Catching Crabs and Flying High

Yep, we're still having a blast! We've had a couple of fun and eventful days, and I'm so proud of Cooper. He is proving to be a flexible and adaptable little man--very important when you are traveling. And, most importantly, he LOVES the sand and the ocean. Phew!

We took a little morning stroll yesterday and what did I...yes, me...catch with Philip's handy net? A crab!! Ok, so maybe the crab was a little sluggish and possibly on his last leg. Those are minor details. The point is, I caught it and I was so excited to show Cooper. However, today Philip caught a very live, large, and active crab, which was a little more exciting than my sluggish little guy. Either way, Cooper is getting a full load of ocean creatures!
On Tuesday, we drove to Seaside, a beautiful, picturesque beachfront planned community. (The Truman Show was filmed there.) I've never seen anything like it. Everything was so...perfect. Beautiful houses, white picket fences, small brick streets, perfectly manicured yards...it really was like a movie set.

From the pictures below, the top two pictures are two of the beachfront houses; the bottom two are the Post Office and a row of artsy food/beverage options on the town square.

The chapel at Seaside.
Time for more beach FUN!!
Flying Cooper!

After a busy morning, Coop found a pretty good place to take a nap!

Beach Baby

Yesterday, we began our first family-of-three vacation to the Fort Walton Beach area, and we are already having a blast. More pictures than words for this post...enjoy!

Our first plane ride!
Cooper had a great time! He had breakfast, played with a new toy, and of course read the safety information.

When we got to the condo, Cooper helped me unpack...
...but the suitcase ate him!This morning, Cooper woke up ready to go play on the beach!
First time to sit in the sand...not sure just yet what to think.Cooper loved floating around the beautiful, clear ocean!

During Cooper's long mid-afternoon nap, I soaked up some sun! (I'm laying in the chair to the left of the umbrella...can't you see me?)
And Philip snorkeled. (Now, that's not a bird! It's Philip's head with his snorkel...see it?)But then, my little man was awake and ready for more play time, so down to the beach we went!
Coop wasn't so sure of the sand once his knees hit.

"Will someone take this hat off me?!"More pics...yes, more...to come throughout the week!

PS: Today was also Philip and my sixth year wedding anniversary! What a fun way to spend this celebration and spend it as a family of three. I don't have any digital pictures of our wedding (weird, I know), but here is a fun one from our Honeymoon at St. Barths. I love you so much, my sweet husband. Thank you for an amazing and adventurous six years!

Seek and Destroy

Now that my little munchkin is eleven months old, he is OFFICIALLY into everything. Not that he wasn't before...because he was. Now, he is just faster and more efficient in making messes! I turn my back for two seconds, and this is what happens.

We have baby locks on all of our kitchen cabinets except for one--the Cooper cabinet. It contains tupperware, baby spoons, and clearly, Happy Baby puffs. I have since rearranged this cabinet.

Don't mind the puffs on my tushi!

This has been my first week at home full time with Cooper, and I can honestly say, it's been the best week I've had in a long, long time. I have loved every minute with Cooper--playing with him, feeding him, putting him down for naps, being there when he wakes up, running errands, and yes, even when he's been fussy (which is rare, actually). I've even loved having time to clean the floors and do laundry and the dishes! Just having time is making a huge difference. Now, I know there will be days when I'm pulling my hair out, but for now, I'm enjoying this long-awaited time.

And, I think Cooper knows he doesn't have to wake up for school anymore because he has been sleeping about 14 hours each night this week! He is either going through a growth spurt or he is following in his mommy's footsteps of sleeping in...I like to think it's the latter.

A New Journey

This is my last week at SWA, and I have to say, that I'm sad, but not as sad as I thought I would be. I think it's still surreal and just hasn't fully hit me yet that I'm about to begin a new journey. SWA has been my focus and such a huge part of my life over the last four and a half years, and I never thought I would leave so soon. But, along came a little boy who pulled at my heart strings and changed my whole world. Who knew? (I know all you moms reading this are saying, "We knew! We knew!".) Come Friday, I'm sure the tears will start!

However, this amazing and silly little boy is awaiting me at home, which makes this new journey worth everything.

Cooper+Finger Foods=Happy Drake

Yep, don't mind me....just enjoying my carrots.
Drake suddenly becomes interested...
Come a little closer Drake...
Got it!
Uh-oh. Busted by Mommy Patrol.
Darn it.

10 Months!!

Ok, here I go again...10 months?! Can you believe Cooper is 10 months old?! Where in the world is the time going? These days I feel like Cooper shows us a new trick or talent every week. I've been keeping a little book of Cooper milestones, and recently I've added so many personality-type items. I started the book the day I found out I was pregnant, so it's fun to go back and look at where I was this time last year (in the home stretch of meeting "Cupcake!").

Here is Cooper at two weeks:

And my little man at 10 months!

I'm a little late in doing this, but in honor of my little angel being 10 months old, here are 10 Cooper Milestones:

1. He is saying "mama." Talk about melting someone's heart!

2. He is getting pretty steady on his feet and loves pushing around his wagon or his musical walker.

3. He loves Drake and is even starting to say, "day-day-day" whenever he sees Drake.

4. He is doing great with finger foods and sometimes only wants to feed himself.

5. He loves bouncing and moving up and down to music.

6. He loves little kids! Anytime we go somewhere, Cooper has his "Kid Radar" on high and loves to smile and wave to all the other little kiddos around him.

7. He is completely his daddy's little man because he is always on the go, doesn't like to nap, and constantly in motion!

8. He is absorbing and focuing on so many things--how a door works, flipping a light switch, watching a ball roll. I love his complete amazement to the most simple things.

9. He is determined and strong-willed. Sometimes this is good...sometimes this makes for difficult times. Nevertheless, I love seeing his personality come to light. Overall though, he is a flexible and go-with-the flow kiddo.

10. He is a great eater! He is still on breastmilk, and I'm making all of his solid foods. But, I have yet to make something he doesn't like (I say while knocking on wood!).

Happy 10 months, my little angel. I love you more than words could ever say.