Happy 3rd Birthday Cooper!

October 12, 2008 was the day my life changed forever!  This little 5 lb 10 oz little bundle of joy has turned into a 27 lb fun, energetic, independent, very curious, and almost always happy little boy.  He has been very excited about his birthday ever since we celebrated birthdays all summer long.  I have been trying to convince him to stay 2 years old and a little boy, but alas, he tells me " Mommy I'm 3. I'm big."

Cooper's Likes:  heavy construction equipment, fire trucks, sushi, oatmeal, Mickey Mouse obsession!, computers, pushing any and all buttons, being "naked boy" and sleeping without clothes on, playing outside, riding and pedaling his bike all by himself, LOVES his daddy, playing in cars, listening to music loudly and jumping on his big boy bed, drawing in daddy's notebook (aka Cooper's patio), visiting our neighbor Papi, singing songs, playing with daddy's camera, talking to older girls (10-12), playing basket ball inside the house with the huge therapy ball,  playing at the park, playing his guitar, trains, playing with automatic doors, going to school (most days), playing with his friends at school (especially April) doing EVERYTHING HIMSELF and did I mention he obsesses over his daddy (wait make that "doddy")

Cooper's Dislikes:

Going potty on the toilet, brushing his teeth, being told it's time to eat or go to bed, getting out of the car, taking naps, having his favorite blankets come off at night (if we don't fix it fast, disaster!)

Cooper's Abilities: 

Counting to 17, knows all his colors, knows how to change setting on mommy's laptop, climbing ladders at the park, pedal his big boy bike (with training wheels of course), make a basket in his toy basket ball hoop, walk up and down the stairs on the right side holding on to the railing (a big accomplishment since he has right sided weakness), take off his own clothes, open mommy's car door all by himself, take a picture with daddy's camera all by himself

For his birthday today Cooper ate one of his favorite breakfasts; oatmeal. He brought Rice Krispy treats to school and loved to share them with his friends.  When I went to pick him up he was having the best time running around, playing a game, all while holding the hands of two different girls. What a ladies man! His teacher made him a birthday hat with 3 bears on the front.   When we got home he opened some presents. 

 What a handsome 3 year old in his birthday hat.  He's never really understood that wrapping paper is for tearing open.  I couldn't believe he actually needed help to open the present.  I thought he'd be all over the tearing, ripping and shredding. 

 Look at that, a Mickey Mouse book, awesome! This was one of the only pictures where he was actually looking at the camera.   

 This was his favorite toy, a tow truck, which he calls a crane.  He had seen this truck at Target several weeks ago and wanted to take it home.  Luckily I was able to get the last one.  As he was taking the truck out of the bag he kept saying "thank you, thank you so much!"  And then when we were on our way to the store he brought his truck in the car and yelled thank you several more times.  So sweet!   

What an awesome truck!  It has lights, and sounds and a moving 'crane' that hook up to monster trucks.

Cooper is the best little "monster" ever and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.  He can't wait until next weekend to have all his family come and celebrate his birthday!  Happy Birthday Super Duper Cooper Monster!