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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Cohen at 3 Months

He's getting BIG, as evidenced by his cheeks.

We started him on rice cereal and he loves it. When I take the spoon out of his mouth he lunges for more; I can't feed him fast enough.

He can roll from his tummy to his back

He is a happy boy, especially in the morning when he wakes up. It's my favorite time; he just smiles and talks

at Graduation

He loves this play place from Kevin, Sarah, & Simon. He grabs the butterflies, hits the cat to play the music and kicks at the foot board.

Cohen is fascinated by ceiling fans. He doesn't want to take his off of them when they are on but his eyes dry out so he can't look up as long as he would like. It's funny to watch him fight it.


I know it's blurry but I love the look on his face in this picture


Yes, we still are totally in love with him

Monday, May 25, 2009

Beam Me Up Scotty

Meet my new boyfriendHis name is Chris. We spent 126 enjoyable minutes together today.
I am not a trek-y. I've never attended a convention, bought a USS Enterprise lego set, or even watched an episode of Star Trek but rotten tomatoes and everyone else has been raving about this movie. So John and I went on an afternoon date to the theater to see for ourselves and Oh-My-Gosh it was wonderful!
All I have to say is
Live long and prosper my friends, live long and prosper

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

J.D., J.D.

John graduated this weekend from law school. Now all he has to do is the pass the bar and he'll be a lawyer!



This was Cohen's first time meeting Uncle Bro, Aunt Sylvia, and cousins Jason & Carol, and Brian & Becky. We had a good time visiting with them.
We started the festivities on Saturday night. John's parents treated this good looking group to a tasty dinner at Fritto Misto. I highly recommend this place. I'm not usually a fan of Italian restaurants because frankly I can make a lasagna, fettucini, and spaghetti as good as they can but this place has a funky flavorful spin when it comes to pasta and they are reasonably priced.
Yes that is a barf mark on my shirt, the joys of being a mom.





the proof...

















The graduate






His cheering section






This is what John got me for graduation


It reads, "My husband graduated from law school and all I got was a baby (and this shirt)" then on the bottom is says love John in ASL.


And this is what I got John...

you may remember this post from last year. Knowing John's obsession with being called a Dr. I couldn't help but get him a lab coat with his title embroidered on it. I having been waiting all year to give this to him.



I know these pictures are blurry but he looks so happy in his coat.


Cohen does not like it when the attention is not on him, (he must be his mothers child)

I am so proud of John. Good work sweetie!


Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Ol' Ball Game

Last Friday we went to the Angles game
John begrudgingly came, more for the company than the activity. He thinks that baseball is the most boring game to watch/attend. I, however, love it! Thank you John for taking away precious study time to hang out with us (and our friends)

(the above mentioned friends)



Cohen was looking good in his baseball garb and impressing the ladies




Especially this sweet little thang...


(This was Cohen and Sparkle's first date (Amy and I chaperoned))




The happy family (the visor was short lived)

We ended the night with a Win and the Big Bang Fireworkds show. Can't wait for more games this summer!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Home Town Fair

A few weeks ago we went to the 'Home Town Fair'. We went to support my cousins who were involved in the festivities. It was awesome we spent our time...


Supporting the Spanish club.
For only $1 we were able to throw sponges at Megaroni and Cheese*. Best $1 ever spent


Cohen wanted in on the action


Listening the Cougar Chorus and Quinnceanera* sing

AK 47* accompanied the choir and Brookelus Brookelby* turned pages

and then I decided to support the Key club by...


getting Casper's face painted!


I know, right?

*nick names were used well, because they are awesome.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

2 Months

Cohen at the Marriott
Thanks Melanie for the jammies, we love them


Cohen at 2 Months

  • He is a happy smiley boy
  • He does not like to be held over the shoulder or facing your chest; he needs be facing out so he can be a part of all the action. Along those same lines he does not like to be in his car seat on the stroller. He wants to be sitting up and looking around.
  • He loves to stand
  • He loves showers
  • He is teething, yes you read that correctly, teething.
  • He enjoys a good stretch. Whenever he wakes up or when we take him out of his car seat his arms shoot up and he arches his back for a good 30+ seconds
  • He loves to sit in his bumbo
  • He has found his voice and is constantly cooing
  • He loves having his diaper changed. What is it with males and being naked?

Chillin


Hangin out with dad

2 month stats:

Head - 90th Percentile

Length - 24 inches (90th Percentile)

Weight - 12 lbs 10 oz (75th Percentile)


Yes, his head is in the 90th percentile, but that's okay because it is directly proportional to his body. It would be freaky if his head was in the 90th and length 75th, or vice versa; so take your own measurements before you even think about commenting on the size of his head.


In his rad beenie custom made by our friend Danielle. Check out her headwear at http://www.pinkieblondieblue.blogspot.com/

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Hoedown Throwdown

I never thought I'd say this, but, thank you Mylie Cyrus.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Practically Perferct In Every Way

My birthday was last Saturday. The big two seven. I'm now officially in my late 20's...weird.
The Gift
John gave me the soundtrack to this play
so I could know all the new songs when I go to see it with him in New York!
This summer I'm to Philadelphia for a work conference so we're going to stay a few extra days and head up the coast to the big apple. I'm so excited! Good work John.
The Festivities

We spent the day at the flower fields in Carlsbad. It was beautiful! The view from the top...you can see the ocean in the distance.





A close up of the flowers. I'm always drawn to these colors.




Yours truly




Acres & acres of flowers + these boys = a happy LeeElle


Later that night John's face and my forehead went to the cheesecake factory for a tasty birthday meal and dessert. Two words: Godiva Cheesecake
Thanks Kerilynn & Cory (and Cindy & Mark) for babysitting.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Utah-Spring Break 09

We had a short but super sweet time in Utah. Sadly I did not take many pictures but here are the highlights



On the way there

Cohen was a champ on the plane (except for puking all over me and his outfit shortly before landing, luckily we had a spare outfit in the diaper bag)

We visited with...

old roommates



Friends











and Family
(many many family members not pictured)




Cohen had lots of loving from his cousins

We also went snowboarding.

I have been snowboarding for a few years and have never committed to being goofy or regular foot. I am able to hold my own for the most part doing what I refer to as the "falling leaf" (basically switching feet all the way down). I know how to turn, I've just always been scared to do it. John decided it was high time I stuck with one so I could keep up with the big boys and I happy to report that I did it! I'm regular.



By the end of the week we were all exhausted


Thank you g-ma & g-pa for letting us (and everyone else) stay with you. Thank you Mom for babysitting Cohen so we could have fun on the slopes and go out with friends.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

This Is the Start of Something Good- Cohen's Birth Story (Part 1)

I'm listening to one of my favorite Gavin DeGraw songs, Follow Through, and the first line seemed very fitting to be the title of this post.

Baby Casper was due to arrive on February 10th 2009. I had begun to dialate two weeks prior to my due date making me and my doctor hopeful he would be here by the 10th, at each of my appointments my doctor would say I'll probably be seeing you soon. Casper however had different plans. I had gone into pre-term labor three times in the nine months prior each time requiring a visit to the hospital and now it was GO time but Casper had now decided he wanted to stay inside-kids! I went in to see my doctor, the amazing Pamela Boyer, on the 13th she told me she would only let me go 10 days over my due date. All I could think was, "seriously!?"

me and my belly looking at the camera on Christmas day. 6 weeks to go

I had a NTS (non stress test) scheduled on Monday the 16th and Wednesday the 18th to measure my fluid and make sure the baby was ok. John had Monday off due to presidents day so we both made the trek up to UCLA that morning. I was hooked up to the monitors, the residents came in and did the ultra sound and took measurements, then told me they were going to call Dr. Boyer and let her know the results. About 10 minutes later they came back and said that they were really busy so to come back that night. I was really confused, I asked what they meant by "come back tonight"? To which they responded, "to be induced". Apparently my fluid was low and Dr. Boyer knew I was ready to have the baby so she decided to get the ball rolling; besides, I was one week past my due date. Sweet, he was coming and coming soon!

John and I left excited and shocked. Having your baby's birth scheduled (sort of) is a strange thing and not at all how I pictured labor. John had mentioned how it was all supposed to happen...It would be in the middle of the night and he would be sleeping. I would awake from contractions and after a while I would clench his leg and in a serious tone say, "John, I think it's time." He would then spring out of bed run around the house like a maniac throwing random things into a bag, close it (with clothes hanging out of it), quickly get dressed, run out to the car and drive away only to realise he had left me at home. That clearly was not how it was going to play out, sorry bud.

As we drove home I just kept thinking how surreal it all was. All my worries and insecurities were coming back and in a few hours I was going to be a mom. After running some errands and napping we went down to the beach to eat our pita's and spend our last remaining hours as two together. It was nice to have that time with just John:)



(the pictures with us in them were not very attractive so I opted for scenery to remember this night)




We got home, I cried and John gave me a blessing. Everything was going to work out. It is so strange how you can be so overwhelmed with so many different emotions. I was super excited to become three but sad that we would no longer be two.

We got to the hospital at 8 pm. They were still super busy, it was raining outside and you know what they say, rain brings babies, and man was that true. I was in a recovery room for 4 hours waiting to start this blessed event. Kerilynn, Cory, and Janae came up to keep us company. (**I wonder why they did not just have me come in the next morning instead of having to stay up all night with out sleep?)


this is me shortly after arriving to the hospital. We were put in a recovery room while waiting for a delivery room to come available.

**Because of my loquacious nature this is becoming ridiculously long. I have decided to break it up. Stay tuned for the next installment (tomorrow I promise)**

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

hmmm

Why do people always want to do such violent things to babies? For example... squeeze them, eat them, or gobble them up? Some might call that cannibalism which tends to be looked down upon in most cultures. I'm just saying.

Monday, March 30, 2009

A Good Day

Yesterday, March 29th, John expressed our thanks that Cohen is in our family

Some snippets from his blessing...

He was blessed with the ability, knowledge, and desire to follow the teachings that will be taught to him
He was blessed with compassion, kindness, and love for those around him

He was blessed with patience
He was blessed with a desire to serve a mission and when the time is right to enter the House of the Lord (the temple) and be married to the companion of his choice

We are very grateful Cohen is here and a part of our family!

Lots of people love him and came to see him

Those in the blessing circle (minus Gavin who was in Sunday School)


Our family


Cohen with Grandma & Grandpa Jex


Grandma & Grandpa Tullis with Cohen


Great Grandma Jex

Cohen finally met Great Grandma (or Grandma Great as she prefers to be called) & Great Grandpa Matern
It was a good day