tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23015223881478201282024-03-13T07:48:17.481-06:00The Hannibal FamilyLibbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-86599698294117713262018-09-30T19:40:00.001-06:002018-09-30T19:40:40.181-06:00Fall Traditions Autumn is the best. No doubt about it. I love the cooler weather, the traditions, and the delicious food. We went to Schwallier's Country Basket for the fourth year in a row. It just keeps getting better. The kids love petting the animals, the slide is as slippery as ever, and the kids can never get enough of the cider and donuts. We got both apples and pumpkins from Schwallier's this year. I love the pop of color the pumpkins add to the front porch alongside the bright yellow mums.<br />
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This year Andrew was a bit wary of the animals. He walked right into the goat pen but then proceeded to yell, "No thank you!" to the animals. Paul helped him overcome his fears to pet the bunnies and feed the goats. Vince and Kate especially loved the hay bales. Vince was brave enough to jump down two tiers in one go! Kate said her favorite part was choosing pumpkins. She walked all over the patch searching for the right one. Now it's time to enjoy the "fruits" of our labor.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-6193287273405220582018-09-23T21:00:00.000-06:002018-09-30T19:42:22.926-06:00Exterior Paint Update!We have been here for 3.5 years. Last year I really wanted to paint the house but there just wasn't time for it. Instead we painted all of the trim white. It added a lot of contrast around the windows. We also painted the garage door but never got around to the service door. doh!<br />
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This year I really wanted to take the transformation all the way. Being 7 months pregnant meant I couldn't tackle the project myself. Instead, we hired painters to make our dreams come true. While they painted the siding Acier Gray (SW) and the trim and gutters white, Paul and I tackled the service and front doors. We had to completely strip the front doors. Talk about a pain in the butt! It took 3 rounds of citristrip, 2 days of painting, and a headache trying to attach the new door hardware. We ended up being doorless for THREE days and without a door handle for much longer than I care to admit. <br />
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BUT now it's done and I couldn't love it more. I am so pleased with how it turned out.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-24443504491030617082018-09-15T19:58:00.000-06:002018-09-30T20:02:53.010-06:00Andrew's Second Birthday!Drewbie is TWOBIE! How he managed to grow up to fast is beyond me. This kid is a riot. He loves to give us the cheesiest grins, yells at the top of his lungs if he doesn't get his way, follows his siblings around like a puppy dog, adores bike rides with Dad, gives the best squeezes, cuddles with any blanket he can find, gives Mommy the sloppiest kisses, dances like a wild man, and still takes the best 2-3 hour naps. He is either the family favorite or the world's worst kid. He gives out hugs freely but isn't afraid to whack you in the head if you don't comply with his wishes. Definitely a sour patch kid but all of the happy the oozes out of him makes it all worth it. <br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-48142727964925049522018-08-20T21:04:00.000-06:002018-09-23T21:07:24.605-06:00First Day of First GradeVincent- Six years old<br />
School: South Elementary<br />
Year: First Grade <br />
Teacher: Miss Pike (first year teacher!)<br />
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Vince couldn't have been more ready to go back to school. He is such a social kid and he needed to get back to being with peers each day. Kate was going to do formal preschool but I decided it was just too much to handle all of the pick up/drop off times with a new baby. Instead she and I have been doing our own little preschool and I love it more than I would have guessed. She definitely misses out on the social aspect, but I love the personal time we get to spend together as we review various curriculum and then have fun with art projects and baking. Drew tags along with whatever we do. I am surprised by how big and capable he is getting. These kids are growing up at an alarming rate!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-14614899468921915982018-08-02T20:09:00.000-06:002018-09-30T20:19:43.230-06:00John Ball ZooIt's no secret that I'm a thrifty lady. I like to save my pennies but that doesn't mean I want to miss out on all the fun. Grand Rapids has been so good to me on this account. We can always find subsidized activities through the Fredrick Meijer family, the DeVos family, Amway, and more. This Summer we hit the jackpot with kids day at the John Ball Zoo.<br />
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I felt like a total champ taking the kids out on my own. I rely heavily on Paul but I'm in this sweet stage where the kids are pretty responsible and Andrew only has one nap a day. So I braved the city on my own and it was a great adventure. The kids were a bit spooked by the howler monkeys, they got a great view of the Tiger's walking around their enclosure, the playground was a total hit, and we enjoyed lots of complimentary snacks and prizes throughout the zoo. I was prepared for a total let down since I'm accustomed to the Toledo Zoo... but I've come to find out that a zoo is a zoo and it's just fun to be outside and see animals with the people I love the most. <br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-38487030984935680832018-06-30T20:58:00.000-06:002018-09-30T20:58:19.351-06:00Magical Mackinac Island on Kate's 4th BirthdayWhen you move to Michigan you start to hear about Mackinac Island. It is this magical little place that transports you through time. You hop on a ferry boat to get there and once you arrive you won't find any vehicles. There are horses, carriage rides, bikes aplenty, but NO motor cars. The main street is lined with hotels, fudge shops, souvenirs, and the hustle and bustle of foot traffic. While Main Street was super cute, we much preferred the back half of the island.<br />
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We took a two hour bike ride around the entire island. The high lights were throwing rocks into the water near British Landing, Arch Rock, Kate peeing in the woods, and picking wildflowers. Vince got a real kick out of riding a tandem bike with me.<br />
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ON the Island we enjoyed playing and eating ice cream at the Grand Hotel. Kate also chose to get three flavors of fudge to celebrate her birthday: blueberry, mint, and caramel. Incredibly delicious but also incredibly painful. It only took a few bites to get a belly ache! We wanted to go on a carriage ride but it just never worked out. Instead we saw the Governor's Home, military buildings from the war of 1812, and a beautiful old church. After all the site seeing we let the kids be kids and concluded our time on the island by playing at the school playground.<br />
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Following the ferry ride back to the mainland, we found a restaurant that served pasties-- a traditional food that miners would eat. The kids stuck with Mac & Cheese but Paul and I liked trying something new. While at the restaurant we took time to open presents and sing to Kate. She is such a smart four year old. She is reading like champ, rides a bike like there's nothing to be afraid of, gives me all the cuddles, loves to "chat" while she takes ALL DAY eating her meals, cares for baby dolls while simultaneously destroying stuff with her big brother, hums so loud that she misses half of what we say, has the brightest eyes you've ever seen, and has a heart of gold. She loved her magical birthday on Mackinac Island.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-83305233188589523352018-06-24T14:22:00.000-06:002018-06-24T14:22:42.272-06:00It's a GIRL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Friday, June 22 the five of us filed into the ultrasound room and waited eagerly to ensure this baby was healthy and to discover the gender. I felt a wave of relief and excitement as the technician revealed that we would indeed have another daughter coming to our family this November. </div>
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The anticipation of waiting 20 weeks to know my child's gender has been
excruciating. Thankfully the other three littles have been keeping me
occupied. I'm not sure whether Paul and I will choose to add any more
children to our family after baby #4 so I was especially hopefully to
have another girl. From the beginning of this pregnancy I had the
feeling that this little one was a girl. Vince was the only one who
guessed it would be a boy this time. He was open to the idea of a sister
though, stating, "If we have a sister we will have 3 boys and 3 girls,"
and that just made sense in his head.</div>
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Kate has been referring to my growing bump as "Baby Sister" ever since she found out I was pregnant. I continually reminded her that it could be a baby brother... but she remained confident that it was a girl. </div>
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Drew, of course, has no idea what's going on. </div>
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I cannot wait to swaddle, rock, and love on this baby girl. She is going to be adored by many. </div>
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-69494206432173349792018-05-06T11:09:00.000-06:002018-06-26T11:27:07.293-06:00Vince's Golden Birthday (#6)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Golden Birthday to my Golden Boy!</div>
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Vince is SIX years old! He has been so excited for this birthday because he turned six on May 6th. We celebrated with all things golden. Golden vanilla ice cream, gold candles, decor, wrapping paper, and treats. His favorite gift was the transformer Megatron. He also loves his razor scooter, costumes, legos, and books. To make it extra special, Paul and I created a scavenger hunt for Vince to find each of his toys. It was amusing to watch the wheels in his head turning until he figured out the hiding locations. </div>
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How would I describe my Golden Boy? He is playful, social, a gifted reader, stubborn, loving, and ...did I already say playful? He lives to play with friends, ride bikes, and make believe. He hates to play alone and will beg for friends or family to play with him. He took a reading test in Kindergarten which placed his average reading level at that of a 2nd grader in their 6 month of school. He can read above that level but his comprehension begins to decrease after that point. We enjoy reading Secrets of Droon and the Magic Tree House together. Although he has difficulty keeping his hands to himself, Vincent is a wonderful big brother. He always keeps an eye out for Drew and he often helps Kate as she learns to read. We love our Vincey Boy! </div>
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-87273960534759034632018-05-04T14:24:00.000-06:002018-06-24T14:25:10.502-06:00Bebe #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Fourth is With Us</div>
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-36004971062822466832018-01-28T19:51:00.000-07:002018-01-28T19:51:44.372-07:0013 monthsFinally going down the stairs!<br />
<br />
5 teeth (3 up, 2 down)<br />
Says:<br />
Dog (Dagh)<br />
Dada<br />
Mama<br />
Ball (bah)<br />
Outside (ow-sigh)<br />
Night- Night! (nigh-nigh)<br />
Light (height)<br />
Banana (uh na na)<br />
<br />
What does a ____ say?<br />
<br />
Lion: hahhhhh<br />
Cow: Boo<br />
Dog: huh huh<br />
<br />
Loves to wrestle with daddy by flopping onto him and crawling all over him.<br />
Never stops walking<br />
Chases the ball around everywhere<br />
Totally addicted to Mom. Cries when she's gone.<br />
Knows where he's not supposed to be and tries to get there (laundry room, fridge, behind the couch)<br />
Where's Andrew? (Smacks chest)<br />
Still a terrible teether. DRAMA KING <br />
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Body parts you know:<br />
Nose, mouth, tongue, hand, head, foot<br />
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I opened up the 12-18 month clothes and found one of Daddy's childhood outfits. You looked simply darling! Love you, Sweet beebee! <br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-33813032288213665832018-01-28T19:37:00.002-07:002018-01-28T19:38:15.337-07:00Andrew: 1 year!!Your first year has flown by faster than your older siblings. I blinked and now here you are starting to toddle.<br />
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At the beginning of your 12th month you took a few quick, unsure steps. You naturally want to sit or crawl so it was tough convincing you to move your little legs. At end end of the month you had gained enough confidence to let go of chairs, couches, etc. and take a few steps before plopping onto your cute little bum.<br />
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We discovered that you LOVE slides. You're still a little unsure about swings.. but slides? Oh man, you laugh and immediately try to climb back up to slide again.<br />
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We went to the beach and it seems like you're slowly catching onto the fact that not everything should go in your mouth. When you tried to eat a rock I told you no. You looked at me than back to the rock.. and then you started shaking your head no. You looked at me again, the back to the rock, then ever so slowly you began to raise it to your mouth. Hahaha! It was darling to see this internal dilemma unfold. You shaking your head no but wanting so desperately to put it in your mouth. Otherwise, you loved kicking around in the sand and squeezing it in your fingers. You especially like trying to grab it when I let it pour from above you.<br />
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You're learning how to wrestle Dad. You crawl on top of him and bury your head into his chest. Your face is always full of joy and wonder. We love getting down on the ground to play with you because it instantly makes you happy.<br />
<br />
You puked after having eggs again. We're going to take a bit of a break before trying them again.<br />
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Andrew, you're a thrill seeker! When I hold you chest to chest, you purposefully lean your head back until you go upside down. You laugh and laugh and then throw you head back again! It's hilarious!<br />
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You're currently in love with lights. When we turn on the light you reach your hands up and say tuh, tuh (light). You try turning pages of books, get super wiggling during church, you bang your hands on any surface you can find (windows, doors, table tops, the seat of the chair), you crawl up the stairs in a jiffy, you walk holding on to one hand, and you can pound half a PB&J in no time.<br />
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Dad and I love watching you on the baby monitor. You plant your head and walk forward until you practically do a somersault! Once you're really tired you cram your head into the corner and snuggle up before you snooze off. You perpetually toss out your pacis but then holler because you can't sleep without them.<br />
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You still kick your legs like a wild child. Whether it's a diaper change, the bathtub, or when I'm trying to put your shoes on. It's really quite dangerous for me and Dad!<br />
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Your hair is getting long and when it gets disheveled we call you Raggedy Andy. It got to the point where we decided you needed you first real hair cut. Daddy did an amazing job and you look SO big now. Stop growing up, Angel Boy!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-78006463095989050632018-01-28T17:53:00.005-07:002018-01-28T18:01:05.906-07:00Andrew: 11 monthsSince you no longer spit up we've let you take a stab at crawling up the stairs. Things were a bit rocky at first but once it clicked you started giggling and breathing excitedly as you scurried upward.<br />
<br />
You cruise along furniture like it's your day job. You gracefully lower yourself from standing nowdays. No more plopping down without control. Your ability to get down to the ground easily makes me wonder whether you'll feel the need to start walking anytime soon. You have crawled longer than your older siblings and are by far the fastest of the bunch.<br />
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Slowly you are learning to fend for yourself. When Kate steals from you it makes you fuss. And you totally start crying when Vince tries to lug you around the house. You aren't saying all the sounds like you used to. You never say buh buh buh anymore. And mommmm is rare... usually just when we're being a little too slow at dinner time. You babble dah dah dah dah at everything. It's cute to hear you add syllables though. When you see a banana you purposefully say dah, dah dah to mimic me saying BUH nana.<br />
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Still only 2 teeth. Your top two teeth are visible through your gums but they're being stubborn and haven't broken through the skin yet. I wish they would so you could stop fussing!<br />
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You're getting a bit more difficult at church. You usually refuse to nap in arms unless you're truly exhausted. On the days you won't nap at church you just take one giant nap afterward. I haven't been able to get to you nap like that during the week, but man I cannot wait for you to take one huge nap everyday!<br />
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You got sick and threw up for the first time. We wonder if you're allergic to eggs because that's primarily what you puked. It was sad and you took three baths in one night.<br />
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Love you so much, Little Dude!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-51807846404354993752018-01-27T18:03:00.000-07:002018-01-28T18:03:26.732-07:00Andrew: 10 months You are crawling like a maniac! Cruising along furniture and occasionally letting go. Instead of plopping down to the ground you slowly squat down and place yourself on the ground. As you crawl you've begun a slight bear crawl to get your feet on the ground. With two big siblings you've got your work cut out for you! They constantly pull at your arms, shove you, and test your balance. It's clear you're noticing the pattern because your squawks of dismay sound faster than ever before. Occasionally you allow Vince to carry you around, but you, Mr. Andrew, are an independent little boy.<br />
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When you see the bathroom/laundry door open you BOOK it and try to explore the unchartered territory. As you crawl toward those rooms I can see a look of pure excitement spread across your face. The sweet face is accompanied by an excited panting as you push yourself a fast as you can muster.<br />
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We're letting you explore more food and it's obvious that you're loving it. PB&J, pasta salad, spaghetti, pancakes... oh how fun it is to see you slurp up a mango smoothie through a straw with hands clenched tightly on the cup.<br />
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I can't get enough of your social personality. During scripture study and prayer you laugh hysterically at Kate and Vince. It doesn't make for a reverent evening... but certainly a joyous one.<br />
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Dad is teaching you about your tongue. You stick it out and bunch it up to make the silliest of faces. Daddy can't get enough of smacking his lips at you either. You look at each other and talk back in forth through lip smacking.<br />
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My favorite trick you've learned is giving hugs. You lean your little head in and rest it on my chest. It only lasts but a few moments, but it is as sweet as can be.<br />
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When I thought about having a third child I was beyond scared of how hard it would be. You have put that fear to rest, Andrew. Instead of making life harder you have been a beacon of light. You are the peacemaker in our family. Everyone comes together to love you and the worries and troubles of the day fade away. You make our home a better place. I am so thankful you chose to come to our family.<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-65915954063821545012018-01-21T21:53:00.002-07:002018-01-21T21:53:22.479-07:00Andrew: 9 MonthsYou cut your two bottom teeth this month. Andrew, you are the most ridiculous teether I have ever met. A few days before your first tooth cut through you woke up screaming. You wouldn't nurse, take a bottle, sit still, or calm down. You were pulling at your ears, spinning in circles, and you would randomly stop crying and go completely limp on my shoulder. I had a major freak out because of your erratic behavior. My mind was racing as I contemplated brain tumors, double ear infections, and the possibility of you not waking up after going limp. I raced to the doctor and Chelsea Boet saw us within seconds. She agreed that your behavior was atypical. Everything looked normal so we gave you motrin and monitored you as you finally drifted off to sleep in my arms. After your nap you woke up as happy as a clam. The verdict? You are a drama king when it comes to cutting teeth!<br />
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You pulled yourself up for the first time the day before you turned 9 months old. Why are you growing so fast?<br />
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Nursing seems to be coming to a close. You don't seem satisfied after nursing and I don't want to compromise your growth by underfeeding you. I've been dreaming of having freedom from our multiple nursing sessions, but now that it's actually here I feel I will miss that special time with you.<br />
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You learned that you can reach up and play the piano. Vince loves to jam with you.<br />
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Water is your favorite! We went to Millennium Beach and you had a blast splashing and kicking in the water. You even threw your body forward to get your face in the water a few times. It didn't take too long for you to get the shivers. I enjoyed wrapping you up and cuddling you in a towel just like I did with Vincent when he was a tyke.<br />
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In the morning you wake up goofy and giggly.<br />
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Thank you for all of the smiles, Drewbie Doobie!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-31114255407931730652018-01-21T21:03:00.006-07:002018-01-21T21:22:20.707-07:00Andrew: 8 months oldYou started shaking your head "no" when you're done eating or nursing. And then you laugh about it.<br />
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You started barrel rolling around 6 months but now you do it quickly and actually get to where you want to go. Usually, you roll over to the curtains and play underneath them. You can sit but we don't give you much practice since we're frequently chasing after your big siblings.<br />
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We're trying to teach you to wave "bye bye" and so far your just smack your arm around and hit your holder's chest.<br />
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Vince and Kate continue to adore you. Along with that adoration they are getting increasingly rough with you. Vince rolls you up and over onto his legs and Kate pushes you off your tummy so she can tickle you.<br />
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Recently, you have taken a liking to books. You smack the pages, try to chew on them, and enjoy moving the pages around.<br />
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Nicknames: Drew, Crazy Legs, Bebe, Drewbie<br />
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Dad and I always look at each other and say, "I love this baby!" You bring us so much joy with your smiles, coos, and innocence.<br />
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Nap time is either really good, or really bad. Occasionally you take 2+ hour naps!! But then you have days where you roll around and cry after taking the worst 30 minute nap. Your nighttime sleep is improving too. Dad used to go in throughout the night to find your paci but you keep getting better and putting it in yourself.<br />
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At 6 months you could grab your paci and occasionally get it in your mouth, at 7 months it your were more successful but still slow. Now at 8 months you find and pop that paci right in your mouth. It's when you choose to play with it by tapping it on the crib slats that we get into trouble.<br />
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You are our first belly sleeper (That we know of)! We love watching you on the baby monitor with your face smashed into the mattress. Andrew, you are adorable!<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-23816536494359777322018-01-21T20:40:00.004-07:002018-01-21T20:42:44.037-07:00Andrew: 7 monthsOn March 29 you rolled from you back to your tummy! It took you 6.5 months to do it, but the next day you started doing consecutive rolls all the way across the floor to get to your toys. Way to work it, Buddy!<br />
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You are king of fake coughs.<br />
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When I catch your eye from across the room you give me the biggest gummy grin.<br />
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You are really trying to put things in your mouth now days. Not just sucking on your fingers but putting every toy you can snatch right into that cute gob of yours.<br />
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After you eat solids we put you in the swing to reduce colored spit up all over the carpet.<br />
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When we change your diaper you stretch your legs out straight and flex your feet. Then you stick your feet in your mouth so we can't finish.<br />
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We just started giving you squeeze pouch food when we're out and about. It's super convenient but you're pretty messy at keeping it in your mouth.<br />
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I'm slowly allowing Vince to play with you more. Generally I keep you pretty safe. But as you get a bit more sturdy and mobile I realize I can't always protect you. Vince's favorite thing is laying on the ground next to you and snuggling you under a blanket. He pushes you onto your back when you try to roll. So far you don't seem to mind. In fact, you love the added attention from your big brother.<br />
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When we read books your scratch, grab, and slap the pages like a crazy. When you get a good hold of the book you inevitably try to eat it.<br />
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We love you more and more each day, Sweet Babes.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-34523756445589492082018-01-21T20:17:00.000-07:002018-01-21T20:18:53.798-07:00Andrew: 6 months oldHalf a year. Wow. Each time one of my babes hits six months it blows my mind and I cannot believe it. Half a year means you're basically one and that is not okay!<br />
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At the start of this month you began rolling onto your side.<br />
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I love watching you as you figure out how your hands work. It's like they're going crazy opening and closing as you feel new textures and manipulate your toys. The flip side of this is how you yank your paci out during nap time but haven't figured out how to get it back in your mouth. Usually we keep your hands busy with Kanga so you leave your paci alone.<br />
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Your favorite person is you. Like, seriously. Some of your biggest smiles are elicited when you find your reflection in the mirror. It's obvious that you, just like the rest of us, recognize how cute you are!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-35645664356181781742017-02-24T12:01:00.001-07:002017-02-24T12:19:43.682-07:00Andrew: 5 months old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Um, I'm not sure how you manage it but somehow you got even cuter this month. Did you know that Dad is totally wrapped around your little finger? He adores you. He tells me how he forgets how cute you are and falls in love all over again each time he comes home from work. Daddy changes all of your diapers when he's home and he's even been known to feed you nasty green beans so I don't have to! </div>
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Our biggest focus this month was your weight. The doctor recommended a 5 month weight check to ensure you don't continue to drop on the growth charts. I spent a lot of time pumping, taking fenurgreek, and adding solids to your diet. Three weeks into our increased efforts you had only gained 6 oz! I had a mini freakout. After consulting with your Aunt Stephanie and scouring the internet I decided the best thing for you was to add a nightly bottle of formula. In one week you gained another 5 oz which put you at 13 lbs 6 oz. </div>
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Thankfully, you are healthy and happy. I love your enormous smiles and the way you kick your legs with excitement. You still don't love tummy time but you're improving. Sometimes your arm gets stuck and you can't roll which makes you incredibly grumpy. You're SO close to hitting my favorite stage-- legs straight up in the air! I've noticed you beginning to lift your legs as high as they go and then they drop back down. Pretty soon those bad boys will stick right up the moment I lay you down. I can hardly wait! </div>
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You despise sitting in the bumbo unless someone is feeding you. If we take even the shortest of breaks you begin to fuss and try to buck out of the chair. Alternately, you quite enjoy sitting up when we balance you between our legs. You try to reach and grab for toys which makes you topple over. You only last a few seconds trying to sit unsupported. </div>
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Feeding you solids has gone well. You eat baby oatmeal mixed with milk every afternoon. Each evening we give you a fruit or veggie to try. Since we wait a few days between new foods you've only tried a few: peas, avocado, sweet potatoes, banana, carrot, apples, and your least favorite of all... green beans! Adding solids has helped you nap better. You began to wake up happy and you finally dropped that 4th nap for good this month (Your current schedule is listed beneath the pictures)! And I'm proud to say that you're our best in-arms sleeper. You don't make it easy on us because you like it quiet when we hold you, but you actually take decent naps at church. We probably seem antisocial because when we hold you we try our best to avoid eye contact and conversations. The things we do for you, Andrew! </div>
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We've started to lay you on a blanket because you've mastered grabbing toys on your play mat. Having no toys overhead has encouraged you to look around and reach across mid-line to grab toys. It's cute to watch you crane your neck up and over as far as you can. It doesn't seem like you'll roll soon, but you're making baby steps (haha) toward getting there. </div>
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By the end of the month you became a distracted nurser. You can tell where sounds are coming from now! You're constantly turning your head to find Vince & Kate because you can hear them when you should be eating. I can't even watch a nightly show when I nurse you because you try to watch the TV too. Good thing flirting with you is way more fun than watching When Calls the Heart or This Is Us. </div>
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Your typical schedule is as follows:<br />
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8 :00: Wake up, nurse, kick around on the play mat<br />
9:30: Nap <br />
11:30: Wake around 11 but play happily in bed til I get you to nurse at 11:30. Play on blanket, read books.<br />
1:00: Nap-- This is your worst nap. I frequently have to give you a paci x3 around 2:00. <br />
3:00: Nurse, baby oatmeal mixed w/milk, play outside, go for walk, chill in swing.<br />
4:30/5:00: Nap -- we want you to sleep at 4:30 but your wake time seems to be increasing so you take a while to fall asleep<br />
6:00: Nurse, veggie/fruit mixed w/cereal. Family time, reading, bath, snuggles. <br />
7:30: Nurse again, supplement with 2-4 oz bottle of formula (started at 4 mo 3 wks)<br />
7:45/8:00: Bedtime!<br />
11:00: Dream feed<br />
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When you sleep you love to have your kangaroo to nuzzle. You're addicted to pacifiers for sleep and we definitely baby you compared to your older siblings when it comes to Baby Wise/CIO. Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-43282811490035243602017-01-15T17:21:00.000-07:002017-02-03T11:26:59.677-07:004 Months OldAndrew William, you are just the cutest little thing. Whenever I catch your eye you give me the biggest, gummy grins. Your hands are constantly finding their way to your mouth so those smiles only last a short while before you start sucking on your fingers.<br />
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I cannot brag enough about how well you sleep at night. You go to bed around 8, dream feed at 11 and then sleep til 8 am. If you happen to wake in the middle of the night you put yourself back to sleep. I couldn't be prouder! But let's have a chat about your naps... what's going on!? You used to sleep 1.5 to 2 hours during nap time. Now days you're king of the 45 minute nap club. Instead of 3 naps you frequently need 4 to make up for the short naps. Not cool, Little Guy. If I had to guess why you've become a short napper I'd point to a growth spurt or the fact that we stopped swaddling you. At least you fall asleep without any help. For now we need to keep working on extending those naps.<br />
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You really are my little guy. At 4 months old you weigh a whopping 12 lbs 11 oz and are just shy of 2 feet tall (1' 11.5" to be precise). That has you in the 4th percentile for weight and 2nd percentile for height! That almost has me hoping that your crap naps are because you're cluster feeding and preparing to grow.<br />
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You spend most of your time grabbing toys dangling from the play mat or chilling in my left arm. Your neck is strong enough that we even let Vince pick you up for a few brief moments. Whenever you cry, which is rare, your siblings come running to make you happy with a song or a pacifier. <br />
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I feel so happy when I see you. When I scoop you up I have to remind myself not to squeeze too hard. It stresses me out when you don't nap but I secretly love cuddling you to sleep. Your squawking cracks me up and your cooing melts my heart. You bring so much joy to our family.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-54441132699762955332017-01-05T09:01:00.000-07:002017-01-05T09:03:11.749-07:00Angels Among UsWhen I straighten my hair I often recall a special, touching moment from my Sophomore year of college. It was the end of a long day of studying for my nursing classes and working at the library. I showered and was preparing to straighten my hair when I became so overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, and exhaustion that I began to cry. At the time, I was waiting for a missionary serving in the SLC mission. That particular weekend was General Conference and there was a chance that I would see him. I wanted to see him so desperately and the weight of life's demands plus the emotions that came with the potential of seeing him was too much.<br />
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While crying in a heap in front of the mirror, my dear friend Ashley came over. She didn't ask what she should do. Instead, she picked up my straightener and silently began doing my hair for me. Slowly, I was able to calm down and feel of her peace and goodness.<br />
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The next day came and I didn't see my missionary. I was sad and that's all I focused on at the time. As I look back on the experience the sadness has faded and the sacred nature of Ashley's actions are what remains. She was my angel that day. An action as simple as straightening my hair was exactly what I needed in that moment of emotional chaos. She didn't hesitate or shrug off her thought to help me. She came and filled up my cup. <br />
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To her it might seem like nothing, but to me it was everything. Never think your act of service is too small, too silly, or insignificant. As you act on promptings to help those in need you are making a greater impact than you realize. <br />
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Read the rest of the talk <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng" target="_blank">here.</a>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-57790871399548265292016-12-28T22:00:00.000-07:002017-01-03T12:44:33.308-07:00Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are a few foods that I claim not to like... even though I've never had them. Brussels sprouts has been at the top of that list for many years. I've heard Paul talk highly about them (and even recall him eating them for a snack when we visited his parents for Christmas). One thing I adore about my husband is how he eats whatever I make-- even if he doesn't like some of the ingredients i.e. tomatoes and green beans. Since he's always eating what I want, I decided to go out on a limb and try fixing up some of these weird tiny cabbages on his behalf. To ensure the whole meal wasn't a bust, I picked a recipe with a staple that I'm mildly addicted to: sweet potatoes. The recipe was meant to be served as a side but I didn't want leftovers so we ate it as the main dish.</div>
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The verdict: Simple to make and actually tasty! I was prepared to gag throughout dinner but I truly liked it. I will say, it's best hot. The more it cooled the more I began to think"... maybe this is a little weird." Even Vince said, "Hey, I like this, Mom!" </div>
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We won't eat this all the time, but when I'm feeling wild I'll throw it into the meal rotation for sure. </div>
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<div class="b-b h-1 strong" id="zlrecipe-title" itemprop="name">
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts</div>
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<div class="fl-l width-50">
<div id="zlrecipe-yield">
Yield: <span itemprop="recipeYield">Serves 6-8</span></div>
<div id="zlrecipe-nutrition" itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/NutritionInformation">
<div id="zlrecipe-serving-size">
<span itemprop="servingSize">Recipe by The Food Charlatan</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="zlclear">
</div>
</div>
<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-ingredients">
Ingredients</div>
<ul id="zlrecipe-ingredients-list">
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-0" itemprop="ingredients">1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-1" itemprop="ingredients">1 large sweet potato (1 pound)
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-2" itemprop="ingredients">2 cloves garlic, smashed (I used 2 cloves minced garlic)</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-3" itemprop="ingredients">1/3 cup olive oil
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-4" itemprop="ingredients">1 teaspoon cumin
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-5" itemprop="ingredients">1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-6" itemprop="ingredients">1 teaspoon salt
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-7" itemprop="ingredients">pepper to taste
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-8" itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-9" itemprop="ingredients">fresh thyme, to garnish
</li>
</ul>
<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-instructions">
Instructions</div>
<ol class="instructions" id="zlrecipe-instructions-list">
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-0" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-1" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Trim
your Brussels by cutting off the little brown end. If there are any
yellow leaves, pull them off. Cut any large ones in half. Add to a large
bowl.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-2" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Peel your sweet potato and chop into 1-2 inch pieces. Add to the large bowl.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-3" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Smash 2 cloves of garlic and add it to the bowl.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-4" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Pour 1/3 cup olive oil over the vegetables.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-5" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Add cumin, garlic salt, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir to coat.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-6" itemprop="recipeInstructions">(Line a large sheet pan with foil if you want super easy cleanup)
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-7" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Drizzle
a little olive oil onto the sheet pan and rub it all over the pan (or
foil) with your hand. Or you could spray it really well with nonstick
spray.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-8" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Pour the veggies onto the pan.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-9" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Roast at 400 for about 40-45 minutes. The veggies are done when they are brown and a fork slides into them easily.
</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-10" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Place
the veggies in a serving bowl and toss with 1-2 tablespoons red wine
vinegar to taste. Garnish with fresh thyme if you want. Eat hot!
</li>
</ol>
<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-notes">
Notes</div>
<div id="zlrecipe-notes-list">
<div class="notes">
The garlic is there to add flavor, not necessarily to be eaten, although I do think it's quite tasty. </div>
<div class="notes">
If
you want to reheat these, take them out of the oven and let cool. (Skip
adding the red wine vinegar.) Store in a tupperware in the fridge for
up to 2 days. When you are ready to eat, spread the veggies on a greased
pan and roast at 400 for about 5-10 minutes until you can hear them
sizzling and they are hot. Remove from the oven, add a little red wine
vinegar, and serve! </div>
</div>
<a href="http://thefoodcharlatan.stfi.re/2015/11/23/roasted-sweet-potatoes-and-brussels-sprouts-recipe/" id="zl-printed-permalink" title="Permalink to Recipe">http://thefoodcharlatan.stfi.re/2015/11/23/roasted-sweet-potatoes-and-brussels-sprouts-recipe/</a><br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-86370829548136772912016-12-25T21:30:00.000-07:002017-01-05T13:02:42.409-07:00Christmas Break 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Following our grand Thanksgiving vacation I had a hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit. I forbade myself to make cookies until just before Christmas Day, often forgot to turn on the holiday tunes, was stressed about Andrew's sleeping schedule, etc. It wasn't until Christmas Break started that I really got into my holiday groove. No more waking up to hurry Vince off to school, holiday leave so Paul could be home, visits from friends & family, cookies, fudge, egg nog, and Christmas movies every night. Now THAT is what I was waiting for!</div>
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Christmas Puzzling with Heather. Andrew did most of it ;)</div>
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Vince got a new toy at his school Christmas party. Kate promptly tried to grab it from him and it wound up in her hair. Almost had to resort to giving her bangs. </div>
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Took a leaf from Rachael's book and celebrated the Winter Solstice with a candlelit dinner.</div>
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Selfie Stick to the rescue!</div>
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On December 23 we went to the ballpark and drove around looking at all of the light displays. Followed by a visit to Santa Clause! They wouldn't let us snag a picture without paying so we'll just use our memory to recall how cute Kate was sitting on his big lap. At first she wouldn't make eye contact, then it was shifty eyes, followed by sweet smiles and excitement. She asked for a doll. Vince asked for video game. He was nervous to sit on Santa's lap but Kate already being there gave him the courage to overcome stranger danger. They each were gifted candy canes as they hopped off his lap and then we enjoyed hot cocoa together (Vince insisted that it was Cocoa, not Hot Chocolate).<br />
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Holiday baking really gives me the Christmas feels. I can't let this season go by without making my mom's 7 layer cookies and my Grandma Griffioen's Fudge. A new family favorite is Rachael's M&M cookie recipe. We made all of these goodies in record time and proceeded to give them all away (insert hangry sobbing here). The most memorable part of goodie making was seeing Vince and Kate eat the fudge batter from the bowl. Whenever my dad made fudge we would beg to lick the beaters and the bowl. I loved seeing my kiddos make memories similar to mine.</div>
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Christmas Eve is where it gets really awesome. Am I right? Snow on the ground, no responsibilities, family gathered together, good food, our Fiesta (thanks to Christie's delicious tamales!), new jammies, cuddles by the tree, watching A Christmas Carol (only the George C Scott version will do), and most importantly-- reflecting on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. <br />
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The magic is so real here. But the sleep is even more real! Haha! We had to wake up these sleepy heads at 8 am so we could make it to church on time. Since we didn't have enough time for presents, we let the kids open their stockings. After our lovely church service we returned home to find Nana and Grandpa had already arrived! We got settled and then opened presents. The best reaction of the day was Vincent when he opened his Optimus Prime Toy, "THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED!" Boo yeah! Kate showed an obvious preference to the marbles we got her. Christmas was definitely a success!</div>
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After gifts my mom whipped up the most satisfying Christmas Dinner. I didn't have to lift a finger (which may have been the best gift of all). The rest of the day was perfectly lazy. We watched It's a Wonderful Life, did a puzzle, skyped with Grandma and Grandpa Brallier, played games, ate the rest of the tamales, watched Andrew "open" his gifts, and played with new toys. What fun it has been having them here for Christmas Day 2 years in a row. </div>
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It was a Merry Christmas indeed!<br />
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-40569507633384204292016-10-31T21:30:00.000-06:002017-01-05T09:12:54.667-07:00Halloween 2016I've never been good at coordinating costumes. I pretty much let them choose whatever they want and Kate has gone to the extreme with changing up costumes (adding batman ears to Minnie Mouse and adding a ninja turtle mask to her lion costume). I think it's fun to let them pick and I love how enthusiastic they are about dressing up.<br />
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This year we had quite a few Halloween festivities: Trunk or treat at the church, a school party with a parade, a playgroup Halloween party, and the real deal on Oct 31. Paul headed up pumpkin carving too. The kids picked the faces and then bailed while he did all the work. Haha! But they couldn't get enough of painting their mini pumpkins. I love that there are so many kid friendly crafts for this time of year. <br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-45137001019237418322016-09-22T19:03:00.000-06:002016-09-22T19:03:02.937-06:00Week one with my Newest Angel.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Little Andrew, you've been here a whole week now. You scared me at first. Since you were born with meconium in your amniotic fluid they suctioned your mouth and nose forcefully. Afterward you were in a bit of shock and didn't want anything in your mouth. Nursing started off a bit rough but by the end of day seven you're proving to me that even at a young age you can overcome obstacles. On day four you weighed 6 lb 15 oz and today you weigh 7 lb 2 oz. We're still working on getting your weight back up but I know you'll rally so I'm not too concerned.</div>
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You are the most darling little boy. I cannot get enough of your sweet cuddles. You're still new enough that you naturally curl up into a little ball when you rest on my chest. Oh and your little baby skin rolls kill me! When you arch your back there are these tiny little rolls all over. And you're still covered in a little bit of baby hair on your arms and shoulders. I love it! It's always exciting when you open your eyes but it generally doesn't last very long. You are one tired little dude. No worries, I know you're working hard on growing so you can be like your big brother. </div>
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When you cry you're not shy about it. You skipped the newborn cry phase and went straight to full out baby crying. On day three I was so discouraged by all of your crying. You hardly slept a wink that night. This wouldn't have been such an issue except for the fact that you cried the entire time. There was no content wakefulness, just a fussy, sad boy. I thought for sure that my luck had run out and that I was finally given a colicky baby. But the last three nights you have been a champion sleeper and have hardly cried at all. I am so thankful that we just had one rough night this week!</div>
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You love your Nana. You fall right to sleep when she holds you. She discovered that you love sleeping on your side and she doesn't even need a paci to get you to pass out. You two hang out until midnight watching documentaries while dad and I try to catch a few zzzzz's before we take our "shifts". </div>
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Today you had the biggest open mouth smiles while dreaming. I wonder who and what you're dreaming about. Milk fountains and clean diapers, perhaps? Nah, I'm sure you're reminiscing about all of your angel friends.</div>
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I love the way Daddy adores you. When he changes your diaper (which is almost every dirty diaper) he says "Hi, Andrew" in the sweetest, most smitten voice. It's so obvious that he fell in love with you right from the start. How could he not, though? You're so perfect. </div>
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Vincent and Kate can't get enough of you either. Kate constantly says, "Hi baby!" to you and frequently requests to hold you. Both of your siblings shower you with kisses and get very excited when you're awake. You look a lot like Vince did as a baby but you have Kate's coloring as a baby. With time we'll see if you look totally different or become more like one of your siblings. For now though you're doing a great job at staying happy (and asleep) while they hold, rock, grab, and love on you. Way to rock your job as a third child!</div>
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I love you so much, Andrew. In one short week you've made my heart grow three sizes. I cannot imagine life without you. How did I ever think life was normal before you came? You're already one of us and it makes me so happy to know that you're mine forever. I feel like I'm never going to sleep again but you are so totally worth it. Keep being the sweetest thing on Earth, okay?</div>
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301522388147820128.post-1525102618618436632016-09-15T19:11:00.000-06:002017-02-03T12:12:08.133-07:00Andrew William HannibalVincent Paul- 39 w 0 d, water broke<br />
Kathryn Olivia- 39 w 4 d, induced to avoid 4th of July craziness<br />
Andrew William- 40 w 4 d, induced... but only after begging and promising my body could totally handle induction before 41 weeks<br />
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In Utah, they are just ready to pop your baby out once you hit 39 weeks. My experience in Michigan was very different. Whenever I mentioned setting up an induction at 39 weeks my OB would deflect and talk about the importance of not letting women go longer than 42 weeks. Ahhhh! With a bit of luck and a lot of asking, I secured an induction at 40.5 weeks. This was my longest pregnancy by a week, but it felt like an eternity! Whether it was the hot Summer or the exhaustion from chasing two other kids I was ready to have the baby.<br />
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With Kate I went in the morning of my scheduled induction. They cranked up the pitocin, totally supported my choice to get an epidural, wouldn't let me eat or drink anything, immediately bathed and cleaned her following brief skin-to-skin, and let me stay in the birthing suite until I got over the shakes and nausea. Keep that in mind when you see how different my experience was in Michigan.<br />
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With Andrew I went in the night before around 9 pm for cervical dilation. It took a long time to track down the needed people and we didn't even start the first round until midnight! The bed was hard and I did not sleep well. Thankfully, I was given the clear to get myself up to pee without help (the IV was cruel to my smashed bladder). We got very little sleep and the ripening agent did little to progress my dilation. Then I was told we had to wait for my OB to talk to me before I got the clear to start pitocin.<br />
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I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. The clock was ticking and nothing was happening. I had been prepping the kids and told them they would meet Andrew on the 15th. With the slow start I was concerned that he wouldn't be delivered early enough for them to visit before bedtime (these were my worries at 8 in the morning! geeze!).<br />
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We got the green light and started the pitocin... at the slowest rate ever! I didn't realize there were 2 methods for using pitocin. In Utah they used a high dose to really get things going and would turn it up every 30 minutes. In Michigan, they started with hardly anything and took decades to increase the dose. I wasn't aware that a low dose could be just as effective so I became increasingly anxious about the timeline for the day.<br />
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My nurse was a hoot. She was a good mix of quirky and nice. She didn't hide the fact that she was more into natural births and whenever I brought up an epidural she would give me different options: bouncing on a ball, walking around the room, leaning on top of a ball (awkward!), applying pressure to my back, etc. When she went on her lunch break Paul spoke up and said now was the time to get an epidural before she could "push me" into another method of coping/relief. I cannot tell you have thankful I am that Paul advocated for me. Often the doulas and support are given the spotlight for natural births, but in this case he saw that what I needed was pain relief and rest, not another go on the ball. The epidural was a breeze and I was instantly much happier.<br />
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Holy cow, I almost forgot to mention that they let me drink sprite and eat jell-o! During my first two labors I was so weak by the end and I attributed it to being NPO the entire time. I took it easy and only had sips of pop and one jell-o, but it made all the difference! Another difference was not having a foley catheter once receiving my epidural. I thought that was totally weird and was worried that my bladder might explode or something but (spoiler alert) I was just fine.<br />
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I'd been there since the night before and I was almost dilated to 5 cm. With the epidural going my doc stopped in and broke my water to speed things along. You guys, I am glad I got my epidural first because within minutes of breaking my water, I felt so much pressure! I hesitantly asked my nurse if something was going on because I already felt like I needed to push. I felt so stupid because just minutes before I was hardly dilated.<br />
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Lo and behold, I was a 10 and the baby was coming! It was like less than 30 minutes that I went from a 5 to a 10! All of the sudden things got real and I could hardly believe that after all of the waiting, it was time. My nurse did a practice push with me and instantly told me to stop because the baby was almost there. She asked if I wanted a mirror. That was something I didn't want to see so I declined. Remember how I told you she was quirky? She rolled the mirror over and said, "I'll leave it here just in case you change your mind and want to look." Haha! That lady just cracks me up. She was so certain she knew what would give me the best experience and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Had it been something like totally denying me an epidural I'd be ticked, but since it was just odd things it provided a good laugh.<br />
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The room filled and it was time to meet my sweet baby. Since there was meconium in my amniotic fluid we had extra staff on hand prepared to take care of any potential respiratory issues when the baby was delivered. The delivery went incredibly fast and before I knew it Andrew was laying on my chest and all I could do was say, "I love him. I already love him. I love him so much." With his birth brought all of the precious memories of my two previous babies. I could already feel how much I was going to grow to love him over the years.<br />
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Andrew William Hannibal was born at 4:38 pm on September 15, 2016 weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and "measuring" 19 inches long (insert quirky nurse while measuring the baby, "what!? He can't only be 18 inches... I'm going to say he's 19 inches")<br />
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I was expecting Andrew to receive a bath but in Michigan they don't give the baby a real bath because it increases the chance of taking home "extra" bacteria from the hospital. So he was gently wiped down with a towel, Paul put on Andrew's first diaper, then he was wrapped up and returned to me. I was given time to nurse him and bond through skin-to-skin while the doc taught some youngin' how to sew me up. <br />
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The kids were able to make it in time to visit but the circumstances were less than ideal. My nurse didn't have anyone coming to replace her so I felt rushed to make it up to my recovery room. Meanwhile, my post delivery nausea was in full force and because of that wonderful jell-o and sprite, there was actually something to hurl this time around. So with my mom and kids in the room, I sat there puking while trying to show them how excited they should be about the new baby.<br />
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They moved me upstairs and I let my family stay for a little longer before my head hurt so bad and my stomach was churning so violently that I asked them to let me rest. With the lights off and the baby by my side I began to recoop and recover from the terrible awfulness I feel after every delivery.<br />
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I loved the different emphasis they had on breastfeeding. It wasn't about how long you nursed the baby, it was about how many times they would suck and swallow. This made me feel more relaxed about the process. I didn't have to stare at the clock and freak out because the baby fell asleep again. There were no repeated pokes to check his blood sugar and no pressure to supplement with formula. It was so nice! But do you remember how there was meconium in my amniotic fluid? To ensure he didn't get any stuck in his lungs they suctioned him vigorously after he was born. This created an aversion to anything in his mouth afterward and he didn't really want to nurse because of it. I was blessed with the best lactation consultant who gave me the confidence I needed in such an emotional time. It took some practice but within a few days we worked through it and overcame the trauma from all of the suctioning he went through.<br />
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Since this wasn't my first time at the rodeo and everything went relatively well during my delivery, I was itching to leave the hospital. Andrew cried the entire drive but stopped the moment we got him out of the car seat. The kids were thrilled to have him home and constantly wanted to hold him. My Dad even surprised us with a visit (on his birthday, no less) to see Andrew and spend time with us. It meant a lot to me that he would travel on his birthday and be away from his own home so he could be with us at such a special time. I also can't imagine how rough the transition would have been without my mom there to help us survive. Thank goodness for family!<br />
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<br />
Here's the play by play that Paul recorded for me:<br />
<br />
2100: Arrive and register at the hospital, change into gown, blood draws, IV in<br />
Waiting for doctors...(for 3 hours!)<br />
0000: 1.5 cm dilated, 70% effaced, -1 station. Start Cytotec.<br />
0400: 2 cm dilated, 70% effaced, 0 station, cervix in middle (no longer posterior, not yet anterior), 2nd dose of cytotec<br />
0530: Experiencing some contractions now, got maybe 2 hours of sleep that night<br />
0830: After waiting to hear from the doc we started Pitocin at 1ml/hr<br />
0930: Pitocin @ 2 ml/hr<br />
0945: Bounced on birthing ball for 20 minutes<br />
1015: Pitocin @ 4ml/hr<br />
1050: 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced, -1 station (she took away my 0 station!)<br />
1105: Pitocin @ 6 ml/hr<br />
1315: 3.5 cm dilated 70% effaced, -1 station. Feeling discouraged about lack of substantial progress<br />
1325: Contractions are getting more painful. Tried laying on ball on hands & knees with Paul putting pressure on back<br />
1355: Libby: "I don't think this is a good idea."<br />
Paul: "...Having a baby?"<br />
Libby: "Yeah" *quickly nods head with concerned face*<br />
1415: Anesthesiologist in for epidural<br />
1430: Epidural in and working! Relaxing while we wait for Dr. Rhone to visit<br />
<br />
1530: 5 cm dilated, 70% effaced, -1 station. Dr Rhone breaks water<br />
1545: Begins feeling pressure, asks nurse to check but hold off to reduce introduction of bacteria<br />
1609: Feeling urge to push but resisting it, check by nurse- Completely dilated & effaced, baby descending<br />
1620: Room set up, practice push, mirror incident<br />
1636: Head delivered after one push. Cord around baby's neck (like Vincent) <br />
1638: Baby born! Dad cuts the cord, skin to skin with mom, then Dad puts on first diaper <br />
<br />
Do you see that?! Just over an hour from 5 cm dilated to delivery! Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686288232542145237noreply@blogger.com1