A Little About Me...

I am always making some sort of noise, whether it be hiccups, grunts, coos (or "purrs" as my Aunt Lucy calls them), grumbles, etc. I think this makes me excellent company.

I love, love, LOVE to be held.

I find Harrison's chatter, hugs and even his rather loud yells when playing very soothing. It is rare that I will cry while Harrison is in earshot.

I love to have my feet rubbed (I am my Mother's child, after all).

I hate baths.

I love being outside and going on walks in my stroller.

I go from happy-go-lucky to furious in 2.7 seconds when hunger hits (again, have you met my Mother?).

Watch out if you are the one dealing with my diaper - I have peed on Daddy more times than I can count (he he he) and explosive-pooped on Mama once too. Charming, I know.

I love to hold hands.

I love meeting Mama and Daddy's friends - so if we haven't met yet, come on over!

Our First Meal Out As a Foursome!

H: Mama did not want to spend any more time at the house than we absolutely had to since she's been on bed rest and/or stuck in a hospital bed for the past 2 weeks, so when it was time for dinner we walked to downtown Decatur. Thankfully almost every restaurant has outdoor seating (Coop's too little to be around lots of people in enclosed places) and somehow we landed on Ruby Tuesday. It was actually a really great dinner and we got to talk to a lot of nice people too - I mean, who can resist stopping to talk to us when they see us 3 handsome boys, right?

I still love my lemons:

Mama and her boys (minus Daddy - somebody had to take the picture!):

Afternoon at the Airshow

H: This afternoon we all decided to get some fresh air (Mama saw the doctor yesterday and was freed from bed rest!), so we headed to Peachtree-DeKalb Aiport for the Good Neighbor Airshow. It was so cool to see some of the crazy stunts the planes could do - we even saw a plane land on a moving pickup truck!

C: It was dang hot, so I chilled in the shade of a plane wing.

The Boys at Home

H: I really love having Cooper out of Mama's belly and at home with us! When he cries, I say "It's okay, Cooper - I'm here and I'll make you feel better. I love you, Cooper! I'll read you a book." It is fun having another little person in the house - now if I could just teach him to talk...



H: Our first dinner with the 4 of us at the table together! Even if Cooper just slept through the whole thing, it was fun having him here with us!

H: Mama and Daddy said that this swing was mine from when I was little, but it has been stored away for so long that it is like having a brand new toy again! Luckily it can hold up to 25lbs and I am just 27, so I have been swinging my heart out lately. Coop's too small for it right now anyways...

C: What is Harrison doing in my swing?

Daddy sure likes having both of his boys in his arms!

So, Bath Time's Not My Favorite...

C: As gentle as Daddy and Mama are, as warm as the water is, still doesn't make me like this. I want to be dry, warm and snuggled with someone. And that's that. Is that too much to ask?

This. Sucks.

Clean? Check. Dry? Check. Binky? Check. Snuggled up to Mama? Check. Happy? Check!

Home Sweet Home

C: Mama got the green light to go home today, which means I get to go home too! Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Lucy, Papa & Bebe were there to see us off and celebrate with us. The day we've all been waiting for!

H: I can't wait to introduce Cooper to our puppies and kitty at home - and to show him all of *our* toys, our cool bunk bed, the time-out corners, how to feed Stirling, and all of the places we play ball in the house. Let's go!

H: No more sitting back here all by myself! I have been informed that my special job is to read books to Cooper:

C: I'm buckled in and ready to go. Let's roll!

Together at Last!

C: This afternoon I got a big surprise - I got to leave the nursery and go to Mama's room! This was a huge treat for both of us - especially since my big brother never got to share a room at the hospital with Mama. And the timing couldn't have been better - there were lots of friends and family waiting in the room to meet me! I have been waiting for this moment since I arrived - to be held all the time and snuggled in the arms of my family and friends!

Is it surprising to anyone that Mama's health improved so much after this move that she got to go home the very next day? Some things are better than any medicine!

My wonderful Aunt Kelly:

More of my lovely Aunts - Marilyn & Sara:

Ahh, finally a kiss from my big brother. And I spent much of the afternoon cuddled in Uncle George's arms - he was so comfy!

Sweet Aunt Marilyn:

H: Did you really think you were going to read a whole post without hearing from ME? Not a chance! Papa and Bebe got me some "Congratulations, You're A Big Brother" presents (aren't they thoughtful?). I got some of my favorite things -books! And these were just any books, but really funny Dinosaur books! I love them! Thank you Papa & Bebe!

After a perfect day, it's time for me, Mama and Bebe to get some sleep - good night!

Mama and the Boys

C: Today Mama got to hold me once again - oh how we both loved this moment! I don't think it's any coincidence that we both started feeling better that night...

H: Since Mama and Cooper have been in the hospital, I have gotten a treat and have been staying with Bebe and Papa every night. We go up to see Mama, Daddy & Cooper each day, and I think this is all kind of fun! There are these cool pedals in Mama's room that turn the water on in the sink, a curtain to hide behind, and really good food that Mama always shares with me. Plus I get to peek in the window down the hall and see my baby brother!

Family Time

C: Today I finally got to meet my best friend - Harrison got to come and visit me today! Daddy brought him into the NICU after he scrubbed up in the sink and put a thermometer strip on his forehead to make sure he wasn't sick. Harrison walked right up to my bed and said "I love you, Cooper!". I immediately woke up, turned my head and looked right at him. I have been so wanting to see my big brother after all of these months of listening to his voice while I was in Mama's belly - I know his laugh, his cries, his animated voice while he tells stories and how his voice gets all sweet and soft when he tells us he loves us.

As if that wasn't a big enough treat for me, Bebe & Papa came to see me too! No one was allowed to pick me up today, but I got to hold some fingers and listen to everyone's voice now - it is wonderful to hear the voices of those I love so clearly now! I love my family and I already know what a lucky little boy I am!

FYI - the contraption on my right hand is my IV. Yuck.

Hello Everyone! It's Me, Cooper!

C: I just felt like I was missing out on too much to stay in Mama's belly a minute longer - so here I am! I arrived into this colorful, loud, bright world on May 20th at 2:40pm, weighing in at a meaty 5lbs 6oz.

Mama was sick and I was a little early so we were separated for a while after I was born, but Daddy, Bebe, Grandmama, Aunt Sara and Aunt Kelly kept a close eye over me in the Intermediate Nursery. The nurses at Piedmont were wonderful and I knew I was in great hands, but I just wanted to be with my family!

I finally got to go to Mama & Daddy's room late that night and snuggled with them for a short, wonderful while, but then I was whisked off the the NICU early the next morning for some additional monitoring of my breathing. I didn't know it at the time, but Mama had gotten sicker too, and was stuck in her room for a few days and was not allowed to come and see me until Saturday (who knew that 3 days could feel like years?).

Anyways, all is wonderful now and I am in love with this new life of mine already!

H: I knew something fun was up when Aunt Kelly came to pick me up from school today! She told me that my baby brother was FINALLY here! Yahoo! I can't believe it! No more talking to Mama's belly - I can talk to Cooper now!

Aunt Kelly took me to dinner and then brought me to the hospital to meet Cooper for the first time. Unfortunately, I was not allowed in the Intermediate Nursery, but was able to look in the windows just after Mama & Daddy got to go in to see Cooper. I was a little shocked at everything (and why the heck is Mama in a wheelchair?) and wanted to be with Mama & Daddy, but Bebe and Aunt Kelly held me and helped me look at my handsome little brother. He's so little! But I love him to bits already - I can't wait to hold him! I love you Cooper!!!

It's bright and loud out here in the world!

Couldn't they have heated that thing up before pressing it on my chest?

Ahh, the heating lamps feel divine. I'm exhausted.

After a long, long, LONG wait, Mama finally got to come and see me:

My first look at my sweet baby brother:



And a kiss from Mama (I think she missed me):



Late that night, I got to nap with Daddy:



And a delicious snuggle with Mama. Good Night!