Life As We Know It

Monday, October 12, 2009

My Dapper Dude

If you ever look at this blog you know that Carter is quite the dresser and loves to wear "work" clothes like Daddy everyday. If he had his way he would have khaki's, button up shirts, polo shirts, and topsiders on at all times! Dressing him in the morning has quickly become one of my least favorite things to do because he argues and argues with you (wonder where he gets that from!) until you let him pick what he wants just so he'll stop talking about it! He told me he'd probably just wear jeans next year because they don't look nice and that goes for just about everything he has in his drawers as well - he wants to wear the stuff hanging up in his closet because it looks nicer and it looks like what Daddy wears to work!

I wasn't sure how I was going to get through to him but bribery always seems to work well. We decided to let him have some special church clothes for Sundays in exchange for him wearing more of his casual clothes and he was thrilled with the idea! He'd come out of his room with jeans and a t-shirt on (Vineyard Vines t-shirt but it's a start!) and be so proud to show me that he was really trying to wear his normal stuff! I took him shopping last week for his "special" clothes and he was over the moon for his new navy blazer, tie, and sweater vest! He even has new shoes but they were squeaky on Sunday morning so he decided to go with old faithful (topsiders).

I think waiting for Sunday to come was like waiting for Santa at Christmas to him. He'd ask me every morning how many more days until Sunday! His day finally came and here is a picture to prove it - he wasn't feeling well after church so it isn't the best but you get the idea and I'm sure there will be plenty more photo opp's on Sundays in his new church uniform!

I definitely have two opposites - you tell them to smile for the camera and Carter listens while Cooper screams.

Not sure what these faces are all about!

This was last Sunday and Carter not only wore his church button but also his Tar Heel born one!

He's just a little bit proud, wouldn't you say!?

This is what Coop wore to church and please notice all the stains he managed to get on his shirt throughout the day! Carter didn't even need a bib when he was a baby he was so clean where Coop needs one at all times still!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Pumpkin Patch Trip

Last week a few of my friends from work and I decided to take our kids to a pumpkin patch in Youngsville. I had forgotten how far it is but I think the kids loved it so our 45 minute car ride was well worth it!

I can't for the life of me get this picture to move to it's correct spot in the lineup so it will do just fine right here! This is Carter on the train, in the caboose I might add as he picked our spot!

There was a cute hay maze that the boys had fun running around together! I love how it looks like Cooper is trying to hold Carter back to get a head start...I think he's actually trying to hold his hand, my sweet little boy.

This is Cole and he and Cooper are only 2 days apart - he's such a cutie!

Carter didn't take too long to pick out his pumpkin. You ride a hayride to a field where they've dumped about a million pumpkins for you to choose from. The first time we went I thought there would be pumpkins growing in a field that we'd pick but this time I was well prepared for the forklift to carry huge cartons of picked pumpkins and dump them on the ground! We'll have to find a real pumpkin patch before October is over!

Cooper was a little clingy at first but really warmed up to the place of course after all my friends left! I didn't bring a stroller so I had fun carrying a 24lb. child, 3 small pumpkins, and a huge bag around:)

Check out the forklift in the background...so authentic!

All the kids together!

Heading back to the farm with our pumpkins!

Sarah with a load of boys in the train caboose!

The nice conductor took one of all of us, too. Don't our boys look thrilled!?

There's a huge slide that Carter and Cooper couldn't get enough of! If you're 4 and under you're supposed to ride with an adult but that wasn't really possible since it was just me! Carter was fine to ride by himself and Cooper was a little timid to even ride with me but after a few times together, he thought he was ready to go! We'd get to the top and wait in line and Coop would push me away so he could go alone! I was petrified to say the least but he loved every second of it and went back by himself over and over!

This is Cooper heading up the huge hill to the huge slide alone! He looks like the Charlie Brown character that always had his blanket dragging behind.

They also have goats and other farm animals you can feed through these pipes so they had fun giving it a shot!

Daddy was a little sad that he didn't get to come with us so hopefully we'll check out another one soon so he can come along and so I'll have some help! It was fun but we were all pretty beat after 3.5 hours at the farm:)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

My Baby is 2

It was incredibly hard for me to title this post just as it's incredibly hard to write this post. I've been putting it off but I know it won't get any easier the longer I wait! I didn't expect to feel this way but I just can't fathom the idea that I am now the proud mama of a 4 year old AND 2 year old boy! The past two years have absolutely flown but at the same time it feels like Coop's been a part of our lives for as long as I can remember.

His sweet, shy smile and bright, blue eyes could make the grumpiest person on Earth smile and his all around boyish self makes me want to (and need to) watch his every move. He has one speed, which is fast, and chooses to do everything that way. Whether it's eating, running, or even just getting angry, he's 0 to 60mph faster than any car I know! He worships his big brother as long as big brother is playing nicely and not trying to take his things and loves all things mobile, such as cars, trucks, airplanes, bikes, trains, etc. He'd spend all day everyday outside if we let him and the dirtier he is, the happier he is. He is still quite the mama's boy, which I love, but he loves his Daddy plenty, too. He's a bit shy around new people and crowds but seems to be warming up easier and easier as he gets older. He always wants me to put him to bed and I cherish this time with him when I'm not working. As wild as he can be, when it's bedtime he snuggles up to me like a tiny baby and sits so still while I sing his songs and say his prayers. He even hums along to most of the songs, which is just too cute for words.

Cooper goes to the doctor tomorrow for his well checkup and I can't wait to see how much he weighs and how he stacks up with other 2 year olds. He still seems small to me but I guess we'll have to wait and see! He's becoming chattier and chattier but still no where near as verbal as Carter was or most other 2 year olds I know, but I guess when you have Mr. Chatterbox as a big bro you probably think talking is a bit overrated! He has lots of words but not many phrases other than I love you at the moment. He climbs up and down stairs easily by himself and loves to run, jump, and climb anything he can. Eating isn't a real high priority of his at the moment but some of his favorite foods are nutri-grain bars, fruit, fruit snacks, Chick-Fil-A, and Velveeta shells and cheese - quite the healthy list I know! We actually saw a woman at the park yesterday with a plain white t-shirt that had the chick-fil-a symbol on it and Coop kept pointing to her (from about 2 feet away) saying, "Yum, yum!" He still sleeps in his crib and seems perfectly content where he is, as am I! I'm all about containment as long as he's ok with it! He naps from about 2-5 and sleeps at night from 9pm - 8am. He loves his bed and all his lovies, especially his newborn to 3 month soothie pacifiers that he still uses!

My parents were here for the weekend to help us celebrate Coop's big day and we had the best time! We started the celebration early with the Zac Brown concert here in Cary on Thursday night with a few friends - the boys stayed home with a sitter thankfully for us! Friday I struggled a bit from my night of fun to decorate Cooper's Thomas cake but finished it in just under 3 hours. I love to do it for them but it's truly a labor of love, especially when mixed with occasional queasiness and hot flashes! After barely watching a miserable game of college football by Carolina, it was party time for the big 2 year old! Jamey's sister Ashley and her boyfriend Andrew came as well as some of our neighbors so we had a full but fun house. The kids all played well together and Cooper got lots of awesome toys he really loves, but unfortunately not so many things he was very willing to share initially! He clutched James the lego train the entire party and shrieked at the top of his lungs if someone even looked as if they wanted to play with it. When we brought in his new Big Wheel, he dropped James like a bad habit and let Carter play with it all he wanted! He even let Carter have a turn on the Big Wheel so sharing did come, but slowly! He blew out his 2 candles like such a big boy but said, "No!" to his slice of cake in typical Cooper fashion as his little buddies gobbled Thomas up. I don't really understand having a 2 year old that won't eat cake or ice cream but I'm sure he'll realize he's been missing out eventually!

I love you my precious 2 year old and thank you for letting me be your Mommy! We had a great weekend and hope to have many more happy birthdays to celebrate with you!

Cooper's teachers sent this pic home today from last week when his class celebrated his birthday! I just love the facial expression.