Keepin' Us on Our Toes

We love you, Cooper! You're keeping Daddy and I on our toes. It's hard to find time to update your story when we've been busy taking care of you, moving, working, and Mommy has been sick. We can't say enough good things about you. You just make us so happy.

• Your eyes are starting to turn more blue.
• You love to pucker your lower lip.
• You're a huge pooper! It's a blow out when it occurs!
• You're happiest in the morning. You love to talk and smile.
• We haven't heard you giggle again since the first time. We can't wait until it happens again!
• We painted your new room green and are putting up bead board.
• You still love to hold my finger when you drink your bottle.
• You LOVE gas drops. It's like candy to you when it touches your lips you quiet right down.
• You love morning snuggles, but you enjoy snuggling anytime!
• You've got your daddy's toes... where the second is bigger than the big toe.

General Conference

This weekend was the first time you got to hear the prophet speak. You behaved fairly well. Sleeping during some and screaming sometimes, too. It was our first experience with a baby and church. We found out it's hard to listen, but we'll figure it out. You couldn't go with daddy to priesthood, but I thought I would dress you up anyways.

You and Daddy ready for priesthood meeting:

You laughed!

For the first time EVER, you laughed! Daddy and I were so excited to be able to hear it this morning! The three of us were snuggling in bed as your bottle warmed and you just giggled! It was THE CUTEST THING! Daddy and I can't wait to hear it again!!! Incredible! Daddy and I just looked at each other with a huge smile on our face and laughed, too! We just couldn't believe it!

Sneaky Little Cooper

Spot something wrong in this picture? I spot a little stinker! I put your oxygen back on on your right side and needed to put the other side on, but it wouldn't stick. So, I took the sticker off and cleaned off all the sticky stuff and walked away for a minute. I came back to put your oxygen on, and a new sticker, and it wasn't on your face. That's when I saw it. You hate your oxygen and BAM! You grabbed it and pulled as hard as you could until you pulled it off and it was in your hand. I went to take it out of your hand and you didn't want to let go. Then, I had to clean off your right cheek and add a new sticker, too. You usually pull it off and cry, but you did this and acted like it was no big deal. Stinker! Caught red handed!

Smiling More & More

Oh, Cooper! You sure make us smile! You're smiling more and more, but it's still inconsistent and doesn't last but a second. However, we finally caught a little bit of it on camera!

My 4 Month Old

Cooper! You're getting so big! You had your 4 month appointment today and the doctor thinks you're doing great! For an average 4 month old, you're in the 20th percentile, but according to your preemie age, you're above average! Your head circumference is in the 89%, your weight is in the 97%, and your length is in the 88%. You had 4 shots and hated it! You immediately started to cry! I had never heard you cry the way you did. You weighted 9.88 pounds, are 20.98 inches long, and your head circumference is 15 inches.

Things the doctor said:

• Preemies usually have an odd shaped head and she says yours looks great!
• She wants you to have a middle ear evaluation since you aren't passing your hearing test. There are still times when you seem to hear us and other times when you don't.
• You are slightly tongue tied so that will be checked by the doctor that checks your ear. Worse case, they will have to clip it a little.
• You're growing great and can come off the formula we mix with the breast milk.
• We can continue to ween you off your oxygen. You can't get below 88 when sleeping and 92 when awake with your oxygen off.

Things we love and notice about you:

• You're smiling more.
• You're making more noises.
• You're holding your head up better and better each day.
• You love cuddling with mommy and daddy.
• You're starting to find your thumb and make smacking noises when sucking it. If you can't find it, you suck on your arm or whatever gets to your mouth!
• When you cry, you now stick out your bottom lip. It's so cute!

Daddy always tells you "Cooper and Daddy are best friends." We enjoy singing to you and all the funny faces you make. You make us so happy! We will also be moving into our new home in a week or so and you're going to have a new room! 

Love you! Happy birthday!

Aunt Sarah & Jeans

There are still so many people that haven't seen you and held you! Aunt Sarah got to hold you today and you loved it! So fun!

Your first pair of jeans and your little Nike high top shoes Grandma Smith bought you.

My Little Boy is Growing Up

It's crazy to think that you're only 3 months old and I already think you're growing up! You're getting so big and you're so handsome. You bring so much joy to our home and family.

Am I A Good Mom?

Oh, Cooper. The past for evenings have been a little more difficult than usual. You seem to cry more. I can't seem to figure out why. I pat you. I rock you. I sing to you. I stand with you. I sit with you. I feel like I try everything. Am I doing something wrong? Am I missing something? I hope you know I love you and I'm trying. I'm trying to be a good mom. I am trying to meet all your needs. I hope you know that. Love you, Bug.

Not a House, A Home

Cooper, I'm excited to say that Daddy and I are buying a home! You will be able to grow up in a home! I am super excited. This is something mommy didn't have growing up. Grandma Smith raised mommy to dream big and get an education. Because of this, Daddy and I are able to get a home for us! You're going to love it! Daddy and I felt it was time so we started looking and when we saw the inside of this house, we knew it was "the one." Everything seems to be falling into place. It has a basketball hoop so dad is pretty excited!

Also, you've been quite cranky today. We can't quite decide why. You're spitting up your feedings so we think your throat may be sore. We're trying our best to take care of you and hope you know that we are and that we love you.

A Child of God

Dear Cooper,

I don't know how people can look at a baby and not feel and know that there is something more than this life. Something greater. I look at you, at every part of you. Your eyes, each finger and toe, your eyelashes, lips, belly, chubby arms and legs, and more. I know I didn't make you on my own. You truly are a child of God and I'm grateful that you were born in the covenant. I hope you also know how much your Heavenly Father knows you, loves you, and looks after you. He will always be there for you. I read a quote today that I loved and is so true: "No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." I love you.

Love,
Mom

Seeing Aunt Sarah!

Today your Aunt Sarah came to see you! She's been sick so she was only able to see you through your bedroom widow. She told you to stick out your tongue if she was your favorite aunt. You did, so she believes she is your favorite aunt.

Side Note: Uncle Scott told Aunt Sarah she looked like a zoo animal and you were looking at her through the glass. He said, "This is a Sarah, they are very dangerous in the wild."

One Set of Great Grandparents

Today was a special day! Your Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Smith got to see and hold you for the first time. They just thought you were the cutest! Great Grandma Smith was so excited to see you!

Grandpa Smith was cute. He held you for a few minutes. When you squealed all of a sudden, he immediately handed you over to grandma saying it was her turn. Made me laugh!

And, Aunt Rachel finally got to hold you! You were awake and she was able to talk to you. She said you kept making such cute faces!

Early Intervention

Daddy and I are so grateful for the many programs offered to us to help you best succeed in life. Since you were a preemie, you qualified for an early intervention program where a nurse and possibly other occupational therapists come to our home and ask me questions about your development and check you out. This allows them to see if there are any concerns early on so we can begin to work on them to limit the effects and not get behind on development. Today was the first day you came. They are impressed with how well you're doing. They want us to continue to work on tummy time. They also want you on some medicine for your reflux. They are concerned you will favor turning your head to the right because of it. You lengthen your esophagus the longest when you arch your back and stretch to right to let food go down better and with your reflux you do that more. You're doing great, Buddy! You weighed 9 pounds!

Hearing Test

You failed your hearing test again. They were able to check your nerves and bones and they are responding appropriately so they think you'll be fine, but that you have liquid behind your ears from your oxygen. You were hooked up to many cords so mom had to get a picture so you can one day see what you went through.

Oxygen Update: You're able to be off your oxygen 1-2 hours a day.

Zzzzzz........

Newborns love to sleep. You're no exception:

Happy 3 month birthday!

Our little guy is 3 months old today! I can't believe that Mommy's due date was tomorrow, February 17th and you're already 3 months old! You're getting so big. You're using your voice more. You're still on oxygen, but I took this picture after taking off your stickers to put new ones on for your oxygen cord. You're so stinkin' cute! You love keeping Daddy and I up at night and we are soooo tired! We think you do it on purpose! Love you! Happy birthday!

Hilarious!

Cooper, you never cease to put a smile on my face! Grandma Smith loves you so much that she came to visit you again today! I warned her that you have been spewing lately. Just minutes after handing you to her I heard her making a funny noise and saying "Eww!" I turned around and there you were in her arms. You had exploded all over her and the couch. It got in her mouth and she was spitting trying to get it out. It made me laugh so hard! I had to grab the camera. This picture makes me laugh so hard! Can you see her shirt, the couch, and the blanket covered in milk!?

Also, we went to check on you sleeping in your crib and... YOU ROLLED OVER! Yup, all by yourself, you rolled over and were sleeping like a log on your belly! And you had pulled out your oxygen! You're a little stinker! You love sleeping in your bed way more than you do your bassinet, so I will be sleeping on the floor for a little while!

Our Million Dollar Baby

Cooper, you've put a whole new meaning to a million dollar baby and to being "priceless." We thought it would be fun to share with you how much your doctor bill was from the hospital. This doesn't include your heart echos or anything since you've been home. Can you make a guess? Drum roll please..... $317, 158.59. Yes, you read that right! Three hundred seventeen thousand dollars! You're worth every penny, Bud! (Mommy's pregnancy cost just over $11,000.) It will be interesting to know the price years from now when you and your wife are having your own babies!

We love you!

Cooper, Daddy and I LOVE having you home. It's not been easy because you love to keep us up at night, but it's completely worth it. We're running on little sleep, but enjoy every moment we get to take care of you. There is something about you that makes us patient. We could stare at you for hours and listen to your coos. I often catch you and Daddy napping at the same time.

Things We Love About Having You Home:

• Getting to hear every little coo and squeak you make.
• Taking care of all your needs.
• Seeing you occasionally smile.
• When you go to sneeze and it doesn't quite come out, you make the cutest noise.
• We get to kiss your chubby cheeks all day long!

Things We've Learned About You:

• You don't like it to be completely dark. Throughout the night, if your light on your bassinet turns off, you start to whine and we have to push the button to turn it on again.
• You love to be held.
• You like to stay awake at night and sleep during the day.
• You're an incredible refluxer, which isn't good. You've exploded on dad and I a few times!
• You love to snuggle.

We absolutely love having you home. You bring such joy into our home. You're teaching us so much. We love you more than anything and feel so blessed you're a part of our little family.

Today's Milestone: You're 8 pounds!

We took you to the doctor today for your reflux. They want Mommy to stop eating dairy and see if it helps. If not, the doctor wants you on an antacid.

A Funny Conversation

You're already causing trouble! Your aunts are fighting over who is your favorite. This picture started it:

And here is the Facebook conversation:

Sarah: yeah she is.... I am definitely his favorite.
Katie: Not so fast.... Cooper and I already agreed I'm his favorite.
Rachel: Umm... Sorry to tell you but Cooper doesn't like people who are more than 3 hours away. He told me last night. Sorry to burst your bubbles but you two can't be favorites.
Sarah: Really Rachel? He told you this while you were looking at him through a window? I don't think so.
Camille: You all lose! I got to hold him! And the entire time we just made fun of you three!
Katie: Not cool Camille, not cool!

A Very Special Day

Uncle Cory got to hold you for the first time today. He was a preemie, too. He was born just over 26 weeks like you. I think he feels a special bond with you knowing he went through the same thing. Uncle Cory actually had it a lot harder than you. He has scars all over his chest from things he had to have go through and his eye sight was damaged when he was a preemie, too. So far, you haven't had any of those issues. He's hoping you two will be close... I think you will.

Grandpa Todd also got to hold you. You both seemed to enjoy it. You just slept and cooed.

And, Aunt Camille got to hold you! You were awake the whole time. She thinks you're handsome. Which, you are! 

Your First Doctor Appointment

You had your first doctor's appointment with your pediatrician today. You looked so cute all bundled up and ready to go. You were 19 inches long which is in the 34th percentile for a regular 2 month old. You weighed 7.12 pounds which is in the 39th percentile for a regular 2 month old. Lastly, your head circumference was 13.9 inches, which is in the 65th percentile for a regular 2 month old! You're gonna be so smart!!! Just don't get a big head about it! Wink wink! Cheesy, I know! The doctor thinks you're doing great. You will be checked again in 2 weeks when you receive your next Synagist shot to help prevent RSV.

Sleeping In Your Bed

Aunt Rachel got to see you for the first time today. She came to your bedroom window to see you because she's been sick. She said it was love at first sight. She loves you so much and thinks she's going to be your favorite aunt.

First Bath at Home

Today was your first full day at home and you did really well. It is a bit of a transition for you, but Daddy and I are trying to be consistent with what the NICU would do. For example, changing your diaper and then feeding you and giving you baths in the evenings. You're doing great and are cute as ever! Last night I was change your diaper during the wee hours of the morning and you peed all over my pajama top. Across the front and the arm. I enjoyed a good laugh. 

Grandma Smith came and helped Mommy take care of you all day. She loved it. She gets so excited to see you. She was telling me she gets more and more excited the closer she gets to the house to see you that she almost can't stand it. She's worried you won't love her as much as other family members that live closer, but I can already tell you love her like crazy. She is so good with you. She's a great grandma.

You're home!!!

What an exciting day today was!!!! Daddy and I are so excited that you are home! We went to the hospital and were trained on your oxygen this morning. You weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces today. You seemed ready to go home. I was bouncing around so excited that it was finally time! We were given a lot of information, signed some papers, and had your last assessment. We fed you a little snack for the ride home and changed your outfit to the cute one that Great Grandma and Great Grandpa picked out for you to come home from the hospital in. You looked so cute! You loved the right home. You kept smirking. You are sleeping well in your bed. We loved getting to sit with you in our own house. We watched the Emperor's New Groove together. Cooper, you bring so much joy and happiness to our life. We love you so much! We're so glad you're home and hope you feel the same way. Love you!