Miracles

There are days that I look at Cooper and my heart nearly bursts. I can say with certainty that there hasn't been a day since finding out that I was pregnant with him that I've taken for granted. I think back to a certain conversation and the fact that all of my every day joy may have never happened.  I think back to the grief of never spending a day with Lily and all of the moments that will never be. I think back to one sentence and if I had followed the doctor's recommendation that my son's very existence would be gone.

That sentence was "will you consider terminating the pregnany?" and my answer, without missing a heartbeat, was "absolutely not" and then the doctor's (who I adore to this day) response was "okay, so let's figure out how to make sure you get out of this pregnancy alive"...This would be the day that I found out that my childbearing days would end on the day of my son's birth. I knew about the hysterectomy for weeks and that I'd be in the hospital for weeks because being at home would mean a certain death if I went into labor.  I didn't care. I prayed every day for the life of my son.  I also prayed that I would rejoice every day if I was able to raise him.  So, I rejoice every.single.morning when I open his bedroom door in the morning until the very moment that I tuck him in at night. 

See, I'd jump in front of a bullet, speeding bus, give up any organ to keep Cooper alive.  Every day, I pray, and my unending prayer, is that I never outlive another child of mine. I would never survive. That was my thought as I told the doctor that termination was not an option.  That's a pretty deep thought that didn't take more than a heartbeat.

So, when I say that I don't take a day for granted, I mean it. I don't take a tantrum for granted. I don't take a single laugh, kiss, hug, smile, puke, nose-picking, or whatever else happens during the day for granted.  You'll never hear a complaint come from my mouth about my child. EVER.  His challenges are still a joy to me.

He's a miracle to me. I fought for him before I ever met him and I'll fight for him until the day that I die...

 

 Nope, not his birthday, just doing some speech therapy, lol 

Reasons my son cries...

I think it's a known fact that there isn't a perfect child on this planet and they aren't designed to be perfect.  But, I know that almost all of the stuff that I show on this blog about Coop shows the good stuff but it's my blog so there! (lol) So, in the interest of being fair, I give to you a post on "why my son cries"...

He's mad because I wouldn't let him play with my glasses. There were real tears. It was tough not to laugh...

Raindrops falling on my head...

I mentioned the other day that Coop and I walk to school despite weather conditions and here is a little proof. Now, granted, it was about 47 degrees and it wasn't raining at this particular moment but we were ready if it did!

I imagine Cooper talking to his grandkids one day and saying things like "when I was a kid, my mom and I walked to school in the torrential rain in our raincoats!"  Haha!

Nature trackers...

We watch Dinosaur Train in the morning while we get ready for school and we always talk about being nature trackers like Tiny, Shiny, Don and Buddy. So, in the spirit of being a nature tracker we go for walks on the trail behind our house.  A tenth of a mile takes us an hour because Cooper is very into nature.  I'm going to buy us binoculars so that we can start bird watching because he loves birds!  He has a bug net and a bug cage but, so far, all we've been able to catch (and, release!) are ants and rolly pollies, lol

Sunshine! Spring are you there??

I love being outside and this Spring-like weather is bringing out some good vibes in me!  So, most afternoons, you'll now find Cooper and I taking a walk on the trail, crafting on the patio or playing at the park.  Last weekend, daddy was sick so Coop and I headed to our favorite local park with our Starbuck's (caramel flan latte for me and a chocolate milk for Coop) along with the rest of Smyrna, lol 

 

 I find him irrestible! 

 Mommy's graffiti artist...

 

Life is sweet!

We live really close to where Cooper attends preschool so we're lucky enough to be able to walk to school every day.  Seriously, if it's cold or rainy, I just wrap him up in his jogging stroller and pull down the raincover because I don't want any of that car riders lane at his school, haha! Plus, it gives us both some fresh air and time to play as we head to school!  It's awesome...

I'm having to get us out of the house just a wee bit earlier these days now that the weather has warmed up.  In the stroller, our walk takes about 3 minutes but when he's hoofing it, then the walk takes about 15-20 minutes.  He likes to stop and listen to the birds (and, attempt, to whistle!!), pick up leaves and pine cones (the other day, I had about 20 leaves and 3 pine cones walking into school and I didn't have the heart to toss them while he was around) and pretend that sticks are magic wands (he loves for me to say "abracadabra!").  So, my theory is that he's only little once and there will come a day that my soul will yearn for these days back so, I just smile and just snap pics...

Life is sweet :) (my daily mantra because it truly is!!) 

 Side note, I noticed my post count the other day and this is my 501st post on Cooper's blog. Absolutely, nuts, but it's great that he'll have this to look back on one day!

My love...

 

 

SNOW! Again...

We've had snow twice in two weeks. I've lived in Georgia for about 28 years and I cannot remember having snow twice in one winter...but, truth be told, some days, I can't remember what I ate for dinner the night before, lol

I like my crazy eyes in this pic...and, Coop's look of "another pic?" makes me laugh. 

 

Literally, every thing started to melt like 3 hours later...lame. 

 

Ice, Ice, baby!

We've had such a weird winter in Georgia!  Last week, we had snow but mostly ice and this week it's been in the high 60's and low 70's!  Last Wednesday, we stayed indoors while outside became a sheet of ice.  At least with snow, you can go outside and play but with ice there isn't anything else to do but tv, crafts and other shenanigans...So, here are some of our shenanigans!

Reading and snacking on a banana in the kitchen...

Just being cute...

I just thought he looked funny...I was bored, lol 

Truth be told, I didn't know it was Abe Lincoln's birthday until we read some of Coop's highlight calendar...

Daddy time!

 Daddy took a half day from work and we spent the afternoon at the aquarium!  Coop was really excited to have the extra time with his daddy.  I literally just snapped pics and daddy and Coop did their bonding :) 

I snapped this pic of the whale shark and edited it on my phone!  I was pleased with myself, lol