Here are some updates on the little ones in our household...
Cora Grace
Cora had her 2 month check-up with our pediatrician on Monday...I know it's a bit late for that but she's hard to get into around here! So as of Monday, our little girl is 13 lbs 2 ounces and 23 and a quarter inches long. This puts her in the 89% for weight and 72% for length! She's definitely growing up quickly...after having her measured, I realized why she's been having so much trouble keeping everything in her diaper lately...it's time to move up to the next size! I had her in size 1 diapers still but those only go up to 12.5 lbs...I didn't realize we had so much princess on our hands!!! Size 2 diapers will definitely start saving us a little time in the laundry room trying to get stains off her clothes :) She's also moved up to 3-6 month size clothes already!!! I can't believe how fast she's growing :) She's still nursing great after her 6 week use of the bottle due to thrush and though she still has a bit of thrush, the doctor says she expects it to go away now shortly without further use of medicine! Yeah!
Cole Bryan
Cole is my most active one right now...he is full of energy, emotion and curiosity as he makes it his mission daily that no toy or drum would go unplayed, no morsel of food go uneaten and no shoe in the house (including Daddy's) go unworn by his own two feet. He wakes up each morning ready to conquer the world and intent on each of us accompanying him on this journey! The first thing he does (still) when he wakes up each morning is go to the shoe box we have by the door, and with sleepy eyes, give everyone their shoes and demand that his be put on as well! He loves to be on the move and prefers we're with him, but has shown us many times he'll go with or without us!!! (We keep all the doors locked!) 
He is saying more and more sounds each week and has moved onto his favorite one being, "HOT!" He tells me this every time I put a steaming plate of food in front of him as he's watched me cook it on the HOT stove :) As I said, he loves to eat, so he's learned when it's HOT you have to wait! He's babbling more now and saying "da da da" and "ma ma ma" but we're not sure it's for us yet. Sounds are good and the first step to him learning to speak. As we continue to fill his days with language, we know more words are on their way :) He also says, "ba ba!" for "bye bye, " saying this each time we put his shoes on, even if there's nowhere to go! We love our boy :)
Ryder Daniel
Ryder is growing up so fast everyday and when John returned home from his conference, even he noticed a difference in Ry after 4 days of not seeing him! Ryder is saying the funniest things that are cracking us up, mostly because they make him sound so OLD! Some of my favorites lately...
- "Mom, where's my apple-cation?"...after explaining the application process for preschool to him and how we'll hear back from them soon.
- "Was that GOD?"...after hearing an announcement over the loud speaker at Wal-Mart.
- "That's my tic-ta-too!"...pointing to a karate tattoo given to him at the mom-son date night at church :)
- "Oh sure Dad! Why not?"...after John asks if he can bring his pencil sharpener to school that day.
He is reading Easy readers from the library...loves letters and words...favorite shows to watch are WordWorld and Super Why on PBS and points out letter sounds constantly in the middle of the day! He drew a "P" in the "sand" we have in a cookie sheet the other day and said, "Look, Mom...a P...like in the word 'POP' or 'PEAR!'" The funniest thing to me is that I have been less than intentional in helping him develop this skill...you'd think after being a teacher, I'd have him in some structured routine of learning, but I can assure you there is very little that remains structured around here for more than a day! It just goes to show me that God is working in him a love for learning that He'll continue to develop through more than ME over the years...it's good to let go of my controlling nature and see the hand of God work freely through my boy and his own exploration. :)
John Paul
Okay, so he's not one of my "little ones" but certainly an incredible member of this family and since the kids are still napping I can update you quickly on him too! John has about 4 more weeks of class this semester before summer break when we will be visiting our family and friends in CA!!! Yippee!!! When we return, John will work at a summer youth music camp for a while and the rest is to be determined at this point. He is beginning research for a study with hearing impaired students at Cole's school. He'll be studying about the way they acquire sound for one of his classes and is really loving this season of learning for him. I think he would say his greatest challenge is balancing it all...family, classes, conducting, concerts...but overall God is developing in him a deeper appreciation for music education and the process by which everyone can participate and benefit from the beauty of music. You can see our family is a definite example of that! 
As for me? If you have second or two, read the previous post...God is good in loving us right where we are but TOO much to leave us that way!!! I praise Him for His faithfulness to us!
I love every one of your postings, dear Danice, eventhough I rarely comment. :) Each of these postings are "legacy logs"; in 20 years they will be worth gold. Now? Gold for this Grammie! Praise Jesus for His increase in your family!