Cooper is 1 Year + 2 Months!

Where did the past month go??

Still no walking and not much talking for our little guy...but he is going to be a big brother!

Cooper loves to eat! In fact, he will now eat everything-books, kleenex boxes, etc. We have got to keep an eye on this guy!!

He didn't really appreciate our hat party as much as I had hoped:)

Cooper is a climber. He climbs into things-boxes, the bathtub, the laundry basket. He climbs up onto things-just the other day I turned around and found him on the arm of the couch trying to get up onto the window ledge...heart attack!!

He is adventuresome and fun loving and boy does he keep us on our toes!

Discipling a 2 Year Old

This is an atypical post for our family blog. I've been thinking a lot lately about what it looks like to disciple a 2 year old with a 5 minute attention span! I have found some resources that Carter has really enjoyed and thought I would pass them on to whoever is interested. Also, if you have any suggestions or things you've enjoyed, please share the wealth!!

First off, the Jesus Storybook Bible. So good!

Carter has also enjoyed these Foundation Verses from the Desiring God ministry. There are 76 verses that each have a picture to go with them. It is geared towards 2-5 year olds. At this point we sit and do it for about 5 minutes but Carter has fun with it and has learned a couple of verses which is great!

As for music, Steve Green has a couple of CDs that are all Scripture and easy to memorize. It is a bit old and sort of cheesy but still descent.

Sovereign Grace Ministries has some children's music that is really good. This album, To Be Like Jesus is based on the fruit of the Spirit. Good and not as annoying!

Forts, Skalmans, Potty Training, oh my!!!

We had quite an eventful weekend! Our friends, Britta and Steven Skalman came up from Fargo to hang out with us. They are so great with the boys and jump right into the chaos.

Britta built Carter a sweet fort...

When he wasn't playing in the fort, he was destroying it and asking for it to be rebuilt:)

We also decided to start some serious potty training on Saturday. Carter loves his new underware (Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Cars, etc.). However, he doesn't mind if they get wet! It was a day of one step forward and two steps back but we are pressing on.

Cooper loved the company too!

Carter's New Tricks

Couch flips and elevated high fives...Carter is ALL boy!!

Winter Stir Crazy

It is difficult to figure out ways to get the boys to burn enough energy each day...we are sooooo excited for spring!!

Carter is 2 Years + 7 Months!

Carter is our talkative, expressive, emotional, organized, creative, funny little man!

Riding on the turtle at the mall

Showing off his new necklace

Organizing his crayons:)

Here are some other highlights from this month:

-Carter loves to talk in song...it is really cute!

-He still stays in bed both in the morning and after nap time until we come in and get him. He will call out from his bed, "what are you doing out there?" or "I'm AWAKE!"

-He is very attached to his blanket and milk. He asks for them so many times a day I can't keep track.

-Carter gets a little frustrated when Tim and I are talking to each other at the dinner table. He always wants to get in on the action and lately his "go to" move has been to ask us if he can tell his Monkey Story. Once he gets our attention we ask him to tell the story and he never really has a story...but I guess he gets what he wants!

-We have been reading the Jesus Storybook Bible a lot but he really only wants us to read about David and Goliath, Jonah and the fish, Noah, and Daniel and the lions.

-He has gotten into Veggie Tales this month. We borrowed a CD from a friend and he asks to listen to it almost daily. He seems to like the music more than the videos.

-We have played a lot of dominoes and memory this month (neither of them according to the rules, of course).

-Ring Around the Rosie is also a new favorite. He is quite aggressive with this game though so watch out!

-Quote of the month: "Mama, I think daddy is a cutie and I really don't like Goliath."

-His new favorite videos (we do one video a day after nap time) are Curious George and Clifford.

Cooper is 1 Year + 1 Month!

This picture says a lot...Cooper is always happy when he is around his big brother! Carter doesn't always appreciate the "help" or company when he is playing with his toys but Cooper keeps trying anyway:) Also, as seen in this picture, Cooper is in his pajamas most of the time (of course that is my fault-don't judge!).

He still isn't saying much. He laughs a lot and makes these funny growling/throat noises that make us laugh. It is his way of communicating that he enjoys something:) His 7th tooth came in yesterday-a relief but so many more to come!

Also this month we packed up all of the bottles and bibs, the exersaucer, infant car seat and swing. Wow, he is growing up!!

I just read this quote today from a mom about her baby:

"You are becoming such a little person and every day I have to resist the urge to put you between two slices of wheat bread and lather mayonnaise on your head, gobbling you up in one bite."

It made me laugh but that is totally how I feel about you Cooper! You are such a delight and so adorable!

Cooper's 1 Year Video

Go to the bathroom. Get a snack. This is a LONG video:)

Untitled from Casey Spark on Vimeo.

Cooper's 1 Year Check-Up

Cooper is growing and moving up the percentage charts.

Height: 29 1/4 (26%)

Weight: 22 pounds, 8 ounces (40%)

Head: 18 1/4 inches (45%)

Wrestlemania

The boys spend at least half of each day wrestling. Carter takes every opportunity to pin Cooper down. Sometimes in self-defense, Cooper pulls Carter's hair. It is kind of hard to know when to step in and referee...usually they seem to be enjoying themselves!

So Big!

Cooper gets a little help from Carter...

Carter and Dad Playing Catch

This video is from December...I just forgot to post it. It is so fun to watch Carter and Tim play together!!

Carter is 2 1/2 Years!!

Here are some more pictures from our dear friend Kendra! I love how she captures the boy's personalities.


And here are some of Carter's "latest":

-He will come up with a list of things to do and then say, "Does that sound like a good plan mom?"
-I was wrestling around with Cooper and nibbled on his ear. Carter looked at me very seriously and said, "No Mom! Don't bite my brother!"
-The night before our winter retreat Tim told Carter that the next day he would see his friends and eat some animal crackers and M&Ms that he bought for the students. The very first words out of Carter's mouth the next morning were, "Where are my friends, animal crackers and M&Ms?"
-Carter got the Sandra Boynton book, 15 Animals, for Christmas and loves it. We downloaded the song that goes with the book and he asks to listen to it most days.
-He is back in love with Dora the Explorer and is starting to really enjoy Veggie Tales.
-I put Carter down for a nap one day and I overheard him saying, "Am I Cooper? No. Am I Mommy? No. Am I Daddy? No. I'm just Carter." We had just read Are You My Mother? before bed. Hillarious!
-And finally, he keeps making these ridiculous, Picasso-like Mr. Potato Head creations. He will bring it to Tim or me and say with a crazy grin (see below), "Do you LIKE it??!!"

Cooper at One Year!

Our friend Kendra took some pictures of the boys while she was in town for Cooper's birthday. Cooper is such a cutie!!



And here is a quick video of our little "walker"...it won't be long!

Cooper's 1st Birthday!

It is hard to believe that our little man is ONE YEAR OLD!!


We kept things simple and just did a little celebration with our friends Kendra and Hadley. Cooper seemed to thoroughly enjoy his cupcake! Carter seems to be over his birthday jealousy and has been singing to Cooper all week:)