Cooper Reece is here!

Cooper Reece
11/10/09
3:21pm
7 lbs, 15 ozs
20 1/2 inches long

Cooper is finally here! I was admitted to the hospital on Monday, November 9th at 3pm after my water broke at my OB/GYN's office (pretty convenient, huh?). I started having pretty strong contractions that night but wasn't dilating. At 6:30am, my doctor started me on Pitocin and Cooper arrived at 3:21pm on Tuesday, November 10. He was 7 lbs, 15 ozs, 20 1/2 inches long and was healthy and beautiful! We were suppose to be released from the hospital on Thursday, November 12th but Cooper's billirubin levels went up and he had some jaundice and had to stay under the billilights to try to get those levels down. We ended up staying there until Sunday, November 15th. We had him at UAB West, because that's where my doctor practices and we wanted him to deliver Cooper because both Chris and I think the world of Dr. Stephen. We had a wonderful experience there! The staff and nurses in the Women's Center were SOOOO good to us and took excellent care of both me and the baby. They were so attentive and supportive that we began to feel like they were family (being there for 6 days could have had something to do with that!). I've heard that some of the larger hospitals can make you feel like you are in a "baby factory" so I was hoping that delivering at a smaller hospital would be different and it was. We have nothing but good things to say about our experience there! I was released on Thursday but they let us stay in a room with Cooper until he was able to come home. As long as they had an extra room, they let us use it so we didn't have to leave him there alone and we really appreciated that. I don't think that there are many other hospitals that would let you do that! I will post more later once I have another free minute to download them off our camera.

Fur Babies

I couldn't resist adding this picture of our fur babies, Murphy (on the left) and Darby (on the right). They each have their own doghouse but are inseparable and will always stay in the same house. They love children and I know that they will be so good with Cooper when he gets older!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my parents' 46th wedding anniversary. I'm so lucky that God blessed me with such wonderful parents! We love you both very much and wish you a very happy anniversary!

37 Weeks

Here I am at 37 weeks. Dr. Stephen said I was at a -3 and 30% effaced so there's been a little progress. Everything is still going well! I know that this sounds weird but I am SO excited about Cooper's arrival but I admit that I will miss being pregnant. Chris is getting really excited and refers to Cooper as "his boy" - he'll be such a great dad!

36 Weeks

Here I am at 36 weeks. This week began my weekly doctor's visits. Dr. Stephen said that everything was going well and that I was at a -4 and 10% effaced. Cooper obviously is happy where he is at the moment and has made no attempt to move down! That's just fine though, he'll come when he gets good and ready! I still feel pretty good. I've began having some hip pain at night and when I sit for too long, but other than that, everything has went really well.

Couples' Baby Shower (10/9/09)

Our dear friends, Courtney & Noah Truett and Amie & Andy White, threw us a wonderful couples' shower on October 9th. Courtney & Noah opened their home to host the party and everything turned out SO good! The food was delicious and we had such a great time! Thanks to them for all their hard work in making everything so special! We are so thankful that we have such great friends! We love you guys!

Here's the table with some of the food. Noah also grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and we had that with all the fixins!

Courtney painted these precious pictures for us to hang in Cooper's nursery. They look SO good hanging over his changing table and they will be something special that we can save for him.

This is the other picture that she painted. SO cute!

Here's a picture of Eli and Sam Truett. They were a huge help to Chris and I when we were opening gifts :). Cooper will have 2 buddies to play with when he gets older!

This is the cake that Amie had made. Is this cake not precious!?!?!?

Here's a picture of Chris and I at the shower. I am 34 weeks and 6 days in this picture.

Us opening gifts. Seth and Meg gave us this adorable sleep and play. Isn't the little fire department Maltese Cross on the behind too cute?

Here's another picture of Chris and I. Thanks again to everyone! We had a great time!!!