random January

Hi all - I have an update that our BABY GIRL is doing GREAT! She's 3 lbs. today with all fingers, toes, working organs, etc. I couldn't be happier. I'm measuring big but after another ultrasound the cause is isolated to the 2nd baby and not additional complications.
Despite my intense desire to work off the pounds I am packing, I am vigilantly WALKING on the treadmill and taking it easy. Thanks to EVERYONE for your words of encouragement and comfort. I can't tell you how great of an asset all my friends and family have been. Here's a little belly progress...

And on to some random shots of January...

Cooper started "music time with Nancy" which I thought he would LOVE because he can't get enough music/singing/dancing. Turns out he is as shy as his Dad when it comes to "performing" in front of large crowds. Only when offered instruments or streamers did he leave the comfort of Mommy's lap.

And, yes, it is COLD in Iowa. But that doesn't mean we can't BUNDLE up and sled outside for 5-10 minutes at a time. Seriously, that's long enough because Coop can't handle more than that outside. We bought a little sled for him and decided to SHOW him how it worked.

We sled down a TINY hill in front of our house and into the pond. Randy decided to push Cooper and I down but when we reached the bottom the snow was SO deep that we had to lay there until Randy came and carried us BOTH back up.

Here's another random shot of my big helper in the kitchen. It makes me think of the pictures where you circle all the items that don't belong:

And finally... we went to a U of Iowa Gymnastics Meet last weekend. Cooper chased the mascot around - thinking he was sooo cool - and watched all the routines until he couldn't handle any more excitement and passed out.

Hope you're all doing well and staying WARM.

Visitors... and Trauma

We were IN LUCK to have my Mom and Dad come out to visit us for a long weekend this month! We kept telling them how cold it was and of course, in true Iowa fashion, it was actually in the 30s during their stay. (Now it has plummeted to -40, a record low this week.) I think we need them back to warm our place up a bit!

Cooper is a TRUE grandpa's boy. The morning after my parents left he kept asking for him and I'd say that grandpa had to go back to Utah, so now he says, "Grandpa... Utah". Yes sweetie, many good things are in Utah.

I just LOVE this picture of Cooper and my mom at Texas Roadhouse (yum) while we wait for our food:

Thanks to Mom and Dad for braving the elements to come and visit. We can't wait for you to come again once I DELIVER! (almost 28 weeks along - hooray).

And I have to give a SHOUT OUT to my long lost husband who started his TRAUMA (drama) rotation which will last through February (arg). This is a common scene at our house after he rolls in late and needs to prep for the next day of surgery. I can't complain because at least he comes home in a good mood from cutting people open all day, even if we DO only manage a few sentences between us before he has passed out on the couch - but I'm still NOT COMPLAINING :)

Christmas and a Cow

I know what you're thinking, what does a COW have to do with Christmas! Well this year we were invited to spend Christmas Eve with the Mckay Family and, as tradition in their home, all the kids dress up and "act out" the Nativity. I totally spaced my assignment and didn't bring a shepherd costume for Cooper, but my friend Holly had a cow suit that he was more than happy to try out - I'm SURE they had cows somewhere around the manger.

It was a crammed house as we all ate, laughed, and remembered the Savior this time of year. I took an aerial view of the scene, but this picture doesn't do it justice as to how many people attended:
A quick pic of all the ladies in the house:

And we're off to CHRISTMAS MORNING!! It was heavenly to wake up in our own bed and not have to worry about traveling in the weather, but of course FAMILY - we missed you.

Cooper was looking out the window for Santa:

Then we moved on to the real fun - the PRESENTS! I love that opening his stocking alone entertained him for a good 1/2 hour.

Cooper had to READ every book that was openend before we could move on:

And then we made Randy pose in his SWEET apron his sister, Jane made him, it says "what's up doc" all over with a picture of Bugs Bunny. He'll sport this at our BBQs this summer:

And then the climax, a TRAIN SET for the boys. It's REALLY just for Cooper but I think Randy has more fun with it than he does.

Randy even made me take a picture of the train table perfectly assembled before Cooper had time to destroy it:

But the BEST part for me came later in the day when Randy asked me to take Cooper off his hands because he kept pulling apart the train tracks when he was trying to assemble something cool (let's keep it mind WHO is under the age of 2, sometime I wonder).

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!