He didn't know I was watching him sing folk songs before bathtime .....

~{{:-P)

Super Cooper

My little Cooper.  

Wild and cuddly.  

Silly and serious.  

Loud and really loud. 

When Cooper entered our lives, much of our family life was in "disarray".  I felt that Cooper was being cheated.  I prayed nightly that my little nugget wouldn't grow up too quickly ... that I would get at least a little bit of "baby time" with him when things calmed down. 

And my prayers were answered.  

We moved into the house (still chaotic,) where Coop had a room, and a crib, his own clothes and a place to be rocked.  And like a baby he would fidget and cuddle ... cling to me and cry.  Scream.  He screamed a lot and his tears were big.  Often "I-don't-feel-well-tears."

Cooper seemed to have constant sinus problems, and ear infection after ear infection.  And in-between antibiotic treatments, his strange mogwai-like babble turned into words, but always turned back into babble with the next ear infection.  Cooper didn't like to walk.  He wanted to be carried.  When Cooper felt like playing and running, he would fall a LOT and run into furniture and even walls, giving up in a heap.  Often clinging to me, while I would try to snuggle and soothe his frustration away ... my near toddler still small and helpless.  

My heart .... breaking.

We visited an ENT.  The doctor suggested tubes, and at the conclusion of the visit, the doctor asked if I wanted to go home and think it over, talk to my husband, etc.  I interrupted him (probably a little too loudly,) "NO, please schedule the procedure."  As any doctor should, he went back through all the details and asked again, if I wanted to think it over.  Confident in my research and soul searching leading up to our appointment, I urged him to schedule the surgery.

Super Cooper had the tubes put in and I am so happy to say that he is a completely different child.  He is now a rough, rambunctious little boy that runs and climbs stairs, tumbles off the couch and terrorizes his big brother.

It's been about a month and it was a historic day for everyone that is NOT me, too.  

Cooper now has a vast vocabulary, and talks constantly.

No ear infections.  No snotty nose.  No dizziness and no unexplained vomiting anymore.

My snuggle bunny is definitely no longer an infant.  He earned is Toddler Card overnight, and I couldn't be happier.

_____________________

Completely unrelated, but this dude keeps getting in my shots .....

And possibly one of my all-time-fave pics ....  Holden being my little prince, and Cooper being ... well ... Cooper .....

I'm posting to my Instagram site a lot more frequently these days.  If you have an iphone, follow stogzilla on IG.

~{{:-P)

Holden Name Boggling

H has been verbally spelling his name (and names of family members) for several months ... thank you very much Mimi and preschool.  He has been writing the individual letters of his name on occasion, too and loves arranging gibberish with Boggle letters asking, "wus that spell?"

This morning, H came to get me from the other room announcing, "I did it!  I did it!  I spelled my name!"

This is what I found in the living room ....

~{{;-P)

Early Riser

My precious angel has a multitude of endearing qualities that I adore without limit .....

.... his weekend morning ritual ...

.... not one of them.

Holden began getting up at 5 or 6 in the morning on weekends, several months ago.  We started telling him that he MUST stay in bed until the sun comes out.

Great concept during the longer winter days, but now with summer approaching, he is up way too early .... hovering in the hallway, singing quietly in a nearby room, helping himself to candy and chips for breakfast while intermittently stopping at my bedside to remind me I "have to get up, the sun is out!"

So, I do.  We have breakfast together, H <3 PB cereal and chocolate milk.  Mom <3 nodding off at the breakfast table.

~{{;-P)

Happy Easter 2011!

We joined a huge family egg hunt, today.  The boys loved it.

Why we love little girls ....

Why I love my little boy ...

-Carmen

Seriously Hooked

I can't get enough of this app!  I really thought it was stupid and completely pointless when first introduced.  Apparently, I LOVE stupid and completely pointless.  If you're on it, too ... I'll show you mine if you show me yours!


-Stogzilla

Sis introduced me to this ph-un photo ph-ilter phone app.  So ph-at!

 

-Carmen

Snow Day with Dad

Jordan snapped pics for me of the boys snow adventures (I was at work.)  Looks like they had a blast!  Kudos to DAD for juggling the crew and camera without losing life or lens (waaahhhhh-waaaaahhhh)!

-Carmen

Something to Melt the Ice

My solemn little guy

My silly little guy

-Carmen

A Party in all our Tummies

We celebrated Holden's big day with some of our nearest and dearest.  Such a fun day.

-Carmen

Big Weekend

Holden and Cooper had a very big weekend.  Holden's face says it all ....

We took a trip to Santa's local workshop and met my folks for dinner.

Super Cooper was easy breezy and all smiles.

H was just taking it all in ... all weekend ... I'm sure to replay in his head later.  He was very talkative before his meeting with the Big Guy.  He had a long babblly list of things to tell Santa, but froze when he finally made his way up there.

Holden also rode a Christmas carousel (with some coaxing) and made an ornament.

____________________

The same awestruck Holden appeared when he received an early Christmas gift.  We took him to the live version of his fave show.  That kid has been talking about his "special day with YGG" for MONTHS, literally since JULY!  He jabbered and sang songs from the show all the way there ... all the way to his seat ... all through the pre-show tunes.  But the second the show started he turned into a zombie.  I don't think he blinked once.

When his fave character was introduced, his eyes welled up like he was going to cry.  He didn't say a word, but his face said, "I can't believe I'm in the same room as the Little Green One."

There were many moments during the show that Jordan and I thought we had made a mistake taking him there ... worried he had been traumatized and would never ever watch his favorite show, again.  May even be angry with us for making him go.  When the lights came up he grinned ear-to ear and said, "I'm SO HAPPY!"

He danced, sang and bounced all the way back to the car.  Jabbered for another ten minutes and passed out.

Holden has asked me several times over the last 24 hours if he can call his Mimi, or his best friend M, or his cousin S to tell them about the show.

BEST Christmas present for this little guy, ever!

-Carmen

Happy Holidays!

Here's our Christmas card ...

It's been a wild year for our family.  We are all exhausted, but with tremendous benefit.  The house is looking good.  We still have a lot to do, and we are more than happy to do it!  So good to finally be HOME!

This is a busy season for us not just because of the holiday season, but also because of the onslaught of birthdays in our family (eleven bdays over 16 weeks!)

We hope your family enjoys a magical holiday season filled with family, fun and overindulgence!

Love,
The Stogsdills

Hill Pic

Ok, just one more cousin and hubby pic.  They are so precious.

It's not just the "gag me with a spoon" sweetness oozing from them, that makes me smile, but the gorgeous white horse booty going No. 2 that I had to crop out just to the left.

Oh, yes It's childish, but .... BBBUUUU-WWWAA-HHAAA-HHAA!!!

-Carmen

Visit with Hill

I was given the great honor of hanging out with, and snapping a few pics of my gorgeous cousin, hubby and "baby" Lucy this afternoon.  The warm hugs and (local vino) were an added BONUS!

I couldn't wait to share this pic.  Note the muddy toes .... tromping through the mud for a Christmas card photo?  No problem!

I'd also like to point out that this is what Hill looks like after participating in a 5K earlier, today.  I don't look this amazing with a full 8 hours of sleep, a hearty breakfast and professional styling!

-Carmen

What do You Mean You Have a Roller Coaster in Your Yard?

A little more about our Thanksgiving at Poki Acres ... oh yes, there were cows!

There was not 1 ....

Not 2 ...

Not even 5 ....

BUT 7 little boys at Thanksgiving this year .....

And 1 very special baby girl named Lucy ...

And after the roller coaster rides, T-ball, hayride, "pony" rides and tons of food, all 7 little boys were T-I-R-E-D.  I think Lucy was wiped out, too.

Enjoy!

-Carmen