Labor Day Weekend

Last weekend, Dan, C-Diddy and I went down to Lake Gaston to celebrate Labor Day. We couldn't have ordered better weather, and all slept really well. There is something about that place. For some reason, Dan sleeps better, I sleep better, my parents sleep better, and even little Coop sleeps great there. I mean, 12 hour nights -sleeping REAL WELL! I wish we could go down every weekend.

Here are a bunch of pics from the week. I confess that I have a problem. I've turned into one of those moms that can't get enough pics of their kid. And then I have a billion pics of the same pose, and I can't bare to erase any of them... bc they're soo cute. And I have this attachment to them. I don't know how you moms can choose just one photo from a particular pose. I did my best to post a good variety of pics, but honestly, I just wanted to upload all 150 pics! Hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did.



Coop LOVES the pool. He got in easier than I did. I had to inch one toe in at a time bc it was so cold, but not Coop.



I love how Coop is just holding onto Dan's finger here...



I think our son has cellulite...




Being held by Grandpa.








One person said it correctly about Coop. "He's got rolls on rolls." Especially behind his knees.





Ted and his family came and met us on Friday. Had a blast with them too!

The many faces of Cooper

Okay, those of you who know my husband can definitely say that Cooper is the spitting image of Dan. Don't you think? At first, I couldn't tell who he looked like. But the older he's gotten, the more I can't look at Coop without thinking about how much he looks like Dan. If you were to draw the profile of Dan's head, it would be identical... just 6 sizes smaller. The cheeks, the round face, and of course (sorry honey) the bald head.... are just DAN! What do y'all think? I think he's 100% Ricks... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ugh, I just want to eat him up...

I just LOVE that little smile. It has been so fun because Coop has just started laughing... and I can't get enough of that too.




These are just a few pics of Coop with Dan's parents when they came out to visit. I wish they lived closer!! I really feel so fortunate to have such great in-laws. They have been nothing but wonderful to me and my family. And I have always told Dan that I hope he grows up to be just like his father. And seeing this pic of Leon with Coop makes me hope that he one day becomes as good of a man has his "Grampy."






I could just take pics of Coop all day long....
HAPPY THURSDAY!!!

Happy 4th!

Dan, Coop and I headed down to Lake Gaston (on the border of NC and VA) for the 4th of July. It was the first time my whole family has gotten together since Christmas. I've been coming down to this lake for nearly 15 years, and I never had any idea that when I was 15 years old, (I'm dating myself now) that I would one day go down with my husband and little boy. So much has happened, and sometimes I still feel like I need to hand my little boy off to his mother.

My mother was in her element this weekend. Five grandkids definitely keep her on her toes. Steph and I couldn't resist getting matching outfits for Hunt and Coop. Once Steph dressed Hunt up for the pictures, he jumped into the pool with all his clothes on!

All the grandkids....

This is Theo. He is the spitting image of Ted when he was a baby. I just ADORE this picture!

LOVE these guys! What would I do without them???

Kate started our 4th out right with a special little rendition of Katy Perry's song, "Fireworks. " She graced us in one of Steph's old leotards that was 5 sizes too big. She didn't care... just worried about how Grandma was going to introduce her before her dance...

We recently purchased a wake skate. (Is that even what they're called??). Hunter, Dan, Chase and Bliss, spent the weekend trying to figure it out. It is much harder than it looks. Each person got up with no problems. The difficulty was trying to keep surfing the wake once you dropped the rope. I am definitely not coordinated enough for it.

Dan looked great up there. I was cheering really loud for him.

Just not loud enough I guess....

Love how Coop has no neck!

Cooper is one happy baby! Especially when he's with grandma.

Every year, my 3 brothers, father and Dan go on a golf tournament competing for the Lansing Cup. Well, I'm proud to say that my baby is the winner for 2011! We had a formal presentation of the cup from the previous 2010 winner, Hunter. That silver cup is sitting in the middle of my mantle! So proud of Dan. He beat them all fair and square! My Dad's joke is now that the Lansing boys need to go in for group therapy if a Ricks won the "Lansing Cup!" Yeah, you better believe it!

Cooper Daniel Ricks

I'd like to present Mr. Cooper Daniel Ricks. Is he not the cutest little guy ever? Dan and I are completely smitten with him and can't believe he is actually ours. We feel so blessed and grateful that he arrived healthy and safely. I thought I would post a bunch of different pictures of him as he's grown up the past 3 months. Above he is 1 day old and still in the hospital. Part of me just wishes he was this big all over again.


When Dan and I came home from the hospital, we were warmly welcomed by my mother with a clean house, and a gourmet lunch waiting for us. She was a dream! She kept me calm and took care of everything -from laundry to meals to night shifts. I honestly do not know what I would have done without her. She is simply wonderful.




We've had lots of visitors, and we made the trek down to Richmond 2 weeks after Coop was born for Easter.

Doesn't my husband look like a natural? If you only knew how great he has been with little Coop. I knew he would be good, but I had no idea he would be this good... And isn't he handsome? I just love this pic of him here (and especially the huge Easter Bunny behind him:).

Granny Sylvia and Biz came out a few days after Coop was born. They were heaven sent, and helped out with everything. We loved having them, and Coop was so sad when they had to leave.


I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this pic of the two of them. They were hysterical giving Coop a bath! Boy does this little guy get TONS of attention!

All the cousins! Not easy to get them all to smile. I love how Theo's can't stop touching Coop's head. And Hunt is on the run!

Coop's first time in the pool. It was a little cold, and I still think he's deciding whether he likes it or not!
More pics to come...