Four years ago...

Four years ago, I remember distinctly waking up and thinking "We must be the luckiest parents EVER!!"  Cohen was 4 days old and had just slept 7 straight hours.  Unheard of!  To this day her sleeping has always come easily and that statement is still true.  However, it is true because of so many more things.

  She is the sweetest child with such a loving heart.  She has recently become open to showing her affection with hugs and cuddling.  This was a long time coming.  She has a determination that is fierce.  It shows through all of her accomplishments and we know there will be many days ahead that her determination will get her through.  Nobody can ever look at her and not smile.  She looks at you with those big brown eyes and says, "What's your name?"  She doesn't really care your name but if she gets your attention with that you better pull up a chair because she has tons to tell you.  She's in charge. All. the. time.  I know I said she is sweet and loving but remember determined?  When you put those 3 all together, we turn to mush and yes, we do what we are told :)

This picture is what Cohen looks like when she says "Cheese!"  We also get this look-minus the smile-when she gets mad with us.  We call it her "Marie" face (only my family will understand!) 

It literally tore at my heart to miss her birthday Friday.  We had a family birthday party for her at home Sunday that I got to celebrate with her.  But she has so many people that love her and they made her real birthday so, so special.  She spent the day at the Pumpkin Patch with her classmates and BeBe.  She went and ate lunch with Aunt Deborah and Bebe and then picked up Kinson to go eat ice cream.  Her day ended with Nana, Uncle Bo, BeBe, and Kinson taking her to the neighborhood Halloween party and eat Hibachi and sushi. Yes, the girl can eat some sushi, chopsticks and all! Her birthday continued Saturday at the Boo Zoo party. Wonder why she is in charge??

Cohen has continued to flourish in language and speech these last few months.  Her biggest accomplishment is singing.  The skill began to emerge at the end of last school year and has continued this year.  She loves to sing "ABC's" and the "Days of the week."  She spends at least 15 minutes while in bed singing her heart out!  She has over 20 sounds now and they have began combining them into words i.e. "t""oo"= two.  This is still hard for her.  She can says an isolated sound well but she usually leaves off the beginning or ending sound when saying full words.  We can see so many improvements in other areas too.  She started receiving PT services in September for some gross motor deficits.  In a few short weeks, she can run a little less clumsy and climb steps bringing both feet up to 1 step, without holding on.  

We still know we are the luckiest parents ever to be chosen to be HER parents.  She brings more joy into our lives than we could ever imagine.  She has shown us how much courage and strength a little person can have.  We have learned from her.  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!