Dear Cooper

Well Cooper you are now 5 months old! Look at how big you are sitting propped up with no boppy pillow this month! You have the sweetest smile and the cutest laugh! You are such a happy baby and you make everyone around you happy too!


You have quit sleeping in the car so now you keep your big brother busy trying to entertain you. He does a great job at it! When you get frustrated you don't really cry - it's more of a "whiny dog" sound. We can't help but crack up at you!


Your absolute favorite thing to do right now is to lay on a blanket in the back yard under a big shade tree. You lay there and kick your legs and stare at the leaves blowing in the breeze. I truly believe you could do this for hours - but we can't stay outside that long because the bugs like you too well.........we have battled about 5 bug bites this week alone and that was with using OFF! I guess you are just too sweet!


Another thing you really love to do is eat! You are so funny because you make the sweetest MMMMMM sound and rock back and forth between each bite. You average three small jars a day and your favorites are the fruits, squash, and sweet potatoes. Getting you to eat anything green is a challenge. I usually end up wearing more than you have eaten.


Apparently you hate cows. On your exersaucer there is a cow. You scream at the thing every time you see it. We finally took it off just to save you from having a fit.


You really think you are big stuff right now because you have figured out how to hold your bottle. I don't like it at all though. You seem to be growing much too fast for my taste!


Thanks to my friend Nicole I found you this neat bathtub seat at her yard sale. You really like being able to sit up in the tub with your big brother now. I think my bathroom is in for trouble though with two little guys splashing in the tub!



And your newest trick which you debuted while I was gone and Daddy was watching you.........Going...............


Going................................................................


Gone!!!!!!!!!!!! You are rolling all over the living room floor now! Pretty soon nothing will be safe since you have figured out how to get to where you want to be......well in the general area anyway!

You are such a blessing and we cherish each minute we have you in our lives! You have made us all love more and laugh more and we appreciate you and God for that so much! We love you Cooper!

Love,
Mommy

Types of Moms

Today I decided that the kids and I would clear out of the house and head to Bowling Green to run a few errands so Jeremy could sleep in a quiet house. This was my first big trip out with both kids. It will most likely be my last. After half a dozen stops and plopping down on a bench at the mall to say a prayer, catch my breath, and count to ten to keep from screaming I was able to do a bit of Mommy research. As I watched others go by I realized that there are five types of Moms.

First there is the perfect mom.

This is the mom who has her kids under total control and she looks incredibly put together. Not a hair is out of place and she has a pleasant smile on her face. Not only is mom happy but the kids are happy. She strolls in and out of shops with the greatest of ease.

This is not me.

Second, there is the mean mom.


She barks orders at her kids and has a scowl on her face. She can often be seen grumbling into her cell phone or being rude to people she encounters during her errands. The kids are mad or crying. She tugs them to and fro.

Stifle your surprise, but this mom is not me either.

Third, there is the in-denial mom.

As she completes her running to and fro with children in tow she seems to be dreaming of a far away land. Her children are climbing on shelves and touching everything in the store. They shout, they scream, they make us thankful that those children do not go home with us. All the while the mom ignores them and goes on with her tasks thinking about letting Calgon take her away.

This is not me - yet.

Next there is the perky mom.

She is excited about making an outing with her children. When things go wrong she slaps a big ole' smile on her face and handles the situation like it was a piece of cake. She pushes her stroller and talks sweet to her kids. Everything is exciting and wonderful and the world is a great place.

Nu-uh. Not me.

Last is the category I fell into today and feel that I belong to best - The frantic mom.


This is the mom that got up this morning thinking she could accomplish all she needed to today with her children along for the ride. She tries to be the perky mom and take care of things with a big ole' smile on her face but has her 5 year old spins the 5 month old in circles in the middle of a store she starts to loose her patience. She raises her voice like the mean mom when the 5 year old who has begged to push the stroller takes the baby and stroller and park them 20 feet away from her and ran off. There is not a hair in place and she is sweating just trying to keep her cool. She carefully calculates what she says to her children within ear shot of strangers to avoid a brush with Social Services later. She finally gets all of her errands done and gets the children in the car ready to burst into tears. When she gets home she threatens her husband's life if he ever thinks she will leave the house again alone accompanied by said children.

Yes friends. I am that kind of mom.

What kind are you?

The Sunday Night Blues

I love weekends. I ADORE weekends actually. What I do not like is the horrible case of Sunday Night Blues I get each week. I guess a lot of it is from being the wife of a third shift worker, but around 8 o'clock when the boys start heading to bed and Jeremy starts getting geared up for work I can't help but get a little sad.

Looking forward to another weekend.........

Fab 5 Friday

Well I have decided to jump on the Fab 5 bandwagon. I really enjoy reading other people's posts on the subject and have been exposed to some new things I might have to try someday! For now though here are my top 5 favorite things:


I am quite cheap and tend to scrimp and save whenever I can on most household items, but I CAN NOT live without good smelling laundry items! I love to have my clothes smelling fresh and clean and these are my favorite laundry items out there right now!


This hammock is my absolute favorite spot to relax. I love to lay in it and read or nap, but most often I am in it with my little boys swinging, snuggling, singing silly songs, and playing "I see something you don't see". We are in the hammock nearly every day!



I have blogged about Granny's before but had to add it to this post. This stuff is WONDERFUL!! It gets out the toughest stains be it grease or carrot baby food! It is only $3.99 and you can find it at the fabric table in Hobby Lobby. It's a must for the laundry room!



Along with babies comes snotty noses and boogers. This booger getter is an essential! The one they give you in the hospital is the best..........I don't think you can buy one to compare. I remember with Colby the dog ate his and I went to the hospital and begged until they gave me a new one!



And finally, Baby Magic lotion. I think there is no better smell in the world and I lather my boys up with it daily!

Have a Fab Friday Blogging Buddies!

Totally Random Thursday

This post is just a combination of random things going on in the Vincent household these days..........

Cooper is up to a few new tricks...........


He loves hanging out on the couch with Bubbie and he loves his rattle from Aunt Linda.


Tummy time is now more bearable for him and he is reaching for things more.


He can now sit up in the "tripod" sit for 2-3 minutes at a time.........breaks my heart!


He likes to sit in his high chair during supper now. I think he looks so funny in this picture!


He LOVES to stand up! Look at those little legs! (Sorry for Jeremy's lack of shirt here!)


Daddy thinks it's GREAT Cooper can hold his own bottle.............I REFUSE to let him do it.


Someone thinks it is great fun to climb on their brother........I'm pretty sure Colby disagrees though.


We are addicted to Wii Sports. I am proud to say that I am officially a PRO bowler!


Colby is cleaning his own room now..........some mean Mom threatened to trash any toys left out and that lit a fire under his sweet hind end!


And speaking of hind-ends...........maybe I should have given my son some rules about what he can and can not take pictures of..........ya think?

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Wordless Wednesday

Here's to 8 Years!

Today is mine and Jeremy's 8th wedding anniversary! I know I give him a hard time but I truly am happily married to my best friend. 8 years, two kids, and lots of ups and downs later I can honestly say that I love him more now than I ever have!

I do have a cute story on him to share though. The other day he emerged from the bathroom and had been reading one of my "girly magazines". His face was white as he thrust an article in my face saying "Oh my gosh - have you read this?" I told him no and asked what it was about. He said "Well it can't be us. It can't be." What? I asked............The article was about how 70% of marriages fall apart in the 8th year of marriage. He was all tore up over it. To calm his nerves we made a pact to be extra good this year to not "risk being a statistic in the article." I'm so sure that will last! Ha! It was so sweet though that the article tore him up that much!

I love you more than words can say babe! Thanks for being my soul mate and best friend!