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!

Your Last NICU Night

Tonight was your last night in the NICU. You looked so chubby and cute! We kept telling you that you were going to a basketball game! Daddy and I are so excited to have you home tomorrow!!! We were able to come visit you everyday you were in the NICU. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Emotions are running high. The people that took care of you in the NICU are like family. We are going to miss them. We can't wait for you to come home!!! Love you!

Last night in the NICU:

Getting closer!

We're getting so close to you coming home and with it comes more and more excitement from Daddy and I! We are so excited! We can't wait to have you home!!!


Today's Milestone - 7 pounds 2 ounces!!!!