Saturday, December 25, 2010

Santa Truck & Christmas Day

We always start off our Christmas week with the "Santa Truck". Our fire chief, Wayne, first started this tradition years ago, and it has become a yearly tradition throughout the area. I always enjoy doing the Santa truck, because there are some children in our area who don't even get a tree for Christmas (let alone toys). We don't have enough money in our funds to get hundreds of kids toys for Christmas, but the one thing we can give is parade. Depending on how may people show up, we take our 2 or 3 fire trucks with the Santa sleigh. The sleigh is decorated in lights, Santa waves (while saying his ho-ho-ho's), and his helpers give out treat bags to the kiddo's. We do this 3 nights in a row, to make sure everyone gets some candy and a chance to see Santa. The third night is, by far, the most embellished night of all. As we go across the causeway, the people that live on Burnside Island meet us. They drive their cars, 4-wheelers, golf carts, or whatever else they can find (of course they are COVERED in lights). The video below doesn't do much justice, but it is an amazing sight to see. We enjoy it every year, and are glad to give the children in our area some happiness, even if for just a few moments.

Santa Truck from Sara Cotter on Vimeo.



As for Christmas morning, I thought Christopher would be more excited to open his presents. He let me down!! "Tear the paper", I say. "Open the presents". Nope, all he cared about was the snazzy new tricycle that Mimi got for him. I have learned my lesson. Next year Mimi's gifts are hidden, until he opens Mommy's. Hehehe!! Once he opened his gifts, and realized how TOTAL GREAT they were, he got in the swing of it.The video below is of his train set. It takes up a good portion of the living room, and we didn't even use all of the pieces. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, and has a great New Year.
-The Cotters

Christopher's Train from Sara Cotter on Vimeo.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Tis The Season....

...for holiday photos. I love this time of year, especially when the Christmas lights are out. Jeff and I made a last minute decision to get our family Christmas pictures taken today. Off we went to Portrait Innovations. Their photos ALWAYS turn out so great, and Christopher usually has a good time. Below is the finished product of today's event.




































































Saturday, November 27, 2010

Chestnuts on an Open Fire....

.....well, not so much. I love decorating for the Holidays, Christmas just happens to be my favorite. Not because of toys, food, or shopping. Mostly because, I remember being little and having every one of my family members in one house, usually Grandmas.

It was always nutty (hence the chestnuts), but there was NEVER a dull moment. On any given Christmas get together there would be 23, or more, people together in one place. I remember playing games with my cousins, watching Grandma cook (like a pro) for a small army, and Grandpa sleeping away in the recliner. We never heard a peep from Grandpa, unless one of us did something that was beyond Grandma's stern words. All of my aunts would be chatting around the house, and my uncles watching football. I can hear the laughter emanating from all over the house, and smell; what was always the best food I had ever tasted.

I miss those Holidays. I miss my large family, and the wonderful sounds. We don't make it up home very often, and when we are there it's always a rush. Trying to make sure we get everyone squeezed in to such a small amount of time.

This year we won't be going home. We have decorated, and plan to spend our Christmas here. Jeff is having surgery next week, and this doesn't allow for any traveling. I'm glad that we won't have to rush this year, and Christopher can spend Christmas in bed. He will have his Grandma, and Pawpaw (who just got home from Afghanistan) to play and start their own memories. Meanwhile, I will be remembering my own.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


Sunday, November 21, 2010

Fish!

Christopher is obsessed with them. I first noticed his liking of them a few months ago, and it has since become his 2nd favorite thing (next to cleaning). This has only been made worse by the winning of Fin and Gil at the fair 2 weekends ago.

Christopher now wakes up every morning, intent on seeing these fish (who were originally named Friend and Gin). It is almost like he has become so intrigued that any deviation from the routine absolutely RUINS his day. That brings in a whole new issue of the two year old tantrums. He is in full blown toddler terror most of the time.


Anyhow, returning to the fish. Jeff is on midnights this month, so during the day he sleeps. This is normally not a problem with Christopher being at daycare, and me at work. On the weekends, however we have to find something to do outside of the house. Normally this includes going to my mom's and waiting for Jeff to wake up. Today was different! I wanted to do something fun with Christopher, that he has not yet been able to do. Earlier this week I thought of taking him back to the zoo, but with his ears being infected, that was OUT. Friday, I stumbled across the aquarium in Charleston, SC. I thought to my self, "Fish, he loves fish". Proceeding with buying the tickets, I was consumed with happiness as I thought about how much Christopher would enjoy this.

Saturday night comes, and Jeff is getting ready for work. I brought up the website to show Jeff what was at the aquarium for Christopher to do. Looking at Jeff's face, I could tell he was upset we would be going without him. We decided that if he got home, and was not dead tired, he would tag along. At 7:00am Jeff was home, and wide awake. He would join Christopher and I on this date planned to LET.HIM.SLEEP...

To make a long blog, that seems to be growing by the minute, short; We enjoyed the aquarium immensely. Christopher couldn't decide where to go first, and was fast asleep within a few minutes on the ride home (and so was daddy!). These are some of the photos from the trip today..

Friday, October 29, 2010

A Halloween Adventure

It has been a hectic week. We started in our new building with patients on Monday, and by Wednesday we had booked a couple surgeries, and were getting into the swing of things.

This past weekend, while taking supplies to the new office, we stopped off at a pumpkin patch to get Christopher a well... pumpkin. He tried out several (reminded me of goldilocks trying out beds) before he found the one he wanted. The man was very nice, even after Christopher dropped a pumpkin and broke the stem. The pumpkin didn't get carved until last night, but it looked great.

Tonight was trick-or-treating on post, and Christopher was a pro this year. He walked up to every door with a smile and said, "Tic Treat". His costume this year was his favorite BARNEY, and he was quite popular for it. Every little kid he passed wanted to hug him or sing to him. Savannah was Jessie from Toy Story, and Jacob was Batman.
They all had a great time, and made it home with Bags full of candy.

It has been a few weeks since my last post, and in that time Mike and Kim had a beautiful baby boy. Nolan James Cotter has now joined our family of boys. I wish I could go visit, but until spring, photos will have to do. Congrats Mike and Kim!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

2 Years Down

Christopher turned 2 yesterday, and Mommy is relieved it's over. There was a lot of running around involved, but the day was very special. I would like to think Christopher is secretly applauding Daddy, Maw-maw, and I for all the hard work.

The day started out with Mimi and I running here there and everywhere getting last minute items for Christopher and the parties. We met Mom at JcPenny and went to Target in search of Christopher's now favorite toy (the sweeper). Once we had everything we needed, we were off to the daycare for Christopher's party there.

Daddy couldn't make it, and Pawpaw Don wouldn't have enjoyed it much, so Mimi and I went alone. The kids had just gotten up from their naps, and were ready for some sugar. Christopher wanted no part of the party hat (neither did most of the kids)! The cupcakes we made were a big hit, and all of the little ones LOVED Mimi. When we tried to leave, she had 5 of them attached to her (see the photos below), tee hee hee. Christopher went back to the house with Mimi while I headed to Mom's to decorate for his family party.




Christopher's party theme was Elmo. He is obsessed with Barney right now, but I was unsuccessful at finding any purple dinosaurs. Christopher had a great time, and was even happy to let Savannah and Mikail open presents with him. Although when it came down to playing with the toys, all of them were not too happy with sharing.



A great day, and my little guy is not so little anymore.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

It's October!!!



This year has gone by so fast. Christopher turns two in a few weeks and I am in NO WAY prepared. It has been a busy month! I started working with a new doctor, Jeff switched shifts, and Christopher has been making big strides in Toddler-Ville.

In May our director of operations told me that a new doctor was starting with our practice, and asked if I would be interested in being his M.A. He didn't start working until last month, but we have already gotten a good patient base in Bluffton. Our new office is almost built, and I can’t wait to move in.

Jeff finally switched shifts!!! He is home every evening, and we couldn't be more thrilled.
Christopher likes spending time with Jeff, and I like seeing my baby happy (and spending time with Jeff!).

Christopher will be two soon, and he is showing it. His tantrums are getting funnier every day. Just recently he started showing interest in the potty, and has become very good at telling me when he needs to go. There are times when he is having to much fun, and forgets. He loves his uncle Jacob too! Christopher follows Jacob around like a puppy on a string.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

S'Mores

Tonight was Christopher's first taste of Smores. He was a little skeptical of them at first, but as soon as he had a taste, it was love at first bite.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Big Guy

Christopher will be turning two soon, and as we get closer to that day I fret about it even more. I don't want to believe my little guy is growing up. Every day he learns new things and surprises me with new words, and adventures. It has been a while since he has actually let me sit him down and take a few pictures of him. It has also been a while since he would sit in a basket for the aforementioned. I hope you enjoy these, as they will probably be the last of such pictures ;)

Afternoon Fun

It has been the BEST weekend in some time. Christopher and I have been able to go exploring more, because we finally bought me a car. We have been driving around and visiting places we wouldn't normally be able to go without Jeff. I don't think I have seen Christopher so excited to just randomly ride around to listening to music.

Tonight we cleaned the car out (it got dirty when two random dogs jumped in at Robyn's house). Christopher was outside without his shirt on, playing in the water from the hose. I love the many faces I get from him in a few minutes time. He has become my little buddy in crime, as he can do whatever he pleases and get away with it.



Thursday, August 26, 2010

An Update

It's been a while, and our family has had quite a bit of things happening lately. Christopher went to his first baseball game, we have been looking for a house, I started with a new doctor, and Christopher has wanted to play like there is no tomorrow (which is why blogging is on the back burner).

The baseball game was a huge success. It was our company picnic, and the sand gnats pulled out an awesome win. Christopher went for a lot of walks, but was amazing and behaved well the entire time. The end of the game was the best. There was a man trying to set a world record by lighting himself on fire and running the bases. He was successful! After that was the fireworks and Christopher's bedtime.

House hunting is always fun. I like going to different places and seeing how each house is differs from others that we have seen. Hopefully by next spring we will find something we like, and move in. The closer I can be to my new office, the better.

That brings me to the new job. Wednesday I was offered a new position being the primary MA for a new surgeon in our group. He will be working in Hilton Head (and so will I). I went today to set up our temporary office. Our building will not be finished until November, but we have been set up in a nice building for the meantime. Dr. Sutherland is right out of residency, and moved here with his wife and adorable little girl Isabella. She and I hung out for a while today and played on PBS kids while Dr. Sutherland took care of some business at home with his new dog. A great start to a new beginning!

Christopher has been getting very funny lately. I know it's going to get better as he gets older, but some of the things he is doing now makes me so happy to see him growing and learning. I loves to sing, and play hide n' seek. He knows how to count forward and backward to 10, and has 19 letters down pat. As far as the "sickies" go, we are on a 5 week stretch without ANY issues! We are so grateful to Dr. Moretz for making our little boy feel better, and getting him back to normal.

Below are some of the pictures taken lately, enjoy ;)


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Hiking with My Boys

After work tonight Jeff and I took Christopher for a nature hike at Skidaway State Park, and a picnic at the park there. The weather was very nice today a "cool" 85 degrees, with no rain in the forecast. We couldn't ask for a better day to take Christopher for a hike.

Before we went on our hike, we had a picnic at the playground in the park. Christopher couldn't care less about eating. He was to excited to play at the park that nothing else mattered to him. He even went down the slide for the first time by himself.

We have not taken him on a hike for over a year, and he was very happy to see all the different things along the way. He kept asking, "What's that"? He really liked the big palm leaves, and along the path were numbered posts (to tell you what the type of tree was that they were in front of). Christopher picked out the number 13 as his favorite, and even was refusing to leave the post for a few minutes.