Baby Update: 39 Weeks and Counting...Down

Hello 39 weeks.  I'm really glad you're here.  Really, really glad.  Now, we just need baby to make his arrival!  As of the time I write this, I'm 39 weeks and 4 days.  At my doctor appointment this week, she said I'm making really good progress.  I'm already past the point of where I was with both boys when my labor started with each pregnancy.  (Does that make sense??)  So, I'm not sure what he's waiting on, but come on, Little One!  We are ready to see you, hug you, kiss you and have you home!

At 39 weeks, I'm finally feeling better.  I won't say I feel good.  I feel fine, really, for 39 weeks.  Normal aches and pains at this point.  However, for about three weeks leading up to this week, I was struggling.  It was a combination of over-doing it and hurting my back and baby sitting on my sciatic nerve.  But my goodness, I was in pain!  Luckily I have Super Husband who jumped in and juggled every single thing around here and let me sit and rest when I needed to.  It paid off, and baby finally shifted a bit, so I've been feeling so much better this week.  Phew!

As much as I'm ready to no longer be pregnant, I'm also totally nervous about after baby is home and we are officially a family of FIVE.  And I am officially a stay-at-home mom of THREE.  Yikes.  It's going to be an awesome adventure, I know.  I'm just a little nervous about getting our feet wet in the beginning of this adventure. 

I think we finally have a name...yea!

Little One, your big brothers are so excited to meet you.  Cooper talks and hugs my belly on a daily basis.  He calls you "Pilot," and tells everyone his new baby brother will be named Pilot.  He loves to feel you move around and puts his mouth right against my tummy and tells you, "Hi Pilot.  I'm Cooper, your big brother.  I can't wait to meet you.  I love you, Baby Brother."  And Austin walks around pointing to all the things we have out and ready for you and says, "baby...baby...baby."  I've been teaching him the name we have for you, so it will be familiar to him when you come home.  

And, the sweetest thing EVER?!  Coop brought me three books that he picked out for Little One off of his bookshelf.  He asked me to pack them and take them to the hospital so that "the new baby will be entertained while I'm not around."  I love his heart and his kind spirit so much.  And I love his book selections--one about trucks "because the new baby will like trucks!"; a bible "so the baby can learn about Jesus." ; and Birthday Monsters because "it will be his birthday!".  Love.

So, Little One, whenever you are ready, we are ready!  I keep imagining God putting the final touches on you so that you will be completely perfect and wonderful and just as you are supposed to be when we meet you.  I can not wait!  We love you, Little One!  Now, come meet your family!

Austin Loves to Help Feed Drake

I think the pictures speak for themselves.  I didn't have the heart to stop Austin.  He was just so proud of himself for feeding Drake.  And I loved seeing his concentration and focus on scooping and carrying the food.  My sweet little helper.

 

 

 

04.28.2013

 

Another Soccer Season Completed

In the spring, Coop participated in soccer again.  Same team, same coaches, not so awesome weather, but we forged through.  Coop got it a little more this time around and seemed to continue to have fun and enjoy it.  He still ran along with the group more than he really went after the ball.  But, seemed to enjoy the "team" aspect of it.  I'm sure we'll play again in the fall, so hopefully, hopefully then all things will click and he'll start to take more initiative in going after the ball??  We'll see...

 He still took water breaks.  Lots of them...

 

And he still took the time to stop and wave to Mom.

 

 

Austin loved to cheer on his big brother, "Go Poopa!  Go Poopa!"

Cooper's School Field Trips, Part 2

April 2013

Cooper's third field trip for the year was to Owen's Farm.  We've been here several times, actually.  Usually we visit during the fall when they have their big pumpkin patch.  I was hoping this visit would be a little more behind-the-scenes of the farm, but really, it was just like any other visit.  Fun, don't get me wrong, but we didn't walk away learning anything new about farms or running a "farm."  But still, feeding goats, hay rides and running around outside, pretty cool school trip.

 Coop's sweet school friends.

Cooper's School Field Trips, Part 1

February 2013

Cooper's very first school field trip was to a hospital.  He loves all things having to do with doctors and nurses, so he was super excited to visit a hospital and see first hand these people in action.  I think it has to do with the whole rescue/helping people aspect (like firefighters).  I was really bummed that I wasn't able to go, but the mom assigned to be his chaperone sent me frequent text messages so I was up-to-date on how things were going.  (I'm not going to lie, I was really nervous about this first field trip, just from the safety stand point.)  Several people told me he did great--he was very well behaved, was a good listener and was respectful.  Yea!  I also heard that he was really interested in the x-ray machine and the wheelchair ride.  When he got in the car that day, after the field trip, he was so excited to tell me all about the hospital, what he learned and show me the great goodie bag that he got.

April 2013

Cooper's second field trip could not have been more perfect for him--a trip to a local fire station.  And not just any fire station, it was one with a fireman pole!  My little firefighter was so excited about this school outing and looked forward to it for days.  Luckily, I was able to arrange things to make this one!  All of the moms in Cooper's classroom knew how excited Cooper was and what a big deal this was going to be for him, too.  The morning of the field trip, Coop couldn't wait to get dressed in his fireman gear.  However, he didn't want to wear his fireman hat or his fireman coat.  He wanted to wear his DFD hat and t-shirt from Fireman Paul because "that's what real fireman wear, Mom." 

I'll never forget when we got to the station, the kids gathered in the fire station kitchen.  Coop walked in after everyone was sitting down and he took off his jacket and handed it me, then turned toward where the fire fighters were standing, put his hands in his jean pockets, and put his little chin down toward his shoulder (his serious, workin man stance).  The firefighters all commented on how Cooper's shirt and hat matched theirs, and Coop's eyes lit up.  I know in his little head he was thinking, "Alright guys, I'm one of you now.  Let's get to work!"  So perfectly Cooper.

This is where he is happiest: in the driver's seat of a pumper truck.

 

 

I kept smiling at Cooper and his reaction to all the firefighters and their questions and conversation with the kids.  Coop knew every single answer the firefighters asked, but he never once raised his hand or spoke up.  I saw his lips move like he would answer the question to himself or he would smile when he knew the answer, but he never answered out loud.  I hope that changes a little as he gets older.  I was always one who never spoke up in class when I knew the answer, but I always wished I had or did.  It was usually out of insecurity, so I hope it's different for him.  Anyway...back to firetrucks!

 Love in the picture below how Cooper is all smiles at the guy in full gear!  (Coop is toward the right, on the back row.)

 Watching the firefighter come down the pole!  Super duper awesome.

  

 We have a fireman pole attached to the fort in our backyard.  Up until this trip, Cooper would only go down with a lot of encouragement and me sitting at the top, holding and helping him down.  BUT, after this fire station visit and after Coop saw those brave fireman slide down the pole, he was super pumped to FINALLY go down his own fireman pole all by himself.  And that's exactly what he did!  That next morning, as we were leaving for school, Coop ran over to his fort, climbed to the top and after a quiet, "You can do it, Cooper" to himself, he slid down that pole all by himself!!  I could not have been more proud of him and loved seeing how proud of himself he was!  So maybe we were a bit late to school that morning because Coop then proceeded to slide down over and over and over again, but it was totally worth it to see Coop finally conquer this feat!