Forever Getting Closer...

...to a completed house. After picking up a rug that was literally about the size of the living room and completely the wrong color, returning it, leaving floor plans at Lowe's, picking out a new rug, and one terribly disasterous trip to Michael's I am proud to say that we are almost finished with this small renovation. To walk into the house right now you would not think so. There are piles of things just laying around. However, when we decided to put everything back in place we decided to organize and purge. How one couple can accumulate this much in just four (gasp!) short years is beyond me. Actually, it's really not. Nate married a gal that just cannot let go. But I'm very happy to say that the piles are neat and they have a home. Unfortunately, a five month old (today!) and a sickly husband lead to the piles being left on the floor as there were more important things to tend to. But tonight, I'm gonna OWN those piles. That's right. I've got a place for them.

And yes, you read that right. The stomach flu has plagued our house AGAIN. This time, it's Nate. Hoping that it was just a salad left over from Friday that he ate for lunch yesterday I wearily climbed out of bed last night and slept in the guest room. This was not the case as the poor guy was still puney this morning and is missing a day of work. For those of you that know him well, this is a rare occassion and you know he REALLY has to be sick to not go to work. I'm sure Lola is doing a fine job of taking care of him.

Speaking of Lola. When Cooper was born we had family pictures taken and Lola was included. I got a giant picture of all four of us to put over the fireplace. I finally got it framed and on the mantel yesterday. Lola, when she discovered it, sat in front of the fireplace just staring at the picture. Then, she started with the heavy breathing. Then a low rumble. Then she was all out barking at herself in the picture. I guess that she just didn't realize that it was her. Poor girl. She's as sweet as they come but I don't think she'll be winning any Pulitzer's in the near future. Did I mention that I had to keep her away from what I'm pretty sure was a skunk this morning?

On Saturday we went with Nannie and Pa (Jim and Susie) to the Boat, Sport, and Travel Show in Indy. I don't know if it was because we were pushing a baby in a stroller or if the baby population has grown by about 1,000% in the past 6 months, but we were amazed at the number of babies there. It's like when you get a new car and then you start noticing them more on the road. That's what it was like being at the BS&TS. I will say, however, that there was not a cuter baby there and no other baby acted as good as our little boy. No, I'm not biased! How dare you even think that! Of course, Nannie and Pa did their fair share of passing him between them so that may have helped a little.

My sweet little boy is five months old today. Where did the time go? I feel like I was just holding him in my arms in the hospital. Now it's five months later and he's a growing, happy boy who does something new every day. He has truly blessed my life. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful little family. Cooper has really found his voice and is talking and laughing so much. It cracks me up. I could listen to him all day long. He loves when Nate kisses him behind the ear and on the belly. Nate has grown a "winter beard" and I think it tickles him. That and the fact that it's Nate kissing him. He knows his Daddy and he loves him so much! He's started to reach for people. He's just getting too big too fast!

Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Almost There

The floors are almost complete in the living room. They have all been layed, now they have to be finished with either quarter round or something else pretty that hasn't been determined yet. The new curtains have been put up, the new coffee table and end table are in place, and hopefully the new ceiling fan to replace the one that has been broken for about 2 years now will be up this weekend. It was quite the process to get those floors down. Two full days of hammering, cutting, and nailing. How Nate and Bobby are still standing is beyond me. Cooper was an absolute dream through the whole thing. He took many naps through the nailing and pounding. Pretty unreal if you ask me! Once Lola got her bed placed in front of the windows where the sun was coming in she slept soundly too. Cheri and I made a trip to Lowe's on Sunday and bought the store out. New curtains, a curtain rod, rugs, vent covers, a ceiling fan, and a hardwood floor cleaner are just a few of the things that we bought. If anyone is planning on doing a major project in the near future, Lowe's has a great promotion going on right now! Last night Nate got started on the den floors and rumor has is that Bobby is coming back over to help him. Apparently he didn't get tortured enough the first time!

On Monday we got to spend our first Valentine's Day with Cooper. We went to Lowe's (our home away from home lately) and picked up food from the Olive Garden. I went to Hallmark to pick up a card for a boy in our neighborhood and decided to pick up a gift for Cooper. I was walking around with this stuffed elephant (Rose-Hulman purposes obviously) when I came across a set of books with a bear named Cooper! Along with the books is a bear that reads along with you. Of course, I bought all three books and the bear. I also bought a book called "Potty Animals." How cute is that?!

Cooper has his first ear infection. I took him to the pediatrician on Tuesday and she said that he had the beginnings of it, so hopefully we caught it in time. I'll say one thing for the kid, you'd never know he's sick. He's still happy and sweet. Besides the cough and the runny nose he's acting like a perfectly healthy little boy! I lucked out in the baby department, that's for sure! When I went to pick him up from day care yesterday I was told that two other babies in his room also have ear infections. So I think it's safe to say that he got it from there. But to put a positive spin on it, he's building up that immune system! :)

Here are some pictures of the floors being put it! Almost there!

While this was going on...

...this was going on.

Keep On Keeping On

Yesterday was quite the day in the Myers house. The floors started getting installed. Nate, Bobby, and our friend Mitch worked from 10:00 until around 7:00 last night and they worked very hard. The living room is about 2/3 completed. By the end of today it should be done and I'm really excited to see it! Cooper was amazing. The hammering didn't bother him, the nail gun didn't bother him, and he even took a couple naps! The only sound that bothers him is the carpet coming up. Weird, because compared to everything else that's relatively quiet! Lola Bug did well for the first half of the day, but about halfway in she started spazzing out and barking at the nail gun like it was a stray cat the had the nerve to set foot on her property. It's my belief that she was just extremely cranky due to a lack of sleep. That girl needs to sleep most of the day to prepare herself for her beauty sleep at night! Below are some pictures of the progress!


















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It's That Time

The most fattening time of the year is upon us. Some might think this is the holidays, some the cold winter months in which you're trapped inside due to the elements. But for me, the most fattening time of the year is Girl Scout cookie season. That's right. Wednesday afternoon I had my student aide walk down to collect my nine boxes of cookies, along with three others ordered by my Mother (a closet cookie lover). I then proceeded to open up a package of Trefoils and eat half of them. Was I a nice teacher and did I offer them to my students you ask? Sure didn't! They're all MINE! I haven't even shared them with Nate yet. They've been secretly stashed in my car for the past two days. After he reads this I am sure that the Thin Mints will suddenly disappear, so here's hoping he's too busy to read it!

Our household is currently in shambles. Monday night we went to buy paint for the living room, Tuesday night Nate taped everything off, Wednesday night he trimmed, and yesterday our gracious neighbor Bobby came over and finished painting the room for us (Seriously. On his day off. Because he had "nothing else to do." How about plopping down on the couch with a bag of potato chips and reality television Bobby? Now THAT'S something to do.). Last night Nate and Bobby pulled up a strip of the carpet and tonight we are going to pick up the nailer. Sidenote: I get to see my favoritest niece ever this evening and I'm not ashamed to admit that it makes me glow to think about holding that little bundle of love. Poor Lola Bug had to be put in her cage for the day because she has decided to make a meal out of the pad that was under the carpet. Tomorrow starts the the real installation and I am thrilled about getting these floors down and my house back together! Below are a couple of pictures of the painted walls and the flooring next to it. I love it! Cooper isn't so sure about the loud banging noises. At first he wasn't a fan, but after a while he became fairly intrigued. I'm wondering how he'll handle the nail gun tomorrow!















Blake Sienkiewicz and Cooper met for the first time Wednesday! Blake slept the whole time, but I could tell there was a definite connection. Laura and I are looking forward to summer walks with our strollers and the boys. It's so nice to have such a great friend so close, and now we have babies that are just four months apart! Below are pictures that Laura and I texted to each other right after Blake was born. Oh how I love modern technology!

Remembering a Special Woman

Today I've spent remembering a very special woman in my life.  My Mamaw Charlotte would have been 82 years old today.  While today we celebrate the day that such a remarkable woman was born, tomorrow will mark the day of her death two years ago.  My Mamaw was such an awesome person.  She was funny, lighthearted, and she gave some of the best advice that a girl could get.  She made the best Jell-O drinks when I had the flu and don't even get me started on her cinnamon toast and scrabble.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her and that I don't miss her.  I wish nothing more than that she could have met Cooper because I know that she would have loved him more than anything.  Mamaw, I love you so much and I hold you in my heart every day!

I don't think that there's anything that can lift a person's spirits more than the laughter of a baby.  I believe that I heard one time that in a poll people said that their favorite sound was a baby's laughter and the sound that made them cringe the most was a baby crying.  I have to say that Cooper's laughter can cure any bad day that I'm having.  This evening he was laying on the couch and I started tickling him.  He thought this was hilarious!  He chuckled and chuckled and chuckled.  Every worry, every care, every little stressor in my life immediately left my mind and I felt wonderful.  It's amazing how one little guy that's just under 15 pounds can change my whole day.

While watching the IU game tonight, Nate and I read on the bottom line that the Wake Forest baseball coach donated a kidney to one of his players because no one in the player's family were matches.  Isn't that amazing?  How totally selfless that guy is!

Here are a couple of pictures for the day.  The first one is of Cooper and Daddy watching the IU vs. Purdue game.  The second is of the preparations for getting the living room painted and the new floors put in.  We will soon be saying good-bye to my beautiful green walls!

The Dreaded Call

I went to run an errand when I got to Tri-North today and when I got back I noticed that I had a missed call and voicemail.  Let me just say, nobody calls me at work.  I get very few parent phone calls and I think that if you would ask Nate what my work number is he would laugh and admit that he has absolutely no idea.  So when I see that red light blinking, it sparks my curiosity.  I picked up the phone, typed in my pass code, and listened to the message.  It was the day care.  When the phone number of the place that keeps your four month old son pops up, it makes one break out into a cold sweat.  It turns out that the little one was running a low grade fever (99.0 to be exact) and that he was fussy.  "How do you deal with this and what can we do to help?" they asked.  I had mentioned that we had wondered if he might be teething because of the excessive amounts of drool and the fact that he doesn't suck on his pacifier.  He CHEWS on it.  I called the pediatrician and they said, yip.  That's probably it.  Now I've stuck my fingers in that kids mouth multiple times and there's nothing there.  No bump.  No raised surface.  No indications of teeth.  And do you know what the nurse told me?  "Well he can be fussy and run a low grade temperature for 6-8 weeks before he cuts his first tooth."  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  My poor little boy!  I'm not totally convinced that this is what's going on with him.  I guess only time will tell!

We decided to have people over for the Super Bowl last night.  I pointed out to Nate that we are in fact getting old as everybody was gone by 9:00.  By 9:00 the food was put away, the company was gone, the baby was sleeping, and each of us had picked a couch and were laid out on it.  The fact that we even saw the end of the game was nothing short of a small miracle.

Today is February 7 and it would have been Roxie's fourth birthday.  I miss that dog every single day.  She's been gone just short of a year and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her.  She was Nate and I's first dog and she was such a sweetheart.  I'm sure that she is chasing little squirrels and eating doggy biscuits in Puppy Heaven right now.  We love you Roxie!

Super Bowl Sunday

Well, it's a sad day in the Myers house.  With the excitement and anticipation of the Super Bowl also comes the sadness that the season is ending.  Of course, we've already felt that letdown once this season when the Colts lost in the first game of the playoffs.  But after tonight we'll go until September without our beloved NFL.  Until then we'll experience baseball (Go Cards!...sorry Nate), all of the golf majors, and of course, the wonderful NCAA tournament.  So there will be plenty to keep us occupied, but there is just something about football on Sundays that makes us feel complete. 

Now, while Cooper and Nate nap, I head back to the kitchen to finish the abundance of goodies to fill our bellies while we watch the game tonight.  I'm also secretly changing the channel from golf to the Puppy Bowl.  Let's see if I can keep Lola away from the television!

My Favorite Time of Day

I absolutely love what I call "Morning Cooper."  It's the best time of day in our house.  He wakes up, has a bottle, and then proceeds to talk to us like he's telling us about all of the wonderful dreams that he had the night before and filling us in on every little detail.  He laughs, he coos, he smiles, and he's the sweetest little boy ever.  Of course, I love every Cooper.  Mid-day Cooper, Evening Cooper, Sleeping Cooper, even Fussy Cooper.  But there's something about the morning that seems so special.

We went on an adventure today to Menards and then Lowe's.  We've talked about putting hardwood floors in the house since the day we bought the house.  After almost four years of looking, backing out, looking, and backing out again we've finally done it.  The hardwoods are sitting in my house as I type this very sentence and I cannot wait to get this icky carpet up and the beautiful new floors down.  Cooper was the ideal baby while looking and making decisions.  He was infatuated with all of the products at Menards.  His eyes were about as big around as half dollars and he looked from shelf to shelf.  I can see it already, he's going to be just like his Daddy.  Always wanting a project to work on and never taking the chance to sit down and relax.  Maybe I can get him to put a pool in for me someday!

Here is a picture of my beautiful new floors just waiting to be put down and one of Cooper after a long, hard day of shopping!

What Happened?!

I did not think that the time would come when I would think that my child was big.  But it happened.  Yesterday.  We went to the hospital and visited the new baby boy Blake Sienkiewicz (he's an absolute doll by the way!).  He wasn't just small.  He was REALLY small.  A whole pound and four ounces smaller than Cooper when he was born, and who new it would make such a difference?  When I got home I looked at Cooper and it made me realize how much he has grown and how quickly his four months on this earth have passed.  I have loved every single day of being this little boy's mama.  I wish that time could slow down because I know in the next blink he's going to be going to kindergarten, then graduating high school, then getting married and having babies of his own.  Every minute with him is a blessing.  I hope I never take advantage of even one second of it.

I am beginning my venture into preparing solid foods.  I've done the research, bought the equipment, and now I've just got to wait long enough for Cooper to get old enough to eat fruits and veggies.  I think I might be out of my mind on this one.  But I'm going to give it a shot and see how it goes.  I never thought I'd last this long breastfeeding either, so stranger things have happened!

And here's the greatest comment of the day.  The gal that did our taxes states, "Is your son snoring?"  Why yes.  Yes he is.

Below is a picture of myself holding little boy Blake last night.  Also, a picture of what I came home to last night.  I'm one lucky girl!

Welcome, Blake Andrew Sienkiewicz!

What a day yesterday was!  It started the night before with a phone call at 11:40 from Laura saying the words that I've been waiting 9 months to hear.  Her water broke!  After a very quick labor and delivery, Blake Andrew was born into the world at 5:07 am.  He was 6 lb 14 oz and 20 in long.  To hear that Mommy and baby are both healthy is wonderful.  I cannot wait to meet the little guy.  Cooper's new BFF!  Congratulations Laura and Alex!  Parenthood is the most wonderful experience of one's life.

So it's another snow/ice day.  That means another day off with Cooper James!  Today is extra special because we're also getting a visit from Grandma Kim and Great Grandma Gloria.  After our trip to the hospital I'm hoping to talk them into a little bit of shopping.  Surely with Grandma Gloria that won't be a problem!

We also are going to tackle rice cereal today.  The whole experience has been, well, difficult so far.  For a kid as hungry as what Coop is you would think he would gladly swallow that stuff down.  But his Mommy is beyond determined and the goal is to get him to eat it with authority by next Monday.  Hoping for success!

Many are wondering and I will tell you that Nate's Lasik surgery went well and I feel like he is very happy that he did it.  I truly think that the main reason that he did it was so that he could "jump into the pool with Cooper and not have to worry about losing a contact."  Here is a picture of Cooper in the beautiful goggles that Nate wears to bed.  Priceless.

Another Snow Day, So Blog It Is!

I wish I could say that I really dislike snow days.  Most of those that I work with do.  But I just can't say it.  There's not much that I love more than waking up in the morning and spending the entire day with Cooper.  I know that June is going to get here and the days will be warmer and I'll be wanting to take long walks with Coop and enjoy a sunny day.  But for now, I'm enjoying my time at home with him.  I love being a Mom!

I decided to start a blog because there's so much that goes on and so little time to reflect on it.  Things that I forget to tell family members when I chat with them, pieces of life that go unshared.  I love reading the blogs that my friends have.  They put a smile on my face and I think it's a great way to stay a part of their lives while we are miles apart.  So that's my hope for this.  To keep people informed and to put a smile on the faces of those that read it.  Even if it's just my Mom, I'm okay with that!  :)

Say prayers tonight for the power to stay on and for this ice storm to just somehow disappear!  But hey, being home with Coop for a few more days wouldn't be so bad!