The Holiday Season

The girls had a great time over Thanksgiving at Nana and Pop-Pop's house. Julia had a big adventure and went up early ("All by mySELF").















Charlotte has found her feet!














Our attempt at a family portrait...














We also got our Christmas tree this weekend. Julia had a great time decorating with ornaments, while Charlotte supervised from her exersaucer.

Five Months Old!

A trip to the ER

Julia took a spill about ten days ago... and fractured both bones in her right wrist. She also hit her head and has quite a shiner on her eyelid. It was a stressful day for Mom and Dad, but not really for Julia, who acts as if nothing has happened. In fact, check out the video at the bottom to see her cutting a rug tonight after dinner. Sorry that the video is dark.

Julia should be cast- and shiner- free in two more weeks.

Meanwhile, Charlotte continues to develop well. She has begun pushing her bottom up, either in a yoga-esque downward dog position, as in the left photo, or on all fours, as in the right photo. She has started drooling profusely (getting teeth?) and eats three meals a day in addition to a lot of liquid snacks in between. Her meals include rice cereal or oatmeal, squash, yams, bananas or applesauce. Her healthy diet has made us feel guilty about ours and we have started trying to have fruit or vegetables at each meal. Not easy!

She also flashes a big, wide grin when well-rested and laughs from time to time. Tonight Charlotte was laughing repeatedly during Julia's dance routine, making it even funnier.

YES WE CAN

Francis Scott Key (as long as she does not get Dad's genes)

We sing to the kids every time either of them goes to bed. Kara (surprise) has the broader repertoire and the (surprise again) much better singing voice. Aaron usually copies Kara's ideas or sings either the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful (sung every week at his school's assembly). Julia has heard some of the songs so much that she sometimes spontaneously breaks into one song or another.

Here is a slightly orchestrated (forgive Aaron for his voice) version of the National Anthem (pay close attention to the very end).


(Another new post below...)

Our once-monthly update

Hmmmm. It seems to be November, and we've just realized that we haven't posted since September. Our apologies.

The girls are keeping us on our toes, and they continue to amaze us in one way or another every day. We went to the NYC marathon today and Charlotte watched the runners contentedly from her carriage or the Baby Bjorn. Julia snacked on leftover Halloween candy (thanks, Eric Pinciss) and goldfish while cheering, "Go Runners" repeatedly. Though we got no pictures, we had a lot of fun. Julia also met Dad's high school friend Bowe, who she called "Bo Peep."

Halloween was Friday and Kara and Aaron hit the streets accompained by a small butterfly and a smaller spider. Julia actually enjoyed giving candy to trick-or-treaters at our house more than visiting other houses herself. Nevertheless, we visited our neighbor-friends' houses, and Julia got a few items in her plastic pumpkin (which she calls a "grocery pumpkin")

In other news, Charlotte recently turned 4 months and got a clean bill of health from the doctor. She is 26 inches long (90th %ile) and 15lbs, 3 oz. (70th). Kara has gotten her on a good schedule of two naps a day (something we were never able to do with Julia) in order to help her sleep through the night more consistently (she still wakes up 2-3 times per night). We've also started her on solid food, including rice cereal, bananas and applesauce (homemade from apples Julia picked with Emily, Val and Aaron during Rosh Hashannah). She continues to be active, as she now log-rolls the whole way across the floor.

Finally, a fun little video showng Julia's most recent evening routine - watching the evening news. Julia has found an affinity for "Brian Wilmiams" (listen closely)

Three Months Old!

Charlotte is three months today and had her latest check-up. She continues to be big and healthy, clocking in at 14 lbs., 1 oz. and measuring 25". These put her in the 88th% and 95th% percentiles for her age. Julia helped listen to Charlotte's "heartbeep" (this term started at Kara's prenatal appointments that Julia went to).















Charlotte is also turning over ALL THE TIME, which is really terrific but frustrating for her since she can't go anywhere. It is also terrific for us to watch her grow and change everyday but frustrating to hear her yell about it ALL THE TIME. Love you, C-Bear!

Houston, we have turnover...

Charlotte has been spending a lot of quality time on her tummy time mat. She usually kicks her way across the mat until she is directly on the floor. Recently, though, she has been rocking back and forth, often ending up on her side. Once, she turned the whole way over and ended up on her belly. Afterwards, she reclined in the laundry basket, resting from her exercise.

Check out the next entry for news of Julia enjoying one of life's great pleasures.

Every night after dinner and before bath, we take a walk around the lawn to water the gardens and see what is ready to be picked. Julia always carries the tomatoes inside. Last night, she started saying "this is yummy." We thought that she was just licking the tomato until we snapped this photo - and realized she'd eaten half of it!

Daddy Day Care and Two Month visit

Today, Charlotte went to the doctor for her two-month visit. She was 13lbs, 5 oz. (95%) and 25 inches (99%). The inches are not quite accurate, since the way they measure length is by taking a pen and drawing a line beneath the foot and another above the head; Charlotte was squirming and the above-the-head line ended up about an inch above where her head actually reaches. So, we won't be surprised if she officially shrinks in the next month! Anyway, she also got a whole host of vaccines and has been sporting colorful band-aids all day. Julia obviously thought she was a star!



Mom went to orientation for work earlier this week, so Dad took a couple of days off to hang with the girls. We went to an aquarium with Aunt Val on Monday (sorry, no good pictures) and then a new zoo with Aunt Em and Molly Blades on Tuesday. Julia had a lot of fun playing with a whole host of animals and leading her aunts all over the two places. Best of all, we wiped her out! (Charlotte just enjoyed the ride )











One thing Dad learned is that caring for two kids is hard! Thanks to all those (our mothers, mostly) who took care of us when we were young. It could be the world's hardest- and most underappreciated - job.

Two Months Old!

Charlotte greeted the day with a smile for her two month birthday. She then fussed pretty much all day. Ah, newborns.

Back in NJ

We're back home from vacation. The girls had a lot of fun, had some new experiences and met new friends.

Charlotte has continued to grow and develop (and eat.) She has been enjoying tummy time: she has started lifting her head up off the blanket to look up. She has also started to smile - this is the best picture we have of it, though her smile is usually much larger than this. It is exciting to see her interact with us. Best of all, though, was this morning, when she cooed and smiled at Julia for a few minutes while Julia stood over her saying hello.


Some highlights from vacation:


Julia got her first baseball hat, ate her first hot dog and sat through her first rain delay -all at her first baseball game.





We had visits from some friends. Marc Chalufour came to visit twice, which was fun for everyone. This weekend, he brought two nectarines. Julia ate both in succession at dinner tonight. She then proceeded to alternate between asking when Marc would visit next and for more nectarines. As we mentioned in our last post, the LeBlanc family also come to the beach. The girls are seen here with Dad and Lee searching for crabs in the rocks. We found a lot.

We took a visit to the Mystic Aquarium. Julia got more involved in the action this year- she touched a starfish and fed a bird in addition to looking at all sorts of marine life. Next year, she might try to touch a sting ray - they were a little too much this year. As you can see, the bird was just about at her limit.

We also had a lot of outdoor fun. Julia helped Nana, Mom and Dad plant Pop-Pop's birthday present. Before she got to work, she had to have work gloves and a rake like Nana. We also went blueberry picking - and eating. Julia filled the whole pail. None remain.


Most of all, though, we enjoyed hanging out on the porch, swimming in the ocean (but only at the "new" beach, which seems more like a lake in its calmness), and enjoying quality time with family and friends (like at church as in this picture)

On vacation

We're having a great time on vacation. We forgot the cable to download pictures from the camera, so we'll probably have a big post upon our return. In the meantime, the LeBlancs (Lee and Maureen and their kids Elizabeth and Emily) came to visit today and wrote an update on their blog with a link to a whole bunch of good pictures.

Vacation

The girls have had a lot of fun on their first vacation together.









A few days before leaving for Connecticut, Chris Hood came over to hang out with (and feed) Charlotte while Dad was sick and Mom was at work.








Once they got to the beach, Charlotte had her first swim (moments after this was shot) and Julia enjoyed a kayak with Nana (the video).

Charlotte liked the water and, after an initial screech, settled down and actually enjoyed it. Julia has been enjoying the water less, as the noise of the waves scares her a bit. Kayaking was much more fun since it was away from the crash of the surf and allowed her the opportunity to grab buoys while paddling past.

One Month Old!

Charlotte is one month as of today, and unfortunately is already victim to the the-second-baby-never-gets-as-many-pictures-taken-of-him-or-her-as-the-firstborn (TSBNGAMPTOFHOHATF) disease. If she wakes up again before midnight, we'll snap a photo which we're sure she'll love.

We did manage to get her to the doctor for her month check-up (of course forgetting the camera) and we are happy to report Charlotte is in fine health and according to her stats, robust to say the least.

Weight: 11 lbs., 8 oz. (97th %ile)
Height: 22.5 in. (93rd %ile)

Update:
Kara is feeling guilty enough to go sneak in and take a picture of a sleeping baby. Bad idea, but wish her luck.

Fun family time

The girls posed for a photo on the couches earlier this week.














Today, we went for a hike along the Palisades at a place called Greenbrook Sanctuary, a private nature preserve to which we were given a year's pass. Our first impression was pretty impressive, as this photo of the Hudson attests. Julia hiked for most of the hour walk. Charlotte slept in the Baby Bjorn on Dad's chest. Mom picked out the perfect walking stick for Julia and snapped this photo.

2 years and 2 weeks

Julia and Charlotte each had doctors appointments on Monday - Julia for her 2-year checkup and Charlotte for her 2 week. Both checked out with perfect health. Julia's height (35.5 inches) was in the 89th %ile and her weight (25lbs) was in the 40th %ile. Both were normal according to the doctor. Charlotte was 10lbs, 2 oz and 22 inches, both in the 92-93 %ile. Again, very normal. No major shots this time, just hemoglobin and lead tests for Julia. She liked her circus band-aid. So much, in fact, that she pulled it off within about 15 seconds.

The checkup was fun, as Julia got to "test" every apparatus (the ear and eye lights, the stethoscope, etc) before the doctor used it on Charlotte. Charlotte just stared at Julia throughout the process, checking out her big sister.

Today, we went to the zoo. Julia brought her new "packpack," which she says she uses to go to school. In fact, when a school bus passed, Julia said "School bus. Get on it." Charlotte used the walk as a chance to grab a few z's. If you look over Julia's left shoulder, you will see a small tamarind monkey.

Julia turns two...

An exciting weekend at the Cooper house as Julia turned two today. She had a party of family and godparents yesterday - you can see her excitement over seeing the cupcakes (each cupcake had a letter-shaped candle, spelling out "Happy Birthday Julia") Once she got her hands on the cupcakes, she licked the frosting off and left the cake.

Her biggest gift was her new "toyground" complete with two swings (one toddler and one "big girl,") a slide and a steering wheel in addition to a ladder and a small cargo net. In the hot weather, we have put her little pool at the base of the slide and run the hose down the slide. She protests every time we hold her at the top of the improvised waterslide and, after crashing into the pool below, her first words are, "do it again."



This is also the first holiday where Julia has understood that the boxes in the pretty paper contain gifts - for her. To get a sense of how that moment looked to us this morning, check out this video. It's about a minute long.



Tomorrow we get that other, less exciting birthday event - the doctor's appointment. Actually, Julia's 2-year and Charlotte's 2-week appointments are adjacent tomorrow - we'll have a report for you after the visit.

An eventful week

This week began with Charlotte's one-week "birthday" on Monday. (Seen here napping on Mom's stomach at one week old to the minute) On Wednesday, we went to the doctor for Charlotte's one-week checkup. She weighed 9lbs, 10oz., an 8 oz. gain (in 7 days) from her weight when she was dismissed from the hospital. The doctors say that 1 oz. a day is good at this point, so we are all happy.

When alert and not eating, Charlotte has spent a lot of time on her tummy. Big sister Julia likes to join her sometimes for moral support.














The highlight of the week, however, was a visit from Grand-Nana. Here she is with her two Cooper great-grandchildren.

Tummy time and table setting

We started tummy time this morning after Charlotte's umbilical cord fell off. As you can see, she took to it quite nicely. In fact, we think that she prefers sleeping on her tummy to her back (a no-no of course) - she ends up sleeping on our chests or catching a few z's in positions like this whenever she can. Once she woke up, she was quite active and turned her head from side to side a few times. She also scooted herself across the mat with her legs, crying and straining the whole time.


While Charlotte has been experiencing daily milestones and requiring a lot of attention, Julia has been helping out in new ways. Tonight, she set the entire table by herself. Everything you see here she placed on the table. After seeing the configuration of the items, Dad tried to teach her the concept of perimeter. Julia just wanted to eat some blueberries