Alaska Adventure

My Alaska adventure has started. I have been having a blast inspite of the time spent fishing little. Is true that you get what you work for.

Two Week Doctors Appointment

On Tuesday, Cooper turned two weeks old. We took him to his doctor's appointment. Everything is great! He weighed 9 lbs., 5 oz. which is 75 percentile and was 21 3/4 inches tall which is in the 85 percentile. I don't really know how accurate the height is because at birth the nurse measured him to be 20 inches. I have a hard time believing he has grown almost 2 inches in 2 weeks. I think a lot has to do with him just stretching out more. He is starting to fill out his onesies more. I can't believe he is growing so quickly. I love you Cooper!!!

Big Hands, Little Body

Cooper seems so little when I see Chris hold him. Chris' hands are huge. Even my hands seem big when I hold Cooper. Cooper isn't a tiny baby (8 lbs, 9oz) , but his body looks so small when compared to our hands.

College Friend Reunion

I'm a week behind on my posts. Anyway, last Wednesday I ventured out of the house by myself with the two kids. Some of my roommates/friends from USU were having a reunion at Porcupine Dam and Cinnamon Creek campground. Because I had just giving birth, I decided camping for 3 days was not for me. I met them at the resevoir for a couple of hours and ate dinner.

Cadence wore her cute flowered swimsuit.

She still is afraid of the water. I put her in a raft and she was ok for a couple of minutes, but then got scared.
She really liked the canoe when it was out of the water - but not when it was in the water.

She talked about the "boat" for a couple of days.

She wanted to "swim" which consisted of me holding her over the water while she put her feet and toes in. She didn't want her feet to touch the beach because it was "dirty."

Gratefully, my friends wanted to hold Cooper so I could spend time with Cadence.

Some of the Grayson Apt gang!!! Rachel, Dave and Anna. Kim and baby. Erin and daughter, Rachel. Shanna. Paul, wife and Aspen. Amy. Me, Cooper and Cadence.

Some of the adults gave the kids a ride in handcarts around the campsite. She thought that was extremely cool and fun.

It was great to see those who were able to make it. I wish more people could have made it and that I could have stayed longer!!!

The Bonk and Resulting Goose Egg!

Cadence didn't want to take a nap. She climb over me and was attempting to get off the bed. Since I was feeling sick, I had the garbage can next to the bed. For some reason, she chose to step in it instead of next to it. When she put her weight in it, it shifted and she fell into the wall or bedpost. (I don't know which because I was hoping she would come back to the bed if I stayed.) Well, she got a huge bonk and a small goose egg on her forehead!

It is her first goose egg. The good news is that as I was holding and comforting her, she fell asleep. The bump turned to a bruise a day later.

If you look closely on both pictures, you can see the bump on her right side of the forehead (our left side). An OREO cookie makes everything better!!!

The Many Faces of Cooper

Cooper is now 12 days old. He is such a good baby! He sleeps A LOT!!! Last night, I had to wake him after 4 hours so I could feed him. He cries very little. Cooper loves to suck (and therefore loves his binkie), is much more alert, opens his eyes often and is getting better at lifting/holding up his head. He loves to be held closely and tightly, and would rather sleep on his stomach than his back. Here are many pictures of Cooper over the last 10 days and many of the faces we've seen. He is the cutest mini-Cooper around!!!

Is Cooper smiling or grunting? It is hard to tell. (2 days old)

Cooper at 3 days old! His sister, Cadence, is so proud.

Cadence is attempting to feed Cooper some of her birthday cake. Of course, I didn't really let her feed it to him. (4 days old)

Grammy holding Cooper on his stomach. He is just starting to open his eyes more often. (4 days)

Cooper's first day at church. His 0-3 month outfit was way too big for him. (5 days old)

I'm tired. I love to yawn!

"My Mom has huge hands."

Making a monkey face for the camera!

The kissing face!!!

The nose picker!

Getting a kiss from sister and loving it!!!

The Goopy Left Eye (7 days)

Luscious lips and a Buddha belly

Enjoying tummy time (11 days)

Eyes open and alert Mr. Cooper. (11 days)

Isn't Cooper super? (Cooper is a fun name. It rhymes with so many cool words!)

What Do I Wear to Church?

I decided to go to church on Sunday since Chris said I could take the baby. I can't stand sitting at home with nothing to do. Most people asked me what I was doing there. I feel really good and don't see the need to sit on the couch any longer than I have too. I figure I will have many days that I don't leave the house (because the task sounds overwhelming with both kids), so I should get out at every chance I have. Church definitely qualifies as one of those times that I can get out because I know people are more than willing to help with the kids.

Chris goes to church at 9:30am for meetings since he is the Young Men's President. Luckily, Grammy was here to assist me in getting 2 kids ready for church. It is harder than I thought it would be!!! Cadence loves to be naked and not get on her clothes, diaper or shoes. I usually have to chase her down. Cooper is easy to dress - other than nothing fits him.

The biggest dilemma though was not the kids. IT WAS ME!!!! I forgot that I had to wear something besides a t-shirt. I knew I could fit into a maternity skirt. I thought I might just wear a maternity top - until I remembered that I was going to get to nurse Cooper while I was there. None of those work well for nursing. So in a panic, I ran out to my "summer closet" in the barn. Itried on almost every shirt that buttoned down. However, my bust is huge and my tummy is still extra large. I could barely get some of the buttons to buttons and the shirts seemed too short to cover the bulging belly. Finally, I found one shirt that looked half decent. It is ironic that this is the only shirt that looked decent on me when I got home from my mission too. I have a week to figure out what to wear to church next week. Let's hope my belly starts to shrink quickly.

Church went well. Cadence actually keep her "pretty" in her hair and showed it off to people. She was proud of her new dress. She stayed in nursery by herself two different times for about 20 minutes the first time and 10 minutes the second. Cooper was a good boy and everybody thought he was so handsome (which he is). If I can get the kids ready by myself every week, then I can do church!!!