Happy 3rd Birthday!

My Precious Boy,

Congratulations! You are now a preschooler.  You have survived our feeble attempts at parenting for 3 entire years.  Well done!  As I lay next to you in your big boy bed, savoring every breath you take, I can't help but remember the way I spent the evening you were born. 

You had been "on the outside" for nearly twelve hours; I had held you in my arms for mere moments.  I deeply longed to see you, hold you, breath you in.  But you were in your space ship headed to another hospital.  Your daddy and I were traveling the lonely road to get to you. 

Little did we know in those lonely moments that you would be just fine.  We had no idea the challenges we were in for or the incredible joy you would bring us.  We could never have anticipated how you would make us laugh until we couldn't breathe!  Exhibit A: Recently, while in the bathtub, you told your daddy that you had something for him. You pretended to pull something out of your tushie and said, "Look Daddy! It's a rainbow!"  I'm not making this up and I will use it against you when you think you need a girlfriend.

You will never know the depth of love I feel for you.  You will never hear the whispered prayers - that you would grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).  You will never know how grateful I am that you have changed me.  You made me a mommy. You showed me that I can survive sleeplessness and broken hearts.  I can heal with my kisses (better than any drug on the market!).  And I can give more than I thought I had left....and not regret ending the day completely and totally spent.  Because I got to be your mommy for another day.  You did that, kid!  And I am so thankful!

Here's hoping no woman will ever be good enough for you!  Love you Sweet Boy!



Party Like It's Your Birthday


Happy Birthday Cooper!
Our traditional birthday picture - Mommy and Coop (in his pj's ).


We celebrated Coop's birthday a few days early.  He struggled to decide between an Avengers theme or TMNT.  So we decided, what the heck, we'll just do both.  

Pizza, and slime, and fighting crime.  That's what little boys are made of. 



All of the grandparents and cousins came to join in on the festivities.

On the 6th day, God created DINOSAURS!
 

He blew out the candles all by himself...and Mommy cried a little

Happy Birthday Coopie-bug!
A few questions Mommy asked you to get a little snapshot of you at 3:
1.  How old are you?  3
2.  Who is your best friend? Caston
3.  What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with that green truck
4.  What is your favorite color?  Blue
5.  What is your favorite food?  Broccoli and carrots and pizza!
6.  What do you like to do with your family?  Play with them
7.  What is your favorite toy? That truck at school
8.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  A Policeman
9.  What makes you happy? Be a big brother
10. What makes you sad?  Because Luke got that green truck from me
11. What is your favorite show to watch?  Airplanes and Cars
12. What is your favorite book to read? That one in the libary at school. It has bears in it.
13. What do you like to learn about?  Letters and sing ABCs.  I need to go poop.
14. What was the best part of your birthday?  To eat the cupcakes
15.  Where do you like to go?  At school and to see the animals.  Get in my car and go see the animals at the zoo. 
16. Who is your teacher?  Ms. Samona
17. What is your favorite treat? A sucker!
18. What do you think about before you fall asleep?  Pat-pat. You pat me when I was a baby and I used to go to sleep.
19. If you could meet someone famous who would you like to meet?  Caston or my daddy
20. What was your favorite birthday present? That book with Dusty and Raphael and Donatello.  (I think you meant the cards you got that talked when you open them.)

14 weeks



How far along?  14 weeks
Total weight gain: down 1 lb.
Baby is the size of: The Hulk!  I can't find him to take a picture, but as soon I he shows up, I'll take his pic with the chalkboard.  The bump looks exactly the same is did 2 weeks ago, so we decided to skip those pictures.
Maternity clothes? None yet.  I washed some of my maternity clothes again.  This time, I used the deep clean setting with a presoak and about 2 cups of white vinegar.  There is still a hint of the old smell, but definitely more tolerable.  Only issue now is that maternity clothes are too big; regular clothes are getting a little snug.  Gotta love the in-between stage. 
Stretch marks?  no new ones. :)
Sleep: All. The. Time.  I could sleep anywhere, anytime.  I'm pretty sure I fell asleep for a few seconds standing in a coworker's office last week.  The absolute exhaustion of the first trimester seems to be waning.  But that won't keeping me sleeping anytime I get the chance.   
Symptoms: My appetite is still pretty impressive, but I'm not quite the freak of nature I was a few weeks ago.  Now it's normal pregnancy hangriness.  I have started having a few Braxton Hicks contractions.  It seems a little early for that, but I've heard some women feel them as early as twelve weeks.  I had a ton of them with Cooper, but not until much later in the game. 
Movement: Nothing yet.
Food Cravings: I couldn't really think of anything new, so I asked Tanner if he noticed anything.  His answer - Food.  You crave food!
Miss anything? Not really. I don't really have any non-pregnancy approved habits, so.....

 

13 weeks...ish.

I went back to the doctor on Thursday.  I gained a pound which still puts me down one altogether.  I'm sure I will gain that last one back pretty quickly.  Based on a second ultrasound, she said I was at 13 weeks 1 day.  My original calculations put me at 12 weeks 3 days.  I know this probably sounds like I'm splitting hairs;  I just want this baby to get plenty of time to grow.   So, at least for now, I'm going to stick with my original due date of August 11 and just forget about what the ultrasounds say.  No rushing, Little One; you stay put as long as you'd like.  Although, speaking of ultrasounds, we scheduled THE BIG ONE!  As long as Pipsqueak will cooperate, we will be finding out the gender on March 6th.  We are not-so-patiently waiting and hoping the next few weeks go by quickly. 

But as soon as I type that, I feel a pain in my heart.  My Baby Boy will 3 in a little over 2 weeks.  He will go from being a toddler to being a preschooler.  PRESCHOOL!  Seriously!?!  I just don't know where the time has gone.  I will not cry...I will not cry...I will NOT cry.  Who am I kidding?  I'm crying right now!  I just want him to always be little and precious and inquisitive and innocent.  I feel like those days are numbered. 

He is at such a fun, albeit trying at times, age.  The other day we were driving home from school and the sun was setting on the horizon.  We were rocking out to some Toby Mac and he was dancing like crazy.  Pretty soon we hit a bumpy patch of road. He excitedly pointed at the horizon and said, "Look Mommy! The sun is dancing!"  I love the way his sweet little brain sees the world.  Nothing makes you appreciate the creativity of God more than a child.

I guess that's it for now.  See you next week!