Christmas Card 2013

Is it just me or does everyone agonize over their Christmas card?  The picture, the design, the colors, so many choices!

Here is our 2013 card...

Here are some pictures that we took as contenders for the card this year. Its not every day we stop and get pictures of the three of us!

Merry Christmas from the Cogdills!

Christmas Cookies

Ever since I can remember my aunt has made "Christmas Cutouts" each year.  I have always looked forward them...she even still mails them to us each year from Ohio for Christmas and Easter!

When I got married she gave me THE recipe.  I have tried each year with my family to continue this tradition.  Although I think I have some years before I perfect the recipe as good as my aunt...I am making progress!

This year we let Banks "help" make them with us. 

He mostly liked seeing if he could pinch off a piece of dough to eat!

Into the oven they go!

Banks was a very good decorator.  He insisted on LOTS of sprinkles!

The best part of any cookie-making experience...taste test!

Banks' cookie he decorated for himself, looks delicious right? 

He thought so!

He enjoyed every last morsel!

Sugar makes him a little crazy ;)

Such a fun tradition to pass onto my family!

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving this year was kinda crazy, but it was fun!

Early Thanksgiving morning my sister calls and says she's been sick all night.  Richard is on call so I drive over to her house in Lexington, grab Blakely and take her back to our house before anyone is even awake.  We were all assigned 2-3 dishes to make so I also grabbed her ingredients to make hers as well as mine. 

Matt and I spent the next few hours getting babies dressed, ready, fed, etc. on top of making mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, succotash, and spoon bread!  Some how we made it and were headed to my parents by 11! 

We had a CROWD for Thanksgiving this year..the most ever!  I think the final count was somewhere around 23!  We had all of my brother's girlfriend's extended family as well as Matt's family and some of my parents good friends.  We had SO much food!

It was overall a great day and full of fun memories.  The babies couldn't eat enough, they loved turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and even succotash! 

There is so much to be thankful for this year.  God has been so gracious to us.  2013 has been a crazy year, but one that has been filled with God revealing so much to us, which has been a blessing. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

15 Months Old

Banks, you are 15 months old!  

You are becoming such a little boy and I am so proud of you!

You are wearing 18 month clothes, some are tight so we've bumped you to 24 months (which are a little big at times).  You have a long torso compared to your legs...so some of your pants are 12-18 months.  You wear a size 5 or 6 shoe and your foot just keeps growing!

You went to a new pediatrician now that we live in Lexington.  You are now seeing Dr. Kate Powell..which is one of mine and Aunt Lauren's friends...she is actually Aunt Lauren's best friend from med school.  Your stats were:

Weight: 22 lbs 5 oz (50%)

Height: 32 in (50-75%)

Head: 18.5 in (75%)

I am not convinced that these measurements/percentiles were accurate this time due to some things, but we will go with it anyways. 

You have 12 teeth!  You cut three molars and an incisor all at once...but you did it like a champ!

You still take two naps and I don't think you'll be cutting down to one anytime soon.  You usually sleep about 1-1.5 hours at 9:00 and then 1.5 hours at 2:00.  We tried one day to skip morning and needless to say...disaster. 

You are learning new things every day...you are SUCH a sponge.  We "teach" you something once or twice and its locked in your little brain, it is really pretty amazing.  Here are some things are you doing:

You know LOTS of body parts: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, head, hair, belly, hands, feet, etc. 

You can follow a two step command (ex: go to your room and get the ball)

You make many, many animal noises- so many that I can't even name them all.  Of note this month we taught to "gobble gobble " for turkey and "ho ho ho" for Santa :)

You talk up a storm and get new words all the time.  Its so funny when you surprise me with a word I had no idea you knew. 

You shake your head "yes" or "no" when we ask you questions (pretty helpful!).  

When I ask you "how old is Banks?" you hold up a number one all proud!

You know all the family members and will point when asked (ex: where's Pop Pop?)

Before bedtime and meals you have learned to fold your little hands when we pray.  You still usually keep your eyes wide open and usually talk the whole way through, but at least you've got the hand part down. 

I feel like we have really turned a corner with discipline and you are understanding more now.  You no longer go for the dog bowls or plants in the house.  You listen when I say "no" (most of the time!).  We will have a long way to go, but this is the first time I have felt like we're making progress. 

You are very much a "people person" and you love to be around kids and adults.  You still of course adore your cousin more than anyone! 

You are walking (and running) everywhere!  You are very cautious though...we think this is kinda funny.  When there is a step (even if it is so, so tiny), you will get down on your belly and back over it. 

You love:

Animals (still)

Your toy golf clubs

Fruit, all kinds

Mac and Cheese

Balls

Cars/trucks (i.e. "go go's")

Rocks, sticks, and pine straw

Being outside

Tiger

Roughhousing 

Being tickled 

You light up our lives, little man!  You bring us so much JOY and LAUGHTER!  We are now and will always be SO proud of you.  We love you so, so much. Can't wait for Christmas with you!