Gig 'Em

A few weeks ago I went off to NOLA with the girls while Jason and Cooper hung out around the house.  The Aggie game wasn't on tv (surprise!) but they did listen to the game on the radio.  And showed full support in A&M gear.  Some of these are hilarious.

41 Weeks Old

This week we had a little more success at catching Cooper on his back when trying to do his weekly photo.  It wasn't easy, but we got a few pics.  I think all kids are like this, but he loves it when we wave a towel or blanket at him.  The wind blowing his thin hair and the noise it makes just cracks him up.

Chicks dig...jean diapers?

My mom bought Cooper some of the new jean diapers.  When she brought the box home, she pointed them out to my step-brother.  His response:
Oh, those are cool.  Chicks really dig those.

Huh.  I warned the teachers at daycare to not let him roll around in his diaper.  I didn't want the girls in his class to go all crazy a la The Beatles on Ed Sullivan.  That denim clad butt is hard to resist.

9 month check up

I took Cooper to the pediatrician yesterday for his 9 month visit.  It was a little hectic and I felt like I needed drink after we left.  First I had to change his diaper when we walked into the exam room.  For some reason he started screaming like crazy...and then peed all over the place!  Fortunately he didn't pee on me (since I'd already dressed for work) but the peeing made him scream even more.  The poor nurse was in the middle of asking me a million questions about his talking and crawling and I'm flustered that he's gotten pee all over the exam table and he's screaming bloody murder.  Cue side eye from nurse.

Ok, she really didn't give me the side eye.  She came over and helped me clean up my kids pee while I cleaned him up and we started all over.  I'm not incompetent...Cooper just is very slick and could probably flip over and off of that table in the amount of time it would take me to grab one wipe.  Now that would have gotten me the side eye.

The rest of the visit was about as smooth as herding cats.  That kid wanted to be held and wanted to be put down all at the same time.  He wanted very little to do with the fat kid in the mirror, but wanted to crawl around on the floor and open the cabinet doors.  And talk.  Boy did he want to talk.  So loud that I couldn't hear Dr. K asking me questions half the time!  He needs a volume switch.

For now, Cooper is doing great.  He's got a small rash and still has that freaking cough.  We're going to try a little benadryl for the rest of the week to see if that helps.  And then I can call him back and say "see - it IS allergies!"  Our pedi also doesn't believe strawberries and pineapple fall on the "no foods" list and said we're welcome to give them a try, however we are supposed to nix the eggs.  That works since Cooper hasn't been a huge fan of them.  I'm looking forward to giving him strawberries since I love them and I hope he feels the same way. 

Stats:
22lbs 14.5oz - 80% (slimming down a bit)
31.5" tall - 99% (which is also the average height for a 15 month old...)
47.52cm head circumference - 100% (the boy is smart!)

9 Months Old

Did I say that Cooper could be 9 months old yet?  I didn't think so.  I thought 6 months was scary, but really...it wasn't.  I still had 6 months left of his first year.  But 9...that means that we only have 3 months until his first birthday.  I've found myself wanting to freeze time...and thinking about what kind of cake all in the same thought.  I don't want him to grow up, but I can't wait to watch it.

He's a terror around the house.  And a little sponge.  He can crawl so fast that I think I'll beat him somewhere and suddenly he's climbing on the dishwasher before I even think about closing it.  No is still the most used word in my house.  No, don't go there.  No, don't touch that.  No, don't climb on that.  No, give that back.  No, don't put that in your mouth.  Most of the time we get a pause, a look, and then nothing but butt as he scurries off to wherever we just told him he can't go.

MaMa is still his most used syllable...although I'm about 75% sure he's not saying "mama."  I think he's actually saying "mum mum" since that's clearly his favorite food.  If he sees the wrapper he gets fired up.  You can't imagine the hysterics that come when we actually open the package.

So far he's learned what baskets his toys are in (and which ones he isn't supposed to be in) and he thinks I'm always in the bathroom getting ready for work.  Jason said that this past weekend while I was on a girls trip he kept crawling into the bathroom and just sitting there.  Tell me that doesn't make you want to tear up a little!  When he does catch me in the bathroom, the look of success and pure delight makes me want to clap for him every time.  I'm loving every single second.

 

Who needs teethers?

My shadow son likes to be right under my feet in the kitchen.  I have to remember to not wear shoes in case I turn around and step on his toes.  Over the weekend he learned how to pull all the way up to standing in the kitchen.  Something he'd only been able to do on furniture that had a top (coffee table).

Yesterday I saw this.

Yes, that is his mouth on the knob.  Yes, he is tall enough to reach it with his mouth.  And yes, I also hope the housekeeper has been cleaning those knobs.

40 Weeks Old

That's a whole pregnancy!  Cooper has been alive a few days longer than I was pregnant.  We're borrowing Kelly's camera again to try and catch a few really good photos of Cooper.  In exchange, we're going to give them a few pointers so they can put the camera to good use.

Honestly, I don't know if it takes better pictures than my point & shoot...but I sure feel fancy using it.  Oh, and I might have gotten a little shutter-happy.

39 Weeks Old

Guess what?  I'm behind on blogging AND it's still a race to see who is faster - Cooper or the camera.

He's still winning.

We frequently chase each other around the sofa.  Cooper squeals so loud when he sees me that I think the neighbors probably wonder what's going on.  Laughter keeps you young, right?  If so - I might be 30 forever.

Honesty

Last month a fellow mom & blogger asked if some moms could answer some questions for a blog project she was doing.  I volunteered.  The questions intrigued me and made me think a little, but I was also thankful to be able to answer them honestly.  I hope they are well recieved...and make you laugh a little.

Stephanie - thanks for allowing me to participate!

By request

Someone ((cough Dana cough)) has requested video of Cooper. 

Splish splash

Can I have more long weekends?  I know...who doesn't want them?  But really, if someone can petition congress to make one weekend a month last three days I'd really appreciate it.

We didn't do a whole lot, but I felt like we were doing something all weekend.  The best part was the down time we squeezed in.  Last summer we celebrated with friends and family after Jason finished grad school.  Since it was probably 110 degrees outside, my mom brought a kiddie pool for the kids to play in.  We never got around to pulling it out of the package...until this weekend.  And I cracked up because it is HOT PINK.  Not just hot pink, but hot pink with flowers.  Poor Coop.

It really bothered him, too.  See:

38 Weeks Old

Finding time to blog is about as difficult as keeping Cooper on the blanket during his weekly photo op.  It just isn't happening.  So I consider myself lucky to get one good photo of Cooper & the bear side by side...and hope for a few good pics of him in general.

If you look close you can see that he's pretty well done by this point...