Overall, A growing boy!

We went to the doctor today for an ultrasound and my 29 week appointment. The baby is measuring normally for his head, arms, and legs, but his little belly is measuring small. The belly is the most subjective measurement though due to the lack of bones in the abdomen, and the ability for it to get squished due to position of the baby.
The blood flow to the baby is normal though, which is great. That means there is no issue with my placenta or the baby's cord.
The plan is to repeat the ultrasound in 3 weeks and keep a close eye on him. If his belly falls off the growth curve at the next ultrasound, we would begin getting weekly ultrasounds to monitor him even MORE closely. Hopefully, we will not get to this.
Great news is that he is now HEAD DOWN!!! Woo-who! I know he still has 10ish weeks to flip again, but I am thinking he is going to be a sweet obedient child and stay head down:)
Here is a great picture of his little face. He doesn't look at all like Cohen. He is going to be his own little person.

We are still stuck on the name for this sweet guy. This week we are between Sutton and Ralston. As much as we both love "Cooper" I think we are going to take that name off the list. The main reason is because we would like more children and don't want to get stuck with "C" named children.

Btw, I am SO SO excited to have a Fall baby. Fall is the best time of the year, and October is the best month of the year. Taking 3-4 months off of work during fall and throughout the holidays is going to be so wonderful. Nurses don't get off holidays, so this will be a great fall/winter. I can't wait for it to cool down a bit so we can resume our trips to the zoo.
God is so great to us, and life is so wonderful!
Kelly

Look A-Likes

Everyone is always telling us how much Cohen looks like Chad. I completely agree. I think the only trait he has of mine is my dimpled chin. Yesterday, Chad's mom gave us some pictures of Chad's dad as a baby. Well, now we have decided Cohen looks JUST like his Papa Mike. Even more than he looks like Chad.
What do you think?

This one is where they look like twins. Can you see the resemblance?
CraZY!!!



Summer Fun!

Cohen has had such a wonderfully fun summer! He goes to his Nana and Papa Mike's house on the days I work. His cousin Cale is there on the same days and they have so much fun. He loves going to his grandparents' house and seeing Aunt Lora and the rest of the family too! Nana starts the day by taking Cohen to Green Hills Starbucks for some conversation and coffee. Cohen has been somewhat of a regular there since he was born. Nana goes there every morning and takes Cohen when he's with her.  Then the boys, Nana, and Lora go for a morning stroll before it gets too hot. Recently, Co and Cale have started playing together and becoming friends. Nana said they walk around holding hands often. So cute! 
On most days, Cohen and Cale have water days with Nana and Lora.  Cohen loves the water, even a little blow-up pool is great for him. Cale isn't as excited about water, he would rather ride his big-wheel. 

Cohen on the left, Cale on the right holding hands without being told:)

Cohen on a stroll with Nana watching an airplane

Cale and Cohen playing in the "pool."

Cohen has also been going to Miss Lily since he was 6 months old. She watches Cohen when Nana or Lora can't keep him. Cohen LOVES Miss Lily. Her house has so many fun toys, a keyboard, a train, balloons hanging, music playing, and bright colors on the walls. It's like a kid fun-factory!  When we drive by Miss Lily's neighborhood, he says "Wola" because that's what he calls her. He gets so excited to see her. He will be spending a couple of days a week with her starting next month. There is a new girl at Lily's named London. Cohen seems to think she's cute.

On the baby front.....
We still haven't decided on a name for baby boy. We have 5 names we are trying to decide from. The first names are, in no particular order:
1) Cooper
2) Spencer
3) Sutton
4) Foster
5) Ralston
We both go back and forth almost daily on what order we list these names. Today Chad and I both like Ralston the best, but I still am pushing for Sutton. Yesterday Chad told me he wanted him to be named Cooper, yet last week he said he wanted to take Cooper off the list totally because he didn't like it at all.  This is how this entire pregnancy has been for us. We agreed that if one of us feels really strongly about one of these names, then the other of us will agree to that name. The problem is, we wavier daily. I don't mind waiting until he is born to name him, but Chad thinks we will still have the same problem and be unable to decide. I am starting to agree with him. So we really want to have a name before he arrives.
I am 28 weeks pregnant, so we have about 3 months to get this sweet boy named.
I have another ultrasound next week to check his growth since I am on a beta-blocker to control my crazy fast heart rate. Beta-blockers can make the baby small, so Dr. Yu is keeping a close eye on him. Cohen measured small, but he was almost 8 pounds! I was on bedrest for 4 weeks with Cohen due to low fluid. I am praying that I have no bedrest this pregnancy, and I am able to work until the week I am due.
A wonderful perk to my job is that I can look at the baby with the ultrasound machine whenever I want. I check him out almost every week to see what he's doing in there. I am so spoiled considering most Mommies don't see there baby but once or twice the whole pregnancy. I am slightly concerned that this boy is breech. He turned on Saturday night. I was laying in bed and I felt his feet marching on the side of my stomach. Chad and I were laughing at how we could feel his tiny little feet going crazy. Then a few minutes later, I felt those little feet really low in my stomach. I checked with the ultrasound machine the next day, and, yep, he is breech. Little Turkey!! He still has plenty of time and room to get in the correct position though. But if he is still breech in 2 weeks, I am going to start doing all the midwife tricks to get him to turn head down. I'll keep you updated!
I am hoping to have great news to report next week when I have my growth ultrasound. I'll post pictures then. Hopefully of a big boy with plenty of fluid to hang out in:)
Kelly

Look what Motherhood does to me...

I have never been one to partake in crafts. Well, not since the glory days of Girlscouts. Since I have become a Mommy I have discovered I can make so many of the cute things that I spent a fortune on buying for Cohen.
Yesterday I went to my favorite store Textiles Fabrics and spent $99 on several different fabrics to make a few things. I am making baby gifts for friends and baby Cochrane. I am also making a bedskirt for Cohen's crib. (I have decided I will buy/borrow a second crib for him because he will NOT be ready for a big boy bed at 18 months. Cohen will move into the other bedroom, and baby will take over Cohen's nursery).
Here are my projects for next week during Co's nap times.

This is a wipe case covered in cute fabric. Super easy to make!!

I got a cover similar to this for Cohen, and it was $55 + shipping!!
I'm sure I can make it for about $10 and 2 hours of my time!

I encourage all of my Mommy friends to get crafty. It is so fun to me:) It all started when I began making Cohen's baby food at 6 months when he ate his first solids. I got such a reward from knowing I was 1) saving our family money 2) putting only the healthiest food possible into my sweet child's developing body and brain.
Speaking of healthy food... There have been recent news reports on the definite link between pesticides and lower IQ scores in children when the mother consumed foods high in pesticides while pregnant, and when children themselves consumed high levels of pesticides. Sounds super scary!
Apples, oranges, and strawberries topped the list. I am not super concerned about that though because we, nor Co, eat much, if any, of those fruits. But Cohen does eat a whole bag of grapes by himself every 10 days or so! So I decided I would buy organic grapes since he consumes those in mass quantities. (Grapes were on the list with some of the lowest pesticide residue). What I shock I got when I looked at the receipt and saw that 1 bag of red seedless grapes costs $9.74 at Whole Foods!!!! It is so crazy that only the so called "middle or upper class" can afford to eat foods low in pesticides.

Just for Mommies!

So....I just got off the phone with one of my best friends who is expecting her first child soon. We were discussing breastfeeding, and I got a bit anxious at the thought of doing it again. So I copied this list from http://www.thebump.com/ to remind me, and anyone else who cares, why I need to breastfeed.
10 Reasons Why
Breastfeeding Doesn't Suck

1. You'll feel far less crazy (we promise!)
A study of postpartum mamas found that those who breastfed their babies showed far less anxiety and more mutuality at one month postpartum than those who didn't.
2. It lowers the risk of childhood cancers
One study found the risk of childhood cancer in formula-fed children was 2-8 times that of long-term breastfed children. The risk for short-term formula feeders was 1-9 times that of long-term breast feeders.
3. ...And breast cancer in mamas!
Get this: If women who breast fed for less than 3 months were to stick it out for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduce by 11%. And if they stayed with it for 24 months or longer, those risks could be reduced by nearly 25%.
4. Smart kids rule
Studies show that breastfed babies have significantly higher IQs by 8 years old than babies who didn't breastfeed -- even after adjusting the stats for differences between groups and Mom's educational and social class.
5. You could save on braces
The longer you breastfeed, the lower the liklihood that baby will suffer from malocclusion -- aka a fancy word for misalignment of the teeth and dental arches.
6. It cuts down on childhood obesity
Breastfeeding has long been tied with reducing the rate of childhood obesity, regardless of Mom's diabetes or weight status.
7. Allergies and ailments are no biggie
Respiratory wheezing, influenza, diarrhea, allergies, and eczema are way less common in breastfed babies -- think about all those trips to the doc you won't have to make!
8. It saves lives -- and government money!
If just 90% of US mamas breastfed exclusively for 6 months, not only would an estimated 900 babies live, but the United States would save $13 billion per year. (Yep, $13 BILLION.)
9. Oh, and it'll save you a ton of cash, too
Believe it or not, formula supplies for just six months can cost upwards of $1,000.
10. You'll fit into your skinny jeans faster!
Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day. Yes, really. Need we say more?


I nursed Cohen for 11 very long months. I would have nursed him until he was 2 if he didn't wean himself at 11 months.
First of all, nursing is very painful. I only had 2 friends that warned me of the pain that comes with nursing a child. I am hoping this time around is less painful. Secondly, at 3 months old, Cohen had only gained 2 pounds over his birthweight. Not good. And I nursed him 8-12 times a day. The day he turned 12 weeks I went to see a lactation nurse for the fourth time. I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. The nurse tested the fat content of my milk and discovered it was half the fat of "normal" breastmilk. Wonderful! She sent me home with an overwhelming amount of information on ways to increase your milk supply. The next day I began taking 26 pills a day to maintain an adequate milk supply!!! I did this every day until he quit nursing. The entire 11 months were very stressful to me because it was never "easy." And I am a labor and delivery nurse with a breastfeeding certification!!! 


With all that said....
I totally enjoyed the convienience of nursing, the bonding time, the low cost, and how quickly I lost the weight I gained. Thankfully, Cohen didn't seem to be affected by anything I ate. Some friends couldn't eat dairy while nursing because it made their babies sick.  I am crossing my fingers hoping for an easier time with baby boy 2. However, this entire pregnancy has been so different than the last, that I have no idea what to expect from him:) Already acting MUCH different than his big brother.

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!