My friend, Mel, did a blog post about taking time to enjoy the day-to-day small things. I appreciated this since I've been trying to find little joys in each day. I try to spend time each day after work just playing with Cooper, doing whatever he wants to do. I get choked up just thinking about how much he changes every day. Spending time for the small things means my house isn't spotless clean and dishes are often left undone, dinner is late, I don't get to blog often or keep in touch with family and friends I miss so much, and don't watch much tv or take much time for myself, but it's all worth it when I get that hug, see that smile, and hear that little giggle.
In Cooper news, the boy is WALKING!!! Yep, we have a toddler. He has been toying with walking for months now, cruising along walls, furniture, and whatever he could balance with (balancing meaning like a 3-fingered lean). I kept wondering when he would just let go and walk. Well, this last week has been monumental for him. He gets more and more brave every day, but still walks with his right fist in the air for balance. It's hilarious. The only thing he doesn't do much yet, is get up in the middle of the floor. Nathan and my sister, Chelsey (nanny), say they've seen him do it, but I have yet to see proof. For now he just crawls to something he can pull up with, and then goes on walking. I promise that I'll post a video as soon as I can.
Cooper's "vocabulary" is also flourishing. He babbles all the time, and I often think he thinks I can understand him since he will babble to me and wait for a response. It's so adorable. In between the Cooper-babble the occasional actual word will pop up. He recently learned to say "Pop" (when I sing "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," and Uh-oh, which comes out more like uh-uuuh).
At about 10 months Coop learned to really play pat-a-cake, knowing how to "pat it" and "roll it." He also loves to roll his hands when someone sings "The Wheels on the Bus." His arm roll is hilarious with one arm stationary, and the other arm doing more of a back and forth swipe across the straight arm. He's not a performer and will rarely do things like this on command. You just have to catch him doing it.
Cooper LOVES our dog, Brody, and gets very excited every morning as we go down the stairs and Brody is there waiting. He loves to "pet" him, and thank goodness Brody is so patient. Sometimes Coop will toddle over to Brody and give him kisses (with an open mouth). A few times he's got a lick smack on his open mouth, and a few times he's got a dog hair or two in his mouth, but this doesn't hinder him from doing it again. Sometimes Brody gets annoyed and will get up and walk away, but Coop is likely to just follow. Poor Brody.
The not so cute things Cooper is starting to do are: scream like a banshee and wiggle away when changing his diaper; throw fits and hit. The diaper fits have been going on for awhile now, but seem to be getting worse. A few weeks ago I was changing a poopy diaper and he insisted on rolling over and crawling away before I had him totally clean. As I tried to lay him down, he smeared poop on my leg and on the carpet. Then just as I was getting close to being done, he peed all over me, the carpet, and his pajamas, all the while throwing a fit and screaming. Nathan came in the room to see what all the ruckus was about just as I finally got the diaper on. He tried to get me to laugh at it, but I was not laughing.
Coop used to be a biter, but only bit me, no one else. He would bite me while playing, or when mad, or sometimes he would just come over and bit me for no apparent reason. It was quite strange that it was only me. Then he started biting Chelsey too, but never Nathan. He's nearly over the biting now, but last week started hitting. I think he's learned that from his 4-year old cousin he gets babysat with every day, but I can't say for sure. He hits her, and has hit me several times when I told him no to something. The kicking, screaming fits of a 2-year-old have already started and he's not even 1! I chalk it up to him being frustrated that he wants to be so independent and can't communicate his wants or needs as well as he wants to.
I gotta get back to work, since I'm doing this on my quick lunch break. I'll try to get photos up soon. Have lots to share! Miss you all and love you!!
