Happy Halloween!

The fun and excitement continue to build as we get closer to this Halloween Day that everyone keeps talking about. So far this month, we've picked apples (and eaten apple pie), picked out a gigantic pumpkin that weighs more than me (it's 30-lbs.!), put up a scarecrow, gone on a hayride and now, Mommy is dressing me to look like an animal. There's a lot involved with Halloween!

Here I am kicked back in my lion costume. Who said this king of the forest thing requires courage? It seems pretty simple to me.

Soon, a big, scary chicken lady (seriously, she was dressed like a chicken...it was pretty creepy) gathered all of us kids for a costume contest. And, guess what?! I won cutest animal! But, that's not surprising...Mommy and Daddy have been calling me that for months now.
















I was so happy when the contest ended so I could strip off my costume and run...uh, ride free! The coolest part of the whole day was when we zoomed down a big metal ramp on our butts. First, I went with Mommy. Look! No hands!!



















And, despite the fact that I kept my eyes shut tight the entire way down the ramp with Mommy, I had so much fun that I went again with Daddy. Check out the picture of the two of us. Can you tell which one of us is having more fun?

















After all that hay-riding, costume-wearing, picture-taking, sliding fun, I needed a rest.

And, on that note...

G'night, friends!

The Grapes of Boordy

Another weekend, more fun. This time, we headed to a wine festival at Boordy Vineyards for a little laughing, libation and live tunes.

We had a whole crew with us--Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Laura, Tessie and Mommy and Daddy's friends Joe & Patty--so it was timeto par-tay!

As you probably know, Daddy is a beer drinker by trade, so he needed my help selecting a vino. I told him that he couldn't go wrong with a 2008 blend--it's been a very good year.




Here's me and Grandpa relaxing in the shade.
Our hats and smiles match. Then, things got rockin' when Mommy and me danced a jig while the live Irish band played.


After we got home, the dancing continued. We like to be silly like that. I decided to flash my new tough boy face, which I adopted as soon as I got my two bottom teeth. Grrrr...










Slainte! (Cheers in Gaelic)

Young Laddy Cooper

Gene Wilder Has Nothing on Me

After all of this activity, a little boy needs his rest. Check out my wild and crazy morning hair! Here I am going native!

Captain Cooper Culled a Crop of Crisp Braeburns

Mommy, Daddy and I have had a month full of fun adventures. It started when we went to Larriland Farms. I have an Uncle Larry and a cousin Larry, so I knew right away we were in for some fun! When we got there, Daddy went crazy and started driving on the grass. He went all over the place--even where there weren't roads. We were bouncing all around in the car and I was hooting in the backseat. Yee-haw! Then we got to the apple orchard and we piled out of the car and went for a walk. Mommy and Daddy were picking these red balls from the vines and then they crunched into one. They thought it was so yummy, they gave me a taste. Oh, man. It was very juicy. I loved it (and wouldn't put it down).

Then we picked out a giant pumpkin for our front porch. Daddy had to carry it all the way to our car--he's so strong. Doesn't our house look cool now? Mommy says we're going to cut the pumpkin soon and make a Jap-0-Lampturn. I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds like we're going to have more fun. It sounds like something for the big people, so I'll probably just watch.

After we got home, Mommy and Daddy cut up all the apples and made an apple pie. It looked like a lot of work and Mommy kept talking about next time inviting someone named Mrs. Smith to our house when she makes a pie. I haven't met her yet. Our house smelled so yummy and I even got a little taste of the pie!

As you can see, it was a day full of big-boy events. No baby stuff for me anymore. After eating apples and picking out pumpkins, Daddy said I was ready for some real man stuff. So, he taught me three-point turns! Next stop...Daytona 500.
Just kidding, silly. I was just pretending, but it looks pretty convincing, huh?

Hugs & Kisses,

Coop

Hey Everyone! Breakfast is on Me!

Yes, well, quite literally, in fact. Mommy was brave and let me feed myself. I think I did a pretty darn good job, thank you very much. I didn't get any on the walls or ceiling! But, uh, I can't say much for the rest of the room. What isn't shown here is the big bath I got as soon as I put down the bowl and spoon. Mommy almost put me in a plastic bag to carry me up the stairs, but she was giggling too hard. We had a fun time. It must not have been that funny though--Mommy hasn't let me have control of the spoon since then. Rats! Maybe some time soon. Here's my application picture to the Clean-Your-Plate-Club of America.

Ellicott City's Finest

The local firemen recently came to my school. They were very nice, and we became friends very quickly. One of the firemen took me outside, and there, sitting in the parking lot, was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The firetruck. Ohhhh! Wow. I really liked the firetruck. Mommy said it was a lot like me. Big. Red. And, most of all LOUD! The fire dudes were all dressed up in big yellow costumes and neat hard hats--they even gave one to me. Check me out sportin' my fire dude hat!

Totally Toothular

After weeks and weeks and WEEKS of sleepless nights, fussiness and gnawing on everything I could get my hands on, I'm proud to announce the arrival of two little white gems in my mouth. These things have been totally worth the wait because now Mommy lets me eat Cheerios. YEEEEEEEEE-HAW!! Last night, Daddy let me try out my new teeth on something new--PIZZA. (Oh...uh...my mommy wanted me to tell you that it was actually just a piece of pizza crust. Not the full piece of pizza. I can't imagine that the rest of it would be better than what I ate last night.) Anyway, it was super yummy. No wonder Daddy likes it so much. I don't know how much longer I'm going to want to deal with that formula stuff. Here I am eating my pizza with my Daddy. We're such buds!

Hangin' with the Big Boys

Now that I have my big guy car seat, I'm always ready to hit the open road. So, Mommy, Daddy, Connor and I recently packed up the car and spent the weekend with "Aunt" Jen, "Uncle" Mike, Brady and Aidan at their house in Pennsylvania. I knew that I was going to have to say goodbye to my baby ways if I wanted the big boys--Connor, Brady and Aidan--to think I was cool. So, that weekend, I decided to start sitting up all by myself. No more silly boppys or any other stinky baby stuff. It's just me--all me. Next hurdle...crawling. Then, it's off to the races. Once I get going, there's gonna be no stopping me. Mommy and Daddy don't know what they're in for. Here's a picture of us dudes. Aren't we cool?