Stanton Station

Stanton Summer Olympics 2011

2011-10-29T07:01:00.006-06:00

This year's Olympics had all new faces because we live in a new city! We have some great new friends (but miss our old ones). The games this year were all indoors. They included ping-pong bounce, basketball shoot, academic decathlon (made by Drea), Newlywed game, Wii Tennis, puzzle sort, Word Trains, costume contest and cracker eating. We had a great time, the food was delicious, and the costume were awesome! The Riggs are even planning the Winter Olympics!

Happy Birthday Cooper

2011-10-15T06:34:00.005-06:00

Cooper is 5! We had such a fun Toy Story Party. He chose to have it at the house. We rented a bounce house slide and had about 15 kids here. The morning of he decided he didn't want the store bought cake we ordered, he wanted one like I made daddy (a rainbow chip frosting and funfetti cake). I've always made his cakes but this year I thought he'd like a professional cake...I was wrong. So I scrambled and made quick cake and it all turned out fine.

It's hard to believe how big he is some days. He's incredibly smart and picks up on everything. Thus we have to be really careful about what we say around him because he remembers! He excels in his Pre-K class and has even spread his wings in the area of behavior. He no longer has green conduct marks everyday. In fact, he's had a couple reds (the worst). Two weeks ago he got one for punching a kid in the face! The same week, he kissed a little girl on the slide. He's growing up fastand reaching milestones everyday (good and bad). We are trying to cherish every moment because these first five years have flown by. Happy Birthday, baby boy! Thanks for making me a mommy!

Beautiful Weather

2011-01-29T14:11:00.002-06:00

Snow

2011-01-09T13:59:00.001-06:00

Our first snow hit on January 9. We ended up with a late day at school and tons of fun in the backyard. We love our new house and the climate!

My Snow Angels!

Halloween...4 months late

2010-10-31T13:37:00.003-06:00

We had a superhero Halloween. Cooper kicked it all of wanting to be Spiderman. Maggie quickly fell in line with Supergirl. Luckily Daddy found the Hulk costume at Pam and Steve's. Mommy is behind the camera playing supermom.

We went to a local pumpkin patch. It was a little bitter sweet. For the last four years we have gone to the same one in Houston. It was exciting finding this new one which came complete with animals and lots more photo op spots.

As you can tell, Maggie wasn't to interested in the pictures part, she wanted to chase the animals

These are our two punkins smiling in front of their new fireplace. Happy Halloween!

A New Chapter

2010-09-11T12:01:00.003-06:00

I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on my dad, it has been two months since I posted. Since things have settled down a bit here are a few more pics and an update. We are officially residents of Dallas, though we are still squatting in Pam and Steve’s house (thanks y’all, we love you). This last Thursday our house closed in Houston, making us non-homeowners. We are overjoyed! It was a long stressful summer looking for jobs, childcare, and a buyer. We feel so blessed that “the hard part” is behind us.
Cooper is enjoying his “new school” as he calls it and seems amenable to the idea of getting another new school when we purchase a house here. He is in a Montessori which suits his learning style and curiosity to try things out. In fact, they are moving him up to the next class next week (just more proof that he may be a genius). He doesn't want much for his birthday, just a new house he says. really, he wants all his toys out of storage, especially the train table. He wants to be either Buzz Lightyear or a bat for Halloween. "Maggie can be a cowgirl, Pam can be a princess, and Steve can be an indian," says Cooper. No ideas for mommy and daddy yet.

Maggie has been less flexible about the move. She has started to throw fits and breaks down crying when she has to go to school. She spends three days a week with Pam and two at the same school with Cooper. We think she has a hard time not being the star of the show! With Pam and at Mary’s (we miss you Mary and Dave!) she pretty much had undivided attention from at least one adult all the time…she is getting better and seems to be slowly grasping the idea that this is the new normal. But school is not her favorite. She loves being home with Pam (and Steve) trying on shoes, doing hair, talking on the phone, sitting by the pool, playing with Sammie, running errands and charming store clerks. Shaun and I are both adjusting to our new jobs. It is way different starting in a new place, new home, new job…with kids this time. For some reason, when we moved I thought this move would be like the other big ones I’ve done (CA to MD then MD to CA then CA to TX). I was wrong! I hate change (a lot like Mags) and this has been a huge one! I am getting the hang of school and commute, getting lost less and finding myself smiling more. Shaun’s new district is fabulous! He loves it but is also finding himself hard at work learning all the new nuisances and policies. Our plan is to buy a house in the next few weeks and get settled in a permanent routine. We will miss Pam and Steve and their beautiful house but it will be nice to have our own place again! We will update when we have more news!

video Montage for CA granparents

2010-09-11T11:00:00.003-06:00

Okay, Okay Randy...here is a video. Probably only exciting to a papa and grammy. Maggie is doing animal sounds and saying hi, no and bye. I tried despreately to get her to talk on the phone but she refused. Her latest is she jabbers on the phone for long periods of time with it laying on her shoulder. I love it! But no performance. She's hardheaded...wonder where she gets that from?

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Maggie's Workout

2010-07-11T22:01:00.001-06:00

This is a daily passtime for at least one us of in the Stanton household...Coop and Mags just love it!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Writing, swimming, moving, drooping

2010-07-11T21:28:00.004-06:00

Here are some recent pictures of the kids. We took another trip to Dallas. I signed my contract and did finger printing. We also had time to play in the pool, visit the rain forest cafe and spend lots of time with Pam and Steve. I think our next trip might be the big move. Our house is still for sale...almost 60 days now. We have our fingers, toes, legs, and eyes crossed....this house needs to sell soon!

Maggie is walking like a champ...video to come. Her lonely two bottom teeth now have a friend up top and are awaiting another arrival soon. Cooper is growing so fast and got a long overdue haircut. Today, was the first time he wore a tie to church without fussing...he is getting so big.

Cooper brought this to Shaun a couple of days ago. We, of course, think he's brilliant at 3 and half years old, this is pretty good!

I just think this kid is so beautiful!

Train ride around the mall!

Maggie was born with ptosis of her left eye. It is a slight drooping eyelid that the doctors are watching. It actually doesn't fall in her sight line so any repairs would be cosmetic. I noticed within hours of her birth. Doctors told me she as pressed up against my pelvic bone and it would resolve on it's own. It has gotten better and we have exercises we do to strengthen the muscle. It is really most noticeable when she is tired. Our options are surgery, patching the "good eye", or just waiting to see if it recovers on it's own. We have chosen the latter. If it is still noticeable when she is old enough to care, we'll let her choose to have surgery. Until then, pics like this make me laugh because it makes her look like she is giving such attitude!

My Montage 6/27/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-27T16:16:00.002-06:00

So this little princess took her time walking. I know it is never good to compare kids but her brother is really my gage for everything. He walked at 10 months! Mags started taking steps just at 13 months and now almost 14 months is a walker for real. It happened kind of suddenly, almost like she just decided and went for it. I think she is so precious.

It is summer once again. And the benefit of having two teachers for parents is a lot of free time in the summer. At the end of the video you'll find a small sampling of some of the circus tricks that have emerged out of our boredom.

We are having a fabulous summer. I did get the job I spoke of in the previous post! YEAH! I am so grateful to the woman who helped me. I can definitely see God's hand in the details of this move! So another big stress unloaded. The last big one is selling the house. We have worked, hustled, contacted, emailed, fasted and prayed and now we are waiting for something great to happen (sooner would be better than later since we report to work in Dallas 4 hours away on August 11). We may end up leasing it. While this is a whole lot better than taking a loss, it is not my first choice but I am trying to stay open to the opportunities God has for us! And just in case anyone knows of someone looking to buy in our area, we are offering $500 cash if you refer the buyer!

Cooperisms;
1.Mom: "Cooper eat your fruit" Cooper: "God said not to eat the fruit"....hahaha!
2.Cooper: "Mom, you need to listen to me not to Daddy, I am in charge"
3. Cooper:"Oh, no (running in slow motion) my batteries are dying. You better get me some chocoloate milk fast."

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2010-06-21T19:23:00.000-06:00

I need to find a job...I love my old one soooo much I don’t want to let it go, but a four hour commute won’t work. I'm pounding the pavement in Dallas...it pretty much is the last thing I want to be doing on my summer break(i would say it sucks but i don’t want my children to say that word so i have to erase it from my vocab!). I have gone school to school five or six days w/o much luck...very discouraging. The first school of the day today, the secretary sent me away with a "thanks, I'll pass you’re resume along" and I walked away with a sigh. As I am walking to the car, the principal waves me down and tells me where to go to find recently opened positions, three schools she knows of that have openings not posted...long story short...I have an interview tomorrow with one of those schools (pray for me) and my faith is restored in humanity. The woman was so kind and thoughtful and went out of her way to help! Now I guess I need to be more like that. Moral: Be kind to others you never know what it might mean to them!

Chill out...

2010-05-23T20:43:00.005-06:00

"Yeah! I am one year old!"

Big blue eyes!

Crawlin on the deck!

Look at those thighs!

Just chillin in the hot tub.

Look at those muscles!

My kids blowing kisses in the pool

So I say this a lot to Cooper, when what I mean is calm down or be patient. The other day I said, "Cooper, come here please!" His reply? Yes, he did say, "Chill out mom, I am." I had to stifle my laughter. He is such a big boy these days. He loves to be referred to as "Captain Cooper" whenever possible and will extend the same courtesy to you. "Captain mommy, what's for breakfast?" or "Don't cry captain Maggie". He still will eat almost anything as long as it is in a burrito or served with ranch. One of his favorite games in the car is to "get the girl to talk" (turn on the GPS) and repeat all her directions. "In a quarter mile, turn left, " says the GPS. Cooper says, "Mommy in a quarter mile turn left." And the game continues until they both say "Destination". It is really awesome (not really) to have an echo in the car and to hear directions even though you already know where you are going. Just yesterday I asked him, "How did you get so handsome?" He replied, "My daddy made me handsome and my mommy made me sweet!" I thought it was precious and totally unprompted by me. He is 90% angel these days and I hope he stays that way!

Maggie turned one and still is not walking. She can stand and will, but will drop to her knees and crawl off. I guess she will do it in her own sweet time. She says about 7 words. One new one came today when we were playing with plastic fruit...nana. Then again at breakfast I held a banana up and she said it again....totally verbally brilliant! The rest of her repertoire is mama, dada, bubba (cooper or brother), mary, nono, baba (bottle). She recently learned to blow kisses and uses both hands. She is often out of sync and the smack comes way before or way after the hand which only makes it more endearing. When you say to her "Where is Maggie?" She puts both hands over her eyes and plays peek-a-boo. She has also mastered the fake cry and tires easily of Cooper. She will swipe at him now when he is bothering her and fake cries for me to "tattle" on him. Kinda cute for now but I am guessing that will not last long! Her hair is getting longer and makes the sweetest curls. She is a precious, loving girl who loves to cuddle and play. We couldn't have ordered her any better!

We are still planning on moving to Dallas this summer. Shaun has a position at an awesome school with amazing athletic facilities and lots of room for advancement. I have had a few interviews and expect to teach third grade next year. The next big hurdle is selling our house. We have resigned ourselves to sacrificing all our equity to the sale. We even laid new laminate flooring to make it more marketable. I will be sad to leave because we have loved this home so much and have 4+ wonderful years of memories (both my babies came home here). I will not be sad when there are no more showings. It is such a pain to keep it clean all the time and to have to leave at a moment's notice for hours at a time (especially during nap time). I am also looking forward to buying in this market where you can get a lot more house for your dollar. Shaun and I are still plugging away at our Master's program. We are on track to finish by August, just in time to start school. I am thrilled to get this over with, make an extra 1k a year, and have a lot of extra time!

The pictures here have been taken over the past few months. We have been traveling back and forth to Dallas (4-5 hours) to look for jobs and housing. Pam (Shaun's sis) and Steve have been so gracious (thanks guys!) to let us stay with them. The fabulous backyard is theirs.

2010-05-08T07:15:00.000-06:00

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My Montage 4/4/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-04-04T21:18:00.002-06:00

Cooper really loves the piano lately. He even sings some of his own tunes too! Even Billy Joel started somewhere! At the end he sings, "Angels We Have HURT on High"...hahahaha. Love this kid!

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Maggie Slides

2010-04-04T20:45:00.002-06:00

Easter

2010-04-04T20:24:00.003-06:00

We had a great Easter. We got together with the Stanton side and had a big dinner and Easter Egg hunt. The kids really enjoyed it. They even gave all the eggs back and hid them again. Cooper found an egg with $1 in it and was elated (much to the distress of some of the older cousins)! Maggie was happy to sit in the grass and chew on some eggs. She wasn't even interested in the candy...just the plastic egg was fine!

Rodeo

2010-04-04T20:14:00.003-06:00

Obviously not at the Rodeo...but how cute is my almost-walkin baby girl?
For the first time, we went to the rides area and let Cooper ride. He and I ended up on the Ferris Wheel. It was really fun!
Coop and Mags took a pic on the tractor.
What a cutie! Mags isn't bad either!
This is Cooper and his really fake smile sitting in one of the tractor's tires. He has loved these things since he was little.

First ER Visit

2010-03-16T10:12:00.004-06:00

Check out the dark black sludge in her sipee cup

Maggie has officially become a big girl. She had her first ER visit this week, much to the dismay of her mama. Shaun has been out of town at a tournament. Maggie's babysitter called me Thursday morning and informed me that she found a blood pressure pill on the floor and put it in her mouth (they were trying to pick them up). The babysitter fished it out, called poison control, and then called me. I rushed over and had her in the ER in 10 minutes. She was given charcoal (which she chugged it like chocolate milk), 2 EKGs, and 3 X-rays. Thankfully, she is fine and we are all much more aware of how quickly she moves. I love this baby and am so glad she is okay. I am also so thankful for great friends who were texting, calling, visiting (thanks Miriam), brought Mags gifts, etc. I was stoic through the whole ordeal. It was not until I had both kids home that I had a major breakdown. It was such a relief that everyone was okay!

Update

2010-03-05T20:22:00.004-06:00

We have been crazy busy at our house chasing kids, coaching, working, blah, blah, blah. February flew by...so here's an update!

The busiest of all of us (or at least away from home the most) has been Shaun. He has been in playoffs for basketball and started baseball. There was one week when he was gone every single night. He surprised me with flowers and a sweet note. It was such a nice gesture and it is wonderful to be appreciated. It's no fun to be a single mom! Cooper is almost 3 and a half going on sixteen. He asserts his independence pretty much all the time. I don't know why they call it terrible twos, it should be terrible threes!

Maggie is 10 months old and is still an absolute joy. She is playful, smiley, and happy almost all the time. So when she is not we know something is wrong. She looks so much like my Gammy here, it is unreal!

She took her own, sweet time getting teeth. I was afraid it might never happen. She broke a tooth just a few days before ten months and then one more yesterday. What a champ!

She chews on anything and puts everything in her mouth. So it is a challenge to keep the floor clean and free from small things that she WILL locate and eat (or at least taste).

Cooper is busy, busy all the time. He loves his new train table and blocks. Drea asked me the other day what I thought he'd do for a career. I think engineer...he loves to build and see how things work. He also loves to destroy so maybe demolition is an option too.

I love to dress Maggie! It really has been a lifelong dream to have this living doll. The dresses make the crawling hard but she figures ways around it!

The other day Shaun put the kids in the car and went back in to grab something. When he returned they were holding hands and talking. It was so cute!

We took a family trip to the park the other day. Texas has had some beautiful weather lately and we decided to take advantage. The kids loved it!

Man he is a cute kid!

Cooper has developed a love for video games. Specifically, he loves Mario Cart which he calls his race car game. The other day he got in a lot of trouble and got his privilege taken away. You would have thought we asked him to cut off a pinky finger. He was devastated! It kind of freaks me out how much he loves it and how sad he is when his time is up.
Our baby girl is creeping. She loves to crawl and gets anywhere she needs to now. She loves to creep along the couch or anything else low enough to grab. And how cute is she in this skirt and tights? Big booty, big booty, ah, ya!

Crawlin Baby Girl

2010-02-05T22:20:00.001-06:00

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Big Boy Baby Bike

2010-02-05T22:16:00.001-06:00

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My Montage 2/4/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-02-04T20:37:00.001-06:00

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Per Papa and Grammy

2010-01-16T21:51:00.005-06:00

We took a trip to Bass Pro Shops today as a family with Drea. Cooper has a blast in there and Maggie is such a good sport. She expects the same out of Cooper, when her and Mom go shopping for clothes in the future. I apologize for the sideways pictures but I (Shaun) did not know that I needed to turn them before I downloaded them.

Cooper actually hit a target all by himself!

Who knows if it is the skunk or if Aimee let one loose?!

Cooper had his first "Primary Fun Day" today. Here is a picture of him playing musical chairs. I let him know ahead of time that Stanton's don't lose and that if he did, he would have to find another ride home!

No words can describe the next three pictures!

2010-01-10T13:40:00.005-06:00

This weekend has been kind of a bummer. I attended a workshop all day Saturday on teaching Gifted and Talented children. Shaun stayed hme and watched both kids (didn't even go to his mom's cause she was busy). Both Shaun and Maggie are sick. Cooper and I are inbetween sick and well. :( But things are really looking up....I have jury duty tomorrow and grad classes start back up (dripping with sarcasim).

Cooper has said some really funny things lately. He is very sensitive to other people's moods. I was heatedly telling Drea a story. I guess I had a little to much vigor in my retelling. Cooper sternly said, "Maaaaaaama you be nice to my Dre-Dra". Drea and I laughed and had to explain I wasn’t mad, I was telling her a story.

Shaun took him to the bathroom while we were partying on New Years at a Pizza Place (really, I used to be cool). Someone had spit their huge piece of pink bubble gum in the urinal. Cooper asked, “Daddy, did someone leave their penis here?"

We were playing Ants in the Pants. You push down on the tails of these plastic ant-like creatures, making them jump and try to land them in a firedog's oversized pants (this too was probably on a weekend night or some other time when I should have been out, but I was home and loving every minute of it....my how far I've come!) I was explaining to him how to make the ants jump. He launched into an exasperated explanation, "Mommy (hands on hips) we DO NOT PULL TAILs. It will hurt the dogs. He will bite us cause he does not have words to say stop it." It was so funny, he has probably heard this speech a thousand times and now he was repeating it.

A not so funny (well, kind of) story. He was really quiet so I called his name. No Answer. Again, call his name. No Answer. Louder, I call his name. He finally answers, "What?" I ask, "What are you doing?" He replies angrily, "I am turning the D@#$ light off!" After I collected myself from somewhere between laughter and horror. I said, "We don't say that word. Where did you hear it?" He couldn't tell me (We really don't swear at all). So I dropped it and he hasn't said anything since.

Christmas

2009-12-31T09:16:00.004-06:00

Aimee is officially 1/3 of a century (I guess we really have to wait until .3333333 of a year, but whatever). The point is......she's old and she had a birthday! This is the cake that Cooper and I made.

We were able to spend a week at Amanda's house in New Mexico during Christmas. This is Braxton enjoying cookie-making time.

One of the few pictures Cooper is not giving his cheesy grin.

All I can say is "WOW!" (Yes, this is Shaun writing).

There is that cheesy grin. What a beautiful family!

p90x......nuff said!

That car is already broken. It had a lifetime of about 34 minutes! Mags enjoyed the paper.

Santa left a note in Cooper's stocking in Albuquerque telling him that there was a surprise present waiting for him when he returned to Houston. The train table would not fit in our car.

The most perfect baby in the world.....and Amanda. Honestly, David and Amanda were the most gracious hosts ever. There were Emeril and Rachel Ray meals every night!

Anyone love candy canes?! Our petite little Maggie is only 3 months older than Brady.....poor girl! I have already started teaching her how to throw the discus!

Santa

2009-12-04T19:19:00.005-06:00

David (of Mary and David, babysitters extraodinaire) helped Santa out by taking photos with the students my school. He filled in for the big guy while Santa was busy at the North Pole. The day before, David took the suit home and Cooper, Maggie and all the other kiddos got a chance to sit on his lap and take pictures. It was so nice not to have to go to the mall and spend $50. Plus last years pics were awful (see Decemeber, 2008 post). Here are a few of this year's. I love that Cooper is holding Maggie's foot. None of them are perfect but I love them just the same. Thanks Mary and David...we love you!

S-N-O-W

2009-12-04T18:49:00.003-06:00

Three years in a row now it has snowed in Houston! Today, it started about 8:15 and came down pretty heavily for a good 2 hours. Then there was a light snow for the next 6 hours off and on. I know you Baltimorians are laughing at us right now, but in Houston.......that is a blizzard! The two hour snowstorm really was pretty thick and made it barely visible outside. No pictures of that, hopefully we will get some from Mary and David. (Cooper's/Maggie's daycare parents)

These were taken around 5:00 (do the math Amanda). Cooper and Daddy took advantage of the little snow that was still on the ground and made a 16-inch snowman. Maggie saw just a glimpse of it from underneath a blanket. Maybe next year girl!

Losing it

2009-12-01T21:02:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I am pretty sure I have lost it. Then later I find it, only not all of it. Hence, no posting in the last month.

The other day Cooper was headed to his gma's house, with his dad and sister, so I could get some grad school work done. I urged him to go to the car several times. Then he finally moved slowly that way and said, "You go with me." I explained I wasn't going. And he replied, "Well can't you just help your little friend into the car?" It sounded so sarcastic and funny.

He also has a new game called Magician. He will grab a wand (any stick, spoon, long toy, or just a finger) and turn you into some object by waving, saying the object, and saying “Abracadabra!” We get turned into all sorts of things...animals, cars, people etc. And our job is to act like the object (apparently being turned into mommy means you say "no, cooper" over and over). Well the latest addition to that game is dah, dah, duh, dah…POOP! That’s right, he turns us into turds and then tells us we stink. Then of course he giggles hysterically. He has developed the funniest, playful, jovial personality. He is more like his father every day.

My baby girl turned 7 months today…sniff, sniff. She is growing waayyyy to fast for my liking. She can sit very well now and grabs everything. She has even started the backward crawl. When she starts, I immediately pick her up and say “No, no!” J/K But I could wait another month or two before the crawling starts.
She got her first cold/sickness last week. Although it was hard, I was glad to be off work and be with her. She is such an easy going, content baby. She tried so hard to be happy even though you could tell she felt awful.

She laughs and “talks” all the time. She has said “da, da, da, da”…but not in Shaun’s general direction…so it doesn’t count. You’ll catch me several times a day in her face saying “ma, ma, ma ,ma”…with no results. We played this game with Cooper too. And the winner was….”light!” He said light first. Not mom or dad…so this is an important win for team mom!

I have an awesome husband who takes great care of all of us! He got up on Black Friday and got all of the Christmas decorations out of the attic. Then he put all the fall/Thanksgiving stuff away. Shauny-boy did a fantastic job on the lights…our house looks professionally done. And we have four snowmen in our front yard….so cute. I love the decorations and I love the Holidays. Now if you drive by, you may not notice our house in the glare of the Griswalds next door. Christmas threw up in our neighbor’s yard. But please take some time to admire Shaun’s work…if you drive by!

I accidently started a little side business. I have been painting name signs for teachers and friends as gifts. Then some people approached me to make some for profit. It is really fun and it is incredibly soothing to be creative and paint. I am impressed with how much money I have made w/o even trying. It's totally word of mouth, so of course I am incredibly flattered when someone asks me to make one. Here are a few. The Black and white one is probably my favorite. I think I'll do the name in a pink or red cursive font.

Trick or Treat

2009-11-01T19:11:00.003-06:00

We had a little bumblebee and a cowboy at house. It was fun to go trick-or-treating and watch Cooper interacting with all the people. Maggie was so snug and she just fell asleep.

Raspberry Pledge

2009-10-29T05:11:00.005-06:00

Maggie is heavy into blowing raspberries these days. It's totally entertaining to us because she takes her work so seriously. Here is some video of her at work and Shaun and I commentating (of course we think we're wildly funny). Is there anything better than bathroom humor?

Cooper also gets a shout out in this video. He has learned the pledge of allegiance. It is so precious the way he enunciates and mispronounces things.

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PLEASE!!!!!!

2009-10-24T15:31:00.002-06:00

Just to clarify......not only am I a woman's man, I am a man's man! I did not get hurt on that children's slide and I do not take credit for that picture......Aimee must have photo-shopped it in there or something!

Shaun

Yippee, Cooper is 3!

2009-10-21T16:59:00.006-06:00

We had a little shindig at the house for Cooper's 3rd birthday. We had a train theme (he wanted Thomas, but I just couldn't do it) and got a huge slide (thanks Heather!) Kids and adults had so much fun with just a few minor injuries. My hot husband injuring his knee on the slide! Both my boys going down backward

Even Maggie took a few slides!

Cooper wrote his name and we were so impressed. He's been tracing and writing with assistance for a while. But he copies the whole thing now....of course we think he's brilliant.

For his birthday shirt I cut a three out of camo material and sewed it on a white t-shirt. I had the hardest time finding a normal birthday shirt for a boy. My complaint is that there is soooo much girl stuff our there and almost nothing normal for boys! I know I will have no problem finding one for Maggie.

This picture makes my heart soar! I have dreamed of this girl my whole life and she's absolutely perfect! I cannot conceal my smile every time I see it. The outfit, the smile, the baby girl, those thighs, the flower....I love it all!!

On his actual birthday he chose spaghetti for the meal and since he had already had a cake at Mary's and a cupcake, we put a candle in the noodles. He gave his signature shy smile as we sang, then he gobbled it up...three years passed so quickly!

This is such a good depiction of the moment...all action! He loved the slide, couldn't wait to get back up, ran around all day w/o stopping and loved every minute of it. It was so sad to give the slide back...we'll have to get it again soon!

This is the train cake I made. My hand is still sore and it was finished only moments before the guests arrived...but I made it myself!

Here's our new fall outfits. This is once again the best of 50 pictures. I love these kids!

Pumpkins

2009-10-12T18:09:00.004-06:00

We carved our pumpkins for family home evening. Cooper wanted nothing to do with the "stinky guts" but he really loved drawing on the pumpkins and using the knife. Each night since we have lit the candles and appreciated our work. Unfortunately, it had to be thrown away (started to get yucky) on Saturday so we need to go back to our favorite pumpkin patch for another pumpkin and of course another photo shoot!

Our little punkin Maggie is growing waaaayyy too fast. She is a chubby, giggly, happy girl. We comment daily on how blessed we are and how quickly time passes.

We took our punkins on a walk on the first day of fall. I practically squealed with delight when I felt the cooler weather roll in. And when I got to dress maggie in this outfit I felt like all my dreams had come true! Cooper wouldn't wear pants but they loved both loved their new stroller (thanks Val and Tiffany!) and the walk around the neighborhood! It totally wore Mags out she was feel asleep sitting up! What a fun memory!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-04T05:44:00.003-06:00

We have gone to the same pumpkin patch for the last three years with Cooper. This was Maggie's first trip. It is quite a challenge to get both kids to take a good picture. This is what we came up with as it was starting to drizzle. Happy Fall Y'all!

Singing

2009-10-03T16:02:00.001-06:00

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Bath Time

2009-10-03T12:53:00.000-06:00

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New

2009-09-27T16:31:00.007-06:00

As usual life is consumed with a flurry of activity. One highlight is we took Cooper to his first professional baseball game. We had a blast even though the Astros lost (and even though Coop looks ticked in all the pictures). Maggie stayed home with aunt Drea. It was fun to be on a date with just the boys but we all agreed on the way home that we missed our girl.

We took both of them to the annual Sock Hop at my school. The whole fam dressed up in fifties attire and danced like maniacs. As usual Maggie's outfit got the most attention...I love me some chunky baby thighs hangin out of a poodle skirt. Cooper had such a fun time dancing with all of his friends.

Cooper lined this up the other day. He put together his number train puzzle. Then matched the numbers from the fridge to the train. It was totally unprompted. I think he is brilliant!

2009 Stanton Summer Olympics

2009-09-14T15:22:00.004-06:00

Saturday was the 3rd Annual Stanton Summer Olympics. Of course, we won again! We squeaked out a 1 point victory. I have to admit....any athletic ability that Aimee lacks, I definitely pick up the slack for her with my ultrasonic expertise. The events this year were the following: Wii Tennis, Wii Golf, Scavenger Hunt, Basketball Shot, Tennis Ball Toss, Puzzles, Bingo, and an Academic Relay (Drea, you are the BOMB for doing that for us!) The uniforms were not as extravagant as usual but here are some pictures of the event. It was such a fun time and we love putting this on every year! For those not invited, I am sorry you just aren't cool enough!

2009-09-14T15:14:00.001-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA

Our Longhorn

2009-09-09T17:01:00.003-06:00

We haven't made up our mind whether she is going to be a cheerleader or a volleyball player.....either way I am sure she will fill that uniform with pure beauty! We tried to get her to do the "hook em horns" but we settled for the "number 1". And yes, those ARE some major cankles!

Randomness

2009-09-02T18:30:00.002-06:00

Maggie turned four months old on September 1. She is very nearly perfect. Coop will be 3 in less than two months. He is such a good boy!
Cooper continues to love Maggie to bits and pieces. So much so we often have to ask him to stop, back up, get out of her face...etc. I hope he always adores her.
Shaun asked me for a haircut. He decided to start on his own. Forgot to put on the guard...he was bald for about a week
Cooper is teaching Maggie the fine art of watching T.V. She loves watching with her brother in the Bumbo for about two minutes....then she's over it!
She has got the best thighs! She gets them from she mama! We love to bite on them, chew them , pinch them...We have to be careful to not hurt her!

2009-08-14T17:15:00.001-06:00

Cooper was jealous and was asking where HIS video was......so here ya go!

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Maggie has found her voice

2009-08-14T15:25:00.003-06:00

Mags had her 4 month check up today (early cause I am starting back to work...sniff, sniff). She did well and I made it too.
15 lbs 2 oz (91 percentile compared to four month olds, she's two weeks shy),
24 1/4 in (68 percentile)
We have another whopper! Maybe she'll be a plus size model. J/K I absolutely love her chunky thighs and arms. She is practically perfect in every way.

The last few days Maggie has discovered her voice. She is so funny and "talks" up a storm. Here is some video of our sweet girl.

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Happy Birthday Baby!

2009-08-05T15:31:00.002-06:00

My incredibly handsome, ever so athletic, extraordinarily funny, and extremely patient husband turned 30 on August 5th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I just wanted to give him a big shout out on his big day. His brother David called to wish him a happy birthday and commented that 30 is where life begins. I agree, our life just gets more wonderful every day and I look forward to all the years to come. Now I feel like were both adults! Thanks for joining me in the over 30 club, I love you to bits and pieces.

ABC 123's

2009-07-27T15:44:00.004-06:00

Our amazing Cooper can now say his ABC's and count to 20 in English and Spanish. As his father, I am amazed at the things this boy can do. We had one of those father/son bonding moments the other day that I wanted to share with ya'll.

"Dad, come here! Is this a 2?"

A FATHER COULDN"T BE PROUDER!!!!!!!!!! Mommy is partly proud and mostly grossed out that this is on the blog. Boys will be boys though...glad to have Maggie to balance it all out!

Trip

2009-07-27T06:57:00.005-06:00

Our trip to Ca was fabulous. We took lots and lots of pictures. Then four or five days before we left, I gave Coop the camera to look at the photos and he formatted our disk! Yes, I cried but at least we had a few days left to document our summer in CA. Some of the higlights: we got to see all but one of my siblings (Amanda is about to have a baby and cannot travel...we missed you girl!), flew on a plane, Shaun and Cooper went camping Mom and Maggie stayed home, drove in a firetruck and sprayed the water, went to Corcoran on a train (meant to go to Wasco, but we missed the stop).

Cooper and Maggie have grown so much (unfortunately so did Shaun and I)! The Stanton side hardly recognized Mags because she looks like a different kid now. Cooper is so tall and has no baby fat or belly anymore (tear!). Still can't beleive I have two kids...in my mind I am still about 20 years old.

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Progress

2009-06-25T15:06:00.002-06:00

Cooper's sunburn is healing. I feel terrible about it...it blistered and peeled and now is just itchy. With a trip to CA in our future, I bought some waterproof 30 spf and a swim shirt for him. Hopefully, this will never happen again!

Maggie is getting so big. She is 8 weeks tomorrow! Here is some video...

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Happy Father's Day

2009-06-25T14:40:00.004-06:00

A little late....but I just wanted to make a little tribute to two of the fathers in my life. First, my dad is the best dad ever! He calls me every day and tells me how much he loves me. He is always good for a quick story or joke. And even though I live 24 hours away, he invites me to dinner regularly. He has entered a semi-retired state and has some interesting projects going...he built a chicken tractor and intends to raise some chickens. He is doing some training of sorts for a back packing trip and is practicing making meals, setting up his hammock, and sleeping in the park. Yes, that's my dad and I love him to bits and pieces...no one can call him crazy but me! One of the most amazing things about my dad is he is absolutely crazy about his grandkids. They all live so far away. So when we come to town he is up for anything including but not limited to trips to the park, dollar store, the lake to feed the ducks, or anywhere else they request. And he will even take the midnight feeding. You're the best dad and papa ever...I love you Randongo!

Then there is the father of my children. He is equally amazing and (as he likes to remind me) I am a lucky woman. He is the most devoted and involved father I have ever seen. He loves to spend time with his kids and has never been afraid of a dirty diaper, late-night feeding, peed bed, spit-up or any of the other wonderful things kids create. He does almost all the dishes in our house (thank goodness) and all the yard work. He never leaves the house without kissing us all goodbye. He is a righteous, honest man and I couldn't love him more. Happy Belated Father's Day! A little info about the picture...Shaun thinks the Snuggie is a fabulous invention, I think it's silly. He got one for Father's Day and was gracious enough to show us all it's uses.

New Tricks

2009-06-18T21:48:00.001-06:00

Cooper is such a big boy and he is learning so much. These are some of his new tricks!

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Parents of the Year

2009-06-16T13:39:00.003-06:00

First of all I need to request that you do not report us to the authorities. Second, I must say that I am so glad that these children won't remember some of the awful things we do to them. We have discovered Cooper can be quite helpful around the house. He takes dirty diapers to the trash in the garage, sweeps the floor, washes the car. And what is really awesome about it is he is not old enough to request money...free child labor!

We both got a little tickled when Maggie held her own bottle the other day. One more thing she can do for herself. She has to grow up some day. Get to work baby girl! BTW: she is sleeping 7-9 hours every night (knock on wood). We are so grateful we make her hold her own bottle.

Clearly she loves the new hair piece. And yes, I knew she hated it and I did it anyway knowing she'll never remember this as long as I destroy these pictures. I'm a little sorry but I mostly love it.

This one really breaks my heart. We went to a family reunion last weekend and there was a water slide/moonwalk thing. Cooper loved it (and was the youngest kid by more than three years to try it and do it himself). We lathered him up with sunscreen for first session. After lunch, he went out again and we did not reapply. I literally could kick myself and have cried big tears with him. I gave him this super sensitive skin and I should know better. I am so glad he won't remember this. And I will NEVER forget to reapply again! Poor Boy!

She doesn't hate all the bows. Thanks for the outfit Brinkley...we love it.

Blessing Day and Papa and Grammy's visit

2009-06-09T15:42:00.004-06:00

My parents came to Houston for a long weekend to see Maggie's blessing. It was so wonderful to have them in town. Aside from all the free babysitting and getting spoiled, it was so fun to hang out. We played cards every night and spent most of our days just sitting around playing with the kids.

Papa and Grammy saw the disturbing pictures of Shaun and Cooper in the frog pool. They bought this new one so there is plenty of room now.

Cooper loves when the garbage men come down our street. Papa asked them to stop so he could take a picture. Just another example of how Papa will do anything for his grandkids!

Man, we have beautiful children!

Here is Maggie falling in love with her Papa

A little love for my girl.

Cooper changed too quickly to get in this shot.

Maggie was given a name and a blessing in our church last Sunday. It was a wonderful, emotional day. I still can't believe we have two beautiful children.

She looked angelic in her white dress. And in true Maggie fashion, slept through the whole thing.

Here is a shot of the whole family

Sharing, 1 Month Old, Pool, Update

2009-06-01T09:38:00.005-06:00

Cooper is not willing to share his own toys but IS willing to use Maggie's toys. Here he is on the nursing boppy, under the play gym, in his underwear. This will definitely be on his wedding video Here are Maggie and Cooper after church on Sunday. He was very good at holding her solo.

Our precious angel, one month old! Thanks for the delicate smocked dress Mary! I just love it!

Shaun is such a great dad. He is always willing to entertain our number 1 son! It was funny and a little disturbing to go outside on Saturday and see them both in the frog pool.

Here are her bright blue eyes!

Cooper tries to soothe Maggie all the time. Yesterday she was crying and Cooper said, "I know, I know princess." Then he kissed her. He loves his sis.

Here is Mags with a massive bow...love it! I've waited my whole life for a real baby doll to dress. I think she looks fabulous in blue...thanks for the outfit mom!

We both still have thrush and it still sucks. Thanks so much for the advice...we are plugging along and we're both crying less at feeding time. But I am going to try the violet stuff...thanks Heidi! I miss the little girl who slept through the night. Where are you and when will the shooting pains in my chest stop?

Thrush Sucks!

2009-05-26T09:54:00.003-06:00

So lil Maggie Jane is out of sorts. It started Saturday night when she woke up twice. I know this is not abnormal for most infants...but this one doesn't do that, she's mommy's angel. Sunday we discovered white patches all through her cheeks and lips. We got the medicine for thrush (yeast infection in the mouth), which is not longer purple (bonus!). Last night she got up four times, I hope this clears up soon and she returns to her old pattern.

We are having a terrible time during feedings because she would rather take a bottle. So I have been giving in. I hate it because I have worked so hard to nurse her. It has been so painful and it seemed as though we were through the hardest part then Wham! Thrush...now it seems as though we might not be able to do it. I feel sorry for her because it has to hurt, but I want her to breast feed. So we are trying to push through pain (I have thrush/breast infection) and make it work.

Here are the pictures for her announcement which may come out sooner or later depending on her sleeping habits today. She absolutley hated the tutu so I settled for thse two. At least she wore the bracelet!

Miss Maggie and Mr Cooper

2009-05-18T10:48:00.004-06:00

I think I might have hit the jackpot! This little girl is so sweet.She defintely has daddy wrapped round her finger. I was telling Drea the other day I am absolutely smitten with her. She is such a great sleeper (her brother? not so much). She eats every three hours during the day and almost immediately goes back to sleep for 2-3 hours. Between 8 and 9 every night she falls asleep and doesn't wake up until about 330 or 4. I think this is why I feel so much better this time around...I can sleep for six-seven hours every night.

Maggie is so easy going and tolerates her brother so well. She is easily calmed and most of the time just wants to be held. She is a good eater but she does fall asleep during feedings and I have to wake her up and tell her to get back to work. I called the doc and told them how much she sleeps. The nurse said are you complaining or bragging? HA! I guess I shouldn't worry.

She has a littl "swine eye". It's actually just clogged tear ducts. Cooper had it too about this age. After she sleeps she looks like this. So we have to get a warm wash cloth and clean it for her. Poor baby. He little umbilical cord hasn't fallen off yet. Cooper's fell off at two weeks and 1 day, so hopfully it'll be soon

Cooper loves her dearly. From the moment he walks in he is all about his sister. "Where's Maggie?" are usually the first words he says to me. He calls her his sweet girl and gives her lots of kisses. He loves to help change her diaper and whenever we use a bottle he wants to help. He is still really rough but I survived my two older brothers, I guess she will too.

Cooperism...daddy wakes him up on Monday morning to go to the babysitter. "Daddy, go away, I am not done sleeping yet" Daddy answers, "Yeah me either, but we have got to go."

Go Lakers!

2009-05-17T12:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, we live in Houston but I am a So Cal girl...so here's a little shout out for the Lakers. "Good Luck tonight" says Cooper. If you need any help, Cooper is suited up and ready to play.

Bow Head

2009-05-15T19:48:00.006-06:00

Aunt Val is notorious for pointing out bow heads. She thinks its a little freakish and unnatural that small babies wear bows bigger than their heads. It started long before I was a part of the family. But now that I have a girl, I will not disappoint...so here it is Val another bow head in the family and I just love her! I can't wait until she smiles for real! Thanks Grammy for the outfits and thanks to Mandi for the headbands!

Mystery Solved

2009-05-14T14:25:00.003-06:00

My Dad says I am not allowed to post anymore w/o pics. Here is MJ in one of Brinkley's outfits. She's so little and sweet.

A big thank you to Aunt Val and Tiffany for the stroller and thermometer! We solved the mystery yesterday when the second half of the gift came. It came with the info on the stroller and said who it was from. So thank you, thank you, thank you Val and Tiffany for the beautiful stroller. We love you so much and appreciate your generosity!

Potpourri

2009-05-12T05:56:00.007-06:00

Mystery
So the doorbell rang and I opened the door to the UPS man driving away. There was a huge box on our doorstep with a double stroller in it. I was so excited! Someone bought us a stroller that will fit both of our children. The only problem is it came in the manufacturer's box with just the UPS sticker on the outside. Who is it from? That is the mystery. It is a little weird to call people and say, "hey, did you buy us a really expensive gift?" Unless it's the right person, that's kinda of awkward.

Bird
My sister Amanda and her husband have had a little bird problem lately. One made it's nest and laid eggs in the wreath on their door. It has flown in their house twice (for the whole story check her blog The Clyde Family). Well the other day Andrea, another sister, was walking out my front door and was attacked by a bird. It went like this...Andrea walks to door and opens it. She screams and ran back inside and says, "A bird just attacked me and threw sticks at me!" Sure enough I go outside and a bird is making it's nest on the ledge above my door. Andrea scared it and it dropped the sticks it was carrying and flew off, squawking. Amanda's advice...get rid of it before it lays the eggs...nothin but trouble.

Laughter
Shaun was trying to catch a fly the other night with his hands. Cooper thought it was hysterical! He was laughing so hard it made it all of us laugh. Shaun finally caught it (kinda gross and at the same time very skillful). We thought it was dead and it started moving again...lots of laughter again. I love this kid. He's slowly becoming himself again. I am so glad. He's been a little out of sorts since the baby came home...tantrums and general bratiness. He's in recovery I hope! The sound of his laughter makes me so happy.

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Sunbathing
Mags has a little bit of jaundice. So every day she sunbathes for 10-15 minutes. Since we have solar screens on our windows we have to open the door so she can get her rays (the vitamin D from the sunlight helps to rid her body of the bilirubin). Here is a picture of our bathing beauty.

2009-05-07T08:07:00.004-06:00

Hello World! Wow, I feel like I was just posting about being so round and here itis a week later. Feels like seconds. First of all, Shaun needs a big round of applause for blogging! I am so excited he posted so quickly, especially for my family who is so far away! I am so proud of my baby (Shaun).

Maggie is Amazing with a capital A. Words could not do justice to how much I love and adore this little girl. She is an angel from heaven. Last night she only woke up once! After I got over the initial holy moley she needs to eat...I was also so energized. We slept from 830 to 140 and then 230 to 520. Mama feels like a new woman. We are both doing well. She is growing and I am shrinking...everything is adjusting to a new normal.

Cooper is fantastic. He loves her to death. But we have to watch him or he actually might hurt her....he likes to hug really, really hard. He is very concerned when she cries and wants to hold her. Then after five minutes he is off to another task. He has had a few tantrums and a few accidents which I attribute to his world getting rocked. But he is slowly adjusting and taking to his new position as big brother very well. BTW we were on our way to the doctor yesterday and we saw a plane flying very low and I said "Holy Crap!" (Shame on me!) and Cooper of course followed it up by saying, "Holy Crap did you see that plane?" Then he proceeded to tell his dad that he did not stop at the stop sign. So if he turns out to be a potty mouthed, bad driver, he gets it from he mama and he daddy.

Shaun is awesome. I have the best husband is the world. He has taken care of every little detail for me. He has been husband, wife, mom, and dad and has really pampered me. My only responsibility is feeding Maggie and healing myself. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such a wonderful support. He brought me my favorite flowers to the hospital, got me second dinner almost every night (they feed you too early in the hospital and a nursing mom needs extra calories), and made sure he spent lots of time with me and Cooper, all the while doing all the other stuff he has to do....all w/o complaint. Best husband ever!

Thanks to all of you who have called and or left messages. I am slowly feeling more normal and will return calls soon. Most of the time my phone is off. Here are some pics of the first bath at home. Cooper is such a big helper!

Here's Your Hair Randy!

2009-05-03T12:19:00.002-06:00

The third picture is classic!!! What one-day old smiles?! She must have had some good gas.....or maybe she was dreaming of playing basketball with her daddy!

Maggie Jane Stanton

2009-05-02T19:30:00.006-06:00

Maggie Jane was born last night, May 1 (her Grammy's b-day!) @ 8:38. She was 3 weeks early and weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful and has taken to feeding very easily. She never cries. It is funny how much different she is than Cooper already! I am nervous and excited to see her grow up! I am not looking forward to having to watch what I say as a father! Cooper is just another one of the boys.....but now my little princess has come! I guess I need to straighten up! No more rough-housing!? Maybe I can just treat her like Cooper and we can raise a brute-wrestler-softball player-discus thrower!

Round

2009-04-30T08:54:00.005-06:00

Papa Randy was hoping for some big prego pics....

Rounder and Rounder and Rounder she grows. When will she stop? No one knows.

I am no longer blossoming...I'm just a big cantelope now. Lovely! I miss my jeans, stomach muscles and seeing my feet. I have to laugh when I try to shave my legs because I can hardly breathe. Hoisting myself up from the couch is pretty funny too. I have only gained 15 pounds but it looks like a lot more. Shaun was really hoping I'd hit 200 lbs this pregancy...no dice...thank goodness!

Still lots of contractions...but no baby yet. My blood pressure is excellent and I don't have swelling. All the bed rest has even improved my amniotic fluid level. I am almost normal....almost! Seven days or sooner...can't wait!

I have finished up a lot of projects lately. Isewed and embroidered some bibs and towels for friends. I made some jewlery for Maggie and I am planning some very "Fancy Nancy" Photo shoots. More to come!

Just this morning, I finished up my last project and paper for my current grad class (Research, ugh! grossest class so far). I turned it all in 13 days early (not a norm for me). My professor was kind enough to let me get it all done early. Now I have a break until June 2!

Wicked Skills

2009-04-24T10:39:00.005-06:00

I just have to brag on my husband, he's got wicked skills...You might remember a few months back, Shaun set out to re-do our flower beds in the front and back. This was a new adventure for him and he dove in head first! He had dirt delivered, landscaped new flower beds, moved plants around, and grew plants from cuttings. His hard work is now starting to pay off. Just this week the plants have started to bloom and they look beautiful. I think he did an amazing job. He's hot, athletic, smart, and he's got a green thumb! I am one lucky girl (back off ladies he's taken)!

Special

2009-04-23T05:48:00.003-06:00

Cooper and I were having a quiet moment together on Tuesday night. We were laying in bed just before he went to sleep. He was smelled like shampoo and lotion and was wearing his little pajamas. He was playing with my hair, while we were nose to nose. We were laying there talking about the day and he said, "Mommy, I love you. You my best friend in the whole world!" My heart melted! What a sweet boy I have. It's nice to know that when he settles down he can sill be so affectionate.

The comment got me thinking that I should really cherish these moments because they are so fleeting. In a little while, he won't be my baby anymore. He'll always be my baby, my special, special first born who I have loved and doted on for two and a half years. But very soon, I'll love someone else just the same. It makes me a little sad that our days of being "just the three of us" are almost over. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled, overjoyed, and ex tactic to have this baby girl with us. But Tuesday I realized this phase of our life is almost over. It is a precious section of time that will be forever changed in a few short days. I have loved every minute of it and am a better person for loving this little boy! I hope we're always best friends.

2009-04-20T07:01:00.005-06:00

Here is Coop trying to do a monkey face...he hasn't figured out all the moves yet...pull the ears, puff the cheeks, cross the eyes...he's getting closer. But he can finally do a somersault on his own now. He calls it a flip. We're so proud!

I went to a doctor's appointment on Monday and apparently I overdid it on Easter. At my appointment everyone got all nervous about my too much fluid/contracting problem. The doctor sent me over to the hospital to be monitored for a couple of hours. I pretty much freaked out. Shaun took a group of kids on a field trip and was downtown. His only mode of transportation was the bus with all the kids on it. I am really glad I didn't have to deliver w/o him. They did discharge me and I am resting at home. It was a good wake-up call for us both to take the bedrest thing more seriously!

This baby girl is can't wait to get here! I guess she is as excited as we are...she keeps trying to come early. This Wednesday is the 36 week mark, so three more days and were in more of a safe zone. It is not ideal to have a baby 4 weeks early, but at least the docs aren't as worried with the lung and eating issues. We're still aiming for May 7th though! So Maggie.....CHILL OUT GIRL, We'll hang out soon enough!

I was excited to make it to my baby shower this Saturday. We had it at my house which was convenient. It was so much fun. I have wonderful family and friends who are so thoughtful and generous! Here are some pics of the day. A big thanks to Andrea for hostessing and to Amanda for helping wih the special touches! I have some amazing fristers (friends/sisters).

Easter

2009-04-12T06:36:00.001-06:00

A "Lightening the Queen" (Lightening McQueen) Egg, Mama!

Easter was fun at our house this year. Being almost 2 1/2 Cooper understands egg hunting, presents, smiling, etc. He had a little egg hunt with his friends at his babysitter's house. I snuck out of bed to go take some pictures. I think they are just adorable!

Our cheesy smiling boy

On Easter morning, Cooper decided he was a cowboy. he went and put on my old Ropers, rode his stick horse, and donned his hat. It was pretty fun to watch him gallop around the house. It was a pretty wet day, but we had a little egg hunt of our own in the backyard. It was so fun. The highlight was definitely finding the Spiderman egg with a watch in it. Cooper loved it!

Dramatic

2009-04-06T13:06:00.004-06:00

I went to a doctor's appointment and they did a 4-D ultra sound. These are some pictures of our little Maggie J. Not even born and our little girl is already so dramatic! She has us all worried and she is doing just fine! She is over 5 lbs by the docs guess and is already trying to flex her lungs. I love her so much, I can hardly wait (figure of speech, I do not want her here before 38 weeks!) to listen to her coo and smell her sweet breath and bite her toes and spank her little bum. If she looks a little squished, that is because she was hiding her face in my hip bone. She resembles Cooper's 4-d's quite a bit. She has way more hair (yeah! she must have heard about all the bows!) and fuller lips.

So bed rest is going fine, pretty boring but productive. I have a lot less cramping now that I am taking it easy and I am getting lots of time to myself. I have done a lot of reading, tried to get ahead on my grad courses, sewed a lot, scrapped a little, and of course rested. BTW: If you see someone resembling me at Target, just look away!

Bed Rest

2009-04-02T12:55:00.003-06:00

I went to the doctor on Monday and was totally shocked when she wanted to place me on limited bed rest. I am high risk because of a blood clotting disorder anyway. But I have this added problem of too much amniotic fluid this time. When they did the fetal monitoring I was having contractions that made them nervous. Both Mags and I are fine but I have a job that doesn't allow me to rest, so I am at home for the next five weeks hangin out in bed for 2-4 hours a day. I was totally distraught about leaving my class so early. But it is kind of nice. I am sure it will get boring soon...2 days down 35 to go!

Clyde Tornado

2009-03-30T13:37:00.001-06:00

We had so much fun visiting with Amanda, David, Braxton, and Brinkley. They flew in from New Mexico Wednesday and left Sunday. It was a blast watching the little ones play together and try to share. We saw the bluebonnets, watched the daddies play basketball, ate out at Cheesecake Factory, played in the sprinklers, jumped on the bed and partied it up at the house at night. It was impossible to get a picture of the trio with them all smiling. Eventually we gave up and just went for pictures that showed action (of which there was a lot!) As Amanda says, "It's kinda like herding cats." Thanks for coming we miss you already.

Rodeo

2009-03-20T16:54:00.002-06:00

We took Coop to the rodeo today. We had a blast looking at all the animals and walking around. When we got home, Cooper ate and then asked to go to bed. The adventure really tuckered him out. Please note his cheesy smile...

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Whew!

2009-03-18T07:05:00.007-06:00

Spring Break....gotta love it. As usual, we have been crazy with all the activities we are involved in. Our grad courses are going well, Cooper is thriving, and I am getting huge.

We got our grades back from our first assignment. The instructor gave me a 14 of 16 points (88%) with points off for a few grammatical errors and lack of examples on something. He critiqued my paper in probably 200-300 words and said it was overall pretty good. Then Shaun got his back he got 100%...The critique was "You have a rich history with Lamar. Nice Job!" I was dumbfounded...mine was gone over with a fine tooth comb and he has a rich history with the school!? We have had lots of laughs about it! Maybe the grader knew him in his undergrad? Maybe he remembers him from his stud baseball days? Maybe Shaun IS the luckiest guy on earth? Maybe he is way smarter than me (not likely!) Whatever the reason I made sure the grader knew I was Shaun's wife...I'm gonna ride that train! The next week we both got 100%. We are almost done with our 1st of 12 five week courses!

Cooper is wonderful, as usual. He loves to cook anything with mommy. He has really developed a love of trains lately. He loves his toy trains but he especially loves the locomotives and steam trains we see on the rails. When we head back to Cali this summer we're going to have to talk Uncle David into showing us his train. Coop is also a very good sport. I put bunny ears on him for the third year in a row. These are some of the pics we took. I think he makes a fantastic bunny.

I am pretty sure I am nesting. I did get an embroidery machine and I love it. I have been sewing a lot and embroidering anything I can get my hands on. Our kitchen table is no longer for eating...it has two machines on it, a cutting board, and lots of thread and fabric. Maggie is stocked on handmade bows for the rest of her life (realistically, I could probably supply the whole neighborhood). Last week I gave away half my classroom too. This urge to simplify is great.

some of the bows

a hooded towel with an M for Maggie

a bandana dress

homemade bibs with embroidery!

We are super excited to see The Clyde family next week. Cooper's cousins Brax and Brink are coming for a visit and we can't wait! Don't tell Brinkley but the pink dress is for her. Now I need to make something for Braxton and we're all set (I'm thinking a dress with matching bow won't do!).

This week we have already been to the park, the jumping place, we plan on going to the rodeo, and we have to go see the blue bonnets! I love, love, love spring break with my two favorite boys!

2009-02-21T09:58:00.008-06:00

We have been sick at our house. Everyone has gotten it. I, unfortunately, have had it the most (3 colds since January). Shaun got it the worst (with slight pneumonia). And poor Cooper can't seem to kick his cough. So this is why you haven't seen much of us lately.

Cooper is so grown. We hear "no!" way more than we hear "yes!" and everyday he surprises us with his brilliance. When we are driving, he now tells us when we can go (green light)or tells us to stop, for the lights he has named "buttons". He even is skipping his nap on Sunday because of our church schedule. Only once has he fallen asleep in the car (see blow) on the way home. He surprises me almost every Sunday with his mostly happy disposition. He loves to "help" in the kitchen with anything! He also will "help" with laundry. This is a picture of him refusing to put on clothes after the bath. So I started hanging laundry and he "helped" by putting the hangers on his legs and getting stuck.

I can say proudly that he is finally all the way potty trained. He occasionally wakes up in the morning with a little accident in his Pull-up but we confidently lay him down for naps and take him everywhere in "big boy chonies". He finished ahead of mama's schedule (before Maggie comes). So we officially record his potty training as....drum roll please....completed at 26 months old. He's a genius. And if you're wondering, I'd never start a 20 month old again!

We have about 11 weeks to go until our precious baby girl gets here. She is very active and strong! She moves all day but sleeps at night I think. This is a switch from Cooper who enjoyed playing soccer at night for hours while in momma's tummy. I am pretty sure I am nesting. I have been sewing (My mom is going to be so proud). I got these awesome bibs from my friend Natasha when Cooper was born. They have held up so well and he can still wear them. They are the ones in the videos with his name embroidered on them. The lady that sells them is www.misspickypants.com. She does beautiful work. But they are about $18 each. So I decided to try and make them. Here is a pic of hers (the one that says Maggie) and the 3 I made. I don't have an embroidery machine yet...but that may materialize soon! I have even had a friend commissioned me to make some for her (thanks Miriam)!

Shaun is still super busy. He is doing both basketball and baseball now so our schedule is pretty full. We start our coursework next week too. Wish us luck!

2009-01-31T19:37:00.000-06:00

Cooper has started saying prayers w/o help from Shaun or I. Here is some video. We're so proud.
Shaun passed the GRE too! Yeah! I'm 99% proud and 1% miffed that he beat me by 30 points!
I had an ultra-sound this week. One good thing about being high risk is you get an ultra-sound at least monthly. Mags is doing well and looks to be bigger than normal...just like her brother. We have a C-section date. Barring any complication this baby will be born on May 7th (5-7-9).

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Polar Bears and Maggie

2009-01-21T20:11:00.006-06:00

We took a quick trip to Dallas for Pam's (Shaun's sister) party. Cooper did a great job with the four hour trip...slept both ways for 75% of the drive. While we there, Cooper decided he wanted to be part of the polar bear club just like his cousins Kinlea, Dalin, Miranda, Josh and of course his daddy. They all jumped in the 45 degree pool! Cooper would go in for a second and get out quickly, shivering. Then he would tell me "It not cold, mama it hot" and then he'd want to go back in. It was pretty funny. It was not funny when he got sick two days later...but you only live once.

My dad said he'd love to see how Maggie is growing. Here is a picture of my developing belly. At my last appointment they informed me that I gained 6 pounds! That's a lot! I just keep telling myself that it's all baby.

Last Saturday, I took the GRE. That test is cruel and unusual. When was the last time you thought about trig or calculus? I am glad it's over (I passed!). Shaun takes it this Saturday.

Other than that it is business as usual at the Stanton house. We are eagerly awaiting May 7th (our C-section date) and can't wait to meet our baby girl!

Video

2009-01-02T06:55:00.006-06:00

Here is Cooper Shooting some hoops with Mommy.

Background: Living in Texas we see a lot of the shape of Texas. Coop can now recognize it now. We also see a lot of "Texanized" icons. One we saw this Christmas was Santa with boots and a cowboy hat on. They were everywhere. Cooper started calling them Yee-haw Santas. Then we started discussing whether those Santa's said ho,ho,ho or Yee-Haw. I love this kid!

Dialogue:

Daddy: Santa Says Yee-haw

Cooper: No, Santa not say Yee-Haw. Santa say Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

Really?

2009-01-01T07:48:00.005-06:00

I got a letter from my insurance company that says, "We think you may be pregnant, please consult your physician." Really? Is that why I look so bloated and use the bathroom so often? I wonder if they figured it out because of the OB and perinatologist visits? Or was it the prenatal vitamins and the ultra sound charges? Those insurance people sure are clever! Really?

Cooper got fed up with me the other day and said, "You're ticking me off, Mama!' Really?

Shaun told Andrea several times that all he wanted for Christmas was to be out of debt. So he opened a paid bill on Christmas! See the pic, it was just the right gift for a frugal fred like Shauny! Really!

Cooper got a pirate dress up set and a drum/musical instrument set for Christmas. He either sings at the top of his lungs, "What do you do with a scurvy pirate, load that cannon up and fire it....make him walk the plank..." or he bangs on his drum. The best time of day is probably 600-630 in the morning! Why are all his toys loud? Really!

Shaun and I were in bed way before midnight. 2009 came without us seeing it....we're old! For more info on that see the last post. Really!

32

2008-12-28T20:24:00.002-06:00

No, I'm not talking about Sandy Koufax, Magic Johnson, or O.J. but I'm referring to Aimee Alynn Stanton. My big baby girl (Maggie is my little baby girl) turned 32 today! Here are 32 reasons why she is the best:

1. She is the most caring person I know.
2. She loves me unconditionally.
3. She is a perfect mother.
4. She is a magnificent cook.
5. She has great hair.
6. She wears glasses (I used to tell my Bolivian people that my wife would wear glasses. Then I would baptize them of course.)
7. She is super spiritual.
8. She has great pregnancies and if not, she doesn't complain about them.
9. She is good at spending money.
10. She is beautiful.
11. She is an electronic genius.
12. She kissed me first.
13. She is spontaneous.
14. She is not afraid to make fun of me.
15. She makes messes and expects her husband to clean them up.
16. She is undeniably sexy! (Sorry Randy!)
17. She has learned the art of coupons.
18. She dresses like a fox.
19. She is a fantastic teacher.
20. She is competitive.
21. She fits perfectly in my family.
22. She lets me watch my sports.
23. She is very supportive.
24. She is opinionated.
25. She has a unique way of spelling her name.
26. She loves watching the same shows as me.
27. She is intelligent.
28. She smells really yummy.
29. She fulfills her calling at church.
30. She is funny.
31. She comes from a wonderful family.
32. She is an "older woman".

It's a Girl and a Naughty Boy

2008-12-22T20:28:00.005-06:00

On Monday the doctors verified that our baby, MAGGIE JANE, is in fact a girl. They told us seven weeks ago that they were 80% sure she was a she. The best news is that she is growing well and looks very healthy. We are so blessed! This is a picture of her sweet profile
Here is her right foot. So cute!
Here is her left hand (just four fingers) and a partial of her head. Precious!
Shaun and I took Cooper to visit Santa on the first day of our vacation. He really enjoyed it as you can see. He wasn't scared or crying. He just pretty much refused to smile. He really hated it when Santa told him he'd be visiting his house this week! Hahaha! You gotta love the terrible twos! I think he may be on the naughty list now!

It's Snowing

2008-12-10T18:18:00.005-06:00

Shaun has been really busy lately, apparently he hasn't noticed that it is not November 10th, it is December 10th. Anyway...Yes, it is snowing in Houston! Will there be school tomorrow? We can only hope!

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He's a climber!

2008-11-29T11:43:00.005-06:00

Cooper is definitely growing fast! Every day he asserts himself more and requires more independence. He is climbing on everything and is really rough and tumble. Some of the fun places I have found him standing lately...the kitchen island, his changing table, and on the top rung of a nine foot ladder. So it is really no wonder that the day I wanted to take his picture for the Christmas card he took a nose dive into the cement. Poor, baby boy! His foot got caught up as he tried to dismount his bike and smack! Cooper vs. cement...the cement won! He's doing fine and luckily has no tooth damage. So, if anyone needs a Rudolph...we've got one!

Busy, Busy

2008-11-25T07:20:00.008-06:00

We have had several projects lately to keep us busy. One is redoing our flower beds in the front and creating new ones in the back. There was a huge empty space where our shed used to be (thanks Ike). Instead of replacing it we decided to begin a landscaping project. Shaun had 5 yards of dirt delivered and set to work. Cooper and I helped a little, very little. It is still a work in progress but our yard is really looking better. When spring comes, we'll finish it out!

We also have been making yard art...just a wild hair I got! I traced the images from a projector, Shaun cut them out with the jig saw, he sanded them, then I painted them, he cut the poles and attached the brackets, then he pounded the poles in the ground and viola! we have Thanksgiving yard art! They turned out pretty cute. I leared a lot with the first set and I think I will be better especially with painting, the more we do. We also made a set for Cooper's Mary (babysitter). She got an indian girl instead of a pilgrim girl. I forgot to take pictures. Maybe when we retire we can start a business! For now, we are done for a little while...I purchased our Christmas yard stuff!

Cooper's new thing is singing words that he would usually say. To me, it's pretty hilarious! For instance, he might say "Mama look there's a tractor" but instead of saying tractor he'd sing it like an opera singer while shaking his head and raising his hands to the sky. Here is a little video that is obviously slightly coerced. In true two year old fashion, he quit performing as soon as I got out the camera. I'll have to be a little quicker next time. Nonetheless here he is singing for his food.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I have come to the realization that maternity clothes are for short people. I guess I am slightly above average height, but every pair of maternity pants I try on looks just a little too short. So I decided to go buy a pair of regular jeans one size up. When I put them on, Shaun said, "Those don't look like they're a bigger size!" After I marveled at his skills with the ladies and wondered how he ever got a second date, I realized, they don't fit like a bigger size, they fit like the right size. So riddle me this, how has my butt spread when I have lost five pounds since I got pregnant? BTW searching for clip under the words big butts is not advisable on the Internet!

Cooper is having fun learning to hit a ball of his tee. Here he is in his very cramped room practicing with daddy. Yes, we know he deserves furniture and a bed frame, we're working on it!

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Wii...family fun for everyone

2008-11-15T21:46:00.003-06:00

My assistant principal gave us a Wii and six games for an incredibly low price. We are having so much fun playing it. Even little Coop gets in on the action. This is some video of us doing the hula hoop exercise on the Wii Fit.

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Halloween

2008-10-31T17:01:00.001-06:00

We had a fantastic Halloween. Most of the fun took place before it was even dark but our little pirate had a great time. He had a little party with his friends at the babysitter's. When I got there about 3 pm, we went to three neighbors' houses to trick-or-treat. It was so fun to see all of them together! Again, I am so amazed at how big he has gotten and all the things he can do.

After we got home, we redressed, took some pics, and went to visit the grandmas! The whole time Cooper was wearing a pirate scowl singing, "What do you do with a scurvy pirate, load the canon up and fire it! What do you do with a scurvy pirate, MAKE HIM WALK THE PLANK!" Thanks Backyardigans. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We did it!

2008-10-29T14:55:00.001-06:00

Most of you probably already know this. But we are pregnant again. YEAH! And we are safely in the second trimester! Whew! We got pregnant within a few weeks of the miscarriage this summer and we are thrilled. Here are some of the lessons we learned:
God answers prayers-and sometimes that answer is no. We prayed and prayed and begged him to allow us to keep the last pregnancy, but the answer was no. It was hard to accept. But we know without a doubt that he hears us and answers our prayers!
We are not in control-I tried everything I could to stay pregnant...took medicine, shots, gave blood, stayed off my feet, did ultrasounds...etc. But ultimately, God is in control and nothing we can do will change that. We are so grateful for his infinite wisdom.
The Atonement is for all grief-even though no choice of ours brought this tragedy to us, we take comfort in Christ's atonement. While it did not remove the sadness and loss we felt, it did take away the bitterness and left us with comfort and peace.
He blesses us when we have faith-We have been so blessed to have a healthy son and feel overjoyed to have begun another healthy pregnancy. The doctors did a bunch of tests and everything looks great! They even told us they think (with 80% surety) that this baby is a girl.

We pray that Heavenly Father's will be done and that we are always willing to accept it and learn from the trials and joys that we experience. Thanks so much for your prayers and kind words (keep them coming, we need them!).

A quick trip

2008-10-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

Cooper and I took a trip home to see Papa get remarried. Cooper was a champ on the plane and sat in his own seat like a big boy. We got a whole row to ourselves so we were very comfortable. And thanks to aunt Val it was totally free! When we got there we were greeted by Jason and his family, Papa and Grammy, Britt, and Jenn. It was so fun. Jenn took us to her new house and we got to see her pirate pumpkin! I even got to make a quick trip to my friend Carrie's for her annual Halloween party. She took pics of all her guests. It was a great time!

It was a fun, whirlwind trip. Cooper had a fantastic time playing with his cousins from AZ, grandparents and aunts (we miss you already) and I really loved being there for the special day. Papa and Eva seem so happy and we are overjoyed that they found each other!

Cooper's Birthday

2008-10-20T19:04:00.000-06:00

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Cooper's Birthday/Warm up to Halloween

2008-10-20T17:12:00.005-06:00

Happy Birthday Cooper! Our pride and joy turned two last Wednesday and is living up to the term "terrible two". Shaun sent me flowers again for Cooper's big day and it was a total surprise again. What a sweetie! I made a four layer cake for his birthday and we celebrated with Shaun's family. He got a cowboy hat and stick horse which he loves! He also got a bike, tricycle, easel, puzzles, glove, football, and lots of other fun stuff! Our house is getting very small!

Coop-deville has taken a huge step backward in potty training but we're still plugging along trying to get it right.

We took him to the same pumpkin patch as last year and the year before. It's fun to see him grow and change. He loved it again and ran all over picking up pumpkins and throwing them.

Coop and I are making a trip home this weekend for Papa Harm's wedding. We are super excited. It has been 4 months since we've seen the CA fam, so we are really looking forward to it.

2008-10-02T19:23:00.004-06:00

Is it really October? Wow, Ike really made time (and our shed) fly. We are starting to get back to normal. We have gone back to work, Shaun cut his porn stash, our power is back on...We are almost there. If Comcast would get our cable back on we would really be rockin!
Big News: Cooper is pretty much potty trained. He still has an accident now and then but our boy is now in undies full time! He also is in a big boy bed. We had originally planned on keeping him in the crib for a while. But after staying at Grandmas for a week (during Ike) he got home and thought I needed to sleep with him. After six nights of sleeping on his floor or him in our bed and waking up three to five times a night....we had it! We got a knob that trapped him in his room, bought a twin size bed, and got ready for battle. But when we put him in bed he cried, ran to the door, played with the doorknob, reached his chubby little hand under the door, and cried...for about one minute! Then he fell asleep. That was it! I wish I had done it sooner. The next night when I laid him down he said, "Mama I not cry!" Then he rolled over and fell asleep. What a champ!
Realization: I am old. Evidence: A fifth grader asked me if my 23 year old intern was my daughter. I was shocked! I asked him how old he thought I was, he answered 49! Really? I don't feel any older than 20. But apparently I am ancient.
Here are some random pictures!

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Take a Hike IKE!

2008-09-21T11:40:00.004-06:00

We are well and surviving! After 9 days with no power, we are a little worn out but so grateful for our safety and the safety of our home. We had some minor damage: our shed blew away (three houses down), our little tree fell over, a small portion of the fence blew down, and we had a few shingles blow off the roof. We fared very well. For a while it took hours to get gas and hours to get into a grocery store (there is a pic below of me standing in line at HEB to get milk, it took about 30 minutes to get in and there was hardly anything on the shelf). We did our dishes outside in the backyard. We feel a little like pioneers!
The storm was super scary! The wind started blowing about 7 pm. We went to bed and awoke to the sound of the shed blowing away about 11:30 pm. We tried to go back to sleep but Cooper woke up from all the noise about 1:30 and we watched the storm rage for a few hours. If you keep checking back I'll post some video that we shot. The eye hit Galveston (about 45 min from us) around 2:30. We never saw the calm. We just got more wind blowing the other way! It all ended about ten in the morning with light showers. Our neighborhood had some slight street flooding but did very well considering we got a powerful category 2 (almost 3) hurricane.
We went to church today where services were held outside in the parking lot for lack of power. Although it was hot and uncomfortable, I am amazed at the resiliency of our ward and the faith of the members. So many people have severe damage and are without power and/or water. But they were there worshipping. That strengthens my testimony of our Savior and makes me so grateful for my faith.
We are currently staying at Shaun's parents house and Cooper is loving every minute of hangin with his cousins. Shaun even dressed up like Mr. America (see below) to entertain us!
We are expected back at school Friday and are excited to see our students again after being out for two weeks. My school district is considering asking for a waiver, so we don't have to make up the days of work. Downside is they will dock our pay. This will hit our family hard because we are both teachers. We are really hoping this is not the decision that is made.
Thanks for all your calls and prayers. We feel your love and we are doing great!
Below is a montage of pictures taken post Ike. Some are around our neighborhood and some are near the Seabrook and Kemah areas.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

"That's not Funny"

2008-09-12T08:04:00.003-06:00

Cooper loves the Backyardigans! Some kids read books before bedtime, our's watches Backyardigans. It is quite funny because he will ask for specific episodes some nights. His latest favorite is titled "Best Clowns in Town". Unfortunately, this is Mommy and Daddy's least favorite (probably why he likes it so much, right?!). This is a line from the clown show. He was going around the house for a good hour before this was filmed repeating this phrase. Please excuse the frowny face but everything to this soon-to-be 2 year old is upsetting.

Third Annual Summer Olympics

2008-09-11T19:32:00.005-06:00

Last weekend we had our 3rd annual Summer Olympics. It was a blast! We had nine couples that participated in 7 events. They were root beer guzzle, under water breath holding, golf/chipping, basketball around the world (in living room), ping pong, obstacle course, and academic relay. In honor of the Olympic year, everyone represented a country beginning with the same letter as their last name. The teams all dressed in a "uniform" that reflected their country. The countries in attendance were Scotland (us), Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Barbados, Chile, Wales, Liechtenstein, and Bangladash. We have a lot of friends with a "B" last name!

It is such a fun tradition! We are so blessed to have great friends who come every year, even though we are back-to-back champs! Thanks to all that came, and those who didn't we missed you! We are already discussing next year!

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AIR COOPER

2008-09-02T17:22:00.000-06:00

Update

2008-09-02T16:46:00.005-06:00

We are officially back at school in full swing. We miss each other so much during the day. Cooper has mastered going number one in potty training. He doesn't even wear diapers to sleep. Number two is a lot trickier. He has done it a few times in the potty but still has accidents (which is so sick to clean up and Daddy refuses to clean sharted undies). We are very proud of him considering he is only 22 months old. He is talking a ton in full sentences, asks and answers questions easily, and is even a little sassy (He gets that from he momma)! He is officially tall enough to use his basketall rim w/o a chair.

As for Shaun and I, we are back to work and doing well. I would love to stay home, but that is not in the cards for me. My class is awesome this year. I love teaching 7 and 8 year olds. They are still so sweet and young but old enough to be accountable for themselves. I am having a great school year so far.

Here are some recent pics of our favorite boy!

High Low

2008-08-19T18:21:00.003-06:00

Our Low this week is a HUGE bummer. We found out through an ultra-sound today that I am no longer pregnant. I started spotting on Friday so we had a verrrrry long, tearful, prayerful weekend. We even rescheduled our annual Olympics (which is a huge deal). Of Course, we are very sad but are all doing okay and we know that this pregnancy was not in God's plan for us. Since it was so early we can try again right away. Please don't be shocked if you call and we don't answer, we have a big project to work on ;)

High-During the ultrasound Shaun got a huge shock. He knew he was looking for a dark sack on the screen (I couldn't see the screen b/c I was lying down) which would indicate a fetus. While the doc was looking and printing pictures his eyes popped wide open when he saw four dark spots on the screen in what he thought was my uterus. For a minute or so he thought we were having quads b/c the doc was looking at my ovaries and there are dark spots where all the eggs are. I laughed for a long time when he told me. Can you imagine? Apparently, in that time Shaun had decided that we would need to call Oprah b/c two teachers would not be able to support a 2 year old and four infants. (Hmmmm...Shaun and Aimee Plus Five could be a new show, I think)

Happy Belated Birthday Baby!

2008-08-17T11:42:00.005-06:00

There has been so much going on at our house lately, I almost forgot to blog about my favorite husband for his birthday (Aug 5). Shaun is an amazing husband and father with so many talents it will be hard to list them all. He is an incredible athlete, a great teacher, speaks fluent spanish, a loyal friend, loves God and his family and as my dad loves to point out, he can slam dunk!

It is almost nauseating how good he is at anything physical. He has played basketball and baseball since he was little. He was on a 1990 Little League team that was one game from the World Series. He played both basketball and baseball in high school and was offered scholarships in both. In college, he had to choose one and baseball offered him a full scholarship. So he played college baseball and still holds the Golden Sombrero record at Lamar (heehee) and triples in a season at Galveston. He had an opportunity to play pro baseball but turned it down because the life of a baseball player wouldn't allow him to serve in church and have a family the way he wanted to. I am so proud of him for making that decision. I know it was hard to turn away from his dream. I love him for the strong man that he is and for loving Cooper and I more than he loves himself. Shaun does continue to play both sports on a weekly basis (ugh! I love and hate it) with a couple of city and church leagues. He also coaches baseball and basketball at his old high school and helps coach our nephew's little league team. He loves to stay active and encourages me to stay active too! For the longest time the only thing I could beat him at was backgammon, but now, alas, he beats me at that too!

Shaun serves faithfully in our church as the Elder's Quorum Pres and is always willing to help anyone in need. He is the best father and loves Cooper with all his heart. I love to see them play together and I love the bond they share. There is no one that can elicit a smile and a giggle from our boy like daddy can. He is so good to me and is very helpful around the house. I never ever doubt how much he loves me because he tells me every day! He is my best friend! He is very persistent and works hard for the things that are important to him. He knew we were meant for each other long before I did, he was persistent (even when I tried to run) and here we are four years later blissfully in love (thanks for not giving up). And if all that isn't enough to make you jealous, he does almost all the dishes in our house and puts away the laundry. He is very nearly the perfect husband. I love you! Happy Birday (spelling intended)!

Howdy Y'all

2008-08-07T16:39:00.003-06:00

OUR FUTURE MISSIONARY

2008-08-03T16:00:00.001-06:00

Bayhouse '08

2008-07-26T15:32:00.003-06:00

Every year we have a tradition of going to Uncle Melvin's bayhouse near Lake Jackson, Texas. We go swim in the pool, go on the boat, catch crabs/fish/shrimp, and eat some good bbq. The kids always have a blast and this year was no exception. Cooper was able to jump off the diving board all by himself (of course his daddy was waiting for him in the pool!) Coop even got to go tubing! He had so much fun that when we got in the car he immediately was knocked out.

Cooper is feeling the beat

2008-07-14T18:11:00.004-06:00

High-low

2008-07-13T14:39:00.008-06:00

My good friend Carrie likes to play a game called High Low. At the dinner table everyone goes around and tells the high and the low of their day. I think it's a great way to talk about your day and I m going to do that for our week...

Highs-

Cooper has never loved staying in the nursery. Shaun or I either stay in there with him or he screams his head off (He get that from he Daddy). But not today! Cooper Stayed in nursery for all of church! Woo-Hoo. I snuck a peek at him 3-4 times and he was playing with the kids and having a great time. Here is a picture of him...he's very proud of himself too!

On the way to church Cooper said, "Look mama, red truck gotta boat!" And sure enough in the lane to our right there was a big red Chevy towing a speed boat. Please keep in mind he is 20 months old! I am in awe of what an intellegent, articulate boy we have! He get that from he mama!

Another high for the week is that Cooper ate taco salad and loved it (you'll have to forgive this high, our life is a little boring). This is a staple in our house and I hate having to serve off menu items for him. I try to make it as healthy as possible with spinach leaves, black beans, tomatoes and turkey burger (and lots of ranch and cheese so we don't get too skinny). Coop-de-jour loved it and ate seconds. Now he asks for ranch on every thing. I even saw him dip a pear in it. He get that from he mama too!

Lows-

I have had a red patch on my shoulder for a long time. It was always sort of bothersome and would itch and then heal up but never go away. I got two more on my back so I finally made an appointment. When I went to the dermatologist, she did a biopsy. It is a form of skin cancer called nodular basilcell carcinoma. It is not malignant or harmful. I had the one on my shoulder removed this week and the others will be done at the end of this month. It is really ugly and will leave a scar. But I am so thankful it wasn't worse. So to all who are reading this....take care of your skin! Wear 30 spf every day and reapply as often as you can when in the sun (especially on your babies). The doc said they are from severe sunburns in my childhood and adolescence and I will probably see more as I get older. They usually don't see this type in people may age. Here is a picture of the before of my back and the after on the shoulder.

The lowest low this week is a huge bummer! I found out that I am not pregnant today and I am much sadder than I thought I'd be. I know we have plenty of time and it will happen in God's timetable but I am really disappointed! Upside? Yes, we'll keep trying ;)