Family adoptions....

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081016-tows-danielle
I'm not a regular Oprah watcher by any means by I saw previews for this show and had to record it. I was able to watch it yesterday and it took all I had to not cry during the entire show. The show was on cases of child neglect, never could I have imagined someone doing this to their CHILD!! However some very special people, Bernie and Diane Lierow, knew that this was their daughter and their calling to care for her. It made me realize it takes a VERY special person to be an adoptive parent and then I took a look at my family. In my immediate family I have 2 adopted cousins and 2 adopted nephews. My cousin, Gina and her hubbie Frank have sweet Emma. She is the smartest and by far one of the cutest little girls you will ever see. My aunt adopted Zach when he was 1 and I couldn't imagine our family without him and I know God gave my aunt Carol to him and vice versa. Finally my boys (nephews), Q and Wyatt, I couldn't imagine one day without them and I love them soo much like they are my kidos. If it wasn't for very special people like adoptive parents I think we would see so many more children like little Danielle.
This show also made me very thankful for the wonderful family I have and 2 great parents that loved me enough to cloth me, feed me, and provide me (the things we sometimes take for granted). I can also say when I married Brandon I gained another GREAT family that I am so blessed to have!
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Snow in Jackson

Last night/early morning Jackson Tn received something we have not seen ever (well that I can remember)....8-10 INCHES OF SNOW!!!

I was a little bummed it came on the Sunday that I have anticipated and prayed about for months.....The kickoff of the Year of Jubilee at West Jackson. We woke this Sunday morning to 8" of snow in our backyard and our driveway. We immediately bundled Aiden up and rushed outside. This is the first snow he isn't sick. He probably would have rather been sick than face planted in the snow which is where he spent most of the day. He did fall once and landed face first on the only part of our back porch without snow. The snow was up to Aiden's knees and he could definitely not walk in it. After Aiden's afternoon nap which is another funny story in itself we went to Gram's to play. Brandon pulled Aiden in our homemade sled/box, haha, which Aiden loved. We made a snow man and tried to enjoy the snow more before it melts. We were very bummed our 4 wheeler is still in Hornsby because that would have been tons of fun! But Aiden was actually happy to go inside for the first time ever, good thing we live in the south because he is not a fan of this snow! I took pics of just the snow so Nonna could see all the snow we got: Our chair in back yard

Flower Bed and Trees

Can't stand!!! Attempt to ride his 4 wheeler, it wouldn't go
After playing in the snow at our house, Aiden was playing inside. I noticed he got quite when I looked up there he was laying in his chair....

ASLEEP!!!

After nap we were back at it,
Riding in our homemade sled

Gram making our snowman

The finished product

He wanted to push it!

"That's it I've had enough I'm going in!"

1 year and baby Claire

Check out Aiden's 1 year pics:
http://www.seemyprints.com/photographer.asp?accountid=8001659
event: Aiden Cox
password: Cox
The rocking chair is hand made by Brandons grandfather for Aiden!!!

There are a few great things that have come from my job the main thing is lots of great friends! One of these friends has been a WONDERFUL friend to me, Shanna! http://shannalee.blogspot.com/
Shanna was there with me through my ENTIRE pregnancy from the first time I found out until our first days home from the hospital. She was there the night Aiden was born until midnight taking care of Aiden so I could sleep and she help Brandon. She brought us food, got Aiden MANY gifts, and has been a wonderful friend and help to me.
Likewise I have gotten to be part of some great times in Shanna's life, engagement, marriage, pregnancy, and soon to be first child! Shanna is being induced Wed. after having a rough high risk pregnancy. Please keep her, John, and baby Claire in your prayers the next few days. I will update more closer to Claire's birthday! LOVE U Shanna!!

Rock Star's

Wow it's been quite a while! I have been off all week and got to spend a lot of my weekend with Aiden. We had a lot of fun but I really think he started his terrible 2's at 1. He's very testing. When told no not to touch something he will put his hand right beside it and stare at me. I know he's thinking "Ok I won't touch but I sure will see how far I can get with this". There was one point in the week I thought my hand hurts from spanking him (no I dont beat my child but he does get disciplined). He knows things he is not supposed to do and he will look to see if I am watching him and then go do it. But besides just being into everything he has also showed off a lot of things he has learned. When I ask him where a certain person is he will look at them and smile (only grandparents, some cousins, and us of course). He has become our little slave (haha), he is happy to bring stuff from mommy to daddy and vice versa. When the phone rings he graps it with a big smile and hands it to me. He knows exactly what let's eat means, he takes off running to the high chair in excitement. He has started trying to say Cup and I love you! NOTHING and I mean NOTHING will steal your heart more than hearing your child say "I love you"!!!

On another note we got to spend a lot of time with our families this weekend. Brandons gdad had 6 bypass surgeries and is doing great!! On my side of the family we had quite a few birthdays over the past few weeks. The boys decided to create their own band while Ella watched wishing she was big enough to join in. Also we had another attempt as Los, this time lots cheaper because I discovered Aiden's LOVE for rice!

Bumps and Bruises

Aiden had an eventful weekend of many accidents. I guess it's part of being a one year old but Aiden is accident prone. He doesn't pay much attention to other people or other things around him, he lives in his own world that only he is part of. This weekend he did a great job of walking into a door, falling down steps (numerous times), falling off toys, falling out of chairs, tripping over anything in sight, running into tables, and pushing a swing that he didn't know would push back (he pushed the swing so hard it came back and knocked him down, a little funny I know). His head looks like he was in a huge fight. The response to most of the accidents was to cry but there were sometimes he would stand up, look stunned, and go on about his business. Although he got hurt a lot he still enjoyed playing outside all weekend with Brandon and I. Quinton and Wyatt came down and he really enjoyed playing on the riding toys with them and observing their every move. It really is interesting to see how much he has taken to them and enjoys being around them.
Over the past few weeks I have really noticed how much he is growing... Before he ate a cracker I saw him blowing (spitting) on it which he has observed me do many times. Yesterday at Los I had to order Aiden his own plate from the kids menu which ended up being $4 worth of chicken nuggets and fries all over the floor. When it is supper time he has started to walk to his chair and reach for me to put him in it. He blows kisses and has gotten good about covering his mouth when he sneezes (it is just more for laughs than actual manners). He has started saying words more than just one time. He knows his name very well and is starting to learn to put names with faces. When he comes into day care he runs straight to Ella's room while yelling Ella and walks up to her, they both grin and babble baby talk to one another (it's very funny)! He knows exactly how to get to my mom's office and can not start his day without seeing her first! I could go on and on!
It has been so fun watching learn and grow! I look so forward to waking up every morning to see him and what tricks he will pull that day!!!

prayer request

Please be praying for this family!!! I graduated with Benji and Rebekah and happened to see their story through other friends:
http://thebenjamites.blogspot.com/

The disease Gracie had has intriqued me :
http://www.trisomy18.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

Eliot also had Trisomy 18! Grap your tissues before watching!!!

Put the Baker family on your prayer chain, they need it all the prayers they can get!!!!

outside time

For Aiden's birthday he got a 4 wheeler and tricycle and we finally got to use them this weekend. We spent Sat. and Sun. in Hornsby this weekend visiting family and friends. We decided this was a prime time to ride the toys outside. It was a little cold and we only stayed out about 5 minutes but Aiden had fun riding his tricycle (the 4 wheeler actually never made it out of the living room). We enjoyed getting to see Brandons best friend, David and Aiden's buddy, Brody but again I didn't get pictures.

Just thought I would throw this picture in here because it's wayyy to cute of Aiden relaxing in his chair before bed (which he tends to do every night now).