Cooper Says...

Coop says the cutest and funniest things these days. I've been keeping a running list...

October 2011

Let's show Drake some tricks tomorrow, when he gets older. How to jungle (that means juggle), hop like bunny, smell plants, and play in hoops.

November 2011

Helping me give Austin a bath, and Cooper notices Austin's birthmark on his back...
Coop: Austin dirty! I gonna wash this spot off. (Starts scrubbing)
Me: That's just Austin's birthmark. He'll have that his whole life.
Coop: Oh no! You mean Austin be dirty his whole life?!

December 2011

Whoa, Santa has to potty!

Ok, Drakie, Bubba. Time go outside. Get some that energy out!

I santa and Drakie santa. We brothers together!

January 2012

Merry holidays, Mommy. I love you. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. (He said this in a very calm and loving tone, then gave a hug and a kiss.)

I gotta go work now. Build a mini-mall. Just call me if you need anything.

Walking into Austin's room..."Who is it, Austin? It's yooouuurrr Bbiiiggg Bbbrrroooother!!!"

Hi my sweetie cutie. Hi my little chocolate chip cookie. Yum Yum!! (Pretending to eat Austin's nose.) I just being silly. You not chocolate chip cookie!

Is my birthday in soontember?

With a hammer, I can do anything!

Philip: What are you going to play, Coop?
Coop: I'm going to imagine things.

February 2012

Me: That was a good idea, Cooper.
Coop: Yep! I'm always thinking!

I saw a cherry picker today! They were giving trees a haircut. That's weird...I never heard of that before!

March 2012

While talking about compliments and what they are..."Mommy, my compliment to you is that I love you."

Me: Cooper, what is your full name?

Coop: Fireman Cooper Clements Lamb. But you call me Fireman Cooper.

I pulled the visor down for Cooper in the car to help get the sun out of his eyes, and he responded, "Mom. That was awesome." Very cool and very matter of fact.

Me: Ok, Coop, after we put on jammies, we are going to pick up your toys in the playroom. And if I have to ask you twice, I'm going to start taking toys away. Ok?
Coop: Ok, Mom.
Me: Ok, what are we going to do after jammies?
Coop: Well, first I'm going to turn into a tomato... Then, I'll pick up toys.

I had good dreams, Mom! I dreamed about Austin and you and we all playing together! Awww...(giving Austin a hug)...I love you, Austin.

(In a whisper voice, wearing space jammies and fresh from a bath) Good night my firedog Drakie. Fireman Cooper has to go to bed. Have sweet dreams, Bubba. See you in the morning, my fire dog. (Finishes with a huge hug and kiss.)

Daddy, I love you sssoooooo much, and I know how to do Hook 'Em Horns.

April 2012

Seeing the dark chocolate eggs the Easter Bunny brought... "Hmm. Easter Bunny brought me rocks. That's weird. I never heard of that before."

After an exhausting several days celebrating Annie's wedding, Coop suddenly sat down and started crying...
Me: Oh, sweetie, you are so tired.  We'll just stay home and rest today, ok?
Cooper: I don't want to rest today.  I just want to sit here and cry today.

Cousin Julie walked into the room where I was sitting with Janey...
"Ah!  There are TWO Janeys!"

Hey, look at that Fireman poop!  (Examining what he left in the toilet.)

When I grow up, I can be anything I want to be.  Superman...Batman...or a baseball player!

I was cleaning his feet when he stumbled... "Whoa!  Good thing I didn't break my leg."  (Said in a very matter-of-fact kind of way.)

Looking at a seashell...
Coop: Who made these spiky things on this seashell?
Me: God made that seashell.
Coop: No way, Jose!
Later on...
Coop: Did God make this window?
Me: No, the construction man made that window.  But God made you and the trees and the ocean.
Coop: And Daddy?  And Austin?  And YOU?!
Me: Yep, that's right!
Coop.  That's awesome.

How to speak Cooper:
checkum = ketchup
jungle = juggle
cabbage = cabinet
tag = tie (as in neck tie)
forum = uniform
ready, steady, go OR on your mark, get steady, go = ready, set, go

Dropping His Nap

I don't even want to type the words because I feel like it makes it more real...  Cooper is dropping...has dropped...his nap.  My super sleeper is changing his schedule.  It started a few months ago when he began skipping one nap a week.  At first I thought it was just a phase and he'd go back to napping every day, but then a few weeks later he'd skip two naps a week.  Then a few weeks later, it was three naps a week.  That's when I realized IT was happening.  And, of course, just when I was getting the boys' afternoon naps lined up!

So, just in the last week or so, I've officially stopped even trying to get Cooper to take a nap.  It was starting to be a struggle and a battle between us, and it wasn't worth that or the grumpy Mama and three-year-old that it created.  

 It's taken us a few weeks to adjust to a new schedule.  Earlier dinner, earlier bath and in bed by 7:00 p.m.  And, if we get to 7:30 p.m. and Coop still isn't in bed, let's just say, it's not always pretty.  He has also started sleeping later in the morning, so I can tell his body is adjusting to losing that 2.5 hour nap.  He's not waking up until about 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. (most mornings).

We had to work through some tough behavior for the last month that I'm attributing to dropping that nap.  But, knock on wood, I feel like we've come out of the whirlwind mess that lack of sleep can bring on and we are all adjusting.  Coop slows down around 2:00 p.m. everyday, so that's when we have some "quiet time" around the house.  Well, as much as possible at least.  But I've found that that helps keep him happy and going through the evening.

Just another thing to remind me that my little monkey is almost FOUR YEARS OLD and taking another step in being a big boy.  

My Little Gardeners

After a long walk/run for Mama, lots of swinging, some play time in the pool, and chasing Cooper around the backyard with the water hose, the boys settled in the grass to help me with some gardening.  Oh, and who says you have to wear clothes to garden?

Cooper was so sweet and protective of Austin, watching out to make sure he didn't put anything in his mouth that was dangerous.  I kept hearing him say, "No, no Austin Buddy.  That's dangerous.  That's only for big boys.  You have to be careful on construction sites."  Makes my heart smile.