growing up

Last week was our first week in our new ward. Your nursery teacher reported that you have been hitting a lot. This week we took extra effort to hold your hands whenever you hit, saying, if you can't have nice hands you can't use your hands for one whole minute. Then we practice giving hugs, high fives, knuckles and others. This week during Sunday School they asked if Dad and I could help out in the nursery. We said yes and got to hang out with you and Meriden. We saw a certain little girl that you would constantly hit. However, after watching, we also noticed that this same little girl would push you off your chair and was also quite aggressive. I guess there was a bit of a reason behind your hitting, though hopefully we can put an end to it soon.
You had your first antibiotic the past 10 days. Amoxilin. While we were in AZ for Thanksgiving you were so so sick. You had a fever off and on and just an awful cold. Aunt Jeni- the respiratory therapist 

You're going to be a big brother!

You're going to be a big brother. I still sometimes make you let me hold you and thankfully you always hold pretty still when I kiss you over and over. I want to enjoy you as my baby for the next 5 months because that is all you get:) This baby is due the 11th of April and you were due the 10th of April, so I wonder if you might be sharing a birthday or not.
Lately you've been hitting and then kissing directly after. It's almost like you need an excuse to kiss everyone around you so you hit them first so you kiss it. Your logic is very funny.
People comment on your busy nature all the time. I just remind them that you've got a lot to do! Besides you're a boy. You need to discover.
That "D" word is still your very favorite and you say it all the time. When we were at Grandma's last week everyone was watching you and Dad made a little flash card that said D and he asked, What letter is this, "D!!!" you shouted, everyone clapped and you squealed while turning in a circle in delight of the positive attention. Dad also asked you, "What's Grandpa's middle name?, What does Dog start with, What's your favorite letter?" and every time you got it right, "D!!!"
Your smile is so cute. I think you are so handsome. You look so much like your Dad. You always always have some sort of cut on your head, forehead, cheeks, nose, and some on your legs too. You fall a lot and you've got the cuts and bruises to prove it!
You and Meriden tackle each other and really have been playing together nicely. You chase each other around the house laughing and I'm grateful you have one another.
Some words you say a lot are: Bi-bi (binky) wa-wa (water) a-du (all done) MOOWW (mooore!) Daddy, Mommy, Ne-ne (Meriden) lu-yu (love you) nody (naughty) poopy...
I love you. I always will. You bring my heart more joy than you'll ever know, you are my dream in the flesh.
Love,
Mom

16 months

I took you to your well check today.
-You are still low in iron. We've tried to avoid supplements since they made you poop too much and too non-solid, but you're still low. We'll have to start supplements.
-Dr. Garron Miller- you pediatrician said your ears look a little pink. You've had a cold. You've never had an ear infection before.
-He thinks your toe nails are funny because of lack of iron.
-You're growing just fine.

You love watching Meriden at swim lessons and though you're usually terrified to get in the water- or just hate being cold- you have attempted to get in a few times. You always try to throw anything from your truck to your snack cup in the pool. You overall hate water and I think it is entirely of not wanting to be cold. Splash pads you just watch. Payson pool you prefer to stay in the 4 inch water and be cautious. You did love the shallow warm pools of Sandy Beach.

You've started talking quite a bit. You say words like "Shuuu" for shoe- you love when I put your shoes on. "Poo-py" no explanation needed. "Mamama"- usually when you want food. DEE and Daaa- both Dad. You adore your Dad. "Heee" for here- you love handing me stuff. "Taat-too" for thank you, every time I hand you something. You poop a lot. Like 2-5 times each day.

We snuck you into nursery early since me and Dad's callings can't keep you around. It's been great and the leaders say you fit right in.

You're a great eater. You eat sometimes a whole waffle in the morning... and a banana! First thing when you wake up you want to eat or you get mad.

You give "bo" for bones and "huuu" for hugs and a great big open mouthes kiss whenever requested. You put your head on my shoulder and let me hold you more now than you ever did when you were an infant.

You've started listening for more than a page to stories. You try and do Meriden's flash cards, puzzles and other learning stuff with her. You've started helping to build towers instead of just tearing them down. You and Meriden get along fine. Dad heard you say her name the other day but you haven't said it since.

I love you with all my heart little son. You make life so meaningful.
Love,
Mom

Almost 14 months!

Your 3rd bottom tooth just popped up tonight. That makes 7- 4 on top and 3 on bottom. You quite a little walker. You love to move move move. I hardly notice that you move so much until someone will comment, does "He sure does move a lot!" Since Dad teaches a lot in priesthood and substituting for sunday school and I'm recently put in as secretary in primary presidency- we asked if you could go to nursery early. They let you 2 weeks ago. You love it! We tend Mae Mae everyday and you 2 are only 3 months apart. The 3 of you with Meriden love to fight over the stroller all day. I almost always end up taking it away. You give great big open mouth kisses and since I weened you are loving you Dad more and more. Your first word was "Hi" and you say "Daaaaiiieee" a lot. I realized since watching Mallorie I've been lazy in teaching and making you use sign language for more and all done. You often throw your food on the floor and get a little slap on the hand. I think it hurts your feelings more than your hand. It kindda breaks my heart. You drink goat milk from our goat Rebekah that Dad milks every morning. You're a good little eater but you are super skinny. I love it- because when I hold you you are so light- especially when hiking. At aerobics this morning you walked around the gym with your hands in the air yelling noises and smiling. It was so cute. You always find the babies at aerobics and try to such on the binkies or touch their eyes or put your finger in their mouth. It reminds me of when we brought you home from the hospital, all Meriden wanted to do was poke your eyes out. Meriden adores you but you don't seem to take much interest in her yet- unless she takes a toy you're playing with or sits on you like a horsey or grabs the collar of your shirt. So naughty… Meriden… At 11 months you started laying down and going to sleep instead of crying yourself to sleep. It is really nice. It only took you from 4 months to 11 months to figure it out:) You insist on holding a fork or spoon but are still really struggling to figure out how it works. You love to destroy block towers we build but just last week you helped us build one- first time. When we played in the baby pool today you were only interested in dumping cups of water out- too cold for you to get in. Meriden was in and loving it. See what happens by the end of the summer. You love to push the kids tricycles up and down the driveway. You're the first to wake up in the morning between you and Meriden. You just start saying "Ah" "Ah" like "Hey, come and get me! I'm ready to play!" You snuggle up to me every once in awhile, but it does seem like more and more all the time. I love it. You are my baby and I love you so so much. You're growing up so fast. You are a pro at stairs and I'm grateful. I love you my little Jeffie.

Steven and Cherise Cooper Family 2013

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My baby is growing up too fast!

If only my love for you reflected more in the amount of journal entries I wrote for you. Know this my little Jeffie, that I adore you. Your smile puts a breathe of fresh air in my day. You curiosity puts mystery in my life and hugs, ah your hugs, put love in my soul. I love nursing you, I love holding you, I love smelling you, I love kissing you.
Within the last few weeks you have started waving and I can almost make out a "hi". We watch the letter factory almost every morning and you have the A sound perfect! You say 'AH' all the time. You still squeal/squeak like a bird at random times. You fold your arms for prayers sometimes. You clap.
You've started feeding yourself! Halleleigh! You still don't eat much, but I think you're eating more than you were. For the last few months 80% of what we put in your mouth came out in a storm of spitting. You sure made your daddy frustrated sometimes, especially when you got it on his work clothes. You mostly love sweet stuff. Since I don't give processed sugars until age 1 and you're not allowed to have honey, that means fruit. I offer you veggies almost every meal and you usual take a few bites, but I know I can get real food in your tummy when i give you fruit. You'r getting really good at 'chewing' your food too so I can give you edema me or
You are tall! Almost all of your 12 month clothes are too small and have been for awhile. Many people ask if you and Meriden are twins. She's small and you're tall.
You FINALLY stopped crying yourself to sleep! You HAVE been crying yourself to sleep every nap (2 times each day) and every night and sometimes twice each night when you'd wake up in the middle of the night. That is 7 months with crying that would sometimes last 40 minutes or more!
You have funniest cute little teeth. You bit me while nursing at first and then you would just kind of gnaw and leave teeth marks, but mow you're doing well. You better enjoy it because you've only got one more month of it.
You spend a great deal of the day in front of the window. You climb up the trampoline, climb up the ottoman and stand up to see out the window. Living across the street from the church, there is often times a lot to see. You wave at people, cars, stray cats and our baby bunnies. You slap the window with your little hands and there are always marks to prove it.
You give the sweetest little hugs and kisses. You grab on to my neck for dear life and plant big wet open mouthed kisses on my cheek. When you're in your johnny jump up you sometimes grab me or Dad's leg and hold on for dear life. Its so fun.
You love to explore and get into anything and climb. I know that you are going to be a toddler that keeps me very busy. YOu love Meriden and you guys get a long so well. She shares her toys and you don't usually seem to care when she takes your toys from you. You love to grab her hair and bows so we have to keep you in the front of the stroller now. You love to go on bike rides and usually squeal a lot when I go fast and the wind is in your face. You've eaten a lot of dirt and sucked on a lot of rocks. I'd think you'd be picky about those sorts of things since you won't eat my cooking a lot of the time.
You almost always sleep through the night, but when you don't, Dad and I have our earplugs ready.
You are ALMOST walking. You can stand up and walk with anything from Meriden's little baby stroller, the little shopping cart or a little play table you push along the gym floor while I'm at aerobics. You love watching the little boys play and run and sometimes I think you're very anxious to be doing the same. You crawl very fast.
If there is a tower built of anything you can spot it from far away and make sure it destroyed in a matter of seconds.
You didn't take a binky until about 6-8 months when you noticed how much your sister loves her binky. You still chew on it a lot and are fine to go to bed without it, but it usually keeps you quiet in places like church, or helps me replace something in your mouth when you're done nursing.
You choose me over Dad any day. I know it won't always be like that so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
We feel like we should wait until you're done nursing before we try and have another baby so you'll be my baby for a little while longer. So please don't grow up too fast. Just stay little, and mine.
WHen I look in your eyes and really tune into your spirit I know that you are going to be a great man. You already seem so wise.
I love you son, with all of my heart.
Love,
Mom