The Two Coopers

Cooper hits the wall every night at around 11pm. This normally spastic, rubbery 2-year-old is not unlike a regular 2-year-old in many ways. He whines, pitches fits and sulks. He cannot take care of himself. He is afraid to pee out in the rain. He is afraid of strange noises. He likes to follow the big people around. He loves toys more than anything, except for treats. Treats are #1. BUT: as scary as he may look to the outside world, he is an innocent, through and through.

This is how I know...

In the night-time... when all have gone to bed... Cooper lumbers back downstairs and snuggles near me on the floor, wrapping his head around my foot and sighing loudly. Annnddd..he's out.

If I try to wake him, or even if I adjust my foot, he flutters his blood-shot eyes and stares up at me with a questioning gaze... and I realize that I am madly in love with this precious 100 lb. horse.

3pm Cooper
cricket stalker
bunny stalker
squirrel stalker
heavy shoe consumer
steals treats from sister Libby
runs people over at the dog park
able to leap large sofas in a single bound...
and rip open value-packs of Charmin
stealth ball and treat catcher

11pm Cooper
drunk with sleepiness
slow on the uptake
giant sad eyes
afraid of strange noises
wants to know what the light on the ceiling might be
afraid to be alone
slow poke
crawls under the covers and stays there all night long
torn between sleep and play, play, play