Our Family

~*A "Cody"-bration!*~

Yesterday was an important day for us not only because Jackson started Kindergarten, but also because it was the 1-year anniversary of the day Cody was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It's hard to believe, looking at him now, how much he has gone through in the last year...he really is a champ. But we felt the day was very much worth celebrating for that reason as well, so last night we had a little "Cody"-bration.

After school, the boys and I made party hats and a cake. You can tell, they REALLY like their sprinkles (and dipped into the frosting a bit, too, shhhhhhh).







After Daddy came home, we sang Happy Birthday to Cody (his request because he automatically assumes that cake = birthday ) and really enjoyed that yummy cake.





Just to trip down memory lane a bit...here's my Neuro-ICU badge that I found while cleaning out the console of my car.



And here's Cody just a few days after his first surgery, looking remarkably normal until you see the back of his head.





Fast forward a year to now...and here's my beautiful boy, thriving, about to turn 3 in a few months, and just a joy to be around.

Jackson's First Day of Kindergarten

Jackson’s First Day of Kindergarten
August 27, 2007

The night before…

Jackson had complete freedom to choose whatever he wanted for dinner, and he requested that I make tamale pie. I brought out our fancy candlesticks and served him his meal on our “Celebrate” plate (reserved for special occasions) We toasted him and all said, “Cheers.” He felt very much like a little man, I think.



Before bed, we read “'Twas the Night before Kindergarten” and talked about our schedule for the morning: that I would wake him up at 6:45 so that we’d have plenty of time for breakfast and getting dressed and getting to school without rushing. I told him I’d walk him to the classroom and that then he’d be with Mrs. Murthy for the day, but Cody and I would be back to pick him up at 2:30, just like Mama always came back to get him at preschool. He seemed fine with that and asked no more questions.

After we sang our songs and said our “I love you’s,” while I was still sitting in the boys’ room for a few extra minutes in the dark, I heard Jackson’s little voice from up in his bunk whisper, “Mama, I’m SO ‘cited.” So whether or not I’m ready, I’m glad to say that I think HE is.

Anthony made this collage using our favorite pics of Jacks from Saturday...



The morning of....

Good morning Jacks! I did have to wake him up, but when he heard me he immediately popped up, raring to go.



Mommmmmmmmm, stop taking pictures of me already!





Just before we left the house, some final snuggles with Mama and Daddy...
(note where his fingers are in the pic with me)





My Brave Little (Big) Kindergartener, just before going in to school:



He was fine up until I parked the car, and then when we started walking towards the school he began dragging his feet and moving more and more slowly. He did get a big kick out of the "cowboy" (older gentleman wearing a cowboy hat and boots) who was the crossing guard.

When we got to his classroom, we put his lunchbox and backpack in his locker, and he went to his table spot and got started on a worksheet. He said he wanted me to stay, but when I pointed out that none of the other mommies were still in the room, he seemed OK and headed to his table.

After school....

He looked SO exhausted when he came out of the school!!! But he has since recharged with some Gatorade and crackers, and he seems to have had a good day.

He's a typical boy in that if you ask him if he had a good day, he'll just say, "Yeah." And that's it. Getting specific details is like pulling teeth. After asking many pointed questions, this is what I got out of him:

He did go to PE and liked it. He went outside two times to two different playgrounds. They did not do any ABC stuff today LOL. Mrs. Murthy was nice. Eating lunch in the cafeteria was fun, but he didn't get the spider on his tongue out of his fruit rollup. He got 4 Tiger Tickets which he can redeem for prizes out of the treasure chest. He "thinks" he has to bring his nametag back to school tomorrow.

I think he had a good day but he's really worn out...at first he said he didn't want to go back tomorrow because he was too tired after the 2nd recess. I told him it would take a while to adjust to the longer days, but that each day would get easier.

My big boy!

Rockin' with Aunt Rachel

My best friend from high school, Rachel, came to visit us this weekend

How Does a Chicken Go?

As those of you who have spent any time with him know, Cody is all about chicken. Nuggets, strips, fingers....fried, baked, rotisserie....the first food he wanted after both of his surgeries was chicken.

And his favorite song of late has been "Old MacDonald." For a while we only had EOEEO, but now the I is in there, too. Usually the farm is populated only with ducks, but occasionally there's a lion or a snake present, as well.

In the car on Saturday, Cody was singing Old MacDonald, and we were all asking him what other animals were on his farm. We tried cows, we tried horses, we tried sheep....all were rejected. Finally, Gramma suggested chickens, and that was met with approval. So then she asked, "And how does a chicken go?"

Cody immediately replied, "ON THE PLATE."



I haven't laughed so hard in a LONG time. LOL

Fountain of Youth

Cody with Pudding

I think I have some pictures of him covered in chocolate pudding from over a year ago. Despite how much he's grown since then and how little of the baby is left, he STILL manages to end up wearing more of the pudding than he actually gets in his mouth. I think he's really quite proud of his pudding beard. And then, when mixed with "crazy hair" in the bath...what a fine figure of a little man, don't you agree? :P

Swimming

Both Jacks and Cody have been having a great time swimming this summer, which is such a switch from last year. The swim lessons have really helped Jacks feel more comfortable in the water and less afraid of getting water on his face. As long as he has his goggles, he is good to go. On this particular afternoon, Jacks had a great time floating around the pool on his back, making "water angels." And Cody was brave enough to try both slides, although on one he would only go down backwards on his tummy. They can't wait to go back again, but the trouble is, Mama doesn't have a swimsuit that fits....

Handsome x 2

We did another "Day in the Life" for my mom's group, and here are a few of my favorite candid shots from that day. The boys are really good sports and seem to enjoy posing, so we had a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Grandad!

Cody and his Crocs

I got the boys Crocs last week, and they haven't wanted to take them off. Jacks got red, of course, his favorite color, and Cody wanted blue. The first day we had them, Cody got himself "dressed" in underpants and Crocs, and then spent a good deal of the morning admiring himself in the mirror. He is just SO proud of those things!