Easter: A Holiday in Pictures

*I added the last non-Easter specific picture to confirm that, yes, Cal was with us this Easter, though Easter is a decidedly more older-child holiday, as Cal's egg hunting skills are still quite lacking. I am too lazy tonight, and already nearly a week late in posting, so I will allow the pictures to tell the story, but in short - a great holiday and we were lucky enough to get Grandma and Grandpa Kowalski to join us from Chicago. The big kids had over 100 eggs to search for when they woke up, and far too much sugar was eaten by all.

A Moment With Cooper

Wow, it is so hard to find time to document life when we are so busy living it. My failings at consistently updating this blog constantly reaffirm why I should not get on Facebook. Anywho...

Cooper! He is getting too old to really talk about much on a blog meant for his babyhood, but LORD do I love that child.

Seriously, any instant I have a moment of sadness that my house is rapidly shrinking in its baby population, I look at Cooper and that moment of melancholy INSTANTLY changes to excitement, because Cooper was once a baby, but now he is an 8 year old, and yes, baby Cooper was so freaking adorable and amazing, but getting 8 year old Cooper (with the memories and history of having had baby Cooper) is so incredible.

Wouldn't trade it for the world.

He is constantly hilarious, so incredibly compassionate, intelligent, thoughtful, silly and oh so very absent minded.

Example: Tonight we were letting the kids lounge in the bathtub as opposed to a hurried shower. After the water had been running for an unusually long amount of time, it occurred to Steve and I that we needed Cooper to turn off the water. NOW. Before we were all swimming. So we screamed up the stairs "Water OFF!"

To which Cooper replied "WHAT?!?" in genuine alarm. "There is barely any water!!!"

Incredulously, Steve headed up the stairs to investigate, already questioning "How is that possible" and then, almost joking Steve asked "Did you forget to put the plug in?"

. . .

"Ohhhhhhhhh."

Hand, meet head.

Cal: 9 Months

Well, here we are Cal. 3/4 of the way through your first year. WOWZA!

Seriously, that's what I have for you this month: WOWZA!

How else can I explain it... perhaps a way I can elaborate... something to sum it up...?

Well, let's just say you started the month like this:



And ended the month like this:



No wonder we are all so tired:



What I am saying is that crawling stuff? That is SO last month. You are all about (trying to achieve) the walking now.

You are constantly pulling yourself up, levering yourself off of toys, people, furniture, everything. Just today, I literally had to grab your chubby little calf as it ascended through the air, rising as your upper body barreled to the floor, as your hefty mid-section set atop the side of your play car - a human teeter-totter. I got there in time, glad to have saved you from certain face plant, and you looked at me with mild irritation, certain I just ruined what was about to be the most epic fun, and set off for another adventure.

You, my dear boy, are fearless.



And hilarious, and affectionate, and squishy, and fluffy, and toothy, and every single thing I could have wanted in a third baby. And then some.



You spend your weekdays being completely adored by your nanny, and we are thrilled that the adoration is mutual. You continue to be a total rockstar in the eyes of your siblings. They have even been known to forego TV time in favor of playing with you. High praise in a house that still (tries to) limit screen time.



We saw the movie Boss Baby this weekend - the big kids and me. And oh did we laugh - constantly comparing the lead character to our own little CEO of the house. We are at your constant beck and call.



A top tooth is threatening to appear any day now, but for the most part you get by just fine with your bottom 2 chompers - experiencing new foods and deciding you quite like muffins, but are happy to continue to avoid anything and everything vegetable. You can throw down a serious amount of puffs in one sitting, and continue to devour cereal anytime and every time it is offered. You seem opposed to food at any temperature above "room", and quite prefer your pureed meat straight from the fridge.



It is getting near my bedtime (which is early these days... mama is TIRED by the time you monsters are all tucked in), but I am already 3 days late getting this online, and I refuse to miss a month.



You are getting big, little man. I love you more than you can even imagine.

Love, mama