cooper

So, with the recent cold snap, I decided to break out the hat and mittens that I bought for Cooper at the Children’s Place Outlet last Spring.  I think I paid maybe $5 for the set.  He is now obsessed.  He would eat with his mittens on if I would let him.

I struggled with what size hat to get knowing how huge his melon head is.  I ended up with the 4-6 and true to form, it barely fits his two-year old head.  Atleast the mittens will last another year or two.

That’s right, folks.  No more crib!  Cooper now sleeps in his big boy bed.

I wasn’t really ready to attempt the move from crib to bed until after the holidays, but we needed a place for the Christmas tree.  For the last year, the slide has been in the living room where the Christmas tree usually stands.  Now, it is in Cooper’s room, where it should be.  Our plan is to eventually move all of Cooper’s stuff into his room, but I’m not holding my breath.

As far as the transition to the bed, Cooper has been terrific. We purchased this bed rail from Babies R Us and he is enclosed on all sides (two walls, the rail and the pillows stacked up on the end of the bed). He has yet to try to climb out and he’s been sleeping there for over a week now.

Dear Cooper,

Happy Birthday, Big Boy! On November 20, you turned two years old!

I can’t believe you are already TWO years old! You are growing up way too fast. You are definitely all boy. You love to jump off of everything, especially the bench at the foot of our bed. You also enjoy watching football with Daddy.

You are growing so big, you are already eating us out of house and home.

You love to play outside. You will play out in the backyard for hours (if I’d let you). You insist that Ashley and Colbie be outside with you. When I go outside to check on you, I usually find you pushing your cars around your play table, or chasing the dogs around.

You talk nonstop, describing everything that you or anyone else is doing. You are starting to put full sentences together. Some of the cutest things you’ve said lately is ‘go home and see me Daddy,’ and ‘go ride in Papa’s big truck.’

This month we went to Dallas to watch Mama walk in the Breast Cancer 3Day. She did an awesome job and had a wonderful experience. While we were watching the walkers, two fire trucks pulled up in the parking lot. The firemen let you sit on the truck, but you freaked out for some reason.

After Mama was done with her walk, we told her what happened and she got you a Cooper-sized fire truck. It’s your new favorite toy.

You are an awesome little boy. I love watching you grow and learn. I can’t wait to see what the next two years bring.

Love,

Mommy

PS:  There are lots more photos in Coopers album and the 3Day album from this month.  Enjoy!

Dear Cooper,

Monday you turned twenty three months old. I’m so sorry, baby. Apparently Mommy needs to pull the camera out more often. I did not take one single picture this month. We’ve been keeping pretty busy with you in school and Mommy working and doing MOPS. Next month is your birthday and the start of the holidays, so I promise I’ll do better.

But, don’t worry, Mama and Papa Choo-Choo to the rescue. You got to stay with them while Mommy was at the MOPS convention. Papa Choo-Choo took you to work with him and you got to go on a Big Choo-Choo.  You talked about it for weeks and still pull out the pictures and carry them around with you.

You are getting so big, I cannot believe you will be two years old in just one short month. You talk constantly and are starting to put more and more words together. One of your favorite things to say is ‘Daddy home bacon.’ You were watching him get dressed to go to work the other day and you were trying to get him to play with you. He said he couldn’t, that he had to get ready to go to work. You said ‘no work’ and Daddy said he had to go to work so he could bring home the bacon. So, now, every time he leaves for work or comes home from work, you ask if he brought home the bacon.

You are starting to learn your colors, and for now, everything starts out yellow. You still love your little yellow school bus and your black truck. I don’t know how many times I have searched the house for them when you can’t find them. You are very good at describing things: heavy, cold, all wet; it’s amazing to me that you understand so many concepts already. You are even starting to know the difference between football and baseball.

You are still quite the jumper and for that reason, I’m not quite ready to pull the rail off of your crib and attempt the toddler bed. I don’t think you realize that beds are for sleeping, not jumping. Just the other day, I came in from a run to find you in my room jumping off of the bench at the foot of my bed on to a pile of pillows. Daddy was relaxing on the bed laughing at you.

You are such a sweet, loving, little boy. That is until you learned how to make Mommy cry. I was putting you to bed one night and I asked if you loved me. You said ‘no’ and I pretended to cry. You got upset and I had to calm you down. The next night, same thing, you said ‘no’ and I pretended to cry. This time you thought it was funny. Now, anytime I ask you a question, you say ‘no’ and a few seconds later ask ‘Mommy cry?’ What’s funny is when you ask ‘Mommy cry?’ you say it with a quiver in your voice like you are pretending to cry.

You are a good kid, Cooper. You still have to sit in time-out every now and then, but you are still learning. You hold my hand when I ask, you go night-night without any problems, you take good naps, you give great hugs, and you love to laugh, jump, dance and sing. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Cooper,

On September 20, you turned twenty two months old.

There’s my guys! This month has been a little out of the ordinary, but you’re handling yourself like such a big boy.

You love to lay down in the bath tub, totally submerging your ears, and kick your feet like crazy. Mommy needs to start wearing a wet suit to give you a bath!

And this is why Daddy is not allowed to comb your hair after a bath!

You had your first run-in with fire ants. They got you pretty good on both feet, but you were a champ and got through it.

You started going to school this month and you absolutely love it. Every morning when you wake up, you ask ‘cool?’ You want to go every day. You don’t even whine when I drop you off and turn to leave. You give me a hug and a kiss, turn around and off you go.

Then, Hurricane Ike hit Houston and we had a houseful ‘refugees.’ You learned pretty quick that Papa Mery goes outside a lot and every time you wanted to go, you would grab his hand and drag him outside. You enjoyed riding your bike, pushing your bubble mower and playing with your golf clubs.

Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. It is amazing how fast you are learning and understanding different things.

Mommy loves you so very much!

Love,

Mommy

Dear Cooper,

On Wednesday you turned twenty-one months old.

Wow, I think you’ve aged 6 months in the last month. The only time I see my baby boy is when you are tired and have one of your many burp cloths and your thumb in your mouth. The rest of the time, you are such a big boy.

You are getting close to needing another hair cut, but I can’t seem to bring myself to cut off those adorable curls of yours.

I’m amazed at the way you line up all your toy cars and trucks, choo-choo’s and boats. I find them lined up all over the place and even stuffed behind the cushions of the couch. When you’re not lining them up, you are pulling them around in your wagon.

Your new favorite game is ‘Seat!’ Anytime I get up from my spot on the couch, you yell ‘Seat!’ and run and try to climb on to the couch before I can sit back down. You cackle and laugh and think it is the funniest thing ever to sit in Mommy’s seat.

You love playing outside. It’s been so hot outside, though. I can’t wait for it to cool down enough for you to spend more time outside. Any time I let the dogs out, you beg to go out, too. You push your school bus around, ride your bike and play at your sand and water table. This past week it rained and you were mesmerized by the ‘row.’ You stood by the door and watched it for long periods of time, like, ‘what is this stuff?’

You have enjoyed watching your first Olympics this month. You have never really watched a lot of TV, but the Olympics seem to grab your attention for some reason. Maybe we have a future Olympian on our hands.

Your vocabulary is moving at mach speed. You are putting several words together now and it is amazing watching you learn and grow. You now understand the concept of ‘under.’ You love to make your choo-choo’s go under the bridge and every time we go under stop lights or bridges in the car, you say ‘under.’ You are starting to understand the concept of ownership. You know ‘Mommy’s toothbrush’, ‘Daddy’s book’, ‘Cooper’s fishies’, etc. Whenever you want to read, you bring me a book and say ‘read book’ instead of just saying ‘read.’ You have also learned how to jump off curbs and steps and make a b-line toward them every time you see one.

There are two short weeks until you start Mother’s Day Out. I know you’ve been going to Phoenix’s house two days a week, but this feels different to me. More like going off to school. My baby is growing up.

I love you!

Mommy