Sweet Pea: 13 Months

I recently realized that I am growing more and more in love with my little guy. Of course obvious to some, but really I found a new love for him.  I respect him in all his ways. He learns something new everyday, little habits  or new sounds. 

Here are some of the new things that make me fall in love over and over again,

Finding his "Uck" in the tub, or whispering "ack ak aakk" that shortly follows. Deliberately stacking the smallest cup, into medium cup, into the large cup before filling it full with bathwater and gulping it down. (Eww I know) Then remembering to share his fancy beverage with his "rog" spout cover and gently placing the cup to frog's mouth.

Grabbing his "gall" and tossing it overhead to anyone who asks. My son became a quaterback before my eyes.

The lack of fear to climb on, over, or under anything he sees.

Genuinely helping Momma pick up toys and putting each "gall" and "uck" in its proper place.

His overwhelming curiousity to see what could be lurking behind the woodstove and feeling the need to go investigate.

Getting kisses  not just from Joel. Cooper has just learned to plant a big 'ol wet one straight on my lips. Just the other night I was rocking with him right before bed, when he smooch kissed me on my chest. The first real deliberate kiss saying, "I love you mom."

Being such a know-it-all. After his morning nap we practice flashcards. Those touch and feel kind. He knows tractor, car, baby, cat, dog, duck, ball, and keys. Of course there is always a sound that describes each word and Coop likes to imitate them.

Hearing race car sounds. Coop will go around the house saying vroom vroom vrooom while pushing his race car around. It's a sweet an innocent sound. But then his sweet  vroom vroom vrooom turned into a scary devil like sound that rattles deep into his chest. This new sound is for his tractor. A much deeper, dark, scary vroom vroom vroom.

Mornings. Every morning when I go to greet Cooper and welcome him to the lovely day that awaits him. He greets me with his "gog." It's his special Lovey Grandma gave him for Valentine's Day. It was white at some point....you'd never guess that though. Lovey goes everywhere! Including his weekly trip to the washing machine.

Duets with my toddler. Cooper isn't into books yet too much. If I try to read to him he grabs the book and tries to eat it. Or close it. Or climb on top of it to blind my vision of it. He and I choose to sing instead. One of the main hits in our two man band is Skinamirinky..You know, I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon....Well let me tell you, the two of us have this choreography down! Every time he wants to sing he raises his arms way up to the sky and waves them. That is my cue.

Sharing his kind heart. At every meal, every snack, Coop insists on sharing his food with me. It's so sweet knowing how sincere he is  about it. Small thing, but I love it.

Cuddling on the floor. Every time the night closes in, Cooper does this funny half summer-salt position, or downward facing dog. He goes around the house stopping every few feet to lie his head on the ground to go ni-night. Every time he gets to this point, I make sure to lay my head on the floor for my little guy to come and rest his beside me. It is our time.

I love our booty shaking half hour. This dance party usually follows dinner, before bedtime. I cannot express how much my heart is filled during this time. We are face to face, exchanging smiles and silly laughter. The kind of laughter that makes you feel like you just did a million sit ups. The best kind. I see the trust and joy in his eyes as he throws his head back to bounce upside down. 

Clearly he is ambitious. Whenever he has something he wants to show me, he comes over, grabs my hand, and flips it over to place the object in my hand. I love this. He is so assertive in everything he does.

The above is just some of the things I love about him. Really there aren't enough hours in a day to tell you all that I love.

This is the best toy ever mom!

Don't worry. We are the people who have a beer with dinner occasionally

Cooper has a wise soul. He has the need to explore everything and conduct experiments to know how everything works. He retains everything he sees and puts it to use in the most unexpected times. 

I love my little boy, I know in 12 years I'll love my teenager, and one day I will be proud to love the man named Cooper.

Walking!

Monkey Business

As I mentioned earlier, it took Coop nearly a year to pop his first tooth. He has since popped  4 more in the last few weeks. One of which is growing diagonal in his cleft. It's much further back than the one beside it, but I guess I always suspected  he wouldn't have the best set of pearly whites. 

Tonight he is having his first teething fever and is handling it with a fighter's attitude.  Let me explain, both Coop and I were lying on the floor, pillows under our heads, and BAM! Coop caught the corner of my eye with the caboose of the wooden train he was holding. Believe it or not, that sucker really hurt! Needless to say, I now have a pretty little shiner on my right eye. 


To Cooper: Thank you son for giving me my first black eye. I will forever cherish the fact you started giggling the second you saw Momma roll over in pain. Oh my sweet caring son, I love you.


Aside from beating up his Momma, Cooper has been monkeying around a lot!

Mr. Independent has discovered that he can look out his window all on his own. If it is quiet in the house, I can always find him peering over the window sill humming and having very serious conversations with himself.

Planning his escape into The Wild Blue Yonder

I get to share my childhood books with my little one. Thank you Mom for saving them.

One of the many obstacles Cooper has set up to get into mischief. (He moved the ottoman and highchair to the table to get to the flowers.)

Coop's Monkey Business:

This is Cooper's Chair. After a long, hard day of playing, The Coop man likes to kick back in his glider and knock back some apple juice while watching an episode of Mickey Mouse. 

It's time I go ice my eye. I don't want to look like Joel's sparring partner tomorrow morning :)

Mother's Day

On this day last year, I was a new mother to a 2 week old baby boy, and spent the morning stuffing a sweet strawberry cream cheese mixture into fluffy Texas bread for a special Mother's Day brunch. Both of my brothers' wives were pregnant, and my Mother and Grandma were delighted to share the morning with their growing family.

This year, I got to spend the day admiring my growing family.  I was back in the kitchen getting my hands dirty cutting up fresh fruit and whipping cream, trying to save our morning brunch after the waffle maker decided to croak and die after 1 waffle. Needless to say, our Belgian waffle brunch turned into a Belgian pancake brunch. All in all it turned out Delicious. 

Another advantage to this year, is that all the babies are here and getting so big. Everyone was happy and sharing stories, blending the families together.

Here is Cooper and the youngest of the babies, Aaron Jr.

Great-Gram getting sugar from the,"Other boy" in the family

My Mother soaking up sweet, sunny smiles 

After we devoured all the pancakes with fresh whipped cream and fruit we could handle, our guests said their goodbyes and continued their day. We napped, and then it was time for "Operation Mischief." 

Cooper thought it was very funny to dance in the drawer while watching The Wiggles for the first time.

After a long day of pancake making, pancake eating, and destroying the living room, the boys rested while I secretly embraced every second of watching them watch TV.

**Notice how they are both lying.

I hope all you Mothers had a special day of your own.

Happy Monday!

May 2, 2009

Yesterday, Joel and I celebrated our 2 Year Wedding Anniversary. I still can't believe it has almost been 8 years since we started our life together. We've been through our ups and downs like any other couple, but when it's good it's GOOD. I know many relationships struggle when obstacles are thrown their way, but honestly Cooper has just made us stronger by going through such a journey with his cleft and everything tied to it.  We are blessed to share the life we have.

Sunday we enjoyed a day hike with our little man, and Grandma watched him in the evening so Joel and I could spend a nice evening together as husband and wife. Though it's hard to go out and talk about anything other than the baby, or bills, or drama in life, we managed to do so. We were on a date, like when we were teenagers, although this time we got to devour something other than fast food, and shared laughs while slurping up our massive margaritas.The evening concluded with the first trip to the movie theater since Cooper made his appearance. All in all, a beautiful evening.

Joel had to work late yesterday, so I surprised him with a steak dinner with shrimp scampi, wine, and an amazing cake batter ice cream, strawberry cheescake  concoction for dessert.