Summer

Our latest venture into literature with Ella has been the Random House Book of Poetry for Children. We read several poems a night, and Ella just sits and listens. She chooses to have us read it to her every night! Tonight we read this short, funny poem called "Summer" by Frank Asch. Ella thought it was so funny, and we both just laughed. She had me read it to her again, and at that point she had it memorized and just started reciting it! After we were done with our reading, she wanted to go downstairs and tell Daddy the funny poem.

So here it the poem. Enjoy :)

Summer

When it's hot
I take my shoes off
I take my shirt off
I take my pants off
I take my underwear off
I take my whole body off
and throw it in the river.

Cooper's First Sickness

Well, it was bound to happen, and I can't believe we made it 8 months anyway, but Cooper had his first fever this week! :( He was running a fever on Sunday, and continued to run a fever until Wednesday. That is when I decided to take him to the doctor. The nursse practitioner said it was a virus (his throat was red). Fast forward to today, he wakes up fever free but has a rash. I knew right away that it was Roseola, as Ella had had it when she was a baby.

So, check Roseola off the list of common childhood illnesses for Cooper!

Cincinnati Trip 2008: Great Grandparents

This is the final installment of the Cincinnati pictures! While we were there, Ella and Cooper had the chance to visit with both my Dad's parents, and my Mom's Mom. I am so grateful that my children have these opportunities to meet their Great Grandparents!

Cincinnati Trip 2008: Cincinnati Zoo

Ok, resuming the Cincinnati pictures! We had a GREAT trip to the zoo while we were there. I love this zoo, and it really took me back while I was there, remembering all the times we went there when I was little. I would catch a glimpse of something, even just a railing, and think "Oh, I remember that!" :) The only bummer was the fact that the train that runs through the park was shut down for maintenance. What a bummer! But we had an awesome time-and Ella asked the entire time we were there "Can I get my facec painted?" And so we did.... :)









The after-math of the zoo, part 1...

...and part 2!

Ella Dances A Pirate Jig

The other day we went to "Jumpin' Safari" because it was too stinkin' hot to play outside! They were playing this pirate music while we were there. I told Ella to do a little dance to the music, and this is what she came up with... :)

Look What I Can Do!

Sorry the video is so dark, but it was bedtime!

A couple of Cooper Updates that I forgot....

How could I forget these???

1. Cooper gives kisses now! The big open mouth wet ones :) Gotta love it!

2. He can now go from a crawling position to a sitting position, and a sitting position to a crawling position.

And finally, last night I went in to check on Cooper before I got in bed. He had fallen asleep SITTING UP and his head was resting on the crib bumper! hahahahahah!! I can't believe I didn't get a picture though!!

I Kid You Not...

This is what Cooper ate for dinner tonight: (after a full nursing mind you)

4 Tablespoons of butternut squash.

An ENTIRE fresh peach that I blended up right before we sat down to eat.

An entire baby sized cereal bar.

An entire cheese stick.

And it looked as though he could have kept going, but I wasn't sure what else to give him!

Are you kidding me? So what they say about boys and eating is true even this early???

hahahaha....We were definitely laughing tonight!

Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad Wraps

We tried this new recipe the other night. SOOOO good, healthy, and easy to make.

The recipe serves 4, so I cut it in half when I made it the other night.

4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 pkg. (6 oz) Perdue Shortcuts Southwestern Seasoned grilled chicken strips
1 large tomato, chopped
1 can (11 oz) whole kernal corn, drained
1/2 c. mexican style shredded cheese
1/4 c. ranch dressing (I used light)
1/4 c. salsa (I added a little more)
8 flour tortillas (I used low carb)

Toss lettuce, chicken, tomatos and corn in a large bowl; sprinkle with cheese.

Combine dressing and salsa. pour over lettuce mixture; toss to coat. Spoon evenly into tortillas; roll up.

Makes 4 serving, 2 wraps each.

Enjoy! It's so yummy!! Definitely a new favorite.

8 Months!

Cooper is truckin' right along, and is 8 months today!! Here's what Cooper is up to these days:


-Aaaaaaaalmost crawling!! He is SOOOOO close! He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth. He also gets into a bear crawl position. He is able to move around to where he wants to go (on a limited basis) by getting up on all fours, and pushing forward with his legs (without moving his arms), then he lunges forward. It is really funny to watch!

-He started clapping the other day! So now, if you say "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" to him, he starts his little clapping-it is so cute!

-His FIRST TOOTH popped through on the bottom on Monday! You can barely see it, but you definitely can feel it! He has been such a trooper with the teething, because I didn't even know he was getting a tooth until I looked in and saw it about to come through!

-He has been trying finger foods this past month. He loves little chunks of fresh peaches, and also is loving crackers. Basically, anything I put in front of him he loves. :) He is always grunting to get some of my food whenever I am eating. haha I let him try most everything, as long as it isn't a choking or allergy risk.

-He went in the "big pool" for the first time this month. The first try he HATED because the water was still so cold. The second time he loved it, and just kicked back and enjoyed the water in his cool pool float!

He is such a joy, and is such a happy guy. He goes with the flow, and is for the most part easy going! We just love him so much!!

Cincinnati Trip 2008: Tea Party

After the Butterfly Gardens, since it was a rainy day, we decided to have a tea party! Complete with real china, tea, milk for the non-tea drinkers, and some goodies. A fun time was had by all-until the burping and goofing around started....haha!

Cincinnati Trip 2008: Butterfly Gardens

Me and the kids, my Mom and my sister Kelly just got back yesterday from a fantastically FUN trip to Cincinnati! We stayed with my Uncle Gerry and Aunt Jenny, and we had a BLAST!! We always have such a great time when we go visit them. Thanks for having us Uncle G and Aunt J!!! :) You guys are the best!

Over the next couple of days I will post pics from all the fun things we did there.

Here are some pictures from the Butterfly Gardens at the Krohn Conservatory. We went with my cousin Jess and her two girls, Lily and Olivia. It was such a cool exibit! It is basically a green house filled with all sorts of plants, flowers, a waterfall and there are butterflies flying everywhere! When you walk in, they put some sugar water on your hand so that you can have butterflies land on you. Ella was in heaven, and loved every minute of it!