Basement photos!

The time has finally come where I can show off our basement. I know I've teased for the last couple of weeks, but once the work was done it needed to be cleaned! So Tom and I cleaned it all up yesterday and I finally got around to taking pictures.

So here's the tour! 

Here is what the basement looked like before we started.  This corner is where the bathroom is now along with a storage closet and the bar area.

And here, to the left is where Brandon's room is now and the right side is the living room area. The one pole in the middle of this picture was removed! We were so excited about that!

And this is looking into the basement from right below the steps.

Here are the steps coming up from the basement, we weren't going to do the steps but the old carpet was pretty bad so we decided to have them recarpet the steps and fix the bottom step, you that one that step that mom broke her ankle on? LOL

And now the good pics!

 

And the carpeted steps! This is the same carpet that is in the basement.

Here is a picture from the bottom of the steps looking into the basement. We got all new tile below the steps as well so it all matches.

 

The living room area - Tom's got Cooper so I can take pictures.

 

 

 

Here is Brandon's room. The window we had to install to make a "legal" bedroom. This is a picture from the door looking into the bedroom.

Here is Brandon's closet.

And Brandon's room now. Notice the mess already? We let him go this time because we just finished the closet organizer.

And here are his closet doors on, notice they are closed! LOL

This is an open area where Tom wants to put a pool table. This is also the place where the pole was taken out, there would have been  a pole right in the middle where you enter the room. We are so happy that is was able to be removed.

Micayla is working on a puzzle right now and it has great lighting in this area so she's doing it downstairs

If you look at the picture above, the first door on the left is the storage closet, this is below the steps and the picture below is with the door open. They had some extra carpeting so they carpeted it. I say it should be Cooper's playroom. But we'll need the storage! LOL

Oh and the 2nd door is the workout room, this room does not have carpet we're debating on what to do with it, maybe get some of those rubber mats or something, but I didn't take a picture of that.

Here is the bar area

And the bathroom

Closet doors in the bathroom

And the bathroom with the new shower curtain and accessories.

I think I need a bigger towel or a smaller towel holder. LOL

And a picture looking from the living room area. We were hoping to put this ladder shelf in the closet in the bathroom but it wouldn't fit, we didn't measure correctly so we're putting it right where it's at for now.

And just because Cooper was crying!

And 5 minutes later - he's sleeping!

We are so happy with the way the basement turned out and the kids really love it, now they can have a place to watch TV and play video games without interrupting us or having to play in there rooms. We can't wait for everyone to see it!

Baby Shower - Sales Support/Create

Last week Cooper, Tom and I were honored at a baby shower thrown by my co-workers! Instead of having something before Cooper was born they thought they would wait so they could meet him when he got here. The baby shower was put on by Sales Support and the Create group, we are the only ones on first floor at McGraw-Hill so both groups get along great, we are both call centers and we need to have some fun once in a while.

They had food day, what better excuse to have food at work, then to meet Cooper. There was lots of great food and snacks. Here are a few pictures.

This is right outside my office.

All the delicious food right outside my office again.

This is looking down from my office, the girl on the right is Jennifer and the other with her back to us is Julie.

Here is Tina, the one in the white jacket, and the other lady is my new boss, Lisa! Notice the diaper cake, that came from Robin, Karen and Deona.

And here is the newest person in our dept. Alice, she loved holding him, well everyone loved holding Cooper, he was so good, he slept most of the time.

This gift came from Julie, a picture frame to put on my desk at work, a shirt/onesie and a soft book for Cooper.

Then all this from everyone! A Hawkeye and Cubs outfit, grooming kit, safety kit with electrical plugs and door locks for when Cooper gets bigger and starts crawling and walking, some wipes, travel kit with baby shampoo and toys to hang on the car seat. Lots of great things!

 And here is the diaper cake with lots of little toys all over it.

Cooper and I are truly loved and I know they are all waiting for me to get back to work and my official first day back will be June 11th! That seems so far away but I know it will go by so quick and I'll have to get back on a schedule.

Another baby shower this weekend from the Jazzercise girls - Can't wait!

Happy Easter

I can't believe Easter has come and gone. It was such an early Easter this year. And it was extra special because we had a new family member with us this year and he was so spoiled. Here he is with the onesie that Micayla made him, I thought it would be perfect to wear for Easter. I was going to go out and buy a new 1st Easter outfit but I decided against it, I ended up buying him a bib that said My First Easter, but I didn't even put it on him. I guess I should have for a least a picture. 

I think out of all the pictures I took today he was sleeping in most of them.

We made our first stop at Tom's uncle Danny's house, this was the first time his family seen him except of course Grandma and Great-Grandma and Aunt Sandy, but everyone else was waiting for Easter.

Here Great Grandma Nita holding Cooper

Here is Aunt Shari and her daughter Missy

 Haley, this would be Coopers 2nd or 3rd cousin

After Danny's we headed over to East Dubuque for the Hendricks Easter, again Cooper was so loved!

Here he's with Aunt Marylou

Cousin Kara

Aunt Jannie

After the Hendricks Easter we headed to Andy and Bill's, well, just Cooper and I headed, Tom had to work so I dropped him off at home so he could get some rest. That's one thing about 3rd shift that really sucks, his Sunday evenings are shot.

Here's Cooper is with Great Grandma

And with Uncle Hendu

There were so many more pictures I wanted to get but my battery died, go figure. But overall we had a great Easter, the weather was beautiful and Cooper is so loved. 

Here is a random picture of Cooper, he's watching me cook supper. He was sure wide awake a lot today! We went to our breast-feeding support group, this was the 2nd time going, it's nice to get out and we get to see how much weight he has gained. As of today he's 6lbs 12oz, so he's growing!

Cooper's due date - April 4th 2012

Today is Cooper's due date, I would be 40 weeks pregnant today! Crazy how just 2 weeks have changed my life. He is the most precious thing I have ever laid my eyes on and I can't think of life without him. The last 2 weeks have flown by and I so want time to slow down, way down. I can tell he's already changing and he makes these funny faces when he sleeps I just can't stop staring at him. Last night while laying in bed, he ate in bed before going into his bassinet and he fell asleep and I just laid there and stared at him. I wanted to cuddle him right up and go to sleep with him, but I need him in the bassinet, I don't want to start something that will be a hard thing to break.

Here is Cooper last night.

Yesterday was Great Grandma's 89th birthday and she got to spend some time with her youngest great grandson. She is so good with him and loves him so much.

I had to run to Nikki's house so Grandma watched Cooper for a few minutes and when I came back this is what I came back to, her and Cooper playing, he was wide awake, it was precious. 

 

And since it's been kind of nice out, Cooper has a few NB short outfits so I thought I'd put one on him along with a pair of shoes. He looked to cute, I call him twiggy. He has the skinniest legs.

And tummy time turned into nap time. LOL This kid just cracks me up.

All I can say is I have so much love for this little boy it's ridiculous. Tonight we are meeting some old co-workers at Champs and I think Cooper is going to come along, tomorrow we get to meet mommy's co-workers at McGraw-Hill. It's going to be so much fun, they are having a little shower for us. Then this weekend is Easter! Holy Cow we're busy.

Friday is the big move day the basement should be done, pictures to come soon!

2 week well check

Today was Cooper 2 week well check, he was a champ, but still does not like to have his clothes off and of course he had to be naked, other than his diaper.

Anyway, he weighed in at 6lbs 8oz, so he surpassed his birth weight by a few ounces, he's in the 50%tile on weight and he measured just under 20" long, that was a tough one to get because he doesn't like to straighten his legs. Other than that he was great. The only concern I had was his eyes, really just his left eye, but the doctor said it's probably a blocked tear duct and that is should go away just to try and massage right under his eye and that should clear it up, so that's what I've been doing. Hopefully it will clear up because I feel so bad for him sometimes but we just wash it away with a damp wash cloth.

Here's Cooper all ready for the doctor, I'm so bad I didn't get any pics of him at the doctor's office. He does love his car seat!

Here is something Micayla and her mom made for Cooper, it's a diaper cake with lots of goodies, it had a blanket, wash clothes, comb/brush, a few onesie's and of course lots of diapers size 1-2!

And I had to get a picture of Cooper with the shirt his sister bought, it's a onesie with a John Deere tie on it, too cute!

And of course just a few random pictures of my little guy. I don't want him to grow up :(

 

And one last picture of him in his bouncy with his new blanket from my sister-in-law Stephanie's mom and dad, he loves it!

We got out for a stroller walk tonight, it was a gorgeous night and I can't wait for more nights/days like this. For some reason Cooper has been crabby and wants to eat, eat, eat. I'm not sure what's going on, probably a growing spurt or something. Tonight Tom goes back to work, I'm a little nervous but I know it will all be fine. I just hope he has a good night and Cooper too. It's a short week since he's off on Friday so it's a good week to go back.

Next post will be on the basement - It should be done by this weekend, at least that's what we're hoping for! Carpet was laid Saturday, now just a few more things and we'll be all done and we can get his house organized!