She Can Pedal!

Another sunny day brings another family walk. This time, Allan decided Delaney needed to practice on her tricycle. It pains him that she doesn't know how to pedal a bike yet. It didn't take long before she got into a rhythm. Now we need to work on steering!

Yeah, Delaney!

Harper loved riding in the pink car for the first time. We have to keep her buckled because she bounces up and down and claps her hands wildly!

She always reminds me of Maggie Simpson with her everpresent pacifier :)

Harper's Favorite New Exercise

Is the Stair Climber!! Today I was working in the kitchen and Allan was on the computer. Both thought the other was keeping an eye on Harper as she did her laps around the house. After a few quiet minutes, I yelled to Allan, "Have you seen Harper?" Of course, he said, "No, I thought she was with you." I did two laps around the house peeking behind chairs and in the bathroom, but couldn't find her. The next thing I know, she's smiling and yelling to me from up in our hallway by the laundry room. She was so proud of herself :) Neither of us knew she could climb one step, let alone 13! Now we really have to be on our toes!

This trip up the steps was supervised.

Almost there!

Quiet Time

I'm so glad God blessed us with girls who love to read (at least for now). Many days when Delaney wakes up from her nap, she likes to spend some quiet time with her books - sometimes up to 30 minutes after she wakes up!

Here she is telling Daddy to "Stop!"

"Go back out, I'm not ready."

Speed Skating

Inspired by the Olympics and Apollo Ohno, Delaney has decided to take up speed skating. She practices everyday on the .000000125 mile track in our living room. Look at her great form with her right hand behind her back and left arm swinging. I see Gold in her future!

Daddy's Girl

Allan was quick to snap this picture of Delaney laying on the floor enjoying a Tom Petty concert on TV...

Who Needs Toys?

Who needs toys when you can play in the toilet? I might as well take all of Harper's new birthday toys back...

Harper's 1st Birthday Party

Tonight we had Harper's 1st birthday party at our house. We had 46 guests and so much food! Harper is a lucky girl to have so many people who love her.

Pink and green polka dots on the cake - what else would you expect?

Sub sandwiches from Wal-Mart and Honey's homemade broccoli cheese soup.

The Birthday Girl

Harper didn't disappoint and really dug into her mini cake that Honey made.

Harper and her 3 grandmas - MaMa, Honey, and Grams

We had lots of helpers when opening her gifts and were able to get it done in less than 10 minutes!

Harper lost interest in the gifts after only a couple of minutes.

Harper and her friend Avery fight over a plastic credit card.

Playing the xylophone that Uncle Ken and Aunt Kathy bought her.

This picture shows just how good of a time Harper had at her party! Worn.Out.

Cabin Fever

The temp reached almost 50 degrees today, so we took a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the beautiful day we were blessed with. Allan pushed Delaney in her pink car and I pushed Harper in the jogger. The temps next week are forecasted to be below normal, so we have to take advantage of any sunshine and nice weather we get!

Happy 1st Birthday Harper Girl!!

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet, silly girl! One year ago at 1:15 am, Harper Aubrooke Cochran entered the world weighing in at 6 lbs 6 oz and 18 inches long.

Over the past year she has grown to over 24 pounds and 30 inches. She has learned to roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, run, eat solid food and table food, drink from a cup, clap her hands, and say Dada and Mama.

She has gotten 12 teeth with three more in the works! Most importantly, she has smiled and laughed and won our hearts!

Harper is curious, persistent, and very, very busy!! She is happy to walk circles around our house, picking up anything she shouldn't be picking up and usually putting it in her mouth (like carpet threads and crayons).

She brings so much joy to our lives and we're so lucky God chose us to be her parents! I can't wait to see what this year holds...

Martha Stewart?

Um - not so much.

I tried to make heart-shaped pancakes for Valentine's breakfast today (doesn't every mom try that at least once in her life?) My method was to put the cookie cutter in the pan, then pour the batter into the cookie cutter. Sounds good, right? I thought so until I tried to flip them over.


After two or three failed attempts, I just poured the rest of the batter into the pan to make one giant pancake that I could sprinkle red sugar on and be done. Well, duh, I should have done that in the first place! How about use the cookie cutter as it was intended, Jen?

Harper enjoyed her bite-size pancake.

Delaney was so excited to have hearts and strawberries that she didn't even ask for syrup!

Harper's New Trick

Harper loves to help load and unload the dishwasher, but you know how it is when an almost one-year-old tries to help. We try to appease her by giving her an unbreakable dish to put in and take out. This morning I gave her this green bowl and she seemed pretty happy loading and unloading it until she found out she could use it as a paci-delivery-device...

She drops her paci in the bowl...

Holds the bowl up to her face and...

Voila! Paci successfully inserted.

Hand-Me-Downs

Who knew hand-me-downs could be so adorable! This whole outfit is a hand-me-down from cousin Corinne. I think Delaney looks too cute and too grown up! Look how long and skinny her legs are in those jeans! Thanks Corinne!

Welcome Baby Brody!

Brody Maccoy Busch was born to our great friends Josh and Erin on Wednesday 2-10-10. He joins big brother Landon. Brody was a healthy 9 lbs and 12 oz and Erin delivered him with no epidural!! I was able to stop by the hospital for a few minutes to meet and kiss him. Erin looked great and Brody already looks like a perfect 1 month old :)

He was all dressed up for his hospital photo shoot.

Looks like he's already perfected his pouty face.

Happy 15th Birthday, Jon!

Tonight we celebrated Jon's 15th birthday at Pizza World in Granite City. I can't believe that he's 15 and going to be getting his driver's permit soon! I still remember the day he was born... Jon helps Delaney "drive" the video game.

Jon and Brady pretend to blow out the candles - no one had a match or lighter to light them :)

You know you're getting old when you prefer cash over all other gifts.

Happy 80th Birthday Papa Paul!

Allan's Dad turns 80 on the 3rd, so we celebrated by going out to Red Robin. He and Liz had never been there before. Delaney was thrilled because she loves to go to the "balloon place" and get the mac n cheese with cantaloupe. It's the one restaurant that we know she'll eat well. Both girls were very well-behaved. We had good food and great conversation.

The birthday boy and his girls.

Allan and his parents.

Mama Liz and Papa Paul

Delaney and Mama

The waiters and waitresses brought out a birthday sundae and balloons and sang :)