Just for the record...

So he can't someday deny this...

...Cooper DID stand up in the tub last night and PEE on his brother.
(I wish I had a picture of their expressions when I realized this was happening! Carver didn't seem to care; Cooper was smiling an evil smile until he was haulted when I yelled!)

Cooper did also stay dry all night with no diaper on! I'm not sure how many times (if ever) he got up in the night, but he did it all on his own. We did the "No More Diapers" dance all morning!! YAY!

These are a few of their favorite things...

Cooper: bubble gum, vanilla ice cream, dinner rolls, sliced american cheese, water bottles, short-sleeved shirts, jeans he can snap himself, wearing his underwear backwards (so he can see what's on them), his blankie, slippers, baths, taking pictures with mom's digital camera, the park, his MP3 player, doing "craps" (crafts), ketchup, picking up/cleaning/helping mom around the house (hopefully this is a lifetime favorite!), and being 3!

Carver: peas, crackers, pancakes, cell phones, his blankie, taking his socks off, throwing his food on the floor when he's done, pop/water bottles, emptying the tupperware drawer, his brother, balloons, animals, opening all the cupboards, standing up in the tub, and laughing!

Kids will embarass their parents...the worst it surely yet to come.

We were in TJ Maxx last night when Cooper LOUDLY asks, "Hey mommy, is there a potty here?" "Yes, Cooper," I answered. "Do you need to go?" He answered, "YUP, DO YOU??" (An on-looker couldn't help but laugh!)

This morning I dropped the boys off at daycare and my daycare provider said yesterday Cooper got up after nap and told her, "I didn't pee in my bed at nap!" (Which he has only done once, so she wondered why he was telling her and just said, "Oh good.") Then he said, "My mom makes me pee in my bed!" (Yeah...I squeeze him until he wets the bed...oh dear!!)

Influenza? Ear infection? Tonsilitis? Strep?

The last 3-6 weeks have been so "sicky" for us. Carver has been back in three times since his tubes, almost everytime to be told his ears and tubes look great. Good news on one hand, but then please explain the lack of sleep and crying/fussiness to a VERY tired mom! Both boys came home from Gpa Tom & Uncle Tim's 50th birthday party with what we thought was maybe just a little stomach bug, to find out it was probably influenza (too late to treat, of course). They were both home from daycare all week (with the help of Gma Teresa), and both ended up on antibiotics by the end of the second week-Cooper (for ear infection) and Carver (for tonsilitis). Strep is now dancing around daycare (kids and parents). I'm just hoping antibiotics are still in the boys' systems, and we can stay healthy. Springs, where are you?!?!

Good news: Carver learned how to sleep through the night while he was sick. I think he was too weak to stand up and call for me, so now he knows how to do it! WHATEVER WORKS!!

Naptime: wherever, whenever.

(The sheet was in the laundry.)

I put Cooper to work when he was home!

Relaxin/lovin with their blankies on the couch!

The rest of January....

Sunday, January 16th, Gma Teresa & Gpa Tom came down to take Uncle Brandon, and I out for supper for our birthdays. We all met at the Habachi grill, Tokyo. We thought Cooper would enjoy it, but he was very afraid of the fire. At one point, Gma Teresa warned him that there was going to be fire and as he started to get down, I said to him, "It's ok buddy; mommy will hold you." He replied, "No, I think I'll just go hide somewhere." (Generally that was under the table!) Poor kid!

One Saturday morning, while I was in the shower (and there were two unattended children roaming the house), Cooper ran in the bathroom yelling something about Carver doing something by himself. I didn't hear him, so asked him to repeat, when I clearly heard him say, "Carver's painting himself!" Not being a first time mom and knowing the damage was already done, I calmly told him to take the paint away, and I would be out shortly. I finished my shower (all the while hoping it wasn't red paint in the rental house on white carpet), and went to the living room to find the damage being white paint. He had it smeared everywhere, and had apparently tasted some. All is well...after pictures:)

My boss, Larry Thompson, does our snow removal. Cooper has gotten a ride in Larry's skid loader once before, so it's a frequent request. One of the last snows, there was a lot of snow to move, so Larry didn't have time to give a ride, but promised Cooper THE NEXT TIME. (3-year-olds DO NOT FORGET promises like this). Cooper was even waking up some mornings saying, "Mom, I think it snowed!"

So, finally when it did, we waited and waited. Cooper said, "Mom, I don't think Larry's coming; you better call him!" I reassured him he'd come. When we heard the skid loader finally coming up the road, Cooper couldn't get his boots and coat on fast enough. Larry let Cooper drive and even take a picture. Thanks Larry!