Block party!

My hubby's company throws a block party (employee picnic thing) every year and last weekend was Cooper's first time attending with mommy and daddy. Well, last year he was there but snuggled up inside mommy! It was so much fun to push him around in his stroller and be like all the other families at the event. Before Lily we were upset because we couldn't get pregnant and then we did...and lost her so then we were angry at all the happy families...then we got pregnant again with Cooper but we were still sprinkled with anger because we still missed Lily and anxiety for our high-risk pregnancy. Too much thinking and too many emotions!

This year, we just wanted to take our little guy to a block party and eat mini-donuts and dipping dots until we couldn't see straight...mission accomplished!

Daddy and Cooper

Cooper is a huge DAWGS fan! Future alumni!

Cooper and mommy with a Blackhawk helicopter (funny story/video about this below!)

Cooper playing airplane with Daddy...he love this game!

Cooper and mommy with a mini-COOPER :) Corny, yes!

A little background story about the blackhawk helicopter before you watch this video (TURN OFF PLAYER BELOW). There were no more picnic tables available so about 30 of us were copping a squat (wow, never thought I'd actually use that sentence in a blog post!) in the parking lot with our plates. A few minutes after sitting down, the helicopter begins making an approach to land EXCEPT that it was landing in the wrong parking lot. The helicopter was landing about 50 yards from us and as it was landing the porta potties at the end of the parking lot caught the helicopter's downwash and started coming at the crowd seriously at like 15 mph...I jumped up (kinda hard for a pleasantly plump chick!) to get Cooper out of the way. Anyhow, my hubby caught some of the excitement on video :) No one was seriously hurt in the incident, I should add...

Wow!

I heard this song on the way home from having a great dinner with some girlfriends the other night. I raced through the door so that I wouldn't forget the name of the song. It's a song called "The words I would say" by Side.walk Pro.phets...The chorus is what really moves me because I think in essence in sums up some very important things that I want Cooper to know...

Be strong in the Lord and,

Never give up hope,

You're going to do great things,

I already know,

God's got His hand on you so,

Don't live life in fear,

Forgive and forget,

But don't forget why you're here,

Take your time and pray,

These are the words I would say

I know my job as a mommy and a Believer in Jesus Christ is to lead him down the road to knowing the truth...I take this job very seriously hence the panic about getting back to church after our absence. I have to lead by example and be prayerful everyday that he learns right from wrong, learns to act out of love for others, and that he strives everyday to be a great human being. I would be doing him an injustice by doing otherwise...

Dear Cooper,

I started this blog when I found out that I was pregnant with you...I started it for myself so that I could document all of the feelings that would pop up within the next 9 months (little did I know that I would only make it to almost 8 months!). Your daddy and I had been through so much in the previous year and to tell you the truth I was very excited and very scared at the same time when we found out that we were going to have a baby. The excitement took over as the weeks progressed and as I got to watch you grow each week on the ultrasounds.

Now, I continue this blog for you. I have a real baby book for you but this is something that we can both look at while you grow...I've tried to put a lot of baby pictures on here along with different things going on with you. Mommy's memory isn't as great as it used to be so I wanted you to have something to look at and laugh at...And, when you're old enough and ready we can talk about all the things that happened with your sister and the journey that the three of us (you, me and daddy) took while you were snuggled inside of mommy...

Thank you for choosing me to be your mommy. Everyday is so much sweeter since you arrived! I love hearing your laugh as I walk down the hallway to your room and seeing your face light up as I get closer to your crib. As corny as it sounds, it is true what they say about the love that you have for your child...it is immediate and unconditional. You've given me purpose. You've given me a reason to wake up and to be a good person through my words and actions. I love you for everything that you are...

My love forever,
Mommy

We did it!

Meaning we went back to church today...and, Cooper had a great time in the nursery! I was very anxious and tearful as we drove to church but my fears were alleviated as the greeter/sign-in person was the cutest 80 something old gentleman :) He made jokes to ease my anxiety and it really did help me understand that all mommies and daddies feel this way with the first trip to the nursery.

The lady who was in his nursery was obviously used to neurotic mommies and made the saying bye process very easy...she didn't even give me the option of hanging around and making Cooper anxious! She basically said that it's much better to have quick byes and gave me a pager. I listed out how he takes naps, how he likes to be burped, what time he needed a nap and to be given a bottle...

And, that was that! The service was great and I feel so relieved having the first nursery experience over with...now, maybe, I can work up the courage for a babysitter so my hubby and I can have a date night!

I'm CRAZY...

I want to start going back to church...I haven't been since last August! The timeline includes almost 8 weeks in the hospital for me then there was almost 6 weeks for Cooper and finally the fear of having Cooper enclosed in either a big sanctuary with two to three thousand people or in the nursery during RSV/flu season (for those of you wondering about me taking him to the movies, I've always gone to matinees when the movie has been out for weeks and I've yet to be to at a movie with more than 10 other people)...but, RSV season ended at the beginning of April...so, what's my problems?

The problems is just this...I'm crazy or neurotic take your pick! I question bringing him in the sanctuary with me but I have the fear of him crying during the service. The act of his crying is not a problem for me but I worry about taking anything away from the service for other parishnors. Who has been in a church service and been next to the people with the fidgity and crying baby? I don't want to be those people. So, my next option is the nursery but Cooper has NEVER been left with anyone other than my husband and myself. I talk myself into it but my resolve begins to wither away by Saturday night. You see, it's not that Cooper is some special needs baby by all regards he is very sweet natured and rarely cries/fusses....it's solely my fear of leaving him with people.

I miss my church and fortunately for me our church is televised so I haven't missed a church service yet...but, there is something addicting about being in the house of God with other believers...being able to sing praise and lift my hands in worship...

Believe me, I've prayed for less craziness and for trust of the ones working in the nursery...what have you other mommas done to work through leaving your baby with a STRANGER for the first time? My church has about 10 thousand members so chances are that whoever is working in the nursery will be a stranger to me...

See, exhibit A for crazy...

Dear Waitress~

Dear Waitress,

No offense but I don't know you so please don't put your hands all over my baby...I'm know you are a busy lady and will be touching dollar bills/wiping off dirty tables and not sanitizing your hands properly before coming to my table. My son is a social baby and will be more than happy to grasp your finger and then put that same hand in his mouth the moment you walk away. Oh, and just because he's a little fussy for 3 seconds it doesn't mean that he is hungry...I'll have you to know that he ate 7 ounces a mere 20 minutes before coming to your establishment...so, when you grabbed his bottle off the table that was just there for emergencies, mind you, and stick it his mouth, well, I have to tell you that it pissed me off. Not to mention, he spit it all back up on his new outfit because his little tummy was already full! I don't immediately grab for a paci or stick a bottle in his mouth to soothe him...Oh, and finally, my son hates his carseat and normally will get irritated and want to sit on mommy's lap, hence my mad one hand eating skills, that doesn't mean that you come back to my table and make smart ass comments like "oh, is your mommy being mean to you??? Poor baby!" Listen heifer...you're on my nerves now...

Have a nice day, you're an okay lady and all, but next time, I won't be sitting in your section...

STAY AWAY FROM MY BABY~

Sincerely,
Cooper's Mommy

Cooper's first flight!

Cooper flew for the first time to visit his grandparents in Pittsburgh and I thought I would share some pics of his first adventure...and, throw out a few tips to those who are considering taking an infant on a plane :) I asked for advice from facebook friends and got some really great tidbits that I thought I would pass along~

1. Bring your stroller so that you can go through the special needs line in security. They were very patient with us as we got all 3 of us through security and didn't treat me as a loser when I made the metal detector go off...

2. Formula or breastmilk are allowable liquids and all you have to do is disclose that you have them...it was much easier for me to prepare a few bottles and put them in his diaper bag than worrying about how I was going to feed him once I got there...

3. I checked his stroller right before going on the plane but got Cooper his own seat on the plane which was awesome because he slept the whole time and was ubber comfortable...

4. Have a bottle or paci ready for take off and landing so that they can suck and relieve ear pressure...one person suggested to me to give him tylenol but I chose to not go that route and he was perfectly fine!

5. This one is a special tip from me: Just because I know some people hate to sit next to a baby on a plane...I made friends with the people around us and introduced Cooper so that if he cried they would be more willing to be sympathic versus giving me a death glare or eye roll...worked wonders ;) Even had one dad tell me that Cooper helped him miss his kids less while he was on his trip!

The only bummer is that Cooper has a little cold now...I can't say for 100% that he got it from the flight up to Pittsburgh but it's a safe assumption since he got sick 2 days later :( He's feeling better now and I honestly can't think of any way that I could have safeguarded him from getting a cold as I'm ALWAYS extremly cautious...comes from being a mom to a preemie!

Cooper and mommy hanging out before take off

Cooper thinking of all the fun that he's going to have in Pittsburgh!

Cooper's party cake from his grandparents!

Squash!

Cooper had solids for the first time today! He's 6 months old (4 adjusted) but his pedi was confident that he was ready...so, I made a trip to the grocery store to buy some level one baby food (I plan on making my own babyfood but I need to do some more research before I get deep into it) and we got to it... HE LOVED IT! He ate squash like he'd been doing it forever!

Today was my first (well, second if you consider pregnancy) Mother's day with Cooper! My heart did feel a certain giddiness in having an ENTIRE day devoted to the illustrious job of MOMMY! We woke up in Pittsburgh, PA and flew home very early this morning so it's been a whirlwind of a day but I've enjoyed spending the day with my lovey :)

Here is the card that he got me for Mother's day :) I hope all of you had a blessed Mother's day! xxoo!

Front

Inside

I would like to add that Cooper has excellent penmanship for a 6 month old ;)

Preemie playdate!

Cooper made a new friend today! I met Gretchen through the preemie board on Baby.center and had the delightful opportunity to meet her and her precious baby boy in real life today! We both spent several weeks on hospital bedrest and delivered our preemies at the same hospital! Devin was born at 26 weeks and you can tell by the following pics that he has come a long way! We had some good laughs today just watching them play together...and, I know that I'm looking forward to many more playdates!

Cooper hanging out and giving his stroller fan "the eye"

Cooper sucking his hand and Devin chewing on Sophie

The boys doing a little tummy time ;)

This is just a sweet one!

Cooper and Devin meeting each other for the first time!

Cooper's 6 month wellness visit!

We went to Cooper's 6 month wellness visit on Monday and I'm glad to report that his preemie body is finally becoming more proportional!!! He weighs 16 pounds 9 ounces which is 4 times his birthweight and his 26 1/2 inches long which is 10 inches longer than when he was born. So, his weight puts him in the 25% and his height into the 50%...his head didn't even make it on the charts at his 4 month check-up but his head is now in the 50%!!! He is just growing by leaps and bounds!

We have a physical therapy eval for next Tuesday for Torticollis and the fact that he still won't put weight on his legs. Although, our ped is convinced that he won't put weight on his legs because he's lazy...I would tend to agree...

She does still hear his heart murmur which I had hoped she would say that she didn't...6 more months to close up or he has to have a heart cath surgery...and, MY heart can't take that kind of stress!!!! He does still have his hydroseal (one of his testicles is retaining fluid)...so, really we just have a list of small things that preoccupy my mind BUT to have a preemie that is doing this good is a BLESSING!

The bummer news is that Cooper's ped is moving to North Carolina in July so I have to find a new ped...BOO! So, I'll have to investigate the other peds in her office or maybe move to another office...I'll worry about this task next week :)

Two cool bits of news~

1. We are meeting Gretchen and Devin today for a playdate! A fellow blogger and preemie mom that I met on BBC! I'm very excited about meeting a preemie mom that will understand adjusted age vs actual age kind of lingo :) Pics to follow!

2. I received an email from the March of Dimes regarding team donations and if your baby was born at Northside Hospital...Guess where Coop was born!!!! So, that brings our Team Lily Angeline total to $3054!!!! Yay!

Coop hanging out with Mommy in bed

A freshly bathed Cooper :) Ahh, is there anyting better than the smell of Johnson and Johnson's lotion on a sweet baby???

Cooper playing SuperBaby with Daddy!


We have discovered and fallen madly in love with our thumb...

What did I eat before I went to bed????

I had a dream the other night that Cooper was sleeping in his pack-n-play in our room (he sleeps in his crib in his own room in reality) and he was the same age that he is now (6 months) and he sits up in the pack-n-play and says to me (sorry, in advance if this is crass) "hey mommy, I smell like piss" In my dream, I'm shaking my hubby awake and saying "Did you hear Coopie talk?"

Seriously, first off, I'm going to be irked if his first sentence isn't along the lines of "mommy, I love you..." or "I have the best mommy ever..."

And, why oh why, did my 6 month old have to use the word "piss" in my dream...

Oh, my ;)

My baby boy is 6 months old!

He is just the best part of everyday! He's just the sweetest thing and I'm so so lucky to have him in my life...