10.08.09

This blog could be titled a couple of different things... "A day in the life" or "Reason #1,804 why I Love Vanderbilt"... but it's easier just to call it 10/08/09.

Cooper had his first dose of the flu vaccine at his 9 month well-baby visit on 9/04/09. We scheduled an appointment for his second dose for this past Wednesday. However last Friday we got a call from our pediatrician's office saying they were out of the vaccine and we'd have to find it elsewhere. Great. Option 1 - go to Walgreens. Not so fast - they don't give flu shots to kids under 2 years old. Option 2 - go to Lentz Public Health Department. Not so fast - yuck.

Then I realized Vandy might have an alternative. Guess what? They do.

So last night Christopher got home at 4:30 pm (what??? really??? when the sun was still up???) and when Cooper and I arrived at 5 pm we headed down to the Franklin Vandy Walk-In clinic. We beat the traffic and arrived at 5:30 pm. Fifteen minutes later I was registering which involved signing an electronic keypad twice because Cooper was already in the system (having been born at VUMC). Great so far. Then a murse named Richard came into the lobby and walked us outside where he administered the shot right there to my baby who I was holding naturally and didn't even know what hit him. No tears. No wailing. No copay. I love Vandy.

Before we knew it we were off to the quaint and always lovely downtown Franklin for dinner at Mellow Mushroom. MM is one of Christopher's favorites, but I've never really liked it. However, last night I found the one thing I love and will order every time. Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Yum. Triple Yum.

After a scenic drive home with a sleeping baby in the backseat I thought this would end up being a perfect evening. It was only 8 pm, we had accomplished our mission, had a yummy dinner and Cooper was asleep. I would put him in his crib, get the house ready for the housekeeper and get to bed before 10pm. Cooper had other plans.

After being in the house for all of 30 seconds Cooper drenches me in vomit. The look on CW's face was a combo of "Holy ****" and "I'm so glad it wasn't me." He held the perfectly clean baby while I stripped down on the spot since I was close to the washing machine and then take Cooper upstairs to hopefully go back to bed. Again, he had other plans. We all got to bed before midnight which isn't too bad, but not the fantasy scenario I had earlier.

The good news... Cooper fell asleep mumbling Ma Ma. Ma Ma. Ma Ma. Ma Ma. I forgave him for the puke.

10.07.09

Cooper turned 10 months old today. A picture and an update will be posted later, but for now two little tidbits.

Tidbit #1

Cooper has THREE upper teeth coming in. At the same time. No wonder he's been so pleasant lately :)

Tidbit #2

I think this child is a lot like me. He may look like Christopher spit him out, but he has my personality. Yesterday was another shining example.

In an effort to take part in this fleeting fall season I scooped up Cooper, grabbed a blanket and we headed into the backyard to play with grass or leaves or anything that would take his mind off of the teeth that were making him fussy. He happily sat on the blanket, stood up against me or let me cradle him, but he was not interested in the world beyond the blanket. He briefly played with a big, crispy leaf I got for him, but he didn't really care. At one point he crawled to the edge of our blanket and slowly reached out for the grass. As soon as his fingers touched the prickly ends of the blades of grass he was done. After about 15 minutes we were back inside.

10.04.09

Having a blast with B&B (Becca & Brian). Big happenings of the weekend... Cooper picked a french fry up off of Rebecca's plate at lunch yesterday and proceeded to eat it. Such a copy cat. He ate jello today too, well cranberry congealed salad. In messier news he is also having his first bout of diarrhea. Lots of dirty outfits in the wash this weekend.

9.30.09

Cooper's favorite new game - crawl up to any piece of furniture in the family room. Lay on his belly and peer under said furniture. Reach under couch, table, chair and pull out a toy. Oftentimes it's a dog toy, but he doesn't seem to mind. And the dogs really appreciate his help :)

9.28.09

Today on my way home I realized fall is here. It happens every year... there will be one day in September that I notice the leaves falling and the air cool enough for sweaters eventhough the sun is out and shining. It makes me want to make chili and order apple cider from Starbucks. It also reminds me of the weather 3 years ago this week when I got married. Love this time of year.

Cooper is well. His new favorite pastime is to stand at the windows facing the backyard and "talk" and bang on the glass. Whatever floats your boat :)

09.27.09

I haven't been good about updating so I'm going to do an update WITH videos. Cooper is crawling like mad and pulling up on anything. Sometimes he even pulls up one-handed. He cruises from the couch to the coffee table, but that's about it so far. Still has two teeth, still walking/running in his walker. Has had one flu shot dose and goes back for the second dose in two weeks. Yesterday he attended his first VHA Fall Family Fun Fest and had a great time getting attention and he wasn't even scared by Dinky the Clown (eventhough the adults were).

This made me cry

"Because at the end of the day, when we can't walk or even stand, when we have no words to speak, much less sing, and when it takes every ounce of every part of us to scrawl out our name at the bottom of a page, we still have something left to give. We can care. Caring is what makes the earth spin around on its axis and draws day in from the dark night. Telling someone that we CARE -- from the depths -- that moves people. In fact, it's the only thing that ever will."

If you want to read the story behind this, click here.