Top 13 of 2013
(the good + the bad)
We had some memorable moments in 2013 as we started off the year with a 6 month old and ended it with an 18 month old. You can only imagine there were a lot of "firsts" for Cooper throughout the year -- we've enjoyed watching him grow + learn and are excited for even more "firsts" for Cooper throughout 2014!
1. Unfortunately we started off our year by visiting Blank Children's Hospital early one February Monday morning. Cooper had battled ear infections, colds and bronchiolitis throughout the fall and winter months leading up to this day . . . and he had finally reached his breaking point. We realized in the middle of the night Cooper was struggling to breathe normally and had a high temperature. Once we got to Blank they ran tests and he tested positive for the cold and the flu, he had double ear infections and after an x-ray scan they saw he had bacterial pneumonia. We were admitted just a few short hours later and stayed a couple nights. It was tough and sad to see him in the hospital, but it was great to get some meds in him, since they weren't able to do much for the colds/bronchiolitis he was being diagnosed with week after week. By the end of the stay he was feeling so much better and in much better spirits - I'd like thank all of our family + friends again for praying for Cooper and us during that time. A couple weeks after our stay at Blank, Cooper did have tubes put in to help with ear infections - which have helped out tremendously. He just recently lost the left tube and yes, again, got another ear infection. We'll see what happens in 2014 with his dang ears . . .
2. After Cooper's hospital visit Nick + I headed to Cancun, Mexico for a quick trip. We met our friends from MN there, The Harpers! It was the first time we had ever stayed away from Cooper, but he was staying with the Grandma's - so he was in good hands. While in Mexico, we enjoyed eating, drinking, soaking up the sun, relaxing and catching up with friends that we don't see very often. The Harpers have now added a little boy, Connor, to their family - so we'll see what kind of Harper/Hitsman vacations happen in the future! Mexico or Disney World?
3. Nick + I had intentions of running our first 5K together in 2013 - the Glow Run 5K. I've done the Color Run 5K with some gals in Oct 2012, but had high hopes of running and doing more 5Ks. Nick doesn't exactly like to run or do cardio either, so we agreed to do one together. We signed up with his co-workers that were doing it and got our t-shirts . . . but then the week of the run, Nick got sick with a bad cold. So, we didn't run -- we dressed the part and met his co-workers downtown DSM to have a few drinks, but didn't do the 5K. While walking back to the car, we decided to race each other - I ended up tripping on some un-even sidewalk (swear it was) and got some road rash on my knee. Maybe we'll run a 5K together in 2014. . . maybe!
4. Nick got his hands dirty, with the help of 2 of his high school buddies, while landscaping our front yard. I say this all the time, and Nick knows it, but he's not the handiest guy in the world, but he did great on the landscaping. Not only does it look pretty good - but saved us some $ in the process. He did it all during Memorial Day Weekend, which was a little rainy and little chilly. Cooper and I headed to visit my family near Omaha and spent some time there. We didn't want to be in the way, right!? Nick plans to put in a patio off our deck this year or in 2015 . . . we'll see when we can fit that in on the weekends this coming Spring. Nick also built some shelving for the basement right before the end of 2013. We have lived here approximately 2.5 years and our basement was very disorganized - now it looks great! We may need some more shelves built though - baby clothes + toys galore down there!
5. Maybe our favorite memory in 2013 was Cooper's 1st Birthday! We celebrated with a farm theme and invited our friends + family. There were so many people here to help celebrate and we appreciate them all. Cooper absolutely loved eating his birthday cake - he could've ate it all afternoon if we let him. After opening presents and eating cake, he crashed hard for a long afternoon nap. Then he woke up and enjoyed his new gifts. Nick and I took Cooper's actual birthday off to celebrate - we took him to the pool for the first time and out for froyo! We are so happy that Cooper is ours and can't believe the love and happiness we have and receive from him - it's hard to remember what we used to do with our time before him.
6. I took a little trip with a couple friends, Katie and Nicole, to Omaha for a girls overnight. We had fun "road-tripping", eating lunch, having a spa day, sitting in the hot tub, laughing, chatting, and grabbing dinner and drinks. I feel that since I've gotten older I've been terrible at staying in touch with friends in-between my full-time job, being a wife and a mom, and running errands. There isn't much time left in-between those day to day activities. Maybe a 2014 NY resolution for me should be to stay in touch with my friends more. Friends are everything! Thank you girls for that day/night away - so fun! I look forward to a few more in 2014!
7. We took Cooper on his "first vacation" over the 4th of July holiday. We went way up North near Detroit Lakes, MN - the lake we were on during that time was Sybil Lake. Nick + I had actually been there one other 4th of July, a couple years earlier, and when the Harpers asked us to go back we agreed! It's a fun time, but we weren't sure how fun it'd be with a 1 year old . . . but Cooper did awesome!! The drive was long, but we entertained him with Disney Jr cartoons on the iPad and he did well at sleeping in the car. While Cooper would nap, Nick + I listened to the book Gone Girl. There were several people at the cabin - two large families come together and then a few friends {like us} were added into the mix. It was a fun trip where we got to spend time on the water with friends, have Cooper interact with other little kids and we learned how to take a toddler on an extended trip.
8. Nick + I also took Cooper to his first baseball game this summer. Since we couldn't get him to a Chicago Cubs game, we got him to an Iowa Cubs baseball game. He looked pretty stinking cute in his Cubs gear, but as you can tell he wasn't really a fan of hats at that time. Weird . . . because just a few months before he wouldn't take off his baseball hats! Nick is a HUGE Cubs fan, gets it from his dad. Nick also has the middle name Ryne from Ryne Sandberg . . . which we passed onto Cooper. So, we must pass on the love of baseball and the love of the Cubs to Cooper. It was a hot day at the game, but he did good - loved running through the aisles.
9. Happy 4 Years to Us! Nick + I celebrated 4 years together this past July. Grandma Jane stayed with Cooper on a Saturday day/night and we went downtown in DSM. Nick + I started off by visiting the farmers market, we had brunch and listened to some music and then continued to do a little bar hopping around downtown to have a couple more drinks and listen to more music. We also stopped at Centro for an amazing afternoon dessert, grabbed dinner at Americana and stayed at the Embassy Suites for the night. After Embassy Suites found out we were there to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, they sent a celebratory bottle of champagne to our room - so nice of them! Cheers to many more!!
10. We paused a couple different moments this fall/winter to Thank God a little more for our lives and for Cooper's life. There were a couple reminders that made us feel a little stronger bond to God and to remember that everything happens for a reason. We are thankful everyday for everything we have, especially each other.
11. Being a parent on Christmas is super fun! Cooper was 6 months old at his first Christmas, so he enjoyed the wrapping paper and didn't understand the meaning of Christmas or the meaning of Santa. We still have to work on both meanings with him, but he loved the Christmas tree, he loved saying "ho ho ho" and he really loved waking up and finding some cool gifts underneath the Christmas tree. The picture is from Christmas morning right when he spotted his new Fisher Price Little People Stand n Play Rampway - it was the neatest feeling to see him so excited! After unwrapping a few presents, he didn't really want to finish the rest.
12. Cooper finally had his 1st professional haircut after Christmas. I say professional, because there was this one time back in September when Nick + I took some clippers and buzzed the sides ourselves. We decided this time he better get a big boy hair cut to clean it up a little. He was a tad confused as to what was going on, but we kept him distracted with bubbles, toy ducks and other toys they had at the salon. I have to say, Cooper looks pretty handsome with his new haircut!
13. Finally . . . we ended the year by having dinner on NYE at Django in downtown DSM with some great friends. The restaurant was great, the atmosphere was great and the company was great.
Cheers to 2014!
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