A Super Hero and a Gymnast

 Cooper has a new best friend...his super hero outfit!  These pictures just make me smile.  He is such a boy.

 Lainey has been taking a gymnastics class once a week this summer.  I love watching how graceful she is.  

Happy 2nd Birthday Cooper!

 Dear Cooper,

I am blessed every day to be your mom.  You are full of life and energy.  To you, every moment is full of fun and discovery.  You are curious and love to explore anything and everything.  You love people and do not know a stranger.  Even at 9 or 10 months old, your face would light up when someone approached you.  Tonight, we were eating dinner at McCallisters and you approached several families and said hello, did a few dance moves for them and then moved to the next table.  I just watched and smiled because you were busy making people feel special.  It's a gift you have.  Especially at church, you're well known for the greetings you give everyone.  

You are such a funny, little guy.  You make goofy faces and do silly things just to make us laugh.  You are busy every minute you are awake.  You explore, climb, touch, run, jump,and pound things.  You have no fear and are rough and tough.  You fall down all the time and don't react to things that seem like they really hurt.  You jump up and move on to the next thing.  You LOVE to play ball...any kind of ball.  You like cars, books and would stay outside all day if you could.  

You are a big boy...99th% for height and weight.  Your daddy cheers after every well baby checkup when he hears how big you are.  You love to play with your daddy.  You jump on him and wrestle around, but you  also like to sit on his lap and watch an episode of Elmo or Barney.  But Coop...you are the sweetest to your momma.  I treasure my snuggle time with you every night before bed.  

One of my favorite things about you is that in the morning when you wake up, you will not get out of bed unless you have your blanket, favorite bear, and stuffed penguin in your arms.  They are your loveys and go every where with you for at least 30 minutes.  Then, you are awake and too busy to hold them, but at nap time, mommy better know where they are or I am in trouble.  You won't sleep without them.

You think your big sis is about the coolest thing around.  You follow her and mimic how she plays (which sometimes results in you dressing up in princess dresses.)  For your birthday she gave you a cowboy dress up outfit and a cape and mask so that Daddy can relax about you playing dress up : )  Lainey likes to sing a lot and for some reason, this gets on your nerves.  You love to tell her "no no sissy" when you want her to stop.  At this point she thinks it's funny...we'll see how long that lasts.  You guys are sweet friends.  I love watching that bond develop.

Cooper, you are pure joy and bring sunshine to my life every day.  God gave me such a blessing when he placed you in our family.  I love you dearly little man.  Happy 2nd Birthday!

 We had Cooper's birthday party a couple of weeks ago in Excelsior Springs so that all of our family could be there.  It was a great day and we had such a good time celebrating with everyone.

 Coop and his second cousin Elijah.  They loved these cars and had such a good time together.

So happy to have Maddie, Isaiah, Malloree, Silas, Aiden, Eli, and Elijah celebrating with us. 

Grandma Donna and little Eli playing

Such a smiley guy

 Playing Oscar's trash toss to go with our Sesame Street theme

 Presents!

 Trying out his new bike

I was so happy he loved his Elmo cake!  I enjoy making them so much.

 So special to have time with both Papa and Grandma and Papa and Nana

Loving on Grandma Donna

One of my favorites

Tree house time with Uncle Seth

My cousin Ben's wife, Faith and Elijah

Almost 2

Me, at age 2 and my big brother, Chad at almost 4.

Jamie, at age 2.  Isn't he a doll?  

We have a million things going on this week with preparing to teach VBS next week and getting ready for our road trip to Florida (so excited!)  But, all I can think about is that my baby is about to turn two!  He still feels like a baby to me...I think because he is sooo snuggly.  Every night when I put him to bed he presses his cheek next to mine while I sing to him. He's done that since he was a baby and I never want him to stop.  It might be a little ridiculous when he turns 15, but I can't help it.  I can't get enough of his snuggles.

Jamie and I were comparing two year old pictures of ours to Coop's.  I cannot tell you how many people see Cooper and say, "you look just like your daddy."  I hear it all the time.  Well...I now have proof that he DOES look a little like me too.  

Loyal to the Royals...

I grew up a Kansas City girl...which means  that when we went to a baseball game, it was the Royals.  I remember my first Royals game.  I was somewhere around 3rd grade and I used my brother's binoculars to stare at George Brett most of the game because I thought he was cute!  Ha Ha...makes me laugh even now.   So, to my crazy, forever loyal to the boys in blue, little brother...this was just one Cards game.  Don't hate me!  And yes, I did wear a cards t-shirt.  It's kind of a crime around these parts to go to a game not wearing red.  I didn't want to get thrown in jail!

This was big sister night at the game.  We went with some good friends from church and left Coop and the Brown's twin girls with a baby sitter.  Kylie and Lainey thought they were pretty special having all this grown up time without their younger siblings.  

Her own bag of cotton candy!

The most thrilling part of the whole experience...

Our good friends, Michael, Keri and Kylie.  Thanks for a great night!