Am I allowed to have a million favorites??

I have SO many things that I love about this age (Cohen's age, not mine... I've got a death grip on my 20's). One of my absolute favorites has to be my little guy's "vocabulary". No- he is still not really "talking"...not in my language anyway- but he says things allllll day long and is VERY passionate about some of them. One of these days I am really going to get my act together and video tape him in the midst of one of his speeches. Too priceless for words. 

Probably my favorite thing that he does right now is "uh-oh", which actually sounds a lot more like "uuuuuh-uuuuuuh". He is SO proud of himself every time he says it- its like I can hear him thinking "Mommy says that too... I got it just right!". Luckily, every uuuh-uuuh does not accompany an actual accident of some sort- but I'm sure that is soon to be the pattern. 

He is hitting his stride in terms of walking, and seems to do lots of things with much more ease and coordination. He loves to drag items with him all over the house. Some of these include his little lamb, books (his favorite), his sippee sup (finally) and my cell phone. 

His newest game that he plays with the Hubs is hide and seek. Cutie loves to run in the kitchen and wait for Tyler to peek his head around the corner to look for him. And when he spots his daddy he gets so excited and makes the funniest sounds!  This is a game that I think I will leave him to play with Tyler:) 

I'm trying to give him some options now- I think that is such a wonderful thing to do so that as they start to form opinions and grow they don't feel like they are being told what to do alllll the time. I have to really remind myself though, and fight everything in me that "just wants to get it done, already". But I think its important and I try to remind myself at the start of every day that he is a human with the beginnings of likes and dislikes and I want him to have some chances to makes decisions. 

Speaking of likes and dislikes- all of a sudden he is giving us VERY clear yes and no's. When I ask him a question or if he wants something, if he doesn't want it, he cocks his little head to the side abruptly and wont look at us. If he does want it, or agrees with us he will tilt his head back and grin from ear to ear and show his teeth-it' s hilarious!

I continue to have moments where I think my heart is just going to pop out of my chest because I love him so much. He doesn't even have to be doing anything! It still amazes me! 

Our little family has gone through quite a bit over the course of his lifetime (and maybe even in the months before) and that continues to be the case, but its so nice that I can lay my head down at night and know without a shadow of a doubt that I am where I am supposed to be and our little family looks just like God wants it to look (for now). The decision to continue work after Cohen was born is something that I feel like I run into in some way, shape, or form a whole lot, (even though staying home was really not an option even when I tried my best to work that over on Tyler many many times) and while things haven't been easy, I truly know that we've made the best decision for our family so far. That is such a blessing. Maybe part of that is Peace that surpasses understanding?

Anyway, Cohen- you will officially be 12 months in  twelve days and it blows my mind that things have gone as quickly as they have. You are a complete handful, but also a complete joy. Even when I have moments  when you are screaming and I feel like telling you in my exhausted frustration, to "put a cork in it, please" (ouch mommy, very ouch) I still wouldn't trade a moment. I look forward to every little bitty thing you do every day- maybe that makes me one of those sappy Mama's- but I'll be sappy over you any day, kid. 

Love you more than all the stars!

Who is this big boy??!!!

He is such a ham!!

Nothin' holds his interest better than Elmo on the tube! This is a phase that Tyler has waited for since we found out we were having a boy...he is glad to finally has HIS little buddy:)

Granny and Papaw made it down for a visit on Sunday;) Of course,  Cohen only wanted to be held by his Grammy!