Daddy files: Grocery Shopping with Cooper

Chris only has Cooper on Monday and Wednesday mornings because Charlotte goes to therapy.  On Mondays he goes  to a local shopping center/outdoor mall for a free event for kids.  They usually have a clown or magician to entertain the kids.

In addition to the magician Chris stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few items.  Since he only had one toddler, he decided to forego a stroller or shopping cart and just use a basket to shop.  Little did he know that Cooper probably needs some wrangling!

He chased Cooper up and down 3 aisles because Cooper would run down the aisles with his arms stretched out like an airplane.  This resulted in several items knocked off the shelves, which Chris had to stop and pick up before continuing on chasing Cooper.  And have I mentioned that Coopers FAVORITE game in the world is tag?

It cracks me up every time I picture Cooper knocking stuff off the shelves as he flees from Chris who is trying to not only catch Cooper but also stop the grocery store from becoming a complete mess.  So funny.

Maybe two is easier than one?  At least that way they keep each other entertained.

Tidbits

A borrowed title from Jen.

Toddlers will eat a LOT of cornflakes.  It’s because I don’t correct them when they call them ‘chips’.

I think it’s completely adorable that Cooper wears panties instead of boy underwear.  I think it’s completely awesome that Chris and I fully accept Cooper and his interests, even if they fall outside of the stereotypical norm.

Charlotte has the most beautiful hair.  I am completely jealous of her hair.

I love that Charlotte has promoted Cooper from ‘Tooter’ to ‘Pooper’.

I love the Cooper and Charlotte still let me rock them to sleep.  I so enjoy watching them drift off in my arms.  I don’t mind that it takes 45 minutes to put them to bed.  It’s the best 45 minutes of my day.  The quiet, the dark, their soft noises, and toddler questions.  Their smiles just before drifting off to sleep.  It’s the best.

Sometimes I get sad when they sleep through the night for several nights in a row.  The extra few minutes in the middle of the night with them are worth the extra tiredness the next day.

I feel so safe and loved when Charlotte pats me on the back while hugging me.

I love how Cooper sometimes doesn’t know how to express his love and excitement through basic hug and has to squeeze, pinch and pull hair to really send his message across.  A hug just isn’t big enough for him.

I’m glad Charlotte’s favorite movie is Wall-E because it’s not annoying.  I love that she is able to request that we watch Waw-EEE!!!

I am blown away that Cooper knows how to play the game memory and can remember items with up to 9 cards.  I’m equally impressed that he knows and can say his colors.  I think it’s adorable that alphabet consists of two letters:  E and O.

I love watching my two children take turns and share.  As part of therapy we show them our fingers and count down 3 – 2 – 1, then say ‘all done, Cooper’s turn’, and they willingly hand over the item.  I was amazed at how well it worked when we first implemented it.  Now they walk up to each other, make funny signals with their hands, and say ‘tee-tee-tee, aw-duh, my tun’, and the one with the toy actually gives it up!  Are you kidding me??

Update on alarm clocks

They didn't work out so well, I'm sad to say.  Cooper just kept trying to break his (he would throw it on the floor, against a wall, or down the stairs) in order to pop the monkey's face off so he could play with the gears that make the eyes open and close.  Also by throwing it, the digital clock resets itself, so the alarm doesn't work.

Charlotte just sees her has a toy, and we're already struggling to get her to go to sleep at a decent hour because she wants to stay up and read/play.  We'd be okay with that, except for her a lack of sleep results in terrible, terrible behavior and inability to learn at therapy.

We had to lock Charlotte's closet door closed since that's where all of her toys are.  I don't think I would mind as much about her needing a little play time before bedtime, but she opens and closes her door a million times, which keeps Cooper awake or wakes him up.  Ah, the joys of having 2!

We're still keeping the clocks and I think we're going to put them on a shelf or something.  We have to figure out how to make sure Cooper doesn't try to climb up to the shelf to get his 'eee-eee', but we still think they could work.  I think Charlotte is more likely to get the idea and won't climb shelves, but not so much Cooper. 

For now we’ve put baby gates up at their doors, which allows us the flexibility of ignoring early wakeups, although their persistent MOMMY! DADDY! doesn't allow much ignoring.  If they wake up too early and they insist that they need to see us, we usually are able to give them a sippy of milk and they’ll play quietly for another 45 min.  On average they are getting up at a decent hour though - 6:30/7, so it’s not often we often to worry about it.  Naptimes are improving and they at least stay quiet in their rooms for an hour, at which point they either really fall asleep or they are done, but we still got a break.

No news yet

Okay, so we’re all healthy, life is really great, and we’re okay.  I just am hoping for some really good news, but I don’t want to be really disappointed if it doesn’t happen.  So I don’t want to say anything until I hear good news.  Maybe by the end of the week.

Need some good luck

I could use some well wishing and good lucks from everyone.  I can’t say more right now.  Maybe tomorrow.