A Quick Ten Months

I just wrote about Cooper turning NINE months a few days ago. That's because I am behind in my posting. Cooper really is TEN months old. The time has gone by so quickly. Many toddler-like changes are happening to my baby!
Cooper's communication is quickly improving. He understands many words, phrases an signs. He is signing more often and deliberately. He has added the signs "dog" and "again." Cadence is relearning the signs she's forgotten so quickly. I think she will be a big help in teaching Cooper to sign. He also says the "d" sound when he sees a dog or a duck or when he is calling Dad. Cooper also uses the "m" sound in honor of me and has many emerging sounds.
Cooper is into everything. He can crawl very quickly!!! He likes to crawl to the stairs and go up one step before I can tell him he can't play there:( One of his favorite places to crawl is wherever Cadence is sleeping (bed or couch). He then pulls up and wakes her up by yelling and hitting her body. She doesn't like it, but he sure does!!! Walking is his next goal. He holds onto our hands and walks around the house. He also uses the furniture to assist him in walking around. Dad put child locks on the kitchen drawers and cabinets because he kept taking everything out and smashing his cute, pudgy fingers. We have plugs in the electrical outlets. The garbage and recycling cans are on top of the counters because Cooper enjoyed dumping them too much. He loves the garbage cans in the bathroom and has found the toilet brushes (which are now up high too.)
Cooper loves the bathrooms, toilets and water. He likes to flush them, stick his hand in them, turn over Cadence's big potty, etc. When the bathroom doors are shut, he crawls over to them and hits the door while saying "Let me in" in his cute way. Let's hope that he still likes them in a year when I attempt to potty-train him. He also likes to turn on the water in the sink and splash all over. The bathtub is a lot of fun as he gets water everywhere. However, he no longer enjoys laying down in the water.
Cooper eats everything!!! I rarely give him baby food anymore. He eats whatever we are eating - tacos, fish, bread, noodles, veggies, etc. He is NOT picky! He even eats sidewalk chalk, dirt and rocks! I have a feeling he is going to eat a TON when he is a teenager!
Animals are another thing that Cooper loves. He enjoys petting dogs and doesn't seem to be intimidated by them (the barking or the size). He almost jumps out of the stroller when we feed the ducks. He likes kitties and horses too. When we are looking at books about animals, he touches the animals.
Cooper is a people person. He loves babies and likes to "talk" to them. He makes his cute sounds as he touches the other babies' faces and arms. He goes to almost everyone, but usually wants to come back to Mom after a few minutes.

The park is one of Cooper's favorite places to go. We go at least 3 or 4 times a week. Swinging gives him a big smile, claps and signs of "again." He also likes playing in the sand (filling up his diaper with it and eating it). Sliding down the slides are also enjoyable for him. Of course, he still needs assistance from a big person on them. He also enjoys the crunchiness of the woodchips:)
Cooper is still far from sleeping through the night. He just loves me too much and wants to see me. He loves to be held and wants to fall asleep in my arms.
Cooper brings so much joy and happiness to our family with his easy-going and loving personality! He is the sunshine in our lives!

Cinco De Mayo

I'm not great at celebrating holidays. I don't do tons of decorating. I don't buy/make lots of gifts. I just live the holiday like many other days.....that is unless they are holidays about other countries. I did a Chinese New Year party and I decided to have a Cinco de Mayo party too!
Now that the weather is usually dry and warm, I thought a neighborhood party would be appropriate. I started out inviting a few new people who have moved in since last fall and just kept inviting more and more people. I have a problem drawing a stopping line because I don't want to leave anyone out. Anyway, about 30 people ended up eating and playing at our house. I actually wanted to invite more, but was worried that we might not have enough food. We did a wanna-be Cafe Rio burrito/salad menu. I made the sweet pulled pork and creamy cilantro dressing and asked/assigned each family or couple to bring a part of the meal for everyone i.e. cheese, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, tortilla etc. It turned out very well and yummy. I think everyone had enough to eat and enjoyed the tastiness! After dinner, I stuffed a duck-looking pinata with treats and Chris hung it from one of the trees outside. The kids took turns hitting it. We made it through all the kids once without it getting hurt. The second time through, Cameron hit the body off the head. The kids took turns whacking it while it was on the ground. Such fun to appropriately take out aggression on a pinata. I prefer that if Cadence and Cooper want to smash something, they hit a pinata:)










I put 7 bags of candy in it. Hopefully, it was enough for the kids to enjoy. They were great about sharing. As I have said before, I not a great party host. I like to go to parties, but not be in charge of them. However, I am improving in this area. The longer I live, the more I realize that it is people, not things, that matter. To be invited to a party is to feel included, wanted, important and loved. I may never be rich or famous, but I hope to be someone that people will say "she cares." I look forward to hosting many more parties in my very modest home and letting people know that relationships are important!

Happy Birthday to my mom and Happy Cinco De Mayo to the rest of the world!!!

Aching Allergies

After we arrived in Logan following our trip to Louisiana, I felt my allergies coming on. I went to buy some benadryl-type medicine, only to be told by the pharmacist that if I took it, my milk supply would probably decrease and eventually dry up (if I took it enough times). Anti-histamines dty up a person's secretions. Sweet! I got to suffer through allergy season. It has been over three weeks and I am still feeling it! I think my allergies are getting worse every year!

The first two weeks were the worst. I can handle my nose and throat being stuffy and itchy, but my eyes are another story. My eyes were constantly running and itching. They were red, swollen and bruised from being rubbed so much. I have quit wearing make-up and my contacts due to the constant itching and scratching. I look ugly, old and awful, but I don't care because it is better than smearing make-up, losing/tearing contacts and running to the bathroom to rearrange the contacts. I tried taking cow colostrum, eating tablespoons of local honey (yum) and they only had a minimal relief. A week ago, after feeling like I was going blind and being totally miserable, Chris drove me back to the pharmacists and I asked if there was ANYTHING I could take that would give my eyes some relief. He told me about some eyedrops that still had some potential to dry up my milk, but probably wouldn't. I grabbed it and the results were instant and fantastic. My eyes stopped itching and watering. I could open my eyes again! I've only taken the drops a few more times. This week, my nose is stuffier, but I am happier. I can't wait for my allergies to go away!!!!

Potty-Trained!!!! Finally!!!

When Cadence was signing "potty" at 15 months after she would poop or pee in her diaper, I was so excited that diapers was a short ways away from daily wearing! When Cadence went to the potty for the first time when she was 18 months old, I thought potty-training would be easy-peasy. When Cadence was getting out of swim pools to use the bathroom when she was 23 months old, I was thrilled she would be out of diapers BEFORE Cooper joined our family. I expected some regression, but I got much more than just a few accidents here and there! For months Cadence refused to even sit on a potty. She would scream and throw a fit if we tried to make her. She would play "Hide-and-go-poop" until Chris was finally able to talk her into going into the restroom to poop in her diaper next to the toilet. When I would put her on the potty, she would hold it until she got a diaper on and then she would release!!! Frustrating!
The day after our trip to Louisiana, I decided she was done with diapers. She knows when she needs to go and can do the job. I put her in underwear (which I have done a couple of times with little success) and decided that I would not put diapers back on her - except for nighttime. We had a talk about being a big girl (for the 50th time) and about all her friends who wear underwear. The first day there were NO ACCIDENTS! Second day - two accidents. And since that time, she has virtually been accident free (minus two days of trying to resort back to 'be like a baby'). That's right! Cadence is potty-trained and I am loving it! Finally at 2yrs, 9 months she is out of diapers!!! Cadence enjoys wearing princess panties and... Thomas Train underwear she picked out a year ago. Yes, they have a cute little pocket in the front of them! She has told everyone about going potty and wearing panties and has received much positive reinforcement!!! Dad is already teaching her how to best utilize her time on the toilet - read a book! She is very protective of her poop and pee. She does NOT like Cooper to see it or get close to the potty. If he flushes it down, she gets very upset!!! We are thrilled that Cadence is finally a big girl when it comes to the toilet. She is our potty champion!!!! Now we just get to work on her goin potty during the night!!!!!!

A Big Nine Months

It's crazy to believe that Cooper in NINE months already. He is growing and changing so quickly! He doesn't seem like a baby anymore because of the skills he is developing!

At his doctor appointment, he weighed 23lbs 4 oz. (90th %ile) and was 90%ile in height. The nurse wrote he was 19 inches tall. He was taller than that a birth so maybe she meant to write he was 29 inches. He is a big boy and is getting heavier everyday. Holding him for long periods of time is definitely giving me a workout!

The most significant skills he has developed this month are signing "eat" and "drink" (they are basically the same sign) and "more" (like a clap). The signs are exact what I sign, but they are deliberate and I know what he is saying. It's so cool that he is communicating his needs and wants so early in other ways than just crying. He won't sign "milk." I keep waiting for him to do that, but it hasn't come yet! He waves to people usually with a verbal or visual cue and claps his hands when someone says "yeah" or claps.

Another big milestone is that Cooper crawls. At first, we would rock upto his knees and arms, but then sat back to his heel. Then he was scooting around the rooms. Finally, he started crawling in Texas at the very end of his 9th month.

He loves the freedom to move around and I don't love it as much - seeing that he gets into everything!!! There are more things to get into and more objects on the ground to put into his mouth! He also started pulling upto furniture and tables. Cooper is a very squirmy boy! Sitting in the pews at church is NOT his favorite activity. He wants to scoot and crawl around. Unfortunately, sometimes I have to take him out (due to him being tired and squirmy.) When he is riding in his stroller, I seatbelt him in because he leans forward and sideways too often. It has saved him from falling out so many times!!!

Cooper survived being sick and endured the breathing treatments. He was quite clingy for most of the month. I don't know if it was related to him being sick or stranger anxiety. I believe it was probably a bit of both. He continues to love his mommy and loves held by her/me!!! He likes Dad and Cadence too, but Mom is his favorite!

Cooper spent many days with his cousins (staying with Sandy's family, East Canyon, Easter, Louisiana and Texas, etc.) He enjoys being around other kids and babies. He is getting very familiar with Grammy and likes her too.

Cooper is enjoying the spring weather, swinging on swings and flying on airplanes. He also is tasting more big people food. There is no big people food that he has tasted that he doesn't enjoy!

Cooper is such a big, happy, handsome boy! We sure love him and are glad he is in our family!

Sightseeing and Flying Home

On Monday, the day after Easter (I am so behind posting!!!), Barbara, Chris' step-mom took us sight seeing. We walked through an old mansion called Shadows on the Tesch (or something like that). It was fun learning about the history of the area, owners of the home, slaves, and so forth.

Even though the house was nice, it was definitely not made for today's living, outdoor kitchen, no bathrooms, no plumbing, walking outside to get to some rooms, etc. During the tour, Cooper was exercising his voice. The guide did not like it at all. I bet he doesn't have children!!!

The grounds of the building were beautiful! Right on the Teusch River.

I love huge trees with the spanish moss growing in them. It reminds me of my mission to South Carolina. Actually, walking through this house reminded me A LOT of some of the plantation homes, my service in Lexington at a historical house, the sweet, kind people and of the landscape of the area.
Following the tour, we ate lunch at this shack looking thing on the side of the freeway. Yummy! A seafood platter with almost everything!!! We then drove to the Catholic cathedral in Lafayette. All the cathedrals and Catholic churches we walked through are so stunning and beautiful. All the woodwork, stained glass windows and colors!!!! I'm used to very plain churches. Even the Catholic church in North Logan is plain compared to these beauties! Everything about them is a work of art - Even the graveyards which are all above ground (I assume because of the water levels).










We drove to Grand Coteau and saw the Catholic churches, boarding school, and seminary. So beautiful! On the way back, we stopped at Don's meat and bought some jerky, cracklin (deep fried pig fat), boudin and other goodies! Oh how I love the food in Louisiana!!! We ate more crawfish at Barbara's and Melvin's house for dinner and headed back to Zo's for sleeping.

Zo adored Cooper. She thinks he is just "the best baby. So handsome." Cooper liked Zo and her dog, Jolie. She kept wanting to crawl after Jolie!

On this trip, Cadence was the biggest Daddy's girl. She wanted Chris to hold her all the time and everywhere (except in Grandpa's toyroom and playing the her cousins). She didn't really cuddle up to Zo very much:( She definitely didn't like Jolie and Jolie didn't really like her either! We love Grandma Zo and her stories.

In the morning, we told her good-bye! Dee and Ron made us a large breakfast for our big trip home. Cadence enjoyed playing with Brit on her bed with all the pillows! She could've stayed much longer with her!

Cooper cried everytime he had to get strapped into the carseat! I think he was tired of sitting. I know he will be so happy when he can face forward!

After breakfast, Barbara drove usto New Orleans for another day of sight seeing. My mom had to the damage done by Hurrican Katrina 4 years ago. We drove through the lower ninth ward to see the abandoned neighborhoods and destroyed homes. I didn't take any pictures. I'm not sure why! It was/is sad!

After being depressed, we drove to the tourist area to get some souveneirs (especially a t-shirt) and experience more of what most tourist see/do. Once again, we had to get some more beignets at Cafe Du Monte. While we were waiting, Cadence and I danced to the ladies playing their music on the streets. Cadence felt cool to put money in their basket.

We walked the streets, looked inside the New Orleans Cathedral, admired the artists, and laughed at some of services people were offering on the streets. Neither Chris nor I had our palms read (or any of those type of things.)

Before leaving, we ate more seafood po boys at a sports bar and then headed to the airport! Although Cooper definitely loves me, he wasn't afraid to go to other people and to give hugs for short amount of times. Cadence gave Barbara a hug too!

The kids were really wound up at the airport. Cooper was enthralled with the planes and was telling EVERYONE about his excitement. I know people sitting by us were thinking about how to get him to drink some sedatives or something like that!!! He was LOUD!!! Cadence was crazy and wild! Oh, how silly they are.

However, once we got on the airplane, they both settled down quite a bit and everything was fine! Cooper slept the majority of the way from Houston to Salt Lake and Cadence finally allowed herself to sleep about half way through the flight!

We arrived in Salt Lake about 12:00 midnight to rain and cold:( Chris got lost finding the car. It took him an hour to pick us up. How silly! By the time, we drove my mom to Sandy, swtched carseats and unpacked her stuff and drove to Logan, it was 4am. We crashed, exhausted from a week of traveling, family and fun!

(I AM FINALLY DONE WITH THE TRIP!!!!)