He's Here....Cooper John-James Gayler!!!

On Thursday, November 11, 2010, our beautiful little baby boy, Cooper John-James Gayler, came into this world weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces, and measuring 18.5 inches long. I had a scheduled repeat cesarean due to preeclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension). Thankfully, I was awake for the duration of the surgery and both Troy and I got to hear our baby cry right after he was born. What an incredible moment! Troy got to be with the baby as he was cleaned up, weighed, measured, and tested. And it was Troy who carried him over to me for first kisses from his momma...and the nurses encouraged us to nuzzle and bond. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. Once the surgery was complete, they transferred me to the gurney and handed me our new, beautiful son. What a wonderful experience....one I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life! Thank you, Aidan, for being such a loving daughter and proud big sister...I love you more than you will ever know! Thank you, Troy, for making those two beautiful babies with me...I love you now and forever! Thank you, God, for this amazing family!

Sweet Baby Face

So today we had another ultrasound and I had to spend some time on the baby monitor. Everything looks great! The baby is growing, growing, growing and is a little over 4 pounds at this point. We even got a 3D/4D look at his sweet little face. 32 weeks tomorrow! :)

Tae Kwon Do at Dallas Cowboys Stadium!

This past weekend, our Tae Kwon Do school was invited to have class at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Wow, it was better than I even expected! This place is crazy nice, and even more impressive in person. We spent an hour having class on the field and then got to tour the team and cheerleader locker rooms! It was so much fun and way cool!

Aidan Turns 11....how is that even possible???

On September 10, 2010, our baby girl turned 11-years-old. The time has gone so quickly...it seems not that long ago that she fit in the crook of my elbow. She has grown into the sweetest, smartest, funniest little person we know. She is the sunshine in our lives! Happy Birthday Aidan Addie-Jewel...we love you, Boogie!
She wanted an eclaire cake! She got a little puffer fish she named "Goob"

Pretty girl! And her Michael Jackson bag!

We went out to dinner with our friends, Mark, Kelley, and Autumn and then back to the house for cake. As usual, she said it was "the best birthday ever!!".

Baby Boy

Most of you know we are execting our 2nd child, a baby boy due December 2nd. Here is an ultrasound photo at 18 weeks. We can't wait to meet our little guy!

This is Aidan waiting to find out if she will have a baby brother or sister...slightly excited ;) Me at 26 weeks!

The New Master Bathroom (DONE!)

After months of Troy's hard work, our Master Bathroom is finished! It turned out so pretty! Next project....Nursery!!!

Uncle Jimmy

Today was an incredibly sad day, as James Howard Gann III, aka Uncle Jimmy passed away to heaven. My dad called to let my brothers, my sister, and I know and I can honestly say that we are all shocked and devasted. Sure, he's had his problems in life, including a recent battle with throat cancer, but like my dad said, "we just thought he'd live forever". It's so true. How could there be a world with no Uncle Jimmy? It just doesn't seem possible, but I guess it's reality. Jimmy came to visit us when I was in 5th grade and ended up living with us for a few years. I am so thankful we had that time with him...it was filled with so much laughter and we learned so much from him. Jimmy was my daddy's older brother (by 11 months) and there was nothing I loved more than listening to the two of them tell us stories from their childhood. They are the most hilarious stories made so much better by the two of them getting tickled as they remembered the details. He certainly had his demons, but we loved him and accepted him for who he was, and he loved us as if we were his own kids. Some of the memories that crossed my mind today...
picking him up at the Fredericksburg bus station, playing pool or horse for the dishes, playing hockey in the basement with him and my dad, he would take us fishing for blue gills way back in the woods, Mississippi Silver Peas and Khale from the garden, finding-cooking-teaching us about Morel Mushrooms, talking me into taking a big spoonful of castor oil (just to see what it was like), him knowing I would take a bite out of a jalepeno pepper with him...it was painfully hot, waving to him from my bedroom window as he left for work every morning, turning Spanish words into Ba-tee and Ben-gaso and Ba-tee yah name, snapping the cat's tail, saving Pepper from the Beal's mean dogs on his birthday in the snow, he and Daddy laughing at all the crazy stuff we did, late-night Jimmy phone calls when he just called to tell me to "be good" and "I love you, Manda", oh, and "BA-TEEE!". I love him too...I hope he knew how much. He died today....today....10 years to the exact day that my Granny passed away. I miss her today and everyday...and now they are together again. I love you both!