President Obama in Dubuque!

Today President Obama was in Dubuque and he was right across the street from McGraw-Hill. It was a site to see. I'm not into all the politics and all but this we had to see, it's not very often you get to witness this. The only thing is we didn't get to see him, just all the secret service men and woman and all the cars. It was crazy!

Here is looking out from the 2nd floor in our building, last year, before we moved up to 2nd, I would have had the best spot. I'm not facing the opposite direction.

Here is looking out my window at work. The street to the left is where they came in at.

The President was scheduled to speak at 12:30, I usually take my break at noon so it worked out perfectly. Here we are in front of the McGraw-Hill building and across the street they are selling Obama paraphernalia.

We walked to the corner because they made there way to the Grand Harbor where they picked up the first lady. Here is the start of the "parade" (that's the new Flexsteel building in the background)

We think this is the President's bus but there were lots of buses so who really knows.

And across the street while we are waiting for the "black" bus to move I look over and we can see a lot of people in the McGraw-Hill building looking and watching. It was pretty funny but a great view.

Here is the black bus, someone said the President was in there and the first lady joined him in the bus, she arrived earlier, which makes sense because we did see a line of cars go by about an hour earlier.

And then the parade was off. Next door was where the President and first lady were speaking.

Big Boy Bed

Last Friday, the 10th Cooper slept in his crib in his own room. We, I should say I, finally decided it was time for Cooper to move to his big boy bed, his crib, in his OWN room. This was very hard for me, heck, he's been sleeping inside my belly for 9 1/2 months, then next to me for the last 4 1/2 so yes it was very hard to move him. But he was just getting too darn big for his bassinet.

Can you see how big he's getting, this was taken a few weeks ago :(

This was taken just Thursday night, the poor kid can hardly stretch out, so this is why I had to move him. It wasn't fair, he needs to move!

And just because, this was Friday morning, all happy! Aren't we all happy on Fridays! 

And Friday night in his new bed!

And me up after 11:00 checking on him. God I love the video monitor!

So now its Tuesday and for the most part Cooper has been sleeping pretty good. Last night he slept awesome, didn't wake up once. I woke up about 5:15, checked the monitor and he was just rolling around so I went and brought him in bed with me to feed him, this is the part I love. Then the night before, Monday, he was up every couple of hours, so we'll see how the rest of the week goes. But I think he's liking it cause he can stretch out more and can roll when he wants to. That's right, he rolls to his belly then falls back asleep. I  went to feed him at daycare yesterday and he was on his belly sleeping and they said he did it all on his own. My boy is growing up way too fast!

Start your engines

Monday, McGraw-Hill in Dubuque was honored to kick of the Midwest regions district meetings and we were asked to join in on the festivities. We do help out the sales people a lot, hence our department name - Sales Support. So since we are up on the 2nd floor now we also got to participate in the Grand Prix. They were going to have remote control cars racing each other but the 2 cars that were here broke so the race never did happen.

Here are a few pics of the night.

The Sales Support Gang, these are girls that report to me.  They are the best!

From left to right starting from the back - Robin, Jennifer, Cyndi, Me, Jenni, Karen. Second row - Julie and Alice, and sitting down with the helmet is Deona, she was to be our driver.

Showing off our shirts, our team name was Deona and the Roadrunner! and on the back was a road runner with the words Beep! Beep!

Here we are all again with Lisa, she's next to me on the left. This was my boss, she just moved to a new position.

Julie patiently waiting to figure out where were going since there was not going to be a race.

Jennifer

Jenni

Karen

Me and Alice

Robin

Julie showing off her flags in front of her cube.

After we got the go ahead to head over to dinner which was at the Mississippi River Museum we all stopped at Mojo's inside the Diamond Jo Casino. When I say all, there was about 150 of us! 

Here is Jenni, Julie, Deona and Karen posing for the camera at Mojo's.

This is my new boss - Kent Peterson - he is super cool and has lots in store for us.

The hallway down from our offices everything, meaning the whole 2nd floor, was decorated!

This was the start of our dept.

 

This was a roadrunner where we had a fan blowing on it and the feet were going in circles. It was so cute!

The dinner at the Riverboat Museum was delicious! Kent gave a wonderful speech then I went home to my baby! I sure missed him!

Promotion!

Last Wednesday was a very exciting day for me:

• First it was food day at work, we celebrated a co-worker leaving, not that we were happy to see her leave but she was going to school for her masters. So we had lots of yummy food.
• Second, I found out I was getting a promotion! yippee, it was a good day.
• And thirdly, I had a 1/2 days vacation so I got to leave after a meeting where I was announced about my promotion and they we headed out on the river.

It was one of the hottest days of year and where else would we rather be.. up that's up out there in the middle of Mississippi! LOL

My in-laws have a pontoon, this was the first time all year we were out on it. And with us was Tom uncle Bob (aka Boner) and a family Mike (aka Butters) then Tom and I, Micayla, Brandon and of course Tom and Linda. Cooper was hanging at daycare until mom went and picked him up. After the river we went up to get him and ate supper at mom and dads. We were all exhausted! I think we were in bed at 8:30, when I put Cooper down! LOL

And just a few naked pictures of my little man, he loves being naked! After bath we lube him up with lotion and I roll him onto his belly so I can get his back and he'll lift his head and feet, then fart. It's so funny! So here are a few of my "stinker" after bath time.

Diapers!

So back when I had my wonderful Baby Shower? Well every table setting had a diaper around it and everyone as asked to write something special for me, Tom and Cooper. Well, we finally got through them all! They were all a size 1 and that's what he's in now, almost growing out of them, but I got through them and every one of them was special. Some of them were blank and some had little writing on them or it was on the inside, those I didn't use, I didn't want the ink to be directly on Coopers skin, their were only maybe 2 of those, but I did try and take pictures of most of them. Here they are..Enjoy!

"Be careful you'll shoot your eye out" Ha! That's a good one, luckily we've been pretty lucky!

"just love your lil stinker!"

Darn, I can't read this one but it looks like and if I remember correctly, "Daddy get's this one" I think that's what it says. LOL

"Cooper welcome into the world, Love Great Aunt Andy" I'm almost 100% that's who it came from but I can't read it all and this is the only picture I took of it.

This is from my friend Jody - "You little Shit! (I know that's what you're thinking)." LOL you got that right!

"Give him an extra hug when he make you cry" Awe, how sweet. I had a few moments where I cry and I do just that, give him a hug.

"Just call mom anytime". This must have been from my mom! LOL

Well this one you can read! LOL and I think Tom will drink to that!

"For the first few months let baby sleep anywhere. If he sleeps, you can sleep. Kayla (my friend)!" That is exactly true and I did do this, wherever Cooper fell asleep that's where he slept, I never put him in his bed or crib. It worked out perfectly. I remember all the snuggle times, I miss them!

From Jolene "Start Saving For College Now"! 

"The best feeling is being a mommy" - that's for sure!

All these are so special and I love having this blog and all these pictures to remember all the fantastic things. Cooper is one blessed and loved little boy!