The Goody Life

Cooper's Fourth Birthday Party and Interview

Let's just ignore the fact that I've been MIA for months.  Sorry 'bout that.  Can't promise that it won't happen again.  But I couldn't let my little buddy's birthday pass by without proper blog documentation!

His birthday was on school picture day, so he was looking extra dapper.  :-)  Then I sat him down for his annual birthday interview. 

How old are you?  Four

What is your favorite color?  Pink

What is your favorite thing to eat?  Food

What is your favorite food?  Vegetables

What food do you NOT like?  Broccoli

What is your favorite toy?  My tractor.  And my mickey mouse thing.  (Both toys which had recently been taken away as a consequence)

What song do you love?  Jesus Loves Me and Hush Little Baby (his two bedtime song requests every. single. night.)

Who is your best friend?  Kaitlan and Jillian

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A parachute guy

What is your favorite book?  Green Eggs and Ham

What are you really good at?  Disney Rides

What is your favorite thing to do?  Go to Disney

What makes you happy?  That I feel better when I go to the doctor. 

What makes you sad?  That I have to go where nobody is.  (Not sure about this one...maybe when he is sent to his room?)

What is your favorite drink?  Lemonade

What is your favorite cereal?  Honey Nut Cheerios

What is your favorite TV show?  Special Agent Oso

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?  Cook brownies

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?  Cook dinner

Where would you like to go on vacation?  To Disney

What do you love about Georgia?  That she is a somebody and that she is alive. 

Where is your favorite place to go?  To Destin

What would you buy if you had $1000?  A thousand things.

What is one new thing you would like to try this year?  To go on a four-year-old ride at Disney

What is one thing Mommy always says to you?  Can you help me do the swiffer?

What is your favoite restaurant?  Moe's because it has drink machines.

What is your favorite store?  A store that has lots of toys.  Which is Toys-R-Us.

What is your favorite animal?  A really tiny baby giraffe

Why are you excited to be four?  Cause I get birthday presents. 

 

A few days later we had Cooper's superhero birthday party.  It was super small and I let Cooper choose the friends he wanted to come, so don't be ticked at me if you weren't invited!  My mom helped a lot (as always), and the kids seemed to have fun.  Cooper was in the midst of a rough few weeks so he had some epic meltdowns.  I'm choosing to remember the fun moments though!

We had a Superhero Training Academy, and the kids seemed to love it!

Practicing super breath!

Zapping the bad guys!

Walking across hot lava!

Leaping tall building with a single bound!

Official superheroes!

Present time

Photo fun!

And a little more photo fun with grams the next day!

Can't believe he's four!  I'm ok with this age....it's FIVE lurking around the corner that I'm NOT going to be fine with! 

 

Disney 2013

We took the kiddos to Disney last week and just had the best time!  Cooper has been twice before, but now he is at SUCH a fun age for it.  Of coure Georgia won't remember it at all, but she was pretty chill and seemed to enjoy herself (as long as she had snacks.)  My mom and Stewart's parents came, and we all stayed at the new Art of Animation resort.  We really liked it....it was very themed (i.e. fun for the kids) and the suites were nice and big.  We went to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  They are trying out this new magic band system that allows you to reserve your fast passes ahead of time, which is like a dream come true for an uber-planner like me.  So I basically had both of our park days pretty planned out, and we definitely got to do everything we wanted to. I took hundreds of pictures, but I'll try to narrow them down for you. :-)

We drove into Orlando early in the morning and went straight to a character breakfast at the Hilton, since all the character meals in the parks were booked up.  It was relaxed and low key, nice way to start the trip! 

We spent the rest of that day at Downtown Disney and exploring our hotel.

grams made matching PJ's for the kiddos....

...but I caught wind of it and didn't want to be left out, so I brought my Christmas pj's which just to happened to match!  (By the way, our hotel suite was Lion King themed, thus the giraffes behind the couch.)

The next day was Magic Kingdom!

One of the things Cooper was most excited about was riding Dumbo, so we went straight there!  He had fun riding with grams!

Next we rode the Barnstormer....Cooper's first roller coaster!  I swear from the face he had during the ride, I thought he was going to get off and either puke or burst into tears.  But nope, he loved it!  He claims that it was his favorite ride in both the parks!

One of my favorites was the new Enchanted Tales with Belle.  They act out the story of Beauty and the Beast with the kids, and Cooper was chosen to be Chip the teacup.  He was SO cute!  Stole the show, in my opinion....

Magic bands!

The second day we went to Hollywood Studios, because we knew Cooper would like seeing the stars of Disney Junior, Monsters University, Cars, etc.  We had fun but ended on a not-so-great note on the Great Movie Ride.  The lady cautioned us that there was a scary part from Aliens, so we warned Cooper about it and planned to just cover his eyes during that part.  What they didn't warn us about were the five or six other scary scenes, including the wicked witch of the west from Oz, which just sent Cooper over the edge.  Poor buddy doesn't handle scary things well....

Here are some pictures from our Hollywood Studios day

Disney Junior show

After the Great Movie Ride fiasco, we headed back to the hotel to rest and clean up a bit, and then went back to Hollywood Studios for the Fantasmic show.  Another fail!  We thought Cooper would be really into it...and he liked it....until the villians started showing up.  There was basically a montage of every Disney villian, and it WAS pretty scary. Coop was on my lap and I could first feel his breathing getting faster, and then the tears started, and eventually he was full-on sobbing into my chest.  We had to make a quick exit....not easy to do gracefully in the dark, stepping over a whole row of people with a wailing preschooler and tired, fussy baby.  I felt so bad for him....I've never been brave when it comes to scary stuff, and so I know the feeling he had during those scary parts of the ride and show. 

On our last day we spent some more time playing at the hotel before checkout.  Overall it was a great trip and we made some good memories!

We are so lucky to live close enough to take our kids to Disney as often as we do!  The perks of being a Floridian!  :-)

Georgia's first birthday

I did something revolutionary...some would even say shocking....for Georgia's first birthday.  I threw a small party.  I love big, rowdy parties, and all of Cooper's have fallen in that category.  I admit that I get a little psycho-stressed for a few days leading up to a big party, but in the end I'm always glad I did it.  I have loved having our house filled with so many of the little cousins and friends for Coop's birthdays.  But for Georgia, I surprised myself by just craving something quiet.  I decided just to invite immediate family and a couple friends-who-are-like-family.  I admit it was hard....there were quite a few people who it was hard for me not to invite.  But I knew that if the house was filled to the brim, Georgia would get lost in the shuffle.  I'm really so glad I did it this way.  It was a calm, enjoyable day....exactly what I wanted for my sweet girl's special first birthday. 

I made the wreath using this tutorial.  Took FOREVER! 

My awesome friend Renee made the cupcake for the front door (the other side is orange and blue!)  Check her out at A'dore Couture Designs on Etsy!

Grammy and Howgie gave her the cutest doll stroller!

And the next day grams surprised her with a special ladybug car, made just for Georgia Cate!

I know that first birthday parties really mean nothing to the one-year-old, but I do hope that someday Georgia looks back at these pictures and is reminded that we celebrated her first year on a day filled with love! 

 

Georgia Cate- 12 months old!

I was so punctual about all the monthly picture posts, but it was such a crazy birthday weekend and busy week that I'm just now getting around to it.  It could also be that I'm not quite ready to accept the fact that my little baby is a year old (sniff, sniff). 

Here's what my big one-year-old is up to....

• As of her birthday she would take a few steps at a time....she's gotten braver and braver this week and is now close to just taking off!
• LOVES to eat, and will eat practically anything.  Casseroles, asparagus, beef, chicken, fruit (except diced peaches), the list goes on and on.  She wants dinner starting at about 4:30 and would eat right up until bedtime if we let her. 
• Nurses in the morning and at night.  I gave her some whole milk in a cup yesterday and she gave me a look of utter disgust. 
• Says "all done" ('ah-nun'), "Cooper" ('Bu-puh') and "five" ('da'!) when she wants to give a high five.  Also days "mama" and "dada" but still inconsistent when it comes to saying them to refer to the right people. 
• Signs "more please", "eat", "all done"
• Has managed to keep that gorgeous hair color....can we officially call her a redhead now?
• Blows kisses when you say "I love you" and gives smacking kisses on the lips when we ask for them
• Love to play in Cooper's room and just be around him!
• She is a climber, and I've really got to keep an eye on her!  Today I caught her with both feet on a stool we have, not holding on to anything, getting ready to just stand right up.  She can also climb/fall into the bathtub.  She's my daredevil. 
• Has a great laugh, a sweet disposition, a fiery temper, and can melt our hearts with her snuggles.  I cannot imagine the last year, or our lives, without her! 

Cooper's first movie

Last week we got a babysitter for Georgia and took Cooper to see his first movie, Disney's Planes.  We almost didn't make it thanks to a dead car battery but after a quick carseat switch and a hot car ride (no A/C in Stewart's car) we made it.  We didn't tell Cooper until we were in the car where we were going.....here was his reaction...

We gave him a few more seconds for it to sink in.  :-)

It was a cute movie, and Cooper did really well.  Only one potty break.  We went on a Friday afternoon and had the entire theater to ourselves.  I almost think it would have been more fun to take him when it there was a full theater to get the full movie experience. 

These pictures crack me up because he clearly couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. 

Cooper wanted me to take a picture of the screen. :-)

PLANES!

Coop's first day of school 2013

Cooper had his first day week of school, and so far it has been great.  Last year he went two days a week, this year he will go three days a week.  Next year VPK is (gulp) every day.  But I'm going to try not to think about that!

Of course we had to do some first day of school pictures.  I ADORE this first picture...the twinkle in his eyes just kills me.  Love this boy so much!

His first week was truly as smooth as can be.  I know quite a few of the teachers at his school and had convinced myself that I knew who he was going to have.  Wrong!  He ended up with a teacher and assistant that I had never met, but they seem FANTASTIC.  So warm and loving.  Cooper saw his assistant at church today and was so excited to say hi to her.  He is in the "older threes" class, even though he is technically a "younger three".  I'm hoping that this will help his maturity and social development as he may have to rise to their level.  Another nice thing about this class is that his best buddy Kaitlan is in his class!  This is great on so many levels.  First of all, it lets me see Kaitlan's mom Liz, one of MY best buddies, way more often.  Second, Kaitlan is great at relaying reliable, detailed information to Liz about what happens at school.  Quite the opposite from the nonexistant info that I get out of Cooper.  Little does he know, I have an informant now.  :-)  Aside from Kaitlan he doesn't know anyone else in the class, which I'm ok with because he does need to work on developing friendships. 
Here's Cooper and Kaitlan like five minutes after arriving on the first day.  (Check out his formal little pose!)

I just have a feeling that this is going to be a great year for my favorite little guy! 

Georgia Cate- 11 months old

The last monthly post before she turns one year old!  (sniff, sniff)  Crazy girl has grown and changed so much this month!

Here's what she has been up to...

• Is turning into a great little eater!  She likes chicken, ground beef in spaghetti sauce, black beans, bananas, all kind of bread.  Tonight she even ate Mexican Lasagna roll ups and pitched a fit when I decided that she had enough!
• Has already decided that she should be feeding herself.  She actually does pretty well with a spoon, but things are a LOT messier around here...
• Can stand up all on her own (without pulling up) and stand for 10-15 seconds without holding on to anything.  She usually does better when she is distracted by something so she doesn't realize that she's not holding on.
• Says "mama" and "dada" all the time, but not consistently in reference to me or Stewart.  Sometimes we THINK she has said "mama" to me, but I'm still not ready to call it.  She has said "five" when I said "Give me a high five" and this morning she said "nana" when I asked if she wanted some banana.
• Loves to drink water out of a straw.
• Nurses three times a day, although I have a feeling that it's about to go down to two.  
• Is finally started to be interested in books.  She used to just chew them or try to close them.  This month she has started letting me read to her, and has even started pointing to pictures. 
• Loves bath time- especially now that she's in the big tub- and pitches an absolute fit when I pull her out.
• Likes to have her face buried in something when she is falling asleep.  Usually it's one of her stuffed bunnies, the side of her carseat, or my neck/chest if I'm rocking her. 
• Still obsessed with her brother.  She just completely adores him.  :)
• Signs "more", "all done", and "please"

She is a piece of work!

 

Georgia Cate- 10 months old

Sweet girl is 10 months old today!

Ten months....it's far too close to a year!  And she is definitely getting more and more like a "big girl".  Here's what she is up to...

• Weighs around 18 lbs
• Has three teeth on the top (and one that is right at the surface) and three on the bottom
• Is slowly trying more actual solids...green beans, ground beef, pancakes
• Starting to turn into a girl with an attitude!  She pitches a fit if she doesn't get her way.  And her way usually involves grabbing whatever Cooper has, diving off a high piece of furniture, or sticking her finger into my mouth or nose. 
• Loves "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"...and is starting to do a few of the motions.  Her "spider" is adorable.  :) 
• Likes to blow raspberries with her lips and tongue.  Watching her try to blow a pinwheel at the Fourth of July was the cutest thing.
• Has these long, wispy bangs that hang straight down into her eyes...I try to keep a bow or barrette in her hair to keep it out of her face. 
• Likes to point at things and say "Da!" 
• Still adores her brother- who is getting less and less gentle/careful with her, as she seems to him less like a baby and more like someone who can fend for herself

Fourth of July 2013 & the rainiest weekend EVER

The Fourth of July is becoming one of my favorite holidays.  There's not a lot of prep required, no presents to worry about.  Just a barbecue and some fun!  It has become quite the big deal in Stewart's family...aunts and uncles and cousins come from as far as Arizona for what has basically become an annual family reunion.  Each year it gets a little rowdier, as the little ones grow (both in number and in ability to create chaos.)  Usually we utilize the pool quite a bit, so we were a bit nervous about the 100% chance of rain putting a damper on things.  Thankfully Stewart's parents have a nice big porch, so even though we were stuck inside it turned out ok.  Loud?  Yes.  But the kids did better than we were all expecting.  We- and really I mean Uncle Gerald and SueSue- had to get a little more creative with keeping the little ones entertained....multiple "parades" through the living room and kitchen, an impromptu family talent show.  I think my favorite moment of the day was when three-year-old Leighton got up for her performance, threw her hands into the air, and started belting out "Old Time Religion."  Priceless. 

Some pictures from the day...

Most of the kids....Georgia was napping and Nell wanted nothing to do with taking pictures.

I believe this was Catherine's second of three cupcakes of the day.  :-)

Savannah, Georgia (heehee)

Pinata time!

Rainy weather calls for crafts!  Showing off their visor creations.

The next morning....it's STILL raining??

For the weekend we headed over to spend a couple more days with Susan and her kiddos before they head back to South Dakota (boo) to welcome Jonathan home (yay!!!!)  We had big beach/pool plans, but guess what.  It rained.  All day Saturday.  By the end of the day we were seriously stir crazy.  We did manage to get out for a quick walk on the beach between the showers.

Thumbs down for the flooded parking lot!

Movie time before bed

After a nearly sleepless night (my kids don't sleep well in the room with mama), we got some SUN!

The day contained some drama, including exhaution-feuled tantrums and a nasty fall by me....I'm still hurting a week later!  But as I told Susan, it was worth it and always is.  I am so blessed by that friendship. 

So there is our Independence Day weekend recap!  Summer is just flying by! 

 

Georgia's favorite- The hooded towel

Georgia loves Cooper in a hooded towel.  She likes head coverings of all kinds- Mama in a hat is pretty funny- but Coop in a towel is the best. After I bathed her tonight I put her in the crib with toys while I finished up with Cooper.  (Left to her own devices she would try to eat the toilet, pull all the trash out of the trash can, or try to crawl back into the tub in her pajamas.) I got Cooper out of the bath and ran to get my camera.  Love some of the pictures I got!