Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Dang ear infections!!!
Cooper must have an incredibly high pain tolerance. He can't seem to shake these ear infections. Right before Thanksgiving he had a double ear infection and pink eye. He got rid of the pink eye by giving it to me, but the ear infections won't go away. We are on our third medication and if this doesn't work we are going to an ENT to discuss the possibility of tubes or what not. For a kid with a double ear infection he sure is a happy kid. Hopefully we can get this all figured out quickly. I can only imagine what he'll be like when he feels 100%.
Cooper's First Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving was a lot of fun and a much needed break from our daily grind. We went to the cabin in Lake City for a week off of the grid. It was Cooper's first time up there and his first real road trip.
Memom, D-Daddy, Momma Lou, and Evan were in one car, Clint, Hillary, Kendall, and Nora in another, and Amanda, Cooper, and I in the third. It took a while to get there but Cooper was a real trooper. He travels just like his mother... Five minutes into the trip and he's passed out.
It was a little rough when we first got there because Cooper had given me pink eye and I was pretty uncomfortable. Snow was on the ground and it was pretty cold outside but Cooper was one heck of a slender. He really enjoyed being pulled around and trying to keep up with Evan.
We had a great time relaxing and being lazy. We never really left the cabin for much and it was awesome. I can't wait to go back up there when Cooper is old enough to run around on his own and have as much fun as I've had up there over the years.
Memom, D-Daddy, Momma Lou, and Evan were in one car, Clint, Hillary, Kendall, and Nora in another, and Amanda, Cooper, and I in the third. It took a while to get there but Cooper was a real trooper. He travels just like his mother... Five minutes into the trip and he's passed out.
It was a little rough when we first got there because Cooper had given me pink eye and I was pretty uncomfortable. Snow was on the ground and it was pretty cold outside but Cooper was one heck of a slender. He really enjoyed being pulled around and trying to keep up with Evan.
We had a great time relaxing and being lazy. We never really left the cabin for much and it was awesome. I can't wait to go back up there when Cooper is old enough to run around on his own and have as much fun as I've had up there over the years.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Break on through...
Cooper officially has his first tooth. It is really just like a little saw blade in his gum right now, but it is a tooth!
We have been making our own baby food. We tried store bough one day and Cooper refused to eat it. Kinda makes you think hard about what all they put in that stuff. Not to mention that we save money! We have given him carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash. He really takes after me on those things too because we haven't found anything he doesn't like yet.
We have been making our own baby food. We tried store bough one day and Cooper refused to eat it. Kinda makes you think hard about what all they put in that stuff. Not to mention that we save money! We have given him carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash. He really takes after me on those things too because we haven't found anything he doesn't like yet.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Boo at the Zoo!
On Saturday we went to Boo at the Zoo with Clint, Hillary, Evan, Nora, Kendall, Me-mom, and Myia. This is an event where the kids all dress up in their Halloween costumes and walk around and look at the animals.
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 I'm not real sure why, but I have this infatuation with the zoo. I don't really know where this came from because, as my mom said yesterday, "we never went to the zoo when y'all were little." I hope that Cooper enjoys it as much as I do. I can do without the monkeys and the reptiles and birds, but I LOVE the big cats. (Amanda hates that I take pictures of these things.)  We walked around and pushed the kids (the twins stroller is HUGE) for about 4 hours in an effort to see as much as possible. We really had a great time and, even though Cooper didn't act like he was having too much of a good time, I think he did. It was a lot of fun to see the animals and listen to Evan talk about all of them. I think his favorite thing was the tigers, but he got a big kick out of it all. Cooper didn't go to the zoo and learn nothing. In fact, he learned that he likes Cookies and Cream Ice Cream (Thank you Uncle Clint and Aunt Hillary!)  |
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| Cooper dressed as a little Monster. |
Cooper's First Ear Infection
Coop has an ear infection. It doesn't really seem to bother him as he really only tugs at his ear in his sleep. His medicine, which he has grown more fond of, smells rather interesting. Initially Cooper did not like it and he ended up getting more on me than he did in his mouth, As the week has gone on, he has gotten to where he takes it much better. Hopefully this goes away pretty quick and we don't have a recurring thing.
First Family Road Trip
Amanda, Cooper, and I loaded up and went to San Antonio last weekend. It was a little bit of a bittersweet trip. We went to accomplish two things. First, we were going to support our friends in their time of loss. Second, we were taking Cooper to visit Aunt B and Uncle Paul. They had not gotten the opportunity to meet Cooper yet so we saw this a good opportunity.
On Friday, Paul kept Cooper while Amanda and I attended the funeral. They had a lot of fun while Amanda and I sat through one of the toughest things we have had to sit through. On Saturday we were able to spend time together as a family. That afternoon Amanda and I went to see a movie while Aunt B and Paul kept Coop. When we got home, Cooper had begun to crawl. It's not really a "true" crawl, it's more of an "army" crawl type thing, but Cooper can move on his own now.
On Sunday we went to the outlet malls in San Marcos. We spent most of the day shopping and then met up with Allison, Nathaniel, and Gabriel at California Pizza Kitchen. After eating a little too much, it was back home to start a new week.
On Friday, Paul kept Cooper while Amanda and I attended the funeral. They had a lot of fun while Amanda and I sat through one of the toughest things we have had to sit through. On Saturday we were able to spend time together as a family. That afternoon Amanda and I went to see a movie while Aunt B and Paul kept Coop. When we got home, Cooper had begun to crawl. It's not really a "true" crawl, it's more of an "army" crawl type thing, but Cooper can move on his own now.
On Sunday we went to the outlet malls in San Marcos. We spent most of the day shopping and then met up with Allison, Nathaniel, and Gabriel at California Pizza Kitchen. After eating a little too much, it was back home to start a new week.
Monday, October 17, 2011
I'm having trouble coming up with a title for this blog. I have a lot on my mind and really just don't know what to call it. It's funny how having a kid becomes such a part of who and what you are. Amanda and I are both very aware of that as we sit in bed on this night. We found out earlier today that a very good childhood friend of mine lost their 5 month old baby today.
I don't want to say that Cooper is sometimes taken for granted. He very much is not. I will admit that you become very accustom to having him around though. We had a conversation the other night about remembering "life before Cooper" and how anti-climatic it was. To think of being forced to endure what our friends are right now is really very scary. I remember being in the emergency room with Coop and feeling completely helpless as I held this little boy who was just so small. I remember having to be the rock for Amanda and how difficult that was since all I really wanted to do was break down myself. The thought of those feelings being prolonged is just so difficult to comprehend.
I'm definitely not the most religious person in the world, but I do believe that God has a plan, and even though we may not agree with it or understand it, it does all work out in the end. I firmly believe that going through what we went through with Cooper brought the three of us so much closer and made Amanda and I both so much more aware of how special this gift was.
Our hearts are breaking tonight for our friends. I honestly can not imagine being in their shoes and dealing with the feelings that they are feeling. I am reminded of the poem "Footprints" that my great-grandmother used to have in her house that she gave to Hillary. I pray that God carries them at this very difficult time in their lives.
I don't want to say that Cooper is sometimes taken for granted. He very much is not. I will admit that you become very accustom to having him around though. We had a conversation the other night about remembering "life before Cooper" and how anti-climatic it was. To think of being forced to endure what our friends are right now is really very scary. I remember being in the emergency room with Coop and feeling completely helpless as I held this little boy who was just so small. I remember having to be the rock for Amanda and how difficult that was since all I really wanted to do was break down myself. The thought of those feelings being prolonged is just so difficult to comprehend.
I'm definitely not the most religious person in the world, but I do believe that God has a plan, and even though we may not agree with it or understand it, it does all work out in the end. I firmly believe that going through what we went through with Cooper brought the three of us so much closer and made Amanda and I both so much more aware of how special this gift was.
Our hearts are breaking tonight for our friends. I honestly can not imagine being in their shoes and dealing with the feelings that they are feeling. I am reminded of the poem "Footprints" that my great-grandmother used to have in her house that she gave to Hillary. I pray that God carries them at this very difficult time in their lives.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
New Foods and New Tricks
Cooper is getting bigger daily. It is amazing how quickly kids grow. It seems like you go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning and you almost don't recognize him he's grown so much. Amanda and I were talking the other night and she asked a question that I really hadn't thought of. She asked, "Do you really remember what life was like before Cooper?" The funny thing is, it seems like so long ago even though it was just 6 months. I know that it wasn't nearly as much fun.
Cooper has started eating REAL food. We are slowly weening him off of formula. Did you hear that? (That was our bank account cheering!) We have given him rice cereal and are now beginning to introduce vegetables. (We started with carrots.) It's sloppy, it's entertaining, and it's fun. To watch his face, or to watch him try to work the spoon himself, or to see how big a mess he can make is priceless.
Along with new foods have come new tricks. It pains Cooper that he cannot go from laying down to sitting up on his own. In fact, every time we lay him down, he immediately begins to try to sit up. The good news is now when we sit him up, he is able to maintain himself. He's not always great at it, but for the most part he is able to stay in that position for long periods of time.
We really think that Cooper is going to be crawling soon. He can currently get up on his knees or get up on his hands. He just hasn't figured out how to do both at the same time. As soon as he does that, he's going to be off to the races. It is kind of scary because he is so aware of his surroundings. When he can move himself across the room, there is no telling what he is going to be into.
Cooper has started eating REAL food. We are slowly weening him off of formula. Did you hear that? (That was our bank account cheering!) We have given him rice cereal and are now beginning to introduce vegetables. (We started with carrots.) It's sloppy, it's entertaining, and it's fun. To watch his face, or to watch him try to work the spoon himself, or to see how big a mess he can make is priceless.
Along with new foods have come new tricks. It pains Cooper that he cannot go from laying down to sitting up on his own. In fact, every time we lay him down, he immediately begins to try to sit up. The good news is now when we sit him up, he is able to maintain himself. He's not always great at it, but for the most part he is able to stay in that position for long periods of time.
We really think that Cooper is going to be crawling soon. He can currently get up on his knees or get up on his hands. He just hasn't figured out how to do both at the same time. As soon as he does that, he's going to be off to the races. It is kind of scary because he is so aware of his surroundings. When he can move himself across the room, there is no telling what he is going to be into.
Cooper's First Homecoming
Cooper got to experience his very first homecoming on September 23. The daycare had a pep rally that the cheerleaders from Frank Seale and Walnut Grove Middle Schools participated in. Amanda, Mom, and Hillary were all able to go over there and hang out with Evan and Cooper. Cooper genuinely loved it and the mascots.
We were on an early release schedule to accommodate the parade from the High School to the Stadium. It isn't quite the same as when I was a kid and the whole town shut down, but it is still quite an experience. (It will be interesting to see how events like this are affected when we open the second high school.) Cooper and I rode on the Frank Seale Cross Country float with Amanda. It was a little warm, but Cooper had a good time.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Time Flies
It's crazy how time flies. It seems like just yesterday Cooper was little bitty and barely eating 2 oz. Now he is almost 17 pounds and eats a LOT! He has started cereal recently. He HATES regular rice cereal with a passion. As soon as you put it in his mouth, out it comes. Rice cereal with apples on the other hand, he LOVES. He can't eat it fast enough. There were times that I thought that the spoon was in his stomach he put it so deep in his mouth. It's messy, but so much fun to watch him try to figure out how to eat with a spoon.
Monday, September 5, 2011
What a Joyous Sound!
We were playing with Cooper the other night and he began to laugh for the first time. Not just cackle but lose-your-breath-I'm-laughing-so-hard LAUGH! Check it out!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Racers... Start Your Engines!
As I sit here and prepare to put my thoughts into words, I am reminded of a song. There is a verse in Kid Rock's "All Summer Long"that says:
Now nothing seems as strange as when the leaves begin to change, or how we thought those days would never end.
I understand that I am old enough to know that summer cannot last forever and that, at some point, the reality of the school year will always come back around. However, this year was a little different. Amanda and I have both grown so "accustom" (Chris Rock has a really funny routine on this word!) to the fact that we get to wake up every morning and hang out with Coop. We dreaded the day that we both had to go back to work.
Well... Today is that day. We had to drop Cooper off at the daycare with Ms. Max and Ms. Kay. Now I am sure that they are both very well intentioned, capable people, but it is not the easiest thing to drop your kid off with "strangers" so that you can go to work all day. Of course Cooper had no idea of what was going on and he just laid in the floor and played while Amanda and I did the best we could to not show our animosity toward the whole situation.
Amanda was great! Of course she had moments where she wasn't sure she could do it. (Right before we left the house, as soon as we got to the daycare, when she put Cooper down to play, when we saw friends coming to drop their kids off, and finally, when it was time to drive away.) Hillary met us at the door because "Evan wanted to say hi to Cooper." Nicki and Jason were dropping Ainsley off. Becky Wiginton was dropping their little girl off. And some random lady who has a kid in Cooper's class was dropping off as well. All of these people were very supportive of Amanda and told her that it would all be okay in "a few days."
Ready or not, school has started. The leaves will change and temperatures will cool. New kids will shuffle in and out of our rooms, our lives, and our hearts. Some will be missed, some will be helped along, and some will not move on quick enough. But in the back of our minds, we are going to be constantly wondering what our "Little Man" is doing and how is day is going. We will count down the minutes until we get to go pick him up and see that wonderful smile and hear that precious giggle. Sure, he will grow older, bigger, and more independent, but he will always be the one kid we just can't hang on to quite long enough!
Now nothing seems as strange as when the leaves begin to change, or how we thought those days would never end.
I understand that I am old enough to know that summer cannot last forever and that, at some point, the reality of the school year will always come back around. However, this year was a little different. Amanda and I have both grown so "accustom" (Chris Rock has a really funny routine on this word!) to the fact that we get to wake up every morning and hang out with Coop. We dreaded the day that we both had to go back to work.
Well... Today is that day. We had to drop Cooper off at the daycare with Ms. Max and Ms. Kay. Now I am sure that they are both very well intentioned, capable people, but it is not the easiest thing to drop your kid off with "strangers" so that you can go to work all day. Of course Cooper had no idea of what was going on and he just laid in the floor and played while Amanda and I did the best we could to not show our animosity toward the whole situation.
Amanda was great! Of course she had moments where she wasn't sure she could do it. (Right before we left the house, as soon as we got to the daycare, when she put Cooper down to play, when we saw friends coming to drop their kids off, and finally, when it was time to drive away.) Hillary met us at the door because "Evan wanted to say hi to Cooper." Nicki and Jason were dropping Ainsley off. Becky Wiginton was dropping their little girl off. And some random lady who has a kid in Cooper's class was dropping off as well. All of these people were very supportive of Amanda and told her that it would all be okay in "a few days."
Ready or not, school has started. The leaves will change and temperatures will cool. New kids will shuffle in and out of our rooms, our lives, and our hearts. Some will be missed, some will be helped along, and some will not move on quick enough. But in the back of our minds, we are going to be constantly wondering what our "Little Man" is doing and how is day is going. We will count down the minutes until we get to go pick him up and see that wonderful smile and hear that precious giggle. Sure, he will grow older, bigger, and more independent, but he will always be the one kid we just can't hang on to quite long enough!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Cooper's 15 Minutes Are Up!
It was three glorious months! Cooper was the youngest, newest addition to the family. Now, on Amanda's side this is still the case, but on my side... well, his time is up! Holding true to fashion (haha) Hillary just couldn't stand it any longer.
On Monday, July 25th, Aunt Hillary gave birth to two of the most precious little girls. Kendall and Nora decided that Coop's reign was over... kind of. Hillary had been in the hospital for almost a week due to preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). The doctors thought that she would go home on Sunday, but "one last blood test" showed that she was going to have to have a C-section early.
The girls were born beautiful but small. Kendall weighed just 4 lbs 3 oz while Nora hogged the food and weighed 4 lbs 3 oz. It was great to get to meet these little girls. Other than being little, there are not any major issues. Cooper was very curious when we were at the hospital and just stared at the girls. Evan was the best big brother.
It will be very fun to watch all of the kids grow up together. I can remember how much fun we had as kids when we all got together and I genuinely hope that our kids are able to enjoy that as much as we did.
On Monday, July 25th, Aunt Hillary gave birth to two of the most precious little girls. Kendall and Nora decided that Coop's reign was over... kind of. Hillary had been in the hospital for almost a week due to preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). The doctors thought that she would go home on Sunday, but "one last blood test" showed that she was going to have to have a C-section early.
The girls were born beautiful but small. Kendall weighed just 4 lbs 3 oz while Nora hogged the food and weighed 4 lbs 3 oz. It was great to get to meet these little girls. Other than being little, there are not any major issues. Cooper was very curious when we were at the hospital and just stared at the girls. Evan was the best big brother.
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| The Pace Kiddos |
It will be very fun to watch all of the kids grow up together. I can remember how much fun we had as kids when we all got together and I genuinely hope that our kids are able to enjoy that as much as we did.
Coop's latest tricks!
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| Coop LOVES his bouncer! |
It is absolutely killing him that he can't sit up by himself. He will wear himself out trying to sit up from ANY position. He also likes to stand up and look around. You can bet if he's awake he is definitely acutely aware of what is going on around him. As soon as he gets to where he can move around, we are in trouble!
I didn't think we were going to have to worry about this for a while, but it appears as though Cooper is beginning to get teeth. He LOVES to munch on his finger or hand or whatever he can get in his mouth. So much so that he will spit his pacifier out and put his fingers in. And drool? Goodness that boy can drool. It is not quite to the level that Evan was, but he is a water spout.
These are times that I am sure we will not realize the significance of until we are looking back at them, but it is so much fun to watch our little boy grow up. I just hope it doesn't happen too fast!
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"Dad... I thought summers were slower!"
Well... it's been a while since I have posted anything. Over a month in fact. So, what's been going on since the last post?
If you remember (or you can read back), we had a day in May that we took Cooper and got him a passport. I will relieve those of you that have read that from having to hear that again.
Anyway, we went to St. Kitts at the beginning of July. (I have pictures that I will post later.) St. Kitts was great! We stayed at the Marriot Resort and everything was really cool. Our room was great, the pools were fun, and the beaches were good.
It was great times and Cooper really had a good time. Initially we were a little concerned about what it would be like flying over there and back. Well, much to our surprise, Cooper was a travel super trooper. We arrived at the airport around 4:30 AM and our flight to Miami took off at 5:30. Cooper went to sleep as soon as we took off and slept all the way there. Once we arrived we had a layover and Cooper woke up, ate, and played just to go back to sleep as soon as we took off. Much to my dismay, all of the preflight apologies that I offered to all the people around us were for nothing! The trip home was exactly the same, no big deal to Coop. For Mom and Dad, coming home was a bit of an adventure. Coop had to be security checked leaving St. Kitts! Why you would have to search a 3 month old is beyond me, but they did. We're not going to harp on that though. Let's talk about the fun we had.
St. Kitts was an amazing place with amazing people. We were picked up from the airport by a man named Joe. He owned the taxi that would basically be our mode of transportation during our stay. Joe was a great man. He told us all about the island, the history, the how's and why's and all that. He was better than any tourist guide that we could have asked for. If you ever go to St. Kitts, you have to find Joe!
The rest of the summer was basically a few weeks at home with some family bonding time. It has been tons of fun and a great opportunity for the three of us to bond. Unfortunately, the summer time has come to an end and I have had to return to work in what is looking to be the most fun stage that Cooper could be in.
If you remember (or you can read back), we had a day in May that we took Cooper and got him a passport. I will relieve those of you that have read that from having to hear that again.
Anyway, we went to St. Kitts at the beginning of July. (I have pictures that I will post later.) St. Kitts was great! We stayed at the Marriot Resort and everything was really cool. Our room was great, the pools were fun, and the beaches were good.
It was great times and Cooper really had a good time. Initially we were a little concerned about what it would be like flying over there and back. Well, much to our surprise, Cooper was a travel super trooper. We arrived at the airport around 4:30 AM and our flight to Miami took off at 5:30. Cooper went to sleep as soon as we took off and slept all the way there. Once we arrived we had a layover and Cooper woke up, ate, and played just to go back to sleep as soon as we took off. Much to my dismay, all of the preflight apologies that I offered to all the people around us were for nothing! The trip home was exactly the same, no big deal to Coop. For Mom and Dad, coming home was a bit of an adventure. Coop had to be security checked leaving St. Kitts! Why you would have to search a 3 month old is beyond me, but they did. We're not going to harp on that though. Let's talk about the fun we had.
St. Kitts was an amazing place with amazing people. We were picked up from the airport by a man named Joe. He owned the taxi that would basically be our mode of transportation during our stay. Joe was a great man. He told us all about the island, the history, the how's and why's and all that. He was better than any tourist guide that we could have asked for. If you ever go to St. Kitts, you have to find Joe!
The rest of the summer was basically a few weeks at home with some family bonding time. It has been tons of fun and a great opportunity for the three of us to bond. Unfortunately, the summer time has come to an end and I have had to return to work in what is looking to be the most fun stage that Cooper could be in.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Daddy Day Care Is Now Open!
Let me start this by saying that I never thought that this would be easy, but I never imagined it would be so tiring either. That being said, here is the story...
Amanda has basketball camp this week. She has to be at the gym at 8:00 am and gets home about 4:00 pm. That means that I am in charge of making sure that Cooper is in good shape when she gets home. Before I get to that, let's elaborate a little on why Cooper slept so much this past weekend...
Turns out when babies go through growth spurts, they sleep a LOT. This is due to the fact that the only time you can grow is when you are asleep. (Those of you that already know this and are bored, remember, I am writing this for Cooper. He may not know that when he reads this.) On top of sleeping a lot, they eat a lot too. Now for a typical feeding, Cooper eats 4 oz. Well, here lately he's been eating AT LEAST 4 oz and, more often than not, 5-6 oz. So that is why he slept so much while he was at Doc and Cindy Lou's on Father's Day. In the words of Paul Harvey, and now for the rest of the story...
Monday came and went with no real issue. In fact, it was quite enjoyable to get to spend so much time by ourselves. It's not that we don't like when Amanda is here, it's just that since Coop was born, there have not been an abundance of opportunities for it to be just me and him. After Monday I thought that was going to be a breeze. Well, that's what I get for thinking.
Tuesday it was like I had a different kid at my house. He was fussy ALL day. At no point could I put him down in order for me to get anything done. I had planned on doing some stuff around the house so that is was kinda clean when Amanda got home. Well that wasn't going to happen. Coop just wasn't having it. If he wasn't fussing he was either spitting up or needed a diaper change. Let's just say it made for a long day.
Wednesday my son was back. He was his typical self. He woke up at 6:30 and took a catnap or two and didn't really take a REAL nap until 1. When we got up, he sat in his seat or played in the floor on his belly. Now this I could get used to.
I don't really know what Thursday has in store, but I will keep you updated. Friday will be normal. Amanda will be done with camp and at home to hang out with us. I'm not saying that I could make a living as a daycare provider, but as long as days like Tuesday are not real common, I could end up being pretty good at this.
Amanda has basketball camp this week. She has to be at the gym at 8:00 am and gets home about 4:00 pm. That means that I am in charge of making sure that Cooper is in good shape when she gets home. Before I get to that, let's elaborate a little on why Cooper slept so much this past weekend...
Turns out when babies go through growth spurts, they sleep a LOT. This is due to the fact that the only time you can grow is when you are asleep. (Those of you that already know this and are bored, remember, I am writing this for Cooper. He may not know that when he reads this.) On top of sleeping a lot, they eat a lot too. Now for a typical feeding, Cooper eats 4 oz. Well, here lately he's been eating AT LEAST 4 oz and, more often than not, 5-6 oz. So that is why he slept so much while he was at Doc and Cindy Lou's on Father's Day. In the words of Paul Harvey, and now for the rest of the story...
Monday came and went with no real issue. In fact, it was quite enjoyable to get to spend so much time by ourselves. It's not that we don't like when Amanda is here, it's just that since Coop was born, there have not been an abundance of opportunities for it to be just me and him. After Monday I thought that was going to be a breeze. Well, that's what I get for thinking.
Tuesday it was like I had a different kid at my house. He was fussy ALL day. At no point could I put him down in order for me to get anything done. I had planned on doing some stuff around the house so that is was kinda clean when Amanda got home. Well that wasn't going to happen. Coop just wasn't having it. If he wasn't fussing he was either spitting up or needed a diaper change. Let's just say it made for a long day.
Wednesday my son was back. He was his typical self. He woke up at 6:30 and took a catnap or two and didn't really take a REAL nap until 1. When we got up, he sat in his seat or played in the floor on his belly. Now this I could get used to.
I don't really know what Thursday has in store, but I will keep you updated. Friday will be normal. Amanda will be done with camp and at home to hang out with us. I'm not saying that I could make a living as a daycare provider, but as long as days like Tuesday are not real common, I could end up being pretty good at this.
Daddy's First Father's Day
Sunday we celebrated my first Father's Day. Amanda and Cooper had given me a truck liner for my Father's Day/ Anniversary present. (It's AWESOME and looks great!) To start the day we went to Granbury to visit Doc and Cindy Lou and hang out with Amanda's Family. Cooper was true to form around that group and slept most of the time like he seems to do anytime he's around them. I swear they think he never opens his eyes! (More on that later.)
After we left Granbury we went back to Mimom and D-Daddy's. We hung out there and ate dinner and then, much to Evan's delight, we spent a little time in the pool to end the day.
After we left Granbury we went back to Mimom and D-Daddy's. We hung out there and ate dinner and then, much to Evan's delight, we spent a little time in the pool to end the day.
Cooper LOVED the water and wasn't real bothered by the fact that I have HORRIFIC tan lines. The only thing about it that he didn't like was when it came time to get out.
Overall it was a great Father's Day and I look forward to many more.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Cooper's First Camping Trip
So apparently over the years since I was younger, spending the night with grandparents is now called "camping." At least that is what it is called at Mimom's and D-Daddy's. On Friday, June 17, 2011, Amanda and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary. In order for us to do what we had planned (dinner at Texas de Brazil and Four Day Weekend) we had to leave Cooper with my parents. Amanda and I were definitely a little anxious, but Mimom and D-Daddy were super excited. Ironically, it was also Clint and Hillary's anniversary so Evan was there too. We took Coop over about 6:00 pm and left to go enjoy the evening. We had a great time, even though we called and checked on Coop twice. More to be funny than really concerned. We left Ft. Worth around midnight. As you get older, and especially after you have kids, midnight is LATE! When we drove by the house we contemplated just pulling in and sleeping there, but decided to forego that idea and just head home to sleep a solid 8 hours for the first time in months.
The next morning we woke up and went picked Cooper up. Much to our surprise he was just as we left him. Turns out that even though it has been 20+ years since they had a kid of their own in diapers, Mimom and D-Daddy are more than capable of taking care of Coop.
The next morning we woke up and went picked Cooper up. Much to our surprise he was just as we left him. Turns out that even though it has been 20+ years since they had a kid of their own in diapers, Mimom and D-Daddy are more than capable of taking care of Coop.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Many Faces of Cooper!
Now that Coop is 2 months old, we have noticed that some of the faces he made just a few weeks ago are not being made as often. Here are some of the good ones so far.
Friday, June 3, 2011
We Now Play Pass The Baby!
Well, it is the last day of school and Amanda has been back all week. This has been a rather difficult transition for her as she is not quite ready to leave Cooper for most of the day. In our planning for this event, we decided to make arrangements to play a little game we call "Pass the Baby."
In order to play Pass the Baby, you have to have a minimum of 6 players. There is no maximum number as the more people that play, the more interesting the game becomes. The players in this initial version are...
Deda, Cindy Lou, Momma Lou, Mimi, Mimom, D-Daddy, Daddy and Mommy.
Deda played first as she came and kept Cooper on Tuesday. I think that they both really enjoyed their time together even though Amanda was a little anxious to get back to Cooper. Cooper was awake most of the day and played a lot. At 2:00 pm Mommy was done with class so Deda had to bring Cooper up to the school.
Cindy Lou probably got the lesser end of the deal because she kept Coop on Wednesday, along with Micah. Micah was enamored with the fact that Cooper is starting to show some personality and is a lot more alert for longer periods. However, Miss Micah was NOT a fan of changing diapers, nor was she a fan of post feeding activities. Cooper got a little queasy after eating and might have spit up... a lot! According to Micah she "saw it coming and dove out of the way." Cindy Lou did get to give Coop a bath as a result though.
Thursday brought with it Momma Lou. She loved getting to spend some time with Coop, or Mister M as she calls him. The only draw back is that he did sleep quite a bit that morning so she didn't get to play quite as much as she wanted. Thursday night Mommy and Daddy left Cooper with Mimom and D-Daddy thinking that they would watch him while we ran to the house and got a quick workout in. While the workout was brutally difficult, it did only last an hour. Before we could get back over to Mimom and D-Daddy's we got a call that said "Cooper said he wants El Fenix. We will bring him home later." You gotta love when that happens!
Friday was Mimi's day. Cooper was eating a bottle when she got there and was wide awake. She was ready to play and Cooper looked to be agreeing.
Pass the Baby was a big success this week. I am not sure that it will catch on on a big scale, but I am pretty sure that it will be a staple game around the Rodgers' house for some time. The fact that we have so many people who so willingly drop what they are doing to come help out (I realize this is more to get to spend time with Cooper than anything) is a true blessing. Everyone was so excited when their day came and tried to convince Amanda and I that we needed to be gone just a little bit longer each day.
To all who helped, we thank you so much and Cooper is so lucky to have so many in his life who love him so much.
In order to play Pass the Baby, you have to have a minimum of 6 players. There is no maximum number as the more people that play, the more interesting the game becomes. The players in this initial version are...
Deda, Cindy Lou, Momma Lou, Mimi, Mimom, D-Daddy, Daddy and Mommy.
Deda played first as she came and kept Cooper on Tuesday. I think that they both really enjoyed their time together even though Amanda was a little anxious to get back to Cooper. Cooper was awake most of the day and played a lot. At 2:00 pm Mommy was done with class so Deda had to bring Cooper up to the school.
Cindy Lou probably got the lesser end of the deal because she kept Coop on Wednesday, along with Micah. Micah was enamored with the fact that Cooper is starting to show some personality and is a lot more alert for longer periods. However, Miss Micah was NOT a fan of changing diapers, nor was she a fan of post feeding activities. Cooper got a little queasy after eating and might have spit up... a lot! According to Micah she "saw it coming and dove out of the way." Cindy Lou did get to give Coop a bath as a result though.
Thursday brought with it Momma Lou. She loved getting to spend some time with Coop, or Mister M as she calls him. The only draw back is that he did sleep quite a bit that morning so she didn't get to play quite as much as she wanted. Thursday night Mommy and Daddy left Cooper with Mimom and D-Daddy thinking that they would watch him while we ran to the house and got a quick workout in. While the workout was brutally difficult, it did only last an hour. Before we could get back over to Mimom and D-Daddy's we got a call that said "Cooper said he wants El Fenix. We will bring him home later." You gotta love when that happens!
Friday was Mimi's day. Cooper was eating a bottle when she got there and was wide awake. She was ready to play and Cooper looked to be agreeing.
Pass the Baby was a big success this week. I am not sure that it will catch on on a big scale, but I am pretty sure that it will be a staple game around the Rodgers' house for some time. The fact that we have so many people who so willingly drop what they are doing to come help out (I realize this is more to get to spend time with Cooper than anything) is a true blessing. Everyone was so excited when their day came and tried to convince Amanda and I that we needed to be gone just a little bit longer each day.
To all who helped, we thank you so much and Cooper is so lucky to have so many in his life who love him so much.
Friday, May 27, 2011
An Infant Needs a Passport... Seriously?!?!
So we are planning on going to St. Kitts this summer. I can only imagine what that flight will be like with a 3 month old Cooper, but that is irrelevant. My real issue here is the fact that an infant has to have a passport. I completely understand why both parents need to be aware of the fact that the child is going out of the country, but seriously, a passport.
We spent 2 hours at the Post Office in Waxahachie trying to get all the odds and ends taken care of. The biggest issue was the photograph. Now, keep in mind, Cooper is 6 weeks old right now. When we travel he will be 3 months. Call me crazy, but as much as he is changing DAILY, there is ABSOLUTELY no way that the picture we took yesterday will resemble him! Oh, by the way, it is good for 5 years. I guess you update the photo monthly or something.
Ok... I am almost done ranting, but let's talk about the photo itself. The restrictions that the government puts on those things is RIDICULOUS. It has to be just the right size, his eyes have to be open, he has to be facing straight ahead, you need to be able to see both ears. For the average adolescent or adult this is no big deal, but for a 6 week old this is DIFFICULT.
The people at the Post Office were awesome. They were very patient and enamored with Coop. However, Cooper was not thrilled with the amount of time that it took to get a picture that worked. During our little stay Cooper ate a bottle, fussed, blew out a diaper, and slept a little. I am just glad it's finally over. On a positive note... Since it took 4 different tries, we did get to take the pictures that didn't work home!
Even though I gripe about all this, it was actually a fun experience and a great opportunity to get to spend some time with Amanda and Cooper. He is changing daily and every single day holds a new surprise. He has began to make noises at the weirdest times, smile a little, and his diapers are becoming serious works! This is one heck of a ride and gets more fun by the minute (even if I am deliriously tired most of the time)!
We spent 2 hours at the Post Office in Waxahachie trying to get all the odds and ends taken care of. The biggest issue was the photograph. Now, keep in mind, Cooper is 6 weeks old right now. When we travel he will be 3 months. Call me crazy, but as much as he is changing DAILY, there is ABSOLUTELY no way that the picture we took yesterday will resemble him! Oh, by the way, it is good for 5 years. I guess you update the photo monthly or something.
Ok... I am almost done ranting, but let's talk about the photo itself. The restrictions that the government puts on those things is RIDICULOUS. It has to be just the right size, his eyes have to be open, he has to be facing straight ahead, you need to be able to see both ears. For the average adolescent or adult this is no big deal, but for a 6 week old this is DIFFICULT.
The people at the Post Office were awesome. They were very patient and enamored with Coop. However, Cooper was not thrilled with the amount of time that it took to get a picture that worked. During our little stay Cooper ate a bottle, fussed, blew out a diaper, and slept a little. I am just glad it's finally over. On a positive note... Since it took 4 different tries, we did get to take the pictures that didn't work home!
Even though I gripe about all this, it was actually a fun experience and a great opportunity to get to spend some time with Amanda and Cooper. He is changing daily and every single day holds a new surprise. He has began to make noises at the weirdest times, smile a little, and his diapers are becoming serious works! This is one heck of a ride and gets more fun by the minute (even if I am deliriously tired most of the time)!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
This is Not For the Faint of Heart
Tomorrow marks the 6 week mark with Cooper. I have to admit that this whole parent thing is not the easiest thing in the world. Now, understand that I never expected this to be easy and I am openly admitting that Amanda does significantly more than I do most of the time.
Last night I got home about 6:30 and Cooper had been awake for a little bit. He ate his bottle and then Mimi and Pop came and visited for a little while. When they left Amanda and I ate and Cooper kinda played in the floor. All that sounds like a normal day. However, it was the first time that I got to see Cooper just really be fussy.
The part that is hard for me when Coop gets fussy is that I just really don't have a clue what he needs me to do. I know that he is uncomfortable or unhappy but I can't seem to figure it out. I want to make him more comfortable so that he isn't screaming, but that just never seems to happen. I guess we will just keep trying to figure him out. He is starting to be able to kind of manipulate us a little bit. I don't know if he knows what he's doing, but he is doing something.
Last night I got home about 6:30 and Cooper had been awake for a little bit. He ate his bottle and then Mimi and Pop came and visited for a little while. When they left Amanda and I ate and Cooper kinda played in the floor. All that sounds like a normal day. However, it was the first time that I got to see Cooper just really be fussy.
The part that is hard for me when Coop gets fussy is that I just really don't have a clue what he needs me to do. I know that he is uncomfortable or unhappy but I can't seem to figure it out. I want to make him more comfortable so that he isn't screaming, but that just never seems to happen. I guess we will just keep trying to figure him out. He is starting to be able to kind of manipulate us a little bit. I don't know if he knows what he's doing, but he is doing something.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Maybe Being 2nd Isn't So Bad...
Let me start this off by setting the record straight. I know that at times throughout Amanda's pregnancy I may have given grandparents a little grief about Cooper having to play second fiddle to Baird and Evan. I didn't really mean that stuff. In fact, I am beginning to find out that being the second one on both sides of the family has really got some benefits.
Here's some proof:
Here's some proof:
Now let me describe what you are looking at. On the fireplace is a scale that we borrowed from Maggie and Griffin. This came in very handy after Cooper's hospital stay and we were very lucky that they had it. Those five grocery sacks? Well those are clothes that Evan can't wear anymore and since Hillary is having twin girls, she didn't need them anymore. So we figured we would take them off her hands.
The second reason that this is a good thing is that Cooper has one cousin that can kind of teach him the ropes, and another cousin that can help him cause a little mayhem.
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| Baird and Cooper hanging out. |
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| Cooper and Evan napping at MiMom's and D-Daddy's |
So if I haven't made it clear by now, let me do it once and for all. It is absolutely no big deal that Cooper will have to live up to the standards that Evan has set or that he will always be just a little younger than Baird. We understand that he will not be the first to do anything out of the three, and we're OK with that. We are just thankful that we have been so blessed to get to experience awesome nephews and a wonderful son.
R.I.P. Peace and Quiet... Hello CHAOS!
On Saturday, we resumed our normal, break neck speed life. We got up early and drove to Denton to attend a graduation party for a former player of Amanda's. It was the longest car ride that Cooper had taken to date. Being the AMAZING parents that we are, we didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the sun since it was kind of chilly. Well... that was a mistake! Turns out that Cooper got a little sunburn on his cheeks.
When we got home the circus came to the house. It wasn't Ringling Brothers or anything like that, but it was still a ton of fun. Amanda invited some friends of hers, Lissa and Neeley. For those of you that know Lissa, you know that if she comes, that means that Baylor, Larin, and Mailey James, come with her. And Neeley brings Max and Ace. To add to the fun, Clint and Hillary came over with Evan. Those of you that are still asking questions, that is 7 children ages 3 and UNDER!
It was so much fun to watch the kids run around and play with each other. Even though they don't get to see each other often, just met them that day, or whatever... they all just kind of fall in together. There is so much that we as adults can learn from children! It is also amazing to watch kids run around for hours without a break and never slow down. Baylor held court and kept everyone in check since she was the oldest. Larin was kind of shy, but I am betting that she is kind of used to how Baylor operates. Mailey James spent most of the night just trying to keep up with the older kids but that is hard when you're 30, much less 11 months. Max enjoyed his time here as well. He played baseball a little outside and was absolutely not shy even though he was little bitty the last time we saw him. Ace was still working on figuring out what was going on most of the night. Cooper did what Cooper does. He pretty much slept through the whole thing. (I guess it's good that that child could sleep through a hurricane!)
When we got home the circus came to the house. It wasn't Ringling Brothers or anything like that, but it was still a ton of fun. Amanda invited some friends of hers, Lissa and Neeley. For those of you that know Lissa, you know that if she comes, that means that Baylor, Larin, and Mailey James, come with her. And Neeley brings Max and Ace. To add to the fun, Clint and Hillary came over with Evan. Those of you that are still asking questions, that is 7 children ages 3 and UNDER!
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| Larin, Mailey James, Evan, Baylor, Cooper, Ace and Max |
It was so much fun to watch the kids run around and play with each other. Even though they don't get to see each other often, just met them that day, or whatever... they all just kind of fall in together. There is so much that we as adults can learn from children! It is also amazing to watch kids run around for hours without a break and never slow down. Baylor held court and kept everyone in check since she was the oldest. Larin was kind of shy, but I am betting that she is kind of used to how Baylor operates. Mailey James spent most of the night just trying to keep up with the older kids but that is hard when you're 30, much less 11 months. Max enjoyed his time here as well. He played baseball a little outside and was absolutely not shy even though he was little bitty the last time we saw him. Ace was still working on figuring out what was going on most of the night. Cooper did what Cooper does. He pretty much slept through the whole thing. (I guess it's good that that child could sleep through a hurricane!)
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
And the Doctor Says...
Cooper went to the doctor today. It was not a check up that the doctor normally does but, due to Cooper's rocky start, she wanted to see him again. When he was born he weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. He got down to well into the middle of the 7's during his time at Cook's. Two weeks ago, when we finally got to meet the doctor, he was back up to 7 lbs. 13 oz. Not too far from where he started but still not where we needed him to be.
Today the doctor was amazed! Cooper weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz and has almost caught back up to that 75th percentile where he started. He does have a blocked tear duct so his eye gets a little gooey every now and then. Overall that's not bad when you consider all this little boy has been through in such a short period of time.
Thankfully, there is no reason to go see a doctor again for a month. That is awesome! Of course, he gets a LOT of shots next time we are there. Keep checking in and we will keep you updated!
Today the doctor was amazed! Cooper weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz and has almost caught back up to that 75th percentile where he started. He does have a blocked tear duct so his eye gets a little gooey every now and then. Overall that's not bad when you consider all this little boy has been through in such a short period of time.
Thankfully, there is no reason to go see a doctor again for a month. That is awesome! Of course, he gets a LOT of shots next time we are there. Keep checking in and we will keep you updated!
Amanda's First Mother's Day
Amanda's first Mother's Day was Sunday. We went and visited with Deda and Pawpaw, Maggie and Griffin, Mallory, and met Aunt Dea. We had lunch at Lucile's in Ft. Worth. On Sunday we woke up and gave Amanda her gift, a gift certificate for a massage at Soyokaze. (She used it on Monday!) Then we went to Mimom's and D-Daddy's. Everyone was there so we snuck off and took a nap while everyone else looked after Cooper. Overall it was a great weekend. It was really fun to see Amanda enjoy her first of many Mother's Days. I would say we have pictures but, like I said, we took a nap.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
So This Is What Sleep Deprivation Looks Like.
There are only 24 hours in a day! However, there are also 24 LONG hours in a day! Cooper has made a habit of sleeping mostly during the day and then being awake most of the night. Last night was a little different however. After eating at 12:00, Cooper slept pretty soundly until 3 a.m. when Amanda woke him up to eat. Then, he slept until 7 a.m. when I woke him up to eat.
Now to be honest, Amanda is definitely working on less sleep than I am. She does an amazing job of taking care of Cooper no matter what time it is, day or night. Yesterday she got some much needed rest. She took a nap in the middle of the day from about 1:00 to 4:00 and then Mimom and D-Daddy came and picked Cooper up at 5:15 to babysit so Mommy could sleep. I picked Cooper up at about 8:00 pm and we woke Amanda up when we got home. She felt significantly better and it was good that she got to rest.
Cooper is getting much bigger and is eating a TON now. We thought we were doing a great job of feeding him by giving him 2 oz every few hours, but he is now regularly eating 3 oz and sometimes even taking 4. He is growing like a weed and is back up to his birth weight of 8 lbs 3 oz. After the scare the first day we brought him home and the stay in the NICU, this is great news.
His bellybutton looks normal now since the last little bit of his umbilical cord fell out last night. That is pretty cool because now he can take a real bath and not just a sponge bath. I'm pretty sure that since he is "so advanced" as Amanda says, that he will start walking by the end of the week and talking by the end of the month! :) (I know I shouldn't say things like this since he will grow up to fast as is but, let's be honest, I can't wait until he can tell me what doesn't feel good instead of having to guess.)
Now to be honest, Amanda is definitely working on less sleep than I am. She does an amazing job of taking care of Cooper no matter what time it is, day or night. Yesterday she got some much needed rest. She took a nap in the middle of the day from about 1:00 to 4:00 and then Mimom and D-Daddy came and picked Cooper up at 5:15 to babysit so Mommy could sleep. I picked Cooper up at about 8:00 pm and we woke Amanda up when we got home. She felt significantly better and it was good that she got to rest.
Cooper is getting much bigger and is eating a TON now. We thought we were doing a great job of feeding him by giving him 2 oz every few hours, but he is now regularly eating 3 oz and sometimes even taking 4. He is growing like a weed and is back up to his birth weight of 8 lbs 3 oz. After the scare the first day we brought him home and the stay in the NICU, this is great news.
His bellybutton looks normal now since the last little bit of his umbilical cord fell out last night. That is pretty cool because now he can take a real bath and not just a sponge bath. I'm pretty sure that since he is "so advanced" as Amanda says, that he will start walking by the end of the week and talking by the end of the month! :) (I know I shouldn't say things like this since he will grow up to fast as is but, let's be honest, I can't wait until he can tell me what doesn't feel good instead of having to guess.)
Have I Mentioned We Model?
Ok, so we don't really model, but our friend Jason Taylor came to the house took some pictures of Cooper. Jason is starting a new photography business of his own after doing some work for others for a while. You can find him at jtaylorstudios.com where you can see some more of his work.
Cooper is on his website to help him build his portfolio so we had to sign a release to use his images. That's where the whole "model" thing comes in. This photo shoot was a lot of fun and Jason had some really neat ideas.
Here's some of what we came away with.
Cooper is on his website to help him build his portfolio so we had to sign a release to use his images. That's where the whole "model" thing comes in. This photo shoot was a lot of fun and Jason had some really neat ideas.
Here's some of what we came away with.
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