Push Up

Cooper is doing push-ups all the time now.  He will push up on all fours (hands and feet) and rock back and forth.  He doesn’t know what to do then so he just flops down on his belly.  Once or twice he has pushed himself up to his hands and knees.

I Want My Toy

Cooper plays rough and will toss or roll his toys around.  Most of the time they don’t go far and he can stretch out and retrieve them.  Sometimes he doesn’t know his own strength and the toys go flying out of his reach.  Since he can’t go forward yet and he doesn’t know to turn around and push himself backwards, the toys remain out of his reach.  Sometimes is gets them by luck and others he just gets frustrated.

First Tooth Picture

A few days after the “First Tooth” blog, I was able to capture a picture of his tooth.  He now has a second one coming in right to the first one.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us.  We hope all of your Christmas wishes come true.

Visiting Santa

Cooper had his first visit with Santa.  He looked at all the Christmas trees and lights while watching Ellie go from one display to the next.  He wasn’t too sure about Santa at first but did a great job sitting on Ellie’s knee while on Santa.

Stuck Sleeping

It is getting hot here and during the day Cooper doesn’t wear much when napping.  Victoria found Cooper sound asleep like this the other day and called down to me to take his picture.  I couldn’t believe he could sleep like this!

On The Move

Cooper is on the move, at least backwards.  He will spin himself around and slide backwards.  He doesn’t like laying on his back much anymore and will always roll over.  He also sleeps on his belly.

Pictures

Cooper will stare in the camera waiting for me to take a picture just to close his eyes.  He is reacting to the sound of the camera even if I am at the other end of the table.  He will be smiling and making funny faces at me right until I put the camera to my eye, then he gives me this look again.

Loving Mummy

Cooper just adores his Mummy.  He gives her the biggest smiles each time he sees her.  While taken a few pictures, Victoria came in and Cooper looked at her with his loving expression.

Cooper’s First Christmas Tree

It was a hot December day when we all went to pick out this year’s Christmas tree.  Cooper doesn’t understand  Christmas yet but Ellie is trying to explain it all to him.

First Tooth

Cooper's first tooth came through today.  Victoria discovered it this morning and Ellie was so excited for Cooper.  They both called me right away and Ellie told me the good news.  It is the bottom right front tooth.

Sorry, no picture yet.

Eating

Cooper is very excited to be eating solids.  He knows when it is food time and if there isn’t food ready, he will let you know it is his food time.  Any time the spoon gets near his mouth, he opens it up as wide as he can. 

New Swing

It was an early Christmas for Cooper when he received a swing from Grandma.  He enjoys sitting and swinging but loves it when Ellie is swinging and making funny faces next to him.

Take a Picture

“Take a Picture, Daddy.”  This is what Ellie said to me when Cooper was laying on Ellie’s bed.  Ellie described how she wanted the picture; sitting up, next to each other holding Moxy and Ox.

Messy by Ellie

Cooper is real messy from his teething rusk, it is a type of baby cookie.  He likes to drop it on the floor and sometimes puts it in his hair or messes it on his face and eyes.

Morning Time

Cooper is normally sleeping when Ellie and I start our day.  On this special day, Ellie and I could hear Cooper talking away in his cot.  I decided to get him and bring him downstairs for the first time with us.  At first Ellie wasn’t quite sure about Cooper invading her morning time but she was excited to have him sit on the table while she was eating breakfast.   Cooper wasn’t too sure about this plan either as there was no milk for him!

The bottom picture is for Ellie.  She wanted to show Cooper how to bite the table like she did when she was small.

Sleeping

Cooper slept through the night for the first time last night! 

Where is the Giraffe

Cooper was trying to keep up with Ellie and the Giraffe.  He was following its travels with his eyes and putting it in his mouth when he could grab it from her.  Then he couldn’t find it!  Poor Cooper didn’t know the giraffe was lying on his head.

Rolling

Cooper is now rolling from his tummy to his back almost every time he is on his tummy.  He is trying to crawl lying on his back, with no luck.  Ellie has given him a few more crawling lessons but he just gives her big smiles and watches.  He is spinning on his back to face the windows, anyone talking, or his fish book.

Cooper and Ellie

Cooper loves his big sister.  Once he hears her voice he will have a huge smile on his face.  She will sing to him in a very high pitch and he will just lay there and listen.  This morning Ellie let him hold her fingers and he put one of hers in his mouth.  Ellie said it was gross and then let him do it again and again.

Tiger Ears

Apparently, Giraffe Kiwi bird Christopher (Cooper) doesn’t know that he is not a tiger.

These are Ellie’s tiger ears and surprisingly they fit on Cooper.  He wasn’t even bothered having these on his head.

Not Quite Moving

Cooper surprised us by rolling from his back to his tummy for the first time this weekend.  Victoria had him on his tummy yesterday and he was rocking back and forth trying very hard to move. 

Cooper will be smiling and laughing then as I get ready to take the picture he puts on his straight face.  If I move the camera to the side and he can see my face he will have a huge smile then as I go to take the picture I get this face again.

Cooper

Cooper is making even more sounds now and can make bubbles with his lips.  He is getting much stronger and rolling onto his side. I finally was able to see him roll over from his tummy to his back yesterday.  When he is sleepy he starts waving his right hand and arm all around.

He is now strong enough to hold him like an airplane for a short time.

Solids

Victoria started Cooper on solids last week, just very basic apples and baby rice.  While he ate it and made a mess, he didn’t seem to be into the solid food.  We are going to wait a few weeks and try it again.

Cooper Update

Cooper just had his 5 month check-up.  He is 7.66 kg (16.8 pounds) and is 65 cm (25.6 inches) long.  This puts in the 50% for weight and in the 25% for height.

Looking Around

Cooper is very aware of the world around him.  He loves to look out our backdoor, the leaves blowing on a tree, at his crazy sister running around, computer screens and his Mummy.

Look at me!

Cooper is finally growing into his hair.  He is getting much stronger and loves pulling his big sisters hair.  He is very drooly and loves putting anything into his mouth.  His biggest challenge is how to put things in his mouth when his hand is in there.

All Smiles

Cooper is enjoying his mat time.  He grabs the rings and looks all around for another toy.  He is now comfortable being on his side while playing but hasn’t flipped over to his tummy by himself.  Victoria has seen him flip from his tummy to back a few times.  I haven’t been so lucky!

Putting Cooper to Sleep

Cooper loves his sleeps, especially when they are in his bed and not in the car, in his car seat traveling to one of the many big sisters’ activities.

Cooper Updates

Cooper is getting bigger and stronger.  He can hold his head up most of the time now and has a very good kick; he loves to do this when we are changing his nappies.  He will turn his head when he hears Mummy’s or Ellie’s voice and talks a lot when he is tired.  He has a strong grip and will grad anything he can from Ellie’s hair to the rings in his play gym.

Crazy Hair

Cooper was born with more hair than I have and it has continued to fill in and grow.  After his bath it is very curly and after a nap it is sticking straight up.

Cooper Being Held

Cooper is now getting big enough that Ellie can hold him with very close supervision.  Cooper is nothing like her dolls and he always moves, kicks and tries to pull her hair.

Mat Time

Cooper is finally old enough for mat time.  While he still doesn’t like being on his tummy, he is happy to be on his mat looking up and his hanging toys. 

Cooper's Thumb

I think we are going to see a lot of Cooper and his thumb!

Tongue

Cooper has learned how to stick out his tongue and smile when he is being cute and wanting more attention.

Hospital

Poor Cooper was very sick last week and ended up in the hospital with Victoria at his side for 3 nights.  He couldn’t keep a full feed of milk down so he was fed through a feeding tube that slowly dripped milk into his stomach.  He is currently feeling much better and we are all happy he and mummy are home.

Thumb

Tonight, Victoria called me up stairs to see Cooper.  He was happily sound asleep sucking his thumb!

10 Weeks Old

Cooper is much more aware of his surroundings.  He will look in your direction when you talk, smiles (Ellie does say that he only smiles at Mum and her, not dad ) and is very ticklish.  If you tickle his feet he will pull them away from your fingers and smile.

Picture

Look at Cooper; he is getting use to a camera being in his face.  When I was taking this picture, Ellie was singing to him and he was looking up at her.

Getting Bigger

Cooper is getting bigger.  He is now 55cm (22.6 inches) long and weighs 4570g (10 lbs.).  He is looking around much more and likes pulling Ellie’s hair.  He has started to raise his hands.  Ellie and I pretend that he is raising his hand to say something and we stop talking and wait. Then one of us makes up something for him to say and then we laugh.

Cooper and Ellie

Ellie and I were playing in the playroom with Cooper getting a little mat time next to us.  Ellie took many pictures of Cooper with my camera and then finally let me take a few pictures of the two of them.

Big Sister Helping

Ellie is a great big sister.  She is always willing to help Cooper by putting a blanket over him, signing to him, cuddling and kissing or giving him back his dummy.

It's Official

Cooper’s name is official, Cooper Richard Bowers Lear; we have filled out all the paperwork!

4 weeks old

He now weighs 3740grams and is staying awake much more.  He is starting getting some floor time.  Ellie and I were showing him all the fun things he will be doing when he gets older; climbing up daddy, playing horsey, tickling, and swinging.

Awake

Look who is awake and has his eyes open!

Cooper and Ellie

Ellie and Cooper have been spending more time together.   Cooper is getting kisses and lots of hand holding from big sister Ellie.

First Bath

Cooper had his first bath today.  Ellie wanted to help so much with his bath and was able to watch from the counter.  Next time she will be able to help.

Thanks Mom for taking the picture!

Eyes Open

Cooper finally opened his eyes for a few photos yesterday.  He is starting to be a little more awake during the day.

Coming Home

Cooper made it home safe and sound, sound asleep!  He is a very good baby, sleeping and feeding well. Ellie has been sleeping through the night and not waking to his cries.