Cooper :: 12 months

AKA one year ...

My, how this year has flown by! It's been the best :)

Mister Cooper, you sure have developed your very own personality this month. You sure have figured out how to use those emotions, too.

You LOVE to laugh. And we love to hear it. I think it's my favorite sound in the whole world. You especially like us blowing shlerberts on your tubby little belly.

While you tend to go with the flow, you definitely have a mind of your own and a bit of a sassy streak as well. If you aren't happy, you won't hesitate to express that.

You are a very curious little boy. If you hear something, you whip your head around to see what it is. Sometimes, I swear I can see the gears moving inside your sweet little head.

You aren't just walking, you are running now. It's just the cutest! That helps the nosiness :)

You are my mischevious little man. I swear, just before you get into something, you turn and give me a sneaky little smile. You have definitely learned the word no. You also are a climber - most recently, trying to climb up the pegs on the entertainment center.

You are quite the sweetheart, though, and will still cuddle up to your mommy and daddy. I can sit on the floor and say "mommy hug" and then you'll pitter patter my way and hold me tight. It melts my heart.

 

In terms of food, you eat it all! You've been nursing morning & night and having milk milk in the sippy cup (12 ounces total) during the day. We've officially said goodbye to the bottle - which doesn't mean you're doing fantastic with the sippy, but things are better and you don't need the bottle.

I'm trying to decide how to wean you completely, and emotionally prepare myself.

You eat three meals a day (with pretty large servings!) and also a couple snacks. I'm also working to have you eat more table food - this mama is getting tired of the purees! For your birthday, daddy made pancakes, and you thought they were good. You also like pizza and hot dogs :) I use Cheerios to distract you in the mornings. Oh, and you absolutely loved our Thanksgiving meal.

Cooper, you cut a new tooth that showed up Thanksgiving morning, so we're now at seven. I think another is pretty close behind.

You know the word "no" {wonder why} and you yell "Mama" all the time. You will also say bye, Dada, da {dog} and sometimes Doc, our horse.

Last week, we had you hanging out in just a diaper since your clothes were soaked from sippy cup malfunctions. You have learned to take off your dipe, and were walking around the living room wearing nothing but socks. Too cute.

We go to the doctor today, so I'll have to update with your stats tomorrow :) I'd guess you weigh about 22 pounds and are about 30 inches tall.

Your body shape is hilarious - you have broad shoulders (like Daddy), a long torso (like Mommy), a skinny little waist (all Daddy!) and short legs. Seriously. You can wear 9-12 and 12-18 month shirts, but can still wear 6-9 month pants ... along with 12 month, of course. And your feet are huge! You are already outgrowing the 18 month socks.

You are all boy and then some - you like to play with/roll the ball, anything with wheels, and trains! You love to go outside, and it kills me when it's too cold to let you play outdoors.

My dear, sweet baby boy:

This has been the greatest year. I love being able to watch you grow and develop and hit all these milestones. You have taught me so much about life. You will always be my baby boy, no matter what. I thank God that he chose me to be your mama.


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Cooper:: 11 months!

Yes, I'm a day late ... yesterday was a crazy busy day and I didn't get a break at work, plus I'm a huge ball of hormones about my baby growing up.

Denial. That pretty much sums up how I feel about my {baby boy} being less than a month away from a year old. How on earth is it possible?

So ... I'd say the biggest update is your eating habits. You love food! The other night, you seemed hungry, so I gave you FIVE cubes of spaghetti {normal is four}. Then you still acted hungry, so we did some puffs. You still seemed hungry, so you had a small container of applesauce. And you ate from my plate. Hungry, hungry hippo you are. Some days, I have to bribe you with puffs to get you to sit still long enough for me to buckle you in to the carseat.

You're still enjoying your breastmilk, and we nurse morning & night, then you have 12 ounces over two to three feedings while at the sitter. We are working on transitioning you to the sippy cup.

Cooper, you typically take two naps a day. But on the weekends when we all sleep in {you have slept as late as 9 a.m.!} you'll usually just take a long nap later in the morning and that's all you need!

You are a boy on the move! And into everything. No full-on walking yet, but you stand on your own for longer & longer, and you have taken a few steps unassisted {things like getting from the couch to the ottoman.}

Super Cooper, you get on your mama's nerves. A lot. You want to be in everything, but not everything is suitable for a little boy. But you have a sweet smile and I forget it all in no time.

You are starting to show a bit of sass and attitude. If you aren't happy, you definitely express that! You are really enjoying being held ... which is great, except when I need to do the dishes, get dressed, etc.

You enjoy our evening runs. You love your horses and Coco, the "da."

You've learned how to clap. You give the best kisses. Playing with my pots & pans and spatulas is one of your favorites.

I never imagined life with a little boy could be so sweet! You are a very loving little guy, and I am so lucky to be your mama.

XOXOXO

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Cooper:: Nine months!

In true Mother of the Year fashion, I'm posting this a day late. Just keepin' it real.

Three quarters of a year. Wow. How is that even possible?

Baby boy, you are definitely on the move now. If there is somewhere you want to be or something you want, you can most definitely get to it! This obviously causes a little frustration for mama and dada as we aren't used to it yet, but we're learning how to keep things out of your grubby little paws.

You crawl all over the place now, and we often will get down on the floor and crawl with you, or cheer you on. Walking is in your very near future, I believe, since you cruise around quite a bit, around the coffee table, or pushing things like bar stools. Ms. Robin says she's always worried you are going to end up bruised, because sometimes you try to stand on your own and end up falling. All in good time, my little man.

You continue to babble, and last weekend, you finally figured out how to say "mama." I'm not sure if you've connected the fact yet that I am your mama, but it still melts my heart.

You weigh around 20 lbs. and I'm not sure how tall you are - we don't go to the doctor for another week and a half. You wear a Size 3 diaper and a mix of 6-9 and 9-12 month clothes.

We installed your new car seats earlier this month - it was getting way too hard for mama to lug you around in the big seat!

Cooper, you LOVE to eat. If you are fussy, we can give you the sippy cup and some puffs and you become content. You are eating three meals and a couple of snacks every day - usually oatmeal or yogurt mixed with bananas for breakfast, veggies for lunch, and turkey, chicken, or spaghetti for supper. You will eat anything, but definitely have your favorites. I'm still breastfeeding you, and you nurse first thing in the morning, take a 6 ounce bottle around 11 a.m., 4 ounces with your lunch around 1 p.m., and another 4 ounces around 4:30 p.m., then nurse before bed.

You like to crawl around underneath the table {especially after meals at Ms. Robin's!} to see if you can find any crumbs. I like to call you Scrappy :) 

You continue to be an amazing sleeper, going to bed between 8 & 9 and waking around 7 every day. On the weekends, we try to keep you up late and you sleep in a little later as well :) In the mornings, I often walk into your room and you are just standing in the crib, waiting.

We've been taking you out in the jogging stroller some evenings, and you seem to really like riding around with your Max dog. Sometimes, you fall asleep because it's so exhausting to watch Mommy & Daddy work out!

You really love animals, and I can already tell what a sweet heart you are going to be. You reach out to pet Coco, Jax or Doc whenever they are nearby. You giggle at your Jax horse :) You really like going to the farm, and riding on the big machinery with your PaPa.

Teething has hit you hard again the past couple weeks. One of your eye teeth just popped through, with the other one looking like it's ready to break the gums any day now.

You are such a sweet little boy and a wonderful gift from God. You've captured my heart in a way I never thought was possible. It's so weird, but I can't fathom your Grandma and PaPa loving me the way I love you, but I know it's true now. I love you to the moon and back!


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Cooper:: 8 months!



Oh time, how do you fly by so quickly. I seriously cannot believe my boy is 8 months old already. We've known him here longer than we knew about him while he was inside of me - crazy!

 

It's been another big month for Mister Cooper! Per usual, this has been my favorite month so far. We're on the move and just charming the heck out of everyone we meet :)

In addition to crawling {which allows you to be wherever you want to be} you are pulling up, and we had to move down the mattress on the crib. We're about to have to replace the coffee table with something softer.

We took you swimming in a "big boy" pool for the first time this month, at Uncle Donnie and Aunt Debbie's. You literally took to it like a fish, and were kicking those little feet within about 15 minutes.

Teething was a little rough on you earlier this month and dramatically dropped what you were eating, but you are now back on track! Your eating solids has dropped your milk intake a bit, but you are still a very good eater. We nurse first thing in the morning, and you have 4 T. of oatmeal with a cube of fruit and one ounce of milk around 8:30 a.m. You take an 8 ounce bottle of pumped milk around 11 a.m., eat veggies at 1:30 p.m., 6 ounce bottle around 4:30 p.m., supper at 6-6:30 p.m. and nurse before bed at 8 or 8:30. You try to take two pretty decent naps in the morning and afternoon. Your favorite foods are sweet peas (often mixed with carrots) and sweet potatoes. We tried chicken last night and the verdict is still out on that. You also like puffs and although you can pick them up, dropping them into your mouth is a little difficult. 

We are starting to go out to eat again, and you like sitting in the high chair like a big boy! Last week, you were Mommy's date to Olive Garden. Mommy is starting to share some of her food with you too, like chicken & gnocchi, cantaloupe and more.

You love being on the move but boy, you are in everything! You are pretty much guaranteed to always lunge for the one thing in the room we don't want you messing with. Baby proofing is likely on the horizon. It is so, so sweet to see you get that determined look in your eye that you want something and just go after it! It makes you much happier as well.

Blurry, I know, but still sweet. Trying to get to Mommy's pump :)

You are definitely my little charmer. You just have the sweetest little gummy smile and it melts my heart and so many others'. I took you to a baby sprinkle with me yesterday and all the ladies loved you!

You are also very socialable and have a great disposition. You were so tired at the sprinkle but weren't fussy as long as you got attention, too, although you were asleep within 3 minutes of getting in the car! This weekend, Mommy's cousin Jennifer watched you and even when we woke you up around 12:30 to get you home, you were passing out those adorable smiles. I'm gonna miss them so much when the rest of them toofers decide to pop on through.

I'm not completely sure on your stats, but I'm guessing you weigh about 19 pounds, my little turkey. You are definitely getting taller too. You wear a size 3 diaper and 6-9 month clothing.

You really, really like TV. One morning, Daddy and I were having breakfast and hadn't turned it on, and you kept looking from the black screen to us, totally befuddled. You also like to play with Maxx the dog, your Fisher Price puppy and activity center, and your V-Tech steering wheel.

You'll never understand how much your sweet little smile brightens our day, and how big all these accomplishments really are to your Daddy & I. Until, of course, you have a little awesomepants kid of your own. Then you'll think to yourself "no way my parents loved me this much!" But we do. I love you to the moon and back, and then some, little boy. You are my sunshine :)

XOXO, Mommy

Cooper :: Seven months

Cooper,

You are seven months old! Time keeps flying on by.

I say this every month, I know, but this has been the most fun month! You are such a fun, loving little boy. You have the sweetest little smile and giggle, it just kills me. For the most part, you are a very social baby and we can take you anywhere with us. Since mommy has been working late, you've been "helping" daddy outside, and you are perfectly content to play in your little exersaucer for an hour or so, as long as you are close to us.

You're definitely a pro at sitting up these days and don't really wobble anymore. You now love to be on your tummy and I think you are trying to figure out how to crawl, but can't build up the strength to pull up your belly just yet. But you are definitely a baby on the "move" and it's difficult to get you to sit still long enough for a picture.

In headline news, you have a tooth! That's right, it popped up on Friday (6.22) just one day before you turned 7 months. Had to sneak it in there while you were still a six-month-old, I suppose. Daddy & I can tell them dern toofers are still bothering you, though, and we hope that second one breaks through really soon.

You love to "talk!" You've really found that voice and want to make sure everyone else knows that you are around! When we took Daddy to Buffalo Wild Wings for Father's Day, you were vocal the entire time - thank goodness we went at an "off" time when there weren't a lot of customers there.

After months of staring us down while we eat, we finally let you dig into some food this month. Boy, you love your food, sweet boy! We started out with one cube, once a day. A week later, we were at one cube for lunch and two for dinner, and now it's two cubes, twice a day.

You've had green beans, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, zucchini/squash, bananas and avocado. You really like peas, sweet potatoes and avocado, but will eat anything.

sweet potato face

Here is your typical day, now that Mommy is on summer hours: wake up at 6:15 a.m. and nurse; nap around 9-10:30 a.m.; bottle (8 ounces, pumped) at 11 a.m.; solids at 12:30 p.m.; nap around 1-2:30 p.m.; bottle (6 ounces, pumped) around 4-4:30 p.m.; solids around 6 p.m.; catnap around 7 p.m.; nurse at 8-8:30 p.m. then bed. It's a great schedule!

You love your sleep, and luckily teething didn't change that. Since you've figured out how to flip from your back to your tummy, also new this month, you sleep on your tummy quite a bit. It's sweet.

Over the past few weeks, you've really discovered that darn thumb. Not so sweet. OK, it does look awfully precious, but we really don't want to see you get in the habit of that. Of course, you sometimes seem to think it's a game with us constantly pulling your thumb out of your mouth, so I'mnot sure how to combat that.

Little Mister, you really love to play, especially things that make lots of noise! Mommy pulled out your activity table a few weeks ago and you think it's lots of fun. It keeps you entertained in the mornings when Mommy & Daddy are getting ready.

Let's see, what else? OH! Now that you are sitting up well on your own, we let you sit in the actual shopping cart. Of course, you also get to ride in the "buddy seat" in Paw Paw's tractor, and had your first tractor and combine rides this month.

Mom, I just woke up from a nap. Stop taking my picture!

You are starting to actually take an interest when we read you books. Of course, you still love TV and will turn your head to watch. You often reach for the remote and Mommy & Daddy's phones. At Grandma's house, you like to stick your fingers in the holes of her Crocs, and you have a blast playing with plastic lids.

I swear, every month my heart grows bigger & bigger with all the love I have for you. You are most definitely my pride and joy, and pretty much all that life is about these days. I love you to the moon and back, my little love bug! I hope you are always just as sweet and happy as you are right now.

XOXO,

Mommy

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Cooper: One month!

Last Friday, our sweet little angel turned one month old! Since things have been crazy frantic  a tad bit busy around here, I'm just now getting to update!


Cooper last went to the doctor when he was 2 weeks old and doesn't go back until his 2 month checkup. However, Daddy and I can tell he is definitely getting bigger. From our measurements, it seems that he is about 23 inches long and probably weighs around 11 lbs. He has completely outgrown his newborn clothes and it appears that he is starting to get too tall for some of his 0-3 month sleepers. A lot of his pants that size are still too long though - it appears that he is like his mommy and gets a lot of his height from his torso. 


Sleep has been pretty good this month, with Cooper sleeping four-six hour stretches most nights. He gets a bit frustrated lots of nights because he is really hungry beginning around 6 p.m. and I think a lot of my milk has been depleted by then. The past few days we have been working on creating a night time routine and I think we'll start doing a bottle of breastmilk at night to make sure he is getting a full tummy and see how that helps. Other than the evening, he tends to eat every 3-4 hours a day and is still being exclusively breastfed. 


We've enrolled him in the PAT program in our school district and he is progressing as he should. He was four weeks at his first home visit and then, he did everything that a child should do by six weeks. Cooper also differentiates his cries and we can often tell if he is hungry, wet, gassy or just whining.


He HATES tummy time and cries through it. But Cooper does very well at holding his head up, and we typically let him do tummy time on our laps. 


Cooper loves anything that makes noise and moves. His swing, the Pack & Play, the bouncer ... He also likes the contrast of colors such as the TV, the white blinds with sunlight peeking through, and a photo of chocolate labs hanging on the wall. 


He still has a head full of hair!


Beautiful, wide eyes that everyone loves! They've turned a dark green by now .. 


Like most babies, Cooper loves to be held! He often sleeps the entire time visitors are here to see him. 


He has never been anywhere without his mom or dad. In fact, I've never been more than about 10 minutes away from Cooper, when I was at a craft fair and his dad took him for a drive. 


Happy one month, little love bug! Your daddy and I love you so much! It's impossible to imagine life without you.