Going to the chapel

(warning-picture overload!)

Thursday we headed down to Austin for Michelle (B’s cousin) and Matt’s wedding.  They are also Briggs’ soon to be Godparents.  The drive down there was chaos.  Ben fell asleep when we were 20 minutes from Waco and then it was time to stop and feed Briggs.  The rest of the drive consisted of Ben screaming at Briggs every time he’d fall asleep just because he was being a mean big brother.  Poor Briggs.  We also got stuck in two crazy traffic jams which added an hour to the trip.  All 4 of us were very happy to make it to Boots and Gramma’s.

Boots meeting Briggs for the first time

Friday morning all the girls went over to Jim and Jan’s (Michelle’s parents) to help with the flowers.  Her matron of honor is good with flowers so they decided to do it themselves.  The were pretty, but man am I glad we had a florist for our wedding

Aunt Lisa meets Briggs at the rehearsal wedding.  When we weren’t eating, he was cuddled in her arms.

Friday and Saturday nights we stayed with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kiss-tin.  Kristin made these cinnamon rolls Saturday morning FROM SCRATCH!  It took almost 3 hours and they were all organic and dairy free (yay for Briggs).  She is an amazing cook and loves to make things that are super healthy.  Just a little better than the ones I make that come in a roll.

Ben was ‘helping’ me get ready for the wedding.  I let him play with some of my makeup brushes while I did mine to keep him occupied.  He found my eyeliner.  He even tried to keep it around his eyes like Mommy.

I had to take a picture of the view Tommy and Kristin get to look at each day from their back porch.  So pretty (and they have hands down the cleanest house we have ever seen-we are in awe of it).

 

We were a little worried about the boys during the ceremony.  We sat in the back and as luck would have it, the minute everyone was supposed to be quiet so the wedding could start, Briggs starts screaming and crying.  As B was walking him out, Ben starts yelling for him.  Gramma took Ben out and just as the first bridesmaid is about to walk down the aisle you hear Ben yell, “mommy!”  All we could do is laugh.  Boots, Gramma and B took the boys to the prayer chapel for the rest of the ceremony.  Michelle and Matt got married at the same church we did (and where Ben was Baptized).  It was wonderful to sit there and look around and think about our wedding almost 7 years ago.  Although somehow they got chairs to sit in, we had to kneel!  Not fair!  But man, I love St. Catherine’s so much. 

 

asleep on Gramma

B doing the silly smile Ben gives us when we say cheese

One of my room moms made this onesie for Briggs.  He looked adorable in it (and kind of like a Chippendale dancer).  He made it through the ceremony, but had a HUGE blowout at Gramma’s house afterwards.  Thank God I had a change of clothes, but it wasn’t cute at all.

Okay- so this little man did not go to bed until 11-12 all 3 nights and only got about a 20 minute nap each day in the car.  He could open the doors and would refuse to sleep so we didn’t even try it (I know-good parenting).  He slept with me the first night (yay for 7 hours of sleep) and B the next two while I got the little man.  It was so, so, so sad putting him down tonight.  He SCREAMED and cried for one of us to sleep with him.  Broke my heart.  This was his nap on the way to the reception.

Still sleeping when we got to the reception

I just like this one

Aunt Tina was in the wedding.  I swear she can spot a lens a mile away.  She was walking back with a drink and saw me and immediately struck a pose.  LOVE her!

Michelle graciously ordered Ben a kid’s meal and they even found ketchup!  There were M&M’s at the tables and he was covered in those and ketchup.

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Johnson

We tried for a family pic, but Ben wanted nothing to do with it.

I know what you’re thinking-B actually let someone take his picture!  Miracles happen!

and another!

he kind of looks like he’s smiling

Aunt Tina and Boots during the Daddy/Daughter Dance

Gramma and Tommy during the Mother/Son dance (I’m sure it shocks everyone that Tommy and not B is the son dancing)

This sweet girl is Caroline and is 10.  Ben called her his girlfriend all night and just wanted to play with her.  All she wanted to do was sit down and read her Kindle, but every time Ben would come over she’d get up and play with him.  It was so sweet.  She took him to get cake and when we took his cake plate from him so he’d come with us he started yelling that it was his “girlfriend’s cake.” 

playing with B’s baby cousin, Nicholas

B snapped a picture of me dancing with my little one outside

Kiss-tin tried so hard to get Ben to dance with her, but he was so overtired at this point

Michelle looked absolutely amazing and I loved her dress.  Move over Princess Kate!

Our car packed to come home.  The ride home was much easier than the ride down.  Ben slept for most of the first part until we stopped for lunch and Briggs slept just about the entire time.

my littles watching a little tv when we got home (Ben brings his little chair to his table in to the room now)

ABCDEFG…

Ben has been spending his days and nights lately SCREAMING his ABC’s over and over.  It lost it’s cuteness awhile ago, but I’m glad he knows them.  He’ll even pause halfway through and say, “what’s next?” like I do when he’s singing. 

Gramma came last Monday-Wednesday and Ben loved having another person here to order around.  Gramma is like Daddy with pictures so you have to sneak them when you can.  This one is through the window, hee hee hee.  Thanks Gramma for coming.  I loved the extra sleep and the ‘me’ time.  See you in a few days!  Gramma told Ben that she and Boots would have donuts at their house so that’s all Ben’s talked about since she left. 

Ashley brought Mayson over to play last week.  I gave them each a cereal bar to prevent a meltdown during the witching hour.  They each took one bite.  Can you guess which one belongs to which kiddo.  Ben also spent the first 10 minutes chasing Mayson around saying, “kiss, kiss” until she kissed him.

The first time in the Bumbo…still working on liking it

Kisses for our baby Briggs last night

Grammy got Ben this Grinch for Christmas along with the matching book.  It sat in a cubby in his playroom until I was in the hospital with Briggs when Aunt Tina and Gramma found it.  They were using it to teach Ben how to be gentle and loving with a baby.  It’s since become his baby and must be near him most of the time.  He sleeps with it (and a zillion other lovies) and takes it downstairs when he’s awake.  The other night we had that typical frantic scene where while Daddy was tucking Ben in, Mommy was running around looking for Baby because Ben would not calm down until he had it.  I think it’s funny that his ‘baby’ is a green grinch. 

Today we met Daddy for a picnic in the park for lunch.  Our friends, Ashlee and Jonathan, do this often and I’ve been so envious of them.  It’s just too hot during the summer or winter breaks so I said that as soon as I could stay home, we’d make it a normal thing.  It was so fun and relaxing.  We picnic’d my way-take out from Potbelly’s, but I promised B I’d learn how to picnic properly with a basket and everything   Might need some pointers from Ashlee.

Briggs was not a happy baby when we got there.  The child wants to be held ALL THE TIME.  He will cry for at least an hour if you’d let him until you pick him up.  He just wants to be cuddled and loved on.  It makes getting things done around the house a little tricky.  Doesn’t care for his swing or bouncy chair, just wants to be held.  He’ll even sleep sitting up as long as your heart beat is near his ear.

There was a playground at the park and Ben was so mad he couldn’t play on it (we didn’t time lunch right with naps and Daddy’s schedule).  He also refused to eat his sandwich because he heard me order chips in the drive through.  Daddy said no chips until you eat your sandwich so the clever boy hid his sandwich, fed it to a tree, fed it to Daddy and put it in his mouth and when he though B wasn’t looking took it out.  Tsk, Tsk, tsk little stinker!

We are headed to Austin on Thursday for Michelle’s wedding.  The littles’ first wedding and Briggs’ first car trip.  So excited!  Ben’s been practicing his dancing.  Get ready Aunt Tina!

A Inna

On Wednesday, my Aunt Linda (and our biggest blog follower) came for a visit. Ben called her A Inna the whole time. It was her first time to our house and the first time to meet Briggs. She told me she thought Briggs would want nothing to do with her and she’d spend her time with Ben, but Briggs LOVED her. He found his comfy place on her chest and didn’t move the entire time she was here.

My dad wasn’t a very nice big brother to Aunt Linda so she’s always trying to find ways to get back at hiim. I am a big Bears fan because of my dad so she thinks it fun to give the boys stupid Green Bay Packers crap just to tick him off. Somehow my kids have to suffer because Pops was a stinky big brother!

He’s really not smiling.

We took the boys to the park on Thursday with some bread for the ducks. This momma was a little worried about one of the aggressive ducks getting close to my Ben, but he loved it.

Ben was being a stinker with pictures

With Aunt Linda around I was able to sneak away a few times. I got to visit a friend who just had a baby, do some shopping and visit my team at school. Thank you, Inna!

We ate dinner Thursday night out back and enjoyed Cinco de Mayo. We tried to give Ben a cheese quesadilla (with ketchup so he’d eat it), but all he did was get messy with ketchup. I found the hose and we had some fun. At first the freezing cold water was too much for him, but it didn’t take long for his little naked body to love it. He’d run up to the hose, scream and then run away as I sprayed him laughing with a huge smile. Briggs hung out with his Inna and watched. Inna even watched the littles so we could go on a little date to the movies. My favorite line was when I called to check in and she said that Ben "ate 47 nuggets and a gallon of ketchup." Thank you Inna, we love you so much and can’t wait to see you in a few months! Ben even asked for you tonight as he was trying to talk his way out of going to bed.

Yesterday it took Ben a whopping 2 hours to fall asleep so once he did Briggs and I scooted outside to keep the house quiet. Briggs worked on his tan under the tree until my friend Sharon stopped by.

My little buddy helping me do some shopping He loves to drive the carts.

For Mother’s Day all I wanted to sleep so B graciously took all the feedings after the first one and I got to sleep in until 11!!! Almost 7 hours of sleep=AMAZING! Briggs rocked while Aunt Linda was here and slept for 4 hour stretches each night so I only had to get up once. When Daddy takes the reigns he sleeps for 3 hours and then wakes every 2 hours, oops-sorry B! But he did smile and laugh for B this morning when I was sleeping. I’ve been VERY worried about how he’s not happy enough. I’m hoping it’s because he came too early. The no milk diet does seem to still be helping. B also finally got rid of all the extra furniture that was literally just sitting in the halls and play room. Our house finally looks more like a home after a crazy week of chaos. Thanks, B!

The boys were sitting together and happy so I ran to get the camera. I gave Ben instructions NOT to touch Briggs and to stay put. As soon as I have the camera in my hands he looks at me, smiles, looks at Briggs and hits him as I snap away. What a STINKER! So this is the resulting picture. Thanks, Ben!

I walked into the room and all 3 of my boys were watching the Mavs on tv.

Even Briggs enjoyed watching the Lakers get killed!

Ben asked for a picture as I was hooking up the camera to the computer to upload the pics. He might be the BIGGEST stinker, but my goodness he’s cute!

Gramma is coming up tomorrow for a couple nights to give me even MORE ‘me’ time and hang out with her grandbabies. I could seriously get used to this!

lately…Ben

Two posts in one day, I know…amazing!  Today Ben is 23 months.  That means in just one month we will have a TWO year old.  Crazy!  He is such a crazy, amazing little guy.  Here are some things that are going on in your little world sweet Ben:

*You talk NON stop and I mean NON stop.  Pretty sure you have the Cooper gene like Mommy.

*You pick up on so many new words and phrases, there are very few things we can’t understand that come out of your mouth.

*You test your limits and boundaries daily (well hourly).  You don’t really care if you have to visit time out, but you know when you do something wrong and what’s right and what’s wrong-yet you still do the wrong!!!

*Mommy and Daddy are your everything and we LOVE it!

*You love to say “awesome”, “see ya”, “delicious!”, “love ya”

*You call me Amy all the time and think it’s hysterical

*You are fascinated with everything that goes on with pumping Briggs’ milk. 

*You have to have your own spot on the couch and do not like it when we are sitting on it or there is something else on it.  Our new couch is going to get you in lots of trouble with all the fun buttons for you to push.

*If you could, you’d watch Mickey Mouse 24/7, but you’ll also watch the news with us and ask for the news sometimes, too.  CoCo (Conan O’Brian) is your other favorite.

*You are ALL boy and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sports.  You can name the sport just by seeing the helmet or hat or a piece of equipment.  Hockey, golf, basketball, football, soccer and your favorite-baseball. 

*You still don’t want anything to do with the potty, but will let us know when you have “ewwws” (like we can’t smell it).

*You love showers and know which soap is mommy’s, daddy’s and Ben’s.

*You continue your love/hate relationship with your baby brother.  Lately you’ve been telling me often to put him the swing and play with you when I’m feeding him.  If we ask you to give him something you’ll throw it at him or give him something on your own that he doesn’t need.  For some reason you think head butts are a nice thing. 

*”Outside!” is what we hear all the time.  You love it out front (not so much in back).  You also love mowers and will watch the neighbor’s yards be mowed from your window seat upstairs with the biggest eyes.  You have your own names for each pair of shoes (basketball shoes, kip kops, cool shoes and fun shoes-but you will only wear them outside-as soon as we’re in the car, they’re off)

*The proper use of spoons and forks is not your strong  point.  You love to hold them, but don’t quite use them right.

*You are incredibly picky like your mommy and fruit snacks are your favorite.  You also love and ask for cookies, grapes, chips, crackers, milk, pancakes, cake, brownies and bananas.  You used to want a waffle each morning, but now you like toast.  Ketchup is your most favorite of anything and you’ve been known to dip a cookie in it after dinner.

*You enjoy ‘driving’ my car out of the garage so I can move it into the driveway so we can get Briggs in it.  You also love to drive the carts at stores.

*Ever since Briggs arrived you’ve gotten pretty shy around people, but sometimes you surprise us and say hi and I love you to strangers.

*You like to wear your hat backwards and put glasses on.

*You are a rock star at make believe-it’s just amazing what your mind thinks up.

*You pretend to talk on the phone (aka an ipod, remote or old phone) and love to order “comato pizza” (tomato pizza-we have no idea how or why these words go together).

*You throw EVERYTHING, even if we tell you not to.  Balls are okay, but cups, plates, toys and mommy’s phone are not.

*Skittles and M&M’s are called circles to you.  Pretty clever on your part!

*You’re a good little sleeper at night and sometimes you’ll stay in your bed for up to 90 minutes before you get fussy to get out.  Mommy and daddy appreciate that little extra sleep.

 

Ben you are the cutest 23 month old ever!  We love you so much and can’t wait for you to teach Briggs all the crazy things you do.  He is lucky to have you as a big brother, but I do hope he’s a little taller and bigger so he can hold his own against you.  I have a feeling you’re going to be a big brother just like your daddy was to Uncle Tommy (uh oh)!  I love my little love bug!

Milk…it does NOT do Briggs good

 

First off-sweet Briggs turned one month on Friday and 5 weeks today!  We had his checkup and he is doing well. He is gaining twice as much weight than he should, but so did Ben so I’m not concerned.  We make big babies in this house!  A coworker of B’s told her that when her son was a baby he had the same tummy issues Briggs has and she stopped eating dairy and he was better.  So we tried that right away (anything to help the middle of the night torture).  So far it’s helping.  It’s not great, but better.  At his checkup we talked to the doc about it and he agreed.  He also said that babies can suffer from sensitivity to peanut proteins, egg proteins, and fish proteins.  I never touch fish so we can rule that out quickly.  We’re pretty sure if it is a sensitivity, it’s to milk proteins.  This leaves me with NOTHING to eat.  I’m already so picky and you pretty much just took away most of what I’ll eat.  Candy it is!  He said to keep avoiding it for a few more weeks and then introduce it again to see what happens.  We talked a long time today and if things don’t improve, formula might be the answer for our little guy (what good is mommy milk if she’s not getting any nutrients-one can only eat so many bread and carbs).  This weekend was a little rough.  Sunday night the poor baby was up screaming from 1-6.  Thank God for B’s generous work and that he can just take a day off as needed so that I could sleep (and Ben was thrilled to have Daddy another day).  Last night was better, maybe our best yet!  I think we even got close to a 4 hour sleep span.  I’m still waiting for more of the smiles and coos for the little man.  I think I’ll call him Toot though, because when he wakes up he is all toots (and some are still so painful for him).

Here are his stats from his check up.  I think that the doctor uses a different graph for %’s because his are way off of Ben’s and their numbers are almost spot on.  Ben’s 1 month stats are in parenthesis (and they were only an ounce different at birth):

Height: 21 –30% (21.5)

Weight: 10.1 –59% (10)

Head: 15 in (15.3)

so Briggs is a little smaller, a little fatter and his head is a little smaller.  The funniest part of his checkup was that the doctor told me I should be getting 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.  SAY WHAT?? 

Last week my mom flew out again to help.  I could get used to seeing her every 3 weeks.  She wasn’t here as long, but it’s so great to not only see her, but to have help.  Ben was not very nice to her, but Briggs thinks she’s the greatest thing in the world.  B and I were even able to sneak away for a few hours…TWICE.  Ben did love bossing her around and Briggs loved sleeping on her.  We sent her home again very sleepy

This is Briggs’ ABSOLUTE favorite way to sleep (and his favorite person to sleep on).

Kisses for Grams before she leaves

Doesn’t everyone smile when their child picks his nose?

The best Mommy in the whole world!!!

 

While Grams was here Ben figured out how to climb up to the top bunk.  Luckily Daddy rigged it so he shouldn’t be able to do it again, but SCARY!  He’s our little monkey!

Ben is SO happy when Daddy comes home (we all are).  They were playing in the hallway and even included the little guy in the fun!

The other night we couldn’t find Ben.  He was in our bed in my spot just staring into space.  Then we realized how late it was.  Ben told us he was going night night.  Sweet boy!