Fall.Is.Upon.Us

Fall is finally here. I'm pretty much a summer kind of person. I.HATE.COLD.WEATHER. Hate it probably isn't even a strong enough phrase to describe it. However, the weather this summer was just unbearable most of the time, especially since I was pregnant. 110 degree weather is not my cup of tea. It completely ruins the summertime. I'm good with the weather being in the 80s. So with that said, I'm actually really looking forward to the fall.

I love fall, everything about it. I love the changing of the trees. I love the crisp in the air. (just enough for a light-weight long sleeve shirt) I love the smells of fall. I love going to pumpkin patches and getting a pumpkin. I do love this time for football. Curled up on the couch with my family while we are all curled up in a blanket. I love boots. (I need some new ones.) I love fall colors....oranges, deep yellows, browns. And in the late fall, the smell of smoke from someones house burning wood in the stove (or fireplace). Last, CARMEL.APPLES.ARE.IN.STORES. Those are just some of my favorite things about fall.

October is actually a pretty fun month. Two things: State fair and pumpkin patches. I can't wait to go to the pumpkin patch and take pictures of my lil' pumpkins. We also get to pick a pumpkin at the patch and for some reason the kid in me comes out. (It's one of my favorite things.) This week I'm going to get Malachi and Lawson a pumpkin the can decorate. We will probably go to the state fair next weekend. As always, we will be hitting the dollar hotdog stand. :) Of course we will let Malachi ride a few rides. It's so expensive but I remember when I was little and my parents taking us to the fair and riding rides. It was such a fun memory that I still have and I want to make those memories with my kiddos.

What to be for Halloween??? I.have.no.idea. They have a Veggie Tales costume at the Family Christian bookstore for Malachi so he may be Bob or Larry. Lawson..probably won't spend money on something he can't wear again unless it's like $5 or less. lol He'll probably just be in a pumpkin sleeper and may have a pumpkin hat. Who knows.

On another note, our good friend scored us tickets to last night playoff game...Rays vs. Rangers. It was a lot of fun and the weather was perfect!

It's Hard to Believe...

It's hard to believe that it's been a month since I gave birth to our second addition. I don't know why it's so hard to believe, it all went just as fast with Malachi. I mean, he's about to turn 3. What?!?! Lawson is growing and growing and growing. He's definitely gaining weight just fine. He's out of all his newborn clothes. And, like his brother and mother, pants that fit in the waist, are to short in length. Boo! He's still a pretty good sleeper, at night that is. Which is good because we can sleep at night as close to normal as you can with a one month old. He normally goes to bed anywhere from 8:30-9:30 and sleeps until 2am. Then he is up again at 5. Nick has been doing the first feeding and I do the second. It is going much smoother the second time around. We're not about to completely die this time. ;) Lawson just recently started smiling at me when I talk to him. He follows us in the room if we are moving. He's very attentive and alert.

We watched the new show, "Up All Night," and well, that's pretty much what it's like with a first newborn. Why are they stronger than we are? lol (I hope the rest of the episodes are just as funny.)

Malachi is doing great at daycare. He loves his friends. (even though he got bit today) >( He's getting so big and really using his sentences these days. I can't believe he's about to be 3!!! I wanted to do a Cars themed birthday party since he really likes Lightning McQueen. But I decided to give him the choice because he also reallllly likes Veggie Tales. So I have asked him multiple times, mostly trying to persuade him, and it's the same answer every time. Malachi, do you want your birthday party to be Cars and Lightning McQueen or Veggie Tales? Veggie Tales!! He's says excitedly. It's hard to find Veggie Tales decor. There.Is.None. Plates, Napkins, and cups, that's all there is. Boo. I need decor. I guess I'm just gonna have to be thankful that those even exist.

Here are the boys.

One Month.

Just being his silly wonderful self.

SN: It's almost pumpkin patch time!!!!

2 Weeks Old....

Things are going well on the home front with a two year old and two week old. Lawson had his 2 week check-up and everything looked great. So glad his cord and plastibell both finally fell off. Dr. said he was gaining weight good. He weighed 8.4. He was 8.7 at birth. As I've said a million times before I can't wait to see how different and alike the two boys are. Malachi may be our tall stout boy and Lawson may be our tall slim boy. Who knows...just as long as they are healthy.

Malachi will be going to daycare for 2 or 3 days a week for a little bit. (mostly cause we still have to pay for him) But also because A. It's giving me a little time to adjust and get down a routine and B. I still want him to be able to interact with the other kids. He is such a great big brother. Tries to share his toys with Lawson. (let's hope that continues) Checks on him, tells him it's gonna be ok, etc. I love watching him interact with his little brother.

Lawson is still a great sleeper. He is so hard to wake up and feed. I hate waking him up but I know right now that it's best not to let him sleep all ni

ght. Oh how I can't wait for that day.

Nick is doing well at his new job as the 7th and 8th grade computer teacher. Once he gets his own lab (end of October) he will be much happier. But for now, he's happy with what he has and the opportunity that he has been given. I'm so thankfu

l for all that God has blessed us with.

We've all seen this picture a million times but it melts my heart and fills it with joy.

A week ago today.......

One week ago today our lives changed again. Nicholas Lawson Cowan was born on August 18 at 12:49pm. He weighed 8lbs 7oz and was 21in long. He was and is absolutely perfect. His delivery was much like Malachi's. FAST! Dr. broke my water at 12:08pm, I started pushing at 12:40pm and Lawson arrived at 12:49. That is the part that is the a lot like Malachi's delivery. What wasn't like Malachi's......THE PAIN! Malachi-felt nothing. Absolutely Nothing. With Lawson, epidural working great. All the sudden, not working so hot so the doc came in and gave me a bigger dose. Ahhhh...relief. Wait, 15 minutes later, pain like nobody's business. Dr. Morehead had told me if I felt the urge to push or felt like I needed to poop then it would be time to push. Well I didn't have this feeling with Malachi so I didn't know what to expect. Back up a bit...the nurse started turning me from side to side (she was not gentle like the other nurses) and I was getting pretty upset. I was in pain and she was annoying me. Finally, my sweet husband just simply said, she doesn't want to be touched right now. The nurse proceeds to say, I need to turn her because the baby's heart rate has dropped. What?? Why didn't you just tell us that?? I would have been much more receptive to her touching me. All of the sudden, I felt like I was going to poop (tmi I know) my insides out. I kept asking Nick if I had pooped and he kept reassuring me I hadn't. This must be the feeling the dr. was talking about. The nurses all came in to prep, the dr. came, I pushed 4 times and here was our sweet sweet blessing. And that's the story of Lawson coming in to the world.

He's a wonderful baby. And his big brother has done exceptionally well, much better than I think we thought he would. Malachi loves kissing on Lawson. He does it at least 20 times a day. He likes to hold him but not for long. He's a good helper too. From the time Lawson was born we could already tell a personality difference between him and Malachi. Malachi at birth-laid there and let the nurses do whatever, hardly cried, was very laid back. Lawson at birth-fought the nurses the whole time, cried and cried, and wanted what he wanted when he wanted it. It's fun to see how they are different and how they are a like. It's going to be interesting to see how these patterns continue. Lawson is a great sleeper. Awesome sleeper to be exact. Too good of a sleeper right now. We have been having to feed him every two hours because when I took him to the dr. on Tuesday he only weighed 7lbs 11oz. So prayerfully, he will have gained weight so we can get back on a 4 hour (at least) eating schedule. It's hard feeding him every 2 hours because he sleeps so well.

Just like with Malachi, Nick is an awesome dad. He is so patient and loving and most of all, he's the best supporter. He just recently started a new teaching job so he wasn't able to stay home with me the first week this time. Even though my mom and dad were here, it still wasn't the same without him. I need him. I want him around. It just seems I am more comfortable and can get through things with him. Nick if your reading this, I love you more than words can say and I am so thankful that you are in our lives.

As I know to well with Malachi, Lawson is gonna grow up too fast. It's hard to believe he's already 1 week old. I'm excited to see the things my boys do, watch them grow, and see them become the men of God that I know he wants them to be. I'm ready for the brotherly fights, the I've got your back bro, and the bond that will be between them and their dad. And well, we all know boys love their mommas. ;)

No Matter What The Day May Bring To You........

SN: Please excuse the way my blog is viewing, I can't fix it!!! Maybe time for a new one.
For the past couple of months, Malachi has had a new favorite song.

No matter what the day may bring to you, Keep praising God.

Whether up or down, whether good or bad, Keep your praise always.

Fred Hammond

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just take these words and apply them?? I will be the first to admit that this is not what happens when trials come my way, but it is a place that I would like to get too. Too many times we (I) get caught up in the smallest things of the day that don't amount to anything and we (I) stay fixated on that one circumstance and it will ruin our (my) entire day.

I love to hear Malachi sing this song. I love to hear him sing any song. He's a good reminder that I need to just keep praisin' God. We were in Cedar Hill the other day and something happened. I can't even recall why I was upset or anything. What I do remember? In the midst of my complaining, out of the blue, Malachi shouts out....No matter what the day may bring to you, Keep praising God. It's amazing how God can/will use anybody no matter their age to send you a message.

It's like yesterday in church, I did not feel like standing up during worship. I was tired, I'm ready to have this baby, I was hurting.......see a pattern of complaining? Then I looked over at Malachi (he likes to be in big church for worship) and he is just singing his little heart out. He didn't know any of the songs but he was still singing and God knew what he was singing. He would raise a hand here and there and clap and sing. I was once again reminded, it's not about me, it's about Jesus. The tender heart of a child praisin' the Lord does something to an ungrateful heart. He took my heart and flipped it. Like everything else, he was watching me. He put his little arm around my neck and patted me and gave me that little smile. It was like God was using him to ease my mind, take away my pain, and saying to me, Suck it Up! You can't praise me for 20 minutes but I gave up my life for you. Ok God. I hear ya. Loud and clear.

Although I know it's hard, especially when the news isn't what we were expecting, but I'm challenging myself and you to just keep praisin' God. It may take us a lifetime to fully grasp the concept, but all He's asking is for is for us to try our best. We will still make mistakes, we will still get discouraged, we will lose sight at times, but Praise the Lord, His grace and Mercy is new every morning.

No matter what the circumstance

I know my life is in his hands

The storms may come but not for long

My praise will keep me moving on.

Now if I'm really honest I really gotta say

That I get somewhat discouraged when trials come my way.

BUT THIS WILL BE MY CHOICE.

No matter...............

Fred Hammond

A Tribute to Summer.....

I thought since we spent Summer's birthday weekend with her, she deserved a blog of her own. Saturday was Summer's 3rd birthday party. I'm pretty sure she had a blast with all her friends. Her theme this year was Tinkerbell. (purple and green are so pretty together!) Like always, her momma made her cake and did a great job. We grilled hot dogs, the kids swam, presents were opened, it was a great time.

Summer is such a funny kid and I do mean funny. Her sneaky little ways are just too much b/c you think.....she's only 3, how did she come up with that??? It's probably much more funny to me than her mommy and daddy. Example: Hiding food in her mouth to make mommy and daddy think she ate it (even though they actually know she didn't) and then going somewhere, somewhere that she thinks they can't see her, and then hiding her food. Classic. She has a sense of humor like no other. She'll make you smile and make you laugh. She's a mover and shaker. She's beautiful and fun loving.

At every birthday party, as I look around the room, I really begin to see how our kids our growing up. You look back at the last party and think, wow, look how tall he/she is now. Look how much he/she is talking now. As tough as it is to see them growing in to these little people, it's also an exciting thing. To think, these are our babies growing up right before our eyes, knowing all the while that no matter how old they get, they will always be our little ones.

Summer Kate, the Cowans love you and we thank you for letting us spend your birthday with you. We had so much fun at Chuckie Cheese. I'm thankful for your mom and dad as well. They love you to the moon and back and always will. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Isn't she beautiful?!?!

Our First College Reunion....A Trip to Remember

Last weekend, 16 adults and 7 kiddos (under the age of 3) headed to Turner Falls in Oklahoma for a good ole reunion. This was such an exciting weekend for us all. 1. We were taking a mini vacation before school starts back and well a mini vacay at anytime is great. 2. We were seeing some friends that we had seen in almost 3 years.

The great thing about this group of people is even though we don't see each other every day, every week, every month or even every year, we are still friends. Friends as if we did see each other every day. As we all said, that is a true friendship. Seeing someone you haven't seen in months or years and it's as if you just picked up right were you left off. To me, these are the best kind of friendships because I know our friendship is valued.

Another fun and interesting thing was having all of our kiddos under one roof. We rented a cabin that held all of us. 7 kids under 3 years of age can be challenging but it was soooo much fun. To go from friends, to husband and wives, to having kids, it really makes you look back and see the places you've been and where you've been brought too. These kids had so much fun running around the cabin, playing and swimming.

It was truly one of the greatest weekends. Even though we were missing some people, I hope they can make next year's trip. That's right.....next years trip is in the works. More people and more kiddos. It should be another trip to remember.