Fall T-Ball: Cooper and the Braves

Cooper played t-ball again this fall.  In North Carolina, baseball is a nearly year-round sport.  He started in early August, and ended in late October.  This season he was on the Braves.

We opted out of pictures taken by a photographer, but I do have a few I took myself.

A team cheer post-game.  Goooooooo Braves!

Cooper was #9 this year.  He is getting better and better at batting.

 Denise and Jim were able to come for a game in September, the weekend before Cooper's birthday.  It was fun to have special guests to watch one of his games, and to cheer him on.

One night I looked to see where Cooper was. He was standing in right field, back to the game, with his baseball pants pulled up above his knees, socks rolled down.

It was chilly that night, but apparently he was too hot.

While Cooper enjoyed this t-ball season, his heart isn't in the game.  He likes batting, but doesn't enjoy the rest of his time because he plays outfield most of the time. This year they didn't have enough 6-7 yr old kids sign up, so the big kids played in the same league as the 3-5 yr olds.  This made it hard because the bigger kids, naturally better, played all the infield spots most of the time.  So Cooper was stuck in the "boring outfield."  His attention span would quickly run out, and he was often found not even paying attention to the game.  Because of this, he'd get stuck in the outfield again and again, a catch-22.

We're not sure whether he should keep playing t-ball, or if we should have him try soccer again, or even try a solo sport, like martial arts.  The decision is harder than it should be for a 5 year old, because after the spring, he'll have t-ball tryouts, and the coaches will actually draft the kids they want.  Insane!!  If we have him take one season off to try something else, he could fall terribly behind, and then not be good enough to even make a team.  It's crazy how much pressure is put on kids these days.  I'm not a fan of this part of the sports world these days.  What ever happened to trying a different sport every year until you were at least a teenager?  Sheesh.  Hard decisions for us, not wanting to hinder his sporting abilities, and wanting him to find the right sport for him, that he loves.

Summertime Potpourri

Found this old post the other day, still in draft mode.  A few fun photos to share.

The boys helping me vacuum.

Hudson devouring a slice of his favorite food: WATERMELON.

Playing giant checkers with Cooper and Denise during one of our visits to her house.

 

Cooper's delightful reaction to me making his sandwich look like a monster sticking its tongue out.  Thanks to some fun blogs, I've  been able to have fun making some of his lunches into fun things like this. It always gets him excited to eat.

Cooper's First Day of Junior Kindergarten

The day after we returned from Salter Path, Cooper started school (junior kindergarten).  He was disappointed that his birthday is a month too late for him to go to Kindergarten this year.

Aaaaaaand there's my boy...

As we drove to school that first morning, he said he was nervous.  Then I reminded him that he already went to preschool last year.  He thought for a minute, and then said, "You're right.  I'm not a rookie.  I'm a pro!  I got this!"

Sending him to part-time preschool has been such a good thing for him.  He loves going, has made new friends, is learning new skills (like expanding his attention span, following directions, etc.), and is starting to really learn how to read.  Currently his favorite part of preschool is "writing" (practicing writing letters and numbers).  He writes his name very well.

Labor Day Vacation to Salter Path

Labor Day weekend we spent with Nate's Dad and Michele in Salter Path.  We love going to Poppy's house in the summer!  First, we get to stop for home made ice cream along the way.  This was our first time ever stopping at this place because it's usually closed for the winter when we travel, and Cooper has always been allergic to milk.  But this time we got to stop and enjoy a nice, cold treat!

The boys were happy to stretch their legs (and we'd only been on the road for just over an hour of our 7 hour trip--ha!).

Hudson enjoyed the ice cream as much as the rest of us.

Coop found a place in the back of the truck where he would have liked to ride.  Reminded me of when I was a kid, how we used to ride in the back on top of all the stuff.  Dad always made us a nice bed to lay on.  Nowadays kids have to be strapped in their car seats though, sorry Coop.

We arrived late in the night, but the next day were ready to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.  Poor Memaw had to stay at home and study.

Poppy took us out on the boat in the Sound, and the boys were in heaven (so were we).

Hudson wanted to drive the boat just as much as Cooper did.

There's my handsome husband.

Who's driving this thing?  Do you think Poppy had his eyes closed behind those sunglasses? ;)

We stopped at one of the little islands to sit, relax, and watch the kids play.  Hudson was happy as a clam playing in the sand and the water.

Cooper wanted to go swimming, and spent all of his time out in the water.

Nate spent all of his time trying to catch bait fish.

The boys and their Poppy.

Back in the boat, Hudson was ready to go!

The next day we headed to Cape Lookout with all the family.  We chose a spot across from the lighthouse, on one of the islands.  The wild ponies were on our island, and the boys had fun looking at them from a distance.

Cooper enjoyed having his big cousins, Haleigh and Stella, to swim with.

Hudson kept himself busy in the sand.

Ugh--our fat selves. Not a picture I really want to share.  BUT we're both still working hard at slimming down these bodies, so let's call this our "before" picture.

Cooper and Stella enjoying the ocean.

What do the adults do while the kids swim?

Except me.  I get to chase this busy-body around!

 There's that hunky husband again.

Even Memaw got to enjoy the water.

Such a pretty view.

Haleigh's friend Jesse, Stella, Haleigh, and Cooper.

Hudson and Daddy walking the beach.

Cape Lookout

Some scenery

Nate had been using the casting net to catch bait fish.  Stella wanted to learn how to throw one, which takes a bit of skill.  Poppy taught her how.  One generation passing down family fishing skills to the next.  Fishing is in our blood, being from Salter Path.

After a nice, long day, we headed back home.  Abby and Michele seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Hudson was exhausted from all the fun, and fell asleep on the boat ride back.

We enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner in Harker's Island with Abby, Jack, Haleigh, and Stella.

Take two...because with little kids one or the other is either pulling a funny face, or not looking at the camera.

 

Back at Memaw and Poppy's house, Hudson had lots of fun with the dress-up necklaces.

We always have such a great time visiting our family, but especially when it involves boats, beach, sand, swimming, sun, and seafood.  Hope to see you all again soon!

Hudson 15-17 Months

I don't have the stats from Hudson's 15 month well-check, but I do remember he weighed right around 24 lbs.  He turned 15 months old in August.  When we were in Utah at my grandparent's house, my grandpa kept calling Hudson a little girl.  Grandma reminded him that Hudson is a boy, and grandpa said, "I know that, Lela, but with that long hair he looks like a girl."  Ha!  I agreed that he needed a haircut, but just hadn't had the time to give him one.  Grandma was quick to get out her hair cutting supplies, and since Aunt Camyll was there, Hudson received a haircut in the backyard of his great-grandparents' house.  It wasn't long before those curls grew back, and I let them grow quite a bit before finally deciding to give him a real short haircut.  This is the after...

Most of the curls were gone, and I was sad.  My baby growing up...

Hudson is a very happy kid, as long as he's rested and fed.  He can guzzle about a gallon of water a day.  His favorite foods are BREAD and cheese.  He's happy, but serious a lot of times.  But he does have his silly moments.  Currently if you tell him to look in the mirror, he'll instantly look and stick out his tongue.

Hudson loves to vacuum.  Both of the boys do, actually.  I get out the vacuum and you'd think it was Christmas morning the way they react.  Speaking of Christmas, I hear Santa is planning on bringing Hudson his own vacuum and broom.  Can't wait to see him play with them (or see if he still wants mine!).

Just before our trip to Utah, I purchased the BEST mommy accessory ever.  EVER.  Wish I'd had this thing for both my kids as little babies.  It's a baby carrier that can be worn front or back, and transitions from newborn to infant to toddler.  It's a way for me to hold Hudson, as he often wants to be when I'm cooking or cleaning, or otherwise busy.  So I put him on my back, and he's happy.  Often he falls asleep within about 10 minutes, especially if I'm vacuuming or doing dishes.  Sweet boy.

Hudson and I taking a selfie while playing one day after cleaning house, while Cooper was at school.

 Hudson loves to play the piano.  He is able to climb onto the piano bench on his own now.  I was happy to let him do it, until one day I heard him pounding on the piano, and walked into see it wasn't with is hands, but with his feet.  One other time I found him on top of the piano! So now the piano bench stays tucked under to eliminate climbing.

 Hudson is at that stage that sure keeps me on my toes and hopping.  If he's awake, there is no resting.  When he's not trying to harm himself by climbing, he's usually busy making a mess.  This little beauty happened one day while I was in the bathroom.  I even had the door open so I could hear him, but he was so quiet while having this fun.  As the saying goes, quiet always equals TROUBLE.

 This one happened after I'd JUST finished putting these pull-ups away in Cooper's drawer.  I'd put them away, tidied up the room, put away some clothes, and moved on to the next room.  Came back a few minutes later to see that my little helper had been at it again.  This one wasn't too bad, but illustrates a point.  Usually it's clothes taken out of drawers and strewn all over, after I'd just folded and put them away, or it's bins of toys dumped and spread from room to room.  He also LOVES to play in the pantry (or any closet, really), and is not afraid of the dark.  He'll often shut himself in a dark closet, and I'll find him happily playing, and mad when I take him out and shut the door.  He's getting "this close" to being able to turn doorknobs.  Oh boy...

 The other joy of having a toddler is that my house is redecorated several times a day.  His favorite lately is to take these two candles off the shelf by the front door, and stack them.  I love that he's demonstrating his stacking ability, but wish he'd use his blocks instead, and not leave them right in the walkway.  Makes me laugh, though, to put these candles away, only to come back five minutes later to find them like this again.  It's like, "No. THIS is how they're supposed to be!"

 Hudson is obsessed with likes to watch tv.  His favorite cartoons are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Peppa Pig, Wibbly Pig, and Caillou.  He asks all.the.time. throughout the day to watch a "shaw" (show) or a (beed) "video," and if you ask and guess correctly, he'll do a little happy dance with a giggle.  Actually, he does that any time you guess something he's trying to communicate.  It's my favorite thing he does right now, besides want me to snuggle him.

Anyway, here he is, watching his beloved Peppa Pig, with not one lovey, but two.  Why have just one, when you can have two?!  He is crazy attached to his lovey and his paci.  He'll ask for them even when he's not tired or upset.  I won't respond to him when he talks with is paci in his mouth, but tell him he has to take it out to talk to me.  Sometimes he will, other times he looks at me like, "Eh, it's not that important.  Nevermind," and keeps the paci in. Currently working on limiting the paci to when he's in bed, but it's a work in progress.

 Hudson also loves to play outside.  He will ask to go out if he sees Cooper go, and will throw a tantrum if I can't take him out just then.  I try to get him outside every day for at least an hour or two.  He thinks he's 5 years old, like his older brother, and follows Cooper around, trying to keep up.  He loves to knock baseballs off the t-ball stand using a bat, and also likes to play with the croquet mallets.  Hudson also loves to play in the sand, to "ride" the tricycle, to be pushed in his red car, or to push the red car BY HIMSELF.  Do not try to help, even if he's going off course.

 Tinker toys are a toy that gets played with and scattered daily by this kid.  This is one he put together himself, and came to show me.  He knows where the tinker toys and board puzzles are kept, and empties out those shelves and containers every single day, multiple times.  So I usually go in and clean them up after he's gone to bed.

 Hudson likes to watch tv while leaning against the ottoman with his belly.  He prefers this to sitting on the couch.  He also enjoys Mommy chasing him around the furniture, playing peek-a-boo, and tickle (he knows how to make the "tickle-tickle" sound.  The thing he likes to do most lately is give a kiss, which is really a raspberry.  He thinks it's so funny.

 A few months ago Hudson suddenly went from being very outgoing to being very shy.  If any stranger talks to him, he puts his head down like "stop looking at me and talking to me."  If a stranger (to him) picks him up (like someone I know at church), he'll lay on their shoulder or sit on their lap and hold very, very still.

Most mornings Hudson sits on front of me on my bathroom countertop and helps me do my makeup by playing with it and putting it in and pulling it out of the container.  He thinks it's funny, and always giggles, when I put dots of makeup on my face.  He watches for it, and we giggle together until I blend them in.

This picture captures so much of his personality.  I love my little Hudderbean.