Cohen's 1st Halloween

Cohen had a great first Halloween. He was a Giraffe...and one of the cutest little giraffe's I have ever seen if I do say so myself. We celebrated by going to the ward trunk or treat a couple of days before Halloween. TJ had to work the actual night of Halloween so Cohen and I went to the Fullers and passed out candy. It was lots of fun...all of the kids in St. Louis tell jokes before you give them their treats...it is so cute. It reminded me of my Great Aunt Vivian who always made us do a trick before we got our treat. TJ and I bought a pumpkin...but never carved it so sorry you won't get to see any amazing pumpkin artwork this year!

Baby Giraffe and Karate Kid (aka Cohen and Devin)

Sterling (as Cosmo), Devin and Cohen

My mom got Cohen this cute little Halloween outfit...it had a little hat...but it didn't stay on very long.

This picture makes me laugh...Cohen is seriously the happiest baby...he smiles at anyone and everyone.

We went and had his pictures taken at Portrait innovations in his halloween costume...it turned out very cute...Happy Halloween!!!

Cohen's Two Month Update

Height: 24 3/8 " - 95th percentile

Weight: 12.11 oz - 90th percentile

Head: 40.5 cm - 50th to 75th percentile

Cohen also received his first set of shots at this appointment. I always told everyone that I was going to have my husband take my kids to get their shots because I would not be able to handle it. (Seriously I hate needles...I sat on my mom's lap as a teenager and cried when I had to get a shot!) Of course TJ worked on this particular day and I had to go by myself. Cohen screamed like I had never heard him scream before and it was awful. We survived though...and he spent much of the rest of the day sleeping...not a bad reaction to have to shots...no fever...no rash...just super super sleepy!

Cohen's First Big Road Trip

On TJ's 26th birthday I got a call from my mom. She informed me that my dad had suffered from a stroke. He hadn't lost any physical movement but was struggling with memory loss. It was very difficult for me to hear this and be so far away and unable to do anything. I wanted so badly to be with my dad and offer any comfort I could to him. I called all of my siblings to inform them of the situation. My brother Spencer immediately decided that he wanted to make the trip to Idaho and invited me to go with them. I was hesitant to drive such a long way with a 7 week old baby. I asked TJ if there was any way he could get time off and go with me, he was unsure but said he would try. Luckily he did get it off and we left at 4:00 that afternoon and drove through the night and arrived in Idaho around 3:00 the next afternoon. It was a long trip and other then a couple of nasty blowouts (diapers not tires) our little coco beaners handled it like a champ. We were so glad to be with my dad...and after repairing a hole he had in his heart which they thought was what had caused the stroke he was back to work. It has been a hard couple of months for him with the struggle of not being able to remember things as fast as he used to but he is now doing much better. We feel so lucky that his stoke was not any worse and appreciate all of the prayers and support we received from family and friends on his behalf....we love you papa!!!

While in Idaho Cohen got to visit one of his cousins on TJ's side of the family. Boston was born about 20 days after Cohen....don't they look so cute together!

Cohen in his church clothes...what a stud.

Cohen loves hanging out with his Uncle Spencer

While we were there we decided to celebrate my mom and TJ's birthday's (even though they were already passed...any excuse to have cake right?). Plus Kelan loves to sing a hapta birtday to you any chance he can. We pretty much sang hapta birtday to someone everyday for the rest of the trip.

Aunt Meme and Cohen are so sweepy!!!

I love love love this picture. Nothing better than a long cuddly nap with a sleepy infant to help papa to get feeling better!

Cohen loves his Papa! TJ and Spencer drove back to Omaha together then TJ flew home to St. Louis from there. Nikki, Kelan, Cohen and I decided to stay an extra week. We had lots of fun but when it came to the drive home...we wondered what we were thinking??? A newly potty trained two year old and an 8 week old made for a long, entertaining and interesting 16 hour (exept I think it took us 19 hours) drive to Omaha. It was fun though...and I'm so glad we went. I then made the 6 hour drive to St. Louis by myself which wasn't too bad either.

Cohen right before we left on our trip...we had lots of fun...lots of laughs...and made lots of long lasting memories...but most importantly we're glad that papa is healthy, here and happy!!! We love you so much!

Photo Session: 1 Month Old

I really wanted to get out and have newborn pictures of Cohen taken, but with as crazy as our life seemed to be the first couple of weeks I failed to do so. The company OUR365 that took pictures of Cohen at the hospital called me and told me they wanted to give me a free 8 X 10 shot of Cohen at 1 month...and that they would come to our home to do so. I knew this was a gimmick to get them in then they would take lots of pics and I wouldn't be able to resist and have to pay to have all of them...and sure enough I did just that. They did a pretty good job and I was happy with the way they turned out and thanks to some graduation money could afford to purchase these "priceless" photos. Here is a brief sample of a few of my favorites.

Our very first professional family photo

Cohen's Blessing Day

Cohen was blessed on Sunday September 13, 2009. We hadn't originally planned on blessing him at only three weeks old but the Braves were in town playing the Cardinals...so that is when my brothers "could make it!" It worked out great though...and we were glad to have almost everyone there. We missed Ryan and Carrie and there family and also TJ's grandparents and Ryan. It truly was a great weekend. TJ gave Cohen a beautiful blessing. And on a less important but still important note...the BRAVES swept the Cardinals!!!

The boys with there baby boys!

Always remember: "I was the first woman to fall in LOVE with you!"

Daddy and Mommy with Cohen Brody on his special day!

I love this picture!

The whole group...Thank you again for all coming to support us! We love you!

Bunnell side of the family

Anderson side of the Family

Grandpa and Grandma Anderson...I would also like to note that my dad has his scriptures with him...even on vacation this man has his scriptures with him at church...such a good example! Cohen I hope you grow up to be a lot like your grandpa!

Great Uncle Mike was so nice to write down a few notes following the blessing. I am so glad he did because Cohen will be able to have it forever!

Cohen's Blessing

I was just part of Cohen's blessing. His father did a wonderful job and though moving and squirming the whole time, little Cohen kept quiet the whole time!

He was blessed with the aquisition of knowledge in his educational period and to excel in his studies. He was blessed as he grew that he would know the spirit and feel it's whispers. He was then blessed to prepare to serve a mission to the Lord and be able to accept that call when it would come. He was then blessed to find a worthy companion to be with him in this life and through the eternities. He was also blessed to magnify his callings.

Cohen was honored with the presence of many of those who love him. His grandparents (Anderson and Bunnell), his two uncles, the Karlinseys and Fullers too. We certainly felt the prescence of Dale and Shirlene.

Cohen's First Weeks Home

For the most part Cohen was a very healthy and happy baby! He rarely cried except during the first week when he would try and eat. He had a very difficult time learning how to latch on and suck right. After about a week of both him and I crying through most feedings in frustration I decided I would just pump and bottle feed him. That also quickly got old...but I continued at it and tried to get him to latch on once or twice a day but didn't push it. Eventually at about 3 1/2 weeks old he finally got the hang of it! Here are a few of the many pictures we have of Cohen's first weeks home!

Cohen during one of the many photo shoots we had with my mom and her camera....so cute and so little!!!

Here is Cohen playing daddy's guitar...TJ always talks about how he can't wait to teach Cohen to play the guitar...he's the best daddy!

Cohen cuddling with Grandma A! Grandma came on the 20th of August and was there for Cohen's birth. She was such a great help. Laundry was always done...everyone got fed very well...and she even got us out of the house! She also did such a great job taking lots and lots of pictures...I'm so glad I have so many from Cohens first 3 weeks home...I wish she could be here all of the time to be my personal photographer! Thanks again for all that you did Grandma we love you!

Cohen during another photo shoot with grandma. This is one of my absolute favorite shots that she got. He is such a great baby...and other than some difficulties with feeding he was a happy content amazing boy!

Aunt Meme with Coey. Merilee came out the 11th of August and left the 8th of September to go back for school. We had lots of fun mostly just hanging out before Cohen was born...we did go on a few adventures (St. Louis Mills) but we mostly just stayed in and watched a lot of Friends and took lots of naps! Merilee was also there for Cohen's birth....she was also such a great help! We loved having her and are so greatful for all that she did! Cohen loved cuddling with his aunt Meme....he misses her lots and lots!

Merilee and I playing with our new favorite toy!

One of Cohen's very first outings was on a ferry boat tour of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis. My dad suggested we do this and I'm really glad we did. It was lots of fun and educational too!

Cohen's first trip down to the Arch with Grandpa and Grandma.

Cohen's very first outing was to the St. Louis Science center with mommy, daddy, grandma and aunt meme. We went to a omnimax film that was pretty cool than just walked around. It was a pretty quick outing but we still had lots of fun!!!

Cohen sleeping on daddy in his dino jammies....he love, love, loves his daddy!

First week going to church: 1 week old! I really thought that after having a baby I would want to stay home for a couple weeks before going back to church...but TJ was eager to show off his baby boy so we went (just to sacrment meeting)...Cohen was perfect and slept the whole time!

First bath at home...his cord stub hadn't quite fallen off but was very close at this point so we decided to put him in his little bath....he looks so little! He did very well and only did the heart-wrenching chin quiver a few times!

When Cohen left the hospital he had a billi level of 14.1. When we took him to the doctor on the 27th it was up to 17.4 so they made us do the whole billi bed extravaganza. I absolutely hated this though...he was on it for a week and we were supposed to keep him on it all the time except during feedings! Yeah right I just had a beautiful baby boy and I can't even hold him or dress him! Plus a nurse came almost everyday and poked him with a needle in the foot to draw more blood. In order to get off the billi bed the billi level has to be below a 10...it took Cohen a whole week...probably cause we had a hard time leaving him on the bed!

Cohen sleeping in mommy and daddy's bed...isn't he the sweetest thing you have ever seen!

Daddy was assigned to dress Cohen but decided to just cuddle instead...I love my boys!

Introducing Cohen Brody Bunnell (FINALLY)

Following our trip to Jackson Mirae and Jay flew home to St. Louis on Sunday from the Jackson Airport. We then headed back to my parents house where we had been living for the past 8 weeks while finishing school. We finished packing up the belonging that we had kept with us after moving most of our belongings out to St. Louis Memorial Day weekend. We then left Monday, July 27th for St. Louis. TJ's grandparents are serving a mission in the Philippeans and we had a year between graduation and when TJ will hopefully start dental school so thanks to Pops and Gem we are house sitting their beautiful home for a year. We live in a great neighborhood and have an awesome ward. It has been a huge change for me though...and the farthest I have ever had to live away from home. It is nice to be by TJ's family though and have the opportunity to get to know them better!

The scarriest part of the move though was that I was less then a month away from my due date! I had to go to a completely new doctor, find a hospital that I wanted to deliver at (wierd that when you live in a big city you have those options...they even offer hospital tours where they try to persuade you to deliver at their hospital). Anyways everyone was great here in St. Louis in welcoming us. I had two showers in addition to the two that I had in Idaho before leaving. It was amazing to me that I had so much support, even people I didn't know showed up to introduce themselves and welcome us!

ANYWAYS....we found a hospital and a great doctor. Cohen Brody Bunnell arrived on August 23rd and 1:09 am. He weighed in at 7lbs 9oz, and measured 21 and 1/4 ". Here is the delivery story. I know its almost four most later but I mostly want this blog for my record anyways. So here it is plain and simple...the story of our little Coco bean's birth.

Let me just begin this story by saying that when I had my first appointment in St. Louis on the 30th of July that I was dialated to a 2 and 50% efaced. Then following week I was dialated to a 3 generous 4 and 75-80% efaced. They kept telling me that they would be surprised if I made to my due date or the 22nd when I was planning on being induced. Each week came and went with no baby, and each week my doctor was more and more surprised to see me. On Friday the 21st my mom, Merilee and I went to St. Louis Mills and walked the outlets for hours to try and induce labor but still nothing happened. I even tried drinking raspberry herbal tea and that didn't work either. So on Saturday August 22nd I called an hour early (8:30 am) as directed to Missouri Baptist hospital and asked if my induction appointment was still a go. They said yes...and so I got ready and we drove to the hospital. I still get butterflies just thinking about it!

This is TJ and I being directed by the nice sign to the labor and delivery floor of the hospital!
Around 10:00-10:30 am they finally got me admitted and into my room. This is me posing in my awesome hospital gown.

TJ and I in our last family photo of just the two of us.

Jay and Mirae came to lend their support also. They even wore matching blue shirts for Cohen's big arrival. (They actually didn't even plan this. When the saw each other before they came to the hospital Jay said, "I want to go home and change!") It was great to have them there. Jay left for the actual delivery but Mirae stayed all the way till 1:09 am when Cohen FINALLY decided to make his entrance!

And of course Merilee and my mom were there at my side through the whole thing. They were awesome and most of the time a huge help. It didn't help though that when I started to push Merilee started asking the nurse how exactly that head was going to fit out that small hole.

This is me sitting straight up in my bed trying to make things move along a little more quickly!

TJ holding my hand trying to make me feel better.

Around 11:00 am they started me on the pitocin. This was honestly the worst part of my whole labor and delivery. They couldn't get the I.V. in my arm so then they had to put it in my hand. It hurt the whole 2 1/2 days I had it.

The nurse told me that because I was already dialated to a 5, yes that's right a 5 that she thought I would have the baby in 5 maybe 6 hours tops. She told me that as soon as I had a couple of painful contractions they would give me my epideral then break my water. A couple of hours came and went and I still hadn't felt a thing exept the stipid pain of the IV in my hand. They kept trying to turn the pitocin up and I even bounced on a birthing ball for an hour to get things going. My contractions were one on top of the other but they weren't strong enough to make any progress. My first nurse's shift ended at 3 pm and she was really surprised that I didn't deliver before she got off.

My next nurse came to me around 4 and suggested that I just get the epidural and then have them break my water so that we could get things going. I told her that I would think about it then after about 1/2 hour I told her to go ahead and order the epidural. She did that and around 5:30 pm I got my epidural. I was so relieved because I don't do well with pain and I now had the epidural and was at ease that I would never have to feel a painful contraction. Around 6 pm they came in and broke my water and checked me. I was now between and 6-7! My nurse then told us all that we would for sure have a baby by 9 pm.

Me after the epidural. It's an aweful picture but my face just expresses how great the epidural makes you feel...even if you weren't experiencing pain in the first place!

9 pm came and went and my nurses shift ended and I again recieved another new nurse. She checked me and I was now dialated to an 8. She told me that we would have a baby by 1:00 am....but I didn't at all get my hopes up. Around 10:30 pm she checked me again and I wasn't progressing. She found that the baby was turned sideways so his head wasn't coming down the birth canal like it was supposed to. She told me that I need to get up on my hands an knees so that he would turn. She told me that I needed to do this for an hour. Any of you that have had epidurals know that your legs aren't functioning and to be asked to kneel is quite the task. It felt like the yoga pose where you are on your forearms and toes. Every 5 minutes I was asking how long it had been. After 1/2 hour I couldn't do it anymore so I called the nurse. She came in and checked me and I was dialated to a 10 and ready to push. She told me that it could take 1-3 hours for first time moms! I was bound and determined to get him out in an hour, and I think I was exactly 59 minutes of pushing!

Here is Cohen tipping the scales at 7lbs 8.9 oz. With a beautiful head of dark hair.

Cohen in his car seat ready to go home!

TJ getting Cohen ready to go home. He was so little!!!

We were pretty sure Cohen was the cutest baby at the hospital. They kept putting the little hat on him...but I would always take it off cause I wanted to show off his sweet hair!

Aunt Meme at the hospital with baby Cohen right after he was born. He loves her!

One of our first family pictures together. We love him so much and feel so blessed to have him in our lives. We stayed at the hospital another couple of days. We left around 2:00 pm on Tuesday the 25th.

Well there you have it...the story of baby Cohen's birth. I think that Cohen must have known that his mommy was kind of a wimp and didn't want to cause me any pain till after I had the drugs to make it all better. I will be forever greatful to him for it. I just hope I'm as fortunate everytime!