A Big Week for Cooper

Taking my time to not spill!
Yummy juice!

This may seem like small little things to most people, but to us we had a big week with Cooper. It is becomming a daily reminder of how much he is growing and understanding. This week brought on a ton of firsts that have been challenges in the past.


First of all Cooper got a haircut this week and for the first time sat all by himself in the chair and let the lady cut his hair. He was AWESOME and didn't even fuss or get upset. It was such a proud moment for me to just stand there and hold Caddie and watch our little man just sit there and get a haircut! A HUGE first for us.


Secondly, I took the kids to the park for a playdate last week. Normally Cooper will sit in a baby swing for a few pushes then want out. This week there was only one baby swing open so Caddie got that swing and Cooper was left to play on the big kids swing. At first he was laying on his stomach and swinging around just a little. But then he looked at me and said "Mama up". He sat on that swing like such a big kid and allowed me to push him and he LOVED it. In fact I had to pull him off of it to go! Another big moment for us.


Lastly, we have been working on drinking out of a juice box for MONTHS! This is a challenge because Cooper will grab the juice box and squeeze it and all the juice goes all over the place and makes a HUGE mess. So when we go out to lunch or to the park I try and bring one along to try once again to get him to drink out of the juice box without it getting all over the place. I got a great tip from a mommy friend a couple of weeks ago to pull up the tabs on the top of the box and have him hold them while he drinks. Well tonight he got through an entire juice box with NOT ONE drop anywhere! I was so excited for him and he loved drinking out of the juice box!

So I know these are not life changing moments but they just remind me of how far we have come in 2 short years and how the closer we get to his second birthday how much more he is understanding and how much more he can do!

Our Little Monkey

Caddie is all over the place and she will not be kept down. She is a pro at getting out of the bouncer. It cracks us up to watch her, and makes Rob nervous when she turns around in the bouncer. She is just so tough and wants what she wants when she wants it :)

We are so blessed to have such an active and happy little girl.

Caddie 10 months

Caddie is turning 10 months in just a couple of days so I know I am posting this early :) We took her for her 9 month check up last week, just a little late due to the holiday. She was 26.5 inches tall and weighed 15.4lbs. She is under the chart for weight but we are working on it and hope in the next 6 weeks to have her up a little. She is just a tiny peanut and so active she can't put on weight!

Over the last month Caddie has been taking more and more steps and getting braver when it comes to walking from one object to another. She is a little monkey and is all over the place. She climbs out of her bouncy and out the back door into the garage (which is a good foot step down). She is so strong and will hold her own in a fight over a toy. She is so strong willed. She will not sit down in the bathtub no matter how many times we say no or sit her down. She pops right back up and is standing. She is also interested in EVERYTHING and is sooooo nosey. She has to know what is going on with everyone. This is one of the reasons that she is so little, she never finishes a bottle or eats much, too busy! She is our little drama queen. She does not cry much but hurt her feelings and you will hear about it for a while. She just keeps going and going, not even crying just making noise.

She lights up when Rob or I comes into the room and gets so excited to be held her little feet just go crazy. She knows how to clap, wave, and do touchdown. We are working on more so I don't get a scream when she wants more. She loves egg whites, oranges, and goldfish. She is not liking her sippy cup as much as the bottle, though she will go after Cooper's sippy in a second.

No teeth yet but we are waiting for this bottom one to finally pop out.

Overall the doctor agrees that she is advanced for her age, but we just need to bump her weight up a bit!

A fun bike ride

For Christmas Aunt Kim and Uncle Justin got Cooper and Caddie a buggy for the back of Rob's bike. Today was a beautiful day so we decided to get it out and hook it up. It was so cute to see them all on the back of his bike. Caddie loved this new experience and was having a blast checking things out. We were cracking up that all you could see was her little face looking out of the window :)

Project Weight Gain

We went to the doctor today for Caddie's 9 month visit, which was a month late due to the holiday. At her appointment they track her weight, height, and head circumference. She was below the chart for weight, yet again going down from her last visit. So we go back in 6 months to make sure she is not falling farther down and is gaining weight.

A plus to our visit is that besides her weight, Caddie is SUPER! She is advanced in all of her motor skills and is so happy and active. The doctor is pleased with how she is doing and how well she has been.

The weight could just be that she will just be a small person but the doctor would still like to see her gain a little and get back on the chart for her age. So we are working on getting her to finish bottles and eat plenty at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We will be adding foods that are high in good fats like avocados and high in protein like chicken and turkey. So we will see how she does in the next 6 weeks.

Just some pictures

Playing together

Caddie is finally at the age where she is really wanting to play around with Cooper. She gets down on the ground with him and just wants to roll around and play tough! She can hold her own too. I know these pictures make it look like Cooper is winning, but trust me it is Caddie who is winning :)

Cooper on the Computer

We have found a few learning games on the computer for Cooper and he loves them. His favorite is the ABC game which is what the video is of him playing. He is allowed to play just a few before he goes to bed at night. He gets so excited about it and just has a blast seeing all the animals pop up.

Just Caddie

Caddie is getting so big and doing new things daily. I just wanted to get a video of her just being her :) Can't believe her 1st birthday is right around the corner...where has this year gone :)

Cooper 1 month till he turns 2!

I think we have finally hit a point where we can start counting by years instead of months :) But regardless Cooper is almost 2! We can't believe it has already been 2 years. He has done so much in that short period of time!

He is such a smart little boy and such a joy to have around the house. He cracks Rob and I up on a daily basis with his little comments and things he does. We continue to work on letters, numbers, and colors and he will shock us by pointing something out that we didn't even think he knew. He is still in love with his trains and cars! Caddie can play with most any toy except for his cars :)

Potty training is still an ongoing process, though I am not working very hard at it. My goal would be to have him trained by the time he starts preschool in the fall. So we still have about 9 months to get him going. He is so close and on multiple occasions have gotten up from a nap with a dry diaper then went potty. He is more ready for this then I am :)

He loves his new bike that Santa got him for Christmas! He would be on that thing all day long if we would let him. He loves to play outside and loves exploring at the park.

This month we also have begun to notice the "terrible 2's" coming through. He is such a strong will child and likes to do things on his own time. Getting ready in the morning and after baths at night is a workout for me :) Some days he would rather eat goldfish for breakfast then a bowl of cereal and dinner sometimes is just a tube of yogurt. But I figure as long as he is getting something I am not fighting that battle :)

We are able to communicate with him so much more and it gets better and better each day. Looking forward to his 3rd year!

Preparing for birthday #2

This year we decided to throw Cooper a party for all of his friends here in Orlando. With our crazy schedule the first time we could both find to have it was on the 27th of February. So just a short 10 days after his birthday we will be having his first ever friend's birthday party. He is in love with all things trains so it was only fitting to have his party be trains! We are having it at a local park in Oviedo and we are excited to see how excited he will be. We have met some amazing people through our church and though our playgroups so it should be a fun day for everyone.

Just some pictures

The kids are getting so big and I really haven't taken any pictures of them in the last couple of weeks. So here are just a few shots from this morning of them playing. They are having a blast with all of their new toys and the house looks like a toy store exploded!

Run Fast

Cooper is loving running fast. This is his new favorite thing and he likes it when you chase him around. Most of the time he does this activity when we are trying to get him dressed or out of the house. As you can see from the video this was us in the process of trying to get him dressed :) Thankfully he let us put a diaper on him.

Shower

Cooper is loving the shower and has to take one every morning. He has to do it all by himself too, he is very independent. It is so funny how excited he gets about it and how much fun he has!

Bathtime Fun

Just some video of Cooper and Caddie in the bathtub!

We have a walker....

In the last couple of days Caddie has been getting more and more brave when it comes to taking steps. Today she decided to take 2-3 in a row and we were able to get it on video. If she lives up to what Cooper did, we will have a running 10 month old!

Cooper's New Wheels

This year Santa brought Cooper a new set of wheels. It took him a few tries to get the concept down, but as you see from the videos he has it down pretty good now. He loves his new bike and wants to ride it all the time. Still working on steering it but he is having a blast playing with it.

Good Bye 2010...Hello 2011

Rob and I just the other day were sitting and talking about this past year and how quickly it flew by. It is not a stretch to say that 2010 was a blur. As I look back I am amazed at how much has changed in such a short period and feel content in knowing we made it though stronger then we entered. As I look forward I am excited about the unknown of what this next year will bring and for what God has in store for our family.

2010 started with Cooper turning 1. We have had a blast this year watching him change and learn so much. He has a zest for life that is contagious and I love watching him experience the world. There is a sparkle in his eyes that gives you a glimpse of his joyful spirit. He is such a loving and caring child with a tender heart and desire to make people laugh. We have been blessed beyond measure by having him in our lives.

We then welcomed Cadence into the family in March of 2010. From the beginning she had to fight for everything. From eating to attention it was a battle between her and Cooper. This has made her tough and determined. She is also a very mild and calm child, compared to her brother. She has a smile that lights up a room and you can't help but smile back at her. She gets so excited at just about all things. She loves her big brother and is loved so much from him. They already have that special sibling bond. She has melted our hearts and already gets away with so much more then we ever allowed Cooper to get away with. We are so excited to this next year and all the 1st that will come along with it.

We then had a big move to the Orlando, FL area. This was a huge leap of faith but has really brought our family together and forced us to really depend and rely on one another. We have been amazed at how quickly we were able to feel "at home" and really get adjusted. Rob is doing great at his new job and has really made some great connections in the community. I have joined a few playgroups as well as the YMCA and MOPS. These outlets have been a huge help in my adjustment with the kids and helped us get connected.

I have been blessed with a fantastic Husband that is also the World's Greatest Dad. He has such an amazing bond with both of our children and these past 2 years has really opened him up and allowed him to show that softer side. He has been an amazing provider and has given our family the love and security that we needed to make it though the move and the adjustment period. I feel incredibly blessed and overwhelmed by the love that he gives me and that it continues to grow stronger each day. He continues to make me a better person and I am amazed at how our marriage continues to grow stronger.

2010 also brought along with it some heartache. Rob lost his Grandmother this year and it was a terrible lost to the entire family. Grandma Schaal had the most amazing spirit and soul. She touched so many lives and we were reminded of that the week of her funeral. 2010 started with us talking about how blessed he was to have 3 out of his 4 grandparents still alive. We had also had the hard talk about being prepared for losing them in the upcoming years. We were not prepared for the lost of Grandma Schaal and there is a definite void in our lives without her. I am reminded of her often when I look at my children and they have a mannerism that is similar to one that she has. She was a blessing to all she came in contact with and we were all better for knowing her. Though she never had the chance to met Caddie we take comfort in knowing there is an incredible new angel up in heaven that is looking down and watching over both her and Coop. Grandma Schaal you will forever be in our hearts.

We must say weekly how amazed we are at the level that God has provided for us and the blessings that he gives us. We could not ask for more...2 healthy children, a steady job, money to pay for our lifestyle, and the love and support of our family and friends. All of our needs are met!

So with the start of 2011 we look back with grateful hearts and look forward to the blessings and challenges that will face us in the upcoming year. We pray that 2011 will bring many blessings to those we love and hold dear. CHEERS to the close of 2010 and to the beginning of 2011.

Learning More

Caddie has been picking up a few things in the last couple of weeks. She knows how to wave now and clap. It was so cute so I had to get it on video. Sorry it was in the middle of dinner :)