9 months

Actually, 9 1/2 months!  Wow, can't believe it!  9 months is such a fun age, he's really developing a personality and becoming such a boy.  Here's the 9 month update on Coop...

• 3 teeth, two bottom and one top
• officially crawling and pulling up, he's everywhere fast!
• loves to clap and give kisses
• 19 lbs, 13 oz, little under 50%ile.  31 inches long, 95%ile
• still a great sleeper and eater!

And, this is usually how our 'photo shoots' turn out...

First Pool Time

On Saturday we headed to cousins Donovan and Chase's birthday party.  It was a HOT day for the middle of May, so they had pulled out the baby pool!  We were totally unprepared, no swim diaper, towel, trunks...but I did have sunscreen!  So, Coop got stripped down to his diaper and in he went!  Coop loved it!!!  He was totally content, just hanging out watching the other kids, playing with water guns.  We were so happy to see this because we plan on being in the water lots this summer!  

Cash, Coop and Kellen...future troublemakers

After many attempts, this was as good as it got...

Gearing up for Summer

Got my shades and flip flops, now where are my swimming trunks??? We can't wait for summertime!!!

Pulling Up

A lot can change in less than 24 hours...just last night I was blogging that Cooper hadn't mastered pulling up.  Well, he must have heard me because this morning he proved me wrong.  I was blow drying my hair and he was crawling around my feet.  I look over and he is pulled up on the bathtub looking at all his toys! The day continued this way with Coop pulling up on the fireplace, dishwasher, ottoman, and stairs.  He gets so proud of himself when he's standing, just looks at his feet, then me and smiles!

*pants are m.i.a., too hot to wear at naptime

looking at his legs like, "how did that just happen?"

Coop's Corner

Besides the books in his room, this is Cooper's favorite place to play.  It is where we keep all of his toys when they aren't strung all over the living room.  He often crawls to the corner to pull out what he wants and play with 8 toys at the same time.  Before you see the pictures and start judging...Yes, I know there are electrical outlets, a lamp, Lola's pillow, a picture waiting to be hung, and a fireplace surrounding his corner of toys.  For some reason he never attempts to mess with these things, oh besides trying to pull up on the fireplace every 2 and 1/2 minutes.  

Yes, the "booger sucker" is one of his favorite toys, gross but you try taking it out of his hands...not worth it!  Looks like he needed his boogers sucked out in this pic.

Lola isn't in her pillow, not surprised!

The Coopster loves to stand but can't get there by himself yet, but he is trying so hard.  

Stairs...ugh

Unfortunately, Cooper has discovered the stairs.  He started by just crawling to them and looking up, trying to figure it all out, then he was pushing himself up on the first stair, and finally taking them on.  For some reason, Adam and I were encouraging him, no idea why!  Luckily for us, besides these pictures, he has just ignored the stairs.  He is more attracted to the front door which is past the stairs.  So, for now, the gate is not up on the stairs.  We figure there are too many weeks of climbing over that gate to come.

off he goes

success!

Best buds...not exactly

Cooper loves Lola, however she doesn't exactly feel the same way...and can you blame her?  Not only has Cooper stolen her attention giving parents, he now grabs and kicks at her any chance he gets!  He thinks she is HILARIOUS and truly thinks he is playing.  Lola is usually the first thing to greet him when he gets up from naps as she is sunning on his rocker watching the neighborhood traffic.  Here's a couple pics of the rare interactions between the two...

This is one of their favorite spots in the house, until Lola annoyingly barks at other dogs, kids, a leaf blowing...then I have to shut the door.  This picture was taken after a long, rainy day that we were stuck indoors and all of us were thinking the same thing, "Get me outta here!"

Here Lola is discovering her brother might be good after all... Adam got him out of his highchair after snacking on Puffs and they were stuck ALL over his pants, Lola got the pleasure of leftover/half eaten Puffs straight off Coop's pants.

Mother's Day

Somehow, I didn't get one picture with my sweet baby boy on Mother's Day...boo, maybe next year.  We went to First Watch for breakfast, (my favorite place) and then we hung out at the house the rest of the day, Adam did yardwork while Coop and I played.  To me that was the best gift of all because if you know me then you know I hate dealing with mulch, flowers, weeds, etc.  I will clean bathrooms and scrub floors over that anyday!  Luckily, Adam grew up working at his grandparent's nursery and happily does it.  I should mention my grandma had a nursery too and my mom is the biggest green thumb around, really wish I could say that gene was passed on to me.  Then, it was dinner with the Jones, McCormacks, and Gigi Hillermann.  To top it all off Coop was sweet enough to find time to get on his dad's computer and make me a wall calendar full of his pictures. :) I love it!!!  Adam and I are lucky enough to have the BEST moms around, the past year couldn't have been possible without them, we love you both!  Can't forget to mention we have the BEST grandmas too, Coop doesn't know how good he has yet!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Kisses

This is by far the sweetest 'trick' Cooper has mastered.  Just simply ask Cooper for a kiss and at you he comes with mouth wide open.  He doesn't play favorites either, he'll give kisses to anyone and most anything, loves kissing himself in the mirror :).  We have tried capturing it on camera, but they aren't the best pictures.  The stinker knows the orange light on the camera so instead of giving kisses, he would turn, squint and smile.  Here's what we got... Hope to see some of you soon, so Coop can show you his love. :)

Attacking Dad

I was kind of having to beg, can't you tell :)

Oh, Elmo

This is what I mean by seeing the camera light, squinting and smiling!

Time to adjust the crib

For a few weeks, we have been saying, "we really need to lower Cooper's crib."  However, we hadn't done anything about it until the next picture.

I went to get him up from a nap and here he was.  He had pulled up on his knees and was looking over at his books.  Needless to say, we lowered it that night.  

Here he is now.  Adam says he looks like a caged animal staring out of his 'bars' whenever we go in. :)

If you can't beat'em, join'em...

With the croup this week, Cooper has not been eating very well.  This is unlike him as he usually eats for me with no problems.  The other night he was refusing bananas, I gave in and just dumped them on his tray.  I thought he might eat them this way, if nothing else it was going to occupy him for a while.

Coop looking at me like I am crazy for doing this to his food...the multiple spoons you wonder?  Well, Coop loves to suck his thumb, so to get his hands out of his mouth while I am feeding him, he plays with the spoons.

Not really digging this idea, but check out those 2 teeth!

Croup - part 2

Yep, our little Coop has the croup, again.  He had a runny nose and drainage all last week and then the cough started in this weekend.  He was beginning to sound like he had been smoking for years...not good.  Our wonderful Doc diagnosed him with croup.  So, the humidifier is in his room and his blankie has been with him most of the day (it usually stays in the crib except for naps/bedtime).   We are sure our little man will be healthy soon!

First pair of Nike shorts :)

Not in the mood to be practicing his free throw shot :(