Our Sweet Baby Boy

Cooper Alexander Wilkinson made his arrival on Tuesday, May 27th at 6:10pm!  He weighed 7lb 12 oz and was 20 inches long.  It was by far the most amazing thing we have ever experienced.  The whole day seemed perfect and ended with the birth of our perfect little baby.  The morning started early with a phone call to Labor and Delivery at 4:45am to find out that they had a bed available for me and to come on in!
Here is Scott and me leaving the house!

Once we got to the hospital things progressed at a good pace.  I got settled into my room and Pitocin was started at 8am.  I had just purchased a new book from my favorite author so I attempted to pass the time reading (I even tweeted the picture of me reading to her!) and texting updates to friends and family.  Labor really started picking up after they broke my water around 9am.

 Reading my book!

and sending text updates

 loving those ice chips

After they broke my water and turned the Pitocin up I was having good contractions about every 2-3 minutes.  Finally around 11am I decided I was ready for the epidural.  As much as I thought I would just LOVE it, I actually found the loss of control and sensation in my lower body was so bizarre!  But I would definitely get one again.  I was immediately more relaxed and comfortable for the rest of the birthing process. After the epidural we were all waiting around until I was 10cm.
Scott reclined and napped in the afternoon.  I was joking around that labor was tiring for him

  and our families waited patiently for Cooper in the waiting room...2 thumbs up for Cooper

At about 5pm I was at 10cm and ready to start pushing.  Of course it takes awhile to get everything set up, but by 5:40 I started pushing.  We had baby Cooper just 30 minutes later! 

My nurse calling Dr. Thomas to let her know we were ready!

 Scott getting his spot ready next to me

 he wasn't sure if he was ready for the pushing part (see him hiding)

making progress!

....and then our lives were forever changed!  

Someone did not like getting weighed

 7lbs 12 oz!

I love this picture of him while the nurses were getting him measured and checking his APGAR score

 he loved sucking on his hands!

I think that's a little smile!

 we did kangaroo care for an hour post delivery and then everyone came in to see baby Cooper

                  

                     

                     

                   

                         

                         

we also had some visitors on the Mother Baby Unit

               

The rest of the hospitalization was a mixture of excitement, happiness, sleepiness and so much learning about how to care for our newborn.  

 Daddy's first diaper change!

By Thursday we were ready for discharge and to go to our new home in Lexington.  We picked up Wilson and made our drive home successfully.  Finally we were all together!

Cooper Wilkinson in his going home outfit

Wilson and Cooper on the drive home.  The first interaction went surprisingly well and Wilson continues to be a great big brother!  He is very interested in Cooper and wants to be by his side as soon as he hears Cooper crying.

The hour car ride home 

 Cooper sleeping in his Rock and Play and Wilson keeping watch

Two very happy (and sleepy! haha) proud parents 

How can you not love this cute little guy?!  He is handsome just like his daddy :) We already love you so much Cooper!

We're Ready!

We've made it to the end!  Somehow with all the craziness that has gone on in our lives the past 6 weeks, everything seems to be coming together.  We are as settled as it's going to get in our townhouse in  Lexington and are ready to bring Cooper to his new home.  After my last doctor appointment (39 weeks), I received the greatest news that Dr. Thomas thought we were about ready for induction since I'm still measuring 3cm and Cooper's due date is so close.  She is on call at Baptist East on Tuesday, May 27, so we are scheduled for induction that day!  Scott came home this Memorial Day weekend and we decided to have a nice relaxing family weekend before our big day.  I keep thinking Cooper will make his arrival on his own, but apparently that is not the case!

We took Wilson to a dog park today to spoil him a little.  His world is about to get turned upside down!  He has been staying at Todd's house (Scott's brother) while we have been in Louisville, but I think he is ready for our family to be reunited again.  I know I am!

Cooper's cousin, Harrison!  He had fun playing and running with Wilson.  I'm going to miss living with him and the Holemans, but at least we are so close now.  Still hard to believe we live in Kentucky!

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend, too!

Almost there

The countdown to Cooper's arrival is getting so close!  The last couple weeks have been going by pretty fast.  We reached the weekend of May 16 that was creating much stress for me and Scott.  He had to fly to Florida to meet the movers who are packing up and bringing everything to Lexington.  I had this horrible fear that I would go into labor while he was away but Cooper held off!  We are starting to feel more prepared and organized.  We have the keys to our temporary townhouse in KY and will be getting somewhat settled there prior to bringing a baby home.  Our hospital bags are packed and now we are eagerly awaiting a hospital adventure!  My appointments are going well and I have progressed to 3 cm and am 70% effaced.  That has to mean he's coming early or on time, right?!  It's so hard to wait!!

37 Weeks...Cooper is about 6lbs on ultrasound.  My belly is getting so large! Not much more room in there, Coop, might as well come out :)

 38 Weeks

A Kentucky Derby Baby Shower

I had almost forgotten how fun it is to be in Louisville the weeks leading up to Derby.  We even had a Derby themed baby shower on April 26.  My sister and cousin Meredith worked so hard to honor Cooper and me. I am so grateful to everyone in the family who attended!

The hostesses and me

 how cute are these cookies?!

 mom and me

 Scott arrived at the end of the shower to thank everyone

Harrison wanted to get in a picture, too :) He already loves 'baby Cooper' and tries to talk to him through my belly button! He also likes to tell me "that's a really big belly, kiki!"

 me and my love.  I'm so lucky to have him on this journey with me

Lastly, to get in the Derby spirit my mom, sister and mother in law went to a painting class to make jockey silks for a cute decoration!  They turned out great and were a lot of fun to make.  Now I just need a home so I can hang it from my front door!!

Welcome Home

On Thursday, April 10 Scott and I flew to Louisville for my move back home!  I will stay in Louisville with my family until the baby arrives.  I had to change OB doctors and luckily my old OBGYN from years past accepted me.  I will be delivering Cooper at Baptist East in Louisville now, with plans to take him home from the hospital to Lexington.  Scott had to stay in Orlando a couple more weeks to finish up work there, and on April 25 he and Wilson drove up to Ky.  Scott started  his job in Lexington and is already liking it! He will go back to FL May 16 to meet the movers and drive my car back to Ky.  Then hopefully we can get a little settled in our new city before the baby arrives.  Whew it's a bit exhausting!

Wilson isn't sure what to do with all this chaos.  He was not a help when I had to pack up my suitcases to move!

I temporarily moved into my sister's basement and Harrison couldn't be happier to greet me every morning.  He made this "welcome home Kiki and Ott" sign for us.

and the Holemans gave me this cute Kentucky shirt as a welcoming home gift! I love it!

33 weeks

I went to my first appointment with Dr. Thomas in Louisville April 17.  They have 3D ultrasounds and I just can't help but share with you this cute little guy.  We are so ready to meet him!

I got to spend one of my favorite holidays with my family this year. I have always loved Easter.  The tulips in the background were a surprise from Scott!  So sweet.

34 weeks

 35 Weeks

BabyMoon

Scott and I decided to have a weekend getaway to St. Augustine, Florida for our "babymoon" and our goodbye to living by the beach.  I'm gonna miss being so close to the water.  Scott has lived in Florida for 13 years, so it's harder for him to say goodbye.  After the winter they've had in KY we are both sure to miss the perfect Florida weather.  We will have to go back to visit with Cooper!  The babymoon was so relaxing and a nice break from dealing with the move.  We went to the beach and enjoyed touring the historic downtown St. Augustine.  It's hard to believe how different our vacations will be in the future!
We arrived on Friday evening April 4.  It was only a 2 hour drive from Orlando.

 First stop after checking in: the beach!

We went to dinner that night downtown and toured around.  It is such a neat place with so many restaurants and historic sites to see.  (32 weeks pregnant)

We spent Saturday at the beach.  That night Scott decided we HAD to go on one of their ghost tours.  It actually ended up being pretty fun and Scott claims he captured a ghost on camera.

 one stop on the tour was the original jail house

 I nominated Scott to volunteer to go into this cage with our tour guide

and here is the "ghost"  it is the white streak going through the noose.  The guide claims that these "orbs" that appear in photos are the ghosts making their appearance known.  Scott proudly was showing it off to the guide.

Finally on Sunday we toured the original Lighthouse before heading back home.  We even climbed the 14 flights of stairs to the top to the lighthouse.  I had to take a few breaks but I made it!  It was worth it once we saw the view.

the old lighthouse keeper's home

the light at the top

some of the views 

the spiral staircase

We had a great farewell to Florida!