Things we've done in June. . .

• Cooper and MaMa started another session of swimming lessons
• Had a bon voyage and birthday gathering with Beth, Maya and Noah
• We met Grandma and Grandpa for a Birthday picnic
• Had a yellow birthday party
• Cooper started wearing underwear.
• Ruby finished CST
• Went to the county Breakfast on the Farm
• Took a trip to the lake where Max was a fish in the lake.
• At the lake, Mommy caught a gi-normous catfish
• MaMa got a new job
• Went to a commitment ceremony and reception
• Celebrated Max's Baptismal Birthday

Searching for the right words. . .

Warning: Confessional coming!!

I have had apprehension about talking to Max about "relationships." Because the mama bear in me always wants to protect our kids, I've been hesitant to talk about the fact that his/their parents can't be married like other parents. Of course being in the setting they are in, both Max and Cooper know the terms husband and wife, but they don't really know what it means.

Fast forward to this weekend, and the perfect opportunity to seize a teachable moment. We were planning to attend a commitment ceremony for two men. Before nap both Peg and I tag-teamed the discussion. It came out something like this.

Sometimes, when people are older, they discover another special person in their life. It could be two women-like Mommy and me, or two men-like Dan and Mike, or a man and a woman-like Debbie and Erv or Deb and Mark. Someone so special they choose to spend the rest of their lives together, share their belongings, their money, and share a home together. (Max: Kind of like me and Cooper!--which sent us into an explanation about it being people from different families) When they make this choice, often there is a special day, just to celebrate. Some people call it a ceremony, or a wedding, First they will stand before all of their family and friends and talk about a promise to love each other know matter what. After the ceremony, they have a party where there is dancing and food and fun!

He never asked me if we had a special day like this. As I type this I just thought of the best reason for us not to have had a special day like this. Now, when we do have a celebration--it will include three very special people that have bonded us together even stronger.

Max had a great time. He was especially interested in watching everyone dance, trying to sneak candy and cake past allowable limits, and making the most unusual beverage including nuts and chex mix.

Cooper also had a good time. He also enjoyed as much additional candy/cake as he could sneak, and watching the lights dance on the ceiling. Cooper's major observations (speaking of Dan and Mike loudly) "They both have the same pants on!"

About our 3 year old

So, what's there to say about our new 3 year old?

About School: Cooper recently transitioned to a new room where there are mostly 3 year olds. We need to remember this fact when he is having meltdowns about one thing or another. Transitions are tough. He doesn't like parting with Mommy in the morning, but by the time I pick him up in the afternoon, he is very happy to be there. He needed the increased activity, curriculum, more mature friends. Since he turned 3 and wanted to wear backwards underwear he has had only 2 accidents in 10 whole days at school. That seems pretty remarkable! He likes to go to school dressed up in some way always accessorizing with something--sunglasses, magnifying glass around the neck, garden gloves, utility worker's vest--you get the picture.

About food: He has many likes: practically any fruit, yogurt, toast with honey, french toast, white rice or any other kind of rice, chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, onion rings and many others. He will eat spicy foods and not bat an eye--he might ask for some water--but it won't stop him from having more. Oh, of course he loves ice cream and popcicles too.

About language: He is a chatterbox. His pronunciation is getting better and better. Clearly saying "Cooper" now. Still struggles with some blends such as "tr" in swim trunks sounds like "fim tunks." But other words are very clear. Oh, and l's are still y's.

About other academia: He can recognize a few letters and knows some of the letters in his name. Whenever he sees two O's he says, "My name has two O's!" He can count to nearly twenty.

About play: Inside? Music, drums, guitar, beans, trucks with trailers, tractors, horses puppies, basketball, playdough

Outside? "tooter"(scooter), "motorcycle" (trike), basketball, soccer, playing with his pedal tractor or self powered car, digging in the garden for worms

About other tidbits:

He has seen others with hanheld games so he has transformed a basic kitchen timer into his "game."

He has become the helmet police. He observes all bicyclists and motorcyclists and reports on whether or not they are wearing a helmet. If they do not have a helmet, he follows with the safety reason why they should be wearing a helmet. At his Yellow Birthday Party, he was sitting at the table in the front porch and said, "He not have a helmet on!" A few replied, "Cooper, he's just walking. He doesn't need a helmet!"

He, like Max, is into jokes. Particularly knock-knock jokes. He tries to tell the one where you say banana, and banana and banana and then finally orange--you know what I mean, right? Well, this is his version:

C:Knock-knock

who's there

C: banana

banana who?

C: banana-orange!

He will repeat the joke 10 times if you let him. And we must admit, it actually does begin to be funny about the 8th time he says it!

About the bathroom: So, since his third birthday, he's been wearing underwear all day--excluding night-time--and he is doing so well. So well I'm afraid to post about it! I'm sure it's not a done deal, and we do have to intice him to poop on the potty every morning, but, he's doing it! Ahhhh, only one in diapers!

Here are a couple of videos of Cooper singing. Sorry for the grainy quality.

Out and out. . .

more news. . . .

Cooper's potty training is still very much successful with two days in a row pooping before school. Guess he's ready. He also stayed completely dry on Sunday. A day when we were out of town and traveling. Of course we did have to pull over on the interstate and gave the other travellers a nice image on their way by of a toddler using a potty chair in the ditch! He, like Max did, likes to wear his underwear backwards.

And Ruby news--slept all night(until after 7 am) in her crib without any waking!

New for Max and Cooper

Very recent developments:

Cooper--starting to pronounce his name correctly--as opposed to "Tooper."

And Max? Well, he now has preferences for the way I style his hair. Just this evening, "MaMa, I don't want bangs."

More on the Birthday Extravaganza

Not sure if it's good or bad, but our kids end up having their birthday strung out over the course of 2-4 weeks. Cooper's birthday extravaganza began June 7th with Beth, Maya and Noah before they left for Japan, and will wrap up on Saturday with a trip to the lake to be with Aunt Susan, Gina, Jackson and Uncle Mike.

Last Saturday, we met up with Grandma and Grandpa at a park in a little town that was about an even distance for each of us to get to. We enjoyed the park, had some snacks and a small little birthday cake. Cooper has been enjoying his truck/trailer/tractor combination very much as well as his big yellow pail and other gifts. Both Grandma and Grandpa got on the swings!

Then came his actual birthday on Monday the 15th. The theme of the day was YELLOW! When we discussed what he wanted to bring, he wanted cereal bars (Clif Z kids bars) and yogurt. I asked him if he wanted the kind of yogurt that you squeeze and he said, "I want the kind you eat wiff a poon." We negotiated so that it was only yogurt. He was happy. He wore a new yellow shirt and was happy to go to school for most of the day. Mommy and I worked half-days at work and got home to decorate our party space(the front porch) and I began the prep for our mostly yellow meal. On the menu: Boneless BBQ ribs, homemade Macaroni and cheese, corn, coleslaw, fruit salad, corn muffins, shoestring potato sticks, and lemonade. The cake was a yellow layer cake with lemon zest and raspberry in between the layers with a cream cheese frosting. Before our guests arrived, Cooper opened up the gifts from us and Max. It was love at first sight when he saw the motorcycle from Max. He also seems really happy with our book choices, Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, A Day at the Zoo, A Year at the Farm, Go Dog Go, and Sleep Ponies.

He had a great time with everyone at dinner. Probably most enjoyed listening to Mark read, That's Not my Sister! and putting on his new undies from Debbie and Erv--he's been wearing underwear everyday since his Birthday. A few accidents here or there, but mostly we've been having great success!

A treasured moment

Last night when we were upstairs getting ready for bed, I was in taking care of the last pit stop of the night for Max. Ruby was a little agitated waiting for me to come in and feed her. When I finally was in her sight she looked at me, smiled and said, "mama." We were both shocked and I said, "did she just say that?" Peg affirmed, and she went on to say it a couple more times all surrounded with smiles. Pure sweetness.

And now, some pictures of sweet Ruby:

8th month quickie

Ruby . . . .

• is 14 pounds 9 ounces (3-10th percentile)
• is 27 inches long (50th percentile)
• has 0 teeth
• has graduated from going to Cranial-Sacral Therapy
• is starting to get a little frustrated that she can't get where she wants to go
• pulls up
• can feed herself puffs and cheerio-type cereal
• eats fruit from the mesh-feeder-thing (so far just watermelon, and she LOVES it!)
• is generally a very happy girl, but does have her own opinion
• loves to watch her brothers

We have a 3 year old!!

Bon Voyage!

Two very special friends and neighbors left this morning for (as Cooper said last night!) "A- pan!"


We went down to the very close and delicious ice cream shop for a farewell cone, then snapped this photo to see how much all the kids change in the 6 weeks while they are in Japan.



Ruby was especially happy in Maya, Beth and Joyce's(no pic) arms last night.

Rube's News

She's pulling up!

She's been trying to pull herself up for a while. Yesterday, she pulled herself up to a standing position. I'm excited yet worried--she doesn't have enough body control to know what to do with herself once she's standing. . .!

Super Cooper

We are closing in on the big day for Cooper. There's just something about this age, and this kid that warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. But of course, there are also moments when he is extremely stubborn, but provided I have a ounce of patience left, even his stubborn moments are cute.

We went to our first swimming lesson of the session last night. It reminded me that it is so nice to have one on one time with our kids. Walking up to the hospital(where our swimming lessons are held), he said, "MaMa, want to see somefing? See this big wock? It's enormous!" Surprisingly clingy during lessons, but gained some confidence throughout the lesson.

Cooper has been most interested in singing songs with either his ditar or his drum set and also getting decked out in unique outfits. This past weekend he insisted on playing outside in the yard with his lifejacket on.

Here he is below channeling his Adam Lambert.

We are Family!

We've got the birth certificate and the legal bill to prove it!

Well, ok, we're actually waiting to receive the updated birth certificate in the mail, but, the case is closed!
Originally, I was a bit concerned that Max was going to be frightened going to the courthouse, as we have had previous conversations about the fact that the county jail was located in the same building. In those previous conversations, I always reminded him that the judges were also in this facility. He actually had no problem at all. I told him that he could think of any question he wanted to ask Judge G.

Me: Max did you think of any questions for Judge G ?
Max: Yes. What's that hammer-thing on your desk?
Judge G: Good question! That's called a gavel, and when it's too noisy in the courtroom, I bang it[starts banging] and say,'Order in the court!'
Max: Oh.
Judge G: Would you like a try?
Max: [gets shy] No.

She gave each of the kids a stuffed animal. Cooper's is named "Puppy" and Max's dog/puppy is named Gap Hanger Gatt( don't ask me I have no idea)