4th of July

I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged! There is just not enough time in the day... So I am playing catch up. These are all pictures taken on my phone. I have not downloaded the ones on my big camera yet. I am so behind.

By the end of June I was ready for a scenery change. Cooper was eight weeks old and doing great so we loaded up and headed down to Point Clear for our annual trip with the Pringles.

The kids all fell asleep and it was nice and quiet. That lasted for about 30 minutes. And it is a 5 hour car ride...

We headed over to the hotel once we arrived and enjoyed the afternoon outside at Bucky's. Here is Bob checking out his statue.

We enjoyed the beautiful weather at the Lakewood Pool. Cooper napped in his bassinet. Most of the time.

Anne and Martha Glen swam together at the Grand's Pool. They are in the middle of the picture.

Bob discovered his belly button. Funny stuff.

He also had fun hanging around with Uncle John and Aunt Caroline!

Baby Cooper was a trooper and was along for the ride everywhere. 

He was also a good sport when little hands were grabby (and this looks worse than it was!)

Anne enjoyed playing in the castle

with sweet friends

and snuggles with daddy (the glasses are part of a Nerf game and for some reason my kids love to wear them/make others wear them!)

We took Anne to see the fireworks at the Grand Hotel for the first time. She was scared at first, but did not cry. She was not a fan of the loud noises, but was in awe of the pretty colors!

Bob just being silly on the sunroom door. He is at such a fun age and cracks me up daily!

It rained ALL day for the last several days of our trip. We played inside most of the time and I even attempted to take A & B to the indoor jumpy place in Spanish Fort. It was fun for about 20 minutes until Anne had a MAJOR meltdown over losing a game of musical chairs?! Epic. Like had to throw her over my shoulder (while also carrying my bag and Bob) and she was screaming so loud everyone stopped what they were doing and watched me drag her out. It was the end of the week and she was exhausted by that point after staying up late with her big cousins and not napping. Remember I was also waking up in the middle of the night with a newborn so I was tired too. I was not amused. She fell asleep on the car ride back to the house and woke up a much sweeter little girl. Thank goodness.

On our last day in Point Clear we finally saw a glimpse of blue sky! Beautiful. 

It was a crazy, exhausting week but loads of fun too. We made wonderful memories and scenery like that is just icing on the cake!

I read recently that vacations with little ones are not really "vacations", they are really just "trips" as they are not relaxing. We are in that stage of life for sure, but after a car ride back to Birmingham where baby Cooper slept the ENTIRE 5 hours and we did not stop once (a miracle) it made me want to go on another "trip" sooner than later!

Summertime

I can't believe how fast summer is flying by! I'm sure being sleep deprived doesn't help. We have been busy since Cooper came home from the hospital. Here are some pictures taken with my iPhone to prove it...

We have been to the park with friends.

 Cooper had his first play date! Dear friends of mine had baby girls very close to Cooper. Caroline was born one week after him and Jane Evelyn was two weeks after her. 

We have been swimming. 

and Bob entertained us. He is not afraid of some pink accessories!

I have had early morning snuggles with Cooper.

Anne had fun at a birthday party.

We had friends over for a cookout. I found the kids snuggling like this while watching a movie. So sweet!

The plastic baby pool has been my friend on hot afternoons after naptime. It keeps them both entertained! They are into giving hugs these days. Also very sweet!

 Another hug while playing in the baby seat.

 Cooper meeting his great-grandmother.

We went to Wee Flip for the first time the other day. It is a big room filled with toddler sized swings, a trampoline, ball pit, etc. A & B loved it and C snoozed in his stroller most of the time. We will be returning soon! Great indoor play option on a hot summer day.

There is a lot of dress up at our house. Anne changes outfits multiple times a day and Bob loves an accessory like a hat or tiara :-)

They think the baby swing is for them and take turns pushing each other (aka scream and whine over who gets to swing). 

 All this fun makes for some sleepy babies!

Hopefully I will be back soon with pictures off my good camera and our trip to Point Clear for the 4th of July!

Lately

Anne and Bob have really started to play together lately. It is so cute. They love to play chase around the house - running and screaming with laughter. It is loud, but adorable. They were separated for over a week when Cooper came home from the hospital. They each went and stayed with the different Grandparents for some one on one time. I did not think about how much they would miss each other. It is several weeks later and Anne still talks about missing Bob when he was away... Bob is a climber and now likes to climb up and sit on top of Anne. She thinks it is funny for a few minutes, but then wants him off when it starts to hurt. He is not light!

Bob actually sat still for a minute to watch a movie!

until he decided climbing on Anne would be more fun... She was still trying to watch the movie!

Sweet Cooper is doing great. He is now 8 lbs 10 oz (6 1/2 weeks old)! Overall he is a good baby. He still has reflux/gas and every now and then will be fussy because of it. I am still giving him a little rice cereal in a bottle before I nurse him to try and help the reflux. Here are some recent pictures of him.

Due Date

Today is Cooper's due date! He will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. Time is flying by... I love having him home with us. Anne adores him. She is my "big helper" and is great if I give her a job to do. Bob loves all the baby gear, but luckily is not that in to the baby. He tries to swipe Cooper's paci's and bottles - always keeping me on my toes!

We have had some pretty afternoons and the kids love being outside to play. Cooper naps like a champ wherever he is.

We like to stroll to the park. I'm sad walking is now a two man job. I could get a triple wide stroller, but that seems a little much. I think I'd rather just spend that money on a babysitter and leave one child at home :-)

Anne and Bob have a new water toy that is a big hit!

I survived my first evening having all three by myself. Cooper nurses right during dinner/bath time for Anne and Bob making it tricky. It was chaotic, but I did it!

We have had just a couple of nights of crying. I had forgotten how brutal a screaming baby in the middle of the night is! I can tell he has gas/reflux when he cries like that and is better if I hold him upright. That just means I don't get to sleep... 

But usually he just snoozes away and looks like this...

Cooper spends most of his time in this "rock-n-play sleeper" from Fisher Price. I did not have it with the other two and wish I had. It is the best! It keeps him at a slight angle which is great for his reflux and it is light weight and folds, so I carry it all over the house. 

I love my little family of five!