Yes, we're still alive and well! Just busy...

Many apologies for not having posted stories, photos, and updates on Cooper in so incredibly long.  As you can imagine with my return to the workforce, several activities have fallen to the wayside as I struggle to find time in the day...

My maternity leave ended on August 9th and Cooper officially started day care on Monday, August 12th.  I cannot repeat enough what a relief and a blessing it is to have Cooper with his Auntie April every day.  Leaving him that Monday was difficult enough (as in sobbing driving away from the house and towards the highway, with passing vehicles showing concern for my mental health and well being); I can't imagine Cooper starting day care in an anonymous setting with strangers.  As tough as it is to return to work and leave Cooper in another's care, I love that he is with adoring and supporting family and engaging bright young kids to help Cooper adjust and socialize. He's thriving under April's dutiful care and absolutely adores April, Shaun, Nolan, and Summer.  He smiles at them, talks and coos, and happily gazes and drools with the other day care kids. Cooper's one happy baby. 

So.  What's new with Cooper, you ask?  Well, at his four month appointment at the end of September, Coopy was measuring in at 25 and 1/4 inches long (50th percentile) and weighing 16 lbs and 8 oz (75th percentile).  We joke around that his head and torso are massive, and his legs have yet to grow into the rest of his body. Whether Coop will inherit the Caten or de Vries height remains to be seen...  It's clear that he's a good eater and puts on weight rather easily.  No problem there!

Today Coop is four months and 21 days old.  He's almost sitting up by himself, is incredibly squirmy and wants to move around, smiles and laughs at people and things that amuse him, loves to spend time on his back gazing while you play and tickle him, be attentive to the people and environment around him while taking it all in with wide eyes, is more interested in exploring and handling toys, his play mat, and exersaucer. 

Exersaucer- oh fun!



I looove the telly!

His current likes include the "Captain Hold" where he sits up leaning against you, cradled and securely fastened, so he can view the world.  He also likes his bath time (surprise, surprise), napping completely covered with his blankie, watching television, and sucking on his pacifier, a finger, one fist and sometimes both fists.  We have discovered that he dislikes being purposefully woken up from a peaceful slumber, taking naps after daycare (wants to get in his mommy/daddy time or so I like to think), and getting strapped into his car seat.

Some of his "recent" firsts documented below include holding his own bottle at Auntie April's daycare, laughing at cousin Nolan (he LOVES Nolan), apple and pumpkin picking with our friend Lindsay, and blowing raspberries with Evan.  Check out the pix and videos below...



Look at what I can do!



One pumpkin amongst many



And how can I resist showing you some of these shots?  A few of my favorites...

1. A series of pictures with Coopy on his belly where he looks like he's laying nude on a bearskin rug, but he's really wearing a diaper and on his brown blankie. 
2. Wearing his warm, cuddly brown bear suit
3. Family photo taken when Coopy was around 3 months old
4. Tummy time photo taken this past Sunday
5. Typical napping pose

And to tease you with upcoming posts and photos, we are all so very excited for my mom's upcoming visit to the US and the holiday season... Coop's Oma arrives in late October and will stay through the holidays until early January.  She'll get to experience all of Cooper's first holidays- Halloween (to be dressed as a duck courtesy of Aunt Ruth), Thanksgiving, my 32nd birthday, Christmas, and New Years.  How fun!