Cooper and Baby Belly

Well, here we are beginning spring! I love the warmer weather, being able to play outside more and the longer sunlight in the evenings.
So far my pregnancy is going well.

I'm 24 weeks and finally over the sickness stage and into the tired stage. My mom has been here the past week and we have been shopping for cute girly fabric to decorate the nursery. I'm a little anxious, yet excited to start painting and decorating because that means the baby will be here before I know it. I've haven't had too many cravings lately just mostly citrus fruit. I can't seem to get enough of it. I think baby girl enjoys it too because she moves, kicks, and wiggles around much more than Cooper ever did! If she keeps this up we are going to have one wiggly child on our hands once she's born. I'm getting really exited to meet her!

But before we can actually get around to painting and decorating the baby room we need to find a place to put the office. In order to do this we are planning on clearing out our storage room, making it a guest room and then making the current guest room Paul's work office. This will leave space in our current down stairs office for all of the upstairs office furniture. But first we need to clear out the storage room and find a place to put all of our stuff, or junk as some of it may be. So Paul and Cooper have been busy making awesome benches and shelves.

This is the kitchen bench Paul built to store more kitchen appliances. Love it! My mom even made a bench cushion for us to sit on that is awesome! Thanks mom! Cooper actually likes to sit on the bench so now we can have family meals and all eat at the same table.


We decided to redo to the shelving in our hall closet to use the space more efficiently. Cooper loved to sit on the bottom shelf and tell us there was a problem he needed to fix. Gotta use the light to see all the little problems. And he's even being safe by wearing safety goggles. Too cute!


In our basement we had a bench that was covered by carpet. We thought it would be more effective if it had storage space underneath. I was a little nervous as to what we would find once we tore off the carpet. Thankfully it wasn't much other than dust and spiderwebs. Cooper loved using his tools to help bang on the wood.


He was so proud of the bench he helped daddy build. What a great job they did.

We also decided to build shelves around our TV to have better storage for our movies and books.

The shelves still need to be painted but at least they are done and ready to put stuff on.

And to think that each of these projects took Paul about a day to build! I'm so thankful he is so handy! And he has a cute little helper too!

Here are a few other things we've been up to the past few months.

Cooper enjoys posing with his belly after Paul took pictures of my belly.




What a cute smile! Love this kiddo!

Since the weather has started to get warmer we have been spending more time outside. Cooper loves playing with the neighbor girls. This jeep is one of his favorite things to drive. Looks like Evelyn enjoys driving it too. Cooper makes the funniest faces. He wouldn't be Cooper without at least one crazy face picture.





All three kids crammed into one car. How cute!


Even daddy wanted to get in on some of the outdoor fun!

Cooper wasn't too sure he wanted daddy riding his bike. I think Cooper was running after daddy to tell him he wasn't being safe, he forgot to put on his helmet.


We were also able to get out and get some of our garden planted, peas, lettuce, and carrots. Cooper even wanted to plan some sun flowers for mommy. How sweet!


Another cute cheesy smile by one cute little helper.


What a great little helper he was. I didn't see it all but according to Paul Cooper's technique was quite interesting, throwing the peas straight up into the air and letting them fall where they may and dumping a small bowl of carrot seeds in a pile, and then spreading from there.

Cooper also attended a birthday party at the Kangaroo Zoo. What a fun place to have a birthday party.






And on another side note I think that Cooper is almost potty trained! He's gone about 5 days being dry! Tuesday will be the first day at school in big boy underwear! I'm a little nervous about this but very proud of him. Hopefully this is just the beginning of the big boy Cooper!

I can't wait for warm weather everyday so we can spend more time outside! I love spring!

Merry Christmas!

                      Cooper telling Santa he wants a big crane for Christmas. 

This year we spent Christmas in Nampa, Idaho.  Cooper liked to push Amariah in the basket.
                                           

He spent most of the time as 'naked boy'.  He likes to be naked boy so he can run fast like the wind. 

He is so nice to give his cousin a ride.

Grammy Terry gives the best hair cuts.  Cooper was a little wiggly this time.

 

Cooper helping make sugar cookies.  What a good little helper he was.  He absolutely hated getting his hands dirty.

Daddy testing out the dough as he's rolling it.

The finished product. They were delicious!

                                                
                                               Cooper and Aunt Erin.

Cooper playing with his 'weed whacker' light saber.

Posing for the camera with his apron on.  Such a great helper in the kitchen.

Uncle Micky, Aunt Erin, and cousin Amariah.

Paul's family opens presents on Christmas Eve because when he was little he just couldn't wait until morning.  I can't believe his parents gave in so easily. So we ended up telling Cooper that Santa came to Grammy and Grampy's house before we got there. 
We arrived in Nampa a few days before Christmas and only a few times Cooper asked to open presents. 

Amariah opening her first present.  A musical tea party set.  I think she loved it!  Cooper kept a close eye on all the presents she opened to see if it was something he wanted to play with.

Cooper loved to help pass out the presents, even if they weren't for him.

Cooper finally got a chance to play with the tea set while Amariah wasn't looking.

Cooper helping daddy open a present. 

Taking a picture with his new camera.

                                    

Amariah showing off her cute new outfit.

More pictures from our new found photographer.

Me finally getting a turn to open a present or two. But not without Cooper's help of course.

More present opening.

The bag is the best part!  Tastes good too.

Testing out more of Amariah's toys.

Cooper doing the happy excited dance after opening his toy cement truck from Grandpa Ed.

The most awesome cement truck ever.
                                                

And we can't forget about the pretty dog. 

Opening his big crane from Santa.

This year Cooper was very excited about baby Jesus's birthday.  And of course as Cooper knows it all birthday celebrations must have a cake with a candle to blow out.  So that's just what we did.  Grammy Terry made an apple pie and we put a candle in it and sang happy birthday to baby Jesus.  I think I'm going to like this new tradition.  Leave it to my 3 year old to come up with a great idea!

More naked boy taking pictures and playing with his new Hot Wheels race track.

Cooper posing for a picture.

Jaybez jumping over Cooper instead of the stick.

Wow!  The car is not even touching the track.  I think Paul had more fun playing with this than Cooper did.

Cooper discovered that Grammy had a cool vacuum to play with.  He asked to play with it 3 days in a row.  Wish he was like that at home.

This was Cooper's other favorite activity.  Running up and down the long hallway with no clothes on so he could run fast like the wind.

                                               

One time he convinced Grammy to run with him.  I think Grammy Ed had a turn too.

Playing the piano and singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer with Amariah.

Cute Amariah learning to walk.

Giving Jaybez her daily treats.

We spent a whole week in Nampa and had a great time. Thanks to the Burnett family for a wonderful Christmas!