Uncle Bobby

My dad lost his oldest brother to cancer this week. We were fortunate enough to have been invited up to New Hampshire this month to participate in a celebration of life for Uncle Bobby - he sat in his recliner and we all hugged him and spent a few minutes with him. There was music and laughter throughout the entire party - just the way Uncle Bobby wanted it. I can not imagine losing a sibling - my heart breaks for my dad and his brothers and sisters. My comfort comes from the image in my head that I have thought of each time I think of Uncle Bobby - my grandmother and grandfather with their arms open wide welcoming their son into heaven.

There are lots of pictures of the three oldest boys - Uncle Bobby, Uncle Ig (then referred to as Dicky) and my dad. Not sure of the dates but since my dad looks around two I would put this one at 1949. Uncle Bobby and Uncle Ig all dressed up with my dad in between them!I love this one - notice my grandmother's writing under the picture with each of her boys names!
Uncle Bobby a few months ago - "ROCK ON".

This is the back of the cards given out at Uncle Bobby's memorial service - my dad brought it back for me. The verse is from a song called "One Day At A Time." - I can recall vividely my grandmother singing this song - it is a great message to be reminded of!

GNM - ILY!

My favorite time of day!

One of my favorite times of day is when we go in to get Annie out of her crib when she wakes up after a nap or in the morning. I am rarely alone doing it since the kids always seem to want to be in on it and Annie acts like she is surprised that we are there and gets so excited to see us! Sometimes she sits in there playing and waiting for us and other times she is hanging over the side of the crib waiting for us. Either way it is a treat to pick her up and have her wrap her tiny little arms around our necks for a hug. And that smile melts my heart everytime!

Our binkie baby waiting for Mama to come get her.
This is when she gets really excited and she was also yelling, "mama, mama" when I went in this time! Bliss! What a happy baby!

These pictures also remind me of Peter and Molly when they were this age - I always think it is a good sign when kids wake up happy - and all of my kids seem to wake up this way - not that I'm taking credit! Peter used to scream "Mama, come get him." and Molly girl used to screech at the top of her lungs until we responded. When Peter was about 14 months old he started getting out of his crib and he would come into my room hold his arms out and say,"Mama, here he is." Molly never got out of her crib - she preferred to screech and be lifted out with big hugs until she was about 2 and a half.

Poor Caroline doesn't get many updates because right now I keep a seperate journal for her but here is the preggo update I get each week - we are just about into week 24 - 16 weeks to go - sounds like a long time! These are the updates that amaze me because my godson, TJ, was born between week 24 and 25 weighing 1.4 pounds and 11.5 inches - he is amazing!

Week Twenty-Three
Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn

although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
Bones located in the middle ear harden.
Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. .
The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.

GNM - ILY!

Annie Update

Turns out Annie's burn wasn't that bad because it is gone already - I may have overreacted slightly because of my guilt but, rest assured, lesson learned! I changed the buckle on the car seat to a plastic one just in case and we were on the road again! Annie also learned a new trick today - not only does she wave bye-bye but she says bu bu - translation bye bye. Uh-Oh we may have another talker on our hands!

GNM - ILY!

Mommy horror story of the week!

Most of my family and friends know how sensitive I am about my kids - especially pregnant the slightest thing makes me crazy. Today I had to take Ann back to the pediatrician to "talk turkey" as Dr. Hoffman put it, about her ears. Infections, fluid, pain and sleeplessness have led us to this point and Dr. Hoffman has already heard my "what am I doing wrong" mantra. Unfortunately some kids just have short and horizontal eustacian tubes that refuse to clear fluid and infection. We are going to try one more medicine - I have to mix it myself - and then either do adnoid surgery or put tubes in her ears - UGGG!

Here is the horror part of the story! I walk in and the nurse tells me to take Annie's clothes off and we weigh her and do all that stuff. As we are doing it we notice these red welts in a weird shape on her chest - pretty big and angry looking. I attribute it to her eczema and then almost loose my mind when Dr. Hoffman walks in and figures out what it actually is. The buckle on the car seat was so hot that it burnt her skin right through all of her clothes - the burn was in the exact shape of the buckle! And the worst part....she never made a sound in the car seat - she actually cooed all the way there! So my parenting tip for the week.........when it is 100 degrees out you should probably check the temperature of the metal freakin buckles on your kids car seat! Luckily Annie doesn't hold a grudge and Dr. Hoffman swears he isn't going to call DCF!~

And no - the obsessive compulsive picture taker did NOT take a picture of the buckle shaped burn for obvious reasons!

GNM - ILY!

A busy 4th of of July Wekend!

I know no one is all that interested in hearing my long winded description of the 4th of July celebration of the H-W family so I will let the pictures speak for themselves. All 88 of them!

Trying to get a 4th of July picture of my little sweeties!
Still trying........
And still trying.....the kids had had it with me!
The girls in their matching shirts!

The whole family decked out for the 4th!
And trying again!
Peter and Annie!
Peter and Sean playing the new pin ball game he got from the Champeaus.

KK and her 4th of July date!
Tyler and Peter celebrating the 4th of July!
Katie looks like she did a bit too much celebrating!
Annie Bananie! Our little firecracker!
Papa and the babies!

Pat and Karla
Korin, Molly and Abby ready for some beach time!
And Uncle Bob had to get in on the action!
The quietest the kids were all day - playing Congo!
Ready for the beach!

My little beach baby!
Korin and Molly exploring the beach!
The girls hanging out on the beach - I think they stayed over there for about 4 hours!
Papa and the boys hanging out on the beach!
Molly was very jealous of Julia's "tankini" - she desperately wants a 2 piece bathing suit!

The boys riding in the boat - someone better pick up those oars if they expect to go anywhere!
TPH having fun in the sand!
The boys stalled on the beach in the boat!
Molly, Korin and Julia taking a boat ride - aparently the girls don't need oars either - good thing for Papa pushing them!
The boys searching for crabs!

We finally got Abby in the boat for a ride!
Papa and Uncle Bob giving the kids a ride in the boat!
All the kids ready for a ride!
Using their hands for oars!
Abby wasn't interested in the beach but boy did she look cute in her bathing suit!

Uncle Pat entertaining Annie and Katie!
Tyler and Annie!
My sweet baby girl in her ladybug bathing suit!
Daddy and his girl!
Annie wasn't sure about the sand at first!

Korin made Molly into a mermaid in the sand! Korin and Molly - best friends!
Annie Bananie - still just hanging out waiting for her Papa to come get her and show her some real fun!
Digging in the sand!
My beautiful goddaughter as a mermaid!

My favorite Julia look - the "I've got a secret look".
The boys digging a swimming pool for Annie!
Daddy and his girl!
Our little mermaids!
Korin and Sean expertly kayaking!

Julia took Annie for a ride in the kayak!
The boys kayaking!

Pete taking Annie for a swim!
Grammy and a very sandy Annie head back to the showers!

I love this view even though everyone isn't looking at the camera! Look at Tyler's big brown eyes!
The kids clowing around!
Molly and Korin ready for the fireworks!
The kids ready to go down and hear some karyoke!
Dancing to "Sweet Caroline:.

Daddy and Peter!
Uncle Bob and Katie dancing!
Auntie Karla trying to get the kids to dance!
Molly and Korin!
Auntie Kelly and Sean!

Annie gets a ride from KK!
Auntie Karla and Uncle Pat hanging with Annie!
Grammy and Papa with Katie!

Auntie Kara and Uncle Rob would have been proud - Bob and I got bet a hundred dollars to sing The Gambler on karyoke and we did it!
Tyler looks cold and bored!!
The girls watching the fun!
Annie all bundled up!
Uncle Pat and Tyler!

Katie - look at those beautiful eyes!
More Katie!
Annie and her godmother!
Fireworks - Finally!
Would love to say that Annie loved the fireworks - she did glance up at them once in a while but for the most aprt no matter how loud they were she just wanted to wave at all the cars going by and snuggle with Grammy!

Not sure if the kids were more excited for fireworks or Daisy (the ice cream lady) coming!
Katie's 1st fireworks - again - not all that excited about the fireworks despite the noise!
And finally Daisy gets here - Pete was So excited!
Grammy snuggling Abby during fireworks!
Pete and Tyler watching the fireworks!

Korin and Sean filled up on ice cream and ready for bed!
Annie going for Katie in the morning!
Peter and Tyler home form breakfast with Papa and playing games together!
Everyone playing with Katie!
Annie sleeping in Papa's arms!

Papa taking all the kids to the sandbar!
My girl dancing on the sand bar!
All the kids playing with Papa on the sand bar!
Banana enjoying the beach!
Papa takes Annie to the sand bar!

The kids were so excited to see a rainbow!
Back from the sandbar!
Daddy and Ann!
Abby showing Annie the sand! Surprisingly she doesn't eat it!

Annie plays with the sand!
Abby and Annie!

Annie's beautiful hands finding a shell!
My beautiful goddaughter covered in sand!

Luckily You can skip as many pictures as you want this way - I tried to do a slideshow but could not get it to work! You know me and my technoloy! All in all a great weekend, if not a bit tiring!

GNM - ILY!