Cooper at 16 Months

Weighs: 26.5 lbs.
Length: 33 in.
Status: Mr. Affectionate

Firsts/Milestones:

Cooper is starting to comprehend and respond to more complex statements such as ," Will you put your sock in the laundry basket?" or "Do you want to push the button?" It is much easier to communicate with him these days and it still amazes us when we say something and he responds!

Cooper recognizes his echo.  When we go to the library there is a huge hallway to the entrance and he always babbles really loud and listens for his echo.  He does the same when we go to the  basement or when we are in a public restroom.

First time Cooper has cared about snow!  We got our first snow storm on October 24th and got quite a bit for October.  Since then we have had one other large storm.  Cooper didn't know what to think about it at first because he had to wear bulky clothes and it's really hard to move around in the snow.  However, as soon as he found out you can throw, eat, shake, and build things in the snow he was sold.  He is going to love winter!

Sledding- He loved it!

First time making a snow man with dad.

Trick or Treating-Cooper caught on really fast!  Cooper's favorite part was ringing the door bell and he was always amazed when the nice people would hand him a whole bowl of candy and expect him to choose just one!  He would take some candy, then put it down and choose a different one and do the same thing a few more times until he was sure he had what he wanted.  He was always very selectful with his choices.  All the older ladies thought he was so adorable so  they would give him bags of candy they had prepared for their grandkids.  Trick or treating is quite lucrative with a baby! : )   Cooper still occasionally tries to approach people's houses to ring their door bell. : )

Cooper no longer wants help eating.  If we try to feed him he will chomp down on the utensil and not let go until we let him have control.  He is getting much better at feeding himself this way but it still gets really really messy!

First time having a babysitter come to our house who is not related.  Cooper didn't even notice we left because he was too busy showing his new friend around the house.

Jumping in fall leaves-  Cooper looked at us like we were crazy when we started jumping and throwing leaves everywhere.  Cooper was more interested in raking the leaves than jumping in them except when we put a big pile at the bottom of his slide. He loved that!

Helping dad with the snowblower- Cooper helped Mike push the snow blower and when the job was complete he cried one of those sad cries like his feelings were hurt because he just loved the job so much!  He is such a sweetheart and genuinely loves to help dad in every way!


Favorites:

Cooper loves to help us cook!  His favorite thing to do is dump things into the mixer, taste test and wait for the timer to go off to take a look at how things turned out (he always gives good reactions even if it didn't turn out so well).  Cooper will unscrew or open seasonings for us, hand us eggs when we need them (only a few have slipped and landed on the floor), turn on the mixer and flip things when they need flipping.  He is a good little cook!

We call Cooper the Microwave police because he always lets us know when things are finished.  He will point and make any noise he can to make sure we are aware something really important needs attention!  He is so responsible!

Cooper's favorite Halloween treats were suckers, tootsie rolls and nerds.

Raking leaves

In Cooper's nursery we have a rocking chair and the foot rest moves back and forth.  Cooper loves to climb up there to surf and make it move back and forth with his legs.  Of course we are right there holding is hand when he does this. : )

Dogs- He loves to chase them and pull their ears and tail.

His toy lawn mower-He was the most upset about the snow because he couldn't push his lawn mower.  However, now that Mike has showed him how to do the snow blower the toy lawn mower is now a snow blower and he just pushes the snow out of the way with all his might.  : )

Mopping the floor-He loves to play in the mop bucket and splash the water everywhere.  It's helpful to me because all the hard spots come off easily when they have been soaked so thoroughly.  To say the least we are both soaking wet when the job is complete.

Breaking icicles- He laughs hysterically for some reason when we break icicles against things.

Cooper has discovered that everything is better dipped in milk.  It all started when we showed him how to dunk a cookie in milk and now he dips everything in milk.

Cooper loves to scrub the toilet and the shower.

Drinking milk and soup from a bowl

Listening for the jets coming from Hill Air Force Base and looking for them up in the sky

The sand box- Mike's grandparents' just put new sand in the sand box at their cabin and last time we went out there that is all Cooper wanted to do.  He especially loved playing with the dump trucks and filling pots up with sand and dumping it out.

Holding hands while we walk

Cooper has made our Love Sac beanbag his own personal chair.

Sesame Street

Playing on the iPad with dad

Books-we have to read at least two or three before nap and bed time

Memorable Moments:

We have been trying to teach Cooper how to blow kisses for quite some time now.  He does it on and off but never on his own.  One day at Walmart I was concentrating on the food on the shelves and all of a sudden a lady said, "Aww your little boy just blew me a kiss!  What a sweetheart!"  And I missed it!

Cooper knows we love his kisses and hugs and he will at times use these tactics to get out of trouble.  One day he went to the pantry and got out a box of cereal he wanted to snack on but it was upside-down so the whole box went all over the floor.  I was upset at him and told him to help me clean it up.  I was on the floor starting to pick it up and he ran over and gave me a big kiss and a hug.  Of course my heart melted by his cuteness but he still had to help me clean it up! He's not getting out of trouble that easily. : )


Things that Make Cooper Cry:
When he gets his feelings hurt
When we take him away from something he wants
When he wants something he can't have
When he's hungry/tired
If he is having fun and the fun stops
When he wants more attention or is bored


Things that Make Cooper Smile and Laugh:
Mike will stand at the bottom of the stairs while Cooper and I go upstairs and when we get about half way up he will chase us and it always gets a good reaction from Cooper.  He clings to my neck so tight and laughs with his whole body.

Mike is always doing funny random things and Cooper loves it!  Mike can make Cooper laugh like no one else!

Many people comment on how they could never imagine Cooper being unhappy.  Of course he has his moments but overall, he is a very pleasant toddler!

Being tickled

When we understand what he is trying to say and he succeeds in getting what he wants