"Who are you talking to?"

I seem to be asking Layla this question a lot lately. Before Cooper was born, it was not unusual for Layla to have very elaborate play dates and Sam and Henry (cousins). Even though Sam and Henry weren't actually at our house at the time, Layla would put on full musical performances with them in her imaginary world. Since Cooper's been born I catch her having a lot of conversations with friends who aren't really there. When I ask her who she's talking to, here are the answers I get...

"It's August. She's my best friend. I met her at Studio (this is a building where our youth group meets)."

"It's Cindy. She's my best Friend. She's Jaime's (one of our actual friends) big sister."

"Mom, it's just Wally. He's coming to my house on Saturday."

Now, I ask the more experienced parents out there, should I be worried about this? So far, I just find it very amusing. Especially because I have NO IDEA where she hears these names. And every time I ask her who she's talking to, it's a new name.

"Coopsy"

Layla has many names for her brother. Among them are Coopsy, Coops, Bubba, Buddy and Brother. A month has gone by since Cooper entered our lives and I can't remember it without him. It took me a lot longer than one month to say that after Layla was born. Although I loved her more than life from the moment I saw her, I still fantasized about what life had been like when it was all about me! So far, adjusting to having 2 kids has been easier for me than adjusting to my first. Here is Cooper at 1 month old. We weighed him yesterday and he is at 11 pounds 8 oz. Our newest nickname for him now is Big Boy.

My, my, my, my

We have been busy! Thus the long lag time between posts. The most exciting news in the Handsaker house is that Cooper is 1 month old today. Friday was a big day as Cooper started really looking at us and smiling. I even got a coo out of him. Cooper also found his hand, which inspired him to look at it for so long he went cross eyed. We got to spend time at Mama Faye's last week while Daddy worked in NW Iowa. It was so fun. We went to the park for a picnic, shopping, made a few trips to the coffee shop and took a field trip to a fish hatchery. That was fun and very interesting. Did you know you can milk fish? I learned its slightly different than milking a cow! Layla enjoyed it all until she was face to face with fish larger than her. They freaked her out a little bit, but she wanted to keep going back to look at them. The pictures above are Layla with Mama Faye at the fish hatchery.

For the most part, Layla has done a great job sharing the spotlight with her new brother. But every now and then I'm reminded that we're still adjusting. A few mornings ago I was trying to get her breakfast on the table before I fed Cooper, who was getting very impatient and crying loudly. Layla looks at him and says, "Brother, you are stressing me out!" Yikes!

Watch what you say!!!!!

Another reason to watch what you say around a 2 1/2 year old..........It was about 6:30 last night and Layla,Cooper and I were waiting for Daddy to get home for supper. By the time 6:40 rolled around Layla tells me, "Mommy, I've gotten to starving. Is Daddy home yet?" So, I told her I would check and did so by looking out the front door. As I suspected Dave was sitting in his truck, in the driveway still talking on the phone. I said, "He's home." And then, what I thought was under my breath I said, "He's on his friggin' phone." About 5 minutes later Dave walks in the front door and Layla yells out to him, "Are you still on your friggin' phone?" Oops!

Will Everyone Please Stop Peeing and Pooping?!?!

There will be no picture that goes with this post...be glad, be very, very glad! So, Tuesday afternoon was my first afternoon with just the kids and me. Mama Faye had left and Dave was working. All was well until after naps. I was changing Cooper when I received my first shot of pee, at least a foot straight up in the air. This is not something we ever experienced with Layla, but my friends and family with boys all warned me it would come. The pee was quickly followed by the projectile poop. You can imagine what my clothes and the changing table looked like. Within the few seconds it took me to figure what to start cleaning up first, my little helper, Layla Faye, peed right down her own leg all over her step stool and floor. I'd like to say I learned my lesson, but Cooper got me again on Friday. Layla also went two nights in a row this week wetting her bed. Luckily, the threat of having to wear pull-ups at night again has cured that problem. I know there will come a day when I will wish the peeing and pooping everywhere were my biggest parenting problems, so I am purposing to find the humor and joy in this. I think it's only a mother's love that can successfully find joy in pee and poop!

Does He Really Stand a Chance?

Poor Cooper, Layla is really breaking him in. She wants to share everything with him, the only problem is it is all girly, pink stuff. When she came to meet him at the hospital the first thing she did was line his crib with her pink blanket. Now this was a very sweet gesture as this blanket is her prized possesion. Yes, very sweet indeed until they took him to the nursery with the rest of the newborn boys for their pediatrician visit. He was the only boy with a pink blanket. She also insists that he uses he pink pacifier from when she was a newborn. This morning I came into the living room to find daddy asleep on the couch, Cooper asleep in his arms and Layla lining the dolls up around Coopers head. Layla doesn't care that he's only 6 days old and dead asleep. In her mind, it is always time to play dolls! Does this boy really stand a chance?

2 Kids, A Piece of Cake......

...when there are three adults to care for the 2 kids! The odds have been great since we brought Cooper home from the hospital. Mom and Dave have both been home with me and it has been a blessing! Mom has to leave today and we are very sad. Not only will we miss her help, but we will just plain miss HER! Dave is working a little this week so I am slowly getting a taste for how my days will be. I am glad to be a stay-at-home mom (mostly). It is a relief to know that my number one priority during the day is the kids and anything else can just wait! Layla has done very good with Cooper being home. Last night was the first we started to see signs of stress. I'm not sure if it was over Cooper or being out or her normal routine for so long. Perhaps it's both! We'll keep you posted.