Fun with Photo Booth!

Dad and Coop had some good laughs with Photo Booth on the Mac this weekend.  Coop was really having fun with it...enjoy!

First Phrases

There are a couple of "first phrases" that Coop repeats several times a day.  They are, 'kick da ball' and 'shoot da ball'...go figure!

Busy week back in Kansas

As you know, Coop took his first plane ride a couple weeks ago from DFW to KC.  Wow, did we have a busy week!  It was full of family, friends, fun, and lots of delicious desserts (thanks Grandma)!       Read on...

 We were lucky enough to have our STL friends the Alfermanns and Kluesner kids come visit with their moms.  Coop and I have so missed our weekly play dates with these kids!  We had a big slumber party at Grandma and Grandpas.  Coop and Knox in their matching pjs, how sweet!  

 What's sweeter than Coop and Knox in matching pjs?  All 4 of the kids in footie pajamas!!!!!!  Not the best picture, but really, what do you expect?  Parker is 3, Frannie 5 months, Knox 9 months, and Cooper  18 months.  Needless to say, our house was busy!  The most amazing part, my wonderful mom stayed with ALL 4 kids while us 3 girls snuck out to do some boutique shopping for a couple hours!  Thanks Mom!

 We couldn't have had more fun with this group and miss being in the same city!  Please note that the sweet 5 month old Frannie is the only one smiling!!!

 Of course, we got together with Emersyn!  I love their looks in this picture!  We are so excited that Emersyn is going to have little sister in the summer.  Wonder if she will have a boyfriend or best friend in our baby...guess we will find out in August!!

 Meet Baby Ashley!!!  My good friend Jenny had her second baby girl earlier this month and I was ecstatic to be in town to visit.  Man, there is nothing like a swaddled newborn!  I could have held and looked at her for hours!  

 Coopie and Anna were busy eating goldfish!  Coop was loving all of Anna's toys, especially the big baseball bat.  Hope Coop adjusts as well to our new baby as Anna has to baby Ashley.

 We timed our visit perfectly, the snow had melted and it was in the 60's!  Aunt Alli, Olivia and Will indulged Cooper and took him outside until the snot was running down his chin. :)

Mamaw and Papaw Jones and the McCormacks came to KC for the weekend so we got to see them too!  Here are the 6 grandkids after super star Braeden's basketball game.  Coop was lovin' the game and kept an eye out for Braeden.  I wonder when I will get a picture of all the grandkids smiling at the same time...3-5 years?

I told you we were busy!  And that isn't even everyone we visited or anything we did!!!  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for taking such good care of us for the week, they sure spoiled both Coop and I!

First Plane Ride!

In Keller, we are just a short drive to DFW airport, meaning there are lots of planes to be spotted.  Not sure what sparked his interest, but Cooper l-o-v-e-s spotting a plane in the sky...'pane' as he calls it.  Even just hearing the sound of the jets, he stops what he is doing and says, 'pane!'

Needless to say the first plane ride was a huge success!  I did it solo to KC with Coop.  We went up to visit for the week before the Peppes wedding.  I really wasn't nervous one bit, though I probably should have been, 18 month baby sharing a seat with mom for over an hour...not a good combo!

From the moment we took our window seat, he was spotting 'panes' right and left.  He was oohing and aahing during take-off, looking around to others like, "Can you believe this?!"  He sat totally content on my lap (even when I couldn't get Toy Story to play on the computer) and slept on my shoulder the last 30 minutes, I had to wake him up at the gate!!!  It really was flawless and we sat next to a sweet Grandpa that was willing to help in any way.

I had visions of getting pics of him at the airport and on the airplane, however, my hands were full.  And, trying to take a pic when you are 3 inches from each other isn't easy.  My Mac took this one, love photobooth!  Definitely not good quality, but captured his expression and his love for the window shades...up and down, up and down.

On our trip home, Dad was with us, so it was easy and we were able to take a couple shots.  Here he is, nose pressed against the window.

While waiting for our luggage, all Coopie wanted to do was roll Dad's bag up and down the halls.

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day

I had grand plans to make cute Valentines like last year, but they just didn't pan out.  But, be ready next year because I have the cutest idea!!!  Dad and I's Valentine's Day present to Coop...a plane ride to KC (more on that plane ride later:)).  Of course the Grandparents pulled through for the little man!

 This balloon, monkey, and some Dove chocolates (that maybe I didn't share) were waiting for Cooper to pick up at the store.  A special delivery all the way from Mamaw and Papaw in Wash, MO!  

Woody, is that you?  Grandma and Grandpa had this fun towel for Coop after bath!  I have to mention that Aunt Alli took over e-v-e-r-y bath while we were in town...priceless!

Exhausted!

We had a very busy Sunday morning/early afternoon shopping for the new house.  Well, Coop just couldn't take it anymore. That's what a furniture store is for, right?

Ouchie

The thumb sucking has led to an ouchie...  It is much better now, but just recently it was super red, sensitive to touch and skin was peeling off like a snake shedding skin.  Coop would show it to me several times a day and make the saddest face.  Poor kid just doesn't get it, no thumb sucking=no ouchie!  We were constantly putting Aquaphor on it, but the thumb usually went in his mouth soon after.  One night Adam decided to bandage him up.  

 All bandaged up!

 It's so hard not sucking your thumb!

That thumb needed many kisses!

Happy to report it is much better now, not that he has slowed down on the thumb sucking though!

Happy 1 and half years Cooper William!

Having a summer birthday, I am a big celebrator (is that a word) of half birthdays! In fact, I still acknowledge mine to this day, January 7th in case you are wondering. :) Can't believe our Cooper turned a year and a half this past weekend.  Here's the latest, haven't done one of these posts in a while, so bear with me. It is more of a document for me, as I forget so quickly what he was just doing months ago!

*loves to give kisses and hugs, I take full advantage of his cuddling

*is talking up a storm, maybe only a language his Dad and I understand, but he is talking.  His favorite and most common words bumball (basketball), mik (milk), Lola, pane (plane), peas (please), Buzz, bus, truck, Melmo (Elmo)....ok, my mind is blank at this point.  

*is in love with airplanes and constantly spots them out the car window.  We live close to the airport, so they aren't hard to find.

*reading books and playing ball continue to be his 2 of his favorite activities, but trains and puzzles are closing in

*still sucking that thumb like crazy and loves that blankie

*eating lots of tomatoes, avocados, hot dogs, waffles, french fries (whenever he can get them), cereal (2-3 bowls at a time), blueberries

*adores Lola, always looks for her in the morning and after naps.  They play a mean game of ball together

*still sleeping like a champ.  somehow his bedtime has pushed back to 9ish, leading him to get up between 8-830, for sure a night owl.  Then he naps for 2-3 hours in the afternoon.  rarely lets us know he is up, usually go in to find him wide awake looking around his room or just staring at the ceiling sucking his thumb.

*just when we think he couldn't get more fun/entertaining, he does something new that amazes us!

6 months old

18 months...they really do grow up too fast!

Stella and Dot Giveaway

I am so excited!  The wonderful Sarah from Clover Lane is featuring a giveaway today only on her blog.  Click here to comment and win a $40 credit towards Stella and Dot!  You can always shop at my website, stelladot.com/ashleyjones!  Please contact me if you have any interest hosting a show or becoming a stylist!

Fort Worth Stock Show

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we enjoyed it at the Ft. Worth Stock Show.  It is a month long show with rodeos everyday.  Adam and I went to the rodeo last time we lived down here, but didn't tour the stockyards.  Cooper loves animals in books, so we thought this would be perfect for him.  We were right and wrong.  He was loving the small animals and ones in cages that he could point and talk to.  However, the big cows and petting zoo took some major warming up to as you will see.

 Coop and Grandma checking out the baby chicks, very intrigued.

 The donkeys, not so sure.

 Man, he was unhappy in the first minutes in the petting zoo.  I mean, look at that grip on Dad's shirt!

 He did warm up eventually.  Nice, feeding the goats and sucking the thumb...that's sanitary.

 Look how big our baby is getting!

 Look how calm this cow stood with all the people walking by and around him.  Now that I look closer, he might be sleeping?

What a fun Texas morning!  

Ducks!

Coop and I were lucky enough to have some company last week while Adam was out of town for work.    Grandma flew in for a whole week and it was fabulous!  I was able to do a couple Stella and Dot shows and run errands Cooper-free.   Meanwhile, Coop and Grandma took many walks and found the ducks!  That is in the few days of 70 degrees before the snow/ice storms hit and we were stuck inside!!!

So excited...ducks, ducks, ducks!

Aunt Alli even snuck away for the weekend to hang out with us!

A more permanent home

After a intense first week here house hunting, we found our new home in Keller!  It is in a great, family friendly neighborhood in an awesome school district.  Adam is about 25-30 minutes from work and 15 minutes from the airport.  We are 10 minutes from Southlake Town Square, if you haven't been, don't worry you will be when you come visit us. :)  It has great shopping, restaurants and most importantly, Nothing Bundt Cakes!  We close the end of February, I will post more pics as we move in and get settled, here are just a few...

 Our number cruncher, figuring out whether or not we can afford this new home. ;)

 Home Sweet Home.  Bad pic, inspector's truck was in the way and I took from car window as we were driving away.

 Probably Coop's favorite part, it is staying with the house!  Sure to spend many hours back here.

This balcony is sure to be Cooper's other favorite part of the house.  Upstairs is where we plan to house most of the toys and spend our time.  I mean, how many toys is he going to throw off that ledge???

He's got 7 months to get ready...

Our little Coopster is going to be a big brother and we are ecstatic!!! 

I am just out of my first trimester, making this baby's arrival middle of August.  In case you are wondering, yes, Cooper's birthday is August 12th. I would love for their birthdays to be as far apart in August as possible, but not my decision. :)  First trimester was rough, felt like I was hungover 24/7, but fingers crossed I am over that hump.  We got our first pictures of Baby #2 last week, just as exciting as the first time around!!!   Of course, updates to come!

Valentine's Day -Have you done your shopping???

Valentine's Day is less than 2 weeks away!  Stella and Dot have some amazing options for your mom, sister, daughter, granddaughter, baby-sitter....  And, if you see something you love, message me the man in our lives' contact info and I will be the birdie in his ear. ;)  Check it all out at my website!

current favorite foods

Well, this kid must be a Texan, he loves his guacamole.  Living here we are often frequenting Mexican restaurants, seriously, he can eat a whole dish of it!!!  It doesn't have to be guacamole, he will eat a whole avocado in one sitting.  

bad picture quality from my phone, but check out that guacamole face.

another fave-blueberries, pretty sure he would eat an entire container if I let him.

Iced in

Coldest temperatures in 15 years tonight, hello, this isn't the Texas weather I love!  Yes, we have officially been "iced in" all day!  The city is totally not used to it and everything is shut down!  Many places have ran out of salt because they aren't used to it.  In fact, our apartment complex has not been salted/cleared at all.  There is a thick sheet of ice covering it all!  So glad I decided to go to the grocery store yesterday!!  We didn't even change out of our pajamas today!  Thank goodness my mom is here visiting, Adam is out of town.  It was nice to have company other than Cooper and Lola. ;)  Here is the view from our apartment door, didn't go much farther than this today.  I know many of you midwesterners have it much, much worse than us here, you have my sympathies as I won't be digging my car out of snow.

Apartment Living

So, as you read we arrived in Texas about 3 weeks ago, wow, time flies!  Since we moved for Adam's job, they are kind enough to put us in a furnished apartment for a couple months so we have time to find a home.  Such a nice transition, they take pretty good care of us.  So...all we have with us is clothes, computers, and Coop's toys.  Kind of scary to think that everything we own is sitting in some storage unit.

Can't really complain about apartment living.  We are learning to live with less, everything we need is close at hand, Coop can run freely around the whole place, and best of all...it's paid for!  The few downers- taking Lola out and finding grass, not having "our stuff," having downstairs neighbors with a kid that loves to throw balls/toys full time.  Here are some pics of our temporary home. ;)

Probably my least favorite part...the stairs up to our place.  However, very thankful they are indoor steps that I can let Coop climb, it's a workout carrying him up and down multiple times a day.  Notice that makeshift gate at the top, it's the box we brought Cooper's crib down in.  Classy...

At the top of our stairs.  That table and chairs is really just a catch all, rarely have we sat down as a family to eat dinner.  Coop and I usually eat before Adam gets home or out to dinner it is!  Like that ironing board, it doesn't move from there.  Adam irons his shirts every morning and there is really no better place for it.  

Our living room is freakin' Toy Land.  It all doesn't have a place and drives me a little crazy, but it's what keeps that kid in the corner reading books entertained, so that is all that matters!  That coffee table was in front of the couch, but quickly got moved to the side of the room, we needed a bigger play area!

Coop's room, it has a crib and twin bed.  It's great for visitors, like my mom right now!  Had to include the tent in the picture, we all know Coop's slight obsession with Toy Story and he l-o-v-e-s this tent from Uncle Bryson and Aunt Tara.  We are often inside reading books.  As a side note, Coop couldn't have transitioned more smoothly.  He went right to sleep the first few nights in the new place and acts like we have been here forever!