Coopie has top teeth! And he is crawling!!!

Just yesterday one of Coopies top teeth, the left, popped through! You can also see the right one through the gum, so I expect that it will be through by the end of today. WOW! He has also been enjoying lots of new foods... today he tried a raspberry, he has also had carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, banana, broccoli, orange and I'm sure a few more I can't think of. We are still doing the Baby Lead Weaning for the most part, letting him feed himself and he is getting more and more coordinated with his hands and his mouth, it's fun to see. Cooper is also officially crawling, he doesn't move very quick, or crawl for long distances, but when I put him down in the living room, he can make it to the dinning room in a matter of a couple minutes. He also pulled himself to a stand yesterday at the side of our friends couch! It's so amazing to watch his brain grow everyday. He is also communicating more and more, we think he is starting to sign when he is all done, he will throw both his arms in the air and he only does it when he is eating and seems to be finished. He gets VERY upset if someone takes the toy he is playing with, he is very quick to cry when he doesn't get what he wants. And he is such a Daddy's boy! Yesterday Craig got home and Cooper saw him before he had a chance to take a shower, Cooper was so excited that Craig decided to wash his hands and come at least say hi to him. He was so excited and reaching and almost whimpering until Craig was holding him, then when Craig had to take a shower he complained until Craig got out and held him again. Daddy's Boy! Coopie loves to sleep in his stroller, what!? Yep, it's the only reason I am able to sit and write a blog right now (I probably just jinxed myself). Cooper is not a big fan of sleeping in a carrier (but he will if he has to), doesn't like to be walked (unless it is in the middle of the night) and on occasion will go down for a nap nursing, but only if he is really sleepy. Cooper loves to sleep in his stroller! He get him all bundled up, give him a little toy to hold and start walking, if he is tired, he will be out in about 3 minutes. Most days all I have to do is walk one time around the block and he is out! This is great sometimes, there are other times when it is not so convenient. For example, I am home alone with the kids, Kylie is ready for a nap, Cooper used to just nurse with Ky and they would both sleep, now I am trying to nurse Kylie and read her a story, Cooper is frantically crawling on me and Kylie trying to get the book, he is distracted by Kylie and wants to play with her instead of sleep. So I am trying to somehow entertain him, while staying quiet enough for Kylie to fall asleep. Once she is asleep we sneak away and Cooper is still ready for a nap, so now I am trying to walk him around the block, but not be to far from home in case Kylie wakes up. Once he is asleep, and I have double checked that Kylie is still sleeping, I have to leave him on the front porch where it is nice and cool, do I leave the door open and run the heater? do I close the door, but that just doesn't seem like good parenting. Do I sit out there with him and get nothing else done and leave Kylie in here alone? Oh it's not so easy. But it only lasts for maybe 30 minutes until one, or both of them are up :o)

Kylie is potty training! She has gone about 5 days wearing underpants without an accident. She seems to do better when I don't ask her if she needs to go. I just ignore it all together and she either just goes to the potty on her own (then calls for me if she needs help "I have a little bit of a disaster in here" she said to me the other day when she needed help wiping) or she will find me and ask "do I have a diaper on?" "No, you have big girl panties on." Then we are rushing to the potty. Yesterday she found me twice during out breastfeeding group and told me she needed to go, and once it was #2! She is doing so well and I am glad we are gently transitioning without a lot of messes, arguing, tears or bribes. It feels like it did when she started sleeping in her own bed, she decided when it was the right time and we just go from there. However she is still nursing a lot! Which I don't mind, but she throws a royal fit if I tell her she needs to wait, or that we can not nurse in certain situations. I am hoping she will transition smoothly when it comes to nursing too, but I am having a hard time being patient with her and find myself thinking about how and when we should wean. But then I realize how much she still needs it and how wonderful it is for both of us and I am not ready to ask her to stop. I'm sure it will work itself out someday :o)

Kylie is loving pre-school. She had her second day this week, they talked about the letter "B," blue and bats. My parents watched Nico and Cooper while Tabitha taught and I presented at a coalition meeting. The girls did great, Kylie was so proud of her art projects she came home with. Kylie has been singing the Frozen songs all the time, she recites many books and just last night we had lots of girls over playing, we found Kylie, Portia, Mish and Elly Jane all cuddled up in Kylie's bed with the covers pulled up, later Kylie and Portia were tucked in reading stories to each other, so sweet. She is really enjoying her legos and she is getting better and better at imaginary play. She negotiates very well and has the memory of an elephant, which can make things a little hard sometimes :o)

Here are a few photos...

Pre-School

 Coopie and avocado...

 Just read them a book and they both nursed to sleep, life doesn't get better then this.

 Last night we had lots of monkeys jumping on the bed!

 We still love story time at the library.

 Kylie is getting better at counting 6-10 on her fingers.

Last weekend Lala and Papa David came to visit! It was so wonderful to spend time with them! Thank you for making the trip, we can't wait to see you all again soon!!!!!
-Natalie