Family

Family

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy First Heavenly Birthday Abby

After enjoying a wonderful Christmas, my heart became a little heavy because I knew we were going to be celebrating what would have been Abby's first birthday.  It was easier this year than last year, but not because we don't miss and love her, because we've just learned how to live a new normal. 


 I still think of her daily and love her just as I love Owen and Hattie.  Sometimes I wonder what she would be like - would she look like Owen or Hattie or have a completely different look of her own.  Would she be starting to walk yet or still be crawling?


Up until the past few weeks, we've not talked about Abby in front of Owen.  We didn't know if he'd understand.  He has a better understanding of heaven now, so when the other day, out of the blue, he walked up to a photo that's been on our shelf for a year and asked, "Mom, what does A-B-B-Y spell?" I decided to be honest with him and told him that before I had Hattie, I had a baby in my tummy that died and went to heaven to be with God.  He took it a lot better than I expected.  He asked a few questions, like "Did she eat something that made her die?" and "Did she die in your tummy?" but overall, was very accepting of it. 

Since Owen understood that it would have been Abby's first birthday, we decided to make Abby a birthday cake so she knows how much we love her.  We let Owen choose the frosting and the sprinkles and this is what his masterpiece ended up looking like.
 Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candle for Abby
 
We love and miss you Abigail Helene! 
We hope you had an amazing first birthday in the arms of Jesus.

Hattie's a Jumping Fool!

My cousin Nate and his wife Jen were kind enough to give us this Jumperoo when Owen was a baby.  He loved it!  It took Hattie a few times to get used to it, but she really likes it now too.


 She shares her mommy's "love" of birds apparently! ;)

She's a kicker too!  She has been really enjoying this fun toy too.
 

Christmas 2014

The holidays this year were extra special with our new family of 4.  It was pretty low-key, which was really nice.  I love getting to spend time relaxing and really enjoying the season.

We started out celebrating Christmas with Paul's family the weekend before at Aunt Laurie and Uncle Scott's house.  They always do such a nice job hosting!  Uncle Scott set up an electric car set, so Owen was in heaven!
Hattie being loved by her godparents, Bob and Dawn
 Our family of 4
 Hattie wasn't sure if she should smile at Uncle Bob and his crazy singing, moving antler hat, or cry
Auntie Dawn and Uncle Bob always are so generous with the kids.  Owen LOVED his Lincoln logs!

We spent Christmas Eve morning at the 8th floor of Macy's to see A Day in the Life of an Elf.  Owen thought it was really neat.  Paul and I saw it several years ago, but it was fun to experience it again, through his eyes.
 Sleepy elves
 Woof!
 So excited to show Daddy a little mouse running through the elf kitchen
 Singing trees

 Animals decorating Christmas trees
 My two cute boys
 The reindeer stables
 Penguins hanging cranberries on the trees
 Look at all the letters to Santa!
 Yum!  Elves make the best candy!

 ...and cookies!
 Putting the final touches on the toys for Santa
 He liked the elves, but he LOVED....the escalators.  He begged and begged to go on them, so Hattie and I waited at the top and Owen and Paul rode up and down.
 We spent Christmas Eve at church.  Owen fights us about getting dressed every single day, so I decided that I was not going to fight with him about wearing dress clothes to church.  Unfortunately, we didn't really get to enjoy church as a family because the incense seemed to really bother Hattie.  She screamed when they first lit it, so I took her out.  Each time I tried to go back into church, she screamed as soon as I could smell the incense. 
Santa came to our house!  We enjoyed a leisurely Christmas morning opening gifts and playing.  Owen helped Hattie open her gifts and enjoyed showing her what he got.
 
 Stocking stuffers
 Showing Hattie her new giraffe paci holder
 Rollerblades!


 Santa brought Hattie a tooth and she wasn't very happy about it!  Opening gifts and getting a tooth is hard work!
 Opening presents with Nana and Papa later in the afternoon.  He wore the helmet from his roller blades for much of the day!

We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas day with Nana and Papa.  We had a four course fondue lunch (but if you ask Owen, it was just all about the chocolate fondue and brownies).  Owen was a lucky duck and got a scooter!  Between that and the roller blades, we've been hanging out in our basement more the last few days than we have the entire time we've lived here! We've been impressed with how easy he's picked up both the scooter and the roller blading.  Can't wait for summer!
We hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!  Have a Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

3 Month Old Hattie

December was an exciting month for Hattie.  She started daycare at the school that Owen goes to.  She is in the Bumblebee room and her teachers are Miss Rachel, Miss Sara and Miss Cathy.  They are so wonderful!  We can tell every day just how much they love the babies. 

Hattie was having some issues with her formula, so we switched to a gentle version and she's been much happier.  We also found an amazing product called the Baby Merlin's Magic Sleep Suit.  It looks like a snowsuit, but keeps baby from flailing and waking up all night.  Hattie slept through the night a few times and has taken some great naps at daycare with the suit.

She smiles constantly, especially at her big brother.  I'm not sure who loves the other one more!  They are so cute together.  Owen always talks to her and asks her how her day was, tells her he loves her and gives her kisses and hugs when we drop him off in his classroom and before bed.  She just smiles and smiles and squeals when she sees him.  It warms my hear that they love each other so much.  Owen even took money out of his piggy bank to go shopping for a present for her.  He wrapped it too.

Hattie found both her hands and her voice this month.  We think she may be starting to teeth because she is drooly and constantly gnawing at her hands. She's experimenting with little screams and squeals.  I just love that we can make her smile and squeal with happiness!

Asleep in her magic suit before Paul got her upstairs
 Sassy little smile!
 Enjoying some tummy time on her heart quilt
 Snuggling with Ronda and Owen in their matching jammies
 

2014 Christmas Program

Owen and Hattie's Christmas program was adorable!  Owen kept telling us that he didn't want to sing at the program, but he was constantly singing around the house.  I thought each class would learn one or two songs, but Hattie's class all the way to Owen's class all did 9 songs together! 

Owen has been fighting us on clothes every single day.  He was very upset about having to wear dress clothes, and didn't like the argyle sweater I had picked out because, "It had those lines all over it."  I finally got him to agree to wear a plain red sweater and jeans.  He had to get dressed in the afternoon for his teachers and I was so nervous that he would fight them like he does us.  Apparently, he did okay though!

Hattie's class getting wheeled into the church
 Miss Cathy, Miss MaKenzie and Miss Sara
 Miss Anne starting off the program and Hattie peeking over her shoulder
 "Mary was there to rock him to sleep on the day baby Jesus was born!"
 "Joseph was there to watch over Him!"
Hattie's class looking cute and enjoying the music
 Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
 We wish you a Merry Christmas!
After the program, we were invited to the cafeteria for apple juice and cookies.  Owen sung his heart out, got dressed for his teachers and Hattie was a good girl.  We'll call it a success!