Mexico 2010

Mid March we went to Puerto Vallarta and had a blast. Cooper was really good on the flights and overall good. He loved the orange juice there and was especially happy when he could have a virgin pina coloda so he could be like daddy.

He loved swimming and by the time we left he was plugging his nose and putting his face underwater! He is fearless.


He liked standing in the ocean and letting the waves hit his feet, he would giggle every time a wave would hit him.


We took a day trip to the zoo and it was the highlight of our trip. It was an interesting trip to get there. We had to take two city buses and then walk through a village to get there, but it was worth it! We paid $5 for a bag of food and got to feed the animals including zebras, papion monkeys, camels and giraffes. Cooper was pretty scared to feed most of the animals but he did like feeding the goats. Then we paid $20 so Cooper and I could "hold" a month old baby panther! It was so worth it. Cooper kept saying “it’s going to bite me” which it did but it was more like playing with a lively puppy. Then I got to pet a 3 month old Siberian Tiger! He was growling the whole time but it was AWESOME!

On our way out of the zoo we stopped to see two black bears that were in a cage. The first time we were there they were sleeping so I put my face right up to the cage to see if they were still sleeping. Not this time, the bear lunged at the cage. Needless to say I screamed and jumped back. Cooper thought it was hilarious, he is still talking about how it growled and scared mommy. Whenever anyone asks him what his favorite part of the trip was he will say “ the hippo moved”. Let me clarify this statement, we saw the hippo for at most 5 minutes. As we were looking at the hippo Rob asked me if it was alive. I said of course it was, why would they have a dead hippo at a zoo. Then the hippo raised it’s face out of the water, that was the highlight. Since then he has been obsessed with Hippos. We started watching this new nature TV series called Life and the trailer has hippos on it, he screams every time he sees them.

The one down side of the zoo is all of us got sand flea bites, I got them the worst. They are similar to mosquito bites but itch twice as bad.

No more diapers!!

We had the first weekend of February open with no plans so we decided it was time to dive into the final stages of potty training. He has been doing great the last couple weeks with only a few accidents. Because of this we decided he wasn’t going to wear a pull up at night anymore. He did amazing! Since then he has only had a handful of accidents and one of them was my fault. We had just gotten home from daycare and I had asked him at least 4 times if he needed to go to the bathroom. He kept saying no, but when I asked him again if he needed to go he said yes. By this time Jasper was barking to get in so I told Cooper I will be right back. When I got back from letting the dogs in I said “Okay Cooper, do you need to go to the bathroom?” He responded by saying “I did!” I went over to the chair on the island where he was sitting and he sure did. Lesson learned - when it's time, it's really time.

Now the majority of the time he will either let us know when he needs to go to the bathroom or just go and do it himself and announce that he did it.

We are so proud of our little man!

Sick kid

Last night we went to went to the lake for the first time since we put our boat in storage last fall. It was so great to get up there and hang out with my parents. Around 1:00 we were woken up by Cooper coughing and he was burning up with a fever. We didn't have any Motrin with for him or even had a thermometer so we could check how hot he really was. I can't believe I am saying this, but thank god for Wal-Mart and it being open 24 hours. When Rob got back we took his temp and it was 102.2, but at least he was still in good spirits, he wanted to tickle me so that was a good sign. Once we all woke up this morning we packed up and headed back home so hopefully mom wouldn't get what ever Cooper has. Thankfully his cough had gotten better this morning but his fever wouldn't go down even with Motrin. We ended up taking him to the Urgent Care clinic by our house since his normal doctor's office was closed. At first the doctor kind of dismissed us like we were nervous Nelly parents but after listening to his chest he said thought Cooper might have pneumonia because of the rattling in his chest. Then when he checked his left ear he said he had a bad ear infection. Because of the pneumonia he ordered chest x-rays, what an interesting experience with trying to get a sick/shy two year old to stand still. The other option was this clear restraint seat. Thankfully they were able to get what they needed and he didn't have to be put in there, personally it looked a little scary. The doctor sent us home with antibiotics and something for his chest, when Rob came home from the pharmacy they didn't have the liquid form of the chest medication. I had to crush up 10 pills and hide them into a bowl of ice cream. Little did I know that would be the easiest of the two medicines to give him. You can tell he is already feeling much better but I think the rest of this weekend will be spent relaxing watching movies and the Olympics.

Long overdue update

A post from Rob:

Sorry it has been so long for an update but things have been very busy in the Peterson household lately. Rob started back up with school last week two nights a week and has about a year left, so the countdown has begun. This then makes life crazy for Jami and Cooper at home and little things such as when to run to the grocery store turn into a complex process rather than a simple task. Both Jami and Rob are swamped at work which doesn’t help the situation, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! We did plan a little 5 day get-a-way to Mexico in March over Rob’s spring break from school that should provide the R&R to get through the rest of the winter! We had a good Christmas (get some more on that soon and some pics) but glad that 2009 is over.







Now what everyone probably really wants to know-Cooper updates:





He is potty trained! In the last week he has had one accident and still wears a diaper overnight, but I think it has been wet only once overnight in the past week as well. We are so proud of him and thankful to daycare where he learned most of it. The next time you see him be sure to ask him to see his “big boy pants” and we will be sure to flash you whatever cool underwear he has on that day

He continues to amaze us with his talking and learning which seems to grow with every day, some common phrases

• K, Mom/Dad (for OK)
• Tank you Mom/Dad (one of these 2 phrases is used to begin almost every response, means to sat thank you)
• Papa (for Grandpas, not sure where he picked this up)
• Tree (Treat) for when he goes to the bathroom
• Pee-has to let everyone know when he goes (Poop as well)
• Uppy-his combination of up and please
• Frui Nack (Fruit Snack) it is so dang cute when he says it

What he has been up to lately

• Loves to swim and can even do it on his own with a life jacket on
• Carries his Cars with him almost everywhere he goes
• Loves to drink “pop” actually juice, but it makes him feel cool to say pop
• Loves to watch movies; Shrek, Cars, Robots and Up are his favorites
• Loves the Black Eyed Peas, especially what he calls the Woo Who song, everyone should see him dance to it, usually in his underwear with the lights off, it is darn funny.

Last night

Last night I did something I never thought I would have to do..

Cooper and I went over to mom and dad's house to help shave mom's head. Not exactly your typical family dinner. Mom had heard from a friend that once her hair started falling out from the Chemo, it would be a good idea to shave her head in front of her grand kids. That way they wouldn't be afraid of Grandma with a bald head. The kids helped out for a couple of swipes with the razor before giving up playing with a box of hats and scarves mom had put together.

Cooper taking his turn. Mom isn't grimacing in this picture, she was actually telling the kids that it tickles!

Dad helping Kaylin

Me finishing shaving her head

All done

As always my mom handled what I am sure was a hard situation with grace and strength. I don't know how she remains so strong and composed through all of this. She is truly an amazing person and I don't tell her often enough how amazing she is and how much I love her.

First trip to the dentist

At the beginning of November Cooper went to the dentist for the first time, who would have thought we needed to start so early considering he only has baby teeth. Both Rob and I decided to go thinking we would both need to hold him down. we were right.. Before I get to that I have to tell you about his choice of toothbrushes. The hygienist showed him a basket of toothbrushes and told him he could pick one. He pointed at a pink one and said "I want that one!" Rob and I looked at each other and asked him if he was sure, he repeated "I want that one!" So Cooper has a pink toothbrush with bugs on it and he loves it.

Then it was time to head into the chair. He sat on my lap while the hygienist showed him all the tools and even shot water on the wall. Then it came time to lay down. I was still sitting on the chair with him, but he wanted nothing to do with it. He screamed and cried, I had to hold his hands and feet while Rob held his head still so she could clean his teeth. The hygienist asked us if we floss his teeth, really?!? I don't get my fingers near his mouth if I don't have to. I think we will wait a little while before trying to floss.

Then it was time to meet the dentist. Cooper has a little stranger anxiety, especially with men, so the poor guy had a strike against him from the start. He kind of looked like a mad scientist with wild curly hair and glasses. We really had to hold him down as he checked Cooper's teeth but he said everything looked great and reassured us it would get better each time we went. I think both of us will go again next time again just to be safe.

My Mom

For those of you who don't know my mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on October 8th. This still isn't something that is easy for me to say or to talk about. Talking and writing about it makes the reality of it sink in a little further. It's been over a month since we found out and it still doesn't seem real. The reason I am posting this now is mom has asked for prayers to help guide and carry her though this journey.

My mom being the amazing person she is, has kept an amazing attitude through all the tests, pokes and biopsies. When I went to see her on the day she was diagnosed, she hugged me and told me she was fine, I was terrified and I still am. Mom is one of the strongest women I have ever known and I know she will get through this.

Mom thankfully has great doctors and nurses on her care team including an amazing surgeon, primary doctor and an oncologist. Last Friday she had day surgery to have her port put in for her upcoming Chemo treatments and it went really well. She starts Chemo this Friday.

She created a CaringBridge site (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bonnieboie) this week in order to keep everyone updated as it's the easiest way to get information out and to make sure we don't forget anyone. I am sure she would like to hear any well wishes you might have for her on her guestbook.

Halloween fun

We had a great Halloween weekend this year. We started it out by carving pumpkins with auntie Annie. Cooper was so funny, he wouldn't touch the insides of the pumpkin, the closest I could get him to the insides was to put the seeds in the bowl. We even had a lion sighting when Cooper put on his costume.

Saturday afternoon we had a small party for the kids and Cooper had a blast with all "his girls" and my family there.

Then it was time to go trick or treating. We joined up with the Kotsmith's and Cooper had a blast running with Leah and Amanda. He didn't want to carry his treat bag so he was running around with handfuls of candy. I think he dropped more than he brought home.

Fall fun

Even though yesterday we woke up to a blanket of snow, we still wanted to celebrate fall, so today we took Cooper to Eveland Farms. We had so much fun! I am sure we will go there again next year, though probably earlier in the year so we don't have to wear winter jackets, hats and mittens.

Cooper loved the minature horses! He kept going back to them when we were trying to pick out pumpkins.

While we were on the hay ride it started to snow but we still had fun. Cooper loved seeing the cows up close.

Cars, Tattoos and big boy bed

Cooper like most boys loves cars! He can't get enough of them and he takes them everywhere, even to bed sometimes. When he first started playing with them he would line them all up and push them like a train or caravan. Now he makes the vroom vroom noise when he pushes them around. He always has at least two cars with him at all times.






When we were at the State Fair Cooper got his first temporary tattoo. He was a little scared when the guy applied it but he loved it! If you mentioned anything about a tattoo, he would point to his arm long after it had been washed off.

We got Cooper this big boy bed for his birthday. So far all he uses it for is jumping or he will lay on it when I am reading him books at bedtime. Yesterday at daycare Miss Christy moved him out of the pack'n play and on to a cot. Cooper got to pick a blanket from home to keep at daycare for awhile to help with the transition. I was nervous when I picked him up yesterday but he did great! He didn't get off the cot and actually took a nap. Hopefully this will help our transition to a big boy bed at home as well.