Cooper... 9 Months / Good Bye 2008

Bath Baby

Up!

So, sometime before the craziness that was our Christmas, Cooper hit the 9 month mark (probably the 17th)(And, this post makes him almost 10 months, sorry). His well baby check up was perfect - he is still in the low percentiles, but is growing and very happy, so I'm trying to let that go. And his labs came back great, as well. We will go to Riley in February for a check up, but he is doing amazing things! He is finally sleeping better, wants to feed himself what we're eating, and has yet to meet a carb he didn't like! My little dough boy is just like his Aunt Monica - loves his bread and pasta! He is a walking maniac and can stand straight up and take off, now. He just does laps around the couch and back and forth from Grace's room to the kitchen just because he can!!! He wants what he can't have - usually what his sister is playing with - and understands "No" but sometimes chooses to ignore it. He has a great memory / great focus - there is very little you can do to redirect him when he wants something - like the computer! He is an amazing little guy and I've loved seeing his personality develop over the last few weeks.

Well, this was to be my last post of 2008, so I'm only a couple of weeks behind! We had an amazing year. God blessed us with our 2nd (and final) child (unless He has some immaculate plans in store for us!), our first born is a happy, healthy, intelligent, and strong-willed 2 year old, Tim loves his work at White's and SHS, and I thank God that I can continue to stay home and care for my family. We're looking forward to 2009 and all it has to offer! So, Happy Belated New Year! Bring on 2009!! (Oh, wait, it's already here and as busy as ever....)

Grace in her play yard where she can get away from her brother!

Sending Monica Back to Texas

Monica was to leave on the Monday after Christmas so we all headed down to Indy on Sunday to spend the night and explore the down town.

Funny story...

My wonderful Uncle Bob and Aunt Mitzi offered our family their Colts tickets to the last game on that Sunday, the 28th. After much sucking up and whining about being poor and how Tim and I should get them, it was decided that there would be a drawing. If you drew a horse shoe you got a ticket. I had hoped that Monica would get one of the tickets as she is the super fan and hasn't been to the new stadium yet, but I was secretly wishing for a date with my husband! But, stuff like that never happens to me (which I lamented just as the drawing began.) But, I did get a horse shoe! And so did Tim!!! There was a bit of scene as I was very excited and couldn't believe it worked out that way! But then we were informed that the family decided that they wanted Tim and I to have the tickets, so they rigged the drawing - everyone had a horse shoe!!! Embarrassed about how I had been carrying on, but so very touched by my family's generosity, we happily explored the new stadium as well as watched the final regular-season game in Indy. It was a good time, and MANY, MANY thanks to Bob and Mitzi for the tickets, and our family for watching our kids and allowing us to go!

After the game we met the rest of the family and went out for dinner. Then we went and played games at Jillians. We won almost 900 tickets at ski ball and basket ball, to get a prize for Grace. Of course, she picked out 50 points worth of bubbles and a 50 point bracelet. So, Cooper got a Cookie Monster and a Dora football! Only $60 for all that! And, none of us had our cameras with us.

We hung out in the hotel on Monday until lunch and then headed to the new airport to drop Monica off. We went swimming (I won't make you look at pictures of our pale, flabby or too skinny, bodies in the water with the kids!) and played cards to pass the time. Maybe Cooper will be a professional poker player some day. He's got a good poker face already!
Here is Grace drooling over the giant cookie at the Nestle Shop at Circle Center Mall. This would be the only picture of us in the mall because they don't allow pictures since 9/11. (?!?!) While I understand the need for security, taking a picture of my 2 year old looking at a cookie seems very non threatening... well, unless you have met her or have seen her eat a cookie, I guess! They also asked the boys to take the kids off of their shoulders while we were walking! Isn't it my right as a parent to determine the level of danger I'm willing to expose them to?!?! I think the security guard was on a power trip, what with her tooling around, looking all important on her Segway! Whatever. I don't think I'll be heading back there any time soon. "Mom, stop taking my picture. I'm just getting on an airplane."

At the airport, they have a HUGE escalator down to baggage claim that Tim, Ben, and Grace tried out. Tim is trying to make sure I don't pass on my dislike of those things to Grace!

Love you Aunt Moni! See you in March! (Or in a couple of minutes when they bump you to a later flight!)

Here we are playing with the art work. They light up red when you are under them. On occasion they break into disco music which we of course showed off our moves! I was sure our surveillance footage would end up on UTube that night! (Along with our wandering around the parking garage looking for our cars!)

That would be Tim riding the hand rail on the people mover. Apparently our lingering did not worry security! (Unlike Circle Center Mall!)

More Christmas!!

On Christmas night we went to Grandma's house to meet with the Pilgirms. Always a fun group!

Look at the camera, not Mom!!!

The Drake family poses for a picture.

Cooper was just as happy with the wrapping, as what was inside!

And he loves his great Uncle Bob!!

At the farm on Friday everyone slept well and enjoyed a lazy Saturday playing with all our new toys.

That Aunt Laura is getting quite good at the wood working projects - she designed and made the puzzle of the Brookside Farm barn! Awesome!

Cooper is ready for some milk bottle bowling. The ball moos when you roll it!

I got some new work clothes.

Grace got a new Cabbage Patch doll, Quinten. She changed his diaper 3 times in a row and refused to reuse the diapers because they were wet! The smell of a new Cabbage Patch Kid sure took me back to when I got mine, about.... 20 years ago. (Wouldn't that make them antiques?!)

And a little guitar hero for everyone!

We were certainly blessed very much by our family this year! Thanks to everyone who showered us with gifts of love!!
All right, there is still more, but Cooper needs me right now! :)

Mixed Christmas Blessings

As I have had just minutes at a time in between Christmas parties to check emails and follow blogs, I have been amazed that there are people out there who have had time to blog about their Christmas days already!!! I finally have some time here on New Year's Eve, but will only just get started before I have to stop as I have lots to tell and lots of pictures to share! It will take at least one more post to do our Christmas justice!!

I'll start with some of the serious stuff first. We brought Tim's mom, Margaret, to live with us the week before Christmas. On the Monday before Christmas we were able to set up a plan to get her some help after the holidays. While bringing her to our home added some stress to the week, we were certainly blessed that Tim was on Christmas vacation and could devote his full attention to the process. It also gave Margaret time to play with Grace and Cooper. She absolutely loves them and they love her! While this wasn't what we had planned to for our Christmas break, it makes us all feel better to be moving forward. Please just keep us- especially Margaret- in your prayers.

Now on to more of the "fun" times!

This year will definitely be remembered as the Polar Express year! We watched it at least 3 times!!

Grace let me paint her nails red with snow! They didn't last the whole week, but were cute for at least 2 hours. Girls are fun! (most of the time!)

We started our festivities with the Coopers on Christmas Eve at the Richvalley Clubhouse where we used to meet years ago. The Coopers have certainly grown to need the space the Clubhouse provides as we all made it home this holiday. The kids (and adults) loved the room to run and play!

Cooper was the hit of every party! Here he is loving on Cousin Craig.

The great grand kids with Grandpa Gene.

Our first attempt at a family portrait. That would be cousins Allison and Alice sneaking into our picture! Too cute! (I think Grace got into a couple of others as well!)

We started our Drake family Christmas at home Christmas morning with stockings. It was fun to watch Grace dig through hers... and all of ours! I had new jammies for both kids (of course) both were wet in the morning!! So, if you look closely, you'll notice Grace with new pants later and Cooper in a new sleeper eventually. I had to get one picture in their jammies!!

"Are you kidding me with this?"

Boy toys from Grandma Margaret!

Grace loved her backpack, but if you ask her, her favorite gift was the chap stick she got in her stocking!!!

And, the house still looks like this....

Roller Skates!

Cooper likes the farm, but likes the ribbon, more!

Playdough fun!

(Notice that the mass of Playdough in her hands is multi-colored. It didn't come that way. Tim and I resisted the urge to "control" everything!? So we let her "play" and make her own hybrid color of pink and purple, with some other colors sprinkled in! So much for keeping all the colors separate!)

We've had lots more fun, but this post alone took me about an hour! My children (and my husband!) need me. Happy New Year!!!

Weekend Get Away

Last weekend Tim had a history convention in Indy at Union Station. While attending the convention did not interest me, the hotel (the Grand Plaza!) and shopping at Circle Center, did!! So, Cooper and I tagged along. We visited my good friend Erin on Sunday evening and shopped a little on Monday. It was the perfect vacation from my toddler!

We forgot there was a Colt's game that day and had the hardest time getting to the hotel. They had all the roads blocked off before the game! Fortunately, we got there right at 1:00 and eventually they let us through.

Cooper loved the mirror in our room.

Fortunately he is cute enough to make up for not sleeping well that night.
He loves being up so high!!

It was a good mini vacation for us and a small celebration for Tim's birthday! (that makes 35!!) It was such a busy weekend that I didn't get any pictures of it! He got a George Christmas book from Grace and I owe him a Texas sheet cake. That will have to wait until the holidays are over.

Grace stayed with Grandma and Grandpa while we were away. Grandma Jackie and Aunt Vicky watched her while they were at work. I think she made cookies with everyone that day!!

In other news...

The Drakes meet the Wiggles.

We love Aussies!!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!!

Journaling

I have been printing my blog posts and saving them as my form of scrapbooking and have a few Grace stories I want to get posted so I never forget them!

1st...

After leaving gymnastics last time Grace complained that it was too dark. After turning the corner where it became a little brighter she said, "That's better. But I still can't see much." I was pretty frustrated with her performance that night, but of course it all (well, mostly) melted away when she said all this!

2nd...

While I was doing her hair in our bathroom, she noticed that Tim was almost out of hair gel and wanted to buy him some more. We were going to Walmart that day, so I told her to remind me and we would get him some while we were out. "Ok, but we need to get green, not blue." (Why, I don't know) When we found the hair care isle, she went for the first green bottle she found - Shrek shampoo! (Marketing well done on Walmart's part!) When I convinced her that it was not for Daddy, she conceded on the only gel they had - blue.

3rd...

Tonight I carried her into her room for bed, but she wanted to walk into her room herself. So, I put her down and she walked all the way to the other end of the hall did an about-face (An actual pivot on one foot!) and walked herself right past Tim and I and back into her room! (I don't know if this one is as good in print as it was to watch, but I'll never forget!!)

Where does she come up with this stuff?!?!

So, if you read all that, you've earned another picture of the cutest Drakes around!

Christmas is one week away! I'm so excited!!!!!