Cooper the Super Hero Worker Guy Who is Afraid of Beeps

Cooper's best friend is his buddy, Braden, who lives just two houses down from us.  Just two weeks apart in age, they're like two peas in a pod.  They play together every chance they can get.  The other day it was superheroes, but not the usual dress-ups.  Coop said he was a "superhero worker guy."  They have so much fun together.

Unrelated, from the other night:

Coop has a fear of all "beeps" and alarms, especially fire alarms. Two nights ago he said he wasn't afraid of them anymore. Tonight at bed he said, "But I'm scared! Remember I'm afraid of fire alarms?" Nate said we thought he wasn't afraid anymore and Coop said, "Well, my brain...you know my brain, well it just...it just went back to normal. So now I'm afraid again." I love some of his bedtime antics. Sometimes it's so hard not to laugh.

We Have a Sitter!

We have a sitter!  No, not a babysitter.  A baby that sits--on his own!  Of all the milestones a baby reaches, this is one of my favorites because it makes childcare so much easier.  Not only that, but the baby suddenly has a new perspective from which to play.  Huddy has seemed very happy about his new found ability too.

 Here's a fun little pic Coop too when we were at the doctor's office the other day for Huddy's well-check.

 The other day Hudson finished nursing and just sat and stared at me for the longest time with this expression.  Not sure what he was thinking about, but I loved staring into those big blue eyes with the lady-killer long, curling eyelashes.  Sweet baby.

Hudson's 6 Month Stats

Huddy's 6-month well check was yesterday.  He is:

• 18 lbs. 7 oz. (75th percentile)
• 26.5" long (50th percentile)
• and his head is 17.75" around (80th percentile)

I'd say he is following in his brother's footsteps as far as growth percentiles.  He is a BIG boy with HUGE thighs and lots of chub, but doesn't look overly chubby.

I asked the doctor how is it that I have boys who are super heavy, but don't look it.  I mean, Coop is so skinny I have a hard time finding pants skinny enough for him.  She said, "Well, it only makes sense.  What have you been feeding them? Rocks?"  Hehe.  I like her.  And her name is Dr. Smith, so that's another reason to like her. ;o)

Huds isn't doing so great with his vaccines.  He has had a bit of a hard time every time, getting really emotional and needy for a few days afterward and such.  Today he spiked a fever of 101.3.  Sheesh.  Thank goodness for Tylenol.  Add to that the fact that his two upper front teeth are about to break through any day, and the fact that Cooper and I have been terribly sick and now Huddy may have caught it.  It's been a rough couple of days, to say the least.

Cooper's 4 year well check, stats, and vaccination story

I like to keep track of my boys' growth statistics for my own records.  It's been fun to look back and compare sizes of the boys at various ages.  Since Cooper's 4-year appointment wasn't until 11/5 due to insurance stuff, I didn't get a chance to post his 4-year stats with his 4th birthday, so here they are:

• Height: 40.5" (50th percentile)
• Weight: 39.4 lbs. (75th-90th percentile)
• Head: they didn't measure--wish they would have--I'd like to have known! ;o)

A note about Coop's 4-year appointment:

Cooper received his kindergarten vaccinations at this appointment, even though he won't actually be going to kindergarten until almost 6 years old.  The doctor said the timing doesn't matter so much, and it's a lot easier while they're smaller.  So I went ahead and got them done.  I didn't tell him about it at all ahead of time, not wanting to have him worrying over something he had no control over.  So after his physical, the nurse came in with his vaccinations, and he saw the syringes, which he calls "pokes."  He turned to me with a little tremor in his voice and said, "Mom, am I getting those pokes today?"  I explained why (for school), etc. and that yes it would hurt for a few seconds, but then it would be over and all done.  I told him he was a very brave boy and that I knew he could do this, but that I'd also be right there giving him a hug and holding his hand.  So he sat there on the table and put out his arm for the nurse.  I could see a little fear and worry in his eyes, but he was trying so hard to be brave, and even wanted to watch.  I held his head to me, and hugged him tight.  (I think I hate my kids getting shots as much as they do!  It's such a hard thing for me as a mom.)

To my utter surprise, Cooper didn't cry at all.  He certainly flinched with each stick (there were two), but he did not cry.  When the nurse was done and applying the band-aids, I praised him for being so brave, and he put on a brave smile, and said, "Yeah, I'm a very brave kid."  The nurse praised him and left the room.  I was still praising him, trying to get the boys ready to leave.  Hudson started fussing because he was hungry and tired, and then Coop started to fall apart a little, wanting my undivided attention.  He kept trying to get on my lap as I was trying to stand up, and then he hugged my leg and refused to leave the room.  I had to put Hudson in his car seat (screaming now), and pick up Cooper and the baby/car seat and lug them and the diaper bag out of the room and down the hall to the exit.  Finally somewhere down the hall Cooper decided to let me put him down (thank goodness because I was about to drop one of them.  I'm strong, but not enough to carry a 40 lb. preschooler, his 18 lb brother, a 7 lb car seat, and a very hefty diaper bag!)  He just about started to cry then, but I reminded him that boys who are brave get a lollipop and stickers on the way out.  So he held it in and the nurse gave him TWO lollipops and two stickers.

In the car he started telling me his arm hurt too much and was broken and couldn't work anymore.  I said, "Well, that's too bad because I wanted to take you to Chick-Fil-A on the way home, to have lunch, and to play on the play set."  Ah, that changed him--at least for 5 seconds.  We did stop to eat lunch, and he played and played for about an hour, climbing all over the place, using his arm without complaint.  But the minute I said it was time to leave, oh, his arm was suddenly VERY sore and "broken" again.  He really was a little sore for about 24 hours, but did very well.  I was pleasantly surprised that the whole ordeal wasn't too bad of a childhood memory for him, at least not from my perspective.  He IS a brave little guy.

Leaves are Falling All Around

Despite us both being really sick, I took Cooper outside today while it was nice and warm so we could get fresh air and sunshine. The front lawn was covered in leaves, the baby was napping, and I realized this may be the only golden opportunity for a bored little boy to jump in the fall leaves. So, I mustered up every ounce of energy I had, raked the front lawn, and let Coop play until his little heart was content. The exhaustion I felt from the effort was entirely worth the expression of joy and the squeals of delight.

Cooper's Adventures of Late, Some from His Perspective

In October Cooper and Daddy went camping overnight with the teenage boys from church.  To say Cooper was excited would be an understatement.  He couldn't wait to go.  I had to get at least one picture before they left, since they had no camera.  Coop did call me that night as he was going to bed, and said, "I wuv you, Mommy."  Made me realize how little our big guy still is.

To Coop, few things are as good as a tower of pillows to jump onto when jumping off Mom and Dad's bed.

Cooper is obsessed with glasses lately.  He popped the lenses out of his 3D glasses from the movies, and wore them all afternoon.

This boy is such a character!! (I just couldn't resist a picture.)

This kid loves him some cammo clothes.  He has several cammo shirts, and cammo boots, and tries to wear many of Daddy's cammo hunting gear.

Cooper plays with my phone, and its camera, nearly every single second I don't have the phone in my hand.  He's obsessed with it lately.  I mean, in a single day I've deleted 274 photos he took JUST THAT DAY.  So amid all the throw-aways, I decided to keep a few he took, and show you some things from his perspective, and also demonstrate some of his skills as a budding photographer (with zero encouragement from us).

Mommy and Huddy playing

Mommy playing piano

I LOVE this shot he took of the piano.  Cooper loves to play piano.  I've taught him how to find all the Cs, he can identify middle C, and knows how to find As and Bs as well.  He can also play most of Mary Had a Little Lamb from ear.

Ok yeah.  Most pictures I find are like this, or of the floor, or his toys.

But here's a cute one he took of Huddy, who was ready to go take Coop to preschool.

Daddy from Cooper's angle.

And another of Huddy.

Cooper has quite an eye for good pictures.  It'll be interesting to see whether that ever turns into anything more than just having fun with Mom's phone.

Being Brothers

These two boys are becoming good friends.  More and more often I find them interacting, and Cooper usually has Hudson smiling and giggling.  I had THE BEST video of that, but Coop was playing with my phone and accidentally deleted it. :) [Side note: When I talked to him about deleting it, he thought for a second, and then said, "I know! You put Hudson back in his play thing and then I'll make him giggle like before, and you can take a new video!  That will fix it!"  So sweet; how could I be mad then?]

The cutest two kids...

 About as often as he has him giggling, Coop also makes Hudson cry.  He's so anxious for Huddy to grow up and play that he often hurts him when just trying to have fun.  Poor Huddy is a trooper. [Am I a bad Mom for taking this picture before rescuing the baby?  Look at that face--please rescue me!]

 Cooper loves to hold his brother, and also likes to try to carry him.  THAT is scary.  Getting him to set him back down GENTLY as I approach the way you would approach a wild animal is even more terrifying. 

 Even more than playing indoors together, the boys love to play outside.  Hudson likes to watch Cooper ride his bikes, his John Deere Gator, and such.  Cooper was sweet one afternoon and let Huddy have a turn "driving" the Gator.  Hudson likes to take his turn sitting at the steering wheel every chance he can now.

 Cooper asks me all the time when Hudson is going to be big enough to walk.  For me, too soon; for Cooper, not soon enough.

I love that my boys are becoming good friends.  I know there are many years of fights ahead, but I also hope that there will be even more days of playing together, bonding, and becoming the best of friends.

Merry Christmas 2013

Hudson 6 Months

Hudson is six months old today.  Say what?!?  Seriously.  How fast did those 6 months fly by?

Our Hudderball is GROWING.  He'll be going to the doctor this Tuesday, so I'll post his 6 month stats later, but I'm betting the boy is almost 20 lbs.  He doesn't look that heavy, and I'm often getting told by others who hold him how much heavier he is than he looks.  It's all in the cheeks and the thighs!

 Two weeks ago we were eating dinner and Hudson was crying, watching us eat, and trying to grab my food.  A few days later I gave him his first solids, since he seemed MORE than ready.  There's a video at the bottom of this blog of him eating.  His favorite thus far is sweet potatoes.

I never get tired of his smiles (or giggles--see video below).  He is a very smiley, easy-going baby, and only cries when something is wrong.  Sometimes I'll be so focused on another task (like making dinner), that I'll almost even forget he's there because he's so content to just play and watch Cooper.  I make it a point each day to interact and play with him one-on-one though.

One week ago his first tooth peeked through.  He was a little fussy for a few days, and I thought his reflux was flaring up again since I'd taken him off his medicine.  It seemed to make him spit up larger quantities and more often than without.  But I was wrong about it being reflux.  Last Saturday night he was exceptionally fussy, which is so unlike him.  My motherly instincts told me to check his gums, and sure enough, a little tooth was making its debut.  It's his bottom right.  No sign of others, except for the drool and constant chewing.  I'm sure it won't be long before that tooth is no longer a loner.

Huddy is getting really close to sitting up on his own.

His hair is filling in, and has a strawberry tint to it, more than Cooper's does.

He tries so hard to be big like his brother.  Cooper was out riding his bike one day, and Hudson was playing with this little scooter.  He was so excited to sit on it, and let me push him back and forth, even just a few inches.

The poor boy isn't sure whether to be terrified of or to love his big brother.  I was making dinner one night, and Cooper said, "Look, Mom! Hudson is so cool!"  And this is what I found.  Hudson does love watching his brother, though, and Cooper is most often able to get him to laugh than Nathan or I.

Huddy has a habit of covering his face with his blankets and lovey.  Every time I put him down for a nap, I have to go in a few minutes later to uncover his face.  He loves to fall asleep with his lovey over his entire face.  He plays like this a lot too.

Our Hudder is getting so big.  He can roll from back to front and front to back with ease, but hasn't really yet "gone mobile", thank goodness.

I can't get enough of this baby.  So thankful that he's in our family!

Link to video in case it doesn't work: Hudson Giggles at 5 Months

Link to video in case it doesn't work: Hudson's First Solids

Cooper's First Team Sport: Soccer!

This fall Cooper played soccer as his first team sport.  His season was a looooong one, going from the middle of August to the middle of November.  With hour long practices twice a week and games on Saturday, we kinda felt like we were living and breathing soccer around here for 12 weeks.  Cooper wanted to play t-ball, but I thought he'd do better at that in the spring, and convinced him to play soccer instead.  It was often tough to pull him away from the baseball fields we had to pass to get to the soccer fields, and I wondered whether I'd done the right thing.  But we got through it.

Cooper's team was the Green Gators.  (We didn't get the email about picture day being changed, so Coop wasn't in his game uniform for pictures.  We had to borrow a jersey from someone else, hence the red shorts and socks, and blue jersey in the individual picture.)

L to R: Katie, Brendan, Cooper, Jesse, Coach, Jackson, Alli

Coop was quite the soccer player, and his skills increasingly improved throughout the season.

One night after soccer practice the sunset was bright pink.  It's not often we get to see sunsets around here what with all the trees, so Coop wanted a picture.  My phone's camera doesn't do it justice.

There were a couple of kids who were REALLY good, and were pretty big ball hogs, even taking the ball from their own teammates.  But when they weren't there, it was an entirely different game, and the rest of the kids had a lot more fun.

Cooper's attention span was short, and so usually about halfway through practice or a game, he'd stop playing soccer and start playing with one of the other kids.  His favorite thing to do was chase his teammate, Alli, who was barely old enough to play at 3-1/2 and who hardly wanted to play.  The two of them would often run and chase each other, and tackle each other.  He can be quite the little flirt, but also still doesn't understand that girls don't like to wrestle and be pummeled like boys do.  But Alli was a tough cookie and dished out just as much as Coop did.

Other times Cooper was right in there.  His last game of the season the ball hogs weren't there, and so Cooper got a lot of play time.

He scored four goals that game, twice dribbling all the way down field from near the other team's goal.  One of those he completely stole and the other he intercepted.

He dribbled so well that he got a good lead from the pack.

Go Cooper!

He kicks...

...he scores!  G.O.A.L!!!!!

This is all the kids at their last game, with their two coaches.

A week after the trophy ceremony, Cooper is still carrying his trophy around the house.

Now that soccer is over, we have our Saturday mornings back, but T/Th nights are now filled with swimming lessons.  Thus begins the rest of our years with boys---sports, sports, sports.  Go Coop!