23 Weeks!

And our busy life continues!  :)  This week was another busy one!  On friday, Meaghan came over again to help watch Cooper while I got ready for the craft fair.  My mom also came that afternoon to help me get things finished.  Friday ended up being a VERY long day for mom and I!  We worked hard into the wee hours of the morning and took a 1 hour "nap" before getting up to pack up the car to head to Wake Forest for the craft fair.  The good news is....next time we'll be more ready and won't have to stay up all night getting ready!  Now we know what to expect and it will make future shows easier (and we've already got one lined up for the 12th!)  Saturday morning I had to wake Cooper up really early to leave for the show and I felt so bad waking him up....he was sleeping so soundly!  He was SO good the whole day and got numerous compliments on how well behaved he was being!  He got passed around a few times, took a couple naps on grandma and was a perfect mascot for our booth!  Unfortunately, there was not a huge turnout for the craft show so we didn't do so fabulous....we made back our booth fee, though...so we'll take it for our first one!  :)
Sunday was a total lazy day for us!  It was rainy and cold and we just laid around all day trying to recover from a busy couple of days!  As a matter of fact...Monday and Tuesday were recovery days as well!  :)  I took those days to just relax with my baby since I had been using every spare moment to make things and prepare for the craft show.
Tuesday also started our fussy days.....hold cow, has he ever been fussy!  I'm pretty confident that he's trying to cut a tooth because even through crying he's gnawing on his hand or whatever toy is near.  He constantly has something in his mouth, on the left side, gnawing away!  Last night (Wednesday) we went to the grocery store and picked up some dinner while we were out.  The last 20 minutes of our trip were spent with a crying baby!  it even got to the point where I reached back to him and just rubbed his bottom gums (don't worry....I wasn't driving and doing this!  :) )  that seemed to make him feel a little bit better, which even more confirms my suspicions that it's a tooth thing.....watch me be wrong!  :)
ok for the stats....

at 23 weeks Cooper:

• weighs ??? pounds
• is ??? inches long
• squeals out of excitement...and just because he can!  He discovered this at the craft fair and continued squealing and enjoying this new sound he was making!  :)
• is ALL over the place!  He has completely mastered the roll and scoot process!  I can put him on his play mat and in no time he has flipped over....twisted around....and is rolling across the living room floor!  Through this he has discovered the world of under the couch....the space where the carpet meets the linolium floor.....the hearth at the fireplace....computer cords......and, of course, ARNOLD!  :)  now he can get to Arnold when he wants to....until Arnold jumps up and runs away! no fair!  Just wait, Arnold....you're day is coming!  :)
• LOVES bathtime!  When we go to fill his tub for his bath he sits on my lap and bangs on the side of the tub and lunged toward to water!  we might have a little water baby on our hands!
• vigorously shakes anything the lands in his hands!  When he gets ahold of a stuffed animal, his paci, his teething links, anything! he starts shaking them back and forth....one of these days he's bound to clonk himself in the face....not sure how he hasn't already!
• doesn't like (or....rather, reacts to) air being blown in his face!  This week in the endless crying fits....I started to gently blow in his face in hopes of distracting him from the crying....funniest thing ever!  I will definitely have to get a video of this!  he stops real quick, eyes get wide and he closes his mouth like "WHAT was that?!?!"  :)
• makes dressing him a huge challenge! Like I've said before, this child is rarely still....and even worse when i'm trying to get clothes on him!  he twists his body...spreads out his fingers when I'm trying to get his arms in the sleeves....grabs the sleeves halfway through so I can't get his arm all the way through.....kicks his feet to avoid the socks.....pulls his leg out of his pants while I'm trying to get the other leg in....and so on.....it's quite the comedic battle!  :)  I think we might end up with a toddler that runs around naked!  yikes!  :)
• has tried our the sassy seat doorway jumper!  I thought he would be a whiz in that thing....but so far....he can't quite figure out what to do since it swings around when he tries to bounce. His other bouncer is stationary and he is a master at it!  he does, however, like it when I hold his legs and swing him slightly!  we might need to get a swing set for the backyard! Maybe we'll wait on that one a little while  :)
• still coughs for attention!  His daddy pointed out that a kicking leg often accompanies the fake cough!  :)  and sometimes a little toot accompanies the kicking leg!  he's like a one-man band!
• knows what the paci is and how to grab hold of it and stick it in his mouth!  :)  if he sees it lying somewhere and he wants it....he has no trouble grabbing it!
• enjoys the swing again.  we put the swing away for a while because he was so active that he didn't usually want to sit in it and be still....this week, with the fussiness....i pulled it back out in desperation and he enjoyed it....even fell asleep in it!
• likes when I sing to him!  In particular....he likes "I knew I Loved You Before I Met You" by Savage Garden!  :)  I've been trying to help my brother find songs for his wedding playlist so we've been listening to lots of music on YouTube....this particular song was especially pleasing to him.  He would just look at me and smile as I was singing it to him.  I took a video of him because it was so cute, but upon playback....I realized that you can hear me very loudly singing....and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to share that with all of you yet!  :)  Of course Coop thinks it's the best thing ever, but he's not very critical at 23 weeks old!  :)

ok, now for some pictures!  yay!

Arnold says: "What's this kid doing?" ""hmmm...what's that coming out of your mouth?"  "oh, "lemme taste that!"

"oooo...I like this fluffy dog!"

He's modest in the tub and keeps his knees together!  :)

"Arnold's my buddy! we like to chill together."

Enjoying his swing again!

let's try to sign on THIS side.....didn't help....he had it in his grip in no time!  :)

I had to give him something to hold and occupy his hands so he would quit grabbing the sign!  :)  Love his lil pj's!

 

 

Reading at the craft fair with grandma!

swingin and smilin at mama's singing!  (say that 10 times fast!)

Ahhhh!  I love a little sleeping baby's bottom up in the air!

my babysitter.....wait....who is she babysitting?  I think Arnold thinks it's him!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  :)

22 weeks!

Cooper is 22 WEEKS OLD!!!!  yowza....where is the time going?  And why so fast?!?!?  :)  We had, you guessed it....another busy week this week!  :)  In particular...Saturday was SUPER busy! But before I get to that....Friday we headed into town and stayed at my in-laws house.  I have been hard at work preparing for a craft show that is coming up this weekend so Meaghan offered to help watch Cooper on Fridays when she's off so that I can get some things done.  So while she played with Coop I pinned LOTS and LOTS of burp cloths, cut out ribbons for paci leashes, and FOUGHT with my sewing machine!  That thing will be the death of me before this is all over!  I seriously think it has it out for me!  Saturday morning we got up for a bridal shower.  Carrington stopped by (it was for a good friend of his from forever and his fiance--they live in Alabama so it was my first time getting to meet her and I really liked her!) but he didn't stay since it was a ladies tea type shower  :)  Cooper stuck it out though and was the only fella there!  :)  From there we went to Prime Care so that I could take a drug test in order to be able to work at the Y part time.  remind me to NEVER go to Prime Care for anything urgent!  :) I waited over an hour just to pee in a cup and overheard others talking about having been there for 2 1/2+ hours!  From there we headed to Grace's first birthday party!  There were SO many little babies there...and most of them were girls (which was something new since everyone I know has been having boys lately!)  We then left the birthday party to head straight to dinner for my Grandfather's 80th birthday!  we ate at Lone Star and then went back to their house to visit some more.  I guess to progression of our day was fitting....bridal shower, 1st birthday party, 80th birthday party.....I feel like I zoomed through life in one day!  :)
Sunday we were POOPED!  We had a soccer game to go to in Statesville and then relaxed the rest of the day! 
Monday Carrington's mom came to help watch Cooper while I did more sewing (or...breaking needles....same difference right!!?!?) and I've been using every opportunity the rest of this week to get ready for Saturday!  :)

On another note, I've been following the story of a family from our area that had a baby girl a month ago.  The baby was born with a heart defect (which they were aware of for most of the pregnancy) and required immediate surgery after delivery.  This family has spent almost 4 weeks watching their baby girl through ups and downs, trying various treatment options, praying for a miracle and clinging to God's faithfulness.  This week I got news that there was nothing more that modern medicine could do for this sweet little girl and the parents had to decide when to disconnect her.  On Sunday night Carlie died in her mama's arms.  I can't even FATHOM having to make that decision and the pain they must be feeling.  I don't know the family personally but it has absolutely broken my heart for them and has made me appreciate my own little blessing.  Even when he has a massive poopy blowout that gets all over EVERYTHING...at least I can clean him, change his diaper, and hold him.  Even when he spits up and has to be changed again for the day....at least I get to dress him and he can eat in the conventional way for a baby.  I really try not to take it for granted that we were blessed with a happy, healthy, baby; this story has just even more reminded me to be thankful that God has entrusted this sweet little life into our hands to care for, for a while.

at 22 weeks Cooper:

• turned 5 months old!  Tuesday was his official 5 month birthday!
• has discovered that he can not only grab his toes....but that they are perfect for sucking on!  :)
• has FINALLY laughed out loud!  he has had an airy laugh and has been very happy, but this week, on his 5 month birthday, he really giggled!  it's so cute!  I'll try to get it on video for my next post! 
• has figured out how to cough for attention!  My cousin's little girl used to do this, and now Coop has discovered it!  :)
• can sit up on his own for about 10 seconds before crashing!  He does especially well if I am sitting in front of him or holding a toy in front of him because he tries to reach for it which helps him shift his weight forward and balance a little better.
• Sits in the bumbo seat REALLY well!  He used to lean, hard core, to one side or to the front.  We used to have to put a blanket around him to help him stay upright....now he does it without a blanket....like a champ!
• looks at you very intently....as if he's really trying to figure out what you're saying!  He's always been alert and looking at you when you talk, but it seems this week he has transitioned to REALLY trying to process the sounds coming out of your mouth when you talk to him.
• is sleeping really well!  last night he went to bed around 8:30 and didn't wake up until 7:00 this morning to eat!  :)
• has had some bowel issues!  Last week we went from Tuesday until Sunday without a dirty diaper.....and when he finally did go.....oh.my.goodness!!  Good thing he was in daddy's lap for that one!  ;)  he's still a little bit off...going a couple days in between dirtys and then blowing it out!  I hate it, because it's so unpredictable....and we definitely don't want one of those blowouts in public! it also seems to make him uncomfortable....I was so thankful Sunday when he finally went because he seemed to settle down much better for bed that night!  (sorry for all the stinky details!)
• *might* be trying to cut a tooth?!?!?  He gnaws on things on his left side all the time!  When something goes into his mouth, it goes to that side and he gnaws!  I think there might be a little bump and *maybe* a white spot....but every time I try to check....he gnaws on my finger so it's hard to really tell....guess we'll see!
• can hold his own bottle!  At the soccer game on Sunday he demanded a bottle and fed himself the WHOLE thing!  he even pulled it out and got it back in....tipped it up...and held on to it!  For a baby that doesn't get bottles any more than he does, I think that's pretty impressive!
• has figures out that a high pitched squeal will get him lots of attention!  Last night we were eating dinner and he was sitting in his bumbo seat.  I guess he was ready to get out and we weren't moving fast enough because he just SQUEALED! and then looked back and forth between us both and just grinned!  It was the funniest thing!  we both just laughed at him and he kept looking back and forth between us as if saying "what guys?  what's so funny?"
• makes a noise that can only be described as a growly/grunty/dinosaur noise!  and he makes it ALL the time!  :)
• still loves his doggy! (see the picture below!)
• LOVES books!  he has figured out how to hold them and sort of turn the pages!  :)
• weighs about16 pounds
• is about 27.5 inches long
• still eats about every 3 hours when he's awake
• is starting to nap a *little* bit better....I can usually count on one nap for about an hour (give or take) but as far as when he'll take that nap, typically by 1 he's exhausted (especially if he's been fighting it) but it's still quite unpredictable. 

ok, now for the fun stuff!  :)

These weekly pictures are getting harder and harder to capture!  :)

the birthday boy and his 2 great grandsons!

Cooper wanted to try on the birthday hat! :)

Relaxing with Poppy after a VERY long day!

LOVE this picture of my two fellas!  :)

I love my books!

Look mom!  I can do it myself!

Begging for Arnold to come over..."look mommy he came!"...."that makes me VERY happy!"...."Can I pet him!?!?"....."I'll just gently rub him"...."Oh what the heck...I'm all in!"  :)  He LOVES his Arnold!  (Too bad Arnold, most of the time, could care less!)

 Thanks for stopping by!  :)

21 weeks!

We have had a BUSY week this week!  I feel like I always say that....but such is life these days!  I know I said I would post about our trip to Savannah buuuuuuut....it didn't happen!  So I'm doing it all wrapped up in this 21 week post as well!  :)  Last Thursday C took the day off to prepare for our trip down to Savannah.  Who knew it would end up being such a busy day!  we took the car in to get inspected and get new tags for it (yay, it's legal again!  :) ) I did lots of laundry, we clean up a little bit so we didn't leave a messy house, and I gave C a haircut.  I remember saying, wuite some time ago, "why don't you let me cut your hair for you" and the answer was a prompt "no, that's ok"  haha....now I cut it for him every time he needs it...thanks youtube for the insrructional video on "how to cut your man's hair"  haha!  Anyway, Friday morning, eeeeeeaaaarrrrly....(we got up at 4:30) we left for Savannah.  I fed Coop and put him in the carseat, in his pj's, and we headed out!  thankfully he slept the first half of the trip and then we stopped so he could eat again and we made the last half and arrived in Savannah by 11!  yay! we still had the whole day to explore.  Unfortunately it was rather chilly that day, and windy!  luckily....I had checked the weather and we were pretty prepared!  :)  The best part....River Street Sweets and their DELICIOUS, melt in your mouth, loaded with sugar, pralines!  oh my gosh, I LOVE these things!  :)   That evening we ate at the Lady and Son's restaurant (Paula Deen's place).....mmmm!  Saturday we spent the morning strolling along River street.  Since it was the first Saturday of the month they had a car show and lots of tent vendors along the street.  It was beautiful that morning and we loved being outside in it!  That afternoon was the wedding, so we headed out to Tybee Island where it was perfect weather and a beautiful scene on the beach!  It was really nice to just have our family and a few close friends gathered to share the moment with my dad and new step-mom!  :)  Cooper did great and didn't make a peep during the ceremony.  He wasn't able to stay out long though because it was so sunny that his delicate little skin (that can't handle sunscreen yet) started to get slightly pink.  We don't want any sunburns on that perfect soft skin!  :)  After the ceremony we headed back to River street to eat at Spanky's where I had some of their "famous" chicken fingers....and they were really good!  By the time we got back to the hotel around 8:30 we were POOPED!  Sunday morning, we had a nice stroll around Savannah in the beautiful weather again, had lunch and some ice cream (thin mints and cream....YUM!) and headed home.  I had hoped to find a sunrise Easter service to go to that morning, but with all the activity we had had the previous few days, Cooper just wasn't having it!  he slept until around 9 Sunday morning!  It was a great trip and we were sad to leave.  3 days go by so fast!

Monday, C took the day off again to recover from the whirlwind trip, meet a few people who were buying some stuff we had posted on Carigslist, shop for groceries (since we returned to and empty fridge!) and get things back in order after being away.

Tuesday Cooper and I headed to Raleigh to have lunch with Liz (it was their last workday before the kids returned for 4th quarter).  I always love visiting and having lunch with her!  :)  We also got to see Anna....Cooper loves his Anna!  :)

Wednesday we had a super fun play day with Meredith and Mason and Kerry and Ronin!  It was so exciting to finally meet Ronin and to see Mason (we haven't seen him since Cooper was born!)  I love, love, loved spending the day with those ladies and their babies!!  AND we took a trip to once upon a child.....always fun!  I got Cooper a CUTE little turtle that he can sit on and bounce up and down.  It plays music and says numbers and colors and all sorts of things!  When he gets bigger and able to sit up on things, I think he will really enjoy it!  And who could pass up something so fun for only $10!?!?!  not this girl!  :)  I also got so really cute outfits for summer that will be sure to keep him cool (since he's SO hot-natured!)

And that brings us to today....WHEW!  See, told ya we have been busy!  :)  And there are no signs of slowing down yet!  If he is nothing else, Cooper will certainly be flexible!  my goodness, he already is!  Seriously, how many mom's can say "he was sooo good the whole time we were out" EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!?!?!  I just love this little boy!  He is such a sweet little blessing!

"I think I can get this in my mouth"     "is it ok mommy?"        "Theeeere we go!  Got it!"

big boy sitting up in his bumbo playing music!

So handsome...getting ready to go visit school

He loves her!

married!

Lovin' on aunt Nicole

Our first family beach trip!

Cooper has lots of aunts and uncles and family that loves him!  :)

Happy Easter!

We love play dates!  :)

Lovin being able to prop up on his arms and look around!

"I know this thing goes in my mouth somehow....how do these people get it in there?!?!?"

Sorry for the overload of pictures this week....we had a lot to share!  :)

at 21 weeks Cooper:

• is waking up more often at night time :(  NOT fun!  I don't know if he's going through a growth spurt....or trying to cut a tooth....or hurting from his tummy trouble (he's been a bit gassy lately and isn't having dirty diapers as regularly) but good grief!  Now he sometimes wakes up around 12:30!  yikes!
• chews on everything!  Now it's not only putting things into his mouth....he's actually gnawing on things!
• has visited the beach for the first time and felt the sand on his toes!  :)
• has traveled to 3 different states!
• is starting to nap a little bit better....still some days he refuses a nap at all....that's ok, I usualyl let him dictate.  if he's tired, he lets me know and he goes down for a nap....if he's not, oh well....we just play instead!  :)
• tasted a little bit of banana on his lips!  My dad (while we were in Savannah) touched one to his lips and he made quite a little face (he hasn't tasted anything but breastmilk!)  He then proceeded to grab it, which was really fun because bananas squish when you grab them!  :)  We aren't going to start solids until he's closer to 6 months though (everything I've read, and the recommendation of the pediatrician, suggests that you solely breast feed until then....so we'll see how long we can hold off!  I'm so excited to use my baby bullet, but I'm trying to hold off!)
• rolls all over the place and even tries to scoot now!  He still immediately flips to his tummy and now he's working really hard on trying to move forward!  Mostly, that consists of him pulling with his hands and a little bit of kicking that gets him a few inches at a time!  :)
• reaches and grabs for EVERYTHING!  my dinner plate....my drink...my hair....the remote...ANYthing within reach!  :)
• can sit up really well with very little support!  I think he'll be so much happier when he can sit on his own and he's SO close!  He can sort of tripod sit (with his legs spread out and his hand supporting him in front) but looses his balance pretty quickly.
• still loves to stand up.  
• Pulls up when you hold his hands....first to sitting and then almost immediately to standing!  little goober!
• does NOT sit still....EVER!  if he's awake....you can bet he's moving!  People often comment on how active and wiggly he is.  I blame his father, who rarely sits still himself!  :)

Thanks for stopping by (and sticking it out this far on this lengthy post!)

growling, and rolling, and playing....20 weeks!

Oh my goodness....this has been a HUGE week for Cooper as far as discovering new things that he can do!

at 20 weeks Cooper:

• can't wait to be able to sit up on his own!  he almost can't stand lying down anymore; He will ALWAYS pull his head up when lying on his back, and has now figured out how to get his elbows propped up under him! When he does find himself in a lying down position....
• rolls all over the place!  He has figured out how to roll from his back to his tummy and prop himself up on his arms....it takes all of 2.3 seconds to get there!  Now that he's figured this out, it's an immediate action when he is laid down!
• Makes full use of EVERY square inch of his crib!  It doesn't matter how many times I flip this kid over on his back or to his side at night....he's GOING to end up back on his tummy....sprawled out!  And somehow he scoots himself from one end to the other during the night. Some times he will even turn on the music box that hangs on his crib rails....I'll wake up to it playing in the middle of the night!
• growls!  he has figured out how to make a new noise....and he likes it!  It's so funny!  especially when I growl at him and he growls back!  :)  It's also fun to watch him concentrate so hard on making these new noises that he stumbles upon.  He knows he can do it, but it takes a bit of hard thinking to remember exactly HOW he did it!  :)
• likes to play games!  This little fella certainly knows how to be cute!  He will look at you until you look back at him and then turns his head or buries it in whatever is near, with a grin on his face, as if he's suddenly shy!  :)
• tries to scoot!  Now that he so efficiently gets to his tummy with his arms up under him, he's starting to figure out how to pull his knees up as well and has rocked on them a couple times.  I think we're still a good ways from him figuring out how to get completely up on his knees AND his hands....but he's slowly starting to figure some things out!
• LOVES long hair!  if it's down and within reach, you can bet it will be in his firm grasp!  time to get a haircut!  :)
• is finally getting rid of that stinky cradle cap!  I don't think the toothbrush really helped (like the dr suggested) but we did use a fine toothed comb that did wonders with the dandruff shampoo!  yay!  however, as a result....his hair is significantly thinner up top now  :(
• enjoys sitting in his bumbo with the tray!  I will give him a couple toys and with one big swipe they are slung off the side and he's squealing for more!  :) he's also discovering how to bang things....his hands on the tray....the toys....mommy!  :)
• finds faces very intriguing.  He makes no hesitation when it comes to grabbing your lips or nose or whatever he can get hold of on your face!  and I've gotta tell ya....it hurts!  :)  One morning he was lying on my chest in the bed as I waited the 30 minutes between giving him his meds and him eating.  I guess I had drifted back off for a minute but was quickly awoken by the sharp nails that were grabbing my lower lip!  :)
• is wearing 3-6 month clothes now.  He can still fit into SOME of his 3 month clothes, but nothing that is 0-3...mostly because he's just too dang long!  :)
• still loves his activity bouncer!  He rarely uses the swing anymore, he's just too busy to sit in a darn swing  :)
• Doesn't seem to be too affected by the little bit of dairy I've been eating (thank goodness!) This week I tried a little bit of cheese each day (whether it was a piece on my sandwich or on pizza) and it didn't make the spit up any worse.....time to step it up a little more....next step.....ice cream! Maybe I should do the same thing as the cheese and have a little each day....  ;)

Tomorrow morning we are heading down to Savannah for my dad's wedding and Easter.  I'm very excited (minus the leaving at 4:30 in the morning part!)  Be sure to come back early next week for a special post about our trip!

And now for the cuteness.....

the toys at grandma's house are so fun!

"Mommy, can I pleeeeease just nap here today?!?!"

Talking to (or growling at) his frog from Grandma for Easter

I love to bounce!

Such a ham!

Showing daddy (to the side of the camera) his sign that shows how old he is!  :)

 This is a short video of him growling....sorry it's sideways....next time I'll know to turn my phone the other way when recording.    :)


Thanks for stopping by!