Introducting Cooper Richard Calvert...

Cooper Richard Calvert

~ September 28, 2010 ~ 2:02 PM ~ 6 pounds/7 ounces ~ 19 1/2 inches ~

Mommy holding Cooper for the first time...I was a little "emotional" because I wanted to hear that his heart was beating PERFECT, and I heard arrhythmia. And of course, this is my FABULOUS doctor...and yes, she cried with me! Love this lady!

First picture with Mommy and Daddy...

Sweet, sweet little man!

Getting to hold Cooper for a few minutes...our time was limited with him yesterday afternoon because they were monitoring his heart so closely.

Big Sister loving her some Cooper!

She couldn't get enough of him...so sweet!

Of course, Anna Lauren refused to take a picture with us...maybe we can get one today!

Matt says this is his "mean" face...I think he is just precious! Last night we got to have him in the room with us for a couple hours, and he did great!

Big yawn...it was a hard day Mommy and Daddy!

Tuesday ~ We'll Meet Our Cooper...

At 37 weeks and 5 days, we will meet our Cooper!

My blood pressure waited until 37/38 weeks to elevate with Anna Lauren, but with Cooper, it began elevating at 35/36 weeks. Dr. Cole has held off on delivery as long as she feels comfortable and so tomorrow, we will arrive at Woman's Hospital at 5:30 AM to begin the induction process. Fortunatly, I have dialated 3 cm...Dr. Cole anticipates this to help with any easy and hopefully not too drawn out induction process.

As of today, my blood pressure was sitting around 150/90, Cooper was weighing six pounds and 7 ounces, and he was face up (not ideal but ok). His heart beat is still PERFECT...thanks to the medicine...let's just pray it continues to beat normal after delivery without any medicine. He will wear a heart rate monitor for 48 hours to assure he is "ok" before we leave the hospital. The cardiologist seems to think that his heart "issue" will be resolved upon delivery.

His room is ready and bag is packed, and we are so excited about meeting this sweet boy tomorrow! Not sure if Anna Lauren is more excited about having a brother tomorrow or that her Nanna is here to go to gymnastics with her tonight. Gymnastics still seems to be the "highlight" of the child's week!

My sweet friend, Meredith, did some painting for Cooper's room...this is the canvas we will hang on the hospital door...

His bag all packed for the hospital...

His room...

Matt was very specific and picked out the rocking chair that met his "comfort" standards...and our wonderful Aunt Susan worked her sewing magic and added some color to the "neutral" chair he picked out for Cooper's room...

Notice the canvas above his bed...thanks to Meredith! When I walk in his room, I think of all the fun Meredith and I had in college, and I can only pray Cooper will grow up and have all the "special" friends that I have had throughout the years!

All ready...now just need a "little" man to come sleep in his bed!

Mississippi College Football...

Some things have changed since I graduated from Mississippi College 8 years ago...just to name two: (1) tailgatin' for football games and (2) boys in the girls dorm. I almost fell out when I walked into my cousin's dorm room and saw a boy...I mean back in the day daddys and brothers were not even allowed!

If you read last week, you know Anna Lauren is "obsessed" with Anna being a cheerleader and going to watch her cheer at the games. So Saturday afternoon we headed to Clinton to tailgate with the family and to watch Anna cheer. It was hot, but we had lots of fun and Anna Lauren truly loves watching Anna...she sits and doesn't move for 3 hours...it is amazing!

Drew...

Anna and Anna Lauren...I'm telling you, she is "obsessed" with Anna. So much that we could not leave the game until it was over because she had to hug Anna bye. And then for a special treat, she got to go see Anna's dorm room...she was on cloud 9!

Anna and Mallory...

Mallory was enjoying her cupcake and cookie...

Baby Claire...

Anna, 2nd from right...we were not able to get as close as we did last week, but Anna Lauren was still able to watch her every move!

Can you tell she loves it? She just sat all by herself and watched and cheered!

Tri 4 Life...

Saturday morning Matt, Brad (my brother), Paula (my sister-in-law), and several of our friends and their friends from Brookhaven participated in the 1st annual Tri 4 Life ~ 1/3 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run. It seemed to be the hottest race we have been to all summer...not sure if it was the hottest or just a combination of hot and 35 weeks pregnant...but...it was a fun morning and a well organized / good race for all involved!

At the last minute, Brad decided not to wear his swim cap so Anna Lauren thought she should wear it..

Paula and Anna, her friend from Brookhaven...

Brad entering the water...this was his 1st triathlon...

Brad was not excited about the swim so I think this picture is funny...not sure what he was really doing but it appeared he kept looking back at Matt to make sure it was "ok" to not be swimming yet...

Paula getting ready to start the bike...

And this is what grandmothers and kids do while parents are racing...

Brad transitioning from bike to run...

Matt coming in on his bike...and of course, the smile we love to see!

Brad starting the 3 mile run...crazy thing about Brad is that he has a BAD knee so he cannot train for the run...he just runs when necessary...must be nice to be able to run 3 miles with no training!

Matt going out on the run...

Anna Lauren just being Anna Lauren...she is ALWAYS so sweet at races and has the most fun. I guess it is because she started going to races when she was about 8 weeks old...

Little Buddy...she sat this race out and took a turn volunteering...thanks for volunteering Little Buddy!

The Big Buddy volunteering...thanks to you too, Big Buddy!

Brad almost to the finish line...way to go...you are now a triathlete, Brad!

Matt nearing the finish line...looks like he was ready to be done...enough of the heat!

Paula all smiles now that it is over...

Our group ~ Brad, Paula, Matt, Anna, and Pat...

Birthday Cake...

For some crazy reason, our students have class on Labor Day and we have to work...so...Matt and Anna Lauren shopped for my birthday while they were off work / out of school and I was at work.

Matt decided it would be fun to let Anna Lauren pick out my birthday cake. They went to Kroger and Anna Lauren looked through the "book" and decided Mommy would really like Tinkerbell. So...at 31, I had my very own Tinkerbell cake...I LOVED it because it was what Anna Lauren picked out for me.

My birthday was on Saturday, but we had a packed full weekend so we didn't do much "celebrating", but I still managed to have a good day. You know...there are some years that birthdays end up being a "big" deal and others are just another day...it was one of those just another day years.

Work Baby Shower...

Last Thursday the sweet ladies that I work with treated me to lunch and presents for baby Cooper. We had a yummy lunch at Two Sisters and then I enjoyed opening all the fun presents...and they were practical, just as I had asked...many diapers, wipes, bibs, and blankets for sweet Cooper! I am so blessed to have such wonderful
co-workers...

Opening diapers...I think almost everyone gave me some diapers as well as something else. So Cooper is set for a month or two...yea!

Drew, our student worker. This was his first baby shower and his comment was...WOW! You can tell by the look on his face that he was not so sure what he got himself into when he agreed to go to lunch.

Regina, Holli Grace's mom, and Drew...two of my favorites!

Regina insisted I take this picture...Mandi at 35 weeks!

All Cooper's goodies from the day...

Mississippi College Versus Millsaps...

Ever since Anna Lauren found out Anna, my first cousin, made cheerleader at Mississippi College she has been on my case. Mommy...can we go watch Anna cheer, can I have a "cheerleader" (what she calls the uniform) like Anna, what shoes will she wear, what color are her poms poms? You get the picture...

Well, we have ordered the uniform, but unfortunately, it is not here yet...sad! However, Anna Lauren got over not having the uniform and we headed out last night for the Backyard Brawl ~ Mississippi College versus Millsaps.

Anna Lauren loved it and never once took her eyes off Anna the entire game (yes, 3 hours)...and of course, she is already asking when she can go watch her again. We hope to go next weekend and hopefully her "cheerleader" will be here by then!

Here are some pictures I took of Anna...she did so good, and we were so proud of her! Especially since she is coming off a back injury due to being dropped her first week of practice...

And of course, we did manage to get one picture of the two "Annas" at half-time! Can you tell Anna Lauren is excited to finally get to "touch" Anna?