Happy Birthday to Gramma B!

Hello to all! For those of you who know Gramma B., you know yesterday was her birthday. Good news is we are celebrating today too!! We are having a ball here in UB and we hope you know how nice it is to have live in babysitters to the tune of gram and gramps! Also, a happy anniversary goes out to grammy and pappy J. They celebrated their 11th on Thursday. How is everyone out there? As you can see, I am doing especially great this week. How can you blame me? More people to play with ANY time I want! Gram and gramps are like mom and dad but even BETTER. They get an A++ in the entertainment department! We are going to miss them so much. Yesterday we had a great day. We went to a place called pork and beans and got some coffee, bacon, and sausage. We are having all for breakfast this morning and it is being cooked and brewed as we speak. It smells DELICIOUS!! Maybe they will give me a nibble of bacon, I think I certainly deserve it! Then we came home for lunch and a nap and I got to lounge in my pool. What a relaxing afternoon! We then went to Frederick to the Macaroni Grill and Gramma B got her favorite salad. What an awesome dinner! Then we walked around the shops and went to the organic market. We finished off the evening at Cold Stone Creamery where dad picked up what looked like a beautiful bday cake for gram. I got tired on the way home watching my movie, and I do remember getting home and kissing dad goodnight. The darnedest thing is, I don't remember any part of the bday cake! And you know, that is certainly something a little guy couldn't forget. I vaguely recall some oohs and aahs and a lot of lip smacking in my dreams. Must be those gluttons were out on the front porch eating raspberry cheesecake ice cream cake without me. They sure have some nerve! You wouldn't believe what a good boy I am and how very big and strong I am getting. You know I am 6 months old now and I have so many teeth. The top two are mostly in and they are buggers. You should see the size of them! I guess I better run in case they try to cheat me out of some bacon and sausage. They are sneaky little devils; I have to keep one eye on them all the time. We are trying not to be sad today, but it sure stinks to see gram and gramps leave. They have been so much fun and help; we will miss them like crazy. I am looking forward to seeing meemom, Ms. Michelle, Mr. James, and Mr. Ernie on Tuesday. More great news, mom and I have the day off together tomorrow. Until next time, take care and please come and see me when you get a chance. Love to all of you...more news soon about our exciting upcoming weekend. Cooper B.

I can sit up all by myself!

Hello all! Happy Friday to you! I hope everyone is doing well out there. I am great. I have some news that warrants this biweekly update. Pictured above is Bear. For those of you who do not know him, besides mom and dad, he is my best friend. We snuggle, sleep together, go on car rides together, well, you get the picture. Yesterday he had quite a big day. We went for a walk (he always goes too) and we returned home only to realize Bear was no longer with us. For once, you would be proud of mom, she truly kept her head in the emergency. She got me down for my nap and called our neighbor Crystle to watch over me. She then raced down Main St. at a whopping 5mph with the window down calling Bear's name. About halfway down, by the service station, she heard a muffled cry and there he was in all his glory lying in the middle of the road. Mom thinks he may have been run over by a truck, but other than a little mud, none the worse for wear. Mom brought him home and gave him a bath and now he is good as new. Whew, that was a close one! Other great news...our friends, the Smell family, are coming to see us in August. It is their first trip with the triplets and we are honored to be the recipients of their first big outing. We are also thankful they are willing to make the trip with not one, not two, but three bouncing babies! They are so courageous and we dearly love them! More news...I am sitting up all by myself. Ms. Michele swears I will be crawling by the time she gets back from vacation. We dropped by to see her yesterday afternoon and wish her well for today and a restful and relaxing beach vacation. Also it was Ms. Dottie's bday and we got her a little token of our thanks for helping take such good care of me. I don't know if I told you, but in addition to my carefully honed abs (from all the sitting), I also like to hold on to our ottoman and play with my toys, and of course, work on my quads and hamstrings (had to throw that in there for dad, he gets so excited when we talk about muscles and exercise). Yesterday I was turning around moving back and forth (with minimal help from Dad). Isn't that something?! I told you I am ready to get moving! No offense to mom and dad, but they are too slow and bless their hearts, they try so hard, but they have no clue what I am telling them and where I want to go! Lucky us, mom and I are hanging out again today. She took the day off to take care of me and boy, do we have fun together! She told me this morning I make her life complete. How about that! You know she's a little sappy but dad and I love her anyway. Soon I will post some more pics of me sitting up like a big boy. We are getting excited for gram and gramps B's arrival. We have a big bday weekend planned for gram's bday next weekend. You know how mom gets excited when there's birthday cake involved! So...all the best to Ms. Michele today. Happy Birthdays go out to our friend Amanda McC today, Cousin Valerie yesterday, and Heather Halfin on Monday. Whoopee! Take care out there, we'll be thinking of you. Come and see me if you get a chance. Mom and dad are itching to entertain! Love and hugs and kisses, Cooper B.

I got a new pool!

Hey out there! First things first...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUSINS KAMRIE AND CODY!! How in the heck is everyone doing? We are great! As you can see, I am living the life. Here I am soaking in my new pool and enjoying my new high chair to the fullest. What do you think? Posh is certainly for me, I wear it well. Guess who we just heard from...uncle Bart. Sounds like he is having some fun down there in NC taking care of business. Some guys tried to take advantage of him while building aunt Deb's dad's house. Let's say they picked the wrong guy to mess with! Hopefully all is well that ends well. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed! As you can see I am getting to be quite a big boy. I got a new tooth on Friday the 13th on the bottom right (that makes 3) and I have a new top tooth as well as an eye tooth on its way. They sure do make a little guy uncomfortable but I am hanging in there. Dad and mom have me walking all over the place. I am doing pretty good and practicing my steps every day. Today I leaned on the ottoman and did some shuffling back and forth. I have also been working on my crawling. I am ready to get going I tell you! Mom and dad say I am into everything. Bless their hearts, they look like a circus act when they hold me and try to eat dinner. It's quite entertaining. They try so hard but they are such amateurs. Did you know I am sleeping like such a big boy? Bedtime is around 8:30 every night and when I am home I take a one to two hour nap at 10am and again around 1-2 in the afternoon. How about that? I am working on it at Ms. Michele's but there is just so much excitement and I love to play with her and all of my friends. Oh, please join us by keeping Ms. Michele in your thoughts and prayers for her big day on Friday. She is also heading off for vacation and boy, are we going to miss her! We hope she will be thinking of us while she is relaxing on the beach. You know it is one of mom's most favorite places. We are hoping to get to go for a weekend this summer to Ocean City. Mom says it's no gulf coast beach but she'll take what she can get. I think she may be a beach snob! I am hoping to feel 100% soon, I have a little cold and these teeth are driving me crazy. Of course I am still in good spirits and giving away so many smiles and kisses. I like to grab mom and dad by the face and pull them to me, you should see the kisses I plant on them. They love it! Dad told me tonight that I run the house. You know I have them wrapped around my little finger. Speaking of smiles, please be patient with mom, she is working on getting my pics out to you but is having a hard time figuring out where to move since yahoo is closing. We are keeping track of where we left off and hopefully you will be seeing my smiling face in multitudes again soon. Better run, it's close to mom and dad's bedtime. Please take care and come and see me soon. I miss having visitors. Good news though, gram and gramps B will be here on Sunday for the week. Can't wait to charm the pants off of them! Love to everyone, Cooper B.

Here are the pics I was telling you about...more to follow when the blog is up and running. As you can see, they are working me entirely too hard around here. The first pic shows the laundry I did with mom. This pic is Dad and me painting the dining room! I am a little man of many talents. Mom says I get it from dad! Be sure to read the blog below, it is new today too. Love, Cooper B.

FEELING BETTER, AT LEAST ONE BRYANT IS...Hello out there! I am happy to report I am officially almost feeling 100% better. Whew. What a week! I am telling you, I had spots EVERYWHERE...not fun. I am still a little grumpy although mom and dad aren't saying it out loud, of course, they don't want to upset a little guy, especially one that has had such a tough week. Final diagnosis, who knows, not roseola, as we found out it spares the face. Possibly echovirus (summer grippe)...I know I certainly was feeling gripy!! Thanks goes out to those of you who called to check in on me...Ms. Michele, Ms. Robin (Dr. U's wife), and gramma B. It's nice to know someone is thinking of you when you are down and out. I know mom enjoyed the moral support too, that 103 fever sure had her worried. Some may say poo pa to her worries, oh its nothing, etc...she says she has no problem going down in history for loving me too much! So there...I am trying to post a picture to show you how hard they work me around here but for some reason the blog isn't cooperating. Goes along with the week we are having here in UB. We are especially thankful for mom's job this week, they allowed her off on Tuesday and Friday to be with me...we know what a blessing it is to work for such understanding folks. How fortunate we are!! I have only one more obstacle to overcome, if you would believe it, my pinky toe is infected...what a mess!! More news that's not so good...we think dad has lyme disease. Of course, you couldn't tell it because he won't slow down, but he is having an awful time. I think we told you about picking all those ticks off of him last month after his week in the woods...well, we think they may have got to him. He is off to the big town of Westminster this morning to buy a new lawnmower, some paint, and some groceries. Mom tried to make him stay home like he did yesterday, but no go...you know what they say, you can't keep a good man down. Mom hates to do it, but she started him on some antibiotics for it. Since she knows he won't take a break AND he won't go to the doctor, what is a loving wife to do?? Anyway, keep him in your thoughts and pray for a speedy recovery. Mom and I had a great day together yesterday, we went shopping. She got some new sandals and I got some new duds of course; wait til you see what a little man I am! Such a heartbreaker!! I am also reaching for EVERYTHING and I love to stand up and walk (with some help of course). I have been getting pretty frustrated because I can't get to where I want to go on my own. I am trying to be patient, but there is so much to see! OH YES! I almost forgot to tell you about my favorite new game...it's called peek-a-boo! Have you ever played? Oh my gosh, it is the BEST!! I also LOVE to chase my dog, Sam. He puts me in such a great mood, he can even make me stop crying when I am upset. I think we are best buds...he just needs some time to warm up to me. Mom says if he doesn't straighten up and fly right, she is going to get a NEW dog! As you can see, she is very sensitive about me...if you didn't know it already. Well, better get going. Sorry I haven't posted, we have a few birthdays to announce...a very happy and somewhat belated birthday goes out to Aunt Carole. Today is cousin Erin's b-day, whoo-wee! There are a BUNCH of upcoming bdays this month: Joey T, cousin Kamrie and Cody, cousin Valerie and her son Josh, Amanda McC, Shannon M, aunt Heather, and of course, Gramma B who will be spending her bday week taking care of yours truly! Isn't that sweet of her?! We will be sure to enjoy a very special cake in her honor. Also this month is Grammy and Pappy J's anniversary. What a great month July is! Although I have to take a bit of issue with how it started. OK, enough gabbing, huh! Take care and please write or call soon. Hugs and kisses, Cooper B.

Pox on Fox in Socks on Box...Happy 4th of JULY!

Hello out there! Happy Independence Day to all of you! I wish I was celebrating my independence from this nasty old fever and rash. On a positive note, I did get to spend all day with mom yesterday. I would like to say we had lots of fun, and considering the circumstances, we did, but I am just not feeling up to par. I did get to go visit Dr. Vento. He thought I had chickenpox too at first, as did mom and dad, but then he struck it up to a nonspecific viral rash. My all-knowing mom still has her doubts. She has been holding me in the light examining my spots hourly; please help! I can't say I mind the attention too much, now I understand what the phrase "mother hen" truly means. She has been giving me tylenol and motrin around the clock, feeding me all of my favorite foods (slightly chilled of course), and holding me to my heart's content. Oh yes, and she bought me a sippy cup and let me drink some cold water from it. Dad is doing his part too...today he bought me a new high chair! It is very nice; it matches my swing. I will post pics of me enjoying it soon. Latest news (besides the dirty old fever and rash of course)...we had a ball in WV at the fourth of July celebration. I got to see almost all of the old gang mom and dad went to college with and their babies too! I held hands with MacKenna, and chatted it up with Brianna. She was a bit upset so I cried along with her; am I a good friend or what?! Dad mentioned what a difference in all of us a few years makes...I am not sure what he meant by that, but maybe it was the fact we were in bed by midnight. In fact, I was in bed at 8pm and slept through the entire fireworks show. This show by the way, was held in aunt Heather and Josh's yard. We were not sure this was exactly legal, but we felt much better when the fire trucks showed up! There were over 100 people there, what a bash! You should have seen mom and dad...they barely watched the fireworks, because of all of the big booms they kept running upstairs to check on me. Isn't that the sweetest? I was sleeping like a log on Heather's bed, but don't you think I am a party pooper. Check out the pics above if you don't believe me! Other news, I got to see Gram and Gramps B before we left. They brought us presents from Key West. Mom and dad got t-shirts and I got two awesome books! They are coming back soon to babysit me for a whole week. Oh yes...we had a wonderful visit with Ms. Michele. Remember I told you she was coming to see me. We had a delicious dinner...we certainly loved having her. Ms. Norma is supposed to come back with her soon. Maybe tomorrow if I am feeling a little better. Well, I am pretty sleepy, this fever sure makes me tired. I will try to write again very soon. Happy Birthdays go out to Ms. Mary Caldwell and aunt Carole. Love to all of you, please write soon. Your little firecracker, Cooper B

PS: We love uncle Jim, hooray for aunt Billy!!