Week 10

Busy fun week for the family. This past Sunday we got to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with Zoe and her family. Zoe's mom made a really yummy turkey and stuffing. Nathan and I had parent child class on Tuesday and a play date on Wednesday. We had one night of a 5 hour sleep. Most of the other nights we are getting 3 or 4 hours in a row for the first session and then he is up every 2 or 3 hours after.
Nathan also rolled over from tummy to back on a hard surface for the first time. He has done that many times on the bed since he was 3 weeks old.

Did the stars align?

Did the stars align? Was there a full moon? Did someone cast a spell on my little bundle of joy? Write this down in the records books... Are you ready for my big news. Nathan slept for 5 Hours in a row.... Did you get that... 5 Hours in a row. It could even be 5.5 hours because I didn't count the light sleep that he got when he was still making noise in his crib. So after he woke up ate he slept for another 3. 5 hours in a row. This is short of a small miracle for mom. Just so you know he broke his record of 4 hours. Mom only got 4 hours of sleep in a row but that is because Nathan went down around 9pm. The downside to all this sleep is Nathan wakes up as a hungry little screaming monster that is unrecognizable as my sweet little son. I will take sleep over a happy baby at 2am.

Week 9

Nathan had his first trip to a museum this week. Boeing's museum of flight. I recommend it for anyone that comes to town. I hope that Nathan learns to love airplanes. This week he had his 2 month checkup. 12lbs 8oz. He still is in the 75 percentile for height, weight and head size. The doctor said he is doing everything a 2 month old should be doing and that we don't have to come back until 4 months. During his visit he also got a round of immunizations. 3 shots. I have to say it was easier for me than the heal stick he got at his first appointment. Now granted he was very fussy after his shots. Nothing seemed to help so Dad and I decided Tylenol was the only way to go. Sleeping is about the same he is up every 2-3 hours at night. We have tried everything. 4 different swaddles, keeping him up until late, putting him to bed early, adding a hat, adding a incline to the crib, gas drops. Paul can get him to sleep for 4 hours in a row if he holds him. I have decided he will sleep for as long as he sleeps and I am not going to go nuts over it. Yesterday Nathan and I spent the day in bed as I had a fever. Turns out I have an infection and I am on antibiotics, feeling much better today. Next week is busy Nathan and I are doing swimming lessons, parent/child class and a play date at someones house from class.
I almost forgot. Nathan has a new friend in town. Zoe came all the way from Calgary to spend 3 months in Redmond with her mom and dad. Zoe is 12 weeks old and is super cute.

Week 8

Mommy went to the dentist and had a good checkup. She doesn't have to go back until March. While mom was out I went to Nana's and Papa's. I had the best nap at Nana's and Papa's she might need to leave me there everyday. Nana even made cookies that I couldn't have but boy they smelled great. Right now mom is typing for me as I am talking up a storm in my crib.
This week I am starting to copy mom. I can say "ohhhhh" and "ahhhhh" so well. I am even better at holding my head. I actually like alone time where I can just look at the pictures or play gym.
Most of the time I am happy during the day and fussy before bed. Just like to keep mom and dad up. I still only like to sleep 2 or 3 hours at a time. Sometimes I like to wake mom up every 1.5 hours. I really just get so hungry and lonely in my crib. Check out my pictures. Mom didn't get to take as many because she forgot the camera at Nana's house.

Week 7 - II

To satisfy your sense of hearing. This is what Nathan often sounds like while awake. Laura's idea of course!



Paul & Laura

Week 7

Week 7 is over, few. Great to have some extra hands on the weekend. The fridge is now working, we think. The guy couldn't tell me if the timer was broken or not but he showed me how to fix it if it is indeed broken. Aunt Karen and Uncle Ian had us down for a mid afternoon lunch where we dinned on Turkey burgers that were quite yummy. Karen also made cupcakes for the Septembers birthdays. Nathan and I attended our parent child class and did a long walk to the library. Mom had us over for dinner due to the fridge being out. Let see updates on Nathan. He went for his longest time between feedings, 4 hours, the only problem with that is he was up until 1am with Dad. Paul and I have decided Nathan is most happy on his changing table. That is the place that he "talks" the most.

Week 6

Well this week was very busy. Paul and I had our 3 year anniversary. We celebrated by getting some Mexican take out and taking it to log boom park and eating it by the water. Nathan missed it all as he was sleeping in his car seat. I had my postpartum check up. Nathan missed that too. He was sleeping in his car seat. Friday was my birthday and we dropped Nathan off at the grandparents place. We hit the BluWater Bistro in Kirkland for a wonderful dinner. I had Macidamia nut crusted Mahi stuffed with shrimp and crab. For dessert we shared fondue. So Nathan missed that too but he was awake at my parents. He did great with out mommy around.

Nathan is still growing, my guess is he is almost 12lbs now. We will find out on Monday when he goes in for his checkup. He is fitting in his 3-6 month clothes now and has out grown a bunch of his newborn sizes. Nathan is starting to watch everything around him. He is very fond of black and white objects. His grunts are turning into coo'ing sounds now and he can hold his head pretty well on his own. Last night he slept for a record 3.5 hours in a row. Followed by some not so great sleep. Well the goal of keeping Nathan alive for another week was successful. On to next week.

Week 5

Week 5 was a busy with a long weekend visit to Laura's parent's cabin. Nathan's first overnight out of this home since he came home.

Following that it was a bit too much activity with a couple of related problems with our fridge. Having things thaw when you don't want them to is no fun.

Nathan is keeping up with a 2 hour sleeping pattern in the nights. He has a significant number of smiles, mostly in the morning. He is fussiest in the evening. Laura heard him say: ahh.

Mommy and Daddy are sleepy, ZZzzz. Goodnight.

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Get your own

Week 4

Nathan, Paul and I are having a great time. Nathan is growing. He is now popping the snaps out on a couple of his onesies. He has to be the smartest baby I know. He can smile.

He still is not sleeping for long stretches. His record is 3 hours but normally it is more like 2 hours and 20 mins. I have started to go to a Parent/Child class on Tuesdays. It was quite fun last week and plan on going weekly. 20 babies in one room that are 0-3 months. It gives you a chance to ask questions. Today we went to Costco and had a nice trip to visit Paul at work. Tonight we are going out to dinner.

Week 3

Of what will be 1 of hundreds of graduations, Nathan will hit his very first graduation soon -- He will graduate from the pampers 'N' size into the '1' size. That is as soon as he goes through the remaining 12 diapers, probably the next hour...

Nathan is tipping the scales at almost 10 pounds (as of 30 minutes ago). He is eating up a storm. Constantly keeping Laura busy. Laura is doing amazing work and I think Nathan is really starting to appreciate it.

It was this week that Paul went back to work and tapping his nose to the grindstone. However, he is well aware that it is more work to be at home. He spends some time at work hoping that Laura and Nathan are getting enough rest and there aren't too many explosive diapers during the day.

With a little planning and determination we made it to church this morning. However, there wasn't that much listening to the message for Laura as in that 30 minutes Nathan wanted to eat and managed to make 2 dirty diapers while taking in food. Paul was apprehensive to go/look into the nursing room, out of respect for the other nursing mother and felt bad Laura got the short end of that stick. Next time I guess I have to nurse? :O

Observations: Nathan is more alert and aware of the world around him, there are some happy/relaxed times with Nathan, and he appears to recognize some faces and voices


Photos:

Week 2

Swish. That was the sound of another week passing. The Cooley family has been bless with Grandma and Grandpa Cooley staying at our home for the past 7 days. Nathan has gotten to meet all his Grandparents now.

Observations: There are good days and bad days. Tasks at home, become, more, interrupted. Your own baby is certainly the cutest.

Photoz:

Week 1

This is a glimpse into the Cooley house during Nathan's first week.

With the exception of bouts of struggling to calm a crying and fussy baby all is going well. Laura has the bulk of the work and she is of course doing an amazing job as I knew she would. I am attempting to serve her, give her some alone time, and allow her to sleep as much as possible.

Grandma and Grandpa Cooley have gotten to see Nathan via a couple of Web conferences. They will be able to see him in person early next week. Grandma and Grandpa Tellevik have been by several times to observe Nathan in his 'sleep' state so they haven't yet seen his eyes. Aunt Karen and Uncle Ian have been by to see Nathan as well. Indeed he is being welcomed into the family and the Cooley's are feeling the love and support on that front.

Our biggest adventure has been a trip to the Dr. for a checkup followed by a stop off at Target to compliment some of our existing supplies. This new mom and dad are figuring out what we 'really' need; aside from coffee (for Paul) that is. Our parental observation, leaving the house when you have a child is approximately 4 times as much work as before. Plus there is a nervousness around the next time the little "time-bomb" may go off - you can delay the fuse a bit with some soothing rocking, but it will still eventually burn down. :-)


Another Movie:




Another Slideshow:

The early days

Daddy Cooley has been readying some digital entertainment for you. This is a small view into the early days of our little boy Nathan.

Mommy Cooley is doing a fantastic job with our little boy. It is hard to express the inequality of the workload at this point. Not only does she need to recover from Labor and delivery, but she is the food source for our boy. She is so strong, patient, loving, and kind. She is doing fabulously.

Baby Cooley is in one of four states: eating, sleeping, looking around, or crying. We are learning how to handle these states, but there is much more to be educated on.

A video:



A slideshow:

Ready or Not here I come

Our baby boy arrived early this morning! Mom and Baby are healthy. A perfect and quick birth.

Born Aug 3rd 2007 at 5:13 PDT
7 pounds 14 ounces
one Nathan Charles Cooley

Already he is a star in our minds:














And a very happy 0th birthday to Nathan:


















And in the flesh:















Cute as a button and perfect as can be. Us parents are beaming now!

Zoom Zoom

The Audio:


Introducing my new used 5-door car, 2006 Mazda3 hatchback. I once told Paul we would never buy a Mazda due to the fact he says it like he lives in Britain. This is one thing that makes me laugh when he talks. Java, pasta, lava, drama are other that come up that he uses an a in apple sound. pah-stuh (US) vs. pas-tuh (CND). Now if I could just get him to start saying "eh?" again. Anyway my new car is fun but I will miss my 2-door Honda Civic.

Up

Going up?

On 07/07/07 two friends and I celebrated the day with a mountain bike ride up a mountain near Lake Cavanaugh. Sure the satellite images make it look flat, but there is a couple of climbs in there, if you read the elevation profile: Elevation Profile link

The tracks:


Link to the Innersource mapping project

Squirrles make a run for it.

Well we have enjoyed a year of having a wooded backyard. Where the squirrels like to run on the fence highway. That is quickly coming to a end. The property behind our hose has been sold and the squirrels will need to pack their bags and leave. We finally had gotten some quiet days now that the Brightwater project has left our road but now the bulldozers are out back making room for another 4-5 houses per acer.

Precision

Due the Brightwater project, the road that provides access to our cul-de-sac has been in a state of deconstruction.

One thing to note, is the precision of when things will get back to normal. Check out the sign that is posted in front of the construction, they are accurate to the hour. They have 7 days and 21.5 hours to finish up.

BC - 31Weeks 6 Days

Things are going well at the Cooley house. BC is growing way too fast and has started to sit on my bladder and kick my ribs. I think he is doing the splits or some new dance in there. I have a hard time believing that my stomach is going to be able to stretch anymore. I have started my every 2 week checkups. So far we are both doing well. Notably that BC is moving lots, my blood pressure has only gone up a bit and I don’t think I have gained too much. 22 or 23 pounds so far and I have 8 weeks to go. Doctor said the baby will be here by the Aug 9^th if I would like. So if he is not here by the 4^th we will induce on the 8^th or 9^th. 8/8/07 would be a good birthday. In fact so would 8/9/07. So far he is the perfect baby, no crying, no dirty diapers and fun to play with. I might start to miss that soon.

Two very giving coworkers are hosting a co-ed baby shower at our house on the June 23^rd. Feel free to come if you know where we live. I can’t wait to see all our friends and relatives and I am happy to know a few are traveling down from Canada for the event.

To do:

Buy and Install CarSeat
Make at least 3 dishes for freezer
Get a used 4-door car (maybe)
Have baby shower
Attend Labor and Deliver Class
Thank you cards for shower
Address list printed for announcements
Phone list for hospital
Do work FMLA Paperwork
Wash baby clothes
Shop for supplies for baby
Pack bag Daddy
Pack bag Baby
Pack Bag Mommy
Sleep
Have baby

Cathy's Wedding (Where)

This is the Map of where Paul and Laura traveled while in Alberta in May 2007. Of course the purpose of being in Alberta was to get to Cathy's Wedding in Kananaskis, AB.

A link to the Google Map showing Kananaskis, AB

Our GPS tracks while in Alberta:




Link to this Map: Trip To Cathy's Wedding