Update

So Cooper had a great official Birthday. We started the day out at the Hogel Zoo. I found out from a friend of mine that if your child was born on February 29th, the child could get in for free, AND you could get a family pass for a year to the zoo. So thank you Cooper for being born on Feb. 29th.
We later that night had a party at the Kangaroo Zoo with family.
It is a fun place, but I don't know if I would recommend it for a party. Other than the staff was SO helpful and friendly, but you couldn't take any of your own stuff in. So it just makes it cost that much more.
Cooper loved his birthday, he was obsessed with having a balloon birthday cake.
Baby news, I went to the doctor the other day and I am actully dialated, (1) what the heck??? I have never dialated before even on delivery day I was never dialated. That is why I always have to go in the night before. So my doctor moved the induction day up a few days. Most likely the 15th or 16th, partially he goes out of town, and wanted to know if I wanted to have the baby before or after his vacation.......ummmmmm let's see............okay BEFORE!! (and he doesn't think I will make it until after) But again subject to change, depending on the next appointment.

Still don't have a name....well an agreed upon name, that is.
Ben is doing great, working hard at Target and still likes his job and the challenges in it. He hung all of the doors in the basement and is working on the trim, making the basement look better and better.
Kids are doing great, Bauer will now go to nursery without a parent there the WHOLE time.
Alivia has loved going outside on the warmer days, riding her scooter.
Cooper is doing a lot better with his letters, I have been working hard with him, trying to get him more interested in them. The computer and the kids websites, have helped more though.

Cooper Allan Whidden

Cooper Allan Whidden was born February 29, 2004. The second child in the Whidden Family and was quite the surprise edition (hence only 13.5 months younger than his sister).
Cooper is such a sweet boy and so I tribute a few special things about Cooper for his well, second, official Birthday coming up.

1. He loves Woody and Buzz and has for some time. He did switch for a few months to Spider man, but he is loyal to his Toy Story friends.
2. He loves Pancakes, I am really not sure what he calls them, something close to pancakes but he could eat them all day.
3. He Hates MONSTERS INC. and if he thinks it is going to come on, be on, or anything to do with it, he FREAKS OUT.
4. He wakes Bauer up every morning, and he gets him to roam around the house with him.
5. He doesn't like change, he is a pretty consistent kid.
6. I did not potty train him, we went on vacation for my Birthday and he stayed with Grandma, they told him that I forgot the diapers and so he couldn't wear any, and that ended the diaper era for Cooper.
7. He loves to go to Grandma's house. He has all of special things there. Inspector Gadget movie, pancakes, all his favorite toys.
8.He LOVES to be tickled, I mean LOVES, you can stop him in his tracks, by pulling up his sleeve and tickling his arm.
9. He 99% of the time needs some time to warm up, even as he gets used to things (pre-school, sunbeams...etc...) he just needs a moment to observe the situation with people leaving him alone.
10. I remember finding out I was pregnant again and honestly starting to cry, overwhelmed with a lot of emotions. I remember a few times after he was born trying to go places, Dr. visits, the store etc....I didn't think I was going to make it, people asking me if I needed help. It is funny how things work out and today having him as my little boy. I couldn't be more blessed.
One funny thing he says I want to add; whenever his food is too hot he always says "TOASTY".
It is so funny.
Love you Cooper!!!

Alivia~The Princess

Orlando-2008

So here are few pictures from our quick trip, before the baby comes. If you have ever been to Disney World in the toon town section there is a section where Donald Duck boat is and the water shoots up out of the ground. This is one of our favorite spots because you can just sit and hang out while the kids go crazy. I would say toon town is one of the funner places because it is so kid friendly (for little ones). Sadly Bauer was sleeping through this part, but over in Ariels area, she has a cave with water that shoots out and that is just as fun, Bauer was able to join in the fun with that one. (will add pics later)
The only thing about taking a trip at 34 weeks is that all the walking around, killed me the next day. I was so sore and tired. Luckily we just hung out that day, checked out of the hotel late and went to breakfast.
Went to the airport, had plenty of time to make it to our gate and wait.

Sorry I do know how to spell pictures;)

Update

So here is the family photo. We took this picutre over the Christmas break between Christmas and New Years. I am not sure if for a while we will have the perfect family portrait.
Other than that life is good here in Saratoga Springs, the big snow storm that hit the other day, I really lucked out. We were coming home from swim lessons and I knew that main street Lehi was backed up so I took some side roads (which could have been so dangerous) luckily I was following this huge truck who was leading the way and in 4 wheel drive we made it. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to go about 6 miles. To top the night off, our power was out for the evening until about 12:30am. Cooper did not understand it and kept trying to turn the lights on and was really upset.
So the weekend of the Feb 9th, we took a quick trip to Orlando, Florida.
The loads looked good and we found a good deal at a Time share, the only thing we had to go do the tour.........very informative, but man they are high pressure salesman. No, I didn't buy a time share but man......they are persuasive. We will update photos and soon as I get them done. Our Digi camera died so we had to buy disposable.
We ended up going to the beach out in Tampa (clearwater, beach) and then did DisneyWorld on Saturday. There were about 40,000 people in the park that day, I am not guessing that's what the worker there said. It was packed. It was so fun though, we road lots of rides and Alivia met the Princess's. That was the highlight for me because she was so excited and it was so real for her.
The place we stayed was really nice, if you didn't want to leave you wouldn't have to there was so much to do. The flight home was good, we made and not major problems inflight.

Baby update:
So I see the doctor every 2 weeks and then weekly, if everything goes as predicted I will probably be induced on March 20th. Still haven't decided on a name? We might be deciding when he is actually here. Well lets clarify I know what names I like Ben just needs to agree.

Kids:
Alivia and Cooper are in swim lessons and Alivia is doing really good. Cooper has done much better than I thought. I thought he would had a hard time listening. But he does really well and tries really hard. He now loves to go under water (with the help of goggles) and loves to jump into the deep end with dad.
Bauer is on this kick he either has to sleep with Alivia or Cooper lately it has been Cooper on the top bunk. He is so cute, and says so many cute things. (or tries too)
I am officially on Mat leave and won't be back until July-ish.

Congrats to Gary and Allie on their engagement.........May 3 is the day in Edmonton, Canada. He told me that the Salt Lake temple was booked, but I think he was fibbing......
I think the A-Whidden's are going to start out numbering the
J-Whidden's......bring it on:)

The Photo Shoot.....

This is the Whidden family photo shoot. Our family photo is not here, but the grandkids photo was quite the task. I love the photo of Ben and his family (bro and sis) We had a great time we went over the Christmas break and it was cold (of course).
Until the next time all 26 or so adults and 13 or so kids......ahhhhh.....

some pages that I have been practicing with....