Brandywine 4th of July Parade

Nana, Gramps, Uncle Dave, Isaiah, Cooper and I went to the Brandywine 4th of July parade last Saturday - we are not really sure why it was a week early but who cares we got TONS of candy. Cooper loved the parade - he was not scared of the sirens, bands or horses!

Isaiah got dirt in his shoes and was pouting so Gramps was mocking him!

Enamored by the fire trucks!

Nana, Gramps & Cooper

Father's Day Recap

Because it was Corey's 1st Father's Day, Cooper and I decided to make a really big deal out of the day!!! We woke Corey up bright and early with a cup of coffee and his cards and gifts. We got him a coffee mug that is covered with Cooper pictures so he can show off the proud Daddy that he is, a canvas for his office that has Cooper's feet and hand prints and a card from Cooper that said that Daddy's last present/toy was in the driveway...Corey absolutely hates mowing the yard and complains about it every week. I had looked into a lawn service but they are extremely expensive - what I paid for the mower would have only covered a 6 month contract with a lawn service. Ridiculous!!! So, I figured a riding mower would cut the mowing time in half and it could be Corey and Cooper's new toy. I am sure Cooper will love riding the mower with his Daddy next summer when he is a little bigger!

I made Corey biscuits and sausage gravy for brunch - his favorite. Corey relaxed and watched the Mets game all afternoon and read his riding mower owner's manual. We headed to Sears later that evening to buy mulching blades and to look at additional attachments for the new mower. When we got back home I made Corey an awesome dinner - Seasoned Sirloin Kabobs.

Here is a picture of my colorful and delicious kabobs! This was the first time I had ever used the grill...Corey was very nervous - but everything turned out great!

It was a wonderful day!! Cooper and I really enjoyed surprising and spoiling Corey and I think Corey really enjoyed his 1st Father's Day!!!!

Daddy, I think we need to pull this to make it work...

Yea, we got a new toy!!!

Corey, Happy 1st Father's Day!!! We love you!!!

Here is the recipe for the yummy kabobs...
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper seasoning
4 fluid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 pounds beef sirloin steak, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes
2 green bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces
skewers
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, stems removed
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored and cubed

Cooking Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix soy sauce, light brown sugar, distilled white vinegar, garlic powder, seasoned salt, garlic pepper seasoning, and lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage. Reserve about 1/2 cup of this marinade for basting. Place steak in a large resealable plastic bag. Cover with the remaining marinade, and seal. Refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight.
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add green peppers, and cook for 1 minute, just to blanch. Drain, and set aside.
Preheat grill for high heat. Thread steak, green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and pineapple onto skewers in an alternating fashion. Discard marinade and the bag.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Cook kabobs on the prepared grill for 10 minutes, or to desired doneness. Baste frequently with reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Cooper's 1st Haircut

Aunt Debbie gave Cooper his much needed "official" 1st haircut with the help of Michelle and Nana. Cooper did awesome! We kept the food coming and he sat perfectly still!!!! I love Cooper and his new "do" - now he doesn't look like a wild man!!! However, I can't believe how much Cooper's new haircut makes him look like Corey!

Thanks Aunt Debbie, Michelle and Nana!!!!

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!!!

Green Thumb After All...

Here are updated pictures of my garden. As you can see I am starting to get actual tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers. My largest cucumber was already picked - we are eating it for lunch today! Yum!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Cooper

Happy Father's Day to Gramps & Poppy!!!

Cooper is very lucky to have two wonderful grandfathers - Gramps & Poppy!!! He loves them both very much!

Cooper & Gramps playing before bedtime.

Poppy playing Cooper a song on the harmonica!

Happy Father's Day!!!! We love you guys!!!

DaDa, Happy 1st Father's Day!!!!

So much to blog and so little time right now...

The title of this blog entry says it all.

I really need to post pictures and videos of vacation, my 30th birthday and Corey's 1st Father's Day! This week is really busy with Cooper's 1st birthday on Wednesday, so I am not sure when I will get to the updates - it might just have to be one giant blog entry.

I still have no decorations or cake for Cooper's birthday- will get to that tomorrow night hopefully. I not exactly sure what happen to the organized/planner me - it seems like lately I fly by the seat of my pants more often than not. Good thing we are only having a very small celebration on Wednesday with Nana, Gramps, Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Aaron & Brooke. I am not sure if I could handle a large party with everything that's going on right now...

Until then I will leave you with this cute picture of Cooper!

Cooper's Antics

1) Cooper has picked up on everyone calling me AJ and has decided to join the party. When I say no my name is Momma he screams AJ multiple times and laughs. Everyone thinks this is hilarious; I am getting more and more frustrated and feel like I am raising Bart Simpson. As you can see Cooper and I are still at war with this one and I refuse to lose!

2) Cooper's favorite new word is Banana - he says it constantly!!!

3) Cooper somehow called 911 this past weekend on my cell phone and then hung up. So, the Prince William Emergency Center called back to make sure there was no emergency. I need to start putting my cell phone out of reach from Cooper and I really hope we don't get a bill for that call.

4) Cooper's favorite activity for some time now has been playing in the fridge - it keeps him busy while we prepare dinner! He has now figured out how to climb the shelves!?! The other day, I heard him grunting and walked over to the fridge to find him hanging from the top shelf with his feet dangling in the air. Corey and I now have to be on top of our game at all times with him!!!

5) Cooper is down to 1 bottle a day- bye bye BaBa!!! We are in the process of moving to sippy cups only. Tonight while driving home from daycare Corey gave Cooper his sippy cup and he drank his milk on the ride home. He really is becoming a big boy!

6) The ladies at daycare have informed us that Cooper bangs and yells on the door between the infant and 1 year old classrooms. Cooper is currently in the infant room but spent a couple of hours in the 1 year old room last week. We think he is a little bored with the infants and found out that the 1 year old classroom has better snacks and more fun so he is ready to move on up!

7) Cooper absolutely loves eating and sharing freezie pops with Daddy. If the freezer door opens he thinks he is getting a freezie pop!

8) Cooper HATES when Daddy kisses and hugs Mommy - he gets very angry and protective! He pushes Corey away from me and then proceeds to hug and kiss me! It's too cute!!!

9) Cooper has started eating big kid breakfast and lunch at daycare - he even had a tuna fish sandwich last week!!!

We are having a blast with Cooper! Each day brings new and exciting things - we never know what to expect!?!

Cooper's 1st Steps

Recovering with Momma

Operation Ears - Complete

On Sunday night Cooper screamed for four hours with his ear and was tugging/pulling it every couple of minutes. There was no way we could continue this for another week! So, I called the ENT's office yesterday to see what we were suppose to do in the mean time until his surgery - Tylenol and Motrin can only go so far. The nurse called me back within an hour and said the ENT had a cancellation and wanted to perform the tube surgery at 7:30 this morning.

Cooper did awesome!!! I only shed a couple of tears so I did great also! =)

The biggest ordeal of the entire morning was Cooper had to go almost 3 hours after waking up without his BaBa. You don't mess with Cooper's food!!!

He's doing great and is now resting in his pack and play as I type this blog entry. Corey and I are spending the day at home with him so we can make sure he is comfortable and happy! He got the green light from the ENT to go to daycare tomorrow.

Here are pictures from his big day...

Cooper and Dada before surgery! Cooper even got a Bugs Bunny hospital gown.

Momma & Cooper waiting for the doctor.

I was allowed to go back in the operating room with Cooper while he was being put under. This is when I shed my couple of tears! Isn't my marshmallow getup awesome - Ghost Busters!!!

Dance Off - Just for my Dad!!!

This is hilarious - I laughed so hard at this video that I was crying!!!! Also, I couldn't help but think what the heck my dad would have done if this was his team - probably crapped himself!!! Love ya Dad!!

The 2009 Dance off between USF and UCONN which took place at bright house field May 21st, 2009. Filmed by the staff at Bright House Field. This dance off was a result of the two teams waiting though a 5 hour rain delay...

Dr. Sear's Alternative Vaccination Schedule

As I have mentioned in some of our past blog entries we are using the Dr. Sear's alternative vaccination schedule with Cooper. We have recently received questions from a number of friends of how do we like it, do we recommend it and what is it really about.

It was definitely a personal decision for Corey and I - after much research and talking with our pediatrician (who completely supports this schedule) we had a better comfort level with the alternative schedule versus the CDC vaccination schedule. With all of the controversy of "vaccinate" or "don't vaccinate" - I think this schedule is a happy medium! Cooper receives all of the recommended vaccinations just in a more spread out time frame therefore limiting side effects and chemical overload. Also, it starts with vaccinations against diseases that are most dangerous to young children and then follows with shots for rare and/or usually mild diseases. We definitely recommend it!

So, if you are interested in the alternative schedule we recommend you read The Vaccine Book (Little Brown) by pediatrician Robert W. Sears, M.D. The Vaccine Book recommends the vaccination schedule shown below for babies and toddlers ages 2 months to 3 1/2 years.
Happy Vaccinating!!!

How Does Your Garden Grow???

Here are pictures of my trial garden.

Sweet Peppers, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes

Corey said if I could get veggies to grow in pots this summer then I could have a real garden next year.

Cucumber plants starting to have blooms!

Tomato plants growing tall!

Getting buds on my sweet pepper plants!!!

Looks like I am getting a garden!!!!

Clean Plate Club

What??? Nothing to see going on here!?!?!

It's okay DaDa - I can feed myself!!!!

Oh no it's all gone!!!! How do I lick my bowl clean??? DaDa does it - so why can't I figure this out??

Yeah!! I am in the clean plate club (CPC)!!!!

Ear Update #2

The ENT scheduled Cooper for surgery on Tuesday, June 9th to insert ear tubes.

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?

Cooper's Feeling Better....FINALLY

Thanks to everyone for your texts, emails, facebook and blog get well wishes for Cooper. I think it worked, well maybe the antibiotics had a little to do with it also! We are still pumping him with the oral antibiotics, Motrin/Tylenol, and ear drops but he seems to be feeling much better!

Here are pictures from last night during dinner as you can see he is much happier and bright eyed - thank goodness.

Cooper now prefers "real food" versus baby food. He had bananas, peas, chicken and wagon wheel shaped pasta with his soy milk for dinner.

He was chowing down - he is starting to get very independent and wants to feed himself.

This is when we ran out of pasta - not a pretty sight. Cooper loves F-O-O-D!