Tupelo sighting: The Easter spirit

Kurt and I saw this sticker on a car Sunday afternoon. Couldn't agree more. ;)

Fraidy dog

Winnie sporting her new name tag

Well, we have discovered yet another irrational fear held by Miss Winnie Claire. (She's so much like her mama!) In addition to being terrified of storms and the vacuum cleaner, she also dislikes the sound of cards shuffling. That's right, folks. I gotta cancel that family trip to Tunica for next weekend.

Kurt and I were playing rummy tonight, and when I first shuffled the cards, she came up and sniffed them while I shuffled. I was glad she was interested in what we were doing. However, with each subsequent shuffle, she jumped back and huffed a little. She whined the entire rest of the game (we tied, btw, which I consider a victory for me since I married a card counter and usually lose at everything) and acted startled and annoyed as we shuffled at each new hand.


In addition, a product review:

A few weeks ago, we ordered Winnie a Thundershirt. My description is that it's a swaddle for a dog. It Velcros around the dog's body and helps it to feel less anxious, or so it says. Winnie wore it for two storms and one round of vacuuming (that was Kurt's idea), and it didn't calm her. In fact, it annoyed her. Each time she wore it, she shook like she shakes after a bath -- like she was trying to get it off of her. So, we sent it back this week.

If anyone has tried this or any other remedies for anxious dogs (besides pills, which I'm not beyond inquiring about and acquiring at the vet), let me know. There's a storm brewing outside right now and Winnie is already panicking. With each clap of thunder, she crawls closer to me on the bed. Now she is laying right next to me with her head on my leg. My only remedy has been to put her in my closet. She feels safe in there. In fact, she usually goes in there on her own when she's afraid. I call it the R. Kelly Syndrome. (Trapped in the closet...) I have a feeling I'll be taking her in there myself at some hour tonight.

I have a built-in weather adviser. When it's storming, she goes in the closet. When it's safe, she comes out. Very simple.

Poor little girl. If you're a storm or the vacuum, she'll run scared. But if you're the UPS man, she'll bark her head off at you. Don't dare try to walk up to our front door, and heaven forbid you should ring the doorbell.

She is a woman, after all. I guess it's her prerogative to fear what she wants, even if it doesn't make any logical sense -- like cards shuffling.

23 Weeks

Here is a picture of Campbell (Baby C-murda) and me at 23 weeks. If I look tired and bleary-eyed, it's because I am. But I'm thankful and blessed as well.

As you can see, I'm all belly. I feel like I'm carrying him low, and also that he likes Tae Bo. He is jumping and kicking like crazy. Sounds like he will have lots of energy like his sweet daddy. I hope he also has a wonderful sense of humor like his dad. Love both my fellas. (And don't forget Winnie girl! She's my best girl!)

I hope to start decorating the nursery soon. I had a yard sale a couple of weeks ago, so now I have some room to get ready for Campbell.

I also went to a consignment sale in Columbus called Coopers Closet. I got a Graco travel combo (car seat, stroller and base), a play mat, a pack and play for when we visit family and friends, and a beautiful antique high chair. Won't need that for a while but I couldn't resist it.

A friend also gave us a glider and a bumbo chair they don't need anymore. People have been so generous to us.

Even though being pregnant is often uncomfortable and emotional, I'm so thankful for this blessing. Going to the doc next week. Here's to a good check up!

Also, the dear servants at Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic are training new sonogram technicians. My friend Bethany is a volunteer there, and she is recruiting people to volunteer to receive a free ultrasound. I am going on Saturday for mine! Maybe I'll get some cool new pics of Campbell.

Sweetest nurse ever

I've been sick for about a week. Allergies...sinus junk...general feeling of YUCK. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, and he took care of me as he always does. (I LOVE MY DOCTOR!) But this junk has laid me out for a few days and I haven't been out of the house much lately. Sigh.

However, someone has been by my side the whole time. Winnie girl - my best nurse. I usually call her my shadow because she follows me around the house, but since I've been in bed for a couple of days, she has been right there with me. Each time I cough, she checks on me. She has given me sweet hugs and has napped right beside me for hours (when I can actually sleep - meaning breathe through my nose).

Kurt has been a wonderful nurse too. He's so patient and understanding, and he has done whatever I have asked. What a blessing my family is.

I'm 22 weeks right now and besides the sinus infection, I'm feeling pretty good. Campbell is kicking away in there, which is comforting and strange at the same time. I love the little fella, and I think he and Winnie will get along well.

God is teaching me to trust him in lots more things now - things I never used to think about. I am very blessed and am thankful for his faithfulness.

I'm gonna give Winnie a treat now. She has been so sweet to me!

It's a boy: reveal video

Finally a blog about the reveal!

Kurt and I went to the doctor Tuesday morning March 15 at 8:15 AM to find out the gender of the baby. We wanted to find out before telling others so it would be a special moment for us and could settle in before we had family over at lunch that day to announce it. My younger sister Brittany stayed the night with me Monday night to help me get ready for the luncheon, etc. So, I came home from the sonogram and told her it was a BOY! And then we got to work.

I made a cake on Monday and put blue frosting on the inner layer Tuesday before everyone came. (I have since learned I'm not a baker. It was almost a disaster.)

Brit took a pic of me preparing the cake.

Final product. No one will know the icing is blue until we cut it.

Even Winnie girl was ready with her Big Sister bandanna on!

So our family and close family friends arrived dressed in blue or pink to guess the gender.

Team blue

Team pink


Here's the video of us revealing it. We had planned to let our cousin Nita say what color the icing was, but she just ate up the attention and didn't care about the cake. Everyone still got the message.

Me with a slice of baby boy cake!

Happy grandparents!

This little stork has a place to mark boy or girl. Thanks for bringing this, Bonnie!

If you have made it this far in the blog, you deserve to know his name. We are naming him

Campbell Sims Cooper

And lastly, I am 21 weeks now. I went to the doc today and everything is on track and we are both doing well. So thankful for God's blessings of a wonderful family, a great doctor who knows how to deal with "tired, hungry, sick, and crazy!!!", precious friends who give generously and are always available to help and listen, and a sweet husband and puppy who love me and Campbell.