CPK is 4-months old!

[caption id="attachment_278" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our little 4-monther[/caption]

Last week was SUCH an exciting week. Several great things happened. First things first, Cooper turned four months old. Secondly, my mom and dad came to visit from Dallas. And finally, the Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer was released. Oh happy day! For those wondering, YES, I am still one of “those people” that look forward to the Twilight films. Go ahead…judge me. And check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOSoONDpY4.

[caption id="attachment_279" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Grandpa and Nanna came to visit. Sadly, they left.[/caption]

This month has been another month full of firsts:

1 - He rolls over. Yes, tummy time does not exist anymore because over he goes. Immediately.
2 - He stands up now when you pull him up to sit. He can even hold himself standing on the couch! Totally craze.
3 - He gets out of everything we put him in. I.e. the swing, the bouncer, car seat...this kid arches his back and turns right on over and out of there.
4 - He tried solids for the first time. He thought we were crazy for giving it to him.

[caption id="attachment_277" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Avocados. We're not sure what we think yet.[/caption]

5 - He sleeps through the night now. Let me repeat, he consistently sleeps through the night. Yahoo!

Moms of non-sleepers-through-the-night can attest that we hear all the time of other babies sleeping oh so soundly through the night since they were mere 6-week olds. Those of us that aren’t there yet say “Yay for you guys!” secretly thinking of how jealous we are in a totally non-bitter way. My pediatrician tells me that those folks are in the minority and/or lying (I love that she tells me that), however too many people experience young sleep success for me to not believe it happens! Either way, for now Cooper sleeps from 10pm until the morning and it is superb. What happened in the world of sleep this month?

1 - We bought a sound machine. Not like, a toy sound machine but a really good baby sound machine from Brookstone. Love.
2 - I’ve started loosely swaddling him again in his Aden and Anais blanket (PS love their products). He totally can bust out, but it calms him down and helps settle him into a nap.
3 - First thing in the morning is his prime naptime, so I put him down an hour after he eats. Used to keep him up longer. Epic. Fail.
4 - You may not believe me as I’ve written all this about sleep, but I also decided that I am over it. I’ve stopped worrying about it so much – sick of thinking, talking, and stressing over it. Until he starts crying all day and night I think he’ll survive just fine with only 3 hours (or less…gasp!) of naps a day.

If you are still reading after this point, I’m impressed. I’m kind of boring myself. So, thanks for that, and here’s more pictures of this cute nugget just for sticking around:



[caption id="attachment_276" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sophie tastes way better than solids. Says Coop.[/caption]

Cheers to you and yours,
Lauren

Wisdom Wednesdays: Friendships "make life a lot more fun"

“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” -Charles R. Swindoll

For those of you that know me, you know that I have been all over and then some. I went to college out of state, where I started knowing just one person, and after a brief time in Texas, I have lived in three brand new cities. That’s five cities total. Is that normal? I’m not so sure, but either way it’s been a wild ride and I have met lots of wonderful folks along the way. I pulled out some oldies but goodies from 3 of the 5 geographical locales:

[caption id="attachment_254" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Dallas..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Missouri..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_255" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Las Vegas..."][/caption]

Today I was reminded of this variety of friendships in my life. Enter my day: this morning I was getting advice on the phone with a high school friend in Dallas, and had a wonderful conversation about our babies. We did have to stop, laugh and acknowledge how drastically our conversations have changed over the past 15 years. At lunch, I met some colleagues that I got to know through my time here in Denver, and had a great time catching up. Later tonight we have a softball game (don't worry, I stay in the grass and avoid the sand at all costs) with some of our, relatively new, good friends. Making new friends and forming new relationships has kind of been my M.O. since high school. Because of my moves, I have been forced again and again (in a totally good way) to put myself there in order to meet new people, and I know I am 100% better for it. It's been a little bit scary, but a whole lot fun. My husband will tell you that I'm a friend-person, and need friends to feel at home wherever I am.

It’s interesting to me the role friends play in our lives from point ‘A’ to points ‘B’ and ‘C.’ Relationships vary so much depending on so many things- like how long you’ve known someone, who you were at the time friendships formed (let’s face it we all change along the way), and where you are in life when you meet new people (aka single, married, kids). I feel lucky to have met some incredible folks along the way, all who mean something different but nonetheless wonderful in my life; I hope I can be a good friend to each one of them. So, today, as I return a phone call to one of my college besties out in Missouri, I am reminded about the importance of our relationships, both new and old, and truly value all of my bi-coastal friendships. Who knows, maybe some life-long friends are soon to be made right here in Colorado; assuming, of course, that I stay in this city longer than the last five☺.

“Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.” -Author Unknown

Here's to friendship!

Wisdom Wednesdays: Being Present

Last night I was watching NBC Nightly News (love Brian Williams) and he interviewed President Clinton. They were talking about social media and the affect that it has on this new generation coming up, and for that matter, on life today as we know it...the new “norm.”

During this interview President Clinton said he is concerned that people are no longer PRESENT in the moment. This so hit home. How often are you talking to a friend (spouse) and they are responding to an email on their Blackberry? Or, how many times are you on the phone at work but reading an email that just pinged across your Outlook? He’s right – we are all too often not present in the moment anymore. There is just too much to distract us with good "old" fashioned TV and now phones that email and surf the Internet, not to mention computers. I mean think of the laptop; I remember when I needed to use the computer I had to go to a separate room and sit at the desk that the computer was located. Now we just bring the laptop wherever we are- which could be in the kitchen while eating dinner with your family! Everyone is so accessible now. Depending on what article you read Facebook is listed in 1 out of 5 divorce claims in the United States, 1 out of 3 in the UK. Insane! I could go on and on about how much this has changed how we work, interact with our children and other relationships, I mean even how how teenagers flirt, which these days is most often via text. Whatever happened to picking up a land line and making that awkward phone call? Gosh, I miss those days :).

Back to Bill, what I took away from his comment was the need to make it a priority to truly listen and be present in life’s moments- concentrate on conversations and cherish time with loved ones. As my husband says, on road trips turn off that DVD and play that good old game "I went to the store and bought a X" or "I spy." Simply put: engage and listen to one another- giving them your undivided attention; those are the true good moments in life. Oh, and put the Blackberry away.

Signing off for now...

Lauren