J Cooper Photography

On Saturday we took a day trip to Nebraska.  The Writer is back in school and couldn’t sneak away for our airport party…and just couldn’t wait a second longer to meet our sweet Ethiopian babe.  So we piled in the car for a short ride and met her part way at my parent’s house so she could see him in person!   Usually when we are all together we spend the time shopping and gabbing but this time we stuck close to home.  I didn’t want to take Daniel out on the town so we played and sat around chatting all day.  Perfection.  Daniel did amazingly well on our little mini-trip.  He didn’t cower behind his hands the entire time or shut down.  He was friendly but a little shy…and of course…totally the sweetest thing ever!

Several of my nieces came along to meet the little man too…and let me tell ya….Daniel LOVE blondes!  He was mesmerized by the long, gorgeous, blonde hair and couldn’t keep his hands off of it.  He was completely in love with his cousins and spent the entire afternoon cooing with them, showing them his newest tricks, and just flirting away!

He ate better there than he has EVER eaten here…and he took a killer nap.  It’s like my Mom’s super mothering powers were hard at work.  I wish she could transport those long distance so that they worked here too!  Daniel loved meeting The Writer as well.  He showed her how he liked to stick out his tongue and practiced his tribal language for her.   They were instant friends

Everyone wanted to just scoop him up and carry him away…but they all behaved themselves very well   It is hard to limit the holding and touching when you are with the people you love most…but we are confident that all the extra work at bonding and attaching will really help Daniel to feel secure in his new home.  We are SO thankful to finally have him home so that we can introduce him to everyone that has been longing to meet him!

Dear Daniel,

While you were sleeping yesterday in the Moby, I was quite productive.

I ate lunch (sorry about the chips and salsa crumbs in your cute curls)

I loaded the washing machine and dryer

I re-arranged the furniture in the family room

I tucked Sam into bed and sang him some songs

I read to J and got her settled in her room for rest time

I read some emails and checked out Facebook

I snuggled you and prayed a prayer of thankgiving that you were here with me

{Sorry it has taken me a few days to figure out you don’t love your crib.  We’ll nap again like this tomorrow!}

When you are spending every waking hour at your house you’ve got to come up with something to do (besides organizing your junk drawer)…which to me translates to…photo time   I took advantage of a small window of sunshine this morning and took a few more pictures of Daniel.  You know…cause I haven’t taken enough already.  You aren’t getting sick of pictures of our chunky little guy are you (please say NO)?
I have eight full months of images to catch up on!

So our little guy has a NEW TRICK!

When we picked him up from Hannah’s Hope he had NO idea how to sit up.  I don’t think anyone had ever shown him how to sit so he had no stomach muscles at all.  Being almost 8 months I just sat him down on a blanket in the family room of the baby house assuming he’d sit…nope.  He keeled right over and was none to happy with me about the little mix-up!  Over the past couple of weeks I have been working with him a few times a day and he is SO proud of his newly found skill.  He can sit unassisted now for a few minutes and is getting stronger every day.  He can also pull up on my lap now too (he also didn’t know he had legs in Ethiopia).

I would have loved to try a few other shots this morning with my little set-up but I didn’t have an assistant.  Actually that’s not entirely true.  I had my 2 year old.  And he wanted to help.  Except he really isn’t any help whatsoever so it totally didn’t count.

I tried Daniel in a bucket.  This is such a cute shot with newborns.  And even though I kind of think of him as a newborn (to us)…this definitely did NOT work.  Note to self: buy a bigger bucket.  But it did give him a chance to notice something else new and exciting….his toes!  He didn’t know he had those either and he was quite astonished with the discovery!

For the rest of the shots I just laid him on the floor to play.  One of the things I really love about this little guy is all the different smiles he makes!

There’s the “I’m going to smile in just a minute” smile.

There’s the “aren’t I cute” smirk.

And of course the “my mommy is the funniest person in the whole wide world” smile.

There’s also the “I’ll smile for you if you promise to end this torture” smile.

As well as the “can’t wait til I have a few teeth” smile.

And then all the smiles are over…and out comes the thumb.

Daniel is our our fourth thumb sucker.  See…it was meant to be!

Thanks for the smiles and new tricks little love.   I’ll meet you at the same place tomorrow

And for all those who love a pull back shot.  I shot these in the family room in the back of our house.  There is a wall of windows on the opposite side of those painted doors.  Normally I would have moved all the furniture out of the way so I had plenty of room to work.  But with only Sam as my assitant (and because I was just plain lazy) I just scootched things around a bit until I had a little spot to work.   The doors are real doors that have been painted and distressed and are just leaning against the wall.  The “barnwood” floor is a rug (like a giant mouse pad).  It is NOT decking.  I actually had a friend ask how I was taking all these shots out on my deck in this weather – HA!  I shot these with my 24-70 lens at F3.2, Shutter 1/200, ISO 400 (I know some people like the nitty gritty).  I didn’t shoot wide open because I wanted the cars in the first shots to be in focus too…although usually I do inside.  The little metal cars are from his room.  The diaper cover is a G diaper from Babies R Us.  That ought to cover it but if anyone has other questions I’m happy to answer them!!

That plaid shirt was what I stripped off half way through the session when I was overheating….good thing no one came to the door!

We have been trying to stay VERY close to home over the past few weeks.  This might be easy (even refreshing) for some.  But I am a “go-er” and a “do-er” so being at home around the clock makes my skin start to crawl.  I actually love being in my house…I just need smaller doses   But it is important for Daniel to get a firm sense of his new surroundings and to have the opportunity to attach and bond with not only us…but his everyday environment.  We’ve made the daily school run (fortunately he doesn’t mind his car seat…yeah!!) and a couple of doctor visits.  But we’ve been avoiding the mall, Walmart, and anywhere else where there are likely to be crowds.  Instead we’ve been hanging out playing Thomas the Train, practicing some of our new tricks (like sitting up!) and just snuggling on the couch.  There will be plenty of days for running around in our future and I’m trying hard to just enjoy this quiet time at home.

So here are a few of the things we are doing to keep ourselves busy here inside the Cooper abode:

The infamous breathing treatments.  He hated them at first but has come to have peace with his fate and now usually just falls fast asleep.  The extra bonus?  I get 3o minutes of daytime tv – ha!

Trying out some new cuisine.

DO NOT let that smile fool you.  I had just said something ingeniously funny…that’s all.  Daniel DOES NOT like solid foods.  And he is doing his very best to keep those tight lips closed and the enemy cereal out.  I’ve tried everything I can think of.  But after 8 months of guzzling those bottles…he’s not a big fan of the spoon.  I’m all ears on any tricks of the trade on this one!!

Between the bottle feedings (he’s taking about 5 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours during the day), cereal eating torture, breathing treatments, and rocking to sleep (he doesn’t actually nap…I rock…he falls asleep…I lay him down…he wakes up…lather…rinse…repeat)…our day goes by pretty quickly.  Sam provides good entertainment for both of us.  He is especially wound up these days as he isn’t getting much outside stimulation either (can you say CLIMBING THE WALLS??)  So we’ve been doing lots of puzzles, trains, cars, and when all else fails…MOVIES!!!  He has been a great big brother though and seems to be adjusting pretty darn well.

(don’t mind the red eyes…pink eye seems to think we have a revolving door at this house!)

I am on a cleaning, purging, organizing kick since we are spending so much time inside.  Just wait til you see our craft area…and my junk drawer…I’m on a roll!

I have to admit that I really love having four kids.  There have been days already when the laundry is piled so high and dinner so burned that it threatens to steal my joy.  But overall…four kids make me very happy.  It’s funny how everyone has a different perception of a “large” family.  I don’t think a family of six seems large at all (I came from a family of five).  But I know a few people who think we’ve lost our minds…and it kind of cracks me up.  I’d rather have a house full of kids than extra money in my savings account.  I’d rather have lots of little faces (and messes) than a week on a luxury ocean liner too.  And when people tell me how “I’ve got my hands full” I love to throw that little “Oh…we can’t wait to do this again” their way…gets them every time.  So what’s a big number to you?  Do you see lots of kids in your future or will you stick to what you’ve already got?  There’s no right answer (don’t worry…there won’t be a quiz).  Everyone is called to a different lifestyle.  Just giving a fair warning to all those out there who think we are in over our heads…we {may not} be done

I’m not really a fan of my make-shift studio photography.  I’d much rather be out in the great outdoors.  But I had my assistant available this weekend and even though the cloudy weather stole my beautiful natural light…I wasn’t going to attempt this on my own.  And I’m WAY to impatient to have waited another week.  So we barged ahead with our torture session photo shoot.  I’m going to ignore the fact that I cut off Sam’s toes and just run with the best of the batch.  I’m turning over a new leaf here called “happy they are all just in the same frame” and refuse to worry about all the little details that would have driven my former self crazy.  I’m not even going to mention those little things (like the fact that Sam isn’t looking at the camera or that one of A’s eyes is ever so slightly squinty)…nope…not gonna mention them   I actually really love this shot and it will likely find a spot somewhere in my house nice and BIG.

I took advantage of our little set-up and did some individuals of all the kiddos too (oh, how they loved that idea)…hoping to group some of these together somewhere!

biggest sister

middlest sister

biggish brother

baby brother

Mostly just really thankful I don’t need to photograph all the kids again for a bit.  Funny how I love to photograph other people’s kids but my own scare the begeebers out of me.  Proud to admit, however, that I did completely keep my cool this time and bribed them with M&Ms and promises of the Dollar Store.  So I should definitely get some points for that.  Plus some day they’ll love that I took all these pictures, right?

We DID manage to get a little photo shoot with all FOUR of the kiddos today.  It about killed me.  And I’m not joking.  I had to lay down on the floor for a few minutes and catch my breath when it was all said and done.  But I did get a couple of cute shots without anyone picking their nose (although a certain 2 year old DID poop his pants right in the middle of the photo shoot so it wasn’t without a bit of drama).  I hope to do a bit of editing and sharing in the next day or two…but tonight my bed is calling so you just get a little sneaky peak.  Is this little guy not the CUTEST thing EVER?  Can I get a hearty AMEN?  Oh how I love those little cheeks!

I’m driving myself crazy trying to make a cute announcement from the shots I took today.  And at this point I think I may just print the pictures out on my home computer and Scotch tape them to some construction paper for you   Or maybe I’ll splurge and find some talented graphics gal on Etsy to whip something cute and sassy up for me…I sure don’t have the time to do it myself right now!

I wish I had a video of me and Mr. P trying to get all FOUR kiddos looking at the camera.  It would be “America’s Funniest Home Video” worthy…let’s just say Mr. P was doing his best “Buzz Lightyear has a bit of gas” impersonation and leave it at that

Be back soon to share a few more!

We’ve been home with Daniel now for exactly ONE week.  At this time last Thursday night we were just pouring into our house…unloading our suitcases…and flopping into bed.  We were beyond exhausted, feeling sick, and happy beyond belief.  We expected a hard week full of mixed up days and nights, crazy schedules, and maybe even some rejection.  But we’ve been blessed instead with a good little sleeper and more smiles than we deserve.  And while we are extremely HAPPY to be home…I don’t want to paint a picture that this journey is all roses and cream puffs.  It’s hard.  It’s STILL hard.  We are making gains every day with earning Daniel’s trust…but there is a long road ahead of us.  We are still tired (I expect that to be a new normal around here for awhile).  And while we are “cocooning” in around the house and helping Daniel to learn about his new family…I am feeling MORE than a bit stir crazy.  God knows me so well…that at the end of a long week when I am desperate to get out on the town….he dumps a foot of snow at our doorstep and forces me to stay put

Tonight I’m reflecting a bit back at our long journey and thought I would share a few of our favorite images from our first trip to Ethiopia.  We were never able to share these online.  We literally took HUNDREDS of photos of our sweet boy in November.  I knew that it would be excruciating to leave him behind…and the photos were something that I knew would help me feel connected to him.  Looking back…I cannot believe his transformation in just 2 months (of course he gained almost 5 lbs. during that time!)

It has been a long road.  And now that the excitement of coming home is starting to wain…the real journey is just beginning.  Would we do it all over again?  In a heart beat.
Daniel is our son…and we are completely in love.

I’ve been dying to slip these tees on “the boys” and catch them together.  I caught them in a rare quiet moment watching Noggin this morning.  Getting a 2 year old and an 8 month old to sit together requires an assistant (of which I had none)…so we had to wing it.  Getting one of them to look at me was easy…but both…yeah…that might take some more work!  I’m hoping to get ALL the kiddos in a few frames this weekend.  Makes me sweat just thinking about it!

Super Sam has been just that.  He is handling the transition better than I could have ever imagined (he IS TWO after all).  This morning while I gave Daniel his breathing treatments, S-man sat on the bed with us and did his Look and Find books.  Then he hopped down and ambled down the stairs to play with his Thomas the Trains.  He’s interested in the baby but playing pretty well on his own…and I’ve only had to save Daniel’s head from getting stomped on a couple of times so far…not bad, huh?

We have SO appreciated the sweet gifts, visits, and meals that our friends have provided!  This little treat came from a sweet FRIEND who has a cookie business.  Can you even believe the cute factor here??  I really didn’t even want to eat them…except they were SO GOOD…so I had to   There were other varieties too (cute little stripes and polka dots) but they had already been eaten by the time I got my camera out.  I am blown away by the thoughtfulness of our friends!!

The house is quiet…all the kids are either at school or napping (major Mommy points there I think!) so I am off to do something productive (or maybe nap).

I love having brothers in this house   And I think he agrees!

This is the first month milestone we get the privilege of sharing with our little guy.  8 months old.  8 months of another life, far away.
I am beyond grateful for the care he received in our absense.  It took this TINY, sick baby…

And turned him into this chubalicious little ham

I wouldn’t have believed it was even the same baby…except I have watched the transformation through photographs on my computer.   I’ve seen him at every stage…in his crib, sunning outside, in the bouncy seat, in a walker, in the arms of the special mothers…even on a baby scale.  I’ve watched him devour that love and attention.  And now he is home and we get to be the ones to pour into him!

At 8 months this little guy is 17.5 pounds.  He can {almost} sit up for a few seconds before toppling over.  He can light up the entire room with one toothless grin.  He can down a bottle of formula faster than any baby I have ever seen!  Daniel is a true joy.  He is mellow and funny.  He has an amazingly hearty belly laugh and about 5 different smiles.  He is extremely ticklish.  We are learning new things about him every single day.  When we picked him up in Ethiopia and brought him back to the hotel he was scared.  He cried and cried and wouldn’t put his little hands down from in front of his face.  Paul finally calmed him down and he fell asleep exhausted.  When he woke up he had decided we were ok…and he’s been smiling at us ever since.  We are starting to see little signs of bonding…lots of eye contact, reaching for our faces, playing with my hair, and initiating little “conversations”.  We have a long way to go…but we are just thrilled that he is letting us into his little world and sharing his joy with us!  He’s eating 5-6 ounce bottles and has just started cereal (totally not digging that right now).  He’s waking at midnight and 5am to eat and immediately falling back asleep.  He’s got the other little people in this house wrapped around his littlest fingers.  Even the Samster has been claiming “that Baby Daniel sure is toot!!”

Keeping up with these 4 kids is more than a full time job.  We are exhausted…but oh so happy!!  Between the daily bottles and breathing treatments we are spending our days on the floor playing.  We’ve had help from friends in the way of play dates, meals, and gifts…and tomorrow the girls will go back to school.  I think we are beginning to get the hang of this new crazy life!

Happy 8 Monthday Littlest Brother.  We are so happy to have you!

{Cute onsie courtesy of The Librarian…much thanks!!}

We waited 15 months for the day we could CELEBRATE bringing Daniel home!  I have never felt so loved as I did the night we flew into the Kansas City airport.  As we tumbled off the plane I could see the crowd gathered through the glass walls…and I immediately felt all the love and support from our family and friends….grandparents, sisters,  childhood friends, neighbors, adoption families, church friends, small group members…they all banded together to provide an AMAZING circle of love that night!  We were beyond exhausted {still sick} and SO ready to be home and see all those smiling faces!  I was fortunate to have a friend come and photograph the night as well as my Dad (who is also quite handy with a camera).  Words really can’t describe the pure JOY we felt but I think you will see it in the pictures.  There are a lot.  Brace yourself   And this is only a portion of the ones I have!!   Click HERE to see the awesome slide show Nance made for us from her images.  But have the kleenex handy cause she really knocked it out of the ballpark!

I have SO much more I want to share {when I can find the time}.  There are so many firsts happening at our house right now and we are loving every minute of it!