What We've Been Up To

    As the days go back and forth from fallish to hot, and we've been staying home more, I've been trying to come up with more fun things to do with the kids. Cooper is pretty good about playing by himself, but it's nice when I can offer more for him to do, especially when we do it together. I feel like I'm starting to get into a groove of coming up with activities, actually doing them, and enjoying the result. So, here's what we've been up to, in pictures:

 The 'Letter and Number Pit' I have all of the letters and numbers in this pool. 

Cooper goes 'diving' for whatever letter or number I call out. 

It's fun and educational!

Oh, and Ace likes it too.

 Puzzles in Cooper's room. Doing puzzles also helps learn about cleaning up one thing before starting another. (Stepping on puzzle pieces around the room may or may not have contributed to my making sure we clean up all puzzle pieces we aren't using)

Finger painting..looks fun but Cooper isn't that into it. 

He's rather do something where he can move around more. 

I'm not complaining..paint is messy!

"Did you call for the letter C for cute, Mama?" 

"Where's Cooper?" 

Aunt Rachel gave the boys this awesome TeePee and we love it!

Dalton is moving beyond gardening now. 

He's plowed up a portion of our horse pen to plant oats this winter

 and corn in the spring. 

Plowed dirt is so pretty, and feels good between your toes.

 Oobleck...took this idea from a website. It's cornstarch and water but makes a crazy feeling goop. Cooper played with it for a little while, but then wanted to get moving. 

 Ace played on the blanket...well tried to repeatedly get off of it...

while Cooper was gooping it up.

He kept trying to eat the cats' tails. 

Don't worry, he never got them in his mouth...at least while I was looking.

Wonder where he gets his interest in the cats?

Oh, that explains it!

Ace was really crawling today. He got off the blanket and 

couldn't inchworm as well, so he had to crawl. 

Now I know he can do it if he wants to! 

I made an obstacle course for Cooper, using his letter pads

 (not sure what they are called).

"On your mark, get set, GO!"

Down the path, up the slide....

 Down the slide to another path...

After that path, he had to push the lawnmower ...

Then run to the stroller...

Push the stroller through some chairs....

And finish with a zig-zag path. Whew. He did this several times and then we moved on. We were going to show Daddy when he came home for lunch but the wind and Wilbur messed up our paths.

I've been pinning activities daily so hopefully we'll be doing some more fun stuff soon! Until then...

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Nana's Weekend

   

     A couple of weekends ago we celebrated Nana's (Dalton's grandmother) birthday. It was a full weekend of celebrating with family, including 3 of her siblings from out of state. I feel bad when I look back at my blog because I don't put as many pictures of Dalton's family as my own. This is mostly because we seem them regularly so I never think to start taking a bunch of pictures because it's not a big  visit. I'm going to try and get better about that.
 

What a great picture of three great smiles!

    Anyway, so this celebration was a perfect time to take some pictures. I only took them Sunday at the birthday lunch but we got together Friday and Saturday too. Friday night we had BBQ at Aunt Ellen's house. Cooper really likes going to the Morris house because there is a neat treehouse and zipline. He rode it, along with his cousins, until it was time to come in. After dinner it was smore time by the fire pit. Cooper didn't quite get the concept of roasting the marshmallow. He would either hold it too high above the fire or drop it on the coals. With Dalton's help he was able to successfully roast one, and we all enjoyed a bite.

 Auntie M (or AA as Cooper is now calling her) with Ace

Cooper didn't let this little firetruck get out of his sight.

 If Graham was riding it Cooper was close behind. 

     Saturday we dropped the kids off at the Walker's house and went to the Country Club to have a really nice dinner with all of the grownups. After dinner everyone shared some "Nanaisms". It was neat to hear stories from the past and present. Nana is a wonderful person, and may be the most positive person I've ever met...something I'm trying to imitate. She always has a smile and a cookie waiting at her house for Cooper. I'm very grateful to have married into such a loving and close family.

    When I picked the boys up I was a little nervous. This was the first time I'd left them both for 3 hours with non-family. The Walkers have two boys too, so I knew Cooper would have fun. When I arrived Cooper was in his PJs watching Diego, and Ace was smiling from one of the parent's arms. They said it went well...though Ace went through all of his clothes and they'd had to change clothes too. The good news was that their boys spit up a lot when they were babies too so they were ok.

 A rare moment when Cooper was alone on the trampoline. 

 Ace and Emily

Cooper and Uncle Bud

    Sunday, after church, we headed to Mere Mere and Popsey's for lunch, cake and birthday presents. It was super fun, especially for Cooper, who loves playing with all of his cousins. It was a busy weekend, but very fun and a great celebration of a great Grandmother and Great-grandmother.

Nana had lots of help blowing out the candles.

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13

Our Newest Addition

     Our little family is growing...in the four-legged variety. It's calving season here in Caddo and sadly, they lost a mama cow in the process of having her first calf. So, there is an orphan calf here that needs taking care of. Dalton is usually in charge of this and this time he decided to just bring the calf up to the house instead of having to go to the barn to feed it 2 or 3 times a day.

    We were pretty excited to have a little calf here. Cooper was a little afraid at first but now likes him. And I love baby anything so it's fun for me too.

     Dalton was calling him Fifty, since that is his tag number, but Cooper and I renamed him Wilbur yesterday. I think it's going to stick. Cooper can say it, so that's a plus.

    Cooper was afraid of calves at first...he was ok until they made noise, but now that he has Wilbur he's liking the little guy. He pets him and puts his arm around him and likes for Wilbur to chase him around. Unfortunately Wilbur has a tendency to run up on your heels, so hopefully there won't be a crash between the two.

 "Come on Wilbur!" 

Daddy Dalton 

    Wilbur eats a couple of bottles a day, and he takes them best from Dalton. I've tried but Wilbur doesn't like me as much.

The cats like having Wilbur around too. They get the leftovers.

    Dalton decided that Wilbur will be a good practice dummy for Cooper to learn roping. Poor Wilbur...he puts up with Cooper throwing the rope at him or putting it around his neck. Dalton even got Wilbur to follow Cooper so he could rope his back feet. Don't worry though, he never let the rope get tight enough to be uncomfortable.

    Each morning Dalton goes out and feeds Wilbur. Then at lunch we usually bring him up to the yard and feed him. Then he hangs out in the yard (in hopes that he will try some grass) until the evening. We're pretty special...not everyone has a calf hanging out in the bushes.

He followed me up the back steps for a bottle!

    It will be a sad day when we have to say goodbye to Wilbur and send him back to the pasture, but for now we're enjoying our pet, and Cooper's getting some up close and personal experience with a calf.

Cooper likes to shut and latch the gate by himself. 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

This cutie is ready for fall too!

Snapshots of Fun

  

   Is it fall yet? It has been feeling really nice around here the last week and we've been trying to take advantage of it. I'm fighting the urge to get pumpkins and scarecrows out on display! Dalton says it's too early, but seeing that the high Friday is supposed to be in the 70s I may just have to go ahead and decorate for fall. 

     We've been staying home more these last couple of weeks too. I expected to be going crazy with boredom, especially since Dalton has been farming, which means he doesn't get home until late almost every night (last week it was 8:30 before he got home one night). Anyway, it's been such a blessing to be at home with the kids and there really hasn't been any real boredom. Staying home has forced me to come up with activities to do with Cooper and Ace, so that I don't give in to the temptation to leave the TV on all day (not just for Cooper, but for myself as well). 

     Cooper's gotten good at doing several puzzles that we have, we've read books in his cool Teepee (I'll post a pic of that later), played games and had lots of tickle time. I've also been on floor level playing with Ace and watching him do the Downward Dog yoga move over and over. He's on the verge of crawling but still has a little ways to go. He's so strong! 

Hanging out in the pack n play outside

     I've heard that saying that necessity is the mother of all invention, and I think that is true. In my case, necessity is the mother of all productivity! I wanted to make homemade bread yesterday, which I did. Woo hoo. While I was doing that I needed something for Cooper to do. I keep seeing stuff about sensory tubs and decided that I should probably do something like that for Cooper. So I opened a big bag of rice, poured it into a large baking pan, put it on a mat on the floor with Cooper's dump truck and a couple of measuring cups and let him at it. He loves it and has already played this morning. Of course there are pieces of rice all over the floor ("Keep it in the pan" hasn't quite clicked yet), but it's a small price to pay for an occupied child. 

The rice needs to stay where?

     I'm also trying to up my educational activities too, so we've started a letter and number of the day. I show him the letter, we talk about the sound and think of several words that start with that letter. Then I write the words and draw pictures...if Cooper somehow thinks a cat is a monkey or something it's because of my not-so-awesome drawings. Cooper enjoys the learning and erasing the pictures I draw. 

     Last weekend Cooper rode the horse by himself for the first time. When I say rode the horse, I mean he followed us while we walked only a few feet in front of him. He did really well. He knows how to turn (though he's not powerful enough sometimes) and most importantly he can pull back and say "Whoa!" when he wants to stop. I got to go for a ride that day too and it was so nice! I miss riding and hope to do more of it. 

 Turn him to the right.

 Try not to pull back while you turn

Come to me..kick (like the horse could feel those little feet)

Again, I must avoid white! It makes me look pasty and chubby (chubbier)

     This week we're hosting playdate again. So fun! I've got several activities/centers planned so hopefully they all have a good time. I didn't realize how much I've missed teaching things to kids and this is allowing me to do that with my own kids...even better. I'll try to post about the playdate (if the other moms don't mind). 

     

     Funny to share with you...Dalton and I were talking about kids the other day and how I want to have a couple more and then adopt. Dalton gave me this weird look and said, "But I just read your blog. I thought you felt overwhelmed?" I laughed and told him that I'll always be a little overwhelmed but that's a good thing. It means that I'm at the end of my abilities so God can take over and guide. Also, it means that I'm not being lazy and only taking on what's comfortable. He said "Hmmm" and moved on. I think he was disappointed. 

"Happy Trails Pard'ner"

"How can I repay the Lord for all His acts of kindness to me? I will celebrate my deliverance and call on the name of the Lord." Psalm 116:12-13

Sleep

     I've been meaning to write an update on the sleeping situations at my house, but haven't gotten around to it. Now I know why. I had to wait for a milestone to be met before I wrote.

      Last night....Ace slept all night long 8-5!! Yeah! It was amazing. Of course I didn't sleep all night. I woke up and had to fight the urge several times to go in a check on him, just in case he'd gotten into trouble. I resisted though, choosing to say a prayer of safety instead (more for my peace of mind than his safety..he's pretty safe in his crib). And I must confess there was one time that he woke up and started to fuss. I turned the monitor off to let him cry for a few minutes and the next thing I knew it was two hours later and the monitor was still off. Thankfully when I turned it back on there wasn't a peep. Of course then I thought that he could've somehow maneuvered around and gotten stuck in the side of the crib....but then I prayed that he was safe, trusted in that and went back to sleep. I knew if I went it to check there was a chance he'd wake up. I'm seriously going to get a video monitor.....my imagination is way too active! This falling back asleep with the monitor off thing has happened 3 times in the last week. I feel so bad when it happens, but because he's always quiet when I turn it back on, I feel ok. It's just too hard to stay awake for 5 minutes in the middle of the night!

     Don't worry, I don't expect a repeat performance tonight. I know it will take a little while for consistent sleeping all through the night, but I'm celebrating this victory! It also makes me think though. As soon as he's doing this I'll have no excuse to stay in bed a little later (like 7/8). It'll be time to get up when Dalton does and cook breakfast and do my Bible study. With restful nights comes more responsibility.

     In other sleeping news, Cooper has made some big improvements too. No, he's still not sleeping through the night. But, he now goes to bed by himself at nap and night! Before this we would lay down with him until he fell asleep and then leave. I know, this breaks all sorts of parenting rules, but so does a lot of what I do, I'm sure. At first I did it out of necessity. I was pregnant, we were both tired, and rather than sit on the floor until he went to sleep (what the books say to do) or leave and risk throw up, I climbed into bed and we napped together. I usually left a little while into his nap. Then it became habit and after Ace arrived created a little problem. For the most part though it worked out. Ace would sleep just long enough for me to stay with Cooper, or Ace would come in with Cooper and I. I let myself feel guilty about this for a little while (what will people think?), but then I thought about all the cuddles, kisses, and sweet sleep breathing (precious sound) that the parents who do it the 'right way' miss out on and started to just enjoy it. There's something so sweet about laying in bed with your kiddo, with his arm around you and his little breath on your cheek....makes my heart swell with love.

     Finally the day came when Ace wasn't cooperating and I had to leave Cooper in his room. Surprisingly he did ok. I checked on him a couple of times, let him have one book and one toy in his bed and told him he must not get out of bed or he'd get a spanking. After a few cries and protests he went to sleep. And he's been doing it ever since. That same day Dalton asked when we could start doing it at night....I told him we weren't going to rush it. I didn't want to do anything that would mess up the positive napping experience. I needed that time more than he needs that time in the evening. So Dalton continued sleeping with Cooper for a little while each night until about a week later. Then we started the same process at night and viola...he's a big boy!

     He still wakes up in the night and comes to our room. He usually brings Horsey with him. He climbs on in and sleeps in the middle. I know, I know, breaking more parenting rules. But oh it's sweet! And really in a few years I'll be wishing he'd come snuggle with us, so why turn him down now. The only problem we have is the milk fight each early morning. We've cut him off of milk during the night, but once he gets into our bed he wants milk. We usually are able to hold him off until 5 or so, when it means the difference between him sleeping a little longer or getting up at 6 (not appealing)! Sometimes, if he comes to our bed earlier in the night and gets out of control over milk we have to take him outside and let him calm down. Or occasionally we give in...I'm not going to lie.

     Dalton has told me that we should take him back to his bed when he comes to our room. I responded that any time he wants to do that he's more than welcome to. But I'd rather him sleep with us than spend that time in his room at 2 in the morning. Dalton hasn't volunteered to tackle that yet, so for now it's a snuggle fest in our bed. : )

    The next task before me is to get Ace to go to sleep on his own. He's very resistant when he knows it's nap time. As soon as I turn the lights off and start to offer the paci he stiffens up and starts to squirm. The only real method that works is to cha cha cha with him until he drifts a little. Then I lay him down. I foresee some crying in the coming week because we both know it's time for him to go down by himself. And it's getting to be more difficult to rock  him to sleep than to let him cry. I'll be praying about this!

What I've learned from all of these sleeping challenges:

1. Nothing is that big of a deal
2. There's no perfect method, so don't try to compare to others
3. Time works everything out
4. Nothing is more precious than a sleeping baby or toddler
5. God gives me the energy to make it through the day with 8 hrs or 2 hrs; His grace is enough

"The Lord replied 'My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

Overwhelmed

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28    

      It seems that lately (ok, since about March 23rd) I've been having these feelings of being overwhelmed by life. Not all of life, just the kiddo part of life. Before I dive into the overwhelmingness (word?) let me add a disclaimer: I have a great life, love my job, wouldn't trade any of this, and at the end of every day (or maybe a stretch of a few days) I have a great peace that calms my spirit. So please do not interpret this post as a complaint-fest..instead it is just an honest assessment of the craziness of life with babies and something I want to look back on and remember and laugh about, because I know it will all seem so much less significant in a few years (or maybe 10).

Hauling water to the chickens. Finally Ace is old enough to ride in the wagon. : ) 

     Why would I be overwhelmed, you ask? Well, let's see. I have two year old (I could put a period there and it would be enough) that is potty training (yes, still) and a 5 month old that I'm about to nickname Old Faithful (constant eruptions). I have moments when I just want to cry. I get to the point of breaking down and then stop myself because I don't have time to cry...where's Cooper? Is it time to take him to the potty? Where is the burp cloth..I mean full size towel...that I need to have before I pick up Ace? Is it time for Dora yet? Ace, will you relax a little? Cooper, do not jump off the couch! Time out..I have to change shirts again.

      You get the picture. The word that keeps coming to mind when I think about my season of life is 'Intense.' Everything seems so intense and I'm trying to keep calm so that the intensity level can go down a bit.

"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; 

Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14

     Potty training was going great, until we started going again. It seems like the last few weeks I've been to town daily and we've been busy busy with lots of 'away from home' activities. From doctors appointments to babysitting to birthday celebrations, we've been on the road and it's taken a toll on progress. He was just getting to the point of telling us when he needed to go when the setbacks began. After having to repeatedly change outfits while out and about I started to get frustrated and made the mistake of getting on to him for the accidents instead of encouraging him to go to the potty. It just seemed like he was doing it on purpose (my frazzled mind playing tricks on me). I was just about to my breaking point when we went to visit GG and Papa last weekend. They helped me out by helping me with responsibilities. Cooper was still having multiple accidents there, though, and on the last night I was doing all I could to hold my frustration and tears back....I wasn't successful at preventing the tears.

    The next morning Mom and Dad had a talk with me, reminding me that this too shall pass, that all parents go through this and to just hang in there. Then they suggested I decide what my priorities were and if potty training was at the top of the list to stay home and focus on that, instead of trying to do all of the things I wanted to do. Of course I responded defensively at first, not liking what I heard...my playgroup was just about to start, as well as a new Bible study. But the more I thought about it and the more I looked at my life I realized that they were right (as usual). I've been so busy going and doing that I've let opportunities to work on my ministry at home slip through the cracks. In my effort to make all church functions, Bible studies, playdates, appointments, etc. I'd let myself and my boys down.

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. 

I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

     All the way home that day I re-evaluated my job, life and frustrations and realized that I was bringing a lot of the intensity on myself by trying to do too much. As Mom said, I won't be a bad Christian if I can't attend a group Bible study for a little while...and I have a couple I want to do on my own, so I can still learn and grow. And if my priority is the home, then I have to actually be in the home and focused on the home to complete my mission there. I can do more for my boys by having an organized, clean, loving home where we talk about Jesus, dance to crazy music and, yes, stare at each other in boredom sometimes than I ever can running the roads and staying busy. So I've decided to continue with the playgroup I've started once a week, but not make any other commitments for a while....at least until potty training is finished and Old Faithful decides to cool down.

     Yes, that is another reason I'm overwhelmed...the spit up. If you haven't been around us you are probably rolling your eyes, thinking that I'm a weakling. How could spit up be that bad? Well, just spend 10 minutes with us and you'll change your tune. I know because I've seen many people do just that. It's a constant mess that never ends, results in stained clothes, furniture, carpet; causes me hesitation and anxiety when someone asks to hold him because I have to warn them and then deal with the embarrassment when he gets them (and he usually does) as I apologize profusely and take my baby, also soaked, back. Not to mention the fact that I have to carry extra clothes for myself and Ace everywhere. Though I do wonder why I even bother dressing Ace in cute clothes. No one ever sees them because they are behind layers of bibs. Thought: I need to invest in cute bibs and forget cute clothing.

     The doctor tells me that it will go away with age, but it's not changed for the better at all, and he's almost 6 months old. My original minimum for nursing was 6 months and I'm almost there. Even though Ace and I are both content to keep nursing, I'm not sure I can take the mess anymore. I literally have to stop myself from crying several times a day when he soaks my shirt and the floor. I immediately think, I can't do this anymore, but then somehow I do. Mom found a formula that is for spit up, and with each passing day I'm getting closer and closer to trying it out.  I'm hoping that adding new foods to his diet will help. The only problem is that so far he doesn't like anything I've offered, rice cereal with my milk, formula, water; applesauce or green beans. Hopefully the 6 month mark will be a lifechanger. I'm praying for that anyway!

My current ministry

     I'm also feeling a bit overwhelmed at the enormity of my job and the fact that I don't currently feel like I'm doing it that well. I blame this partly on Pinterest and partly on my high expectations of myself and partly on my lazy side that wants to do all these great things but sits down to TV instead, when I have free time. There are so many great activities, ideas, recipes, home crafts out there and I want to try them. My desire is to have a calendar of activities that I do with Cooper..one specific one a day, so that I'm intentional about my time with him. I also want to start a monthly menu so that I know what I'm cooking and can save money by planning better. I also want to make the most of my home and make it as organized and welcoming as possible, and man are there lots of ideas out there for that!

     As I've come up with these goals and seen so many ideas, I've been overwhelmed because I don't think I'll ever get to them. I'm also tired because the boys are still not sleeping through the night, and so I do not use my 2 hours of free time wisely each day. I thought that the solution to my frazzled attitude was date night, you know going out for dinner and a movie with Dalton. But somehow that just didn't make me feel much better. It was nice, but not stress relieving...it was a stress pause. Then it hit me! I need a mommy workday. Being a teacher I know the necessity of having regularly scheduled workdays in your classroom so that you can plan and get ready for the upcoming lessons and activities. Why wouldn't a mom need that too...if not more? I realized that I need an afternoon (at least) to get my ideas in order and try to put them into practice. I was so excited when I had this epiphany because it seems like a solution to a lot of my difficulties. I don't want to use the word problems because I have no real problems...my life is perfect compared to so many around the world, please hear me on this, I have no problems!  I haven't gotten my workday yet, but I'm planning to do it soon. I can't wait to have my house all to myself for a few hours to get things accomplished....better start my list now!

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom,
 and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁶  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" Proverbs 31:25-28 (The entire Proverbs 31 woman passage is my goal!)

     I hope that this post has not only revealed the overwhelming details in my life (it's a stress reliever to put them into words) but more importantly that it's revealed that there are solutions and usually it's just slowing down and living simply. Taking what God's given me and doing the best I can with it. I have to tell on Mom here. While I was at her house I read this journal that she'd kept while we were little (6 and 4 I think). It was a simple daily log of activities and thoughts and it was just what I needed right now. We had such a simple life, and it was glorious. I have nothing but fond memories of my childhood and reading that journal helped me to see why. We didn't have much but we didn't need much. We didn't go many places but went everywhere with our imaginations. We didn't attend insightful studies or do lots of things with friends, but instead we learned about the important things together and our best friends were the 4 of us. It doesn't get much better than that.  
     I'll end on another positive note. My boys are wonderful. They are sweet and charming and bring joy and laughter every day. Ace's smile can brighten any room, and his willingness to show it to anyone around inspires me to smile more at strangers and friends alike. And Cooper's sweet love toward his family and friends is priceless. He always goes out of his way when friends are over to make sure they have a snack and drink and hug. It's awesome to see a hospitable character already developing in him. And boy is he sweet to his momma. His hugs melt away any anger or frustration I have, and his chatter can get my mind off of any worry. There's also Dalton, who, even though he can't take away the stresses of the day, acknowledges them and helps to make me feel appreciated, a true blessing.

Does it get any cuter? 

     Most of all, I have a Savior that can take me from overwhelmed at life to overwhelmed by His grace and overwhelmed with joy. One of my favorite songs to sing in church calms my spirit...."I have a shelter in the storm, when constant winds would break me. For in my weakness I have learned, your strength will not forsake me. O Jesus I will hide in You, the One who bears my burdens, with faithful hands that cannot fail, You'll bring me home to heaven."

    Now I think I'm going to go ride my horse...alone...in 82 degree weather, with joyful heart and a prayer of thanksgiving. Hello beautiful day!


"My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips." Psalm 63:5   
**Sorry this post is so long! I had a lot to tell myself.
   

     

Brothers

     Having two little boys is such a great joy. There is something about brothers that is so sweet. I think it's especially sweet because they get along so well (at this point).

Drying off after swimming at GG and Papa's

     I'm so looking forward to the years to come, when they are playing together, learning together, and yes, even fighting together. It will be neat to see how alike and how different they are. There's a different dynamic between siblings that are the same gender and those that are mixed. Just as there the dynamic is different with all boys or all girls. I'm enjoying the all boy dynamics at the moment.

     Everyone keeps asking if we are going to have more kids. When we reply "Yes, God willing," they always say "You're going to try for a girl, right?" It irritates me a little because we are very content with our boys and would be very happy to have all boys. On the other hand, God is in control and He may very well give us a girl next. If that's the case, then I guess I'll post about brothers and sisters, not just brothers.

    Cooper and Ace are so cute together. We are finally to the point where I can leave Ace on the floor to play without a constant worry that Cooper will run over him. And Cooper is really enjoying interacting with his brother. He always says "My brother!" and puts his arm around Ace. He also is quick to tell me when he hears Ace making noise in his bed. He's very aware. The other day when we were finished reading books in Cooper's bed before nap I got up to leave and before I could grab Ace out of the bed Cooper asked if Ace could sleep with him. Loved that he wanted his brother by his side. I can't wait until the day when I can let them sleep in the same room. (I know there will be new challenges with that...I'm not that naive)

Ace was fussing in bed and before I could get there Coop had already done this.

 A little too much brotherly love!

     Ace likes his brother too. He constantly watches him and likes to grab onto him when he gets too close. It's like he's soaking in all of what Cooper is doing so he can remember it for later. I hope that he only remembers to do the good stuff.

It's all fun and games until somebody starts pinching

     Yesterday, while they were in the tub Cooper was making funny sounds and Ace started laughing. I encouraged Coop to keep making him laugh and enjoyed that sweet moment. (Ace's laugh is so great) Sometimes when Ace is unhappy and I'm busy I'll send Cooper over to talk to him and make him happy. If he succeeds he comes back and tells me "Ace is happy." He's very proud when he can do this.

   Ace already has a protective big brother too. Cooper watches close when others are holding Ace, making sure they treat him right. And if he happens to start crying in another's arms he's quick to go and see what's happening. One time, when I was trying to gather up all of my things at the Walkers' house after babysitting, Ace started fussing in his carseat. Aaron picked him up to rock him before I carried him out and Cooper immediately went over and said "No, no." He did not like another man holding his brother. Makes me proud.

Cooper ran up to Ace, sat down and said "Picture, Mama!" 

(He does this a lot)

    Now before you start thinking everything is all pie in the sky here, it's not. My next post...which I've already entitled 'Overwhelmed' is evidence of that. But all in all, even in the tough times, I'm still extremely blessed and still have more to rejoice over than to complain about!

Psalms 47:1 "Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!"