This time last year...

As I was thinking about Cooper's birth story...I also started thinking about Owen's.  Cooper's story is so much different.  Don't get me wrong, it was a birth...and it was an amazing day.  But there are lot less details to share because in comparison to his brother's grand entrance into the world...his was much less eventful!! Guess that happens when your birth is a schedule c-section that has a beginnning start time and an OR booked and ready for you!!

If you are interested, you can read my recount of Owen's birth story starting here. As we approached his first birthday, I retold it. It's a long one, but it's a good one!!

But this year...I'm recounting Coop's birth story!  So here's a little about what we were doing as we waited for him to join our family!!  Leading up to his birth we:

Did some reminsicing
Worked on creating a prehistoric wonderland
We had a lot of Owen-filled fun...here, here, and here.
I did a little pregnant girl cooking
I got really nervous about my pending surgery and posted one last post!
And I didn't post this till after Cooper was here...but this is how we spent our entire last weekend as the Linley 3.

Boy did life look different then!!  I will never forget the night before heading in...I TRIED so hard to sleep...but was completely unable to. I tossed and turned from horrible heart burn...and my thoughts would not allow me to rest. I promised myself after being so nervous with Owen...I wouldn't allow myself to do that with Cooper. Well with Cooper I was nervous but in a different kind of way...and a whole different set of things to wonder and worry about. Will the surgery go fast? Did I make the right choice to have a c-section?  Should I have tried for a natural birth? What would two kids be like? Would he be a good sleeper? Or would he take after his brother?  Would I ever feel like I could love them both enough? I also wrestled with memories of post c-section pain and all the needles and medicine and machines.  All of the things that sort of fade from your memory until your marching right back into them...in less than 24 hours! I know why I had trouble sleeping.

Needless to say...all those things were running through my very tired, 9 month pregnant brain and I didn't get as much sleep as I would have like. When we got up that morning to shower the tears started. Stacey was on her way to get Owen...and I knew as soon as he left I'd loose it completely.  Somehow that last piece of the puzzle made me cry the hardest.  I knew the tears were coming. All the worry, concerns, excitement...it all bubbled up...and when my baby left the house...never to return to our little family of 3 again...life was different in that instant.  I am pretty sure I cried till we got to the hospital...and suddenly...as I climbed into my hospital gown and they began to prep me...I got excited and the tears stopped. Sure I was still nervous. But the nurses good moods and excitement was infectious. We are having a baby today! Cooper Ayden was joining our family.  The baby that had been kicking my ribs for months...was about to be here! 10 fingers. 10 toes. Kissable cheeks and sleepy baby snuggles. All of that awaited us. We were getting ready to meet the mini-Cooper for the first time and just like with Owen...our lives were about to change forever in the best way possible!