Another Update

Still not too good at keeping up with this whole blogging thing, but I try!

Since the last post I have given birth to my newest son, Hunter James Cooper, on December 29th, 2012, and he is ALREADY 2 moths old! How crazy is that? Time is just flying by! He is so stinking cute, and the sweetest baby ever! He looks so much like my recently deceased father, and it makes my heart so happy to see a sweet little boy who has so many of my father's features. I truly feel blessed. He has my dads long toes, his funny-shaped big toe, his long fingers and hands, and sometimes, if his face is at just the right angle, I see my dad in his face. I'm one lucky mom to have such a sweet little baby who looks so much like my father!

 

Braiden just celebrated his 3rd Birthday! I can't believe he is 3, he is such a BIG BOY! We had a Batman themed birthday party, because this kid is all about Batman! He had so much fun with all of his friends, playing in a bounce house, with a bubble machine and devouring chocolate cake!

He has been super sweet with his baby brother, too. He is always coming up and caressing his face and hair, giving him kisses and hugs, and singing him Rock-A-Bye Baby. He tells me he loves his baby brother Hunter, that he is his special baby. I'm so proud of this little boy, he is so kind, sweet, loving and caring. How did I get so lucky?

Chad has started having problems with his back again, he has gone to the doctor and E.R. so many times in the last couple months. Long story short, he is being medical boarded, and VERY possibly, we will be medically discharged out of the military because the problems with his back are making it so he can't work like he needs to. He uses a cane now to get around with less pain and pressure on his hip, back and leg. His pride takes over though, and often times he won't use the cane, even though he should! He is so strong, and I hate seeing him struggle and in pain.

It's kind of a bitter-sweet thing. I'm excited to get out of the military and go home and be by my family and just have a "normal" life, holidays with family etc. But it's also so scarey, the military gave us a reliable paycheck and security, and outside of living with my parents as a child-teen, the military life is the only life I've ever known. It gave us enough stability that I've been a stay-at-home mom for 3 years, without having to worry/struggle too hard! Now I'm busting my butt to finish school (as well as keep the house clean, make food, be a mom to a toddler and newborn etc) so I can take a test and HOPEFULLY become certified in medical administrative assisting, then cross my fingers and hope I can find a job with that so I can become the bread winner in the family! Not to mention we could be discharged in as little as 3 months! Saying my life is stressful right now is such an understatement! Wish us luck! We NEED it!

VERY Long Time, No Blog ;)

Wow,  it's been forever! I don't even know where to start. A lot has happened in the past few years, I suppose I'll start with Braiden and work from there!

 Braiden is almost 3, can you believe it? I barely can! His current loves in life are Spiderman, Batman, guns, games on mom's phone, cuddling with mom and dad, and wrestling with his daddy.

This little guy is constantly amazing me with how smart, well behaved and loving he is. I really got lucky to have such a great little man in my life! And in a few weeks he is going to be a big brother, we expect his baby brother, Hunter James to be born around Jan. 7th!

  

Chad and I are doing awesome! I love him more and more with each passing day. On August 23, 2012 we have been married for 4 years, and together for 8! It seems like we have always been together, he just fits so perfectly in my life, and he is the best husband I could EVER ask for! 

I'm not even sure how to transition into this, so I'm just going to jump right in.

 My father passed away, after battling various cancers for 8 1/2 years, this year on August 19th. He passed on what would have been my mother and his 25th wedding anniversary had they not divorced. I think this has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with in my life, ever.
He has been very sick for a very long time, and we all logically knew he would pass from cancer eventually, but you never believe that your father is really ever going to die. I still have a hard time grasping it.

The only other thing I can think to share at this time is that I plan on attending Career Step, using my MYCAA scholarship to pay for my class to become a Medical Administrative Assistant! Wish me luck! It's gonna be nice to feel like I'm doing something productive---other than producing babies and cleaning a house! 

Here's to hoping I can keep up on this blog for at least a couple months! ;)

Whats new!?

Seeing everybody updating their blogs reminds me that it has been ages since I've updated mine!

Braiden has changed and grown up soooo much over the last couple months! It's insane that someone can change so much in such a short amount of time. He is so BIG now! In November, all in a matter of days he started getting himself into a sitting position all my himself, started pulling himself to standing, cruising around the living room and even climbing up stairs and on top of boxes!

He also LOVES to play patty cake, he does all the motions, clapping hands, rolling his arms and throwing his hands in the air! I love watching him do it, he is so smart!

This little guy amazes me everyday and I love him so much!! I never would have imagined how great it would feel to be a mom, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

So this month we've been packing like crazy and putting stuff into storage 'cause Chad is deploying---his first deployment ever!---to Al Dharfa AFB out by Iraq, and I'm going home to live in UT for the 4-6 months he'll be gone. I'm so not looking forward to it! I'm going to miss him so much!!! Not to mention he'll miss Braiden's first birthday, but at least he is here for Christmas, and we'll be home for Christmas too!

Of course there are good things about it, like we'll get out of debt completely and be able to start buying our own furniture for the first time EVER!

But it still sucks!

Mommyhood

Braiden is already almost 8 months old! I can't believe how fast time has gone by, I can't believe I was pregnant with this little guy this time last year, it seems like he has always been a part of my life.

It's so crazy to look back on my life with this little stud so far and all the changes that have taken place.

Giving birth to him is kind of a blur to me! I was pushing and pushing--and trying not to fall asleep while pushing--and then suddenly you feel this huge release of pressure, and there is this new little life in front of you! All I could do was stare at him, it was amazing to see him, to see that he was okay and not all deformed like I feared he would be! He was beautiful!!!

What's crazy is it doesn't even
seem like it happened....
it seems like he has always been here!

He has grown up so much too! It started with his first smile, and laugh, saying dada and mama, to rolling over from his stomach to back, then back to front, then sitting by himself, eating solids, to now two cute little teeth poking through and up, rolling EVERYWHERE and getting ready to crawl! It just goes by soooo fast.

And it's been easier than I thought too. It's hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be to get used to! I mean , I have had my struggles, like getting used to not always finishing a T.V show or movie, and not getting to play video games, or just make spur of the moment plans with Chad or friends. I think those were the hardest to get used to. Because I wanted to do what I want, and I couldn't...but Chad could. I'd see Chad get to watch T.V, or play a game, or go do something when I couldn't and I think that's what made it so difficult! But even so, I can't even begin to think of my life without this little guy!
I love him to pieces!

Crying It Out

I was just sitting here today thinking about all the advice I've gotten on what to do with my son since he was born. One of the things I've heard the most is that I should let him cry it out, that he will just fuss for no reason.
So far that has never been proven to me. Every time Braiden has fussed or cried, it was for a reason. Sometimes it's hard to find out why, but as long as I kept trying and didn't give up I've always figured out why.
To me crying it out is teaching him to give up. Just give up on whatever it is you need taken care of, 'cause it's not happening and you have to deal with it. I don't know about you, but I brought him into this world, and he deserves all the taken care of he needs!
Whether it was a poopy diaper, a gassy or empty tummy...even something as simple as wanting to be held, there was always a reason.
Braiden has never cried it out, and I'm proud to say that.
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when someone says you are spoiling your child if you hold them when they want to be held. I don't think that it's spoiling him. Why would it be? It's what he needs.We might not think he does, but he needs to be held, comforted....loved. And if it is spoiling him, what's wrong with spoiling with affection? You can always teach your child not to be spoiled in the ways of possessions and trinkets, but is it really so wrong to be spoiled with love?
I don't know about you but I would rather spoil my child with love and comfort, than toys and food---I love buying my baby things, but love is so much more important.

2 Years and Counting!

OK so technically, it's been 6 years! BUT Chad and I's anniversary is on Monday! I can't believe how lucky I am to have such a sweet, handsome, wonderful man as my husband!
It's so crazy to look back and realize that we got together the summer of ninth grade, and are still together!
Chad and I went out on Saturday to see Inception to celebrate it, and hopefully get dinner afterwards, and our friends Angela & Spencer watched Braiden for us. It was Braiden's first time being baby sat---we hadn't been on a date in 6 months!---and I was iffy on how he would be.
But anyways, we dropped him off and headed out, I texted Angela to see how Braiden was, and he was doing great. I was relieved that he was bein' good without me.
So we saw Inception---it was great! Awesome movie, that I totally recommend!--Right when the movie was over I checked my phone to see if Angela had texted me, and she had, just 10 mins. before the movie was over. Braiden had been crying since 45 mins after we left,---which totaled to 3 hours---wouldn't take his bottle, and only took a 20 min. nap! They had tried everything, his baby food, his bottle, tylenol, teething tablets, stroller walk! Poor guys!!! So we hurried home and got the little stinker! After I fed him--'cause he is a grumpy cuss and only wants the boob--he was fine! Talkin' and laughin'! We decided instead of goin' out to eat, we would just order pizza and let Angela and Spencer de-stress, I felt so bad that Braiden cried for so long at them,and they really stuck in there!---I really wanted pizza anyways!
It was a great day, when we Braiden laid down for the night the pizza arrived, we bought a movie off of Zune on the Xbox--Cop Out, VERY funny!--chowed down and enjoyed each other!
It was a PERFECT day!

The Tough Stuff

As some of you may know, my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer waaay back in 2004. Over the years he has fought the endless war against it. He has "beat" it, only to have it come back!

In the summer of '09 he was cleared of his 2nd bout with cancer! This was so great! My dad could finally do what he wants to do and was healthy enough to do it! And if you know my dad, it is nearly impossible for him to sit idly and let life pass him by! No, my dad is always doin' something, usually hiking or fixing cars, and he did these things through both his struggles with cancer. And he was so happy to be able to go out and find a job again and get off disability. Not only that, he and my mother were looking for a house to own, their very fist house that they wouldn't be renting, & I was pregnant with their first grandson! Life was looking so good.

Then in August '09, about a week after their 20 something year anniversary, and 2 days after my little sister's birthday, my mom came out with some pretty hard news for my father that morning. She wanted a divorce, she didn't love him like she used to. And that is where everything started to go down hill again. My mother moved out of the house with my little sister, leaving my dad alone in a big house filled with everything they had acquired over their lifetime...endless memories of love, laughs and wonderful memories shared with her and the family.

After a couple weeks, things are packed, are goin' into storage and different houses. My dad has to move in with my grandparents (his parents) small house, which is already filled to the hilt with my 2 cousins, aunt, grandma and grandpa. But my dad is doing his best to stay positive! He is looking for somewhere to live by himself, and looking into getting a job. He really wants a place where he can be close to my little sister, Jakell, and she can come stay if she wants. And just as he is finding some homes that look promising, something happens.

My dad's throat has been kind of tight, and has had a hard time swallowing lately. And on this particular day, it is so difficult that he has to go into the hospital. Come to find out....my dad has cancer, again, but this time it's in his esophagus.

So now my dad is fighting the fight against cancer once more, and he has to stay with my Grandparents because he needs to use what little money he gets from disability to pay for his meds. and what not.

He has recently gone in to get the tumor removed, and to have his stomach reattached to intestines and stuff that don't have scarring, so hopefully the cancer will go away and he can eat food other than baby food, and soup. He has a tube in his stomache, a j-tube, for drainage and stuff, doin the chemo. and takin meds. to keep him from seizuring. But surgery hasn't ran as smoothly as it did when he got the tumor removed from his brain. His stomach has had leaks, there is blood in his urine, and he is just plain struggling.

It's so hard to see and hear about how hard of a time my dad is having. I'm always so scared that I'm going to lose him, and my son will never really get to know his Grandpa. My dad is such a wonderful man. He is kind to everyone and works hard! I've never known a man more deserving of an easy going, happy life than him. And yet everything is falling down all around him...but he still has the strength to smile and say he is enjoying life. I love my dad with all my heart, he is my hero, and I hope that this fight isn't the end of him, I hope he is around for a long time.

I guess what I want to ask from all of you, mormon, buddist, baptist, pagan, aethiest, muslim-even, just pray for him, or wish him a speedy recovery, or whatever it is that YOU do. I'd really appreciate it.

I love this guy, & I would like him to stick around for a while!