Let me start by saying, I'm sorry, no pictures are in this post! :(
Today was an absolutely amazing day! Our precious babies were dedicated at our home church where my father previously pastored for 13 years. My dad was able to come into town to dedicate my children as he had previously dedicated Hannah Noelle. This was very special to me because every moving experience in my Christian life, my parents have always been there. My dad baptized me, my dad accepted Matt's Letter of Membership to our church. My dad performed the Wedding Ceremony for Matt and myself and now my dad has dedicated all of my children. It's an overwhelming feeling!!
We started off the day VERY EARLY! I knew if I needed to leave home by 10:15, I better convince myself I had to leave by 9:30. My sister and I got up and started doing all the last minute to-do's! We packed bags, laid out clothes, ironed outfits for the rest of the day. We woke up Hannah Noelle next so she could get her Easter Goods! (I always try to do holidays with her before the babies wake up!) We then started the process. Spoon feed, Bottle feed, Baths, diapers and.... nope, I left them naked!! I put on the girls tights, bloomers and shoes, put on the boys tall socks, got Hannah Noelle completely dressed except for her dress and off we went. We have to take two cars because we only fit 7 in the van and Andrea is always our right hand lady and that makes 8. She had HN with her. We made it about 5 miles up the road and I start looking around the van... Blankets, check, bottles, check, babies, check, dedication clothes, check, diaper bag, um, where's the diaper bag? Andrea probably has it. Whew, I'm glad I called her! No diaper bag to be found. Andrea makes a U-e and heads back to the house to get the diaper bag. We had an uneventful ride to the church which, of course, included two poopies!! When we arrived at the church we had the system ready, diaper change, dress, pass off X 4. Andrea arrived right as we were dressing the last baby. Matt and I each had two babies in tow, Andrea carried the diaper bag and bottle bag and Hannah Noelle walked like the biggest big sister you've ever seen!! I had an enormous flood of emotions as I walked in with my precious babies for the first time into the very church I had walked into at the age of 8 for the first time! We were greeted by so many people who had been patiently waiting to catch a glimpse!
There were several special people there today some of which included my mom, Joy (Me-Mom), my dad, Adrian (Pe-Pop), Matt's mom Phyllis (Nana) and her husband, Curt (Papa), Matt's dad Bruce (Paw-Paw) and his wife, Bobbie (B-B). My brother, Stephen (Coach), my sister-in-law, Kristy (Kae-Pae), my nephew, Jayce, my sister, Andrea (Pae-Pae) and her boyfriend, Dan (Mister Dan). Alexa (Aunt Lexa), Phillip (Uncle Pill-Up), Mrs. Julia (Me-Maw) Taris and Corey (Bubba). Micheal, April (Apie), Kaleigh (K-K), Jimmy and Laura Grace. Also in attendance at my request was Wendy Hardin Copeland and all of her family down from Jackson to sing one of my all time favorite songs! And if I do say so myself, Girl, You Rocked It!!!! There were many other special people there and I know I've missed listing a few (Sorry!)
The dedication was AWESOME! The babies did great minus a minor fight over Lauren's paci! She nor Avery regularly take pacis, but for some reason right in the middle of the dedication they got in a fight over it! Matt had the boys and had Cannon positioned awkwardly and at one point I looked over and Gunner was on Matt's hip and Cannon was down by his knees! I was for sure he was fixing to drop him. He did an amazing juggling act and up Cannon came and the congregation burst into claps and laughter! People always call us a
Side Show anyway, guess Matt made us live up to our name!
The babies normally spoon feed at 11 and bottle feed at 12. Church started at 10:55. I was FOR SURE we wouldn't make it through church. Church actually lasted until 12:30 and I think we had one whimper and a laugh or two! Lauren was asleep on Me-Mom's chest, Avery was asleep in my lap, Gunner was asleep on Matt's lap and Cannon was asleep in Uncle Pill-Up's arms. I was so proud of my babies! We took pictures, played baby swap and hit the road for my brother's house for lunch.
We stayed at Coach's for an AWESOME dinner my sister-in-law cooked, let Jayce and Hannah Noelle have their Easter Egg Hunt and we loaded up, yet again, and headed to Matt's Aunt Greta's house. We arrived there all in good moods and got to enjoy the company of his mom, step-dad, Aunt Greta, Uncle Darnell, Old Grandpa (Matt's grandfather) and Ms. Elouise. I love it when we re-introduce them to Old Grandpa and he says, well, you know I'll never remember! He sits in amazement every time he sees them. After a little dessert we figured we better head home before the 6:00 spoon feed. The drive from Aunt Greta's to our home is only about 6 minutes and THANK GOODNESS it's not much longer! They were officially over being good and were in meltdown mode!! We came in, changed them, spoon fed them and decided today was a day for schedule breaking anyway, they had not had their naps, let's just put them down. They all fell asleep immediately. In the best interest of not having a 3 am wake-up call we got them up individually at around 9, changed their diapers and gave them their night-night bottle. They are sound asleep now!
All in all, it couldn't have been any better! I'm so proud that as a family we had another accomplishment! I'm proud that the babies acted like they did actually have some home-training :) I'm proud and overjoyed at the love and support from all of our family and friends! This was an Easter to remember!!!!
Have a Great Week!!
P.S. I can't believe I forgot this! We got concrete on Friday and they completely framed up the house on Saturday! We're told to expect, weather permitting, the trusses done tomorrow and windows, doors, walls, etc. by the end of the week!!
Cannon complete with diaper and socks!
Gunner also sporting his diaper and socks!
Lauren in her headband, diaper, tights and bloomers!
Avery kicked back in the nakie like Lauren!
The Cochran Crew
We made it the first five minutes!! Woo Hoo!
Avery stealing Lauren's paci!
Lauren taking her paci back!!
Uncle Pill-Up and Cannon
Apie and Lauren
Daddy and Avery
Laura Grace and a VERY SCARED Lauren!
Mary and Avery
Jim-Bo and Gun-Man
Me-Mom and Lauren
Cochran Crew Part Deux
Cochran Crew Part Deux, Take 2
Cochran Crew Part Deux, Take 3
Me-Mom & Pe-Pop
Aunt Lexa & Uncle Pill-Up
Lauren and Pae-Pae
Pae-Pae and Mister Dan
Daddy making G-Man laugh
Coach and HIS Avery
Big Sister, Hannah Noelle
Big Cousin, Jayce
Kae-Pae, Jayce and Coach
Avery trying to escape the madness!
Gunner and Daddy
HN finding eggs!
Jayce's Nana with Avery and Gunner
Sweet Smile!!
Avery Caroline
Lauren, Avery & Gunner
Old Grandpa with Lauren and Avery
Old Grandpa with Gunner and Cannon
The Fam!!
The Fam
This how Hannah Noelle sat on the way home!
ky and her dog, Buckles!
Aunt Lexa & Uncle Pill-Up
Lauren and Pae-Pae
Pae-Pae and Mister Dan
Daddy making G-Man laugh
Coach and HIS Avery
Big Sister, Hannah Noelle
Big Cousin, Jayce
Kae-Pae, Jayce and Coach
Avery trying to escape the madness!
Gunner and Daddy
HN finding eggs!
Jayce's Nana with Avery and Gunner
Sweet Smile!!
Avery Caroline
Lauren, Avery & Gunner
Old Grandpa with Lauren and Avery
Old Grandpa with Gunner and Cannon
The Fam!!
The Fam
This how Hannah Noelle sat on the way home!
