Letter to Cooper

                                                                                                            March 27, 2014

Dear Cooper,

You are going to make your grand entrance into this world tomorrow morning!  I have to tell you buddy, we are all really anxious to meet the last little precious member of our family.  I’m so glad you snuck in there to complete our family!  I always wanted four kids and you are my lucky number 4!

Your sisters and brother are so excited.  When we told them we were going to have a baby they were thrilled and have asked every week since then, “How many more weeks till Cooper is here?”  Your brother, Oliver was begging for a brother for months before we found out we were pregnant with you.  He would ask me, “Mom, it’s not fair, why did you have 2 girls and only 1 boy?”  Or, “Can we please have another baby so we don’t have so many girls?”  I tried explaining to him that it’s not in our control, we get what we are given and don’t have any say in the matter, but that I would have loved to have 2 girls and 2 boys.  Well, you can imagine his (and our) delight when we found out we were having a boy!  Even Berkeley, who was stuck on having another girl, informed me the night before we went in to find out if you were a boy or a girl, said to me “Mom, I’ll be happy with a boy or a girl”, which was very shocking since she was adamant that she wanted another sister!  Oliver immediately asked if you could sleep in his room since the girls got to share a room.  He asked if he could be the one to buckle you up in the car and then everyone started fighting over who would get to buckle you.  He has gone through all his toys to get rid of the ones he doesn’t play with.  He won’t get rid of any that he thinks you might like.  He’ll tell me, “I’m saving this one for Cooper cause he’ll probably really like it.”  He has also requested numerous times to be the first one to get to hold you.  By the way, tomorrow when they come to see you for the first time, your big brother will be the first to hold you.  He is so anxious!  When we asked them what your name should be he suggested “Crusher” after his favorite Skylander.  I love it and it will most likely be a nickname that sticks for a long time!  Your name has actually been picked out for almost 20 years.  I had the name Cooper Winston picked out since before dad and I were married and that’s who you are!  A perfectly cute name for a perfectly cute boy!

Finley is super excited to be a big sister too.  She calls you “Tooper” since she can’t quite say her C’s yet.  We told her you’d be born after her birthday.  So, leading up to her birthday, she would often ask “Is Tooper toming after my birfday”?  You two will be exactly 4 years, 11 days apart!  She often declares “I’m going to be a big sister just like Bertley.”  She is so excited to read to you and show you all her special animals that she sleeps with.  She’ll be a great big sister.  Her singing and dancing and twirling will delight you for hours!

  

Berkeley is anxious too.  She’ll be a great big sister.  After all, she has 8 years of experience already and she’ll just adore you.   She constantly feels my tummy and waits for you to move.  She gives you kisses and pats your bottom when you stick it out while stretching and moving in there.  And boy, do you move around.  I instinctively knew you were a boy when I felt how active you were in there.  Your brother was the same way.  He never stopped.  He did tai kwan do, cartwheels, somersaults and whatever else he could come up with to keep himself entertained while cooped up in a tight space for 9 long months.  I wonder if you’ll be just like him?  Let me tell you, he’s got major plans for you…he’ll be your own personal super hero.  I can’t even imagine the adventures (and mishaps) you two will get into!

 Your dad is thrilled to be getting another boy.  You lucked out in the dad department, Cooper.  He is the hardest worker I know.  He is an awesome athlete, an excellent cook, an amazing landscaper, a total “guy”, but also incredibly gentle and patient beyond words.  He can also fix anything that breaks.  I hope you and Oliver turn out just like him.  If you do, 2 very fortunate young ladies will score big time in the “husband department” someday.  It is a huge responsibility to raise boys into Godly, responsible, respectable men and I pray everyday that we will do you boys justice.

You will be our final baby.  My Dr. keeps asking me if I am still going to have my tubes tied after you come out.  I keep saying “Yes, tie them up, in double knots please.  After this one I am closing up shop and retiring.”  I have actually had the easiest pregnancies ever.  I have nothing to complain about…I’ve never once thrown up during a pregnancy and it’s kind of bitter sweet for this to be my last one.  You are certainly ready to come out though.  You aren’t moving around quite so much because you have outgrown your apartment.  You rented a studio and you’re ready for a penthouse.  It’s time for you to move onto bigger and better things!  There is no more room in this womb.  So, tomorrow you’re getting evicted Coops!  I can’t wait to see your sweet little face.  I can’t wait for your siblings and family to meet you.  Brace yourself…you’re about to get smothered with love baby boy!  So, for the next 15 hours or so, sit tight, we’ll see you soon!

I love you so much,

Mom

Cooper's on His Way!!!

Cooper will be here in a few days.  I can't believe how fast it has gone.  During your 1st pregnancy you have the days counted down and it takes a life time before the baby comes.  By the 3rd and 4th one, you are so busy with the ones you already have that you barely have time to breathe, let alone think about how much time is left till the newest one arrives!  On the way to a birthday party over the weekend, I said "This is our last weekend as a family of 5."  Next weekend we will be a family of 6.  Hard to believe.  Getting so excited to meet our new baby boy!!!

Finley's 4th Birthday

We had Finley's 4th birthday party on Sunday, March 16th!  I was so relieved we were able to have it before Cooper was born.  I was afraid he'd come early and her birthday party would be cancelled because we were at the hospital or that he would come on her birthday.  How lame would that be if they had the same birthday?  I let her invite one friend from school and she chose her BFF, Livy.  The cousins and Grandmas & Papas came so it was nice and low key.  I kept it real simple and basic and let her pick out a princess cake at the grocery store.  She chose Belle.  She only ate 2 bites of it so I think it must have looked better than it tasted, but oh well.  She got lots of fun things and she told me 2 or 3 times the next day "I loved my party".  I'm so glad it all worked out and she had a great time.  Happy 4th birthday Finley girl!  We love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our family.  You are the tiniest, cutest little button and you bring us all such joy!

Student of the Semester

Shaking his principal's hand

Here are all the students chosen to be on the wall of respect

Here is his student of the semester award (I cropped it so you can't see the name of the school)


Mrs. Pringle chose Oliver as 1st semester's student of the semester and on Feb 27th we got to go to the assembly and see him shake his principal's hand and hear why Mrs. Pringle chose him.  Mrs. Pringle wrote "Oliver is exceptional.  He is very conscientious, always on task, helpful and kind to others.  Congratulations Oliver."  He was so proud of himself and so excited to get up on the risers with his award.  I was so worried about him being in Kindergarten all day and wondered how on earth he'd sit for 7 hours and stay focused while keeping his hands and feet to himself.  When we had fall conferences, I asked Mrs. Pringle if he had trouble sitting still and keeping all his parts to himself and she looked at me with a surprised look on her face and said "Yes, in fact, I have him sitting at a table with 3 kids who have trouble sitting still quietly and staying focused because Oliver is the only one I can put there since he keeps them all calm and on task".  I was a little shocked since he has not been still for 6 years!  I asked if he raised his hand often to give answers in class and she said he did.  She said she loves it when he raises his hand because when she calls on him he'll give random compliments like "Mrs. Pringle, you're the best teacher."  Or "Mrs. Pringle, you are so much fun."  She emailed me one day with one of her favorites when he raised his hand and said "Mrs. Pringle, how do you come up with such good ideas and fun stuff to do?"  She said "I love that kid and his random compliments.  He always makes my day."  At the most recent parent/teacher conferences, she showed us his work and how far he has come since the beginning.  She said she has "Never had a Kindergartner like him and that he was going to grow up to be some kind of pastor or leader".  We were very proud and a little blown away to hear a public school teacher say that!

The school recently had an assembly about showing kindness and respect and teachers got to choose one or two students in their class who showed kindness/respect and Oliver was chosen to have his picture up on the "Wall of Respect".  We are so proud of you Oliver.  You have absolutely thrived this year.  You are at a 3rd/4th grade level in Math and are becoming an amazing reader.  You have worked so hard and all your effort has paid off.  Nice job buddy, keep it up!  We love you!