The Gifford Gang-Faith, Family and Fertility

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cohen is 7 Months Old--Ahhhhh!

Cohen is 7 months old.....before I know it we are going to be celebrating his 1st birthday! I think with each child you have...you realize more how quickly time passes. I look at Gavin and Nolen and I know I was there when they were babies but I have a hard time remembering the little details. I want to remember everything....what he smells like, how soft his skin is, how crazy blue his eyes are, the sound of that sweet little voice.....I could go on and on.

The "mohawk" is back! His hair is coming in sooo fast and it is so blonde.

Cohen is on the move! He is doing the "wounded soldier" crawl. It is so cute...he pulls with his hands clasped together and pushes with his little toes.

He claps and yells "Aaaayyyyyyy" which is adorable. Whenever I clap for him, I always say "yay" and he is totally copying me....clearly a genius! He waves.....at himself. He is completely mesmorized by Gavin and Nolen. Cohen is still the happiest baby on earth.

Cohen is wearing a size 4 diapers and a combination of 6-12 and 12-18 clothes. He is hovering around the 20lb mark. He has big, juicy legs and about 3 chins. He has 2 teeth but by the looks of his gums...I would be willing to bet there will be a few more in the next month.

He is a "biter"......which is not fun. I try to scold him when he does it but it is really hard because he looks at me and smiles....and then I melt.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Beach and an Anniversary

We made another quick trip Florida for Great Strides for Ayla's Army. Of course we went to the beach a few times. We also celebrated a milestone anniversary--10 YEARS!

Since Cohen was 6 months old this trip, he was able to have sunscreen on.....and actually get out from under the umbrella. I think he likes the beach!

Ayla, Nolen and Gavin had fun looking for "sea creatures".

My boys LOVE the beach. They don't even want to eat when they are there. They are just too busy playing.

Oh how I LOVE those fat legs!

Per the recommendation of Lori (aka expert on all things Destin) we went to Bistro Bijoux for dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

We took Cohen with us and had a great dinner outside. He was an angel baby as usual.

Eric and I have been married for 10 years! We got married when we were practically babies--I was 21 and he was 20. God has strengthened our marriage through the years. I have seen so many times where fertility struggles tear people apart and we have been so blessed....all of our struggles have only brought us closer together. Life has not been perfect but I am so thankful for my husband. I know that we can get through anything together.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Mother's Day

I had the best Mother's Day. I got the sweetest card from my "babies daddy" and Gavin and Nolen made me stuff--which is pretty much the most treasured gifts a Mother could get. They are often times humorous but always so sweet. I felt really loved and special.

Nolen made me this....it says "I love my mommy because.....she reads to me, she takes me to toys r us, she gives me hugs and she plays with me."

Nolen also made me this.....a few of his facts are wrong (he blames the wrong eye color on Daddy-HA!) but I LOVE it. His drawing of us cracks me up....don't you love my gi-normous hands?

Gavin painted me this rock. He informed me that the 3 blue things are birds, and the orange thing hanging from the tree is a bird feeder.

This book is hilarious......I will tell you what it says since some of his spelling is wrong.

My mom is just like a superhero because she can.....

clean the whole living room all in one day! (HAHA!)

Even when my mom is exhausted she still.....
does nothing! (This is my favorite....at least he knows I am able to relax)

My mom is so smart that she knows....

sewing.

My mom is also as beautiful as....a butterfly and as sweet as...flower.

I love my mom so much because.....she keeps me safe.

There were soooo many years where I did not like Mother's Day. I wanted so badly to be celebrating it as a Mommy and I felt especially sad on this particular day. After several years of fertility treatments, surgeries and disappointments.....we now have 3 amazing little boys. I know that our boys are miracles from God. People who don't know anything about fertility don't realize how much of a miracle conceiving a baby is. Everything has to line up just perfectly and while it happens all the time for a lot of people.....it is so incredibly difficult for others.

This day is so special to me....but at the same time I can go back to those days and remember exactly how I felt and my heart breaks for the people who are feeling the way I did. I don't ever want to forget what that was like. So, while I had a great day this Mother's Day with my full, very loud home, I was also praying for the childless....because I know what that is like too.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The shirt says it all!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Easter

We had a great Easter! Our Church did something different this Easter and Eric was a part of it. I will hopefully have the video of it to put on here in the future. I really believe it touched a lot of lives and I was sooo proud of my husband.

We went "'casual" this year. I made Gavin and Nolen's shirts and Cohen's outfit. I was pretty happy about how they turned out.

My three boys....they are getting so big!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Cohen is 6 months old!

Half.A.Year.Old. Have I mentioned that time is flying? I want it to slow down....but it just won't.

I have a baby and I have baby fever. I want another one. I would probably feel differently if he cried all the time or didn't sleep at night....but he is the sweetest, best little baby.

As you can see, Cohen has some chunky legs! I have actually bought size 4 diapers, even though they don't start until 22lbs. because the size 3 are leaving lines around his legs. Aunt Sonda and I decided that he carries most of his weight in his upper legs, which is why he needs a bigger diaper. HA!

As you can see he has discovered his feet and figured out how to get those fat legs up towards his mouth!

At his 6 month checkup Cohen weighed 19lbs 8.5oz (80th percentile), he was 27.1 inches long (75th percentile). Cohen continues to carry on the tradition of big heads in our family with his head measuring 46.5 cm (>97th percentile)--HA!

Cohen still has 2 teeth....but I am thinking he will be getting a few more very soon. He is starting to sit up on his own....with a little support. Cohen is rolling all over the place, and can pretty much get where he wants to go. He is still fascinated by his brothers and loves for them to play with him. He is an AMAZING sleeper--as I type this, everyone else in the house is up and he is still sleeping (it is 9:15 am).

Cohen is a babbler. His days of going to Church or a movie and sitting quietly (or sleeping) the entire time have come to an end.

He continues to be a complete joy and such a great addition to our family. We cannot imagine our lives without him and are just so thankful for him. I wanted a girl so badly but I cannot imagine Cohen being anyone but him. I wouldn't trade him for anything...not even a girl (but I do still want a girl)!