Actual Birthday. Actually.

This was Cooper's after dinner birthday cupcake on his birthday. (The big cake was saved for his party...) He really understand the concept of blowing out the candles - even if he's not good at it yet. Every time he sees candles now he says "Candle, fire, blow it out."
As a bonus, the candles I got were that trick kind that relights after you blow them out. This was not intentional, the part that says "relighting" was in 2pt. font somewhere in the neighborhood of the 30pt. font "Candles". [Sigh.]





Here is a long video of Cooper enjoying his cupcake.

At the mall to see Santa!

Well, Grammy's camera probably has more/better pictures because we were mostly occupied with making sure Cooper was not running wild at the mall Santa set - which was Polar Express themed.

Here's the 'official' picture, so if you just want to focus on the cuteness of our child, you can skip the lesser pictures with (attempted) clever descriptions that follow.

Here's what the whole fiasco looked like. The entrance is way back to the right, and there is a path of distraction that you wind through before you get to Santa. There were a few blatant marketing displays, a few Madame Tussauds' style snow globes of the Polar Express, a train engine control room display and a giant snow globe.

The family at/near the entrance.

Germ riddled button for child to push? Check.

H1N1 laden lever to pull? Check.

This next picture is the inside of the giant snow globe. Where they have fake snow (styrofoam bits?) that get all over you, your child(ren), all of your belongings, your soul. I don't really know the logic behind having this prior to the picture with Santa.
Perhaps it calms the children? (No.)
Maybe the artistic director (you know someone has this title on their resume) behind the whole production likes pictures of Santa with kids that have wild, static ridden hair caused by their parents frantic post-snow globe brushing. (More likely.)
Either way, it's fun and irritating all at the same time.

Closeup of the 'snow'. And Cooper's wonderment. (Or disgust? He's a little like Daddy when it comes to cleanliness.)

I'm not sure when this picture was taken. By the look on Cooper's face, my guess is after. It has the requisite 'what just happened' vibe.

Sitting with Grammy while Mommy pays 'santa's helper'. Playing with the cardboard train picture holder giveaway that was ripped to the point of uselessness less than one minute after this picture.

Checking out the Louis Vuitton (telling that I had to look up how to spell that) display. Hopefully he likes the lights, not the product; we're not getting any of that for him for Christmas, or any other time. Ever.

Christmas Pictures!

These will be in a weird order in relation to Cooper's birthday/birthday party pictures, but it's only because we need a little lead time to make and send cards. Depending on when the baby decides to make an appearance, those may be late. Be patient!

I think this is the one that (with a little more photoshopping) made it to the final round and is on the card.

Another good one. (I was really surprised this worked as it did.)

This happened in about 33% of all pictures taken.

A little closer, but still pretty good. In a few pictures you can tell we're smiling/giving Cooper instructions to "say cheese and look at the blinking light".

Another 33%'er.

Smiling/telling Cooper to "stop playing with that" and "don't touch" as he rampages around our room unchecked.

Cooper giving Mommy/baby a nice kiss.

Prepping for Xmas Pictures

Here I was testing the custom timer on the camera while preparing for our (second?) annual holiday picture. And no, this is not what we looked like for the Christmas picture.

Cat friend; Let it Snow; Mom; Hold You

More evidence of Cooper enjoying the company of Maxie (the friendly - or at least patient cat).



Snow Day! (Texas Snow Day - less than 1.4 in. Gone by midday.)


Cooper and Mommy self portrait.

It looks funny as a still picture, but when he does this and says "Hold you." you can't help but hug him.