Cooper Turns One

Dear Cooper,

I knew my life would be upended upon your arrival, but nothing could have prepared me for the last year.  The joy you have brought to the lives of your dad and me - well there aren't enough words in the english language to express how much we love and need you in our world.  You have made our family feel so very full and with purpose.   You make us smile every single minute of every day - even when we're snarling or grumbling about something we may be accusing you of, we're smiling on the inside because we love you SO very much. 

You are an incredibly curious and sweet little boy - and everybody says so after time spent with you.  You smile ALL the time.  And giggle, and crack yourself up.  You think your daddy is the FUNNIEST human being on the planet  -  he gets you in absolute hystarics, sometimes just by looking at you, but more often by tickling you, playing peek-a-boo, chasing you and throwing you as far in the air as is possible.   You LOVE it.  

You walk!!  You started walking at 10.5 months and now, you are so confident and very rarely falter.  You've even started trying to run - heaven help us.   You have no trouble walking on uneven surfaces and actually seem to delight in trying to balance in precarious settings. 

You talk!!  You yell ALL the time.  It is hilarious.  You just start barking "commands" at anybody that will listen at the top of your lungs - but it's not angry, it's authoritative.  Perhaps your true leadership skills are starting to emerge already?  Either way, we love it - example below.    

You also babble all day long.  We feel confident that your first word was "doggy".  You LOVE dogs - you're around Harry & Bella often, and at Debbie's, you play with Ziggy (the overweight, epileptic bulldog) - you seem to love all dogs.  While in Colorado for Christmas, you distinctly said "doggy" whenever near one of Nonna's dogs.  And in Santa Barbara just last week, you saw a dog and said "Da!".  So, we'll call it your first word.  Very close second, and emerging more and more each day, is Daddy.   Since I got to see your first steps, I'll forgive you for the first words.  But let's keep working on the M sounds, huh?

We let you roam the house pretty freely now and you love it.  You are so happy in your room and love your crib.  You even sleep in it, alone, from 6:30pm- 6:30am.  Wowee!  Mom and dad are VERY grateful for this one.   You have learned how to get down stairs which allows us to leave you unsupervised in your room - you really like that.

Playing chase is your favorite.  So is snuggling with mom and dad.  Your snuggles are amazing - especially when we let you come into bed with us.  You know exactly how to snuggle in against mom or dad, bury your head under our chins and get nice and close.  You practically purr...and so do I.  It has emerged as one of the great pleasures of my life.  I could snuggle with you all day long.  

Eating remains a challenge with you but you are getting better.  You adore a good grilled cheese, just like your mama.   Chicken is popular most days, but you keep us on our toes and we've certainly had full weeks where you exist on peaches and bananas.  We're working on it.  Both your dad and I love food and will eat anything - we hope to pass this on to you as well.

Wooden spoons, remote controls and tupperware are your favorite toys.  Lambie is still your one true love.  You've started to be cognizant of when your dad and I leave - you don't like that.  We don't like it either ;)   And lately you've started to become shy - when someone new comes up to you, you lay your head against my chest and give them a coy look.  It's to die for.  I wish you'd keep your head there all day.

Still a major flirt.  Strangers fall all over themselves to tell you how cute you are or to attempt to make you giggle.  You are generally just a happy boy unless you are tired and in those instances, you go down very easily for a nap.  

You bring us more joy than we could have ever imagined and we cannot believe you are one.  

Love, Mommy