The Transition of the Bed.... Or Not

See that beautiful bed.... well, it is a "grow with me crib"... I think it is beautiful and when I picked it out, I did so because it would "grow" with Cooper and transition as needed - from crib to toddler bed to double bed. Well, Cooper has recently learned to climb over the rail, so we decided it was time to transition the bed to the next step! However, this is no easy task... it requires tools, sweat, patience, and a few hours with no interruptions. Tools we have, we just don't use them alot...sweat, I hate....patience, a virtue I am always needing to work on... and a few hours with no interruptions HA HA HA. So, you see, I had to mentally work myself up for this task (and coerce Ragan as well).

Do you see that pile overflowing out of the storage bin in the corner of the room? That is the clothing from the first year to year and a half of Cooper's life. I pulled it out a few weeks ago to begin sorting it into keepsake outfits and give away outfits. I have so many friends that have young baby boys and I was ready to clear this tub out and bestow the mess upon their homes and get it out of mine..... I have only gotten through 0-3 months so far....

Well, looks like neither of the tasks will be nearing completion anytime soon........ you see, Where the Wild Things Are is about to get a little wilder..... we're expecting!!!! That's right, we are adding to the brood....

I was very hesitant to even post this blog so early on, but I guess you can say between faith and a family that is about to bust a gut with this secret, I guess now is as good a time as any. After multiple miscarriages (and heartbreak) prior to having Cooper, we saw a Reproductive Endocrinologist. He helped us along before & during my pregnancy with Cooper. Because we are not under his care now, I do have some fears and reservations, but I am just handing that over to God.

So, to answer a few questions... were we planning on another? (even though it's really nobody's business but ours..lol) No, we weren't. Are we excited? Initially I had to be scraped off the floor and nearly sedated, but I am more than okay now. (I am a planner, an organizer, and I don't do well with surprises or changes to plans without my consent!) Ragan is ecstatic...I know what a blessing children are and not every woman in this world has the ability to bear children, so I feel truly blessed. When are we due? The day before Ragan's birthday...the first week of February.

So, keep up in your prayers... this ride in life is about to get a little wilder....

xoxoxo
Crystal

Great Wolf & a Great Time....

Well, we took off this past week on a new kind of vacation.... a kid-friendly resort... it was AWESOME. One struggle we face (not sure if struggle is the right word) is finding a place that we can take both boys and they both enjoy themselves. A ten-year-old wants one thing and a toddler something completely different. I really did not want to tackle Disney World with Cooper just yet, so we settled on The Great Wolf Lodge. It is a wilderness-themed lodge/resort with an indoor/outdoor waterpark in Grapevine, TX. www.greatwolf.com
I know I sound like they paid me to do an advertisement, but they didn't (but they can if they want)... I was just really impressed and for those of you who might be looking for something for your family, it's worth checking out!!!!
Here are some pics....

This is part of the outdoor section...it has a few tubing/waterslides that Austin stayed on

He is getting so grown-up!


I will pretend that this moment did not involve Austin teasing Cooper, but I doubt it!

My 3 favorite people....





Another shot of the outdoor spot.....


He LOVED the water!!!

A shot of the foyer/lobby

Austin playing with his MagiQuest wand while waiting for the evening storytime... he could have cared less about the story, he just wanted to play with his MagiQuest wand...the story was for Coop!

A shot of a portion of the indoor park.... that big bucket dumps water every 30 minutes...Austin loved it!

Getting ready for storytime around the Big Tower Clock!

What vacation is really about!! lol

Sisters

When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown

In May, my Aunt Leslie (my mom's sister) was diagnosed with AML. She was immediately transferred to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX to begin undergoing her chemo treatments.
The doctor suggested that if the treatments were successful, she would need to undergo a bone marrow transplant to promote the best chance of long-term recovery/remission....and who do they test to find a match? Her full-blooded siblings. Good thing she comes from a large Italian family with lots of kids... (my mom is one one of seven kids... Raymond, Robert, Richard, Lisa, Lori, Leslie, & Lydia)
Good news came...she has responded well to the treatments.....
As of yesterday, more good news, they found a match... and the winner is.....MY MOM! Talk about a flood of emotions.... and another incredible story to add to the Poche storybooks. I will keep you updated, but in the meantime, I ask that you keep the Poche family in your prayers.
Until next time.....

p.s. You can check out my aunt's story at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lesliejones

Summer Fun

Well, we are in full gear around here.....getting ready for a VACATION!!!!! And we CAN'T WAIT!!!! We are heading to The Great Wolf Lodge next week for some "downtime", not that I expect to be having too much of that while on vacation! I have decided that vacation for the kids is downtime, creating memories, and new experiences... for the parents, it is creating memories, new experiences, but not much downtime...more than anything I am just ready for a little quality time with my hubby and my boys... stay tuned for pictures!!!

p.s. Cooper has learned to crawl out of his crib... I guess that is a sign we are ready to "move up" to bigger and better things...FYI I DREAD taking that crib apart (it is a grow-with-me crib)...

p.s.s. After watching my parents grow their new garden..aka their new baby....I am considering a fall/winter garden...considering being the key word here!! lol