Its the only thing he really pays attention to.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Cooper Punchin' the Camera
Dad said Cooper doesn't seem to want to be taped but Lola thinks Cooper doesn't like the feeling of weightlessness.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Curious Cooper
Good boy Cooper!
(Note: if needed to enlarge video, click on "Menu" on lower right of video screen)
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Entry from Uncle Farrell
“Uh, Farrell, guess what…,” my younger brother Mark called me a little under nine months ago (we call him JJ, or Jay – a nickname for a nickname). He doesn’t call much, so hopefully nothing was wrong.
I bolted up in my chair, “What is it Jay, is something wrong?!” JJ is in the Air Force, and a million scenarios raced through my head.
“Not really,” he said in his usual calm monotone voice, “but guess what, my girlfriend Sara and I are having a baby.”
“REALLY?!” was the first thing out of my mouth. I eased back in the chair. JJ is a big guy now, much taller than I am.
But all I can think of at that moment was— “Wow. My little brother is gonna be a Dad.”
The little kid I used to tease. The little kid who I remember making TV dinners for. The little kid who used to spend hours playing video games in his room (well…some things never change I suppose).
But he’s all grown up now. Maybe still a kid at heart, but a full grown man never the less. And he’s having a baby with his girlfriend Sara whom he told me about during his Air Force stint in Nebraska.
“Well I’m here if you need me for anything,” I tell him. Not being a father myself, I felt a little out of my element. But I knew enough about parenting to know that being loving and supportive was the important thing.
“Thanks,” he said. After grilling him with the standard series of questions (When is she due? What are you plans? Did you tell Mom? etc.) I hung up the phone and let it sink in. A smile crept up on my face. I’m gonna be an Uncle.
Fast forward nine months later.
“Did you have the baby yet?” I asked Jay. It was Friday, June 29. He told me the due date was June 25 but it was normal for the first baby to arrive late. Since I didn’t hear any news yet, I assumed that was the case.
“Not yet,” he said, “They’ll induce on Monday if the baby doesn’t arrive by then.”
“Are you excited? Nervous?”
“Yeah.” The calm monotone voice.
“Did you pack a hospital suitcase?” I sounded more anxious than he did!
“I don’t think we packed one yet,” he said. Then I heard him turn to Sara, “Did you pack one yet?” I laughed out loud. Typical JJ.
“Well let me know as soon as you have news OK Jay?”
“I’ll call you, I promise,” he replied. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Fast forward Monday, July 2.
I was at work when my cell phone rang. I looked at the caller ID: “JJ CELL”
“Well?!” I said when I opened the phone.
“They induced this morning and we’re expecting within the next couple hours.”
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. They just gave an epidural a little while ago. Contractions have started.”
“Cool,” I said.
Sure enough, when I got home from work I got the call from my parents saying little Cooper Johnson was born. About ten minutes after my parents called me with the news, I got the call from JJ.
“CONGRATULATIONS!” was the first thing I said.
“Thanks Uncle Farrell,” he said jokingly. Still calm and monotone, but he couldn’t hide the “New Dad” voice. The one where your voice sounds happy, anxious, and relieved all at the same time.
Everything went well I’m happy to report. JJ emailed us pictures of little Cooper Johnson and Sara with her “new-mother glow” within hours of the birth. We spoke for a few more minutes and then he got off the phone, turning his attention to his new son.
It’s 4th of July today. Independence Day.
JJ was born on July 5th and my mother always joked that the fireworks on the 4th were meant for him. Well now we can joke that the fireworks are for both JJ and little Cooper. When I see the fireworks tonight that’s what I’ll be thinking: Each explosion of twinkling light and color a little celebration in honor of them.
A smile crept up on my face again.
I bolted up in my chair, “What is it Jay, is something wrong?!” JJ is in the Air Force, and a million scenarios raced through my head.
“Not really,” he said in his usual calm monotone voice, “but guess what, my girlfriend Sara and I are having a baby.”
“REALLY?!” was the first thing out of my mouth. I eased back in the chair. JJ is a big guy now, much taller than I am.
But all I can think of at that moment was— “Wow. My little brother is gonna be a Dad.”
The little kid I used to tease. The little kid who I remember making TV dinners for. The little kid who used to spend hours playing video games in his room (well…some things never change I suppose).
But he’s all grown up now. Maybe still a kid at heart, but a full grown man never the less. And he’s having a baby with his girlfriend Sara whom he told me about during his Air Force stint in Nebraska.
“Well I’m here if you need me for anything,” I tell him. Not being a father myself, I felt a little out of my element. But I knew enough about parenting to know that being loving and supportive was the important thing.
“Thanks,” he said. After grilling him with the standard series of questions (When is she due? What are you plans? Did you tell Mom? etc.) I hung up the phone and let it sink in. A smile crept up on my face. I’m gonna be an Uncle.
Fast forward nine months later.
“Did you have the baby yet?” I asked Jay. It was Friday, June 29. He told me the due date was June 25 but it was normal for the first baby to arrive late. Since I didn’t hear any news yet, I assumed that was the case.
“Not yet,” he said, “They’ll induce on Monday if the baby doesn’t arrive by then.”
“Are you excited? Nervous?”
“Yeah.” The calm monotone voice.
“Did you pack a hospital suitcase?” I sounded more anxious than he did!
“I don’t think we packed one yet,” he said. Then I heard him turn to Sara, “Did you pack one yet?” I laughed out loud. Typical JJ.
“Well let me know as soon as you have news OK Jay?”
“I’ll call you, I promise,” he replied. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Fast forward Monday, July 2.
I was at work when my cell phone rang. I looked at the caller ID: “JJ CELL”
“Well?!” I said when I opened the phone.
“They induced this morning and we’re expecting within the next couple hours.”
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. They just gave an epidural a little while ago. Contractions have started.”
“Cool,” I said.
Sure enough, when I got home from work I got the call from my parents saying little Cooper Johnson was born. About ten minutes after my parents called me with the news, I got the call from JJ.
“CONGRATULATIONS!” was the first thing I said.
“Thanks Uncle Farrell,” he said jokingly. Still calm and monotone, but he couldn’t hide the “New Dad” voice. The one where your voice sounds happy, anxious, and relieved all at the same time.
Everything went well I’m happy to report. JJ emailed us pictures of little Cooper Johnson and Sara with her “new-mother glow” within hours of the birth. We spoke for a few more minutes and then he got off the phone, turning his attention to his new son.
It’s 4th of July today. Independence Day.
JJ was born on July 5th and my mother always joked that the fireworks on the 4th were meant for him. Well now we can joke that the fireworks are for both JJ and little Cooper. When I see the fireworks tonight that’s what I’ll be thinking: Each explosion of twinkling light and color a little celebration in honor of them.
A smile crept up on my face again.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
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