Trip to Washington

A couple of weeks ago (November 6-14) Cooper and I took a little trip up to Washington to visit Brad's sister Julie and her family (aka the Richey's). Brad didn't join us, he stayed home to work and take care of Indiana :) I absolutely love spending time with the Richey's, they are so fun. Julie and Tyler have three boys Michael (5), Jack (3), and Bennett (almost 9 months).

Cooper and I flew into Portland. I was really nervous about how Cooper would do on the flight and how it would be sitting close to strangers and feeding him, him spitting up, crying, etc. I got SO LUCKY on the flight to Portland. There were only 36 people on the entire flight. So I didn't have anyone on the row in front of me, behind me, or the three rows across the aisle. Not only was it nice having no one around but Cooper was the perfect baby on the flight. He ate at take off, then he played while laying on his blanket on the seats, then with like 20 minutes left he fell asleep. Once we landed a few people on the flight and the flight attendants commented on how great he was! He even got an official certificate that said his name and date for his first airplane ride....it was really cute!!!

Cooper on the plane

It was so nice being able to lay him on the seats next to me

Just a picture showing how no one was around us

When we got to Portland we went to dinner and then Target. I had to buy some diapers and things that I hadn't wanted to pack a lot of. While we were walking around Jack kept handing me things for Cooper.

This was just some of the things he wanted me to put on Cooper.

We had a lot of fun while I was there. We went to the Columbia store and I spent way to much, the most amazing fabric store I have ever seen (I so wish we had one here), Costco a couple of times, and just had fun hanging out at the Richey's house. I could kick myself for not taking more pictures while I was there.

The only picture of Jack that I got

Michael absolutely LOVED Cooper. He couldn't get enough of him. He was constantly wanting to kiss him and just be by him. He would always ride in what car I was in and was such a big helper on getting Cooper to stop crying and making sure Cooper's binky was in his mouth.

Bennett was sometimes curious about Cooper and other times was doing his own thing. Bennett is getting so big. He is crawling all over the place. It's amazing that they are only like 4 1/2 months apart but such a drastic size difference. I just want Cooper to stay tiny forever :)

Mr. Bennett....he is the most photogenic child ever!!!!

Cooper loved Bennett's jumper

The babies hanging out

Cooper at Costco. I didn't want to have to deal with the car seat so I just laid him on a blanket and he was in heaven looking around!!!

Julie and the babies

Cooper watching football yet again

While we were there Cooper decided it was necessary to poop 4-6 times a day. It was insane! I ended up having to go buy more diapers because he kept going through them so fast. He normally went maybe twice a day. But even being home he has continued on his pooping spree. Lucky me :) He has definitely earned his named of Cooper the Pooper!!!

We had such a great trip. It was fun just being able to relax and spend time with the Richey's. Our flight home was another story though. They boarded us late because they were waiting for some connecting flights to land. Once we finally got on Cooper was starving so I started giving him his bottle. He finished his bottle and we still hadn't taken off. There ended up being a problem with the cooling system which in order to fix they have to unload the cargo bin. So that took about an hour and a half. Luckily we were able to get off the flight and walk around. The only problem was that I no longer had my stroller because it had been loaded. Luckily I had my sling and was able to walk around a bit. Cooper started getting fussy because it was now nap time. Once we finally were able to get back on the plane Cooper fell asleep and slept the entire flight. I was glad because this flight was completely full so we were surrounded by people. There was a baby who screamed the entire time and I felt so bad for the mom. If it had been me I would have probably been in tears because it is so stressful! I was so glad he was easy for me. It was very nice getting home. Being away from Brad for a week is a really long time. I can't even imagine how much worse it was for him being away from Cooper for a week.

Thanks Richey's for letting me and Cooper stay with you for a week and thanks honey for letting Cooper and I take this little trip!!!

Cereal For Cooper

Well since Cooper is now four months old we are able to start feeding him rice cereal. Today I tried it for the first time and it was hilarious. I was really excited because I got to open his high chair. Yeah I probably could just feed him in his bouncer but now that I had an excuse to use the high chair I was taking advantage of it. His highchair is a space saver one so straps on to one of the kitchen table chairs. I fed him on the counter this first time though. Other than his next car seat, the high chair was the last big baby thing that we have to open. It's actually kind of sad. But I got to use a big boy bib and his spoons so it was fun! Cooper didn't know what to think. He wasn't so sure about the texture. He would get it down but the faces he made were hilarious. I see it as a success because no crying was involved. We will keep trying though until hopefully he likes it!

Trying out the new high chair for the first time

He likes his high chair

Buddy was even curious about what was going on

Here goes the first bite

Ha ha he had no idea what to think

This face is classic!!!

He kinda had this face the whole time

I can't believe Cooper is a big boy and doesn't just get milk anymore. I love all the stages that he has gone through and the ones we have to look forward to. I just wish it would stop going so fast. I love my little guy and enjoy every minute!!!!

Four Whole Months!!!!

Today was Cooper's 4 month check up. I always get so excited for his check ups so I can see how big he is but I dread him getting his shots. We definitely have a little peanut on our hands.

Cooper is: 12 lbs. 12 oz- 20th percentile for weight
24 1/2 in. long- 30th percentile for height
head is 41 1/2 cm- 25th percentile

That means that Cooper has only gained 4 pounds since he was born. It's crazy because he seems so much bigger! The doctor said that Cooper looks super healthy though and might just be a little guy. He is still super strong for his age even though he's got no fat on him. She sees some bubbles on his gums so he is definitely teething. But I knew that because he is slobbering up a storm. But I will take slobber over spit up any day. He is still spitting up quite a bit. It isn't as much as it used to be but we still got through lots of outfits, burp rags, blankets, and moms clothes :) He is built just like I was. I was very petite but had the cheeks and double chin like Cooper has. I love my little monkey though. He has just enough chub on him and I wouldn't have him any other way. Brad said he hopes he isn't always little because with how much Cooper likes football he wants him to be able to play it....ha ha! It's true though, every time football is on he will turn his head so he can watch. He will just sit in front of the tv watching football and is completely content. We are definitely a football watching family so it's a good thing! Here are some recent pics.

My strong little guy....you can get a glimpse of how he likes to slobber :)

Coop in his exer-saucer which he loves!

Buddy gives Coop his giraffe to throw for him....he still doesn't get that Coop can't do that!

Mom and her boys just hanging out

He LOVES his fists and I love watching him try to fit the whole thing in his mouth

Watching football....he didn't even pause to look at me taking the picture

Very observant

He still loves his binky...even when he is sound asleep

I love that he will just lay on a blanket and play by himself

Another one enjoying the exer-saucer

Coop and the bumbo

He even sleeps with his hands in his mouth....he has found his thumb too

Indiana thinks we got this for him :)

I can't believe how fast four months has flown by. It just seems like we brought him home from the hospital. We love Cooper more than we could have ever imagined. Nothing is better than getting a huge smile or giggle from him. I love going in to get him out of his crib and see him kick his little legs and arms and give me the biggest grin. At four months Coop is now:

• rolling over from his front to back
  
• almost from back to front
  
• talking up a storm
  
• giggles
  
• smiles
  
• loves standing (this is how insists on being burped)
• loves looking around while being on his tummy
• loves to cuddle
• loves watching tv
• grabs anything in his reach (toys, bib, blanket, bink link, etc.)
• puts anything and everything in his mouth
• loves holding his blanket and having it by his face
  
• loves bath time
• LOVES being naked ha ha he still kicks likes crazy and gets so excited when his diaper comes off
• still wakes up once to feed but hopefully once he stops spitting up so much this will change
• is definitely a mama's boy
• tries putting his binky in his mouth and sometimes is successful

There is just so much that he can do it is amazing how much they grow up in just 4 months!

One Year Ago Today!!!!

One year ago today Brad and I got the best news that we had ever received!

It was exactly a year ago today that we found out we were going to be having Cooper. It was such a crazy day. I knew that I was late so I took a pregnancy test before Brad got home from work. To my surprise and hopeful wishing I got a positive pregnancy test. I had always wanted to come up with a cute way to tell Brad when I got pregnant, but it didn't work out that way. I had a 3 hour class that night and I knew I couldn't go sit in a class for that long without telling Brad the AMAZING news. I was bummed I didn't have time to put something cute together before I left for my class. So when he got home from work I came down the stairs holding the test. When I showed him he asked me "Really?" His face showed a little excitement, shock, and happiness. He really didn't know what to say. He now admits that when I told him he immediately starting thinking about insurance and money and all the not so fun details. It all had to soak in.

A year later we have the most amazing, adorable, fun little boy that we could have ever hoped for. We are so blessed with what the past year has brought us. We couldn't be happier.

We Love You Cooper!!!!!