We Made It

 Our mini-vacation was a success. We traveled 5 hours south to Gatlinburg, TN with a six month old and a 23 month old. I am proud to say- we made it! Cooper is such a great traveler and I now have high hopes for the drive we will make this summer for a beach vacation. Our cabin was beautiful and in a great location. We spent Friday at the Tanger Outlet mall updating Cooper's wardrobe. Saturday was a day spent driving through the Smoky Mountains and enjoying the warm sunshine while strolling the streets of Gatlinburg.

 

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In two days our baby boy will be having surgery. We have known this day was coming since his first week of life, but now that it is here I am ready to back out. While this is a minor surgery to his doctor's, no surgery is ever "minor" when it is your child. We hold all of the fear for our baby, because he does not know what it is to be fearful. For this- I am thankful. After all is said and done he will have no memory of this day. Again, I find myself being thankful.

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Today was Cooper's first taste of pineapple. We used our mesh feeder as he is able to hold it himself. I fed him pieces of my turkey breast (low sodium) from lunch and he seemed to enjoy the new flavors. We enjoy introducing new foods to him and witnessing his facial expressions. He is open to trying everything and usually enjoys all foods.

A Letter From Cooper

Dear Grandma & Grandpa Angel,

I am missing you bunches!! Mommy and Daddy tell me you will be home soon, but they have said that since Christmas. Are you really coming home soon?!

I am getting SOOOO BIG!! (Ask my mawmaw. She puts my arms in the air and says, "How big is Cooper?! SOOOO BIG!") I can sit on my own, although sometimes I fall. I am eating big people food when my mommy will let me. She has given me bananas, chocolate pudding (sugar free of course!), and pretzels. I am rolling all over the place and I love to blow raspberries. My hair is finally starting to grow, but it is so blonde I still look bald. (Kind of like you, Grandpa Russ!) I'm not quite ready to crawl, but I push up on my arms and turn in circles on my belly. It won't be long!

I know the weather is very pretty in Florida, but it's time for you to come home! I will be having surgery on February 25th, and should be all better by the time you are home.

Can't wait.

Love you bunches,

Master Cooper S. Hon
(Translated by Mommy)

Aunt's Have an Unconditional Kind of Love

.....Or so we thought! Almost every weekend mom, Courtney, Cooper and I venture out to run errands, have lunch and enjoy each other's company.

While browsing the baby aisle at the local Meijer, Aunt CoCo took charge of baby Cooper. I deemed him in capable hands and....well...this was the end result-

My baby BOY had been snatched and potentially confused!  Aunt CoCo had attempted to make Cooper a girl, and as you can clearly see- he is ALL BOY!!!!

We are taking our first family vacation this weekend. While it is only a short trip to Gatlinburg, TN, it is still our first as a family. The weather looks promising and we can't wait to get outside with our little moose. We have rented a cabin for Thurs-Sun with the Carroll's and plan to have a relaxing time with great friend's.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

To the Doctor we go

Six months later and Cooper's statistics are as follows:

Weight- 20lbs. 4oz.

Height- 29in.

He, undoubtedly, is a healthy baby boy. He is off the charts for his height, and actually on the "slim" side (according to the doctor) for his weight. As for the immunizations he received today- not even a peep! (Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you baby!) We were given the okay to begin giving him finger foods. Anything that we eat and does not require chewing, he is allowed to eat with us. What an exciting time! It comes with more work, but he enjoys food so much that it makes it fun.

Milestones this week include consistently rolling onto his stomach. Once on his stomach he remembers why he originally learned a way out of this position. He rolls onto his back, then to his stomach. He repeats this cycle a few times, until he is exhausted and settles for laying on his back. It won't be much longer and we will be chasing him all over the house.

Cooper Stephen is 6 months- ALREADY!!!!

You heard right folks. My baby boy was born at 2pm, weighing in at a whopping 10lbs. 4oz. six months ago. As many moms say- where has the time gone?! Today the amazing Sadie Collins of SC Photography came to our house and shot some wonderful pictures of Cooper.

Like I said, she is amazing! Cooper was more than willing to flirt with her to get a good picture.

In the past week he has mastered the art of sitting on his own. It won't be long now and he will be crawling, which leads to walking which will then lead to driving and dating! Maybe I am a little ahead of myself on this, but I assure you time flies. Just yesterday it seems he was a newborn.

Suddenly I woke one day and he was 3 months.

It doesn't stop. He grows before our eyes everyday, and amazes us with the new things he accomplishes.

Letter to Cooper:

My little Moose,

Holding you as you sleep, I stare in disbelief that anything in our lives could be this perfect. You came into this world and suddenly, nothing else mattered. I knew at that moment what love at first sight felt like. You are my reason for living; the one I would die for. (In addition to your daddy of course!)

You are learning new things and growing every day. You love to eat bananas, peaches, sweet potatoes, peas, apples, carrots and prunes. Green beans don't agree with your belly, but we'll try again later. You sit on your own, although you still topple over when you get excited. Crawling is next on your list of things to accomplish. When you lay on your tummy you are eager to scoot forward, but can't quite figure out how. You are mommy's biggest fan, and admire your daddy to pieces.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives Coop.

Love,
Mommy

Someone Is Rolling....Both ways!

As of last night at approximately 10pm, my little Moose rolled onto his stomach. He was in his crib playing as he fell asleep. When the screams started, I ran to see what had happened. Moose was just startled by the fact that somehow he had gotten himself on his stomach; a situation in which he does not like to be!

I am so proud of him! He figured out how to get out of "tummy time" at 3 months of age- roll from tummy to back. Finally, he is rolling both ways. Maybe not on purpose, but it is happening nonetheless.

Poor Moose has been coughing for a couple days. I took his temperature today and got different readings. Each time was more increased than the time before. He is his normal perky self, but I opted to give him Tylenol for the slight rise in temperature. We will continue to keep a close eye on him.