Penelope Claire Kirk is Here!

After what seemed like an endless summer pregnancy, our baby girl was born Friday, August 27th.  We spent the last couple of weeks worried about her and the possibility of a c-section, as she was in a breech position.  When we checked into the hospital on Friday morning, prepared for a procedure to try and turn her, we learned she had turned all by herself and was ready to meet the world! And meet the world she did!  Penny arrived at 5:48 in the afternoon, measuring in at 7 lbs, 1 oz and 20 and 1/4 inches long.  We marveled at not only how "easy" her delivery was and her beauty, but how much she looked like Cooper!  When they placed her on my chest seconds after her birth, I felt the biggest sense of deja vu!  It was like seeing Cooper as a newborn all over again!  I suspect as she grows older, she will look less like her brother and more like our Penny.

We had many visitors in the hospital.  Grandma and Grandpa Graham, Uncle Clint, Nonnie Kirk and Aunt Amanda.  Our friends Christie and James, Dana, Mariella, and Bill, Libby, and Cassy Morgan.  Now we are thrilled to be home as a family of four.

Cooper, not sure what to think of the new baby:

Ready to go home!

First day home with Mom:

First day home with Dad:

Ready and Waiting for our Girl...

Life's Just a Bowl of Cherries!

This past weekend we attended a birthday party for our friend at the beach...we stayed until Cooper needed a nap and had a lot of fun.  Cooper learned how to eat cherries...hold by the stem, bite around the pit, then throw the pit and stem into the pit bucket. It was super cute!

Day at the Museum

This week Cooper and I met our friends at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.  While Corpus doesn't boast a very big or elaborate museum, it is perfect for kids!  The kids were free to play in the children's area and explore the rest of the museum without the mom's having to worry to much about anything being broken or damaged.

"Washing hands" at the kitchen sink:

Maestro on the xylophone:

Captain Cooper and Captain Layla:

Spanish ship exhibit:

What is that?

Getting tired and ready for the rest of the museum tour to be on wheels:

Great Summer Weekend!

This weekend our old friends Paul and Marcia came down for a visit.  We hadn't seen them in a long time, so it was great to catch up!  Of course they brought their little boy Hunter, who is only 2 weeks older than Cooper.  The boys had a great time playing together!  They had fun swimming, playing with toys, and going to the beach.  Shame on me, I didn't take enough pictures!  But here are a few:

David, Paul, Marcia, Hunter, and Cooper (and some random guy walking by):

Boys playing with toys:

Cooper in a rare moment of sitting in one place:

Cooper: The Lost Files

Ok, so I love technology as much as the next person, but I don't LOVE technology like many of my counterparts seem to. Therefore, I am not the techno-savviest. I have had tons of pictures of Cooper on my phone for months but didn't know how to get them onto my computer so that I could post them. Luckily, Cooper has at least one techno-savvy parent who recently swooped in and saved the day. Dad downloaded (or uploaded?) all 118 pictures from my phone on to my computer so that I could finally share them! Thought I should, since very soon this blog won't just be about Cooper.

Being silly at the Becker Reunion (Grandma's side) back in September:

"Helping" Mom at the Office (not 100% sure when):

Early morning walk (hence the pjs) at the lake in November:

With Dad

Playing at the fountain at Pico de Gallo's in San Antonio, after Mom's half marathon, in November:

Kirk men on the prowl, right after Christmas in Houston:

Our Little Jumping Bunny!

Cooper and I are involved in a program this summer called Jumping Bunnies. Mostly it consists of Cooper getting to run around and play on all the gymnastics equipment at the athletic club. He loves going, and I love the 3 hour nap that usually follows! Some of Cooper's friends from school and the music class we took last fall come also, which adds to the fun. Here are some video clips of him trying out all equipment.

Summer is Here!

Welcome Summer!!!

We love this time of year anyway, but this year we are even more excited for the onset of the FUN season.  We started the season by moving.  Our little house, while sweet, was just too small for our growing family.  We have relocated across the Harbor Bridge to a bigger house.  Our new house is complete with a spectacular view of Nueces Bay, a sun room, and a pool!  Just in time for the hot weather!  Cooper loves the water, and is already showing that he is a natural swimmer.

Life is still hectic, as we try to get settled into the new house AND get ready for our baby girl due in early September.  I have made the transition to stay-at-home-mom status and I love it!   I am on the cusp of the 3rd trimester, so my energy levels are starting to wane just a bit.  With the energy I do have, I am taking on various home projects because I know I won't have the time once the baby comes.  In between unpacking boxes, painting 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, and figuring out what we still need for the baby, Cooper and I are enjoying various summer activities.

Cooper is still having a blast at Mother's Day Out twice a week, which gives me a chance to run errands without him.  On Wednesdays we meet our old neighbors (and friends) for a play date, and we have just started an activity called Jumping Bunnies for our Fridays.  Jumping Bunnies is where we can go to the CC Athletic Club so Cooper can jump around and play on all the gymnastics equipment.  He LOVES it!  We also plan on squeezing in a two-week session of swimming lessons sometime this summer as well.

Cheese!

Day in the Sun

On Sunday we took a break from all the home renovation, house buying plans, packing, etc. to enjoy a day out. We attended the International Boat Show at the marina with our friends Bill and Libby.  The sun was strong but the humidity was low, making it for a gorgeous day!  We pushed Cooper around in the stroller as we looked at boats, motor homes and boat stuff.  I have always boycotted going to the boat show because I am not that interested in looking at things we can't buy, but we had a great time!  Dad demoed a kayak and I found a swinging chair that will be perfect for our new house.  Some friends picked us up in their boat while the Coast Guard bore down on us, making us move for the speed boat races.  We anchored on the other side of the breakwater on the jetty, giving us a good view of the races, and a place for Cooper to play.  Cooper did great on the boat!  He loved the races and the boat ride.  He didn't love wearing a life jacket, but that is just something he will have to get used to!  He even slept for an hour on the boat while the guys shopped the boat show a little more.  It was fun to be on the water for most of the day, and no one got sunburned!  A few pics:

Coop at the Boat Show

Dad and Coop playing in the water, waiting for the speed boat races:

I've got yucky stuff on my hands!