Cooper Cure All

The last 2 days have been hard on me. I have been doing so much around the house during the day that by about 7pm, I am pain. My ankles and legs are killing me. I think part of it is I know I am going to the doctor on Tuesday and I'll be getting a prescription for an actual RA medication instead of a steroid to help with the pain. There is an end in sight. Tuesday can not come early enough. This morning was really bad, I had to have Josh help me dry off when I got out of the shower. I don't know why, but it makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I guess it's hard thinking that the simplest task are just torture for me some days. When Katie got here, she had to finish snapping Alex's PJ's because my hands were killing me. I guess I really don't write about the pain very much and I just kinda suck it up and do what needs to get done, but it really wears me down every single day. Last night I fell asleep on the couch around 10. Josh jokingly said something about how I am just exhausted every single night. I really think it is because just walking some days hurts, let alone bending down with the babies, carrying them around and just doing things around here. It just wears my body out. We were putting Alex down last night and I was carrying her to her room, I was basically shuffling my feet because my legs hurt so bad. Josh told me to hand him Alex since I was in pain, and me being so stubborn, I wouldn't. I just held on to her so tight and kept shuffling to her room. I don't know why I insist on being so stubborn, I guess I just feel like I have to be able to do everything for my baby. Josh really does so much when he gets home and I know I wouldn't be able to do it without him, but I guess sometimes I just feel like I have to prove to myself that I can do the small things on my own.

For some reason, no matter how much pain I am in, no matter how grumpy I am, Coopie is always there beside me. Just snuggling with him always makes me feel better. This morning, while the girls were napping, I walked into the bedroom and Coop was curled up on the bed. I snuggled up next to him and fell asleep for about 20 minutes. I am not kidding, when I got up, I felt 20 times better. I don't know what it is about him, but he always makes me feel better.

Apples!!!

Alex had apples today! She loved them! (Huge shock, I know!) She has pretty much put herself on a schedule. I know I have said it before, but this one has lasted about a week. She wakes up, will play for about an hour, eat, play some more, then take a nap. She wakes up around noonish and has lunch, plays for a bit then has a bottle. Around 2 she naps for several hours then pretty much stays up until bed time which is between 8:30 and 9:30. We are so lucky she has continued sleeping through the night with out any issues! Alex amazes me everyday! She is so vocal now. She wakes up sooo happy and will just talk to herself for the longest time. During diaper changes she just talks and talks! She is such a happy baby!

We are having a fun day hanging out with Sheena. Sheena is being induced on Sunday! We can't wait to meet Kyler Alexander!

Here are a few pics of Alex and her apples! She is such a good eater! So far she has loved everything we have tried!

Yes, those are apples by her eye. She is kind of a messy eater!

Playing with a spoon after lunch...wondering why there is no more food on her spoon!

Ooops, Mommy caught me!!

Alex hanging out with Abby

Alex loving on Abby!

A cute little video of Alex the piglet!!

Christmas with Nomi and Popi!

We have had such a great time relaxing at Nomi and Popi's! Alex is being spoiled rotten. Nomi and Popi will just hold her as long as she wants them to so she can look out the window at the lake. She has also been sleeping sooo much! I let her take a longer nap Wednesday night since we were going to be up late waiting till midnight (yes, midnight is late for us) and she had no part of it. She was out by 10! Last night she took a nap from 4-6 then was ready for bed by 8:30!

We opened Christmas presents Wednesday night and Alex got some great stuff. Aunt Jodi, Uncle Laith, Hud and Izzy sent some of their favorite holiday books. It was so sweet, they had the family favorite (Santa Mouse), Hud's fav (The Polar Express) and Izzy's (Olivia Helps With Christmas). The kids wrote special notes to Alex in their favorite books. Nomi also got Alex her first blankie. She got the most beautiful Little Giraffe blanket. I actually picked it out several months ago and completely forgot about it. She also got an adorable bumble bee pillow!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

Our 2008 started out on a high note. We had our first sonogram on January 8, 2008 and we got to see our little baby for the first time. For the first time ever, she took my breath away. I knew at that moment, everything was real, I was in love and my life would never be the same. We found out at the end of March our little bean was a baby girl. We already knew she would be named Alexandra Rae Stafin. We spent the next several months preparing for the arrival of our sweet baby girl. On July 9th our lives changed forever. Much to our surprise, Alex decided it was time to meet her parents. My labor started around 3am, Josh and I went to the hospital and Alexandra was born at 3:44pm. She was absolutely perfect. Despite being born at 35.5 weeks, she was healthy and didn't need to spend any time in the NICU. The almost six months since her birth have been amazing. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love her. She still takes my breath away every single day. Her big gummy smiles melt my heart. Josh and I are so in love with her and now feel like our lives are complete. We can not wait to see what 2009 will have in store for us and our family. We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009!

Here We Go Again

Does it feel like last week is repeating itself to anyone else? It does to me. Let's see, it's Wednesday morning, I am packing, getting presents together and I have to run to the store. We are heading out of town this afternoon so we can go see my parents in East Texas. We'll be back Sunday...yep, exactly like last week! I miss my parents so much. It feels like forever since I have seen them, I think it's because I didn't see them on Christmas. The only difference is that I was a little more organized last week. I am sitting on my couch now looking around at my house. Had you told me 7 months ago that my house would look like this, I would have said no way. It is a complete wreck. There is baby gear EVERYWHERE. No matter how much I pick up, it never seems to stay that way. We need a room devoted just to baby stuff. Our friend Rachel came over Monday night and brought us a few things her son has outgrown. She is moving in a couple of weeks and wants to take as little as possible. It's great for us because it means free stuff! She brought us a walking toy thing for Alex when she is a little older and a Jumperoo!

I put Alex in the Jumperoo yesterday and she loved it! This picture kinda describes my days right now. Cooper is like my little furry shadow. Poor guy is starved for attention so anytime I am with Alex, he is right there. It is even worse when the camera comes out, he has to be right between us!

I had Miss Abby yesterday. Over the Christmas holiday she started rolling over!!! Yeah, two rolling babies! Abs isn't quite as fond as being on her tummy as Alex is, but we'll work on it!

Abby, come play with me!!

Mommy, seriously, why is Abby trying to kick me?

hmm, not quite how I imagined it would be. How am I supposed to play with you if you aren't facing me?

Thank you for the comments on yesterday's post. I got some size 3 diapers last night so we'll see how they work. Alex is still sleeping so hopefully we will have dry sheets when she wakes up! I better go start packing so we can head out when Josh gets home!

Avocado

Alex had avocado for the first time yesterday. Despite the silly faces, she ate it all so I am assuming that means she liked it! This girl is an eater. She always finishes whatever fruit or veggie we give her and the oatmeal then acts like she still wants more!

Josh and I think she is starting to cut a tooth (or 2)! We can see and feel 2 white bumps on the front of her gums on the bottom. She has been very fussy at night, chewing on my finger non stop and tugging at her ears (which is a sign of teething). She has been great during the day, but a little miserable at night. My poor little pumpkin.

Josh worked yesterday and Alex and I ran a ton of errands then met him for lunch. He was so cute when he got home. She was napping and he kept going in her room to see if she was awake yet. After spending the last 5 days with her, he really missed her while he was at work. She finally woke up and Josh snuggled with her most of the night. She is getting so snugglie again, I LOVE it! She was a little fussy so I put her on my chest and within a minute she was out. I left her there for about an hour because she was just so darn sweet. I swear, sometimes I just look at her and she just takes my breath away. She is just so perfect and beautiful.

She is now sleeping about 10-11 hours at night, which is great except....she sleeps on her tummy and we are having leaks pretty much every other night. I am forever stripping the bed and washing the sheets and mattress pad. We have always loved the Pampers Swaddlers but I am wondering now if I need to switch to something else.

I hear the little munchkin waking up and she doesn't sound happy...I am guessing she leaked through again. Ugh!

Christmas 1-3

Sorry it's been so long since I have updated the blog. I was having problems logging in for some reason.

Anyway, Christmas (#1) started on Christmas Eve morning at our house. Since we were heading to Dallas that afternoon we wanted to have our Christmas at home before we left instead of taking the gifts with us. Josh and I got up early on Wednesday, made coffee and opened our presents from each other. We decided to let Alex sleep since she really doesn't know what is going on just yet. My sweet, amazing husband did great this Christmas. I got a KitchenAid Professional series stand mixer that I have been wanting FOREVER! I was so excited and surprised! Then he handed me a flat box that I just knew had jewelry in it. I opened it and saw a necklace and matching earrings. I just kinda looked at it and said thanks, I love it. I was really thinking, does my husband even know me?!?! It was nothing I would ever wear but I felt so bad because he looked so proud. I just sat there acting like I really liked it. He was doing something behind his back but I couldn't figure out what it was then he finally just took the box away from me and pulled the necklace and earrings out and there was my real gift! He got me an iPhone! He was trying to call it so it would ring but it wasn't getting a signal so it wouldn't ring. I was so excited to get the phone but I was even more excited I didn't have to act like I liked the necklace and earrings anymore! I mean, it really was ugly. I actually think it is plastic! He said he actually looked for the ugliest thing he could find!

That afternoon we loaded up the car and headed to Dallas. I have spent every Christmas Eve of my life at my Grandma's house with my entire family and this Christmas Josh thought he was going to have to work all day on Christmas Eve so we told my Grandma we were not going to be able to make it. We told her in November and I could tell she was upset we wouldn't be there. When we left her house Josh said he would plan on working half a day so we could drive up and spend Christmas Eve (#2) with her. I was so excited! I decided not to tell her so we showed up at her house on Christmas Eve to surprise her. It was great! We had a great time visiting with the family. My Grandma was so happy to see us!

We spent the night with Josh parents and woke up Christmas morning and had Christmas #3. Cooper didn't waste any time with his presents. He took his wrapped bone and within 5 minutes he had half of the paper and wrapper off and was chewing away!

Alex was not very interested in her gifts. She was more interested in trying to get the tissue paper in her mouth!

She got to debut her Christmas jammies with the Santa baby pockets!

We spent the morning relaxing. That afternoon we went to Grandma Mary and Grandpa Buddy's for Christmas #3. Alex LOVES them! She just smiled and laughed the whole time we were there.

Friday we met Shannon for lunch. I miss her so much, it was great to see her! We relaxed again Friday night. Saturday afternoon/evening we did some shopping while Alex stayed with Terri and Ray, then we went to dinner. It was nice to have a little baby break! Now it's Sunday and we are back in College Station for a few days. We are heading to Mineola to see Nomi and Popi on Wednesday. We are doing Christmas (#4) with them that evening. We'll hang out there until Saturday, then we are heading back to Dallas. We are having Christmas with Josh's brothers/wives/kids (yes, #5) on Saturday afternoon. Wow, 5 Christmases. It seems crazy doesn't it?

In the last few days Alex has mastered rolling...and rolling and rolling. She will roll onto her tummy (she prefers to roll to her left) then will roll again into her back then just keep going. We were unpacking just a while ago and I looked at Alex and she had rolled from her blanket onto the rug and under the coffee table. She was just hanging out looking proud of herself. She is also able to sit unassisted for about 15 seconds at a time. She doesn't even put her hands down for balance.


Here are a few cute pictures of Alex and Grandpa! She LOVES sitting on his shoulders. It is so funny because after a while she bends over and kinda gums his head!