Hard at work

I just have to share this picture of my sweetheart hard at work!

I think he's working on a skid steer. Someone snapped his picture and he shared it with me. I love it! John Deere is celebrating 175 years this weekend, unfortunately we'll be camping but hopefully in another 25 years we'll get an invite. LOL I'm so thankful that Tom and I both landed awesome jobs. I can't believe it's been over 2 years when we both started our new careers. Tom is finally on days and I'm loving it, except for the snoring and the darn scanner but I'm getting used to it.

I love you sweetie

Company Picnic 2012

Yesterday was McGraw-Hill's annual company picnic up at Eagle Point Park. They have this once a year around this time, last year we were in California so we missed it, but this year was a little more special because Cooper was able to join me as well as my mom. We had a blast. 

The theme this year was Western, so some people we dressed up in cowboy hats and boots, we just dressed normally. LOL our first stop was the old time photo booth they had a saddle for a prop but you couldn't sit on it and they had a few hats, like the one I'm wearing. It was funny, but Cooper and I got out picture taken. 

After the photo booth, this was right when we got to the park and there wasn't a line so we took advantage of it and got it out of the way. We then headed over to the pavilion where the food was, everything was catered by Hy-Vee they had a taco bar buffet or an American buffet, as they call it, that had hamburgers, hot dogs or brats. I had a hamburger and mom had a hot dog. We also had baked bean, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and potato chips. It was delicious! For dessert I had an ice cream sandwich!

Cooper fell asleep after lunch, can you tell he's hot? I unbuckled him so he wouldn't be so hot, not sure if it helped but it seemed like it did.

Mom pushing Cooper, behind her is the bandstand, I think that's what it's called, but here is where they had some country line dancing lessons, and later a game show and then door prizes. I didn't win anything.

Then there was the horse and carriage, we thought about going on this but decided to pass. Cooper was hungry so mom fed him and we just enjoyed watching the river and everyone around. There were over 900 people!

Cooper all fed and happy. Grandma was so excited to be with us she even took the day off.

And Cooper all wore out. 

Mom left about 2:00 so Cooper and I went and walked around the park. We had to be present to win any of the drawings so we stuck around. Here are a few pictures of the Might Mississippi one of my favorite places to be is looking out at the river. It' so gorgeous. 

The lock and dam

It was a beautiful day and I'm so glad to be working for such a great company! I can honestly say I love my job!

Three Months Old

Cooper turned 3 months old today! I can't believe how much time has passed already, everyday he just amazes me and all his smiles and coo's just melts my heart.

I tried to take a few pictures throughout the day, of course I had to throw some work in there, but I did get to go feed him at lunch time. He was so happy to see me but I didn't get any pictures.

Here's Cooper snuggled in our bed. This is our routine in the mornings.

 You will usually wake up somewhere between 5 and 6 am, I prefer about 4:30 or 5:00 because then I can snuggle with you before I have to get up. You are usually starving at this time and you love to eat in bed. Once you're done you just plop your head up on my boob and off to sleep you go. (I know TMI) I will lift you up a little bit so mommy can put her arm around you and snuggle. This is my favorite time of the day!

After you're fed you go back to sleep this is when mom gets ready for work. Daddy is usually ready to go to work at this time, so I get out of bed, pump (so I can take a bottle to daycare for you) get in the shower, check to make sure you're still sleeping, dry my hair, eat some breakfast, check to make sure you're still sleeping but hoping you're kind of waking up, then I finish my hair, get dressed, make sure my lunch is packed, the pump is all ready to go for the day then I come into bed and lay next to you and try and wake you up. You are so happy in the mornings and I love it! You just make my day, every day!

We'll go into your room and talk and sing a few songs while I'm getting your diaper changed and getting you ready for the day.

Mommy drops you off at daycare, the girls there just LOVE you. You are the youngest one they have right now. I think you're spoiled there as well and mommy just loves it!

A few more things I want to remember about your three months of life are:

• You are wearing size 1 pampers.
• You are in 3 month clothing. 0 to 3 is now too small, we're working on 3 to 6 months.
• I'm not sure what you weigh right now because we don't get to go to our Tuesday meetings, we both miss them so much, but I'm guessing your about 13 pounds if not heavier.
• You are still exclusively breastfeeding! Mommy loves this and hopes we can keep it up for another 9 months or so. 
• You take a bottle perfectly, the girls at daycare say you're a great eater. You use the Dr. Brown's bottles there and usually here at home you just use the Medela bottles, nothing seems to bother you one bit. 
• You like you pacifier when you're tired or hungry. If you are fighting a nap or don't want to sleep we just give you this and you're usually out in about 5 minutes.
• Your bedtime is around 8:30, any later than this and you're pretty crabby. You start getting fussy around 7:30.
• You still sleep in our room in your bassinet. 
• You still don't quite get bath time. You're not fussy but you always have this confused look on your face like "what is mommy doing to me" its not easy giving you a bath. I'm ready for you to be able to sit up by yourself, this might make it a little easier. You get a bath about every other night and when you do get a bath you sleep really good and you smell so yummy.
• Most nights you sleep through the night and mommy is so grateful for this!
• Your arms and fist are always moving. Sometimes it looks like you want to box! 
• You are starting to grab things and reach for things and when you're on your playmat you push with your heels so your body gets turned around. Its so funny watching you.
• When you swing or on your play mat you finally found the mirror so when you see yourself you start talking and laughing. 
• You love to swim and camp. When we put you in the water now you don't seem to mind it. I can't wait until we can start swimming lessons.
• You hardly ever cry, dad would say otherwise, but everyone always says that they never hear you cry, it's because you don't. You're always happy!
• You love to snuggle and you're definitely a mommy's boy. 

Cooper you bring so much joy into our lives and every day I find myself in awe of you and how you're growing into a perfect little boy. I'm so happy to be your mommy, you're my little miracle.

Whoa,"mommy hurry and take the picture before I fall over"

 

"Look at me I'm sitting like a big boy with my arm on the arm rest"

"mommy you're silly"

"you wanna fight?" "Put up your dukes"

"OK mom don't you think you've taken enough pictures already?"

"look how chubby my legs are getting" 

I'm on the floor playing with my giraffe. I'm finally bigger than it.

Awe, the giraffe is kissing me!

And here is Cooper all ready to go out to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. He was patiently waiting for me to get home from Jazzercise.

Here is his report card for the day. We get one every day and this one says how good he was so I had to take a picture.

And a quick butt shot just because I had the camera near me. This was after our bath tonight, LOL

Cooper again, you light up my life and I thank God everyday that he blessed us with you. You are my sunshine and I love to sing that song to you. It brings tears to my eyes when I do but you just look at me and smile. Melts mommy's heart!

Father's Day 2012

Tom had a wonderful Father's Day, I hope anyways. He got to sleep in, Cooper and I made him cinnamon rolls for breakfast and the afternoon was spent at his mom and dad's for a cookout! The weather was beautiful. I didn't get any pictures of his gifts, but from Cooper he got a new Dewalt Drill and Micayla and Brandon got him a gift certificate to Olive Garden.

He just loves getting his picture taken!

Cooper hanging with big sister! We had to pull the bibs out, he's really starting to slobber a lot!

It was a great afternoon with family! Mom and Dad came down as well, so I got to hang with my daddy as well but no pictures :( 

We ate brats, salads and a few yummy desserts.

Non - Camping Weekend

Tom and I were all packed up ready to go camping Friday night after I got home from Jazzercise. I subbed for Linda who was on vacation, it was an express class so it only lasted an hour. I was home about 5:15. We packed a few things up and headed out about 6:15 or so. We were both starving so we decided to eat at Salsa's here in DBQ, there really is not much on the way so we stopped for some Mexican. Well, by the time we got out of there it was 7:30, we both looked at each other and said "let's just go home" so that's what we did. We didn't have much packed for camping or anything so it wasn't that big of a deal. That's one good thing about having our camper up there and all, we can just come and go as wish. The kids thought we were crazy! LOL They were staying home too, usually they come with us.

So since we stayed home from camping, Friday night Tom and I watched a movie, The Hangover 2 then headed to bed, we were both exhausted! I had my first week back to work after 12 weeks off!

Saturday we got up and went to Tom's Grandparents for a while then headed to the Yacht Basin pool with Tom and Linda. We got Cooper right in and he loved it again! I'm so glad he likes the water.

Here are few pictures:

Tom and Cooper hanging in the pool

Swimming with Grandma and Grandpa

He was exhausted after all the water walking with Grandma!

and hanging with Grandpa - both all dry!

After we left the Yacht Basin we headed to Hy-Vee, we were grilling out with Chris and Kristi that evening and as we were walking into Hy-Vee Chris was pulling out, he "jokingly" said I'll take Cooper so I opened his back door and strapped Cooper in, he was sleeping, and off they went. After they left, I said to Tom "I sure hope he was serious" LOL because Chris didn't say no, so off they went and Tom and I got what we needed at Hy-Vee and headed home to change and get ready to head over to Chris's house. It was about an hour or so before we got there.

Chris sent this picture, he was happy to be with Uncle Hendu when he woke up:

And again Uncle Hendu and Cooper hanging out on the deck before the rain came. It was so nice hanging outside with Chris and Kristi, we don't seem to do it enough, everyone is just so busy all the time.

We grilled out steaks and Chris and Kristi made these delicious potatoes I don't even know what they are, but they were yummy! 

Mom's birthday

Last Thursday was Mom's 63rd birthday. My gift to her is her locker rental at Jazzercise, it works out good, she loves having her stuff there and this way she's not lugging in a bag of weights, mats and shoes. She gets to leave everything at the center. But this year I got her something special, she's been wanting this for over a year and I finally broke down and got her what she wanted! Thanks to Etsy!

 

 

She is just so funny, I don't know if she'll ever take this shirt off! You just gotta love her, there is only one Pat Hendricks and I'm so glad she's my mom!