35 weeks and our first beach vacation!

This week we are at the beach!  We have made 2 prior trips to the beach, both of which were for a weekend so I don't really count them as Cooper's first beach trip!  :)  This trip we are here for the whole week!  Getting here wasn't easy either!  Boy, were we glad to finally make it!  I think my dad is going to start to expect that something will keep us from arriving at our family vacations on time! I'll get to that in just a moment though.....On Friday my sister came to stay with us and then ride down to the beach with us on Saturday.  Friday was also Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A and at the last minute, we decided to partake in the fun!  It started with Coop's Cow onesie and went form there....Nicole, Cooper and I dressed as cows from "head to hoof" which entitled us to a free meal each.  Since Coop doesn't really eat kids meals yet, the manager gave Carrington a free meal too!  Free dinner....I'll take it!  Check out our picture below!
ok, so now for the craziness of getting to our vacation.....Last year we were flying to Sanibel Island, FL for family vacation.  Since my dad works for Delta we fly cheap....and standby!  We made the first leg of the flight to Atlanta and then there was NO hope of us getting a flight out to FL that day and by then we were committed...we either had to figure out a way to get down there or back home...we couldn't just stay in the airport!  Keep in mind...I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time and we spent HOURS upon HOURS walking aroudn the airport from one gate to another with hopes of getting a seat on a flight....not fun!  We ended up renting a car and driving from Atlanta to Sanibel and arrived somewhere around 2 in the morning!  about 14 hours later than we had planned!
This trip followed suit!  We borrowed a vehicle from Carrington's parents so that we could put a bike rack on the back and fit all of the "required" items for a week at the beach with a baby.  Carrington spent a good part of the day on Friday getting it prepared to go (inspection, tags, tires, etc etc) and Saturday he spent a good part of the day cleaning it up and finagling the bike rack to fit (for some reason it wouldn't' fit into the hitch easily so he really had to work at it).  Around 1:00 or so we were on our way!  We stopped at Arby's right before getting on the highway and as we headed down the road I realized that Carrington had gotten an extra sandwich that we didn't order or pay for.  I told him it was his lucky day....and that's apparently as far as his luck would go!  Just past Raleigh I heard the most frightening sound ever and Carrington quickly, and safely, got us off the road only to take a gander at the SHREDDED rear tire....yep....we were now stranded with a blown tire on the side of the road with a baby, a car FULL of beach gear, and 3 bikes on the back.  Wonderful!  :)  We made a few phone calls, Carrington and Nicole dropped the spare tire, got the jack out and I assumed we would be on our way in half an hour, TOPS....wrong again.....the jack was broken!  We made a few more phone calls and couldn't get anyone close by that was in town at the moment so we got out our beach chairs and settled in to our "camp" on the side of I-40 to wait for his parents to come....a good 3 hour wait!  All the while, as we stood on the side of the highway with a baby (who was SUCH a trooper and was perfectly content and happy), no one stopped!  we never saw a highway patrol officer go by or anything!  Finally after about an hour and a half of sitting there, a kind soul stopped to help.  He had seen us his first time by and then saw that we were still there much later and felt compelled to stop.  Thank goodness he did because he had a jack and helped Carrington get the spare on!  We were then able to drive to the next exit and find a shady spot (near a McDonald's so that we could get frozen strawberry lemonades since it was nearly 100 degrees!) and wait for his parents to arrive.  One they arrived, they replaced a tire, we moved all of our stuff to their suburban, they took the land cruiser home and we continued on our way to the beach....5 hours later!  We finally made it around 9:30 and have enjoyed the relaxing week so far!  Yesterday we took the ferry over to Southport and walked around.  It was a neat little town!  We ate at a little hole in the wall where the locals eat and saw where they were filming the next Nicholas Sparks movie...Safe Haven.  Cooper thoroughly enjoyed the Ferry ride!  We have a couple more days here and plan to make the most of them!

at 35 weeks Cooper:

• is working on high fives.  We have been doing it non stop and he will slap your hand (not sure whether he really gets what he's doing yet or if he's just slapping it because it's up there) and we say "yay!!!" every time....he's very proud of himself when we do that!
• is getting a little more predictable with his naps.  I can almost plan on him taking a nap after he's been up for a couple hours (usually around 10:00) and then again sometime shortly after noon.  I still have to make him lay still until he falls asleep (I usually rock him our bounce him) and he does pretty well with the morning nap.  Afternoon naps are still a struggle.  If he goes to sleep it's not usually for long (sometimes 10 minutes) and he's often a fussy mess about it!  :)
• LOVES oatmeal and bananas!  We usually have that for breakfast; I'll fix him some oatmeal cereal and cut up some bananas into it and he gobbles it up!  This week he has been eating like a little piglet!  I don't know if it's because we're at the beach and he's so much more active and busy...thus hungrier, or is he's going through a growth spurt, or is I'm not producing enough milk for him and he's just feeling hungry often?!?!?!  
• is a master of grasping things (like his puffs or his banana pieces) but he just can't quite get the concept of getting it into his mouth.  He would rather I hold it and he  pull my hand to his mouth!  little rascal!
• is not too sure about the sand....he rolls it around in his fingers like he's not so sure what this gritty stuff is!  :)
• loves splashing and kicking the waves!  We sat at the edge of the water for a while and he enjoyed splashing the waves as they came up to his feet....until we got a big one that scared him!  He seemed to get over it quickly though and is definitely ok if we're holding him and dipping him down into the waves as they come up.  He likes when we make him kick the waves and it makes a splash!  :)
• likes watching the seagulls fly by.  I did have to inform him though that I will be the no-fun mommy who does not let him feed the gulls at the beach because we don't want to get pooped on!  He does enjoy watching others feed them from a distance though!  :)
• has tried carrots and likes them!  There's not much that this kid won't eat!
• is finally getting the hang of holding his own sippy cut AND tipping it up enough to get water out of it.  For a while he's been holding it and just gnawing on the spout, but now he's figured out that he has to tip it up to get anything
• has GOT to be close to cutting a tooth....he gnaws HARD on everything, especially if it's cold!  He's also started gnawing on his own fingers, which is new.  They are constantly in his mouth so I'm thinking it feels good on his gums and perhaps something is about to break through.
• is standing really well....and he can stand unassisted for a little bit (ok....it's a couple seconds but still!).  When he does stand and hold on it's often just barely holding on enough to balance himself....I think we might be standing independently soon...maybe (Dare I say) even walking?!?!?!  yikes, I don't think I'm ready for that!
• is slightly attached to mama!  not that I have a problem with that  ;)  but sometimes it would be nice if he would give me a break.  He's especially clingy if he's hungry or tired!
• knows what "no" and "uh-uh" mean.  When he's getting into something he's not supposed to be and we say one of those things, he stops and looks at us...and usually stops and moves on to something else.  we try not to say "no" to him too often because we certainly don't want a toddler that says "no" to everything...instead we will say "don't do such-and-such."  Who knows if it will keep him from saying "no" to us later on, but it's worth a shot!  :)
• loves to bang on ANYthing he can! He especially loves to bang on his high chair tray, and he really likes it when I say "bring the bacon!" while he's banging on it....he grins really big every time!  
• is definitely in his throwing/dropping things stage!  any and every thing he gets his hands on gets dropped from wherever he can!  He usually gets 3 drops and pick ups and then it's done!  :)

and now for some pictures....I apologize in advance....it's probably going to be a lot!

Cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A  (my cow ears are drooping a little!  :))

Aunt Nicole dressed me in my clothes that a friend sent to me....she's silly and doesn't know what goes where!  :)

me and my poppy at the beach!

playing in the sand with mommy and daddy (by the way I love the middle picture and how they are looking at each other!)

reading Nemo with daddy on the beach in my tent!

Aunt Nicole and I playing in the waves!

The beach life is a rough life!  Daddy is trying to start me early on the Dew!

Family night at the boardwalk

My first ferry boat ride!

I have no idea what he was doing in this picture but it makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it!  :)

Nicole got bombed by a gull on the ferry ride!  A guy said it was because she was wearing that Georgia Bulldogs t-shirt and that if it had been a Tennessee Vols t-shirt she would have been safe....I kind of agree with him!  ;)

Thanks for stopping by!  Check back next week for the last couple days of our vacation and (I'm sure) more pictures!


**UPDATE**

My sister just pointed out that I never typed up the 34 week update....oops!  Got too busy planning and packing for the beach that I forgot to do it!  Here are the pictures anyway!

Getting IN the toy bucket makes it easier to get to my toy chest!  And yes, he climbed in there completely on his own....oh no!

My buddy, Arnold

My new swimming pool that I LOVE!!

my play date with Ronin!  Can't wait until they move back here so we can play more often!  :)

  

32-33 weeks!

Well...I made it 31 weeks with a perfect record of posting each week (some were a little late, but they still got posted!).  The last 8 days have been rough!  We have been sick in our house!  It started last Thursday, when I should have posted Cooper's 32 week update.  That morning I could tell he wasn't feeling well at all!  We got his pictures for the week and it all went down hill from there!  He was a snotty mess! By the end of the day it was green and his eyes were oozing yellow/green gunk by Friday.  I called the Dr. Friday (of course we were in Winston and couldn't get into the Dr. but i was hoping they would tell me something over the counter that I could get him).  They wanted to see him but said that if it was still be on Sunday, when we got back into town, to call and bring him in (one of the offices is open for a few hours on Sunday).  Sunday I called and we got him in there at 2.  I thought it was just an icky cold because his only real symptoms were runny nose, oozy eyes, and a fever (101.3) on Saturday that didn't last long.  It didn't take the Dr long to determine that BOTH ears were infected!?!?!  I would have NEVER guessed it had anything to do with his ears!  I had been mindful of watching to see if he seemed to be bothered by his ears but he never so much as touched them, pulled at them, or anything!  Such a little trooper!  He was prescribed Augmentin and we started it that evening!  within 24 hours he was significantly better!  The snotty-ness had cleared and he just seemed to be bothered by ear/throat pain.  It got a little rough in the evenings...he did not want to be laid down in his bed (I presume that lying down hurt with the pressure in his ears) and we had a few rough nights!  Thankfully he seems to be almost completely back to normal now!
As if Cooper being sick wasn't already enough, i ended up getting sick on Monday myself!  I felt like I had the flu and Cooper and I just lounged all day Monday.  By Tuesday, I still felt horrible and couldn't really swallow (my throat and glands felt like they were swelling shut!) so i called the Dr and went in the afternoon SURE that it would be strep.  Both the rapid and the longer throat culture came back negative for strep, so it's still a mystery.  I was prescribed a z-pack though and it helped tremendously....immediately!  on Wednesday, while not completely 100%, I could at least swallow again!  We were able to celebrate the 4th of July that evening and I was able to go back to work at the Y on Thursday morning.  We returned to our house Thursday evening and Cooper and i are spending today here at home!
It's definitely hard having a sick baby, but even harder when you feel awful yourself!  I guess it was inevitable that I would get it because he was slobbering and snotting all over me, hazard of the "job" I guess!  :)

ok....this is a lot since it's 2 weeks worth!
at 32/33 weeks Cooper:

• weighs right at 18 pounds even...such a little peanut!
• wears 6 month and 6-9 month clothes comfortably
• sticks out his tongue and blows "raspberries" all the time!  He especially does it when he thinks something is funny....it's the new laugh  :)
• LOVES when we make a tent out of his blanket!  I think he's going to be a little boy who needs daddy to build forts in the living room with him!  When my brother and I were little we used to take the couch cushions off of the couches at my grandmas and pretend that we were animals at the zoo in our cages, or that the couches were our forts....I foresee lots of couches with no cushions on them in our future too!  :)
• loves to play peek-a-boo!  I think he just loves to play!
• has a slight vain streak....this kid absolutely LOVES to look at himself in the mirror, or anything that reflects his image!
• has gotten a little out of whack with his bedtime schedule due to being sick for the last week (and probably due to how much time we spend elsewhere and not at our own home) but he seems to be getting back on track the last few days, thankfully!  I was afraid we had undone all the hard work of getting him to sleep so well through the night in his own bed!
• LOVES his sippy cup!  we have tried a few different ones but so far the ones that he does the best with are his nuby and nuk cups.  Both of these he is able to drink water from really well with very little dribbling now!  And if he sees it....he wants it!  :)
• is a typical boy when it comes to making noise!  if something will bang against something and make a good noise, you can be sure he's going to keep doing it!  The other night he crawled into the kitchen while my mom was cooking and she gave him a few metal measuring cups and spoons and he was making the MOST racket in there!  I finally asked if she was looking for a particular pot or something because I thought it was her banging around.  She replied that it wasn't her at all.....he was going to town banging things!
• along with the banging, he loves to go straight for the dog bowls!  and if it's filled with water...that's even better!  If the bowls are empty, he just proceeds to bang them against each other and on the floor! :)
• loved his first fireworks!  I was a little concerned, with his ear infections, that the loud booms would hurt his ears and/or scare him but he was mesmerized by them!  I watched them with a big 'ol grin behind that paci in his mouth; it was the cutest thing ever!  I'm so glad he enjoyed it and didn't cry the entire half hour while they were going off!
• has ventured to climb the stairs!  yikes!  we're in for it now!  Not only does this little booger crawl around EVERYWHERE and pull up on EVERYTHING....now he's climbing!  I started to see him with a climbing tendency at bath time....he stands at the edge of the tub while I'm filling his bath with water and he gets so excited to get in there that he's been lifting one foot as if to try to climb up the side of the bath tub.  The last couple days at my mom's house, however, he has actually climbed a few of her stairs!  Her steps have 2 steps then a landing that turns slightly, then another step that turns slightly, then the full flight up.  At the bottom of the full flight of stairs she keeps a baby gate up to keep the dogs from going upstairs and getting into things.  Cooper has made his way all the way up to the gate and then stood up and held onto the gate!  wait until he figures out that coming down is a lot more difficult (and quicker!) than going up!  Good thing we don't have any steps in our current house to worry about!
• is obsessed with the computer!  It is very hard for me to get anything done on the computer when he's nearby...he helps himself to pushing buttons, pulling the cord out of the computer, and grabbing the screen  :)
• definitely understand cause and effect!  He has a couple of books that when you turn the pages, they read aloud.  He has clearly figured out whats makes them talk, stop, and talk again!  He has one that starts "peek-a-boo..." and we hear it over and over and over and over again!  :)  open close, open close, open close!  :)  We also build towers with his wooden blocks and he definitely understand that when he grabs one the tower falls down....and he thinks it's hilarious!
• gives the sweetest kisses!  He's especially generous with his kisses for mommy!  they are so slobbery but he just grins when he gives then (and so do it!)  I love it!  Check out the pictures from 4th of July below where he's trying to give grandma a kiss!  :)
• has learned, from his daddy...who deliberately taught him one night and then left the room, how to splash in the tub!  now as soon as he get into the water those hands go to town splashing!  At my mom's we bathe him in the sink and he literally splashes water all over us, the floor, the cabinets, and any dog that might be nearby!  He thinks he's so funny (as does his daddy who taught him the trick!)
• seems to be quite the nursing acrobat...especially when nursing in the side laying position!  One minute he's nursing normally, the next he's flipped himself over onto his tummy (still latched on!) and is pushing up onto his legs, all but standing up!
• can stand holding onto one thing and move to something else nearby....I don't think we are too far from independent standing!
• seems to be starting to understand the word "no."  As he's gotten more mobile and adventurous he's started getting into things he's not supposed to (like the fake rocks in the fireplace).  Sometimes he'll work his way over there and then look back at me like "is it ok this time mom?"  I think he's heard "no no" to that so many times he's starting to know that it's not something he's supposed to be doing!  :)  but in true boy fashion....he's going to see how far he can push it!  :)  little stinker!
• is starting to get on somewhat of a nap schedule.  typically he's tired in the morning after being up for a couple hours and then again in the afternoon around 1 or 2 o'clock.  I usually have to force him to be still enough to fall asleep though.  Sometimes he'll nap for about 45min-an hour in the morning and it can be up to 2 hours in the afternoon.  we're getting there with that routine!  :)
• is the SWEETEST baby I know!  I love how he fits perfectly into my arms, curled up, when I'm rocking him to sleep.  I love how he holds my arm or finger while he's falling asleep or nursing.  I love how his mouth drops open when he's totally relaxed and his paci drops out.  I love how he looks up at me and gets the biggest grin when I make a blanket tent over the two of us.  I love how he finds the simplest things funny, like knocking down a block tower.  I love how he loves dogs and just grins at them.  I love how he puts his arms up to me when he wants me to hold him.  I love how he gets excited to see daddy come home.  I love how he relaxes when I sing to him even though I'm aware that I probably don't have the best singing voice....but he thinks I do.  I love how he enjoys watching other babies and children.  I love when he tries something new, and succeeds, and looks back to us like he's so proud of himself.  I could go on and on about all the little things I LOVE about this sweet baby but most of all I love that I get to spend the next 18+ years raising him and guiding him and, hopefully, helping him grow to be a loving, compassionate, responsible, respectful, god-fearing, generous, kind, and giving man.  What an honor to be his mother and get that opportunity!  How did I get to be so lucky?!?!  :)

and now for some pictures!  I tried to compile these so there wouldn't be a TON of images! :)

such a busy boy!

the "Tucker lick" hair style....kinda like a cow lick!  :)

baby bird loves his fresh, homemade food!

Even the cutest babies take a less than perfect picture from time to time!  :)  (He's gonna kill me for this one day!)

My first Fourth of July!

look at that sweet face!  Excited about the Independence Day festivities!  :)

Splish Splash, I LOVE taking a bath!

climbing the stairs at grandma's house....yikes!

digging for toys in my toy box at grandma's house! 

Thanks for stopping by!

31 weeks!

wow....time is flying by!  I feel like I just wrote the 30 week post!  sheesh, slow down!  This week we had an extra special surprise in the Cooper's little girlfriend was born!  Madison Michelle Hallsey made her entrance into the word at 6:03 Saturday evening and we got to meet her around 8:30 that night!  Let me tell you, she is A-DOR-A-BLE!  talk about a beautiful baby!  I'd be happy to arrange a marriage between her and Coop in 26 years! ;)  check out her picture below.  Sunday we spent the day at home and set up Carrington's Father's Day gift from my mom....a new table and chairs for the deck and an umbrella.  But not just ANY umbrella....it's one of those that sits over to the side and arches over the table so there's no annoying pole in the middle of your conversation while you're sitting at the table!  It really makes our deck feel complete and he loves it!  We also went to a late brunch at IHOP and Cooper sat in the high chair like a big boy for the first time!  he loved sitting up and watching everything going on....there was a LOT to see because that place was hoppin! (haha....pun definitely intended!)  He ate puffs while we ate our meals and did a great job!  That evening we went out to eat with our neighbors and he did the same....such a big boy!  :)  Monday I worked, so we headed back to Winston for a few days.  Tuesday Cooper and I ran to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make Buffalo Chicken Dip for a work lunch at Carrington's lab.  Cooper sat in the cart like a big boy and held on tight to the handle the whole time!  After delivering the dish we rested a bit then I worked that evening.  Coop went with me for about 45 minutes until Daddy came to get him.  He always loves watching all the other children when he's there!
Wednesday Carrington helped his dad so Cooper and I hung out at my mom's.  We slept in and then played fetch with Tucker (my brother's 80 pound lab that thinks he's a poodle because he lives with poodles!)  Since Tucker is a retriever, he will incessantly fetch the ball and bring it back and drop it in your lap...every time he did that, Cooper just laughed at him.  He especially liked it when he bounded after the ball....he just cackled at him!  Such a silly boy!  That afternoon we went to Once Upon a Child and found TONS of cute clothes for CHEAP!  they were marking down all their summer stuff 50% so we racked up!  we also found a weebles tree house (he LOVES the weebles!) and a little people Noah's Ark that came with 2 little people and 10 pairs of animals!  it is so cute!  I love that store!  :)  We headed home after that I Cooper and I spent a day at home! 

At 31 weeks Cooper:

• stands up ALL THE TIME!  anytime he's down on the floor he's finding something  to pull himself up on.  And then he looks at you like he's so proud of himself!  :)
• Loves to play with weebles!  my mom has gotten some here and there and he loves them!  :)  they are so cute, I can't blame him.
• wears 6 month or 6-9 month clothes and 9 month sleepers...he's just too long for the 6 month ones  :)
• is a MOVER!  he does not stop from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep!
• HATES diaper change time.  I'm not sure why, but he fights the diaper change with everything in him!  I literally have to pin him down with my leg across his chest while my other 2 hands change the diaper as quickly as possible!  It sounds terrible, but the other option is a naked, sometimes poopy, butt quickly flipping over and crawling away!
• has discovered the splash in the bathtub!  he is also very proud of this!
• is getting VERY vocal and he makes the sweetest little noises!  :)
• smiles ALL the time!  he's always been very happy, but here lately he just smiles all the time!  I think it's because he's so proud of everything he's learning to do and he wants you to see and be proud of him too!
• has tried peaches and loves them!  who wouldn't love the sweet taste of peaches with their cereal!?!?!

my little 31 week old all star!

Arnold, pleeeeeeease play with me!

Madison Michelle.....look at that beautiful little face!  ahhh....love her!

my shopping buddy....the sun is so bright mommy!

Can I get a toy out of the toy chest mommy, please!?!?

big boy sitting in the high chair at IHOP

peek-a-boo!

 Thanks for stopping by!

30 weeks of sweetness!

Cooper is 30 WEEKS OLD today!  wow, that just sounds like he's getting so big!  that's over halfway to his first birthday....I better start planning!  *wink wink*  just kidding (kind of...)  This was a whirlwind week and, unfortunately, I didn't slow down enough to take very many pictures of it all!  :(  Friday morning we headed to winston so that I could help my mom with rehearsal stuff for my brother's wedding that was this weekend.  We got LOTS of stuff done and ran a few errands.  Before heading out to run our errands my mom dressed Cooper and just put the onesie that was in his diaper bag on him (which happened to be my back-up, just in case we blow out, onesie).  I figured, eh....that's ok....we won't be gone long.  So we headed to Carrington's work to leave the car for him (since we are down to one vehicle now) and then went to pick up a prescription for my mom.  As we were almost there Cooper was VERY fussy so when we got there I moved to the back seat to sit with him.  While waiting on my mom to come back out I thought I smelled something so I checked the leg of his diaper and sure enough we had a stinky one!  I didn't think it was going to be bad because it wasn't exploding out of the leg holes yet.....that was until I got him out of the carseat.....it was TERRIBLE!  Not the worst one yet, but the worst one I've had to change in the back seat of a car, which is rather Extremely difficult with a wiggly baby!  Anyway, we got the diaper changed and I realized that was he was wearing was the back up outfit....so into the carseat he went....in just his diaper!  :)  needless to say, our next stop was the Carters store (which was close by) to get something for him to wear.  Luckily, they were having a killer sale and I got several romper outfits and several pairs of shorts for $4 each!  I even got him a shirt for rehearsal that said "My uncle is awesome!"  It was a good excuse to get some new cute clothes!  :)
That afternoon Cooper started to get VERY congested and snotty!  At one point he was in his jumper and snot was just running down his face!  Poor little guy had caught daddy's cold!  I suppose it was inevitable!  He was a real trooper though and hardly acted like he felt bad!  Mom and I spent much of the afternoon working on the groom's cake.  We had big plans for it, and it was going to be so cute!  Unfortunately....it didnt' turn out that way!  we made a round cake and fondant to lay over it.  The fondant was going to be camouflaged (which turned out really cute!) and then we were going to pipe (with black icing) a deer silhouette and a gun scope on it and write "the hunt is over" (my brother and his, now, wife both love hunting).  The camo fondant was great, but it ripped going onto the cake...so there was a big seam across the middle.  The black icing to write with stained my om's teeth and tongue and took several brushings to get it off so we decided that we couldn't do that to people, and we just plain ol ran out of time!  I was so disappointed!  we ended up giving it to just my brother at the end of rehearsal, and he seemed to appreciate it, that's all that matters!  The rehearsal went well and we had a very nice dinner.  We decorated the tables with some old bottles that had been my uncles.  We put sprigs of pink flowers in the bottles, tied a really pretty ivory linen ribbon around them, and clustered them in groups of 3 on the tables.  We then, secretly hid G.I. Joes in the arrangements because my brother LOVED his Joes when he was little!  :)  We all had a great time, but it ended up being a late night for little man....however, he was so good for it all!  After we got home and I got Cooper to bed (well, and Carrington too) my mom and I headed back out to walmart to get some things for the bride's dressing room and the groom's dressing room....some snacks for while we were getting ready.  I also had several things left to get for the shower I was throwing on Sunday (I know, I was just trying to kill myself with all I had planned this weekend!)  We got what we needed and were back home around 3AM!
Saturday was the big day!  I'm not sure where the day went but all of a sudden it was time to head to the venue.  The wedding was beautiful, the weather was perfect (although a little warm), the bride was gorgeous, the groom was handsome, the reception was fun, we saw lots of family and had a great time!  Sadly, Carrington, Cooper and I weren't able to stick around to see them off because at 8:45 Cooper, who was still VERY snotty and obviously sick (but being SO good) was almost to his breaking point....we had to get him home and in bed!
Sunday morning I finished last minute shower stuff and got it all ready for the party.  It was an around the clock themed shower so my SIL and I decorated the tables with different times (bath time, snack time, diaper time, nap time, play time, and story time)  it turned out so cute and we got lots of compliments.  The parents to be were very appreciative and, while there wasn't a huge turn-out, we had a good time!
Monday I worked at the YMCA in the morning and again in the afternoon.  Nothing too eventful there!  :)  Tuesday afternoon I also worked at the Y so we stayed in Winston yet another night!  After work on Tuesday we finally headed home!
Yesterday we hit the road, again!  in the other direction this time...we headed to Raleigh to pack up my classroom.  WOW, a teacher sure can accumulate a LOT of stuff in 4 years!  I left a lot for the new teacher coming in but I definitely wanted my books....some day little man will want to read them (I hope!).  After quickly doing that, we headed back home so Cooper and I could be dropped off and Carrington could head to  Winston for Twin's Night where the soccer players come out and meet their coach for the upcoming season and they have some fun things going on.  Carrington went to that by himself because I felt like Cooper needed an early night in his own bed....and he was in bed by 8!  :)  It was a late night for daddy though!
Whew....are ya tired yet?  I am!  :)  I keep waiting for the day when life slows down....it just hasn't come yet!  Give it another 30 years, right!?!?  Maybe when we retire and move to the Caribbean to live on "Island time"!!  ;)

At 30 weeks Cooper:

• is pulling up left and right!  it is nothing for this kid ot pull himself up on anything nearby....stable or not!  :)  he is getting REALLY good at getting up tall on his knees and if it's sturdy enough for him, he just pulls right up onto his feet!
• has no trouble going from sitting to laying down, to crawling and back to sitting...or any combination of that.
• Has tried pears and loves them....as I would expect!  :)
• really knows his name!  He will turn just about any time you call him
• has attended his first wedding!  :)
• is on the go go go!  The kid never stops!
• makes me feel like I'm wrestling aligators every time I change his diaper!  He is no longer able to be changed on the changing table because it takes about 0.8 seconds for him to flip over and be rocking on his knees.  We now do it on the floor or crib.  It's hard for me to be too stern about making him lie still because when he flips over and has the little bum in the air, it's just soo cute!  unless it's covered in poop...that's not so cute when he's trying to flip over!
• makes the cutest/sweetest little sounds!
• "sings" himself to sleep.  I know he's really relaxing when he starts to hum!  :)
• has found his little boy parts!  I don't know what it is about little boys and their weenies, but he definitely thinks it's interesting whenever it's exposed!  I'm just waiting for the day that he pees himself in the face....wonder how interesting it will be then!  :)
• will throw things in a heartbeat, especially in the car!  Sometimes he'll yank that paci out and toss it over the side of the car seat, or any other toy he has in his possession, and then he gets upset because he doesn't have it!  :)
• thinks the silliest things are funny!  I was getting some coolers together for the rehearsal dinner and had Cooper in one arm, a cooler in the other, and another cooler to get back to the house....so I decided to kick it across the yard to get it there.  Cooper just cackled and thought it was the funniest thing ever!  Check out the video below of him laughing at a balloon at the baby shower.  It was  a bit loud in the background, so hopefully you can hear him! :)
• is getting VERY attached to mommy!  He's typically fine with others, unless I'm visible....then he wanted to be with me.  We've got to figure out a way to break this....I don't want him to be too clingy to me (even though it's slightly precious....I am, after all, the only girl he'll ever need! ;)  )
• is showing some signs of walking!  A couple times this week, when holding his hands while he's standing, he has moved his feet in a walking motion!  Whoa now!  we're not going there yet are we?  I'm not ready for a walker ANY time soon!  
• is STILL working on those teeth!  He's working hard but nothing has broken though yet.....that's ok, I'm in no hurry...I absolutely love his little gummy grin!

Who's 30 weeks old today?

This guy!  :)

Playing with Kenley

Rehearsal dinner center pieces...Joes and all!  :)

Baby shower tables

Little booger! He was supposed to be napping!

He's gonna hate me one day for this....but it's just too funny!  that little thing must be verrrry interesting!  :)

it's more fun to play with the exersaucer when you can pull up and stand from the outside!

trying so hard to get to Arnold!

 Thanks for stopping by!

29 weeks and whoa....slow down!

So this week Cooper went from barely "hopping" around to full out crawling and PULLING UP!!!  what?!?!? since when do 6 and 1/2 month olds crawl and pull up all in the same week!?!?!  So recap of our week...
Friday we headed to Winston.  That evening I went to help my brother and my almost sister in law put together programs for the wedding this weekend.  We worked hard until 11 and got them all finished!  Saturday morning I worked at the YMCA for the first time (in the nursery).  It was definitely an adventure....it was wild!  :)  Cooper stayed with my mom and they had a great time playing!  While I worked, Carrington went to Pinnacle to do the Marine Corps Mud Run.  He ran last year and enjoyed it,  so he did it again this year.  I wish Coop and I could have gone up with him, it's always fun to watch, but working and making a little money was a wiser choice at this point!  :)  Sunday we headed up to Fancy Gap, VA for a family reunion.  It was a beautiful day and so great to be in the mountains!  Cooper had fun playing with a couple balls in the grass with a gorgeous view!  :)  On our way back home we stopped at a produce stand and got lots of fresh produce to make some baby food.  I've been making a little each night since then and freezing it so that we have it ready.  We now have frozen zucchini, peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash!  Monday, I had to work again at the YMCA so Cooper stayed with Carrington's mom.  They played until he dropped...and he took an almost 2 hour nap!  That's definitely not the norm for him!  Monday evening we finally headed back home!  Tuesday Cooper and I went to Leah's to have a play date with her, Carter, Katherine, and Olivia.  This was our last chance to get together before sweet little Madison makes her appearance.  According to Leah she will be here on Saturday, the 16th.  That works for me too because I'll be able to go visit!  :)  Yesterday we drove to Raleigh and had lunch at school and visited a little bit.  Then we went to the bank to meet someone who was buying our car.  :(  we got that all squared away and she drove off in my beloved fusion! :(  I've never really felt an attachment to a vehicle but I was very sad to see this one go!  I have loved that car...we brought our baby home in that car.  However, right now, getting rid of a car payment was the best decision for us.  And if it means it makes things a little easier, financially, for me to be able to stay home....then I'm on board!  :)
This weekend we have my brother's wedding and I'm throwing a shower for John and Sara....be sure to come back next week to see how those were!  We are SURE to be pooped by Monday!  :)

At 29 weeks Cooper:

• crawls all over the place!  we've had to start putting the play yard gates up to keep him more contained in one room!
• pulls up on things!  He definitely understands the concept and works VERY hard at pulling himself up to thing!  His balance is still a bit wobbly but if he can' manage to balance himself, her definitely has the strength, and determination, to stand there indefinitely!  Whoa lil man...slow down!  :)
• is finally out of the sling in his baby bath tub!  I know, he probably technically outgrew this a long time ago, but what can I say....the boy likes to kick back and relax while taking his bath!  He now seems to really enjoy sitting up in the bath and playing with the bubbles.  He's also really good at spotting something in the water that he wants and going after it!
• has tried squash and seems to really enjoy it!  
• is using the sippy cup!  We've only tried it a few times but he LOVES holding it, whether he's actualyl drinking from it or not!  We got a transitional cup that doesn't spill until to spout is slightly squeezed, which allows the water to flow freely.  He doesn't have to suck at all to get the water out, which is great for him learning the concept of the cup.  Even after only a couple uses he's gotten the idea that you hold it and squeeze the spout.....granted, most of the water runs down his chin and onto his shirt...but we'll get there!
• has tried baby puffs!  We bought some of the organic puffs at the grocery store the other day (sweet potato flavored) and he's not real sure what to make of them.  Since he doesn't quite get to concept of gumming things or chomping on them, I only gave him a little piece of one and he pushed it around in his mouth a little bit then held his mouth open like "get this things out of there!"  He's gradually getting the hang of it though.
• wears 6 month or 6-9 month clothes pretty consistently.  In PJ's he can wear 9 month just because of the length.  Pants, at 6-9 months are sometimes a bit loose on his little belly!
• is a little more "regular" now....we haven't had anymore days on end without poop....that have then resulted in a poopsplosion...whew (knock on wood)!

29 weeks and as happy as can be!

"I'll drive the rest of the way, Daddy!"

playing in his car seat....look at that cute little bum with his knees pulled up!

pulling up on his bouncy seat....and then crashing....  :)

I love this sippy cup!  :)

Playing with daddy on a beautiful day in the mountains!

 Thanks for stopping by!