Just ONE Picture ... LAME effort ... But Adorable!

Ok! I have been horrible at updating the blog! No excuse is a good excuse I hear ... SO here is a little tease and a promise to get with it this week and post you some updates. Parker and Tyler send lots of big wet sloppy kisses. More pictures coming soon! MUWHA!!

SINGLE ... eek!

So I had my first singles mixer Thursday. The series is entitled "Hooked up" ... As for me ... I was TERRIFIED. Showed up in jeans and running shoes ... because that felt comfy and left me feeling slightly confident (at least if neccessary I could run away easily :) My new balances would carry me, right?!).

Showing up 20 minutes late (typical) I walked smack dab into a room of 600 ... yes thats SIX HUNDRED singles, who are members/friends of members at my church. And if THAT wasn't scary enough ... MY TABLE (to which I had to walk THRU 600 people to get to) was ON THE STAGE!!! HOLY CROW. Only 3 tables on that stage and out of 60 tables! THE LUCK!

ONE BIG THING I did LEARN ... I have to figure out the answer to all those token "first date" questions. Someone asked me what my favorite movie was ... I totally blanked ... all that flashed in my head was THOMAS THE TRAIN ... I've got work to do I think :)

All in all it was fun. Hmmmmm.....

Just so ya know!

you asked ... here are the words to the Natalie Grant Song ... but check out my new favorite girl Francesca too ... such a rockin song!

One heart, one voiceLiving out love in this world of noise
my dream and my joy
Giving you all I have made a choice
Desperately I'm waiting
To answer your calling

Chorus:I will be a candle in the darkness
I will be the hand of heaven above
I will be a mirror that reflects your endless love
I will be the hope among the hopeless
where there is conflict I will be peace
Only by the power of your spirit that's living in me
I will beYour heart, your plan
Give me your eyes help me understand
My feet, my handsholding out living hope to every man
Knowing what you've made me
With every single heartbeatRepeat

Chorus

Gracious, Gentle and Kind
Knowing that your love will shinethrough mine

Repeat Chorus(Tag)

This little light of mine, I'm gonnalet it shinethis little light of mine, yeah

Life+Tyler = Good Times!

Tyler's Family

Tyler and Aunt RayRay ... love her

Me: No Tyler that is Parker's Boppy ... Tyler "no mommy Mine Poppy"

"Oh Mommy ... I a lucky Boy!"

The Bros on Christmas morning ... so cute!

Tyler + Chucke = Obsession

My Best Friend Logan

Mental Note: Bath First ... then Chocolate Popsicle (duh!)

On second thought ... I would have missed this adorable picutre!!

My BF's handme down shirt ... Thanks Logan "I LUB IT!"

Me: "Tyler we don't Draw on other people property"

Tyler: "But Mommy I wanna Drawl on pro-pretty""

BUSTED!

Looking good!

"Hello ... Who is it?"

(can you see him pinching his right nipple ... NICE!)

Mommy's Heart!

(who will where this shirt until if falls off!)

The many faces of "My Parker"

Okay I haven't posted pictures of Parker or Tyler in the last month ... so I thought I better update you guys! So here are some sweet snaps of Parker ... Is he not the cutest little boy you've ever seen! I think I'll keep em both! January 4th (almost 4 months) sitting up (with help)

December 19th (3 months, and 1 week old) almost rolling over!!

December 25 (3 1/2 months old) hanging at Nana's house

December 19th (3 months, 1 week old)
look at me holding up my big head! Aren't you impressed!




December 17
LOVE THAT BUMBO CHAIR!! and my pimpin track pants!

December 14th (3 months old)

Now Wait a minute mom ... we need to talk about a daily picture limit!

This flash is getting to me!

December 14

*can you see the faint drool line on my shirt ...

is it really possible that I am teething at 3 months old! WOW!

December 10

(hanging with Tyler in my crib)

January 2nd ...

LOOK AT THE COOOLLLLOORRRSSS ...

January 4th

Check out that belly! Talk about a muffin top :)
As Tyler would say ... "My Parker Happy, mommy?"

November 22 (2 months and 10 days)

Look at the smile! What a killer!

November 9 (almost 2 months old) how cute is this hat!!

I'll post an update of Tyler later this week ... just wait until you see this handsome boy! You won't believe how wonderful!! Also updates to come on my adventure to Fairfield Texas on Sunday to hold up in a Holiday Inn lobby with my cousing Kristin, Christmas fun, and BIG milestones!!!

xoxo

Crystal

Tis the Season ...

So I haven't posted in a while ... I am hoping most of you remember that Thanksgiving THROUGH New Year is the CRAZIEST time in my line of work. Being an event planner ... you can imagine my plate is full with the Holiday season. I currently have 71 events in the month of December ... and I am expecting at least another 10 to book ... BUSY doesn't quite capture it....

That being said .... I just couldn't let another week go without a quick update. We had a blast Thanksgiving weekend ... hanging out with Ray, John, and Dad (Dad was amazing not only helping me assemble my christmas tree (AMAZING), but also put Park's Crib togehter, and then watched the boys all day Friday while I worked .... with Uncky John ... incredible!!). We saw Santa Clause sky dive (pictures to come ... WOW!), grilled out steaks, built a gingerbread house, made our Santa List, and avoided the mall at all costs.

This Christmas will be a little lean in the gift department as I am sure it is with everyone (economy and all) ... but presents will seem to pale in the shadow of my oldest son's cackle of a laugh and my little boy's huge grin. So this has brought me to my biggest revelation to date ...

I am absolutely the most blessed woman on this planet. My two boys are such an amazing blessing, and I still can't understand why God has chosen me as their mom. They bring such life to my world. One of my friends put it so well tonight. "You're eyes are blazing (he said) ... I am so happy that you've come out of this so full of life". And my only response (HOW COULD YOU NOT BE!). I can't imagine a day when my life hasn't busted with fullness. Don't get me wrong the list of "TODO's" can seem daunting and unatainable on some days. But I look back on this year (almost a year since I became single ... can you believe it!) ...and all I see is strength.

I can't believe I have done his entire year on my own (physically, financially, emotionally)! I know pride is sinful ... but I can't help it. Today the more I thought of it ... I'm so PROUD of myself ... (that's embarassing!) I knew and still know that my family would/will come galloping to my rescue should I need it. In so many ways they have done more than they know. My sister still keeps the boys on Thursday and Friday (which is amazing!unbelieveable!)... and my mom has her occasional Grocery trip (life saving!). But for the most part ... its me! Every night, every morning ... sick, well, water bills, rent, happy, sad, time outs, doctor, dentist, play time, nap time, meals, tantrums, all of it (its me!). Its So overwhelming at times. There are days when I look into Ty and Park's eyes and think life couldn't get ANY HARDER. But then there are days (and they happen more than the former) ... when we sit together in the living room me and my boys and we just laugh. Tickling, sweet, joyful, HAPPY, I realize this family ... the family I have now ... is more than I ever had before. This life is more than I could ever want. I truly would choose this time and time again.

I can feel the future deep in me (almost as vivid as if I were looking at it now), and I know that it won't always be easy .... flat tires, cavities, holidays, girlfriends (eeek!), bills, report cards, grounding ... it will always just BE ME! But I am READY. I know I have been blessed with the strength to face it all. It's prickling up my arm right now, in a wave of goosebumps, when I realize ... I dont' need to be scared of what is to come. I have it in me to make this all work.

So when the boys seem just too much to handle, the bank account nears the single digits, I'm down to the last pair of underwear, my last diaper, and then just at the wrong time the tollway lights flash yellow as I zoom through, I will smile back at it all .... smile with confidence and smile with a daring since of acceptance, challenge even. I can do this! Bring it on!!

Back to the laundry ... pictures to come soon!

Bath Time Fun

Lazy nights at the Cobb House!! We've spent a few nights this week just hanging out at the house, which has been so nice! The boys and I do a lot of running and playing with Ray Ray especially (so much that I forget how nice it is to stay home and be lazy!). Here are a few cute shots from our big fun bath night this week (not that we don't bathe regularly but when we can get BOTH bathed in one night that is a HUGE success!)

What a big boy!

Tyler "washing" Parker's hair

We celebrate milestones everyday for Tyler and Parker,

but I have to say nothing is cuter than pictures like this!

Ceramic Fun

We enjoyed some fun with Ceramics on Saturday... Tyler painted a fish he so appropriately named "Nemo" ... surprise! We had a great time ...

So in Tyler's world Nemo would have been blue, green, and purple .... (smile!) Everyday you get sweeter and sweeter my little man ... I am so lucky to be your mom! Thanks for making my days so much fun!

Day Two ....arg!

Okay... so day two of the diet ... wish me luck! I am totally challenged to loose the rest of this baby weight by January 1! 20 pounds is my goal! What a nightmare it is being this big of a fatty! I'm looking forward to getting back into those skinny jeans, but really more than anything, not having a belly that jiggles when I laugh! I mean HELLO! So I sadly say goodbye to my beautiful bread, dr pepper, and intoxicating pasta, I'll miss you extra large size Hershey's bar, please tell me that I will have chicken fried steak again soon with EXTRA gravy on the side so I can smuther each and every bite in creamy perfection. Oh ... and Ben and Jerry, call me! It might be a southern girl thing, but what am I going to do without that TALL GLASS OF ... MILK every night? But I can do it! I have my 2 pieces hanging in my closet ...and although I may never actually put it on this body again, its good incentive.


If Tyler is still wanting to slap my bare belly and watch it jiggle in two months, shoot me!
Here goes nothing!

Halloween Fun!

We've filled the last week with so many fun Halloween events. Two Carnival's last week and one this week. Tyler is a Halloween Freak, yelling "Happy Halloween" and "Trick or Treat" with Gusto! He has pefected the phrase "Mommy I want Candy". WOW! Is he not my child or what! Aunt Cindy would have flashbacks watching Tyler bouncing off the walls this week! He's such a chip off the old block! BUT ... I love Holiday's with Tyler. He is finally beginning to "get it". How is it possible that it gets better and better every year (Didn't I say it last year that life couldn't possibly get any sweeter ... and yet it does!)Tyler the Pirate and Parker the Parrot ... Arrrrg!

Big apologies to Parker as I find Feathers in his diaper, hands, mouth ... sorry baby! But you're so stinking cute! I'll try to be better about considering comfort for next years' costume!

Halloween Candy Coma! We feel for you Parker!

Matchy Matchy

Some cute pictures of the boys dressed a like after church.

"TYLER HANDSOME" as Tyler would say ...

BEAUTIFUL

We hit an awesome Pumpkin Patch today with some friends ... more pictures to come ... but I had to post this cute cute picture of Tyler roping a "calf". Do I have the biggest ego or what! I think this is my SECOND post bragging on my beautiful child, but I can't help it!! Everytime I look at his cute face I think ... WOW! He's such a cute kid!!!

He even wear's a messy face well!!

Happy Friday to all!

The State Fair of Texas ... 2 year old style

Tyler and I went to the State Fair Tuesday with our friends Amy and Logan ... We had an absolute BLAST. Here are a few of the pictures (I'll try and post more later), of us playing some of the games ... ring toss, fishing, water guns... I've got some great ride shots and a PRICELESS shot of Logan trying a Corn Dog (Ty wouldn't touch the thing! If he only knew what he missed).

We ate GREAT food ... besides the Fried Corn Dogs (delish!), Fried Marshmellows and Fried Oreos were our favorites ... hey girls up north ... JEALOUS! :) ... YOU HAVE to come up here next year in October so you can go ... I mean FRIED OREO ... does life get any better?

OH ... almost forgot! Best point of the entire night was that Tyler and Logan rode almost all the rides by themselves ... YEAH for no more Mommy in the Passenger seat! My baby is all grown up!

Happy Birthday Parker

I can't believe you're already one month old! What an amazing adventure it has already been. I can say with much confidence that your big brother and I are absolutely in love with you. It may be hard to believe this one day, but YOU are the FIRST thing your brother asks for when he wakes up in the morning. He loves kissing your feet and your arms, stroking your soft fuzzy head, and squeezing you super tight. He is your #1 Fan (well maybe second, only to your momma!). We are an incredibly complete family because of you, and every day we thank God that he chose US to be your family. Without you the world would not be as full.

You smiled at me for the first time today. Not a gassy smile, but a really big flirty smile. Glad to know you're already following in your brothers foot steps,

and know how to lay on the charm .

P, you're so active already ... you're favorite things are ... Kicking your feet (no wonder I was so uncomfortable when you were in my belly, you're SO STRONG!), watching the fan in our den, eating (I can't beleive I'm already mixing you 6 ounce bottles you little oinker), sleeping (praise the Good Lord for your 5 hour stretches at night ...YEA!), sucking on anything (including your hands, my neck, blankets, pacifiers, your brothers fingers ...which he eagerly allows), riding in the car, listening to music, watching your brother (which isn't too hard since he's always in your face).

You're a blessing from the Lord, and I can't wait to watch the fun things unfold throughout this next year. Don't grow TOO fast, enjoy every minute of it little one ... I know I will!

Loving you more than you could ever grasp!
Mommy (and Big Brother Tyler)

Here you are just a day old in your cousin Hunter's arms ... but what I especially love here is your Big Brother, checking out your little feet. He was absolutely in love with you from DAY ONE!