One month old

The top picture is Cooper on the first, with his horse we are using for a growth comparison. The other picture was taken on 9-8-10. He is growing so fast, and I took him in to get weighed on his 4 week day. His weight was 10 pounds, 8 ounces. He's a good eater! Can't see too much difference in the photos, but I imagine in a month or two we'll see lots of changes!

Paige

Paige has decided its fun to kiss her brother and this is the only picture I have managed to capture. I am aiming for a beautiful lovely artsy one; but we'll see if that happens! This particular evening she was playing with her baby and feeding it a bottle. She doesn't really play with dolls so this was a rare event; the funny thing was when she went on the couch and told us her baby was so little it had to eat from her and she nursed her baby. Granted, she made a wall of pillows so we couldn't see her, but I thought Ryan was going to die laughing. I guess she is paying attention.

Updates

My computer was down and out and I felt so lost it wasn't even funny. I am not addicted that much to Facebook or email; it was the inability to look up my addresses, balance my checkbook, not be able to access my photos, etc. that really got to me. But we are back up and running. I will post photos later but here is our week in review:

• Paige made it across the monkey bars all by herself yesterday. This is huge as she's been trying for a while. I think she did it accidentally as well as she was waiting for me to 'help' her and I heard her shriek, "Mom, I did it!"
• Cooper took his first bottle on Monday night from Ryan--all went well other than he took forever to drink it. Mommy stayed far away so he didn't get confused. Our plan is to have Ryan give him a bottle each night so he gets used to them; plus they get to bond :)
• Cooper and I went on our first road trip of more than 40 miles--granted we just went to Dickinson, but I had to deal with the 'we are out in public and where do I feed you' problem. The car worked just fine and he realized he can puke on me anywhere and it doesn't matter. Plus, he was a pretty good shopper and wouldn't sleep in his carseat while we were in the stores--there was too much going on.
• Cooper has also went 5 hours between feedings for two nights in a row! He eats at 9ish and has woken up to eat at 2:30 am--granted he doesn't sleep until about 10:30 or 11:00 but I am still getting more sleep on those nights. He is then on a 3 hour schedule the rest of the day and let me tell you, he is a little clock.
• Cowboy is chopping corn and basically is missing as we see him for only about 2 hours each night before he passes out. The fun of fall.
• I am heading back to work on the 18th. Have mixed feelings about it--I like my job but its been nice to cuddle my little guy and hang out in my pjs in the morning!

Cooper

I was trying to get a picture of Cooper when he was sleeping--the beautiful infant picture of a newborn blissfully sleeping. Today was not the day to try that. However, you can see his 'old man eyebrows' that are growing in if you look. His profile shows these blonde eyebrows that stick out! Plus, I love the odd angle of this that shows his chunky little cheeks. He's starting to look less like Paige's pictures and more like. . .Cooper.

A Friday picnic

Paige stayed home from daycare on Friday to hang with Cooper and myself. We stayed in our pjs for quite a while in the morning, and then decided it was too nice outside to be inside anymore. We planned a picnic at the park for lunch, gathered Paige's bike and the stroller. Paige rode her bike so well in town on the streets--I was amazed how aware of the cars she was and she even walked her bike across the busy street instead of recklessly riding. We grabbed sandwiches and headed back to the park to be attacked by wasps; so we ate our picnic at Gramma Jane's house a block away. It was safer there. Paige then declared she was too tired to ride her bike and would walk by the stroller. We strolled to the post office, the library and the bank before heading back to the park. That is a lot of walking for little legs. She only mentioned once that you could get strollers that held two kids! We got back home very tuckered out. . .oh wait, that was just me! Paige didn't nap but I sure wanted too. Cooper napped perfectly through our two hour stroll.

House updates

So we had the long awaited baby and have slacked for awhile with the house. Cowboy got back in the swing of things during the last few weeks; and all the light fixtures upstairs have been subbed out with newer ceiling fixtures--except for the ceiling fans--they aren't in yet. He also took down the yellow hood above my stove and put the new white one up. There isn't a trace of an orange/yellow appliance anywhere now! Dad and Ryan also got the woodburner put into place with some additional manpower last weekend. We still need to get the chimney pieces installed and Cowboy needs to do some tweaking with the chimney before he'll be happy. However, Dad did a great job painting the woodburner and getting it cleaned up for us. We are recycling it; as it used to be in my parent's house in town. My job was to get it started when I got home from school when I was in junior high and high school; and this stove makes it easy enough I can do it! I grew up in a house with this stove and running around in tank tops and shorts most of the winter because it puts out some heat.

On the Paige and Cooper side of things; they are doing well. Preschool was very successful last week. It was nice on Friday to be the one to drop her off and there were no tears--just a hug and she ran off. Paige, Cowboy and I attended the PRCA rodeo held in Bowman on Friday night and Cooper got to hang out with Gramma for a few hours. I was a nervous mom when I realized my cell phone didn't work in the metal building and didn't like the idea of a starving baby who had a mom that couldn't be contacted. I only stayed away about 1.5 hours; but was needed within 10 minutes of getting home. We also had company on Sunday; as Keith and Sandy came and met Cooper. He was a good boy for them; but didn't want to be awake for them very much.

I have a hard time keeping clothes on my daughter. Wondering when this phase will run out.

Cooper on 9-20-10--he's starting to fill out and get some cheeks!

He's also starting to stretch out and unfold--I giggle when babies start to do this. Most mornings in his crib he sleeps with his arms above his head like this.

First day of preschool

Today was Paige's first day of preschool. She will attend Tuesday and Thursday afternoons; and Friday mornings. She and Kyler were at daycare this am and super excited. I was to meet them at preschool; and there were some excited little people. Paige posed for me outside and took off for the door behind Kim and Kyler. Then. . .she sort of froze and reached for me with tears. A complete 180 in emotions--I know she's my daughter! She had a few hugs and a few tears; and then Kyler took her hand and they headed off to the main room. I took that as my cue to leave. Upon pickup, I hear she was sad for a whole 5 seconds and was then fine. It sure took Mom longer than 5 minutes as I had to stop at my mother-in-laws for Kleenex to wipe my sobbing face before taking Cooper to his doctor's appointment. Bless Jane for understanding and not giggling in front of me. I picked Paige up and there were 8 excited little people who had a great afternoon ready to be picked up. She had a wonderful time and chattered about the things they did. She exclaimed, "Mom, I made new friends!" I asked what their names were and she told me she couldn't remember. The good news is she wants to go back. Paige, Kyler, Kim and I celebrated with ice cream at Eats-n'treats afterwards before heading home. I have a tired little girl tonight.

On the Cooper front, his 2 week appointment went well and he's perfect. Dr. Jacobson poked and checked every crevice and said he's a keeper. We think so. He weighed in at 8lbs 11 oz--so a gain of 1 pound 1 ounce since we left the hospital. I have a good eater!