"Learning" him early

Cooper had ventured downstairs to see what grandpa was doing. The rest of us were upstairs and had no idea what was going on. Mom went down to get something to finish making lunch and hollered, "Lea bring your camera. QUICK!"

I get downstairs and find that grandpa is helping Cooper tie his very first fly. I can only imagine his first fly fishing lesson will be coming in the next couple of years. I was only able to get a couple pictures because after the 4th one Cooper says, "momma, please stop taking pictures of us."

The finished product

Birthday Cookies

Grandpa Doug wanted chocolate chip cookies for his birthday. So, when we got to Wichita on Saturday Cooper and I whipped a batch up just for him.

Cooper could not wait for grandpa to eat the BIG cookie we made as his special birthday cookie

Christmas pictures

I found a way to get my pictures uploaded. So, although Christmas was a month ago I am still going to put them on here. We spent Christmas Eve with the Meyer family. We had a fabulous dinner, went to the children's program at dad's church, and then came home to open presents.

Due to several reasons, I did not put a Christmas tree up this year. So, Santa came to grandma and grandpa house. Cooper had a BAD week prior to Christmas. He was told he was on the naughty list this year.....he didn't care. The kid was okay with it!!! The week of Christmas Cooper had gotten in trouble for something. Joshua had a little talk with him about it and the kid ends up stomping off saying, "I'm already on the naughty list and I am just going to stay there!" as he slams his bedroom door shut. However, the day before Christmas things turned around just a little bit. He was a great kid for a few hours anyway!!! :)

Cooper was so excited he got some cowboy boots for Christmas that he only took them off to sleep. We were sure he wasn't even going to take them off then.

Maylea's favorite part of Christmas was digging thought the trash of all the wrapping paper. She loved ripping it up more.

I have a couple videos as well. I will see if I can get them uploaded.

Dear Santa....

I found this shirt for Cooper while I was walking through Walmart. After I had had if for a couple days I realized I needed something for Maylea as well. I looked a few different places, and when I couldn't find one (that I liked) I just went ahead and made one.

Cooper's says: Dear Santa, My sister did it.
Maylea's says" Dear Santa, I was framed!

New Hamlin Girl

We have a new little girl in the Hamlin Family (from Joshua's oldest brother Rick). This makes 7 girl cousins for Cooper (8 Hamlin girls with Maylea). Poor Cooper is the only boy. We all claim to be done having children so we will pray that Aunt Cori has a boy some day so that Cooper has one boy in his family.

Faith Violet Hamlin was born at 1:50 AM on January 29th (Kansas Day). Lacie went into labor and dilated all the way to 10 when Faith decided she wanted to come out "sunny side up". They ended up in the operating room for a c-section. 8 lbs. 6 oz. 21 inches long. She was the same size (minus 1/2 in.) as Cooper was. Even their heads are big... 14 inches.

Violet was Rick and Joshua's grandmothers name and it was also the name of Lacie's grandmother's twin. We were able to pop in for just a couple minutes on Friday night to see them. I didn't have my camera with me so the picture of Cooper and Faith was taken with my phone. The other 5 were emailed to me. I did play with a couple of them just for fun.....no laughing!!!!!

A proud big sister. Olivia was their youngest at 8. Claire is 11, but came down with a nasty cold and couldn't come visit.

Maylea 9 months

No shots this time, just once again found out we have a BIG little girl. Maylea was "perfect" during the appt. She didn't have any hesitation to the nurse or Dr. taking her from daddy. When I asked Joshua later how it went, he said, "she was awesome!"

Measurements:
30 inches long (off the charts)
19 lbs. 10 oz. (75%) we managed to put a little weight on her like the Dr. suggested
Head is 16.5 in.

Cooper at 9 months:
29 1/2 inches (95%)
21 lbs. (75%)

My children are very similar in size. You can see how although Maylea weighs a little less she is beating him in height. I am curious how long this will continue. Cooper has already grown out of the toddler section (as far as pants go). Will Maylea do the same at just 3 yrs. old?

She is really starting to move around. She walks along things, and pushes her little dolly stroller around. Most recently she has started waving bye bye and clapping. We are still waiting for her vocal development. The Dr. doesn't seem to be concerned yet. We have noticed in the last week or so she has started, "ba ba ba" when she is really happy.

Saturday with grandma and grandpa

Joshua is in Vegas and I had to work a crop all day on Saturday (1/16/10) so the kids spent the day in Wichita with mom and dad. They stayed very busy all day at Aunt Cori's volleyball tournament, Great Plains Nature Center, visiting great grandpa and grandma Meyer, and just a little bit of shopping. Cooper was a good little boy for them (PHEW!) and he had a great time. There aren't to many pictures to share, but they got a few taken.

Cooper was being ornery (what's new?) while grandma was trying to get his picture. Grandma said, "Cooper please give grandma a normal smile." Cooper threw his arms together and said, "FINE!" Normally, I get upset when he talks to us this way (because it isn't normally in a nice tone or at an appropriate time), but this time it was cute......and so is the picture!

Cooper was one tired little boy at the end of the day. He climbed up into grandma's lap and within 5 min. he was out. Daddy even called right before he started to nod off and he didn't show much interest in talking.

Cooper says....

This part of the post is more for me than anything. I want to be able to remember some of the things Cooper says that we find funny (even when we shouldn't).

Maylea crawled over to my Jade plant and was playing in the dirt. She was trying to put some of it in her mouth when Cooper saw her and ran over, "no no baby sister, that is not grandma's special dirt. You don't eat it." (Grandma makes the Oreo and chocolate pudding stuff and Cooper loves to ask grandma if he can eat some dirt. She even makes it in a flower pot for him!)

I had Maylea sitting on my lap and was saying, "ma ma ma ma, da da da da". Cooper comes running out of his room, "brrrooooottttthhhhheeerrrrr, brrrooootttthhhheeerrrrrr".

While I was home with the kids during a snow day, Cooper was playing in his room. When I walked in I found such a mess. He had found the cake topper from our wedding and had taken it out and broke the Styrofoam up into so many pieces. The stuff was everywhere. The little white balls were sticking to EVERYTHING thanks to the dry/static air. It was such a mess. I grabbed Cooper and we were in the bathroom washing his hands (still can't remember why) when Cooper looks up at me and says, "momma are you pissed off?" Not gonna lie, I was so mad, but at that point I was so shocked that came out of his mouth I had to fight back a smile. He said it so seriously!

Cooper gets control of the camera

Nap time for Maylea

We got our finger in the way.