Month 17

Weighs: 27 lbs. (7oth)
Length: 34 in. (90th)
Status: Center of Attention

Firsts/Milestones:

Cooper is starting to say lots of words (although many of them only we can understand)- He says again (gen), milk (mi), me, all done (aww duh),  mmmm (when something tastes really good), choo choo,  hot, go (doe) and his classic "more" and "ya".

Cooper labels his basic body parts.  He can point to his nose, mouth, tongue, belly button, hair/head, ears and eyes (he gets ears and eyes mixed up sometimes).

He can blow kisses now!  He even does the "muah" sound.  It's adorable.

Cooper blows on his food when it's hot and sometimes when it's not.  Now that he knows the word blow he can blow his nose too but that one is still a little tricky so it's hit and miss.

He has some new dance moves!  He stomps his feet really fast and twirls around in circles.  He bobs his head and bends his knees and this is how he steals the spotlight at most social gatherings.

He initiates peek-a-boo- he will hide his eyes with his hands then say "ooooo" and put his hands up.

He waves at everyone and is very social- Any time we are out in public he puts a smile on everyone's face by waving at them as they walk past.  We decorate for Christmas with lots of snowmen and gingerbread men and we have a daily ritual to go past all of them to wave and say hi.

Sitting on Santa's Lap- Cooper wasn't really excited and had a petrified look in his face the whole time but he didn't cry or try to squirm away.  We will try that one again next year. : )

Cooper pretends all his food is a car and makes the noises.

Cooper folds his arms during the prayer and squints his eyes (We squint our eyes so we can watch how cute he is folding his arms so he probably thinks you are supposed to squint your eyes during the prayer ha ha).  His favorite part is saying "amen".  He puts his arms in the air and says (ahhh!)

Cooper catches onto things really quickly.  Mike got out a remote control car and let Cooper control it and he actually got really good at letting it go forward and back.  It's fun to watch him be so focused. It makes him seem so grown up.

Cooper got the stomach flu for the first time and gave it to mom as well.  He wasn't 100% for about 5 days but he's back to being the energizer bunny.

Throws things away when we ask

First Thanksgiving dinner because last year all he was eating was formula.  He liked the yams, rolls, turkey, ham and pie the best.

First funeral- Mike's Uncle Randy was jogging to work early one morning and was hit by a truck running a red light. He was 51 and in amazing shape.  He left behind three sons and a wife.


Favorites:

Cooper still loves to help us cook but it's not an option anymore so we have had to learn how to cook one handed.  If we are cooking, he wants to be on the counter watching or helping in some way. If something is hot, he'll blow on it.  If something looks good he'll say, "mmmm".  If we ask if he wants a taste he'll nod his head and say, "ya ya ya".  He loves to flip, stir, and dump.  Such a good helper!

Still loves the microwave

Grapes, pretzels, cottage cheese, crackers, yogurt, bananas, bread, meat really tender and flavorful and of course everything and anything unhealthy or sweet.  : /

Loves to give puckered up kisses.  His kisses are no longer open mouthed and slobbery.  It's all pucker now. : )

His Love Sac

Playing with trucks, cars, airplanes, tools, and anything that moves or makes noise

Playing on the iPad with dad

Books- We wrapped up 24 books and every day in December we open one before bed time and read the new book.  Cooper is getting really good at unwrapping so we are excited for Christmas this year.  He will be a pro at unwrapping!

Memorable Moments:
We have a basket of holiday candy on our short table in the living room.  Cooper likes to go in there and look at the candy but it's impressive how much self control he has.  He doesn't take any unless we tell him he can. One day after we already gave him a piece and told him he could only have one he went and grabbed another one so we told him to put it back in the basket. He arched his back a little like he does when he is upset but he went and put it back without any tears. So obedient!

Cooper is starting to notice other kids.  We were at Story Time at the library and he was on the rug with the other kids.  He looked over at a little girl who was sitting next to him and grabbed her hand to hold it.  She looked at him like he was crazy and pulled her hand away but it was adorable. He was so gentle and was so sweet. : )

Cooper loves to help Mike with projects around the house. Mike was using the drill and of course Cooper was right there wanting to help.  Cooper was too short to push any buttons so Mike let him hold the bottom of the drill while he drilled the holes.  When they were finished Cooper gave the biggest, proudest most excited smile as if he had the most important job.  OK, he really did have the most important job, to keep us laughing and smiling. : )


Things that Make Cooper Cry:
Sharing
When he doesn't want to go to sleep
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:

Being twirled, tossed, hung upside-down, or swung

Being chased up the stairs

Mike

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