For He will command…

“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

This is the life scripture we chose for Tess’ baptism over the weekend. We were blessed to have family here to share in this special occasion. Tess looked absolutely beautiful in her dress made from my mom’s wedding dress. She also wore a bonnet made from the hanky I carried at our wedding.

Here are a few more pictures...

So tired

Grandma & Papa O'C

Grandma & Grandpa Hull

Auntie Missy

Miss Tess is changing so much! I can’t believe she is 11 weeks old! She is smiling all the time. In the last week or so she has started to giggle. I think sometimes she surprises herself when a giggle comes out. I need to capture it on video.

We are INCREDIBLY BLESSED to have a baby that has slept through the night for the last two weeks!!! I was fully prepared to have another baby like Cooper that was up every 2-3 hours to nurse. Two weeks ago I panicked when I put Tess down around 9pm and she slept until 5:30. Most mornings she has been sleeping until 6:30. I’ve even had to wake her up a few mornings when she has slept until 7am. I love the sleep!!! I typically get up at 5:30 since I can’t go that long without Tess nursing. Hopefully this will help me get into the routine of getting up when I go back to work next week. It will be hard to give up my morning snuggle time with her. Once Steve and Cooper leave in the morning, we have been snuggling… and snoozing until about 10am.

Here are a few more pictures...

The weather last Friday. Thankfully my mom and dad were here already and we had Missy wait until Saturday to come.

Sunday looked much better!

Cuddling with Grandma O'C

Sitting with Papa

Coloring with Grandpa Hull

Watching my friends dance


God has blessed us!

Color Me Cute

Steve, Jackie, and I took Cooper and Tess to Color Me Mine to paint a mug for me. After Cooper was born, I went and painted a mug with his footprints and I wanted to do something similar before going back to work. Jackie brought her camera to document the process.



I put Cooper’s handprint on one side…



and Tess’ handprint and footprint on the other.

I won’t get the mug for a few more days, but I love how it turned out.

Another Lesson Learned…

I have been in awe at watching Cooper change. He will always be my baby, but he is now becoming a big boy. I have mentioned in past posts that they work on self-help skills at daycare and we have seen him wanting to take a more active role at home. He wants to help or try to do things himself. It is hard to imagine he is ready for some tasks, but if it is something he wants to do, he is persistent and we let him try. For the last couple of weeks he has helped set the table. I get nervous with not wanting him to drop something that will break, but most of our dished are pretty durable. I am amazed to see how he must watch us and knows where things go. He will also take his dirty clothes to the hamper… and occasionally the garbage can. But he tries.

Every day it seems like he wants to try something new. Now he helps feed Cierra. He carries both scoops of food to her bowl. Not all of it makes it into the bowl, but he tries. Last night we took him to Target to buy snow pants for school… if he didn’t have them he would have to stay inside while his friends go out. Taking two kids shopping at this stage has required two carts, but last night we tried the ones with the cart attached to a toddler seat. Cooper climbed up and sat like a big boy.

For the last couple of weeks he has fought sitting in a high chair, especially when we are out to eat. And forget a booster seat, too. If we are sitting at a booth he does great sitting on his knees. Last night he refused to sit in his high chair at home for dinner so we tried to just let him sit at the table on a chair. He probably did better than he has done for several weeks. This morning he did it again only this time he wanted a bowl like ours and a regular spoon. I have to remember that he sits at a little table at daycare for breakfast #2 (he eats breakfast #1 with us) and lunch, so why would he want to sit in a high chair at home??? Forget the sippy cup, too. He wants a regular glass. Thankfully, we have some sturdy corned beef jars that look like our juice glasses… and he hasn’t figured it out yet. He does well with small amounts of liquids. The other night when I was clearing the table he helped me carry dishes to the sink.

I’m sure some of you would say that the “newness” will wear off… and it probably will for some things. But for now I will watch in amazement as my little boy becomes more independent. Lesson learned: Letting Cooper help often averts a potential temper tantrum, gives Cooper something to do, and helps him learn that he is an important member of our family.

At the pumpkin patch

Yesterday we went to the pumpkin patch with the Gatzke family. Amaya and Cooper had a blast... the adults did, too! My Steve turned into a kid again and enjoyed going down the slides with Cooper. At the end the kids picked out pumpkins. Here are a few pictures from the day... Enjoy!!!

Jan, Steve, & Amaya

Mommy's pumpkins

Finding the perfect pumpkin

Climbing and playing...

Cooper and Amaya playing in the tubes...

"Where are you, Cooper?"

Daddy playing in the tubes, too

Going down the slide with Daddy... that was a long slide!

Family and newborn photos...