Birthday Boy

Cooper had a great birthday. He was happy and content all day long for the most part. He decided that today would be the day that he would take his first steps… and for the first time stand without holding onto something. I video taped him taking those steps, but I didn’t get any pictures. Here are some pictures of a few of him attempts to stand and walk…

They are so clumsy, but have so much determination. It is just so cute to me. I love milestones! They are bitter-sweet for me this time though. I want my baby to grow up, but be a baby still…and that just isn’t possible. I guess I just have to come to the conclusion that my little family is growing up.

THE CAKE (I wish I could take the credit for this, but I can’t Broulims made it…)

Cooper however didn’t care who made it, he was just happy to have CAKE…

He ate every last crumb. He loved it!

THE GIFT…When Bridger was turning ONE Jason decided that he wanted to get him a little Cricket 22. May seem crazy to lots of people (including me) until Jason explained to me the reasons behind him wanting to do so. So, Bridger got his, Addi got hers, so it only seemed fair that Cooper get one to.

I know that it doesn’t really mean anything to him right now, but with time it will! We hope so anyway.

It was a great day. A HUGE THANKS to Gary and Lori for coming over and spending a few hours Celebrating his birthday. We love you guys. THANKS to everyone who thought of him on his 1st Birthday, and spoiled him with gifts. We love all of you.

Cooper at 1 year old…

• You are a HUGE Mammas Boy. I don’t mind at all though, and am trying to take it in. I know that it won’t last forever.
• You LOVE your binky. You have always loved to suck. It soothes you, and comforts you. So I have no desire to take it away yet. I have never had a binky baby before, and like it!
• You have 4 teeth, and are trying to cut 2 more this week. You have your bottom 2 and upper left 2.
• You got the tooth just left of your front tooth before you got your front tooth.
• You were 10 1/2 months old when you cut your first tooth, your bottom teeth and they came through 2 days apart.
• at 11 months old I started to let you cry yourself to sleep. The time you cried yourself to sleep for 25 minuets. The next night it was 10 minuets (or so-you literally just fell to sleep and it didn’t take long at all). Then the next day for nap I laid you down and you didn’t make a peep! Not a single sound. I was so relieved. I am NOT good at doing stuff like that. I know that it wasn’t hurting you, but I HATED every second of it. You have done pretty well. You sleep most of the night in your crib, but when you wake up you usually end up cuddling right next to me for the rest of the night.
• You are a very picky eater. You live off of candy. Grandma Jonna said the same thing about me. You love to feed  yourself though…absolutely love it! You love yogurt, fruit and bread. Vegetables are NOT what you would choose, but will eat them IF and only IF it is your decision.
• You SMILE ALL THE TIME!!! No matter who it is, or if you are mad, shy, sick, unhappy or whatever emotion you are feeling…you usually always have a smile on your face. I love it. You brother and sister didn’t do that.
• You like to point at stuff. You will point at dad or I and we will point back then you will just SMILE and SMILE. You are so cute.
• You nursed until you were 9 months old. Then at that time I only nursed you at night (because that was your comfort, and my only sanity to get some sleep). I introduced you to cows milk at 9 months old. By 11 months you were completely done nursing. It was a pretty easy transition with the exception of a few long nights.
• You never had a bottle. You went straight to a sippy cup, and haven’t looked back.
• You are a scrawny little thing. I bet you don’t weigh 18lbs soaking wet. You have short legs, and a long torso. If it wasn’t for the length you could wear 3-6 month pants still.
• You have an adorable personality. For example…Bridger & Addi were wrestling the other night, and you would back yourself into them and lay down like you wanted to be part of the action. Made dad and I laugh and laugh.
• You LOVE THE WATER and would do anything and everything to play in it. Bath time is your favorite time of day. You splash and splash. The toilet has become a FUN place for you to play as well. Just last night you decided to put Daddy’s phone in the toilet…NOT what we needed…not what Dad needed.
• You are constantly into things. The kitchen floor is always scattered with utensils, bowls, and pots & pans. You LOVE to empty it and crawl away. Little Stinker!!!
• I am sure I will think of more and add from time to time…but one thing is for sure… YOU ARE LOVED AS MUCH AS ANY LITTLE BOY COULD BE!!!

ONE!!!

Today is ALL ABOUT COOPER…Today is his 1st Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!!!

A year ago today I was driving myself to the hospital, and Jason was hitching rides with anyone he could get a hold of (after I called and told him he had better not go fishing and so he was dropped off at the gas station until someone could pick him up)…Uncle Bryce was breaking lots of speed limit laws, and we finally made it to the hospital. You can read the whole story here.

A year ago Jason and I were blessed with a perfect little baby boy…and today we feel blessed with a fun, energetic, smiley, and always pretty happy and still perfect little boy!

We feel so blessed everyday that these 3 call us Mom & Dad.

Happy Birthday little Man!!!

more on his birthday to come soon…

Out & About

We are getting a terrible storm right now. Have been for a few days. Every road in and out of the Valley is closed. School has been canceled for two days now. It just snows and snows and snow. It is a nasty storm. We have received A LOT of snow in the last few days, probably close to 18 inches. The storm didn’t seam to stop these cute little critters from wandering around.

First I saw them by our pond…

A few hours later I saw them by the barn…

Then they were in the front yard…

This is the view from the front door. They weren’t very scared at all. Aren’t they just so darn cute.

Made me happy today! I just love to watch them. I think they are so darn cute.

Heaven needs a Hero

Personal Journal Post…

I have shed quite a few tears in the last 24 hours. I received a phone call that didn't deliver very good news yesterday. One of my favorite Aunts isn’t doing well, and they told my uncle it is down to just days. She has been battling cancer for a few years now, and has put up a HUGE fight. A very good fight. I am incredibly proud of her. She is however tired, and it has taken its toll on her and her family. I can’t blame her. It has been a very aggressive cancer. She has tried treatment after treatment with some successes and lots of failures. She has been unbelievably strong, brave and an incredible example to everyone in her life. This last week she has gone down hill pretty fast. My heart is just broken. She has been at the forefront of my mind for a few weeks now. I have been trying to figure out financially how we could afford to go to California. I really needed and wanted to see her before she got to this point. It all happened so fast though-not that I didn’t know it was coming, someday, but someday caught up to me way to fast, and now I feel like I missed my opportunity. I am so grateful that there are some people in my life that know what they mean to me even when I don’t get to take the opportunity to talk to them very frequently. I came across this song today-I really don’t know how, I was looking for Christmas music, and there is was… it couldn’t have been more perfect…

“Heaven was Needing A Hero” by JoDee Messina (if it isn’t playing you can hear it by pushing play on my playlist. It is the first song).

I came by today to see you
Oh I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time
I'd have held you, and never let go 

Oh, it's kept me awake nights, wondering
I lie in the dark, just asking why
I've always been told
You won't be called home
Until it's your time 

I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you 

I remember the last time I saw you
Oh, you held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
Your such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more 

Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you 

Is Heaven was needing a hero
and that's you

I can’t make it through the song without crying right now. But, it is so true. I don’t know why else my Heavenly Father would need her, unless he needs a HERO in Heaven!!! That is exactly what she is to so many people.

If you gets the opportunity to read this, or hear this I want you to know how much I love you. How much I admire you, and how much you have influenced my life. I have always looked up to you in more ways then you could possibly ever know- because I never told you. I have always had such an appreciation for you. I absolutely loved it when people would say that I looked just like you. It is such a little thing, but I adored it every time. You always put everyone else first. I love that so much about you. The relationship that you have with your kids is something I want with mine. It just seems like you found such a good balance between being a friend and being a mom. That is something I think is so important. Your generosity is something that has touched me on more then one occasion. That picture from the wardrobe that you just came home with one day for me and Jason still can bring a tear to my eye. The license plates on Jason’s truck-they will always remind me of you! You were just always thinking of others. Wilson Phillips will always bring me right back to California and you. I have never forgot when we were there so many years ago, you told me if I shaved my legs down first then up they would stay shaved longer, and be softer longer. 4th of July’s were always so exciting for me because we could come to Grandma’s and see you. I never wanted to give up an opportunity to see you, and that has never changed. I regret a lot though. Not taking that job at Hogi Yogi and living with you for the summer. Not coming down the countless times you have asked us to…not picking up the phone when I thought of you…I will forever regret that. But, I am grateful for the relationship that we have had. For the memories I will carry in my heart forever. I love you so much. THANK YOU for being the you that I can look up to. Thank you for being someone I can admire and trust. I love you so much!

I am grateful for the knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ, and that someday we will understand WHY things happen, and the reasons that they do. My heart aches for my Uncle and my cousins. Please know that I love you guys. If there is anything that I can do please let me know. I admire you all so much. Thanks for being such great examples of strength and faith. I LOVE YOU!

The first snow

Then end of October we got a huge snowstorm that put down like 7inches of snow. Bridge and Addi were SO EXCITED! I am usually excited and ready for the first snow of the year, but I really wasn’t this year. It didn’t take Addi and Bridge very long though to put on their snow clothes and head into the fluffy white stuff.

This snowman they made all by themselves…

Then of course you have to make a Snow Angel…

Coop didn’t know what to think of it. He probably would have played in it to if I would have let him. But he seemed to be content watching his brother and sister play in it!

All of this snow melted, but it is snowing now, and I think winter is here to stick. Still not sure that I am ready for it though…but with snow comes the holidays, and I LOVE THEM!!! So I will take the snow.

A sunday with family…

On Halloween day after our trip to Shelly to see my cousins give his farewell report we headed to Rexburg to spend some time with the Park family. I LOVE being around family. I think it is so important to do stuff together to form relationships and truly appreciate what we have to offer each other. I LOVE it…

The kids always have so much fun together. I love watching them play. McKenna always takes Addi into her room, does her hair, puts makeup on her and makes her feel so special. They usually learn a dance and perform it to everyone! I love that she is so good at playing with her (unless Taylor is there, then Addi and Brilyn usually BUG the older girls-laughing).

Poor Teegan takes so much crap from Uncle Jason. In the above picture he would pull his pants down and pull his shirt over his head. He would walk right into the trap! He is such a good sport about it though. And of course him and Bridger have to hit the mat and show off a few wrestling moves.  They are the same size, and both pretty limber and flexible. They put up a good match.

Carter has blown me away with the way that he has completely come out of his shell the last few months. He use to be so shy and almost anxious when he was in a group of people. BUT that is no longer the case. He is right there with the other boys, and has a HUGE smile on his face. I just love him. Ryker man is such a funny kid. He is a big kid, and can hold his own even though the other boys are years older then him. He has the greatest personality…you just laugh when he is there cause he is just himself!

I just love it when we can all get together. I wish Holly and Brian were closer so we could see them and the girls more often. Miss you guys so much.

Gary planted fish in the pond at his place in Rexburg. The kids have absolutely loved that they have the opportunity to fish just there at the house. Unfortunately the fish had to all be caught before the pond was froze over. He planted some “gold” trout. There was going to be a reward of $5.00 for the person who caught one of them first!  So that Sunday we had a fish-a-thon…

GUESS WHO caught the first gold fish???

You guessed it BRIDGER. As if he wasn’t cocky enough. Laughing! It was so cold, so of course I was inside the house with Coop, and didn’t get to watch any of the fishing. Look at how successful there few hours were though…

Grandma Lori and McKenna caught the biggest fish of the day. I hope I remember correctly that they were 24 inches long. WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!

THANKS SO MUCH for such a wonderful day! I appreciate all of your generosity and love.

Complete with a football…

I love it when I can coordinate my kiddos for Halloween. I don’t know how long I will be able to do that. I think this might be the last time, Bridge is getting more and more independent. One year I had Bridger be a cowboy, and Addi was a cow…this year we had a little …

CUTE LITTLE CHEERLEADER, complete with white cowboy boots…

A STONG FOOTBALL PLAYER, pads and all…

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FOOTBALL…

They all looked completely ADORABLE!!! I had some cute pictures of Cooper, but I got an error when I tried to upload them. Makes me sad!!!

We don’t watch a lot of football in our home. We don’t have a favorite team. We don’t really care…so I decided to go with Grandma Lori’s, and Josh’s and Brian’s team!!! Go COWBOYS…

Chant decided to have Logan and Boston be part of our team this year. I think they all just look so cute.

We are always on the go for Halloween day. It seems like we aren’t in one place long enough to actually go trick or treating. BUT this year we were. We spend the evening and night at my parents. We had a mission farewell to go to on Sunday in Shelley. So while Jason was still helping his dad in Rexburg, my mom and dad took Bridge and Addi around to a few houses. This is the first year they have ever gone door to door. Thanks so much mom for being there with me cause Jason couldn’t make it in time. Brought back a lot of wonderful memories.

I think the best treat that they got was huge licorice rope! They thought that was just completely awesome. I had to laugh at Bridge, when his bucket was getting closer to the top he said “We can be done, my bucket is full.” Addi could have gone all night long. If she didn’t have to go to the bathroom so bad, I probably would have taken her to a few more places!!! They just loved it. It was so fun to see them excited. Cooper stayed with Grandpa while we went door to door…Thanks TONS dad. You guys are just the best.

Happy Halloween!!!