The one where we prepare....

Mentally AND Physically.... Our baby boy is turning one. I can't believe this year has gone by so fast. When I was in elementary school, I couldn't wait to be in high school and drive. When I was in high school I couldn't wait to be in college and independent. And when I was in college I couldn't wait to find my husband and best friend and have a baby When I finally got one, I got both, and I wouldn't have it any other way and it feels like life sped up. My parents always said I grew up too fast and I laughed, but now I know the true meaning...  Last year this time my mind was focused on Halloween, football games and eating beef! (yes, you read that right!)

It wasn't a week after Halloween that our life changed, for the better and it is hard to believe our little one has 6 teeth, walking almost running, off formula, off bottles, picking up food, saying momma, smiling, laughing, etc... So this is the week that I reflect and prepare. I will reflect on the road that brought me here and that I have taken with Cooper. Have I done everything I could?? I remember the first few weeks, I was going to the doctor every few days. Apparently that is protocol when they are "premies". I say premies loosely because there wasn't much that was premie about Cooper other than he was almost 5 weeks early. He was "healthy as a horse". I am sounding like my dad now!!! So anyway, Cooper kept losing weight and I thought I was doing everything the nurses said and everything right. Well I found out I wasn't feeding him enough. I tell you what, I haven't felt anything worse before that or sense then.... It was like I was starving the baby. I came home balling and there wasn't anything Josh could say to make me feel better. It was even days later after Cooper was gaining weight that I was STILL crying... motherhood is crazy, beautiful, amazing and scary and who is to say I am doing a good job??  I am sure I will be in a similar situation again. I am sure there will be times where I am not a "good" mom or where Cooper and I disagree. I won't ever be perfect... but I have learned a lot already and will continue through our lives.

I am sure my parents are still learning. Heck, now they have to learn to be grandparents!! But that should be easy right, their main job is to SPOIL!! I know my grandparents did their job.... and I am sure both my parents and grandparents are reading this thinking...HA! you have know idea how fast they grow!

Cheers to life and growing old ALL TOGETHER (and the throw back pic of Cooper, more to come this week)

TOUCHDOWN!

LOVE

The one where we do what we should have done....

We made a few big decisions this week.... Since our one year home owner warranty is coming up, we had the builder come fix a few things.  While his worker bees were here, we had a them come back and give us an estimate on adding stairs to the deck. We should have done it a year ago, but they nickle and dime you for everything for upgrades and need cash up front. So while we had or top upgrades picked out, stairs weren't one of them..... SO We are getting them on Tuesday!! Just in time for Coopers birthday and just in time for Thanksgiving! Which means we don't have to walk through the basement/ man cave in order to play cornhole or have a bonfire! Ok, so maybe I exaggerated a little when I said a few big decisions, because my second project is painting Cooper's room. I had all intentions of doing this last November before his due date in December.... and well, you know how that turned out. So while most mothers have their child's room cute, painted and decorated before their  child is born, I am doing all this for his first birthday!  I finished painting and sewed his curtrains... not to mention deep cleaned...

The curtains are orange, blue and green, perfect for a new gator fan.

Cooper is almost running. He is walking everywhere and really gaining speed. He is about ready to hang with the boys in the neighborhood. He is quiet a pro yet, thank goodness for that diaper, it adds a little cushion to the plop fall. Not only is he walking, but he is able to stand up on his own. That's right, no help from the couch, tables or whatever he can get his hands on although those methods are easier for him. I am thinking by next weekend he will have 6 teeth! He has another bottom one coming in, so that will make 4 down there. He is starting to use them too (mainly to bit me) but to chew his food. At first I thought he was trying to spit his food out, but he had me fooled. I can't wait for his birthday party next weekend!! He is such a big boy!

Our Nanny gave her 2 weeks this past Monday. I know it was a hard decision for her because it really does seem like she connects with Cooper. And I know Cooper looks forward to M,W, F because he has a Friend to play with, but she is moving on to a full time position. So we contemplated getting another Nanny, but ya know what? He will be one year old, his mind is fresh and eager to learn, he needs more interaction and more of a schedule, so we decided on day care. I have already toured the KidsRKids daycare. It seems great. I went into his classroom, met the teacher and the 4 other kids in the room, set Cooper down and he bolted for the other kids and toys. I think he forgot I was there. I even left the room to get a run down on the rest of the school and he did great. I think this will be a great move for him. Breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks are included in the tuition. So this is really going to work with our schedule. He will still be going M, W, F. He will still get mommy and daddy more than daycare.

Coop's new toy

Just like Daddy!

LOVE

The one where Coop is walking....

haha well, he is definitely getting there. Here is a video I took of him last night. We think after the recent face plants on the hard wood floors, he is using the sock as a mouth guard.... smart kid, uh?

The one where I give in...

Ok, so many of you know that I wanted to grow Cooper's hair out. This is going to be the only time in his life where I have a say in the way he looks. And I love Kate Hudson and her son Ryder looked so adorable with long blond locks....PLUS if I were to cut his hair he would look like a little boy rather than a baby boy..... BUT I was looking at him today, he was smiling back at me and I couldn't see those baby blues. His curly cues got in the way of his handsome eyes. So I sent Josh a message saying lets get his hair cut! I think I could sense his excitement because he said lets go tonight. Lets keep in mind, Josh flies home from San Diego today and will get home around 6:00. Josh has been a big advocate for getting Coops hair cut, me not so much. So I googled around. The little kid cut places are primarily for little girls where they can get glitter and feathers, blah blah blah. So my last result was great clips. I called and simply asked "Can you cut a toddlers hair"? She said what? So I said it again... and again. When she finally understood what I wanted, She said... "ummmm well we try". So in that instant I knew Josh and I would be cutting his hair. And that is what we did.....

Yay Daddy is home!!!!

Before....

ahhhhh so much hair!!! 

After.....

LOVE

The one were my hubsters turns another year older....

My loving, wonderful, smart, fantastic, handsome, amazing griller, hubby turns 27 tomorrow! Happy Birthday Joshua! Unfortunately we won't be spending the day together.... no not because I kicked him to the curb, NEVER, but because he is in San Diego for a work conference. Trust me, he isn't that bad off. His hotel is on the Pacific Ocean, he played golf on the edge of the mountains in the sun shine today and he is eating amazing food! Tomorrow he will be in an all day conference so he will need some birthday lovin. Remember he is 3 hours behind us! So no early morning calls :) We did get to celebrate this weekend. We had our friends over for football, beer and chicken wings. Josh smoked a few batches of chicken wings and made a beer can chicken, SHOCKER! He loves his man time grillin. He was saying the other day how he needed a bigger charcoal grill. I think he got offended because I quickly disputed because he has a larger gas grill sitting right next to it. I guess I just don't understand....man code or man law, whatever it is! You can get whatever you want honey... The porch and the basement are all yours! Anyway, Josh comes home Thursday so me and Cooper will cook him something awesome for dinner! Although nothing beats the funfetti gator cake I made him, check it out!

Josh's gourmet birthday cake

Friends

Josh and Clint

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The one where we try to get back to Normalcy....

Normalcy, not sure what that is anymore... We have been traveling so much lately I have forgotten what it is like to relax, which makes it tough to do when I have time. I feel like I always have to be doing something, I always have to be multitasking. I feel like sitting on the couch is wasting precious time!! I often have to tell my self to chill out!! Josh is the same way, you know him... always moving.

CHEESE!!! Look at all my teefers!!

Anyway, so we had a "normal" weekend this weekend and actually stayed in Georgia. Shocked, I know, so were we. The weather was gorgeous here and only getting better. We got things done around the house, cleaned, organized, and shopped- all of my favorite things!!! Cooper got to play out in the yard in his new pool daddy got him instead of sitting in a car seat for 6 hours, talk about a happy kid! He loved the pool, especially the whale that shoots out water! Everyone always says, cherish these times now, because soon they won't be so amused at the little things. Cooper is really becoming more vocal and brave... standing on his own. He LOVES screaming at the top of his lungs for no reason (I think just to hear him self). He will be walking SOON. Although we aren't sure if we are happy or sad about that. Last night Josh was sitting on the couch, I was sitting on the floor and Cooper took a few steps from Josh to me! He is totally wobbly and the steps could have been by default, he was already falling into me.... in any instance, it won't be long before we are chasing him. Now is the time to get my new running shoes.

#1 GATOR BABY

POOL TIME WITH DADDY 

We finally got all the furniture in our dinning room, so Thanksgiving is a GO!! I still need chair covers and paint on the walls so this isn't the final product, but at least we will have "normal" seating arrangements this year, yay! Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier. I guess I don't get out of cooking this year. Last year I had a good excuse, this year, not so much! Good thing I like cooking :) AND we finished Coopers bookshelf and moved it to his room. Next thing I have to do in his room is paint. It is always something when you own a home. I still have so much I want to do... baby steps!

Doin what he does best! yummmmmm

 Love

The lord has taken an angel home...

This week we honor and remember Grandma Mimi. “GMa” as we all called her, is Joshua’s grandmother who passed last Thursday, September 8, 2011.  And while I had only known her for about 3 years, that was enough of time for her to make an impact in my life. She taught us that the little things don’t matter, that we don’t need money and materialistic things to be happy. She offered us great advice and told us many stories of her own life. But most of all made us laugh. Whenever I was there, I always sat in the spot next to her on the couch. That was the best place because you could always hear her mumble something under her breath. I could always hear her jokes and wittiness. You had to be sitting right next to her to hear it, but it was always something hilarious. In sitting next to her, she wanted me to help her with her crossword puzzles. Like I was any smarter.... But I tried. And for those 3 years of going down to Gma's I think I got one answer.

She had a sparkle in her eye every time Josh would walk in the room. She loved him so much and just lit up to the sky when he walked in. There were times when we would not tell her we were coming down and just show up and every time she would do a double take when Josh walked in. I can still remember her words to distinctly with such excitement, "Oh-My-God, I don't believe it!" I can still hear Gma saying those words. There's nothing like a Grandma being around her grandson. It is a beautiful thing.

Last Christmas I was able to experience the infamous aker peas and rice Josh spoke so highly of. Now when I found out how much he loved aker peas, I said What? You like what? Coming from the guy who doesn't even like sharp cheddar cheese on his hamburger. So I knew if he loved it, then it must be good.  So that Christmas eve, I stacked my plate with aker peas and rice, and you know what I like 'em.  Nothing beats a Grandmas cookin. They can make anything taste delish. I cooked them for Josh recently, and while GMas still takes the gold, I got a "they're good". Hopefully one day, my kids and grand kids will love my cooking as much as Josh loved hers.

I didn't get to know Gma, like Josh knew her. Although I wish I had. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with her. She was an amazing woman, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was so wise and witty. So artistic and lovable. So thoughtful and humble.... I am so very happy she was able to meet Cooper and laugh with him, hold his hand and hug him. Josh and I will have many many stories to tell him of his Great Gma one day and how awesome and cool it was for her to take a beer funnel at a party in front of Josh and Chris's friends. She swore it was just water in there, but we all know how much she loved her Old Milwaukee :)

We will miss you dearly Grandma Mimi!!

There will be a celebration of her life Sunday September 18th at 3pm at Karen's house. Everyone and anyone is more than welcome to join. Please come share your fondest memories as we celebrate her long and happy life!

Love always