First Boo Boo

Here's evidence of the first boo-boo. I asked Lara yesterday if Cooper had shown it to her because he is very proud of it and she said, "We have touched, rubbed, and poked our boo-boo." He's only slightly obsessed and I figure it's the first of many battle wounds.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We had a busy weekend, but so much fun. The weather was gorgeous again and Cooper has definitely learned how much fun the outdoors can be.

Friday, I took off work for Mama's lumpectomy. For those that don't know, Mama was diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS). It is a type of pre-cancerous cell, normally found in milk ducts. While the cells are pre-cancerous now, they do make a person up to 50% more susceptible to breast cancer. So, she had a lumpectomy Friday morning and her surgeon said everything went very well. The pathology report should be back Tuesday, but we expect good news. She will be referred to an oncologist and probably prescribed Tamoxifen because of the increased cancer risk, but the fact that this was caught so early is definitely an argument for why regular mammograms are so important.

Saturday morning, Jeff played golf while Cooper and I hung out. We all had breakfast together when Jeff got home, then went outside to play. This boy LOVES being outside. He chased Avery, rode in his wagon, picked up leaves, and checked out the dogs next door.


Running!!


Loves his wagon!

After playing in the backyard, we all took a walk. We just couldn't get enough outside time! Then we ran errands and went to Mama and Daddy's house to visit YaYa. Once we got home, we all took naps, then Jeff took Cooper to Nana and Hondo's so we could have a date night.

In pure "Jana" fashion, I ran late getting ready, so by the time we got to the theater, it was packed and we were already only 2 minutes away from showtime. We scraped plans for a movie and ended up getting Huey's take-out and calling it an early night. We know how to party.

Jeff worked at the golf course and I went to church and Target for my weekly (more like daily) stop. I headed to Nana and Hondo's to pick up Cooper. He had been just as active with them as he was with us Saturday and managed to get his first knee scrape. When you ask to see his boo-boo, he immediately points to his knee!


He used to hate wearing baseball caps, but he loves them now. He looks more and more like a little boy than a baby.


Having a snack and showing how he can share.

We got home, Cooper got a bath and had lunch, then Jeff and I had lunch. We all ended up taking another nap and waking up at 7:30pm! I think we were all exhausted from the weekend! It was great, though, and next weekend looks like it's going to be pretty again!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's Day. I, personally, hate today even with my 2 wonderful Valentines. It just seems like a lot of pressure that isn't necessary to tell people you love them. Ugh, whatever...everyday should be Valentine's Day when we tell those we love how much they mean to us.

I should get a job at Hallmark.

Of course, my feelings on the holiday didn't stop us from getting Cooper a few gifts. And I promise, the pajamas have been washed since Saturday's breakfast:


The Legos from Santa were such a hit that we figured, why not get a bigger box of them to add to the collection?


Walter the Farting Dog: Trouble at the Yard Sale. We were introduced to Walter the Farting Dog, complete with a stuffed Walter that really makes farting noises when squeezed, by my cousin Erin at Christmas. Cooper loves the book, so getting the next in the series was a no-brainer. I'm so glad Cooper loves to be read to, even if I end up following him all over the house to read a book after he brings it to me.

Pops and YaYa got Cooper the most adorable bear named Cooper and an interactive book that goes with it.


You read the book and at certain points, Cooper chimes it. So cute! I read it to Cooper before bed last night and he really enjoyed it.

Nana and Hondo got Cooper a play laptop that he is really enjoying and a Target gift card, that I will really love, so I can work on Coop's summer wardrobe (Janie and Jack has already seen me a few times). Jeff and I also got a Target gift card. Jeff has asked for new socks and says I can have whatever is left from the gift card. SCORE!

Hope you and yours (or just you) had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Sweet Southern Boy

I'll admit we haven't been the most adventurous when it comes to giving Cooper new foods. Call it laziness, fear of food allergies, trying not to mess with a good thing (as in the things we know he will eat), or not being completely sure about what's acceptable to feed him, but we're stuck in a rut. Jeff and I were having sausage and biscuits for breakfast Saturday morning and decided to give Cooper a sausage patty. He loved it! He was a hungry boy and ended up with sausage, biscuits, and a cinnamon toast waffle for breakfast. When I said how surprised I was that he ate the sausage, Cooper's godmother Tori reminded me that he's a Southern boy and knows what's good for breakfast!

We paid a visit to Pops and YaYa this morning and Cooper had grapes for the first time. He loved those, too and I'm glad. Jeff and I try to give Cooper fruit at every meal and you can tell he's getting weary of bananas and mandarin oranges. Since he's refusing applesauce and peaches these days, we're starting to run low on options. I think Jeff and I have hesitated on grapes, raisins, and Craisins for the choking risk, but we may be okay.

And, he loves string cheese, but hold the phone on that one. He doesn't like it pulled off in strings, but cut up in half circles. Much like his temper, I have no idea where his pickiness comes from. Haha...ha.

Snow Day Number ???

Cooper and I are hanging out together for another snow day. I can't remember if it's the 4th or 5th full day this school year and yesterday was either the 3rd or 4th early dismissal for the year because of the weather. Jeff's office even closed early yesterday. Even though I haven't been out driving around, all reports are that the roads are a mess and Jeff says his office is pretty quiet.

Once Cooper and I made it home around 1pm yesterday, the snow really started coming down. We played outside for a little while and Cooper was so happy running around.



That's right- my child does not have mittens or gloves on. He refuses to wear them, so I'll have to take my friend Leigh's suggestion of trying socks.

Unexpected days off are nice, but honestly, I am over the snow. The predicted 60 degree temperatures next week are definitely going to be a welcome change. I'm hoping we'll be able to get out of hibernation mode and start looking forward to spring. It will also be a plus that our washer doesn't freeze.

And on a side note, it's been a baby week for friends of ours. My godsister Katie and her husband Mike welcomed Colin Michael on Monday and our friends Dave and Shanda welcomed Jackson David into the world Tuesday morning. We are so thrilled for our friends and their new additions, who are both adorable!

Hanging Out with Uncle Kyle

Avery needed more dog food, so after work one day, Cooper and I headed to see Uncle Kyle. Kyle is generous enough to share his awesome discount with us and Cooper loves running around the store through all the aisles. Kyle said something one day about how a parent was so inconsiderate and rude that she was just letting her child run crazy through the store, then almost forgot about him and left him there. Up until the "forgot him" point, I was sure he was talking about me. Seriously, my child thinks the pet food store is Chuck E Cheese.

Uncle Kyle thought it would be funny to put Cooper on a shelf with the dog beds. I thought it would be funny to take a picture. Cooper didn't find either funny and wanted down NOW.

Beautiful Weather

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous, which made today's bone-chilling and windy weather all the more miserable. We were scheduled to go to a baby shower for our friends Dave and Shanda, but Dave ended up in the hospital and the shower was cancelled. Nana and Hondo still wanted to keep Cooper, so they took Cooper and ventured to Shelby Farms to enjoy the weather.


He wore his hat like that almost all day.


Going off-road in the 4 wheeler from Jeff's grandmother, Martha.

Jeff and I took the time to run some errands and see "Black Swan." Creepy, but very good. I think the camera work added a whole dimension to the freakiness of the movie. As someone who took dancing for 15 years though, I was very impressed. I know, I know...gorgeous weather and we spent the afternoon inside at the movie theater.

We have a little rocker on our hands. I've talked about how Cooper marches and snaps. Now he does this sort of head bang thing when a song comes on he likes. Today I was watching a video Uncle Kyle posted of him singing a Jimmy Buffett song and playing guitar. Cooper was head banging and rocking along to it.

Two new things Cooper is doing that melt my heart. Cooper normally wakes up right before or during my treadmill workout. He'll run to me and give me a big hug, then hang out with Jeff or go back to sleep before we have to go to Mrs. Lara's. Lately when we get home in the afternoons, he gets so excited as I'm unlocking the door. It's like he knows home is where he is safe, loved, and probably most important in his little mind, where his toys and puppy are.