Lately

A crappy couple weeks of sick swept through our house again... but I think we are all healthy again... yeah!!!  Cooper had his very first ear infection and RSV, but thank goodness it didn't turn into anything even close to those RSV horror stories.  After what we think was about a 1 1/2 - 2 weeks of not feeling like himself, he's now back to his crazy, goofy self.  And of course, our ever-moody Cooper had to cut his first molar through it all :)  But, no worries--we all survived and are happy to have our little boy back. 

Pudding was one of the few foods he would eat while sick and teething :(

Such a mess for such a little area!

This week I have parent-teacher conferences, which I usually enjoy.  This year, I have a few tough conversations to have with parents, but all-in-all I am lucky to have the great class that I do.  They are just genuinely nice kids, they all like coming to school, and most of them are hard workers :)  Lucky me, too, to have six Girl Scouts in my class, a few former Girl Scouts who like to visit, and a couple girls in the neighborhood all selling those delicious boxes of cookies... So far in three days of sales, we've bought three boxes; one box from anyone who asks... that's our limit (both for our budget AND our waistlines!).

We finally got our 13 1/2-month-old's one year photos taken... we were waiting, waiting, and waiting for snow to take our winter baby's photos in, but Mother Nature didn't want to cooperate.  Thank you Nicole of My Friends Photography for your beautiful work on a frosty morning.  I was worried that we would not have great pictures because Cooper was pretty cranky and impatient.  But I should know by now not to doubt Nicole's eye and expertise.  She caught his personality and some pretty cute little grins.  Thanks again, you are amazing!  Here are a few of my favs:

The little stinker is getting closer to walking!! He doesn't go from sitting to standing on his own just yet, but he does let go when he's standing next to an object.  He takes a step or two toward Jeremy or me and then sort of 'falls' into us.  But with our crazy and excited reaction and clapping makes him realize he's doing something pretty cool.  You should see the smile on his face!  We're getting closer! 
He is also really into putting a phone up his ear and saying "Aho?"  He also uses the remote control, blocks, his hand, or pretty much anything rectangular-shaped as a 'phone.'  It's pretty cute. 

"See ya later, guys!"

Just Practicing

Cooper has just started thinking maybe this 'walking' thing is kind of cool.  Up until now, he's been cruising around the edges of furniture and pulling up all over the place.  But now, he loves touring the house with his walking toys.  He has let go for a couple of seconds and stood on his own, but nothing longer... soon enough!

"Look at me!  Look at me!!"

Going so fast, he lost his pants...

"Look out, world! Here I come!"

Another one of Cooper's favorite things these days is putting things in and dumping them out again--in any container: bucket, basket, drawer, bag, tub.  He also loves pushing toys down the stairs and hiding them under the couches.  It's pretty cute seeing him crouch down to see his handiwork :)


Coop is loving his ECFE class called Movers and Shakers.  Every Monday night, we join about 10 other tots and their moms and/or dads for some play time.  There are all sorts of climbing and walking toys, as well as lots of balls and riding toys.  One of Cooper's favorites this last week was a big plastic pool with some toys he could take out and put back in.  He also loves this little boat he can ride on and rock back and forth.  You should see that stinkin smile when he really gets it rocking!!  It's pretty fun to see the other kids (who are all between 1 and 2) and where they are all at developmentally, too.  Most of the kids in the class are walking or running.  We've started learning that Cooper is pretty easy-going as far as interacting with other kids.  He hasn't gotten upset when a kid takes a toy he's playing with, and he doesn't mind taking the occasional tumble, bump, or push.  We've also started seeing the determination in his personality.  He doesn't give up on things right away--he seems to really want to figure things out.  He also doesn't get frustrated when things don't work out for him the first time.  He keeps trying.  It's a cute part of his personality I wouldn't have expected to see already at 13 months :)

A Hockey Game, A Haircut, and a Big Helper

I first need to get out of my system why I haven't updated for a while... it's called Pinterest, and it's my new obsession.  It's basically like an Internet filing cabinet for all those cool ideas you come across and never remember.  Well, there are some brilliant people out there whose ideas I am really enjoying ripping off and claiming as my own :)

Okay, so now, onto the important updates: Cooper (of course!).

The Maverick's Hockey Game

Uncle Adam had a pretty cool birthday present planned for Cooper for quite some time!  Adam was the high bidder on a Maverick's Hockey Jersey from Cameron Cooper, a senior hockey player in Mankato.  Adam invited Jeremy, Cooper, and me to come to the game where Cameron would present the jersey out on the ice!  It was a pretty cool night, even though it was a little past bedtime ;)  Now Cooper has a jersey to grow in to!

Go Mavericks!!

This ice is cold!!

He'll grow into it!!

And a high-five from Cameron Cooper!!

Cooper's First Haircut

So I've been dreading the day.  Cooper's First Haircut.  It feels like one of the last baby things of his being cut away...  It is one of those milestones that really makes me realize how much he's become a little boy. 

After a little pressure from Jeremy and some pretty crazy hat hair lately, the time came.  Unfortunately, Cooper's been a little under the weather again lately, so he wasn't feeling the greatest the night we went to visit Auntie Missy at Cifelli's, but he did pretty well.  Missy wasn't forced to chop any big chunks because he was too squirmy, and no ears were snipped, either. (I trusted you completely, Missy--just not the little boy in your chair!)  She carefully saved a few pieces of his fine little soft fuzz for me to hang on to.

And of course, no trip to Missy's salon would be complete for a little boy without a faux-hawk!  The pics didn't turn out very clear because Cooper wasn't exactly cooperating as supper time neared, but you'll get the idea...  Thanks, Missy, for a great experience at the salon for what is sure to be the first of many!

Before... You can see that mane is getting a tad long for a little boy

Missy working her magic!  Cooper started out still and finished the haircut on my lap

He looks sad, but he secretly loves his new 'do

 

Check out the faux hawk!

Our Little Helper

A few pics of the mischief this little monster has been getting into these days.  He is getting more and more brave with each passing day. 

Helping mommy finish her drink

 

 

Helping with the dishes

Helping make the clean dishes dirty again

Helping bake his birthday cake

Helping celebrate the New Year, 2012!!!

And helping fill our house with a joyful noise!!

Cooper, you make us smile :)

We Have a One-Year-Old!

How has a year already passed since Cooper was born?!  His one year birthday marks one year since our lives have changed in so many wonderful ways.  We could not imagine life without this little boy and his huge personality.  Now that Cooper is officially 1, he:

-loves to eat almost all table food--his favorites include cheese, rice, noodles, and beans. He also loves pears and bananas
-is nearly graduated to all whole milk
-drinks only from a sippy cup--the bottles have all been boxed up!
-can use a spoon and fork correctly if we load the food on for him
-is a speed-crawler.  Seriously.  We have never known a kid who crawls so fast.  No wonder there is no interest in walking just yet.
-cruises along the furniture, and doesn't even really use it to hold on to as much to lean against
-will walk behind a ride-on toy for a few steps and then decides it's no fun
-loves to clap for himself
-is a pro at "So-Big" and will stop what he's doing to put his arms in the air
-has no more teeth since last month
-is trying to imitate and copy more and more sounds
-says mama and dada in the right situations
-is a total mommy's boy... and trust me, I don't mind at all
-enjoys yelling and screaming while playing
-likes to be tackled with pillows, 'scare' us from behind, play peek-a-boo around corners, chase around the house, and roll balls across the linoleum floor (can we say "boy"?!?!?!?)
-giggles at the drop of a hat
-gives open-mouthed kisses
-gives high-fives
-crawls up our legs and 'begs' to be held
-is proud to carry an object in his hands while crawling around
-continues to love reading books.  Now he will crawl into my lap when I say, "Should we read it?  Come here!"
-is dropping his morning nap... he usually only takes a solid afternoon nap
-is silly, goofy, loud, moody, energetic, giggly, happy, bright-eyed, funny, and sweet all rolled into one little boy!



Happy 1st Birthday, Cooper!

For our last Christmas gathering, we went to Gary and Lori's for the night.  We were all spoiled with more presents and more amazing food.  Cooper couldn't get enough of Lori's tree decorations...

Then came the big birthday party on New Year's Day.  Here's a view of the set-up I for the big day! 

The house is ready... party time!

Cakes made with love by mommy :)

For once, Cooper followed our plan perfectly of sleeping soundly until party time.  He took a solid 2 1/2 hour nap and awoke to a bedroom full of balloons.  We were hoping he would get all riled up and excited for the day... and we were right!  He woke up, saw the balloons on the floor, and I don't think the smile came off his face for the rest of the night!

We were very, very quiet...

When he woke up, he went nuts!

 He got a bunch of great gifts, one of which had to be set up early by Auntie Missy and Uncle Phil.

Thanks, Missy and Phil, for the cool ball pit!

And now, for the MAIN EVENT: the cake!  There was no holding back for Cooper...

The cake: BEFORE

Hmmm... pretty tasty

Mom and Dad managed to stay pretty clean.

Cooper, on the other hand, did not.

A bird's eye view

"My work here is done."

Isn't the look on his face just priceless?

All cleaned up and streaking again!

Cooper slept like a baby all night... must have crashed hard from the sugar high!  Although Jeremy and I wonder who was more tired, the birthday boy or his parents!  I can't wait for the next birthday party we get to host for Cooper :)

Christmas Weekend, 2011

Merry Christmas to all!  Celebrating Christmas for the first time as a real family was awesome.  We had a flurry of traveling over the weekend, but it was all close by--and no snow on the roads to compete with made it a piece of cake!

Christmas Eve day was celebrated at Grandpa Randy and Grandma Chris's.  Cooper loved ripping off the wrap and crawling like a crazy man through the paper pile in the middle of the living room.  He got spoiled with some exciting gifts, all of which he'll love even more in the coming months as he gets a tad older.   The evening was great... heading off to church and then home with just the three of us to celebrate our own family Christmas.

Cool-a big box I can stand up by!

Back and forth, back and forth through the paper...

4 generations

Cooper and Great Grandma Betty

Christmas Morning: If we thought there was any chance Cooper might sleep in for such a special day as Christmas, we were sorely mistaken.  He was up an raring to go at his usual 6:15 am.  He must have known what was waiting for him downstairs!  Santa was good to Cooper, bringing him some pretty cool gifts.  As he gets older, his toys are becoming more and more BOY.  As a girl who grew up with only girls, it's taking me some time and some deep breaths to realize that Cooper may not think so highly of the toys I thought were so cool as a kid.  But 'my boys' are teaching me quickly.

Then it was off to church, followed by brunch at Grandma Dawn's.  More presents!

Our Family - 2011

So sleepy!

Up from a nap and ready to go!

On our 'recovery' day after the busy weekend, we started going through Cooper's toys to decide which ones could be put away and marked as 'baby toys.'  After gathering up all the toys from various rooms in the house and emptying diaper bags, we barely felt like we made a dent in the toy collection.  I think Cooper knew something was up, because as I was sorting through things, he kept thinking he needed to dump out the box and play with the toys he hasn't cared about in months.  We also decided to take advantage of the warm weather and no snow by trying out Cooper's Power Wheel in the backyard.  He's not too sure about it quite yet, but I bet we'll have a track warn in the yard come summer.

"What do you think you're doing with my toys, mom?!"

Evil Knievel will be ready to ride solo this summer!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!