Let's start with Cooper!
Cooper is my serious but oh so sensitive child. Cooper is a rule follower. Cooper will let you know if someone else isn't following the rules. When you discipline him, it needs to be done privately. He gets very embarrassed and it will make the situation ten times worse. He's not very social at first. It takes him a long time to warm-up to company. Big crowds aren't ideal for him but he will eventually get used to the idea and let his guard down. Guarded is a good word for Cooper. I believe he is on his way to being a perfectionist. This trait is definitely something he gets easy from his parents (more his Dad...wink wink). His big sister has a little of it in her as well, doesn't seem so much these days but when she was younger she wouldn't try something if she didn't think she would be great at it. Both Todd and myself like to do things right the first time. Cooper doesn't miss anything either. He is extremely observant. The other day, he was running through the house and jumped over a pair of my flip flops. As he's heading towards the back door, he calls out, "Mom, I like your new shoes." Or, one day he was sitting at the island and noticed a kitchen towel. "Mom, you got new towels?" On the weekend, if I'm driving anywhere near Miss Shelley's house, he'll ask, "Are we going to Miss Shelley's?" Or, one morning I decided to try a new way to Miss Shelley's and he asks, "Mom, where are we going?" I also passed by an HEB that Todd had taken him to pick up crawfish, "Mom, that's where Dad and I went to get the stinky bugs." This is also a trait he gets from his Daddy. Mom can't get by with sneaking in new outfits or shoes at ALL with Daddy and Cooper! You can also see these traits in his work. We've gotten into finger painting lately. I gave the directions to Cooper and Chloe that they are to put one finger in the paint and then "tap tap" it on the page. Cooper follows these directions and carefully "tap taps" it within the lines. You can even hear him say, "tap tap". Cooper takes longer to do his art projects because he is trying so hard to stay in the lines. This happens with coloring as well. He goes very slow and he does color inside the lines. I've never talked about staying in the lines at all with them either. He's also very determined to learn to pedal his bike. He's doing very well. He has steering down as well. And, my boy loves the scooter! He is still stuttering just a bit and I think I'm going to request testing to put us all at ease. It has gotten so much better but when there is alot going on, he will begin again. However, he communicates really well. His vocabulary development is awesome and I do believe maybe a little advanced. My speech pathologist thinks this is what they call "language explosion" and the stuttering will stop but the educator in me just wants to make sure. I'm unsure of his weight and height but the boy is getting big! He's a better eater than Chloe but still picky. He at least will try things! Here lately, I feel like everything about him is looking more "boy" than baby. His feet, hands, legs, etc. He ONLY wants to wear athletic type shorts. UGH! I have to fight strongly encourage him to wear Mom's favorite outfits. You will often hear me say "they are just like Daddy's". Last, he's doing awesome with the swim lessons. He LOVES them! Still asks when he will play soccer though. In due time son, in due time! Did I also mention that he knows right and left and knows all the names of the dinosaurs! This boy has stolen his Mama's heart!
Chloe...as I begin this section I begin grinning from ear to ear. She's the laughter in our house. She's so silly. You often here us say, "she is a mess!" The other day, Daddy was trying to lay down the law about her eating her dinner (more on this topic later) and she scrunched her face up and said, "Stop talking to me like that Daddy." We both died laughing and then she started laughing. When you discipline her, you can literally see her trying to not smile. As you are speaking to her, she will reach up, grab your face, and say "I love you so much." How do you discipline that? I haven't figured out if this is a defense thing or if she plain thinks you are being crazy. She is a tough cookie. I see independence developing in her. Don't get me wrong, she can turn those tears on. The tears come if she has been inconvenienced or hasn't gotten her way and they can last a long time. That's when you use her technique and make her laugh. She loves a party. She gets very excited if we are having a party (get together) or if we are going to one! However, once the company comes she is very shy. She will eventually find the one person she wants to play with and stick by that person. She enjoys everything she does and doesn't care about "staying inside the lines". She's a performer at home. My girl loves to sing and dance!She's quiet and soft spoken in a crowd but very LOUD at home. LOUD, I repeat, LOUD! I don't think any non-family members would grasp how LOUD she can be since she is so quiet with them. Chloe is the child that climbs all over you when you are trying to do something and pokes your eyes out. Or, pulls on your ear. Or, holds your face so that you give her your attention. She loves to finger paint and color but will do multiple pictures while Cooper is working on his one. Definitely not inside the lines kind of girl. Chloe will take the back seat on learning new things...no care in the world...no keeping up with the Jones...when she's ready...she'll bust out and do it just fine. When at gymnastics or swimming, she's calm, understands the role of the teacher, listens to directions and follows them. She will do great in school, she just likes to play tricks on her Mom and Dad! That jokester in her comes from her Daddy. I can't imagine how it will be later down the road. I will definitely have to stay on guard. When her brother is being so serious, she loves to bug him. Cooper once said, "Chloe, you drive everyone nuts!" Often, if you call Chloe by name she will respond, "It's Princess Chloe." Or, "I'm Snow White." You never know what you are going to get. The other day, I said, "Chloe, you are a mess..." her response was, "I'm not a mess, I'm a princess." She isn't as picky with her clothes but we are moving into the phase of wanting to wear more dresses and changing multiple times. My baby girl LOVES shoes. I can't blame this one on Daddy, can I? She loves flowers and anything beautiful. "That's so beautiful Mom." She will love dance class which is coming up next fall. I cannot wait! She would eat cereal for every meal if you let her. Eating is a battle with her. She won't try new things and has a very little menu of options. Sigh...we'll get there...some day. My Little Miss brings me joy everyday. When work is stressing me out, or something is going on that's bringing me down...Chloe will break me out of it and get me laughing. This little girl is going places!
Their artwork truly says it all!
