Ring Around the Blankie

The other day, I watched as Cooper rotated in a circle around his blanket as he wiggled. The circle was complete within 15 minutes. Here is proof:

New Faces of Cooper

Cooper has learned how to suck on his bottom lip.

He has also learned how to blow bubbles.

Both faces have dramatically increased his drool production :)

Baby Blues

Aren't these the most beautiful blue eyes you've ever seen?!

Easter Weekend

Mac. Karlie. Brooks. Briggs. Chris. Me. Cooper. Mom. Dad

Every Easter Weekend, my Grandma & Grandpa Christiansen host a wienie roast. We built a bonfire in an empty lot on my grandparents' property and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Even though it was a little chilly, it was still a lot of fun.

The Easter Bunny loves Cooper!

Don't let this picture fool you! He may look sweet and innocent, but the little man was actually quite a pistol Easter Sunday. He cried during the whole first session of General Conference, slept during the break (of course!), and then peed through his clothes during the second session. Needless to say, I didn't get to enjoy conference as I had hoped.

All in all, it was a great weekend and we were able to spend time with the Christiansens, the Helmantolers, and the Carters.

Blessing Day

Cooper was blessed on March 7, 2010. We had so many friends and family join us for the special occasion. And to top it off, the little man looked absolutely dashing!

First Haircut

We gave Cooper his first haircut on Monday. Even though I was a little hesitant, I knew it was time when my little man had more curls than most little girls at his age.

This is how Cooper felt about getting a haircut :)

Before

Please ignore my lack of make-up. I had just gotten out of the shower.

Don't worry...she's a licensed professional.

Such a good client.

The damage.

Crazy Eights

Cooper turned 8 weeks old today, so I thought I would share a few things about him.

Eight Nicknames for Cooper:
1. Cooper Dooper, The Pooper
2. Coop-A-Loop
3. Mr. Cooper
4. Mr. Man
5. Little Mr. Man
6. Squeakers
7. Handsome
8. Bebe

Eight Things to Know About Cooper:
1. His hair is everyone's favorite feature
2. He grunts ALL the time
3. He loves to be held
4. He loves having his hair washed, but hates having his hair combed
5. His hair is out of control most days
6. He has discovered his fingers and likes to suck on them
7. He once went through 3 outfits in less than 3 hours
8. When he spits up, it comes out his nose

Eight Things I have Learned About Being a Mom
1. It's the hardest thing I've ever done
2. I didn't understand the meaning of exhausted until I had a baby
3. I've been peed on, pooped on, and spit up on and it doesn't bother me
4. Breastfeeding isn't for the weak and it takes practice and diligence
5. Watching my husband become a father has been an incredibly tender experience
6. Being responsible for the well-being of a helpless baby is terrifying, yet somehow empowering
7. Seeing my baby for the first time was a very spiritual experience
8. One toothless smile from the little man makes all the sleepless nights worth it

Happy Valentine's Day

Coop's First Photo Shoot

Thanks to my talented sister-in-law, Kimberly, who owns Tilt Photography, we were able to get some fabulous photos of Cooper when he was two weeks old. Thank you, Kimberly!

Cooper Michael Helmantoler

Cooper joined our family on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 12:23 a.m. He weighed 7lb 12oz and was 19in long. Quite frankly, he came sooner than expected--a week early, to be exact! The doctor told us on December 18th that we shouldn't plan on receiving a tax deduction in 2009; so we figured the little man wasn't coming until after the new year.

I woke up Monday, December 21st, and knew something was different. I hadn't slept well the night before, and was having pains that I hadn't had before. As I left for work that morning, I warned Chris that the baby could possibly be on his way.

I went to work for my last day and stayed until 1:00 p.m. By 4:00, I was having pretty intense contractions. Even though they were quite regular, they were only about 10 minutes apart. I called the hospital and they told me they would admit me once my contractions were 4-5 minutes apart. By 5:00, we were on our way to the hospital.

I was admitted by 5:30 and had my epidural within an hour. At 8:00, the doctor broke my water and two hours later, I was fully dilated and ready to push. I started pushing around 10:30, and the little man was born about two hours later.

Chris and I are in love with this little man! We think he is absolutely precious and we love being his parents!