On the Move

We are on the move people! As of last night, Cooper has mastered the art of the scoot. He has been moving around for weeks now, but yesterday he was on a mission....a mission to get the remote control in his mouth. We originally tried to get him to try to move to his book, but I guess that wasn't flashy enough. As soon as we put the remote in front of him, that was all he wanted. I am hoping this is not a glimpse of things to come...remotes over books :)

Here is a picture we caught of him in on all fours tonight. Be on the look out, I have a feeling we will be posting videos of the first official crawl very soon!

Trip to Colorado

This past week Cooper and I spent the week in Colorado with my family. It was my first time to try to conquer the airport with Cooper by myself. I think Colt was more stressed about me navigating the airport and security than I was. I must say we made it through pretty seamlessly (except for almost missing our return flight, but that was my fault...running late as usual). Cooper was such a good traveler. He slept on both planes and only cried once. Luckily it was when we were exiting the plane.

We definitely missed Colt (he stayed at home to work), but I had plenty of helpers all week. Cooper is one lucky boy. His aunts and uncle love him so much. I don't know what I would have done without them (and Gaga and Grandpa of course). At one point they even fought over who was going to change his diaper.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. We did a lot of shopping and Cooper was getting a little fussy so Monica and Meredith started playing with him. It was so sweet. They were making faces at him and he was just cracking up. They caught this picture of him laughing.

The kids were on fall break so my mom had lots of fun things planned for us to do throughout the week. On Monday, Melissa, Monica, Meredith, Chuck, Monica, my mom, Cooper and I went to the Denver Aquarium. It was Cooper's first time to go to an aquarium. He LOVED it! He is at that age where he likes to watch things move so he was completely captivated by the bright colored fishies swimming around. I was trying to get him to look at the camera for this picture but he wouldn't take his eyes off the sea horses.

On Friday the whole family went to the zoo. The weather was absolutely perfect and we had a blast.

The zoo had so many animals that I had never seen before. My personal favorite was the elephant shrew (google it). It is crazy looking. It was Cooper's first time to go to the zoo so we loved introducing him to all the animals. I think his favorite were the giraffes.

Friday night my mom watched Cooper and the rest of the family went to the Jason Aldean concert. It was so much fun! If you haven't listened to his music I would definitely recommend it.

We had the best week. I feel so fortunate to be able to go and see my family when I miss them! Luckily, we will be getting to see each other quite a bit over the next few months with the holidays coming up.

3 Years of Happiness

This week Colt and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary!

Tuesday night we had my cousin Mary Pat come babysit Cooper and we went out to dinner. It was the first time we had gone out to dinner just the two of us since Cooper was born. We had such a great night enjoying wine, yummy food, and just relaxing. We had planned to go grab some drinks after dinner, but ended up coming home so we could put Cooper to bed. It's amazing how much we miss him after being away from him for just a couple of hours.

How sweet are my boys?

It is so crazy to think how fast these 3 years have flown by, yet how much things have changed. 3 years ago Colt and I had just bought our first house in Tulsa, 2 years ago we had just moved to Little Rock and found out we were pregnant, and this year we celebrated our first anniversary as parents. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us over this next year.

Funny Story

A few weekends ago Colt and I went to Borger (Colt's hometown) to visit Colt's parents and attend his brother Chase's wedding shower. Saturday morning all the girls went to the shower. The men and the kids all came at the end of the shower to help pick-up gifts and say hello to everyone. This was the first time we had taken Cooper back to Borger so of course Colt was really excited to show him off to everyone. When the men got there we were still opening presents. Next thing I know I see Colt holding Cooper in the middle of the living room...where we also happen to be opening presents...covered from top to bottom in baby poop. Colt and I looked at each other in complete shock. Cooper has blow outs all the time, but this was the first time that it had managed to escape not only the diaper but also his clothes. Colt must have been holding him just right to where it all escaped. Oh and did I mention not only did it get all over Colt but it also got on the carpet. We were mortified. Colt and I ran Cooper to the backroom and tried to clean up as best we could. The funny thing is not a drop of poop was on Cooper's clothes. Here is a picture of Colt after the blow out.

The good news is the stains came out of Colt's clothes and the carpet. I can guarantee you everyone at the shower will remember the first time they met Cooper!

Sonic Happy Hour

Growing up we ALWAYS went to Sonic Happy Hour after school for a drink. It was so bad...all the car hops knew my mom by name. I remember when my mom was pregnant with Monica, the car hops were so excited that they would bring her free ice cream sundaes and shakes. Well twenty years later, my mom still makes her daily trips to Sonic. Although her drink of choice may have changed throughout the years (she used to be a Cherry Diet Coke girl. She has since switched to the healthier Green Tea), one thing has remained constant in that she always orders an extra cup of ice. Well since my new venture into being a stay-at-home mom, I have caught myself making daily trips to my local Sonic. And now not only do I get my Raspberry Iced Tea, but I also get my cup of ice. The cup of ice is the gift that keeps on giving. You can either add it to your tea or save it for a water later. Colt almost died when I walked in with two cups the other day. In his words..."You have officially became your mother!"

3 Months Old

I can't believe my little guy is already 3 months old. The thing that amazes me the most is not how fast it has gone by, but how much Cooper has changed in these 3 short months. It is so neat to watch him learn and discover new things. He is now rolling over, holding his head up, scooting around, grabbing his toes, sucking his thumb, shrieking in delight, and so much more. In honor of his 3-month milestone our good friend Jenny took some pictures of Cooper for us. Jenny is a fellow stay-at-home mom who got into photography as a hobby and now is taking pictures for about everyone in town. I would definitely recommend her to anyone needing family or children portraits taken. Click here to check out the JHanley Photography Facebook page. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Cooper's session.

Cooper looks so precious snuggled between all his stuffed animals.

So sweet!

We got this idea off Pinterest. I think it turned out so great....don't be fooled his full weight wasn't on the scale. We are topping 15 lbs these days :)

Is that not the cutest face ever!

A SAD DAY

Today was a sad day at the Braden house. After 5 years, we just gave our chocolate lab Rocco away to a new family. Since the arrival of Cooper we haven't been able to give Rocco the attention that he needs. We decided it wasn't fair to Rocco so we listed him on some website in hopes that a good family would adopt him. Our prayers were answered and we received a call from a family today. They have two sons who are twelve and fourteen years old who have been wanting a dog. When they came over to meet him it was like Rocco knew they were his new family. He was so good and loving. I definitely cried like a baby when I told him bye, but I know it is for the best.

COOPER'S FIRST GAME DAY

This weekend was the official start to college football! We weren't able to make it to Stillwater so we had to cheer the Cowboy's on from a far. We spent the afternoon watching football and waiting for the OSU and Arkansas games to start.

We got so much OSU gear at our baby showers that we have been dying to get Cooper in. Isn't he just adorable?!?

Madalene a.k.a. Aunt Maddo came in town for the long holiday weekend. It was her last visit before she moves to Chicago next weekend. We are so excited for her to start her new job, but will definitely miss having her just 6 hours away.

Saturday evening we went over to our friends house to cheer on the Cowboys and the Razorbacks. Carey & Justin have a two week old baby girl, Taylor! We had so much fun watching the games and letting the babies play together!

Cooper loves his girlfriend Taylor! He was trying to put the moves on her and she wasn't having it. She kept pushing his face away. T-O-O cute!

The best part of the whole day was that both the Cowboys and the Razorbacks won! Go Pokes!

OUR STORY

Colt and I met in the fall of 2004 in Stillwater, Oklahoma while attending Oklahoma State University. I had just started my Freshman year of college and was a Pi Beta Phi pledge. Colt was a Junior and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. That fall Pi Phi and SAE were teamed up for Freshman Follies. I had cheered in high school, but hadn't sang since junior high so I didn't think I was qualified to try-out. My high school best friend and now sorority sister Chelsy pretty much forced me to try-out. Thank goodness I did!

Colt was a Follies director for SAE. I remember singing "Skidamarink" and seeing Colt as a judge. Colt says once I auditioned he insisted that I make it. I like to think that I made it purely on my talent. :) Shortly after Follies started I broke up with my high school boyfriend. For the first time in a long time I was single and I decided I was going to enjoy it! I still remember Colt's personality being like a magnet I couldn't seem to stay away from no matter how hard I tried. Colt and I quickly developed a very flirtatious relationship.

One game day we were hanging out tailgating and I was telling Chelsy's boyfriend Jacob (also my friend from high school) how I thought Colt was "so hot and I thought he would be fun to make-out with." After a few brewskies Jacob and I wondered over to the SAE tailgate and Jacob proceeded to try to "hook me up" with Colt. Unfortunately, after two years of "playing the field" Colt had decided he was thru making out with girls for fun and if I wanted to make out with him we were going to have to be dating. (PS I am cringing writing this "make-out," "hook up," "playing the field," a little embarassing but true). I decided to call Colt's bluff and still just try to get him to kiss me. Don't judge...I was a freshman in college trying to enjoy the single life. Later that night we all went to the SAE party and Colt and I flirted the whole night, but no make-out. Three weeks of flirting later and still not even a peck. Finally, on October 2, 2004, Mom's Day, after a long day of tailgating and dinner with my future mother in-law, Colt finally kissed me. I swear it was like a cheesy movie....one minute we were dancing in the middle of a party and the next minute the world stopped and we were kissing. The rest is history.

2 1/2 year later I was a senior in college and Colt had graduated and was working/living in Tulsa. It was Christmas break and I was doing an internship at the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Muskogee, OK. Colt was heading home for Christmas so we decided to have dinner and exchange presents the night before he left. I had been working really long hours at my internship and was completely exhausted so I asked Colt if we could just order in dinner instead of going out. So we decided to pick-up In the Raw (our favorite) and watch The Grinch my FAVORITE Christmas movie. As I mentioned earlier I was completely exhausted so I actually started to doze off once we started the movie. Next thing I know I am getting an elbow in the arm and Colt is telling me to wake up. I quickly wake up and it is the part of the Grinch where is heart is growing "3 sizes" about that time Colt suddenly pops up in the movie. WHAT? Yes, he had spliced himself into the movie. I was in complete shock. I just kept saying "now, this is happening now." I always thought I would see it coming but I was so suprised. I look down to see Colt on his knee with a beautiful ring out. Of course I said yes. Once I finally got over the shock I made Colt tell me every detail and we ran home to parents house where my parents were waiting anxiously for us to arrive and called just about everyone we knew to tell them the news.

10 months later on October 11, 2008 I became the luckiest girl in the world and married my best friend!

LATE NIGHT GOSSIP

Everything I've read in baby books tells you how important it is to talk to your baby. So of course Colt and I have been doing our parental duties and talking to Cooper as much as possible. I'm sure you can imagine this is really difficult for Colt...he is so quiet! :)The last few weeks Cooper has really discovered his voice which is so fun. Here is a video we made last night of Cooper talking to his daddy. If you listen close you can even hear a little toot sneak out too haha!

RETIREMENT

In case you haven't heard, I have officially retired from the working world and become a stay-at-home mom....although I prefer to be called CEO of Braden Inc.

Growing up I truly treasured having a stay-at-home mom. I loved knowing she would always be available if I needed her for anything. When I was younger, I remember being so proud that my mom was always at the school helping out my teachers and being involved in all our activites. So naturally, I had always hoped I would someday be able to provide that same security and support for my children. LIttle did I know that actually making the leap to being a stay-at-home mom was a little tougher. For those of you who didn't know I was the Digital Media Cooridnator for Dillard's Corporate Advertising for a little under two years at Dillard's corporate office here in Little Rock. I truly loved my job and couldn't imagine leaving it....that is until this little angel was born.

It was truly love at first sight. Once I laid eyes on Cooper I knew that from that moment on there was no job more important than being his mother. Three months later and I have not regretted my decision once. Now I can only hope than I can be as wonderful of a mom to my little man as my mom was to me.

THE BRADEN BUNCH

It's official...the Braden's have a blog! After just 3 short months of being a mommy I realized that we are creating memories everyday here at the Braden house and I don't want to forget a single one of them. And unless I had a memory like my sister Madalene, (I swear she remember every detail of our childhood) I needed to start writing things down. Blogging not only allows me to keep an online journal but it also allows me share these memories with our friends and family near and far. I hope you enjoy The Braden Bunch!