Happy 21 months sweet Cooper

Cooper today you are 21 months old. I can't believe how big you seem to be now that your a big brother. I've had a few days recently where I just sat back and felt almost sad realizing how fast you've grown. But no worries my sweet boy. Mommy still loves you more than you can imagine no matter what age you are. I loved every step so far and I plan to love every step to come.

You are talking constantly now. You can unlock and open doors in the house. Not a good thing! We had to get the door knob safety covers so you won't let yourself out when we are all asleep.
You sleep in a toddler bed and never get up or out of it every night and day during nap. You even slept in a twin big boy bed at grandma's all week last week. I was so proud of you.
You tell me when you poop or pee but I'm not starting potty training for at least a few more months. Either way you know when you go.
You love being a helper, doing laundry with me. You also love to go places. You point out all the "go go's" you even recognize people's cars now.
You love to play with your cars and trucks, with your four wheeler. You love to eat your breakfast bars and bananas. You are soooo polite. People comment on it constantly. You hug all the time, kiss when you want to. You are cuddly and kind and people seem to be so in love with you. You are contagious. A shining light and everyone adores you.

We love you Cooper.

Has it really been 1 month already

Blake!
My little sweet froggy. I call you my froggy because your little legs are skinny, your little arms are skinny, but your sweet little tummy is all round and full.
You are so so precious.

Lets see...... Stats....

1 MONTH OLD
9 lbs 8 ozs
Just started getting acid reflux (YUCK)
Sleeps 3-5 hours straight at night. Depending on the night.
Breastfeeding exclusively but we are switching over slowly this month
You are happy as can be all the time. The only time you fuss is when your hungry or when you are hurting from your reflux.
You don't use your muscles much. You are like a little puddle but I'm not concerned. I'm sure you'll be up and at it before we know it.
You enjoy cuddling with mommy and daddy
You smiled at Grandma last week. This was the first real smile we've ever seen in response out of you. Since then you've smiled at me 4 or 5 different times. So sweet. You have two huge dimples when you smile. Your pediatrician said that he could eat cereal out of your dimples :) I'm excited to see you grow and to see if you keep those cutie dimples.
You sleep all the time. More than our friends babies and more than your cousin who is only 3 weeks older than you. Its funny, everyone comments on how sleepy you are. You just like to cuddle and sleep.
You have pretty good neck control. You enjoy eating, and your usually very even tempered once we get this acid reflux issue taken care of you should be happy much more often.

We are having so much fun enjoying you all the time. We love you to pieces sweet Blakely.

A week visiting my family

Last week the kids and I went to my mom and dad's to spend a nice 4 days with them and with my brother and sis in law. We had such a good time. It was my first trip with two kids without my husband. He had to stay and work :( I do have to say that Cooper did a fabulous job. He slept like a champ in a twin bed. Never got up once. I was so proud of him. What a good boy :) The baby did good also. My mom was a huge help the whole week.

We went to the splash pad....

Cooper and his Nana. He's absolutely in love with her.
Blakey bug got to wear her swimsuit for the very first time.
Sam and Jamie were enjoying the sun...
The OKC zoo, where we got to see a brand new baby elephant. It was truly the cutest little thing I've ever seen at the zoo.
We had a cookout at my brothers house with some of their friends. The kids swam and Cooper played with the kid mower the entire night. He loved that thing :)......

Sebastian, Natalie and CooperWe went swimming and we went to an arcade play gym.
We did tons of fun activities.
My brothers and husband.
Now we are home and enjoying some lazy days.

Here is a pic of Blake in her Kung fu Master shirty aunt Laura and uncle John got her. :) So cute.

Both of my kids are coming up on a special day.
Blake will be 1 month old on June 15Th, Cooper will be 21 months old on June 16Th. My babies are growing so fast already.

Week 2 and 3

Blake is up to her birth weight and more. At her two week appointment she gained 3 oz's past her birth weight. 8LB 5OZS to 8LBS 8OZS. Yay Blake.

Things are going good, we are just doing what all families do with new babies. Giving first baths, tummy time and spending lots of cuddly moments getting to know our baby girl.
Blakely was baptized in the catholic church on June 5th 2011. It was beautiful and special. We had tons of friends and family there to celebrate this beautiful moment with us.

Here are some pics from the past few weeks and from the baptism.

Playing with my camera. Nothing near as good as the professional ones we had taken last week but fun to play around either way.





Cousins with their little baby sisters.
Blake's god parents.



Cousins. Cooper blends in with his triplet cousins.




A day at the park with Cooper's daycare friends.

Second bath. Same face Coop used to make in the tub. :)

Today I said my daily prayers

Today I said my daily prayers while in my car. But something was different. I usually say my prayers in my car while driving to work. I turn my radio off and I take some time to talk to God. Its the only time I'm alone and able to really focus on what I want to pray about that day. But today, I dropped my sweet Blakely off for the very first time at her Nana's. Cooper stayed with me, and we were off to the zoo for a mommy and Cooper day. We met his friends from his in home daycare at the zoo today. I felt good and comfortable dropping off Blake. I felt good driving away with my little man for some special one on one time.

I decided that being home has messed with my daily prayers. So I started to say my prayers. Cooper sat quietly in the back seat (probably wondering why the heck his mom was talking to herself). I prayed and talked to God all the way to the sitters house.
At the end of my prayer I said Amen and loudly from the back Cooper said AMEN!
I said to him. Mommy is talking to God. I was praying and thanking him and asking him to please watch over us and keep us safe.
Cooper so sweetly then said "God, "Jesus"?. I said yes... God and his son Jesus.
I love that we have talked to him about Jesus and God. It makes me happy that he recognizes the names even if he isn't really sure who it is quite yet.

My point in telling you guys all of this is....
When we had Cooper things were tough. I was stressed, exhausted, worried all the time. I had some depression trying to get used to everything. Nothing really bad, just some tears and emotions. I couldn't put my faith in God that nothing bad would happen to my baby boy. I had a hard time adjusting to the lack of sleep and to the demands of being a mom. It was just difficult. I loved every second of my time with my baby but it was hard.
This time around I really tried to make sure that I had a different outlook on everything. I wanted to make sure that I enjoyed the early days more this time. Not as much worry, not as many tears and un-needed stress. To my surprise I somehow have handled this baby coming into our world exactly the way I hoped I could.
I have been calm and for the most part happy. The lack of sleep and the running around after a toddler while trying to get used to number 2 has not been bad at all. I am actually doing so good. I'm proud of myself. I know that sounds silly but I am. I am mentally more prepared this time and its helped a ton.
Our little girl is such a blessing, Cooper is such a blessing. Sometimes these past few weeks, I sit back and just think about how truly lucky I am. How great life is and that even with the added stresses and worries of another child. Even with all the craziness around me in life, I'm the happiest I've ever been. I wanted to share this, not to upset those of you still trying to conceive. Not trying to hurt anyone who is going through something painful, or gloat about how great my life is to someone not feeling the same way. But to aknowledge that I am so truly blessed and to thank God truly for these amazing gifts. I'm sure many of you moms reading this know what I mean. I hope you feel this way also. Its such a beautiful way to enjoy your kids. Now I'm not saying everything is always cookies and cream. But I am saying that I'm lucky and thankful.

I just wanted to share this. Today while saying those daily prayers with my sweet little boy listening, It hit me just how happy I am and how lucky I am.
Thank you God, for all you do for us. Thank you for watching over my loved ones. Thank you for caring!