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!  :)