{stretching days}

Everyday Coop does something else, something new to show us that he is leaving behind his days as a baby. Its sad really. An end of an era. He is one & I know he should be using the bottle less, but I cannot help but try to stretch these days. I go to him at night when he cries out. I pick him up. I take him into the corner where the rocking chair is & I wrap him up and rock back & forth while he drinks warm milk. Its dark and still. Just the sound of his quick breaths between sucks. I love the way babies lips curl when they nurse or drink from a bottle. I am going to miss seeing that. I'm going to miss baby cooper. Toddler Cooper has proved to be just as lovable though. He is smiley and adorable. He is into EVERYTHING. Every kitchen cabinet, every closet, every drawer, the pantry,  the trash oh the trash! And lets not forget the toilet paper & toothpaste. Never a dull moment with that sweet buddy. Presley is doing her part in keeping him crawling. Every time he stands up or takes a few steps in her vicinity he gets a little shove from sis. He gets bravest when she is playing in another room.  He has started to sing and says choochoo (our family nick name for paci) and Mama, Dada, Baba. The starting words. He loves to dance about & climb stairs. He hunts for remotes and knows how to remove all the backs to find the batteries. He opens doors, and can yell a mighty scream when he wants out of the high chair, he looks cutest in his moccasins and flannel shirts, like a little mountain man. He makes my life better. more complete. Babies have always had a way of centering me. I imagine baby cooper will always be BABY cooper...

even when he is 18.