Sister & Brother

In these pictures Meadow and Logan are exactly the same size. They are both 11 lbs. and 23" long, only Meadow is 3 months old and Logan is 2! They're so cute!

Meadow at City Park

We had a picnic, and Meadow enjoyed running around on the grass. I had to keep her from going in the water- maybe in a year or 2 I can take her wading there where I used to swim. She also sat on the rock that Katie & I liked playing on.

Two cute kids in their sleep sacks. Meadow has her Bible on her lap ready to read it to Logan like a good big sister.

We like to know who is reading our blog so here's a random question that you can comment on, for those of you who don't know what to say or are sick of always saying "cute pics": If you won an all expense paid trip with nice accommodations to one of the following destinations, which one would you choose? (ONLY one) or none of them.
1. Spain
2. Antarctica (on a ship)
3. Tahiti
4.Seychelles
5.Japan

Hey everybody, I'm 2 months old today!

Logan's Dedication

Last Sunday at church we dedicated Logan to God. It's to show that we will raise him to know about God and to live a life that honors him. Of course Logan will have to make the choice to follow Jesus when he's old enough, but we will do our part as parents to be sure that he does! After Pastor Kevin prayed for Logan, Matthew thanked everyone for their support and all the gifts they've given.

She wore an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, blue flamingo, cute bikini..

...for the first time today !
Here's our bathing beauty at the beach on a VERY HOT day! She went straight into the water and said, "SIT", and sat down and splashed with glee! The cold didn't bother her one bit, until she waded out to her waist, then she cried a little. We had a picnic, where she loved dipping chips in guacamole mixed with sand. Then she built a sand castle. Logan slept most of the time, but when he woke up, he took his first step in the ocean! (he didn't like it.)

AAWWW...

Awww...
Aww...

Logan's first date!

Emilee Caskey came to visit the other day. I guess the first date didn't go so well! (she is 2 weeks older than him, although their due dates were 1 day apart.)

Brag Blog

Finally! Both kids are sleeping so I get some free time! They are very cute. Logan smiles and coos now! Matthew gave him a little drop of cream and he smiled really big! Meadow loves to count. She says 6 7 8 9 10! She hasn't quite mastered the first numbers yet. She's also learning them in Spanish! We have a talking numbers puzzle that says it in English and Spanish. She points to the 10 and says diez! She knows blue, green, yellow, and pink too, and says a-b-c-d! Oh, also she knows some shapes. She has quite girlie tastes, we've discovered. When we were in Bellevue Square mall last weekend we took her into the build-a-bear store thinking she would like it (she loves bears!). She was only interested for a minute, then ran out of the store across the hall to a jewelry store shouting DIIIAMONDS! DIIIMONDS! (I don't know where she learned that one) She did this several times as we kept trying to re-interest her in the bears. The next store she wandered into as we were leaving was a make-up store. Then she went into a store where girls can do their nails or have beads put in their hair and stuff. We told her she'd have to wait because she doesn't have enough hair yet!

Where's The cheese Gromet?..... On Idol !!!

Well this picture just about sums it up for me. Cheese cheese cheese cheese. Meat Loaf, Sandecki and David Hasselhoff crying. What a load of rubbish! I think it's safe to say that if Carrie Underwood and Prince ( and I don't like Prince) had not been there than the whole show would have been a flop. The parody of Brokeback Mountain and the crazy guy falling of the stage was somewhat funny. Other than that the rest left me puking. I didn't even like the group songs because of Kevin what's up pussy cat Covais. Anyway enough ranting I am beginning to sound like Caren my American Idol. See I can be cheesy too.

Meadow the builder

More progress is being made on our deck! As you can see, Meadow is doing a great job running the digger clearing the land! Logan is the foreman on the project, so he just gives directions.

Meadow finally likes her brother!

Home Sweet Home!

We're finally home! Logan is free! No more tubes and IVs! When we got home we had a big happy welcome from big sister Meadow and big brother Bingo. Bingo gave Logan a big lick in the face, and Meadow enjoyed rocking him in his car seat. Then they both took naps. Since then meadow has been a bit fussy. I think it will take a while to adjust. I enjoyed the hospital stay, though it was hard to be away from Meadow. It was a nice week of rest and recovery for me, and I especially enjoyed the room service meals delivered to me every day. The food is very good and there's a pretty good variety to choose from. We are very grateful for the grandparents who took care of Meadow this week. She had fun. When she came to the hospital she always wanted to go see the seal and octopus ("offasus" in Meadow language) and butterflies on the walls, and in the gift shop.
Now that we've been home awhile, I can see it's going to be a lot of work! Meadow is getting into all the "no-no's" and gets upset when Logan cries. Bingo gets concerned too. But she also likes rocking him in his cradle when he cries too. She's a good big sister!

Happy Birthday Little Logan!!

Here he is! Logan Matthew was born April 20th at 5:24pm weighing 7# 10 oz!!!!!!! & 19 1/2 ". We were shocked at how big he was! His birth went very well, but that night he started having respitory distress, and had to be put on oxygen and hooked up to an IV. He inhaled some fluids when he was being born, and developed an infection in his lungs. He's a brave little guy, getting so many pokes and x rays, he didn't even really cry when they re-inserted his IV! He quickly improved and was able to be off the oxygen, and now just has to stay in the hospital for a week (till Friday) to finish his antibiotics. He eats quite ravenously, and has already gained back his birthweight! He seems to be another "spittelupagus" like big sister Meadow. Everyone's clothes and furniture beware! You are welcome to visit us in room 201, and sign the baby book on the hospital baby album web site.

Easter Sunday & Sprog update

Here's some pictures of Meadow in her pretty Easter dress putting a flower in the cross at church. She loves flowers. Hers were pretty well demolished after church, but she loved running around with them saying, "flowers, flowers..." Then we went to my parents house for lunch. I had high hopes for Sproggy to be born that day because Matthew was also born on Easter, but although I was having light contractions, Sprog didn't want to come out! Meadow somewhat understands that a baby is coming. She points to my tummy a lot and says "baby", and even lifts up my shirt to try to see it. Last night she kept rubbing her tummy saying "baby" and kissing mine! It was very cute.

Sprog Update

Tomarrow is my due date, if Sprog still doesn't come, the plan is to induce on Thursday, not with drugs, but with a gel that should start my body's natural process. That's how I understand it anyway. There's no medical reason to induce, it's just an option. Sprog is strong and healthy, so we don't see why not- I just wonder if I'm rushing things- maybe Sproggy just isn't ready to leave the comforts of mommy yet. The whole process still could take a whole day, so it's not like forcing him/her out...What do you think about it? Any words of wisdom?

At least SOMEBODY likes the snow...

Hey, all you complainers of snow! Isn't it pretty? Meadow was very happy to see snow again. Today she got to walk in it and I showed her how to throw a snow ball. Then she brought one inside and when it melted she cried and kept sadly saying "snow ball.." Poor Meadow. It's one of those hard lessons in the life of a 1 year old!

Yet one more name poll...

Well, Matthew came up with another possible girl name.. here's what we've narrowed it down to:

Heather Raine Cooke

Heather Faith Cooke

Ashlynn or Ashlyn Faith Cooke

Ashlen or Ashlenn Faith Cooke

Which name/spelling do you like best? Any other suggestions? Sorry if you're sick of baby name questions. I just have "baby on the brain" syndrome. By the way, I guess not very many people want to come visit us on our deck! We only got 2 comments! (see previous posting)

Our deck!

On Monday Matthew started the first phase of our deck. It's an extention of our entrance. Eventually (SOON!) the deck will go around the back of our house, then will be a huge, inviting, sunny, expanse in front of where I park my car. (Well, the sunny part might not always work out.) We also plan to build a fire pit. So, on nice evenings in the summer everyone (who leaves comments) can come over to roast things and visit while our kids will hopefully sleep!

YAAY MEADOW!!

Today Meadow went potty and poop in the toilet! (Sorry if this is too graphic for you!) She's been telling me "poopy" just before she goes for the last few weeks, so I got her a seat. She loves sitting on it and rocking back & forth, but today was the first time she actually went! She seemed a little surprised at the sound it made, but it was otherwise no big deal to her. When I congratulated her, she just looked at me like,"yup, that's what you do here mommy." Hopefully it will continue!

I just had my baby!

I just had my baby, and it's.......TRIPLETS!!!






ha ha... APRIL FOOLS!

Meadow loves snow!

This was Meadow's first time playing in the snow! She loved it! She laughed at Bingo and liked licking the snow off her gloves. There's 11 inches of snow out here!

Caren's goals in life..

Here are some things I hope to accomplish, hopefully sooner than later, while I'm still young enough...

1. Swim in all 5 oceans- yes, there are now 5 oceans. The Southern Ocean was officially declared in 2000, and includes the water circling Antarctica from latitude 60 south. So far I've only managed the Pacific and Atlantic, but plan to plunge into the Arctic this summer!

2. Visit all 7 continents. So far- N.America & Europe (if you count England)

3. Cross the Arctic and Antarctic circles.

4. Go to Greenland

5. Run (and finish) at least one marathon

6. Become a well known artist- (maybe I should stop writing blogs and get started!)

7. Publish a children' s book (or several)

That's all I can think of for now, does anyone have the same goals? What are some of yours?

Amazing Meadow!

Meadow is now officially walking! This month she's taken more and more steps, but on her 15 month birthday at a church potluck she impressed everyone by walking all over! she was so happy to finally be able to follow the other kids around! She can even stand up without holding on to something. What a big girl! At home she does laps around the chair all day.
The other day while we waited at the doctor's she gleefully walked up and down the hall stopping at the different offices saying "HI" to people. It was very cute. I think she inherited her grandma John's friendliness!
Here's some other cute pics- She and daddy at church, and looking at a Shrek DVD, which she thinks is hilarious. She always finds this one and laughs her head off while pointing to Shrek!

Little Sprog

Here's Sproggy smiling for the ultrasound! This picture was just taken today. Sprog is 33 weeks, and weighs 4 lbs. according to the measurements. Only a little smaller than "he" should be. The Dr. said "he" will probably reach about 6 lbs. Sprog kept sticking "his" tongue out at us!

Meadow's Vocabulary

Meadow still isn't quite walking, but she sure is talking! She learns about 3 new words every day! Here' s what she can say (and knows what she's saying) : mommy, daddy, uh-oh, ducky, hi, doggy, eye (as she pokes us in the eye), grandma, grandpa, snow, no, bubble, hot hot hot, all done, diaper, ball, birdy, star, circle, saw, mouse, outside, down, all the basic animal sounds, for a dog she pants rather than woof, and can howl just like Bingo. It's very cute when she talks, and she's always so proud of herself! So far for walking lessons she can take 2 or 3 steps but then just sits down. She's always been very cautious about things like that. Meanwhile Sproggy is beating me up from the inside! I'm 30 weeks (about 7 months). I guess our official girl name is Heather, but we're still not sure about a middle name. Thanks for all the votes! We like reading comments! (hint, hint)