Aunt Helen is here!

Hello everyone! How in the world are you? We are fine as frog hair here in UB. Sorry I am late on this week's post, I am sure you figured out I am quite the busy bee. Lots of news...first of all the good news, our friend Helen is here for a visit from the exotic Florida Keys. As you can imagine, we are having quite a wonderful time. I think she and mom are going to try to do some shopping today with or without me. I might just hop on over to Ms. Michele's and play with my friends instead. No offense ladies, but I think I might sit this one out read (those two are slower in molasses in January when it comes to making decisions--I simply have not developed that sort of patience yet). Everyone say a big thank you to the good lord for us. Dad was in a car accident on Wednesday, but don't worry, he is doing great, not even sore. The Honda, not so much. We will see if it is totaled, but it's okay either way. The important part is dad, and he is safe and sound. The good news is they gave him rental truck and he is now able to fulfill his dream of going to the dump. How about that?! Mom says every cloud has a silver lining. We have the day off today because aunt Helen is here and of course, we are loving it. You know I am crawling everywhere and have been for the past 2 weeks. I really want to walk and have been trying out my sea legs on all of the furniture. In fact, I have been trying out nearly everything. I keep mom and dad hopping, that's for sure. I guess Wednesday mom may have hopped too much because the two of us sat right down at our computer and she ordered me a corral! Can you imagine?! She says it is to keep me safe, but I honestly think she is too old and slow to keep up with a little guy...she can't pull the wool over this boy's eyes! Funny how this day coincided with the fact that she had a near nervous breakdown after finding me playing with her stethoscope. The scary part for her was, I had one of the ears in my mouth and when she pulled it out, the ear piece was missing. Now you can imagine things progressed to sheer hysteria quickly. She called dad bawling her poor head off and he proceeded to talk in soothing tones and try to calm her down. I am watching the whole event, totally nonplussed, going about my woos and coos, laughing and trying to get mom to hand over the phone. You may not know it, but I am quite a big talker on the phone. Anywho, mom got off with dad, (still in tears but promising she was now "calm"; now I don't truly know the meaning of calm, but I don't think she was being completely honest. She then tore apart my room in her terror and lo and behold, there was the ear bud, buried under the blanket on the changing table. Mom immediately called dad back to tell him the coast was clear and he could stop worrying about an intestinal obstruction and a potential surgery (trust me, he wasn't). Maybe this explains why we have both the pen and the gate arriving via UPS sometime very soon. We have another big weekend coming up, Liz and John's wedding and gram and gramps B are coming to hang out with me. They are bringing aunt Amber with them and I bet I am gonna WOW her! She hasn't seen me in 6 months! She won't believe what a big handsome boy I am becoming. I am full of squeals and woos and this week I have a new sound, sss sss. I wish mom and dad would just listen, I have so much to say! We have some very sad news to report, our friend Cliff Wasko, Cyndy's dad, passed away this past Monday after a long battle with cancer. We are so truly sorry and have been thinking of them all week. His services are today and tomorrow, so please, keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. We had some birthdays this past week, uncle Scott, aunt Tide, Josh Halfin, and on Sunday is aunt Dawn and Uncle Mark's anniversary. Oh yes, Papaw Bill, Lisa, and Sabrina J celebrated bdays last week. Now don't forget my birthday TOMORROW and I will be EIGHT whole months old! Can you believe it?! Hard to believe a little guy can get this handsome in such a short time frame! I better run. I hope everyone is doing great. We'll be thinking of you. Come and see us soon. I hope you enjoy the pics from my visit with Grammy J, the Townsends, great Nanny H, and Jacob. We had such a great time and it was so wonderful to see them. Take care out there. Lots of love to you and yours. Don't forget to keep uncle Bart in your prayers. Cooper B

I'm a Beach Bum!

Hello out there! Guess where I was this weekend...THE BEACH. Woohoo. Of course, I loved it. I will have to admit I was a little scared at first. In fact, that sand made me cry! In my defense though, I was sleepy and a little emotionally labile. Once I had my morning nap, I was ready to charge into that ocean. Now I don't know if I have told you all what a water bug I am, but I LOVE it!! Sometimes I cry and yell at mom when she takes me out of the tub. I loved watching the waves, although I will admit this water was a bit more formiddable than my bathtub. We were very fortunate and had a BEAUTIFUL day yesterday. The weather was just right. Not too hot with a great breeze and guess what mom did for the very first time ever? We rented an umbrella! She mentioned to dad something about them getting really old?! Any way, I really enjoyed myself, in fact, as you can see above, I wore that sand, water, and sun right out! I only wish I could have stayed a little longer...by tomorrow I would have been riding those waves like a professional. We had a long trip home today, my DVD player broke AGAIN so we stopped to exchange it. And of course, mom and dad had to have their starbucks. Mom got a special surprise on the way home, I began to get upset after being such a great boy in my carseat, so she took me out to feed me like the great mom that she is. When I finished my milk, I sat up and mom noticed poop on my back. Now where in the world did that come from? Much to her chagrin, it was also on her shirt, both of her hands, and her pants. Sooo, we had an impromptu costume change in the grass in a nice little subdivision near the hospital. Very exciting stuff. I told mom not to feed me prunes before a big road trip. Maybe next time she will listen! Anyway, we made it back home and we are all unpacked. Short and sweet...mom always get a little misty eyed when she gets to see the ocean. She told me all about how she used to live there. Somehow, I get the feeling she wouldn't mind it again someday. Well, neither would I! I would make a great surfer, don't you think? I certainly have the looks and the charm though I'm not sure I could get used to calling everyone dude. Well, I guess I better go, I just wanted to share my pics with you. Hope you enjoy and you aren't too jealous. Come and see me if you get the chance. Lots of love from yours truly, the jetsetter, Cooper B.

Labor Day Extravaganza!

Hello, hello! Hope you all had a wonderful 3 day weekend. Parts of mine were more than wonderful...other parts, not so much. The great news first...guess who came to see me?? My grammy J, nanny H, aunt Pat, uncle Jr., and cousin Jake! Can you believe it? We had a WONDERFUL visit. It was so great to see them and to meet aunt Pat, Jr., and Jake for the first time. Now you know, I am not quite myself, but I hung right in there and tried to stay in the bestest of moods. After all, they traveled quite a ways to see a little guy and you know with all that talk on previous blogs, I sure couldn't disappoint!! We did a lot of hanging around, sitting on the porch, and of course, talking. We even got out to Frederick for some Five Guys and Mom and Dad's fav, Cold Stone. Dad didn't have any ice cream...I am not sure but I think it was his punishment for mom beating him in the lunge contest, hahaha. Anywho, we sure hated to see them go and we hope to make it down there for a visit soon. I will post the pics as soon as I get them downloaded. We thought great-grandma Hively was going to dognap Sam. He followed her EVERYwhere. Between the two of us, we really had her charmed! I think Sam was tempted to leave us; I could tell he was daydreaming of what it might be like to be top dog again! Sorry old friend, but not in this house. More news...I am SO sick. I have been for the entire Labor Day weekend. If my family had not have come to visit, I would vow to NEVER celebrate Labor Day again! Mom and Dad have kept me pumped full of Tylenol and Motrin, now I am taking antibiotics. They keep wiping my little nose which is rubbed raw, my ear is KILLING me, I can't drink my milk, I can't sleep...what in the world is a little guy to do?! Poor mom is BESIDE herself. Bless her heart, she is so out of sorts because I am sick. She tried to call my doctor and no one called her back, then she tried to call in the medicine for me and all the pharmacies were closed...Never fear though, we got some medicine today and I am doing my very best to feel better. None of us have slept in four days, and last night was the worst of all. Mom is praying for a great night's sleep for me tonight. Keep your fingers crossed. Now you know things could always be worse, but poor mom, she is a basket case. Dad and I don't know what we are going to do with her! More news...guess who is coming to see me soon? Well, I have three big weekends coming up. First, we are going to see the ocean next weekend! Woohoo. That is, of course, if I am feeling better. Next, aunt Helen is coming to stay for a few days the week of the 17th. Then, gram and gramps B. and aunt Amber are coming down the weekend of the 29th to visit and hang out with me while mom and dad go to Liz and John's wedding. Now don't you feel bad about me getting left at home for the wedding...I am going to have tons more fun with my visitors! Well, I better run, wish me luck on some zzz's tonight. Oh yes, bdays to mention...cousin Jacob on the 6th, uncle Mark on the 10th, Allison McC the 14th, Papaw Bill on the 15th, uncle Scott and Josh Halfin the 19th, and aunt Tide the 21st. Anniversaries to note (and lots of them) Keith and Libby on the 1st, Rob and Megan today, Cyndy and Jeff the 15th, Matt and Lori, Amanda & Brian on the 16th, and Dawn and Mark the 23rd, whew! Of special note, our cousin, Sawyer D will be ONE YEAR OLD on the 11th, he shares his bday with none other than...Ms. Michele (whose age will remain our secret). So keep them in your thoughts, I'll sure be thinking of you! Lots of love, hugs, and kisses, Cooper B.