Goodbye Small Cars

Last month we paid our car off, so naturally we started having all these minor problems with it. Last week we were in and out of Tunex a few times, racking up the things that needed to be fixed with it before we could register it at the end of the month. It was pretty frustrating watching the expenses add up. Then on Friday we went to the Alta state soccer game to watch Matt's cousin play. (They won in a nail-biting fashion... go Hawks!) But, after the game our car wouldn't start. So my dad suggested that we come in to the dealership (he is selling cars now) and look at a Chevy Malibu. It had half the number of miles as our car, would be a tad bigger, and would be a super cheap payment. We decided to go look at it, before we spent money fixing up our car, just to see if it would be worth it to have a small payment, but not worry about a breaking down car. So, on Saturday morning we went in to look at the Malibu before Matt had to work. We test drove it, and then parked it in the used car parking lot next to a Chevy Tahoe. Matt had to leave for work, but asked my dad to run numbers on both the Malibu and the Tahoe. The Tahoe ended up being the same payment that we were paying on the Hyundai. So to make a long story short, we ended up buying the Tahoe. It was a really good deal, and we got it for cost, since my dad sold it to us. It will be a good car for us, and is something that we can grow in. And, I am excited that my double stroller fits in it nicely!!! Sydney really likes it too. When we test drove it, she said, "It's BIG, let's get it!" I feel super OLD driving that car around, knowing it is mine. It must mean I have more than one kid. Funny enough, it is the same model of Tahoe that I learned how to drive in when I was 16. The other weird thing for me, is knowing that I will probably never have a small car again... at least until my kids are grown up! It is a really weird feeling. How did I get so old???

Fall Festivities

Summer is definitely my favorite time of year, but there really is something about fall that I just love. Fall is just so "homey" to me. Maybe there is something about colder days that reminds me of home and family. It is so fun to have a few crisp days here and there (although I'm not too fond of the really cold ones.) I love to drive around and see the fall leaves and the pumpkins. It is a fun time of year, and would be even better if it didn't mean winter were coming. Utah is so pretty in the fall, that I just look around and can't believe how beautiful it is. I can't imagine that there are many places that are much prettier. Plus, there are a lot of fun things to do in the fall!

As the days get colder, I have needed to find more things that we can do inside to keep busy. So, the other day, Sydney and I made cookies while Cooper took a nap. Sydney had a lot of fun standing on the chair watching me put all the ingredients in. Her second favorite part was when I put the egg in. She kept saying "egg" the whole time. Her most favorite part was sticking her finger in the dough and licking it off of her finger, as well as licking the spatula. It was a lot of fun to make cookies with her!

On Thursday, we went to a pumpkin patch to pick out some pumpkins. Sydney loved it! She has had a lot of fun the past month looking for pumpkins as we drive around and shop. She even has a pumpkin cup that she loves to drink out of. It is so fun to hear her cute little voice yell out "punkin" every time she spots one. At the pumpkin patch, she liked riding in the wheel barrow and picking up the little pumpkins and showing them to Cooper. She also thought the gourds were funny. I still remember driving down the street past the pumpkin patch when I was pregnant with Sydney, dreaming about taking my baby there. Now we have 2 kids to take to the pumpkin patch. I hope that it is a tradition we can continue. It sure is fun to have little traditions for our kids to remember and enjoy!

Time Flies By

I truly can not believe that October is more than half way over! Cooper will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. Our life has been eventful and busy since he was born, so time really has just flown by. Cooper was born on a Monday. We left the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, went to my brother's setting apart that night, he left for Ghana that Thursday, Friday was my birthday, then Saturday and Sunday were Conference. The next week was spent adjusting to having 2 kids with Matt going back to work. AND this past week, we had Cooper's 2 week well check up on Monday, as well as a quick visit with Matt's dad; on Tuesday, Matt's mom and brother came in town and we had a fairwell dinner for Alex; on Wednesday we said goodbye to Alex for two years, complete with the last meal at Cafe Rio and a car trip down to the MTC; then the rest of the week has been spent with Matt's mom and extended family.

It was pretty special for us to have Cooper finally meet Matt's parents this week. Matt's dad was driving down to Arizona to start his new job, and drove 200 miles more to come and see Cooper for 20 minutes. It meant a lot to us to have Cooper meet his Grandpa Page, and it was really fun to visit with him. Too bad it was 6:00 in the morning and none of us had a clear enough mind to think of taking a picture! We also had a fun time spending some time with Matt's mom. We enjoyed a few meals together, hanging out at Nana and Papa's, and a little shopping!

We were also very glad to be able to spend some time with Alex before he left. I am still so happy that both our brothers were able to see Cooper. We are so proud of them and their choices to serve the Lord for the next 2 years. It is hard to imagine that Cooper will be 2 and Sydney will be 4 by the time they get home! I have been thinking a lot about when Matt left on his mission. I remember eating at Cafe Rio with him and friends and family the day he left. It's crazy to think that we have known each other that long. I could have never imagined that we would be where we are today, and I'm so glad that we have so many memories together. I will always treasure the memories that I have, and am excited to make more with Matt!

It has been fun to spend so much time with family, but I have to say, I am excited to start getting a feel for how it's going to be at home, and start figuring out a better schedule for me and my kids. Hopefully life will calm down a little bit, but as I look at the next little while, we have Halloween, Sydney's birthday, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. I just pray that I can take time to enjoy my kids and make memories with them throughout this busy season! Cooper gets bigger and stronger every day, and Sydney gets smarter every day. I can't believe how fast they grow!

Sydney sure loves her baby brother. I often find her saying "Hi Babes!" and then she'll turn to me and say "He's cute!" She can also be found saying, "Little guy" or giving him kisses. She is getting a larger vocabulary every day and I just love her little voice!

Cooper's 2 week check up went very well. He is growing like a weed and is a perfect little baby! He is starting to stay awake longer and hold his head up. He was 8 lbs 6 oz (Sydney's birth weight) and 20 1/2 inches long at 2 weeks old. Every day I wish I could stop time for a little bit, but it is fun to watch him grow!

Due Date

I can't believe that today is my due date! It is hard to imagine being pregnant still. Yesterday I drove the car for the first time and it was weird to look how much space was between my stomach and the steering wheel! Recovery is going pretty well. I get frustrated thinking I should feel better than I do, and wish it were a faster process. In all honesty, I'd way rather be pregnant than be recovering from delivery. At least this time I was prepared for all the yuckiness and knew what to expect. I think with Sydney it was really hard because I didn't ever imagine recovery would be as hard as it is. Even with recovery being harder than being pregnant, there are definitely advantages to it! The best parts are:

• Having Cooper here to cuddle with!
• Being able to use the covers in bed because I'm not dying of heat all the time!
• Being able to lean over the counter, and do things easier like washing dishes.
• Not having to go to the bathroom ALL THE TIME.
• AND COOPER!

Really, he is the best part of recovery. If it weren't for him, it would just stink all together. I'm glad I got to start this process two weeks ago instead of today! Love my kids, they are totally worth it!

1 Week

I can't believe that as of yesterday Cooper is 1 week old. So much has happened this week, but at the same time it feels like I was just in the hospital yesterday. It has been interesting adjusting to life with two kids. Yesterday was my first LONG day without Matt. He was gone from 6:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night. It actually went pretty well, but I don't know how I could've done it without him until that point. He has been a lifesaver taking care of me and the kids! Life is pretty much in survival mode right now, but I think over some time we'll get a schedule down and be used to it all.

Cooper is doing really well! He is a very good baby! He eats, poops, and spits up like a pro... something we could not say about Sydney as an infant. It is nice to know that he is healthy and doing what he should be doing, which also means I shouldn't have to do any wacky diets! :) He is starting to stay awake for longer periods of time, which is fun, but it makes me realize how fast they really do grow. I wish that I could just freeze time so that my kids didn't have to grow. Because I can't do that, I just have to try my best to enjoy every moment with them. It is amazing the amount of love that I have for them. I never imagined that I could have this much love. Here are some pictures to document Cooper's first week.

1 week old

1st bath at home...slept through it!

Big sister and baby brother!

Sydney pretending the nursing pillow is a "neigh" (horse)

Sydney has been a very good big sister! She loves to give Cooper kisses and help him when he cries. For the first 2 days she would get scared when Cooper cried, but other than that he has not bothered her at all. She always asks where he is and wants to hug and kiss him. When we were in the hospital the nurse came to take Cooper for some tests and Sydney cried because they were taking him. It's funny because I think that since Cooper has come I love Sydney even more. She is such a sweet girl! I can't believe how big she has gotten. She truly is no longer a baby and is growing up so fast! It's crazy to think I have two kids, but I can't even imagine it being any different!

Big Week

This week has been very emotional with a lot of life events going on. Not only did we have our beautiful baby boy, my brother, Tim, left on his mission this morning. Luckily he was able to spend some time in the hospital with us before he left. We will miss him so much and know that he will be a great missionary!

He's Here!

Cooper Matthew Page was born on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 5:17 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 15 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. We already can't imagine life without him and are loving every minute of it!