Who is this Boy?

I am really not sure where exactly Cooper came from. I mean, I know WHERE just not how he became the person he is.  

He listens to EVERYTHING, takes it in and uses it in other situations- sometimes correctly at other times not really.  The other day he was telling Doug about his day and when he shared something that went wrong, he said, "That really cuts me up!"  Now, where did he hear that? Those specific words? I do not know, but the inflection he was using and the context was dead-on.  

He has the memory of an elephant. Many of you heard his monologue where he recites all the train stops on the way to Blacktown and back (plus a few others). He has all the names right and even pronounces them like a true Aussie. 

He has no problem telling you exactly what he is thinking. He will out right tell an adult, "You cannot be mean to a kid because it hurts their feelings." Or, when Doug and I are talking he will say, "You cannot have that discussion right now."  At the park today, he turned to a lady pushing her young child in the baby swing and said, “Um, excuse me, when will you be done with that swing so my baby brother can use it?”  Hey at least he is polite about it....

The kid can talk his way in and out of any situation and when the words aren't enough he uses his eyes.  He makes that "Aren't my eyes so blue and beautiful that you will do anything I ask" look that melts your heart and doesn't allow you to say no. He is a master negotiator and even at times a con-artist.  When he wants something his way and I say no he says, “Now, Mom, let’s just use our imagination. Let’s pretend..." that I am doing what you asked, but I will really do what I want. 

When Coop gets on the phone he carries the conversation! You know with most young kids it is like pulling teeth to get them to say more than one word, right? Nope, not my boy. He gets on the phone and begins a monologue about his day complete with sighs, exclamations and other sound effects.  He then pauses and says, "So, how was your day?" or he asks a question that is completely pertinent to the subject at hand and the person to whom he is talking.  He is better on the phone than I am!  

He makes friends with every adult he meets (guess he gets that one from his Nana).  A day may go like this- we leave our apartment and run into a neighbor. Coop says, "Hello." and proceeds to tell said neighbour WHATEVER he is thinking- usually something about Tucker's "bad behaviour.”  In the lobby he says, "Good morning, so and so" to the concierge with a wave and a smile. He will often approach the concierge with a concern he has about something in the building- a dirty elevator, a cold pool or a loud neighbor. His favourite topic though is to tell him exactly what he thinks of the building's fire alarms system (after countless false alarms).  After leaving the building, we pass a coffee bar next door where he has made friends with all the (male) barristas (what is the male version? I want to say barrister but that is a lawyer....). He walks by and in that same voice, with the same expression and the same wave says, "Good morning" or "Hello." and is greeted with an equally enthusiastic hello and wave.  At Starbucks where he knows all the ladies, not the men, the ladies.  He tells them about Tucker's behaviour as well and about his own lack of sleep (ha) due to Tucker’s “behaviour.”  At the end of the day as we head home, the coffee guy get another wave as does the concierge on duty.  And we cannot forget the beloved Sye (pronounced like “bye”). She works at our favorite Thai restaurant.  He insists on visiting her at least once a week and each time professes his love to her.  She is equally as smitten...

I'm sure I could write much, much more about my Cooper. He amazes me daily. He makes me laugh and sometimes even cry.  He is kind and loving, sensitive and gentle.  He is also frustrating, stubborn and relentless, but he is also my love, my boy, my Cooper.

Oh! Who is this boy? Where did he come from? 

And how did we get so lucky?  

(By the way, I just added at least a ten 'u's to this blog. I will never get used to this Aussie spelling. Crap next comes learning the Aussie version of the alphabet- crikey, but that is a post for another time.....)