Sandy Claws

I started the morning with full ambition to tackle all the yard work in the back yard. I mowed, and picked up fruit, and got a chance to do a little gardening. I felt proud and accomplished. But then I was bored. I found myself doing project after project. Gardening led to cleaning old pots and slapping a new coat of paint on them. Which led to cleaning out Coop's sandbox, which led to making a full on picnic prep for when Coop woke from his 3 HOUR nap.

Boy I couldn't tell you how anxious I was to share the beautiful day with my funny little guy. It was one of those days when I said, "eh, what's a little sand gonna hurt?" Normally I cringe at the thought of Coop playing in his sand box. He always manages to turn the yard into a beach. Not so nice sand between the toes...and the carpet..and the shower..and of course the washing machine. This day in particular though, I let go. And I liked it.

What the face of someone in desperate need of help?? Oh, this is..

 All the projects in the world could never stop me from taking a time out for myself to play with my bay-bay.

Long Road Traveled

Some mornings I wake up and find this kid in my baby's crib. At first I'm taken aback. Then I realize he is no stranger, in fact it is proof that my baby has been replaced with a 23 month old toddler. In one month our little Cooper will hit the glorious 2 year mark.

Pause for a moment, and take in all the innocence seeping from his little body..

 

We've been living like there's no tomorrow in the best way possible. Not a single moment is being taken for granted. There's just too much to miss if we do.

 

 

Late evening walk to see the neighbors horse=building memories for our son.

 

At 23 months, Cooper is Mr. Independent as usual. He loves to show everyone he's a big boy who can do so much without any help. Call him a strong willed child, but I don't see that as a bad quality. Our son shows us that he is motivated to accomplish things on his own. 

He is almost fully potty trained, cleans up ALL his toys whenever he's done playing, throws trash away without being asked, and loves to help when he sees something wrong. Voluntarily, he decided to be my little helper in the yard by pulling weeds making piles of brush and throwing out fallen fruit.  Start 'em young and they'll keep good habits I guess.

 

I'm filled with joy seeing something that was once growing inside me become a mini person. One who is entitled to his own thoughts and emotions. I am proud of the little man he's showing me he can grow up to be.

 

At this point I know Cooper will need some sort of speech therapy due to his cleft. He uses the back of his throat to make most of his sounds which is preventing him to make most consonant sounds. Dog is gog, car is cah, bye is guy, and help is hepp. He has a great vocabulary but it is very difficult for others to understand. Sometime in the next few months we'll get him evaluated to see what we might be able to do to help correct his impediment. For now, we'll just soak in all his cute little made up words. 

 

This next picture reminds me of an outdoorsy car ad.

 

The first of many fishing trips with Dad. Here Coop is helping with the bait..little did he know at that point he was holding live worms. Once he saw what was in the bag he threw it down and said, "uh ugh!"

 

There's beauty in the dullest of places. You just have to open your eyes. Of course I had to figure this out since we fished at the nastiest mosquito infested water hole in town.  

 

 

Story in just 4 photos:

 

 

 

The fish must have been full that evening. Not even a bite. Like the Trace Adkins song says, 

"She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout 
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin"

 

 

Unfortunately, this is probably as close as I'm gonna get to a momma/son portrait.

 

 

I hope he grows up to conquer all his goals. 

 

 

 

 What brings a glimmer of happy happy joy shine into your life?

Watching Coop try to raise his eyebrows back at momma makes my heart bounce up and down. 

 

 

There's so much to learn on our journey ahead. This statement is proven by how much Joel and I have grown in the past 23 months. It's been a long road traveled, but there's so much still ahead.  

 

 

Have a blessed day everyone!

 

Numero Dos

Last I wrote, I talked about how perfect the weather had been. The temperatures were reaching in the 70's and I knew it was too good to last. Unfortunately,  I was right.The storm came rollin' in and hit hard.  We really do need the rain, but it's been keeping this momma cooped up in the house with a hardheaded toddler who wants to play outside.

How could this sweet face really be hardheaded?

 

Since we have been inside due to the weather, I figured it's time to get all gung ho with the whole potty training thing. We've been working on it for the past month now and he's really doing great with it. I can tell you that the cold bathroom tile and I have become great friends. My normal day consists of about 15 trips to the potty and 90% of the time it's a false alarm. I sit on the tile and sing, do flashcards, sneak a few-this little piggy's in, and play "where's your head, where's your belly? Where's the...fill in blank here.

 

Really though, it's not that bad. Just like any challenging thing in life, there is always something that can shed light on a situation. All you parents know that at one point or another you were probably ready to pull out your hair trying to get your kid to just go on the darn potty. But, then there's always the moment when your child does something that magically makes it all better. Maybe he actually got the whole jig of it and  made it to the potty....or maybe just the opposite and didn't quite make it.  Coop is guilty of both and I am so proud of my growing boy. He exudes joy and bliss.

 

Joel....I mean Cooper's new hobby. Who knew fish could consume so much of one's time??

 

While we're on the subject of numero dos........Yes Cooper is holding THAT in his hand. Ewww

 

More to come..Lots of pretty pics in my next post!

 

Happy Day Everyone!