Looking back

Yesterday my mind was on Cooper's birthday all day long. He is going to be a year on Oct. 22. I can't believe it's already been 11 months since he was born. Crazy. It seems like yesterday we were at the hospital, and I was SO ready to have him. At the same time, it seems like a LONG time ago. When I pulled up pictures last night, I couldn't believe my eyes.


Ahh! Jackson is SO little! And still has chubby little arms and legs. By the way, Cooper can fit into this outfit right now. Crazy, huh? Jackson was very late to start talking, and at the time Cooper was born, he still wasn't saying much. In fact, he couldn't even say "baby." People kept asking him what his brother's name was, and he would just look at them and giggle. At the time, I was always a little worried he wasn't saying more. I knew that he was very smart and understood almost everything I said. But he couldn't say much back. But now, my goodness. He is a chatterbox. He talks in this sing-song voice and drags out every syllable .... often adding a few to every word. This morning I overheard Jackson ask Cooper, who was crying, ... "What's wrong, Coop? Coop Stop Crying." and then I peeked in and he was hugging his little brother. Alot changes in a a few short months.

And this picture really gets me. Cooper was so little! Well, comparatively. He was just under 9 lbs, and now he is somewhere around 23 or 24 ... haven't weighed him in a while.
I'm so thankful we have pictures, because I truly wouldn't remember anything if it weren't for them. But just looking at this picture brings back all the emotion of that day. It is true what they say - your heart just grows and makes room for your second one. I couldn't imagine loving another child like Jackson. I mean, of course, I knew I would love him - but you just can't wrap your head around it. Just like I felt before I had Jackson - What's it going to be like? Will they look different? Will they act different?
As I continued to look through pictures, I couldn't help but notice how everytime I saw a picture of Cooper in the following months, I just remembered the screaming. and the crying. and the spitting. It's the truth. I know it is terrible that when I think about the first 6 months of his life, I just feel that bit of desperation in my stomach. I am so glad we all survived the collic and reflux. He is only spitting up 1-2 times a day, now. It still isn't much fun scrubbing it out of the carpet, or the couch, or off the toys. But, it is SOOOOOO much better than before. Not to mention, he is happy. So happy. When he is upset, he is UPSET. There isn't much of an in-between mood for Cooper.
This past weekend he took his first steps. He's been practicing a little all week, and is standing by himself alot. He can walk really well holding onto my finger, or pushing his little shopping cart. He doesn't seem to be in a big hurry to give up crawling, and I am okay with that. As long as he doesn't wait until 15 months like his big brother! Of course, Jackson didn't ever take a step until he started walking for good. Cooper likes to live on the dangerous side. : )
We're off on a road trip this weekend. We're headed to Alexandria and then to LAke Charles - we will be gone for a whole week. My ten year highschool reunion is on the 26th, so that should be fun. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
That's all I have for now - will post pictures of a Louisiana adventure soon.