My smart boy! (A totally bragging post)

Cooper has been amazing me these days. He surprises me on a daily basis with all that he knows. He is talking up a storm and working on phrases. He got into something that bothered his stomach recently, and it gave him very bad diaper rash. While Curtis is changing his diaper, I hear him say "hiney ow;" Curtis replied, "does your hiney hurt?" It was just the cutest thing. On another occasion they were playing peek-a-boo. Curtis would say, "where's Cooper?" "there he is!" Cooper said the phrase as he played. It was precious. Obviously the words weren't perfect, but it was clear that that was what he was saying. He used the same inflections and everything. He loves to sing. He watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and he loves the "hot dog" song; he sings it so cute. He also has several toys that sing the ABCs, and he will say "a,b, ah, ah..." to the tune of the song. I cherish these moments. I can tell I have the heart of a teacher as he learns new things. There is nothing greater when they have those "lightbulb" moments where it all just clicks. Just this morning he had that. He figured out how his fridge phonics worked. That you had to put the letter in the right way and push it for the song. He figured out that the letters don't go with the fridge farm. It really was a great moment. He has also really started to like TV. I had always said he wouldn't watch TV until 2, but it just happened. I needed it to get a shower or the laundry done, or whatever. I mean, we don't watch much, and he rarely sits in front of it, (he is way too busy for that) but it has really been a life saver. And he is picking things up from it too. Handy Manny is his favorite, and he learned to say "Hola" from it. He is quite funny, he will grab the remote, point it at the TV, and say "Manny, Manny!" It is so stinking cute! He is becoming increasingly interested in the potty lately too. He has be curious for a few months, and would always follow me in. He would put his hand on my knees, and I'd tell him "Momma go teetee, good job Momma." Now he will come in say, "teetee" and clap. Then this morning, I finished in the bathroom, and while I was washing my hands, he lifts the lid and starts trying to pull down his shorts. I had to let him try. I mean, I know he is only 15mo, but if he is that interested, I'm not going to turn him down. So we take of his shorts and diaper, and I set him on the potty. I told him to push, and he set there "grunting" away. I was very impressed.
Now after all that bragging, I have to say I don't take any credit for any of this. It is not a reflection of my parenting, yet a reflection of the Lord's masterpiece. I had to come to terms with this early on. When Cooper was struggling so, I felt it was some how my fault. That him being sick and very delayed was a reflection on me as a parent. That I needed to do more. That was a very arrogant thing to think, that I had that much control over the situation. He was the Lords before he was ever mine. He was a masterpiece then, and still is today. He is no less perfect now then he was a year ago. I am just very thankful and blessed that he is thriving so well, but my life would be no less if he weren't. My Lord would be no less if he weren't.