Trey - 1 month old!

We have been with Trey for only one short month, but he has already made a huge mark on our family. We can't get over what a good little guy he is! He knows when it's night time and sleeps great at night. We comment every day on his red hair, blue eyes, and adorable dimples! He is a good mix of both Will & Levi, and most people say that he is for sure a 'Sheets'. We look forward to seeing what the next month holds for us and this handsome little guy!

the blue eyes...kill me every time! : )

After his bath last night he kept making some goofy faces!

Trey Vinson has arrived!

Now that Trey is one month old, I guess it’s finally time for me to announce his birth on the blog! At 12:22pm on August 30^th, 2011, Trey entered the world. I was blessed with a fantastic c-section (much different from Will & Levi’s birth), and it was pretty fun to hear what the Doctor and nurses said about him before I could even see him. Our doctor said something along the lines of ‘wow, look at all that red hair!’, and then he said ‘he is giving me some serious stares.’ When he mentioned the red hair, I was thinking that it was probably brown with a little red tint to it. Boy was I wrong! Trey definitely has red hair, and at my first glimpse of him, I was shocked at just how red it was! Where did that come from?! If that wasn’t a big enough surprise, he also has blue eyes! I know that this could change, but I am going to enjoy every day that I get to stare into his big, blue eyes. His other stats at birth were: 7lbs. 15 oz., 19.5 inches, and a set of healthy lungs : )

Before...

After!

Such a sweet face!

Dr. T with his newest delivery

My first time to hold Trey. I was in.love.

Our first family picture as a family of 5!
The boys ran into the recovery room and announced that his name was Trey Vinson. They thought that I didn't know what his name was yet : )

Sunday, Sept. 4th
Our first big outing was to church. I was feeling great and ready for some fresh air. Trey slept the whole time.

Snuggle time!

It's hard to keep Will & Levi away from their baby brother. They love to be close to him, sing him songs, kiss his head, and try to make him smile. It's adorable!

Trey at one week old. One of the few times he was awake during his first week of life. This boy loves to sleep!

Trey at two weeks old. You can kind of see his big blue eyes.

W & L helping to bathe T. 3 weeks old.

This first month of Trey’s life has been a much easier transition than I ever expected it to be. He is such a good baby- eats well, sleeps great at night, and rarely ever cries! He loves to snuggle with anyone who wants to hold him, and he doesn’t mind the constant noise and activity that his two big brothers create for him. Speaking of those two guys, Will & Levi have been incredible big brothers. Will has become the little expert at burping Trey, and Levi loves to help me change diapers. In fact, Levi woke up a few nights ago around 3am just to help me change a diaper. Once he was done, he went back to his bed to sleep. It was precious! They have stepped up as little men of the house and surprised me on every level. I feel bad that I can’t spend as much time with them as I used to, but they have been so flexible about it all. What a true blessing!

In his short life, Trey has already experienced a lot! We took him to the West Texas Fair and Rodeo when he was two weeks old. He slept through most of it, but I’m sure he loved it! Then at three weeks old, he traveled to the metroplex. We stayed with my parents and introduced Trey to my oldest brother and family, the Burton Bunch, and my home-church family. He was a great traveler, which is a must with our busy little family! Most days though have been pretty relaxed and peaceful at home.

I can’t believe one month has already passed since he was born. We are all in love with Trey-man, Treyburn, T-man. He is the perfect addition to our family.

pics courtesy of Hannah Vickers Photography

iPhone Pics

Just a few pics from my iPhoto library...

Levi after a friends' birthday party. Goofball!



Backyard baseball! Our lab, Duke, is the perfect outfielder. He goes after every ball and brings it right back to the pitcher. It's awesome! Both boys like to be Josh Hamilton and take turns hitting home runs.



This was around 2am the other night. I was walking around the house trying to relieve restless leg, and this is what I found when I checked on the boys.



The past few days have brought cooler temps (not triple digits) and rain! It has been so nice to play outside in all the puddles!


Also, special thanks to Mo for the new blog look!

-sorry for any typos. I did this post from my phone...

Just for Fun...

Here I am at 37ish weeks pregnant. Feeling good! (Hoping that this guy is a big baby)

And, here I am at 37 weeks with Will & Levi. This was taken a day before their delivery.

Several people have asked how this pregnancy has differed than with the twins. I had a great pregnancy with the boys, and this pregnancy hasn't been all that different. This go around I have had less heart burn, less swelling, and better sleep at night (thanks to some sleeping aids). I had about the same amount of nausea at the beginning of each pregnancy, but I was WAY more tired when I carried the twins. I had to take a nap every day, and I don't feel nearly as tired this go around. I have had consistent back pain this pregnancy, and that is by far my biggest complaint. I've just had to get used to it, but every time I lift my right leg my whole back has a shooting pain. Not cool considering I have to lift my leg every time I walk.

I craved veggies and any form of potatoes with the twins, and my 'fix' this pregnancy has been cold fruit, Sonic strawberry/banana smoothies, and Blue Bell Rocky Road ice cream. I'm trying to keep it in that order, but sometimes a pint of ice cream can solve all the days' problems! : )

I am starting to have a few contractions a day (I think....it's hard for me to tell if they are contractions or just big movements, but I'm pretty sure they're contractions). It's fun to try and guess which baby body part is bulging out of my belly at different times. There's one spot that is always sticking out, and I'm pretty sure that's his bottom. Will & Levi like to come up to me and kiss it, and then they always laugh hysterically because they kissed his bottom! Ahh...those kind of jokes never get old : )

Delivery via c-section is still set for August 30th unless I go into labor. Then I have the choice of VBAC or c-section. Anyone out there done vbac? Give me your feedback...on your vbac...ha- that rhymed!

Oh yeah, we have a name picked out!!! But you'll have to wait...it's a secret : )

The Little Men of the House

Before this new little guy arrives into our family, I wanted to write down some thoughts about Will & Levi. Things are going to get a little bit crazier around here, and I'd like to remember some things about the boys before the hazy cloud of infant-hood attacks my memory!



To change it up, I'll start with Levi.

Although both boys love to snuggle with me, Levi comes by it more naturally. There is something in his nature that wants to be physically very close to me. He knows exactly when I need it too. He is quick to notice when I am tired and will offer to massage my feet. When I am putting him down at night, he usually asks to play with my hair and tickle my face. At random times he will say, "Mom, you're beautiful." He really can melt my heart on the spot! Not many people get to see this side of Levi because he is also all boy. He is very into pretend play these days, and sword fights, hunting, scaring off the bad guys, and jumping off of couches and chairs is a part of his everyday life! Although he likes to wake up earlier than Will every morning, I really do enjoy the one-on-one time with Levi. Maybe it has to due with the fact that he comes into our room every morning, kisses me on the cheek, says 'good morning mommy, i love you, can you make my be-breakfast?'. Now that starts my day off right! Speaking of be-breakfast...Levi has begun to add 'be' in front of lots of words. There's no rhyme or reason, but some of these words include: berage (garage), besaster (disaster), beventure (adventure), befridge (fridge). I know there are others, but the other two speech mishaps are pretty funny too. He has always said 'yorgit' instead of yogurt, and his cousin is Caytin instead of Petyon. Zach and I find ourselves using some of his words a lot too. I even wrote down 'yorgit' on my shopping list the other day!
Levi still has the BEST belly laugh. This is wrong, but sometimes I tickle him just to hear him laugh. It is pure joy! Although we talk about baby brother all the time, Levi still has days where he talks about his baby sister in my belly. I'm going to laugh (and then freak out) if he is right and this baby is a girl! I am beginning to hope, for his sake, that our Rwandan baby will be a girl. He wants a sister so badly! And knowing his protective/softy mix, he would be the perfect big brother to a girl.
Levi dresses himself every day, and he usually has a pretty good eye for style! There are some articles that he is particularly fond of...tall socks (although they don't have to match), basketball shorts, a hat on backwards, and even in these hot summer days he likes to wear pants with his 'flats' shoes. He has to change clothes with every changing activity- basketball clothes to play b-ball, baseball stuff for baseball, and he even has scooter clothes for when he wants to go outside and ride his scooter! This makes for lots of laundry and lots of laughs. Apparently Zach was the exact same way as a kid, and he really hasn't grown out of it!
Levi has a tenacity for life coupled with a sensitive spirit. I can't wait to see how he uses those qualities in his life and in his ministry.





Will Cotton has changed quite a lot from his younger years : ). He used to be a very serious baby who spent a lot of time trying to figure out the world with an intense stare. I guess he got it all figured out in the first few years because he is now a total goofball! (Here's a great story about that....one night I was tucking the boys into bed and it was prayer time. Levi's prayer was 'God, I just don't understand this world. I just can't believe it. Amen.' Then, without hesitation, Will said, 'God, I do understand this world and I do believe it.' I sat there stunned and confused for a few seconds until one of them said 'goodnight mom'. Then I left the room to tell Zach and we had a good laugh together. I mean seriously! WHAT?!?) He and Levi can both makes us laugh, but Will has a witty sense of humor that catches us off guard and gets great reactions from us. He also has this dimpled grin that can get him out of all sorts of trouble. Like Levi, Will loves to have sword fights, fight off bad guys, and hunt for all sorts of crazy animals, but Will's favorite activity is still basketball. He loves to shoot hoops, and he actually practices all sorts of moves and shots that he sees on TV. Just last night he showed me his new lay-up, and he has the correct form and everything! He spends lots of time working on form and making his shots. It's actually kind of crazy how good he is. (but maybe I'm a bit biased)
Sometimes I call Will my teenager because of how late he likes to sleep in. For a while there I would go in and wake him up between 9:30-10 every morning! He is also a man of consistency. He likes peanut butter toast for breakfast EVERY morning. I can offer him all sorts of stuff, but peanut butter toast will usually win (pancakes are the only contender). Then, for lunch he wants peanut butter and jelly, and for a snack he prefers peanut butter with apples. He has always been this way, and I have a feeling it will be a lifelong companionship!
Will is extremely observant, and because of this, he can already do some basic reading, word recognition and telling time on a digital clock. He is constantly asking me what time it is when he sees a clock, or he will find a race car or see an athlete's jersey and ask me what number it is. I never knew if anything was sticking in his mind, but the other day he looked at a clock and told me it was 11:30. It was exactly 11:30. We will probably start some more structured basic reading/letter recognition this fall, and I know that he is going to absorb it all very quickly. He also loves to ask me the meaning of words. Most recently, he has asked about: compassion, retreat, privacy, vacation, and forgiveness. There are tons more, but I just can't think of them right now. He is the kid who hears all things around him even if it doesn't appear that he is listening.
Will has turned into quite the fish this summer. He LOVES to swim and jump into the pool from the side. Most of the time he has floaties on, but we will practice real swimming with him and he does a really good job. I think he will be swimming on his own by next summer.
Will has a unique dedication and desire to succeed and a knack for knowing when to crack a joke to lighten the mood. I pray that he will continue to use those qualities in his life, and that he will allow God to mold and shape his observant spirit.


Both Will and Levi are so excited about becoming big brothers. They practice swaddling their stuffed animals, and they love to put them in the baby swing. They are always so sweet with other babies in our small group and families, and I can't wait to see how they adjust to having a baby brother (and/or sister...). Every time I go to an OB appointment, they think that I am coming home with the baby. They always greet me at the door and ask where the baby is...it's so precious to see the anticipation on their faces, and it makes me look SO FORWARD to the end of this month when it actually happens!


These guys are such a blessing and joy to parent. We have the unique privileged of seeing built-in best friends grow up together. Even though they are different in many ways, they always seek out the other one in a crowd and prefer to be in close proximity to one another. We have tried to have one-on-one time (like a Mommy/Levi ice cream date or a Daddy/Will Lowe's run), but most of the time the boys don't like being separated. They will spend half the time asking about the other one and why he isn't with us. It is very sweet how much they truly love being together.

photos taken by Hannah Vickers. love. them.

Just a few pics I just took with my phone...

I'm finishing my 30th week, and I really am feeling great! I still have consistent back pain, but I guess I'm just getting used to it. This new little guy is very active, and I love feeling his rolls and kicks most of the day (and night!).



These two guys keep me very entertained all day. We play a lot of cowboys/cowgirl, knights and princess, hunting for bears, and basketball (of course). Levi especially loves to feel the baby kicking. He lights up with the biggest smile every time, and it really is special to watch! They have started carrying various stuffed animals around the house and pretending that they are sleeping babies. I get in trouble for being too loud or not carrying the 'baby' the right way. They are soo pumped about becoming big brothers.



Poor Duke! He had to get stitches after a mysterious gash appeared on his forehead last week. Now he has to wear a huge funnel...it's very funny, but sad to watch! He doesn't realize how big it is, and he runs into everything or drags stuff all around the house. Only one more week of the funnel and he'll be good to go!



We had a great time in Colorado, and I hope to blog about that soon. Other than a few weekend trips, we will spend the rest of the summer at home preparing for the new little guy! Only 9 more weeks-wow- that went by fast!



-sorry for any typos. I did this post from my phone...

Memorial Day Weekend

We've had a great weekend so far welcoming in the summer. The temps have been up to 109, but we've been able to cool off at friends' pools. Hope you've had a blessed weekend too!















-sorry for any typos. I did this post from my phone...

I'm way outnumbered!!!

We are thrilled to announce that Baby #3 will be a boy!! This was quite the surprise since most people thought for sure it was a girl, but we love our boys around here! This is a pretty good profile of the baby, and I think that he looks a lot like Levi. He's only about 12 ounces, but it's amazing how much we could already see in the sonogram!

He gave a big wave to Will & Levi.

Not the best pic, but it will have to do. About 20+ weeks along. Feeling great, sleeping decent, and getting very excited about a new little guy in the house!

A boy and his dog

I have read this poem before, but it is precious to see it lived out in my own backyard. Levi and Duke share a special bond. I often find Levi in the backyard playing chase with Duke, going pretend fishing with Duke, and just having many adventures together. I wish I could put a secret mic on Levi just so I could hear the conversations he has with his dog. They are quite the pair!

A Boy and His Dog
Edgar Guest

A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they talk and they walk and they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;
And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.

He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;
Faithful he'll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand;
Oh, he owns a treasure which nobody steals,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.

No other can lure him away from his side;
He's proof against riches and station and pride;
Fine dress does not charm him, and flattery's breath
Is lost on the dog, for he's faithful to death;
He sees the great soul which the body conceals--
Oh, it's great to be young with a dog at your heels!


-sorry for any typos. I did this post from my phone...