Belly buttons and Pumpkins

Today, Cooper pointed to my belly button and 
called it a "poop hole".  

I know, this is hardly worth an entire blog post but I just had to write this down so we can remember to make fun of him for it when he is 16 and too cool for school.

In more blog worthy news, we went to the pumpkin patch today at the Arboretum.  Coop had a blast playing in the pumpkins and REALLY wanted to have fun with the other kids playing in the hay but couldn't quite convince himself that getting dirty was worth it.  He did go inside and when a small child attempted to touch him, he dodged the bullet, only to tumble face first into the hay.  He then stayed there in a stealthy, hide like a turtle stance and maybe that kid will go away pose.

Hay experience = Epic Fail.  

We quickly went back to the pumpkins to remember why this whole day was supposed to be fun.  Overall, his favorite thing was probably the bus ride to and from the Arboretum.  The pumpkins were fun too!  At bed time, He will still talking about riding on the bus.  Highlight of his day, hands down!

WOW! Lots of Pumpkins!

Say Cheese!

Family photo op

THE Incident. 

Note the pointer finger in "attack Cooper mode"

Stealthy hide like a turtle pose and maybe he will go away

Don't worry, we recovered quite nicely!

First Day of Mothers Day Out

Today was a typical Tuesday.  Mama cried, baby didn't. 
Cooper started Mothers Day Out today at his new preschool.  I cannot believe we are already here.  Time goes by so quickly.  I honestly didn't believe all those ladies that told me that, the day Cooper was born.  I thought they were weirdly sentimental. 
Well, they were right and now I am one of them!

Cooper ran into his new classroom making monkey sounds.  Thats my little Awesome.  He was of course, announcing to everyone that he has a monkey backpack.  Luckily I was there to explain that: No, he does not think he is a monkey.  Yes, he knows he is a human. 
He then quickly ran over to the cars and did not even care if his parents were there or not.  He created one of those awkward moments...do we say bye? do we hug?  does he walk me to my door?  Bobby and I decided to say bye from across the room and sneak on out the door. Cooper was in his happy place.  He waved bye and went about his business. 
I, on the other hand, cried my way to the car.

Ready!

 

Too Cool for School

 

 

 

Funny Lions

Did you ever feel like you lost your funny?  Like one day you woke up and realized you couldn’t find it anywhere.  You searched deep, deep down there and it was nowhere to be seen.  Why is that?  I used to think I was really funny.  I was that inappropriate girl that laughed at her own jokes.  Maybe it’s the reality of life around me soaking up the goof.  Perhaps my age is making me wiser or the fact that I am now responsible for another human being twenty four seven is heavy and important.  Perhaps I used it all up in my bathroom guest book.  I think and I think but will never know the answer to the personality loss over the last year.  I shouldn’t say loss, I should say change.  I know I will continue to change and grow and goof around.  Life is a process and I can say that I am happy with how my family is evolving over the years.  There you have it, a glimpse into my thoughts this morning. Too deep?  Maybe too deep.

In other news, my husband is now making ALL life decisions based on his ability to shoot a lion.  If he seems off or his motives seem wack, don’t say I never warned  you.

I don't make these things up

20 Months

Cooper here to give you a recap of my busy month.  I love cars, trucks, buses and gold fish. Not in any particular order.  I hate bugs and getting dirty.  I love to read my books and its even better when someone will read to me.  This month I got my first set of golf clubs, got my first tattoo, went to Costa Rica and sat in my very own seat on the airplane, started swim lessons and I still dig my music class.

First tattoo...shame on Daddy!

Mille is in my crib!

My mama's accessories are funny!

I rule swim class. Check out my mohawk.

My own seat on the plane! Yes, I'm in my pajamas, it was a long flight.

Cooper Month 19

COOPER

AKA

Professional Animal Noise Maker and/or Dance Machine

Cooper is quite serious about animals these days.  He is really into these National Geographic books from my childhood.  They are full of awesome 80's children wearing faded jeans and side pony tails.  The animal imagery is great too!  He can make the following animal noises and he does these in order upon meeting new people.  I guess its his way of showing off.

• Dog
• Duck
• Cow
• Pig
• Horse
• Chicken (bawk bawk. Which he also does for when he wants to EAT chicken.  Not sure when we realize that the chicken in his book is the chicken that he eats but I am thinking it could be traumatizing.  He really loves those baby chickens.)
• Rooster
• Cat (AAAAHHH!!! I may have accidentally made him think that is what cats say. My bad.)
• Bear
• Monkey

Cooper also took his first trip to San Diego to watch Bobby run his first half marathon.  

Bobby did a great job and we are so proud of him!  

Cooper LOVED the food!  The highlight of his trip.  

He decided to get 5 new teeth while we were there too so he may need a round 2 of San Diego.  But he loved every aspect Sea World!  He just kept saying more more more after every exhibit.  We were also surprised that he sat thru all of the shows.  He doesn't normally sit still for long these days.  He also loved my friend Margarett!  He just lit up every time she met us somewhere.  Overall, a successful trip!

Cooper can also be found dancing at most times of the day.  If there is any type of beat, anywhere, that kid is rockin.  He feels the rhythm. I love that.

Cooper Month 17-18

Oops, I missed a month.  Well, I didn't miss it but you did.  I have definitely been present for all of it!  Our little baby is turning into a little boy right before our eyes.  I can't believe it and I am so not ready.  Cooper has mastered walking by now and is more into running. He loves to be outside and to read his books.

Month 17- April

We spent the beginning of the month celebrating Easter with friends.  At my moms group we made a dozen eggs that told the story of easter to do with our kids.  Of course, I knew Cooper wasn't old enough to understand what we were doing but I thought it would be fun for him to open and close the plastic eggs.  And boy was it!  We spent hours every day in the month of April opening and closing eggs.  Also, the boys in his life (Daddy and Josh) introduced Cooper to the game called, lets throw ALL the plastic eggs all over the house.  I am still finding half shells of eggs under the furniture.  I let it happen.  Boys need to be boys.  And I figure once he understands that candy comes inside those eggs, I don't think he will want to throw them anymore!

Cooper had his first Easter egg hunt and he really enjoyed it.  We just put goldfish in the eggs since he is not really ready for candy yet.  Unfortunately, the ants ate them first! Yuck!  He didn't seem to notice.  His Mimi brought him eggs a few weeks after easter and they had Teddy Grahams in them.  See you later goldfish!! Teddy is in town!  Cooper still salivates at the thought of those teddy grahams!

After the Easter festivities were over, Cooper and I dropped Bobby off at the airport to go on a hunting trip in Africa!  This was my first extended period of single parenting.  Cooper and I did really great and Bobby had a blast doing guy things and shooting stuff.  I felt accomplished and I also have a fresh appreciation for single parents and for those with deployed spouses.  It can be hard doing it all!

Month 18- May
Cooper has become much more vocal these days.  He uses words over signs much more often and has really expanded his vocabulary.  Of course, none of his words actually sound like the real word but we know what he means, so that counts!
How about I just list out a few:

1. Dada
2. Mama( this meant muffin before it meant mom.  I was a good 2 weeks after a muffin.)
3. Baba (Millie)
4. Aaaa (Ali)
5. Nite Nite
6. Waaaa(water)
7. millll ( milk)
8. All Done!! All Done!! ALL DONE!!!
9. More.
10. Hot dog
11. Wawa(waffle)
12. Bus
13. Bubbles
14. Book
15. Read
16. Thaa ( thank you)
17. Pizaaaaa (please)
18. Soap
19. Ipiss (Ipad)
20. Asss (Gas for his lawn mower)
21. Bath
22. Ball
23. No
24. Gurglegurgle ( something that sounds like that. It means gold fish.)
25. Phone

I think I will stop it there.  There might be more but I can't think of them!

Cooper loves reading!

Also, we celebrated mothers day and I have some really sweet boys!!  I love being a mom and Bobby really loves me being Cooper's mom too.  So it was a great weekend!

Sweet Boys

Have I said lately that I am a blessed woman?  God has given me two sweet boys to take care o fme and pick me up on bad days.  I was having one of those sad days and just needed to take a nap and start the day over again.  My sweet Bobby offered to watch Cooper so that could happen.  When I woke up, this was planted outside the playroom window for me!  My sweet, sweet boys.

St Patty's Day

And this my friends, is the best picture I could get.  Action packed little booger won't hold still for a second!

Cooper is 16 months!

Wow! Life has been busy.  I can't believe my little baby boy is already 16 months.  He is starting to look more like a boy that a baby and that makes me a little sad.  Life is too fast sometimes.  Coop kicked off 16 months with his new found skill, walking.  He has been really taking his time with it and finally got the confidence to get out on his own.  We think he has preferred crawling over walking because he is such a fast crawler.  So fast, I should be entering him into the Speed Crawling category at the Olympics!  He is definitely his fathers son and thinks efficiency at every turn in life.  I am grateful for this since I sometimes go around the bush a few times before I get where I am going. 

Cooper still has only 4 teeth but that doesn't seem to stop him from eating anything and everything in sight.  And to think he had texture issues a few months ago!  Not anymore! He is a human garbage disposal.  The grocery bills when he is 15 are already knocking on my door.

He know how to say a lot of words and can point to all the animals when you quiz him.  He loves to wave at EVERYONE. Everywhere.  This is sweet and I hope his friendly personality sticks.  He will give big slobbery MUAAAHHs on your cheek if you are extra special....or if you are a dog.  Gross right?  But what do you do.

Cooper is still a  solid sleeper, about 12-13 hours a night.  And not so much interested in the idea or action of nap time.  Another thing he got from Daddy!

Coopers Favorite Things

He loves to swing at the park and at home!

Riding his bike. Even though he can't reach the pedals, he still steers and drinks his water!

Our newest hobby.  Going really FAST with Daddy in the jogging stroller!

I'm sure you noticed everything is outside. Cooper wants to be outside every moment of his life, rain or shine.  He stands at the door and yells outside until someone finally gives in and takes him.  Sometimes he has to settle for peering outside longingly through the doggy door.  It's not a rough life.  Really, the kids got it good.

A Sad Day

On March 8, 2012 we lost my favorite tree in the storm.  Praise God no one was hurt and our house was not damaged.

Bath Time

I feel like I would be an abnormal mom if I didn't post at least one naked picture of my baby online.  I just want to fit in.

I am so glad my boy loves to take baths and brush his teeth.  I will cherish these years and when he is 8, look back at this post to remind myself that he really did used to be a clean, hygene enthusused individual.

Valentines Day

We love to love in our family.  And this is what we did.

Bobby sent me flowers!

We went to eat at the Melting Pot. Delish!

Cooper got a new Big Red Firetruck!

Under Water

My eyes are glazed yet focused.  I grip him close, closer than ever before.  I don't want to let him go.  The definition of motherhood is all of the sudden pure and clear in front of me.  I am made to protect.  I am his safe harbor. Emotions flow through my body that I could never comprehend. I understand the Father.  I see His Son out of His grip.  I feel His pain as He watches from afar.  So this is love. The surgeon sweeps in and scoops my baby out of my grip.  I trust the Lord.  He is all I have and all I need.  I wait. We wait.  The longest ten minutes of my life.  I am shaken.  I am human.  I need the Lord.

Returned to me.  My sweet bundle of joy.  Hazy, confused.  He can hear.  No longer under water.  The world is fresh, alive, new.  He is safe and whole.  He looks at us confused.  How could we let this happen to him, so young and naive. He does not understand yet he trusts.

I was stretched today.  I am tired and grateful and moved beyond words expressed.  I discovered love today in a complete new capacity. Thankful for peace and protection in my home.  Forever changed.

Life is Hectic and Lovely

I love to blog, I love to write. I love my family time more.  This has been a constant battle ever since the arrival of Awesome.  He really is pretty awesome and has changed our lives in the most unbelievable way.  And if you told me a year ago that everything would be this way, I would have never believed you.  I can make a mean vroom vroom sound when we play cars.  I dance and sing to the most ridiculous songs.  I read the same 4 page book over and over and OVER again.  I get drool on my jeans almost every day. The same jeans that I can't even button without lying on the bed and holding my breath.  I am both pained and proud of this mysterious shrinking jean occurrence.   I am home every night and snug in the house before the sun even thinks about setting.  I never in a million years would have imagined being the mom that serves up hot dogs and mac n cheese on my son's plate.  But I am.  My life works. OUR life works. and I am so in awe.  God knows.  He plans.  He steps before me.  I am so thankful.

On a lighter note, I mooned all of Pets Mart last week.  Yes, mooned.  As in, pants down, cheeks showing.  If you knew me in college, this may not be a surprise but this was adult me.  Married me.  Has a baby ME!!  Of course I didn't do it on purpose!  I decided it was a good idea to take both dogs and the baby, in the rain, to an appointment.  I am sure you aren't surprised that my sweet puppies hate getting wet.  So I insisted on carrying them.  Lexi insisted on getting her paws caught in my pants and pulling them down(unfortunately, I chose to wear sweats rather than my paint on tight jeans mentioned earlier in the post).  Lovely, I tell you.  I did what any woman would do.  I untangled Lexi, set the pups down and kept walking as if nothing happen.  I am hoping the incident is not saved on the security tapes for all eternity.