Oh heck is it every "Birthday Season" around here! Happy Birthday Trey!!! - AND..3 new puppies! Life is SO very boring around here, sheesh.:)

 HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY TREY WILLIAM JAMES!!!!

(Chase & Trey had a combined birthday party this year that simply screamed.."TESTOSTERONE!"

 (Some of Trey's besties...and, yes, one of them is a sibling...and yes, that makes me very happy! Trey is, actually, very close to all his siblings and I am crazy thrilled about this!)

 (God gave this boy SKILLZ...and an amazing heart...and cool hair ;)

 (Trey's 'family' birthday celebration....)

 (SWOON! She calls Trey her "Prince" and every morning when she wakes up, she opens her arms wide open and says, "Give me a kiss my Prince"...and he usually ends up cooperating :)

( I was feeling HORRIBLE the night of Trey's family celebration. I had to sleep through most of it...gggrrrrhhhh...but made an appearance for the unwrapping of gifts....

I told Trey, later that night, that I was sorry I was not out there celebrating the whole time and he said, "Oh Mom, it's okay. It's not like you can help it and it isn't your fault you are sick." To which I almost replied, "Okay...forget the trick bike I got you on clearance, let's go get that "iPad2" you are really wanting ;)

 

And NNOOOWWW....MORE birthday celebrating!!! This weekend we are in my least favorite city in the entire world (ha) Chicago...to celebrate our "little" kids' birthdays along with our family friends, The Holloways, whose little kids also have birthdays around now.

I love the pic of all of us in the elevator (above right). It reminds me of trying to cram large amounts of people into motorized tuk-tuks in Guatemala :)

SOOOOOOO.... It is obviously BIRTHDAY SEASON at the COCKRUM HOUSEHOLD!

ALL 5 of our people have their birthdays about 3 weeks apart from each other....starting with Chase on Oct.31st and ending with Aven's on Jan. 22nd!  Can I get a collective "PHEW----EEEE!" please? thank you!

Each year the birthdays 'look' alittle different. We've celebrated different ways each year it seems...including having one big party for all four boys, we've had a small party for each boy, we've had three parties -- one for Chase & Trey, another for Zane & Tye, and a final one for Aven. (Tired yet? I am!)

It's confusing EVERY year and it kinda a bunch of work....because those days referred to as "Halloween", "Thanksgiving", "Christmas", and "New Years Eve" also fall within our Motley Crew's birthday "Season'! 

It's crazy.  Fun. But Crazy. 

We want each kid to feel extra-special on 'their' day .... we want to honor EACH beautiful creation that we've been allowed to parent. We want to remind their hearts that they are treasured. 

Not just with gift giving but with acts of love....like friends and family taking time out of busy lives to see the kids on "their" day.

This year, we decided to have a small, family dinner/cake on each actual birthday, a combined party for Chase & Trey (pictures above...it was SOOOOO cool!!!) and then an extra special celebration for Zane, Tye, and Aven!

Extra special because...we are in Chicago right NOW celebrating the "littles" birthdays with some of our closest friends whose kids also have birthdays around now. 

[Some of you are saying, "WHAT? But Tye's bday isn't until Dec.5th, Zane's Dec. 28th, and Aven's Jan. 22nd...and to that I say..."WHO CARES!"  It is the memories made that count...not the actual day the birthday falls upon...at least I hope so;)

Tomorrow,  Jessica and I will be having the times of our lives with our Guat Girls at "The American Girl" store (even eating lunch there!...and turning Aven's 3 American Girl dolls into the "Salon" for a makeover...which they oh-so need thanks to red nailpolish and Aven's obsession with bright pink lipstick...personally, I do not think "Theo" our "American Girl" toddler boy doll will ever recover from having pink toes and a skirt on the last month or so. 

The dolls and Aven are in the pictures above...We'll see how different the dolls look after a "Salon Makeover"...which sounds so weird that it is fun :)

After the GIRLS' and us Mommas make memories together at the American Girl Store we will be meeting the rest of the crew (Dads plus 7 boys :) at the "Lego Store" for Zane, Tye, and Holloway boys to pick out their own special birthday gift.

Again...can I get a "PHEW---EEE?"! 

Did I mention there's a huge parade here on Saturday to celebrate the 'start' of the Christmas season in Chicago....it is Disney-themed with fireworks! Now come ON! We have ROCKED the birthdays this year!!!

We are blessed beyond measure with all this fun....I realize the ability to splurge a bit on our kids is not something every parents get to do on birthdays. However, we do try and keep the "gifts" secondary (though fun) by stressing to the birthday kids how much support, love, and friendship they have in their lives when people "celebrate" them.  

Each member of our Motley Crew treasures love over 'things'....and I am happy about that. 

Now, I want to write my "birthday letter" to my Trey William James...as his birthday was a few days ago. November 16th :)

Oh my....that boy....

He ruffles my heart. 

He is my "Protector". 

If we are walking in the grocery store, church, mall, etc and I'm lagging behind a bit...he is the one who waits for me and makes sure I am "okay". I had this same role with my Mom when I was Trey's age.  I feel so honored that he thinks to wait for me...and 'protect' me in his own big kid way.

I have talked about Trey on this blog enough for you all to know that he is a bit bright, quick with funny banter, and a smidge (or alot) wise for the just the 12 years he's been around.

But...What I want to write tonight, and what I want Trey to read when he is trolling my blog reading about how I felt about him or looking for answers to "What did Mom do when this happened" as he holds a screaming newborn. (well..actually I hope he just calls me to ask me questions...but...) 

I just feel the need to write down what it "felt" like to have a newborn baby.

(Not the LITERAL "have" cuz we all know....that can easily be summed up in one word: ouch. Actually it needs and deserves two words: HOLY OUCH.)

No, I mean....How I felt holding a baby that only existed because of Jim & I's love.

Yes, of course...I would hold Chase and feel the same overwhelming sense of "awe" at what God had allowed Jim & I to accomplish together...adopting from another country. amazing stuff!!

But, when I held our newborn Trey...it was my first experience with a newborn. Chase had been 14 mos old when he became ours forever.

Cradling a newborn stirred  my spirit in a way that has left it 'stirred' for 12 years now.

There was and is absolutely no difference in the love I felt/feel between my Chase and my Trey. The difference, then, was purely newborn versus toddler.

I had a baby that needed me to survive. Without our care, he would not thrive. 

It was an immense feeling. 

It did not scare me...I has already experienced the 'fear' of being a parent when God gave us Chase....but this newborn thing...well... it felt "heavy".  More overwhelming than adopting...weird, right?

Newborns cannot talk. They cannot point to what hurts. Trey could not tell us his throat was on fire due to silent acid reflux. Newborns cannot even tolerate some of the milk or baby formula they need...but they cannot voice that to you.

Trey was quite a puzzle to me those first few months.

I started out my "Mommyhood" with a toddler (though very small for his age) who could point, yell, tug, pat, smile, frown, shake his head yes/no, bring me a book to read him, nudge me to play with him.

Trey...well...Trey just cried...ALOT. Isn't that just the most horrible thing to say? But, oh heck, is it the truth! 

(So, Trey, if -for some reason- 20 years from now you are reading this post while bouncing up and down with an incredibly fussy baby -...well luv...it will get better and...sugar...what comes around goes around ;)

You can call it colic, acid reflux, indigestion, fussy baby, bad parenting....whatever you want but when I reflect upon the first few months with my first newborn...I get a slight panic attack (smile).

It was HARD! 

The rather terrifying birth experience, the lack of sleep (which hadn't happened with Chase), the confusion (WHY is Trey always crying? WHAT am I doing wrong?), the juggling of two kids versus one (one to two kids was our hardest transition...after that...#'s 3, 4 and 5 didn't phase us :)

I do not think there was a Mom on the planet happier than I when Trey creeped out of that squishy, doughy, confusing stage and into the 5-6 month old point where he finally settled down, finally seemed okay with being "out of me", finally slept more than 4 hrs/time, finally smiled back at us, and finally seemed to well...like us!

Isn't that SO VERY odd that it took me months to feel like Trey, my biological kidlet, "liked me" whereas I knew I had Chase's heart, the adopted heart, within a few days?!

I 'enjoyed' Trey when he was a newborn but I will NEVER say it was EASY work. He was a puzzle. 

My newly-minted and amazing 12 year old is still a teeny bit of a puzzle to me even now....but his ability to communicate has definitely helped the situation drastically! smile

(Trey you point, tug, holler, and smile SO much better now! Thank the stars above...!!! teehee)

Trey thinks of things I would never have considered ("Mom, what is the speed of time?) and he has a since of humor that makes me laugh every single day.

I am enamored with his new-found sense of "style".... he dresses like a 'musician' when at all possible. Of ANY of my crew...I would have bet my right pinky finger that Trey would NEVER EVER care about fashion.  

Good think I didn't take that bet cuz I like having ten fingers :) 

I think the 'musician duds' are a direct result of the fact that he truly IS a musician. 

Trey, my rockstar, you have some kickin' God-given talent.

I guess the clothes are a reflection of this gift...and I love him all the more for reflecting his true self in every way possible...from clothes to sarcasm to playing the guitar like he was born playing it.

I haven't a clue what the future holds for you my precious conundrum...Trey William James.

I used to think you would go into a upper-level profession such as doctor or scientist or professor. But, now, I see a new side emerging.

Your creativity has grown to the point that you instinctively lean towards projects that require critical thinking, art, and music.

So, are you the next teen pop star? oh heck I hope not :) 

Let's stayed grounded and focused a bit longer so that when your success, in whatever area it may be, hits you in the face...your foundation will be made of rock, not sand, and you will know how to handle it.

Trey, you have something amazing ahead of you. But, since you have been a bit of an intrigue from day one...you remain as such. I am waiting with baited breathe to see what God has in store for you.

I know your heart is a pure as sugar. 

You were in tears yesterday because one of your gaming friends (who he only knows cyberly...and, yes, the friend had been approved by Dad :) had been in a car accident and is not expected to live.

You, my precious God-created treasure, came into my bedroom, in tears, saying that we all need to pray for your friend, "David". "ALOT. RIGHT NOW." were your words.

Then, you went back to talking to David, online, ASKING HIM IF HE KNEW JESUS!

Kid...that's crazy amazing stuff. You 'get it'. 

You have demanded proof from me, as your teacher, that the Bible can be trusted. I gave it to you. You devoured it. You still talk about not being clear on some spiritual-things but you are confident in God's existence and His love.

Well luv, welcome to the club of "I believe in God but am sometimes incredibly confused about God". There are alot of us here.  Questions are a good thing...keep asking them!

Trey, you are a gift. A gift to our family that has made us what we are today. 

You are EXACTLY PERFECT to play the role as Chase's younger brother...He brings you out of your 'shell' a bit and you keep him 'contained' even more :) Works very well.....huge smile.

I cannot wait to watch the puzzle pieces of your life come together my sweet boy. As you know, we consider you our first "genetic experiment" (huge laugh) and, so far, no one is failing! Ain't that a relief?!

I will ALWAYS be with you Trey. There is nothing you can do that would take my love for you away or even put a dent in it. You are my Trey....my Protector...my Curious Cartoon....

You are part of me, your dad, your family....but yet...so much your own "YOU". 

I adore that about you and will fight to never let that "YOU" be put in box. 

You, my 12 year old who was just a screaming newborn last week -I swear it to be true!-, are more than we deserve yet you fill a role within our family that NO ONE else could possibly fill.

I am amazed by you...and by the God that created you. 

With ALL of my love...

Mom

PS GN.  ILY.  SUT.  YATB.   [Trey and I speak in 'text' lingo as a joke ..... when can have entire conversations without uttering a 'real' word ;]

PSS Cuz we aren't busy enough during 'birthday season', Dorothy decided that having her pups today would fill all the "got nothing to do" spots on our calendar for awhile :)  Oh aren't they SO precious though! 

In these pictures, the pups are about 4 hours old. Dorothy gave birth while we were all sleeping! Jim and I woke up to sounds of little, whimpering puppies! Dorothy is going to make a great Momma to her "Pappachu's  (Papillion Momma & long-haired chihuahua)

NO! We are NOT keeping them....I know you were all wondering :) At least the plan is to not keep one of them....cough cough.