Family pics

My friend Bethany recently took some family pics of us and they came out so cute! I want to get more taken! Thank you Bethany!


http://youandnootherphotography.blogspot.com/2009/10/catapano-cooper-family-maternityfamily.html

Gro Baby Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9n...avHC7Qo

Go check out the short video about Gro Baby cloth diapers. I love them! They're so easy to use and are super cute!

The days are long, but the years are short.

Today DOS had her 18 month well child check up. All is good. She's still a tiny little thing but is slowly making her way up the growth chart. When I was checking out, I had to make her next appointment for 6 months...she'll be two! It hit me like a ton of bricks! My baby will be two in just a few months! I don't think of her as being a toddler, partly because of her size and partly because she's my baby but still, TWO! Where has the time gone? I get emotional and weepy just thinking about how old they both are and how fast time has gone by. I just read a quote on a blog that I follow that really hit me..."The days are long, but the years are short." That is so true! Some days seem insanely long, have too much craziness and yelling and always end with me wishing I could have taken it back. I have been making an effort to really cherish and make the most of every day. I don't want to wake up one day and wish I had spent more time with them, done more crafts, read more books, given more hugs and kisses and just told them that I love them. I don't think I'll ever forget that quote; It's just one of those things that hits you, sticks with you and reminds you daily.

Wow, 97 days!

I only have 97 days until my due date and I know that really is a long time away but she'll be here before we know it! This is the first pregnancy that I actually feel like its going slow and I love it! With UNO and DOS time FLEW by and I felt jipped that I didn't get to feel pregnant for very long but this time it just seems to be going by at such a great pace. I don't feel like time is flying by, I get to enjoy all this time with her growing and wiggling in my belly and I get to spend lots of time with my two beautiful babies before baby girl arrives.

UNO is all about the baby this pregnancy. He has really stepped up his role as a big brother to DOS but has also been paying so much attention to baby girl. He's very excited about when she's coming, her crib and all all that. He likes feeling her kick, he talks to her, and rubs my belly. DOS has finally started paying attention to the baby too. At 26 weeks they say that you could possibly hear the heartbeat from the outside and I really think DOS is able to. She's been laying her head on my belly and just listening. Maybe she just knows now and is feeling close to her but maybe she CAN hear her heartbeat. It's great!

I'm growing bigger and bigger by the day. I can't believe that she is like 14 inches long already! And for being so small still, she is a powerful kicker! I think she's the most active of the 3 so far. I'm going to have my hands full when they're all running around next year. =) I'm so excited for her to be born but in the mean time I really am enjoying being pregnant and all that comes with that.

Pictures from sarah

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Pictures from sarah

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Pictures from sarah

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Pictures from sarah

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A little reminder as to how good I have it

Once in a while I feel overwhelmed with the attitudes, mouthiness and screaming or throwing a fit in the back seat while driving but going out with my kids to a public place (the children's museum, zoo, fireworks at the Tempe beach park, etc) I always get reminded of how GREAT my kids are (and what a good mom I am ...yes, I'm giving myself a little pat on the back) compared some other children and parents out there. I try not to ever take for granted how lucky I am to be a mom, to have two wonderful, beautiful, brilliant children and a terrific husband and all around wonderful life but seeing and hearing other kids and adults really makes me stop and realize how great I have it.

Today there were kids running around the childrens museum being rude and pushy, taking toys away from other kids, pushing little kids out of the way, and hitting while parents just sat by and watched or weren't even paying attention. One little girl was so starved for attention plopped down in my friend friends lap and started playing and begging for her attention all while the mom sat on a bench with her nose in her book and not even acknowledging that she had a child there playing.

Another surprising and upsetting account happend on the 4th of July when we went to TTL to watch the fireworks. We were sitting on the grass when all of the sudden a child behind us started to cry, the father then jumped up smacked the older child (maybe 9 or 10) and started to repeatedly curse(and I mean CURSE! F bombs left and right, very loudly) at the older child for whatever he had done to the younger sibling. Seriously?!? How can people talk to their children like that? I don't exactly remember what the kid did but he certainly didn't deserve to be screamed at like that. Anyway, so as this maniac kept screaming at his kid, I made mine do "earmuffs" and kept looking back trying to give dirty looks or get the mom to do something but she just sat there. Its one thing to be an ass in your own house behind closed doors but don't sit there and expose other families to your foul mouth and bad temper. I felt so badly for that boy and really wanted to say something but I didn't feel like getting into a verbal or physical fight or worse( you never know who's "packin").

Anyway, long story short, sometimes it just takes a little reminder to stop and count your blessings, treasure your loved ones and try even harder to be a better person. Goals for the future...speak softer, listen more, acknowledge and reward good behavior more often v. bad behavior and never take anything for granted.

And she's off!

DOS finally started walking on July 14th, just days before our vacation. I knew in my gut that I would see her toddling around on the cruise but when it actually happened I was so happy! She could have started much earlier but I think fear took over. Its not as easy as it sounds to start walking when you have a big brother either "trying" to help you to walk by yanking you around, helping you up or even picking you up. But the other thing he does that scares the crap out of her is go up to her and yell and make weird noises. She plops right back down and starts to cry. She's actually a pretty tough cookie but when it comes to someone (mainly UNO) scaring her, touching her when she doesn't want to be touched or looking at her the wrong way, she becomes very sensitive and shows her girly side. Anyway, now she's walking all over the house and seems to be having a great time doing it. Not only are we proud of her but she's proud of herself and its so fun to watch.

A little update on the kiddos...

UNO turned 2.5 last month and I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I can't help but get all weepy thinking about how fast he's growing up and what a great little "man" he's become. He has such an amazing heart and the best manners I've ever heard out of a child. He loves putting things together, figuring out how they work and never ceases to amaze me by the things he can do or thing of at this young of an age. At his check up he was a hair shy of 36 inches and weighed 27 pounds. He's still a skinny little thing but has abs to show that he's very strong.

DOS turned 15 months old on the 4th of July. And I feel like in the blink of an eye she went from infant to little girl. She is very opinionated, a cuddle bug, and ALL GIRL. She loves to put clips in her hair, kiss herself in the mirror and gives the sweetest smile to all that look at her. She has started yelling/screeching at UNO when she wants what he has, when he annoys her or just to get him to play with her. They have such a great relationship and I'm so glad we had them so close together. A lot of people said it would be hard to have them close in age, and it is trying at times, but it is so amazing. I love watching them play, give hugs and kisses to each other and just be really great friends. At her appointment today, she was 16.12 pounds and 30 inches. She is a little peanut but is slowly growing. Compared to UNO at that age, he was 6 pounds heavier but only 1 inch taller.

And the baby...this is the first pregnancy that I feel like is going the right speed. I don't feel like it's going too fast or too slow. With both UNO and DOS, I felt like the entire 40 weeks just flew by and I got jipped on feeling pregnant. This has been a great pregnancy and I look forward to the rest of the year carrying my little munchkin. So far I haven't gained any weight, I've lost about 10 pounds. I am trying to eat healthy and get all of the nutrition that the baby needs but I just have NO interest in eating this time. I go on Friday for my check up and ultrasound with the perinatologist and they will confirm the sex of the baby. I've been a little hesitant about going by what they said at my last ultrasound since it was pretty early to be positive about the sex of the baby. I just didn't want to say "she, she, she" and then have her turn out to be a boy. I'd feel bad. I'm very excited to see the baby though, since she/he is big enough to really see and look at in the ultrasound. I'm hoping the movement picks up in the coming week or so too. I feel movements and little kicks here and there but I love having an active baby remind me all the time that I'm carrying a little miracle.

5 Year Anniversary

Today is our 5 year anniversary! This is the first anniversary that we're actually together on due to being deployed, out in the field or whatever in the past. We weren't going to spend it together but I couldn't let another anniversary slip by when we're only a few hours away so I packed up the kids last night, drove 2.5 hours and surprised my hubby.

I can't believe how fast time flies and how much we've accomplished in that time. He truly is my best friend and I can't imagine being on this journey with anyone else. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with him and seeing what the future holds for us and our family.

I'm so tired of...

Peeing! I know I'm pregnant and should be used to it but I'm not. This is the first pregnancy where I'm actually peeing like a pregnant woman and I am so tired of it! I swear its like every 30 mins and when I have to go, I have to go NOW! There is no waiting, no putting it off, it sucks.

Baby proofing, whats the point?

When UNO was less than 6 months old we started baby proofing the house. Outlet plates that swivel (supposedly the best you can get), took all of the little white caps off of the door stoppers, put the magnetic locks on all of the cabinets, gates at the top and bottom of the stairs (the fully mounted, push in and lift up handle ones) and when he started walking we put the door lever locks(for my moms house) and the round knob covers on our doors.

Well little by little my little engineer figured out how to open or work around all of them. He figured out that you have to press up then pull down on the lever locks so those became unusable. I took them back to Babies R Us and they said they wouldn't take them back or give me a refund. They said that I should just be happy that I have a very smart child. I then contacted the company that made the lever locks and was also told that they wouldn't refund my money, recall them or anything. The were willing to send me more though (Why??) I was able to get my money back one way or another though, I researched who sold them and luckily Kohls was one of the locations and they gave me store credit.

My concern was that what if I wasn't right there and he got into the garage or other location and got into poison. Shouldn't the company that is making these locks have some sort of guarantee or stand behind the products they're selling and recall them since something real serious could happen? Now, he's climbing the gates!

Anyway, my point is that if a two year old can figure out ALL of these home safety things, doesn't that defeat the purpose of baby proofing? Maybe they should start trying out all of these items on really smart babies instead of dolls or whatever else they're using. Ugh! This is so frustrating.

Life has been crazy

We've been so busy lately! UNO is taking swimming lessons which he loves and is doing so well in!! He's learning like crazy. He is like a little sponge and just soaks everything in. It's really exciting to see how smart he is.
DOS is on the verge of walking. She's learned that she can stand on her own and does it over and over. She's taken a step or two on her own. She walks really well barely holding on to a finger but just isn't confident enough to walk alone yet. I think it will happen soon though. She is also learning fast too, she picks up new words really fast.

D is still working in SV and we see each other on the weekends. I'm still dreading putting the house on the market so we're holding off for now. It will be great when we can see each other every day and not have to say goodbye each weekend.

The baby and I are doing well. I'm almost out of the 1st trimester. It's gone by so fast! I feel fantastic. This has been the best pregnancy so far!! We go for another doctor appointment Tuesday and Wednesday of next week so hopefully everything is still great. I'm still torn about whether we should find out the sex of the baby or not. I do want to keep it a surprise but I don't feel as connected as I did with UNO and DOS. So I guess we'll see if I'm able to hold off.

Family stuff has been quite crazy, stressful and draining too but it's on the mend. Hopefully it stays positive. All I can do is be supportive and pray.

So much for a home birth =(

When I was pregnant with J (and didn't know it) we had blood work done and it came back saying I had a clotting disorder called Protein S deficiency. So when we found out that I was pregnant the docs put me on low dose aspirin every day and when I went on a trip I had to have injections of Heparin in my belly so I didn't clot at the high altitude. So no problems, J came out fine, everything was great. We'll since I was pregnant and didn't know it, the perinatologist suggested (when I was pregnant with S) that I didn't have Protein S, my levels were just slightly elevated because thats what pregnancy can do. So she recommened that I go back at least 6 months after having S to have more blood work done to rule out Protein S.

I finally had the blood work done in March 09 and it came back saying that I didn't have Protein S but I did have a clotting disorder (thrombophilia) called Lupis anticuagulant which is the disorder linked with still births. I also have a different disorder with a real long name which means I need to be on more folic acid and eat green leafy veggies (which is totally not a big deal!) We'll not only does the clotting disorder put me at risk for still birth, I could have problems with the placenta, miscarriage, stroke, die, etc. So as a precaution, they're putting me on low dose asprin every day, a shot of heparin twice a day in my belly, and I'm back on the "high risk" list and will be watched carefully to make sure the baby and I are ok.

So, I don't want to complain or anything but this sucks. My goal this pregnancy was to have a homebirth and to have it be as natural as possible but that won't happen now. The doctors highly discourage homebirths but especially with my condition it could potentially be a huge problem. A midwife won't take me now either. I don't HAVE to go on the heparin but I'm not willing to risk it and have a still birth or anything else happen. So, they'll be watching me pretty close now. Which I guess is kinda nice since I will probably get to have more ultrasounds. They'll also be watching the bleed in my placenta (just like I had with S) so hopefully that goes away and doesn't cause any problems.

I am happy that they found this though. I consider it a blessing since most people dont have this bloodwork done because it is so expensive they never order it. Please pray that baby and I have a healthy pregnancy with no bumps in the road. I don't care about any of the meds, the shots, I just want a healthy baby.

So please pray for us.

The ups and downs of potty training

UNO started potty training at 18 months completely on his own. He started recognizing that he had to pee or poop and would tell me so we ran with it. He was doing amazing but about a month later he got a bladder infection which what horrible. He regressed because he didn't want to pee at all because it hurt so bad. So slowly he started going back on the potty and he does great. I feel like we have a lot of ups and downs though. I feel like we're on the potty training roller coaster. Last week he was amazing, no accidents, going on the potty all the time but this week is like he forgot everything and has been having accidents more regularly. I don't know what to do! He's been on this roller coaster for so long now... one or two weeks good, one week bad.

We've done the "pee pee candy", stickers, and now we're onto the prize box if he has a great day. But he's two and it seems like he could care less after a little while. Also, my idea of "potty trained" is completely trained not me having to remind him or take him every 1/2 hour. How long will we be potty training??

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

#3 is on the way =)

We're expecting baby #3 in December. Yay! I know some people might think I'm crazy or whatever but I dont care. I love having babies, I love being pregnant, and I think I'm handling two kids just fine. I spend tons of alone time with UNO and DOS so I dont feel like I'm making them grow up too fast or that they dont get enough time with me.

UNO is very excited about the baby this time. When I was pregnant with DOS, he was a little too young to really know what was going on but now he's all about my belly and the baby. He talks to it, says "shh, the baby is sleeping", rubs it and even squeezes my belly. Its so cute and I love that he feels like he's a part of it.

We feel extremely blessed to be blessed with babies. We were told this wasnt going to be an easy road but it turns out doctors can be wrong and miracles really do happen. I believe that the Lord is blessing us with a big family and having them close together for a reason.

Please pray for a healthy pregnancy!

No one is reading my blogs! =(

So apparently no one is reading my blog because the last one I posted I said that I would make a something homemade for the first 3 people. Bummer, this is so fun! I hope people want to do it because we could just go back and forth exchanging homemade gifts. Yay!

Homemade Gifts

This sounds like fun!! Homemade giveaway!
The first 3 people to respond to this post will get something made entirely by me! Whatever I want! HOWEVER!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations~
1. I make no guarantees that you will like/ enjoy/ want what I make!
2. What I create will be especially for you.
3. It'll be done this year. (That's 2009 folks)
4. You will have no clue what it's going to be.
5. I reserve the right to make something extremely strange, should my heart desire it.

The catch is that you must re post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. So win an AMAZING homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure you post a picture of your amazing home made awesomeness when you get it from yours truly! Who's in?

The weekend thing

We've done the "weekend thing" for 2 weeks now and it sucks. We've done it before when he was still in the army and I was in school and we've been apart for months when he was overseas but this time it just seems different. This weekend went by WAY too fast. When he was about it leave, it felt as if he had just arrived and it was too soon for him to be leaving. I don't know how much longer the kids and I will actually be able to stay up here when he's down there during the week. The whole situation just really sucks. I know that if we go down there, we'll all be in the apartment with not much to do, we'll miss our friends and fun little outings with them, and then theres the fam-not seeing them everyother day would be really hard. BUT, I miss my husband and I know the kids miss their dad. When they saw him, they both just lit up and UNO just hugged him for the longest time. I know for sure that we wont go down until at least after DOS's birthday but after that I'm not sure. I guess we'll just take it one day at a time and see where we go from there. :(

More Job Info

He got a job with the company he's worked for for a few years now. He won't be going back overseas which is awesome. The job is located in Sierra Vista, which is where he was stationed while in the Army, which is about an hour past Tucson. It's an amazing opportunity and the start of a career rather than just a "job". He will be getting "top secret" clearance which is highly sought after and also means he can get any top secret job, anywhere. So long story short, this means eventually we'll be moving down to Sierra Vista. We'll be seeing eachother on the weekends and during the week if the kids and I drive down until we move down fully. He'll be getting an apartment or small house until this house sells. At first I was a little hesitant and not so thrilled but the more I prayed about it, after my "shopping cart experience" and a few fortune cookie papers that were amazing, I'm just at ease about the whole thing. This job is sent from heaven...the opportunity, the salary(which is beyond amazing for someone with no college, 26 years old and in this economy), everything. This does mean leaving family, friends, our beautiful home and our entire life here but I'm hopefull that this will not distance us from our friends, we'll find an even better house and home for our family, and we'll still be able to see "Mamaw" and my sisters a few times a month. I hope that our friends will understand and not push us out of their lives forever. We'd still like to get together as much as possible between now and the final move (not for a few months at least) and I hope that we'll still be able to plan playdates and special occasions to get together after we move. We've made some great friends and I don't want to lose them.

I'm excited about the plans the Lord has for us and how our lives will change. Please pray for our family and our changing lives.

He got the job!

Just wanted to shout it from the rooftops that my hubby got the job! Yay! I'll write more about details and feelings later.

Faith

Everyone always asks me how I go shopping and handle two kids on my own and I usually reply saying that I park close to shopping cart return things so I can grab one and get the kids in and when I'm done I can return it easily without leaving the kids in the car alone but today I didn't park next to one. I had been too busy singing along with one of my favorite christian songs on the radio thinking how much I just need to "let go and let God" handle all aspects of my life. So as I was making a promise to the Lord that I would try my hardest to give up control to him, I looked in the rearview mirror and I can see out of the corner that there was a runaway shopping cart gaining speed. As I continued to watch it, it slowed and then came to a complete stop right behind my car. I just smiled and said "Thank you Lord". I sit here smiling in amazement at how wonderful He is and how great it is to know that He is watching over us, caring for us and showing us the way.

Still not working

I still can't change the color of the background of the text. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Pictures from sarah

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blog issues

Ok, I tried changing my layout but now it has the new layout but the writing is still on the old layout. Can anyone help?

A little update...

Sorry its been so long since I've posted. Here's a little update about what we've been doing for the last few months...

• We spent our first Christmas together in our home and started our own traditions. It was great to have all of us here to celebrate and to just be together.
• We took a day trip up to Sunrise to go sledding. Jacob loved it, Sedona loved eating the snow and Desmond and I got a good workout trying to haul both of the kids and sleds up the hill a bunch of times.
• New Years we had dinner at my mom's house then came home and had a quiet evening to ourselves.
• Desmond is still at home and we're enjoying every minute of it. He's been looking for jobs at home and overseas so we'll see what happens. Please just pray that he finds something that he'll enjoy doing and what's best for the family will come our way.
• Jacob turned 2 in December. He was about 34 inches and 25 pounds at his check-up. I can't believe how fast time flies. He is talking like crazy, putting sentences together, being very opinionated, and showing his little personality through the things he says. I don't want this to come off as bragging but he is remarkably smart for his age and always has been advanced. He can now tell someone (if needed in the case that he's lost or whatever) his name, last name, my name, Daddys name, where he lives and how old he is). He also continues to be very active and keeps us on our toes. His beautiful little face warms my heart every day.
• Sedona is now 9 months. At her 9 month appointment she weighed 14.10 pounds and was 25.5 inches long. She is showing to be in the 5th percentile for height and weight. I know that seems little but Jacob was and still in petite too. They both eat wonderfully (and I'm still breastfeeding Sedona too) but they just aren't built to be big kids. She's crawling all over the place, cruising along furniture, trying to climb the couch, and pulling up on everything. She follows Jacob into the playroom and they both have little conversations with eachother while playing. It's so sweet the way they interact. She loves being thrown around, dangled upside down, and roughhousing. She says "mama, dada, hi" and a few others that we aren't sure if she's actually saying or if its just coinsidence.
• I'm still self employed and working with Kay. Trying to scrapbook, bead, cross stitch and whatever little crafts I come up with in the rare moments I get to. Life keeps me busy and I love it. I love being a wife and mommy.

2008 was a great year overall. We've paid a substatial amount down on the prinicpal of the house, we welcomed our baby girl on April 4th (Exactly 10 years after my dad passed away...she is a gift sent from heaven), Desmond came home, we went on a cruise and to Disneyworld, my baby boy turned 2!, we went to California to see Desmonds family, and had a wonderful holiday season.

I can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us!