My Guys

I caught two of my guys with J's iphone snuggling on the couch.

Cooper is a cuddly baby! He loves loves loves to be held. Nearly every time he is fussy, simply picking him up and laying him on your chest with fix whatever is bothering him.

Holden was just the opposite. If you were holding him he wanted to analyze your face or play.

-Carmen

Big Brother Blues

I have hesitated posting anything about Holden's reaction to Cooper's general presence ... holding out for resolution, I guess.

It's not horrible ... Holden could be acting out much much worse than he is, but it's not good either.

When we are holding Cooper, Holden ignores us, pouts and occasionally will throw a toy. He's by no means overboard, but clearly frustrated.

Encouraging Holden to sit near Cooper is met with a resounding, "NO, NO, NOOOO!"

Holden plays in his room by himself a lot more than he had been, and mumbles randomly with the word "baby" thrown in with sour undertones.

My mom asked Holden if he loves his little brother. "No," he replied. She told Holden that Cooper is sweet and asked Holden again if he loves his little brother, and again Holden said, "no." Holden followed the denial with, "Sawyer" (his cousin) so mom asked Holden, "do you love Sawyer?" "Yes," he said.

With a little sister of my own, I've been there. I didn't acknowledge mom for an entire month after my sister was born.

Per my friend MC's excellent advice (mother of 2) we have been making a point of spending as much uninterrupted time with Holden as possible. This definitely helps a lot.

It's not all bad. Occasionally Holden will let his guard down. Sometimes at night when he is handing out *goodnights and kisses* Holden will tap Cooper on the knee and run off.

So there is hope.

I have to admit, it was a weird feeling to see Holden for the first time with Cooper present. A very small part of me felt I had committed some form of betrayal. But the rest me, was in awe how my heart was immediately expanded ... not divided.

I am impressed how Jordan and I are adapting to being pulled in multiple directions at a time while juggling the needs of two completely different individuals, and how issues I once couldn't wrap my brain around like how to take two children into a grocery store aren't such a big deal. We are figuring it all out.

I'm sure Holden will fall in love with his little brother soon. It's just a matter of time.

-Carmen

Thanksgiving 09 ~ 2

I am so full of love....

and turkey...

but mostly love ...

and pumpkin pie.

-Carmen

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are celebrating three family Thanksgivings this year. The first was on Monday with Jordan's family.

Aunt T was so sweet to pull out some toys for Holden to play with. I was so happy to see Holden very social and silly.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but Holden is sporting a kicky new 'do. It is super short and spiky. He looks so old. He could pass for a 2 1/2 year old!

Holden has this little act of pretending to be "stuck" by which he places himself in a predicament that he couldn't possibly be stuck in, scrunches up his face, grunts and groans, proclaiming, "s-TUCK! s-TUCK!" He obliged the crowed with a demonstration, when he pretended he was unable to step up from the sunken den into the kitchen ... the same threshold he had been catapulting over all night while running laps through the house.

Cooper made his snuggle rounds and slept in between....

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Carmen

Happy 22 Months!

Well I've given up on Holden's monthly posed pictures. It has become torture for both of us. The last thing he wants to do is sit still. I'll still add to the Watch me Grow slides, but it won't be every month.

I still have Cooper to pose for photos. He doesn't move much.

My favorite thing about life with Holden this month is how varied his facial expressions have become. He has a face for EVERYTHING from his wrinkled up snorting face to express displeasure that mommy is holding Cooper to exaggerated wide-eyed amazement over a toy in the bottom of his toy box he hasn't seen before....



Holden is fascinated with his bobble head Einstein.

-Carmen

The Birth Story

Friday, October 30 ... I had contractions on and off all day.

I took a long lunch that day with the intention of napping for an hour or so ... I was scheduled to work at the TOT event and needed to rest. However, for the first time during the pregnancy I felt an overpowering urge to "nest."

I told Jordan, "this baby is coming ... soon ... we aren't ready!" So we spent a couple of hours trying to organize the "overflow room" in our temporary apartment digs.

My very understanding boss could tell when I returned to work later that afternoon that I wasn't feeling so great and let me off the hook for the night. We still planned to take Holden to the event and I planned to walk until Cooper was ready to be born. I felt miserable.

By 6pm the contractions were more intense, but not too regular so we proceeded to the park for some chicken pictures of Holden and then met up with Jordan's folks before TOT.

Feeling pretty confident that Cooper was on his way, I wanted a big dinner in case I went into labor and couldn't eat again for many many hours (I was starving by the time I had Holden!). Pot roast, carrots, potatoes and rolls. So yummy!

Then we walked and walked and walked at the downtown event.

Now feeling even more confident that Cooper would be here soon, I asked Jordan's parents to keep their phones nearby until his arrival.

--------------------

10:00 pm, really MEAN contractions start.

10:30 pm, water breaks ... I think ... or did it? Not sure. Try to get a little more sleep.

11:30 pm, yep, water broke ... I think ... Wake up Jordan. Decide to pack bags and see how I feel. Call all the grandparents. Mimi had just settled in bed after leaving my sister (who had just had her baby.) Told her not to unpack. Call Mrs. B who had offered to take Holden if we go into labor "even in the middle of the night," BLESS you, Mrs. B!

October 31, Happy Halloween!

12:00 am-ish, arrive at hospital. Front entrance is not accessible during the night. Fantastic. Must go around to the Emergency Room entrance. Super fantastic. Decide to walk around instead of drive. Super duper fantastic!

1:00 am, admitted to room in labor and delivery. Nurse confirms that Cooper is on his way! Call all the grandparents. Mimi, sorry you didn't get any sleep.

1:30 am, all the boring (yeah right) and uneventful (puh-shaw!) labor stuff really starts.

Fast forward...............

9:20 am, my sweet little angel is in my arms while the doctor, nurses and Jordan swirl around me. I hear nothing but Cooper's acknowledging coos and soak up the shape of his nose, his little pointy feet and the curve of his arm. He is beautiful and tiny and so scrunchy.

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I love you precious, Cooper. Welcome to the family. You are loved so very much, and have changed our lives in ways I can't even begin to understand yet.

-Mommy

Holden's Halloween 09

Friday, October 30 we took Holden to a Trick or Treat event downtown.

I had planned to dress him as Bam Bam Rubble, but the weather cooled earlier this year so we opted for something a bit warmer. He will someday hate me for this costume, but how could I resist?

We practiced saying "trick or treat" all week. Holden reluctantly mimicked my words during rehearsal.

At the event however, when his words were rewarded with actual TREATS, he lit up like a firecracker and went up to anyone and everyone he could, delightfully squealing "TWICK uh TWEEEE!!!!"

-Carmen

With Sugar on Top

We had a much anticipated newborn photo session with our fave photographer, today. Check out the blog post from Jen...... click on link below...

Holden + Cooper

-Carmen

Chicken Little

I was going through Holden's Halloween pictures and couldn't wait to post this one. Daddy was pushing him in the swing. This was a LUCKY shot. More to follow....

-Carmen

Cooper

Here is another peek at Cooper. The first picture I posted was from my phone. We do have other pictures, I just haven't had time to get anything posted yet.

More photos and updates to come.... including Holden's reaction to his brother.  

We are on our way to Coop's first appointment with his pediatrician.



-Carmen

Meet Cooper

Welcome, Cooper.  We are so glad you are here.  

Cooper has Left the Belly!

Cooper is here! He weighs 6 pounds 14 ounces and arrived at 9 am.

He is a couple of weeks early, but healthy and alert. He looks a lot like Holden. Thick black hair and Holden's cheeks.

We will post a picture soon.

-Carmen

Cooper is on his way

Cooper is on his way. Carmen went into labor about 10:30, after we scrambled to throw things together for the hospital and drop off H it was about 1 am before we got to the hospital and settled into our room. Halloween party next year, anyone? Stay tuned! Jordan

New Nephew has Arrived!

Our new nephew was born just a little while ago!!!!!

Hopefully, we will have a picture and details soon.

-Carmen

Holden Speak ... the part I left out

I left this off of the Holden Speak post the other day (out of embarrassment) but after relaying the entire story to my husband and mom, I realized how funny it really is....

As mentioned, at the grocery store Holden randomly pointed to my stomach and asked, "who's that?"  

I responded, "Cooper, your brother."  

"Oh, baby Pooper?"  

"Yes, baby Cooper."  

"Oh."

The part I left off was that after he pointed to my tummy, Holden also pointed to one of my boobs and asked, "who's that?"

"uhhhh, NOBODY!!!"

"Oh."

Afraid of where this was going I started looking for something on the shelf to distract him, and he pointed to the OTHER one and asked, "who's that?"

Good grief.  I'm a whale!

-Carmen

Thank You for Wearing PINK!

Holden Speak...

Holden shows signs of being that kid that steals your toaster only to dismantle it in the backyard .... to see what is on the inside that makes it work ... hmmmm, sounds a lot like his father.

H was watching one of his favorite kid shows and when it ended, decided he could figure out how to start it over or find another one. Holden's attempts to find the right button resulted in a blank blue screen.

This translated to Holden as "it's not working." He proceeded to pull the box off the shelf trying to get to the back where the hook ups are located. After several minutes of trying, Holden begrudgingly admitted defeat.

H stood at Jordan's side, hands behind his back mumbling, "um, meum ma shumessga. Essten bur balag guh." Which loosely translates to, "um, I was watching this show and it just stopped," hands now up in the air, shoulders shrugged. "I didn't do it, I swear." Now tugging at daddy's hand and pointing to the doorway, "can you come take a look at it?"

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Yesterday, at the grocery store Holden randomly pointed to my stomach and asked, "who's that?"  

I responded, "Cooper, your brother."  

"Oh, baby Pooper?"  

"Yes, baby Cooper."  

"Oh."

-Carmen

Knitty Gritty

I love knitting and have made it a personal mission to find the perfect stocking pattern or to create my own.  

So far, I'm still not 100% happy.  Maybe the next one will be right.

I just recently completed this one for Holden.

I like to line my stockings so they can take a beating from the likes of little boys.  Thank you SD for letting me borrow your sewing machine!

-Carmen

Anatomy of Elmo

Holden has several variations of Elmo dolls that he likes playing with.  This morning he was cuddling with the larger plush version and talking to him in baby babble.

Holden became very quiet and looked and me and plainly asked, "where's Elmo's tongue?"

I never thought about it before.  "He doesn't have one," I replied.

To which Holden tried prying the fuzzy red doll's mouth open further for a better look.  

"No tongue."  He stated.  Satisfied.

-Carmen

Work It!

This is one of those times I really really really wish I had my video camera.  

And ONE, and TWO, and THREE, and FOUR......  Work it, Ladies!