We are such proud, gushing parents...

Three days after Isaac's first birthday he walked. He took his first 2 official steps on my birthday, December 30 and since then has added a step at a time - at his own pace. Tuesday morning he walked about 10 feet, stopped and sat down; a little further than he had been doing but he never seemed real comfortable with the situation. I wasn't so sure either, but we paid a visit to Dr. Bob that day and it seems all he needed was a little encouragement and positive reinforcement. The first thing he asked me was if he was walking and I said I didn't think he was quite ready, yet. He picked him up, said, "he can walk", put him down and off he went. And that was it. Eat crow, mama. All you had to do was believe in me a little bit.
We got home just a little before Hector so as soon as he came in we enjoyed his first "official" steps together with the video camera and digital camera rolling. Just like good, proud, gushing parents do.

He walks kind of like a zombie. Here's the video:

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

I can't believe it's been a whole year already. Hector asked me yesterday if Isaac was a baby or a little boy. It made me stop and think because it seems like he's still a baby...but he's also my little boy. I responded with, he'll probably always be my "baby". :)
Anyway, we had a couple of birthday parties for our little one year old in the last few weeks. The first one was in Michigan; a little celebration on an otherwise somber and reflective weekend. It was so nice that we could be with my family for his first birthday. I guess sometimes things just work out!

He also got to celebrate some of his birthday in Florida and open a couple of presents from Grandma.

Isaac and I flew home late on Valentine's Day, otherwise known as his official birthday. We got up bright and early the next morning and decided to throw him a little party. We got right to grocery shopping, house-cleaning, dog-cleaning, decorating and baking. The monkey cake was something I obsessed over in my mind for the last month or so and my oh-so-creative husband brought it to be! It was definitely the centerpiece of the party. Well, ok, there weren't many decorations at all, but I sure was impressed! We had such a good time with our family and friends! I am so thankful for the friends we have made out here...especially that they are so flexible and were able to come to our impromptu party!

A Great-Grandpa and Greater Grandpa

Gordon Jack Cooper
COOPER - Gordon Jack Cooper, was born December 21, 1924 to Peter and Johanna Cooper in Grand Rapids, MI and went to be with his Lord on January 28, 2009 at Shell Point in Ft. Myers, FL. Inspired to enlist after Pearl Harbor, Jack served in the US Navy as a Pharmacists Mate First Class from 1942 to 1946 on a LC1 (L) landing troops in the Asiatic Pacific and the Philippines. After the war he married Josephine and started a family. He was a pioneer in the concept of movable partitions and raised floor systems and an entrepreneur in the office furniture industry in various capacities during his lifetime. He served on the board of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce (President 1987), the Econ Club, served on the board of directors and helped found the Right Place Program to bring business to Grand Rapids and served on the advisory board of Comerica Bank. His faith wasn't something he talked about; it was something he lived. He never uttered a bad word about anyone he met. He was an inspiration to all whose lives he touched and will be greatly missed. He leaves behind his wife, Josephine Cooper; daughter, Nancy Jo and Ed Huizinga; son, Jack G. and Dawn Cooper; two grandchildren, Joel and Shelley Huizinga, Holly and Hector Valencia. Jack had three great grandchildren, Abby and Ethan Huizinga and Isaac Valencia. Please come celebrate his life with us. The funeral will be held at Calvary Church, 707 E. Beltline NE on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Bill Rigg officiating. Interment Graceland Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zaagman Memorial Chapel. Zaagman Memorial Chapel We miss you Grandpa!