Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Cooper's 1st Birthday Letter from Daddy

Coop,

     Has it really been a year since you've come into our lives? It seems like yesterday we got the amazing news that Lorelai was going to be a big sister. Then came the news that I would have a son. I can't describe the pride I felt that day or how much that one little bit of news turned my life around.




    I love having a little man that looks just like me crawling around the house, and I think often of who you're going to be. Are you going to be an astronaut, a football player (it better be for FSU), a doctor, or the next president? Only God knows so here's my promise to you. I promise to first and foremost point you to the most important thing in life, and that's a relationship with Jesus Christ. You see, without Him, everything else is pointless. I promise to show you how to treat a woman. Your mommy is the next most important thing to me. I promise to be there for you and your sister and support you through whatever path your life takes. I promise to teach you that you can be whoever you want to be, but you've got to work hard because no one is going to hand you anything. I promise to spend time with you because quality over quantity isn't good enough for you. I will give you quality and quantity when it comes to time.





     I'm so excited to take you to get your first fishing pole and teach you how to ride a bike. I can't wait to teach you how to play the guitar and show you a love and respect for nature and the outdoors. You have no idea the fun we're going to have as you grow up.







     Cooper, you have made our family complete. It's been so much fun watching you grow, and I can't wait for the years to come but I'm enjoying each and every day I have with you, your sister, and your mommy. I love you and I'm so proud of you.



Daddy

Photobucket

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Cooper's 1 Year Well-Baby Visit

On Monday, July 8, I took Coop-man for his 1 year well-baby visit.  Matt couldn't take the morning off of work, so Gigi came with us since it was a shot visit.  It was during Cooper's nap time, but he really did GREAT at this visit.  

Here were his 12 month stats:
Weight: 24 lbs 3 oz (68%) + 2 lbs 5 oz from 9 months (67%)
Height: 30.5 inches (65%) + 1 1/4 inches from 9 months (92%)
Head Circumference:18.5 inches (67%) same as 9 months

Basically, Cooper is suuuuper proportional.  Which is great!  It also means that he is really not topping the scales anymore.  While he started out at the top of the charts, he's more towards the "average" end of things now.  He's evening out.  


Here's how he compares to LL's stats at 12 months:
She was 20 lbs 10 oz - so he's 3 lbs 9 oz heavier.
She was 30 3/4 inches tall - so he is 1/4" shorter.
Her head circumference was 17 1/2 inches - so his head is 1" bigger.

Showing off his big belly.

Here's what happened at his appointment:
-They checked his hemoglobin level by pricking his finger.  To this day, this is still the worst part of the visit with LL.  I was totally prepared for Cooper to lose it, but I was pleasantly surprised!  He didn't make a peep!  He watched very intently as the girl pricked his finger (and squeezed out some blood), but he never fussed about it at all!  I was shocked!  He didn't even care when she put the bandaid on him.  
-Once they heard he didn't cry, it seemed like everyone in the office came in to see him and they all were just falling for his charms.  He's a lady's man for sure!  He had all of those women wrapped around his finger (haha).


-His hemoglobin level came back just under normal.  They look for it it be at 11.5 and his was at 11 - so he's mildly anemic.  This just means that we're are concentrating on giving him more iron rich foods, and we're also giving him a multi-vitamin with iron every day.  I'm hoping that it will be up to the normal level at his next visit!
-She felt on his feet (like on the bottom) and said that he has very good feet (??).  I'm assuming that she was feeling his arch??
-She said his soft spot was doing good and that it's closing up nicely.
-She looked at his eyes with her light and the ARE still hazel.  While the inside around his pupil is brown, the outsides are still a dark blue/grey.  
-He did get 4 shots and this part he was not happy about.  This time he let them know how he felt!

It was a great appointment, and we go back in October for his 15 month appointment!


Photobucket

Monday, July 29, 2013

Cooper's 1st Birthday Letter from Mommy

Cooper,

Oh, my sweet boy!  Where do I even begin??  I can not believe that my little baby is a year old.  This has honestly been the BEST year of my life, now that you have joined our family.  One day, I can't wait to explain to you the long and difficult road that we traveled to get you in our arms.  We went through a lot of sad times, scary times, and prayer, but you are here and you are perfect!  You are worth every single step of that journey.

Our first kiss.




I also wish that I could tell you exactly how I feel about you, but I'm not sure that there are words that can express it.  I love you in a way that I didn't know that I was capable of.  You are my little boy and my last baby.  We have a bond that is special and so strong.  My heart just overflows with love for you and it has been that way since the first time that I held you in my arms.  You are so perfect and exactly what God knew that our family needed.  You have completed this family perfectly, and I can't imagine life without you.




You are just the sweetest, most mild-mannered, happy baby that I know.  You are relaxed and funny like your Daddy.  You have the best smile and the cutest little dimple.  You LOVE to be around people, especially your sister.  You adore her, and you can't get enough of her.  You are adventurous, care-free, and curious!  I have a feeling that you are going to be my child that gets into everything.  





You love music, being outside, and swinging.  You also are a huge lover of food.  :)  You have been the best baby - a parent's dream for sure!  You are slow to warm, but once you're comfortable, you love everyone.  You do NOT like loud noises (like Lola barking), but you sure can be loud yourself!  You love to "yell" and laugh and talk gibberish to us all.  





I love you with my entire heart, just like your sister.  I can't say that you have half and she has half - you both have captured the whole thing.  I'll be honest, I was very nervous about having a boy.  When I was pregnant with you, I desperately prayed for another little girl.  God knew what I needed, though, because you have changed me.  I needed you.  Exactly you.  And I'm so happy that our God is one that looks beyond what we think we need to give us what He knows we need.  I love you, my sweet baby boy.  You are my joy, my heart, and my perfect angel.  I love you with everything that I am.

I love you,
Mommy

Photobucket

Friday, July 26, 2013

Cooper's 1 Year Pictures - Part 3

This was our last time taking pictures for Cooper's 1 year, and these are the only ones that actually happened after he turned a year.  These ones were also great because we tried to get some family shots, and Cooper had already had his first hair cut.  Uncle Gino took these the morning after Cooper's birthday party, and I have to say, these are my favorite pictures of Cooper ever.  Gino did a great job and really getting Coop's silly personality down!!  This was also special because this is the same location that we used when Uncle Gino took pictures of LL when she was 14 months old.


{1}
LL was not enthusiastic about taking pictures at all.  But, ya know, that's just how our family is right now!

{2}

{3}
I just love this one.  He is just SO HAPPY.

{4}

{5}


{6}

{7}

{8}

{9}

{10}
I adore this one.

{11}

{12}
The grass was still wet, so someone ended up with a wet bottom.  :)

{13}

{14}

{15}

{16}
This is my favorite picture of me and my boy!!

{17}

{18}

{19}
I LOVE this one.  He makes this face alllll the time when he moos like a cow.  This is so Cooper!

{20}
Perfect

{21}
Another favorite!

{22}

{23}

{24}

{25}

{26}

{27}

{28}

{29}

Again, thank you so much Uncle Gino!  We are all in love with these pictures!!


Photobucket