June 2017

We sold our house! After getting a really early low-ball offer I was starting to feel discouraged, but I guess we just needed to find the right buyer. Yay!

Our house was officially put on the market over Father's Day weekend. Unfortunately we did not get anywhere near the traction on our house that we had hoped. I think we only had 2 people come through on Saturday. I guess Father's Day weekend was a bad pick, but Gina didn't expect it so... and it worked out okay in the end!

Aurora had her last day of Kindergarten! We have been so fortunate that Aurora adores her school. I can't wait to see what her little brain decides to study next year!

Right before the end of the year Aurora got to go on a special field trip with her teacher Lainey to the Museum of Nature and Science. This was one of the items we won at the auction, and she was so excited about it. Lainey is very special to Aurora and getting to spend time with just her and one other friend (Harry) was wonderful.

Thinking we were going to have a lot of people in and out of our house the first weekend we headed up to Breckenridge to celebrate Father's Day with Nanny and Grumpa. We did a little hike, went swimming, walked around the town and had a really nice relaxing weekend.

Unfortunately we came home to another complaint from Animal Control against Chile. That poor dog is going to get herself into trouble if we aren't careful. The worst part is she isn't doing anything, our crazy neighbor has just decided that she is the new target. Our other neighbors have had just about every complaint under the sun filed against them (all completely unsubstantiated) and I guess it is just our turn. So Matt and I decided that the best course of action was just to board the dogs until we move to the new house.

Connor is such a good worker. He loves to help Dad in all things yard work. In fact he likes it so much he was in bed once when Matt was out front laying seed and he started crying asking why Dad wouldn't let him help. Of course I let him get up and he did such a good job raking and helping Matt spread the seed.

-- Cooper at 20 months --

Cooper is absolutely loving big kid books. He still enjoys the board books, but he is asking for pictures books more and more. I am amazed at how intently he listens to the longer books. He definitely has gotten his sister's love of books!

He is napping without a diaper! We are down to just one diaper a day! He stayed dry the first 3 days after we started potty training so I figured we would just go for it. It has been a bit hit or miss but he will work it out.

Cooper is putting his own shoes and shorts on. He hasn't quite figured out how to get the shirt over his head, but even I sometimes have a hard time pulling shirts over his big McCord head so that may take some time!

I am constantly amazed with how much awareness he has of his surroundings. The other day I walked into the new house with him and he asked to go to "Cooper's room" and then pointed out exactly how to get there. I don't know that he understands that he will be living there soon, but he definitely knows that is what we call it.

Cooper is such an empathetic guy! I don't remember his brother or sister ever doing this, but he comes running with hugs whenever anyone is sad or hurt. The other day Connor fell and hurt himself and Cooper came running over to me, pulled on my hand and said "Mama come. Ga-ga sad!" What a helper.

May 2017

We are still trucking along at the new house. It is becoming clear why Joe said end-isa summer! We have hit a few snags (permitting issues concerning asbestos being the biggest) which means some weeks we see a ton of progress and then others absolutely nothing happens. I am trying to get things knocked off my list - picking sinks was easy, granite however has been a headache. So far we have made a "final decision" on 3 different slab only to be told later "I'm sure someone has talked to you about this... but this isn't a good choice for your situation" AHHHHH!

I had a meeting with our realtor, Gina, recently, and she said she wants us to get our current house on the market as soon as possible. So that means we are going to be doing nothing but getting this house ready for a while. Mostly I think that means boxing up anything extra laying about and then tying up a few small maintenance projects.

Aurora had her violin recital, and she did so great! We had a bit of a struggle with practice because she didn't think she needed to and that she was "good enough" but in the end she got down to it and played a beautiful Popcorn Twinkle Variation, which she chose because it's her Dad's favorite rhythm that she plays.

Mothers Day was really nice this year. We didn't get to go to brunch at Jax (the usual Mother's Day plan) and instead went to the nursery and got all our plants for the vegetable garden and window boxes. I am so thankful for my family and how much love they showered on me by helping to plant our garden that day.

We took the kids to see The Secret Garden. It was one of their Christmas presents and they have been looking forward to going. Unfortunately, when we got the email reminder, it also stated that children under 4 would not be allowed. I knew Connor could handle it even though he was only 3.5 so we decided to see if we could get away with it. I had two different ushers question me but no one told me he couldn't come in. Both kids behaved spectacularly and didn't cause a single issue. I then had multiple people comment on how impressed they were that Connor had behaved so well during the show. Win!

Connor had his last day of his first year or preschool! His class went to a park to celebrate and it was hysterical to watch him interact with the other kids. He has a new buddy at school, Torin, and when Torin showed up Connor's whole body language changed. He started talking lower and moving around in a different way. But really cute, he said to his friends "Hey guys, this is Cooper, he's my brother. He's a good guy!"

-- Cooper at 19 months --

We potty trained Cooper over Memorial Day weekend! I am so happy to be essentially done with diapers. These first few days have been a bit rocky, but things seem to be falling into place.

Cooper's favorite book right now is Pete the Cat and the Brand New White Shoes. It is absolutely hysterical to read it to him because he chimes in at certain points and gets super excited about it. He loves to point to all the shoes at the beginning and tell us what color they are. He also likes the "Oh No!" and "Goodness No!" parts :)

Cooper knows most of his colors pretty solidly. I especially like when he points to something and says the wrong color, pauses, shakes his head and says no, then tells the right color.

He is obsessed with putting on boots. I think he just likes that he is able to do it all by himself.

April 2017

We actually got to attend the Logan Auction this year and it was a ton of fun. This year the theme was "novels" so most people dressed up as characters from a book... but Matt and I were super boring. Next year maybe! Matt loves auctions, clearly because he likes to win things ;) We got tickets to Frozen the Musical (which Aurora doesn't know about yet!), a painting for Aurora's room, some wine, a trip with one of her teachers to the science museum and a week's stay at a chateau in France. Should be interesting!!

I am starting a class called Strong as a Mother that focuses on rebuilding and addressing weaknesses postpartum. The woman that teaches it, Zoe, is a student of Katy Bowman so I'm really excited to work with her!

Easter was especially exciting this year because we got to do our egg hunt at the new house! Aurora and Connor loved the extra challenge that came with a much bigger search area. We did have to keep the kids away from one set up bushes, however, there was a half eaten rabbit that a coyote (we assume) had stashed for a later snack... how festive right?!

Connor got to go to his first friend birthday party, for Sloane. He and Sloane unfortunately crashed into each other in the bouncy castle so we left early with a swollen and bloody face. He was a trooper though!

We have started a new 'behavior motivation' system. As a parent it is very easy to fall into the "expect good behavior and punish bad behavior" trap. It is especially difficult when you can't seem to find very many consequences that are motivating to your kids... So Matt and I have decided to try rewarding good behavior (being especially kind or helpful) with a counting bear. When their jar is full of counting bears they can redeem it for a special date with Mom or Dad. Aurora and I went on a special date to The Brown Palace for high tea.

-- Cooper at 18 months --

March 2017

Happy Birthday Aurora! Holy goodness I have a SIX year old. I feel like I say that every birthday... but seriously. It is so fun to see your passions come alive and learn every day about who YOU are and who you are becoming. My favorite way we have seen this lately is in your music taste. Currently your favorite artists are The Beatles and Tom Petty. You found both these artists on your own and loved them because they spoke to you not because your Dad and I have played them for you. Keep being you girl, you are amazing and I am blessed to be your Mama :)

Nanny and Grumpa came to celebrate Aurora's birthday. She was so thrilled that they made a special trip just for the day just for her birthday :)

This year we decided to forgo the "friend birthday party" in favor of two super special surprises. Her first surprise was tickets to RAIN which was a Beatles tribute concert put on by the Denver Center for Performing Arts. It was fabulous and Aurora was over the moon. It was also fun to see all the older women at the show just loving that Aurora was rocking out to all the songs!

Her other special surprise was a trip to the new Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs. She has asked to go for her birthday almost weekly since we were at the Dallas location last year. Even though Connor basically refused to go in the water, all the kids all had a blast. Cooper enjoyed toddling around after everyone and watching all the other kids there.

We started demo on the new house!! Joe, our contractor, says we will likely finish up towards the end of the summer but that feels like an excessive amount of time. It has been really fun to see all the old stuff coming out of the house. And the best part -- the house doesn't smell anymore! It's amazing what a different removing the heavy window coverings and old carpets makes.

Connor and Cooper have a new favorite song -- Rocket Man. It is so funny driving around in the car listening to them. Connor loves that they repeat "Rocket man" twice in a row because he can always nail the second one and Cooper just shouts "MAN!" over and over again.

There is one other family at Logan that lives in Cherry Hills Village and they invited us over for a dinner party to get to know some of their neighbors. Roxanne and Quinn are super sweet and it was fun getting to know them a little better plus we liked all their neighbors.

-- Cooper --

Cooper has started running. It is hysterical and looks like he has a peg leg, but he clearly has no interest in being left behind so off he goes!

He has starting to want us to read longer picture books rather than just board books. That boy clearly inherited his sisters love of reading.

He is no longer happy to sit by at activities like gymnastics and swim, wants to be in the action!

He is talking a TON but is still mostly unintelligible. I can often only figure it out by asking him to show me, so he ends up pulling me around and pointing a lot.

He used to point to himself and say Mama, now will point to me and say Mama and then point to himself can say Cccc (just the hard C sound for Cooper)

He will point to his head, nose, ears, toes, fjngers, and belly button if you ask him where those parts are.

Has found a love for trucks just like his brother. "Guh!" When he sees one on the street or pointing to his shirt when he has one on.

We have this cute little routine when he gets up after he nurses. I say "where are Coopers toes?" and then unzip his sack. He sticks out his feet and says "Toes!!" And holds them up for me to kiss. Then he holds up his hands and says "gungas!" (Fingers) for me to kiss. So so precious.

I think Cooper must be doing some major teething because his sleep completely fell apart for almost two weeks. First he was inconsolable at bedtime unless in bed with me and even then couldn't properly settle.  Then it turned into screaming in his crib unless I was in the room (sleeping on the floor by his crib is pretty miserable) and now finally I think we are getting back to easy bedtimes. Thank goodness.