A year is a Looooong time

Hello ALL! Long time no write. That's what happens when you don't have internet at your disposal and you have two children. Yes, in a year a LOT can happen apparently! You can get pregnant AND have the baby. If you haven't met Judah Evan Coe yet, I feel bad for you. He is super sweet and cuddly and FAT! Woah, he was 9lbs 7oz when he was born. 3 weeks later he is 10lbs 13oz...I am soooo glad he came three weeks ago.

In one year, Selah has grown a LOT too, if you can imagine. She says lots of words now, sometimes I know what she is saying and sometimes I don't. I imagine it will stay like that for the rest of our lives! She loves her baby brother and wants to see him every morning when she gets up...so grateful for that. She has almost killed him a time or two, on accident, of course. You might be wondering what that strange picture is. It isn't our new chair for our house...it's what I used to birth my baby. It was different than last time, but I liked it just the same. Anything to get the baby out of my body made me a happy camper...whew. I am also adding some adorable pics of my cute baby....though I don't have many because they are on my computer at home...bummer.

We also moved during this past year from an apartment to a cute 2 bedroom house that is right along the river. We love it and my mom has helped me decorate the second bedroom so that it would be perfect for both Selah and Judah. It is an adorable cowboy/cowgirl themed room with deep reds and browns and a silver blue (kind of like periwinkle). Rodney even spent 3 weeks sanding down the 30 year old crib and staining half it and painting the other half...what a guy! I do think I have one of the best husbands in the world!

Mimi and Papa have been a great source of help to me and amazing grandparents. Selah LOVES her Mimi and Papa (as she has affectionately named them). They make her laugh and teach her all sorts of naughty things that mommy has to end up correcting. I love grandparents, but man, they need a spanking every now and then! HELLO! What happened to how they treated their children, with strict rules and absolutely NO change no matter how sweetly you asked. Now, it's whatever Selah wants, she gets. If she puts up a fuss, they change their mind! These are no longer my parents, they are mushy, jello-like aliens that have replaced my parents. Oh well, I guess a little spoiling never hurt anybody, except for the parents that have to retrain their children when they come home!

Rodney is still in his show, but he plays Peter and Lucifer (every now and then). He loves it, although right now he is in need of little encouragement. They end up doing 400 shows by the end of the year and he is finding it a little more difficult these days to do the same thing over and over. He is a great daddy! It seems that having another baby made his relationship with Selah better than it was before. They go on daddy dates in the mornings so mommy can get some rest or clean the house! I am realizing that people who have more than 2 kids are just crazy. Something has taken over their minds to think that it is possible to wrangle two kids at one time. You only have 2 hands and I can't imagine being able to handle anymore. Rodney and I look at each other sometimes and wonder how we will survive, but we now that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus and we cling to Him! Thank goodness for Jesus...what would I be without Him. Hope this finds you well and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for checking on the COes!

The Days Just Keep Flying By

Well, it seems as though time just keeps flying by and Selah keeps getting older and older. Lots of things have been going on for me (Mel). It's funny how when you aren't busy, you become very busy rather quickly...I have agreed to Direct the Christmas show for the first grade through fifth grade. It is really cheesy and kind of goofy, but I know that it will be fun for everyone. I am excited to meet the kids this week and play some fun theater games (haven't done that in awhile).
I started babysitting a friend's daughter a few hours a week which has helped with generating a few extra dollars during the week. I had just prayed that God would bring a friend into Selah's life so that she could get more peer interaction and low and behold that next Sunday at church someone asked me to babysit for them...God is so cool. Selah loves it; she follows her new friend around everywhere she goes, it's pretty cute.
Selah had her first fever...104 degrees Farenheit...needless to say, her father and I were not too happy about it and took her to the ER. I know, new parent syndrome! It was pretty scary for us, but with Oma's help and a little TLC she was back to her old tricks within a few days. Meanwhile, Rodney and I enjoyed a little more lovin than usual...she was a LOT more cuddly than normal:)
I decided to host a bible study at my house, so that I could actually go and Selah could sleep. Mom has helped me with it A LOT and people have said that my table looks like a picture in Better Home and Gardens magazine...I thought that was quite a compliment...I give all credit to my wonderful mother. We are going through the workbook "Seeking Him," by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and I recommend it for anyone! Through it, I am getting to know more ladies at our church, which we really love, by the way. God has answered sooo many prayers in that area, it fills my heart with appreciation for such a loving Father.
Rodney continues to love his job even after over 250 shows! Wow, he says that lots of people try to break him onstage all the time so he has to really try to be angry so that he doesn't laugh. One time he actually poked himself with a sewing pin so that he would stop laughing. He loves the other cast members and has made some true lifelong friends along the way...who knew that could happen in theater. I have had to laugh at the fact that God has supplied all our needs with an actor's salary!!!!Who knew that was possible! It has been great to trust Him in that area and see Him supply our needs...we have also had the privelge of seeing Him provide for so many at the theater through the generosity of all the other cast members.
We have survived many HOT ROD RUNS here in Pigeon Forge, but our busiest time is upon us...OCTOBER! Yikes, we have heard that you just don't go out on the parkway because it is sooo jam packed, but we will have to see for ourselves.
Update on Selah: I took her to the doctor for her 9 month check up, yeah can you believe it!? She is 19 pounds and 30 inches, I thought that sounded okay. She seems to eat more and more on a daily basis...if Rodney or I are eating anything, she crawls over as fast as her chubby little legs will allow so that she can use her one sign "more" in order to get some food. She is pretty fast nowadays!

This picture was just too stinking funny for words! I was blowing bubbles for our friend and Selah just couldn't figure out why it was sooo cool; she would much rather do something else.

This is what happens when you spend all your time with an 8 month old!

Oh, the joys of laughing at yourself looking like a crazy distorted person. Not too often in life do you have the opportunity to see yourself as you truly are. Well, Rodney and I and Selah had that chance just recently on my mom's computer...it was therapeutic, really. My dad almost had me committed because I was laughing so hard at myself and Selah. I hope you have checking out the pictures, we certainly enjoyed taking them!

This is Selah and her 2 month old cuzzie Maddie Moo!
This is Selah and her aunt Lo Lo having fun at the Lake!
Selah playing in the sand for the first time, she was loving it and didn't put a single grain of sand in her mouth! Thank goodness.
These are all the MN cuzzies as of yet, we do have one more that will join us soon! Hurry up, little Keira! We can't wait to meet you!

Scarlet O'Selah

Well, our daughter finally grew some hair after 7 long months of not having much. I don't think people will think she is a boy now! HA! She thought her mom was a little weird for putting this on her head, but I am weird and she will find that out soon enough! Selah and I took a mini vacation to MN. It was 2 long days of driving and one weird Green Bay Packer hotel room, but otherwise it was great. Selah was a champ and LOVED seeing her cuzzies...that she has been asking for a sibling ever since we got home. I have told her that maybe we can find some friends. That Sunday we got back someone asked me to watch their 15 month old 3 days a week, so I think we are covered for awhile...whew! My body is still healing and that belly still looks like jelly so I am hoping for a little more time to recover:)
I got home to 90 degrees and 90% humidity so I decided that I needed a new do...good ol' Walmart helped out with that. I am still getting used to it, but it is better than putting my hair up in a ponytail everyday.
If you haven't gone to see Mamma Mia, I would say it's worth your money to go see it. If you want to sit back and laugh at Pierce Brosnin for his funny looking face while singing or the big surprise at the end, it's pretty worth it for a silly movie. I went to see it with my mom and sistas and it was awesome.
Selah has been the BEST baby ever....BUT now she is teething so she has been cranky and not sleeping well. We join the parents who are tired and struggling with getting their children to sleep at night, or even for a nap. If you have any remedies or anything that works for your kid, please send it my way. The next pictures will probably be of a nice BIG top tooth so look for those to come soon.
Also, I am going to try to sell a few things on Ebay so if anyone has advice about that, I could use some...thanks.

LONG TIME, NO BLOG

Well, time is just flying by right now as Selah gets older and bigger. I can't believe that in a week she will be a half of a year old...woah. We have had some fun visits from Rodney's family and from my big sista. I FINALLY got a picture of Rodney as Satan...I like the picture of Jesus, Selah, and Satan...it reminds me of the fight Selah is going to have from now until the day she goes to be with Jesus. I will, of course, help her learn how to fight and the tools that God has given us to fight with, but at some point she will be on her own in utilizing the tools and using them to defeat the enemy in her own life. I pray that I will help her to stand strong, her opponent is seasoned and ready for battle if she remains in a relationship with the Father.
Rodney's niece, Kimberly, came and saw the show and I think Rodney tried to scare her by staying in character after the show, but she knew that her big uncle just needed a swift kick in the pants to change his frame of mind...METHOD ACTORS!
We did start Selah on some yummy food and she is eating up like crazy! You'd think she wasn't a chunky monkey already, but she is loving her pears, peaches, carrots, rice cereal, etc. I am trying my best to be a Super Baby Food Momma, but it isn't always easy. Oma has such yummy stuff at her house sometimes, she tells me she would rather go there instead.
Our newest adventure has been to go to the pool...I will get pics for that next time. Since it has been 97 here with about 100% humidity, we decided it was time to head to the pool for a little dip. Well, Selah LOVED it. She just splashes around like it's a BIG bathtub. Daddy and Selah both love water so they will be going to the pool quite a lot, I am sure.
Daddy is doing well, he is still enjoying being Caiaphas. I saw the show recently and the microphone didn't turn on for another character during a song and Rodney ended up singing it...what a guy! He, of course has been FISHING lately a lot. I am doing VBS for the next week from 9-12pm and he said that he was SO SAD and that he might just HAVE to go fishing everyday during that time.
He has lost 40 pounds of flab since we moved here and looks great. Some other people have also been losing weight too, so they have been passing shorts around...Rodney put on some 34's and gave his 38's to a guy who used to wear 42's...it's like everyone is a shrinky dink and they are in a HOT OVEN...crazy. Now, he is trying to get the rest of his body to look more svelt.
Mommy, is still enjoying being a mommy. I have been looking for jobs that would allow Selah and I to be together, but just for extra cash. If nothing pans out, I won't be sad. But I enjoy being with Selah and watching her grow and develop each day. My mom and I think we will try our luck at sewing...so I am starting with placemats...something simple and yet I hope to feel a sense of accomplishment once it's done. That is the news with the COES. Check back next time when Selah will strut her stuff in her bathing suit!
"....for without Me, you can do NOTHING." John 15

Bigger, Cuter, & Funner!

Well, there isn't much to report, but Selah has taken some super cute photos lately and I had to share them with everyone! Rodney went out to take the garbage out the other morning (what a great husband) and he stumbled across this piece of wood that surprised him greatly. Burned into the wood was our daughter's special name...Selah. It was like God just thought He would be funny and left us a little surprise by the dumpster. I put a picture of it on the side, it is hard to see some parts of it, but it was definitely a keeper. Now I am wondering what other goodies we have been missing, so momma might be dumpster diving soon.
Rodney finally played Lucifer last week, I will put pictures up soon. He did awesome. Some people came up to me and said it was the best Lucifer they had ever seen (what a blessing). He was evil, mean, rude, and just a big jerk...he played him so well people booed him at the end. Which is actually the response he was going for because one day when we were walking around some guy said that the Lucifer was so good that he wanted to root for him and not Jesus. Well, that certainly wasn't the case with Rodney. He spit on Jesus, but got permission first and leaned on the cross while Jesus was being crucified. Watching him fly was probably the best part...he gets to wear these awesome wings and fly out over the audience in the beginning of the show...so cool.
So I have started letting Selah suck on some apple slices and it she really likes it. However, it also seems to be releasing the beast within whenever I take them away. Wow, the girl can yell something fierce.
Yesterday, we went to this place called Parrot Mountain. It was really cool. It is like a bird sanctuary for Macaws and other exotic type birds. They let you feed them and pet them (at your own risk). It is possible that you might find yourself peed on or bit by one of the many exotic birds. If your lucky they might even land on you. The best part is where the baby birds are hidden. You get to go and pet them and play with them, although it is rather sad that they are not with their parents now that I think about it. Because this is the south and it they seem to be cooler with Jesus than they are in the northern area, there are verses written all over the place and the 10 commandments are just placed where everyone can see them...wow, talk about cool. There is also a replica of Jesus' tomb and a statue of Jesus with the verse, "Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest..." from Matthew. What a marvelous treat it was...however, those birds are SOOOO loud I can't imagine how people can own them. They live just as long as you do, if not longer and they talk and screech more than a child (well, maybe they are comparable to a child). At least a child tells you they love you and they mean it, the bird just tells you what you want to hear.
We also went to Davy Crockett's Putt Putt and Rodney beat me by 5 points (he wanted me to add that in so everyone could hear what a rock star Putt Putter he is).
Our pool is opening at our apartment building and I bought Selah her first floating device that has its own canopy. I can't wait to use it, but I am not sure when would be a good time to get her cute little body full of chlorine. She loves the water and I know she would love to be in the pool. If you have any suggestions, I would be grateful.
Selah just became a cousin for the 18th time. My parents have 19 grandchildren and have 2 more on the way from my other 2 sisters, ya crazy, huh? Her name is Madeline Grace and she was 9lbs 10oz. My sister is amazing, she looks like a sumo wrestler, but beautiful. I can't wait until Selah can meet her and the other ones yet to be born.
Life in TN just gets more and more exciting. I have been entertaining Rodney's friends from the Miracle two by two. It has been lots of fun getting to know people and they haven't seemed to mind eating off of a sheet and scarf so far. I made Malaysian Chicken Pizza with homeade pizza dough. It was fairly easy and yummy, just more time consuming that calling Dominos for the 5 for $5. Let me know if any of you are looking for some good recipes, lots of people sent me some good ones!
"Seek the Lord, whild He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6

We went to Opryland Hotel for a night with mom and dad and saw this beautiful moving tree. Actually, her name was DaVine...clever, don't you think? She was lovely and actually put her chin on dad's bald head; I wasn't fast enough to get it on film. If you look closely, you can see her face on the second picture, she is upside down. We had a great time seeing the hotel and hanging out with Rodney's older brother, Richard. He was even cool enough to sing "Celebration" with us by Cool and the Gang. We were in the sound booth in Opry Mills Mall (kind of like Ontario Mills for those of you in CA). They put our microphones over the loud speakers so everyone could hear, it was like a dream come true for me, but Rodney and Richard weren't quite so happy about it. Unfortunately, Richard's daughter, Briana, did not come into the booth to sing with us, so I had to make sure that I embarressed her as much as possible. I told everyone over the loud speaker how she didn't want to come in to sing with us and if they wanted to meet her she was the one in the yellow shirt (it was awesome). Something about me and microphones, they just turn me into another person! I think I am like Elsie, I want to learn how to play the microphone too!
Well, Selah won't stop growing despite my best efforts. She is holding her head up a LOT and LAUGHED for the first time last week, at a stranger, of course. Since then, she has laughed at Opa (don't we all), but has yet to laugh for her beloved parents, who, might I add, feed her, cloth her, change her poopy diapers and love her more than life. Is it too much to ask for a little chuckle from your 3 month old? I mean really. Well, hopefully I will have more to report on that in the next month.
In other news, I have been cooking a LOT(quite well I might add). I wrote many of you for recipes and you were gracious enough to actually respond. I have set menus for the week, shopped for the ingredients and have made some delicious delectables. Hence, the picture of the cooking chicken...it tasted better than it looks, I promise. I also have been preparing to have guests over and want to make our place a little more welcoming. What could be more welcoming than a bed sheet on your table with a cut up scarf for placemats. Eat your heart out Divine Design. Hey, it was free and doesn't look half bad, I just hope my guests don't ask questions at what I put on the toilet paper roll. We live on a tight budget, emphasis on tight. It's been pretty fun rumaging through old clothes and boxes to see what I can use for things, I feel so resourceful. Rodney is getting a little irritated about not using detergent for laundry anymore, but I think he will get over it (just kidding, now that is just going too far, or is it).
I tried to get some cute pics of Selah in her pretty purple dress (that is size 6 months, mind you), but it was to no avail...well, one turned out ok. She has started talking really LOUD so I have been putting my hand over her mouth and patting it so she sounds very silly. Needless to say, it doesn't help. I can't tell if she is trying to sing or if she is just trying to tell me that she needs her cloth diaper changed. I think I will figure it out by the time she is thirteen.
The last picture I will put on is one that Rodney took on his hike (yes, I said hike). He and a friend went hiking up to Laurel Falls, a beautifully remote area 1.3 miles into the Great Smokey Mountains. However, they took more pictures of trees and water than I know what to do with. Apparently his friend is Ansel Adams; he knew how to use my camera better than I did.
The Coe life seems to be moving faster and faster, I wake up on Monday and I swear Friday comes along and hits me in the back of the head (I've gotta find a helmet). Our newest prayer request are nice chairs for cheap, so when we invite guests over they don't have to stand at our table. And I already asked Rodney if we could just cut the sofa in half and he said no. However, God did provide for us recently when Rodney realized that he was driving illegally. His birthday just passed which meant his license expired. With literally $23 in the bank we went to the bureau praying for favor. After I wrote the check for $16 I thanked God for being gracious and going before us like always.
"You are the God of the broken, the friend of the weak. You wash the feet of the weary, embrace the ones in need. I want to be like you, Jesus, to have this heart in me. You are the God of the humble, You are the Humble King."

We are so thankful to that Rodney is working at the Miracle because he gets in FREE to many of the
attractions in the area, which means mommy and Selah do too. Of course, we had to go to Dollywood and see
how Dolly was doing. The morning started off great, until Rodney decided to go get a coffe and
leave mom with all the stuff. The train came by, no Rodney. So, Selah and I pulled all of our belongings
onto the tram and went to the amusement park. Rodney joined us a little later, hence my happy photo.
Then I decided to take a serious picture next to a pretend memorial, later Rodney told me that
it was a REAL memorial. I felt kinda bad, but thought I could shed light on the fact that J.D.
Sumner is dead, many of you may still be in the dark. I am so sorry for your loss.
With Rodney's new job, we are just rolling in the dough, so he thought it would be a good idea to get a new car. That's right, folks! So, why did he pick and old one? Men, I will never understand them. Actually, that is just an old car 0f Dollys, she no longer needs them so she keeps them for others to see. I think it is very GREEN of her that she doesn't want to add them to the huge pile in the many garbage dumps of America.
Then we decided to go on a whirlwind tour of Europe (I told you we were rolling in the dough). It was really fast, but we got to see Italy (loved the spaghetti), Great Britain ( I practiced my accent), India (again, I know), and Ireland (so green). It was so fast that we were still in Dollywood by the time it was over so we decided that was enough for the day. Oh, but we had to get our little girl on at least one ride before we left. The calmest one we could find was the tride and true carosel. Selah doesn't look like she was having much fun, but she couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. Well, that is the summary of our trip. I will just add some fun pics to the side so you can see what else we have been doing. I hope you like our family portrait, it's not picture perfect, but neither are we.
One interesting thing that happened to us...when we got to Dollywood, I noticed that the tires on our stroller were completely flat (it was a jogger). I asked a lady if she could find someone to pump them for us...AND SHE DID. Talk about the kindness in the South. I think if I would have been at Disneyland, they would have laughed at me!
We have now found out that when you have a child, there is really nothing to do at an amusement park except go to the shows. I think next time we will have to give Selah to Oma and Opa and then trek over to see Dolly. Just in case you end up coming, Dollywood has a LOT of water rides, so be ready to get wet. What they do have that Rodney and I loved, was a craftsmen area. Men and women who are skilled in certain crafts like blown glass, leather, copper, ice cream (hey, that's a great skill) had demonstrations of how to make things in their craft. What an excellent way to teach kids and give them an opportunity to decide if that is something they want to try. I also got on the Dolly train, no not at the amusement park. She has a great foundation for kids 0-5 years of age who live in Sevierville, which I do. She gives one free book a month to every child who signs up and it is completely FREE! We are blown away at her generosity and the positive ways that Dolly gives back to her community. If you wanted to meet her, she will be in town April 11 (along with the rest of the world) to have her parade (Rodney will actually be in it). That's all for now!
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits. The God of our salvation! Our God is the God of salvation; and to God, the Lord belong escapes from death." Psalm 68:19,20

Well, Selah found a new friend! It's herself, but she doesn't know it yet. It's pretty cute, she gets up close to the mirror and just starts smiling and laughing at this cute girl that she hopes will stick around. I am not sure if that means Rodney and I need to start working on another one or if I should just find some friends with kids! Someday she will have to find some new friends, but in the meantime this helps Mommy get a lot done around the house.
The other picture is of Mommy and Selah! I just love taking pics with my little girl and this was too stinkin cute not to post. It was pretty funny because Oma and I took her to her first Easter Egg hunt. Those things are crazy if you have never been. They actually have different areas for age groups so children don't trample each other, I am sure they found that out the hard way. We gathered up four eggs because she really couldn't care either way. Unfortunately, we got Mommy's least favorite candy, Maltballs (sick). I will post some other pictures on the side of Oma's great idea. Let's put the 3 month old by the very large air-filled chick and see if she sits up by herself. Well, needless to say, after she fell underneath the chick's rear end, Oma decided to help her sit up, it was quite funny.