Cooper and his new skills...

...are one big reason I haven't been able to post...yeah, that's my lame excuse...really, I'm either beat or  ready to relax once I get the wee ones to bed.  I know, excuses, excuses... can you tell I feel a bit guilty?

Anywho, Cooper is really on the move.  He started crawling a while back and just took off with his gross motor skills.  I guess it's the whole second baby starts a lot faster to keep up with the older sibling?  Now he's a speedy little crawler, started climbing up things (fireplace, steps...), pulling up on everything, standing (while holding on), and cruising along furniture and toys!  Slow down baby!   Here are some pictures from his early days of moving and cruising.

Did I mention, this makes it now even more difficult to get pictures, especially with both boys together???  I'll upload some of my attempts for the next post.

Random Commentary

Fun commentary from a 2 year old.

• Evan:  "I want almond milk."  Me: "We don't have any right now.  Would you like cow's milk?"  Evan: "No, go to almond store, get almond milk."
• Evan: "I'm tearing it (bread) to pieces."  Me: "I see that.  What are you going to do with the pieces?"  Evan: "Play with it." 
• Brett 'stealing' some cheese from Evan's plate.  Evan: "No daddy, don't eat my cheese."  
•  Evan is a very loving little boy.  He currently is going through a phase where he comes over, hugs you and says, "Mama/Daddy/Cooper loves you."  Can I keep this phase???  (((Love)))

 Fabulous and not so fabulous 2 year old, big brother behaviors:

• Evan is not always the best at "clean up time."  He will however, move all of his toys high enough such that Cooper can't get to them.
• See "love" comment above.  Evan's hugs are sometimes a little intense for poor Cooper...
• While grabbing toys from Cooper is definitely an issue right now, Evan is amazingly helpful sometimes taking leaves and other inedibles from Cooper before he chows down. 

Fabulous and not so fabulous 8 month old (and I just got used to saying 7 month old...), little brother behaviors:

• Evan is doing something completely undesirable and Cooper laughs hysterically, only encouraging his big brother.
• Cooper loves to put EVERYTHING into his mouth...including anything and everything he can find on the floor or within reach, there's no discrimination- leaves, string, matchbox cars, anything is fair game.  His current favorite is grabbing handfuls of dog hair- mmm... (insert cringe).  Now, Cooper is also a pretty good eater (of desirable people food that is).  He's learned to eat mashed up food or most varieties thus far.  He even will eat cheerios!!!  Yeah!  For non mom's- this is a fabulous distraction technique allowing you to actually eat your meal!  So as you can imagine, we are embracing this wonderful milestone of being able to munch on finger foods!  However... he won't eat other finger foods (peas, little carrots, etc.  all cooked nice and soft)- only cheerios and everything inedible off the floor- mulch, dog food, leaves....you name it!   :-/  I know he'll get there.  I just think it's odd that he goes for the very inedible, but not the tasty little fruits and veggies.