Well, this last weekend was our first (well, my first) extended time away from Hannah--our first together. Keith has been away overnight a number of times since Hannah was born, but I had only been away from her one night when we did a trial run a couple months ago. :) Keith & I decided we wanted to work at a retreat that was being directed by Keith's sister & brother-in-law, Anne & Nate, along with another family friend, Jonathon. (It was called Journey with Christ, for anyone who may have heard of that organization.) Anyway, we left Thursday afternoon, and as it got closer to the "drop-off time," I grew more & more anxious. I got that feeling in my stomach like you do when you start work again on Monday, or right before you go to the dentist, or the night before a huge exam. We got to my Mom & Dad's house and I got Hannah's stuff settled. The good thing is that she's been there plenty of times, so it wasn't like she was unfamiliar with her surroundings. We wanted to make the good-byes short, so we pretty much left within a few minutes. I don't know what I was expecting, but Hannah did not so much as shed one tear or show a turned-down lip! Meanwhile, I was gulping the huge knot down my throat & trying not to start bawling or tell Keith "Never mind." To make matters worse, my mom handed me a little note that said "Mommy & Daddy" written by "Hannah." :) It was actually very cute but it did make me tear up a little bit. Anyway, we made it to Yakima just fine and then I was pretty much okay for the weekend except for one breakdown when my mother-in-law, Theresa, specifically mentioned to the leadership group to pray for Hannah since it was her birthday. :) Then Theresa & a few others working had a little party for Hannah, "in absencia" (or however that is spelled.) It was nice to have the support on both ends!
When we got home, Hannah was busy playing with Grandma, Grandpa & Senia, and she didn't seem to have missed us at all. I guess that is good in a way, as I'm sure it gets harder to leave them as they start to actually REALIZE you are leaving!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Reflections...
Well, after 2 or 3 not-so-subtle hints from my sister about a new post, I figured I'd better come through. Since Hannah's 1st Birthday (!) is coming up in a little over a week, I thought I'd do some reflecting on this past year, as well as do a little update on Hannah's progress as she comes to the one year milestone.
For one thing, I can't believe it has been a year already--I'm sure everyone says that after becoming parents, but it really is true that time flies!! We just attended my annual choir banquet, which seems strange since last year at this time I was VERY pregnant & hoping Hannah would make her arrival that night. (Although we didn't even know she was a girl at the time; she was still "Baby" or "Little Jerry," as we called "it.") Almost exactly a week later, Hannah came into the world & it has been one amazing journey since then. A few items from our life this year (besides Hannah being born):
*Keith switched jobs/careers from auto mechanics to bank security
*I worked part time at CSG; bringing Hannah with me for the first month back
*I quit work
*We bought a house (yes, in that order. :)
Hannah has truly been a blessing over this last year & we look forward to continuing to watch her grow & change. In these last couple months alone, Hannah has learned to:
*crawl (& get very fast very quickly)
*pull herself up
*move around furniture
*say "Dada" (& maybe "Mom," as of today--although I'm not positive)
*move/"sing" along to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
*open & close doors (from her level--not actually turning the door knob)
*pull any & all items off of shelves
*go up the stairs
Also, she has gotten 5 teeth--but not much more hair. :) Anyway, besides the physical & developmental growth, we have been delighted by Hannah's blooming personality as she discovers her world. She loves to clap, and she will pretty much smile at anyone until they look her way. In general, she really has a lot of joy for daily life, and that is something we could all use more of!
I hope this doesn't come across as a brag session instead of how I meant it to come across--a few thoughts on how Hannah has enriched Keith's & my life over this last year...and how we know she will in the years to come! Happy 1st Birthday, Hannah!!
For one thing, I can't believe it has been a year already--I'm sure everyone says that after becoming parents, but it really is true that time flies!! We just attended my annual choir banquet, which seems strange since last year at this time I was VERY pregnant & hoping Hannah would make her arrival that night. (Although we didn't even know she was a girl at the time; she was still "Baby" or "Little Jerry," as we called "it.") Almost exactly a week later, Hannah came into the world & it has been one amazing journey since then. A few items from our life this year (besides Hannah being born):
*Keith switched jobs/careers from auto mechanics to bank security
*I worked part time at CSG; bringing Hannah with me for the first month back
*I quit work
*We bought a house (yes, in that order. :)
Hannah has truly been a blessing over this last year & we look forward to continuing to watch her grow & change. In these last couple months alone, Hannah has learned to:
*crawl (& get very fast very quickly)
*pull herself up
*move around furniture
*say "Dada" (& maybe "Mom," as of today--although I'm not positive)
*move/"sing" along to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
*open & close doors (from her level--not actually turning the door knob)
*pull any & all items off of shelves
*go up the stairs
Also, she has gotten 5 teeth--but not much more hair. :) Anyway, besides the physical & developmental growth, we have been delighted by Hannah's blooming personality as she discovers her world. She loves to clap, and she will pretty much smile at anyone until they look her way. In general, she really has a lot of joy for daily life, and that is something we could all use more of!
I hope this doesn't come across as a brag session instead of how I meant it to come across--a few thoughts on how Hannah has enriched Keith's & my life over this last year...and how we know she will in the years to come! Happy 1st Birthday, Hannah!!
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