Suprise - 4 weeks early!

This is after his second helping of "nursey" and he looks pretty content.
Happy dad!

On Saturday night Brooke started feeling some contractions, nothing major, about 10-15 minutes apart. They continued throughout Sunday. Brooke was running around Sunday trying to get the primary program to run well, which it did. That night when we were putting the kids to bed she noticed that she was bleeding. We quickly called our friend Margaret who came over to watch the kids while we went to the hospital. I was able to give her a quick priesthood blessing before we left. Luckily, our doctor, Dr. Cooper, was on call that night. He examined her and found that she was dilated to a 6! Because of the bleeding, dilation, and the the baby was breech they quickly prepared to do an emergency c-section. Everything with the operation went well. When they pulled it out I got to have the first look at its gender - a boy. The little guy, no name yet, was having to work really hard to breath, so they took him to the NICU to give him a series of antibiotics and to monitor him closely. Dr. Cooper said that if we would have been 15 minutes later we might have lost our precious little guy. We are very humble and lucky to have him with us. Mom and baby are doing well. He is feeding like a horse and is pretty well behaved. If he continues to eat like he does he won't stay at his 5 lbs 10 oz and 19 in. frame for long. Brooke is sore, but smiling as always.

Thank you for all the support of family and friends. We couldn't have done it without you! Thanks for the phone calls, emails, and especially prayers.

Love,

Brady, Brooke, Avery, Liam, and (unknown first name?) Douglas (known middle name) Cottle

Trunk or Treat

We got to go to our ward trunk or treat. We went with the whole Oz theme, can you tell?

Our grown up girl

Avery is definitely getting older. We were looking at pictures of when Liam was born two years ago and were amazed at how much Avery has changed. She is turning into a miniature Brooke. I still need to put a picture of her with her new glasses. She walks, talks, and acts a lot like Brooke. I am starting to see her personality change from dolls to cd players. I don't think I am ready for a teenager! Atleast I have a few years to go.

Quite the character

Liam is quite the character these days! He is always pulling face and making us laugh. Lately, we can't get him to take a normal picture. There is also a picture of Liam and Bennett having fun and pulling faces.

Brooke's New Obsession!

This is the "Be Safe" note that I left Brooke in the car. You will have to read the book to find the pun!

Brooke has a new obsession - Twilight. Brooke and her friends are completely obsessed with this book. They have read all three books (Brooke read them all in a week). Brooke is constantly checking the author, Stephanie Meyers, website to see upcoming books and check new comments. Brooke even invited some friends over for a Twilight party. Here are the pic's that Margaret took.

Belly Up

I wanted to give you a "Belly Up"date as we get closer to the due date. The due date is November 26, less than two months away. With tradition in our family we always guess the gender, name, and birthday. So we are opening it to anyone for a guess.

Avery's First Day of 5th Grade

It is hard to believe that Avery is growing up so fast. She will be going to the 5th grade this year. Her teacher is Mrs. Cain. Avery still loves to read, and fight with Dad about who gets to read a book first (we both wanted to read Pretties, which is the sequal to Uglies, both of which are good books). We are lucky to have her.

What's new with Liam? aka Spencer's Butte hike

Who would have known our little Liam has already found his true love! Our family went with the McFarlane's to hike Spencer's Butte. It is a 2.5 mile hike to the top of a beautiful peak. On the way up Liam and Whitney were holding hands. Oh, true love! According to Avery they are already betrothed. The kids would walk by and "cut the pickle" and give them a tickle. All the kids got pretty dirty, but that was part of the fun. Brooke was a real trooper. For being 7 months pregnant she did well. At the end of the hike it gets pretty steep and difficult to climb, but she hung in there. She was pretty tired afterwords. Here are some pic's from our fun hike.

Lotoja 2007

Yes, I finished my fourth Lotoja race! This year had many unforgettable experience. What would a 206 mile bike race be like without some challenges? It is always fun to see the family and ride with them. I can't wait until next year.

Summer pic's

This summer Brooke had us picking every type of fruit in the area. In Eugene they have u-pick fruit farms, where we got to pick blueberry's, strawberry's, and raspberry's. We have a freezer full of freezer jam and have vowed to never buy jam from the store again. Brooke will also be picking peaches and apples soon.

When you gotta-go you gotta-go, even if you are picking blueberry's.

Liam and Avery have loved picking fruit and vegetables from our little garden in the backyard. Liam especially likes the strawberry's and peas.

Avery and Liam enjoyed running through the sprinklers.

The family got to go to the Oakway Center to listen to a local jazz band play in the court yard.

We have had a great summer hanging at the house, going to the library, running through sprinklers, playing in the club house, and going to the park. Brooke has been taking the kids to the park for the different activities, such as the local artist that came to teach the kids how to paint. Brooke takes the kids to the library where they hear stories and sing songs. They always come back with stacks of books, and of course, Thomas the Train movies.

One of "those" parents

I never thought I would be one of "those" parents. You know, the parent that lets their child wear the rain boots with shorts to such places as the grocery store or the mall. Yes, I have to admit I am now one of "those" parents. Liam got some owl rain boots for his birthday in March and he can't go anywhere without them. He loves them! It is funny all the things you promised your kids would never do, but they do.

Avery's 10th Birthday

Avery and friends opening presents.

Getting ready for their "beauty treatments."

Avery and her 10th birthday cake.

Avery finally had her 10th birthday! She had been planning it for weeks, and driving Brooke and I a little crazy with all the birthday talk. Avery invited a few friends over for a "spa party" and sleepover. Under Avery's orders Dad and Liam were not invited. The girls made sleep masks, put avocado on their face, cucumbers on their eyes, and painted their nails. Avery was in heaven! Of course they ended up the night by staying up late to watch a movie, Jump In, and talk. Avery had a great time and got some awesome presents.

MMC Flashback!

The other day I was having an MMC flashback. Yes, an MMC flashback. The flashback is more of a sequence of events that took place throughout the day. It all started (don't you love stories that start like that) when Liam wanted me to read him a Baby Mickey Mouse book. We read through the story of Mickey putting on different clothes for the different seasons, it was quite entertaining. He liked it so much that later that day when I asked him what book he wanted to read he said, "Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse!" It sounded like he was singing the opening song for the Mickey Mouse Club. Next thing I know I am singing the theme song to the Mickey Mouse Club and naming all the "club members."

But wait the flashback gets even more exciting! Later that evening Brooke and I started to remember the musical group The Party (aka: Damon, Tiffany, Albert, DeeDee, and Chase). I wasn't content with just talking about them, I searched for them on the Internet. In my search I came upon a great website that has all their songs. Let's just say we had a family rock out session in our bedroom listening to "That's Why" and "I Found Love." It was amazing to know I still knew all the words. What was even more amazing was that it all started from Liam wanting to read a book. This just goes to show that you should always read to your child, you never know what it will lead to.

For those interested here is the link: http://thepartymp3s.50megs.com/

Hope you all have as much fun rocking out to it as we did!

McCall Pictures

Brooke and I at McCall, Id.
The Cottle family.
The whole crew, except Sam.
The two pregnant ladies showing their bellies.


The two pregnant women taking it easy on the tube.

The boys: Ben, Austin, and Tommy.
Feeding the trout in the fish farm.


Of course we had to go to My Father's Place for ice cream. Liam loved his, but Avery didn't like her pineapple shake too well.

Our little family had the chance to go to McCall Id. for a couple of days with Brooke's family. It was nice to see them. We got to boat and have fun. I am feeling pretty old and beat up after the trip (I guess that's what happens when you get pulled around on a tube, ski, and wakeboard). Brooke was loving every minute of being in the social circle.