It is 5:30 am, and, for the first time since arriving home, I think I could have possibly slept an hour longer. Jet lag has affected me much more than Chad (who is out running and doing kettle bells at the gym). With Cooper being really sick the first few days, he would wake up in the wee hours of the morning. We would finally get his itching under control and get him back to sleep, and my body would tell me it was time to get up. It's amazing all one can accomplish from the hours of 4am-6:30am...and how little after 7pm....ZZZZZZ!
Speaking of Cooper, I feel remiss in not having posted more pictures by now. The above pic was taken in Ethiopia. I actually have taken very few since getting home. Until yesterday, there hasn't been much laughter or many smiles. Chicken pox have a way of doing that to a kid, I think. Two nights ago, Chad and I were at our wits end trying to make him comfortable. We have never seen a person writhe in pain and itchiness the way he was. He was exhausted but could not sleep, trying to scratch all the places that itched like a crazy person. We resorted to an oatmeal bath in the kitchen sink. Mind you, Cooper screams when we bathe him. This was obviously our last ditch effort in helping him. True to form, he screamed for the first seven minutes of the bath. Then he learned how to splash...and seemed much happier. We covered every square inch of him in calamine lotion, and he slept fitfully for a few hours. I am so happy to say he has slept through the night IN HIS CRIB two nights in a row! He is now one big scab.:)
In other news, C girl turned six on Monday! We had a birthday party Sunday afternoon here at our house. It was a wonderful day to spend with family (who all had chicken pox as children).
H and C had their Christmas concert last night at school. H was chosen to play Santa Claus and did a spectacular job. She even made her voice really low...I think she had some people fooled about her identity! C did a great job of singing enthusiastically, as seen in the picture below.
We are so happy these days, looking forward to all the fun the next couple weeks will bring, enjoying the fun today brings.
Cooper has become quite a kisser. His receptive language skills are mushrooming, and the word "kiss" has definitely been acquired! That pucker is just too cute. 
My stay at home boys are developing a unique relationship.....mostly loving, sometimes not.
C is my number one "go to girl" for entertaining Cooper when I need to accomplish something. All the kids do a great job with him, though!
the oh-so-handsome Bailey twins
You don't even want to know:)
Family Chaos
Cousin Jack loves Cooper
The Whole Bradfield Gang.....who will be the next sister to add to the family? (M?)
Christmas at our house this year seemed to sneak up on us for a few reasons. The obvious reason is that we were in Rwanda and Ethiopia for over two weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then, as we were gearing up for our "normal" Christmas routine, we received weather forecasts that caused major changes in travel plans. We expedited our family Christmas and left for Gram and Papa Spore's house well ahead of schedule. While our schedule was different than planned, we had a wonderful time with our families. Introducing Cooper to some of his aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins for the first time was such a special time. 
