This is why I'm glad we snap pictures as much as my family fights it. I would have forgotten all about one of my very favorite weekends of the year. This is Conference sleepover weekend. Three months before we had Coop we took everyone's advice and just let ourselves relax. We pulled the air mattress into the living room and seriously took naps and slept in our front room all weekend in between conference. Maybe we accidentally started a new tradition. Finally Sunday afternoon we got up well rested and attended an amazing session of conference. I remember most specifically Elder Scott's talk dedicated to his sweet wife. Still one of my favorites because I remember being close enough to see the sincere expressions on his face.
Speaking of Aunties. This pretty girl got married, it has been so fun having a new member of the fam with Bronson around. He is quite the outdoorsman and Shawn and Tyler really hope to learn a thing or two from him..For the record. This was about three weeks before Cooper was due. I feel like I deserve a medal for walking down the aisle in that bridesmaid dress and high heels. I kept telling myself to suck it up because this day was not about me, but still! Not one picture from the entire day is the least bit flattering. I kept telling myself it MUST have just been the angle of the camera :) I know, I know. Swallow your pride already. Emily really looked beautiful and I was so happy to be there. She changed her wedding date even to make it better for me and I will always remember that when I see those fun pictures.
Shawn and I have a very hard time adjusting post-Coop to the fact that we can't just sneak off to the sugar house dollar movie right down the street whenever we just so happen to feel like it. It is one of my favorite places because it really is still just 1 DOLLAR! On a weekday afternoon we snuck off to see Tangled. During the movie I felt my first official kick from my boy with the forever long legs. I was pretty far along and I had been waiting and waiting for that moment, I had imagined it up before, but this was the first time I knew for sure it was real. Goo Coop! I have an extra special love for that movie now.
Of course, the gender ultrasound. It was supposed to be on Valentines day but it got rescheduled and I stepped out of my comfort zone by making a scene over the telephone letting the nurse now how upset I was, followed up with an embarrassing apologetic phone call. The cheering from Shawn when we heard it's a boy was the best. The temporary embarrassment as he tried to teach the ultrasound tech how he knew it was a boy before she did was hilarious. And then the quick friendly chit chat afterwards on manners was a given. The ultrasound was followed by a Saturday night trip to the park city outlets to pick out our first boy outfit, officially kicking my dreams of bows and tutus to the curb. We came home with a park city ski vest that won my heart over any tutu, just because I knew it belonged to my own. Coop wore it home from the hospital and looked darling. Sadly, no pictures of this weekend, but luckily it is one event I have plenty of pictures of in my brain.
Uncle Josh came home to visit. This is at the top of my list for sure! Cooper was three weeks old and we traveled to Idaho to be with the fam. I was so exhausted because I wanted to spend every second that i could with my family since we are not all together often. When we stayed up playing games, Cooper would be awake an hour later, and then three hours later. I was slightly a grumpy girl at times but I appreciated the help from my family and all the time we got to spend! We never feel quite complete without Josh around making us laugh. What a good brother he is. It was so cute seeing all the grandkids together.
I spent the month before Cooper was born calling in sick to work and driving to Jaimee's to do productive things like paint toenails, go to seven peaks, or layout by the pool. These two were so helpful when Cooper finally came. Jaimee has had a busy week this week and I realize how lucky I am to be able to meet up with her and Sophie whenever we want, I'm REALLY going to miss that if we are ever separated. I realize that more and more as time go on, I'm so grateful to have them.
By the fourth of July my doctor was tricking us and telling us he thought Mr. Coop would be coming very very soon! SO my family went to Idaho and he made me and Shawn stay home! We were disappointed but we had this feeling of excitement that weekend I will never forget. We didn't even mind being lame and watching the fireworks in the backyard in pj's. The weather was beautiful and we let the patriotic music play after the fireworks were over. Bill and Tracii always make for good company, and we relaxed in the hammock. It was a special night for me knowing all the sudden that something really was going to come from being pregnant! please don't judge me since I'm sitting on a roof in this picture. In hind site, after meeting the real life baby that was in there at that time, I may not have made that same decision..But I really was VERY careful I promise!
I talk a lot about my family because they live semi close, but I can't forget Shawn's family trip this year. We always have fun when we go with the Allen's. We went to Disneyland and these kids looked so adorable and they were so excited the whole time! Before this trip Shawn's sisters threw me such a cute shower and I appreciated it so much. Shawn's family has done so much for us and we REALLY wish they lived closer so we could see them more frequently! We always have lots of games and lots of laughs.
I was only going to do a few and then the memories just kept coming!! I'm stopping right here--Last but not least, Mr.Coop's big debut. We had no idea what it would be like to see him for the first time but for the first few minutes we both couldn't stop laughing like-no way did this just happen to us! And no way is this cute little face ours. Cooper was the highlight of our year..I'm just noticing all of these events happened before he arrived, since he has been here the end of the year just FLEW by! This was the best moment of the year. A few people have mentioned that Cooper seems to be a daddy's boy. Cooper and I have our own very special relationship, but i agree that there are definitely times that no one else can get him to smile and laugh like Shawn can.
Enough already! It's official, that was the last hoorah for 2011. Hello brand new world of 2012. I have been very interested in this world and all the protests going on with SOPA and the whole 99% thing earlier this year. I always loved history and I keep telling Shawn it's crazy we are like living in the future history books! I sort of secretly wish we could have been in that park in New York when the whole crazy protest went down. Shawn laughs, but we really have been into documentaries lately.
We are so thankful for everyone who has played a part in our 2011, we seriously learn so much from the family and friends around us who seem to do so many cool things, and still be so put together, and of course are always fun to be around..especially those who have babies and still seem to do it all! HOW do you do it, we are watching you and want in on your secrets!
Time to start fresh:
We are excited for you in a whole new way, 2012. Not exactly sure why, maybe it's because we truly don't know where you are taking us.
On that note-
As one of my favorite people named Anne Shirley once said,
"It's not what the world holds for you, but what you bring to it."
Well said Anne. I'm remembering this in 2012.
I might just have to put that Anne Shirley quote up in my house. Love it!!! And just so you know, Cooper's big debut was one of OUR favorite parts of 2011 too. :)
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