Trevor Turns 3!!

As Close to a Family Picture That We Were Gonna Get!!

Trevor After Blowing Out the Candles

Happy Birthday My Monster Baby!

Happy Birthday My Angel Baby!

I just can't believe it has come so quickly. My baby isn't a baby anymore, he's 3!! The more and more I look at him the more he looks like a little boy now. I look back at the pictures from his second birthday and am in awe of the changes he has made in just one short year. He is 37 inches tall and weighs 34 lbs. He isn't little anywhere anymore. His feet are getting bigger, his head is getting bigger, his legs are getting longer and he is getting to be so strong it's crazy!!

We had family over for his birthday. Nothing too exciting other than cake and gifts. Presents for this kid are a daily event. You cannot get in our front door without him asking if "you brought a present fora me?" It's yet another horrible habit that we have, but it keeps him happy for now. With that said, choosing gifts especially for his birthday wasn't easy for us or any of the family. He has everything!

I did find an interactive Wall-E and Eve at Toy's R Us that I thought would be perfect. I sent Rob to the store to pick up Eve and some other Cars and let his Uncle Chris know that if they didn't know what to get him, Wall-E was his... and boy was it!! Only 3 in the state and Blair told him not to come to the party without it! OMG! Poor Guy!! He hauled butt to the store in Aurora after calling them to hold it, ran in, paid for it and booked it to the party, Wall-E in hand!! Man, that's love!

He loved all his presents and had a great time. He blew his candles out like a champ and was all about getting into his cake! It was a great day for him. His poor Daddy... their birthdays are four days apart and Trevor gets all the attention!

Trevor Playing with His Uncles

I'm 3!!

Playing with Wall-E

Trev and Uncle Joe

He LUVS These Things!

Playing with the Cars Firehouse from Uncle Joe

HUNGRY HIPPOS! He asked for this stupid game for weeks!! "Amma bringing my Hungry Hippos today?" What?? Where did he even see this?

February and onto March...

Trevor Brushing His Teeth in His Lightening McQueen Robe!

Baskin Robin's - Our First Family Outing

Not A Happy Baby, But I Have Cute Shoes On!!!

At this point it is hard to remember all of the things that have happened in the last 60 days. I can't believe it, but Braylen is two months old already. It seems like it has gone so fast, as it does I guess!

We are all getting used to our new lives. Trevor did well adjusting as far as not being mean to the baby but he did turn into a little devil in the flesh! He really started to act out in other ways and I pretty much thought I was going to have to make my reservations at the hotel with the pretty white jackets and padded walls!!

I could not understand why my angelic little boy had turned into such a brat. We were almost out of the terrible two's or so I thought! He was biting me, kicking me, throwing things at me, flailing around about everything and anything, crying over everything and anything, all this while I'm trying to manage life with a new baby that doesn't sleep unless he's held on hardly any sleep myself!!!

But the long and the short of it all is that I think I have it under control... it was a little painful at times, scabs on my nose from being bitten and a fat lip here and there, and I think we're good!

Life is different, and one of the things that I forgot about is that I used to go to work 4 days a week and now it's only one. As much as it may have nothing to do with it, in my mind I really think the fact that I am home with him 6 days a week now and the rules are pretty much mine to make is a big change. Giving him EVERYTHING and I mean everything, and doing everything that we could think of wasn't working so the hammer finally dropped... It's serious discipline time.

I have never really played Billy Bad Ass with him, but this crap was out of control and it had to stop! There were nights he went to bed without a bottle, without his TV, without a light on in his room, nothing. This may sound trivial, but these are all his comfort things that he has had since he was one!! Rob packed up all of his toys with the exception of a few and took them away... it changed.

He now, for the most part has been a very good little man!! He plays with one toy at a time, and then puts it away, the flailing and screaming is way less frequent than before, he eats at the table like he should... it's better... therefore I am better, and need less wine!!

Braylen is sleeping a couple hours in the daytime at a stretch and then he takes a couple 45 minute naps and does about 8 hours at night! Heaven! He will sleep in his glider now which is a wonderful thing. He was only sleeping on his stomach which was nerve wrecking for me and never let me sleep when he slept. Once he got tired of that program, he wouldn't sleep unless he was being held... That changed once, thanks to the wisdomes / googling / advice of my mom, we figured out that we had been starving this poor baby. Turned 2 ounces into 4 ounces and he was down for the count! Ahhhh...

The jacket and padded walls will have to wait!

Braylen and Daddy

One of Our Attempts to Get Him to Sleep - This Worked for a Day...

Braylen

So I SUCK at this!! Cut Me Some Slack, I Just Had a BABY!!!

So, since the last post, which was years ago, lots has changed in this little world of ours. I have always said that things are nuts, and that has turned to normalcy, but after the newest little addition, it has been nuts and I am doing my best not to turn into a suburban housewife on prescription meds to get by!! (I'm joking, thanks to my girlfriend Jill, we are trying the natural vitamin way first...)

So, here is our newest little love bug... Braylen Davis Coppock. He was born on February 11th at 7:22 am - 7 lbs. 7 oz. He made it easy to remember these things because all the important things are doubles.. 11th, 22, 7.7... fun!!

Braylen 3 Days Old

Things went well considering that I had another C-Section with him. I was less scared this time as I knew what to expect. When they hooked up the fetal monitor during all the prepping the nurses informed me that I was having some pretty major contractions... FUNNY - I didn't feel anything, and that was before the meds! The nurse that put my IV in was horrible and thanks to her I couldn't bend my wrist, which worked out in her favor because I wanted to strangle her but couldn't!! Off to the OR which took forever because it took the Anesthesiologist 6, yes 6 times to get my spinal block in. Let's talk about a little pain shall we??? I think I was crying at that point, no I know I was crying at that point. But all in all, after a little joking with Dr. Cohen and Dr. Johnson, and the Anesthesiologist, who's name I can't remember, little baby Braylen was here with ten fingers and ten toes, jet black curly hair, dark blue eyes and lungs that most definitely work!!

After spending three days as a guest at Saint Anthony's Central, and seeing that it was my birthday, I decided to pack up and head home. As much as I missed being at home, it was so nice to have a break from the day to day responsibilities that we all have. I loved the staff in Labor and Delivery once again and highly recommend that anyone have their babies there because they are WONDERFUL! It's a hike, and Colfax isn't the most scenic part of town, but it's worth it.

And I have to make mention of a few things about my stay this time (Trev was born there also...) my brothers spent so much time with me in the hospital. Chris and Blair were there almost every day to visit me and the baby. Joey was there, Harlan spent 4 hours with me all by ourselves one afternoon, Catherine came to visit until we scared her off trying to figure out how to get Braylen to nurse, my mom was there, Alicia and Derek came the day he was born, everyone. It was wonderful, thanks.

The first day home was easy. Misleadingly easy, but easy. He slept, ate and slept some more. I remember thinking to myself, "I've got this in the bag! What was I worried about??" HA - and then I found out that I worried for a reason and two is definitely harder than one. Some days are easy, some days are just days and others have been sheer hell. They are getting so much better, and those stories are to come. We are all doing well now, but all the things people tell you about having a second child, (or more) are true, true, true, at least in my/our case.

Harlan and Braylen

Bray - This Picture Cracks Me Up!

My Birthday / Valentine's Day Cookie from the Nurses / Staff on the L&D Floor.
They delivered fresh cookies everyday at 3:00 - Yummy!!

The Only One Comfortable in that Hospital Bed!

Braylen and Harlan

11 Days and Counting...

Well January has come and gone in a flash. Today was my last day at work until after the baby is here and I can get back to the salon. Its amazing how much has changed in the last three months not to mention the last 30 days. Our house is different now that Rob is done with his projects for the time being and we are finally to a point where there isnt something major to be done every day or every night for him after he gets home from work.

Rob decided to lay hardwood floors on the main level of the house after Thanksgiving. What was supposed to be a "couple weekends" very quickly turned into a couple months. Complicated by the fact that there were oh, I dont know, holidays and company here in the midst of everything going on. None the less, they are done for now. Done enough to live on, live with and not live around for a while. They turned out beautiful and I dont think he or Christopher want to see another piece of flooring, a nail gun, a sander or any of it for a while to come!!

We survived the holidays and the New Year. 2008 was a busy year for us. We lost a few loved ones, Rob changed jobs, Trevor started and stopped school, we found out another baby was coming, Chris and Joey both moved home and lived here for a while, Chris got engaged, oh, those are just a few... but all in all it kept us busy.

If baby Braylen cooperates we have 11 days left of life as we know it. Trevor is in his new big boy room and out of his crib. He has actually done really well and I am so proud of him. We still have the nights, like tonight, where he has every excuse on the planet to get out of bed, but for the most part he has handled the change like a champ! I know that he is enjoying his new room because he shows it off to everyone that comes over. I was worried that he wouldnt like it because for some reason that little boy doesnt do well with change!

We bought a new car last week and Trevor was with us when we picked it up. He had a holy fit because it was not "Mama's car" and we were putting his car seat in a different car that was NOT my Jeep. It was short lived and he likes the new car but it was almost comical seeing how attached he was to my Jeep for whatever reason!

He is growing so quickly! He is speaking in 7 and more word sentences... He counts, knows all of his colors, knows how to play video games on my computer, iphone and his vsmile system... its all little things but I am just amazed at what he does. He eats like a champion and I am still in awe that he will eat all the vegetables on his plate before anything else. We watched him eat an entire container of strawberries tonight. Its hard to take them away because they are so good for him and he loves them, so we dont. If he wants to eat himself into a strawberry then I will let him!

I took him to O'Brien park in Parker a few weeks ago on our way home from a quick trip to the salon. I was shocked at how much he does on his own now. Up the ladders, down the slides, up this, over that, down here, up there... it was crazy. But he's good at it and has the time of his life.
It has been so nice to have the week to spend with him just the two of us since after the holidays. As hard as it is to be home and as much as I didnt think I would ever say that, it will be time that I cherish in years to come. I have not had this much time with him since right after he was born and its so different when they are older. We play and go get a "hamburger, french fries, ice cream cone and a toy". We play games and paint and do all sorts of things that he likes to do and most of all we have "nap time" together before he takes his nap where we both lay down on the couch and watch a little Tom and Jerry. He covers me up with his blankets and tells me to close my eyes... its quite cute. He is old enough now that when he is tired and ready for his nap he will walk himself upstairs to his room and very quietly get into bed and take his nap.

Its just cute. Hes getting to be such a big boy. I will miss having him all to myself, but am so looking forward to his future with a little brother. None of us are sure how he will do, I guess that you never can be sure. The bets are on either being the over protective helpful brother or the one who wants to take everything away from him and send him back. It wont be long and I will know the answer to that question!

Seeing again that I have kept my habit, or lack there of for my blogging there is tons to cover for what has happened since October - Yes, October! Horrible, I know. Things have been nuts, and I mean nuts around this house since before the Holidays and things are just starting to get back to some resemblence of normalcy. Although it will be short lived, it has been a nice few weeks of having things calmer and quieter around here.

Rob decided to put hardwood floors in the house right before Thanksgiving. (Good timing right, seeing that we host all of the holidays in the family) What was supposed to be a project for a couple weekends turned into a project for months! I have written this "little" project off to his "nesting". Not only did we decide to do the floors, we painted everything on the main level practically and put up crown moulding in the family room. All "little" projects!! All in all it was hell. I have no idea what we were thinking trying to get all this done before Thanksgiving, before Christmas, before the new baby is here... but its done. Done enough to live with for now, done enough to have all the tools back in the garage and to be done with the final dusting!

Christmas Day 2008

Just Mom's Crew...

The whole Fam - (Top L to Btm R): MIL Virginia, Gma Ella, FIL Bob, Gpa Don, Brother Chris, Brother Joe, (Blair is missing because she took the picture), Cousin Brit, Rob, Cousin Eric, Me, Cousin Donnie, Cousin Billy, Aunt Kathy, Mom, Harlan, Step Sister Heather.... shhhheeesse..

The Hargrave Clan

Christmas Day, rolling on 3 hours of sleep was another great day. (Thanks to my sweet husband and thoughtful soon to be sister in law who brought me carmel macchiatos) We spent the day with my Mom's side of the family like we always do. Trevor again got spoiled rotten. His Amma and Papa spoiled him and his Uncles went crazy! I had no idea that they made so many Tom and Jerry movies, but they do, and he got 7 of them. He got a new kitchen to "make dinner time", and lots of other toys to keep him busy.Trev playing with his new carrier and Mack.... (We need to buy stock in Disney!)

Trevor playing with his new Kitchen
Trevor with Santa

Trevor had a special visitor come on Christmas Day. Santa actually came and delivered his presents to him in person! We lost my Step-Grandpa Don this summer and it has been tradition in their family that Don dressed up as Santa every year for the kids and grandkids. Without him here, Harlan took over Santa duty. I have never taken Trevor to see Santa purely because neither one of us does well with long waits or lines. So basically we had no idea if he was going to climb up in his lap and be fine or plain freak out at this Santa in his house of all places!

He was perfect and I bawled (hormones?)... Santa came down the stairs with his bag of gifts and Trevor sat right next to him, opened his presents and then helped him hand out the rest of the presents. He had great conversation with Santa and didnt seem scared a bit! I was so proud of him! It was precious and a very cherished moment for us.

We decided this year to skip the whole big to-do family dinner and just have everyone bring a couple heavy appetizers for everyone. It was so nice! No big meal to cook, no big mess to clean, no schedule, no huge table to set, it was wonderful especially for me! Everyone could pick and snack on whatever they wanted all day and it couldn't have worked out better. We still had tons of food left over, but not having all the pots and pans was fabulous!

It was a very busy 48 hours, but we are so blessed to have so much family. This was our last Christmas with just Trevor and the first Christmas since both of my brothers have been home. This was also the first Christmas without Don and my Uncle David which was something that I really tried not to think much of. It just made me take a few more pictures and try and enjoy the time that I have with the people that we are so fortunate to still have around.

Christmas Eve 2008

I have figured one thing out about this blogging thing, that being either I dont know what the crap I am doing, or long drawn out blogs with pictures are just a pure pain in the butt! That being said, seeing that I once again have so much ground to cover, have decided to break this one up again as well! Maybe one day I will learn that if I blog more often, it actually means way less work! Hoa, go figure!!!

Christmas this year was a blast. This was the first year that I can say Trevor had some idea of what was going on... PRESENTS! PRESENTS! and more PRESENTS! That little boy got so many presents that I still am unsure of who gave him some of them. He is spoiled rotten. Not to mention that his little brother isnt here yet, so its all HIM! For now anyway!

We spent Christmas Eve with my Dad's side of the family. We did what we do - we made pasta! We actually became reasonable humans this year and didnt make enough to feed a third world country which saved hours of work for all! We work hard for our meal on Christmas Eve... every year!And... This was Blair's initiation into the family! This was her first year rolling and cutting and she is actually still around! I guess it can't be all that bad!