Cooper's Birthday

Cooper woke up really early on his birthday.  I'm not sure why since I don't think he knew to be excited.  But he was cute as he sat on the bed by me while I tried to wake up.

Later in the morning, Todd took the kids to the farm.  I think Cooper enjoyed the animals and tractor ride.

That evening, we had a small gathering for presents and cake and ice cream.   He was cute ripping open his presents and loved getting a digger and a garbage truck!  He also had fun playing with his new basketball hoop!  So much fun that Ethan was dying for treats and couldn't get Cooper to stop playing with his new toys.  Finally Ethan reminded Cooper that his cake had diggers on it and that's all it took!  Cooper dropped his toys and ran into the kitchen shouting "Ber-day cake!  Diggers!"  

Cooper surprised us all by blowing out his 2 candle with one simple blow!

Ending the day with cake and ice cream is a pretty good way to go.  Happy birthday Cooper!

  

Cooper's Birthday Cake

I love making special birthday cakes or cupcakes!  It's so much fun.  This year was a little different, but thanks to Todd and Raelynn, I was still able to decorate Cooper's cake.

Todd made and frosted the cake and then they brought it over to me to decorate while resting on the couch.  I was having a hard day, missing out on Cooper's birthday fun and everything, but decorating his cake really lifted my spirits.

Cooper loved his cake.  And he's enjoyed playing with the diggers ever since.  

Cooper

Cooper!  You had a birthday and now you are two!!  Though if I ask you, you say "three!"  Only because you like to count.  If I ask you if you are one, you'll say two.

Ways that I'd describe you:

Silly.  You love to do things that make people laugh.

Rascal. You like doing things you know you shouldn't (though you haven't colored on the walls for a while! )

Clever.  You can say everything.  You can count.  You know where I hide things.  You know where we are when we're driving in the car.  

Messy. You like to throw your food, your tray.  You like to take a big drink of water just to spit it out.  You like to dump things out and get covered in dirt.

Darling.  Everything about you is cute.  Every thing you do and say.  Even when you're being the mess maker.  I love your mannerisms.  Your twinkly eyes.  The way you cock your head.  I love how you call for me almost every morning even though I haven't been able to get you out of bed for over a month.  I love your hair. You have great hair.  I love the way you run.  

Polite.  Well, for a two year old!  You say please and thank you and fold your arms during prayers.

Captivating.  We've all loved you from the moment we saw you.  You make our lives happy.  You make us better.  You keep us busy.  

Happy Birthday to my sweet Cooper.  I love you forever!

My happy guy on his birthday

Baby Love

When I first went down, all I could think about were the people right in front of my face.  I had people ask me how I was doing in regards to my baby and I just told them I couldn't think about that.  My brain really didn't seem to let me think about him at first.  Probably because of how hard it was for me when Cooper was in the NICU.  And this time would probably be much harder and longer.  If I thought about it, I was taken back to Cooper getting transfusions and the pain was so fresh.  I can feel everything again if I let myself.  So I just didn't think about him.

That was fine for awhile, but then I started getting bugged that I couldn't think about him.  My brain just wouldn't let me.  Until I went and had an ultrasound where they gave me this picture:

I sat there staring at it that afternoon and suddenly he was so real!  I suddenly loved him so much.  And yes, I cried like crazy.  But I was also so happy that he was real to me.  And no matter how hard it is, I can hardly wait to have him in my arms.  I know it might be scary, but I feel an overwhelming sense of peace.  He'll be okay.  And he will be mine!!

I made these for him:

I hope the hat ends up being too small.  That would be awesome.  

I love you baby!  You are so worth every second I'm in bed.  Every second I'm missing out on stuff.  I love how I can feel your precious and powerful spirit already.

Bed Rest

I wrote the following down just three days after being put on bed rest.  I thought it was worth sharing.  I'm not sure I've been very good at focusing on the positives.  I've had some really hard days.  But I'm still trying!

Bed rest

I can't be in the sounds of the seasons choir.

I can't go to church.

I can't witness the Ogden temple dedication with my 8 year old son.

I can't go to San Francisco on a get-a-way with my husband.

I can't take Cooper to the farm for his second birthday.

I can't watch my children in their swimming lessons.

But

I can witness them serving.  Doing jobs they've never tried before because they thought they couldn't do them.

I can watch my husband take on everything with no complaints and so full of love.

I can feel the power of the prayers that surround me from the countless people that love me.

I have time to think of my Savior, of motherhood, of what is important.

It isn't easy and it will be long

But,

I want to focus on what I have and what I can and what I feel that is good.

And someday

I'll hold a little precious boy with a strong spirit and a brave heart.  He'll have to be a fighter and I'll feel his bravery and absorb some for myself.

...

Pictures from the first week of bed rest: compression pumps at the hospital, paper jewelry from my kids, and stacks of toys on me from Cooper:

Bed rest selfie, taken day 13 of bed rest

Day 22

I stare at my feet, the tv, board games, and crochet.  (Not pictured: my book, my scriptures, and my journal). 

Alive, but not Kickin' (that's not allowed)

I've missed blogging.  So much so, that I'm going to attempt posting from my phone.  Which is really inconvenient.  But let's be honest, so is bed rest so maybe it will work.  It kills me that I didn't post about Cooper's second birthday.  Even worse that I couldn't do his final photo shoot on his birthday.  I like doing stuff like that.  For me.  Cuz it makes me happy.  But missing out on the actual real stuff has been the hardest.  I'm so grateful for the people who love me and my family and have helped so much.

I've been on bed rest since September 3rd.  I can't exactly say it's gone fast.  But the fact that tomorrow is October kinda blows my mind.

Tomorrow I'll be 29 weeks.  Every week down is a victory.  I can probably make it even longer than I think.  I hope so.  I'm grateful every day that I'm still pregnant.

Maybe if this post turns out right, I'll attempt to post with pictures.  Hopefully I can take them straight from my phone onto my blog.  I'll have never seen them big and can't edit them but seriously, how can I worry about that at this point!  I think if I can blog about the fun things my kids have been doing, it will make me happy.  Even if I do have to post from my phone!

August's Ten Things

Well, August is over.  cRaZy!  But I love September and Cooper is gonna be 2 so it's all good.  Here are my ten things to smile about in August:

1.  Heber camping party

 2.  Celebrating my Dad's birthday with Butter Pecan Cake with Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream on top!  YUM!

 3.  Taking Cooper (and everyone else) to the truck show and hearing Cooper shout, "BIG CAR WOAH!!"  ten thousand times!

 Cooper heaven

4.  Getting my new ring! 

5.  Finding a random car with eyelashes on the side of the road and stealing a photo by it!

 6.  Watching the kids listen to Todd's FHE lesson

 7.  Seeing these two be piano buddies

 8.  Going to the Ogden Temple Open House

 9.  Dog piles!

10.  Evenings filled with family, giant shaved ice, and a dance party at home to end the night.