Piano Pals

Last week my friend Katy came over to play. We had a blast playing outside in the water (sorry, no pictures of that) and then we played the piano together when we came inside.

We are great multi-taskers: reading and playing the piano at the same time:

Looking for just the right song to play:

Fun pictures

I'm learning how to smile for the camera.

My big smile--I learned this from one of my books.

These are my arms--I also learned that in a book.

Daddy's personal favorite.

Playing and Learning

I've been a bit slow in the talking department--I really don't see the need to use words when pointing and grunting work just fine to get what I want. But over the past few weeks I've had a lot of attention from different people. I've been able to play with both my Grandmas and Grandpas as well as a lot of my aunts and uncles, and my friends have been over for play dates too. All of this socializing has made me start to use words more often and I'm also using sign language a lot more. Here are a few fun pictures with my aunts:

Aunt Kari desperate to get a picture with me before she leaves.

I gave in and did a high 5 with her.

Aunt Denise bribing me with chips in order to get a picture with her before she leaves.

A spontaneous raspberry blowing contest with Aunt Denise--no bribing necessary.

By the way, I won as you can probably tell from the spit marks on my shirt and the mattress and the drool hanging from my chin.

I've also gotten a lot of books from people recently that are so much fun to read, and they've helped me learn new words. My Baby Einstein videos are also fun to watch. (Some people may think it's a bad idea for kids my age to watch videos like that, but I've really learned a lot from them!)

In Loving Memory

Little Footprints

How very softly

you tiptoed into my world.

Almost siltently,

only a moment you stayed.

But what an imprint

your footsteps have left

upon my heart.

~Dorothy Ferguson

Over 100 people attended Cooper's funeral on Wednesday. We couldn't believe it as people continued to arrive and offer their love and support. Brian's mom shared some thoughts and Brian read some journal entries about how he felt and what happened with Cooper. We enclosed a few things in Cooper's casket that he would be buried with: a family picture of Brian, me, and Ty; a little Beanie Baby cougar since Brian was going to call Cooper his little "Cougar" (just like he calls Ty "Tiger"); and letters from me, Brian, and Ty. As part of the service, Brian and I shared the letters we had written to Cooper. Tony Kibbie sang "In the Hollow of Thy Hand" and had to stop three times as he was overcome with emotion. Brian's dad offered a beautiful dedicatory prayer. And Bishop Anderson closed with some touching remarks.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful or spiritual memorial to our son. It's hard to believe the way he touched so many lives in the short time he was on this earth. We want to thank everyone who has called, visited, provided meals, and sent flowers, cards and emails with words of love and sympathy. We are healing and managing to return to normal life--although it's a new kind of normal.

We know we will see Cooper again because we know families are eternal. Our Heavenly Father has called him home much earlier than expected. But as Brian's dad said in his prayer, we are grateful that our Father in Heaven shared him with us for even a brief time.

We love you, Cooper.

Cooper Ryan

For those who have not heard yet, Cooper Ryan was born Tuesday June 24th at 7:48 pm, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. He took one breath and cried once before his heart stopped. He had lost a lot of blood in the womb. They think that a blood vessel might have burst with the sack. The doctors worked hard and got him revived and at times stabilized. They gave him several blood transfusions and hooked him up to machines to help him b reathe. They fought hard for him and several times he improved giving us much hope, but he appeared to be bleeding internally. Wednesday morning they transferred him to Children's Hospital where they hoped to perform surgery to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately Cooper's little body, taxed by the ordeal, was unable to clot his blood. They feared surgery was impossible without that. He was given more transfusions to keep his blood pressure up, but the bleeding inside put too much pressure on his lungs and eventually it made it too difficult to keep giving him oxygen. At 5:15 pm they took him off life support and let Kristen and I hold him. He passed away in our arms a beautiful little boy with the blue eyes his mother wanted him to have.


We will get through this. Ty is helping to keep us grounded. We are very thankful for all the support and prayers we have received over the past several days. We will have a graveside service for Cooper Wednesday July 2nd. For further details about the service please post a comment and we will contact you.

The Museum of Flight

Last Thursday, Mommy and Daddy took me to the Museum of Flight. I love airplanes, so I thought the museum was awesome! There were airplanes everywhere and right up close where I could see them--not just a little speck in the sky.


A few times I tried to get really close to the planes, but there was this little fence in the way, and every time I tried to climb over it, Daddy would pull me away.




I didn't mind too much, though, because there were some planes that I actually got to sit in!


We also visited the WWII section of the museum where I showed what a "Big Stud" I am and read all about different planes and what pilots painted on their noses.

I had such a fun time. Maybe I'll be a pilot when I grow up.

Thirsty anyone?

A few weeks ago I learned how to get water out of the water dispenser on the refrigerator. It's a bit tricky, but if I reach high enough

and stand on my tippy toes,

I can usually get something to come out--although it doesn't always end up in a cup. Sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to have a cup there to catch the water. That's why Mommy and Daddy usually lock the dispenser so nothing will come out, no matter how hard I push on the little lever.

I sure do like drinking out of a cup now. It makes me feel all grown up--just like Mommy and Daddy.

But I have to admit that sometimes there are more interesting things to do with a cup of water than just drink it. What's going on in this picture?:

Just trying to cool off a bit.

Can I have more water now, please? Mine is all gone.