We also took a trip to Minnesota about a month ago with the youth again and to see Aunt Pammie. While the youth went off to play, me and Cooper went to visit some places with Pam. We saw a conservatory that had many beautiful plants and flowers plus a butterfly area that was nice. Oh, we also saw a sloth named Chloe. She kept her head down the whole time, I think she was sleeping. In the park we were able to ride a "Suri" (two bikes welded together with a canopy on top.) It was a cold day, so we had to bundle Cooper up. It was a lot of fun. We both peddeled while Jared steared and I hung onto Cooper. He slept through the whole thing!

About a month ago, we took a weekend trip to Nauvoo with Jared and the youth group. It was so much fun. We were able to go to Carthage Jail on our way there. Cooper did really well traveling and the kids all had fun entertaining him. The town is so amazing and the spirit is so strong. We went into the store and saw the Temple. The youth went in and did baptisims for the dead while Cooper and I sat out on the grass and enjoyed the humidity. He really likes being outside so he loved being on the grass. How fun it was to go!

Cooper has started a few new things this past week. He has started to hold his own bottle every once in a while so we had to take a picture of it. The other thing he has started to do more and more each day is to suck his thumb. Lately he hasn't wanted a whole lot to do with his binkie, which is fine with me, but it is quickly replaced with his thumb or his fist or finger. It started off with him chewing on his finger or fist, but now he is actually sucking his thumb a little more each day. While I find it rather

cute and entertaining now, I do not look forward to the future and trying to brake him of the habit.

Home for the 4th!!

We took a quick trip back to Utah for the 4th of July. We had a lot of fun. Cooper went swimming for the first time. At first he wasn't sure if he liked it, but he warmed up to it really fast and had a ball! It was a fast trip but very fun to see the family. We drove all night there and back, but for some reason, the trip coming back was a lot longer! Cooper did really well during the ride. Wehung baby einstiens toy from his car seat and that kept him pretty entertained for some of the ride. He is starting to really notice things and grab for stuff. The trip was a lot of fun and great to see everyone.

Since we have gotten back, every once in a while he will hold his bottle when we feed him. It is soo cute! He is so much fun. I am so grateful to have him in our life and I am so lucky to be able to stay home with him so I don't miss this exciting time in his life! There are more pictures I would like to put in here, but I am having problems so I will upload them later!