Rocks, Dirt, and Boys--Melts My Heart

Yearerday Nate took Cooper and Brody for a walk so I could take a nap. Pretty soon, I hear Coop calling, "Mommy (he says it with a little southern twang: mom-may), as he dashed up the stairs. I scarcely had time to open my eyes before he was shoving something in my face, literally, like right near my eye, while dirt fell on my cheek. He was so excited to give me a "special rock" he'd found on their walk. It was so sweet, and I set it on my nightstand. This morning as I was dressing him, he saw the rock, and said," Oh, your special rock! Do you just love it?" I told him I loved that it was from him and how thoughtful he is. He started telling me about finding it near the stream near our house, and how there were other rocks, but this one was really special, just for me. I love this kid.

He must get it from his father, who tonight after going to Scouts with the teenagers at church, drove out of his way to bring me my favorite ice cream. He also let me sleep in this morning, got up and fed Coop, and multi-tasked work and child care so his tired, pregnant wife could sleep. He's so selfless and wonderful, and a great example to our son.

I love my boys!!

I am a Robot.

After completing a large to do list of house cleaning, one-on-one preschool time with Coop, and a bunch of other stuff, I was in need of a little down time. So Coop and I watched a cute little cartoon episode of a kids show called "Wibbly Pig." It was a cute episode about pretending to be robots. After a nice 20 min rest, I suggested to Coop that we go build him his own robot costume, to which he exclaimed, "You're the BEST mommy!!" If I can get him to say that once a day, I've done my job. :)
So this is our robot. Anyone seen Cooper?

Pregnancy Milestone: 20 Weeks--Halfway!

This past Wednesday marked 20 weeks pregnant for me, the halfway point of a full-term pregnancy.  Since I know I'll be delivering this baby via c-section at 39 weeks, I'm actually more than half way through this pregnancy.  It's gone by so fast!  I'm really liking this timing, since the holidays and such made the time fly by.  I can't believe I haven't posted any belly pics yet.  It seems every time I think about it, I've already gotten ready for bed, or Nate isn't around, or something.  So this time, I snapped a picture of myself in the mirror one day when I thought about it.  This is actually at 19 weeks.

As with Cooper, my body is not hiding the fact that I'm pregnant.  I'm just one of those lucky women that show, show big, and show early.  Apparently up until recently, I've looked like I've just been gaining weight to those not in the know.  This week Nate commented, "Wow, Babe, you're looking pregnant; I mean really pregnant."  He meant it as an endearing, sweet comment, but it was a bad day, and my mind quickly translated that to "Wow, you whale of a pregnant woman--look at the size of that belly."  Ah, hormones.  In my defense, the doctor does estimate this little guy to be a bit ahead of schedule as far as size.  At 18 weeks they estimated through ultrasound him weighing about 10 oz (granted there's a margin of error), while most babies at that stage are around 8 oz. or so.  I've only gained 7 lbs. thus far, something I'm rather happy about as I'm trying to stay as healthy as possible considering where I started from.

I can't be thankful enough that the morning sickness went away at 16 weeks 6 days--11 weeks to the day it began (6 weeks, 6 days).  It disappeared with Cooper at 17 weeks as well, and I was hopeful that would be the magic number again, since it didn't subside after the first trimester.  Thankfully it was, and I was able to enjoy the holidays and all the holiday food, along with not feeling nauseous all the time.  I had forgotten what it was like to feel "normal" about food.  It is such a big relief.  Nate is also relieved as he no longer has to cook dinners, and we're back to having delicious meals, as he put it.

Baby Cheese is quite the soccer player, just like his older brother was.  Today while visiting the doctor, the nurse was trying to get a heart rate, and Cheese kept kicking her, and moving around.  It took her almost 5 minutes to get a good reading.  I enjoyed every minute of it, hearing and feeling him move so much.  I can feel him kicking quite often, and if not during the day, then reliably at night around 10 pm, and usually once or twice during the night when it wakes me up.  That's when he seems to like to do his kicking, especially to my poor bladder.  With him being breech, and kicking so low, Nate and Coop haven't been able to feel any kicks just yet.

Coop asks every few days whether Baby Cheese is ready to come out yet.  He's getting more and more excited about being a big brother.  He was especially excited the other day when he announced to me that he could teach Cheese how to do things like play football, and dig in the dirt.  Most nights after stories, he'll hug my belly and say goodnight to Baby Cheese, or say something like, "That's Baby Cheese right there, huh, Mom."

Nate and I are coming to the realization that in five short months we'll be the parents of two, which is a little daunting.  We're so excited for this little one to join our family.  As Nate puts it, we'll be a real family, not a single-child family.  I think it's funny he says it like that.  He is so happy that his boys will have siblings to grow up with, and not have Coop be an only child.  We are both saddened a little that Coop is growing up so much, and although he's still little, he's so big, and will soon not be our little baby any more.  It is certainly going to be a big change for us all.

Meanwhile, I'm getting excited.  I am resisting the urge to pull out all the little baby clothes and start washing them and setting up the crib and such.  With it all going in Coop's room, it's just way too early to start doing those things yet, so I gotta find some other way to curb my nesting instinct.

This pregnancy is definitely harder for me physically than with Coop, probably because I was out of shape before getting pregnant this time, and I'm three years older.  But while it hasn't been without challenges, I relish every moment.  Even though pregnancy is hard for me physically, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to carry my child, and be a mother to another little boy.  Here's hoping the second half of my pregnancy pass as quickly as did the first!

2012 End of Year Fun

Cooper loves his new firetruck pjs from Grammie!

 This is New Year's Eve.  Coop giggling, and I turned around to find him like this with our dog, Brody.  I asked what he was doing, and he said, "I'm snuggling with Brody!"  He was all giggles.  Our dog is so patient with him.

This is also New Year's Eve.  Coop played outside that day for hours on end, enjoying the new sand in his sand table, which he decided to use as a sand BOX.  The boy loves to get dirty.  Ever seen a kid play in the sand wearing mittens?  I hadn't, but even though it was a bit chilly, Coop wanted to play outside.

 New Years Eve was quiet for us.  We went out to dinner at a local steakhouse.  Cooper was in a mood, and throwing a whiny tantrum when we arrived and were seated.  I finally sternly told him this was our New Year's Eve celebration dinner, and he was NOT going to ruin it by being whiny and throwing a fit.  He decided to be good, and we had a rather nice night out, something we don't often do any more.  We came home, Coop went to bed because he was ridiculously tired, and Nate and I watched a movie.  We missed the ball drop on tv, but shared a midnight kiss, and called it a night.

The next day we had a fun family day.  It was really cold and rainy, so we headed to the mall where Cooper could play on a free indoor playground.  I did a little shopping and purchased a cute sun hat for Baby Cheese for this summer, and some socks for Coop.  That was my "big" shopping day--ha!  We came home, and Nate watched a bunch of football.  Coop was playing pretend.  He came to the tv room and insisted that Nate "get on his boat" so they could go fishing.  This was Coop's boat he "built" himself, and Nate's was the exercise step.  The pool noodle was the fishing pole.  I wanted to let Nate enjoy his one day of football, so I took Coop to his room, where we used the "boat" and "fishing pole" to fish for all kids of "fish" in his room (Duplos (large Legos), blocks, etc.).  We were both wearing "fishing hats."  Mine was my old straw gardening hat, and his was his yellow fireman hat, turned backward.  Then I got an idea to stick his new flashlight in the end of the noodle, and tell him it was a "glow fish."  He turned off the light, and we fished for glow fish for a bit.  It was a lot of fun playing pretend with the Coopster.

 This Sunday Cooper will graduate from the baby nursery at church (18 months to 3 yrs), and start attending the childrens' Primary (3 yrs to 12 yrs) for the last 2 hours of church each week.  The 3 year olds are called "Sunbeams."  They have one hour of class time, and one hour of music/group time.  Cooper is so excited to be a Sunbeam, and be a big boy in Primary.

Those children in the nursery who have turned 3 during the year are graduating with him, and his teacher, Sister Lorraine Bryant, requested to be their teacher again this year.  I couldn't be happier.  Lorraine is my visiting teaching companion, and she is just amazing.  She has raised quite a large family, and is just superb with children.  Serving in the Primary presidency, I get to work with the children and teachers each week for two hours.  This past week I was taking pictures of the classes and kids for a thing we're doing, and I thought I'd include them here.

Cooper's Sunbeam class:

Weston, Rachel, Sister Bryant, Finn, Cooper, and Corrine

  Cooper James

I can't believe my baby is going to Primary in a few days.  Crazy how time flies.  He's getting so big.

Christmas Day

Sadly, my camera battery, known lately for not holding a charge for long, decided to die overnight, and I had no good camera for Christmas day.

It was a memorable Christmas, this being the first time Cooper understood Santa.  He woke up about 6 am, despite getting to bed late, and apparently went for a sneak peek to the living room, because I awoke to him saying in an almost crying voice, "Mom!!  Santa DIDN'T come!  He didn't bring me any presents!"  He was so upset.  However, I knew that Santa had dropped the presents and stockings on the floor, and that in the dark room they were probably out of view from the door, with the coffee table blocking the way.  I was glad Santa had picked that spot, so we didn't miss the surprise on Cooper's face.  I assured him that Santa did come, but that it was a little too early to open presents, and he needed to come back to bed.  I offered to have him lay with us in our bed, and he did, for about 5 seconds, and then he told me he was too excited and we needed to go see.  I relented, and at 6:20 am we woke up Poppy and MeMaw and ventured to see what Santa had brought.

 Santa brought Cooper a remote control truck, a nerf gun, and a Matchbox car track for the bathtub--all the things he'd asked for.  In addition, his stocking was packed to the brim.  His two most favorite toys from his stocking were the harmonica, and the flashlight.  He LOVES having his own flashlight to play with, and also loves harmonicas.  Santa must know the boy pretty well.

Nate and I gave him some board games (Candyland and Chutes/Ladders), DVDs (Alvin & the Chipmunks [a video he loves] and Beethoven [the dog movie from the 90s], along with a few other things.  MeMaw and Poppy gave Cooper a John Deere tractor that makes sounds, so now he has a big one for outdoors AND indoors.

Later we went to Abby's house for a late Christmas brunch--so yummy!  It was a great Christmas morning.  Cooper asked to watch Tangled, and he and Nate watched it while the rest of us visited.  They were the only two; it was pretty funny seeing my two boys watch a "girl/princess" Disney movie.

Nate and his Dad left to go hunting, and Michele went home to rest, so Cooper and I stayed and visited with Abby, Haleigh, and Stella.  It was a nice, relaxing Christmas day.  Cooper had fun with his cousins, especially Haleigh, who (with my permission after he begged me to let her) painted Cooper's fingernails neon green/yellow/pink.  He wore the fingernail polish for several days before allowing me to remove it.

All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas, surrounded by family.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day we did some of the usual.  MeMaw made sugar cookies for the kids to frost.  I think Coop had more fun eating the frosting than putting it on any cookies.

 Michele and I did a lot of cooking that day, but then it was all done for Christmas, and we didn't have to do much cooking at all on Christmas day.  I think we found a new secret to enjoying Christmas a little more!

 That evening we joined Nate's extended Smith family for dinner and gifts at his Aunt Faye's house, as they do every year on Christmas Eve.  With so many little ones, the gift opening was mayhem, shrieks of joy, and giggles. 

 Coop faked a smile for a picture after running through the house, and scraping his face on the corner of some furniture.

 I knew this would likely be the only Christmas picture of the three of us, so despite protests from my husband and child, we snapped a shot.

 We went home and watched Joy to the World with MeMaw and Poppy, helping remind us all the true meaning of Christmas.  Cooper enjoyed watching a movie about Jesus being born, and recounting the story of the first Christmas.  Then we set out some cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot for the reindeer, and Cooper was off to bed in his new Christmas pjs, excited for Santa to come the next day.

Poppy's House! MeMaw/Aquarium and Poppy/Beach

We didn't tell Cooper we'd be going to MeMaw and Poppy's house for Christmas until the day we were leaving.  We left the Friday before Christmas in late afternoon.  All I heard ALL DAY LONG was, "when are we going to Poppy's house?  I want to go NOW.  I want to see Poppy and ride on his golf cart."  In the car, we weren't more than 10 minutes into our 5-7 hour drive when he said, "Can we be at Poppy's house YET?!  Get me OUT of this carseat!!  I want to see Poppy!"  It was a loooooooong drive, to say the least.

Cooper and his Poppy

 While visiting his Dad's, Nate and I took Cooper to a local park one day to play.  The weather was nice, and Coop had a great time playing with us.  He rode his first merry-go-round, a new addition to this park, and something you don't often see any more at playgrounds.  He thought it was great!

 Nate and I had a race with Coop on these little bouncy toys, and the rocket Nate chose was so small for him, and looked so funny, I just couldn't resist.  Nate will have my hide when he finds I've posted this on here, but it's just too good not to share.

 Cooper got to play with some of his step-cousins one day while MeMaw babysat them.  Little Regan is such a cutie, and had fun playing with Cooper's boots.

On Saturday while Nate and his Dad went duck hunting, Michele and I took Cooper to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium, just down the road from their house.  For some reason, I've NEVER been to this aquarium in 15 years of going to the Outer Banks.  It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G for such a small aquarium (small compared to Atlanta, Boston, Charleston), but amazing in it's own right, and SO CHEAP.  We'll definitely be visiting again.

Here's our little hermit crab Cooper.  Love it!

 MeMaw and Coop outside with the sun glaring in their eyes.

 Just inside the entrance, there's this beautiful waterfall that reminds me of Donut Falls in Utah.  The camera flash went a little crazy, and Coop wouldn't pause for another shot, so this is all I got of it.

 Yehaw--ride 'em Cooper!

 The big tank was awesome with all the sharks, tarpon, striped bass, a big sea turtle, and so many other fish I'm sure I can't name them all.  Coop liked watching for the sharks.  We also made it in time to watch them feed the fish.

 It was a feeding frenzy!

 At one point Coop wanted to go back to the big tank, and he met another little boy about his age there.  We were the only ones there at the time, and the two of them had a grand time running around full-speed, giggling and carrying on like little boys do.  At one point Coop actually tackled the kid because (he said) they were playing football.  My kid is such a BOY!

Measuring up... 

 Besides the hands-on exhibits where he got to touch horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, almost reach sting rays, and get his clothes and MeMaw all wet, this was his most FAVORITE thing at the aquarium...

Yes, that is the steering wheel to one of those penny smashing machines.  He played on this longer than he had attention for any other exhibit.  That's my Coop!

We had so much fun with MeMaw!!!

 Sunday was beautiful, after being cold and rainy for a few days beforehand, so we went to Fort Macon beach with Poppy.  I'd purchased a kite to fly, but Cooper wasn't interested.  We tried to capture his attention with some fun "helicopter" things I'd found that you fling in the air using a big rubber band.  We'v had these before and either lost/broken them, so I knew they'd be fun at the beach.  Poppy had the most fun with them, I think. ;)

 Cooper was as happy as ever just to play in the sand. 

 He enjoyed jumping on the edge of this sand drift, and collapsing it.

 I asked Nate to take a picture of Cooper and I as proof that I was there too. 

 LOVE this!

After the beach, we visited historic Fort Macon.  I could have spent all day there, but let the guys go at their own pace, which was rather quick.  I took off Coop's boots to swap for shoes before we walked around the fort, and I could barely pull them off because they were PACKED FULL of sand.  I mean FULL.  What a kid.  Thank you for having fun with us at the beach, Poppy!