Nightmares and Pouts

Both the boys have developed something new this week, although I must say that I'm far more fond of what's been up with Grant than what's up with Cooper.

Grant has figured out how to make an unbelievably dramatic and funny pout-face. His lower lip sticks out a mile, and his whole face elongates until he looks completely preposterous. Of course, it is heartbreaking to see the pouty face come out when Cooper takes something Grant wants, but at the same time the theatrical element is just too cute and amusing for words. If it is really bad, he does the pouty face, followed by a lip quiver that could stop traffic, and then a big intake of air and finally a dramatic wail and collapse. Totally spectacular. And I just can't help but laugh at him most of the time.

Cooper, on the other hand, has tragically (and I say that without being facetious) started having nightmares. I suppose it was only inevitable, given his combination of very active imagination and high background levels of anxiety. But still, somehow, I was hoping this wouldn't happen. Twice now he's woken up screaming loud and scary enough to wake the dead, been all shaky and sweaty, and then upon our rescue and inquiry ("what's going on, buddy?") with loud nonsensical statements of bizarrely fearful non-problems. So far, what he's been able to say makes zero sense in terms of a nightmare, but it is clear from his manner and the way that he says it that he's completely terrified.

It is hard to see him all worked up like that- and especially hard because it is the middle of the night so Matt and I are not always at our most functional or sympathetic. I can only hope that either this will pass quickly, or Matt and I will get better at recognizing the problem and calming Cooper back down (and getting him back into bed) quickly.