Cruising our way into 9 months

Yep, all smiles as we sit atop one of our new Christmas gifts from Gigi and Grandpa Wayne. Pretty fancy huh?!

We also had a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Bailin over the weekend, which was a great time. This was the first time Grandpa has been back since Coop was born, so we were really excited for him to come!!

 Coop loved all of Grandma's scarves and furry coats and vest she always wears. He was always grabbing for things on her with great curiousity. She's a pretty snazzy Grandma, don't you think?!

Having dinner by the Fire.
We now call Grandma the "Food Whisperer" because she constantly was trying to get Coop to eat better, and was successful more times than not! Seems he just doesn't want to take food from me, but if Grandma tries he decides he will.  Can't figure that one out......

 Playtime with Grandpa, you can tell I am having fun by how fast I am moving my hands!

9 month appointment tomorrow!  Will let you know what the Doc has to say ;)

Gets Him Every Time!

Ever since he was young, Coop has loved taking walks.  Just plop him in the stroller and start walking, and within a few minutes he will be taking a little catnap, gets him every time!  So whenever we are a little cranky (mom or coop), restless, bored, or the naps just aren't happening that day, we head out for a walk! Gives mom a little workout, lets her chat on the phone while being in the fresh air, and lets her have some quiet time to pray!

So watch me grow throughout the shots below that were taken on some of our walks.......

Just a little guy here

5 months

around 6 months

8 months

Today! (only most 9months)

One day we were stuck at home all day since our car battery was dead, so the only thing we could do was go out and take a walk.  Well by the time I got us both bundled up and out the door, it had started to drizzle out. What are the chances, I swear the sun was just out! But it seemed like just a little mist, and I was still determined to go.  Well let me tell you, by the end of the walk, Coop was sleeping (of course), but Mom was soaking wet because it was pouring! I am sure everyone who drove by us thought I had gone absolutely nutty!! Who goes for a walk with a BABY in the RAIN?!  Oh well.....desperate times call for desperate measures. And that was how I felt that day.

So to all my mom friends out there, if you feel like pulling your hair out, don't. Just go for a stroll.  Hopefully it relaxes your little ones like it does Coop.

Happy Walking!

Dedicated to Dad!

This post is dedicated to Coop and I's favorite person...........

Yep you guessed it.  This guy.  Keeps Coop and I laughing day in and day out.  He's an amazing husband and an even better father.  He checks in with me constantly throughout the day, and today he texted me "you need to blog because I miss the lil man!" I am still working two 12 hour shifts a week (which I do enjoy), but I love even better my days hanging out at home. So here's a little run down and a few fun pics of my days with Coop.

This one's for you Andy!

Things Coop and I do on our days together:

We go to the park!  Here is Cooper's 1st swing experience last week (yes in January).  I think he wasn't quite sure what to think.

We get dressed in our warmest gear for trips to the groccery store, Costco, bank, etc. The day I took this pic was the coldest day that Cooper has been alive for (9 degrees).  He made the funniest faces whenever the wind would hit his face.  But he's all smiles here, with his ultimate favorite non-toy, a remote. Also a little side note, thanks to Griffy and Aunt Abbi for this adorable hand-me down bear outfit.  Abbi said this was the 1st outfit they bought when they found out they were having a boy, how precious Coop gets to borrow it!!!

We practice eating.  If you are wondering why I say we are practicing and not just eating, its because not a lot of eating usually takes place.  More of making wierd faces, spitting out food, and clamping the mouth shut so we can't get any in, the little stinker!  Here he is just playing with some yogurt.

We try new things!  Grandma was telling us on the phone yesterday how her friend's grandchild that is Coop's same age is balancing while holding on to things.  So I thought if he could do it, so could Coop!  So I propped him up against this ottoman, took my hand off, and....... he flipped onto his back.  Ooooops sorry buddy!  On our second try while I captured this pic, I decided to hold on to his pants.  Much safer.

We go to the gym! Andy and I joined Prairie Life (a gym down the street from us) not too long ago and Coop and I love going if we ever need to get out of the house for a bit.  We can get up to 3 hours of childcare everyday, and Coop (and mom) thoroughly enjoy it.  Here is Coop helping mommy out by holding her water and keys......

                                                             and of course now eating them ;)

We watch our new DVD's!  Thanks to Aunt Heather we have a whole collection of the latest and greatest Baby Genius movies, and Coop gets quite entranced (is that a word?) by them.  He occasionally smiles at them, but usually just stares with the look above on his face.

That's all we got going on for now.  Come home soon Dad so we can play!

 

8, 66, 2, and 1

Ok weird Blog Title I realize.  But these are special numbers in our life, and I am about to tell you why.  I also dedicate this post to my dear mother in law who loves "number meanings" (not sure if that's what you call it) and how certain numbers represent things!  Ok here is what 8, 66, 2, and 1 mean:

8 MONTHS!

That's right, Cooper turned 8 months on December 30th and is loving it (as he has loved every month before).  And in our 8th month, Cooper has been alive for a new record, that's right:

66 degrees in January (in Omaha!)
It is unbelievable, we were out for a walk in a long sleeve shirt in the middle of January.  We are loving it, although kind of missing the snow and the "feeling" of winter, since I am a seasons girl.  But I guess not missing the 0 degree weather that's for sure.

And now you ask what 2 is?  Well 2 is......

2 TEETH!
Yep, Coopy got his his first two bottom teeth (wish I had a better picture of this, but you can kind of see in the pic above!).  He did very well with it, was a bit fussy but nothing that a little tylenol can't help ;)  And don't worry, even though Andy thinks as a nurse I tend to overmedicate (myself and now our child), I assure you I did not. Sadly with the two teeth came the end of breastfeeding.  Only took getting bit a few times to realize it needed to come to an end.  But my goal was 6 months, so I guess I felt ok stopping.  And finally, to our #1....................

1 picky eater!

Check out his face, he is just not sure about the latest.......meat.  Although we have come a long way from the ice cream and guacamole faze.  I know you are all judging me right now as a mother, but for awhile there he woudn't swallow anything, so we were worried that he didn't get it, but then we tried a taste of ice cream and then guacamole, and believe me, he got it!  Bottom line is, he knows what he wants.  Which is usually whatever Andy and I are eating.  Can't wait for a few more teeth so we can give him some real food (he has told us loud and clear he hates the baby food purees!)

But he is doing  lot better, thanks to this invention:

Food in a pouch!  Who would have known?  But he loves it, and if it gets food in his mouth, I am all for it!
So that's our 8, 66, 2, and 1.  Below are a few more fun pics from the life of the Richard family.

Andy and Coop's new favorite thing to do.  Andy always ask me to look at Coop and see if he likes it.  And when I look over, both of them always have a huge smile on their face!  Love my boys!

Trying the sweet potatoe/meat combo.  Mom's pretty excited as you can see. Ok I realize I look like a dork here, I tend to give the thumbs up sign a lot these days in pictures.......guess that's one thing I got from my dad!

Andy with his head lamp on.......enough said

Decided if he wasn't going to eat it, might as well let him play in it.

Thanks for checking in with us! 

Pictures Tell the Story

Quality Grandpa Time

Christmas Cookies with Grandpa and Grandma Great, Brandon and Aunt Lori and Lazor

Sorry Dad, I don't think there is much resemblanc here.  He is still your #1 Grandson though!

Aunt Heather and Uncle Bryan teaching me how to play pool

Love Love Love swimming, especially since mom lets me go naked! Shhh don't tell Dad.

New Year's Eve with the Connell Family

Sunbathing on the dock with Grandma

Dad always make me laugh!

Wish these two didn't live so far away!

By the end of it all, we were all exhausted.  But in a good way ;)

The Last Few Weeks

Wow how the last couple weeks over the holidays have flown by! We got in some quality time with the family during a weekend in Chicago, Christmas in Nebraska, and a trip to Florida with the Bailin's. It has been a whirlwind and I have to say I am experiencing the usual post-holiday depression that many people feel.  It usually only takes me a day or two to snap out of it, but my house is in all sorts of disarray (sp?) with laundry, unpacking, putting away Christmas decorations, and finding room for all of Coop's new toys.  And boy did he get some cool things! Its amazing all the stuff they make for kids these days, endless amounts of fun for the little man (hopefully)  There are way to many pictures taken over the last three weeks to show you them all, so I have tried to just include a few to give you a little idea of all the fun and special moments we had.

The next couple pics are from The Jingle Bell Run 5K Fundraiser for Arthritis.  Our dear sis Ali was the poster girl and got to start off the race.  She raised an amazing amount of money and had a tone of supporters (I think there were about 38 walkers on Ali's A-List Team).  Good Work Aunt Ali - we had so much fun walking for a good cause.

Thanks to Bowser, Brian, and the Wolski's for walking with us!

Mary Lou and my mom with Coop trying to stay warm

The whole Richard Clan

Grandpa Wayne and his three boys

Cousin Love

A little playdate with a pretty little lady.  This is my dear friend from highschool's little sweetheart, Chloe.

Whew I will post some more pics tomorrow. Just watching a little Parenthood with the hubby.