That's right, Cooper is going to be a big brother in January. We are very excited although I don't really think Cooper has a clue what is about to happen. It's funny to watch him when Amanda or I hold another baby. Cooper's only child syndrome comes out and he is quick to make sure that we know he knows that we aren't holding him.
Buddy, ready or not you're going to have to share the spotlight!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Happy Birthday and Happy Meals
Well... We've survived a year. A year of change. A year of confusion. A year of constantly questioning everything. But most of all, it has been a year of new discoveries and pure joy.
Time has flown by over the past year. It seems that not so long ago we were driving ever so slowly home with Cooper for the first time. We've seen him poked and prodded with needles, loopy as he comes out from under anesthesia, and curious and determined as he learns new skills and tricks.
We planned a celebration for Coop's first birthday at the house. Amanda and I both put a lot of time and effort into making sure everything was just right. We had a lot of friends and family come over and Cooper had a great time.
The Dr. Seuss theme was great and Amanda worked very hard to make sure there was enough food and drinks for a small army. Cooper got tons of toys to play with that were, surprisingly, easy to put together.
Going to the Dr for his 1 year appointment wasn't as easy though. Cooper didn't like the shots or any of that stuff, and, in true Cooper fashion, we found out that he had strep.
The doctor also informed us that it was time to take the bottle away and replace it with a sippy cup, as well as push real food.
Turns out Cooper is a picky eater. Now, the baby food he isn't supposed to still eat, he likes that. It's the stuff that looks more like normal food that he doesn't like. We've found out that if it sticks to his fingers, he's NOT going to eat it.
In an effort to help, I decided to go to McDonalds. Now, I know people are thinking, "surely he didn't start that habit," but I had to. Cooper LOVES chicken nuggets and French fries! Hey, who can blame him?
If it works it's better than nothing... right?
Time has flown by over the past year. It seems that not so long ago we were driving ever so slowly home with Cooper for the first time. We've seen him poked and prodded with needles, loopy as he comes out from under anesthesia, and curious and determined as he learns new skills and tricks.
We planned a celebration for Coop's first birthday at the house. Amanda and I both put a lot of time and effort into making sure everything was just right. We had a lot of friends and family come over and Cooper had a great time.
The Dr. Seuss theme was great and Amanda worked very hard to make sure there was enough food and drinks for a small army. Cooper got tons of toys to play with that were, surprisingly, easy to put together.
Going to the Dr for his 1 year appointment wasn't as easy though. Cooper didn't like the shots or any of that stuff, and, in true Cooper fashion, we found out that he had strep.
The doctor also informed us that it was time to take the bottle away and replace it with a sippy cup, as well as push real food.
Turns out Cooper is a picky eater. Now, the baby food he isn't supposed to still eat, he likes that. It's the stuff that looks more like normal food that he doesn't like. We've found out that if it sticks to his fingers, he's NOT going to eat it.
In an effort to help, I decided to go to McDonalds. Now, I know people are thinking, "surely he didn't start that habit," but I had to. Cooper LOVES chicken nuggets and French fries! Hey, who can blame him?
If it works it's better than nothing... right?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
My how priorities change!!
It's 10:15 on a Tuesday night. We had a baseball scrimmage tonight so the fact that I am up is nothing out of the ordinary. What is new is why.
Now, in the past I used to come home from games and watch tv or puddle around as it took me a little while to "wind down" from the game. It still takes a while, but tonight is different.
I'm sitting here in the floor of Cooper's room. I am watching in complete amazement as he plays. It is unbelievable to me how smart he's getting. He is working toys that he used to just stare at. He is starting to be able to figure things out through trial and error. This is just fascinating to me.
I also realize that I have not done a very good job of updating this blog. Let me take this opportunity to catch up.
Cooper is 10 months old at this point. He has 6 teeth. They aren't all completely in, but they are visible. He has learned how to wave and, even though he doesn't always comply, he understands (or is at least beginning to understand) what no means.
Coop has spent the last few months bulking up his immune system. (Of course you have to get sick to do that!) let's see, since October he's had 3 ear infections, the flu, a stomach bug, and croup. On January 30th he had tubes put in. Watching him come off of anesthesia was a trip. Last Friday he woke up with blood in his ear so that kind of freaked us out. His follow up with the ENT was today and he got the all clear. Apparently he had a "spontaneous bleed" which is common enough that they have a name for it.
It's funny how quickly your routines and priorities can change. Playing in the floor with my 10 month old who, by the way, could care less if we won or lost, is now the best way I know of to "wind down."
While I was writing this he has figured out how to open AND empty dresser drawers. Watch out! They pinch!
Now, in the past I used to come home from games and watch tv or puddle around as it took me a little while to "wind down" from the game. It still takes a while, but tonight is different.
I'm sitting here in the floor of Cooper's room. I am watching in complete amazement as he plays. It is unbelievable to me how smart he's getting. He is working toys that he used to just stare at. He is starting to be able to figure things out through trial and error. This is just fascinating to me.
I also realize that I have not done a very good job of updating this blog. Let me take this opportunity to catch up.
Cooper is 10 months old at this point. He has 6 teeth. They aren't all completely in, but they are visible. He has learned how to wave and, even though he doesn't always comply, he understands (or is at least beginning to understand) what no means.
Coop has spent the last few months bulking up his immune system. (Of course you have to get sick to do that!) let's see, since October he's had 3 ear infections, the flu, a stomach bug, and croup. On January 30th he had tubes put in. Watching him come off of anesthesia was a trip. Last Friday he woke up with blood in his ear so that kind of freaked us out. His follow up with the ENT was today and he got the all clear. Apparently he had a "spontaneous bleed" which is common enough that they have a name for it.
It's funny how quickly your routines and priorities can change. Playing in the floor with my 10 month old who, by the way, could care less if we won or lost, is now the best way I know of to "wind down."
While I was writing this he has figured out how to open AND empty dresser drawers. Watch out! They pinch!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Cooper, meet the Flu
Thursday was Cooper's 9 month check up. The doctor was very pleased with his growth and weight and all that, but a stubborn cough and low grade fever caused some concerns. Since we had taken him to the ENT the day before, Amanda and I could not take off work to go to the wellness check so that duty fell on Mimom. Unfortunately for her, Cooper tested positive for the flu. Aside from the positive test there was really nothing else that said he was really sick. I think we caught it early.
Other than not liking the medicine, there has not been any real slow down in Coop. He is still the happy-go-lucky baby that he normally is. He still crawls everywhere and get into everything. I think he really just wanted a day off from school. (Hey, who doesn't?)
I had to go to Waco for the High School Baseball Coaches Association convention on Thursday so Deda came over to help Amanda. Myia baby sat him Friday since Amanda had to go to work and I was out of town. She had a great time with him as he showed no signs of being sick.
The weekend has been very normal and he has not run a fever since Thursday night. I think we caught this stuff early enough that it didn't get real bad.
Other than not liking the medicine, there has not been any real slow down in Coop. He is still the happy-go-lucky baby that he normally is. He still crawls everywhere and get into everything. I think he really just wanted a day off from school. (Hey, who doesn't?)
I had to go to Waco for the High School Baseball Coaches Association convention on Thursday so Deda came over to help Amanda. Myia baby sat him Friday since Amanda had to go to work and I was out of town. She had a great time with him as he showed no signs of being sick.
The weekend has been very normal and he has not run a fever since Thursday night. I think we caught this stuff early enough that it didn't get real bad.
Cooper visits the ENT
After almost two months of battling ear infections we decided that it was time for Cooper to visit the ENT to try to get this situation settled for good. Cooper has had four ear infections since the beginning of November and it has begun to seriously effect his sleep. In the middle of the night he tosses and turns and roots around looking for relief.
It didn't take the doctor long to assess that Coop has a lot of fluid behind his ears and that he is going to need tubes put in. We are set to do the procedure on January 30th at Cook's (of course we wouldn't go anywhere else).
Apparently this procedure has become so routine that from the time they start until we walk out the door to go home will take all of thirty minutes. On top of that, Coop can go back to school the very next day. It is amazing how that works to me. According to the doctor, this should help with his sleeping, balance, and speech so we are very excited. If he could sleep well, we could sleep well and that would help a ton.
It didn't take the doctor long to assess that Coop has a lot of fluid behind his ears and that he is going to need tubes put in. We are set to do the procedure on January 30th at Cook's (of course we wouldn't go anywhere else).
Apparently this procedure has become so routine that from the time they start until we walk out the door to go home will take all of thirty minutes. On top of that, Coop can go back to school the very next day. It is amazing how that works to me. According to the doctor, this should help with his sleeping, balance, and speech so we are very excited. If he could sleep well, we could sleep well and that would help a ton.
Cooper's First Christmas
The excitement that Christmas brought as a child has never really left our house. Amanda loves to decorate and make it look like you are right in the middle of the North Pole. I enjoy putting lights on the house and making sure that they are all working properly and straight.
It has been our tradition that the Christmas holidays are a little crazy. We spend a lot of time preparing and figuring out where we are going to be when and how we are going to make it all happen. We have become quite good at this over the years. Cooper coming along has made it more interesting. Of course everyone wants us to be wherever they are, but they really want Cooper to be there.
The joy of Christmas as a kid pales in comparison to that of a parent. It was more fun than I could have imagined watching as Cooper would try to tear the paper off of a gift and how excited he would get. It was great watching him play with one toy for a few minutes and then throw it to the side to move on to the next.
I know that he really doesn't understand what is going on or why we are going a million different places, but I know from watching him that he had a blast doing it. We are looking forward to the many more Christmases to come.
It has been our tradition that the Christmas holidays are a little crazy. We spend a lot of time preparing and figuring out where we are going to be when and how we are going to make it all happen. We have become quite good at this over the years. Cooper coming along has made it more interesting. Of course everyone wants us to be wherever they are, but they really want Cooper to be there.
The joy of Christmas as a kid pales in comparison to that of a parent. It was more fun than I could have imagined watching as Cooper would try to tear the paper off of a gift and how excited he would get. It was great watching him play with one toy for a few minutes and then throw it to the side to move on to the next.
I know that he really doesn't understand what is going on or why we are going a million different places, but I know from watching him that he had a blast doing it. We are looking forward to the many more Christmases to come.
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