November Update

My poor, neglected blog. I have so many things I'd like to write about, but life has gotten in the way over the past few months (more on that another time). I don't, however, want to forget these precious, but oh-so-crazy and tiresome days with my two boys. Here's a little of what they each have been up to lately:

Carter, age 3/12

• Carter continues to be our curious, opinionated, observant firstborn. He talks non-stop. And I do mean non-stop... even if no one is listening he'll say, "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm just talking to myself." Like mama like son :)
• As he's gotten older, he has gradually gotten more picky and selective about what foods he will eat. He pretty much could live off of chocolate milk if given the option. Healthy foods that continue to be his favorites include: Chicken (especially Chick fil A), mashed potatoes, peaches (as well as most other fruits), and cheese.
• This year (the 3's) has been much more challenging than last year (the 2's) ... and I really didn't think that was possible. Carter can be very strong willed and is constantly negotiating things so that he gets what he wants. I hear this on a regular (hourly) basis: "Ok, mommy.. here's the deal.. I'm going to do ____, then you can do ____. Is that a deal mommy? Ok mommy? Did you hear me?" Ah, yes.. this child has tested every ounce of patience I have left in my body. But I adore him. Oh so much.
• Several months ago I think I mentioned that Carter started reading. This has continued into a full-blown love of reading and I could not be more thrilled! Dr. Seuss books are currently his favorite, but he will read just about anything in front of him. He can read most of them without any assistance at all. I am absolutely astounded every time I hear him. 
• On that note, we are starting to prayerfully consider our educational options for this little boy. I am open to any and all suggestions and truly just want to find the right fit for him.
• His current obsession love is any and all Superheroes. We talk about Superheroes all day. We play with Superheroes all day. We pretend to be a Superhero all day. Spiderman is still his favorite.
• His imaginary friend, Walgreens is still a very active part of his life. He regularly invites Walgreens over to play- which involves me opening the front door, greeting Walgreens, giving him a hug, etc. The other day I even got to talk to Walgreens' mom on the phone so I could get directions to their house :)

  Cooper at 10 months

{now 14 months}

• My sweet Coopy Coop is such a happy boy. He has a very pleasant disposition and is generally very content.
• He continues to be extremely active and enjoys climbing on anything he can maneuver onto.. i.e. the stairs, couch, chairs, stools, etc. He also loves to push things around. This includes kitchen chairs, barstools, kids table/chairs, Carter's piano, etc. The boy is strong too!
• Cooper will eat just about anything in front of him. He is getting more independent and likes to feed himself most of the time. 
• He LOVES animals.. especially my parents' dog, Romeo.
• We've seen a bit of a temper rise in Cooper lately. He will scream and lay on the floor and throw his version of a "fit" over the silliest things. It's pretty funny, but also concerns me for the future (think terrible two's). He is also extremely jealous if I touch or hold Carter. 
• Coopy is still a mama's boy at heart, but really has a new found love for his daddy and Bella. 
• He doesn't show much, if any, interest in books but LOVES "things that go".. cars, trucks, trains... especially if they make noise!
• Finally, he is developing a love for Sesame Street- especially Elmo. This, of course, makes me very happy!

8 Months

Last month was a big one for our sweet boy! Here are a few highlights:

-His first two bottom teeth arrived :)

-He started saying "Dada" all the time!

-We have continued to try new foods, but his favorites are still carrots, sweet potatoes, and corn. He isn't really picky, but definitely shows a preference for certain foods. The ones he isn't crazy about (some fruits, green beans, etc) take much longer for him to eat.

-He is still on the move (but not on all fours yet) and into anything he can get his little hands on! The boy is super strong!

-He typically is ok staying with Jer or my mom (as long as I'm not in sight), but he would still prefer his mama 100% of the time. The only exception to this was on Easter Sunday when he sat with Uncle Taylor the ENTIRE service and even fell asleep (snoring!) for part of the time!

-His weight gain has slowed way down due to how active he is... I'm certainly not complaining ;)

I'm really enjoying every stage with Cooper and wishing time would slow down. It's true that it goes by SO much faster with the 2nd baby!

Blessed

Blessed to have a husband

who takes his role as a father seriously.

Blessed that my days include hours of playtime.

Blessed that the Lord hears our prayers.

Six Months

My big, sweet, beautiful boy turned 6 months on the 15th. Six months, people. Where is the pause button? I'm trying to soak up this wonderful, crazy time in my life, but it's going by so quickly.

Here's what our little guy has been up to lately:

-At his 6 month check up he weighed a whopping 19 lbs 5 oz. To give you some perspective, Carter weight 18 lbs 12oz at ONE YEAR.

-He's still nursing like a champ. I mean, duh ... look at him :) He's huge. He also loves his baby cereal and carrots. Green beans were not a big hit.

-I have a hard time finding ANY similarities between him and Carter as babies. Truly, their personalities are so unique.

-Cooper loves to smile and laugh- especially at his big brother. And of course, Carter thinks he's greatest thing in the world.

-He's super, SUPER strong and, given the chance, will pull anything out of your hand in order to put it in his mouth. This includes coffee cups, as I learned the hard way.

-Lately, I've caught him:

hitting his crib mobile with one hand.. spinning it around

turning on and off his rainforest-music-thingy that's attached to his crib

rolling across the room to get to Carter's alphabet puzzle...

and then pulling out a piece and stuffing it in his mouth

He's a mess, but in the best kind of way.

-His hand-eye coordination is remarkable and he just might already be more skilled in this area than his brother is at 3 years old! (Daddy's really hoping for a ball player)

-He is sitting up (without support) for longer periods of time, though would much prefer to be on the move than sit still.

-He currently wears a size 3 diaper and mostly 9-12 month clothes.

-Our sweet "Coopy Coop" is such an alert, happy boy and adds so much to our little family of four.

If I May...

... Please allow me to vent about a couple of current pet peeves.

For the record, I have a much more sophisticated post in the works about some wonderful books I just read, but right now I need to get a few things off my chest :)

1. When did it become socially acceptable to complain via Facebook all the time? And I do mean all the time. People, I am really really sorry that you have a headache for the 3rd time this week and your kid has been sick all winter, etc etc... but seriously... tone it down. Please.

2. If your last name is Smith (for example) please don't sign your cards "The Smith's". It should be "The Smiths"... no apostrophe. Am I correct, English teachers? I have seen this on WAY too many Christmas cards and it drives me nuts!

3. My second born child is NOT a girl. Nearly EVERY time I go out in public, people either assume that he is a girl baby or have to "guess" (as a lady in Nordstrom said yesterday) as to whether or not he is a boy. I seriously don't get it. I don't dress him like a girl (I don't even put him in smocked boy clothing) and he doesn't have a cross-gender name. My mom says he's a "pretty baby", which he is... but just in case you are ever confused... If you see a baby in a green stroller, dressed in all blue, wearing a hat that says "Cooper" written in blue, sucking on a baseball pacifier... it's a boy. All boy. I never had this experience with Carter, so it has really taken me by surprise.

Ok, that's all. Happy Thursday!

Welcome, 2012!

Whew.

Let me just start by saying that I LOVE the holidays. From Thanksgiving to New Year's is one of the most wonderful times of the year, but is anyone else absolutely exhausted when it's over? Most years I wait as long as possible to take down my Christmas decorations, but this year I was done with them immediately.

Done. done. done.

Before that, however, we had a wonderful time at the Christmas Eve service

And a nice little Christmas

Followed by a fun day trip to Chattanooga to celebrate with Jer's family

Then Carter came down with the stomach flu

(which I LOATHE every single second of)

Then Jeremy left for Philadelphia

Then I spent New Year's Eve alone on my couch

Then this happened on January 2...

I was frantically trying to get myself + 2 boys ready to pick Jeremy up from the airport. I was SO beyond ready for him to be home. I had spent the last several days nursing Carter back to health and obsessively trying to keep Cooper and I from catching that nasty illness. This also was his last trip with the Redskins until next season, which increased my anticipation even more. Anyways, somehow in the midst of me running around the house,

Carter locked himself in our master bedroom closet.

No biggie, right?

I figured I'd just unlock it the same way we've unlocked the other doors in the past.

Except this one was different.

It had a keyhole... to which I had no key.

Jeremy was in mid-flight somewhere over the East Coast.

I searched for the missing key, attempted to pick the lock with a bobby pin, safety pin, and every tool I could get my hands on.

Cooper was hungry and started screaming.

While nursing, I watched a video on You Tube about how to pick a lock.

No luck.

I called my mom.

No answer.

I called my sister and talked to my brother in law about how to pick a lock.

Fail. fail. fail.

Meanwhile, Carter is unusually calm and quiet.

So quiet that I think he might have gone to sleep.

I am not proud of how many curse words I said under my breath,

but let's be honest.. I was at my wits end...

And it takes A LOT to get me at my wits end :)

In a final act of desperation, I called a locksmith.

(And said a prayer that he wasn't a serial killer)

As it turns out, the lock was installed upside down (who does that?)

and he ended up having to drill it out of the door.

We were 2 hours late picking Jeremy up from the airport.

But we were alive and safe. Thank God!

Needless to say,

I was very ready for the fresh start that the beginning of 2012 brought.

My next post will include some of my resolutions for this year.

I, for one, am hoping for a few less of these days... :)

three

This is the week I have looked forward to and simultaneously dreaded at the same time. He's turning 3. How is that possible? On one hand, I am ecstatic to be leaving the two's, but I'm also keenly aware of the fact that the "baby" in him is slipping through my fingers everyday. Yes, I'm sentimental. Perhaps overly sentimental, but I'm ok with that.

Here's a short interview I did with him a few days ago:

What is your name? Carter

How old are you? Two

What is your favorite color? {looks down at shirt} Blue

Who is your best friend? Mommy, Daddy, and Cooper

What do you want to be when you grow up? A big boy

What is your favorite animal? Just lions

What is your favorite movie? Mickey

What is your favorite book? the Little Einsteins pirate one

What is your favorite tv show? Little Einsteins

What makes you happy? Mashed potatoes

What makes you sad? Boo boos

What is your favorite food to eat? Mashed potatoes

Favorite thing to drink? Chocolate milk

Where is your favorite place to go? Starbucks

Here's a little more about where he's at:

{according to mommy}

-Carter loves to talk and talk and talk and talk. This is most evident around his family, as he tends to clam up in new or unfamiliar circumstances.

-He has been fully potty trained for a couple months now. I am very thankful for this!

-He adores his little brother. He wakes up asking about him and wants to know where he and what he's doing at all times.

-Carter is extremely opinionated. (NO idea where this attribute came from..ha!) He knows what he wants, when he wants it.. and isn't afraid to say it.

-That carries over into bossiness.. especially when he's tired, frustrated, or in need of attention.

-He is an absolute sponge when it comes to learning. I'm baffled every day that a kid with his energy level (think energizer bunny ++) has any desire to sit and sound out every letter to every word in a book (no joke). His favorite toys are educational and I have to admit that I LOVE this about him. He is so easy to teach and constantly wanting new, challenging activities. I'm hoping to start some at-home preschool lessons with him in January!

-He does not love crafts. Or coloring. This makes me a little sad, but I'm continuing to try these things on a regular basis.

-Current obsession: Spiderman and Captain America. Allll day long he asks, "What's your favorite person who wears a mask, mommy?" "Do you like Spiderman? Batman? Ironman? Captain America? The Incredible Hulk?" "Who is daddy's favorite?" ... and on and on.

-The most unusual, standout characteristic about Carter is his love for music. This goes beyond normal kid music or lullabys or songs he learns in church. He is absolutely obsessed.. specifically with country music. The artists, the songs, what they wear, what instrument they play, their videos... you get the point. He can identify just about any song on the CMT top 20 countdown within 2 seconds of hearing and/or seeing it. He sings these songs all day long. At home, in public.. it doesn't matter. He turns any, and I do mean ANY, object into a guitar or microphone. I've seen him turn a dustpan, plastic shovel, pillow, place mat, and even a pretzel stick into a guitar. His favorite "microphones" include a remote control, nasal aspirator, and bendable coaster. We reached a new level of creativity when last week at Starbucks he turned the "Wet Floor" cone into a microphone so he could sing Michael Buble (whom he currently LOVES).

-Needless to say, this year for his birthday and Christmas he is getting several musical things (one being a black guitar "like Keith Urban's") and LOTS of Spiderman stuff.

-These are really just the highlights. I could write for hours about the funny stuff he's said and done, but I'll refrain. He is such a unique child and I couldn't love him more.

Sweet Carter,

You are my funny, charming, precious boy and I cannot imagine my life without you. You are the sunshine in SO many people's lives and I know God's plans for you far exceed anything I could possibly imagine. I am beyond proud to call you my son.

Love,

Mommy

*Photos by Amelia Hambrook Photography

2 Months

I cannot believe this little nugget is already 2 months old! {10 weeks to be exact} He is the most precious little boy and I seriously cannot imagine our life without him.

Here are a few updates:

• He has the most wonderful disposition. He's very laid back and loves to be held and snuggled.
• Cooper is a wonderful sleeper. I secretly prayed for this and God heard my request... knowing that I probably couldn't handle another Carter (a.k.a. "the child who doesn't sleep"). Swaddling is a must at night.. he loves it.
• Cooper typically goes about 8 hours between feedings at night. Again, a small miracle when compared to my first born!
• His feedings are still 3-4 hours apart during the day.
• This boy l.o.v.e.s. his mama :)
• He smiles nearly every time he sees a familiar face or hears a familiar voice. He also coos and "talks" if he is really excited or happy. It's precious and absolutely melts my heart.
• He's very strong.. and is working on holding his head up for longer periods of time.
• We took 2 trips (St. Louis and Chattanooga) during the last month and Cooper was an absolute angel. His brother, on the other hand, proved a little more challenging .. but what's new, right?
• Speaking of Carter, he ADORES his little brother and for the most part is very loving and gentle with him. Cooper responds to any attention from Carter and often just stares at him with a big smile on his face.
• He recently found his thumb. He hasn't found it since, but he loves to suck on his hands, fingers, or anything he can get to his mouth!

We are so thankful for our sweet little man!

Brothers

Last week I snapped this picture of our Cooperman ...

(or "Tooterman" as Carter says... his "C"s sound like "T"s)

I thought there was something strangely familiar about it

and I couldn't put my finger on what it was until...

I dug up this picture of Carter at about 2 months old...

I have never thought these two boys looked ANYTHING alike, but when I see these pictures it makes me think that they might grow up to look like brothers.. not twins.. but brothers. Carter obviously had more hair and was MUCH smaller than Cooper, but do you see the similarity?

Or am I just over-analyzing?

Life As We Know It

After taking care of both boys while my husband was out of town this weekend, I sent him a text last night that went something like this, "Please come home alive tomorrow. I really don't want to be a single mom." I seriously have a new level of respect for single moms. I have no earthly idea how they do it... and stay sane!

Here's a glimpse of my day today (and it's not even 3:00):

-Miraculously wake up before Carter and quickly decide to forgo a few extra minutes of sleep in order to drink my coffee/eat breakfast in the beautiful quiet of the morning.

-Feed both boys. Dress both boys. Shower and dress myself.

-Oh wait, only one boy got fed.

-Give Carter Cheerios to eat in the car.. on the way to the airport.

-Park, go in, and find daddy in the airport.

-Head to Chick fil A for lunch. Wait for Carter to eat all 8, yes 8, of his nuggets.

-Drop daddy off at work.

-Drive to a house in Franklin to drop off formula for baby orphans in Africa.

-Debate whether or not get Starbucks, but decide against it.

-Head home. Change and feed a starving newborn. Change newborn again.

-Realize big brother had an explosion in his diaper (we have majorly regressed on the potty training). Change big brother's nasty diaper.

-Put big brother down for a nap. Clean up his dirty clothes.

-Eat 3 chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer. Immediately regret eating 3. Should have stopped at 2.

-Order 50 free prints via Shutterfly.

-Change Cooper's diaper AGAIN.

-Type a blog one-handed because a certain little someone thinks the only place he belongs is in his mama's arms :)

NOW.. time to brew some decaf Dunkin' Donuts coffee, figure out what to have for dinner, finish laundry, and mop very dirty floors... all before Carter wakes up. I really do love my life. But I'm also REALLY glad my hubby is home!!

My Sweet Baby Boy

Here is the latest on this little guy:

-So far, he is a laid back little dude...already so much more chill than his big brother ever was!

-He is eating consistently every 3 hours and will go 3-4 hours between feedings at night.

-He does not like having his diaper changed or his clothes off.. this is really the only time he screams.

-He is a snuggle bug for sure :) He loves to be held and snuggled in a blanket... mommy's dream come true!

-We've had people ask about his middle name.. Solomon. When we were trying to decide on a middle name, I was pretty adamant that I wanted either a family name or a name with some sort of significance (preferably a Biblical one). Carter's middle name is David.. and both Carter and David are family names. As we looked into names on both sides of our families, we couldn't find one that we both liked and one that fit with Cooper. We turned to the Bible in search of one that would hold a special meaning for our new little man. Both Jeremy and I kept coming back to Solomon for a variety of reasons, but most importantly because of the connection between King David and King Solomon. I mean how can you go wrong naming your sons after two of the most influential Biblical kings, who also happened to be father-son? Also, the meaning of Solomon is "peace" or "peaceful", which was VERY appealing to me.. and so far this little guy has been nothing but the epitome of peace in our lives.

-Carter is adjusting remarkably well to having a new little brother. The only signs of jealously are directed toward me, which I guess is better than taking it out on Cooper. He tells me repeatedly throughout the day to:

"Stop doing ____. Just feed Cooper."

"Just leave him alone, Mama."

You get the idea. I'm sure part of this is him just being two... and a total, 100%, bossy first born (who is being raised by 2 first borns.. poor kid).

-Carter's favorite things to say to Cooper are:

"Ohhhhh, it's OTAY Baby Coop! Carter is here!"

"I DO love you, wittle brother."

"Come here, Baby Coop. I need to love you."

-One of the most amazing things is that from the time Cooper was just hours old, he has responded to the sound of Carter's voice. True brotherly love.

My New Love

Seriously, does it get any sweeter than this?

I'm in love all over again. And it's wonderful.

He's Here!

Our precious little angel

Cooper Solomon

arrived on August 15th at 2:23 pm

7 lbs 10 oz. 20 inches.

He is pretty much the sweetest boy you'll ever meet. So far, he's a very good eater and sleeper.. and that makes for a happy mama :) He looks NOTHING like his big brother, which has taken some getting used to! Carter came out with a head full of dark hair, while Cooper has just a little bit of blonde (or honey blonde, as I like to call it) hair and very different features.

Carter adores him, as do the rest of us.

God has blessed us more than we deserve.

Restless, Muffins, and a Sicky Boy

"Almighty God,

You have made us for Yourself,

so that our hearts are restless until

they rest in You."

St. Augustine

I love the quote above because it reminds me to be thankful for the times that my heart is restless. It is during these times that I need to search for God and not be satisfied until my soul rests in Him. HE is the only one who brings true peace... and rest. Why do I so easily forget this?

On a different note, I've been physically restless that past few days because this is the 5th day that Carter has been sick. He's been running a fever, but no other symptoms other than being extremely irritable. I finally took him to the doctor today and it turns out that his throat is really red, so the doctor did a strep test. The first swab came back negative, but they went ahead and sent it to a lab for the 2nd test... so we'll have those results in 24-48 hours. I'm hoping he feels better soon because a cranky boy = a cranky mommy. We have been watching lots of Sesame Street since it is about the only thing he wants to do when he's sick. I'm not sure how much more of Elmo and Big Bird I can take ;)

I have, surprisingly, been able to do some cooking over the past few days. I made these muffins today and they are delicious! I'm a huge fan of banana and chocolate together.. but most recipes I've tried are too dry or bland. This one is just about perfect. I used 3 medium bananas (instead of 2) and white flour instead of wheat (mainly because I didn't have any wheat on hand). Give them a try!