Cooper's Birthday Party

Cooper had a great birthday party at school. They were all so cute and so good. Take a look at our day in pictures. (I mean come on, do you really want to read what I have to write or look at the adorable little man? That is what I figured.)

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I have written, so I thought I would share some cute stories from this week.
It is coming up on Cooper's 1st birthday. As many of you may or may not know, I do not believe you should have to work (or go to school) on your birthday. Seriously, don't you all agree. It's your birthday! You should celebrate, not work. So Monday none of us will be attending work or school to celebrate the little man's 1st birthday. I wanted to make sure he got to have a birthday party at school, so we are having it tomorrow. It will be during their snack time around 3:15pm. We will have cupcakes, goody bags, birthday hats, and juice. Now the cupcakes..... I was planning on making cupcakes and taking them to his class. So I made sure I picked up Cooper early today so that I could get home in time to bake the cupcakes and have them cool to ice them later in the night. As I was explaining (or complaining) to Eddie that it is going to be a time constrained evening due to this, he says why don't you just buy them. That's when it started...the mommy guilt. Here's how the conversation went down:
E: Just buy them, they will never know.
K: Ughhh I can't buy them. What mom doesn't have time to make their son cupcakes for his FIRST birthday party at school?
E: Seriously they won't know, it will be ok.
K: You just don't get it. Moms and Dads are so different.
E: Guess that's why everyone should have one of each.
K: Guess so.
Move to me picking Cooper up. I check out his report for the day, highlighted in bold - Cupcakes must be store bought. Ahhh excellent.

My other fun story for the day is on our way home Cooper was getting a little fussy. So we turned on one of his videos that had a song on it. I started waving my hands in the air to get him to dance along. The boy looked at me like I was crazy. It's moments like this that all I can think this baby is a remake of Eddie. I wish I could have had a camera. It was the look of a little boy completely confused by the fact that his mom was waving her arms around like a crazy person. Hey - it calmed him down so mission accomplished.

That's all for now. I will post pictures of the birthday party at his school tomorrow. There are sure to be some cute ones.

New Milestone....

We are officially off of formula starting today!!!! Woo hoo!!!! Can you tell I am excited? Cooper now has whole milk like all the other big kids in his class. He is such a great boy.

Yay us!

Happy Halloween!

Mr. Lion himself....isn't he cute. All ready to go trick or treating except the weather had different plans.

Mr. Lion and his dad - look at the serious face!

Mr. Lion is really unsure about being outside in his costume.

Ahhhh Mr. Lion figured out how to take off the head piece...now he's happy!

Mr. Lion - Happy 1st Halloween! You looked adorable - fierce, but adorable.

Pictures from our trip

Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to Vero.

Roarrrrrrr....

Today he had his school pictures...take a look.

Yesterday, the little man got to wear his Halloween costume for the first time at the EY Halloween party. Eddie took him and he was great and oh so adorable. Take a look at how cute...

Cooper and Mommy

Eddie has been out of town, so it has just been me and Cooper the past few days. How single parents do it - I have no idea. But Cooper has been my little protector. So thank you sweet baby.

I have gotten to experience dropping Cooper off the past few mornings. So Cooper here's a little note to you-

Sweet Cooper - I have seen how much you love to show Mommy what you do when you get to school. You looked so proud as you walked to your teacher Ms. Vanessa and took her hand to pull her over to the sink, where you walked up those two steps and turned on the water. Mommy is so proud of you and I love you very much. You are my little honey bear and you always will be.

Cooper's Day at the farm!

Today we went to Riverbend Farm about 30 minutes away from Charlotte to find Cooper's very first pumpkin for Halloween. We had such a great time. We saw animals (ponies, goats, buffaloes, cows to be exact), went on a tractor ride, and found some great pumpkins! Cooper loved every second of it. It's funny to see how he will react to these new experiences.

This is where I see so much of Eddie in him. At first he sat back and just observed - no expressions just checking things out. Once he got comfortable he was jabbering, playing, letting everyone know how good a time he was having. He made some friends on the tractor ride back to the farm after pumpkin picking. The little girls played peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake the whole nine yards. Cooper just ate it up. He's a little flirt I tell you! He had on his adorable outfit on to pick out some pumpkins (apparently it's a little girly - I completely disagree, but we had to correct a few people today that yes in fact Cooper is a boy.) Seriously people look at him - he is ALL boy!


Cooper is also walking up a storm. Really that is all he wants to do - get up and walk. We went out in the yard to play. By play - Cooper thought this meant picking up leaves and fallen pecans and eating them. Needless to say he was very messy when we came inside. Cooper is starting to pull away from us if we are holding his hand and go off on his own. He's growing up! Take a look...

I have more - I will have to update tomorrow.

Thank you Ms. Lauri!

Cooper says thank you for the cute halloween t-shirt!

Ahhhh Fall...

It was definitely fall weather here in Charlotte this weekend. It was beautiful. Even better - a healthy baby boy! However, it was a sad day in the Holland household on Saturday - first Clemson and then my Seminoles just didn't have it together. Cooper did have a good time hanging out with Dad watching football. Look how adorable my two boys look - On Sunday we got up and went to Church. It was a little cooler, so we had to find an outfit for Cooper to wear. Thanks to his cousin, Jackson, Cooper had a cute navy Polo shirt to wear with his vest. Seriously doesn't he look like such a little man. I could just eat him up!

Eddie took Coop to the Doctor this afternoon to check his ears and if they were clear to get a flu shot. Finally, the baby boy does not have any infections in his little ears. Thank goodness! So he was able to get the flu shot. Eddie said he whimpered and then was fine. No crying! I am so impressed. I probably would have been crying my eyes out, not Cooper! It's going to be a busy week at work so not sure how much I will be able to update you, but I will try my best. Next weekend we are hoping to make it over to the mountains to see the leaves and then go to a pumpkin patch! Sure to have stories from that! Have a great week!

An Interesting Week...

An interesting week is an understatement. The poor little man got sick. Twice! On Monday afternoon I got a call from Coop's school from the Director of the school. "Cooper has not had a good day." All I could think was seriously, me either, it's Monday. However, she continued telling me that he had a 102 fever. Off I went to go pick up the little man to see what was wrong. (In case you don't remember we JUST got over double ear infections - keep that in mind.) I pick him up and I immediately feel terrible for him. He is burning up and really just wanting to be held. Now this is NOT like Coop at all. Cooper does not just sit there in your lap anymore. No no - this boy is constantly moving. So when I held him and he didn't move, I knew something was up. We get home and I take his temperature, 102.8. Now, I start to freak out. Cooper has not had a fever ever. Even with all the ear infections we have battled, never had a fever. I put a cold wash cloth on his head because I had to do something for him. He wouldn't eat, take a bottle, nothing. So the next morning (fever still there) we head to the doctor's office. Turns out he got a virus, coxsackie virus. Apparently, it is very common especially for daycare babies.

(side note - every time I take Cooper to the Doctor and he has something the nurses always say things like - well you know daycare babies - it's not the words its the tone. I want to say look I feel guilty enough on my own - don't need your help.)

They tell me to look out for rashes on his hands, feet and diaper area. If the fever is still there by the end of the week we need to come back. Oh and no medicine - just Motrin. Great.

So we keep Cooper out of school because I don't want Cooper to be the spreader of this, plus with a fever we weren't able to go anyway. I am very grateful both Eddie and I have jobs where it is flexible enough to work from home. Let's be honest, staying home with a sick baby does not involve ANY work related items. So we think Cooper is better on Thursday, but just to be safe we thought let's keep him home one more day and then send him back on Friday. Well, Thursday night was not pretty. Then finally we all decide to just give it up and get up for the day. This is when we discover spots ALL over Cooper. Nothing on his hands and feet like they said, his WHOLE body. Well, no school for you Cooper yet again. So we head back to the Doctor Friday morning. The rash is just the same virus they diagnosed before, but now we had another ear infection. (hence the no sleeping) I mean really?!?! This poor baby just can't catch a break.

We are doing better now - still not sleeping great, but one can hope. I figured for writing so much I should probably put some pics/videos to show you Cooper's advanced walking skills. We are so proud. Now in return - can everyone please hope that Cooper gets better soon? Please!

Here are some pictures of Cooper caught in the act of his new favorite thing to do - open up the cabinets and take things out. (oh and put everything in his mouth)

As you can tell in this video - Cooper has his dad's listening skills.

Ahhhh ....sigh of relief

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. Cooper likes chocolate! I gave him pieces of a chocolate chip cookie and he loved it. Thank goodness!

My Mom Mom and Pop Pop

We had a wonderful visit from Mom Mom and Pop Pop. Cooper had the best time playing and learning some new words. He now refers to a "baby" as De De - or something like that. But as Pop Pop says he's consistent every time he tries to say it. That counts right?
Here are some pictures...

Heart Walk

We went and walked in the Heart Walk today and Cooper had a great time. Mom Mom and Pop Pop are here and Cooper is loving having them here to play with. Here a few pictures from today. I will add more tomorrow with Mom Mom and Pop Pop.

Cooper is 10 months old!

Our baby turned 10 months old on September 16, 2009.

Here are the main things he is up to these days:
He is no longer eating baby food.
He is taking 7 or 8 steps at a time.
He is a happy and wonderful baby.

Cooper we love you! Here he is...