Cooper's Third Birthday--Choo Choo!

I'm not going to lie...Cooper's third birthday party was kind of awesome. A trackless train, fun friends, our fort, and yummy homemade-from-scratch cupcakes made for the perfect combination to celebrate my little monkey. We had been talking a lot with Cooper about his big birthday party and the train we were going to have, so when the big day finally came, Cooper was so excited! I love, love, love celebrating birthdays and this year was so much fun with Cooper since he was beginning to understand the celebration was for HIM.

We kept the party smaller this year with only our M Family "cousins" and a few neighborhood friends, which ended up being the perfect size. Coop knows all these kids and sees them regularly and had lots of fun playing with everyone.

Those friends who arrived early were greeted with a little "Country Boy" and "Jackson" by the Birthday Boy.

After all the kids arrived and Conductor Dan was ready, I announced that the train was ready for riding and Cooper could not have jumped out of his fort faster! I'm sad the picture below didn't really come out. The look of pure excitement on his face was priceless. He was the first one out the door!

Cooper was totally into Conductor Dan. In fact, even now, almost a month after his party, we still talk about Conductor Dan.

All aboard!!!

Totally love this series with Poppi.

Cooper rode the first ride with Poppi, but once Fireman Paul came outside, that's the only person Cooper wanted to ride with.

Chugga chugga choo choo!!

We had the train for an hour and Cooper rode that train on every single ride for the entire hour. And, I'm pretty sure that Fireman Paul was "convinced" to ride all but the last one, too.

I think this is when Paul was trying to convince Will and Cooper to take a break from the bumpy train ride. It didn't work.

Coop loved, loved blowing the loud whistle and watching the steam come out of the engine.

The birthday boy decided to jump into the party favors a little early.

We weren't going to open presents during the party because it usually takes Cooper FOR-EVER to open just one present. He not only wants to unwrap the gift, but wants to take the new item out of all it's child-proof wrapping, put in the necessary batteries, then play with it for a few minutes before moving on to the next gift. But, really, I can't blame him!

However, before we did cupcakes, he really, really wanted to open just one present. So, he got to pick out a gift to open--a new microphone from Annie!--and then he was ready to blow out his candle. It was a little tricky getting the candle to stay lit outside, so we slightly faked it and ended up singing "Happy Birthday" twice!

As Coop's friends were leaving, I caught him peaking inside more gifts! It's funny how much he cared about gifts this year! We never talked about the gifts he might receive for his birthday, but somehow he knew that was a pretty fun part of having a birthday party.

After all of his friends had gone home, Cooper climbed in his chair for lunch with a few new toys.Later that evening, Cooper dove right in to opening all of his presents. I loved seeing his excitement with each gift. Wondering what it was, how it worked, who it was from. Just love that he felt so special!

Overall, it was such a fun, fun day! I wouldn't change a single thing. And, I'm glad we were able to do this for Cooper before Baby Brother joins our Team. But, oh man...how am I going to top this next year?!

09.24.2011

Cooper is THREE!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday my sweet Cooper!! Happy Birthday to YOU!!

How did my baby turn three? I blinked and it happened. I love that this year he knew his birthday was a special day just for him.

Cooper's birthday happen to fall on a school day and I was the room mom for the day, conveniently. I was happy about that because I wasn't about to leave my little guy on his birthday! He had a good day at school and his friends sang happy birthday to him. I think his favorite part about his morning at school, though, was playing with the tractor in the sandbox.

After school Cooper and I had a lunch date, and I took him to Sprinkles Cupcakes where he got to pick out any cupcake he wanted! He chose the cinnamon one; I chose chocolate. They were the perfect combination. We also got a few to have with Gammi, Poppi and Annie later that evening.

After an afternoon at home, with no nap, we met Gammi, Poppi and Annie at In-N-Out Burger for dinner. (Philip was in California for work and for the UT vs. UCLA game.) Coop requested In-N-Out and was excited to sit down with his burger and fries. However, after a few minutes of sitting at the table, Ann suddenly asked, "Is he falling asleep?!"
I looked over at Coop and noticed that he was indeed falling asleep, but was determined to eat those french fries! At one point, he looked like a walrus, with french fries sticking out of his mouth. We were all laughing so hard! When Coop started missing his mouth, and after we videoed a little, of course, I picked him up, he curled up in my lap and he was OUT. That's what happens when a super sleeper has a busy day with no nap.

After eating and napping at In-N-Out, we headed to Gammi and Poppi's house for presents and cupcakes. Since Philip was in California, he joined the party via iChat.

New fighter airplane, firetruck and fireman outfit. Only three presents in and already hitting the jackpot.

I saw a great idea on another blog I read about wrapping small toys up in crepe paper. I thought Coop would love it, so I bought some small working trucks (digger, bulldozer, dump truck, etc) and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped. He wasn't so sure about it in the beginning, but once he got the hang of unwrapping and finding the toys, he thought it was kind of cool.

My proud three-year-old!

Did you know that crepe paper is pretty awesome to play with? You can wrap your child up; he can wrap you up; you can play chase the green dragon; and you can go through the green carwash. It's awesome and brings out the best giggles and laughs you can imagine.

When Philip returned from California, we gave him our gift...a new garbage truck. Cooper loves garbage trucks. He can spot them from a mile away when we're in the car. I always hear a loud, "Trash truck, Mama!!! Right there!!" And, if we are home on trash pick-up day, we run outside, open the gate, and watch the garbage truck make their way down the ally. So, with all of that, needless to say, he was SO excited to have his own garbage truck equipped with two trash cans and a working trash squasher panel thing. (That's what it's called...)

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy! I love you more than you will ever know and can't believe you are three!!

09.16.2011

Baby Brother Update--39 Weeks

Hello, 39 weeks! I am SO glad you are here. Now, Baby Brother...when are you coming??
Things are looking great with Baby. I'm having lots of contractions, and some are hurting a bit, but nothing regular just yet. I've had my doctor appointments for the week, and I'm making progress, so my doctor said it could by any day now. They are estimating that he weighs between 7 and 7.5 now, so I'm hoping he comes soon! I don't want him to be any bigger. The plan is that if he isn't here on his own by Tuesday, October, 18, we'll induce that day. I'd rather not go that route, but with this cord thing, they won't let me go past my due date, with is the 20th. So, sometime within the next five days, our new little man will be here! Eeekkk!!! (Even as I type that, I can't totally grasp that concept. What is about to happen to our little world?!)

Cooper has been such a great kiddo this week, which has been nice. We've had a few rough patches in the last few weeks, but this week he has been back to his sweet, funny, playful, good listening, loving and just great self. Phew! I'm hoping it's not the calm before the storm of when Baby arrives, but I'm trying not to think about that. And, my emotions seem to be more in check this week, which also has been super nice. I've really been trying to absorb all my time with him the last few days, too. We've been two a couple of different parks this week; we've fed ducks and had a picnic; we had lunch with my SWA friends and watched airplanes; and I've taken a nap with him almost every day.

I trying to fight off the sadness about losing my regular one-on-one time with Cooper. He's my little buddy and I know that won't change and I know that I'm just adding another little buddy. It will just be different. A difference I'm grateful for and can't wait to experience, but I know it will take some adjusting. For all of us.

So, Baby Brother. I can't wait to meet you, and I can't wait for you to join our family! I love you already and can't wait to have you in my arms. So...when will you be here??

Silly Faces with Mommy

These pictures make me smile, so I wanted to share them.

Almost a Big Brother

I love this little monkey so much and can't believe that in less than 11 days, he is going to be a Big Brother. I can't believe it. It hits me at different times what all that means, and it's hitting me right now. Big Brother Cooper. Wow...I have a lot of blog updating to finish before Baby Brother is here! Better get to work.