Sunday, October 31, 2010

Cooper's First Birthday Party!

We had Cooper's first birthday party yesterday and it was a PERFECT day! We had so much fun and I can't believe that he'll be one tomorrow! I just wanted to share some videos real quick because I have to take my in-laws to the airport soon. I'll post MANY pics later!




Thursday, October 28, 2010

Cooper and his spooky baby legs!

I'm getting caught up with sharing some cute photos of Cooper that I've taken in the last couple of weeks!

We LOVE babylegs around our house because they save me from having to take pants on/off during diaper changes, they're easy to put on and they save his cute little legs as he rolls on different surfaces. Homeboy can roll just about as fast as any baby can crawl!

These babylegs were made by Hollie who I met through the babyloss community. She lost her sweet Cameron on July 31, 2008...3 days before I lost my sweet Lily. Hollie and I belonged to the same birthboard on BBC and we've been internet buddies ever since! Although, we'll be meeting in person very soon, I'm sure :)




I so said that I would NEVER buy the blue jean diapers but, alas, I have fallen pray to their marketing ploys and just had to see if things were really better if your baby poo'd in blue :)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Just a vent...

A few weeks ago a PT student worked with Cooper during his session with his regular PT. His PT, L, is super nice and patient and is WONDERFUL with Cooper. He fatigues really easily due to his hypotonia and does become fussy after about 30 minutes into exercising. I don't know many adults that would be *happy* 30 minutes into a work-out! Cooper does a lot at PT, too, like he stands in this wooden stander thing that I couldn't even begin to really describe to all of you but it looks like a torture device (in actuality, it's hard for him to bear weight on his legs so it probably is a little torturous to him!). He does push-up stuff on a big exercise ball and works out on this fake staircase thing. I mean the kid kicks it but again, he's a baby and a baby with special needs to boot! I'm always proud of him even when he starts to get pissed!

Anyways, the student was working with him and Coop started to get a little fussy (this is about 40 minutes into therapy) and she looks at him and calls him a "faker." Maybe, my mommy protectiveness went into overdrive but this pissed me off. I would never dare of calling him anything harder than snickelfritz (which is a German word for curious boy, my FIL is German) than to have someone undermine his feelings really struck a nerve. But, I kept my mouth shut. Then right before the session ended this student looked at Cooper with this irritated look and said "I just don't understand why he's so upset" and really it was the look and tone that got me. Again, I kept my mouth shut thinking that maybe, I need to hold my tongue and re-evualate the situation after I leave to see if it's truly something to be upset by. Do you know that I was pissed at this student for the entire week leading up to his next appointment?

I was hoping that maybe the student wouldn't work with him again and I could talk to his PT on the side about how this student needs to be talked to about Cooper's particular situation and to have some sensitivity for his (and mine!) feelings. But, no, there she was in all her smug glory waiting to treat him again. So, this gave me two options 1. pretend like nothing ever happened and give this student the opportuntity to be an insensitive twit to other babies or 2. Be direct and tell her my observations so that I don't have to go off on her when she does it again and spare other babies (and parents) her cluelessness. I went with number 2. She started to cry and apologized profusely.

Anyways, I accepted her apology on Cooper's behalf. I'm telling all of you now that if he was old enough to understand what the word "faker" was and that she was picking on him that all hell would've broken loose. Any name calling crosses a line with me and maybe it's the mommy and the social worker in me that has no room for it. I allowed her to continue working with him last week and yesterday and she is like a totally different person. She's sweet, funny, and patient. Hmmm, you needed a pissed off parent to teach you how to work with a baby? I'm hoping that she has taken a closer look at her "bedside" or should I say "exercise mat" manner. I know she's just a student but in what world would you think those words and facial expressions were okay?

I don't know. Just a vent. I've never really been irritated with someone at his therapy place and we're there a lot! Maybe, I blew it out of proportion but I knew that I couldn't let her work with my son again without my observations being addressed. She did thank me for my opinion in the end so maybe, she really did learn something and will think of me when she loses her patience with a baby again.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Go figures!

I make my blog private and then I get totally lazy with blogging! Sorry for sucking!

We went to Boo at the Zoo on Sunday and had a lot of fun! Cooper didn't wear his costume because it's made out of fleece and we're still in the high 70's here so he just wore his "My first Halloween" stuff. This is his last first holiday! He missed Halloween by 11 hours last year!






On a funny note (for now at least) Cooper has learned how to shake his head "no"...which is his response now for everything! I'm trying to teach him how to shake his head "yes" but his response is...no!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Pumpkin patch fun!

Cooper will be one year old in just a few short weeks so we had a friend meet us at a nearby pumpkin patch to get some cute family photos. It was a lot of fun and I'd actually never been to a pumpkin patch!

Cooper can't sit up so I went to Ho.bby Lo.bby to get some fall color material to lay over his Bu.mbo and it worked out wonderfully!

The first pic is my favorite because it has all 4 of us :)




Sunday, October 10, 2010

Now back to regular scheduled programming!

Thank you to those that made requests to still follow Cooper's blog! I LOVE sharing him to the world and this gives me the option of still doing that but on a smaller scale :)
We went to a fall festival last weekend at the place that I worked at for 7 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. My friends worked it out where Cooper and his friend could have the moon bounce for 5 minutes by themselves...which was great b/c I didn't have to worry about Cooper's head by smushed in by a older kid! He LOVED it! He just rolled all over the place but with a little bounce to the roll :)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

It's the last call for Coopie!

Today is the last day that I'll be taking requests to follow Cooper's blog once it goes private tomorrow. Please, send requests to lilysmommy8308@yahoo.com if you would like to continue reading about this miracle pregnancy after (uterine) rupture, placenta increta surviving, 31 weeker, too cute for words, whipper snapper :)


That's right, he's more than just eye candy...he's cute and clever!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Announcement

I've been debating this for months (and, having some conversations with the hubby) but have come to decision that I will be making Cooper's blog private. I'm so thankful to all of you for the support that you've given me through my pregnancy with Cooper and for the first 11 months of his life. I've known the risks of having my life and Cooper's life open to the world and want to protect our world in every way that I can. Nothing has happened and I want to keep him safe always so I've decided to take this step now before anything does. (Such as pics being stolen off blogs for personal use of strangers)

If you would like an invitation to follow privately then please e-mail me at lilysmommy8308@yahoo.com (some of you have my personal e-mail and I will receive requests that way, as well). I know very well that I may lose some readers but I hope that is not the case. I have 83 followers but truth be told, only about 10 or so actually comment which is fine, too...but, I hope I don't lose those 10 that are so wonderful with their words of advice and support! (Only people that send a request will be sent invitations) I will be accepting requests until next Sunday, October 10, 2010.

Again, THANK YOU for being there for Cooper and me. I hope you choose to continue reading our journey~

Love,
Jen

(I had debated doing the same for Lily's blog but have decided to leave her blog public. I have removed her pics though...I'm sure most of you understand if you've read any of the drama within the last months. My job is to protect both of my children and removing her pics was my way of protecting her.)

Saturday, October 2, 2010

It's the great pumpkin, Cooper!

We took Cooper to a pumpkin patch this morning for some fall pics and had a great time! The weather was perfect and our model was adorable...what more could you ask for?






These are the pics that I took with my personal camera but I'll have the ones from our photographer in about a week...and, you know that I'll be sharing them on here :)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Cooper is 11 months old!


Dear Cooper,
Today, you are 11 months old! This is your last monthly pic before you turn the big number 1!
I love how you've become a momma's boy already! I can't tell you how happy it makes my heart to see your smile every morning. You've been such a perfect baby and I couldn't ask for anything more from you.
I don't know where the time is going but I've teasured every moment of our first 11 months together. I can't wait to get to know you even better with the passing days...
I'll love you, forever~
Momma