Being a parent

It sounds easy right? Feed them, clothe them, teach them right from wrong, love them. Here's the thing, how do you know if you are doing it right? I am a tax person, I like right vs. wrong. Or at least having a position that I can argue. How do I know if I am doing right by Cooper? Will he turn out ok if I really have no idea what I am doing?
Today I got a note home from his school that Cooper was biting again. (Per the note "several times") What do you do? Is he too young to understand? So I give it a shot,almost like a practice run. We sit down (in the middle of the kitchen floor - cooper's new favorite spot to play while I am cooking dinner) and have a little chat. It goes something like this -
Me: Cooper did you get in trouble today?
Cooper: Looks to the ground.
Me: Cooper did you bite your friends today?
Cooper: looks up at me and bites his finger to show me he understands what I am saying.
Me: So you did bite your friends? Cooper we don't bite people. It's not nice. You need to be nice to your friends not hurt them, ok?
Cooper: leans in gives me a hug and then sits in my lap to snuggle.

Seriously this kid has it figured out. He is probably thinking let me just let her think she is a great parent and then let me put on the charm so she will quit talking about it. Mission accomplished.

So how bad am I at being a parent? I think I am in for some trouble.

What a difference a year makes...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cooper had a great Valentine's Day. On Friday night/Saturday morning we got about 3 inches of powdery snow. We were hoping Cooper would love it. Not so much. We think he didn't like the fact he couldn't walk easily through the snow. I got a few pictures, not too many since we had a screaming little man on our hands. (We used the laundry basket as a little sled. (cooper wasn't impressed)

My adorable Cooper

"Cheese!"

Snow Days

So we have been inside ALOT due to the snow/ice. Here is a recap of our snow days in pictures. We had some happy times, a few breakdowns, play time, and nap time. Ahhhh snow days.

Forgot to mention

Forgot to mention that we have discovered that Cooper really likes Little Debbie cakes and cheese puffs. I know, I know, mother of the year....

Snow, snow, well...Ice

It's so pretty looking out my window right now. White all around. Looks like snow, but oh wait not so much. It's ice. Just imagine stepping out your front door on a sheet of ice. Lovely. But of course we had to take Coop out to experience it. The last time it "snowed" I was still at home with him on maternity leave. So he probably doesn't remember (or he might - he's pretty smart.) So we bundled him up and took him out. He was so confused. I mean he was out there yesterday with green grass, now all was white. He wasn't a big fan. It was COLD! His little nose got red immediately. He walked around a bit and when we (really I mean me) couldn't feel our fingers anymore, I decided it was time to go in. And so, our adventures in the snow lasted a whopping 5 minutes (maybe). I did get some cute pics though. Don't you agree?

Another rambling post...

I know, I haven't posted pictures in awhile. I will. Soon...

Let's just start by saying we think Cooper is awesome. He really is an amazing little man. His teachers at school tell us how smart he is. They keep telling us that he is talking all the time and is just very smart. Well, we haven't experienced that just yet. Until tonight. I was making dinner and Cooper was playing. He has a little farm set he got for Christmas. I told him "Cooper can you bring me the cow?" And wouldn't you know, he searched around picked up the cow and brought it to me. Then I said, Cooper what sound does a cow make and he responds "Mooooooo"

I have said it before, but here it is again... Genius baby.

Thinking back...

Tonight Cooper wanted to be held. He wanted to be held while I made his dinner, while I set the table, while I went and got him some toys to play with. He just wanted to be held. In order to do all the things listed above, I needed both my hands and I had to set him down. And that is when the screaming would start. I would look down at him and a pitiful sad face stared back at me with arms lifting up to me. It made me think back when I had to hold him all the time because he couldn't just sit up, or stand, or crawl, or walk. It made me sad. The baby stage is over. And I am sad. And so I held him...

How did I not know?

How did I not know that my little baby was getting two molars on the top? Seriously, I have been working alot, but TWO MOLARS? You may be thinking 1) wow she is not very attentive or 2) how did she find them now? Cooper hates getting his teeth brushed. He screams (you know that deafening scream) like I am physically hurting him - umm NO its called brushing teeth Cooper. Anyways, I have learned to sing and try and make it as fun as possible. Lately, he has been buying in to this fun game. Tonight I was brushing away, while singing the Barney brush your teeth song and there I see it...a shiny white molar. Oh wait, not one but one on the right and one on the left. TWO! Oh Coop - such a big boy now!

Catch Up

Well, work has been crazy. But I have a big following (aka J) that has been wondering where my updates have been. Here is what Cooper has been up to...

He is talking so much more now. He can say Yes and shake his head (see post below in the video - adorable). He also can wave and blow kisses real well. Also, his teach claims he can say "One, two" as he counts the steps at school. Got to be honest, I have yet to hear it...make your own call. However, I will say he is trying to use his words alot more now than before. Also, we had to get our second haircut because this boy's hair was out of control. I will have to get E to update you on what he has been up to the past few weeks because he has been primary care giver lately.

OHHH almost forgot to mention. On MLK day, Papa Bruce and Reid came up to watch Cooper because we had to both work. Cooper had a blast. He can't wait to see you guys again soon!

This is for you J!

Look at his new haircut....isn't he handsome?

Cooper and Lauri

We went to visit Ms. Lauri the week of New Year's.  Cooper had a great time and oh my goodness did he get into EVERYTHING!  Every 5 seconds he was off getting into something he shouldn't be.  We did have a great time visiting!  Take a look at how cute they are!

It's been a rough week

It has been a rough week and it is only Tuesday. Poor Cooper has not been a fan of going back to school. We got a report yesterday that he was whiny all day and he just wanted to be held all day long. Today he was a little better, despite his little incident (read previous post).

I really can't blame him. I have been pretty whiny going back to work, how about you?

Pictures I promised...

Cooper - You are in trouble Mister

This is to document that today, January 5, 2010 Cooper has gotten his first bad note home from school. For what you ask - BITING! Yes, the little man got caughting biting a friend in his class. (As Eddie read this he says, "guess it wasn't really a friend" - spoken like a dad) With a special little note at the bottom saying, "UNPROVOKED". I am pretty sure that isn't good.

So my dear baby - please don't bite anymore.

Pictures

I will add some pictures tomorrow night of this week. Aren't you excited?!?!

Headed back to the cold

We had a wonderful Christmas and a great visit with everyone in Florida. On Sunday it came time to head back to Charlotte where it was WAY too cold. As soon as we got Cooper out of the car he went straight to look for his playhouse and play he did. Unfortunately, it was way too cold to let him stay out there too long. Little did we know it was going to get even colder and he wouldn't be able to play out there the rest of the week. Poor thing!

OH completely forgot to tell you one little bit - Cooper started to get sick on Christmas. Sure enough we get back to Charlotte and Cooper has 102 degree temperature and is coughing. We took him to the doctor and of course just another virus we just have to work through.

Don't you love when the doctor says that - "we just need to work through it". Well, really you mean us right? Because I am pretty sure when the little man wakes up all night because he is coughing so bad, I don't remember you being there. My other favorite is let's treat this with Motrin or Tylenol. HAHA. I should tell them, "hey doc - i treat the little man to motrin every night before bed, are you sure that is all we need here?"

The rest of the week we just hung out and relaxed. It was great. Don't you just love vacation time?

Merry Christmas 2009

No words could explain the day, so there are the pictures.