Pooping and a Purse Room

Dear Carinna,

I think you are officially potty trained! Finally.

Girl, this has been a long and arduous road. I have mentioned before that you are stubborn...and that stubbornness does not get left standing outside the bathroom door, I'll have you know!

But really, the worst part was getting you to poop. That was quite a battle. I encouraged, pleaded, bribed...nothing would work. At one point I told you that I would get you a treat if you would just poop in the potty. When I asked what you might want you shouted "A NEW ROOM!! With sparkly stars all over it!" Then you paused for a second, then exclaimed "OR a ballerina room with them dancing all around!" Pause. "OOORRRR a purse room! Just purses EVERYWHERE!"

My thought had been something off the Dollar Spot at Target...but the purse room might work too! Also, I'd like to know how long you had been thinking about this new room thing, it sure did roll of the tongue awfully fast!

Anyway, you fought against the urge for over 24 hours which ended up making you constipated! When your body finally decided that enough was enough and forced you to take note of your poop issue... things got tense. I swear to you that I felt like you were giving birth to your first child! I chanted "push!" and said encouraging things like "you can do it!" and "you're almost there!". You broke out into a sweat. I felt anxious. Then you began to cry and tell me that you couldn't do it and that it was too hard. In return I told you that you had no choice, it wasn't going back in...and that you could do it!

And you did do it! Finally.

Spending 75% of my day crouched on a little stool next to a potty chair isn't really my favorite way to pass time. But you sure did make it entertaining! And funny! You are the funniest and sweetest little thing and I love you to pieces!

Congratulations on becoming a big girl! Way to go!

Love,
Mom

Three Years

 Dear Carinna,

Today you are three years old.

I was just looking at you the other day thinking you couldn't possibly be 3 already! But, never the less, here we are.

 This past year has been quite interesting with you! You make us laugh and you also make us want to pull our hair out! One minute you're cute and funny and sweet and the next you are throwing up pea soup while your head spins around! Okay, it's not that bad. But you can be horribly stubborn and strong willed about some things!

Dad and I were just talking, not too long ago, about how hard it is to correct inappropriate behavior but not squelch your personality. We battle this with all three of you. Being a little stubborn, or a little sassy, or a little head strong are not bad things...but we have to teach you how to control them. Balance. It's all about balance.

 You are such a little mommy! You are caring and compassionate and nurturing...in your own way. I was sick a couple of weeks ago and you were so concerned about me. You asked me continuously if I was okay. I was pretty sick and wanted to reply "NO! I'm dying!" but I thought that might be upsetting to you! Thankfully you were very helpful to me during that time! We recently received Luke's graduation invitation and it has several pictures on it. In one of the pictures he is not smiling. You have been very worried about what is wrong with him in that picture and why he isn't happy. You love on and "help" Cooper to the point of making him mad! But in your mind, you are being sweet and helpful. And much of the time you are being pretty sweet.  I love to watch the nurturing side of you! You will be a great mommy some day!

 You love to snuggle and cuddle, especially when you are tired. Dad and I both enjoy that. Some day you won't want to snuggle with us, so we enjoy it while we can.

You are still quite attached to your blankie...and your thumb. We are working on getting you to believe that three year olds don't suck their thumbs. You don't seem convinced.

Over the last year you have moved into a big bed! It has been fun to make this transition! You did very well with it and did not have to get in trouble for getting out! The only problem we seem to have with the bed is your desire to jump on it!

Your hair has grown quite a bit over the last year! It is still pretty uneven on the sides, but long enough for pig tails and pony tails. You always want a braid in it. You think this makes you look like Rapunzel! My daily challenge is trying to figure out a way to put a braid in your hair and still make it look cute (remember, it's pretty uneven!).

You are NOT!! interested in potty training! This, alone, may make my hair totally gray!  I just assumed it would be so easy with you...since everyone says girls are so easy to train. But as I mentioned before...you are very stubborn! I have tried every bribe and happy dance I can come up with and you still couldn't care less if you used the potty or not. I think you enjoy feeling a little like a baby when you get your diaper changed!

 Two years ago, in your first birthday letter, I predicted that you would be a talker. Last year, in your second birthday letter, I confirmed that prediction. This year, I would like to say...I had no idea how right I was!  I think that sometimes you talk just to hear yourself talk!  Often times, whatever you say is followed by a short burst of laughter...as though you are letting us know what you said was meant to be funny or silly. The laughter is funny in itself! It is almost a nervous habit!

 You have quite a knack for the drama. Everything is exaggerated a little much. Things tend to make you "VERY, VERY HAPPY!" or "Weally, Weally sad." A small injury turns in to a 10 minute crying session. Heaven forbid you not get a good nap! The grouchy level is through the roof if you have not had your proper rest for the day!  "Princess" comes to mind as a good way to describe you!  But your drama brings an added flair to our lives that we would sorely miss!

 Carinna, despite any of the seemingly negative things in this letter, I want you to know that you are the best daughter we could ask for!  You are perfectly matched to our family by God Himself and we couldn't be more thankful to have you!  I hope this birthday is a wonderful and exciting time for you and that you feel how much you are loved and enjoyed by your family!

I am hopeful about many things for your future, but my wishes for you are these:
-May you always be a nurturer, always be compassionate and always be willing to take care of those around you.
-May you always be sweet, always have just a little sass, always have a stubborn side and always follow your gut.
-May you be confident in yourself but not be afraid to ask for help.
-May you keep your carefree and adventurous spirit...at least to some degree!
-May you always have a sense of humor and seek the good in things.
-May you always remember that God made you...and He makes all things beautiful!

We love you so very much!

Happy 3rd Birthday, sweet Carinna Grace!

One

Dear Cooper,

The day has come...you are now ONE year old. Today is both happy and sad for me! I am sad that this is probably the last first birthday we will celebrate in our family...until there are grandchildren...and that we have already sped right through your infancy at an alarming rate! But I am so happy to be able to celebrate you!

I love First Birthday Parties! Like everything else this past year, it's another opportunity to experience something new with you! Tomorrow, at your party, we will watch you experience cake for the first time...and I have a feeling you are going to LOVE cake...opening gifts, being showered with affection...YOU will be the center of attention! We get to spend the next two days celebrating everything about you and this first year of your life!

This past month you have gotten two more teeth (the uppers)! They are barely in, but when you laugh we can see the little nubbins! You now weigh 26 lbs (95%)...down a little from your last doctor visit! You are also 95% for height and 70% for head circumference.

You still wear size 5 diapers and 18 month- 2T clothes. You are a big guy and we love you for it!

You say:
-Mama
-Dada
-Baba (brother)
-Thhh (sister)
-DA (BOO)
-Uh oh or uh uh oh
-nana (banana)
-HI!
-Yeah


Just like your brother and sister, you have really started walking over the week before your birthday! You have become more confident of yourself and your ability to walk and you are losing your fear!

So...what to say about your first year? There are so many things I want to talk about in this letter (which may or may not be interesting) because I am so afraid of forgetting all the little things about your babyhood that make us laugh constantly!

I so look forward to experiencing the changes in life that will come as we enter each new season with you and your siblings. I look forward to the days when there will be no naps, diapers, sippy cups and carseats! But I am trying my best to savor every minute of this season we are in! I know that I will miss it more than words can say...and already there are so many things I miss. So here are some things I want to remember about you:

-You were born at 37 weeks and 0 days (that in itself is a long story). The nurse said you had signs of prematurity so we worried a little about your health and nutrition. You were quite jaundiced and we had to go back to the hospital several times in the days after your birth to have your levels checked! On the "make it or break it" day (the day that would determine if you had to be admitted back to the hospital) I felt confident that I had done everything in my power to make you well. I remember saying that if you had to stay then it was what was best for you because there was nothing more I could do. But...you were MUCH better and you came home with us! Also because of all of this...you nursed longer than your siblings (I know that will totally embarrass you some day).


-Just before we were getting ready to take you home after you were born, you peed all over your outfit! It was the nurses fault...she failed to cover your hiney as she checked you! I was so frustrated. I had to scrounge around for something for you to wear! It was the most pitiful coming home outfit ever.





-You are so easy going. You always have been. I'm not totally sure if it's truly your personality because lately you have learned to throw a fit...so we shall see! But honestly, you are still pretty easy to manage!




-Like I said, you have started having tantrums...and they are hilarious! I never quite know or understand what sets you off. It is never anything that is obvious...to me, anyway. But you throw yourself onto your belly and jerk your arms and legs straight out from your body. You will fuss and whine then jerk your limbs again. This gets repeated several times. I usually just walk away...laughing. You have to understand that you are #3 and I have seen it all before...you drama doesn't phase me!


-Your brother and sister think you are SO funny. Especially Caden. Carinna spends much of the time trying to mother you (and I have a feeling that may never change) and you get pretty frustrated with her (that, also, may never change). But Caden takes pure delight in your antics. This morning you stole a bottle nipple out of the drawer and walked around the house with it in your mouth. Caden fell over laughing at you...but you maintained this look of pure innocence and confusion about what was so funny! You really entertain us!




-At 12 months, I still rock you to sleep. (Gasp!) I never would have done that with your siblings...but with you I can't bring myself to stop because I know that soon you won't even want me to hold you!



-You still love to make your scrunchy face! It cracks people up all the time! You laugh as you make the face and no one can resist laughing with you...and at you!









This next year is going to be an exciting time as we watch you grow and change even more! We will start to really learn your personality and hear your thoughts as you learn to speak. Never again will you be this squishy little baby! I will miss this, but I can't wait to see what the future holds for you! May you always make people laugh, always be rough and tumble, always be affectionate and always remember you are dearly loved. May you learn to be compassionate, grow to fight for justice, rise above pressure from your peers and love God with all of your heart.

Happy Birthday my little Coop!

Dear Cooper,

Today...or tomorrow...or at some point in the next 24 hours you are 11 months old!!! There is no February 30th, so...I am not sure when to consider your 11 month birthday to be. You were not very happy with this month's photo shoot, so I had to bribe you with everything I could find. By the time I finally gave up and let you go, I had broken out in a sweat! You are BUSY!!

You Have TWO teeth! Well, more like 3/4 of a tooth and 1/4 of a tooth, but they are coming up fast! It took long enough!

You have taken several steps on your own! I am pretty sure that the first few times you had no idea what you had done. Since then you seem to have realized that you are moving around unassisted and you are much more timid now!
You still love to wrestle! We have a lot of fun playing with you on the floor. You remind me of a baby bull...or maybe a mountain goat. Everything gets bumped with your head! You charge into the fray head down and ram anything that comes in your way! It is really funny!
You love to laugh! It doesn't take much to get you going. You are particularly fond of deep voices. And being chased. Those things make you laugh and squeal every time!

You HATE diaper changes! I think the issue is mainly based on the fact that you don't want to be forced to be still for that long! Usually, by the time I am finished changing you, my arms burn from fighting your unnaturally strong little body!
You love to scrunch up your nose! It's still your favorite face to make...though you seemed to have forgotten about it for a while! It is back in full force and you do it all the time! You also love to snuggle and hug...still! I hope this doesn't go away for a long, long time! You love to hook your little fat around around our necks and squeeze as hard as you can. It really is the best thing!
The next time you turn a month older it will be your first birthday! I just can't believe we are there already! I remember the day you were born so clearly...and the long hours leading up to your birthday!

You are the sweetest boy and we love you so much!

Happy 11 months Coop!

10 months

Dear Cooper,

Today you are TEN months old! I have already started to plan your 1st birthday party! It's so hard to believe that you have been a part of our family for 10 months already!

You are learning to cruise around from one piece of furniture to another...but you often fall and hit your head. There is nothing like the sound of a little head bouncing off the tile floor to make you cringe! You love to stand and think you should be standing WAY more than sitting! You can reach onto the table and have been known to yank your siblings plates right out from under them. It's a little frustrating...for me and them! You also like to steal sippy cups whenever possible. The other day I heard you in the kitchen splashing around only to find you had pulled Caden's cup of water off the table. It created a nice puddle on the floor...and you were soaked from head to toe. We had been on our way out the door...but I had to change your clothes and so we were late to school!
One of your favorite things to do right now is wrestle around on the floor. You aren't particular what you wrestle with...dad, a ball, a pillow, sister's blanket...it makes no difference to you! Although, sister does become irate when you use her blankie! You are so fun to play with! We all enjoy tackling, tickling, and rolling you around!

You are still wearing 18 month clothes and size 5 diapers. Thankfully you have been holding steady at this size. Hopefully as you become more mobile you will hold steady on your growth. I am not sure what to do if you keep moving up in diaper size! They don't go beyond size 6!!
You have started to eat finger foods...and boy do you get excited about that! But you do NOT like pureed food with texture in it. If I add little pastas to your food you gag and make terrible faces and spit it right out. I guess we will just have to go from puree to chunks...no transition! You also love to use a sippy cup, but you will not drink milk out of it...just water! I hate how messy this phase of eating is...but it's fun to watch you try new things!

You still have no teeth...but I think one is coming in soon!


You like to talk! Most of the time I have no idea what you are saying. You do say "mama", "dada", "boo" (which sounds like da) and "hi." You also love when we sing songs! Your favorite is Pat-a-cake, which you sing along with...and do the hand motions to. You often crawl up to me, make eye contact then start clapping your hands as though you are asking me to sing it! It works...I sing it every time because I can't resist your charm!


Speaking of charm...you have an abundance of it! You love to tilt your head to the side, grin and say "HIYEEEE" as sweetly as you can! It's precious! You also love to snuggle and give us big hugs. And you are also shy when strangers talk to you and you put your head down and grin!

You are such a joy! I know I say that every month...but it is true! You are so easy and happy and we have so much fun with you. Your brother and sister can hardly keep their hands off of you (which you sometimes hate) but I love watching the relationships between the three of you grow. I can't wait to see what the next month holds for you! We love you so much!

Happy 10 months, Cooper!!