Da da da da da da

Mason has been babbling, more like screeching, for a couple months now. But tonight he was definitely making the "da da da" sound. He would also parrot us doing it. Yeah!
For those of you wondering, Mason goes in for surgery on May 2. So, any spiritual favors you have stored up... now is the time to cash them in. He checks in at 7:30 a.m. and should be done by noon. We'll call when all is settled down.
Now for some comedy relief... how many shots does it take to get a good picture of the boys? Don't know, didn't make it there. But here are the attempts. (These are the matching x-mas eve jammies that are just starting to fit.)

...look at me guys...

...coop, put the sippy down...

...don't squish your brother...

...no fake smiles...

...ok, just one more...

The Shirt Says It All

Have you ever noticed the grungus on the front of most baby swings? I try to avoid touching any part of it. But my boys have a love affair with swings.

I have traveled more than 30 miles to scout out the best playgrounds in the Metro and South Suburban areas for my sons and as soon as we step foot on the woodchips Coop says, "I wanna swing." Mason loves them, too. No more, we're going to stick with our neighborhood park until we outgrow the swing stage.

Is anyone else concerned that Cooper is nearly inverted in the swing and Steve is gazing off into the distance?


Nothing like a cherry limeade and tater tots to cap off a wonderful day at the park. Here's the fam at Sonic enjoying the fantastic weather.

Funny story, we took the kids out of the car -- even woke up Mason to do it -- thinking that we could go into the restaurant. Nope. Sonic is kinda a drive-up only business. We could have stayed in the car! Doh.

A Caddy’s Place

What gift do you think a good caddy has that separates them from the others? It's the gift of anticipation.

A good caddy knows when a golfer will be frustrated and the calming anecdote is ready. He knows what to suggest before the golfer knows it himself.

Steve met a good caddy in California. He was better than good; you might say he was the best. Craig the caddy was the perfect help in finding a final resting place for a 60-degree wedge that chipped its last despicable chip.

You’ve probably heard Steve complain about this particular wedge ever since winning it at a tournament in Indianapolis. After seeing Steve use it the caddy waitied for his opening and then when Steve exclaimed, “This wedge has gotta go!” Craig calmly said, “I’ve got just the spot.” The wedge’s final resting place? A patch of the Pacific Ocean within pitching distance of the 7th green at Pebble Beach.

Cousins, Chicken, and a Garbage Sale

Sunny Friday To-Do List:
1. Playdate with Hayden, Gabriel, and Isabella (I think they are third cousins).
2. Eat lunch with cousins at Chick-fil-A.
3. Scavenge the local garage sales for garbage.
4. Play with our new garbage.
5. Visit the neighbor girls for fun in the sandbox.
6. Pinnochio
7. Tamales for dinner
8. Phew... is it time for bed, yet?

The Trouble Finds Me

Today I found a small parcel on my porch – a gift from my brother. It is a soundtrack to the movie Curious George, but it could just as easily be the soundtrack to my life. Our family immediately rejoiced over our good fortune… a CD that mom loves and the kids do, too. We popped it in for a ride over to the library and I enjoyed watching Cooper in the rearview mirror. He bebopped, snapped his fingers, and kicked his feet to the music the whole way. Brother dear, I really appreciate the CD and the B&N card – you know I’ll put both to good use.

Now for a little comedy relief and a brief look into why this CD is the soundtrack of my life. Track 5, “And the trouble I find is that the trouble finds me.” I found Cooper trying to shave tonight, “Just like daddy.” He smeared cetaphil cream all over his face, and then I caught him -- just in time -- as he held up a razor! I replaced it with this hair clip that was a convincing substitute.


Note to self, son is very tall. Must move everything up, again.

He's Home!

The commentary for these photos should really come from Steve. He just had a dream trip to Pebble Beach. As he explained to me... this is how he feels about it...

Life aspiration No. 1
find dream girl, check
Life aspiration No. 2
get married, check check
Life aspiration No. 3
have a son, check check check
Life aspiration No. 4
have another son, check check check check
Life aspiration No. 5
play Pebble Beach and Spyglass, check check check check check

Time for more aspirations...

Biter Biscuit Review

The first time I tasted a Biter Biscuit, days ago, I was amazed. It was from the local King Supers, located in the suburb of Lone Tree, just south of the very beautiful city of Denver.

How could a region that's so homogenous produce such a crisp, vibrant teething biscuit, without a trace of sweetness? The judicious addition of wheat, sugar, whey, and molasses just before individual packaging allows it to integrate properly into the finished baby snack.

Gerber, along with other producers such as Beechnut and Earth’s Best, makes riveting finger foods for any discerning infant. As you can see from the photos I was quite impressed with the excellent example of the wholesome snack designed to teach me to feed myself. I’ve been told veggie puffs are even better, with more sweet potatoes and a lingering dry finish. I plan to pair those with zwieback toast next week. Stay tuned for a spellbinding review.

Food Critic at Large, Mason James
PS -- recently heard one of my uncles described as, "Mellow and laid back, slow to anger.... but when he does, watch out!" and I couldn't describe myself more acurately.

Micro Memory Lane

Let me just roll over and croak. It's freaking snowing. We'll be staying inside today. Bummer. We're stir crazy. More crafts and cleaning.

Cooper actually went to school today -- was excited to see his friend Jack and play with "mini" cars. Do you remember these?

They were popular when I was in junior high. That's the benefit of having a preschool teacher who has been in the business for a very long time. She has vintage toys! Come on, you have to remember these things... they were a line of toys originally made by Galoob in the 80s and 90s.

I've looked for them online because I couldn't believe she had a real playset of them. You literally cannot get them in the U.S. unless you go on eBay and pay a fortune. There are sites devoted to the Micro Machines as if they were museum-quality, collector items!

All I remember about them -- because I don't think my brothers had any -- was that insidious fast-talker in their TV commercials, ending each one with the slogan "Just like the real thing, only smaller". Remember?

Anywho, it really appeals to Coop's meticulous motor skills. As his teacher explains, he really loves toys for one or two people, really loves pretend-play, and really loves cars/trucks. I translate that as, no mobs, no limits, and no girls!

PHOTO CREDITS: Cooper when he was a micro machine...
December 2004, first golf grip

Sculpey Saves the Day

We just spent the entire day – and I do mean the ENTIRE day – making and baking sculpey clay creatures. It rained and what better fun on a rainy afternoon than arts and crafts? Especially if I’m your mother.

At first I thought I was the only one having fun. But Cooper and Mason both were busy with their hands. At one point there was paint, clay, and plaster of Paris going!

As I tucked Cooper in (the post fall asleep tuck) I noticed both hands were clenched around two of his favorite creations – a mummy (boy did he think that name was funny) and a duck. We also made guardian turtles for our front porch – per our Feng Shui tip, “Place a turtle near your entrance.”

Dear little Mason was absolutely wild about rolling a lemon from one side of his high chair tray to the other side. When we would take it away he would not whine, but yell at us. Quite hysterical. Cooper thought it was fun to taunt him a little bit, I’ll have to watch that.

One note about Cooper and games: He loves the traditional kid favorites – Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Jenga. But he’s fascinated by one called Carcassonne. This is a tile laying game in which players use small squares to piece together – or rather develop a French, medieval countryside including roads, fields, cities, and cloisters. Cooper thinks it’s a big puzzle and spent at least an hour today configuring the small farms and forts (also enjoys this word). What’s next, Dungeons and Dragons?

And now a look back -- Mason at 1 day old and Cooper at 1 day old:

Mason, September 2006

Cooper, December 2004













PS -- enjoy the vintage Cooper|Mason featured in today's photos? we're going vintage all week this week!

Monkey see, puppy do

I can already see that my puppy will do everything his monkey of a brother will do...

Mason watches everything his brother does. And we're already seeing him try to do, touch, play, look at, mimic what Cooper does. It's wonderful. We're glad that Cooper is a good example -- for the most part.

Tonight we had a friend in town. It was such a delight to have him in town, again. He is always the perfect guest and so sweet and gracious. We only wish we saw more of him, and his lovely family. He treated us to a fabulous dinner. Here is where I will brag about my kids: They were wonderful. The restaurant was just fancy enough that I was concerned about taking the kids. But Cooper sat in his booster chair, at the table the entire time. He ate his dinner and he didn't complain or whine. He was frighteningly quiet! Mason was good, as well. He even attracted a couple waitresses to our table who gushed over him. I was so proud of both of them.

It's all nude to me

Today we had a photo shoot.
It was just the boys, and me; so the pictures are all mom and sons, mom and baby, mom and toddler type pics. I've seen some of them (through the magic of digi camera proofs) and I know I'll be purchasing quite a few. Mason was nude in all of them! Looked so cute and chubby. I wish I had known this photographer when Cooper was this age.
During the shoot Mason peed on me. It was gross, but cute. He couldn't help himself.
Last night, in preparation for the pictures, I gave Cooper a haircut. He was pretty good, so the cut is mediocre. Sometimes I feel like I'm shearing a sheep when I try to cut his hair.

Cooper has turned into a little motor mouth. He's coming out of some kind of shell. It's amazing to see him feel more confident. He's a little babblefish, however, and it can be exhausting. I just about had an exorcist mom moment yesterday. I wanted to take a nap so I needed him to take a nap, but he couldn't stop talking. The other unusual feature about his new talkativeness is that he hasn't learned any degree of volume control. He says everything at the top of his lungs.
By the time Cooper fell asleep for his nap, I wasn’t sleepy anymore.

Unattended

OK… somebody stop me! I left him for less than 60 seconds and look what happened.

Feeding two boys lunch – different lunches – is a bit of a challenge. Managed to do it but a full belly always knocks Mason out. To avoid total chaos I gave Cooper a few pieces of old paper and a couple of markers. I marched upstairs to lay Mas down for his nap. Returned instantly – that’s a whole other story – and found Coop sacked out!


So let’s discuss my fears for the unattended. Please note post from yesterday. Cooper was teetering in a counter-height stool – though strapped in a booster seat – trying to drink from a cup he was holding between his feet. Today, I left him with at least 10 Sharpies (again with the indelible ink – what is my problem). And all this in the face of the destruction I know is just broiling below the surface.

My neighbor, who has four girls under the age of 9, has recounted many a story to me. Most ending in, “and I found all of them head to toe in _________.” Fill in the blank. It’s usually something like Desitin, ketchup, peat moss, etc. Oh and don’t leave out the freshly painted walls, stainless steel fridge, plush carpet, newly refinished hard wood floors. There’s usually some kind of modifier in there pertaining to those amenities, as well. Poor lady. Given that she’s Catholic, very very very nice and charitable, organized beyond what should be allowed by law, beautiful and skinny, and speaks at least 2 languages… I’m waiting to hear from the Pope that she has transcended into Heaven.

But it is because of her and her stories that I’m always rushing back to the room I’ve just left one of the boys in. And usually in cold sweat with gurgling ulcer because I’m having visions of indelible ink.

Locomotor Specializations

My children have prehensile toes! We knew Mason had locomotor specializations – shall we call them – when he was in the NICU. The nurses would be absolutely frustrated and flabbergasted, as he would pull his leads and IV out of one leg with the toes of the other! It was hilarious (in a scary, “my baby is in the hospital” kind of way). But Cooper’s skill has graduated to the level that I fully expect for him to star in the next remake of My Left Foot.

Just this morning I prepared him breakfast and set him at the counter with his sippy cup. Then I left the room to change Mason’s diaper. I came back and found Cooper trying to drink out of his sippy cup using his feet. I said, USING HIS FEET. Of course I had to take a picture.


This behavior was followed by an entire day of him using his feet to do various tasks including turning on and off the TV, picking up toys, pointing out objects, and my personal favorite – flicking a Kleenex in my general direction.

Oh my boys. If I’m not careful they’ll qualify for a new classification of primate.

Today was a great day – despite the windy weather that kept us inside. I started my day at 5:30 a.m. This was not as bad as you might think. I was able to get a few loads of laundry finished and clean the kitchen (including oven). I also wrote e-mails to a few of my friends and neighbors… all before the boys woke up at 7:30. Maybe I’ll try that again sometime, just not anytime soon.

There was a lot of napping at the house today – except by me. Not sure what brought on all the sleepiness. Could have been the fun adventure to Red Robin we took with our good friends Sarah and Ellie. Cooper had so much fun he hardly noticed his pants had fallen off. (see picture)






We ended our night at the library. We had 3 overdue movies that I meant to return. Forgot every single last one of them at home. Oooops. But picked out some more interesting books about fish and bugs in preparation for Earth Day.

Locomotor Specializations

My children have prehensile toes! We knew Mason had locomotor specializations – shall we call them – when he was in the NICU. The nurses would be absolutely frustrated and flabbergasted, as he would pull his leads and IV out of one leg with the toes of the other! It was hilarious (in a scary, “my baby is in the hospital” kind of way). But Cooper’s skill has graduated to the level that I fully expect for him to star in the next remake of My Left Foot.

Just this morning I prepared him breakfast and set him at the counter with his sippy cup. Then I left the room to change Mason’s diaper. I came back and found Cooper trying to drink out of his sippy cup using his feet. I said, USING HIS FEET. Of course I had to take a picture.


This behavior was followed by an entire day of him using his feet to do various tasks including turning on and off the TV, picking up toys, pointing out objects, and my personal favorite – flicking a Kleenex in my general direction.

Oh my boys. If I’m not careful they’ll qualify for a new classification of primate.

Today was a great day – despite the windy weather that kept us inside. I started my day at 5:30 a.m. This was not as bad as you might think. I was able to get a few loads of laundry finished and clean the kitchen (including oven). I also wrote e-mails to a few of my friends and neighbors… all before the boys woke up at 7:30. Maybe I’ll try that again sometime, just not anytime soon.

There was a lot of napping at the house today – except by me. Not sure what brought on all the sleepiness. Could have been the fun adventure to Red Robin we took with our good friends Sarah and Ellie. Cooper had so much fun he hardly noticed his pants had fallen off. (see picture)






We ended our night at the library. We had 3 overdue movies that I meant to return. Forgot every single last one of them at home. Oooops. But picked out some more interesting books about fish and bugs in preparation for Earth Day.