10 Months.

Happy 10 Month birthday, Mr. Coop!  Ten months!  TEN months!!!  Double digits!!!  I kind of can't believe it, but I also kind of can... you are turning into such a big boy!  Each day is just better and better with you, Cooper!  Being your Mommy is the BEST thing ever!  I am so thankful that God put you in our family.

(Not a great photo... you haven't been feeling great today.  Just keeping it real.)

In honor of your ten month birthday, here are ten of my favorite things about you...

1. Your wispy and silky hair that flies out on the side of your ears like little wings.  In the morning you wake up with crazy and fuzzy bed head, and I love it.  I love to rake it back into place with my fingers while you eat in the mornings.  

2. That "mama" was your first word.  "Mamamamamama" on repeat is what you would say when you were first learning to crawl.  Later you said "baba," which means "daddy," and "bottle," and "Bobo," and all the other things that you love.  But I love that you said "mama" first!

3. Your adventurous little heart.  You love to be tossed in the air.  You love to explore new things.  You are totally unafraid of new surroundings- in your eyes, it's all something new to conquer!  You move around with a quiet little smirk on your face, just taking everything in.  I pray that you are able to find courage and strength in your heart all the days of your life.

4. The way you love.  I know that you love me and Daddy, but there is something special about seeing you love Bobo, your teddy bear.  You hold onto him tightly as we scoop you out of your crib in the morning, and tote him all over the house with you.  Bobo is definitely your first little friend, and in the weirdest way, it melts my heart to see you love on Bobo.

5. Your round, smushy cheeks.  You get a lot of compliments on your cheeks, Coopy Boy.  I just can't get enough of them!  I could make a living out of kissing those fluffy little cheeks of yours.

6. Your sweet little chuckle.  Your little laugh cracks me up!  Random things make you laugh- like when we put your toys in our mouths.  You think that is so funny!  Or when Daddy crawls under the coffee table to play.  That kills you!  You get tickled over the funniest things, Cooper!

7.  The way you love Daddy.  When he gets ready in the morning, you love to sit at his feet and watch him.  When he leaves the house for work, you follow him to the door and cry.  It's so sad, but I love that you already respect and admire him- and that you want to be near him.  You light up when he comes home!

8.  Your playful spirit.  This month you have been interacting more during our play times, and it's so fun to see your playfulness emerge!  You love to play peek-a-boo in the curtains.  It never gets old to you.  You also love it if we "chase" you.  We say, "I'm gonna get you!" and then you will crawl away as fast as you can, laughing the whole way.  You know that when we catch you, we are going to scoop you up and tickle you!  These have been the first real games that we've played with you and you just eat it up!

9. Your bright blue eyes.  As with most of your physical features, you got those from your Mama- but yours are deeper blue.  Brighter.  And they have some serious depth to them.  You have a tendency to stare- and have stared me down on a number of occasions!  Still, I love how your eyes twinkle and shine.  And I love knowing that one day there will be some incredible wisdom behind those bright eyes of yours.

10. That you cuddle.  Oh, I am so thankful that the Lord gave me a baby that cuddles.  You love to snuggle.  I am thankful that at ten months old, you can still fall asleep in my arms.  For about the first three months of your life, I think I was too sleep deprived to appreciate the sweetness of those moments, so I am incredibly thankful that I have the opportunity to cuddle with your big sweet self now.

You are quite the little chunker at a whopping 20 lbs exactly.  Daddy and I commented on how you seem like such a little man all of a sudden.  When did that happen?  Was that this month??!  

Your cute little personality has been coming out more and more.  You are VERY independent.  You love to crawl off and explore new things.  Some of your favorite hangouts are near the kitchen cabinets where you love to pull out cookie sheets, at the pedestal sink in the bathroom where you bang the pipes, and at the feet of whoever is brushing their teeth.  Something about brushing teeth cracks you up!  Speaking of teeth, you are working so hard on getting those top two teeth in!  Hopefully they will be in any day now!  Oh, your poor swollen gums make me so sad!  Come on, teeth!

Eating will definitely be easier (and more fun!) with the addition of those top teeth.  This month you've tried a few new things- pureed chicken and turkey (not a fan, but who could blame you!), yogurt, beans, blueberries, Cheerios, and some of Mommy's snowcone.  Yum!  Oh, Coops, I can't wait to give you cake!  Two more months.

You took your first plane ride to Kansas City to go visit Grammy Audrey, Aunt Lyn & the boys, and Aunt Susie and her little crew.  You did great, sleeping each leg of the trip, smiling at all the passengers, and just being your cute and spunky little self.  Our flight was super early and you were super tired, but you did great!

We went swimming every day- and you loved getting to float around with Grandpa Mark!  He would sit you up on the side of the pool and count 1 ... 2... 3... before you would scoot off the side into his arms!

1....

 2...

3!

 This is my favorite picture from this month.  I love you with your bright eyes and huge grin, just loving the thrill of hopping into the water!  Remember to always live that way, Coops- embracing the adventure that is right in front of you!

You love your little walker toy that we got you a few weeks ago.  You just push it all over the house like it's your own little lawnmower or something!  You could sit and play with the sensory toys on it all day long!

 You've learned the meaning of the word "no" this month.  Seems like we say "no touch" and "no eat" all the time, so I'm glad you are learning what that means!  You have the saddest little pout when we tell you no!

We are still trying to beat the heat- we hang out on the splash pad all the time!

You love playing with the donkey marionette that Grandpa Mark brought you from Greece.  I am pretty sure you think that it's a real puppy or something.  Glad it's not because you practically strangle it when you finally catch it!

 Peek-a-boo / Where's Cooper is currently your favorite game...

 Where's Cooper??!

 There he is!!

 Where's Cooper?

 Where is he?!!!

 There he is!!

 All day long...

I love it.  I love how proud you are of yourself.  You should be!  You are the best baby ever.  So smart.  So funny.  So cute and quirky.  There are a million things to love about you, Cooperkins.  Happy ten month birthday, Baby Boy!

9 Months.

Happy 9 Month Birthday to you, Baby Boy!  Guess we're going to have to start thinking of birthday ideas, since that's right around the corner (yeah right, I already have it all planned in my head!)

9 months!  Wow!  9 months seems like such a big boy age, but I guess that's what's happening!  And I am totally embracing it.  We found out at your well-baby checkup this morning that you weigh 18 lbs. and 13 oz. (guess Mommy's scale was a little off last month!), and are 27 inches long.  You are in the 25% for weight and 10% for length.  Small and cuddly- and just perfect, in my opinion!

You are our sweetest little treasure on this earth, Cooper Boy!  Daddy and I sometimes say that we feel like such weirdos- we could sit and stare at you forever.  I love watching you play and learn new things.  You have a few quirks, which isn't surprising.  You love kissing your reflection- it's most funny when you kiss your reflection on the glass door front of the oven.  You will just stand there giving yourself a big, open-mouth kiss.  You are silly!  But you seem to always find any reflective surface and make sure to check out how cute you are- the glass doors on the TV cabinet, your shiny toys, and the mirror at the doctor's office, to name a few.  You are also pretty into chewing.  Earlier in the month, I noticed teeth marks the whole way around your crib!  You've also chewed up all four sides of the coffee table!  I thought I was raising a boy and not a little beaver!

Your favorite toys seem to be the things that aren't really toys- iphones, car keys, computer cords, and the remote control are your FAVORITES!  Coopy, you are turning into a little man already!  Those "toys" are off limits though, so you are happy to settle for spatulas, whisks, and crushed up water bottles.

It has been HOT, HOT, HOT this summer, so we try to make it to the spray park or swimming pool a few times a week.  You are a little tank in the water!  If we hold you on your belly, you kick your legs like you're swimming and sometimes will dunk your own face under water!  It doesn't even phase you at all!  You are already a little fish!

We finally broke down and bought you a highchair this month.  You sit in it like it's your throne.  You love to lean back while we spoon feed you!  What have we created?!!

We've let you try a few "finger foods" this month.  So far, you seem pretty unimpressed.  I put some cut up avocados and bananas on your tray one day and you looked at me like, "what the heck is this?!"  A few minutes later, I watched as you sneakily tried to hide or dispose of those yucky foods by sticking them in your lap!  A few things that you HAVE enjoyed are fresh watermelon and cantaloupe, noodles, a baguette, and a fruit popsicle.  It's funny now, doing the things I thought I'd never do with a baby- like giving you a popsicle, but it seemed to feel good on your teething gums, so oh well!

We have been to the doctor a lot this month- you've had 2 ear infections (one time it was a double ear infection) and have had some trouble with asthma.  I hate it that you haven't been feeling well, but you handle it like such a champ.  We occasionally have to do a breathing treatment for you, which you love because you get to watch Praise Baby, and I love because I get to snuggle with you.

At Jack's birthday party, you played with balloons for the first time.  You crawled around and tried to gather as many as you could and would cry when we'd try to get you untangled.  Lucky for you, Jack let you take one home, which you loved!

I love to watch you observe and learn new things.  You are a little sponge and are learning all the time!  During the afternoon, the sun shines through the window on the front door to the house and makes little shapes and rainbows on the rug.  You love to sit there trying to grasp for the light.  I love it!  Do you know that your name means "lighthouse," Cooper?  It's no wonder that you are so attracted to the light!

You haven't been feeling great for a few weeks out of this month, so we've let you watch some of your videos- Baby Einstein and Praise Baby.  I'm not sure which part you like best- seeing the babies in the video playing or hearing the singing.  Either way, you will sit on the floor (or in your saucer) and be pretty content to watch for a few minutes.  

I seriously am so obsessed with your cheeks!  All I want to do is kiss them!  It works out well because you love being kissed.  You get very relaxed and press your cheeks into our lips, while we shower you with kisses.  I pray that you always know how dearly you are loved!

Coopy Boy, you have gotten so mobile!  You've been crawling and pulling up for a while now, but your "cruising" has really taken off.  You are a fast little man as you walk along the edge of the coffee table!  A few times this month, you have gotten pretty bold and stood without holding onto anything for a few seconds.  I like to see you challenging yourself!  Who knows, but I don't think it will be that much longer before you take your first steps.  Here you are after having yanked all the books off the bookshelf (notice that the bottom shelf has already been permanently cleared off!)  Your other favorite thing to get into is magazines- you love to shred them to pieces!

Oh Cooper Hudson, I could just eat you up.  Sometimes it makes me just cry thinking about how blessed we are to have a sweet boy like you.  I love being your Mommy, and it is such a gift to get to spend my days with you, little love.  Happy 9 months!

Brisket Tacos

Brisket tacos have quickly become an Allen family favorite.  Perhaps it is Todd's Memphis roots calling out for pork.  Maybe it's my intense desire to find a slow cooker recipe that actually tastes as good as it sounds.  At any rate, I would have to say that we are quite fond of brisket tacos in this household.

We ate these last night and boy were they good!  In fact, I've got another round marinating in the crock pot now, getting ready to go to the Knighton's house for dinner- and Binkley's, if you are reading this, you can expect them next week!

I'm really not trying to toot my own horn or anything (toot toot!), because all I did was follow a recipe.  A recipe that goes like this...

Brisket Tacos

1 bone-in-pork roast

1 jar HEB green tomatillo salsa

Salt, Pepper, Cumin to taste

Put all ingredients in the crock pot on low all day or on high for 4-5 hours.

Take out meat and shred with a fork.  You will not believe how juicy and tender it is!

Serve rolled up in a tortilla (I used whole wheat), with guacamole, and Monterrey Jack

Now how's that easy peasy dinner!

8 Months

Holy moly, Coop!  You are the big 8 months today!  I am going to stop saying, "I can't believe you are x-months old" each month, because I am just going to have to get used to the fact that you are growing up way to fast!  Just look at how huge you are!

I weighed you this morning and you are exactly 19 lbs. You probably carry most of that weight in your adorably rolly thighs or your cute fluffy cheeks.  People always seem to notice your kissable cheeks and your bright, blue eyes.

This month you have become obsessed with your teddy bear, Bobo.  We sing a little made-up song about Bobo the Bear before we go to sleep, and then we hand Bobo over to you to cuddle with.  Each time you see Bobo, you get the biggest smile, wrap your arms around him, and bury your face into Bobo's chest.  It's the cutest thing!  He's definitely replaced Sophie as your favorite toy!

We still have no complaints about your sleeping patterns- you LOVE to sleep!  You would take 3 naps every day if I let you, but I'm trying to keep it to only 2 naps a day.  This month we played with your routine a little bit, so now you wake up around 7:30 or 8 am (bless you, Cooper!) and go to bed around 8:30 pm, with a morning and afternoon nap.  You eat 5 bottles a day and ideally eat 3 "meals" a day.  Maybe that explains those thunder thighs!

You aren't wild about veggies, but you LOVE fruit!  Bananas and apples are your favorites.  I think you've got a bit of a sweet tooth.  Wonder where you got that from!  You also started self feeding a bit this month.  As soon as we pull out the tube of Puffs, you get the most excited look on your face!  I am convinced that you would eat Puffs all day long if we let you!

This month, you have grown leaps and bounds in terms of mobility.  You are all over the place- pulling up on everything and crawling all over the house!  You love to explore, as long as you can still see Mama from wherever you are.  It's funny to watch you take off to check something out, and then turn around when you are halfway to your destination to make sure that you can still see Mama or Daddy!  I love your curious little heart and can't wait for the fun adventures that we are going to have, Cooper Boy!  

One of your favorite spots to explore is the dishwasher while I am unloading dishes.  You love to pull up and shimmy your belly up onto the dishwasher to see if you can find a spoon to play with.  I love it, although I am still getting used to having a baby underfoot while I am cooking in the kitchen!

It has been super hot in Waco this summer, so we take you out to the pool at least once a week to cool off.  You love being in the water and aren't bothered at all by all of the big kids who splash you.  Last week 4 or 5 ten-year-old girls swam to you and wanted to talk to you and play with you the entire time we were at the pool!  I can't believe how you are already attracting the girls, Coopy!

Your first two teeth broke through this month.  Woohoo!  You look like such a big boy with those two pearly whites growing up!  Getting those first two teeth was more difficult than I expected- they popped up and then went down, and you were VERY fussy.  You worked so hard for those two teeth, baby boy.  One of these days we will give you a steak to show you how proud of you we are!

 A few days ago we noticed that you would mimic us sometimes.  You will repeat "mama" or "babababa," slap your hand down on the coffee table, or do a really loud yell as you mimic us.  Wow!  I am amazed at the new things that you are learning every day!  You still love blowing raspberries and will often stick your tongue out like a little lizard!  Baby Coop, you are, without a doubt, the cutest and happiest baby I have ever seen!

You had a random week this month where you were really into the paci.  It was so weird.  I tried and tried to get you to take it for MONTHS, and you wanted nothing to do with it.  Then one night, you saw Clara sucking hers at Lifegroup and crawled over, took it from her mouth, and put it in yours.  You crawled around the rest of the night sucking on HER paci!  So, for a week, you wanted a paci, but as soon as the week was over, you were over it.  Sometimes I just can't figure you out!

Daddy and I took you to the swings at Mountainview Park a few weeks ago and you had the best time!  I wondered why we had never taken you before.  You love all things that seem "adventurous," like swinging and being tossed in the air by Daddy.  We continually pray for you to be a boy with courage and adventure in his heart!

We went to the Mayborn Museum for the first time last week with Blake and Oak.  Clearly, you had a blast riding the camel in the Egypt exhibit.

You love your little buddies so much, Coop!  I hope you always love people the way that you do now- you are always so happy to see your friends and you make sure to smile at all of the little old ladies who come and tickle your feet at the grocery store.  The other day I walked past the window to the childcare at the gym, and you were practically hyperventilating trying to get a hold of a little baby in a carrier.  The sweet teacher was trying to hold you back because you were just thrilled to have a new little person to play with.  You're such a nut, and I love it!

I love you so much, Cooper Bear.  You are the biggest blessing that I could ever imagine.  I know that life existed before you were here, but it just seems so incomplete!  I thank God every day that He picked ME to be YOUR Mommy.  You are my sweetest little treasure, and I love you Cooper Hudson!