Four Months!!

My little man is four months old!! Where is the time going? He is growing like crazy--he weighs 15 lbs, 3 oz now and is 25.5 inches long. Double his birth weight and four inches taller! He's still 100% on breastmilk, and while he did grab a hush puppy off of my plate at dinner the other night, we are going to hold off another month or two before starting rice cereal.

I've seen so many changes already at four months. Here is a list of five of Cooper's newest tricks:
1) He loves to stand. He just grasps onto my fingers and works his little legs. He would much rather practice standing than sitting. Some days I'm afraid we'll skip the sitting stage and go straight to pulling up!
2) Cooper's movements are becoming more and more controlled. I love watching him figure out how his hands and arms work. He sees an object, reaches for, touches it, and then it goes straight to his mouth!
3) He has the best little voice--squeals, giggles, cooing, and sometimes nonstop babbling.
4) He can officially roll over--both ways! Last weekend he finally connected all the pieces in rolling from his back to his tummy, and he has been a little rolly-poly ever since.
5) Cooper has started giving "kisses." He puts his mouth up to your cheek and gives the best little slobbery kiss!

We've had three weeks at daycare now, and I think...I know...Cooper is adjusting much better than I am. I still miss him terribly and watch the clock all day until I can go pick him up. It really brings a whole new meaning to "heart ache." On a happy note though, Cooper created his first piece of art! It's hanging up in his room at daycare and I started crying when I saw it! The teachers had put paint on their hands...or maybe their feet, I couldn't really tell...and they "painted" a sheet of colored paper. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! I'll make sure to take a picture of it to post here. I'm a proud mommy!
Here is Cooper and little Penelope, who is two months older than Cooper. Ed and Amy came over for dinner last weekend and the kiddos were so cute together! They kept reaching for each others hands and rolling into each other. So cute!

This is how Cooper fell asleep one day! Notice how his little hand is still holding "Giraffeasaurus" (that's the purple animal that we can't decide if it's a giraffe or a dinosaur, so it's a giraffeasuarus!).
Here is our four month picture with Mr. Gorilla.

This is how I found Cooper one morning! We still "taco" him at night; he relies on that comfort too much to try to break him of it right now. But always by morning he seems to wiggle his way out, and now that he is rolling over, I never know how I'm going to find him!
My little man is so amazing and I am so completely and deeply in love with him!

Daycare

Cooper started going to daycare last week, and I headed back to work. So, needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been pretty emotional around our house. The place where he is going is great, don't get me wrong. The teachers are nice and loving, the other kids are happy, it's just more difficult on me than I thought it would be. I miss him so much during the day! Luckily his daycare is just around the corner from work, so I can go check on him at any time, and so far I've gone almost every day to see him during lunch! It helps me get through the day. I know we will all adjust...eventually...I think.

Cooper's room has eight children (ages three months to 10 months) and two teachers (plus one "floater" teacher that comes in to help with feedings).
That's Cooper on the little yellow mat!

This is how Cooper was during one of my visits. I waited as long as I could, hoping he might wake up. But, he didn't! But I still gave him a little kiss to let him know I was there!
Cooper's friend Caden is going to start going to the same daycare this week, so that will be nice to have the boys together. Caden's mom, Erin, works with me, so I'm sure she will join me on my daytime visits! Plus, it's just another set of eyes to check on things!

Happy Holidays

Well, 2008 is coming to an end and what a year it's been. Six days into 2008 I found out I was pregnant, and here we are, almost in 2009 with a 3 1/2 month old precious little boy. I remember this time last year I was praying so strongly that I would get pregnant, trying to understand God's timing and put my own plan aside. I knew God would give us this gift when we were ready, but I had no idea how amazing and wonderful this journey would be...and I'm only three months in! 2008 has been so wonderful--full of joy, excitement, blessings, and of course a few nerves about being a mom. I'm looking forward to seeing my little angel grow in 2009!

Cooper had a great first Christmas, and we got to spend lots of time with friends and family. He really liked pulling the paper off of his presents, but I keep thinking about next year. I'm sure the paper will come flying off faster than we will be able catch it! Cooper even got to spend time with both Great Grandmothers over the holiday! Philip's grandmother lives in town and we got together with the Lamb crew for a BBQ dinner one night. And, my sweet 91 year old grandmother came down from Tennessee to spend time with us, and she just loved meeting Cooper--her seventh Great Grandchild! If Cooper only knew how precious and special that time was with such wonderful women.

With my grandmother (my dad's mom, Mary). Four generations!

With Philip's grandmother (his dad's mom, Betty).
Look what Santa left for me under the tree!



Our family on Christmas.
Look at these cute little slippers that my grandmother gave Cooper! Ho Ho Ho!
Cooper is really trying to roll over these days. He can roll from his tummy to his back, but it's a little more difficult rolling from him back to his tummy, but he sure is trying! He knows how to throw his body to one side and start to process. But then it's his shoulder that he can't quite figure out how to move. He'll be rolling in no time, I'm sure!


"Darn it. I didn't make it."

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Happy, happy New Year!

Three Months!

Cooper is three months old today, and what a morning we had!  We awoke to a completely snow-covered neighborhood!  Yep, snow.  It was too cold for us to go outside, but we sat by the window and watched Philip and Drake run around.  I couldn't tell who was more excited about the snow--Philip or the dog?  In the picture below, you can see Cooper in the window!

It's been so great to see Cooper's growth and new tricks on a daily basis.  Cooper has officially found his happy voice and is cooing at us all the time now.  I've heard him talking to his little toy lion, to the lights, to the tv, and to the little animals hanging from his mobile.  He's discovered his hands, too, and is getting more and more control over them.  I love watching him figure out how they work.  We have these little plastic colorful rings that he has really taken to.  Once he gets ahold of them, there's no letting go--he sleeps with them, he eats with them, he even gets his diaper changed while holding them!  And just this morning, I saw him reaching up for a little monkey hanging down from his activity mat!  He reached up, grabbed ahold of the monkey's leg, and started pulling and shaking it.  Such fun progress! 

I have enjoyed every minute at home with Cooper and it is really starting to hit me that I'll be back to work soon.  I've been so lucky to have such a long maternity leave, and I'm thankful that I've been able to spend such wonderful time with Cooper.  Luckily his daycare is just around the corner from work, so I can go check on him during lunch.  Still, it's going to be pretty tough. 

Here are some pics we took while enjoying the 80 degree weather over the weekend.  Only in Texas could I have pictures of snow and sunshine within in the last 48 hours.

My little angel.

I love everything about this picture--the look on Philip's face, the look on Cooper's face, Cooper's hands, even Cooper's cute little dimple thighs!

Recent Cute Pics

Just want to share some cute pictures...

As my cousin Brian said, "He is a prize-winning baby." I couldn't agree more.

Cooper with his friend Caden, who is one day older than Cooper.  I love how Caden is sitting in this pic!

Crazy curly hair!

Love this big smile!

Practicing sitting up in his Bumbo chair.

Thanksgiving

Cooper's first Thanksgiving was great! We headed to Austin to spend several days with family, then went to our friend's ranch for a little hunting and relaxation. (Just in case you are wondering, Philip did the hunting, I did the relaxing.)

Cooper was a huge hit in Austin. In fact, I only saw him when it was time for him to eat. Other than that, he was entertained (and entertaining) cousins, aunts, and uncles. He did pretty well for the long car ride. You should have seen our car! I think I packed everything in my house, plus the dog! No really, we had the dog with us! It's amazing the gear you have to take for a baby--car seat, stroller, clothes, pack-n-play, bouncy seat, extra clothes (you never know how many changes we might have to make in a day), blankets, diapers, travel bath...wow! Then Philip had all of his hunting gear and we had to make room for Drake! I should have taken a picture!

We have so much to be thankful for this year--an amazing little boy, wonderful family, good health, steady jobs. We are truly blessed!

I love this picture! Cooper had been laying against Philip's chest and when he sat up, his hair stood straight out! Love the look on Cooper's face--apparently he knew his hair made us laugh.


Cooper was a big hit with all of his cousins, but little Cameron and Whitney seemed to be by his side at all times!



Cousins admiring the youngest of the bunch. Look how Cameron has her arm around the boys--too cute!




Cameron and Whit playing with Cooper again!

This is the only picture of Cooper from the ranch. He was exhausted from all the traveling!