The Goody Life

Photo post

Stewart and I gave up Facebook for Lent.  It has actually been fine, the only thing I miss has been having a place to post random pictures that I would normally put in a monthly Facebook album.  So I'll just put them here instead!  I also made a typepad album (left hand side of the page) with some more birthday party pictures.

I think my mom bought this coat for Cooper before he was even born, so when I told her that he finally wore it, she asked for some pictures.  I think he is so stinking handsome!

Little miss playing on my bed the other morning.

Still working on my focusing.  And you gotta love the crusty nose!  But I just can't resist a baby close-up!

Cooper thinks it's hilarious to do tummy time with Georgia.

There was some major multi-tasking going on the other afternoon!  I often "wear" Georgia on my back while I'm cooking dinner.  This particular time we were also grooving to our favorite new Pandora station (zydeco!) and going back and forth to the porch to hang with Cooper and Stewart.  Fun times!  (Doesn't Georgia look thrilled?)

I bought this hooded towel even before Cooper was born, hoping to someday have a girl to cuddle up in it!  Makes me so happy every time I use it!

Georgia and her friend Emily playing the other day.  Oh, and that's our new (big) rug that we just got for the living room!  Isn't it pretty?

We live in front of a retention pond or retaining pond or whatever those things are called.  Except it's always bone dry.  Always.  But we have had such insane weather this past week, that we now have waterfront property!

Actually I didn't check it today, so it's probably already starting to go down.  But it was pretty for a day!

Georgia's Christening

We had Georgia baptized on the Sunday after Cooper's birthday party so the family that had come into town could be here for both events.  It was quite a weekend!

My friend Connie is the lay leader of our church congregation and got to present Georgia for baptism, which was special for us!  Connie is the "mentor mom" at my MOPS table, so she has spent lots of time holding and loving on our girl. 

This one's blurry but I still love it.  :-)


This was after the service and Georgia was fast asleep, but otherwise it's a sweet picture of our family with the pastor.

We didn't get any great pictures afterwards because the light outside was really harsh and the kids just weren't cooperating.  I'm going to have a few pictures taken of Georgia in her christening gown when we have her 6 months photos taken, so I'm not too upset about it. 

Afterward we went out for brunch as a family.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by family members who love us and our kids so deeply!

Cooper's Mickey Mouse Party

Cooper's absolute favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so while not quite original, it was an easy choice for the third birthday theme  But of course I can't just run out to the party store for some Mickey plates and call it a day, I have to make it much harder on myself.  :-)  I have fun thinking of ways to make parties personal and special, although I admit that the last 24 hours I usually end up totally stressed about all the things I have left to do.  Thankfully this year I had my mom and Amber to help with decorations, and Stewart's mom helped with a lot of the food.  And of course Stewart, who usually gets snapped at (sorry honey) but is always so great when it's all said and done. 

We had a LOT of people this year...something like 15 kids and over 20 adults.  Lots of cousins and some of Cooper's little buddies.  It seemed like he had a really good time...I know I did!

The Mickey above the mantle was my labor of love!  It was made out of little squares of tissue paper and took WAY longer than I thought it would!

The life sized Mickey balloon was a huge hit with the kids.  It had little weights on the bottom that were supposed to make it "walk", but he honestly spent more time being smacked into the air.  :-) 

The semi-deflated Mickey has taken up residence in Stewart's closet.  Cooper has been calling it "Mickey's room".  :-)

There was lots of playing and eating and visiting.

(Thanks Thomas for supervising the mass of kids on the playset!)

We decorated Mickey Mouse cookies!

(These two were quite serious about the task at hand.)

We played a fishing game and "pin the button on Mickey's shorts".

Most of the kiddos (the birthday boy was looking a little worn out...)

Cake time!

And presents :)

 

Georgia Cate- Five months old!

Our little love is five months old today, Valentine's Day!  All three of us (Cooper included) are obsessed with her!  She's the sweetest thing and I can't imagine our family without her!

Here's what GC is up to at five months...

• She has lost her "perfect baby" status, thanks to lots of middle-of-the-night waking. Not sure if it's a growth spurt, teeth, or just a bad habit.  But we're pretty tired around here.
• Is close to sitting up....she can sit for a couple seconds before she face plants.
• Grabs anything that comes close to her....this includes hair (ow!)
• Has officially "found her voice".  Squeals, raspberries, etc.  If she's awake, she is making noise.  Loud noise.  :-) 
• Still hasn't settled into a consistent three-nap routine.  Sometimes she takes three, other times her naps are shorter and she ends up taking four. 
• She still loves Momma, Daddy, and Cooper but is getting a lot more tolerant of other people holding her. 
• Rolling rolling rolling!  Back-to-belly and belly-to-back. 
• Swaddled no more!  She was busting out of the Miracle Blanket every night, so we had to go cold turkey.  She's in sleep sacks now.  
• Is working on her abs. :) If we put her in a reclined position (in the bouncy seat, etc.) she picks up her head and shoulders like she's doing crunches. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cooper is three!

Three!  Doesn't that just sound so old??  Full blown preschooler we have on our hands now.  He is silly, sensitive, strong-willed and charming.  He is SO sweet with his baby sister, and she adores him.  He can throw a nice tantrum when he's in the mood, and he drives his Daddy crazy at bathtime.  He likes technology a little too much, but I'm happy to report that he still loves to read.  His personality continues to emerge, and it's so fun to watch him become his own little person. 

Cooper's actual birthday was on a school day, but it was a special day because it was the Mommy & Me Tea!  So Cooper and I got to spend some time together at this sweet event. 

After lunch we went with Grammy and Grandaddy Howgie to ChuckECheese.  It was Cooper's first time!

grams arrived in time for dinner, and we finished the day with chocolate cake :-)

It was a fun, nonstop day, but we had little time to rest because we had to finish getting everything ready for his party on Saturday!  My eyes are closing though, so I'll save that for another post....

Cooper's birthday interview- 3 years old

I'm starting a new tradition of doing a birthday interview each year.  I decided to go ahead and do it a day early, since tomorrow is going to be quite busy and we happened to have a few quiet minutes this afternoon. 

How old are you going to be tomorrow? 
Three

What is your favorite color?
Blue (Mom note: He has a different answer each time you ask him.  Earlier today it was brown.)

What is your favorite thing to eat?
Food

What is your favorite food?
Green beans

What food do you NOT like?
I don't like to eat real food.

What is your favorite toy?
My Thomas lunchbox (Mom note: This contains all his Thomas the Train engines and is what he was playing with right before we did the interview) and my toy kitchen (Mom note: We were sitting right next to the toy kitchen.) 

What song do you love?
Silent Night

Who is your best friend?
Kaitlan

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A superhero (Mom note: I believe we have this song to thank for that answer.) 

What is your favorite book?
The bible book.  VeggieTales bible. 

What are you really good at?
Not pushing my friends.

What is your favorite thing to do?
Play with my Cranky the Crane Thomas

What is your favorite TV show?
Little Einsteins (Mom note: It's totally Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.)

What makes you happy?
My Thomas lunchbox

What makes you sad?
That I can't play with the wall.  (Mom note: Huh?)

What is your favorite drink?
Orange juice

What is your favorite cereal?
Cheerios with milk

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?
Eat M&M's (Mom note: I was totally bribing him with M&M's to answer these interview questions.)

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Play with my toy bucket 

Where would you like to go on vacation?
At the beach

What are you scared of?
A scary monster

What do you love about Georgia Cate?
To play with her flower (Mom note: She has a flower rattle hanging on her carseat, I think that's what he's referring to.) 

Where is your favorite place to go?
To play at Grammy's house

What would you buy if you had $1000?
A onesie

What is one new thing you would like to try this year?
Three years old monkey pajamas (Mom note: Cue the grandmothers starting their search for monkey pajamas....)

What is something Mommy always says to you?
No, you can't have that.

What is your favorite restaurant?
MoMo's pizza (Mom note: Good choice, my friend!)

What is your favorite store?
The mall

What is your favorite animal?
A dinosaur

Why are you excited to be three?
Because when I'm three I could go to elementary school