Happy Birthday Gramps

My dad's birthday was on 29 November, so I am little behind with posting this.  I did not think ahead and have the video camera ready the first time they sang to him, which was even better than this video.  When Cooper was finished singing Tucker did a fist pump and yelled Wa-hoo-Wa like it was part of the song.  So in this video you will notice Cooper looking back at Tucker to see if he was going to repeat it, but unfortunately no luck.

Anyways here is the Happy Birthday Gramps video - it's still cute!  I love how Tucker sways in the background.

Recap of June 2011 Part I

June was jammed packed - Lots of June Birthdays - Cooper, Allie, Aunt Jeanie, Jessie, Poppy, Aunt Beth, MiMi (Cooper's girlfriend), Me and Nina and Gramp's Anniversary; Allie started keeping Cooper 2 days a week to go on adventures; Tucker started walking - yes at 9 months, and started eating big boy breakfast at school; we had a blast at South Riding Days and attended Thompson Reunion.

Because there are so many pictures I will post in segments like the month of May.

 Tucker eating Mac & Cheese and Peas! Like his brother and Gramps he loves it!

 Tucker is walking and saying waving hi!

 Cooper broke out my Pampered Chef cookie cutters for his playdough.  Don't think I will be getting those back!

 Love those rolls!

 Tucker loves the UVA Coup!

 Allie & Tucker in their orange!

 Now that Tucker is on the move, his favorite past time is stealing Cooper's toys!

 Cooper, "Yeah I know how to spell my F'ing name".  He really didn't say that, but it's funny how he is unknowingly giving me the finger in this picture.

 "Hey, ladies want a ride?"

 I got a Nook for my birthday from the boys!  So Cooper and I get to be nerds together on a regular basis!

This was the first produce from our garden! Cooper was so excited!

Cooper's 1st Birthday Celebration

We had a bbq on Wednesday, June 24th to celebrate Cooper's 1st birthday! Nana, Gramps, Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Aaron and Brooke helped us celebrate. Cooper was in awe the entire night that everyone from his "Who Loves Baby?" book was at his party! He kept going from one person to the next with a huge smile on his face. It was adorable!

My mom cooked all of the sides- THANKS MOM - and Corey grilled the Omaha hot dogs and burgers!!!! Everything was delicious!!!

Cooper loved his Elmo balloon

Cooper eating birthday dinner - he loved Nana's macaroni & cheese!

Singing Happy Birthday - Cooper says, "Give me the cake already"

Momma & Daddy blowing out the candles - Cooper's already sneaked a taste!

First taste of cake - oreo cake at that - He loved it!!!

Cooper ate half of his mini cake!! We had to take it away from him - we were afraid he would have eaten the entire cake if we would have let him!

Present time - the box said Verizon - we thought Nana & Gramps got him his very own cell phone! Then just maybe he would leave Momma & Daddy's blackberries alone. Yep, it was an Elmo cell phone in the box!!

Books with squeakers - Cooper's favorites!!!

I really love these books!!

We call Cooper the remote control bandit! He always knows where the remote control is at all times even when we don't. Uncle Aaron & Brooke got Cooper his very own remote! We take it everywhere - he loves it!!!

Poppy & Cooper walking in the grass!!!

Cooper giving Gramps loving before bed time!

Cooper and his Uncle Aaron!!

Thanks everyone my 1st Birthday Party was a SMASH!!!

Cooper's new thing is when he is ready for bed he waves bye bye to let you know he is ready! After presents Cooper waved bye bye to everyone so we knew it was time for bed. He gave everyone and I mean everyone a kiss on the lips and a hug! As a mother, it was my favorite moment of the day! He has so much love for his family already and his family loves him!!!!

Thanks everyone for making Cooper's 1st birthday a very memorable one!!!

Here is the card that Corey and I got Cooper for his 1st birthday! I think it comes close to explaining the joys of parenthood over the first year!!!

As you turn one...
The first time you smiled
was sunshine.
Your very first tooth
a pearl.
The first time you laughed
was a symphony,
echoing over the world.
Your life is a gift to so many.
You're cherished
beyond every dream.
It's only a year
that you've lived in our hearts...
but it's been forever, it seems!

Happy 1st Birthday Cooper!!! We love you!!!!!

Yes, I am the big 3-0 now!

Corey planned a family vacation to at the Berkshire's in Hancock, MA to celebrate my 30th birthday. It's a beautiful quaint area. No Internet and limited cell phone service made for a great vacation. We had a very relaxing time doing absolutely nothing.

Cooper's 1st sight of the indoor pool - he loves the water!!!

On my actual birthday we went to the Hancock Shaker Village - it was absolutely beautiful and amazing how advanced these people were for their time.

Cooper loved the baby peeps!

Corey bet me that I could not milk the simulated cow...

I surprised myself - Cooper and I did it!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Cooper

Cooper's 11 Months Today - Hooray!!!

Which means he is a month away from turning 1- Yikes...How is it possible that our little boy is turning 1 - where does the time go?

Now we need to decided - 1st Birthday Party or No 1st Birthday Party??? I did order Cooper's birthday gifts last night. I am just not sure if I want to make a big ordeal out of Cooper's birthday or just have a quiet day with a mini cake for just Corey, Cooper and I. Thoughts?

Happy Birthday DaDa!

Corey's 32nd Birthday was this past Wednesday - May 13th (be sure to mark your calendars for next year). I was in Virginia Beach for the week attending a conference for work (will update in a separate post). Corey had made comments a couple of times before I had left that he couldn't believe I was going to miss his birthday. So, I talked to my government client and boss and asked if I could leave the conference early and surprise him - they said absolutely! I had talked to Corey a couple of times earlier in the day and unfortunately he was not having a great day! He started ranting that it had been the worst day, now he had to come home, eat hot dogs and spend the evening by himself on his birthday! Little did he know that I was parked in our development, where he couldn't see me but I could see him, waiting for him to get home. Once he pulled in the driveway, got Cooper out of the car, headed into the house and closed the garage door - I pulled into the driveway. I started to get out of the car with birthday cake, champagne, and dinner in hand when Corey starting walking out the front door - he had forgotten his laptop. I was so bummed because I wanted to ring the door bell and surprise him. But oh well, he was completely shocked and couldn't believe I had pulled one over on him! He thanked me repeatedly for coming home and that me surprising him made it a Happy Birthday! Yeah me!

Here is a picture of Corey and his cake. The cake was delicious! It's called a Mozart cake - it is the signature cake of Sugar Plum in Virginia Beach. Yes, I drove 3 1/2 hours with the air conditioning blasting and me freezing so the cake would not melt. Here is the description - 3 split layers of yellow cake filled with a layer of raspberry filling and a layer of Bavarian crème filling. The cake is iced in vanilla butter cream and finished with melted chocolate fudge and a purple rose. We are not cake people but this cake was absolutely deadly! Thanks H-Butt for a fantastic recommendation!

Cooper's present to DaDa was "Uh Oh". He learned a new word on DaDa's birthday and now he can't stop saying it! It's too cute!

Ever since Corey received an email from UVA that U2 was playing a concert at Scott Stadium he has been asking me if I wanted to go and if we should buy tickets. Every time I said no and that I didn't want to go to the concert. Which is true - I know a lot of you are thinking I am crazy but I only know like two U2 songs... However, I could tell he really wanted to go so I decided to give him two tickets for his birthday. He was pleasantly surprised! So, we are headed to the U2 concert in October - guess I need to start downloading songs off iTunes so I can learn.

Happy Birthday DaDa!!! We love you very much!!!!

Happy Birthday Cassie!