This one is for you Erika and Jessica!

(Ashley, Jessica, Me, Erika, and Tessa)
(Jason, J.T., Danny, Rusty, and Tab)
Rusty and I are so blessed! We have found a group of friends that is fun to hang out with but also encouraging in our walks with Christ. We started a small group bible study in Octish and have held each other accountable every Sunday night. From Canton trips (where money was spent decorating each others houses), to X Box games, and good food every week together as we fellowship. God has placed these 4 other couples in our lives to build life long friendships. We were all talking the other day and were saying "you know how your parents all had a group of friends they were close too"...the conclusion is that we are making those friendships now. We know that we are blessed also I know that all you girls are checking this and I want you to know that I feel so lucky to have you as friends.

The title is because Jessica and Erika have wanted to make the blog for weeks! You are there girls: you have MADE the blog...

Mackey at 2 months! Yesterday was my first day back to work and her first day to go to Mrs. Shelley's (the day care). She did really well and did not get kicked out from crying so much...and that is exciting. She actually has started to figure things out and is much more relaxed. Here is the latest close up.

Texas Weather

Last week WINTER came to town. Rusty was out of town all week and Thursday evening we had plans to leave the house a head over to our friends the Rackers House....this all changed at 4:30 when it started snowing and did not let up until 7:30. It was so beautiful! Everyone in our neighborhood except for us had beautiful white yards. Ours was brown dirt, yes that's right we still have no GRASS...hopefully this weekend!!

Yes, Fred Savage. I invite you all to take the challenge...strange yes. I will take Jackie O!!

"The Swaddle and the Pacifier= Happiness"
The art of Swaddling: Precious Mackey needs to be swaddled in order to maintain "happiness" as she knows it. Every child in the beggining has the thing you cannot leave home without...Mackey has to have the swaddle tool. With Paxton we just used blankets to swaddle...but baby stuff has improved in 19 months and there is now this blanket especially for swaddling with Velcro and all...the child cannot bust lose and it comes in small, medium, and large. So when swaddled she only cries 70% of the day instead of 100%. If she is crying she is either: hungry, without pacifier, or not swaddled. She still is precious.

Update on Life and having 2 children under 19 months:

*Paxton's eye healed and tonight we fell and hit the exact same spot causing yet another cut in the same general location.

*Rusty was out of town Mon.-Wed. as a warm up and next week will be gone Mon.-Fri....we will be having SueSue as our overnight guest several nights:)

*My hooter hider (yes, another new invention...no pictures to follow) has arrived and Mackey is going through a growth spurt. She is now 7 lbs. 8 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long. She already has gorgeous blue eyes and is an awesome snuggle bug...just want her momma wanted.

*Paxton now takes a pacifier and EVERYTHING with wheels is a "CAAAR" and we say "DAAWG" with a huge Texas draw.

*Boone is not adapting well to the Invisible Fence and has left for boarding school. Ellie however is scared to death and refuses to leave the garage...she cannot even walk 5 feet to poop outside the garage.

*Life is full of playgroups, bible studies, and NAPS:)

Happy 28th Birthday. Top ten Reasons why we love our Daddy/Husband:

1) Who would bundle us up and take us outside to walk the dogs in the mudd. Did I mention the dogs are in-training with the electric fence.

2) Who would do little complaining about all the honey-do list. If you know his wife you know that the projects never end.

3) Who can fix just about anything.

4) Who would sleep with us in our big boy bed just to show us how cool it is.

5) Who is very sympathetic to every bump, bruise, or cough. It is a good thing we have mommy though or he would take us to the ER/Dr. all the time.

6) Who gave mommy a generous sum of money to buy new clothes after Mackey was born. Even though she is back to pre-prego weight something very strange occurs in to the body.

7) Who wakes up before each night-time feeding and changes our diaper.

8) Who has bugeted well and allows our mommy to stay home (in a beautiful house) all day and play.

9)Who very patiently excuses us from the dinner table to "talk" when our behavior is not so pleasant.

10) Who loves us like no other daddy/husband could!!!

2 Bonus:

Who would get us off/on the hobby horse a million times before getting frustrated.

Who trys to get us to say "Gig em" and "Football" all the time.

Big Man! Lately my little Paxton is becoming a toddler. It seems that I woke up over night and now he is a typical guy. Sitting on the bed with food and drink in hand. Notice the crossed legs...gotta love the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

So I decided to post a picture of the house despite the fact that we will never get grass. Everyday that the grass was to be delivered in the last few weeks it has been raining/sleeting/snowing. Gotta love Texas weather. There will be another post after the landscaping/grass is put in.

Well, I know that all you folks up North think that we DFWers are NUTS... the news is ridiculous!!! Rusty's work was called off and this afternoon we all bundled up and headed to McDonald's to play. Mackey was dressed in her cold gear and was so warm she was sweating upon arrival. Paxton was thinking he was such a big boy until he fell and hit is eye on a chair in the play area. Play time was over:( We hope that it clears up fast. Rusty was so worried we should go to the ER to prevent scarring and was frustrated that I was an RN and was unable to determine whether a trip to the ER was worth it. I continue to tell him that ICU RN do not know bruises and stitch stuff, we only know how to keep you alive!

Hope everyone is bundled up and enjoying all the sleet/snow.

Paxton and his good buddy Brant. These two love each other...Paxton was showing Brant how to chase the outlaws on his horse. Hold on Brant!!

The pediatrician said prior to Mackey that God would give me a laid back child because Paxton is so exciting. Well 4 weeks later at the 1 month appt. I let her know that she is mistaken. God must think that Rusty and I can handle anything. Our HOME-GIRL Mackey is high maintenance. She literally cries all day long unless she is being held. If anyone just really wants to hold a baby...I have one that you can borrow not have. I am still thankful everyday that God blessed me with healthy, cute children...but for crying out loud must they cry/whine all the time. Paxton is in a frustrating stage where he knows what he wants but cannot say the word...we are working on this though. He is doing very well with adjustment...there is only so much holding/crying of Mackey that he can take. I know that I should feel honored that Mackey wants to be with me all day:) Here is a picture were I tricked her, she will tolerate me carrying her in the sling (she hates the swing and vibrator chair) and I carried her and then put her down when she was asleep...it worked awhile until she realized I was not attached. I will brag on Mackey and say that she has excellent head control and sleeps very Well...I won't tell you were she is sleeping because I am embarrassed. I only documented this to remind myself of her high maintenance stage because I am sure this is the only one she will ever have:)

We enjoyed a Liberty City class of 1997 Reunion last weekend. The new house was semi-ready and it was exciting to show everyone. The house loved:) being broken in by 6 kids under the age of 2. Toys Galore!! We are so blessed to have such great life long friendships.

Moving In

Mackey in front of the portable heater.

Ok...so Dec 31st is the official last day that we live in 9208 Water Tree. We officially live with SueSue and Grandpat. All of us: Rusty, Paxton, Mackey, me, Boone, and Ellie... we are hoping that Boone and Ellie do not tear up the yard/garage before we are able to move. The boxes are slowly being unpacked and we are making home at 22 Brookhollow Circle. I am so excited and ready to be settled, it will be so nice to sit on the couch and hold baby Mackey. We had the whole gang here to help move... the Melissa and Liberty City parents. Also, thanks to Jenn Russ's instructions we were able to get better organized through her direction...thanks Will for carrying boxes to all the rooms for us...I will be over to paint the twins room soon:) We hopefully can reside at the new house Tuesday/Wednesday when TXU installs the permanent meter. I/Everyone has been unloading boxes in an extremely cold house. I have had my ski coat on. I thought an appropriate picture to document Mackey's 3rd week of life is her sitting in front of the portable heater. Paxton has been such a trouper...helping unpack, disorganize, and reorganize:)!!

We hope that everyone will come visit us and enjoy the little piece of serenity that Rusty and I have found together at 22 Brookhollow Circle.

Cox Christmas

We were blessed to have Christmas with both sides of the family this year. The Saturday after Mackey was born Grandma, Big Daddy, Grandma Kal, Cheryl, Cori, Randy, Tonya, and Drew came to McKinney to have Christmas with us. It was such a blast to watch Paxton and Drew open presents. After the first dump truck was opened Paxton was content. Randy and Tonya gave Paxton a 9 ft tunnel to climb through and that entertained Paxton and Drew for the afternoon. We loved getting to watch Grandma Kal hold precious baby Mackey too!!!

P.S. Where is Rusty looking??? And yes, I do have a tank top under the sweater and I do not have a see through sweater on.:) Thank you Randy for pointing that out!!

Hanging with the BIG boy 4 Generations of Elizabeths

Grandma Pigg (a.k.a. Piggly Wiggly) came to visit to see Mackey. It was great to see the Center group. The Center Piggs- Mary, Analeise, and Neil came up too!! I had so much fun, I actually got to go to the mall since Mary was there to help me with two children. It is really hard to figure out where to feed Mackey and keep tabs on Paxton all at the same time. I thought about doing it in the bathroom and then remembered Paxton's joy in playing with/in commodes and decided against it. Luckily with Mary and Neil's help they keep control of Paxton. I was so happy to finally get a picture of Grandma, SueSue, Mackey, and me. There are four generations of Elizabeths in this picture...I will treasure this picture forever.

Christmas 2006

Paxton loved his vet kit...it came with stethoscope, dog scale, and brushes for pets. He loved it. He wore the stethoscope every where Christmas day.

Her mom is having way too much fun with "BOWS" The kid table-Sydney, Brinley, and Paxton The beautiful Hobby Horse

Due to being in boxes/homeless we stayed the night at the Melissa grandparents house. It was so relaxing... there is no place more comfortable and Christmas spirited than SueSue and Grandpat's house. Santa came around 9:00 a.m. and brought Paxton a hobby horse...we are not sure if he enjoyed climbing up the horse or rocking better. The hobby horse is beautiful just like the one that Rusty and I had growing up. Paxton did very well this Christmas...he got lots of trucks, an art easel, a giant bean bag, and lots of little gadgets. Mackey got pretty pink coat hangers!! Christmas afternoon our neighbors from McKinney and our friends the Russes came over to my parents house and we all celebrated with a Christmas dinner together. Paxton, Brinley, and Sydney all enjoyed sharing their new toys and playing outside. Christmas was great and cannot believe how much God has blessed us this year. Happy New Year!!!

2 week B-Day

Mackey at 2 weeks...she likes to swing but is still not sure about the vibrator chair.

Is she smiling or is it gas???

Life has been crazy around here! I think that just a couple hours spent with me makes people stressed. Paxton is doing good and adjusting as expected. He loves Mackey, but hates Mackey and mom together. We are working on soft touches and sweet kisses. Today was my first 3 hours alone and it was manageable. You don't get to spend as much time with a new baby when you have a high maintence 18 month old. She is doing well. Her jaundice has gotten better, she has gained back 3 ounces, and she would probably sleep through the night if I would allow her too. Everything seems to be going good. Feeding is difficult for me but she seems to have the hang of it down. Someone should write a book about all the things you need to know after labor. There are all these fantastic books about the 9 months till the baby, but nothing about all the things the mom goes through after:)...and this is my second time!! We are hoping to get into the house before Dec 28th so Rusty can watch the A&M game on his brand new plasma t.v. (it is not looking very promising). I am beginning to have anxiety with all the boxes (packed and not packed), the curtains that are not done, the make shift room Mackey has in our bed room, and the fact that Santa may have to go to SueSue and Grandpats home instead of Brookhollow Circle. We are managing however and I am reminded to be thankful for 2 healthy children and to stop and make sure and enjoy the reason for the season. It is not about all the above anxiety, but about Jesus.

Mackey Elizabeth

One proud little brother... Our precious Christmas gift After delivery...looking a little tired Going home... My bow woman... I have waited a long time to put bows on my girl.

Special Delivery

WELCOME

MACKEY ELIZABETH COX

December 11,2006 at 10:12 p.m.,

6 lbs. 0 oz., 19 1/2 "

Breakdown of events:

Sunday after church Rusty begins to finish installation of irrigation system at Brookhollow Circle and I continue to paint Mackey's new room. The pattern appears to be easy and cute but turns into 3 weekends and lots of favors from friends. Sunday night Paxton has a 103.4 fever and he and I lay on the couch and watch Polar Express while Rusty is at church, I begin to feel uncomfortable cramps...nothing hospital worthy, so I ignore and they go away. 9:00 p.m. Rusty and I cleaned entire house, I went to the grocery store, and washed all the clothes. On Monday morning Paxton and I head to the pediatrician were they test him for Flu and RSV still Paxton is with 102.0 fever. The test luckily both come back negative. That afternoon at 2:00 Rusty meets me at the OB for my 37 week appt...we're officially full term and never expected to make it this far!!! Dr. Riegel checks me and I am 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Yeah!! He then tells me that due to my weirdness and that I have really yet to feel contractions that I should go the hospital and be monitored and that I could not go home to get anything just in case. I call our great friends Danny and Jessica White and ask them to come get Paxton and take him until we figure out if this is arrival day, and since he has 102.0 temp he cannot be around the new baby until he is 24 hours fever free. Upon arrival to the hospital which is across the street from the OB office. I am 6cm and having contractions every one minute...still feeling nothing. At 7cm I am "forced" to take the epidural despite not feeling anything because Rusty and my mom said that I would regret this decision at 9cm...which I am thankful for loved ones who look out for me. At 10:12p.m. Mackey entered the world. It is so amazing when you do pregnancy/birth right. Rusty and I were so blessed by God to have two precious babies. Rusty's parents were able to make it in time and Mackey and Big Daddy share the same birthday...Happy birthday to you...she was the best birthday present he has ever received, I bet!! Paxton came up on Wed. morning as they were throwing us out the door and he has been in love ever since. He has made the transition very well and thinks she is so much fun. They must have talked because the both absolutely hate to have their diapers changed. We are loving life these last two days... we have already ventured to Target, Fudruckers, San Marcos grill, and the construction site. The second child has proven to be much easier due to less stress about worrying if your baby is functioning. Thank you so much to all who came to see us, those who called, the meals you will make, and the prayers we have received.

THE CRIER

Ok...so we have been a little busy!! I have a funny story that I feel is blog worthy so I am back tracking a bit. Last Sunday we went to Sunday school to drop Pac-Man off at the nursery. Many of you know that he cries a lot and has nightmares about the church nursery. I like to compliment myself and say it is because he loves me so much a cannot bear to be away from me..we all know this behavior is not healthy. Well, this cute little lady comes up to another cute lady (all the while Rusty and I are standing within ear shot) and says "Is this that crier you were talking about?" and the cute lady replies "yes." Well, I am tough and so is Rusty but nobody wants the crier to be their child. So we are working on seperation anxiety and I bringing the Sunday school teachers Christmas presents to help them relax. I just wanted to document this so that someday when Paxton wants nothing to do with us I can remind him he WAS the crier.

The Family...minus Leah who is in Paris and Blair who had to work. "Future Horticulturist" like Grandpat Me with my best friend Scooter...we share kisses and food. Giving a Victory Smile after the BIG AGGIE WIN...

For Thanksgiving since mom could not travel, we celebrated with the Pigg family at SueSue and Grandpat's house. It was very overwhelming...people everywhere. I took a huge liking to Neil...he was my running buddy. We had smoked, fried, and baked turkey with Grandpats special sauce. Piggly Wiggly (Grandma Pigg) was there I loved when she read to me. I really enjoyed giving Aunt Mary a hard time, I would not let her even touch me..I thought it was so funny letting her try and hug me. Uncle John took me into the woods and for a walk while I rode my bicycle. Uncle Kyle was there and I had not seen him in awhile...sorry the pic of us was so terrible. All in all it was great and it ended with a HUGE victory for the Aggies...my dad was so excited!!! It was so fun with Analeise there who instead of choosing to be an Aggie next year will be a T sipper. It was so great to see everyone and hang out as a family. I got to spend more time in the back yard than I could ever dream of...

Curly

For Mackey's Christmas present Mommy and Daddy decided to let me build her a teddy bear at the "Build A Bear". I picked out the cutest bear ever and then decided I did not want to give it up...so I built myself and Mackey a bear. Hers is exactly the same except with pink bows on her ears and mine is manly. I have slept every night with Curly and taken him with me to SueSue's so that I can sleep in the afternoon. After all the company and playing I did this week Curly and I needed a cat nap in the car, I was even snoring.

Playing with Cuz'

Randy, Tonya, and Drew came up to see us for the weekend. We had so much fun relaxing and shopping at the mall. I just loved lil' Drew, even though he weighs about 3 more lbs. than I do. I loved hugging him and Laying in his lap. Unfortunately he did not enjoy me in his lap. They are also building a house right next door to Grandma and Big Daddy...boy will we rule the street then....

Updated Pic of the House

Folks...Our builder still says Dec. 20th is the day we can book the movers. I will be induced the 17th...(hopefully) so we are right on schedule to make it in before Christmas!!! The brick is up and we are excited, it is still nerve racking because there is a lot left to do.

Moving

Check out the belly... Check out the muscles...

So as you guys all know: having a baby in about three weeks, moving, and building a house...kinda stressful. But the most stressful part is having a VERY active 17 month old. Though he brings many laughs everyday he is the definition of MESS. Anyone who is around understands that getting anything productive done with Paxton around is nearly impossible. This last weekend Grandpat and Rusty were getting all the stuff done from the attic and I out of the corner of my eye noticed that Paxton had some confidence in climbing that attic ladder. After the 3rd successful step with no hesitation, I decided I better stand behind him in case he fell. Needless to say my child successfully climbed all the way up with absolutely no HELP. We can't leave him anywhere alone. We have already picked out the perfect gate for the new house stairs.

The "LUCKY" sucker

Happy Halloween!! Paxton was a FROG and a pretty unhappy one at that. We were so excited about taking him to the church carnival...Brant, the monkey, came up for the big occassion. (His mom and dad think that coming to McKinney from Dallas is like going to Oklahoma). What we thought would be so much fun for a monkey and a frog ended up not being their idea of fun. Apparently waiting in lines for a sucker is not cool. After the first game...the two were DONE. It was also the only cold night of October so the outside bounce houses were out of the question. So we learned...frogs don't do trick or treating. Pregnant mom was expecting Paxton to win her lots of candy, but she was let down when he won one sucker and then was done.

Our House

Well, hopefully we are making progress. We have designed cabinets, pick out doors, and there is supposed to be sheet rock and brick this weekend. Our builder says with a smile that hopefully we will be in the house by Dec. and I with a smile remind him that I am due in 8 weeks:)

This is the look of a child about to cause trouble. He is our little "biter". When he is frustrated, he just bites.

Pumpkin Patch

Well, Bill Bates Pumpkin Patch is always a blast. Lately the weather has been in the 80's but of course the one day that my friends and I ventured out there it was in the 40's. We had great plans for picnics and pictures in costumes, but after our children began coughing and having flu like symptoms in the cold, we decided to be responsible moms and head to Chick Fil A. Paxton LOVED the petting zoo...I think he thought that the goats were giant Scooter (Paxton's beloved Jack Russell). They actually do look like him. My child is no longer a camera hog and getting him to smile for the camera is nearly impossible. We had a very brief stay at the patch, so now in all our spare time we will have to head back out there with daddy:)

First Hair Cut

We finally cut the mullet. Paxton is no longer business up front, party in back.

My little Buckaroo

It's hard fitting into your mom's hat...luckily he has a giant head still!! We are into fruit snacks lately...and that is it. We have been extremely stressed by our child's lack of eating. To this day he has yet to eat meat!!!

We love CARS!!! We were stuck in the car dept at Toys 'R Us for at least an hour trying all the different ones out. Can you see how much one of these puppies cost???...it's a monthly car payment.

Long time no BLOG!!! We lost the camera charger causing blog sabbatical. We have been BUSY bees at our house. Where do I begin:

1) We are 41% on the completion of our house...states the loan:)

2) We are (according to Dr. Riegel) 8 or so weeks out from the birth of

Mackey!!! (very scary since we are way behind in packing)

3) We officially packed 8 boxes last night, painted 3 rocking chairs,

painted Paxton's big boy bed, and painted a play table.

All of which were different colors, if I sand one more thing to be painted I may have a husband go on sabbatical too!!

4) Officially started time-out. Apparently I use the word "NO" too often

and my child now tells me "NO"... it was cute the first time.

**** My lesson of motherhood is to never say "my child will never do

that" or "they must not discipline well"...these comments bite

you back hard. Sometimes it is better to ignore than discipline in public because that makes more trouble.

5) I have gained a total of 15 lbs. now, 24 weeks is the magic number for

explosion. Sorry Abbey no pregnant pictures this week.

6) A&M has officially become a BAD football team.

7) The couch we recovered is still not finished and I have now decided

I would rather work extra to pay for someone to make the curtains than try to sew my own curtains.

These are just a few of the many thoughts/projects running wild in my head. The Super Nanny book did not teach me much so if anyone knows any really good discipline books...I am all ears.