Beautiful Ella at Six Weeks

The Firemen and Their Princess October 31st

We went to the Harvest Party at our church and the kids loved it. The boys were so excited to be firemen, Josh even put a little ash from our woodstove on their cheeks to look like they had just come out from fighting a fire. But, I think if there were a costume party - Ella would have won hands down. She truly was a princess! Definitely melted her daddy's heart.

Precious Ella

Daddy's little girl
With Big Brother Evan

Evan and Andrew...So Sweet!

Evan and Andrew are doing really well. They are growing up so fast! It is so nice that they have each other to play with, and stay pretty distracted. They are becoming the best of friends. I love watching them. It makes all the chaos worthwhile that they will grow up together like this. They love having a little sister. They beam with pride every time they hold her. She is one loved little girl. Every time they walk by her they have to give her multiple kisses and hugs. And they won't allow her to cry at all. Evan says often, "mom, are you going to milk her? I think she's hungry again."! Like I don't already feel like a cow!

The New Cogar Family of 5

It is so hard to believe she has finally arrived! The boys were so excited and couldn't wait to hold her. They visited often at the hospital and then spent some quality time with grandparents. I felt amazingly fine after the labor, just hungry. No surprise. We are ready to begin life with Ella in our arms and get to know the precious little girl who was not too long ago inside me!

Ella, Just 5 Minutes Old

Ella Grace Cogar

Ella Grace was 7 lbs and 11 ounces, 20.5 inches long. Just perfect.

Ella is Born!! September 26th

Ella Grace was born on September 26th at 5:00. The labor was so fast and intense that most of it happened in the car sitting in traffic. It was a sunny day and I had my sunglasses on.... it was so crazy from hospital check-in on, that I ended up delivering her with my sunglasses still on. I honestly didn't even think about it until they laid her on my tummy and she looked a little dim. I will say that of all three kids - she took the cake on the pain factor. All I could say after she was born was, "It's over, I'm so glad it's over, is it a girl?!".

The "Renovation" Project

This was a project that our landlords decided to BEGIN on my due date (September 19th)!! It stressed me out so much I thought for sure it would set me into labor. They stripped the whole back wall and replaced windows and who knows what else. Thankfully, they went as fast as they could and managed to seal it up by the end of the weekend. What a memory!

Flashback to the Days "pre-Ella"

September 18th

Me and My Boys

September 18th

One more week of being the "four" of us!!

And He Came Back!

So there's more. After Josh had to spend the next day picking up the garbage with the boys, he decided that was enough. We had put pnemonia on top of the bins to kill the smell and that kept it away for a while. But, after the rain washed it off - he was back. This time at 9:30 in the evening, lights on and movie playing we were sitting on the couch and heard the boom. We raced for the flashlight and went back to our places. This time, oh so thankfully we were together, the bear was standing right outside that glass door and peered right back at us. He stood less than five feet away. He was enormous. Enormous, did I say that? Just massive. It was so terrifyingly exciting. He paused only for a moment to see the light, and went right back to his business. He tossed the huge bin like it was stick and proceeded to wrestle it open. It only took Josh a minute to grab his courage and he quickly opened the door a yelled right at it. He said he didn't want to clean all the garbage again. And the bear instantly fled into the forest. Josh went out with a headlamp to pour more pnemonia over it, while I was to keep watch in the direction of the bear. Only, I didn't have a flashlight and was just frantically peering into the darkness. Josh occasionally glanced in the direction with the light, while I stood with the door open freaking out. I guess my noise kept it away. Anyway, it didn't come back again and hasn't since. But, what a great story.

The Bear in Our Backyard!!!

This story is not for those of you who think we are already crazy living out in the deep forest on the mountain. But, for you who would enjoy a little bear sighting yourself -- read on. Their has been a bear problem for about a month now in the neighborhood - they have been appearing in the night tearing into trash cans. I heard all the stories and wondered a little why they weren't coming to our house. I just wanted a peek. Josh thought I was crazy, and now I know I was, but just knowing they were out all around us in the night roaming like huge creatures not being seen was hard to miss out on. And one night it happened. We were awakened with a HUGE slam against the house, and honestly I didn't think it was a bear. But Josh knew because he looked at me with a grin and said, "well, here's your chance". So we hopped up and walked the fifteen feet to the other side of our house (tiny tiny cabin) and looked out. Josh saw it immediately, but I couldn't so I went up to our bathroom glass door to get a closer look.

Sheer terror went through my body as I stood there alone in the dark about five feet away from a big black bear wrestling with our trash bin. I could hear him growling in the struggle and it was an awesome sight to see his fur shimmering in the light of the moon. But, I was alone, and there was only a glass see-through door between us. I don't remember breathing for a couple minutes. At last Josh joined me to see the closer look and we shined a flashlight on him to have an even clearer peek. The light did nothing to him, but cause him to glance our way and then ignore us. We stood and watched for at least ten minutes allowing him to tear through and drag all the garbage, small price to pay for such a viewing. I think that it was the commotion we were causing when we tried to video it but the battery was dead and then trying to plug it in and get it to work in the dark and you know how that always happens at those times. So, when it was ready -- he ran off into the forest. What an incredible creature.

Our story unfolds

It's hard to believe that we are blogger's now, but I thought it would be a great way to tell our story. This season has been such a stretching time, and I know that one day we will look back on it and see the Lord's faithfulness and fingerprints all over it. Living on the mountain has brought lots of perspective and I actually enjoy the peace and no cell service. We went from a beautiful brand new home to a three room rustic cabin in the woods full of someone's furniture. I had no idea we would still be trying to sell our house and living in the cabin this far into the move. It's been six months now, and to be honest I was positive I would be in a new place of our own while preparing for our third child to join us in a couple weeks. It's amazing how the Lord continues to shape and mold our hearts, because I actually enjoy living snuggly in this cabin now and look forward to her coming while we are there.

Of course, I would prefer if we had sold our house and weren't making a hefty mortgage payment. It has been a wild ride for my faith. Asking, seeeking, knocking over and over and still seeing no apparent response can make a pregnant girl go crazy. It's been a year now that we have had our house on the market, and that year has held so many trials and adjustments and persevering moments. I truly can't understand the silence. People have so many different responses to us - what can you say? Is it the enemy, the market, circumstance, consequence, His 'perfect timing', or just the way it is? Well, I don't know. But, I know now what faith really means. Believing in something that isn't seen, but still hoping it is there. And sticking to it. And so I believe that He has a plan for us, to take care of us, to bless us, and to give us a hope and a future.

My first posting!

The Cogar family is growing! We have two boys, one girl on the way, and now a blog! =-)