Christmas 2011- All "wrapped" up!

If you thought you outgrew the magic of Christmas; you are allowed to experience the joy and excitement all over again once you have children. There is a great anticipation of the season the moment you see the first decoration adorned, see the light displays and listen to the Christmas songs that bring back warm safe feelings of your past childhood.  I love hearing about family traditions and we are discovering ours. One of our traditions we started when Cayman was a baby was to read and discuss the Christmas story, the birth of Christ, on Christmas Eve. Brent and I also started the tradition when Cayman was a baby that each year at Thanksgiving each child would get to open a gift and it would be this year's Christmas pajamas...which tend to be warn just about every night! I'm sure as the kids grow older we will introduce more traditions into their lives. Our Christmas was so full of laughing, over-eating yummy Christmas goodies, sleeping by the Christmas tree, driving around looking at Christmas lights and dancing to the light shows! We can wrap these memories up now and get ready for another exciting year of what ever comes our way! 

Cohen 2 1/2 yrs.

Clairen 10 weeks

Cayman 5 1/2 yrs.

Downtown riverwalk

Downtown river taxi light tour with our friends.

Cayman's Kindergarten Christmas Party.

Our family Christmas theme this year was called "OH HO" because Cohen loves to see Santas...
he calls them "OH HO's."
We found this house in Edmond that had lights choreographied to music. The kids would dance
and go crazy to the music and light show so we made MANY nightly visits after dinner.

2011 Gingerbread house.

Christmas morning just before opening gifts! 

Bapa got Cohen his first Train set. What a neat thing
they can do together as Cohen grows! 

Cayman was so excited for Grammy to open
up Clairen's charm.

Their first matching outfits! Wow, is Cayman so proud!


We had a great Christmas and hope yours was too! 

Growing so Big-3 months old

You at 3 months!

You smile all day long and started laughing!

You sleep from 7pm-7am without waking up!!
( This started at 10 weeks old)

You eat at 7am, 10 am, noon, 4pm, 6pm, snack at 7pm.

You love taking showers! You get so relaxed and even start cooing!

You love to hang out with me in the Moby wrap and would
 rather see what is going on.

Still refuse a pacifier.


We love your chubby cheeks, double chin and rolls of fat!

Love the toothless grins!

Your sweet disposition and easy going spirit brings an assuring peace to our family. The fun has only begun and we look forward to watching your inward beauty grow even more than your outward beauty. 
.... I love you
                   Mom

Merry Christmas

We hope you find many things to be grateful for and experience the peacefulness of the season.
Merry Christmas and blessings to you in the New Year!
Love,
Brent, Michelle, Cayman,
 Cohen & Clairen Casey

Growing So Big- 2 months old

You at 2 months:

1.  10 pounds 8 oz. 22.5 inches long.

 2. Started smiling at 4-5 weeks old!

3. Very content and happy baby unless you are hungry.

4.  You are waking up once in the night( most of the time)- usually around 3-3:30am.

5.  Started "cooing" at 5-6 weeks old.

6. Love to be propped up on my shoulder to look around. 

7. Great attitude- seem to be tolerating the "love smothering" from big sister and brother pretty well. 

8. Getting strong- at times you try to roll over!

9. Would rather be held and part of the crowd.

10. Eating at 7am, 9:45-10am, 12pm, 3:30-3:45pm, 6pm, 3am

11. Napping at 8:30-9:45am, 10:30-noon, 1-3:30, ( 4-6 is still confusing for you- if in the car seat you sleep the entire time, but at home sometimes you want to be awake.)
11.  You don't want to be swaddled anymore, but still love to cuddle!

12. Irresistible! 

You are so loved and truly are irresistible. We love your chubby cheeks. Daddy has nicknamed you "Sweet Cheeks." You started smiling early and it is so fun to sit and talk to you and watch you respond to my voice and expressions. I can't get enough of you little cupcake...even when you are sleeping; I wait anxiously for you to wake up just so I can hold you again.
Love you,
              mom

I would like to invite you to view pictures at http://www.lindseybrooksphotography.com. They are located at http://lindseybrooksphotography.com/photocart. 


When you go to the website click the Access Gallery link and enter in the access code below:


 Access code: clairennew


After you do that you will be able to view these pictures. 

Cohen's 1st Dental Appointment

Cohen has always been good about doing what authority figures ask him to do...figured this would be the same way. He tried to charm his way out of getting his teeth examined and for the most part it worked! Even "Mr. Thirsty" ( suction), and "Silly Straw" (water pick) couldn't get him to keep his mouth open too long, but it all ended with a very healthy smile as you can see!!

YOU ONLY HAVE 5 SECONDS SO MAKE IT GOOD!

ONE BIG HEALTHY SMILE!!

Growing So Big- 1 month old

It was only 1 month ago that Clairen came into our lives. 

Life has been adjusted once again and the meaning of completeness has become more real. Even though her presence in this world has been very brief, her little personality is blossoming and

we are discovering more about this little angel.  

A Normal Day:

1. I wake up around 6:30-7am- Eat!

2. I like to stay awake until sissy goes to school (8:30- 8: 45)

3. I nap from  8: 30- 10am.

4. Eat- 10am

5. Sleep 10:30- 12pm

6. Eat 12pm

7. Sleep 1pm-3:30-4pm

8. Eat 3:30/4pm

9. 4pm-6pm. This is the time of day I am trying to
 figure out. Sometimes I like to nap and sometimes I am awake.  

10. Eat- 6/6:30pm 

11. Bedtime 7pm

12. Sleep 7:30- midnight

13. Eat- midnight

14. Sleep- midnight - 3:30/4pm

15. Eat -4pm

16. Sleep 4pm- 6:30am

You are:
9 lbs
*adaptable
*patient
*easy going
*a mommy's girl
*good sleeper
*content
*cry when you first get in your car seat 
*love to sit up or be held on my shoulder 
to look around. 
*a swaddler
* refuse a pacifier
*intrigued by your big sister

A busy day deserves a peaceful
 sleep.  Our lives couldn't be 
happier without you, cupcake!

We love you!

Goodnight,

                 mom

Until we meet again, my beloved Gran.

   I feel so fortunate to have had such a warm, cozy,  "Gran" in my life whose sarcasm demonstrated a deep love for those who excepted it.  She was the highlight of our holiday gatherings, family parties and life events.  My heart is full of childhood memories from the greasy yet so yummy hamburgers she fixed every Saturday night to the Parmesan Cheese popcorn she served us grandkids as a fun treat! She supported her entire family no mater what circumstance they were going through.  

The absence of her presence has left a void in our hearts, but the warm strong hugs, soft grandmotherly wet kisses on the cheek and tender "I love you, honey" have been forever imprinted in our lives. 

I love you forever, Gran! We will meet again someday!

Wilma Jean Schapka

12/09/ 1927- 10/20/2011

83 years

"Table for 5, Please"

Sisters and Best Friends Forever!

Clairen's Bodyguard!

Cayman (5), Clairen (1 day), Cohen (2)

A partnership and commitment to raising Clairen

to be a strong woman of integrity and follower of Christ.

A daddy's heart can only handle so much cuteness!

It's a Girl!!

Our family would like to introduce you to our

precious new daughter...

Clairen Marinda Casey

7.0 pounds

19.5 inches

4:47pm

September 29, 2011


Where did you get her name?  
 We wanted to keep the
"C" theme and together made up the name Clairen.  Marinda is a combination
between our mom's names, Marva & Linda.  Both of our moms portray a strong yet 
peaceful strength, demonstrate a self-sacrificing love and have a deep understanding
of what God intended to be the most beautiful profession on earth, a mother! Although Linda has gone to be with the Lord, Clairen as well as all our children will know her as if she
were still here with us. 

Welcome Fall!

"Yimmy" was hungry!

Notice the brown layer on the top of Swimmy's aquarium! Cohen decided that "Yimmy"

was hungry and therefore took it upon himself to feed Cayman's pet fish the entire container of fish food! 

I managed to rescue Swimmy before he was accused of gluttony! 

Walking in Style

Much like her daddy and I, Cayman is a planner and has big plans for her life. I love the ambition and enthusiasm of our 5 year old. She plans on being a mommy, "baby doctor", artist,  and own a cupcake store. Soon Cayman will outgrow these shoes and they will be replaced with others, but her beautiful person will never be replaced.  We have committed ourselves to praying for everything concerning our children and to never impose our will, but rather God's will for their lives! 

A Glimpse of You

There was a moment in our lives this past week where fear crept into our hearts. My belly measurement was slightly below average. My doctor requested an ultrasound to make sure baby CC was growing and everything else was fine.  The results revealed that my amniotic fluid level was low. Normal levels are around 10 and mine was at 6.4. If the levels drop closer to 5 then baby has to be born because there is not enough fluid to protect the umbilical cord and baby could get stressed.  Baby CC was content and healthy.  I had to come back on Monday for the fluid to be rechecked. This weekend we prayed that God would take away our fear and replace it with peace, to keep baby CC healthy and content and to bring my amniotic fluid levels up.  The results 3 days later...

fluid levels rose to 10!!! God has everything under control, is still a miracle worker and loves

to bring joy and peace to His children. Refresh yourself in His peace. In this world we will have trials and distress, but Jesus has conquered this world and the power within it! Thank you God for giving us another glimpse of baby CC.

First day of School

I thought that one year in advance of mental preparation would make it easier to release Cayman on her first day of Kindergarten. The tears that rolled down my face and the void in my day proved me wrong.  She has welcomed Kindergarten with a confident spirit and a smile that fills her face each day she goes to school.  I couldn't ask for a better beginning to this exciting journey of 13 years of education.

Deer Creek Prairie Vale Elementary
Thursday, August 11, 2011

Waiting for school to start.

Cayman and her teacher, Mrs. Gallagher.

Saying Goodbye!

The enthusiasm of this charming little boy is very contagious! He has been patiently waiting his turn to go to "cool" since Cayman started Kindergarten.  He goes to Sonshine School 2 days a week now. I absolutely love this place! The children are so deeply loved and cherished. They receive Bible lessons, participate in arts and crafts, and have learning, social and nap time.  It was hard to leave knowing I would not have my little buddy to play with today, but the experience he will receive at this place makes up for my lonely heart!

Back packs on and ready to go!

First day of Sonshine School.
Tuesday, September 13, 2001

"Is too bight"

So proud to wear his back pack!