got lots of fun toys and LOVES the Elmo Live! Grammy and Namps got him. His favorite thing of all was the cake! He took a nose dive into it...it was hilarious! I don't think he acutally ate that much of it. Mostly he enjoyed playing in it!

L to R:

Faith, Sam Harris, Jansen, Abe, Jillian, Sebastian, Jasper, Darby, Coco & AJ

Yummmm...cake!

Grammy & Namps

Uncle Todd, AJ & Aunt Kacey

@ Daddy's work

@ the fashion show showing that adorable smile and turned up nose!

Treat night!

DP and I have a wonderful Thursday night ritual. We look forward to this treat all week. Thanks to the newly invented DVR (this may seem like ancient technology when our kiddos read this one day), we record Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, give the kiddos a bath and put them to bed. Then, I sneak out and make a SONIC run! Woo hoo! Reese's Peanut Butter Cup blast is always Daddy's pick. I like to switch it up sometimes but I will always return to the old faithful and always tasty, Butterfinger Blast. Both of us splurge for extra candy...why not, right? It's a fun and silly thing to look forward to and it's our time to chill, eat a sweet treat and enjoy one another's company. It's always a wonderful reminder that it's the little things in life that make it happy. I wanted to write about this so we never forget our fun Thursday treat night!