Perilous

I would almost rather everything just go ahead and fall apart then continue to teeter at the top of a giant pile of oh-my-gosh for an inevitable amount of time... And yet... we keep on keeping on. This weekend was lovely in that I didn't work, and less so in that one little lady is teething (or has just decided to win the "most unpleasant in the room" contest ALL THE TIME) and even more less so in that I spent the first half of the weekend reassuring Cooper that "mommy isn't going to work" to avoid mass fits of hysteria and general clingy-ness, only to leave before he woke up this morning, and likely return only a while before he wakes up tomorrow (in a zombie-like state). To say the past few weeks have been busy would be a MASSIVE understatement. And to say I think I am handling it well would be both true and false. I haven't dropped the ball anywhere at work, and I have made it home for almost every bedtime, but the feeling of an impending ball bouncing across the floor because I am so about to drop it, is enough to make me want to crawl up under a table for a bit. So, I thought I would be sure to make note of it, so that one day when I try to remember this time and cannot because I have blacked it out, I can refer to this post and think, "Oh yes, how much that sucked."

Planking

"I like looking like Grandpa"

Happy Six Months

Oh and they are! And you are! We all are!

And not JUST because you are now sleeping through the night (though I won't lie... that has something to do with it).

In your father's words, "you frighten me."

You are that THAT. You are in ALL CAPS and BOLDS and billions of exclamation points!!!!!

The brief hiatus you took from rolling on your stomach constantly is over, and that is where you reside about 5% of the time. The other 95% of the time you are being held and coddled, because you are such the princess.

Though your ferocity is a little unladylike.

You are the loudest most expressive baby I have ever met. And I mean that in a good way. A great way. An amazing way. It is impossible to not be in a good mood when in your vicinity. You are that hilarious. And you find everyone around you equally hilarious. You see your brother and you start laughing and kicking (and sometimes reach out and grab his hair... you are blessed to have a loving and gentle brother, who doesn't smack you one when you kind of deserve it, but not really because you clearly don't know any better, and I am pretty sure you mean such grabbing as a compliment - like "Come here you! Let me give you a kiss!").

We are in the twilight days of immobile baby. Soon you will be crawling (or rolling or scooting or some other such method) all over this place, and sohelpmeGod, we will have to keep up with you.

If I could bottle your energy I could run a marathon.
In my sleep.

We have discovered your love for pears and sweet potatoes, and if we are too slow to feed you, you will happily direct any sustenance straight to your mouth, thankyouverymuch.

And, it bears repeating, OH MY GOODNESS YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! As of 3 of the last 4 nights ago. Just when I didn't think I could love you any more...

I hope you always live your life with this level of enthusiasm. I hope you always see a friend when you look around the room (though I hope you greet them in a less grabby and slobbery way).

You frighten us all, little girl. In a good way. How scary to be so awesome.

Halter

Why yes, that is a halter top my almost 6 month old is wearing.

Why do you ask?

Her Mamaw got it for her. Which is funny, because her Mamaw wouldn't let her Grandpa Cox buy her a cheerleader outfit because it was too trashy looking.

That Mamaw, she is so silly!

Mothers Day 2012

Today was a wonderful day and we celebrated Steve, our new niece and mother's day all at once.

I am ever thankful to be their mom.

Favorite things

Cooper, what do you like?

Pistachios.

What else?

Penguins. And water.

What else?

Computers. And trains and cars. And hot-wheels.

Adorables

I have to post random pics, cause sometimes I just like to click on over here during a long work day and look at them myself.
So smiley. So pretty. So wonderful.

She looks so suspicious here - like she just did something and is worried she will get caught. Cracks me up.

I wish I was even more beautiful the closer people looked. Coop, dude, you so have that going for you.

NICE BELT!!!!

Fish

Cooper is in swim lessons this summer. It is like the in-between swim lessons - not with us all 6 weeks, but not on his own all 6 weeks either. More of a gradual shift from one end of the spectrum to the other.

This was week 4. Weeks 1-3 we got in with him, but with each week the teacher became more involved and we worked with him on listening for instruction and holding on to the edge of the pool - the things he would need to do if he were in a group swim class without parents also in the water. Week 4 we were to come in swimsuits but attempt letting our wee one in the pool alone, and stay on stand-by, ready to get in and participate if needed. Ideally, by week 6, the goal is for the kid to get in the water and do the swim lesson by himself with the teacher and other kids, no parents nearby.

There were 3 kids there today. Only one got in without his parents... Cooper.

We talked it up a lot in the days leading up to today. I always find Cooper, like most kids, does way better when prepared for something. We talked about how cool it would be for him to be in the pool BY HIMSELF with Mommy WATCHING and CLAPPING. So, we got there, and as soon as Ms. Erin calls him over, he goes to the ladder and backward steps into the pool, gets helped to the edge, and holds on and listens like a champ.

He spent the whole lesson listening attentively and participating with every fiber in his little being. He blew bubbles, kicked, jumped off the edge, "scooped", floated, blasted off and chased swim toys all with his teacher while I clapped, cheered... and sniffled a little from the side.

You see, I couldn't be more proud of him and I am SO glad he is such a good young man - so polite, respectful and mature. But he is still my baby - even though I have another baby that is actually a baby at home. A little part of me kind of wanted him to reach out for me, only want to swim if I was holding on, only want to jump from the side if I would catch him. It used to be that way for a while.

And then time goes on and I am happy for him - happy for his independence and happy to have the pleasure of watching him grow. All of me is... except that one little part.

Girl Time

While the boys played baseball we practiced our posing.

Holding hands

Hmmm... I am not sure why when I upload pictures from my phone to blogger using the handy blogger app the picture gets the right side cut off... I will need to fix it as Daphne is quite adorable in her tropical dress reaching out for her big brother's hand. Just to be clear - while I do ADORE one Sir Cooper von Cooperton, and find him to be handsome and worthy of many clicks of the camera, I did not actually take pictures of ONLY him, and the pictures on my phone are of both kids, as I find Lady Daphne equally easy on the eyes.

Ain't no one playing favorites round these parts. Couldn't if I tried.

More Explanation Needed

"Cooper, do you want to brush your teeth?"
"Um, yes sir."
"Where did you learn that?"
"..."
"Does Thomas say that?"
"..."
"Does Thomas say 'Yes sir'?"
"Yes sir. And Emily."
"Hmmm, ok, neat. Did you know that when you talk to a girl you are supposed to say 'ma'am' instead of 'sir.'"
"...Does Penny say 'Yes sir'?"
"...?"
(Penny is our cat).