tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54751662012-01-14T04:35:35.870-05:00Happenings of the Hamlin Householdrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.comBlogger1921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-85334452445771331292011-06-20T16:14:00.000-04:002011-06-20T16:14:36.227-04:00

I finally finished the project I started before Josiah's birth over 3 months ago.  I think it's my favorite pattern so far.  I love how elegant it is.  And the color is unique and looks great on her.  For those who may be wondering, the smocking plate is called "Cynthia" by Creative Keepsakes. full-length view  detail view 

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-46037786963677660022011-06-20T15:56:00.000-04:002011-06-20T15:56:34.099-04:00

As you can tell, 3 kids has been a big adjustment for me.  Two seemed so manageable, I figured 3 wouldn't be that hard, but oh, was I wrong.  Rich and I are now outnumbered.  And the 2 older ones are in the stage where they need lots of training.  I guess it didn't help that Josiah had reflux and was very fussy for the first couple months.  He didn't like to be put down ever.  He is just now

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-32843331258245474802011-03-28T12:09:00.000-04:002011-03-28T12:09:58.720-04:00

Josiah Hudson Hamlin was born on March 8, 2011 at 12:54 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. and measuring 19.5 in. long.  He had a bit of a rough start since he had some fluid in his lungs making it difficult to breathe.  They noticed him grunting a lot, and so they put him on oxygen to help him breathe easier.  Then he had a couple episodes of apnea, where he stopped breathing for little while, so they

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-49063076651748747292011-03-02T22:20:00.000-05:002011-03-02T22:20:43.771-05:00

Here's the latest completed smocking project--another dress for Anna Ruth.  This was by far the most complicated pattern I have tried, but it was fulfilling to finally get it done.  I really like how it turned out, and Anna Ruth keeps asking when she can wear it to church.   close-up view of the butterflies I am now working on a more elegant design on a pale blue dress, and I hope to be

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-886070667941374082011-03-02T21:48:00.001-05:002011-03-02T21:49:31.270-05:00

Things have been very busy around here with all the usual stuff along with getting ready for our new arrival.  I have been tweaking the baby's room, moving stuff around, and figuring out everything I need to have on hand.  I am very excited about this new baby, but it still has not quite set in that I will have a newborn in less than a week.  I don't think it will set in until it actually happens

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-8047538958153700442011-02-02T18:48:00.002-05:002011-03-02T22:22:14.088-05:00

Here is the first dress that I worked on.  This pattern wasn't too challenging except for the actual tulips.  I had to take out several of them and re-work them to get them to look right.  But overall, it went fairly quickly.  I started this project last Monday and finished it by Friday night.  I worked on it for a few hours in the afternoon and evenings each day.  I'd say it took about 8-10

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-70148094144849011652011-01-26T18:37:00.000-05:002011-01-26T18:37:23.170-05:00

No, actually, this post is not about ketchup.  BUT I do need to catch up on the happenings of the Hamlin household, so here goes.  As I've mentioned before, I knew this kind of post would be necessary from time to time since I am busy with all that's going on and blogging is not exactly my first priority. The next event on the list after James' birthday is Thanksgiving.  It was our year to spend

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-73812707764512396492010-11-16T12:33:00.001-05:002010-11-16T12:36:04.032-05:00

We had a crazy fun weekend with lots of different activities including celebrating Memaw's and James' birthdays.  Sunday, November 14th was James' 2nd birthday, and we had a little party at Lita and Pop-Pop's (my parents) house and invited Memaw and Gramps (Rich's parents) to come over.  The menu was spaghetti, garlic bread, and broccoli, since that is a meal that James likes to eat.  He

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-45863334841136087042010-11-16T12:06:00.002-05:002010-11-16T12:07:18.350-05:00

Here is another dress I smocked for Anna Ruth.  I like how it turned out.  I had a hard time figuring out what kind of design or picture to go with.  But I wanted it to be elegant, so I think the geometric design accomplishes that.  I am also working on a matching outfit for James, so I'll post pics when I get that finished.  I am enjoying smocking more and more as I get better at it, though!  I

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-23242928098730394752010-10-30T14:28:00.001-04:002010-11-16T12:45:13.804-05:00

Puppy chow is a really good treat that is easy to make and very addicting!  I made it today to take to a fall festival because it's easy to fill up a cup and eat it while walking around.  Here's the recipe if you want to give it a try.  Bonus:  It's a yummy gluten free dessert, too! 1 C chocolate chips 1/2 C creamy peanut butter 1/4 C butter 1/2 tsp. vanilla 10 C Corn Chex cereal 2 C powdered

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-57396103656350941782010-10-26T10:41:00.001-04:002010-11-16T12:45:45.688-05:00

It's so interesting to see the difference between boys and girls.  It really is neat to see how from the very beginning of their existence, they display different characteristics.  James and Anna Ruth have been so different, it blows me away!  James is so into vehicles of all varieties--cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, tractors, etc.  He plays with his cars ALL DAY LONG!  He rolls them on

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-48162815307213253202010-10-13T11:53:00.000-04:002010-10-13T11:53:31.113-04:00

You can see the arm and hand above the head. On Monday I had my ultrasound to find out if the baby is a boy or girl as well as to make sure everything is developing normally.  It went well; so far everything looks good.  She did have trouble getting a good look at the face, so I am scheduled for another ultrasound in a month to look at that again.  The baby will be a good bit bigger and so it

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-65093063453835873342010-09-28T15:48:00.002-04:002010-09-28T15:56:09.210-04:00

Anna Ruth recently received this invitation: She is so excited about her new tea club!  She loves to dress up, and she got to pick out a special tea cup and saucer that I had been given from my grandmother to take with her.  Her tea cup was the most admired one there.  The girls learned about good manners (sitting the correct way in your chair, saying "Yes,

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-11344147626953710612010-09-13T15:53:00.000-04:002010-09-13T15:53:31.766-04:00

This is an old project that has been completed for a couple months, but I never got the chance to post a picture of the finished product since I was not keeping up with blogging at that point.  I smocked this dress for Anna Ruth.  Her favorite color is purple, so she loves this dress.  This was my third smocking project, and the most challenging one so far.  The small little roses were hard for

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-43941860105538452802010-08-31T21:28:00.000-04:002010-08-31T21:28:56.588-04:00

I am very much looking forward to my vacation this weekend.  Rich is taking time off work from Thursday lunch through Tuesday.  So that adds up to 5 1/2 days in a row of being home and spending time with me and the kids.  I did say MY vacation, too, since we will be farming out the kids for several days in there as well.  AR will be headed to Rich's parents and James to my parents from Friday to

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-14426836307376088332010-08-27T12:37:00.002-04:002010-08-31T21:30:15.138-04:00

Here's a recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Icing.  I made these a while back and they got rave reviews, so I thought I would share the recipe for you to try.  Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the final result, so I looked for one online that looked similar, and so that is what you will see here.  It's not exact, but gives you some idea of what they will

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-51613232894760236872010-08-27T12:29:00.001-04:002010-08-31T21:30:35.118-04:00

Here are a couple of funny pictures I've had for a while that I thought would be fun to share:

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-4291980499410452982010-08-25T14:43:00.003-04:002010-08-25T14:47:24.216-04:00

This past weekend my grandmother (my Dad's mom) and my Uncle Dave (my Dad's brother) came into town for a visit.  It had been several years since we'd seen them, so it was great to have them here.  Anna Ruth had been making drawings for her great-grandmother all week, and she was very excited to meet them.  We also got to see my sister Jessica and her husband Brian, since they have just moved to

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-38086484759906758672010-08-24T17:16:00.004-04:002010-08-31T21:31:11.597-04:00

Hey y'all! Long time, no write, right? Well, you know how life gets and keeping up a blog is not quite at the top of my priority list. But it is fun, and I would like to put up a few more things than I have been. It's tempting just to post pictures and stuff on facebook, but writing about my life now seems like it will be interesting to look back on in a few years. So, I am attempting to get back

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-87572071184977475342010-02-27T20:26:00.002-05:002010-02-27T21:19:28.958-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-74333450950569730792009-12-09T12:02:00.003-05:002009-12-09T13:07:43.727-05:00

Anna Ruth is becoming so grown-up! She is a sweet, very loving, talkative, emotional, expressive, opinionated, girly-girl. She loves to dance, sing, laugh, and be tickled. She is into all things girl: baby dolls, dress-up, jewelry, shoes, lipgloss, purses, barbies, dollhouses, princesses, etc. She has also gotten into horses recently. For her birthday, she requested a violin (which she did not

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-42568216862105486932009-11-18T09:45:00.003-05:002009-11-18T09:50:54.891-05:00

James got a handsome red tie for his birthday from Lita and Pop-Pop. Here he is all dressed up and ready for church. Then Daddy got ready for church and wore a red tie, too. Here are my two handsome guys looking very similar! :)

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-20836780071035039042009-11-14T21:28:00.002-05:002009-11-14T22:18:50.419-05:00

James thoroughly enjoying his birthday cupcake. James loves to play piano. And this is a good video of him walking!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-13801369636766459782009-11-14T21:03:00.013-05:002009-11-14T21:24:23.345-05:00

I can't believe my baby is 1! This year has flown by! James is such a joy. He's a sweet boy who loves to suck his thumb and twirl my hair while laying on my shoulder. He's always on the go, exploring everything around him. He is a really happy baby, and delights people everywhere we go with his darling little smile.Here are some highlights from his special day!James playing with his balloon

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-69272239186163124582009-11-05T13:15:00.009-05:002009-11-05T16:34:48.998-05:00

Although you may not be able to tell from this blog, a lot has been happening in the Hamlin household. Even though I have lots of ideas for good blog posts, the kids are keeping me very busy, and I never get around to it. Here's a quick list of what's going on.What Anna Ruth is up to:She loves to imitate Mommy. She especially would love to be James' mommy. She keeps an eye on him at all moments

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-17285389236074571402009-09-24T16:50:00.004-04:002009-09-24T20:15:13.064-04:00

Anna Ruth has really been enjoying her ballet classes (thanks, Memaw!). She really loves her teacher, but her favorite thing about ballet is wearing her twirly skirt. She twirls over and over to see it spin out. She is doing well in the class, but sometimes gets caught up in the twirling and misses whatever comes after that. Here's a little video of her in class today so you can see what I mean..

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-14896567479225675642009-09-24T10:41:00.002-04:002009-09-24T11:05:51.681-04:00

James has started using his walking toy, and he really loves getting around by himself.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-14922258315135128122009-09-09T20:31:00.001-04:002009-09-09T20:33:24.944-04:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-38273785435313321752009-08-31T21:28:00.004-04:002009-08-31T22:17:20.116-04:00

Wow. It's been over 2 months since I posted on this blog, and I would like to apologize to all of you faithful reader(s) who have been checking back regularly for new posts, yet to no avail. I have taken a rebuke to heart and decided to post something before September catches up with me.I recently signed Anna Ruth up for ballet lessons for the fall, and she has been getting excited about starting

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-9665674374546397192009-06-23T13:59:00.002-04:002009-06-23T14:02:18.302-04:00

Here is a website with a great giveaway of a dress and skirty by Amoretti. If you've never seen this clothing line, check it out; it is adorable!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-23368758552034274692009-06-18T16:45:00.003-04:002009-06-18T17:02:02.266-04:00

Rich's birthday is on Sunday, June 21, so this week I am making some of his favorite meals to celebrate his "birthday week", as I like to call it. I think it's fun to make the whole week leading up to the birthday a special time. My earlier post about tortilla soup was a part of that. And now, I have another meal to share with you that is healthy, easy, and oh-so-good--Mandarin Orange & Chicken

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-68528088693218531552009-06-18T16:22:00.004-04:002009-06-20T12:42:39.141-04:00

Anna Ruth has been taking swimming lessons for almost 2 weeks, and she is just now getting comfortable with it. The first few days were painful in several different ways. For one, Anna Ruth screamed bloody murder when it was time for her to go with her teacher. She yelled "Mommy!" over and over, and I know it was scary for her to go to a new place with a bunch of people she had never seen before.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-15877117623102086462009-06-16T17:51:00.004-04:002009-06-20T12:42:06.315-04:00

I first had this soup at my Mom's house, and I knew right when I had it that Rich would love it. I asked Mom for the recipe (which she got from someone, but I don't know who), and made it at home. Sure enough, it became an instant favorite for Rich because of how good it is and for me because of how easy it is to make. I end up having enough to freeze half of it, so it makes two meals in the

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-31943279250426654412009-06-02T09:25:00.003-04:002009-06-02T10:31:15.407-04:00

James used to be our quiet little guy in contrast to our non-stop talker, Anna Ruth. But I guess he's figured out that he needs to be pretty loud to get heard around here, and this is the result.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-90958353146753162352009-06-01T15:43:00.004-04:002009-06-02T09:25:22.404-04:00

As you may have noticed from the sidebar, I have entered James into Charleston's Most Huggable Baby Contest. The winner is determined by the number of votes each picture receives, so I'm asking all our family, friends, and readers to please help. You are allowed to vote ONCE A DAY until the voting ends on June 11. At that point, the top 10 babies will then be voted on again. (I'm not sure if it

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-84153593869965757642009-05-19T20:22:00.003-04:002009-05-19T21:14:50.133-04:00

This is what we like to call Jumpin' James... Our little boy never stops moving his legs, so this thing is great! No wonder I never got a rest from all that kicking when he was inside me! :) I know the video is a little fuzzy because of the movement, so I also got a couple snapshots.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-24355152733863661472009-04-15T21:14:00.002-04:002009-04-15T22:07:21.796-04:00

For about a week now, James has been showing a lot of interest in the food that I eat. The other day, he grabbed the cup I was drinking out of and tried to pull it to his mouth. And when I have him on my lap, he stares intently at each bite I take. So, I decided to let him try rice cereal since he just turned 5 months old yesterday. He ended up liking it, even fussing in between bites because

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-68653302886944177762009-03-06T10:13:00.004-05:002009-03-06T10:57:33.837-05:00

I found this article to be fun to read. It talks about the top foods people either LOVE or HATE. Here's the list, along with my opinions:1. white chocolate--I generally don't like white chocolate unless it's melted on pretzels. It's just a little too sweet and makes your stomach hurt quickly.2. cilantro--I really enjoy this herb on Mexican food, though I do often forget to include it.3. eggplant-

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-11001029022193141062009-03-05T18:11:00.004-05:002009-03-05T18:24:00.572-05:00

Anna Ruth has finally been cooperating with potty training, and so I decided to do a fun little activity with her this morning while James was napping. I got the idea from her Highlights High Five magazine that she gets every month (she loves it!), and I just used my own recipe for the dough. We mixed up a huge bowl of bread dough that I normally use to make rolls, and made three bears--a daddy,

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-21434247367371778462009-02-27T14:09:00.005-05:002009-02-27T15:21:26.818-05:00

The Citadel basketball team this year is like something out of a dream. We were pretty loyal fans last year (resulting mainly from getting free tickets to the games), and we suffered through their amazingly horrible season of conference games ending up with only 1 win and 19 losses. We still had hopes, though, of a better team this year, and now we are seeing our hopes realized. Their season

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-80866560374153154092009-02-25T22:34:00.002-05:002009-02-25T22:36:32.986-05:00

“It is the submission only of the body, not of the soul. Humbled before the God who chastises him, the Calvinist remains the relentless judge of the despot who oppresses him. There are submissions more deadly to tyranny than insurrections would be.”Emil DoumergueCalvin la fondateur des libertes modernes – pg. 14H.T.: Iron Ink

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-35003339341815618022009-02-06T17:19:00.002-05:002009-02-09T15:43:46.521-05:00

Here's a site with some amazingly cute kids clothes and a chance to win every 2 weeks.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-344970147969260682009-02-06T12:20:00.004-05:002009-02-06T12:32:44.805-05:00

I've been working with Anna Ruth since before James was born on not yelling inside the house or car. She is pretty easily excited and can get quite loud. I wanted her to get in the habit of using her "inside voice" so that she would not wake up or scare James (not to mention keeping me from going deaf at an early age).Well, I had to lay James down for a little while this morning while I changed

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-58404893995227601942009-02-05T21:44:00.002-05:002009-02-05T21:51:52.914-05:00

James is suited up and ready to be an all-star. But James, you look so sweet; you're supposed to be intimidating...That's much better, James. Now that's a game face. Don't mess with James.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-41561305400775878902009-01-30T11:35:00.003-05:002009-01-30T11:39:54.335-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-6109332689009412132009-01-22T14:45:00.002-05:002009-01-22T14:50:49.230-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-18645612822259120062008-12-24T12:03:00.005-05:002008-12-24T12:21:01.416-05:00

On December 14th, we had James baptized at Church Creek Presbyterian. I am thankful to be back in the church where I grew up and having my child baptized in the same place I was. It is an encouragement to me to see God's faithfulness to his covenant promises to me, as I trust in those same promises for my son. It was wonderful to have both sets of believing grandparents there to witness it as

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-63247885328224390272008-12-24T11:48:00.004-05:002008-12-24T12:02:15.466-05:00

Anna Ruth turned 3 on December 6th, but I am just now posting some pictures from her little party we had with the grandparents. Anna Ruth's 3rd birthday party was Winnie the Pooh theme. Lita got her a Pooh birthday balloon, which she loved and is still floating in her room. Memaw made her an amazing Pooh birthday cake. And she received a stuffed Tigger, which made her bounce around just like him

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-64588064774006021672008-11-27T14:31:00.000-05:002008-11-27T14:34:13.232-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-76653640683229522222008-11-17T13:33:00.004-05:002008-11-17T13:40:57.044-05:00

A few thoughts on James Elijah Hamlin’s name: First, James is my father’s (middle) name. His discipline did not seem pleasant at the time, but it was for me a seed that produced for me a harvest of (albeit very far from perfect) righteousness in God’s due time. I am very thankful for his (and my mother’s) training and prayer for me.James was also the brother of Jesus, the leader of the Jerusalem

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-6653919324844410722008-11-16T18:24:00.003-05:002008-11-16T18:38:46.294-05:00

Our son, James Elijah Hamlin, was born on Friday, November 14, at 12:53 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz. and measured 18.5 inches long. He is such a sweetie and seems pretty laid back, but hates getting his diaper changed. I was awake during the c-section, so I got to give James a little kiss right after they cleaned him up. Right before we left the hospital, we got this shot. This is a cute close

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-13892962696313687162008-11-11T23:07:00.003-05:002008-11-11T23:25:24.676-05:00

Tonight Rich worked late, so I decided to try and get the house in order while I didn't have any distractions. I cleaned the bathroom, and tidied up the house while listening to music. After I was finished, I listened to Josh Groban's Christmas CD, Noel, while drinking egg nog. My justification is that dairy products are supposed to help you sleep better, since they contain tryptophan. And, of

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-39693733315406866152008-11-09T22:03:00.002-05:002008-11-09T22:14:53.586-05:00

Last month, Rich was inducted into the Fort Dorchester Athletic Hall of Fame, and we had a fun evening going to the ceremony and the football game that followed. Rich's parents and my parents also attended and made sure to cheer loudly when they introduced Rich during the halftime ceremony. Anna Ruth also enjoyed seeing her Daddy being honored, and she kept pointing at him and saying, "There's

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-73526387052166095912008-11-07T22:55:00.003-05:002008-11-07T23:07:50.156-05:00

Just thinking about how in one week I will have a new son, and I can't believe it! I'm really excited about this new little life. I am posting some pictures from my baby shower back in October. It was a wonderful time with family and church friends. We were blessed with so many things for the baby, and I felt very loved by all those who celebrated with me. the beautiful cake that Mrs. DeVries

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-80955909919322402042008-11-06T13:19:00.002-05:002008-11-06T14:04:58.800-05:00

Last night was a leisurely evening, and I suddenly realized that in a very short amount of time, I will not be able to relax as soon as Anna Ruth goes to bed. I will have another child to care for who will need to be fed and changed and held even after we get the energetic almost-three-year-old off to sleep. I decided to cherish those few hours and did something I haven't done in a while--color.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-20515231434040085562008-11-05T17:16:00.005-05:002008-11-05T17:35:29.273-05:00

Today is an important day, not only because I have just 9 days to go until my baby is born, but also because we now know who will be the next president of the United States. Even though I was prepared for this outcome, it is still quite a bit of a blow and also very sobering to think about. My first thoughts are that God is still in control, He knows what's best, and is working all things

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-40231339622408556512008-11-04T20:18:00.005-05:002008-11-04T20:40:34.221-05:00

10 DAYS!I just found out that my c-section has been re-scheduled for November 14 instead of November 17. So, the countdown until the baby boy gets here has begun sooner than expected. As of today, it is 10 days until we get to see his little face and hold him in our arms. We are all really excited, but especially me because of how uncomfortable I am. The nerve pain in my legs combined with

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-75396916248706983492008-09-20T22:14:00.004-04:002008-09-20T22:54:47.977-04:00

Today was some absolutely wonderful weather here in Charleston. It was actually a little too chilly to head to the neighborhood pool, so we just decided to do a little work outside. I vacuumed out both of our cars, and then Anna Ruth and Rich washed them. Anna Ruth loved being able to help. (She's in that stage where she wants to help with EVERYTHING, and sometimes her "help" is a lot more work

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-11317657356488568092008-09-19T16:20:00.005-04:002008-09-19T16:31:30.567-04:00

I was rummaging through some of my old keepsakes and ran across a little Texas A & M University shirt that my Aunt Francine, who attended there, gave me when I was just a wee little thing. (Funny, because Rich actually ended up being an RUF intern there, as well.) When I pulled it out I thought, "Hey, this looks to be about Anna Ruth's size." Right when I showed it to her, she immediately wanted

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-67074287490938037742008-09-13T16:38:00.001-04:002008-09-13T16:39:36.146-04:00

Here is a link to a great giveaway, and I was entered twice for linking to it from my blog.  

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-84592874284903953132008-09-11T22:36:00.001-04:002008-09-11T22:40:43.250-04:00

You gotta check this out!

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-29589062872197261992008-09-10T21:01:00.006-04:002008-09-10T21:17:31.445-04:00

The menu tonight consisted of Calico Beans and Hoe Cake Bread, both of which are recipes given to me by my mother-in-law. This was my first time trying them out, and I had to give her a couple calls with questions. She hadn't made the bread in years, so she wanted me to take some pictures of the process. First off is a picture of the calico beans, which turned out great. They have a nice sweet

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-87665685799691124472008-08-30T14:52:00.002-04:002008-08-30T14:54:56.798-04:00

Our pastor, John Olson, is causing quite a stir in the media. Check out the story here.(After the video loads, click on the play button on the bottom.)

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-17700462339697585652008-08-19T16:47:00.002-04:002008-08-19T16:53:44.449-04:00

They had a lot of fun together when we kept him for a day. Sullivan enjoyed pushing around the stroller, especially with Anna Ruth in it. And they had a fun time on the wagon ride. (While I sweated profusely pulling their weight on a hot morning!)

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-87660376928615084432008-07-22T21:31:00.012-04:002008-12-09T23:14:59.124-05:00

I have been soooo bored with our blog lately, so I'm sure y'all have been, too. I've been trying to stay updated, but it never seems to work out. So, I'm resigned to the fact that from time to time I will have to do these "catch-all" posts with lots of different things all combined. But hey, at least I'm getting these pictures out there. Not that I'm very sure people are actually checking anymore

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-37002080094701531262008-07-01T13:06:00.005-04:002008-12-09T23:14:59.353-05:00

I just wanted to write a recap of the first-ever 10-year Charleston Christian School (CCS) reunion. When Rich and I found out we were moving back to Charleston, I realized that it would be a great time to organize a reunion for my 8th-grade class, since May 2008 marked 10 years from our graduation. I began searching for my classmates, and found out that many of them are still in the Charleston

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-73293304162144398852008-06-19T14:36:00.002-04:002008-12-09T23:14:59.547-05:00

We just returned from our 18 week doctor's visit and ultrasound, and we found out we're having a little boy! Everything else looked perfect, too, so we're thankful for that. Anna Ruth is getting used to saying "baby brother" and is talking about "giving him a kiss on his little cheek." Here's one picture that shows his face and body outline pretty well.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-66877605653612518072008-06-18T21:18:00.009-04:002008-12-09T23:14:59.969-05:00

Ok, so this is a little bit late, but things have been busy around here (well, to tell the truth, it hasn't been that busy, but I've been so tired) and it's taken me forever to get these pictures off the camera. I guess to start the story I should mention that my Dad usually has a summer job, but this year it didn't pan out, so he's been taking the summer off involuntarily. BUT, it has been good

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-69316972959838460872008-05-13T22:08:00.003-04:002008-05-13T22:19:11.111-04:00

Just wanted to let all of you who may not have heard yet know that we are expecting baby #2! I'm almost 13 weeks along, and the due date is November 22. We are all very excited, including Anna Ruth, who talks very often about the "baby in Mommy's tummy". She talks about giving it a hug and kiss when it comes out. I think she will be a sweet and protective big sister. She will be almost 3

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-80280028290850535572008-04-14T21:01:00.004-04:002008-04-14T21:15:52.120-04:00

Opening in Charleston on Friday the 18th in these select theatres. R.C. Sproul interviews Ben Stein about the new movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, below... This movie won't be in theatres long, so go see it this weekend. It is a must-see for any students preparing to enter college (i.e., parents w/ high school age children should go with them to the movie), but also should confirm to

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-57883120186758103822008-03-31T16:06:00.005-04:002008-12-09T23:15:01.578-05:00

We have finally moved into our new house!! We are very pleased with it, and we are always thinking how nice and roomy it is. It's really great to be settled in our own place and to feel like we really do live in Charleston now. I'm sure you're all anxious to see what it looks like......So come on in for a tour!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-20851684250164026152008-01-25T14:24:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:15:01.916-05:00

Last Friday, the 18th, we attended a rally for Ron Paul in downtown Charleston. We took Anna Ruth because she has been constantly saying "politician" and "Ron Paul" and "change", so we were hoping she would yell something out. As you can imagine, there were countless Ron Paul signs, and some so huge we just had to get a picture with Anna Ruth as a comparison.There was a nice turnout and everyone

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-78601336673229575502008-01-04T07:39:00.000-05:002008-01-04T07:55:30.589-05:00

... for Ron Paul, the taxpayer's, homeschooler's, and pro-lifer's best friend. He whupped up on Giuliani and was statistically neck-and-neck with Thompson and McCain (my 2nd and 3rd choices). Meanwhile, the theologically and fiscally liberal Huck-ocrite won the day, with the guy I can't trust in second.

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-22724940534698567652007-12-10T21:45:00.001-05:002008-12-09T23:15:02.332-05:00

Here are some pictures as promised of Anna Ruth's second 2nd birthday party. She had her own personal cake, and received a mo-mo (monkey) that reminds her of the monkey that she loved at storytime in Birmingham. She also received a play laptop and a classic Radio Flyer tricycle. What a spoiled girl! Hopefully she won't be expecting as many birthday parties as her age every year! :)

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-10328234417161731202007-12-06T13:19:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:15:03.031-05:00

We didn't have to go far to search for the perfect Chtstmas tree to cut down...no farther than the front yard! Anne (Rich's mom) and I decided to save some cash and be a little bit adventurous. We found a saw in the garage, cut down the 8 foot tree, trimmed it down a little to fit in the house, and carried it inside. It definitely looks somewhat rustic, but I think it turned out very nicely. And

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-67910139454435013452007-12-06T13:03:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:15:03.446-05:00

We actually celebrated Anna Ruth's birthday early this year, since my family was gathered together for Thanksgiving. Anna Ruth enjoyed her chocolate cake that her Aunt Lisa made for her, and all her great presents. As if that wasn't enough, she's having another party on Saturday with Rich's parents with more cake and presents. Check back soon for more pictures!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-48045337912447128672007-12-06T12:45:00.000-05:002007-12-06T13:03:22.360-05:00

Wow. Who knew that moving could do such a number to our blog? Sorry to all those who have been checking for updates; we have been quite slack on posting about what's been going on. Well, we moved to Charleston, and excitedly told family and friends about my pregnancy of 9 weeks. But a week after arriving, I found out I was having a miscarriage. So, we went through a lot right at the

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-53919520145036494352007-10-12T09:07:00.000-04:002007-10-12T09:08:37.680-04:00

Maybe it's just me, but I thought this was great.

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-32259759052775780482007-10-10T10:33:00.001-04:002007-10-10T10:41:56.769-04:00

What do you mean, "worldly?"

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-8563315139961820612007-10-03T15:20:00.000-04:002007-10-03T15:32:21.623-04:00

We wanted to let everyone in on our news that Rich accepted a job in Charleston with ADC Engineering on Saturday. We have been trying to move back to South Carolina for some time now, but things just hadn't been panning out. It's been hard to find a good company that is able to pay us enough to live in Charleston on one income! We didn't expect things to happen so fast, but apparently this

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-33314870250817608822007-09-29T22:59:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:03.610-05:00

Ever since Anna Ruth came out of the womb, she has reminisced about the deliciously seasoned potato strips and deluxe burgers she had (in condensed form) when her mother ate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries during our time in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was overjoyed to find out two and a half weeks ago that Five Guys had opened up shop right here in Birmingham. In fact, for several days after

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-30770973984783506122007-09-29T22:36:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:03.837-05:00

Our friends from Red Mountain community group, John and Alison Dagnan just had their baby boy on Friday evening. John "Thomas" Dagnan weighed 9lbs 8oz. and was almost 21 inches long! We are so happy for John and Alison as they begin this new chapter in their lives. Congratulations!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-18562737073031852972007-09-29T22:34:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:04.014-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-44376066241422337612007-09-29T22:27:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:04.352-05:00

We attended a birthday party today for a little boy in our community group from church. He was turning 3, and had a train theme party.Happy Birthday, William! The amazing train cake that William's mom made for his 3rd birthday. Each car was a different flavor cake--pretty cool, huh?Despite all the cake, trains, and presents, Anna Ruth's favorite aspect of the party was the wooden horse.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-85280555614539980302007-09-16T00:04:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:04.733-05:00

Yesterday we enjoyed the first taste of fall weather and walked down the road to the playground. For the first time, Anna Ruth was able to climb up the stairs by herself and was not afraid to go down the slide by herself. We thought it was so cute to see her being such a big girl. She soaked in our praise and was full of smiles.She even tried her hand at the monkey bars! And the rocks are

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-38941694441951495032007-09-07T14:12:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:06.819-05:00

For Labor Day weekend, Anna Ruth and I traveled to Greenville, SC for a visit with my Mom and Dad, Scott, Sarah and the kids, Lisa and Stephen, and Carol. Rich stayed in Birmingham in order to work on his final report for his master's. I thought it would be a good opportunity to remove the 2 biggest distractions from Rich and also get to see my family. As it turns out, my family had planned a

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-90835361930489707952007-08-30T10:43:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:07.302-05:00

Anna Ruth is wearing a dress that one of Rich's sisters wore when she was a baby. I thought it looked so adorable; she looks like a little prairie girl!

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-35976774883163996202007-08-23T18:13:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:07.989-05:00

We have a sliding glass door at the back of our apartment, and as added security to the lock on the door, we also have a stick that is placed between the doors. Anna Ruth has taken to getting the stick out from its place, walking with it, hitting things with in, and then putting it in random places around the house. Needless to say, many a night the stick has uselessly lain beneath the couch or

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-10051247431162384232007-08-21T10:02:00.000-04:002007-08-21T17:17:19.966-04:00

1. Rich went by his middle name, Gabriel, until he started high school. He decided to change it after experiencing the horrors of middle school name-calling. All the other guys delighted in calling him “Gabrielle” and even a particular teacher couldn’t seem to pronounce it right. The final straw was his name being misspelled on the 8th grade graduation cake. He took advantage of the transition in

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-62186511732058349762007-08-20T14:03:00.001-04:002008-12-09T23:15:08.482-05:00

The nice guys at the Ford dealership gave Anna Ruth a big balloon from one of the cars on the lot.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-26101370688665683262007-08-10T09:38:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:08.592-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-52530002799227025442007-08-05T14:17:00.000-04:002007-08-06T09:05:11.690-04:00

What are we to make of this antiquated tradition of Sabbath day morning and evening worship services? This phenomenon is only seen in the most conservative reformed churches. Is it only the result of tradition, or is there a firm Scriptural foundation and norm for this activity? Robert Rayburn gives a short explanation, defense, and praise of morning and evening Sabbath day corporate worship.

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-42441236992731762982007-08-02T13:06:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:08.800-05:00

...but that was as far as she could make it. She just loves getting in Daddy's shoes. I think she knows how funny it looks and likes to make us laugh.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-77101817508866563042007-07-28T14:37:00.000-04:002007-07-28T14:41:28.313-04:00

I would hope that these kinds of responses would not gain any traction in any state outside of New England or California, but America could prove me to be naive.

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-70304362421131288072007-07-25T08:25:00.000-04:002007-07-25T08:30:49.513-04:00

One of the recent criticisms I have heard of the heavy or exclusive use of psalmody in worship is that Christ's name is not mentioned therein, nor is the doctrine of the Trinity explicitly found. Men who I know and respect have said this, and I have recently heard the same over at Reformation21. Here's a great article, arguing that the Psalms are rather a place where God the Three-in-One is

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-71372877127841984682007-07-23T23:02:00.000-04:002007-07-23T23:22:26.003-04:00

Lots of articles from this guy lately, I know... Here is another one from Doug Wilson, and I promise, it, too, is worth reading. One thing that Reformed theology has always stressed is that nature abhors a God-shaped vacuum. That is, there is no such thing as a person or culture that does not serve a god (or God). So, the calls for God to be taken out of government ring hollow, as the only

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-81057573263951207022007-07-23T20:14:00.000-04:002007-07-23T20:16:36.478-04:00

A nice little article from the New York Times, complete with 2 sentence recipes for meals that take 10 minutes or less to make. Some of these look really nice.

richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372112740001967049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-22407475663078670852007-07-23T12:47:00.001-04:002008-12-09T23:15:09.082-05:00

Besides getting taller and testing our consistence in discipline over the past few months, Anna Ruth has added many new words to her vocabulary.Here is a list of all her new words:Anna Doo (Anna Ruth)walkBibleGod twobow hateyebrow eye nose mouth teeth tongueneck bowlmana (banana) beer (blame Rich for that one)Robert (her cousin)wall door uh-oh ow tree bubblewah-ree (water) flah-ree (flower)She

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-72285387088445164402007-07-16T12:53:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:15:09.427-05:00

Happy 1 Year Anniversary, Ben & Judith! (July 15)Happy 1 Year Anniversary, Brian & Jess! (July 21)Congratulations! We love you guys, and pray for many more years of marriage.

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475166.post-53204248423407944472007-07-10T15:50:00.001-04:002008-12-09T23:15:09.787-05:00

Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05782056346932614806noreply@blogger.com2