9 weeks of snuggles

This week marks 9 weeks of having my sweet little snuggle buddy here!  :)  This week we also hit Cooper's 2 month birthday....which was spent in Raleigh  :) On Tuesday we went to school so that I could get a little bit of planning done with the sub that is covering my class.  C took the day off to come with me and help out with Cooper so I could focus on getting things done a little better.  After we left school we went to Southpoint to walk around for a bit.  Cooper, in true baby fashion, was fighting sleep BIG TIME!  He FINALLY fell asleep as we were leaving the mall, but only slept about 30-45 minutes and had those peepers WIDE open by the time we got home!  :)  needless to say, he slept REALLY well that night because he was zonked!  :)

Now for some pictures!  :)

forgot to share this one last week....I think it's cute how Arnold is telling him a secret!

Anna came to visit this week and Cooper LOVED talking to her!

They talked until he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer!

Finally made the mobile for his room!

A happy naked boy! :)

Sitting up so big!

This WAS the outfit we were wearing today...until right after this picture when he spit up ALL over himself (and the glider!)

At 9 weeks Cooper:

• is delightful!  he smiles ALL the time!  but the little stinker refuses to smile for his weekly pictures!  the moment I put him on the changing table...all smiles!  in the glider for his pictures....all business!  little booger!  :)
• still spits up but not nearly as bad as it has been.  I hate making him take the medicine though because it tastes SO bad and he gags and cries every time he has to take it.  :(  I try to tell him that it is supposed to make him feel better and to just get through it, but he doesn't seem to understand.  ;)
• LOVES looking at lights!  we have a couple of musical, light up toys that he is fascinated by!  he just stares at the lights and grins!  He also simply loves the lights in the ceiling or lamps! he's not picky  :)
• seems to be able to track things really well now!  I've noticed him watching Arnold a little bit more lately.
• Definitely recognizes mommy and daddy and loves for us to talk to him.  Sometimes he will fix his eyes on me, and perhaps I'm not looking at him, but when I look at him he is just grinning from ear to ear!  it is the cutest thing ever!  it's like he's saying "I see you mommy!  now look at me and talk to me because I'm much cuter than whatever you're looking at right now!"  love that boy!
• has incredible head control!  He has had really great control from day one actually, but now he really holds his head up and turns it and looks all around the place!
• is very ticklish on his sides!  When I put lotion on him after his bath he wiggles and arches his back when I get to his sides!  :)
• tolerates tummy time pretty well!  he has discovered that he can push up slightly with his arms and then his head is high enough to turn and look around the room even when lying on his tummy.  we haven't seen tons of rolling over since the day he did it several times, but I think that's more because he's figured out how to push his head up and still be able to see around pretty good.  but that's just my theory  :)
• seems to be SO close to a laugh!  I don't know when they start to laugh, but he makes the funniest noise when he's really happy and grinning really big!  he definitely has his happy noises!
• is getting the bedtime routine down pat!  We average about 35-45 minutes from start to finish now...it's been so great to be able to put him to bed and have some time to ourselves in the evening, although that time seems to go by quickly with cleaning up the kitchen, washing bottles, pumping, and sitting down to take a breather before we decide we're exhausted and ready for bed too!  :) 
• does this adorbale little "scream" right before a sneeze...as if he's anticipating what's coming!  :)
• LOVES his new cloth wipes and homemade wipes solution...they are so soft on his lil bum and smell so good (plus....I know exactly what's in it...no irritating this boy's bottom!)
• is SUCH a blessing!  Every day gets better and better and I can't imagine what life was ever like without him!  There are still times when i stop and think "How did God see fit to bless US with this precious little boy!?!!?"  it's amazing to think that for 9 (really more like 10) months your body goes through so many changes and a lot of it is so uncomfortable but the whole while the perfect little being is forming and getting ready to rock your world!  People tell you that it will be the most amazing thing ever and that it will change your life, but you don't really understand until you've experienced it.  And it's not all roses...there are times when we find ourselves frustrated while cleaning pee off the wall because the "hose" was left uncovered for too long and the cold air just made it squirt....or when it's 3:00 in the morning and he's hungry and all I want to do is sleep....or when he's just eaten and then spits up ALL over himself and me for the 2nd time that day...But I wouldn't trade it for the world because then there are those times when he makes eye contact with us and just grins.....or when he gets sleepy and snuggles into my chest to go to sleep....or when he makes the sweetest noises of contentment while eating.  My heart just overflows with love for this little precious fella!