28 Weeks and Counting...

I have officially entered into the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy... Oh joy!  Leg cramps, lower back bliss, back to lack of energy and MOOD swings, constant instiable hunger, 8+ trips to the bathroom in one night... the list goes on :-)  

However, there is a good list, too! 
This is a really funny PREGNANCY CALENDAR that I read, too.  It cheers me up!

I am ready to start getting the nursery in order.  I am so excited about little Claire's arrival.  I got to help decorate our church nursery and it kicked off the "nesting" instinct in me right away.  I haven't really gotten that URGE yet.  Now I am ready!  I think part of it is that we cleared mosst of our front room out when we moved into our new church building so now Mel and Karanda will be moving in there so we can use their room for Claire!  Yay!

Here is a pic of about 1/3 of the art work I did for the church babies.  I want to do something similar for her just different colors.  I got cheap canvases at JoAnn Fabrics so I will get some more and do my creative thing!!

As for Judah... He is drumming away!  I cannot seem to put video on my blog right now, so go to my FACEBOOK and see my videos of Judah playing drums.  You're sure to get a kick out of him!

I'm a Big Boy Now!

So, as of 3-19-2010 Judah is officially "weaned" from every bottle feeding!  This is great and terrible news all at once.  The great news is obvious... He's growing up, he no longer needs that expensive formula, he is learning to sooth himself in other ways... the terrible, you ask?  He wakes up at the most ungodly hours of the morning and is ready to start his day!  I guess it is good for me to be getting up at 6 something but Lord!!  My thought is Micah and I need to go to be sooner and we need to try and stretch his bedtime back about 1/2 hour and see if that helps!

I had a great week last week.  Auntie Colleen was on Spring Break so she took Judah to the zoo and they had the time of their lives.  I think she now is a bit empathetic regarding how heavy he is and how many times one has to lift their child in the matter of one day.  It is not easy on the back!  (Especially the pregnant one!)  Judah was loving every second of it from what I hear.  He called every animal "doggie??" and the only thing he did different was yell "ooh ooh ahh ahh!!!" when they approached the monkey cages.  I taught him that!  Yay! He also showed all the friends that went with them how he could pack in some serious carnage... he ate everything I packed for him (and that was enough for lunch and dinner!).  This is the other down side to being weaned... the kid eats like a man who was just released from Shawshank prison! LOL

In other news, he does now have TWO official teeth on the bottom!  I have attempted to get pictures but very unsuccessfully.  He is not wanting to give me that bottom jaw smile to show them off! 

He has learned how to say "Flower" which comes out "Owie" but that is what he means! 

Claire is doing great from what I can feel.  I am officially 27 weeks pregnant today!  That means I am a week shy of being 7 months and a week shy of being in my 3rd trimester already!!!!  I can't believe how quickly time flies when you are raising another little angel.  Some days I don't even remember that I am with child... that seems impossible! 

On that note... the Smooth Guy is crying and just woke from his nap so I had better go! 

The MOM Connection

I set up a group on Facebook to keep everyone filled in on our monthly "MOM Connection" events.  Please sign in or join to see it!  It is not just for women in San Antonio.  I will post links to helpful sites I've found and I encourage you to do the same!  It is good to feel like we have a network of other women in our shoes who we can relate to!

Our next event is the PICNIC AND EGG HUNT IN THE PARK! 
Come join us!  It will be so much FUN!!!

Making beautiful music with pots and pans!

More Judah Words...

Oh I almost forgot... There are more words that Judah says.

- He does say "No-No" now and he says it JUST like Mommy.  Scary.
- Nummie Nummie - when he sees food of any sort... any time.  Hungry or not. 
- Doggie (which is almost identical to Daddy)
- Pa Pa (which is good to be any of the grand-daddies... close enough, anyway!)
- Mooo! (which is his cow noise, not really a word, per se)
- Woof Woof (his bark)

I think that's it for now.  I always think of them when I am not by a computer.  Man I need an I-Phone!  LOL

Great Weekend

So thanks again to those of you who helped nominate Micah for the "San Antonio's Most Deserving Worship Leader Contest".  He didn't win overall but we did win free tickets to see Kari Jobe and Lincoln Brewster live.  We got in before the public (several of whom had been waiting outside since 2 PM that day!!) We sat in the 3rd middle row and it was amazing!! 

Kari Jobe opened the night and I was hit with the unexpected, overwhelming presence of God the moment she opened her mouth to worhsip.  It was so refreshing.  Micah and I realized that since we'd been married we had not ever been to a service where one or both of us was not leading worship.  It was so rejuvinating to worship God together and share that experience.  I cried like a baby through most of it.  That is just what I do when I get to be in the wonderful presence of my Savior.  It is too much for me to handle!!  Micah's favorite part was, of course, Lincoln.  The man can play electric guitar like nobody's business!  We discovered he used to play with Journey, which makes total sense.  He then met the Lord and moved to Modesto, CA where he played in the background of a worship team for several years.  He still leads worship for that local church where he started out so many years ago!  That is very admirable.  He has not let fame and CD sales get him distracted from what is most important and he is very connected to his local church.  Yay Linc!!

Here are some really horrible cell phone pictures, but you get the gist!  Ha ha!


This is Kari Jobe in all her blurriness!  LOL

And here is Lincoln Brewster tearing it up on the electric!

And in un-related news... here is Judah being his cute little self.  Had to put him in here somewhere!

Mommy's Ever Growing Belly!

So I realized just now that I have not yet posted pictures of Claire
inside her own little oven!!!
Here is a picture taken just this morning by the lovely "Auntie Kay"
of me holding Judah. I wish you could have heard him. It's like he
knew why we were taking the picture! He was saying "baby baby baby"
and patting me on the shoulder. He is going to be such a cute big
brother!!

Life is Good

So excited to announce that I am officially a link on someone's blog!!  Yay me!  Click HERE to see the link to my portfolio for hair and makeup.  I will also officially be appearing in the 2010/2011 issue of SAN ANTONIO WEDDINGS magazine and on their WEBSITE for 12 months!!

As we ring in a new era of parenting two little ones I will also be bringing in a lot more business for the coming year.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to do something I LOVE and it is not keeping me from being here to raise my precious little ones.  God is so good to me!

How Could I Forget...

2 Things...

1.  Thanks to those of you who helped nominate Micah for SA's most deserving worship leader.  They have not announced a winner yet but they did call and invite Micah and I to the Lincoln Brewster concert this Saturday for FREE and we get early seating before the public arrives!!  That is great news because Micah loves him so much as a worship artist and when I told him he got as excited as he gets... threw his hands up and said "woo hoo!"
  
 2.  I skipped some of the cutest pics...

These are all after bath time.  He is so cuddly and cute. 

He carries on quite the conversation with himself in the mirror.  So funny.

Still talking!  Trying to get out of going to bed already!! Just like me at that age...

A Day In The Life of a Smooth Guy :-)

Judah is growing up so much.  He already says so many words!  It truly amazes me.  Today we were reading his "Touch and Feel Animals" book and up until now most of the animals are "doggies" to him because those are his favorite!  Today I pointed to the monkey and he said Oooh Oooh Aaah Aaah!!  So he didn't say monkey but he made the sound!!  Pretty impressive if you ask a bias mom!  LOL

His official favorite time of day or night is either meal time or bath time.  He lights up and starts screaming when he sees me making his PB & J which he now eats with mashed grapes, string cheese, fresh raspberries and blackberries!!  He eats more than I do sometimes!!  And as for bath time it is being naked that thrills his little heart the most.  Two nights ago I got him out of the tub and put him on his changing table.  He stood up and started dancing naked in the mirror and singing "Dudah Dudah Dudah!!" (which is the way he says his name).  I tried to video tape it but my camera died just as I started.  Sorry!  It was probably a good thing because he got a little too excited and pee peed all over the dresser and mirror while dancing around!  I laughed so hard I cried.  I have yet to wipe the lotion handprints off of the mirror because they are so little and cute.  Some messes are just to cute to erase right away.  Don't worry, it will bother me in about another day!

Here are some pictures I put on Facebook but for those of you that are not on that lovely social networking (or, as I like to call it "NOTworking") site.... Here you go!

Dee Dee and I agree that this picture should be labeled "Bryan Dunn III"

This is his 1 year check-up.  He loves his doctor.  He has gotten even bigger since this picture a few weeks ago!

This is his favorite passtime.  He didn't even give me a chance to break it into smaller pieces!

His first taste of yogurt.  He approves.  He is also the cutest little man in the universe!

He loves the park, too.  ESPECIALLY the swings!

Nominate Micah For K-Love's Most Deserving Worship Leader...

Here is the letter I sent in.  Send your email nominations to this address and vote for Micah!!

Dear K-Love,

I would like to submit my Husband, Micah Coop, for the worship leader appreciation contest.  I know that one would think that I'm a bit partial, being married to him, however, my admiration goes far beyond just his role as a wonderful husband and father.

Micah has faithfully led worship and worship teams for the past 12 years of his life with the most refreshing attitude I have ever seen from someone in his position.  Many (and most times) he was given very little resources to work with and yet he seemed to turn nothing into something every time.  He is truly a remarkable leader, but above that he is a TRUE worshipper, heart and soul.  His love for God through some of the most challenging times I've ever seen anyone go through has caused all who attend our church to want to live their lives this way.  His worship leading stretches far beyond a stage, a guitar and a microphone on a Sunday.  That is simply the overflow of his love for God spilling out on one small occasion.  He leads worship every day of his life by his example.  No matter how much life throws at him he MAKES time to be alone with God every single day.  He lives to serve and it shows in everything he does.

We moved to San Antonio about 4 years ago to start a brand new church here.  He was leading in so many areas of the ministry, including worship.  He spent his days and nights searching for a building we could meet in and praying with the team of pastors that moved here to start our church.  One month after we were married and had moved here he was on his way home from a prayer meeting and a truck ran a red light and destroyed every bit of his car but the driver's seat.  He was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and they thought he was gone.  He ended up with a very serious head injury, major contusions all over his body, a punctured lung and a collapsed lung.  The recovery process was very tough on him since he was in the middle of so many things and all he wanted to do was get back to his responsibilities.  Within 2 weeks he was back on the stage loving God.  You never would have known he was in so much pain.  This was against the urging of his wife and doctors, of course!  I have never seen anyone exemplify the saying "you can't keep a good man down" the way that he did then and continues to do every day.

The week our first son was born last year another major challenge presented itself.  Our senior pastor of 15 years made the wonderful decision to begin pursuing one of his life-long dreams which caused him to step back from the role of pastoring the church here in San Antonio.  He prayerfully knew that Micah would be the one to take over the leadership of the church, which he whole-heartedly agreed to do.  In the midst of all the changes it was yet one more thing added to his already overflowing plate!  That was one year ago and I stand amazed at the outstanding job that he has done.  He has continued to lead worship while raising up other leaders within the team to take over.  All the while he has lead the newly growing church with so much dignity and maturity.  He is only 29 years old yet he is wise beyond his years.  We have made so many sacrifices in order to do what we know God has called us to do, but I have never once heard him complain.  Never.  He is not only a minister to his congregation but to his family first.  He is a walking example of Christ in 2010 walking the streets of San Antonio.  He is like a hidden treasure in our city so full of talent and anointing.  He has notebooks of songs that he's written that no one will probably ever hear but God and he's completely content to know that God is pleased with him.  That's all he needs and that faith is contagious to everyone he meets.

He is deserving of the recognition that he rarely receives publicly.  This contest would be an amazing way to display appreciation from our congregation for all that he has sacrificed to make sure that they are blessed, growing and reaching out to those in need of God's love.  One of his greatest inspirations in the praise and worship industry is Lincoln Brewster.  I think he may literally pass out with excitement if he were to be able to collaborate with him in a song writing session.  Please consider him for this honor.  I am not only writing as a loving wife, but as someone who has been forever changed by the life of a passionate, amazing man and worship leader.  Micah Coop is 100% deserving of this award.

Sincerely,

Mary Coop

Fun in the Sun!

It is finally getting nice outside where we can go play!  I love winter but man do I love it when the warmth starts returning and we can go to the park and not have to wear a coat!

Yesterday I took Judah to feed the ducks with Alicia and his best baby friend Gabriella!  He fed... himself!  He didn't quite understand the concept since every time I hand him food it is for him and him alone!  So here's a picture of him feeding.... the "ducks"

 

 Then today we went to the park and had a great time!  We met 2 new friends Mason and Sebastian.  They were 7 months and 3 years old.  I was so glad to meet another mommy, too!  She has not made any friends yet here in San Antonio so I was thrilled to meet her and swap info.  I love when stuff like that happens.  Here is a picture of Judah going down the slide. (or about to)  He was laughing the whole way once he got used to it.  It warmed my heart! 

I am starting a meeting for young moms called The "Mom Connection" that meets every first Saturday morning.  This week is our first week and we're having brunch at my house and my friend Carmen is coming to share helpful mommy tips :-)  Pray that it goes well.  If you are in the San Antonio and have kids that are 4 and under please come!!  Bring the kids along, too.  You can find more info here or you can EMAIL me.

Also, I might be advertising in San Antonio Weddings Magazine!  I sent them a link to my blog and they called me back in 5 minutes!  Wow... God is good!