A Little More Solid

Cooper didn't want to eat the same old baby food crap today.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Thusly, it was time for some cheesy poofs...

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

and a Biter's Biscuit.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He was a bit wary of the biscuit.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

It must be observed...

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

It must be studied...

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Only then can it truly be enjoyed.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Go Bucks! Beat Michigan!

Michigan: 3 Days and counting

The Buckeyes rock.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He won't look at me when I take pictures.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He wants to go everywhere. Daddy does not interest him anymore.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Everything else is more interesting.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

A little (sideways) video of him playing with a box.

Upload Video at JussPress.com

Michigan: 4 Days

Definitive proof that if the Buckeyes lose this weekend, then the terrorists will win.


Micole and I have placed our bets. Whoever loses has to buy tickets to the Ohio State - Michigan game next year. The loser also has to wear the clothes of the other team. I hope to God, Ohio State wins. I want to live. If Micole loses, she'll fit in with the crowd.

There is a saying I live by which goes, "My two favorite teams are Ohio State and whoever is playing Michigan". Does that mean this week I am rooting for Ohio State and Ohio State?

If Cooper is ever good enough to play Division I football and chooses Michigan over Ohio State, he will be disowned. I will still love him, but that's a definitely a major offense.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He's a handful to keep up with.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He put dog food in his mouth earlier tonight.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Mmmm, mmmm, good...

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Primal Scream

I've talked a few times about how Cooper is getting into everything. It has happened so fast. He has no compulsions about going anywhere. Last night his curious exploring got the better of him.

We have a really nice book case that Micole bought for $5 at an estate sale. It was the steal of the century. On the bottom there is a cabinet where we store various cooking pots and trays. Around 8 o'clock or so, Cooper was playing with one of the cabinet doors. Micole and I never thought anything of it, because there wasn't anything harmful in there.

Soon however, young Cooper had opened and closed the cabinet door with his right hand while leaving a few fingers from his left hand smashed in the hinge end. Oh, what a scream! Imagine a scream of pure terror mixed with the sound of fingernails running across a chalkboard. It was horrible. I was shaken. The sound of his ominous shriek still echoes in my bones.

It took a few seconds to gather myself, open the door, and pull his hand out. Cooper was crying as hard as he ever has. I handed him to his mother. He cried for a little while and so did I. He's doing fine now.

The scream really shook me up. There was something completely instinctual about it. It rocked me to my core. I imagine it would be the feeling a momma bear gets when she hears one of her cubs screaming and then she runs off to find and save him from whatever trouble he's gotten himself into.

I know you can't protect your children from everything. Otherwise they would be living in a bubble. There are plenty of bumps, cuts, and bruises ahead of us. I think I can deal with those, but that scream still gets to me. I guess I am a very empathic person and I'm also a little more sensitive to things since my mother died. That scream just gives me the willies thinking about it.


Some nights he won't look at me when I try to take a picture of him.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

No matter how hard I try to get his attention, he just won't pay me any.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He just won't look at me.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

It's all about watching the puppy dog.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Michigan Week

It's Michigan week!


Just five more days! Because I'm diehard Ohio State fan married to a Michigan girl, I live the rivalry all year long. It's time to put up or shut up. I'm sure I'll have at least one bet, but I'm looking for more.

Tubby Custard

I haven't blogged since Wednesday. It's not because Cooper has become camera shy, except for maybe this picture. I have a lot to catch up on.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

I had the pleasure of staying home Friday with Cooper.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

My life changed forever on Friday. I watched the Teletubbies for the first time with Cooper. Tubby custard! Tubby custard! There's no turning back. I'm now the father that watches kiddy shows with his kid (and I love it). It's an important milestone. We also watched some of Bob the Builder and his Baby Einstein tapes.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

We went to lunch on Friday with Pappy.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Today we took Cooper to JCPenney's for his Xmas photos. It is always an adventure trying to get an infant to sit still/not cry/look up/smile. Usually you can get 2 out of 4, but it's darn near impossible to get all 4. I think we got a few good pictures. We'll have some Christmas cards soon. If any of my friends out there in the blogosphere want one, send me your address to mcandou2004 AT gmail dot com. I can't promise anything since supplies are limited, but there might be a few left over I can send out.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

The Mystery of the Missing Bowl

We had quite the mystery this morning. Cooper knocked over Dobie's food and water bowls. I put them back in place. As I've said before, saying "no" does not work yet. Within the minute, Cooper knocked the bowls over again, but this time I could only find one.

I looked and looked and looked some more. Under the dining table. By the garbage can. Beside the refrigerator. Under chairs. After several minutes I became extremely frustrated. I was starting to believe the bowl rolled into a wormhole and was stuck in some parallel dimension. Soon I formulated a plan, which involved calling CBS to get their CSI people on the case, but because it would've involved a large amount of cash I instead decided to wake up the wife.

She got up and looked around for a minute or two. She was initially as perplexed as I was, until she came upon the solution. It turns out the two bowls were stacked together. When Cooper knocked the bowls over the second time, the one must have flipped perfectly onto the other. Mystery solved. Case closed. Daddy stupid.

A Handful

Coop's got a cold. He's been in a good mood, but he sounds horrible and miserable when he coughs. I didn't know a baby could make sounds like those.

Dobie is just checking to make sure we brought home the right baby from the babysitter.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

I'm pretty sure we got the right one. He definitely looks like Cooper and his poop smelled as bad as Cooper's poop. Must be him.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He got into the wrapping paper. Which came after pulling everything off the side table earlier in the evening. Cooper has gone from immobility to exploring everywhere he can in a matter of just 10 days to 2 weeks.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

The Day's Pictures

I like staying home with Cooper. It's a lot of work. He's always wanting or getting into something. It's hard to get anything else done (though I did). The day just flies by. The good thing is I get to do it all again this Friday when I'm off for Veteran's Day.

Nap time early this morning.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

They're all buddy-buddy now.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

I'm sure Cooper's thinking "when Mommy stays home at least she'll comb my hair".

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Mommy set up this photo.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

The day so far

I walked out of the den this morning to see the dog laying on his back curled up next to Cooper. It is an obvious (and good) sign that he sees Cooper as dominant. Dobie knows his place in this household.

We took a nap earlier. It took much positioning, repositioning, re-repositioning, and re-re-repositioning before Cooper was comfortable. Of course the position he finally chose involved having his head placed firmly up my armpit, with two of his fingers securely situated in my nostrils. It took so long to get him settled that I was not about to move. It's kind of like when you go to move the television antennae and you find out that your movement affects the reception. You eventually wind up in some pretzel-like position out of a game of Twister just so you can watch the show.

When we got up I let out a fairly loud fart. Cooper laughed and clapped for me, which I found a bit funny since I'm not usually accustomed to that kind of a response to my "work". Yes, I am an artist, but I don't generally require applause.

News of the day

Cooper goes about 2 weeks or so without pulling himself onto the coffee table and then suddenly he can use it to walk around.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

We won't have this table in the living room at our next house. He grabs everything on it. You take one thing away and he grabs another. You take that thing away and he grabs another. It's a repetitive process that ends when the dog wants to go outside.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

He was really going after my beer.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

His pants fell down while he was holding himself up.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Tomorrow is Stay At Home Dad day around these parts, so I may blog some more if the kid gives me a chance.

7-2, 1st Place AFC North

I believe my most common saying right now is "No, no, no, no...no no, no!". Or at least something to that effect. Cooper is getting into everything. He wants to grab everything in reach and then put said items into his mouth. He listens to me, but he doesn't know "no", yet. Not fully anyways. He looks at me with a slight bit of puzzlement each time I say it and then he smiles. Then he proceeds to do whatever he was doing prior and we repeat the entire process, each time with another smile.

Extreme Closeup.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

Watching the Bengals game with Daddy. I think they're undefeated when he wears that outfit. He was already in bed during the Jaguars game and it was in the wash when we played the Steelers. Just what I need, another thing to be superstitious about.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com


Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

The new carseat is set up and ready. We could've done this a month ago. At least.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com

A little video of Cooper laughing.

Upload Video at JussPress.com

This picture is from the other morning. Apparently Cooper crawled under the coffee table, sat up, and could not figure out how to get out. Trapped! It was absolutely horrible for the poor lad.

Upload Video and Photos at JussPress.com