It's Fall!!!

I LOVE fall. I look forward to it all year and it's always nice to have a break from the heat and weather to enjoy before the snow. I also like it because it's the beginning of a fun holiday season--- Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There is just something about this time of year--- the decorations, feeling, and smells. We were able to go on a ride through the Weber/Ogden/Trapper's Loop Canyons to enjoy the colorful trees and cool air. It's BEAUTIFUL right now!

A Climbing Machine

Cooper discovered he could climb the stairs yesterday. He didn't forget that he learned this. He was able to make it a step further than he did yesterday before falling into my arms. Little stinker! He's definitely keeping us on our toes. I went to the kitchen to get some lunch and came back and there he was on the bottom step! I was going "oh oh oh" and trying to find the camera. I know I'm crazy, but I love this kid. I love documenting his life and our life together. I don't know what we did before having him. I feel like we live more because of him. It's wonderful. Have I mentioned I can't wait for more?

Playing Soccer with Daddy

I came back from getting my haircut yesterday and Cooper and Dad had learned to play a new game together... "soccer." Cooper loves to watch soccer. It's amazing how he stares at it when on TV. Chris holds him and swings Cooper to kick the ball and Cooper LOVES it. He laughs and smiles. It's cute to see them together. (Don't mind the diapers in the background! Cooper was on a poopy diaper spree today that we started making a stack by the door to take directly outside instead of putting in the trash!)

The Pumpkin Patch

We've been planning to go to the pumpkin patch to pick our own pumpkins when fall came and it seemed like a perfect day with it being Grandma Smith's birthday. She and Uncle Cory came with Chris, Cooper, and I to take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch at Black Island Farms. We loved it! The ride was fun and the field of pumpkins was HUGE! It was a neat experience to walk through the vines and pumpkins to find just the right pumpkins. Once you find it, the guy cuts it off the vine and you get to carry it back to the tractor and take it home with you! It's going to be a new tradition for our family to go each year.

Exponential Growth

Cooper has always seemed to progress well, but lately it seems like he is exponentially progressing. Now, this makes for a happy momma, but a momma that is slightly sad to see her baby growing up so fast. Lately:

• He's crawling extremely well. 
• He has two teeth.
• He's saying "Dada."
• He's picking up little cereals with his fingers and getting it into his mouth.
• He started holding his own bottle today. Daddy was changing his diaper first thing this morning and Cooper was crying so I made bottle and was going to hold while Chris finished changing him, but before I could get to his mouth he grabbed and put in his own mouth and held it and drank it like he had done it before.
• He discovered how to get up to the bottom stair today.
• He's a wiggler like never before. Stinker crawled away from me the other day and turned back and looked at me, started peeing on the floor, and grinned. Total stinker! Personality is emerging!
• He has started to lean towards me when someone is holding him because he wants mommy.
• He's learned to reach for me (and gets excited) when we go to pick him up.

See what I mean! Growing too fast!!! I had an experience about two weeks ago where I was holding him and he was just looking into my eyes and I felt like the scenery changed. I was old and there was this grown man looking at me with those same blue eyes saying "Mom" and taking care of me. I can't believe he's going to grow up to be a man. It will all happen too fast. I adore this kid.

He got here all by himself. 

He thought it was so cool!

Cooper was crawling at Grandma Smith's and we noticed he somehow managed to get this spider on his back and was crawling around with it on there. He's hilarious!

He passed!!!

We have fantastic news! Cooper FINALLY passed his hearing test! They put him to sleep and did an ABR (special test to check hearing) and both ears are hearing perfectly normal! It's crazy they can test that when asleep! They had to give Cooper some oral medicine to put him to sleep. He was sleeping and cranky all day. We're just happy to finally know that he can hear... specifically hear normal.

With Daddy before given medicine to put him to sleep for his test.

With his cords hooked to him for testing.

Feeding Cooper apple juice after surgery. He was pretty out of it. His outfit also had to be unzipped for a monitor that was hooked to his foot.

Can you see them?

Cooper officially has his first two teeth! The first one came in on Grandparent's Day and the other followed about five days later. They are slowly moving up enough that I can actually get a picture. You can clearly see the one that came in first because it is higher. I love his little smile. Daddy always sings to him, "All I want for Christmas is my other 22 teeth." Makes me smile to see their relationship.

 Cooper is also starting to reach for me when he wants to be picked up. Love it!

First Football Game

Cooper got to go to his first football game today! We stayed until half time. He did really well. Overall, the noise and people didn't bother him. However, the band really scared him. The instruments were really loud. I'm so proud of him. He's becoming a big boy. Go Weber State! He's got his game face on:

Exploring

I heard a noise and turned around and saw two little legs and a bum sticking our from under my bed. Then I saw two feet. Then nothing. I looked under the bed and he made it to the other side. Found a toy and played a little and then crawled out the other side. Silly kid!

First Word

Cooper started saying "Dada" today! I was cooking dinner and he was playing and just started saying it over and over again. It's been non-stop ever since! He has one tooth in (it came in on Grandparent's Day) and the one next to it is almost in! He's also crawling! It's amazing how fast he's picked up things!

First Plate of Food

Cooper had his first plate of food today! Mashed potatoes and green beans. He loved it! At one point, he grabbed stuff with both hands and was trying to stuff both hands in his mouth.

Reaching for the camera. I don't think so!

Happy Grandparent's Day!

Today Chris and I made a yummy dinner for Cooper's grandparents to say "Thank you!" for all they've done and for being such wonderful grandparents. WE had steak kabobs, corn on the cob, pasta salad, fruit, and Butterscotch Delight! It was great to eat and chat. Sadly, Great-Grandma & Grandpa Call live too far away to come, but we called them. We love and miss them, too! Cooper's first tooth also came in! It's through the skin, but not out enough for a good picture.

Weber State, Weber State, Great, Great, Great!

Three generations of sweet, handsome men. Three generations of Weber State University Fans!

Chris and his dad went to the WSU vs. BYU football game. We got a quick shot before they left. It's something I hope Cooper always remembers--- getting to go to games with grandpa and daddy (even though Cooper didn't get to go this time).

I Love to See the Temple

We are so grateful that we got to walk through the Brigham City Temple today as our cute little family of three. Cooper did so well. He looked around, was reverent, and even smiled a few times. It's a gorgeous temple. The colors on the inside are beautiful and everything is perfectly decorated. It's 1 of 2 temples to have fruit trees on the grounds. There are apples, cherries, peaches, and pears. I loved all the peach blossoms throughout the temple's design and it even had "morris code" in the molding around the windows. The Spirit is definitely there. I loved the curtains in the endowment room. The chandeliers are beautiful, as in every temple. It was a great experience.

We also had Cooper touch the temple. When Chris was young, he remembers going to the temple and touching it and making a promise that he would come back there some day. He didn't remember this experience until the day he was going through the temple to receive his endowment to prepare to go on his mission. We made sure to have Cooper touch the temple and remind him that his goal was to be back there one day as well.

Kisses!

Cooper discovered he could give himself kisses in the mirror. Adorable!

First Family Pictures

I feel like these pictures truly capture our happiness as a family. I love being a wife and a mother. It's an exhausting job, but by far the most rewarding.

First Surgery

Cooper had his first surgery today. He needed ear tubes put in. We've known he has had fluid in his ear and it has caused him not to pass his hearing test, but we didn't realize how bad it was. We found out he isn't hearing sounds until they reach 50-60 decibels when he should be able to hear at 5-10 decibels. The doctor thought it was best to do surgery right away because his ears were 100% full of fluid. It was hard to watch the doctor carry him away, but Cooper just looked around like it was nothing. They told us he would probably be crying afterwards and we told them that he isn't a baby that cries over things like that and the nurse said  only about 1% don't cry so to expect him to cry. Well, they came to get us, with him in their arms, and he was just looking around like he just woke up from a nap! Not a single tear. It only took about 10 minutes. We have the best kid in the world.

Waiting to go in for surgery.

The anesthesiologist - Dr. Simmons -  told us that we've been through a lot and how great of parents we are. It felt great to hear and was something I needed.

9 Months Old

Cooper's nine months old! We went to his check up a couple of days ago and the doctor is amazed at how well he is doing! He weighs 16.23 pounds (2%tile), is 27.12 inches long (17%tile), and his head circumference is 17.4 inches (21%). These are based on a normal 9 month scale. It's amazing he even registers! He's doing so many things!

• He laughs more.
• He is army crawling. He gets his legs under him well and pushes forward.
• No teeth yet, but teething like crazy!
• He likes to put his thumb inside his binky to hold it and chew on it.
• Sometimes when he wakes up on his own in the mornings you can hear him happily talking to himself.
• He wakes up a happy kiddo! I love walking into his room for the first time in the mornings and getting a big smile.
• He's developed the personality to get upset if you take something away from him that he wants.
• He's sitting up like he's a pro. 
• His hair is getting long and is like chicken fuzz!
• He loves playing during bath time. I always wash him up and give him some time to play. He likes to splash.

He's a great kid! We love him to pieces!

First Laser Treatment

Cooper had his first laser treatment today. It was a test treatment so they only did a few spots. Once it heals, they will do a full treatment on his port wine birthmark. He did so well. He didn't even cry. He fussed at first because they swaddled him and covered his eyes, but he did great! I was so relieved because I was worried he was going to cry. I hope one day he looks back at these stories and pictures of his journey and realizes that he is strong and brave and that because he made it through these things, he can make it through anything.

Saran wrapped to hold on numbing cream.

Dad pushing Cooper into the hospital.

Didn't like getting bundled up. He even got his hand out once.

Wearing our gorgeous goggles to protect us from the laser. 

We also went to the ear doctor and they said Cooper's ears were still 100% full of fluid. They did a hearing test and he is hearing at about 50-60 decibels when he should be able to hear at 5-15. So, tomorrow he is having surgery. He has to be put under general anesthesia, but it should be done in 5-10 minutes. He should be able to hear a ton better as soon as surgery is done and the ears will continue to drain so that his hearing is fixed. I'm excited and scared for him at the same time. I hate seeing him have to go through all this, but the Lord has a plan. Sometimes I just wish he let us moms in on it!

Bath time!

Cooper is big enough to sit up on his own now so bath time has become more fun for him. He loves to splash. We used to sit his tub on the counter because it's easier on my back and knees, but he makes such a big mess with splashing that this is our new set up. I love it because I can wash him and then give him time to play and don't have a soaked floor and counter to clean up after.