Easter 2012

We're thankful for Christ and for the opportunity we have to celebrate His death and miraculous resurrection.  This was Cooper's first and we were certain to share this amazing story with him in hopes that he will one day commit his little life to our gracious Lord and Savior.

It was a full day with church and time with family.   Here are some fun photos to share.

Easter Baskets for my Boys!

Cooper checking it all out.  

Cooper and his Grammie with his favorite part of his basket, a squishy book with pictures!

The Poladian Family in our Easter best

Showing off his skills!  I can stand and hold things in my hands! (With Daddy and Uncle Brian)

At the Osborne Easter celebration, the new Mamas took on the Easter Egg Hunt tradition for our little minis.  When you are 9 months old you get eggs stuffed with puffs and cheerios!

He is Risen indeed!

New blogs to check out

Hey!  I have a lot of favorites...really I do.  All you over there on my blog list.  I check you out often and enjoy what you have to say.  You make me laugh and cry and I love it!  

But...recently two fabulously wonderful women have started blogs that encourage my heart and contribute to my overall health and well being. 

The first is one of my bestest friends, Danice.  You know the friend...memories going back to Jr High, countless enriching conversations, standing in each others weddings with affirmation of God's good work, enduring trials... She was also one of the first examples of a solid, bible believing Christian the Lord placed in my life and I can say with certainty He used her to move me to repentance.  So without further adieu - her blog.   

http://www.ourinspiredjourney.com/

Read Cole's CI Journey.  You won't be sorry. 

Oh and grab a box of tissues before you do..maybe two boxes.

The second blog was just launched this week!  Kelly, a friend and fellow leader in the marriage ministry we were blessed to be part of at Compass Bible Church, started this blog about real food cooking. 

{Confession time.  I feel so inadequate in planning and preparing meals for my family.  It's overwhelming to me. I start to sweat and my chest gets tight when I think about it.  I'm not exaggerating.  I have a few recipes that are tried and true and my gracious husband never complains about the monotony.  But I have a deep desire to improve in this area. I want to expand my master list of meals, become more efficient in prepping and shopping.  Phew...glad that is out.  Hold me accountable. Please.}

Back to Kelly!  I know this blog will be a great resource and help to me as I work to improve in this area. She has a ton of great tips, recipes and ENCOURAGEMENT (what I need) on her blog.  Check it out.  You don't need the tissues for this one.  Just a healthy appetite!

http://thenourishinghome.com/

...and a picture of Cooper... just because he encourages me and I want to eat him!

I get it now

I'll admit.  I didn't get it. I had a "what's the big deal kind of attitude"...

Well, now I get it.

We took Cooper for his FIRST HAIR CUT today.  (Do I need to say any more?!?!)

I made the appointment.  It was MY idea. I didn't get it.  Don't worry, I didn't break down into sobbing hysterics, but I kind of wanted to.  My baby grew up x100 between 12:15 and 12:30 today.  He went from BABY to BOY before my eyes.  Wait, I can get even more dramatic if you want me to.  The same hairs from his sweet little head that he was born with are now on the floor and being swept into the trash!  OK.  I'll stop.  But I totally get it now.  

Once I got over myself, I realized that Cooper was doing great!  He was so still and very interested in what Susan was doing.  He cried when she got out the clippers to cut around his ears.  I didn't blame him.  It would scare me too. She asked if I wanted gel.. I said no.  She asked if I wanted it styled with spikes like his dad... I said no.  Didn't she know I was doing everything I could just to keep it together!  Don't make it worse by putting grown up gel in his hair! 

As for me...I'm sure I'll recover soon, but I'm going to miss seeing that disheveled, unruly head poking up at me when I go in to get him from his naps. We might wait awhile for the next one.

I'll spare you having to look at the 50+ photos I took in a matter of 15 minutes. Here are a few of my favorites and of course, the finished product.

The before.  Looks like I could use a hair cut also!

 The first snip

 Those darn clippers

All Done!

Sigh... another opportunity to let go.  

It's ok if I shed a few tears along the way... right?

Cooper John 9 months

9 months. 3/4 of a year. He's been around as long as I was pregnant (if you don't count the 4 early weeks of pregnancy). Another milestone and another month of incredible growth.  This month I am in utter amazement of what this boy is learning to do.  

How does he know what to do next???? 

I am baffled. 

  

I have found a new admiration for creation and the God who designed it all.

So last month he started crawling.  From there he learned to push himself up to a sitting position when he wanted a break from the crawling. Then he started pulling himself up on things!  It all happened in a matter of weeks.  

How does he know what to do next??? 

Still baffled. 

But totally in love with watching him figure it all out.  

He approaches these new skills with such determination.  He has a sense of freedom with his newfound skills too.  And boy is he brave!  He pulls up without any reservation of possibly falling over.  He goes for things out of his reach without fear of losing balance.  He looks over the edge of the chair at his toys below and is ready to dive down and get them. He crawls down the hall and into rooms looking for us if we have left the room he was in.  Not afraid.  I wouldn't mind if he was just a little more cautious.  But the Lord is giving me another avenue to say "I have placed this precious boy into your hands Lord and I trust You."  

Other fun tidbits about the boy this month.  

He started clapping the day he turned 9 months.  He was on his changing table and just started clapping.  He does it with such gusto too!  Very purposeful about his claps.  

He had his first round of antibiotics for an ear infection.  He had his first fever that lasted about 5 days stemming from a throat infection.  He was one sick boy.

He traveled to Lake Arrowhead to hang with our friends from Compass for one last hurrah!

And this one is huge..are you ready for this... he stayed overnight without me...twice!!  The first time we left him with his Grammie and Gramps overnight. Then the next weekend I escaped with the ladies from North Coast Church and he had his Papa all to himself for two days! He did great.  I don't think he even missed me and it was easier than I thought it would be.

And finally..the photos.

It is getting so hard to get these photos!  This next series is me trying to get him to look at me, but as you can see so many other things are more interesting.  Like eating the chair of course.

 He has pulled up!

 Are those some delicious legs or what!!

Here we go..start to finish of pulling up!

He is so sweet with his books.  He loves to crawl into the closet and pull them out.

Nope. Not afraid.

 Look, I'll just use one hand!

...and I'll climb all over Papa

 But wait.. he is bigger than me..and can tackle me!!!

Thankful for another month of giggles.