Gym Time

For the last couple of months, I've been taking Cooper to Gymboree once a week, and needless to say, he has had fun with it from our first visit. Each week there is a different focus. For example, this week we focused on circles, other weeks we've focused on loud vs. soft, rocking and rolling activities, partner activities...things like that. Cooper doesn't always "get" the focus, but he sure gets how to climb, slide, jump, crawl, walk, balance, and play!!

The teacher always starts with a few stretches and songs. I have yet to get Coop to sit still for the beginning part. I think he gets so excited that the last thing he wants to do is sit and wiggle his toes! But I know he is catching on because sometimes I'll catch him doing some of the stretches on his own at home...when he thinks I'm not looking! After stretching, the kids play around the gym and do different activities that have to do with that week's focus. Then...it's parachute and bubble time, which brings out a HUGE smile from my little man. When he's not helping the teacher pull out the huge parachute, he's definitely the first kid to sit in the center of it, waiting for the "bubble bath."

I was so glad I had my camera this particular day at Gymboree. Coop was in bubble and parachute heaven.

After bubble time, we sing a few songs and do a few things on top of the parachute before going under the parachute to play; however, this week, my little man was a step ahead and decided to run around underneath the parachute while the rest of the kids were sitting and running around on top of the parachute! Luckily no one ran into each other, but it was a pretty funny sight. Like watching a little mouse run around under a sheet!

He was squealing and laughing so hard!

And then it was time for everyone to go under the parachute.

Just another fun day at Gymboree!

"Coo-Ca"

Tonight, my little baby said his name!!! For Christmas Gammi gave Coop this little wooden name puzzle. It sits on the bookshelf in his room, and for the last several days, everytime we go in to change his diaper, he points to the puzzle, and I say, "What does that say? It says Cooper." So, tonight when I was getting Cooper ready for bed, he pointed to his puzzle and I said, "What does that say?" But before I could answer, Cooper loudly blurted out "Coo-ca." Wow!! I quickly called Philip into the room and I pointed to the puzzle and asked "Cooper, what does this say?" And again we heard a very excited, "Coo-ca." Cutest little thing I've ever heard. I am one proud Mommy!!

Snow, Snow, Snow

24 hours, 12.5 inches, and no electricity--who would have thought it could be such a blast?! (Ok, maybe losing electricity wasn't that fun, but luckily it came back on around 3 a.m., just when I started realizing how cold it actually was in the house.) Get comfy, lots of pictures from our Winter Wonderland!!

It's really fun when Daddy throws us way up high!

Philip brought home a mail crate from his office, tied a rope on the handle, and VOILA! A sled made just for Cooper! Coop enjoyed pulling the sled around as much as he enjoyed riding in it.

Falling down the hill is even fun when you have some padding!

And then around 8 p.m., we lost power. If you know Philip, then it won't be a surprise to you that he instantly jumped into action--more firewood, bigger fire, several flashlights, light the candles, pull out the radio and extra batteries, don't open the fridge, pull out the blankets, frequent checks on Cooper--we were well taken care of.

Ann had come over earlier in the day to play in the snow with Coop, and she ended up spending the night because of the weather. So, when the electricity went out, the Sister Adventure began! Around 11 p.m., with snow still falling, we decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood. It was amazing how light it was outside though. Not at all what 11 p.m. normally looks like, but more like dawn. And, everything was literally in black and white. (The pictures below are exactly how I took them; I didn't change them into black and white.) There wasn't color anywhere because of the several inches of snow covering everything! After about 45 minutes, we decided it was time to head back inside when tree branches kept falling around us and another electric box popped. (Don't worry, Dad, we walked in the street to avoid being hit by the falling trees.) ;)

Friday morning we woke up to a completely white and unbelievably gorgeous site!

Look how deep the snow was--almost to my knee!

Sitting in the powder with your dog, sledding on a trash can lid, making a tummy snow angel, or throwing snow in the air, you have to admit--snow brings out the kid in ALL of us!

Nope, not a river. Our street.
What a fun, fun 24 hours in our Winter Wonderland!!