Happy First Birthday Cooper Andrew Wells

Dear Cooper,

A year ago you came into our world in a wild and unplanned fashion and our life has been wild and unplanned ever since. On the way home from the hospital your Dad looked at me and said "I'm so happy" and you have continued to make us "so happy" every day since.

You have gone through so many stages since being born. Some of them, like the 4 teeth at once and 6 ear infections in a row, were not fun. But countless others were a blast. And now that you are walking, talking and developing so much everyday I know there are lots of stages to come in your next year.

I always knew I would love you, but I never knew that the love would overtake me. If you weren't in the world, I would surely be unable to breathe, that's how much I love you.


At 1 year, Cooper:
- weighs around 27 pounds
- wears 2T clothes and probably needs 3T in some things for the added length
- wears size 6 double X shoes
- has been walking for 2 weeks
- sleeps from 7 PM to around 6:30 AM - some nights he's quiet and some nights he wants to play at 3 AM
- has completely given up his afternoon nap when at school
- has moved seamlessly through all 3 nurseries at school and is loved by all his teachers
- loves to sit on the couch with us, but also likes to attempt to fly off
- does this strange dance where he stomps with one foot
- still hasn't learned not to eat dog food
- is stalled at 6 teeth (2 lower and 4 upper)
- likes to carry shoes around
- is more fun and more adorable than I ever imagined possible

1.22.10

Good news - Cooper's 6 week post op ENT appointment went very well. Hearing test was normal and Dr. Wooten said everything looked good.

Bad news - Cooper has had two night terrors in the last three nights. He is totally off schedule sleep-wise and is basically exhausted all the time. He went to bed at 6 pm and then woke up at 9 pm with a terror. He was up and down for the rest of the night. I have a follow-up call into his doctor.

Other notes of interest - I'm obsessed with American Idol (again). I really love the song Say it Ain't So by Weezer. I have mastered Red Beans & Rice.

01.20.10

Cooper had a night terror last night. I woke up to his hysterical cries and when I went in to comfort him he was asleep. Eyes closed, body was rigid, wouldn't "wake up", fighting against me. Then about 5 minutes later he woke up, opened his eyes, hopped off my lap and starting playing with a toy and talking.

After talking to our pediatrician, other mothers, and consulting online baby resources I've learned that by picking him up and talking to him I may have worsened or prolonged the event. Should it happen again I will just go in his room and (painfully) watch it happen to make sure he doesn't hurt himself and be there when he wakes up. I've also learned that this is caused by sleep deprivation. Cooper has been waking up a lot at night because he has a cold so it all kind of makes sense now. Fingers crossed for peaceful sleep at our house tonight.

1.18.09

I'm jealous of my husband right now who has the day off (good fortune of being in the VA this month) and is out and about running to Target, Costco, Home Depot, etc. So, I blog. I will blog about our fantastic weekend.

On Saturday we went to my Dad's for a yummy lunch and some Bowron hang-out time. Cooper entertained as always and watched his cousins with awe. Then Saturday night Miss Lynne came over to play with Cooper so Christopher and I could go to a show at Bluebird Cafe with a group from VHA. It was a great show and reminded me how much I love these couples that make up our group! Sunday was a low-key day at home full of laundry, football, and newspaper reading and ended with dinner at my Mom's. This provided another chance for Cooper to entertain and be in awe of his older cousins. Life is good.

Cooper's Birthday Party!

On Saturday, December 5th (which feels like a year ago as I type) we had Cooper's First Birthday party at our house. The guests included family, friends, his playmate Libby Tunks, and his teacher/babysitter Miss Lynne.

We had chili (traditional and chicken), Stuttgart cheese, chili toppings, cornbread muffins and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Yum!

Everyone ate and drank and watched Cooper take tentative steps amongst the party goers. We sang to him which was apparently terrifying and Miss Lynne fed him some cupcake since he all but refused to eat his cake. After a quick wardrobe change he happily opened the LOADS of gifts that he received and loved the gift wrap just as much as the contents of each package.

When the day was done we were tired, full of good food and unforgettable memories.

01.05.10

My first post of the new year is about Cooper's first tantrum. After he attempted to plug in the lamp that he had just unplugged I smacked the back of his hand and said "No. No." I've only had to do this 3 times in his life. Once with the dog's food that he wanted to try and choke on and once with the Christmas tree. In those instances he cried and acted pitiful, but then moved onto something else and all was forgiven. Tonight he wailed and screamed and kicked his legs and when all the drama was over and he pulled himself back from the brink of certain death... he went right for the plug again, looked back and laughed at me.

It's going to be a busy year.