Austin: 11 Months

Dear Time,

You haven't stopped yet.  Do you realize my baby will be one year next month?  Why do you have to move so quickly?

At 11 months, Austin:

• Loves to make a firetruck sound, growl like a tiger, and move his arm around like an elephant trunk.
• Enjoys pushing cars around, while making all kinds of boy car noises.  (I'm officially thinking boys are just born with this ability.)
• Plays in the playroom more and more by himself or with Cooper.
• Painted for the first time and loved it!
• Points at everything.  
• Says "cool" at appropriately cool things.
• Pretends to talk on the phone.
• Blows kisses (but instead of putting his hand over his mouth, he puts it on the side of his head to blow the kiss from).  
• Always tucks one hand between the mattress and the bumper when he sleeps. 

At 11.5 months, Austin: 

• Has signed: thank you, please, eat, more, milk and blankie.  (He signs 'thank you' and 'eat' on the side of his head.  The same place where he blows a kiss from.  I think this is super cute and so intrigued why he does these signs on his head.)
• Is smiley, happy, and sweet.  Everywhere we go, we hear over and over "What a happy baby you have!"  or  "What a great smile!"  or  "He is so smiley!".
• Loves the little red wagon; putting on hats (the pirate on, in particular); carrying around the long, round blocks; playing in his big brother's room; looking under furniture; and playing outside.  I'm also wondering if he is going to be a climber because he knows how to climb up all the stairs on our front sidewalk, and he always tries to climb into and out of the bathtub by himself.  I also caught him climbing onto the fireplace ledge and trying to get in the fireplace.  (I have since secured the fireplace screen doors.)
• Does not like riding in the car.  The only two things that can distract him from riding in the car: Cooper and snacks.
• Copying us more and more with sounds and movements.  I was brushing Cooper's hair this morning before school, and Austin, without anything in his hand, started to copy my hand and arm movements and tried to brush his own hair.
• Still puts way too much stuff in his mouth.  Ready for this phase to pass. 
• Still wakes up once at night.  But, I'm starting to wean him, so I'm hoping this will stop soon.  I'm sure we have some rough nights ahead, but I know we'll get there.  Right...we'll get, there...right?!  But, he is doing a great job at falling asleep on his own.
• LOVES music, loves dancing, loves playing instruments.  We often have dance parties in the middle of the day and it brings out smiles and giggles from everyone, even a tired Mama.  :)
• Loves his big brother and is showing a big interest in Drake and petting Drake.
• Has the best, most joyous smile, demeanor, and lovable personality.  I am a blessed Mama.

Happy 4th Birthday, Fireman Cooper!

We were in Atlanta for Coop's actual birthday, visiting Gram for her 95th birthday.  She requested for everyone to go to a Braves game.  We had a suite at the ballpark and I loved every minute of watching my sweet 95-year-old grandmother cheer and holler for the players!  More on that trip in another post.

The day we left Atlanta to head home was Cooper's fourth birthday.  I planned ahead quite a bit and made sure to bring gifts and balloons and candles, so he would have a really special morning before we headed to the airport.  He was so excited to wake up that morning and realize it was his birthday.  I hung lots of balloons from the doorway by his bed, and somehow I didn't get any pictures of him playing in the balloons, but lots of Austin, who L-O-V-E-D them.

Coop was excited to open all his fun goodies!

Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to Cooper!  Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

A full-size Bullseye to go along with Woody.

 

Love how excited Austin was for Cooper.

Gram came by before we headed out and gave Cooper the sweetest happy birthday hug.

 

This was the night before, while I was blowing up all the balloons for Coop.  Every came down to our room, with wine in hand, and helped me get everything ready.  There were so many laughs (thank you, wine) while we decorating and wrapping gifts.  My cheeks were still hurting the next day.

Headed home.  We made sure to continue the birthday excitement all day for Coop.  Singing to him and telling him all day long "happy birthday!"  The flight attendants even made an announcement over the loudspeaker that it was Cooper's birthday and the entire plane sang to him.  Pretty cool.

AND, during our layover, Coop went up to the flight deck to visit the pilot.  I was sitting in our seat with Austin, but I suddenly heard the sweetest little voice on the loudspeaker say, "My name is Cooper and I'm your pilot."  He thought it was so cool that he got to talk to all the passengers on the plane!  He still talks about it several months later.  Such a fun birthday treat, for sure!

Happy Birthday, my sweet little fire fighter.  I can't believe you are four.  I am so proud of you and who you are.  You (and your brothers and your daddy) are my whole world, and I could not adore you more!  Love, Mommy

Making a Cake for Poppi

Coop loves baking, so when someone has a birthday, he gets super excited to make cupcakes or a cake.  I always let him pick out what he wants to make and how he wants to decorate it.  For Poppi's birthday, Coop said he wanted to make a chocolate cake with sprinkles and a fireman on it.  

But, before we bake the cake, we must quality check the batter...and apparently paint our face with it.

First Cooper picked out Christmas tree sprinkles and would sometimes sprinkle them on through the container OR use his dump truck.  He'd put sprinkles into the truck, then dump them onto the cake.  Awesome.

 Our baking assistant.

The finished cake!  Coop said he wanted the cake to say, "Happy Poppi" and, yes, that is a fireman in bottom right corner.

Happy Birthday Poppi!