Since Cohen has been born we have not traveled much. We plan to go visit Uncle Joey this weekend which will be extremely fun. We have however been fortunate to have had some close friends come and visit. Friends that I was able to go through my pregnancy with. My dear friends Jamie and Becky who had their little bundles of joy before Cohen came along, but joined me in the nine month stretch.

Jamie had a boy named Brecken, such a little ham. He is wonderful and we are so happy we were able to meet him. Brecken's daddy Braedon actually introduced Kyle and I back in high school. We will be life long friends with the Hills, and are so excited to watch the boys grow up together.



Brecken and Cohen hanging out on the comfy chair!



Becky had a girl named Makenna. She is BEAUTIFUL! We met Becky and Steve in Wisconsin when I was a nanny for their two year old Colton.We were able to see them one night last month when they came up for some errands. Colton is such a card and I love that little boy so much. Colton would call my dogs "arfs". I suppose that makes perfect sense when you ask them what their names are, they say, "ARF!"






Colton with Baby Cohen (He did such a good job saying Cohen's name)

I just realized after looking over my blog, that I have been neglecting to talk about my first two babies ... the arfs :). My neglect online is a sort of indication as to what has been going on at home and I feel just horrible that the dogs haven't been out much.

Its cold... its late... we're tired... tomorrow... those are just some of the lame excuses we have been making in not taking out our wonderful pets.

Jade and Gryff are troupers though. They have been doing so well (even without exercise). About once a week Kyle has been taking them out on LONG roller blade runs. They love this and run like wild beasts, well Gryffin sort of frolics, but you get the picture.

Gryffin and Cohen have become best buds, I cannot wait to see this relationship blossom. As of now Gryffin can always be found wherever Cohen is. If I put Cohen down for a nap then Gryffin the big lug is right next to the bassinet, he cannot fit his body underneath of it, but he sure tries and shoves his head right under there. When I get up to feed Cohen in the middle of the night, Gryffin joins us in Cohen's room he plops right down next to the rocking chair and waits out the diaper change too, then goes right back to his post halfway under the bassinet.

It is true I believe that all dogs have such incredible personalities, and I just don't understand how people cannot love the crap out of pooches.

With that said here's a little update on Ms. Jaden, the dog with SO MUCH PERSONALITY. She is a little weary of baby Cohen. I don't think we could have picked a better name for "Ms. Jealous Jaden", often she is "green with envy". She has not been acting out much, just steers clear of Cohen at all costs. When Cohen cries, its under the bed for Jaden, she moans a lot and spends her days upstairs while we are downstairs or vice-versa.

I think its so funny the difference in the two pups. I have yet to get a picture with Cohen and Jaden, she doesn't like it when I lay Cohen next to her, but Gryf just lays there so here is a picture I captured of the two little buddies hanging out last week.







I needed to post a picture with Jaden too. This is right after their LONG roller blade run/frolic :).

Ps. I didn't pose them. They are just very funny and often lay together like this.

I feel as though I am often reminded in my everyday life about how blessed I am. Since becoming a parent I find myself experiencing more and more of what I like to call "mini miracles". Such things as little prayers that I find myself praying throughout the day being answered immediately, or when every time things work out exactly how I want them to.

We couldn't have asked for things to work out anymore perfectly then they have turned out this year. Our biggest blessing being a healthy happy little baby boy. We have also found a great place to live, along with some wonderful new friends who happen to live right next door. Cohen and their daughter Evy were born only a day apart. I don't think they enjoy their play dates right now as much as their mommies do, but soon they will. It has been extremely nice having new parents right next door to bounce ideas off, ask questions, and just to enjoy their friendship



Play dates with Evy are so much fun!


Not biased am I but aren't they just the cutest.




Can't wait till they can really play together :)



We are so blessed!

Everyone told me, "enjoy every second with him, they grow so fast!" I AM enjoying EVERY second, but what people forget to tell you is that there isn't a slow motion button, or a pause button. Here I sit thinking about how I really don't get into science fiction, but a time machine really would be a colossal invention. Cohen is only 3 lbs. heavier then when he was first born, but already I am having to put away some outfits and try new ones on him. I decided I have to make sure to take pictures of him in all of my favorite outfits before he grows out of them completely.







This outfit is one of my most favorite ones. I know it doesn't seem like he is very close to growing out of it yet, but I know that in a week or two, that won't be the case.

Having a child is so bittersweet, on one hand you are thoroughly excited every single time they hit a new milestone in growth, weather it be lifting their head or just smiling and cooing. You cannot wait to hear their voice and what they sound like, what color their eyes will be, how much hair they will or will not have, what they will like, what their personalities will be like. These things keep you excited and looking forward to the next step, but then as you move past that current step you realize, they will never have a first again. He will never wear newborn size diapers again in his life. He will never have his first trip to the store, his first car ride, his first bath, his first whatever ever again! It makes you sad and you think, "I should have taken MORE pictures, I should have cherished it MORE". But you cannot dwell on the firsts, because even I as a 24 year old and even his Pepe in his 70's or anyone else in the world for that matter still have firsts. I just became a mom for the first time, I will never be a parent for the first time again ;).

Life moves quickly, and I think it took me becoming a parent to really realize how much each day counts. How much you need to cherish every moment and I think I finally understand why people say, "Live like you're dying." Because time slips so quickly from us and before we know it we will be sitting at our kitchen table having tea as new Great Grandparents and thinking to ourselves, how the heck did we get here so fast.

I cannot wait to start writing more and keeping track of each and every day that I get to spend with this wonderful gift God has given to Kyle and I. We are so thankful!

I burst at the seems with happiness just looking at him, what a wondrous miracle, that which is life. The perfect mixture of the two of us, meshed up into this glorious package.

We are still trying to figure out who he looks more like, with every day he looks different. What do you think?



Cohen



Daddy



Mommy


We will see who he starts to look more like as he ages, its hard to tell right now. He still has blue eyes right now and we are hoping they stay that way! We will see, but I told Cohen that I am going to count everyday that his eyes are blue... right now we are at 62 days and counting!

Fall is here!!! Last weekend we were able to take Cohen to the apple orchard. The one we went to was so much fun, it not only had apples, but also a pumpkin patch and a corn maze and hay ride. We had a blast. Cohen was all dressed in pumpkin attire. His Meme and Pepe bought him an adorable pumpkin sleeper that we took him in. It is newborn size so most likely he will not fit in it next week. He is growing very fast!!! But at least we got some pics of him in the outfit :). I also must say a special thank you to the Alli and Anne over in St. Peter. He was utterly adorable in his penguin hat. He had so many compliments it was just adorable. We are having a great time as new parents, staying very busy and learning the in's and out's of taking care of a newborn. We are hoping to get a new camera, one that is really good so that we can be sure to get the best pictures of Cohen to savor this sweet time when he is just a tiny love bug. He has started to smile at us in recognition this week which is so much fun. He sees us and just shakes his arms and formulates this toothless, gummy, smile that could melt your heart. I have yet to capture it on camera though. Stay tuned for that one. More pics to come!

Welcome Cohen Curtis! Cohen was born on September 5th at 11:42 am. He weighed 7lbs. 4oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He is doing very well! We are so blessed! Here are some pictures from the hospital.

We are officially 9 days away from our due date. We are trying to stay patient, but we just cannot help being so excited and anxious to meet our little one. We cannot believe that in just a week and a half we will have another part of the pack :). Jade and Gryffin are extremely excited too. They love sitting with me in the baby's room, just waiting for him to come. We have finished setting up the nursery. He is all set, clothes washed, diaper bag packed, car seat installed, all we need now is him.While we wait for the baby to arrive, the dogs and I teach the little guy about Bob Dylan.



Gryff is especially restless. He cannot wait to play with his little brother!

Well its officially been too long since we updated everyone. We moved back to the Twin Cities, so we have been very busy finding a place to live, and all the things that come with a move... new vet, new doctor, new you name it! We are getting really close to the babies due date and are getting very excited to meet him.

We were able to go on a small vacation in July to celebrate 1 year of married life! We went up to Lutsen with the dogs, and sadly were unable to hike this year, but... we did get to do a lot of other fun things like swim with the dogs and go to an art festival. Some pics from our trip: