Littlest angel

Well the sweetest little angel was placed in my arms tonight. Caroline Elizabeth was born at 7:39pm, June 1, 2012. She weighs 6lb 10oz and is 19in long. I still can't believe God has blessed me with the opportunity to nurture and raise her. She's quite perfect and beautiful.

As I sit here waiting for her to finish her first bath and come back to see me, I am amazed again at the miracle of childbirth. There's nothing like it. God really showed out when he designed us.

Thanks to all our family and friends that so diligently prayed for our sweet little miracle. We are so thankful to have you in our lives. Our Prayers were answered today!!

only a little time left

Ok, so it has been AWHILE since I've posted anything. I feel like I should have been writing more during this pregnancy so I can look back on it. It has really flown by. Although this last month is kinda dragging... but I only have 2 weeks until my due date. I'm so excited to meet my little Caroline. Will she look like Cooper when he was born? Will she have my eyes? Only time will tell.

Andy and I wanted to have one last hurrah with Cooper while he didn't have to share the limelight with another sibling, so we hopped on over to Lake Livingston this weekend. (Much to my Dr.'s surprise - she BEGRUDGINGLY said I could go). It was a nice retreat from the city and all that distracts us from each other in our everyday lives. Since there was no WI-fi or cable TV, we really got to have quality time together. Andy and I even worked on a puzzle one night after Cooper went to bed. I love puzzles by the way. And reading, which I did late into the night both nights.

But now we are back home and things really got back to normal. I've washed a load of clothes, Andy has mowed the yard, Cooper has wrecked the playroom and the living room, and life has picked up where it left off. With lots to do!! I still have tons of sewing to do for the nursery. Curtains, finishing the crib quilt, bumper pads, and pillows for the matching daybed in her room all need to be made. I keep working on it little by little and hopefully it will all get done before she gets here. I haven't packed my bags for the hospital yet. We don't have any tiny diapers yet. The changing pad and covers are coming in the mail. The swing is still in the attic. And I think I've forgotten exactly what it's like to nurse and care for a newborn. Maybe that last thing will just come back naturally. Boy am I a procrastinator or what?!

So there. Now I'm caught up on one thing for the week. Blog post completed. Maybe there's hope for me yet. :)

God is good

Andy wants to teach our kids some family rules - principles or fundamental truths may be more like it. One is "God is love." I guess this is on my mind today because it has really been one of those amazing days. I'm overwhelmed with emotion as I think of the events of the past 24 hours: a family member that witnessed a true miracle before her eyes, a precious friend that has heard a long awaited "yes" to her prayers, and great news/answered prayer for my husband as well.

This week someone said to me "God is faithful" and yes He is! just wanna say it from the rooftops- GOD IS GOOD. :)

cooper the party animal

Cooper's 1st Birthday was a success! After much planning, many miles traveled from grandparents, and tons of food prepared, Cooper had an amazing time at his party. We had a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" theme. A friend of mine made the cake (which was rich and moist and oh-so-yummy). His Granna and Grammie made cookies, sandwiches, rice krispy treats, fruit platters, and tons of other goodies. Lots of friends stopped by to wish him Happy Birthday, and Cooper had a full day of excitement. I think we had around 20 adults and 12 kids join us for the festivities.

Here are a few pictures from Cooper's big day
















So thanks to all of his friends for the Birthday wishes and fun presents, to his grandads for hanging swings and putting up slides, to grandmas for all the hard work in pulling off the party, and to his daddy for putting up with all my crazy last minute "ideas." Cooper loves you all!!

no baby dentures

After almost a year of life, Cooper has finally gotten two teeth- gasp! We always knew our baby was special, but for awhile we really thought he might be the first to need baby dentures. :)

He will celebrate his first birthday in two weeks, he has gotten two teeth, he is officially off formula and now has stopped bottles as well. My, my he is growing fast. I can't believe how much he's changed in a year!

This has been an amazing journey so far. And it's only getting better. Isn't parenthood awesome?

cabinets redo continued

Phase 2

Painting!! Finally! It sure feels good to finally see some paint on there. My kitchen is still in shambles, but at least I see a light at the end of the tunnel! This project may be making me looney- because now that we're on to painting, I keep thinking of other things to paint around the house. The cabinets in our bathroom, the new bifold doors I picked out for my closet, our shabby coffee table..... yikes

cabinets in progress

phase 1

what the new year brought around here

For the first time in probably 8 years or so I was away from my hubby for New Year's Eve.  It was weird.  I think next year we will celebrate together!  I was still in MS on our extended Christmas break (Cooper & I) when the ball dropped.  But that 2 weeks we were there brought lots of changes in my growing boy.  As I posted earlier, he is now walking - really well - and trying to mimic us more.  He is growing too large for his onesies and jammies, he got his first real pair of shoes and is breaking them in quickly, and we are weaning from bottles in anticipation of his first birthday.  He's changing so fast that I have to really sit down and think to remember it all!

The new year also brought another change.  Pink will be added to our household soon!  We found out that we are having a baby GIRL!  I'm still adjusting to the news, and as it sinks in I am getting more and more excited.  Cooper will be a great big brother.  He loves other kids and even likes to "pat" his cousin Julie's baby dolls on the head (quite roughly, we'll have to work on that).

Other changes in our house:
cleaning out every closet in the house
rearranging furniture (some in each room) to make room for new baby
a new playroom upstairs for the kiddos
plans to replace all doorknobs with brushed nickel ones
a work-in-progress kitchen painting project
new knobs & pulls for the kitchen
and, of course, a new pinterest addiction!

home improvement DIY

Last October I told my husband my goal was to have the kitchen cabinets painted by February.  I knew that my son's 1st birthday party would bring new guests into our home, so I really wanted it done by then.  PLUS, two summers ago we started updating our kitchen, so this is a much needed end to our kitchen update saga.  It seemed like such a small task.  Just a little painting, right?  Wrong.  What I didn't anticipate was the sanding, the degreasing from 17 years of cooking, the need to empty every last gadget into my dining room, taking down the doors and numbering them, taking off all the hardware, cleaning sanding dust from EVERY surface, the weather (too cold to paint, too humid to paint, too rainy to paint), and underneath our feet a curious toddler intent on knocking over ladders and climbing in dusty cabinets.  Cooper and I have taken walks, gone to run errands, and played upstairs for days trying to stay out of Andy's way in the kitchen.  But without my help, the reno is going VERY slow.  One whole weekend gone and still not a drop of primer or paint on the cabinets.  Huh.  Maybe next weekend, right?  Pictures to come soon.  maybe.  hopefully.  :)

i have a toddler

Christmas break brought lots of fun changes for my little Cooper.  He began walking a few steps at a time by the end of December, but now he's a full blown toddler!  He walks everywhere - and loves it.  He never wants to sit still!  His Grammie and I went shopping for his first real pair of shoes this week and he looks SO ADORABLE in them.  Just like a big boy. 

He and I are still in MS for the next week, so this one's for daddy (who's back in TX).  New things he's also doing:
"whistling" back to me  (really just a high squeal, but funny and cute all the same)
repeating "up" when we pointed up to the sky
playing at the park and riding on the big slide
saying "moo" to his Papa and Granna
new game: chasing mama and being chased up and down the hall (running!)
getting really good at waving and saying "bye-bye"
rolling the ball back and forth

He is changing so fast that I can't keep up with all of it!  I still can't believe he's going to be one in a little over a month.  I'm already starting to plan his party.  Details coming soon!!

just a few more tasks, then Christmas!

Christmas is almost here & as always I am still working to get "done."  I have only a few more things to get.  I haven't quite finished shopping for my dad yet - I'm looking for "It's a Wonderful Life" for him.  And, of course, I just can't seem to get done shopping for Cooper.  Yes, he has presents... but just a few more couldn't hurt (except maybe my budget hahahaha).  Things that I'm glad that we've completed:  wrapped presents, Christmas cards mailed, house decorated in & out for a couple of weeks now, goodies made and handed out to neighbors and Andy's coworkers, invites delivered to all of the neighbors to come join our Christmas Eve Service, parties and get-togethers attended and enjoyed.  I'm now ready for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Second (or rather sharing the Christmas story with lots of little two year olds), seeing friends on that night, and then celebrating with family!!  I love this time of year. 

Merry Christmas!

You were there when your Father said let there be light
You obeyed when he whispered "Son, You have to leave tonight"
To spend nine months in a mother's womb, three days in a borrowed tomb


But it's the time in between that brings me to my knees
Knowing You came for me and all that I can't be
I'm amazed, so amazed And I thank You for the time in between


Don't take much for this crazy world to rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul says You're holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands, for You to fill me up again


But it's the time in between that I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring, and the things that I can't see
I know my song's incomplete, still I'll sing in the time in between
So many ways Your love has saved the day
And I'm grateful for them all


But it's the time in between, the middle of two thieves
That says everything, it's the reason I believe
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank You for the time in between
Oh Lord, I thank You for the time in between
-Francesca Battistelli & Clint Lagerberg


These are not my words, but as I play them over and over in my car I realize they make up the perfect Christmas song this year. Thank you so much, Jesus, for coming to Earth so many years ago. And for the perfect life you lived as an example for us. And for sacrificing yourself for my guilty heart. That great act of love saved me and I thank you. Let's celebrate! Happy Birthday, Jesus! Merry Christmas!

thoughts

Some random thoughts/realizations I've had bumping around in my head this past week.

- giving thanks will always rememdy a bad attitude

- friends and loved ones that are willing to "babysit" your kids are worth their weight in GOLD

- never wear black pants when your child has a runny nose

- good intentions don't get you too far without actions!

october fun

It's crazy to think that November is cruising by so quickly.  I even started thinking of all we need to cook for our Thanksgiving meal last night.  So I guess I better go ahead and share what the end of October was like.  We had so much fun visiting the pumpkin patch.  They had tons of animals - Cooper got to ride his first mini horse and got a fistful of camel hair. 













Next we visited the zoo for the first time and now have a zoo membership. If anyone wants to go, let me know!  The giraffes were the highlight of the day for me.  Cooper and I got to feed one of the female giraffes some lettuce.







Last was Halloween.  Charlie Brown and a little lamb - what could be cuter?  They had more fun playing with the grass than showing off their costumes.  Julie is such a ham - never a bad picture.  Cooper on the other hand was a little more stand-offish.  No smiles!  Must be a guy thing.











Now we have lots to look forward to.  Thanksgiving in MS then down to the coast for more festivites in Orange Beach!  Yay! 

all kinds of new stuff

On Thursday Cooper started babbling!  Babababababa and sometimes I could hear dada and mama!  Andy was so upset that he missed it all.  He also started shaking his head "no" around the same time.  I don't know what made him so excited to try out his communication skills, but he really got it going this week!!  He is so cute when he's talking too. 

Cooper and I flew to Jackson to visit family this week.  It has been a good visit, but Cooper started out sick and I ended up sick.  :(   We drove to Birmingham to introduce him to my grandmother (Cooper's great grandmother) over the weekend.  She had such a good time seeing him.  I only wished that we could have spent more time with her. 

Cooper got to spend the night with Granna on his last night in Jackson.  I think that she had a really good time.  She must have played really hard with him and wore him out because he slept late and has taken two really good naps today!  I know he's had such a good time with all of his grandparents.  Grandad, Grammie, Granna, Papa Bear, and Mimi!  And of course, Uncle Matt too.  He loves his Uncle Matt.  :)

Next month we've get to see everyone again, but we've got to go see Uncle Nathan, Aunt Nicki and Bella and Andy's Granny and Grandad.  Cooper has so many loved ones to visit with in Mississippi!  Hopefully we will all be well next time so we can see everyone.

anchors aweigh

Halleluiah, Praise God it has been raining in Texas for two days!! Our Sunday has turned into a rain day and that's awesome. If we do happen to float away, I'm going to let this little guy steer the boat.  ;)





Captain Cooper!

barking baby

There's not much Cooper has done so far to mimic us. I keep waving "hi" and "bye." I even try some sign language at feeding times - more, all done, hungry? I think he understands hungry, but only when I say it. I tell him "mama" and "dada" all day long, only to get a loud shriek in return.  (Oh, he's got the shriek down pat - sometimes we have shrieking contests when it's just Cooper and me around.) I do think we caught him clapping a couple of times but not really in response to us. 

And then yesterday it happened - he started mimicking... THE DOG!  Yes, I caught him barking.  You may not believe me, so see for yourself.  It goes like this:  Cooper and I are playing upstairs.  All is quiet.  Roscoe begins barking.  Then I hear a faint "ah ah ah ah ah" from Cooper.  Over and over and louder and louder until Roscoe stops.  I think, "well that's unusual.  Surely he's not doing that because of the barking."  But then it happens again.  10 minutes of silence from Cooper and all of a sudden Roscoe starts barking. And so does Cooper.  Huh.  What do you think?  World's cutest barking baby?  I think yes.  :)

more pictures!

A few pictures...

with Papa Bear's hat


daddy and cooper


riding in my car!!


grammie and cooper



papa bear and cooper



granna and cooper

baby proofing time!

We now have a crawler.  Well, he's taken two little "crawl steps" or whatever you would call them.  Last night he surprised us right before his bedtime with his exciting new trick.  All he has to do now is figure out that he's figured it out and he will be mobile.  A mobile baby is much more work, or so I'm told.  I'm sure it is - but I am still so thrilled with his new accomplishment that I really don't care.  We are now in the process of babyproofing.  Baby gate, check.  And that's it....  We gotta get outlet covers, toilet bowl clips, cabinet locks, and all of the wires behind the TV secured.  Anyone have any other suggestions?  Because we're gonna need 'em!

addendum

Well, disregard my post yesterday. He finally had his meltdown today. Woke up at 6:45 am and refused naps until he got so overly tired he screamed himself to sleep about 10:00 am. But he did take a 2.5 hr nap - which is unheard of around here - and woke up happy! Needless to say he was an angel for the rest of the day. So, yes, naps are a must for us. I stand by my initial statement that they are of the utmost importance. If you are struggling with naps and your child: I feel your pain, most every mom goes through it too, and may God give you patience and wisdom!