Happy Halloween! Caleb's first Halloween

Avery the lady bug and Caleb Mr. Lion Man

Avery, Cole, & Caleb, hanging with the big girls!

Mr. Lion Man

Caleb's 5 months! Lots of fun to be had. Going to have a picture post to show the fun he's been having:

My first pumpkin patch

Enjoying being bundled up for a change. We enjoyed a stroll down Park Ave during our nice cold front!

Starting to sit up even better on my own... enjoying the wood floor

Besides that Caleb continues to grow and change as each week passes. He now babbles "dada dadada baba". He doesn't know what he is saying but Brian likes to think he means to call him dada, already... A couple more months until that happens. He's rolling over and really enjoying it all! We love you little man!

4 1/2 Months

Baby Boy is growing so fast. Just today while we were sitting in church, I realized how big he is getting. He sat there and held his soccer rattle, shoes, burp cloth... just about anything he could get his hands on. No longer will he just lay in my arms for long periods of time. Nope, he's trying to stand, turn, and wiggle about.

We started rice cereal a couple weeks ago, and this week he has had some oatmeal. Caleb really likes it, and just gobbles it down. He's a big growing boy! At our 4 month appointment he was 50% for weight (16lbs) and 90% for his height! Long and lean like his Daddy. :)

"Baby Babble" has become a constant sound in our household, as Caleb really likes to hear his voice (much like his Mom) and even screech like an animal. One day this week, I really had to try not to sing or chat a lot with him because his voice got so raspy for "talking" so much the days before. Caleb is also rolling over from his stomach to his back, and sometimes even holding his bottle for a minute or two! Slow down with all this big boy stuff!!

This week Brian and I became an Aunt and Uncle! Congratulations to Megan and Todd on their precious baby, Cole Anderson Cooper. He is a cutie pie, and we can't wait to spoil him!! Caleb and Cole are lucky to have each other to run around and catch lizards, play in the dirt, and do all the things little boys do. Caleb really looks like a giant next to Cole. It is amazing how much a difference 4 1/2 months can be now, but it's nothing later in life!

We're growing over here!

Caleb is 15 weeks today... around three and half months. I have had a serious blog hiatus, but summer can be crazy. We have been all over, and little man just adapts to his surroundings. This past weekend we celebrated his Grandma's 60th birthday, over at the beach. It was a blast! Caleb experienced the pool for the first time. I think he thought he was in a big bath. I have over 300 hundred pictures (imagine that) so I'll have to post when we get them all uploaded. Little man had four nights of sleeping 8-6 or 7...then we were back to his 4,5 am wake up calls. I REALLY look forward to my morning coffee. Here are some things Caleb has been up to...

• grasping at everything...hair, toys, pacifier



• loves his hands in his mouth. Actually he is starting to put anything he is holding in his mouth



• he takes four naps a day (he's a cat napper...mommy is just getting use to running around the house and trying to fit her "to do" list within a forty-five minute time span) Although he usually gives me one long 1hr-2hr nap



• He is all smiles...and occasionally will give us a laugh! It. Is. Adorable.



• He loves his Daddy...He sits and "talks" with Dad forever in the evenings



• cooing and squealing take up a lot of his time... he loves to hear his voice. If you whisper to him he will coo back in a whisper. Too cute! This weekend he had his first "conversations" with one of his girlfriends, Avery. They sat there and babbled to each other for five minutes.



• sleeping at night... sort of
  

More pictures to come once I have them uploaded! I just read this section in one of my fav blogs (little miss momma) about moms and how much we worry, but yet how that is part of our Job. I'll share it for all the mommas... it's so true. Makes this mom feel a little bit better. :)

5 Weeks

Caleb is 5 weeks today! I can't believe another week has gone by. We have some fun things coming up this summer...off to the beach again next week (this time I am getting him in a little bathing suit), Indian Rocks, DC, and then we are finished traveling until the Fall. You'll be a good little traveler by then!

Caleb's newborn photos are here!

ONE MONTH

Caleb has reached a milestone...he's a month old! Happy Month Birthday little duder! You have met many people, gone to the beach, and you continue to experience new things each day. Weighing in at 10lbs 3oz and 23" you have been a growing little man! You are very serious, and have many "funny" faces to prove it. You love staring in amazement at our ceiling fans (or any ceiling fans for that matter). You are also enjoying the outdoors. On our morning walks you stare out at the world around you and don't make a peep. Aunt Meg and I enjoy those walks! You are too cute for words, and you continue to bless Mommy and Daddy each day. We love you with all our heart! First beach trip... not too much sun and sand for me though

hanging out after my bath

Kisses from Mom are my favorite!

2 Weeks Old

Our 2 week appointment was this week and here is how Mr. Caleb is quickly changing...

weight: 9lbs 6oz. He gained almost a whole pound from last weeks visit. !! This was of great relief to Mommy. Breast feeding is doing this little one good, and I feel like I can sigh a bit of relief. It's hard not knowing how much they are taking in!

Length: 22" long. So he grew 2" from his birth length

Sleeping in with Daddy!
Tummy time

little toes

I hate bath time...

But I love being clean!

Caleb William Cooper

Introducing...

Caleb William Cooper

Born May 12th, 2011 at 12:38 PM

8lbs 10oz!My sweet boy



1st family photo

Well Caleb finally arrived 2 weeks ago (yes I am just now posting bc life is crazy with a newborn), and we couldn't be more excited to have the little duder with us! After a 5 night stint in the hospital we arrived home 2 sundays ago. I went in on a Tuesday night where they promptly began my induction. Welllll that didn't go so smoothly and after 2 days with ZERO (yes, I'll repeat ZERROO) cm dilation, we could go no longer. I went in for a C-Section at 12:00 and thirty-eight minutes later I had little Caleb in my arms. The C-section was quick and easy, and after two weeks I am thankful to say I have no bandages, scabs, and a just a tiny scar (which is already geting doses of Mederma) to show. So Sunday we were released from the hospital and Caleb, Brian, and I have just ben adjusting to our new life.

After two shorts weeks, I have to say I have a new found respect for all mothers. It is impossible to explain the emotions and how overwhelming it all is. We were so prepared for his arrival, but mentally you just can't be there until he comes. I find myself reaching out to all my mommy friends just to chat about how life was for them the first few weeks. I now know about this unspoken mommy bond that people don't tell you about until you have a child. It's the "I have been in your shoes, I'm here no matter what". It really connects you to other Moms, even strangers! The love we feel for Caleb is so strong, and I know I will do anything in this world for that little man until the day I die. Motherhood has completely flipped my life around... for the better.

Here we Go!

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come;
but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish
because of her joy that a child is born into the world."
John 16:21


We just had our 40 week appointment and sonogram, and the decision has been made to go ahead and induce tomorrow night. The sonogram looked great, and our boy's weighing in at 8lbs. 9oz! He was just nestled in there, looking a bit crunched.

So we check in tomorrow night at 10:00 and they will start the IV drip. I am hoping that all goes well, and I will get to hold my baby sometime Wednesday! Next time I write this we will be parents! Until then, keep your prayers coming for a healthy and safe delivery.

Week 39 & class baby shower

Today I had my weekly appointment... and still no dilation! So Monday we will go in and have a sonogram (Tuesday is my d-day). If little man is looking a little hefty (eight lbs or more) we will go ahead and schedule a C-Section. If I am dilated and he is below eight lbs. we will schedule an induction. If neither is the case...I will slowly go crazy! Just joking (slightly). So it looks like we could possibly have a due date baby! Brian has been great at relaxing me, and reminding me that God will bless us with our baby when he chooses! We have to be thankful that each time I see the doctor, we have great reports and I have had a healthy pregnancy. I guess I am just such a wonderful host, my little one isn't ready to give that up.

I saw this the other day, and loved it! I am even doing some of these before Caleb arrives! I did number 1 yesterday!

Class Baby Shower!

Are these not the cutest! My Room Moms surprised me with yet another baby shower! The class participated in this one and it was too cute! I loved the little cupcakes with fondant babies wrapped in blankets. We had a great time, and Caleb received some great gifts! I loves watching how excited the kids were as I opened their gifts. It was a great way to end my the school year.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! I made some yummy rice crispy treats dipped in white chocolate to be a bit festive yesterday. We had a nice three day weekend and Easter. After church Brian and I headed to Megan and Todd's to enjoy an afternoon get together with family. Brian's cousins, Carson and Jack, enjoyed an egg hunt in the yard (with all the family guiding and cheering them on). It is weird to think that next time this year, Caleb will be joining in on the egg hunt fun... he'll almost be a year then.

Well I'm ending week 37, and entering 38! Wahoo two more weeks. I have my doctors appointment Tuesday, and we'll see if anything has progressed. That would be great, as I am ready for little man's arrival (my body is ready as well). I have 5 more day left of work, and then I am taking my maternity leave a week early to rest. I'll update with more news after Tuesday!

Brian and Jack


Group shot... in the shade

Granny's "two favorite people" :)

Dad, Joni, and me (here's my 37 week shot)

Cutie pie, Carson

Inching closer

WEEK 36

This week has flown by... probably has to do with FCAT testing at school.

Monday and Tuesday I came home with swollen ankles and calves. Brian walked in the door and immediately said... "um honey what's wrong with your legs?" Thanks, it's that noticeable (the boy notices any changes though). So he propped me up on the couch and served dinner, not letting me get up until it was better.

I seem to come home after standing at work most of the day, and do things around the house. I need to do them in increments of five minutes, and then rest some. Easier said than done.

Doctors visit went well yesterday. After examining, he looked at me and said... "That boy is definitely head down." Yeah, no kidding, my bladder has been telling me that for the last couple weeks! I also was handed the "What To Do if I go into Labor" sheet. First thing on the list... Don't PANIC (in all cap locks). So what do I do? Call Brian and tell him to meet me at Babies R US, so we can get every last minute thing I can think that we might need. Tylenol, new nursing pillows, the list goes on. I guess when I got that I paper, it really hit that little guy could come at any minute. I know I will still be sending Brian out to get things when he does come, but if he arrived today we would be prepared. (physically, not sure you can truly be prepared mentally until the day actually does come)

You'll have to pardon my self portrait...needed to document somehow today! Week 36 photo