So much excitement, so little time to blog about it!

I cannot seem to get enough of Aaron's smile! He smiles almost all the time but I think because he was so unhappy when we first had him home, his smile totally melts my heart now! I think he's teething right now, although I can't see where they are coming in, but he's been more fussy than usual, and is waking up almost every night. This has made it tough since the boys share a room and we don't want Charlie's school time and day time to suffer because of his brother being awake, and us trying to get him to self soothe. We give it a little while and then he comes into our room in the pack-n-play for the rest of the night. We hope this is over soon but he has been going be bed easier (taking less time to "talk" himself to sleep) and napping really well, so you take what you can get!

These are some home shots of the cousins before their formal pics last weekend.
It's so funny to me how each of their smiles is so distinct...Bode has a very subtle smile, Aaron has a bog mouth open happy smile, and Charlie looks likes he's cracking up when he smiles!

Such cute kids!

This is Charlie with his first candy cane of the year. He got it from none other than Santa Claus himself! We saw Santa after we got their pictures taken and Bode wanted nothing to do with it. Charlie was super excited and wouldn't stop talking to Santa. Aaron was not thrilled but sat there while the picture was taken!

My little man...smiling once again!

The kids with my dad. I was at my parents' last weekend while Alex was in Vegas and then we spent some more time there over thanksgiving which was nice. My dad is traveling alot this month (Japan and then Germany) so he'll miss Charlie's birthday party, but we got to see him lots so that's okay!

Notice on my dad's right wrist, the green "friendship bracelet for sight"...my cousin's little girl Elizabeth is a really amazing little girl, young woman, person. She started making friendship bracelets and thought that she could sell them and make money to help someone. SO she started making these and asks for a $3 donation which she is collecting and donating to the foundation fighting blindness in Alex's honor. She has collected over $300 dollars already. Her mom and dad are donating the supplies to her so everything she gets as a donation goes directly to the foundation. This is the same young lady who, at the age of 5, donated her hair to locks for love. She saw a picture of a little girl without hair, her parent's explained to her about cancer and losing your hair, and she decided to donate hers...so Elizabeth is my little hero. If you are interested in having one of these great bracelets, I can get you the info!

More pics of my little man and his Harley do-rag. It was actually Charlie's, but as with almost everything, it's now Aaron's! Update on Aaron, are you ready for this, he's crawling! Not across the room or anything, but he actually crawled several times yesterday, several feet, purposely trying to get to something. This is amazing to me considering that a month ago he was BARELY sitting up without support. We had a neonatal follow-up appointment the other day which was long but fine. We go to CHOP for it and they are very thorough. I am learning to take everything they say with a grain of salt. We did take down his jumper and exersaucer, which was their suggestion. We had been told to limit his time in these by his PT, and we were compliant, but he really is on his tip toes alot and the neo docs don't want him to walk like that. The other stuff they said is all things we'll work on (getting him to respond to his name and to words, being less "dramatic" as I call it, and some other things) but I'm not going to lose sleep over any of it. Take it one day at a time!

The crawling thing is really exciting though!

Charlie's 4 year pics

We had Bode with us so we got a picture of him as well!

Are these not the three cutest kids ever?

Shameless plug for Keiki Cloths...and then some pics of my kids!

SO Keiki Cloths is embarking on a new line of "products". With inspiration from my dad's mom (my Tutu), I am making baby blankets now. Let me explain a bit about them and then you can scroll down for some examples. So my Tutu made me several of these type of blankets when I was a baby (30+ years ago) and I am still, to this day, using them for my kids. They are awesome. They are big and soft and lightweight yet warm, and can be used for so many things. Above shows one of them on my couch so you get some idea of size. They are homemade so the size varies a tiny bit but most measure 3ft x 3ft. What do you need this for you might ask. Well I will tell you what I use them for. First, as a blanket, in the stroller, in the car, in the crib. Then, they are also great as floor blankets when babies are little and not mobile, but spending time on the floor. They can be carried through their young life as then a security blanket and are big enough to still cover a 1-2 year old in a crib. They are great and so versatile. I sell them for $22 each and can customize them to be the fabric you want. Take a look!
The santa one was ordered for a friend's niece for the holidays...

The above came out a bit dark but the solid flannel color is orange...

The above was also ordered from a friend who's niece is of Irish decent. This is one of my favorites. If you know anyone interested please pass this info along. They are alot of fun to make and make great gifts. Of course the burp cloths are still in circulation and information for both can be found at the Keiki Cloth Blog site. Thanks for reading, now onto the kids!

This is the first time he's showed any interest in the "hamster wheel" at the please touch museum but he loved it today. I wanted to buy one for our house!

My little sadist giving the baby a shot in his forehead...

and taking a rectal temp...he told me proudly that the baby has a "feber"...

and here he's listening to music on some "radio". It was some world music with drums and lots of beat. Aaron was sleeping in the stroller and he wanted to stay here so we stayed for about 1/2 hour...fun!

Aaron with a bagel...exploring new textures, trying to get the chewing thing down! He's pretty good but food gets caught in his palate (I guess because it's narrow and high) and he gags while trying to get it out! Fun stuff!

Covered in sweet potatoes and tofu!

No pictures but some fun stories to tell!

First, I found an add for a website and I checked the website out and it is incredible. Only really incredible if you live in Philadelphia, or plan to visit I guess! I added it to the sidebar but it's called Kids in Center City and it is super cool! It has info on museums, libraries, schools, parks, birthday facilities, really anything you can think of that is kid related. SO great! Check it out!

Aaron has some new skills that I'd love to share. He (just started yesterday) can get into a sitting position from his belly! He did it early in the morning and I thought I was going to fall over I was so excited for him! I was watching him almost master it and was trying not to react in a way that would prevent him from making it all the way. But he made it. And then he did it several more times throughout the day. He is still a happy almost all the time and loves me so much it makes my heart melt! his napping is better and more consistent, and he's usually in bed by 7pm and is up around 7pm. He's a very light sleeper so he usually rouses when charlie goes to bed at 8, but he usually falls right back to sleep with little to no intervention. At his last check-up he weighed 19 pounds. His curls are relaxing but still there a little!

Charlie is quite a character and has us laughing daily! We now belong to a Synagogue and have been to a few services, one of which was "tot-shabbat" where the kids sit around with the Rabbi and sing songs and tell stories. We got there a bit early (I cannot stand being late so we are usually early to things) and the Rabbi greeted us as we were the first ones. Charlie walked up to him and shook his hand and said, "hi I'm Charles William Cohen, Synagod (his pronunciation of it, kind of fitting!) is a good place to be, with your family...you can be happy there". The Rabbi agreed and I was dying! He then went on to tell the poor man all about Thomas the Train and his latest adventures with his trains. Just yesterday Charlie came home from school and said, "mommy you needs to give me a scooby snack 'cause I solved the mystery on the playground in Pillydelphia today, okay!" If you can't tell, he's into Scooby Doo lately. He thinks it is hilarious. What I find amusing is that he laughs out loud at shows that he finds funny! He's got quite a personality and a sense of humor!

That is all, I will get some pictures up this weekend I'm sure! We'll be at my mom's while Alex is at a bachelor party in Vegas...lucky guy huh....his dad's helping pay for it because he knows Alex needs a break....um me too! Oh well, he'll have fun and I'll bond some more with the kiddos!

The cuteness is unbearable!

Aunt Hilda visited us from Waterloo, NY this past weekend. She is Alex's Aunt and we had a blast hanging out with her! Below she is with Charles, Aaron and Ethan on Sunday...

Ethan going in for a kiss!
The Cohen Boys

Sam, Kim and Aaron

Charlie and Aaron playing with Baby Abby

Some serious happiness

Daddy at the playground with his boys!

Mommy and Aaron

Charlie got his birthday present from us a bit early this year. It is this super fantastic train table and he LOVES it! Why did we give it early???? Well, every holiday imaginable falls in December for this little man. (Birthday, Hannukah, Christmas, etc) and we were thinking if we gave this to him now, he'd have time to absorb it and love it, and appreciate his other gifts.

The train table is the imaginarium brand and it comes with everything you see! It has already provided countless hours of entertainmnt for him and we are happy that he is so happy! Hope you are all well....Sara

Busy having fun...

We have been very busy here, doing nothing more than just having alot of fun! The kids have been so cute and so much fun, these pictures should say it all! The first picture is what I saw the other night when I checked on the kids before I went to bed. Charlie had out two of his animals on the floor and covered them with his blanket...so adorable! Aaron being a little charmer...

More cuteness. He has 6 teeth now and eats three meals a day. He's pretty much happy all the time and loves Charlie so much! He can sit up by himself (not get into the position, but once placed in an upright position, can stay there for up to 1/2 hour at times)...he just started sitting one day. At first a few seconds, then minutes and just last week it was for a long time!

Charlie decided he wanted to feed Aaron his last bottle the other night. Aaron just laughed and didn't drink much for him but it was cute!

Here's Aaron on his 8 month birthday...

Silly boys!

I could just eat him up! I am so in love with this kid!

Right now, Alex's Aunt Hilda is staying with us for the weekend so here is a shot of her with Aaron. That's all the cuteness for now!

Halloween 2009

We went to my parents' house for Halloween again this year and had a blast! Charlie and Gampa carved the pumpkin...something I still remember doing every year as a kid...
Finished product...Charlie was very proud!

In the dark....so cool!

my boys jumping together

waiting for it to be time to put the costumes on...thus the underwear only on charlie...his costume was like a big vinyl sweat suit and it was warm out...so he was sans clothes underneath!

Aaron is sitting quite well by himself (literally started two days ago)...but Charlie holds on to his foot almost all the time so he can catch him if he falls!

Bode trying out Gampa's helmet and motorcycle!

All the boys together...it was so cute but so hard to wrangle them all and have them cooperate...add to it that it was just my dad and I taking them out, and we each decided that we needed an alcoholic drink to go with us and it was raining...someone should have been taping it...seriously!

Charlie doing his "to infinity and beyond"

cutest picture...they were so cute together!

buzz and little victorino!

the two little ones went home after two houses and my dad and I took Charlie out for a while longer...it was pouring rain and there are lots of steps in their neighborhood but he wanted to keep at it...at one point he exclaimed..."I am working hard for these treats"...love it!

Bode with bed-hair this morning

we packed matching pj's for our kids...too funny!

I LOVE this one!