Lately...

Hey everyone! 
   Sorry for the delay on Cooper and general life posts! Things have definitely been busy/exhausting/life altering around here (haha!). We hope you enjoyed Alex's "Dadvice" post! Here's what has been going on in our lives the last 2 weeks!

We learned how to use the ring sling (Hallelujah!). This has been our saving grace for reals!

Hubs is training really hard to kick some major bike race booty!

Hubs gave me the sweetest wall hanging that his brother (Uncle T!) custom created...I.Love.It

Bathtime is still not our fave....

We went to Target and got Mom's guilty pleasure Icees

Hubs pulled solo Dad duty for 2 entire days while Mom went to a continuing ed course...he was amazing and totally handled it like a pro. Seriously - Alex should teach courses in "Dad'ing"...He amazes me everyday! We are so blessed to have him! In the meantime he introduced Coop to the ergo baby! What a champ (and Coop LOVED it)!

Mom and Coop went on their first completely.solo.outing. We hit up the post office, mom's addiction lululemon and made it through Whole Foods successfully! Huzzah!

We went to watch game 7 of the NBA championships with friends and redefined multi-tasking with our diaper bag storage capabilities!

We cheered on Dad's team in the College World Series! Go Pokes!

We celebrated Dad's 32nd birthday with a gorgeous hike in Boulder and a delish brewery visit!

Happy Birthday Alex! We love you so much! You are the best dad, husband and friend any of us could ask for and I feel so blessed we got to celebrate you! 

First family hike to El Dorado falls in Boulder! 

Gorgeous but definitely got a little hot for little Coopster!

Cooper learned about the finer points of dining al fresco 

This week we got an awesome treat with a visit from Uncle T and Aunt Meggie! 

Cooper thought they were awesome and we loved the visit! 

Cooper got to get dressed up

Just try to tell me you've seen something cuter than this little guy in gingham!

Mom "ran" her very first 5k post partum/first run 

since being taken off running at like 18 weeks preggo!

Family hike through Red Rocks!

learning how to double fist like a boss!

Gotta have a back up for the back up! 

and we introduced Cooper to the fine art of yoga practice! 

Needless to say we have had a lot of firsts these last two weeks and it's been great!

So today is Cooper's official 1 month birthday! 

Stay tuned for some great pics taken by Uncle T and an official 1 month update! 

Happy One Month little guy! We love you (now please let us sleep!)! 

Dadvice!

Dadvice...things I've learned so far.

#1: There is no "right way" to raise a kid.

     Your cousin's/sister's/brother's/parents' suggestion that worked for him/her may or may not work for your kid or you. Furthermore, what worked for your first, second, etc. kid isn't guaranteed to work for your next kid.

#2: Create a tag team system

     If your wife is breast feeding, your contributions to the first weeks of life are more limited than if you are bottle feeding. (Not making a stance on which is the right way to do it. See No. 1) Since we bottle feed (and for a good reason: www.bikeridesandboobies.blogspot.com), we take turns and have a system for feeding. As the family's honorary Night Owl, I take the night feeds while Ms Wifey, as the Early Bird, does the morning service. The key is to sleep during the other person's shift because emergencies happen. Alway be ready to tag in/out when you're "stuck" soothing your kiddo.

#3: Never get mad at your kid. They haven't done anything wrong.

     They just need to: eat, sleep, poop, burp, or fart. Don't be mad at them because you can't figure it out. (See No. 2)

#4: Let your kiddo sleep how he's/she's comfortable.

     Ms Wifey is a speech therapist with a specialty on infant feeding. If you have the choice, marry one because they can get you through to the "fun age" quicker and with less pain. However, there are things that the kiddo will dictate to you and that no amount of training will prepare you for. Our kiddo can't sleep in a crib without spitting up. We've resorted to doing things "not recommended by Infant Safety Specialist" having Cooper sleep in a rock-n-play sleeper so he's on an incline.

     Plus, it's a sweet and a special time to have your kiddo take a nap on your chest. Chest to chest also has some medical benefits

#5: Don't stop at one burp. There's always more in there.

     Go for the double play, trifecta, a grand slam, or yahtzee. I haven't come up with a six yet…

#6: Dirty diapers - not as bad as I thought.

     Get through the meconium and all the rest isn't that bad. Plus, like anything else, the more you do, the better/faster you get.

#7: Laugh at yourself while you and he or she learns.

  
#8: Don't forget to stop and take pictures to remember or show him/her when the kiddo gets bigger.

And now:

Here's some entries from some Dads with more experience than me:

Andrew W:

Make sure your son pees in his own face and you'll never have to worry about him going while you change him again.

Parker F:

What works for your first kids doesn't always work for your second.

I've now become in the habit of closing every door quietly, even for no reason when my boys are awake. I even judge people for being "barbaric" if they close a door how you would normally.

Brian C:

Don't worry about "baby proofing" anything in your house because they can't do ANYTHING without you for like 9 months.

They don't smile for a few months, so no matter how much of a Dad Comedy production you run, this kid ain't buying it.

The tough part about diapers is that the stupid changing table is upstairs and you're legitimately doing anything that doesn't involve excrement right now.

Walker A:

Once she learned to crawl, I quit trying to carry her as much and let her crawl around.

Barry A:

Video everything you can because they won't do the same cute stuff for very long. You could forget about it if you can't sit down and go through old videos.

And now here's a cute moment with Cooper on international yoga day

Love, Alex

Cooper Week 2!

Well guys we have made it two weeks! Cooper is doing great and we are settling (we think!) to this whole newborn thing! 

So here is what Mr Cooper J has been up to this last week...

He did lots of tummy time! He actually rolled belly to back twice today! Crazy!

He had lots of dad snuggles...he feeds the 9:00pm and midnight everyday and they have a great time together! 

We FINALLY made it to little man ice cream (where this little guy decided to start to make his early appearance!) It was delicious!

He had a great visit with Lolli!

He took his first real bath (because his cord came off!)

He snoozed like a champ... normally I do his 6:00am feed then we snuggle in bed together for a bit because he is just too irresistible to put down!

He put on his best seersucker suit (with room to grow!) to meet Mumzy and Aunt Em! Tell me this isn't the most adorable things you've ever seen!

He met his Mumzy and fell completely in love (and had his best nap like ever!) Mumzy and Aunt Em were a huge blessing this weekend (including Mumzy taking a whole night shift!)

He met his Aunt Em and was just the biggest snuggle bug with her too! Can't wait to see him grow up so loved like this! He loves his Aunt Em!

He took his first outside nap on a gorgeous Colorado day!

He also took some serious rainy day snuggles with mom :-) 

Speaking of mom...she finally got back to hot yoga this week! Yay for some kind of workout besides just walking! Feels good to sweat again!

                                              

He brunched with the best of 'em (aka he napped like a champ while mom and dad got their brunch on for reals!)

He went to the pediatrician today for his two week check up!

He hit 7 lbs (which means he gets to go in the ergo baby and we can go hiking with him now! woo!)

He is tracking along in the 10%'ile in length and 25%'ile in weight with that head just growing! 

Even though these numbers look small - remember that they are comparing him to kiddos born at a full 40 weeks so the fact he is on the curve moving up like he is (when technically he is compared to littles 3 weeks older than him) is totally great and exactly where he should be! 

He also got his two week newborn screen so we will be getting those results soon...

Other than that we are battling some serious diaper rash but it is getting better and Coop is sleeping longer and better each day!  We are so blessed with this kiddo!

Go Coop Go! 

This is my favorite picture from this week. 

A boy and his dad in the Colorado sun. 

Love my boys. 

So blessed. 

Stay tuned for week 3! Have a great day!

Love,

Hannah

Cooper Cuteness

 Someone started smiling this week! The sweetness is just too much!

A week with Cooper...

Well guys we have made it!

1 week with Cooper and everyone is doing well!

So here is what Cooper has been up to this week and what he has been teaching us! 

This week in Cooper's life...

He was born...

 He started his football career early...

He went in the car seat and snoozed the whole time

He grew bigger than 2 coke cans...

 He kept feeding like.a.champ. He feeds pretty much every 3 hours, sleeps and is ready to roll again! Hooray for feeding schedules (for as long as they last!). For my fabulous therapy friends...we are loving the Playtex Vent Aire slow flow :-) 

 He went to Target for the essentials of life...

He/We learned the rock n play was magic for sleeping more than 20 minutes at a time...

He went for his first stroller walk to his first pediatrician appointment! (the pediatrician is a block and a half away). 

Later he made it through two 5k walks with Mom and then again with Mom and Dad at the park by our house!

He made it through his first pediatrician appointment! 

Almost back to birth weight and doing great! 

 40th percentile in length

15th percentile in weight (but gaining fast!)

 He snuggles and sleeps like an angel...so hard to put him down. 

He met lots of new friends and family...

 Aunt Hillary and Uncle Owen came to say hi! We can't wait to meet his cousin in August! 

Mrs Yvette (who has known Mom since she was teeny)

and we met our Lolli! Love at first sight of course! 

 He started tummy time! 

 He got his first piece of mail! 

 He got his first bath and snuggled up in his baby bear towel! (bath time was not a favorite though for the record...)

 and today was baby's first bike race! Dad raced the criterium at the City Park today and did great! 

Go Daddy go!

So all in all - it was a great week! We just love our little guy and are so grateful for a great first week!