Copy Cat

A perfect example of copy cat. He tries his best to do everything his Big Sissy does.

Sissy, Where Are You?

Here's a video of Cooper looking for Marlee. (ignore my southern accent :) His silly voice cracks me up!! I think he and Marlee are going to be fast talkers like Chad. I'm don't know what he's doing at the end.

3 Years Later...

We have a beautiful, smart, out-going, independent, sassy pants wearing, singing at the top of her lungs, baby doll loving, dinosaur roaring, baby brother protecting, loud talking, movie watching, horse prancing, block building, cat chasing, imaginative thinking, acts just like her momma, daddy adoring daughter.

Happy 3rd Birthday Marlee Elizabeth!!! We love you so much!!! It is hard to believe three years have gone by this quickly. I told Chad I guess I will always reflect on her birth with nostalgia. It was a day that changed my life forever. People always say you'll loved them unconditionally the moment you see them. I never knew it would be such a strong love.

I look forward to many more years of celebrations and a lifetime of firsts for our little girl.

Wordless Wednesday

Tire swinging at the park.

18 Months and Counting

Cooper went for his 18 month check up last week. He's perfect in every way! He's growing on track in all areas. He is a pretty picky eater. Not a big fan of meat or poultry. So it is sometimes hard to get in protein and iron with his meals. He makes up for that in his love of milk, moo juice (Marlee's name for chocolate milk), yogurt, bananas, grapes, and apples. Just recently, he's developed a love of mashed potatoes and corn.

Don't ever say the word HOT around him! He'll freak out and not eat anything. Marlee was the same way. So most of his food is cool to the touch. Spaghetti is by far his favorite thing to eat.

In addition to his physical growth, his mental growth is off the charts. Marlee did not have near the vocabulary at this age. He amazes me with the words he knows. He's asking questions and answering you with 2-3 word answers. When Chad or I leave the room he'll say, "Where Mommy/Daddy go?" He'll answer questions with yes, no, or don't know. Plus he'll add a little nod or shake with his answer.

C loves his paci and blanket more than anything in the world. Dr. Douglass said it is okay to use up to 2 years old as long as it doesn't interfere with his speech. It doesn't, so he still uses one. He primarily only gets it at nap time and bedtime. I travel with one just in case he gets too upset.

I plan on trying these next 6 months to really break the habit. At this point, I don't feel comfortable taking it away cold turkey. So when he gets up in the morning, I take it and put it in the silverware drawer. Throughout the day he'll say, "Paci Back" or "Where paci go?" He'll answer himself with "Paci gone-gone" then will say, "Paci are you?" He will go and pull open the kitchen drawer, but he isn't tall enough to reach in the drawer. I know it will be hard, but he loves it so much, plus he's pretty cute! :)

His imaginative play has really exploded. Of course, he follows Marlee's lead most of the time. Matchbox cars and trains are still his favorite things to play with. He'll race them down the hall and loves to stick them behind the couch cushions. Lego's are the upstairs toys that he loves the most. He'll try and build towers like his sister and crash them to the ground.

I love being able to stay at home with both kids. I know it won't be forever, so I'm trying to soak up as much time with them as possible!

Here are his stats from his checkup:

Height: 32 1/2 inches 50-75%

Weight: 23 1 3/4 oz 10-25%

Head: 49 cm 50-75%

Pictures

I'm the Lucky One

I spend portions of my day saying, "No. Stop That. Leave him alone. Give it back. Get down." And so on. Other times I'm cuddling up on the couch. Kissing Boo Boos. Racing cars down the hallway. Roaring like a dinosaur. Singing Doodlebops songs at the top of my lungs. Painting. Coloring. Molding Playdoh. Pushing the swing. Reading a book. Telling stories.

You might say it is an understatement that this last year and a half has been difficult. We've tried to make the best decisions for our family. Those decisions haven't come easy for us. We keep holding onto hope and the realization that things won't be like this for long. When teaching, I struggled with finding the right balance between being a great teacher, a great wife, and most importantly a great mother. I always felt like someone was getting the short end of the stick. The difficult decisions over this past year and a half has helped to eliminate those struggles. I'm the lucky one because I am able to stay home with Marlee and Cooper and focus 100% of my energy on being a great mother. Now is every day wonderful? No, but there are wonderful moments each day. So, yes, I think I am the lucky one.

The blogging community provides wonderful networking, but it also provides outlets for people to tell their stories, good or bad. I read the saddest story the other day. It has stuck with me and everyday day since then I have realized I'm the lucky one. A friend reminded me this past weekend that in the midst of the chaos that I am the lucky one because I have two healthy children at home who love me.

Just this past week Atlanta was struck with what some are calling an "epic flood". Several people lost their lives, including a sweet little 2 year old boy. Hundreds have lost their homes. Even an elementary school is a total loss. I realized I'm the lucky one because I didn't have to get out and drive around and our home didn't suffer any damage.

So no matter what the future holds, I know that I am the lucky one for the family and friends that I have in my life.