Randoms...

I've decided to just post a few little fun things that Cohen has done recently so I won't forget them. And honestly, I already forgot the main one that I was going to write about...hmmm.
-I've always had mixed feelings on sign-language for babies. Some docs say it inhibits their speech, while others say it helps them to express themselves before they can talk. I taught Co the signs that I thought were important for us. He knows "eat" "more" and "please." But he uses "more" to mean "eat." So within 5-10 minutes of waking up, he starts signing "more" and following me around the kitchen while I make my coffee. He also makes some sound while he is signing that. It is so cute, that I often find myself taking my time making his breakfast and my coffee so I can see him signing "more."
-Cohen loves the water. Pool water, bath water, he doesn't care. He now puts his face under water in the tub. He puts his face under, then raises up with wide eyes, laughs, and repeats this over and over. We went to the pool yesterday and he did this again, but this time his whole head went under. I was right next to him and I knew he was about to put his head under, but I want him to be able to explore his world. He scared me more than he scared himself because I pulled him up really quick from the water, and he was just smiling with water pouring down his face. He is such a dare-devil.
-The past two weeks he loves books and hats. Any of Chad's hats he finds he puts on his head. He will only wear them for a few minutes though. And he LOVES books. He has about 8 books that he loves. He will bring you a book, back up until he is sitting in your lap, then hand the book to you. We read 3 books about construction equipment the most. It's funny that he loves those the most. We've never tried to get him to like those books more, he just does. We were at a friend's house playing and my friend handed Co a Barbie. He looked at her and threw her on the floor within 2 seconds of holding her! I'm convinced those boy chromosomes are very dominate at birth.
----Oh, I remembered what I was going to write about! I tried to get Cohen to sleep with me Thursday night because Chad was out of town. He has NEVER slept with me, but I thought I would be less lonely if we could cuddle while Chad was gone. Cohen was restless, tossing and turning for about 20 minutes. I turned off the tv and acted like I was asleep hoping he would go to sleep. After about 5 minutes, he hadn't moved at all, and his breathing changed, so I was sure he was asleep. I was going to sleep too..... Until I felt something on my lips. I peeked and saw him trying to put his pacifier in my mouth. I quietly laughed, he quietly laughed too. Then I opened my eyes and laughed out loud, and he cackeled. It was so sweet and funny. I want to remember that one forever! It was like he saw his Mommy sleeping, and just knew she would sleep better with a paci, and he was going to share his paci.
       My wise friend said that it won't be the so-called "big" milestones that will melt your heart, but the regular oatmeal moments that you will keep in your heart and take with you forever.  I want to have the best memory possible and remember all these "oatmeal" moments of our lives. Thanks for the wise, motherly advice, Mylinda:)
Blessings,
Cohen's Mommy Kelly

One of my favorites. He was about 2 weeks old.

High Level of Testosterone

Baby Boy is now 19.1 weeks along in his growing! Our ultrasound went wonderful last week. My BF Meghan, who is 30 weeks pregnant with her first baby, went with me since Chad had to work. It was great to have someone with me. Meghan went with me to Cohen's 18 week ultrasound too! He seems to be healthy so far. He loves sucking his hands. Here are a few pics of him.

His left hand is in his mouth



His little leg and long skinny foot!



I think the 3D images are like looking at ink blots, and I see a lot of ultrasounds!
Here is his little face with his left hand on his cheek and the placenta covering the
other half of his face. Still pretty cute!!

We have yet to name this little guy....

Last week Cohen and I went swimming with Meghan. He loves the water. We stayed in the pool for about 45 minutes with him kicking and splashing the whole time. He threw a small tantrum when we had to get out, but Meghan made it better by giving him blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and goldfish. It was so hot that I just put a diaper on him for the ride home, which was only about 15 minutes. He was spent though. He normally doesn't sleep in his car seat. Take a look!

He is such a joy to be around. He is mild-mannered and a perfect sleeper since he was an infant. He eats almost anything we give him. Everyone tells me I will not have another child like him. I hope they are wrong! I strongly believe that at least half of a child's personality is developed by their environment, and the rest is innate within them. Chad and I are so relaxed and predictable, yet we totally let loose and act like baboons on a regular basis. That is exactly how Cohen is. Here is a picture from the other day that makes me laugh.

I am looking forward to being around so much Cochrane testosterone in my house!

18 Weeks and Counting...

Baby boy Cochrane is now 18.1 weeks gestation. I knew I would have a prego belly quicker the second baby, but it really surprised me how big my stomach is at 18 weeks compared to my first pregnancy. With Cohen I wasn't visibly pregnant with scrubs on until about 22 weeks, this time it was more like 17 weeks. And with Cohen I didn't feel him move until 21 weeks, but I started feeling this guy right at 17 weeks.
It is somewhat sad how different your second pregnancy is. Everything is SO new and exciting the first time and you think about your growing baby non-stop. But with this pregnancy I am so preoccupied with being a mommy to a 14 month old that I feel like my only time to truly focus on this guy is when I am in the shower or in bed and I am not chasing a toddler around. I like that time I have with the baby.

Every since I was 9 I have had a problem with fainting. I faint a few times per year. I have seen countless doctors and had numerous tests all which showed nothing. I finally got somewhat of a diagnosis from my current cardiologist 3 years ago. He said I have Dysautonomia. It's a big word that basically means your brain doesn't send the message to your heart to regulate your blood pressure and heart-rate, which causes fainting. Well fainting is never ideal, especially when your pregnant. So, last pregnancy after wearing a heart rate monitor, my doc decided that I needed to be on a beta-blocker to control my heart rate so the baby would get adequate blood flow. It definitely helped. I don't think I felt dizzy once after I started taking it at 20 weeks. Well, I am not taking the med yet this time around, but I think it's time. My OB said she didn't want me to take it unless I really needed it because it can cause low birth weight in the baby. Instead of going directly to the beta-blocker I've been drinking plenty of water and wearing compression hose which will help regulate my heart rate. That's no longer cutting it though. The dizziness and fast heart rate are getting worse, which isn't surprising because each week until 28 weeks pregnant you get more blood volume to perfuse you and the placenta.
So, on Thursday I have the BIG ultrasound also called an "anomaly screen." I hate that name because it makes me nervous to know that they will be checking every detail of my sweet boy to see that he's perfect and without anomalies. I will breathe a hugh sigh of relief afterward though if everything looks wonderful. I am going without Chad this time, AGAIN. He forgot about my "anomaly screen" with Cohen and had an important meeting he couldn't miss. This time, he has a new job that he can't miss. I know he wants to be there though. I'm hoping Chad's aunt will be able to go with me so I'm not alone.
Still no name for the baby. Our name list has grown from 2 names to about 12. One day we will find a name we love. Naming is so so so hard. What pressure to have to give your child a name that will last them forever.



This is an 18 week kiddo.

 Being a labor and delivery nurse, I count the "milestones" in pregnancy. The first milestone for me was 13 weeks, when your risk of miscarriage decreases to roughly 3%. The next one will be 24 weeks gestation when a baby has about a 50% chance of living outside the womb. I'm looking forward to the next milestone:)

Cloth Diapering is for me! I think...

Okay, so I considered cloth diapers for Cohen. I thought since most of our moms used them, I could use them too. And they are WAY better these days then just using a "burp cloth" and pins. I never really researched too much into cloth diapers, so I just went for the regular disposables. I am going to use cloth diapers with this kiddo though. I've done a lot of research and cost-comparison between cloth and disposables. Here is what I've discovered. 

*It is an initial investment of around $350 for enough diapers and liners for 1 week, but they can be used for more than one child.
*Most brands are adjustable from 7-35 pounds so they will grow with my child.
*They decrease diaper rash from 70% to around 10%.
*They come in cute colors and patterns.
***The obvious...They are so much better for our planet. We recycle everything at our house. If it can be recycled, we do it. Chad is so great about this too. So cloth diapers are an obvious choice for our recycling family.

      The hard part is going to be getting Chad on board with this. He won't mind the initial cost because he is all about saving money, and he realizes how much money we saved with Cohen by me nursing him for 11 months. The problem is going to be getting him to actually use cloth diapers.
      I'm going to buy a few now to test on Cohen. He gets diaper rash every time he eats citrus fruits so I want to see if it really does decrease the risk of diaper rash. He also has solid poo, so that will be an easy start to test how easy they are to clean. And Cohen only needs his diaper changed about 5 times a day versus the 12-18 times per day of a newborn. So I am off to Babies R Us tomorrow to buy 4 cloth diapers with my 20% off coupon to "test" on the Co-bug.
      I'll let you know how it goes....

Baby Proof



We have managed to avoid putting up a baby gate...until Saturday. Cohen really became mobile around Christmas. So we kept him from getting into the entry way and up the stairs by putting this enormous Rubbermaid thing that houses our Christmas tree at the end of the carpet. He never tried to move it and did not seem to even realize that there was a possibility that he could get past it. Well all that changed on Thursday. I watched him push and pull on the thing, while he grunted and his face turned red. After three minutes or so, he had pushed it enough that he could squeeze past it. He turned and looked and me, I said "No, Cohen" but he giggled and ran to the stairs and started climbing up them. We played this game a few more times that day, each time it taking him 3-4 minutes to "escape." 
Saturday I was at work and Chad called me around 8am. He rarely calls me at work, so when he does I know he needs something. He said, "Kelly, Cohen keeps escaping. What do I do?" I laughed and told him to put up the baby gate that we had stored in the garage.  A little while later, Chad texted me a picture of Cohen on the outside of the gate, looking very perplexed. The next picture Chad sent me was of our cat Oops sitting on the outside of the gate looking equally confused. Having the gate up has made it much easier to keep an eye on him.
     Speaking of baby proof. I am thinking/hoping that God makes uteruses baby proof. My stomach has definitely taken on the "pregnant" look in the past few days. And it is at the exact height as Cohen when I am changing him on the changing table. He kicks and squirms when I change his diaper and manages to kick my stomach about 5-10 times per day. I hope the baby doesn't get jarred too hard. I can only imagine what the poor little baby is thinking as he hears Cohen's cranky attitude when he first wakes up, then feels a swift kick to his house.
     Cohen is SO BUSY. He does not stop ever. He is constantly on the move, and has NO CLUE that the television exists. I'll admit, I have never thought highly of allowing your child to watch TV, and had planned to never let my child watch TV before he was three. However, my great friend Rowena has a boy almost the same age as Cohen. She can put Woodson in a pack and play, put a baby show on, and he will watch TV while she sneaks in a shower, cooks dinner, whatever. I went to have lunch with her at her house and thought, "Ooh, how nice to be able to get stuff done. I'll try that." So I put Cohen in the pack in play with Woodson with a baby show on the TV. Woodson watched the show and giggled. Cohen started throwing all the toys out of the pack in play and screamed. I realized that my ideal plan of no TV, was not a great idea. I can't even pee without my toddler holding onto my leg saying "up" or "momma." Maybe one day he will sit down and watch a kids' show so I can have a few minutes to myself.  Chad and I have already decided that teachers are going to tell us that Cohen has ADHD. I feel like the definition of ADHD is "boy." Boys are so busy and rowdy. I love how curious and busy he is, even if it wears me completely out. 

 Here are a few pictures of his first "real" Easter that he could participate it. He had a great time. It is always so fun to be with the Cato/Cochrane family. They are such a happy, lively family.

He hated the ears, but I had to do it!



Out of the gate, ready to get Easter eggs



Not sure what to do with his bucket



Aunt Janice encouraging Co to pick up the eggs



Once he discovered the mini playset in Nana's yard, he was done with eggs

Oh, and Chad said he wanted it publicly known that he HATES Cohen's outfit. I told him that if we had boys I got to dress them until they were two. He never really agreed with me. I always say, "He can wear Polo's and khakis for the rest of his life." I want my boys to wear Jon Jons. It is a CONSTANT battle. And I've got to fight it again with the new baby. I've got my gloves laced up!!

Things I think Every Mom Needs, and Doesn't.

Looking back over the past year I have thought about things that I am SO glad I have, and things that I wish I didn't buy. 
Here are the things that I couldn't have done without.


Summer Infant Swaddle Me blanket is perfect for babies that love to be swaddled.
It will keep them tightly wrapped and warm. Super easy to use.



These bath towels are so plush and warm. They are currently on sale at PBkids.com



I have tried Dr. Brown's (they are hard to clean and leak), Born Free (love them but are difficult to clean),
Avent, and Playtex. These Playtex are my favorite. Super easy to clean and vent will to prevent bubbles
which lead to gassy little tummies.




These are not expensive, but so necessary at 6 months when your little one starts eating
baby food. Most babies who are exclusively breast fed do not have stinky diapers, but once
you introduce formula or baby food, shew-wee.

These sheets are available at Babies R Us. They are perfect for cool nights and come in several colors.

These diaper caddies are from PBkids.com. You need a diaper caddy in the nursery, the living room, your
room, and anywhere else you think you will be spending a lot of time. It is so nice to have everything you need
for a diaper change in each room instead of taking the baby back and forth to the nursery for a change.

My best friend for almost 1 year! If you are considering breast-feeding you MUST buy this pump.
If you buy any other pump you will be disappointed. Promise! I left Cohen for 7 days when he was 5 months old.
I pumped every 3-4 hours for 7 days and it never failed me. Centennial's A Mother's Place  has the best
lactation consultants in town, you can rent this pump there if you don't want to spend $280 on it. If you know you
plan to nurse for 1 year then I would buy it. It's the best money ever spent as a mom.

And some things I personally think are pointless.

1) Bottle drying rack...

Just lay them on a towel on the counter, or let them dry in the dishwasher

2)Bottle warmer...

I got one, but thought it was a waste of time. We just put the bottle in a bowl of hot tap water and let it sit for 10 minutes.

3)Bottle sterilizer...

Who thought of this anyway? If you wash your bottles with organic infant bottle wash, use a bottle brush, and rinse them in hot water there is no need to sterilize after each use. Besides, I am not a fan of heating any type of plastic, BPA free or not.  However, you do have to sterilize the bottles and nipples before the first use. Just throw them in a pot of boiling water.

4) Johnson and Johnson baby products...

I know these have been used for generations, but they are all artificial and have no organic ingredients. (I haven't tried the Natural J&J line yet.) Even my pediatrician said Johnson and Johnson products are bad for baby's skin. Aveeno, Aquaphor, California Baby, and Burt's Bees are MUCH better choices.

** I do LOVE the lavender smell of the bedtime lotion though, so I wipe a bit on Cohen's jammies!

Blessings,

Kelly

It's a BOY!

So it is officially a boy! Chad was going to come to the hospital on Saturday so we could book find out at the same time, but the ultrasonagrapher was so busy that I couldn't tell Chad for certain what time my ultrasound would be. So we decided that I would get an ultrasound on Saturday but instead of looking at the screen to see for myself, the ultrasonagrapher would take a picture of the baby's private area and put it in an envelope so I could take it home and open it with Chad. So that's what we did. We are so excited to have two boys so close in age. It's going to be a difficult, fun, and rowdy ride. Please pray for an uncomplicated, uneventful pregnancy, and a healthy baby. Hopefully no bedrest this time:)