Happy 9th Birthday Cooper!

Dear Cooper,

It is hard for me to believe that you are already 9.  Nine years ago today, you completed our family on a rainy night.  You have a BIG personality.  You are a confident, loud, vibrant young man and the only child that anyone every says looks even a little bit like me.  While you probably don't love hearing that you look like your Mom, it makes me so proud.  Sometimes you remind me of myself when I was your age, the funny, social kid that doesn't like to hug.  Heck, that is still me!  Cooper, I look forward to celebrating you today and all year long.

Let me tell you a little bit about your 9 year old self.

You are in Grade 3.  For the first time ever you have been separated from both of your best friends.  But no surprise to us, you came home on the first day of school telling us you made a new friend.  It certainly didn't take long.

Hockey is your jam.  After our tournament in Cranbrook last month I asked you what your favorite part was and you looked at me like I was crazy and said the hockey, obviously.  I just assumed it would be the pool or running around the hotel with your friends.

We've fully embraced that you are a defense men.  You are slowly gaining confidence in taking those rushes and going for the net.  Though when asked to play forward you still say no.  You look good on defense Coopman, keep it up!

As for food, you still have a jam sandwich almost every day.  You don't like pizza but you'll eat it if that is all there is. You have a sweet tooth like your mom but you like sushi like your dad.  Your favorite is the orange fish egg, I think its called ikura.  I can't get you to eat vegetables but you'll eat raw fish.  Weird.

You take after your Dad in the language department.  I am constantly reminding you to stop using bad words.  I hope that you don't develop a serious case of road rage like your father…..

You are SO SO loud.  You are known as the loudest in the dressing room.  Though sometimes you scream like a little girl and it hurts our ears.  For the most part the loudness comes when you get excited and especially when you are around your friends.

You are not a toucher.  You don't hold my hand, you don't hug, but you may give me a kiss in the morning if I ask for one.  The fact that you don't like them doesn't mean I don't give them anyway.  Especially at bed time.

We've moved past Fortnite and currently you are into Tik Tok.  I don't really get it but you spend a lot of time making videos around the house and telling us to be quiet. Check him out at @Coopmanyt and give him a follow.  He checks it daily.

You are not a cryer.  When you shed tears, we know you are really hurt.  Thankfully it doesn't happen often.

You all of a sudden started caring about your appearance.  Let's start with the hair.  In the spring you spotted a mohawk mullet and immediately aspired to grow one.  It has been several months since then and you've finally grown a defined mullet much to your mother's dismay.  It took telling the hairdresser at the last appointment to NOT touch the back, not even a little.  Why is it that hairdressers don't understand the word trim, and in this case, do not cut at all.  The 2 cuts prior they still trimmed the back despite direct instruction not to.  Insert eye roll.

The other item you've become passionate about are your chains.  Yes, plural.  You ordered one on amazon in the spring and you've worn one every single day since.  You have gold ones, silver ones, think ones, thin ones.  Sometimes you where 1 and some times you layer them up. It has become your signature item.  As a fashionista myself, I can appreciate your unique tastes.

You stay up to late, but that's mostly our fault.  It is always after 9 and sometimes as late as 10.  The good news is that you always go to sleep easily.  You don't want me to stay, you just want to go to sleep.  You are and always have been a dream to put to sleep.

You still sleep with bunny and I take pictures more often then I care to admit.  I can't get enough pictures of you hugging bunny every. single. night.  I will never throw bunny away. Maybe when you are done with her I'll keep her in my bed.  She is no longer soft and fluffy like she once was but she has more character just the way she is.

You are wise beyond your years. You seem so much older than most of your peers.  Probably because you have an older brother.  You have no problems fitting in with him and his friends and even invited a few of them to your birthday party.

You are such a kind friend.  You don't leave anyone out and don't have a mean bone in your body.  I've literally never heard you say a bad thing about anyone.

You are responsible.  Your teachers always say you are the best helper and very reliable.  You are my child that wants to stay by himself when his older brother will still not consider it!  You are wise beyond your years young man.

Cooper I love watching you grow and change each year.  You continue to amaze me with your confident and charming personality.  You are going to big things.  Big, HUGE.

Happy Birthday to you, my baby boy.

Love,

Mom

Happy 11th Birthday Grady

Dear Grady,

This year, I've watched you transition from a boy to a preteen.  You have sprouted up and you are almost as tall as me.  Your feet are the same size as mine already!  I've accepted that the days of you being a little boy are behind us.

Instead of being sad about it, I am embracing the special moments that remind me that there is a piece of that little boy buriend within you still.  I love when you hold my hand in the mall. While your brother stopped holding my hand years ago, you reach for mine often.

I love that you still want me to lay with you and cuddle before bed.  While this used to be an annoyance, I am so aware of how few of these cuddle sessions I have left.  If you ask, I stay.

I love that you trust me with your secrets.  I will always be there to listen.

We are getting a glimpse of the young man that you are becoming, and so far I like what I see.

Let me tell you a little about your 11 year old self.

You seem to have hit a growth spurt.  You are almost as tall as me and you are currently bulking up.  I'm sure any day your are going to spout up like a weed.

Crushes are still a hot topic of conversation at our house.  They are often used as swear words in our house and punishments are handed out for shouting the names out in public or to taunt your brother for no reason.  I don't remember ever having these issues growing up.  What we've learned this year is to never tell your brother, or anyone, who your crush is because it may haunt you forever.

You have an anxious personality.  You come by it honestly as I do as well.  I think it mostly affects your sleep but I also see that you do not like new situations or anything dangerous.  When I asked you if you want to play in the NHL you told me you are quitting hockey when hitting starts. I've started to see improvements this year but I this may just be a part of your personality that sticks with you into adulthood. That is okay to.

The sleeping situation at our house has improved marginally.  At this time last year you wanted me to stay in your room until you were sleeping.  Now you will let me slip away to the Castle (our bonus room named  the Castle) when you are awake as long as I check on you.  To some this may sound bad but at least I can watch tv and do other things other than lay in a dark room....  Maybe by next year you won't need me upstairs at all.  Fingers crossed.

I was able to go to Fort Steele with your grade 5 class and I thought that our Frank Slide trip was going to be tough to beat, I was wrong.  I had just as much fun but worked 10 times harder.  I hope that you'll always be happy to have me on your trips because I plan to come on many more!

We were so proud of you for making Atom 1 this hockey season.  You decided you wanted it and you went out and got it.  It was amazing to see you put your mind to something and succeed.  You are such a great little skater and a little more aggression on the ice would take you a long way, but that is just not who you are.  I love that you have that shy and sensitive side even if it doesn't help you on the ice!

This was a different spring for you as your friends decided to play sports other than soccer leaving you on a team by yourself.  If it were your brother I wouldn't have been concerned, but you are on the quieter side and not always quick to make new friends.  It turned out I didn't need to worry, you ended up with one hockey team mate on your team and didn't care that you didn't know anyone else.  You like playing soccer and you are easily one of the top 3 players on your team.  Dad is coaching you again and I secretly think you both loving being on the field together.

One year later and you are still Fortnite obsessed.  We have constant fights about your language when you are gaming.  I don't understand why you insist on acting like a crazy person yelling and using bad language when you lose or when I ask you to get off. It is still a constant struggle to minimize screen time.

In the worst situations you end up spending a significant amount of time in your room which gives you anxiety as I described above.  And because you don't like to be in your room it causes more of a meltdown.  These can last well over an hour which isn't great for you or I.  This is another thing I hope ends this year given you are almost my size and I can't physically make you do anything you don't want to do, including staying in your room.

This year, in addition to video games, you've discovered a love of board games, monopoly is a favorite, much to your Dad's delight.  My favorites are Battleship and Clue but you strongly prefer the money driven games.

Your palate is weird.  You eat sushi but not fruit.  I have no idea how you get your nutrients.

You've started walking to the bus stop on your own this year and it has been such a step in the right direction for you. The first time I watched you walk down the driveway solo my heart wasn't sure if it was proud or sad.  Proud of you for doing something that made you nervous or sad that it meant you were growing up.  My fave part of Monday is when I hear you punch in the door code and walk through the door calling my name.  You are growing up so fast!

You still do not like to be home alone.  While some of your friends are more than ready you still have some fears that are holding you back.  You will stay home if I have to run Jasmin to the train station or if I have to quickly grab milk from the corner store, but anything longer than that and you aren't interested.  You'd rather keep me company, even if I have to go for groceries!  We are trying to leave you in small increments to increase our confidence but this is not something we are pushing until you are ready.

You still have the same group of friends that you've had since grade 1.  I love how you maintain your friendships, it reminds me of how much I value my own friendships.  With that being said, I love to see how you've made new friends at hockey and in our neighbors.  After years of being more timid, your circle is finally starting to expand.

It turns out that you may be more like me than i thought.  When I went to interviews this year the teachers both commented that you are a social butterfly.  I wondered if we were talking about the same kid.  She said you like talking to your friends, sometimes when you shouldn't.  To me that means that you are comfortable with your classmates and your teacher.  While I don't like that you are talking out of turn, I love to hear you have that chatty side, just like your mom.

You like to read, but only books you've read before or new books from series you know you love.  I can't convince you to read a book that is brand new to you.  There are so many books out there, I need to find a way to make you start reading them!

You are my cuddly kid.  You like to snuggle before bed and will even hold my hand in public.  You care about others feelings and would never do anything deliberate to hurt someone.  Except your brother.

You want a dog something fierce.  We've come close a few times but to date we are still a dogless family.  I am not sure if I want a dog but one of the biggest reason I am open to it is because I know how happy you and your brother want one.  

Sleeping in is finally happening.  And by sleeping in, I mean sometime in the 8s but I still vividly remember getting up with you in the 5s for so many years.  There are some mornings that I get up BEFORE you. I literally thought this day would never come.

Keep being you because I love the you that you are.

Happy 11h birthday Grady.

Love,

Mom 

Happy 8th Birthday Cooper

Dear Cooper,


Today, at 4:19, you turned 8 years old. We've had 8 years to watch you grow into the little person that we all know and love. You are a smart, active, confident, silly, and amazing young man that we are so lucky to call our son. When I look back at this black haired new born baby, it is hard to believe that so many years have passed.  While I loved to hold you while you sleep and kiss your precious head, I am equally as happy to watch you play a hockey game and succeed at school.  I will never forget the day you were born, but I equally treasure all the memories we've created and all the ones left to be made.  I hope the next year brings you all the happiness you deserve.

Let me tell you a little bit about your 8 year old self.


- You are in Grade 2. You still have your best friends in your class for the third year in a row, much to Grady's dismay. You love your teacher and school in general. You don't like to be late for school or to miss any days at all.

First day of grade 2 with your besties

- You are finally a full fledged reader. You've wanted to learn to read since Kindergarten and given I had no idea how to teach you we had to wait until you learned in school. Your grade 1 teacher was phenomenal and had you reading in no time. I love listening to you read even if it is in bed when you should be sleeping already.

- You are in your second year of novice hockey and playing in the top tier! While you have mostly played defense last year you are are hoping for your first official goal after playing a full year last year and not getting a single one. This is your year to shine little buddy!

-You still don't flush the toilet and you still pee on the seat. I guess I've just gotten used to it living in a house full of boys!

-You (and all the other boys around!) are addicted to Fortnite. You have all your little friends over and you sit on the couch together and play the same game side by side. If I didn't kick you off you would happily play all day. I think you would choose hockey over Fortnite but some days I am not so sure.

- This year you started your own YouTube station. Most of the posts are of you playing video games, surprise surprise. You always thank your viewers and remind them to subscribe at the end.

-You still love your stuffies. Jasmin made you take them off your bed and store them in the closet. When I was cleaning your closet I suggested we give some away but you were a hard pass. I suggested to get rid of 3 and after much deliberation you chose 3 to donate.


-Bunny is still a big part of your life. While she doesn't always travel with us anymore you will always ask for her before going to bed. Bunny doesn't often leave your room but there is not a night that you don't have her tucked under your arm while you sleep.

I have more picture of you and bunny then I care to admit

-You are going to bed later and later. It must be a second child thing. You go to bed when Grady goes to bed somewhere around 9. The difference is that your head barely hits the pillow and you are out like a light. You are a dream to put to bed. Except the fact that you won't cuddle with me. Or hold my hand. Ever.

- You and Dad have your thing where you watch weird Instagram vids on his phone before bed. With me, I try to hug you. Sometime you persevere with a look on your face that tells me you are hating every minute of it. You want me on my own side of the bed with my own pillow. Sigh....

- You still love Jam sandwiches and would bring one for lunch every day if Jasmin would let you. You put up with the chicken and shrimp but you complain to me. You still don't like pizza. If you are really hungry you'll have a piece but otherwise you aren't interested. How could I have birthed one son that doesn't like pizza and the other that doesn't like peanut butter??

-You are a 10 year old stuck in an 8 year old boy's body. You keep up with the big kids and are accepted by Grady's friends for the most part.

Hanging with his team mate pre-game

- With the introduction of health class to Grady's grade you have learned a lot more than most 8 year olds should know about body parts and what to do with them....


- Your language is questionable. You are the one that pushes the limits and will say certain words for shock value. You get the colorful language from your Dad. That is all.

-You are a screamer. You are loud. You are confident. A hockey team mate said he was excited to be on your team because he screams all the time. Is that a compliment?

- Everyone is still amazed by your eyelashes. They are long and full and I wish they were mine.

I can't believe that you are already 8 years old. It feels like just yesterday that you were born on that rainy November morning. While many people would love to go back to when their kids were babies, I love the age you are right now. So let's freeze time right now, k?

Happy birthday to the baby of our family!


Love,
Mom

Happy 10th Birthday Grady!

Dear Grady,

Double digits this year! How can it be that its been 10 years since that rainy June morning that you were born?  They were right, the days are long but the years are short.  When you were little I always thought I'd be sad as you grew older, and I was, but I was also excited.  I have loved watching you grow up and have loved each year more than the last. 

Don't get me wrong, I love looking at pictures of you as a baby.  Just the other day I was watching a video from the day you were born and my heart melted for you as a new born but also for me as a brand new mom.  I wish I could go back and relive that single moment.

I loved holding you, watching your reach milestones, listening to you giggle... I miss those things but I also love watching you play sports, seeing you succeed at school, and meeting your Friends. 

While you and I may have changed over the years, my love for you has not and never will.

Love,
Mom

Now let me tell you a little about your 10 year old self.

This year your biggest accomplishment was changing schools.  You were a little excited and a lot nervous at this time last year.  You have had an amazing year.  You started in a class where you knew one kid that went to your school 2 years ago to having an entire class of friends, including 6 that you invited to your party this year.  I have love watching you conquer your fear and finding out it was worth it.

You wrapped up your first year of Atom in the spring with your team taking home the south side title.  I don't think you appreciate how fortunate you are to have won Esso Minor and south city finals already.  You have been on some great teams with many familiar faces.  We have our fingers crossed we'll be as lucky this year.

After the hockey season ended we switched over to soccer.  We played in the rec league this year to accommodate a 3 on 3 hockey league that ran once a week. You are a great little soccer player and I see a fire in you during most soccer games that isn't always lit up on the ice.  Maybe that is because you can hear your Dad/coach yelling from the sidelines!

You've grown your hair out this year.  When you style it, your hair you look so handsome, and so old.  But most days you still roll out of bed and don't even comb it.  The day that you start wearing gel on a regular basis will be the day I know you have a crush.

You are learning about sex ed at school right now.  At first I was over whelmed by all the questions you were asking and knowing how to answer them but a friend explained to me that I should feel happy that you trust me enough to ask. I suspect we will have some interesting conversations this year.....

As afar as I know, you do not like any specific girls.  You often ask me about my grade 4 crushes but refuse to admit that you may have one of your own.

You are still going through a phase where you are full of worry.  About people breaking in, getting lost, being in the house alone, being upstairs alone, and the list continues.  It has been almost 2 years since you abruptly became scared of being alone and I think you may be starting to overcome it.  It has been slow but I know that it is a phase and you won't need me like this forever.

You are a gamer.  This is something that I just don't understand.  Why do you and all your friends cram around one device to watch each other play the latest video game? It must be a boy thing.  Right now your current game obsession is Fortnite, give it a month and I'm sure you'll be onto something new.

We still walk you to the bus stop.  We've talked about when you may be ready to walk the block on your own and you tell me you are ready.  We've decided to be safe we will start with the walk to the bus stop solo next year.

I love to see how you value your friendships.  You didn't want to have a hockey party because some of your school friends don't play.  You didn't want to have a sleepover because you didn't want to leave any of your friends out.  Despite moving away from your best friend and changing schools you have still kept a close relationship with him.  Friendship has always been so important to me and I hope that I have passed that along to you.

You and I have started to read books together.  By that I mean I read and you listen.  Your Dad thinks its silly but as long as you keep wanting me to I will continue to do it.  So far we have read Wonder, Auggie and Me, Charlotte's Web, and 2 Gordon Korman books. I Want to go Home by Gordon Korman was read to me by my grade 4 teacher and I loved it.  It was such a pleasure to read it with Grady and have him enjoy it just as much.

If I don't read to you, you prefer to re read books you've already read.   You did not get that from me, I never re read books, even if I love them.  That is why I started reading to you, to make you read a new book!

These days your personality reminds me of Jekyll and Hyde.  You can explode with a nasty tantrum (yes you still have those!) then an hour later be the sweetest young man showering me with apologies, hugs, and kisses.

You are very aware of others feelings.  If I am sad you will make me a card.  When I run a race you make me a medal.  Even if you are the one that makes me angry, eventually you will recognize it and try to make it better.  

This year for your birthday you really wanted a skateboard, and a dog.  This coming from the kid that needed to be carried across the kitchen so he didn't have to be near Grandma's dog!  You cried when we dog sat and Cobee left even though you didn't show much interest during her stay.  I'm still unsure whether a dog is in our future or not.

You stay up late and get up early.  You are rarely sleeping before 9pm and you are often still up at 10pm.  You are no longer scared to go downstairs in the morning when you get up so you sneak down before are 7am agreed upon wake up time.  I should say you think that you are sneaky but seriously you walk like an elephant and I can hear you going down the stairs.

You are the only man in my life that likes to snuggle.  While it used to be every night you don't ask for it as much.  But when you do I soak it up. I know that the days of you hugging and kissing me are probably nearing an end.  Yet, you will still hold my hand in public and even when I volunteer at school.  That make me feel so special.

Your eating still sucks.  You refuse to eat essentially anything healthy.  A healthy snack for you would be cheese. Enough said.

You have a love/hate relationship with your brother.  It is what you and I fight about the most.  You can be really nasty and call him some bad names, you are the oldest and biggest and you like to remind him of that.  On the flip side you like to play vids together and always include each other with your friends.  My one hope for you both is that you become and stay best friends.

You've had such an amazing year this year it is going to be a tough one to top.  

Happy 10th birthday Grady.

Love,

Mom