After coming home from picking Cooper up at preschool, Jack & I were working on a little tummy time while Cooper napped.  He has been doing great with his neck strength and really holding his head up well since just a few weeks old!  Jeff was at home working earlier this week and was taking a break from the office with Jack and almost had him rolling over... but not quite.  That is until today!  And the best part... I was able to catch it on video and share with Gran, Sassie & Dada who was traveling.  The only downside was my camera cut off right before Jack flashed the biggest, proudest grin!

Jack ~ 3 Months
Wow... time flies!  I cannot believe our newest baby is already 3 months old!!!!  I swear it went by so much faster this time around.  Although, that could easily be because we have a 2 year old running around. I finally feel like we are getting in our groove and Jack is doing much better with the reflux.  It was a hard first few months watching him be so uncomfortable and in so much pain... not to mention feeling helpless when we tried anything and everything to make him feel better with no luck.  Jeff's work schedule was so crazy during this time... we definitely were loosing our minds sometimes! However, Jack is now just ALL SMILES and it melts my heart... such a happy baby when the reflux is not bothering him.  Hopefully, he is growing out of that soon!

• Jack's smile - just cannot get enough of that adorable grin!!
• He is such a little chunk and already outgrowing so many of Cooper's clothes from when Cooper was 4-6 months old!
• During bath time, we have to focus on cleaning out the rolls on his thighs and especially under his neck which are very hard to reach - haha! 
• He is almost out of size 2 diapers already!!!!!!! Jeff accidentally put one of Cooper's size 5's on one night and it was only a little big ;)
• He is doing great at tummy time and very strong with holding his head & neck up for long periods of time.  He definitely enjoys this MUCH more than Cooper ever did - lol!
• Loves to grab my hair and has the strongest grip that I have a hard time prying his fingers off!
• Jack is still sleeping in the nap nanny for nighttime, but we are working on naps in the crib to transition him out of it... Jeff & I were just saying we can hear the words when he is an adult.... "you strapped me into a foam pillow on the floor and let me sleep there for 3 months?"
• Cooper is so cute always coming up to him and saying "boo, boo, boo, boo" - no idea where Jeff got this, but Cooper has quickly picked up and always wants to go give Jack "boo, boo, boo, boo!"  He also loves to tickle Jack's toes... although I did catch him trying to wipe off his mouth with a burp cloth - sweet thought, but execution was a little frightening!
• Great sleeper!  think those extra lbs really help out ;)  - By week 9 he was sleeping from 10 or 11pm through the night and a few times made I from 9pm until 9am!  By week 12 he was full on 12 hours - YAY!
• He is however a bit of a light sleeper and jumps at loud noises when he is startled by something.. mostly Cooper!
• Loves the bassinet on the stroller which has come in very handy!
• I sing an old Camp Mystic song - Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose before I put him down at night & he crashes out before it's over
• He's got a small case of Cradle Cap and we've been doing the olive oil & toothbrush scrub.  However, all Jeff has stocked in the house is uber expensive olive oils special ordered from around the world... needless to say, this better work quick or we'll be adding a crostini and glass of vino to bath time!
• Jack's hair is starting to come in, but he still has a ring around the lower layer.  His eyes are turning even more blue and are just beautiful... especially when he smiles!
• Despite those eyes from Cindy, I keep hearing from people that Jack looks more like me (and several comments on his smile) and Cooper is looking more Clifton?!  Who knows - I do think they both are a pretty good mix of features... He's jus so darn cute!
• LOVE THIS AGE!

Cooper is loving his new Art Class at Kidville and I am FINALLY on board.  I must admit that it took me a while to warm up to the idea of paint all over Cooper's hands, feet, toes, clothes, head, hair, etc before 930am... but we are both really enjoying the "Big Messy Art Class" taught by Miss Leeat.  Mom, of course, prefers playdough time and paper projects, but Coop loves the paint!

After Art today, we decided to hit the DMA's First Tuesday Event.  Cooper and Bennett Wilhite had a great time together exploring the museum.  By exploring, I mean Cooper really loved running up and down the long hallway at a very fast pace!  They had fun at StoryART and especially loved playing in the craft rooms and running around outside in the courtyard.  What a fun, free event!  Looking forward to catching it next month and trying out the Materials Explorations in the Tech Lab!

Cooper & Bennett Wilhite at StoryART

Cooper chillin' in the pit with his trucks while Bennett cleans up!

Both Kiddos loved the magnet toys and apple tree

Cooper gave me my first kiss today! Sooo sweet... Open mouth, slobbery & fabulous. Made my heart melt. As it did when I caught him kissing himself in the bathroom mirror - ha!


This afternoon we went to Lila Grace's "Circus Circus" birthday party at the Vendome. Cooper had so much fun at his first party... He definitely wanted to be playing with all the big kids. He even had a balloon elephant made to match his elephant smocked Jon Jon!

Birthday Girl Lila Grace, Cooper & Jeff

It was a crazy first few months when we put the house back on the market after Cooper was about 1 month old.  We hated to miss the "Spring" busy time and knew it was going to be a little inconvenient, but we had to go for it.  We made it work....despite that every time there was a showing, I was in the middle of feeding.  I am sure the neighbors across abrams wanted to know why were always pulling up, parking and I'd jump in the back seat several times a day... and I am pretty sure Mr. Potential Buyer got more than he bargained for when coming out back to see the back driveway and finds Cooper & I in the front seat of my car!

Sometime in July, we found an incredible opportunity.  At first glance, Jeff immediately said "No way - I won't even look at something that close to both our parents!"... However, it was such a good deal and an amazing location.  We fell in love with this fixer upper and knew it would be a great family home that had some great "bones".  Small problem - our Lakewood house had not sold, but we had someone approach us about renting and we decided to take the plunge since we loved the Stanford house.  After some long negotiations, we finally closed at the end of August and started renovating the basics -paint, floors, lighting, carpet and added a few smaller projects here and there, including both fireplaces.  We were so excited about the additional space and knew Cooper would love running around his new big room.  I was not so sure about him being so far away, but realized it was nice to finally have a reason to need the baby monitor!

After about a month, lots of renovation decisions and of course some additional projects, it was finally moving day.  We were so lucky to have our families nearby and Gaby to help with Cooper... even Hampton came up to help! That first morning after we all slept in the new house, Gran sent Big Da on a walk with Max to bring over some homeamde biscuit sandwiches - what a treat!  Sassie & Good Doc brought over dinner and Gaby's mom brought over lunch.  We were definitely beginning to love our new location - only 8 houses away from Jeff's parents and 10 from mine. Who could have thought we could get closer than our parents already were to one another!  I was lucky enough to grow up with both sets of grandparents close by, so I know how much Cooper is going to enjoy it!

Helping Dada pack boxes

Picking out the Hardwood Stain

Checking out carpet samples for my room!

Fresh Tacos & all the Fixin's from Martha - what a nice break!



Tio playing some lullaby's for Cooper to relax during moving day!

Finally... there is a bed in this house and I can relax!

Chillin' on my new front porch.  Thanks Sassie for the pumpkins!

I think we were starving our child!  Seriously though... Cooper LOVED trying new foods and we had fun seeing how it would all go down.  After rice cereal, we tried squash (loved it!), then carrots (wasn't so sure at first), then peas (loved it!).  Of course, we did try fruit (pears) despite my own personal dislike. I got quite a kick out of his first reation when he looked quite disgusted, but it was only for a minute and he does love it!

First bite of rice cereal!

Now I am REALLY into this... YUM!

Another Night, Another Messy Baby

Having dinner with Harper

She's all girl - nice & neat... Cooper - definitely a messy boy! (and loving it!)

That one required a bath

He cannot even wait for us to open the jar!

6 Month Update:

• 15.6 lbs ~ 26 inches
• Beginning to sit up on his own
• Cooper has a thing for propping his feet up on my shoulder while we feed
• Mom's first work trip away to Philadelphia for 2 nights home alone with Dad (and really Gaby!)
• Loves when I sing "Camp on the Guadalupe River" & "Linger"
• Lots of fun trips to the new house to pick out things and see the progress
• We moved!  What a mess - but glad it is over!
• First overnight sleepover at Gran & Big Da's while Mom slept at Sassie & Good Doc's and Dad slept on the floor in the new house -ha!
• I SWEAR he said MaMa one night!
• Finally... Cooper's "Sip N See" at Sassie's House
• Rice Cereal & Baby Food begins... Cooper is thrilled!

6 Months... (just forgot the sign this month!)

Family Photos ~ Cooper 6 Months

Cooper ~ 6 Months

My First Rice Cereal Bite!

I want more!... and more, and more...

Just chillin' in my glider waiting for my bedtime story

My current view during feedings

Having so much fun in the Bumbo and taking over Dada's desk!

6 Month check up.. check out those thighs!

Bath Time with BOTH Gran & Sassie... Moving has it's perks!

Dinner with the Beale Family - Evan, John, Jeff & Cooper

Last sink bath at Malcolm House!