Happy 1 week birthday Caleb!

Sweet boy turned one week old today at 11:32am!  And what a week it has been.  To think, last week at this time, I was holding my brand new baby of only a few hours and the night before wondering what in the world was about to happen.  I'm not even due until tomorrow, so I really could have still been pregnant if they hadn't induced me.  Sometime soon, I will post his birth story.  Probably more for me (I apologize right now for it's probable length) but I also found it interesting to read others' birth stories, especially as I got close to having my own to tell.  This week we have taken hundreds of photos it seems.  Here are just a few of the new bundle of joy in our lives.

Cooper family photo

Car ride home from the hospital - we wanted to wave to everyone on the road to say "Look at our new baby!!!"  And we almost told the Whataburger man.

 Sleepin...he does a lot of that right now.

He loves to wiggle. 

 And again with the sleepiness.  I love these yawns.  Oh and the sneezes are precious.

Tuckered out after a trip to the doctor.  He gained 2 oz!  Way to go bud.

Introducing our newest addition....

Caleb Brewer Cooper

Born at 11:32am on Friday, May 4th, 2012

7 lbs 14 oz, 20 inches long

We are completely smitten and so thankful to the Lord for his WONDERFUL gift!

Below are two verses I memorized and recited often to myself the week leading up to his birth as fear or uncertainty crept in.  They will always remind me of God's faithfulness and love shown through the entire labor and birth.  

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:5-6

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 

Psalm 16:8-9

Maternity Photos in the Blue Bonnets

About a month ago, Ben and I got to go to College Station with the wonderful Shannon Morton Photography and take our maternity photos.  I'm about 34 weeks in these pictures.  She found an adorable little spot with blue bonnets, indian paint brushes and cool fences and barns in the back ground and did an excellent job!  I am thrilled with how they turned out!

Your questions answered

Look over to the right of this post.  Do you see that lady walking across that bubbly line?  She is almost to the end!!  I am 38 weeks which means I have (maybe) 2 weeks left.  Maybe less, and hopefully not more.  This past Friday was my last day of work.  It was bittersweet.  Exciting to move onto a new chapter of life but always sad to leave the old.  But the teachers I work with are so amazing and I know my kids will be in wonderful hands with my long-term substitute.  She is just awesome.

I thought I'd take the time to answer some questions I've gotten multiple times over the past week or so.

When are you due?  As in, wow you're huge, you've got to be due soon!
Two people asked me that while I was out on my errands today.  I love people's questions and reactions.  And I get these sweet smiles everywhere I go.  I don't always make eye contact with people because I feel like everyone is staring at me.  But if I do look over to them, they have this knowing, caring smile on their face.  It's fun.
And, oh, I'm due May 12th.

Are you ready?
YES!  As much as you can be I think.  I'm sure we're in for some major shocks but we have all the baby gear week need, we've taken every class we were offered, and I'm pretty sure baby boy is getting quite squished inside me.  I'm sure hopin he's ready as much as I am.

How are you feeling?
Pretty good, considering there's a 7 lb, maybe more, baby inside me.  I'm sleeping relatively well and not feeling overly tired.  Just generally uncomfortable in most positions, but that's to be expected.

How is Ben feeling?  Is he excited?
Oh yes!  He is so calm and cool and says "bring on the baby!".  He's going to be a huge support during labor and in those first few crazy weeks.  I'm so glad that he's on my team and that we can do this exciting adventure together.  What a blessing he is.

Is the nursery all ready?
For the most part...or at least my part.  I ordered a cute little bookshelf and it hasn't come in yet and I ordered my bedding on Etsy and it was supposed to have shipped out April 20th and is still not here yet! We bought a glider last weekend on Craigs list and its so comfy.   Everything else is in the room and ready!  I guess the funny thing is that he won't even sleep in there at night in the beginning but I still feel the need to have it all done before he arrives!

I ordered the verse prints off Etsy from Blossom and Vine 

His name...going on a shelf that's not put up yet.

 A close up - I got the cardboard letters from Joann's and then covered them with fabric and burlap on the edges.  

And some burp cloths that I made from the tutorial on Jones Design Company

Bring on the baby!  I can't wait to meet you sweet Caleb!

Belly shot...

Well, I kinda dropped off the belly pic wagon somewhere around 25 weeks.  I'm not sure why - I just kept forgetting to take them when I meant to and who knows what else.  And then we got a Mac for Christmas, which I LOVE, but the picture system is all wonky and I don't really like it.  On my PC, I organized them all by seasons and years (Spring 2011, Summer 2011, etc) and just imported to a certain folder, but I haven't quite figured out the Mac picture system yet.  Mac wants you just to import and then categorize them for you.  No thank you.

Anyways....here's one that will show quite the growth I'm sure, especially if you haven't seen me in a while!  Baby boy is growing, there's no doubt about it.  We had a sonogram this week and they estimated he was about 5.5 lbs!  Its just an estimate of course but still....Wow!  He'll be here before we know it.

During spring break, around 31 weeks.  

This picture was taken in the mirror and it was to show the big belly that goes with the big yellow bag.  That's my diaper bag that Pat and Cherish got for me off of Etsy.  I love it!!

Pantry Organization

This week, I have been on spring break.  It has been wonderful!  Usually we go somewhere, even if its just to Dallas but this year, we stayed put.  Ben's in a new job and preggers here is craving time at home to organize and decorate Caleb's room and other areas that just need some attention.  Monday, I tackled the kitchen.  I organized and cleaned out most of the cabinets, the freezer, and the pantry.  I found mail from our apartment...yeah, the one we lived in more than 3 years ago!!  It feels so good and amazingly, I have some empty cabinet space now!

Top 2 shelves of the pantry before.  Notice the wreaths stacked in the corner.

Top two shelves after

I organized everything into tubs that I got for $1 each at Dollar Tree and then labeled them with labels I printed off from HERE.  I got the idea of organizing everything into tubs from HERE.  

Bottom shelves before

Bottom shelves after

Now it just makes me smile every time that I open up my pantry instead of sighing.  

And those wreaths now have a very organized place hanging in the hall closet.  

Happy Organizing!

Recipes...from pinterest

In the past two days, I've made two recipes that I found via pinterest that are from some wonderfully clever blogs.  About a month ago, I made a recipe I found through pinterest and it LOOKED delicious.  The comments on the blog post all said, "I can't wait to try this!" or "It looks soooo good!" but none of them actually said that its was good.  You must proceed with caution if you're going to take a recipe from pinterest or some one's blog.  Looks can be deceiving!!

These, thankfully, were not.  I made sure I read up on the comments and people who had actually tried and cooked these recipes loved them and said they were good.  That's the test - if people go back to comment that it was delicious, not just that it looks delicious, then its a little more trustworthy.  The two recipes I tried were...

Salted Caramel Butter Bars

I made these for our Bible study tonight and they turned out delicious!  Not too sweet but just right.  YUM! 

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I made these for Ben and I Monday night to go with our chicken and veggies and pasta dish.  They are supposed to be just like the Red Lobster ones and guess what?!  They are!  To be honest, I don't love the food at Red Lobster (overpriced and just not that great) but the cheddar biscuits keep me coming back.  Well, Red Lobster, your power over me is no longer!  All to say...I recommend them.  Also YUM.

If you're not on pinterest yet...you should be!