Cooper at 1 Year

So pictures this month were interesting.  It didn't help that because I'm back to work, I couldn't choose the best time of day.  We took them after dinner, and Cooper was getting a bit nuts.  (Before dinner he wasn't having it at all.)  But he's happy!  He just didn't want to sit still and wanted to hug his fox the whole time!

Weight: 22lbs 8 oz

Height: 30 inches

Sleeping: What a difference a month makes.  And my inability to nurse him...  Because I was going back to work, I weaned Cooper.  I also was leaving him for a weekend 3 days after I went back to work, and was hopeful that he would get used to not nursing himself back to sleep.  It worked!  Because I wasn't around to feed him, he had to go back to sleep on his own.  Overall he has been sleeping really well ever since.  He sometimes wakes in the night, but most of the time can go back to sleep on his own.

He naps twice a day, in the morning for less than an hour and in the afternoon for a couple hours.

Eating: As I said, no more nursing!  He's drinking milk from a cup now and eating like a regular boy.  He will eat anything that we put in front of him and doesn't ever seem to get full!  When he wakes up in the morning he's pretty cranky if I don't feed him immediately, which is the total opposite of Parker who wants nothing to do with food for at least an hour.

Favourite foods...it's hard to pick a favourite with Cooper.  He likes grapes and bananas, pasta, meatballs.  Those are some of the things he gobbles right up.  But I'm not sure I've found anything that he refuses to eat.

Milestones:
-climbing stairs
-cruising
-first night away from mommy
-started daycare

Likes:
-playing in Parker's room
-wrestling with his brother
-toys with wheels
-food
-the bath

Dislikes:
-not a huge fan of dogs
-not getting food fast enough

He has adapted so well this month to his new routines.  The first few days he was very sucky when I picked him up from daycare, but he had been totally fine all day without me.  But now he's completely back to his regular self.  He never cries when I drop him off.  I think it definitely helps that Parker stays with him.

A One Year Old

And poof, he's one.

This kids growing up thing is something that I'm still not used to.  It's crazy how much they change.  They go from this little teeny tiny baby, to this big boy who loves to eat and crawl and climb on top of his brother whenever he gets a chance.  And it all happens in a year!

Right after I had Cooper, I couldn't imagine going through birth again.  It hurt.  But I knew I would forget, and I have.  I also couldn't imagine going through pregnancy again.  But everything that you have to go through, makes this time so worth it.  I want all the babies if I'm able to watch them grow, because it's really so much fun.

I was so relieved when I went into labour with Cooper at just over 36 weeks.  That's something that not many people say!  But I was ready to meet this guy.  I was ready for him to make our family just a bit more complete.  

And brothers!  Oh boy, it's been fun.  I was unsure of what life would be like with two boys.  And it is a bit crazier than I had pictured my life.  And I think it will be a bit more expensive than I had hope, because Cooper eats everything in site, and Parker makes me open everything and then says "I don't like that."  But I love watching them together, and I love that they have each other.

Cooper has been such a joyful, easy going baby.  I hope he has those qualities for the rest of his life.  I hope he grows into a kind, hardworking, generous person.

We have done a lot this year.  Life has been crazy busy.  But that's the way we've wanted it to a point.  We have these kids, who want to see the world that they live in.  So I love to take them places, watch them as they see something for the first time.  Parker has also grown up this year and understands so much more, and so I know exactly what I have to look forward to with Cooper.  But if he could stay a baby for a bit longer that would be fine by me.

Ok enough of my rambling.  All of this is just to say, Happy Birthday Coop!  We love you more than you will every know (until you have babies of your own).  

Outtakes from our Eleven Month Pictures

Our little photoshoot sure was interesting this month.  I couldn't even get one picture of him laying down on the backdrop that I've used every month because the little stinker sat up and crawled away by the time I stood up, every single time.  

But, I still love all of these crazy pictures of him moving around, because that's what he's like now.  He doesn't sit still.  He loves toys, so sitting still next to blocks and a stuffed animal is just never going to happen!

 

What happens if I push this block over the edge?

It's gone!

 I brought Parker in to try to get a nice picture of the two of them together.  I should of known better.  Parker brought his apple.  Look at Cooper looking at it.  You can't keep food away from this one.

I told Parker to hug his brother.  Unfortunately he still has the apple.

So he hugs his brother, while holding the apple as far away as possible.

Cooper at 11 Months

Big mama tears over here.  One month away from being a year old.  It amazes me how they change in a year.  How everything changes in a year.  I was thinking the other day about how when I had Cooper, how hard it was to go anywhere.  Parker was little and barely listening and so whenever possibly I did errands without him.  I still choose to do errands without him when I can (haha!), but if he's with me, I can set him down and get Cooper out of the car.  He can walk by himself into a store.  It's just totally different.  Both of them can sit up in a cart and I actually have room for my groceries.  Cooper doesn't eat constantly so I can go out and rarely even have to feed him.  And if he does get hungry, he eats for about five minutes.

Cooper has been an easy baby all around, and having him was much easier than when I had Parker.  But everything now just seems so much easier too.  And I think that's what I have to remember during the tricky times (and Ryan has to remember...), that they are in a difficult stage, where they need a ton of energy from us.  They need us constantly, but soon enough they won't need us for everything anymore.  They will get their own food and milk, they will get themselves dressed and pee on the potty.  And it's ok for us to not love every minute during this time, but someday we will miss those little voices asking us for more milk please, and crawling into our laps for cuddles.  And those days are going to come sooner than we think, and sooner than they should.

Ok anyways, this is really supposed to be about Cooper and what he's like at 11 months, not about all of my emotional mama issues!

Weight: I have no idea. I meant to weigh the heavy lug the other day and I forgot.  But he's heavy!

Height: In comparison to Parker a year ago, he's tall.  

Diapers: Size 4

Clothes: Still kind of fits in some 6-12 months, but 12 months fits better.  

Sleep:  We are working on it, slowly but surely.  He's getting better at going back to sleep by himself sometimes.  He's still nursing a couple times a night.  It really needs to stop...

Naps are pretty good.  He sleeps for about an hour in the morning and a couple hours in the afternoon.  He is still generally going to bed between 9 and 10...I really want to get that earlier for when I'm back at work!

Eating: Oh boy, does this boy love to eat! What a different eater he is than his brother.  You can put anything in front of him and he just sits there and eats away.  He's also getting better with his cup with a straw and the 360 cup and he seems to like the milk!  He eats 3 meals a day and then sometimes some snacks as well.

He nurses only a few times a day, generally not for too long unless he's nursing himself to sleep for a nap.  He maybe nurses 4 times a day in general (plus night feeds).  Considering I go back to work in less than 2 weeks though we need to start decreasing it more.  But I'm not ready to be done!  I was so ready with Parker, because I always had to force him to eat.  With Cooper, it has been so easy that I don't feel like I'm desperate for my body back.  Although I know once I have it, it will probably be nice.

Milestones & likes:

Hmm what's new.  He motors around everywhere.  He pulls himself up onto tables, he hasn't done it onto his feet a ton of times, but he is constantly pulling himself up just enough to grab stuff.  He likes to clear off shelves if he can reach.  Loves getting into the garbage cans.

His favourite spot is Parker's room, I always find him in there playing.  He likes to crawl into our laps, and climb on me if I'm on the floor or working out.  He loves loves loves his brother and still thinks he's hilarious.  He has a monster grin that I absolutely love.  He loves to splash in the tub, the bathroom gets pretty soaked!  Parker yells at him and says "no splashing!" Like as if he's a rule follower...

Dislikes:

I don't even have anything to put here with this easy going kiddo.

Cooper at 10 Months

Oh my baby boy, how did we get here.  10 months is just so darn close to a year old.  You have learned so many new things this month and are really becoming a kid.  This month has been a blast for you as you become mobile, and a mess for mommy and daddy as you destroy everything in your path!

Teeth: 5 teeth now! Cooper cut 3 in the past week and a half.

Clothes: 6-12 months, although I think I'm stretching it and he could probably wear 12 months more comfortably.  How can he be wearing the clothes that Parker wore just a few months ago though?  I haven't even taken those clothes out of Parker's closet yet!

Diapers: Size 4

Sleeping: Good thing mama can some how run on very little and interrupted sleep.  He had a 5 day stretch where he only got up once, that was great.  Other than that he's been the typical 3-4 times a night.  Once again I will say that I really need to get him sleep trained...but I hate listening to him cry...

Eating: We've made huge progress in the eating department!  I was so worried that he would never eat solids and then he just started doing it.  He wants to eat everything he sees!  2-3 small meals a day.  If you can call them meals.  I usually just give him a little bit of what we are eating, or grapes, bananas, fries.  Still just getting him used to different food.  He likes yogurt as well.  

His nursing is all over the place now that he's eating more.  I would stay he more snacks and has short little nursing sessions throughout the day.  

Milestones:

He crawls!  He was very close when we were at the cottage a couple weeks ago and I said he would be doing it within the week, and sure enough a few days later he was crawling across the house.  It's a whole new world for him and as scary as it is having to make sure that he's safe and not getting into trouble, it's really fun to watch him discover everything.

He can sit himself up.  I think that's new this month...haha.  We've had a few nights where he sits up in bed and just cries, I don't think he knows enough to lay back down.  But it's really nice to generally not have to sit him up when he falls.  

He pulled himself from sitting to standing on a table once and hasn't done it again since.

Likes:

-making noises with his mouth

-Parker

-the bath

-food

-when Parker sits on him - what a weirdo

Dislikes:

-putting himself to sleep

-mom leaving the room

My Little Sitter

If you have me on Facebook you've likely seen these.  But I need to share them everywhere, because I'm absolutely in love with them!

I had these Little Sitter pictures taken of Cooper at the end of June.  I have always loved the look and classiness of little sitter pictures.  Plus I love this stage that he's at where he sits up and can't move (far), and I wanted to document that.  

They turned out so well and I'm so glad that we have captured this moment in time with this dimply bummed boy.

Cooper at 9 Months

This little charmer is 9 months old now!  So close to a year and his personality is really developing.  We can't wait to see the little toddler that he becomes as he gets older!

Weight: 21lbs 3oz on August 15

Height: 29 inches on August 15

Clothes: 6-12 months

Diapers: Size 4

Sleeping: He is a pretty good napper now.  Has a short nap in the morning usually and will sleep for a few hours in the afternoon and sometimes has a nap in the evening as well.

Night time is a different story.  There have been some really bad nights where he has been up for what feels like the entire night.  Sometimes 4 times.  Sometimes he won't go back to sleep.  Teeth are what I'm blaming because that's the only thing that makes sense.  He got one on the bottom on July 19 but none have popped through on the top yet.  He fairly consistently has been getting up twice a night to eat and once in a while it's just once.  How do I live on such little sleep?  I really couldn't tell you.

Eating: He's not a huge fan of solids.  He likes creamed corn, and butternut squash.  So basically the things I don't make, so he appears to like store bought baby food better!  I really need to work on his solids more.  A couple times on our holidays I would hand him some real solid food and as soon as he got it near his mouth he started gagging and had a massive throw up.  So basically it looks like he will be breastfed forever.

Breastfeeding is going fine.  Still eating about 6 times a day, including night feeds (unless it's one of those 4 times a night nights, then it's more!)  He's pretty efficient in most cases and gets distracted really easily.  

Milestones:
He's grabbing onto things and trying to pull himself up a lot.  Pulls himself from seated to up on his feet a little bit.  Often does a face plant because he leans so far forwards that he falls.  He's a bit top heavy.

He has two teeth on the bottom.  

Likes:
-Pipsi
-Parker
-Mommy 
-Baths
-Toys

Dislikes:
-The Beach
-When Mommy leaves the room
-Teething - baby doesn't handle it very well, neither does Mommy

Cooper at 8 Months

Getting a picture of this guy was tricky this month.  He doesn't want to sit still.  He loves grabbing onto anything he can, so in this case the blocks and his fox.  The sheet underneath him is super wrinkly because he just kept moving around.  But that's why I take pictures every month, so that I can look back and remember what he was like at that point in time!  And at this point we have a happy and content baby who just loves to touch everything!

 Weight: He was last weighed a few weeks ago and he was 20lbs right on.  So I know he's more than that, but not sure exactly how much more.  I'm pretty sure he's officially bypassed his brother.

Clothes: 6-12 months, 9-12 months if that's the way the sizing goes

Diapers: He kept leaking so I switched him to size 4.  He can still wear the size 3's (as they go to 28lbs), but I think his big bum means that the size 4 fits better.  We still use cloth but mostly when we are at home as it's easier with the two of them.  Cooper is more prone to leaks, so if anything I put Parker in cloth more if we are going out because I don't have to change him every hour.

Feedings: Probably still eating around 6 times a day.  He's been teething, which I'm blaming for him being up twice a night.  He will usually eat around 1:30am, 4:30am, 9, 1, 5, 8:30, 9:30 and then go to bed.  

I give him some solid foods but honestly I'm pretty inconsistent.  I try to feed him once a day but know I should increase that.  I mostly give him purees that I made and in the past month we've added beans, strawberry, zucchini, blueberry, butternut squash and creamed corn.  I've given him some banana, blueberry and crackers to eat on his own but he mostly just makes a mess.

Sleeping: We've kind of regressed this month because he's up to eat more.  I think he wakes up with his teeth bothering him and then I just tend to feed him because I've been too lazy to sleep train.  He is definitely napping better though and will usually nap around 10:30am and then 2pm in the afternoon.  He might have another little nap later in the evening between his last two feedings.

He still wakes up happy in the mornings and doesn't demand to eat right away which is nice and probably due to the fact that he's up in the night!

 Developmental Milestones:
-He sits up very well now
-Apparently moves by pushing himself with his legs while on his back - the other day I found him on the opposite side of the room from where I'd left him
-Plays with toys a lot, picks everything up, can transfer hands
-He has one tooth on the bottom!  I keep waiting for that other tooth to pop through as I'm sure it's coming soon.

Likes:
Same as usual probably.  Loves his big brother.  Loves any toy he can get his hands on.  Is very grabby if he is sitting on your lap and wants to touch everything.  The bath.  Just a happy little guy.  Likes to talk away to his toys in a loud, screechy voice.

Dislikes:
-Bottles - he's still not interested, he's a mama's boy

 I had some little sitter photos taken this month and can't wait to get them back!  I love this stage so much where he just sits and doesn't move.  I know the pictures are going to be just adorable.

I had to include all of these pictures to show what our photoshoot was like this month.  Constant moving.  Nothing around him was safe!

Cooper boy you bring us so much joy with your big blue eyes and ginormous smile.  I hope you are always as happy and content as you are right now (although I doubt that will happen).  You and your brother are trouble makers already and you can't even move!  I will find the two of you getting into mischief.  Well, your brother gets into mischief and you just sit there and laugh at him as you are covered in newspaper or all of the clean laundry.  It's easy to be your mama and we love you so much!