Just Because

Just because I haven't posted in awhile and am too tired to write much now, I'll put up a few pictures of my favorite little man...

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

When Cooper was born, we were all so surprised to see that he had a head full of hair. I sent him to the nursery for a few hours each night while we were in the hospital, and when they would bring him back to me, he would be clean and his hair would be combed. He looked so beautiful with that combed hair!

However, about a month ago, the dreaded cradle cap snuck up on us. I didn't bother it and thought it would clear up without me messing with it. I continued to wash his hair as normal, but the cradle cap stayed stuck on. Errr... I continued to brush his hair as normal, but the cradle cap didn't budge... Errr... At Coop's 3 month check up, the doc said it's time for that stuff to go. He said to put baby oil on it, let it soak for awhile, and brush/scrub the cradle cap off.

Sounds easy enough,

and it was easy enough,

But...

What he didn't say was that Cooper's beloved baby hair was going to fall out when I did it! That's not the kind of thing you don't tell a first time mom! Since the cradle cap was only on top of his head, he's only balding on top; the sides and back are still nice and thick! My little man now looks like an old man with his receding hairline!

Watched

For Mother's Day this year, my friend Denise gave me a book called Mother to Son. It's a sweet little book with simple advice on raising boys from babies to men. Some tips are funny like this one in the Leaving Home section: "Remind him that beer is not one of the major food groups." I have a feeling deep down inside that this is a lecture I'll have to have with Cooper one day! :) Most of the advice is just good ol' fashion words of wisdom ("Teach him to hang up his clothes..."). And then there are some really sweet tips, one of which I've already learned to be true:

"Don't forget, as a baby, he will always be looking for your face. It will be this way forever."

I know better than to believe that I will always be the face he searches for. One day some pretty little girl will catch his eye, and he'll be looking for her face, not his mama's. But for now, he looks for mine, and I treasure this time.

Today Cooper and I went shopping. As a lady was admiring Little Man, she made a remark that I have heard countless times lately: "Look at him just looking at his mama!" Cooper's eyes were on me, as they seem to be all the time now. I love to see those sweet blue eyes fixated on me, and even more, I love how he smiles when I look back at him. After she said that today and I realized how much Little Man watches me, it made me wonder, what does he see as he watches me?

Does he see gentleness? Does he see kindness? Honesty? Humility? Compassion? Courage? Joy? Integrity? Patience? Respect? All the other virtues I so hope to instill in him?

Or...

Does he see impatience? rudeness? spitefulness? selfishness? greed? All other characteristics I so hope to NOT instill in him?

By no means am I anywhere close to perfect, and I hope Cooper sees that. He can learn much from my imperfections, but I hope he sees me try to right my wrongs. I hope he sees someone he can admire. As he watches me, he will see my sin, just as he will see my goodness, but I hope when he sees me look back at him, he will always see a love for him that is incredible and full and unconditional.

That reminds me of another tip in the book: "At times, you will be blown away by the depth of your love for him." So very true.

Cooper and Dad's Big Day with Tag-Along Mom

If you know my husband, then you know what an avid outdoorsman he is. This is a passion he hopes to instill in our son, and I hope he does too. I like boys who play outside, get dirty, learn the ways of nature, and develop a respect for God's creation. For me, a knowledge and love for the outdoors is an important ingredient in making a boy a man. Fishing, hunting, sports, camping, scuba diving: whatever it may be, I like the idea of Cooper having some connection with nature.

Since Karl was about 6 or 7 his dad has been taking him to Simmons Sporting Goods store. They know several of the employees so well that they are considered friends. This is an important store to Karl. In fact, it was the first place he ever took me. (Oh, the romance of a young relationship! He was 16, I was 14. It was mid-March. I had never ridden in the car with him before, so it didn't matter where we were going; I just loved that we were going together. I forgot to ask my parents beforehand if I could go. I got in a little trouble when I got home...) Now that we have a little boy, we have been looking forward to introducing Cooper to his daddy's favorite store.

Loaded and ready to go!

We did it right by stopping on the way to eat at Karl's favorite barbeque restaurant.

Getting ready to walk in for the first of many times to come.

Boys, all I ask is that you show a little mercy on our finances in your future trips when I'm no longer allowed to go! Cooper, remember, we want you to go to college!

The First Outfit

Remember this sweet little outfit from an earlier post (Updates)? This was the first outfit I bought for Cooper.

I loved how it had elephants on it just like his nursery theme. I was so proud of it and took it out of the bag countless times on the way home to look at it. I kept thinking, "It's so little!" The thought of dressing a sweet little baby in it was so exciting to me.

However, with Little Man arriving a little early...

and the weather taking it's sweet time to cool down...

I was afraid he would outgrow it before he had the chance to wear it.

Don't fret though. With the little bit of cold weather we've had, I got to dress my sweet little baby in it.

And it was just as exciting as I thought it would be (for me).