Simply Hanneman

Jamamas and Schlocate Milk

2011-01-17T22:29:00.001-06:00

I know I haven't posted any pictures in a while, but they will come. While the new computer is up and running, I haven't gotten to upload pics from the camera in ages. Some day...

So, about the title...

Most certainly due to the "teacher" in me, we have worked REALLY hard to help Adeline hear words correctly and say things correctly. It's been amazing to watch her and listen to her gain vocabulary and use it in so many ways! Honestly, there are times I simply say to her "Watch me," and I'll repeat a word for her. 99% of the time she says it beautifully -- just way I did.

Except for "pajamas" and "chocolate milk"...

She's always said "jamamas" instead of pajamas. It just keeps coming out of her mouth that way. I think they are more snuggly than pajamas!

The other night we were talking about having some hot chocolate for dinner and she said she wanted some "hot schlocate". I said "hot chocolate" and she said, "No, Momma -- watch me -- hot SCHLOCATE!" (I so wish you could hear her say it to get the full effect!!)

So, we had some "hot schlocate" with dinner. And, it was delicious!! Then we cuddled for books in our "jamamas".

I'll take that kind of night ANYTIME!

Love my girl!! :)

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-03T22:33:00.000-06:00

Oh, what a wonderful season this has been! Adeline has added so much fun and laughter to everything happening around us. We've been singing carols as we drive in the car; her favorite is Up On The Housetop. She loves to cuddle the Baby Jesus she made in Sunday School a few weeks ago. She loves to "play with her kings", which is her name for our nativities. She's especially fond of Joseph! As requested, Santa brought her a baby doll, as well as a dustpan and broom, and MagnaDoodle. When Adeline was about 9 months old, Popo handcrafted a beautiful wood table and benches that he and Memaw gave her with a fun tea set! Pictures to come as soon as possible...

It was hard to go back to school today as we have SO enjoyed all of our time together! What a blessing it has been to have extra time to snuggle on the couch and read together in the mornings. The unusally warm weather allowed us to be outside to swing in the front yard and/or slide in the back yard! (We have a new-to-us climber/slide that Daddy and Jaron picked up just before Christmas! Thanks Freelands!!)

As we start this new year, we give many thanks for God's blessings and provisions in 2010. We look forward to what He has to show us in '11! May you and yours be blessed.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

2010-12-16T21:41:00.000-06:00

It has been much fun preparing for the holidays this year. Adeline is thrilled with the sights and sounds of the season -- lights, Santa Claus, Baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Christmas trees, etc! Over the last week, we have made a few trips to Northpark Mall to observe Santa. You see, last year, Adeline screamed through the visit so we decided we'd try giving her time to watch other kids around him without any pressure. On our first visits, she had talked to him from a distance and gave him a high five...but no way was she going to sit near him! Our plan worked nicely and the third time was the charm! "Wanna sit on Santa's lap!" and off she went. She told him she wanted a baby doll...and a new baby! That wasn't what WE'VE been discussing. Santa's got the baby doll under control, but she's gonna have to chat with God about the other!!! Before she left, she again gave him a high five and even a kiss. It was a precious sight! Pictures to come...

Praying you are blessed in this joyful season!!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-26T22:38:00.000-06:00

I started this post yesterday -- at least in my mind! Yesterday was a tremendous time with family and friends. I am grateful for much! I am guilty of getting caught up in the "day-to-day" that I tend to forget my thankfulness. As I look back to my early posts, I was trying to post each week with a Thankful Thursday. I'm challenging myself to get back to that as often as possible.

As we celebrated the day yesterday, I remain incredibly thankful for our new home. We've been here just over a year and it still seems surreal. We have great neighbors and so enjoy the quietness around us! The beauty of the fall trees has been stunning. We recently had the roof replaced after this summer's hailstorm and it looks great. Last week, we had sod laid in the front yard and it changed the look of things for the better, as well! On the inside, we have plenty of room to enjoy one another's company and we are now looking forward to Advent and Christmas.

As always, I am thankful for my sweet girl. Adeline knocks our socks off everyday! She talks ALL THE TIME!! She wakes up talking and goes to sleep talking! (and, like her mom, she sometimes talks in her sleep!!) Off the top of my head, she loves her family, her friends, her dogs, books, shoes, giraffes, and monkeys. She has an intense laughter that causes us to smile and laugh right along with her. She's a keen observer of the world around her!

My life would be so empty without Ben. I am thankful for his gentle spirit that loves me and Adeline unceasingly. After many years of prayer, God opened the door for a new job in March. While the transition hasn't always been easy, we are thankful for this opportunity. Ben is being challenged which causes us to be challenged so we are growing. What a gift he is to our family!

A Silver Anniversary

2010-11-01T23:52:00.000-05:00

Not that I have any good excuses, but it isn't as easy to update these days. I now have to maintain a blog for school, and sad to say, it has gotten the updates lately.

I totally missed an update for the sweet thing's 2nd birthday! But, I realized this weekend that I could write about her 25th (month!) Silver Anniversary which occurred this past Saturday, October 30th! I know I write it each time, but she continues to AMAZE us in so many ways. Between home and school, she has learned quite a repertoire of songs and nursery rhymes to share. Right now, her favorites are Five Little Monkeys Swinging on the Tree and Humpty Dumpty. She's got the ABC song down for the most part and is working on counting past 10. She loves to be outside and is a great helper on Sunday mornings to walk out to get the paper for Daddy! We are able to communicate more and more as her vocabualry grows. Each day, it seems, she puts more words together in sentences to clearly say what she means. There is no doubt when she says, "I don't want to!" and your heart melts when she says, "I love you!" Adeline Jane -- Mommy and Daddy LOVE you, too!

For her real birthday last month, we took our first family vacation to Branson. We have a great time enjoying the fall weather while playing outside at Silver Dollar City and playing inside at the waterpark in our hotel! She and I rode the butterflies and she rode the frogs with Daddy. She has her daddy's tummy for rides as she wanted to go again and again!! I will treasure the memories for a lifetime and I hope there is something she might remember, too. She was also intrigued by a statue of a hot pink gorilla in front of a garden shop there and insisted, "I ride it!" So, we stopped for pictures of her on top of the gorilla! It was a hoot!

We are all getting used to a new four-legged member of our family. Aussie is a miniature Australian Shepherd who is keeping us all on our toes! She loves to be around people and especially enjoys chasing balls with Adeline in the backyard. Adeline is sweet to her (most of the time!) and cheers her on when she pees outside. "Good pee, Aussie!" Gotta love it!!

For Halloween, she dressed up as a giraffe. She LOVES giraffes! We went to her school carnival a few weeks ago and she had a blast palying games there. Yesterday Uncle Chris, Aunt Juju, and Chase had a party that was so much fun and then we got to go to another carnival with some friends. It was a busy, fun day full of treats!!

100 Weeks!

2010-08-31T23:51:00.000-05:00

That's how old my toddler is today! I get a weekly email about growth
and development and each week posts your child's age in weeks. I think
it's a pretty cool way to think about it! The 100th day if school has
always been one of my favorites and this 100th week of Adeline's life
is an exciting milestone to me!

So, what does this 100 week-old toddler do? She walks, talks, plays,
laughs, climbs, sings, cries, runs, bosses, strolls, hides, giggles,
prays, organizes, rides, swings, slides, amazes, hugs, kisses,
smiles, obeys, disobeys, loves, reads, claps, dances ...and blesses us
more than we could ever have imagined!

May the Lord grant us hundreds and hundred and hundreds more weeks!

Chipmunk Cheeks!

2010-08-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

These days Adeline LOVES cherry tomatoes! She pulled the container out
of the fridge and plopped herself on the floor for a snack. She also
tends to grab one more as she puts her milk cup away before teeth
brushing. It's the funniest thing! She's like her daddy, in this
regard, because Mommy doesn't like tomatoes very much. Oh well...glad
she likes them!!

I love my cousin!

2010-07-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

Hooray for marshmellows!!

2010-07-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

She's her mother's daughter!

2010-05-28T18:42:00.002-05:00

Those of you who know me well know I adore shoes! I'd much rather
accessorize my life with shoes than lots of jewelry. Well, Adeline is
taking to it quite naturally!! Notice the title of the book--and the
extras she's pulled from the armoire! I promise I did NOT stage this
pic!

19 months and counting!

2010-04-29T21:56:00.004-05:00

My sweetness is 19 months old tomorrow! Like all the other milestones...it doesn't even seem possible. She continues to amaze us with her words as she has lots to say! She tries to say new things each and every day. She is quite comfortable with the word "NO" and isn't afraid to use it!

These days she tends to burst into laughter -- for really no reason at all! It's hysterical!

She's a great shopper!

She loves to be outside doing anything -- esp. swinging!

She likes animals -- esp. giraffes! (Dont' know why...she just does!)

She sweetly gives hugs and kisses and says "love you"!

The Easter Bunny left marshmellows in some of her eggs. She knows which cabinet to point to and asks for "mellows". She'd eat them all day if we'd let her!

She's learning how to be "nice" to her cousin, Chase. She likes to pat him on the back and point to his eyes, nose, mouth, ears...and give him kisses.

She is opinionated and has her own agenda many times throughout the day! One day she'll figure out that darting toward the corner results in Mommy or Daddy winning! :)

Adeline Jane -- you dazzle our world with love and laughter each day! We thank God for you, little girl!

P.S. I am learning how to post from my phone which will hopefully result in more frequent posts, esp. with pics. (The last few posts were actually from my phone!) Our desktop is down again so I haven't been able to download any pics in quite a while. The phone will have to do for now!

Swinging!

2010-04-15T14:35:00.002-05:00

Thank you, Uncle Kyle, for hanging up my swing! It's a great place to rest at the end on a long day!! Mommy and Daddy have let me get in it almost everyday when I get home from school.

Swinging!

2010-04-15T11:14:00.001-05:00

2010-03-18T15:44:00.001-05:00

A close-up of Chase!

The cousin

2010-03-18T12:11:00.004-05:00

Adeline's cousin, Chase, arrived safe and sound last week ! We are so glad he's here! They are getting settled at home and we've enjoyed visiting them a few times already. So far, Adeline has been very sweet to Chase and is learning how to be gentle with him. She really likes to try to hug him which is so sweet to watch. Even sweeter, though, is hearing her call him by name. Love it!

Adeline continues to make us smile every single day! She is becoming more independent and shares her opinions about things, including what books she wants to read and what clothes to wear. She absolutely LOVES shoes (don't know where she gets that!!!) Here's a little video of her browsing the Land's End Kids' catalog...

Squats

2010-02-27T21:38:00.002-06:00

An interesting title, I know, and I'll get to it momentarily!

Adeline is 17 months old this week and she is so much fun! She continues to learn all kinds of words, including "yes" to go with her "no"! She pointed to something in the sky the other day and I looked to see what it was. It was the first time to tell her about the moon (other than reading Goodnight Moon many times). Later that night, as we were getting out of the car, she pointed to the moon and said "moon"! It's so cool to watch it all come together. On another note...her bottom molars are breaking through so the teething adventures continue, in addition to another bottom tooth in the front. It's a joy to see her smile and even better when she laughs!

About the squats...as a teacher, I have tended to bend down or into a squatting position to be at eye-level with my kiddos. After all these years (this is my 16th year teaching -- when did that happen?!?!) it is just a habit. So, naturally, I do this with Adeline -- and she imitates it, too -- when she's brushing her teeth!!! It's the funniest thing! A few months ago we began using a real toothbrush and the trainer paste. I have been brushing my teeth at the same time trying to show her how it's done. Of course, I squatted down to be closer to her. As I hand her the readied toothbrush, she assumes her squatting position and is ready to go! Maybe we'll catch it on video...

Our cousin/nephew will be here soon! Aunt Julie, aka "JuJu", will be induced in just over a week unless Chase decides to come on his own. Please keep them all in your prayers as we await his arrival. We can hardly wait to meet him!

Words

2010-02-11T21:58:00.002-06:00

I continue to marvel as Adeline learns more and more words. It seems like each day she has something new to say! Acutally, one of the sweetest things she says right now is "no". She has shaken her head for several weeks and over the snow days began verbalizing it, too. Now, I know the day is coming when that word will not be so sweet, but we are smiling right now! Her teacher at the nursery commented today about how verbal she is. I wonder where she gets it?!?!

In the last month, she's had an ear infection followed by a sinus infection which resulted in several restless nights for all. Thankfully, we are all getting back to sleeping through the night!

Adeline's cousin will be born in the next few weeks. Aunt Julie (aka Juju) will be induced March 8th unless Chase decides to make his appearance earlier than that. We are ready to meet him and welcome him into our family!!

I have some other pics from the snow to get on the computer! She and I bundled up twice to get outside so she could investigate it. Her favorite part was simply having me carry her up and down the street; and she thought it was pretty fun when I threw a snowball at her tummy!

Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you, Father, that you love us and show us how to love.

And, she's off...

2010-01-07T21:30:00.009-06:00

Over the break, Adeline decided she would let go and take her first steps! What a blessing to be at home with her for this milestone!

It all started on the third day of Christmas. She was playing on the floor with Uncle Kyle when he lifted her up, set her back about three feet, and she took several steps right into his arms...and did it again and again! Over the last two weeks, she has slowly ventured more and more and seems pretty proud of what she is accomplishing.

Speaking of Christmas...The Christmas Eve blizzard changed everyone's plans, but we made the best of it. This was the first time I ever remember not going to Midnight Mass and it was an odd feeling. Santa brought Adeline a red wagon which has traveled a circular path throughout the house so far. At times, she is content to just sit in it and play or read books. We made it to Ben's parents for Christmas lunch and back home again for a quick visit from my family. Everyone wanted to be home before dark so the celebrations were cut too short! Thankfully, my family has always believed that Christmas is a season, not just a day. Who knows how long we'll keep this one going?!?!

I took her for her 15 month well-baby check at the beginning of the week. Her measurements confirmed what we'd been thinking -- that she is pretty tall and skinny!! (She certainly didn't get that from me!!) She weighs 21 lbs. 4 oz. and is 31 1/4 inches tall. She continues to WOW us by saying a lot of words. One of the most precious things she says is "bess oo" -- BLESS YOU -- when someone (or something, like the dog!) sneezes!

I leave you with a few of her first birthday pics. (I finally got them uploaded!) My sweet friend, Stephanie, made the cute orange tulle skirt and candle onsie she is wearing! Thank you, Steph! In the other pics, the light pink top was either my mom's or her mom's so it is a neat hand-me-down.

I couldn't even post more than a title!!

2009-12-15T22:55:00.005-06:00

We have moved and continue to unpack boxes while preparing for Christmas! Don't know if those are the best reasons for not posting anything since the little girl's birthday, but that's all I've got! We are more than thankful for our new home. We have doubled our space and are thrilled with our new neighborhood! God has given us more than we could have imagined and it all happened so fast. It really doesn't even seem real still...We can't get the cars in the garage yet, but that day will come! It was wonderful having 16 family members here for Thanksgiving and we look forward to the Christmas season, as well.

Adeline hasn't decided to walk on her own yet, but crawls like crazy! She is talking all the time and just amazes us with the way she thinks about things and understands what you say to her. She is loving her Fisher-Price nativity for the Advent season.

She likes dogs -- a lot -- until the big ones bark really loud and get rowdy! She and Josie (our dog) get along just fine! It's precious to watch her love on Josie, although Josie isn't quite as thrilled about her most of the time. She continues to love books and, of course, we read the ones with dogs over and over.

We've marked "first haircut" off our list! The front of her hair was so long it was interfering with eating! My hairdresser, Theresa, did a fabulous job cutting bangs and trimming the sides.

So much...

2009-12-04T20:24:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Little One!

2009-09-30T21:37:00.002-05:00

Sweet Adeline -- Happy First Birthday! You have filled our world with wonder since we first met you in the wee hours of the morning! You took my breath away the instant I saw you. God has truly blessed our whole family and all our friends by giving you to us. Everyone said we wouldn't remember life before you were here and that is true. It seems like you've been here for much longer than a year. You've done so much growing and I can hardly wait to see what you'll do next. Right now, you are working on standing up on your own so I bet you walk all by yourself very soon! You love to laugh, talk, blow kissess, wave, and hold your baby. You are an amazing little girl! You bring us much joy! TTAYLI (You'll learn what that means one day!)

Eventful...to say the least!

2009-09-10T20:42:00.002-05:00

In my last post of videos, you might have noticed the cardboard boxes behind Adeline. Slowly, but surely, we have been preparing to sell our house. Over the last two years, we've updated bathrooms, painted rooms and the exterior, replaced the central heat/air, replaced the fence, and moved lots to storage...all so someone else can come live here! It was all worth it because our house sold in just over a week! Great, but we hadn't found a new one yet. Thankfully, that changed yesterday when we made an offer that was accepted in just over an hour! It a wonderful home with lots of space to share with family and friends. The plan is to be moving mid-October and continue in this incredible adventure. God has been so good to us and we give thanks for the ways He has moved in these last few weeks. Our prayers have been for all parties to be blessed and I am certain that is happening! Keep the prayers coming as the inspections get scheduled and more (and more and more and more) boxes get packed.

Adeline's first birthday is a few weeks away which seems impossible! What a tremendous time this has been. Lately, she has popped two more teeth on the top and continues to babble all the time. She's decided she doesn't like peas again, but I'm pretty sure she'd eat a whole can of green beans if I'd let her! She is a fast scooter, but takes the time to pull herslf up now, too. She tries walking when someone holds her hands. She signs the word "more" and we are working on the word "please" right now. She says "dada", "mama", "baby", and has a word that resembles "dog" when she is talking about Josie. I've always cuddled her tight, swaying and singing a little song (if you can call it that) with the words "my baby" over and over. Recently, she started moving back and forth doing it, too. It's delightful to hear her and watch her do this! Of course, I'll share it with you if I can get it on video.

Lately...

2009-08-10T15:50:00.010-05:00

Adeline still isn't crawling, but is scooting like crazy! In the last two weeks, she's figured out how to go from her tummy to sitting which just adds to her unique style of getting WHERE she wants and WHAT she wants (well, most of the time)! I have FINALLY been able to load some video so you can see her in action!!

Adeline loves books! Of course, this makes her mommy glad. Here's another video of her reading! It's precious!

Ben's mom and dad were with her watching her one evening last week. They'd put her to bed, and all of a sudden, her mobile started playing. They walked in to find her standing up and punching the buttons!! So, my mom came over about 10:15 that evening to hold her so Ben and I could go ahead and lower the mattress. Since she's become more mobile, we were just waiting for this moment to arrive!

She's trying to cut two more teeth on the top and she said "mama" last week! That made me smile, for sure. She's said "dada" for a LONG time and now I get to be included, too!

It has been GREAT to spend more time with her over the summer! The change of routine has been nice and I dread the early alarm clock next week. We've scooted, been to camp, gone swimming, visited the library, gone shopping, been swinging and swinging, and taken care of daddy after his surgery. (LONG STORY short: Ben had his gallbladder out 2 weeks ago and is doing great!) In the midst of all that, we are preparing to put our house on the market! Always an adventure...

P.S. Aunt Julie had an ultrasound last week and it looks like Adeline's cousin will arrive mid-March! YAHOO!

One of the best prayers ever

2009-08-01T20:22:00.002-05:00

So, last Sunday we went to Tulsa to see WICKED! It is an incredible musical that I could see over and over again! There was a large group of us, including my brother Chris, my sister-in-law Julie, her mom and aunts and cousins, and our friend, Wendy. After the show, we went to Julie's grandparents' home in Jenks to have pizza. We were asked to gather together so Chris could say the blessing for our meal. Now...you have to understand that we give Chris a REALLY hard time about blessing meals because he tends to get rather wordy! So, I prepared myself for more than just "thank you for the food and the family and friends all gathered together". True to form, he went on to specifically pray for various people in the family, including Adeline "who will be a cousin in March"!!!! Of course, my eyes were closed while praying but they popped open immediately to look at Chris and Julie, who were both beaming and grinning from ear to ear! We've been given permission to share the news and there's no better way than posting it in a blog, huh?!?! We ask your prayers for a healthy pregnancy for Julie and for this precious baby.

Pictures...enough said!

2009-07-01T21:18:00.003-05:00

Dad's Day

2009-06-21T22:15:00.002-05:00

Happy Father's Day, Benjamin! Adeline is blessed to have you for her daddy! It is a joy for me to watch you love her each and every day. Thank you for being who you are! I love you!

Today, I also remember my sweet daddy. He's been gone five years and we miss him still. I'm sad Adeline will never know him in person but I am certain she will learn of his sweet spirit as we share stories about him. Soon she will get her first taste of homemade ice cream -- no one makes it like he did (although my brother, Chris, is getting close!) I love you, daddy!

A little miracle

2009-06-09T16:39:00.003-05:00

A little miracle happened on Friday afternoon! I picked Adeline up about 2:45 that afternoon and her teachers commented that she had been pushing on her ears most of the day. I called her pediatrician's office to find out that the dr. was out of the office, but I could call the dr. covering for her and hope to get an appointment for the Saturday morning hours she would have. Here's the miracle...we got an appointment at 3:15!! Indeed, Adeline's left ear was just infected, but we'd caught it early. I must add that we feel blessed that we've made it this long without one!! So, we started the pink meds that night and she is being a trooper in taking it morning and night. Ugh! The smell of that stuff makes me shudder a little!

Even in the midst of this, she is sleeping good at night, which is a blessing. The days are not so great as she fights taking her naps, esp. at the CDP. Whew! One day last week she slept only 15 minutes during the day! My heart hurts for her because she is fussy and cranky. It's hard to know if her ears are causing her to not sleep during the day or if she is just being stubborn. Hmm...which would you pick?

I know I need to add some pics, but it is going to have to wait! Our desktop hard drive is being replaced at this moment! Thankfully, we figured it out before it crashed completely. So, once it is back in working order, I will get some pictures up as soon as possible.

Crazy May Days

2009-05-28T21:43:00.008-05:00

This month has been busy! I have a bunch of pics to upload but something weird is happening to the computer so I'm waiting!

Since my last post, Adeline has sprouted another bottom tooth! She is still thinking about maybe crawling, but for now, just uses her arms and legs to turn around on the floor. She is making this very lovely shrieking sound (I think she just likes to hear herself). She isn't sleeping much during the day; therefore, she is sleeping quite a bit at night so I guess that's good. (I hope she isn't being too cranky at school.) It's now summer break for me which is mostly a change in routine. I will teach teachers off and on in June and July. Adeline will still go to the CDP but will have some days to just stay home and play with me!

Disney's The Lion King was here in OKC for the past five weeks. Ben, his mom, and I are Civic Center volunteers so we have each helped with many shows. In fact, that is how we spent my first Mother's Day as we signed up to volunteer without even thinking about that!! Adeline got to spend the day with my mom so that was a blessing for the two of them.

Adeline LOVES water! Her uncles and her daddy will tell you about how she immediately relaxed in the nurse's arms when she got her first head-washing at the hospital...and it has been that way ever since. We went to Kansas for a wedding at the beginning of May and took her to the indoor pool/waterpark in our hotel. She and I had a ball playing in the fountains and on the slide. (pics to come!) Then, on Memorial Day, we joined dear friends at their pool and she got to swim again. She kicked her legs and splashed her arms! I even took her underwater and she came up bright-eyed and happy! Her Uncle Kyle is ready to take her scuba diving!!

Uncle Kevin came home from the cruise ship last Saturday! He is taking a break for the summer to play music on land instead of water. He will be traveling to several music festivals and then may head back to the crusie scene in the fall. It's great to have hime home!

Our niece, Haley, is getting married Saturday. It seems like yesterday that she was getting her hair done for our wedding! We give thanks for her and Willie and pray God's blessings on them.

Thursday Thankfulness

2009-05-07T20:52:00.002-05:00

It has been too long since I wrote a note of thanks on a Thursday. The sink is full of bottles that need to be washed...and that is something for which I am thankful. Our nightly routine has certainly changed as there are always bottles to wash! As Mother's Day approaches, I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mom. I am thankful that Adeline is a healthy, happy little girl who is loved by so many! I give thanks for a godly husband who loves us and works diligently (at the office and at home) even when it isn't easy. I am thankful for my own momma who continually sets an example of caring for others, esp. her children.

Somebody's stirring in the other room...

Finally...a tooth debut!!

2009-04-27T21:40:00.002-05:00

For several weeks, Adeline has been chewing on anything she can get in her hands! And, finally, last night, Ben felt her gums and discovered one tooth on the bottom! Hooray for this little milestone!

Heelariousness, Milestones, and Easter Blessings

2009-04-20T20:39:00.012-05:00

That's quite a title, isn't it?! We have been so busy lately, but I wanted to catch up on some things that have been happening, so I'm doing one long post.

Okay...so a few posts ago I mentioned the shoes Ben got Adeline for Valentine's Day. I described them as "heelarious" as that is the brand name for these soft-soled high heel baby shoes! Hers are hot pink patent leather and we do just giggle every time we look at them. So, finally I am getting around to posting a few picks from the photo session we did at Penny's.

About a month ago, we decided to start the adventure into solid foods! She likes barley cereal much more than rice and peas are really the only vegetable she doesn't like. It's so fun to watch the different looks on her face! She is also doing a great job at sitting on her own. We keep the Boppy behind her most of the time, but she is doing the majority of the work all by herself. In fact, she doesn't enjoy being on her tummy as much because she'd much rather be up where she can see what's happening around her! When she is on her tummy, she uses her arms to scoot around a bit and is bending her legs like she may want to crawl eventually. She continues to make a wide variety of sounds and can be quite vocal! Hmmm...wonder where she gets that?!?!

Our first Easter with Adeline was a great day! We went to church and Adeline got to hunt eggs with her godmother, Grace. Really, the "hunt" consisted of sitting down on the floor to chew on a delightful blue egg! The music at Easter has always been very moving to me, especially as it was always one of my dad's favorite services. A neat part of the service this year was when two teenage girls were waving these long ribbons to the rhythm of the hymns we were singing. Adeline thoroughly enjoyed watching the ribbons move and sway with the music. It was such fun to watch her! We had lunch with the Hanneman's to celebrate Aunt Penny and Uncle Jeff's birthdays as well as Easter. The Easter Bunny hid a baker's dozen of eggs around the living room at home which we hunted later in the day. She found them all and ended up with five dollars in change to put in her piggy bank! Thank you, Easter Bunny!

Six months...really?!?!

2009-03-30T22:56:00.002-05:00

Today, our sweet girl is six months old! What an incredible time this has been! We give thanks to Him for the blessings of this life and rejoice in the work He is doing in her and us. I have many pictures to post and details, too, but I must get to bed tonight. I couldn't let the day pass without a short post to mark this milestone and one precious pic. We love you, sweet Adeline! You bring us much joy!

Keeping promises

2009-03-08T21:08:00.007-05:00

So, my last post said I would post pictures soon. Now that it is March, I should take care of this! Crazy Hair!!Little flower!

Her daddy bought her a special outfit for her first Valentine's Day. It was pretty "heelarious"!Hopefully, we'll tell you more about that soon!

God is BIG enough

2009-02-19T19:54:00.004-06:00

I give thanks to God that He hears us when we pray and that He is big enough to handle all that is asked by his children. Over the last two weeks, we have had several friends and our own family dealing with sickness, with some of them being in the hospital. We give thanks to God for his power to heal and make us well. He is doing just that!

Adeline is up to some new tricks these days as she approaches the five month mark! She is rolling from her back to her tummy which has made for new adventures in sleeping. We've transitioned to the sleep sack (boy, do I wish I'd invented that!) so she has her arms free to do what she needs when she sleeps. While we know it is safest for her to sleep on her back, we can't keep her there. We trust God to keep her safe as she sleeps -- in whatever position she chooses.

She loves to grab her feet and toes! So far, she hasn't figured out how to chew on them, but she sure likes to stretch those legs and reach for them. I'm sure the chewing will come...

Yet again, I am posting this on the laptop and all the pics are on the desktop. So, I will post pics soon.

Is it really February?

2009-02-10T19:42:00.003-06:00

Only in Oklahoma can you have a two week span include ice, snow, sunshine, rain, and tornadoes, with temps ranging from the 20s to the 70s. WOW! With today's sever weather, we did take shelter at school (twice!!) and our kiddos did an AMAZING job! I was so proud of them. It was a new feeling to wonder about my own little girl, but I had a calm about me that everything was just fine where she was. Ben picked her up today as he could get there faster than I could. When he got there, all of the children and teachers were in the basement and all was good! I am thankful for God's protection today and pray for those people who have been affected by the storms.

I finally uploaded a few pictures from Adeline's first snow/ice storm. It was an unexpected blessing to stay home with her for those few days. Ben got to stay home for 2 of the days, too, and we all enjoyed staying in our pajamas. We finally ventured outside when Ben had to de-ice his car in order to go to back to work.

Good health...

2009-02-05T22:31:00.003-06:00

is what I say thank you for this week. Since the beginning of January, I have not felt great with a variety of things...the latest being shingles! With shingles, one symptomg a person typically shows is a rash on just one side of the body in one place (usually on the abdomen). Mine was on the left side of my scalp. It has been one of the most bizarre things I've experienced! As a nursing mom, I am thankful there was medicine I could take! It has allowed me to sleep in my own bed for the past week (instead of in the rocker in Adeline's room because it hurt to lay flat in bed on a pillow). My doctor says that a case of shingles averages about 2 months...I'm praying to beat that by a long shot!

Catching up!

2009-01-28T23:01:00.001-06:00

Wow! The past few weeks have flown. Today was the second day out of school with ICE STORM 2009 and we get to stay home tomorrow, too. So, I think it is time to catch up on some blogging. I realized there are several things that haven't made the blog, so here goes...

Just before Christmas, Adeline was baptized at St. John's Episcopal Church, the same church where I was baptized and our parents' home church. Adeline has been God's child from the beginning, but we stood together, with her godparents (Grace and Jaron) and the rest of our family, to acknowledge our call and responsibility to raise her in Christian life and love. She wore a beautiful white gown that was handmade by a longtime family friend/Kevin's godmother, Madrina (Spanish for godmother). Madrina was one of the first people my mom called to share the news of our pregnancy. She began working on the gown immediately, adding her prayers with the rest of ours for a healthy baby. All our prayers were answered! God has already used Adeline to bless others and we look forward to all He has planned for her.

Uncle Kevin left for his new cruise adventure on Saturday morning, January 17. He flew to Miami and set sail that afternoon on Carnival Destiny. At this time, Destiny alternates itineraries in the Western and Eastern Caribbean. As far as we know, he'll be playing five hours each evening in 2 one-hour sets and 1 three-hour set. Lucky dog...the entertainment for the first cruise was the "Battle of the Bands" so he didn't even have to play that first trip! Then, the second cruise was the KLOVE Friends and Family cruise with a wide variety of Christian artists on board. He was supposed to play some that trip, but I didn't get to talk to him when they were in port. Hopefully we'll hear from him on Saturday.

Some fun new things about Adeline...she can roll over from her tummy to her back! YEAH! I'd been helping her do it for a few weeks. Of course, the first time she did it, I'd set her down on her tummy, left the room for a moment, and returned to find her on her back! I immediately rolled her back to her tummy and she did it again! What fun!

She's also discovered she likes sucking her thumb, not just the whole fist! It's a pretty precious sight. She seems to be taking to it like her godmother, Grace, who wrapped her other fingers around her nose! Yes, Grace was pretty cute, too! (and still is!)

I missed last Thursday! All day long, I thought about what I wanted to write, but didn't make it to the blog. I know if I was thinking about it then I was being thankful, so that is good. I'm going to go ahead and take care of tomorrow's list right now.

1. I'm thankful that God is healing me of the infection that has caused me to have crazy headaches for more than a week. I don't get sick very often (Thank you, God) and I have felt pretty rotten. The days at home have helped, so I am thankful for the winter weather we've been having.

2. I'm thankful for Ben who made us a yummy breakfast this morning. God knew what he was doing in giving me a husband who likes to cook. Ben is so like my daddy in that regard!

3. I'm thankful for Adeline's smiles. Even at 5:30 in the morning, I can't help but smile back at her. In those moments, all is right with the world!

4. I'm thankful for my kids at school, esp. the small group of BOYS who wonder if my hair will be curly or straight. They said they liked it better curly...we'll see what the day brings! (They'll make great husbands some day!!)

TGITh

2009-01-15T22:56:00.002-06:00

Thank you, Father, that it is Thursday again. Thank you for walking beside me and carrying me through this week. Thank you that little one is asleep and that I will be soon!

I have NO IDEA what happened to Thursday!

2009-01-10T21:42:00.004-06:00

My thankfulness is for our family and friends who prayed for us this week as Adeline started at "baby school" (that's how I described it to my kids at school) and I returned to work. All in all, the week had many more ups than downs...and we made it to the weekend! It was a joy to get to rock her and cuddle her this afternoon...there's nothing like it!

Tonight, Ben and I managed to get the ornaments off the Christmas tree (and he is now tackling the lights!) We still have our Fontanini nativity village to do, too. We are firm believers in the 12 Days of Christmas, which officially ended with Epiphany this week, but it is time to pack it away once again. Father, again we say thank you for your blessings throughout this holiday season!

14 weeks and counting...

2009-01-06T17:02:00.002-06:00

Adeline is 14 weeks today! She had a well-baby visit today and things are looking good! She is 12 lbs. 7 oz. and 24 1/2 inches long and was very brave when getting her shots. Keep growing, little girl! You have many more great things to accomplish and we can hardly wait to see what you'll do!

Adeline started at her CDP (child development program) yesterday when I had to return to school for real! (The week before Christmas break was just the trial run.) I cried several times before I left the house but managed to keep myself together at school. Thankfully, my days at school are pretty much non-stop so I don't have much time to dwell on being sad. I can honestly say I didn't cry as much today...Yeah for Mommy!

Random comment...I just looked outside the window and saw the new fence panels on my fence. A few weeks ago, I commented on being thankful for my brothers who had helped us keep it standing in all the crazy Oklahoma winds. Well, I am VERY thankful for my husband and father-in-law who have since replaced two posts and six panels. This was acutally accomplished several weeks ago on that Sunday afternoon when the temperature dropped about 30 degrees in a very short time! We have some other panels to deal with...but springtime will do for those!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T09:50:00.002-06:00

NOTE: Ben and I wrote this post together on our laptop on Thursday, but all of the pictures still needed to be uploaded to the desktop. So, here it is Sunday and everything can be put together to post it for real!!

2009! WOW! What a year this has been! In all things, God has taken care of us throughout this year. Of course, our greatest blessing of 2008 is Adeline, but much more has happened, as well. In April, Chris and Julie were married so we increased the girl power there, too. Julie is a perfect fit for our family and we are so glad she's a part of us! We are thankful for our families now and always. Our niece, Haley, will be getting married in May, so our family will grow yet again. It has been fun getting to know Willie and we're glad to have him, too.

Some fun things about Adeline as we celebrate her 3 month birthday...
Just this week, she has started cooing and "talking" to us. She has been making all kinds of sounds before now, but you can look her in the eyes and talk about all kinds of things! It's so fun! She's also been blowing bubbles and chewing on her fist. The baby books have a space for logging when the baby finds their thumb, but we need a space for fist!! Maybe she'll go for the thumb later. It is fascinating to see different pieces of her personality forming. She has those moments where she laughs, giggles, and smiles, and then has these very serious faces when we wonder what she is analyzing inside that little brain.

We took her 3 month pics in her Christmas outfit this week. There were some great shots of her and the three of us. A few are posted below, as well as some of the other Watson Family pics from a few weeks ago. We captured some great moments for sure!

May God bless you and yours in 2009!

On the second day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T23:27:00.001-06:00

we spent another wonderful day with family! That's what I am thankful for this day and yesterday and always...tremendous family whose love in unconditional and unending! We are blessed beyond measure!

Merry Christmas to all and may Christ be with you throughout the 12 Days of Christmas!

Thankfulness

2008-12-18T23:00:00.003-06:00

My thankfulness this day is that we made it to Thursday! Ben and Adeline have had a great week together and I have made it to work four days in a row. My kids at school have showered me with hugs and kind words to welcome me. Lunch duty hasn't changed much -- except I think more of them can open the milk cartons on their own now!! My colleagues have been wonderful, too. Thank you, Lord, for answering prayers this week as we took this new step together!

Adeline is 11 weeks old now and continues to make us grin all the time as we get ready for this holiday season. She loves to look at the lights on the Christmas tree. Tonight she was a special guest at Ben's office party. It was a nice dinner at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. There was a sweet acknowledgement of her arrival in their slideshow about the events of 2008. Thanks DAC!

Thankfulness

2008-12-11T09:36:00.003-06:00

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me as I prepare to go back to work next week. I really don't have enough words to thank God for his perfect plan in allowing me to be off work for nearly three months to be with Adeline. I will treasure this always! I am thankful He is providing the opportunity for Ben to stay home with her next week. What a sweet time it will be for the two of them! Christmas Break will follow so we will be together for a short time again before she starts in her child development program in January.

On Tuesday night we went to Norman to take family pictures with my side of the family. These days it is quite a feat to get us all together at the same time! I am thankful for the laughter and smiles we shared together. My brothers are goofy! I'll post some pics when we get them. After the pics session, we ate at Victoria's which is one of our favorite restaurants in Norman. It holds special memories as it is where Ben and I AND Chris and Julie had our first dates -- and Ben proposed to me there, too!

I am thankful for Kyle and Chris who have helped keep our fence up this year. The wind this week has done some more damage that we will have to repair soon. But, for now, lots of rope and stakes are keeping it together. Brothers, thank you for coming to the rescue!

I am thankful for this season of Advent. This year, as I gaze at my sweet one, I have a different perspective of Mary. I dont' necessarily have anything profound to say about it, but I understand things differently now because of Adeline. Thank you, Father, for sending your son into the world to be a savior for us all!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

2008-12-10T21:50:00.004-06:00

On Sunday afternoon, Ben, my mom, and I took Adeline to meet Santa for the first time! We visited him at Northpark Mall. (Thanks, Steph, for teaching us about this! This Santa is sponsored by the Rotary Club and all money goes to support local charity.) I thought she might nap through the whole thing, but she woke up just before we got to the front of the line! She looks a little sleepy, but it was good to see those blue eyes. She was dressed in an ADORABLE outfit given to her by a friend we've known for years! I made a hair bow to go with it and she looked like one of Santa's little elves! While I know she won't remember this day, I am certain we will.

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-12-04T10:18:00.000-06:00

My thankfulness today is specifically about Adeline and some of the cool things that are happening with her these days. She is sleeping 6-7 hours each night in her big crib! It just happened a few weeks ago that I put her in the big crib for one of her naps during the day and she has been sleeping there ever since. She looks so small compared to when she was in the bassinet, but she is growing so much. The good news about this is that Ben and I are sleeping more, too. Thank you, Lord! When we go in to get her in the morning, she just grins so big! It melts your heart and starts the day like I've never imagined possible. What joy and simplicity on that face! Throughout the day, she usually stays awake for an hour and a half after she eats. She likes to sit in her rocking chair, lay on her back on her play mat or blanket and kick those legs, or cuddle to read books! It's amazing to watch her use her eyes to look around at all that is happening. And I must mention how much I love it when she sneezes!! Sometimes, she sneeezes like Ben which is just ONE powerful sneeze and other times it is like me...four little ones right in a row! We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially this little girl!

Thankful Monday

2008-12-01T14:31:00.000-06:00

It doesn't seem possible that Thursday was four days ago and I haven't had a chance to post anything. I missed the Thankful Thursday that actually is marked on the calendar. Again, I am reminded that we are called to be thankful each day, not just one day a year. So, today I am thankful for:
1. Ben as we celebrate our 7th anniversary today! My days are brighter because of you and Adeline is so lucky to have you for her daddy!
2. my brothers Chris and Kevin who celebrate birthdays this week, too. You both make me smile!
3. holiday visits with good friends.
4. the season of Advent. Lord, help me focus on you in this season of preparation!

Amazingly, Adeline is two months old. (the same day Uncle Chris turned 30!) She brings much joy and many smiles to us each day!

Promised pics and NB update

2008-11-22T17:58:00.000-06:00

I think this picture might just be what I've always imagined when someone says 'sleeping like a baby'! Peaceful, isn't she?This is Adeline with her four-legged cousins Max (black dog), Lucy (fat dog), and Wrigley (adorable chocolate lab puppy). Max and Lucy live at Mom's house and Wrigley belongs to my brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Julie. Fun fact: Adeline and Wrigley are only two days apart in age!! Cool, huh? We all enjoyed being outside last Sunday afternoon when it was so beautiful. The last time we were all together was the middle of the night when Adeline was born! So, I did get my scores and found out I did not earn enough points to pass National Board certification this time. I was really sad yesterday when I found out, but have had several people help me keep things in perspective about what is really important. Like I said earlier, the process has helped me grow in many ways and I am thankful for that. My identity does not come from pieces of paper that have passing scores, but it comes in the fact that I am certain that I am fulfilling God's purpose for my life in being a really good teacher -- and now a mom! Adeline is certainly my greatest accomplishment ever!! I can choose to redo some aspects of the process...I will think about that later.

It's Thursday again!

2008-11-20T17:04:00.001-06:00

It doesn't seem possible that it is Thursday again! Whew! We took Adeline to the doctor yesterday for her six week check up and shots. She is now 10 lbs. 11 oz. and 22 1/4 inches long. Yep -- she's growing! Her pediatrician was pleased with how she is holding her head up when she is on her tummy. She is very alert and once again displayed her lung capacity as she cried when she got her shots-- but thankfully, it wasn't for very long. She is so brave! I need to download some pictures from the camera and then I can share some other pics.

Until then...I am thankful that:
1. my brother, Kevin (Adeline's Uncle Kevin), has accepted a job as a musician with Carnival Crusie Lines. We are thankful that God has opened this door for him! He leaves mid-January to sail out (although he reminded me that cruise ships don't have sails!) of Miami. I think he said this boat's itinerary rotates between the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. What beautiful places to see!
2. Ben just walked in the door after a busy day at work. I appreciate how hard he works to take very good care of our family! He is a blessing!
3. the wait for National Board Certification scores is about over; they will be posted tomorrow. Many of you know that I spent last school year completing the process to become a National Board Certified teacher. It was one of the most challenging things I've done, but I learned a LOT about myself and my teaching. We'll see what happens tomorrow...

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-13T16:32:00.000-06:00

Oops! I meant to include this a moment ago and forgot. I'm borrowing an idea from my sweet friend, Jennifer, who writes about thankfulness each Thursday. (Jennifer is one of my former youth group kiddos who is a cool grown-up now!) I always enjoy reading all of her posts, but especially her Thankful Thursdays because I am usually reminded to offer God my prayers of thanksgiving, too.

On this Thursday, I am thankful for:
1. the lunch date Adeline and I had with Tyna and Jennie.
2. the beautiful fall leaves blowing all around us.
3. Uncle Kevin's job possibilities (more on that to come).
4. four more weeks to spend at home with Adeline.

God, you are gracious in all that you give to us! Thank you for providing all I need and even giving me the things I want.

Six weeks and counting

2008-11-13T16:22:00.000-06:00

Well, Adeline is now six weeks old! In my perfect world, I would have posted this on Tuesday as that is the day she really turned six weeks old. In fact, she and I were awake at 12:01 am for me to wish her Happy Birthday. Before she was here, so many people remarked how quickly time would pass and it is so true! While I know we can't always tell, I know she is growing every day. We are starting to get more smiles and little giggles from her, which just makes you smile. She is definitely following things with her eyes more and especially likes to look at a Van Gogh print we have on the living room wall. Maybe she will be an artist one day...

Happy six week birthday, Adeline! We love you!

A few pics to enjoy...

A new beginning

2008-11-02T21:42:00.000-06:00

Life is full of "firsts" right now as we enjoy life with our little girl, Adeline Jane! Over the years, my friends' blogs have been a great way to keep up with their families. I especially enjoy the times they have chronicled some of the amazing and funny things their kids say and do -- those things we always say we want to remember! Their blogs have been a great place to hold onto some of those memories. So, we've decided to to join the blogging world, too. Hopefully, we'll capture many things we want to remember and share them along the way!

Adeline and Daddy's first picture!

Adeline's first hat!

Going home for the first time in the outfit Daddy picked for her!

Her first sponge bath at home!

Her first outing to hear Uncle Kevin play at Sauced!