Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy!  On October 12th he turned 2.    Where has the past year gone?  So much has happened.  He grew up when I blinked.  Cooper is such a mess and loves loves loves to be outside.  We play outside every chance we get.  I'm so amazed that I can understand about 90% of what he says.  Never thought that day would come. Every night we say prayers and tell him we love him and he responds with a hearty AMEN and love ya Momma and love ya daddy.  Melts my heart.  This boy is his father's child all the way.  He loves animals.  Favorites are horses and cows.  I take him to feed the cows at the clinic at least twice a week.  He and Husband trek out in the pasture and whistle for the cows.  Then Coop rides in the wheelbarrow on top of the cow fed and husband pushes him to the trough.  Husband pours the food in and here come the cows.  Coop loves it!  Most of our conversations revolve around cows :)  Since he is slightly obsessed with cows we decided a cow themed birthday party was our only option (and when your dad is a vet, you can have a REAL cow at your party).

Our neighbors were probably wondering about all the mooing coming from our back yard, ha!  This boy was so thrilled about having a real cow in his backyard, it was priceless!

We had a great time with family and friends celebrating 2 years with Cooper.

We got him the Thomas up & down roller coaster for his birthday present.  He loves it and constantly ask to ride choo choo!  Best part about it is that he can ride it all by himself (no help from parents needed, haha!)

Due Date...

October 4th came and went.  I thought it would be more of an emotional day than what it was.  The Husband decided to take off work that day and to make it a special day for our family.  Cooper ended up having a doctor's appt that day in Huntsville so we decided to get up early and head to Huntsville to the Early Works Museum.  I was slightly disappointed in the museum, not much there for a 2 yr old to explore.  I have some wonderful childhood memories of my granny taking Sister and me to the children's museum in Memphis, and I was expecting Early Works to be more like that.  Oh well, it was fun and Cooper enjoyed it.  We then went to Cooper's appointment.  Coop had been turning his ankle slightly inward when he walked and our pediatrician recommended we see an pediatric orthopedist.  Every thing checked out and Cooper should eventually grow out of it as he gets older.  I have been really homesick for LA recently (hadn't been home since August) so after to appt we headed south.  We  had a great time visiting with family and we were able to attend my BIL's church and witness my oldest  nephew be baptized (a very special day for our family).  Sunday night after getting back home it hit...

I was tired.  Emotionally and physically tired.  I told Husband all along that if baby was a boy he would be born on 10/4 because that was my Granddaddy's birthday.  The name Tipp came from his dad (my great-grandfather) and my dad's middle name is Tipp.  I know this is totally crazy to think, but I just know James Tipp would've been born on the 4th.  The hard reality of no baby on 10/4 hit me like a ton of bricks.  There would be no baby.  I know my granddaddy is in heaven having a wonderful time with his great-grandson.  I bet they are into all kinds of heavenly mischief!!  James Tipp is now surrounded with several of his great-grandparents, and I know they are having a blast.  Most importantly James Tipp is with his Heavenly Father.  How great is my longing for Heaven.  As David says in II Samuel 12:23 when referring to his infant son that has died, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  One day I will go to James Tipp.

October is also National Infant and Pregnancy loss month with October 15th being the date of the month that it is recognized.  October 15th is also my birthday.  I knew Oct 15th was the national day for recognizing infant and pregnancy loss before we lost James Tipp and thought about what a sad day my birthday fell on, but now it seems very appropriate.  Point blank - October will be hard.  We are so thankful for the numerous cards, texts, and kind words we have received over the past 2 weeks.  Thank you for remembering us and our precious son.