Let's hear it for the boys

Hello to you! How in the world are you doing? I am super fine. Thanks for tuning in. So I don't know if you saw the good news attached to my last post, but our friend Jen Duval is having a baby boy! Whoowee!! Is that good news or what?! We are so happy for her and we know she is going to be the world's best mom! (Except for mine of course : ) Lots of news here...we hope aunt Libby had a nice bday on Tuesday, same for our friend Ben Dunnet on Thursday. Friday was a big day for our family. Uncle Bart has left for a 6 month trip and we sure will miss him. We called him to wish him luck and we hope he catches lots and lots of fish. Please join us in keeping him close in thought and prayer. We are so thankful for heroes like him. Speaking of heroes...yesterday was my great Papaw Hively's birthday. He would have been 84 years old. Mom says he would have loved me; we were thinking of Nanny H and Grammy J and the fam all day. Still more news...Ethan Smell had his big surgery on Tuesday, he is such a brave boy! We are waiting anxiously to hear from him and praying that all went well. We also said bon voyage this past week to cousin Kirk and Ryan High. Those guys are college men now and we know they are going to have so much fun. Keep the moms Amber and Michele in your thoughts as well as aunt Deb, Cody, and Connor we know they will all be missing their main man. And now a word for the ladies...our cousin, Hannah King made the varsity volleyball team AS A 6th GRADER! How about that? It was her first time trying out as a new middle schooler and apparently she took that coach by storm! Congratulations to her, you know mom says her mommy, aunt Dawn, was quite an athlete herself, I guess she comes by it honestly. Not much news on the homefront, I got a new DVD for the Honda. My last one broke after only 3 months, can you believe that?! Now listen, we sure know there are worse things in this world, and we aren't trite by any measure, but do you know those folks at Wal-mart won't take it back?! Can you imagine...so you know how mom and dad felt after driving to Hanover yesterday just for that reason when the clerk at customer service (some service) kindly informed mom the DVD player has to break within 15 days in order to get your money back. I have to hand it to mom, I think I learned my first lesson in restraint yesterday. She was pretty polite (you know how she gets when it comes to me) but I think I saw a blood vessel burst in her right eye! My goodness! Well, enough about that, just silly talk, we have so much to be thankful for, friends and family like you for starters. We found out yesterday we have a guest tuning in all the way from Port A, PA we don't even know! So hello to you mystery lady, and God bless your heart for checking in on me. Bless all your hearts. Now take care of yourselves and call or come and see how handsome and charming I am for yourself. Trust me, I am worth the trip! Hugs, kisses, and love to you all, Cooper B.

Almost 7 months old!!

Hello out there, sorry I missed you all on Thursday. I have been quite the busy B. Hope you all are doing great, just like me! You wouldn't believe what a happy boy I am! Guess where we went yesterday?! Down to the city, woohoo. I got to see mom and dad's old stomping ground. How exciting! You know, mom finally got herself a haircut and I lunched at the Springfield Mall. We then went to one of mom and dad's most favorite places, Old Town, Alexandria. Wowwee! What a nice place. We strolled and people watched and had lunch at a French bakery. Of course, we had some Starbucks (decaf for me) and I took in alot of the sights from dad's shoulders, which always tickles me to death. I took a look at the waterfront, saw some ducks, a donkey pulling a carriage, lots of dogs, street magicians and clowns, and many Europeans. You can imagine my excitement. Then mom and dad and I sat under some trees while I had a warm drink. I don't know if you knew this, but I LOVE trees! In fact, I am all for anything to do with being outside. You wouldn't believe how happy it makes me. Guess where else I went?! The choo choo station, and would you believe who was down there? None other than Gram and Gramps B. Who could have guessed? We picked them up on their way up from the NC Bryants'. Then we went to the Red Robin on the way home. It's this super fun restaurant that mom and dad used to eat at all the time when they lived in Middleburg. I had a ball! They had balloons there and dad got me a yellow one and tied it to my high chair. I could hardly eat my dinner I was so excited to play with a balloon. And that is saying alot because I had sweet potatoes and applesauce on the menu! Then we stopped for ice cream at our favorite place Cold Stone; they have the best ice cream EVER!! Everyone was oohing and aahing and licking their chops but do you know no one gave me a lick. Dirty dogs! I was such a good boy; in fact, I am always so good. Mom says she could go on and on about how wonderful I am, and you know she does. You should hear me talking up a storm! I guess I was quiet for so long taking it all in and now I have some things to say, believe me! Did you know mom and dad have a new work out partner? His name is Hunter and he is so nice. He comes over in the evenings for exercise, and can you believe there is someone else out there as crazy as those two? They look like they have so much fun! Good for them. I don't think I have told you but my pull ups are really coming along. Such a big strong boy!! And oh my, does everyone love me!! I honestly can't say that I blame them. Well, I better get going. Breakfast time for Cooper B. Please keep Cliff Wasko in your prayers. We are thinking of him, Carol, and the Smell family. Please don't forget to visit their blog at the bottom of this page. Also, join us in keeping Lisa in our thoughts. Take care of yourselves out there. Come and see us if you get the chance. Lots of love and hugs and kisses, Cooper B.

I have ANOTHER new tooth!

This is becoming such a common occurence I hardly feel it is newsworthy! This makes 8, yes 8 big chompers. Today I had a t-bone and french fries for lunch! How in the world are you? We are fine as frog hair. My sleep has been a little out of whack since those shots I was telling you about in my last update. I hope you don't mind, but tonight, I am turning in early. Oh yes! I wanted to tell you about my goings on last weekend. Mom and dad sure pulled a fast one on me. They talked up a big BBQ in Harpers Ferry, and do you know they took off bbqing without me?! Can you believe that? Well, the joke was on them because guess who came down to play with me? Gram and gramps B. Yep, that's right, apparently I am quite a charmer because those two just couldn't stay away! In fact, believe it or not we will be seeing them again this weekend. We are happy to report they are heading down to NC to see uncle Bart, aunt Deb, Cody, and Connor. Lucky them. They are taking the choo choo which sounds very exciting to me as that is one of my most favorite sounds. Anywho, I got off track, the bbq was for our friend Liz's birthday/bachelorette extravaganza. Mom and dad also got to see aunt Helen. Mom sure loves those beautiful Caldwell girls. She wished Ms. Mary, their mom, could have been there too. They said they had fun, but they sure did miss me. Mom said it felt like someone was missing the whole evening. I told her it was no wonder, the party was here in UB! Mom also went back to a lingerie party on Sat. night for just the girls. It was quite a weekend for her, and I was proud to see her get out and about for a change. Don't tell her, but sometimes she's just a tad needy! I love her though. She can't help it, bless her heart. More news...mom gets a new office in the house her boss is renovating for his new practice. She is very excited about it. You know she will wallpaper it with the millions of pics she takes of yours truly! Other news...we just found out today we may be getting some visitors next weekend. You'll never guess who...Papaw Bill and Granny Lisa. How about that? We are definitely hoping they can make the trip! We talked to Grammy J today. I was talking her ear off. I was trying to tell her I miss her and hope to see her soon. I hope she heard me, sometimes I get a little tongue tied. I am posting a picture of my new favorite activity. Standing, walking, squealing, and saying buh, buh, buh are hot items right now. I hate having my diaper changed these days because this involves lying down which is such old news I don't even like to discuss it. I am much to sophisticated for it. Unfortunately mom can't figure out a way to do it while I am sitting up like a big boy. I may just go ahead and learn how to go in the potty if she keeps it up. Well, I better run. Lots of birthdays this week/month: Liz C on Tues, cousin Jan on Wed, cousin Brian and uncle Mike today and tomorrow, Ms. Norma on the 11th, uncle Jim on the 13th, Carrie B the 16th, aunt Libby the 21st, our friend Ben Dunnet the 23rd, and Val and Dave's anniv. on the 15th. Please wish them a very happy bday or anniv. if you see them! Take care of yourselves and remember to think of Papaw H on the 24th. Lots of love, hugs, and kisses. Cooper B

Happy August to You!

Hello out there! How are you? Thank you so much for checking in on me. I am happy to report I am doing great. We had a big Thursday here in UB. I got my 6 month shots and we went to a new place to do it. Our doctor, Dr. V, moved to Reisterstown. It is a little further for us to drive, but we think he is worth the trip. He actually gave me the shots himself. Mom said she wasn't sure if he was qualified to do so, but we thought it was awfully nice of him anyway. I felt like quite the celebrity there. In fact, I think I was their first baby. You would have thought those people have never seen a baby before!! I was afraid they were going to ask me for autographs; you know I was starting to sweat because I have yet to perfect my trademark signature, haha. We talked to Gramma B. today and good news, the poison ivy spots that Gramps acquired while trimming our bushes is better. The bad news is, he is still breaking out with more. Did I tell you we miss them already? I have had a great week though, I have been hanging out with Ms. Michele, meemom and pop, Ms. Norma, and Becca as well as my friends. I told you I am getting to be such a big boy; I took those shots like a champ today. I laughed right at Dr. V when he stuck me. Ok, maybe not laughed, maybe I just smiled and said, "is that the best you can do?" I weigh 19 lbs 10 oz and I am 29 1/2 inches tall! WOW! We have big plans for this weekend and I will tell you all about them soon. I know we are going to have a great time; both mom and dad are very excited. I think those two were up to something for Sat. but I think it fell through. Knowing them they were trying to pawn me off, haha. You know I am kidding...I can't get those two out of my hair for even a second!! I don't know if I told you, but we got our pictures made weekend before last. Now those of you who know me well are gonna laugh out loud, but bless my heart, I cried through most of the ordeal! You know mom has quite the hard time getting me to smile for the camera, HA! The way we figure it, she might have a calling in photography because those ladies at Sears really made me mad. Evidently they don't have the touch. Then one of them had the nerve to say maybe I don't like people. Hmmph! I thought to myself, I have no problem with people lady, you just scared the daylights out of me with your crazy rabbit! Cooper B, not a people person, can you imagine? Mom said not to worry, some people just don't get it. Besides, I like seeing her and dad behind the camera best AND their fancy camera didn't ribbit when they pressed the button. So THERE. From now on, we are just going to duplicate some of the great pics we get at home. Thankfully mom takes about 100 each week so we have plenty to pick from. We did get 2 or 3 beautiful pics from Sears. Better luck next time. Anyway, the pic above with mom and me is us out to dinner at Paradiso on picture day. As you can see, dinner made me feel alot better. Well, I better run. Time to go to the garage to work out. Dr. V complimented me on how strong I am today. I told him thanks to all of those pullups I have been doing with dad. Despite this, he called me chunky! How dare he?! He's awfully nice, so I will let him off the hook for that one. Besides, I think he meant it as a compliment. I hope he knows better than to say that to mom! Hee hee. Take care and PLEASE come on up to UB and see us soon! Much love, Cooper B.