Cooper - Beginnning to Age 1

These are the first images we have of Cooper, and we had no idea that the beginning of his life outside the womb would look like this...

But, I've covered that already here. I must say that neither of my kids are more dear to my heart than the other, but they do each hold a different and special place in my life. For Cooper, he is my testimony. His health and presence were the awakening of my faith. Yes, I've been a Christ-follower and believer since childhood, but it is different now. I have a deep sense of who is in control of my life and every step I take on this earth, and I have that due to what my faith became through Cooper's birth. Thus, he is my testimony and will always be a special part of my faith and trust in God. 

We did get to take a healthy baby home from the hospital, and he DID finally have a name. We laugh about it now, but Cooper was Baby Boy Hardy for (I think) four days. 

Forgive me if the details of that time are a bit fuzzy, but I do know for a fact that it was days before we settled on a name since he arrived early. I had been on bedrest for pre-term labor for almost eight weeks before going into full labor, so we had no excuse for not having settled on a name. I remember Gideon and Aaron and many others being possibilities. Then, the funniest was that we were watching SportsCenter in the wee morning hours of labor and heard a broadcaster say "he had an arm like a cannon" of a particular outfielder and for a few hours, thought Cannon sounded like a strong, manly name. Gideon was a mighty warrior in the Bible, and I was partial to that name because our baby had to fight to make it once he was here. Aaron was another great possibility, as I wanted to name my child after my great grandfather. But, we eventually settled on Cooper, one of Daniel's favorite fishing rivers and the water his submarine was parked in in Charleston. Now, I can't imagine my baby as anything but Cooper. It fits him like a glove.  

The first six months were full of doctor and hospital visits and many, many, many tests. But, he weathered them all like a pro. From the beginning, he was especially close to his sister. I remember him watching everything she did. No matter what it was, his eyes would follow her every movement.

Abigail loved for us to set them up together so that she could "hold" Bubba, as she (and now us) always called him. 

Because Cooper was so small and had lots of setbacks, he didn't progress to crawling and sitting and walking as quickly as other babies. But, I thank God for this reprieve! With a 2-year-old and a baby, I needed all the help I could get. I can't imagine how tired I would have been (since I was usually exhausted anyway), if I had been chasing two of them!

But, the best part about Cooper was that he was THE. HAPPIEST. BABY. EVER.  We were always amazed at how even-tempered, easy-going and smiley Cooper was. Whether he was sick or healthy, Cooper was always the same - happy! 

And, as you can see, his size eventually caught up with his age and we weren't having to pick his pants up off the ground after they fell off his skinny body. He chunked up into an adorable, roly-poly guy!