Sunday, October 16, 2011

Day 6/7

We are so close....





Friday, October 14, 2011

Our Kitchen Transformation

Ok - so this is not going to be about Cooper. It's about our new kitchen, well almost..

Day 1





Day 2




Day 3




Day 4




Day 5










Isn't it pretty???

The Highlight of my Week

We have had a full week (all 5 days!!) of no crying when we drop off in the new class. This is HUGE! I am very excited.

Here's how it went down today:
Me: Cooper remember what are you not going to do today?
Cooper: No hitting, no wrestling, no kicking and no crying Mommy!
Me: That's right. Now give me hug and have a great day.
Cooper: I want to push you out the door. I gonna be good today and get a sticker, k?
Me: Ok Cooper. Love you.

Seriously perfect!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Updates in pictures








I'm back!

It's been a while. A long while actually. I mean August 18th - I have been a terrible blogger huh? Here's a quick recap about what has been going on around here the past two months:
1. Cooper is potty trained! He is such a big boy (only a month away from being 3 years old - keep an eye on my people I may have a breakdown).
2. We bought a new house. It's great, but it is so much work buying a new house. Why do we forget things like that?
3. We have redone all the floors on the first floor and our kitchen has been gutted. Major changes to come!
4. Cooper moved up to a new class at school. This is like real pre-school. We are talking big kid playground, chapel, computer class, a dude-dance class, music class, and circle time.
5. Cooper has started to wrestle at school. Each morning before school we have to go through the list - "Cooper- at school today No wrestling, no kicking, no hitting and no crying.

Baby boy is growing up and it is so scary, but so great at the same time. For example, tonight Cooper and I had a date. We went to dinner just us. And we chatted. We talked about his day, what show he wanted to watch before bed and what we were going to do this weekend. It was fun! Mainly we talked about how he wrestled with Lucas at school today and had to go to time out, but it was just us chatting. Cute right?

I will add pictures soon...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Crazy Cooper

Things are crazy around here. In case you haven't heard, we are in the middle of buying a new house. To say life has been crazy is really an understatement. But Cooper is growing up people. I can't believe that in 3 short months my baby will be 3. THREE YEARS OLD?! How can that be? We are working on potty training, we aren't great at it. And I do mean we. I know I am probably doing it wrong or not saying the right thing. It's definitely not just him. It's us. But we will continue to "try" as Cooper likes to say. We have had some major breakthroughs this week with it though. Needless to say, we are proud.

And to end on a funny note, this is the conversation I had with Cooper tonight:
"How was school today?"
"It was good. Lucas was terrible to me today Mommy."
"Oh really - what did Lucas do?"
"He's just bad Mommy. I not go to school tomorrow k?"

hah - this little man is pretty darn sweet folks.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

So basically my kid is smart...

No seriously, he is. Here's my proof.

Example #1
He can read all of Green Eggs and Ham. By "read" I mean he has memorized the entire book in order. We have been struggling with naptime and bedtime. By struggling I mean Cooper refuses and we don't know what else to do. So we have started to give him his books and tell him that he needs to read the books to his stuffed animals. And boy does he...every single word. His favorites are Green Eggs and Ham and Marvin K. Mooney. I will say we have read these to him maybe 4 times before he started "reading" them by himself. (told you - he's smart!)

Example #2
He remembers/listens to everything.

We took some shoes back to a store today. We were having the new shoes shipped to Pop Pop at his store. Cooper was sitting in his stroller eating lollipops, while I dealt with the salesperson. I explained everything thinking that Cooper wasn't listening. We come home and tells E in detail what happened like this...

We took pop pop's shoes back to the man because they had a tear in the back. He is shipping them to Pop Pop at his store. Oh and I saw the fishies. (there is a big fish tank at nordstrom)

Also, as I was battling with him over naptime I told him to come get me when he wanted to be a good boy again. About 20 minutes pass. He opens his door and says, "Mommy I going to be a good boy now." So I walk in and I asked what does that mean. He replies, "I going to lay in my bed like you asked." Then he proceeds to tell me this, "My daddy just tells me I have to lay down. He says (yelling) lay down right now! So I going to be a good boy and lay down. K mommy?"
Ok Cooper...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Fail...

Eddie and I have been starting our morning conversations like this...
"When is this phase going to end?"
"I feel like a big failure, how about you?"
"Take a deep breath."

I don't know how many times I have said this, but I wanted to document it so when I look back and say oh it wasn't that hard I am reminded. Parenting is HARD. We fail at it every day. It also makes you appreciate your parents more. How on earth did my mom and dad deal with all my whining and remain sane?

Cooper is a very strong willed boy. For example, he refuses to go peepee on the potty at school because he says, "I go at home." This is all a big challenge. I hope when we look back and think about these days we remember not that we felt like failures, but that he was so darn cute.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Potty Training

So each day I realize being a parent is really hard. Each day is harder than the previous one. Don't get me wrong - it's the greatest thing in the world. It's just hard. Potty training and I have been butting heads for weeks now - and I am losing people. Outside of the fact I may have the most stubborn child. We did awesome all weekend. No meltdowns, no tantrums when I asked him to go, he just did. We gave treats, we did the peepee dance, we celebrated. And he did great all weekend - no accidents during the day. Then came school on Monday. He did great - no accidents - but that was because he held it ALL DAY LONG! The second we walked in the house he went on the potty. He said (and told his teachers) "I go to the potty at home." Seriously can something be easy?

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A glimpse into our nightly conversations...

So here's just a recap of tonight's conversations:

"It's hot outside Cooper."
"Yes Mommy."
"Do you know who made it hot outside?"
"Jesus did mommy. Not nice Jesus, I not like it so hot."
"Oh Jesus made it hot?"
"No the ickyboo dragon did."
"Oh ickyboo?"
"Yes ickyboo not like the heat."

"Daddy don't throw things!" (No he wasn't throwing anything.)
"Ok Coop - we aren't supposed to throw things are we?"
"No Daddy, don't throw this pillow or that pillow or golf clubs. Throw golf clubs and they go in the trash can."
"That's right - what happens if you throw your golf clubs?"
"Mommy will throw them in trash."

(Don't judge have you ever had a golf club hit you on leg after a 2.5 year old threw it. It hurts.)

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Birthday America!

As we watched A Capital Fourth on tv Cooper kept repeating, "Happy Birthday America" as he danced around the rooming followed by hopping on one foot. Crazy boy. We had a wonderful long weekend filled with playing golf, playing outside, bbq with friends, ice cream, sparklers and naps! Cooper has really turned into a little boy. He's no baby anymore (except that I can't potty train him, but that is a whole other post topic). Without any further delay, here are some pics from our weekend and a video of Cooper's new dancing skills.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Mix Up Monday

So many thoughts going through my head right now. So just a warning - this may not make a ton of sense to anyone but me, but here it goes.

1. It happened tonight. I hear a thud, then I hear "Let me in, let me in." Here is the conversation between E and me that takes place downstairs -
Me - "Did you hear that?"
E - "It was just me closing the cabinet."
Me - "You sure - I think he just got out of his bed."
E - "No - it was the cabinet."
Me - "Is he saying let me in?"
E - "Yeah - hmm"
Me - "I will go."
Sure enough I walk in and he is at the door because he can't open the door. I walk in and ask what he is doing out of bed and he says nothing just climbs in the chair for me to rock him. As I sat there and rocked him and smelled the Johnson's baby wash in his hair I just thought how sweet of a boy he is. (Once you keep reading this statement may seem crazy.) All he wanted was for me to rock him and put him to bed. And finally I looked down at him and his droopy eyes and said "Ok its time to lay in your bed and go to sleep ok?" And him and all his nighttime sweetness replies, "Ok Mommy". I lay him in his bed and he says stand with me just a minute. (In this toddler bed I will stand by him and rub his back just a minute.) And so I did. I wish I could keep this sweet mental picture in my mind when I just want to scream in frustration at him. Like yesterday....

2. We finally made it to church. He had been sleeping until like 8am on the weekends - soooo nice by the way. Except that if he sleeps till 8 we will never make it to church. He was in a fine mood. I thought we were all prepared. We talked about how you have to be quiet in church. We had Nemo snacks, fruit loops, juice - I mean what more could we need. Uhhh lollipops apparently.
1 - We walk in late. Great start.
2 - We are there maybe 5 minutes and he goes digging in my purse. "I want a lollipop" he says. (Que Prayer) "I don't have one Coop." Screaming starts. Not a little scream people. A full out wail. I go to pick him up to take him out - he screams louder. So I let him down and just start praying seriously hard, "Please God make him stop." No Luck. Prayer ends. I look at Eddie and just glare and mouth the words "GET HIM OUT OF HERE". He does. Then comes back like 1 minute later. "What are you doing?" No response. He somewhat behaves the rest of the service. By "behaves" I mean rolling on the ground playing with his cars.
3 - After the service I have three mothers stop me and comment. Things like Oh don't worry you notice it more than anyone else. Or he is so cute - I know he was trying you today but he is adorable. And my favorite (by a little boy sitting behind me) "I'm sorry."
I was mortified. I almost cried. I don't know why. I was defeated by a 2.5 year old that knows better. Why do I think he knows better - he told me. After the service I said Do you know why Mommy is upset? He says because I was loud in church. Pure frustration folks.

3. How do you deal with toddlers? I love you Cooper - with all my heart. But boy do you test me. I lose all sense of calmness when he throws a fit. I need to be better. He needs to be better. We need to learn how to figure this out.
You know what's really scary is I see myself in him when he gets like this. Don't tell Eddie that ok? He won't read this so I am safe, but if you guys go and tell him its all over folks. (No more stories for you all!) He gets frustrated and freaks out. That's me. His new thing is he sticks his tongue out and spits. Or (exactly like me when I was little) he bites himself on the arm. Maybe I should ask Eddie how he deals with me???

4. Cooper is into dancing right now - only for the right song though. He likes to spin around on one foot and bob his head. Cracks me up. He also really likes to play this golf game on the Ipad - can he do it himself you ask? Oh yes folks. He can.

5. Tonight he went on the potty and we celebrated. And I said yay for you. And he says I get a treat! So I said that's right - if you go on the potty tomorrow morning you can have two treats on your way to school! His reply - Mommy I just went on the potty. (Just insert the face of like I did what you said come on lady!) Classic Stubborn 2 year old.

So now a few pictures of Coop in action...








And yes I realize my child is a mini replica of his dad.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Out of the mouth of....Cooper

Can't say babies because folks Cooper is no longer a baby. He is a full on little boy. Tear!

Here are the comments that have cracked me up this week:
Coop - "Mommy, I missed you last night."
Me - "I saw you last night Coop."
Coop - "No when I was sleeping."

Coop - "Where's my daddy at?"
Me - "He's in Chicago at a meeting."
Coop - "I want to go on a airplane to Chicago tomorrow."
Ughhh no.

After Eddie was tickling Cooper he says, "Daddy making me funny."

And my favorite, "I love you Mommy."

Monday, May 16, 2011

Terrible Two's

Wow - You hear about it all the time, but wow! Terrible two's at its finest - that is where we are at with Cooper right now. He's like a different kid. At any point in time he could be hugging on you and saying, "Hi Mommy how are you today?" to "No Mommy I not like that. I want to be by myself. Go away!" Seriously kid?

And heaven help us if we tell him he can't have something. You should cover your ears for the screams that will follow. At one point yesterday I just sat down on the ground looking at him while he just screams. One thing we have figured out, is yelling at him does not work - but you know what kind of works? Ignoring him. He hates being ignored (Finally a quality of mine shining through!). To the point where he will stop screaming and just cry hugging your leg. It's the only way you can get him to calm down enough to have a conversation with him.

So please think about us - it is going to be a test of our parenting. Gosh I hope we don't screw this up.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Mickey Mouse Underwear

It's official. We are really trying to potty train. We have tons of big boy underwear - mickey mouse, thomas the train, spiderman... you name it we have it. We tried yesterday, but we went to a few places so diapers had to be used, so it couldn't officially be started. But today, oh today, we hunkered down at home. We started with Thomas underwear - he stayed dry for an hour going once on the potty. Then he wanted to change to Mickey Mouse so we did. Wet within 20 minutes, change again to Spiderman - wet within 10 minutes. I was feeling pretty defeated. I even said wow this is going to be so hard - and that's when poor spiderman got peed on. I could tell he felt defeated too. He kept saying I sorry spiderman, I not do it again. So I asked do you want more underwear or a diaper, "Diaper" he responds. Thinking to myself - I am going to be terrible at this - Diaper it is. But he went down for nap with a diaper, and when he woke up I thought we are going to try this again. Wouldn't you know he stayed dry all afternoon! I am so proud. I'm sure going to school will mess us up, but we will continue trying while we are at the house. Then Memorial Day weekend we will really work on it seeing how we will be home for 4 days straight.

Just so I remember this - we rewarded him with Thomas the Train stickers. He picked one out and got to put it on his chart on the fridge himself. He was so proud of himself. He would say "Yay for me! I did it!" and jump up and down clapping. During the afternoon, the only way I could get him to stop playing and go was to say that I had to go and needed him to come with me. Sure enough it worked! Oh and the added incentive of 1 Thomas sticker for the chart and 1 Mickey Mouse sticker for his hand. Whatever works people!

Truth be told - I will miss diapers. They are so easy. I can't figure out why people hate them so much. But he is growing up. I can't hold him back because it inconveniences me (or just makes me sad because it means he is no longer a baby).

Cooper has been great through lots of transitions - bottle to sippy cup - sippy cup to regular cup - crib to toddler bed - formula to milk - I mean seriously I think I just expected this to just happen. I think I may be in for a challenge. But hey that has never stopped me before!

Friday, May 6, 2011

It made my heart hurt...

It was one of those days. You know the ones - where you try so hard and you can't do anything right. Plus, you are late to everything. So today was my day.
I had meetings pretty much all afternoon. On top of all that Cooper's class was having a Mother's Day Tea at 3:15pm and I am running late. 20 minutes late. I literally run through downtown to get to him. I walk in (complete with sweat dripping down my face) and there he is, bawling in the corner. "I want my mommy." Then I hear the teacher say, "I promise she will be here." And that's when it started - my heart hurt. Then he sees me and just starts crying harder. He didn't know if I was coming like all the other mommies. Just awful. Grade for being a mom today - F. Failure. Who knew you could feel this terrible for being late?

Cooper - I am so sorry. I will sometimes be late. Not because I want to be late, but because it is out of my control. If I say I will be there, I will little man. I promise. I will make tons of mistakes, but I will never forget you.

On another note, its E and I's 5th anniversary. Five wonderful years. To quote my mom, "You have been married 5 years and you have a 2 year old, sounds pretty perfect to me." Oh it is. It is perfect. So here's to us celebrating The Holland Family!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Easter 2011

Happy Easter to everyone...a week or so late...oh well.

He loved the candy and play time. The hiding eggs and finding them, yeah he got bored after finding like 2 eggs. Typical boy. But my boy in a navy blazer - how sweet does he look?