Paxton and Karleigh...he loves her!

The Birthday swing set which he really is not that into..
Paxton, Karleigh, Mackey, and Fisher
Our new babysitter

What's Going on...

Rusty: He is in town and has been all month...yeah! He has been working hard during the day and coming home and being dad. The yard has been keeping him pretty busy lately. Baseball season was pretty much rained out every Thursday so that was sad for him since that was his fun each week. I am sure that his skills have not left him though, the pitching arm is warmed up and ready to play...Give him call!

Whitney: I have been busy watching kiddos. I had the chance to go to market with the Hagen family and shopping has never overwhelmed me...but I WAS OVERWHELMED! It was crazy, 1st you realize that everything you buy is half of what you normally pay and 2nd How in the world could you ever possibly see everything in 4 days. I have been asked to work in the nursery on Sundays because Paxton is considered in nursing terms a 1 on 1. What can I do?? He cries the entire two hours requiring one sweet older lady to spend her whole time with my child and his tears. Rusty and I have planted some new flowers in the beds out front so that will be so much fun to watch Rusty's labor come to fruition.

Paxton: Other than crying in the nursery every Sunday, he is REALLY into transportation. We were unable to have a car birthday party because Paxton is borderline psycho about cars, trains, and planes. We would have never moved past the car party napkins. He has begun to say lots of funny things and is still VERY busy. He doesn't know yet but he was enrolled in Mother's Day Out, starting in Sept. I cannot wait. I already checked and they do not refund your money and they will not give up on your child should they cry the entire first few months. We rarely give him Coke...I thought I would tell you a couple of his funny stories for the week. We went to Sonic and I asked him if he wanted Apple Juice or a Orange Slush and he said, "I want Coke." His vocabulary has increased TONS lately and it is so fun to see his personality with words. By the way he did not get coke!! We love our little Paxton but he keeps us very busy.

Mackey: Sweet Mackey. She is the winner for "Best Baby Award". Everyone comments about how great she is. She is scheduled to have tubes placed on July 5th so that is exciting...no more ear infections for the Cox Family. She is so precious and her smile makes you laugh. She is 13lbs, yes still very little for 6 months, but can guzzle a bottle in no time flat. She is working on sitting and loves fruit. She is into Paxton's cars, which he is not happy about. We are now focusing on sharing and being nice to our sister. Mackey is so excited about Paxton going to Mother's Day Out for all the quality time she will be able to spend with her mom.

Life is crazy but we are loving it. We are love watching the new words that Paxton learns each day and also enjoying watching Mackey discover all the things that her feet and hands can do.

We recently had family pics. Laura Haun had the difficult task of getting two children under two to smile and look at the camera. It was fun seeing the results.

83 Years

The girls
The men
They must have scored, Paxton was into giving Big Willy high fives.

He must have seen Big Willy using the cane and thought it looked like a good way to get around
She was really into the people watching.
The ice cream that made the night

Paxton and Big Willy are exactly 81 years apart. What has begun to be a tradition...we spend Big Willy and Paxton's birthday in a suite at the Ranger Game. We had a great time and Paxton really got into the cheering. We got the hook up through Gib. The Ranger food service brought in a cake for Paxton and Big Willy complete with candles. They also brought in awesome friut but the highlight for Paxton was the ice cream and the stuff to make Sundays...wipe cream, nuts, and strawberries. It was a great night and a great way to wrap up a birthday weekend.

Happy Birthday

Holding still for the face painting
The Monsoon, only the beginning. People are in their cars because the rain is so hard they can't get to the party
Mackey with Whitey while the birthday set up occurred
Our little sailors.
The cake...you can't see the 3D boat. The cake taste was awesome.

Paxton:

Where has the time gone. It was two years ago that my heart broke as we drove from the hospital and you were staying in the NICU. I asked the same question everyday "When do you think he can come home?" My life hasn't been the same without you. You are my best friend, I almost don't know what to do without you during the days you are away from me. You have the tan I want...your only in the sun for a 10 min. and dark but completely eaten by bugs. You must be really sweet because you are just like me in that you are loved by the bugs. Forgive me for any scars you are left with from childhood. You adorable and ornery faces are ones that you learned somewhere. You have a face for every occasion. I love that when you hear music with soul once your booty starts shaking the rest of you cannot help but shake too. You precious hugs and kisses are things I hope you give me freely always. And who will ever forget..."unCAR". You are famous for your obsession with cars. The Sunday School teachers dread seeing you...as you cry the entire 2 hours. It is ridiculous all the crying but I am honored you miss us this much. I admire your loving spirit and your zeal for life. You are a child of God. I pray that the people you are surrounded by share the love of the Lord and spur you in a direction to be a Godly man. I pray that a relationship with God is your greatest treasure. You are so precious and we are so thankful for the two years that you have turned our world upside down.

Row, Row, Row Your boat to Paxton's 2nd Birthday Party. Paxton celebrated his 2nd b-day with a bang...literally. The pools were full, the balls blown-up, and the go fish game ready. At exactly 2 o clock when the party began a monsoon hit...only in Country Ridge. My parents which lived 5 miles away had no rain. We had 50mph winds, HAIL, and a torrential down pour. The party lived on!! The cake was delicious, the sweet girls from next door set up the face painting booth, and the presents were opened. The first present was a plane with people and we were done and in heaven. The expensive swing set given by the grandparents and us was not even used this week, apparently the slide is HOT. He will be forced to slide soon, that is his parents hard earned dollar at work which we were sure he'd love. The annoying vacuum cleaner was a favorite among many. We are raising a group of men who like to clean!! It was a little disappointing that the boys weren't able to really play outside but we appreciate everyone who took the hail damage and sat in their car for the storm to pass in order to celebrate our two year old. Thank you!

Graduation

Our Graduate

Mackey with the Traveling Leah

Mac with Kyle

Mac fast asleep on her daddy
Waiting for the ceremony
Mac and "Piggy Wiggly"

Paxton standing at the foot of Grandpa Pigg's memorial
He looks like he enjoyed golfing with the guys??

Eating like a dog...at least he's eating.

The end of May we headed to Center for our salutatorian Analeise's Graduation. She gave a very great speech and is now headed to UT Austin...she didn't quite understand the "fun" she would miss by not being an Aggie. It makes for more interesting Thanksgivings though, and of course Rusty has one more thing to tease her about. He only teases you because he loves you:) Center had a small graduating class but the graduation ceremony was so much fun and neat. It even had a fire work show. Mackey loved it, but I am not sure Paxton thought it was that cool.

A Heroes Welcome...He had about 20 people who wanted hugs.
At the River
Mackey floating the rapids
Chris and Elizabeth Moore with baby McKenzie
Rusty and Paxton floating the river

So I am having to back track because I am so far behind... MAY 19th. We went to the annual Oakalla trip. We had swim suits, tents, sleeping bags the whole bit...even the motorized jeep. We left with PatPat, SueSue and our family early Saturday morning. I have posted about this precious time before. Let me describe Oakalla. It is the place where groups of people from all ages, professions, and now towns/countries go to celebrate friendships. We have been going since I was in jr. high. The little boys that I remember being always muddy are now heading to college. It is a place where cows tongues are gross, my bachelorette party was held, and pictures are posted all around the cabin that remind us of good times. and bad hairstyles. Floating down the river, awesome broom tricks, and trying to keep up with Jan Doke's games/talking so fast are highlights. Paxton has now been 2 years and Mackey had her first experience and met her Oakalla best girl friend McKenzie. Girls are far and few out there, right Ansley and Aubrey??? This year we got to go to the Killeen airport and welcome "Our soldier" Keith Hanson back from Iraq while he is on R&R. It was such a blessing and we are so blessed by our soldiers, but that is another post. It was a rough camping night which ended in Paxton and Rusty in the car...which PatPat who choose to be the lone tent sleeper, I guess he did not want to hear SueSue and Cliff Peters symphony of snores, heard Rusty ask Paxton several times "What is wrong with you, just go to sleep?". Though tired it is a weekend we never want to miss and look forward to Paxton and Mackey making there own Oakalla memories.

Mackey swaying to and fro...she wants to hang with her big brother so bad
1st time to sleep in her own crib
Peaches and rice...we can shovel it in fast enough
Right out of the bath, she loves the water
Mackey 's best friend Morgan and Paxton's future wife, Mackey is going to marry Brant, Paxton's best friend...we have already begun to arrange the wedding...they seem to really enjoy the pool.
Brant and Paxton enjoying the pool with daddy

Cox's daycare...4 kids under three...Alone with Me. Rusty was out of town and I volunteered to keep Sydney while here parents went on a date and then Brinley's mom who is pregnant with twin boys had to go the hospital for some premature contractions. It really wasn't that bad. A pool and Popsicle...what could be better.

Mackey's Dedication picture. She got dedicated on Mother's Day. For Mother's Day, Rusty surprised me with an IPOD. I have entered the high tech world.
Jennifer, J.D.. Mackey, and I before the dedication. Mackey is about 3 weeks older.
I am in LOVE...we purchased a riding lawnmower. Push mowing 1 acre is no fun...but an excellent workout. I love to mow, but the riding thing has taken the love to a whole new level. I take after PatPat in my love of grass. Too bad I have developed an allergy to grass, that can't stop me from the joy of mowing though.

Mackey on the move
He absolutely loves Mackey. He feels the need to hug and kiss all the time. He calls her MAC. The capitalization is because he cannot say it without a deep yelling voice.
A weekend with the Debo and James. He absolutely loves to hang out with Debo and read books. He brought a kitchen SueSue bought at the beloved Marta's and cooked some delights for James.

He is so good at sharing. He even shares his Popsicle with Boone
We need a pool, he is standing in the dog's water bowl.
We invested all $8 for a pool. He loves it.

I am having blog withdraw. There is no way to catch you up on everything that has gone on the in the last few weeks...so I will recreate it with pictures. We have been loving the weather and hanging out outside almost every night. We have gone swimming already which was a big hit by both Mackey and Paxton. Rusty is still traveling a lot but we enjoyed him being here for an entire week last week. Mackey is 5 1/2 months which blows my mind...I feel like she is still brand new. She is going to crawl son..she looks at Paxton as if to say be patient I promise I'll be there soon. She is able to get anywhere by rolling. Paxton is in love with her...when she cries he tells her: "It'll beeee o'tay!" He has been teaching her all about the Baby Einstein saucer. We went on our first camping trip last weekend to Oakalla...pictures to follow. Mackey will be getting tubes soon due to non-healing ear infections. We are just loving outdoors and children these days. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Boston Round 2

The stairs that were the vain of our existing. Renee took the photo for keep sakes. Imagine it right side up because I cannot flip. Then imagine us carrying luggage, two strollers, and suitcases...is it getting any better.
Me climbing up to get the stinker that is stuck in the play land...luckily I did not get stuck too. I am laughing because Renee is laughing at the trials of motherhood and how your child gets into the narrowest spots to decide he is afraid of falling.
One of the only times she cried. Rusty is trying to pack on some weight to our small baby.

Following the Freedom Trail
Renee and I being dumb...we needed some laughter

One of the many tactics Rusty used to better entertain Paxton while eating
Best Family Pic
We were lucky to be there for the anti-Bush protest...look at this foolish lady


Check mate...
My future Pilot
Father and Daughter, how Mackey spent her time in Boston..hanging

Mackey at the Boston Children's Museum on the exact mat as Paxton two years later
Two tired girls

Renee teaching Paxton about his colors on the computers
Paxton at the dinosaur exhibit

Well, let me first start off saying how blessed I am to have a friend like Renee Porter. Who could take one of your children as their lap child on a 3 1/2 flight and endure 4 days of a two year old who decides this trip will be one for history. As I reflect back on the trip, I the entire time kept thinking what was I thinking...now that I am home I think, you know it really was not that bad. My precious Mackey was an angel. I really don't think she ever cried. But Paxton made up for the two of them. It was extremely frustrating to be so mad at a two year old yet know why he was so irritable. He was out of his environment, took no naps, had to sleep in a metal crib, was in the stroller 3/4 the day, and it was freezing and raining. Did I mention it was 40-50 degrees and raining. AAHHHH!! Thursday, bless the young Army man next to me on the flight...he had no idea he was my fill in husband/dad to the girl next to him. He entertained Paxton to the best of his ability. He let him use his dvd, his cell phone, and let him climb around to get his sippee cup that was on his lap table. He even offered to pour my coke when I needed a refill...since it was on his lap table. Can you only imagine. I was able to see all the passengers faces as we walked up and the discovered they were the lucky winners. Friday since it rained we went to the Boston Children's Museum and the Museum of Science. Museum of Since was less than par but the Children's Museum was awesome..to bad my little stinker was so tired he could barely enjoy it. Saturday we did the Freedom Trail. We had a lot of fun this day. We ate at a quaint little cafe in little Italy for dinner. Sunday we went to Barnes and Nobles because by this day everyone was under the weather from the temperatures and the rain. Of course to round off a exciting trip our flight was delayed. Poor Grandpat had to pick us up at 11:30p.m. Putting us in Melissa around Midnight. Paxton slept today until 12:00p.m...My poor tired little boy. Renee informed me after Paxton's Friday night episode that she can see how uneducated parents beat their children...I knew what she meant:) However, she also informed me today that she still wanted children soon, but she would prefer a girl!!

And of course..It was a great trip and it was so nice to see Rusty...we miss him this week as we adjust to normal life this coming week. Renee you are truly a good friend and I am blessed to have met you 9 years ago. On a lighter note: I tried to warn Renee of the impending steps and lack of elevators on the subway systems. I don't think she was prepared. Funny picture to leave in ones head. Two young girls. Two 50lbs suitcases, Two children under two, two strollers, two carry one bags. Imagining...Now imagine us landing at the airport and hauling all this through the airport, the bus, the the subway, the two subway stops with switches, and then walking 7 blocks from the subway let off to our hotel. And there were A LOT of steps in between. We ARE women hear us roar.