Happy Halloween!

The Pumpkin Tradition

It never fails. Every year at the Pumpkin Patch, we along with all the other Mommies and Daddies are hoping for the most awesome Fall pictures. We all have our cameras in hand trying to get that perfect pose of our child/children with a pumpkin. You can tell that most kids are even dressed in pumpkin patch attire. Mine were, you just can't see it because they had to wear jackets. I didn't catch that perfect pose this year. In fact, I don't think I have ever caught that perfect pose. I wonder, whatever happen to going to the Pumpkin Patch to buy pumpkins? Children these days will never have to try to hard to keep a memory, I am sure their parents have a picture of it for them. I know I do.

With that being said, here is my "photo shoot"

Since You've Been Gone...

Oh wait, I have been gone. I wonder if I still have any followers. I sometimes consider stopping my blog, but that is just nonsense. I hope that one day my boys can pull this blog up and show their kids what they were like. So if it is sporadic at times, then it is.




Cooper was baptized last weekend, I am glad we survived the service. If it were anyone else's kids I would have smiled and thought awwwwww, sweet peas. But it was mine, and I thought I was going to pull my hair out. In the end we accomplished what we wanted. But not without a fight. The Pastor will normally hold the child in front of the Congregation, he opt'd out with Cooper. Hey, we warned him. That boy has independence and determination like you wouldn't believe. He will never let him tell anyone it can't be done. I admire him for that. Yes, I admire my one year old :o).

Sam

Sam: Mommy, I want to be Santa for Halloween.
Mommy: But I already bought you Flash.
Sam: So, I changed my mind.

I believe Sam is obsessed with Christmas. Originally he wanted to be a snowman, but I changed his mind. Now, Santa.

Pretty Lucky!

Last weekend I was lucky enough to get away. Away = No kids, husband or work. All of which I enjoy, but a break is good.

Let's see, I slept in and watched what I wanted on TV. When I went out for dinner all I worried about was what I wanted to order and did not have to feed anyone else. I also discovered there is so much more at the mall then I remember and it reminded me why I love shopping. I walked on the beach and got some sun by the pool.


Best of all, I got to spend time with my Sister and Gramma (that is not a misspelling, she spells her name that way)!!

I recommend this for any Mom! But, warning when you get back reality sets in again and your kids are more worried about what you got them than seeing you.

I love my hectic life! For real!!!!!!

A Few Things You Should Know About Sam

Sam loves to make anyone laugh! The picture above demonstrates that.

We have real conversations. Heck, he probably knows more words than I do!

Whenever his brother is throwing a fit, he is quick to come to his defense. "His mouth probably hurts Mommy!"

He loves Target, I did good.

He understands that clothes that arrive on the front porch were ordered from the Internet.

He only likes to find the letter "S" when they hunt letters at school. However, yesterday he offered to find C.

A Few Things You Should Know About Cooper

Above, is Cooper's concentrating face. He does this when ever he is thinking. So, basically he does it often.

Cooper also for the longest time called every beverage juice, even milk. Now he calls every beverage milk, even juice.

Cooper always called me Daddy and Dave Daddy. Now he calls Me Mommy and Dave Mommy.

Funny kid!

Can You Resist That Smile???

So, what has Cooper been up to? Well, now that he is a year and a HALF, a ton. Life is busy in our house. Cooper is trying (and succeeding) keeping up with big brother. He has added so many new words to his vocabulary. Here is a highlight of my favorites:

• Cacker (cracker)
• Mulk (milk)
• Juuuuush (juice)
• Git Down (I want up or down)
• Drive Safe (drive safe)
• Iloveyou (I love you)
• Peeesha (pizza)
• Wyatt (wyatt) - still trying to figure that one out
• Unkey (monkey)
• Mine Mine Mine (it's probably Sam's but I want it)
• Shoes (shoes)
• Geeets (treats)
• Mommy (Mommy or Daddy)
  

He also started running which is a site to see! Adorable. Kisses now come in the form of a fish face and and a smack sound; rather than an open mouth hitting your cheek. Cooper, I must admit is not as much of a Mommy's boy as he is a DADDY'S boy. He wants to be Daddy's best buddy. But funny thing, when his Daddy leaves he yells Mommy. He use to call us both Daddy?? Maybe a little confusion.

Dinner, not high on the priority list for Cooper. Well, unless it is chicken nuggets, corn on the cob or pancakes. Sometimes we can sneak a corn dog in there. We think he is okay, not starving.

Naps are down to one and it isn't without a fight. But he still goes to a bed like a pro. When we say ready for night night he grabs his "b" (blanket) and heads to his REALLY BIG BOY bed. Cooper sleeps on the bottom bunk of the bunk beds he shares with his brother. Last night; however, I found him sleeping soundly in the hallway. Almost wonder if he sleep walk. Dave use to sleep walk. I still sleep shop (or at least that is what I tell Dave).

Cooper is in ahhh of his big brother. I love their little relationship. They really take care of each other. I hope they stay the best of buds for a long time!

Here in a week or so we have our 18 month appointment. But I can tell you his weight, 31 pounds. His brother, 33.

:o)

They Are Probably Updating Our Status

I Should Really Teach Them To Update This Blog

Filler

To keep you coming around while I try to think of something creative to post.

There Was a Car on the Grass

Sam: Mommy, are we going to drive on the grass?

Mommy: No. We don't drive on the grass.

S: Lawnmowers drive on the grass.

M: Yes.

S: Firetrucks drive on the grass.

M: Sometimes.

S: Uncle Rick drives on the grass with two wheels.

M: He does?

I Don't Care if It's a One Seater

After this picture, Sam decided to climb out the window. Cooper decided to also, only the car toppled over with him. Thankfully no one got hurt.

Cooper has the funniest personality! That boy does not care who you are or how old you are you better not mess with him. And if you don't want to share then you better just be ready to run :o).

But he also carries his blanket around the house and sometimes even takes it out to dinner, to the store or school.

Transition

In an effort to maintain my reputation of "impulse shopper", we bought the boys bunk beds over the weekend. We got a really good deal on the bunk beds themselves, but may have been suckered into over priced colorful mattresses. But enough about that....

We are also redoing the colors of the room, which Dave began last night. Which met that Cooper couldn't sleep in his crib. We took the mattress out and put him and Sam in the toy room. The picture above is how I found Cooper when I went to check on him. Hope he stays on his big boy bed!

Give Credit When Credit Deserved

Today Cooper came into the kitchen to throw a wrapper away. I said "good job Cooper", and Sam responded from the other room:
"I told him to do that Mommy".

Boo Boo

I discovered Cooper knew a new word.

After yesterday's ordeal at Urgent Care which consisted of 3 attempts to give and IV and one shot he had 4 bandaids.

When Cooper got home he would come to me as he discovered them and say "boo boo" and have me take them off.

So that is the new word boo boo.

Brotherly Love at It's Finest

Let me start this story with Saturday afternoon. I took both boys up to a bounce place to meet a friend and her son Caleb. This place had jupiter jumps galore and across the street was a McDonald's. Sam saw that right off and told his friend Caleb he wanted to go there after they jumped. Sam and Caleb had a blast and Cooper just wondered around the place checking it out. But wasn't quite himself. When I picked him up toward the end he was burning up! I thought wow that is some major teething we got going on. We headed to McD's and each boy got a happy meal. I don't think any of the boys ate; Sam and Caleb because they were too interested in other things and Cooper because he looked like a pathetic little sick boy :o(. We left.

Fast forward to Sunday morning. Cooper woke up with a fever despite the Motrin we were giving him around the clock. Then he refused to eat blueberry muffins. We got him to drink a capri-sun but he threw it up (along with some milk that must have been in his tummy). YUCK. I decided with his high fever and that he couldn't keep juice down we needed to go to Urgent Care. They opened at 9:30, we got there at 9:35 and it was PACKED! It took Cooper throwing up in the waiting room at around 11:00 to finally get called back. They had no rooms available so we were put in a room with a nice cozy recliner, a VCR (yes they still make those) and a lot of books. I know, I know what does any of this have to do with brotherly love?? Well, when the nurse came back to take Cooper's vitals she said they needed to go weigh him. Sam and I stayed while Dave took Cooper. Cooper did not like getting weighed (I don't either) and was screaming. Sam promptly got up and said I will go make sure he is okay!!! I stopped him. Then the doctor came in and had to listen to Cooper and made Cooper upset and then asked for symptoms. We gave them. Apparently left one out, because Same said "Mommy don't forget to tell her he wouldn't McDonald's". The doctor said she wasn't sure what was wrong but they needed to do a chest xray, an IV, flu test, strep test and some lab work. Cooper was balling and Sam had a look of concern while we waited outside the room while he got the flu and strep test. I decided it would be best to take Sam home for a bit. Sam wouldn't talk the drive home and then wouldn't eat when we got him. He started crying and I asked what was wrong and he said "my Cooper". I said well let's get some clothes for him and go back. Sam then proceeded to get Cooper's favorite books, a toy saw (he said Cooper needed it) and one of his favorite b's (blankies) since Cooper threw up on his own. . Dave said it was going to be awhile so I called Sam's Elizabeth to come watch him and while we were waiting we brought brother his stuff. They still hadn't go the IV in Cooper when we got there and couldn't draw any blood either. Poor guy probably felt like a pin cushion. We dropped the stuff off and I took Sam home. When I got back Cooper was laying with his Daddy holding on to that saw for dear life. Sam must have known that the saw was the best thing.
We got home and Sam was so happy to see his brother, who thankfully did not have to get the IV because they couldn't find a vein. Instead he got some anti nausea medicine and Tylenol which brought the fever down and helped him drink something without throwing up. Later that night Sam started running a fever too and I said he needed to drink juice. Cooper promptly got up and brought Sam his capri-sun he was having earlier.

I had to blog this memory!

Football and Swim!

P.S.

He's not my baby anymore.

We Actually Did Something...

And the "we" didn't include Sam and Cooper. A good date night is always good! We got to eat at the bar, because we had no one under 21 with us (and Dave didn't make reservations). We got to stop at the ATM to get cash, and both got out of the car. We didn't have to strap two kids in their car seats each time we got in the car. And best of all, we were reminded that we are not only Mommy and Daddy, but Husband and Wife.

Duck..Duck.....Goose

Okay, so there weren't any geese...oh well.

One..Two...Three Strikes...

It wasn't the batter's hoping they didn't get strikes..It was Sam and his buddies. I think they made it through 3 innings and saw zero plays. Bleachers are soooo fun! Glad Mommy and Cooper opt'd for a trip to the mall that night!

Dance Dance Dance...

Haircut by the bald guy..he only knows one style

I stopped him from giving him the exact haircut!

Camel (minus scanner)

I need to post this in case we forget. Sam's Aunt Terri promised him when he was pottied trained she would take him to the zoo to ride a camel. She kept good on her promise. This was probably about a month or so ago.
But last week Sam told me: "I think Aunt Terri and Aaron are still at the zoo".

They were actually on vacation. He has such a great memory, just needs to work on the concept of time.

Yes

Cooper can now shake is head yes.

Can't You Guys Just Play with Toys???

Doctor Appointments

3 Year Old Stats

Weight: 33 Pounds 1/4 Ounces 75%
Length: 37 Inches 50%

I don't even know where to start, it seems like so long since I have actually sat and posted about Samuel. I love this age!

Funny things you say:
"Dear God, thank you for the yucky food" (before he ate lunch at school, it was tuna casserole)
"Friends do you want any beer?" (this was said at school, it was pizza day)
"He has a big head" (gotta love honesty)

Favorite things to do:
Play with friends
Jump
Talk




What I notice most about you:
You are very set in your ways, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes bad. Good, because you know the routine. Bad, because if your routine doesn't go as planned this is a big disappointment to you and you express that through "fits". You are becoming independent and like to do things on your own. You are also a Mommy Boy!! But you like to help your Daddy too.

Pretending is a big thing right now, it is fun to see your imagination at work. Yesterday you had me in giggles because you were pretending to talk on the phone and even added the call waiting aspect to it. Your favorite person to call is Elizabeth. You LOVE Elizabeth, she is one of your favorite teachers at school. She sometimes even babysits you.



You have a memory not to be tested. You can recall things that happened MONTHS ago. You also loving sharing this with your teachers and often tell them stories about what you have done.

You are a gentle boy and wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone. Okay, maybe your brother, but you love him very much too.

We love you Sam!!

15 Month Stats

Weight: 27 Pounds 13.5 Ounces 85%
Length: 31 Inches 45%
Head: 49.5 cm 96%

So, you have two brains. Cooper seems to be keeping steady with her percentages, which I know are just figures but I think it is fun keeping track.

Lately we have been seeing a side of Cooper that involves throwing fits. Mainly, shoes. Cooper loves his shoes and always wants them on, especially if he sees you putting brother's on. He has quite the temper. He shares the same passion with his hat.

In the cuddling department, Cooper would rather not. Which makes Mommy very sad! But there are some rare moments when he will rest his head on your shoulder and those moments I love!

Cooper has added some new words to his vocabulary since my last post.

Wyatt: That is Sam's buddy
Shoes: Shoes
Nana: Banana
Bee Ba: Baseball Bat

And Just Like That..You Turned 3

Sam turned 3 yesterday, which no longer classifies him as a toddler. He is a little person.

Cooper Jakob!

Cooper is a busy little guy, so busy that I barely have time to come on here and post pictures...forget actually writing something.

But today, I took a day off. In addition to takinga day off I sent the kids to school and the husband to work. I have been working a lot and trying to keep up with being a Mom and Wife. I am going to clean the house and then go shop for Sam's 3rd Birthday. I won't even go there right now, he will get a post later in the weekend. Sniff sniff.

But Cooper, let's talk about him. He is 15 months old now and walking and talking. He is a very independent child and has no problem testing his limits. Something his brother doesn't do. He still has very blonde hair and big blue eyes! Cooper loves the water he will even put his head under and not care. He also loves to play with balls and sometimes mistakes other objects as balls and throws them too (phones, remotes, blocks, books).

We have started doing story time with him at night, which is something we should have started sooner but it use to get done after he went to bed. He loves books that he can touch and feel different textures. So his favorite is "That's not my Dinosaur". I like it too.

School is going well for Cooper. He is in the tiny toddler room and enjoys playing with this friends. We need to work on sharing and partly because of his brother. When he was smaller (which for him is a funny word to use) he wouldn't be able to do anything when his brother took his toys. Now he is making up for that, don't take a toy from Cooper! Cooper has 6 teeth, but if that past couple nights mean what I think, he has some more coming.

Cooper loves his Daddy!!! He usually wants him to hold him over Mommy :o(. He see hims in the morning and says (with a huge smile) DADDY! When he sees me he says "da da". Hm.

Words:
Juice
Thank You
Hi
Bye
Bubba (brother)
Daddy
Da Da (me)
No No (add a finger waive at that)
Ball
More

Sentenance:
More juice

Personality:
Stubborn and determined. Sweet and lovable.

We love our Cooper!!!!!

Handsome

I know, I am biased.

He Loved Him Some Water...

Cooper is my fearless child. He loved the water, especially when Daddy took him out of the lobster (which, may I add was recalled).

R E D

Over the weekend we were following Grandma and Grandpa in their car. Sam was sitting in the backseat of our car and I heard him say this:

"Grandma's car is red, R-E-D. Firetrucks are red, R-E-D.

Daddy is going to work on teaching him "Go Big RED, R-E-D"!

Gifted....