Every day since I came home from the hospital with Cooper it has been a goal to go for a daily walk, if even just for 5 minutes. At first, this was quite a challenge, and I couldn't go far (about 200 feet), nor could I go up/down any sort of "hill." Well, today I set off with Cooper in the baby carrier strapped to my chest, and Lola on her leash and we went for an hour long walk around our neighborhood--down our street, 2 streets over, up and down hills, up the hill to the pool house, etc. I was a little tired when I got home, but not exhausted. The weather was beautifully sunny and warm and we enjoyed our autumn walk.

Cooper turned one month old on Friday, and I have been wanting to blog about it ever since, but life has been a little hectic. Cooper has not been behaving very nicely the last few weeks, but up until now I've had visitors to help ease some of that. Now that I don't have a third set of mom or sister's hands to do house work or take care of Cooper, I have much less time to do things like blog, so I figured even though I didn't get a picture of him to post with this today, I'm going to post anyway while he happens to be sleeping, and then maybe get a picture up in a day or two as time allows.

We went to the doctor today for his 1-month visit. First things first...his head measured at 16-1/2". That's an entire 2" larger than at birth, and puts his head in the 90th percentile for his age! He's so his daddy's son. He's only grown 1 inch longer (21-1/2", or 50th percentile for his height), and it must all be in his head or torso because even though he's wearing 3-month size shirts, the pants are still way too long for his little legs, so he's still wearing newborn size pants. Again, so his daddy's son--all torso, short legs.

As for his weight, he weighed in at 11 lbs. 3 oz. I placed him on the scale, and the nurse looked at it and then asked if I was leaning on it or something, asked me to pick him up and place him down again, and it still showed 11 lbs. 3 oz. The nursed picked Cooper up himself and placed him on the scale a third time and was shocked that that's what it read. Made me feel proud as a solely breastfeeding momma to know my kid is growing well. He's in the 90th percentile for his weight. Gonna be a football player? :o)

Our trip to the doctor today was two-fold; not only was it his 1-month checkup, but I had some concerns. He has been such a fussy baby the last 2-1/2 weeks. I have tried everything and came to the conclusion about a week ago that he must have GERD (Gastro-Esophigal Reflux Disease). I had read about it, had a nephew who had it, and just knew something was not right. Last week when my sister was visiting, she affirmed that his crying was abnormal and that I should call the pediatrician. Today at the doctor my diagnosis was confirmed. Cooper is a GERD baby. He's been put on Prevacid, and I sure hope it helps the poor little guy feel better. It's heart-wrenching to know your child is in pain and that you can do nothing for him. I am so relieved to know this is not normal baby behavior, and that with a little help from medication, I may soon have my peaceful little Cooper back.

On a brighter note, on his 1-month birthday, Cooper rolled from his tummy to his back. Well, he more like pushed himself with his legs. To make sure it wasn't an accident I promptly placed him back on his tummy, and he did it again. No more leaving him alone on raised surfaces! Pretty soon he'll be rolling all over the place.

Last week he also smiled his first genuine smile. Nathan has yet to see it, and it may be awhile before I can catch it on camera, but I have been the benefactor of several genuine gummy grins since then--usually right after I've fed and burped him, before the reflux sets in. The first smile was given to me when I was playing pat-a-cake with him. It's one of his favorite games. Our little guy is growing up. *sniff, sniff, wipe a tear*and then smile :o)*

Another of my three sisters came for a visit to see her new nephew, and to visit me and Nathan in GA. We are so glad she was able to come and was brave enough to leave her 8-month old at home with his dad (Thanks Jason!!!). I was just driving home from dropping her off at the airport, crying, of course, and what song comes on the radio...Green Day "Time of Your Life."

Another turning point; a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist;directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test and don't ask why.
It's not a questionbut a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictablebut in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
Tattoos of memoriesand dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth,it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictablebut in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

It doesn't really fit completely, but made me reflect on the last month of having a new baby and having so much family visit and making so many memories--so many mental pictures besides the camera pictures.

While Camyll was here I was feeling pretty good and we decided to seize the day and the one day of good weather during her trip, and get outside. We visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, a place I've wanted to visit ever since I moved here, but have never wanted to experience it with my less-than-enthusiastic-about-it-but-willing-to-do-it husband. Finally I had someone who was interested in it too. They had lots of cute fall exhibits with scarecrows and pumpkins, but our most favorite part was the Orchid House. We spent over an hour in there admiring all the AMAZING orchids. I never knew there were so many different kinds. The pictures don't even do it justice.

Still scheming...

Check out my cool digs!

Wearing his first pair of jeans...

Just down the trail, next to Nickajack Creek, are the ruins of an old cotton mill (the steel beams have been put in to prohibit the remains of the structure from falling down). The trail to the ruins is a steep/winding paved downhill trail, uphill on the return trip. Nathan and I walked this several times in the last weeks of my pregnancy to try to augment labor. It always brought on many contractions. Postpartum. the hill portion of the walk was quite a challenge, but one that I was able to conquer. I felt so good about that. Before the c-section I never realized how much you use your ab muscles to walk up/downhill.

Last Saturday we took Chelsey to Dahlonega, GA to visit the cute little shops there. When we arrived we were pleased to find out that it was the weekend of "The Gold Rush Festival." Apparently Dahlonega is the home of the first Gold Rush in the US. The festival entailed lots of booths of crafts/paintings/arts. Our favorite was the booth with the terribly cheesy toilet seat covers (too much lace, to say the least), with the tortured old man sitting bored nearly to death in the booth that had probably not sold one thing all day. It was obvious that his dear old wife had sewn all these things and he was the one who was supposed to man the booth to sell them, poor guy. I wanted to buy something from him just out of pity.

Only in Georgia can you find this...PORK CHOPS on a STICK. Not a hot dog on a stick--no, no--an entire PORK CHOP, and only for $3. It was picture worthy. (Can you tell we're sisters?)

My Mom has been here taking care of me/us for 12 days now (I think--I am too tired to check my math and all the days are running together lately). She has been so amazing and I don't know what I would do without her here making us meals, cleaning my house, doing laundry (where did it all come from all of a sudden?), running to the grocery store or drug store, and keeping us sane with her third set of hands and reassurance only a mother can give. This morning while I was getting ready for the day after feeding the baby his morning feeding, I heard the vacuum running downstairs and was so thankful my mom was vacuuming the dog hair AGAIN. There seems to be no end to that either. I was feeling exhausted from the shower I just took and was sitting at my bathroom vanity seriously debating whether to put on any makeup and dry my hair, or just crawl back in bed with wet hair as I have several times in the last week, and try to sleep.

Today I mustered up what strength I had left and put on a full face of makeup and did my hair. WHEW! I mean, it was exhausting. Where did all my strenght, stamina, and energy go? I know, I know, I just had a baby 2 weeks ago, but COME ON! I am bored of this recovery bit and want my life back.

So as I was sitting there debating whether I had the energy to put makeup on, I heard the vacuum and wondered when/if I will ever have the strength to clean my own house again, cook my own meals again, or walk farther than down to the corner and back without being utterly pooped out. I am usually such a busy body; this is driving me crazy.

My "big day" today consisted of my mom driving me and baby to Babies R Us to buy diapers and wipes that were hugely on sale. We drove there (30 min), were there for MAYBE 45 min, and drove home via the scenic route so mom could see something in GA besides freeway. On the way home we stopped at Target and my mom went in while I sat in the car and fed the baby. I hadn't pumped enough and did not come prepared to nurse (I'll leave the details out), so we got to drive home the remaining 15 minutes with a SCREAMING baby. Maybe my mom is used to that after 32 years of mothering, but it stressed me out. We were gone a total of 3 hours and by the time we got home it was all I could do to stumble up the stairs to bed and crash for a 2 hour nap.

I used to get so much done on Saturdays. Will they ever be the same? (This is clearly a rhetorical question; I'm just venting here; Not looking for sympathy. Really.)

His favorite thing to look at are our windows and blinds at night. The windows have white panes in them, and the blinds are white. The white against the black windows at night create a nice contrast, and he will just sit and stare at them. He also has a few rattles he likes to watch and will track them with his eyes.

Nathan is such a great dad. He has learned a lot about babies in the last two weeks. The other day he handed Coop off to my mom almost like a football. I mentioned something to him about the nice football pass off, and he commented how funny it is that within two weeks time he has gone from being afraid of hurting the little guy and being ever so careful and gentle, to realizing that he's not so fragile and breakable and can really handle a lot more than that. Nathan is anxious for Cooper to grow up a little and become more interactive. He likes to walk him around the house and show him different things. Last night he put Coop to sleep after I fed him. He has been such an amazing husband and father in the last two weeks. I am not at all surprised, but just very thankful for him and all he does to support me, help me, and be an active part of our baby's life.

Of course I love the fact that I'm starting to get a little more sleep, but I am trying to enjoy my baby being a little newborn because I know these weeks are fleeting. I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye just thinking about it. There is nothing like holding your baby in the wee hours of the morning after just nursing him, looking into his cute little eyes with him recognizing who you are, and sharing such a tender moment as you sing him to sleep. Being a mother is everything and more than I dreamed of. The last two weeks have been the most rewarding in my entire life. Happy 2 week birthday, little Coop.