a boy & a roll of wrapping paper

Cooper has been carrying around a roll of christmas wrapping paper for a few weeks now. He has used it as a walking stick, a telescope, a megaphone, you name it. Today was the day he realized it would unroll. Three seconds later, our den was covered in a red and snowman blanket. The sheer joy the followed was unimaginable. He stomped, jumped, kicked, laid down, even rolled on (and up in) this wrapping paper and laughed until his belly hurt. I, of course, did the same. Moments like these remind me of what an amazing gift it is to be a mother. Bring on the bubble wrap!

a Rice life in the Big Apple!

Shortly before Cooper's first birthday, we had a long weekend planned for the Big Apple! This was Cooper's first trip there and boy was it jam packed!

We did a little bit of everything, baseball games, broadway and even a boat ride through the harbor. Rick's sister and her husband live in Long Island and they were able to come to NYC for the weekend to hang out.

Rick and I also took a train up to Poughkeepsie where we saw my longtime good friend Jacqui marry her best friend. (First 2 photos are from her wedding photographer Andrea Ouellette.)

My love and I :)

It was a wonderful weekend!

Year One Portraits

So I realize Cooper is now 18-months. Quit complaining... here they are! Cooper and his buddy Emery (who is only a mere 6 days older than him) met at Maymont & Byrd parks to take their year portraits together. The two are like brother and sister, loving on it each other followed by a smack in the face! Enjoy!

i'm baaaackkk

Where do I even begin?


It has been almost 5 months since my last post. My apologies. I could blame the speed of life, or my job promotion, or my toddler...
Or I could be honest and say it is truly because we got rid of our internet.


Yeah about that... 
I have since realized that it is the 21st century and internet is kind of a must.
I have realized that this blog is not only a journal about my life as a mother, wife and educator but it is beyond therapeutic for me. 
I have realized how much I LOVE to write and not having this blog to document my feelings in such a personal way (for anyone to read who wants to... how personal is that?) has been a bit of a hole in my life.


So I am baaaackkk...


I will do my best to update with pictures and videos the best I can, with everything that has happened in the last 5 months, and will somehow, hopefully, stay on top of the current happenings as well. It very well may take me a few weeks, even months to do it, but it will be done. It has to be done. For me, for Rick and for Cooper.


So I invited you on a small trip down our memory lane. Back to October of last year... Back to the holidays, to our many mini-vacations, promotions, job changes, media appearances and even talk and by talk I mean TALK) of another baby.


Let the memories commence!


But in the meantime...


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

ENT update.

Welp, its official. I have lost count of how many ear infections Cooper has had. But he has one yet again and with it so early in the cold season, his doctor thinks tubes is the best choice. (We kinda all knew this would happen.) So October 18 will be the day he says goodbye to constant fluid in his ears and equilibrium problems (we hope!)

His best friend got tubes just a few days ago and recovered within the day and is waaaay happier since. I am definitely more confident about getting tubes than I was 8 weeks ago. I am definitely looking forward to relieving the discomfort my sweet baby has been in.


Since we haven't heard much improvement with his stridor, they have once again extended the window, now we should expect he will grow out of it by age 5. This was beyond disappointing but also not that much of a surprise, either. I'm just so thankful he is hitting milestones like he's supposed to. We are continuing to cherish every moment since time is definitely not slowing down!

Here's to tomorrow!

I can't get through posts without a few tears anymore. Each one is about how much my life, cooper's life and even our life as a family has changed and (usually) improved.

Last night, Cooper blew me a kiss. I instantly teared up. He is turning into such a sweet, sweet boy and it is hard to keep the tears at bay.

We have said good-bye to the bottle, baby food and most recently, the paci. We have said hello to walking, talking (and talking back) a little bit of hitting and defiance and sadly I am sure biting is just around the corner.

Every night there is some new moment that Rick and I look at each other, utterly excited, that tomorrow is going to be even funner (oh, its a word!) than the day before.

I just had no idea how amazing being a mother would be. I had no idea how much more fun our little family was capable of!

So here's to tomorrow! And the absolute joy our dear Cooper has brought into our lives!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Thank You Mike!

In lieu of a long, drawn out post about the difficulties we all have experienced with the death of Mike Fawell and the value of life we have been reminded of, I would just like to say...

Tonight, I am thankful for my amazing boys, for the time I have with them and for the ability to cherish them a little more in light of tragedy. I will hold them a little longer, hug them a little tighter and remember to forgive them quickly, for it is not up to us what tomorrow will bring.

Thank you, Mike, for helping me to remember this.