It's just the sweetest sound in the world! Can't get enough of it!!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
To my baby girl
Friday, December 19, 2008
Christmas pictures
Earlier this week we got the opportunity to get some Christmas pictures taken of Hannah and of us as a family. I work with a gal and Kev and I have become good friends with her and her husband. Her husband has a passion for photography and we were his willing guinea pigs! He captured some wonderful moments and I thought I'd post some of them here. Hope you all enjoy!
Hannah sitting in my lap
Hannah and her Daddy
sitting in front of the tree
Daddy's favorite
A note from my heart
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My love, my husband
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Christmas program
I wanted to post a little blog about the Christmas program that I took Hannah to last Sunday. Her cousins, Carrson and Briea, participated in their school's Christmas program. Carrson and Briea go to a Christian daycare center and every year the teachers work with the kids and put on a wonderful Christmas program for their families. This year both Carrson and Briea had speaking parts and were up on the stage for the entire show.
They both did wonderfully! We were a little worried about Carrson as he developed a small case of stage fright right before the program was supposed to start. However, our worry was in vain. Once he got out there he did wonderfully! His class started out the show with a little poem to welcome everyone. Each child was a letter that spelled out welcome, Briea was the E and Carrson was the '!' at the end. However, after he ended the poem and welcomed everyone, he decided to place himself next to his good friend Shaun so they spelled "WELCO!ME". It's things like that that make those programs so precious.
Both Carrson and Briea new all the words and motions to the songs. They did a wonderful job and we couldn't be more proud.
I'd like to add a special note that Briea was wearing a beautiful sparkly dress that twirled fabulously with matching sparkly shoes, which she pulled off fabulously. ( we all know that sparkles can't be pulled off by just anybody). Carrie, thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of such a wonderful day. I can't wait til it's Hannah up there in her sparkly, twirly dress.
To end this blog I've posted the lyrics to one of the songs that the kids sang. I'm not sure who wrote the song, all the lyric sites I found simply said that the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir performed it. A truly wonderful reminder of what Christmas is all about.
Jesus I love You!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Christmas is coming!
I've been watching on the news how our economy is suffering and what an awful Christmas this is going to be. While the troubled economy affects us all in one way or another, it shouldn't have an impact on celebrating Christmas! One of the things I want to make sure Hannah knows is that Christmas is a celebration of the Savior's birth. It is not about the gifts she may find under the tree. The true gift is Jesus! When I think of all the traditions I want to pass on to my baby girl, I want to make sure she understands and LOVES the true meaning of Christmas. That's something a suffering economy has no impact on.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Monday, December 1, 2008
Give Thanks!
Alice, Riley, Hannah and Kevin
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year has been a whirlwind and full of many blessings for the Hoffmann family. Among the many blessings we find ourselves so thankful for is, of course, family.
This Thanksgiving was spent at my Aunt and Uncle's home in Davis. A great time was had by all! Hannah got to meet her 2nd cousin Riley, who is about 8 months old. It was amazing to see this little guy sitting on his blanket playing with toys and interacting with everyone. I just kept looking at Hannah thinking, "that's going to be you soon!" Hard to believe how quickly they grow.
My prayer is that this holiday season finds you all healthy and happy. I hope that you all take the time daily to count your own blessings and think of all the ways the Lord has blessed your lives.
"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.”
~Edward Sandford Martin
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Mornings with Hannah
Friday, November 14, 2008
update from the Hoffmann's
We loved having Kevin's Mom out for a couple weeks the end of October and look forward to seeing her and Roy in February.
Oh! I almost forgot!!! Tomorrow Kev and I are going on our first official outing since Hannah's birth. Kev got us tickets to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert. We are going with a couple of friends and grandma and grandpa have graciously volunteered to babysit. I'll have to let you know how it goes. The consensus is that Mom's the one who will have the most seperation anxiety...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Surprise!!!
So I have to tell you all how incredibly proud I am of myself. For over 2 months now we have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of Kevin's Mom (affectionately known around these parts as Nammy). The plan was for her to head out here the beginning of November. Well, a few weeks ago I got a call from Nammy asking if she could come out a bit earlier than planned. Wonderful!!! Oh, and the beset part? Kev didn't have a clue. It was my heart's desire to be able to give my husband the most wonderful surprise I could think of... his Mom a few weeks early and for a longer visit than originally planned.
Fast forward to this past Friday. I tell Kev that I have a friend coming into town for a family emergency and we need to pick her up from the airport Friday morning. After some hemming and hawing he agreed to come with me to pick her up. (please note that I had to tell him that I had a surprise for him after picking up "my friend" to get him to agree to come).
So we get to the airport and I tell him to start looking for my friend. He's looking around the baggage claim area when he hears someone calling his name (whoever could it be???) It took him a few minutes to process that it was his Mom standing there. He looks back at me and I just smile and say "surprise!!!"
It was perfect! He was completely surprised, and it was so worth it!
We also got the pleasure of being able to see Kevin's brother Jaime this weekend as well. It was a quick stop on his way back home to Oregon, but we loved every minute of our time together. It was his first time seeing Hannah face to face as well.
Lots of comings and goings in the Hoffmann household these last few days, but lots of memories made and wonderful times with family!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
To my Hannah
by Sandi Patti
Before you had a name or opened up your eyes
Or anyone could recognize your face.
You were being formed so delicate in size
Secluded in God's safe and hidden place.
With your little tiny hands and little tiny feet
And little eyes that shimmer like a pearl
He breathed in you a song and to make it all complete
He brought the masterpiece into the world.
You are a masterpiece
A new creation He has formed
And you're as soft and fresh as a snowy winter morn.
And I'm so glad that God has given you to me
Little Lamb of God, you are a masterpiece.
And now you're growing up your life's a miracle
Everytime I look at you I stand in awe
Because I see in you a reflection of me
And you'll always be my little lamb from God
And as your life goes on each day
How I pray that you will see
Just how much your life has meant to me.
And I'm so proud of you
What else is there to say?
Just be the masterpiece He created you to be
You are a masterpiece
A new creation He has formed
And you're as soft and fresh as a snowy winter morn.
And I'm so glad that God has given you to me
Little Lamb of God, you are a masterpiece.
Hannah~
I cannot thank God enough for blessing your Daddy and me with you. I cannot wait to see all that He has planned for you. I love you.
Love,
Mom
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Hannah's Top Ten
10. eating-- i do it at least 8 times a day, maybe more.
9. sleep-- anywhere anytime, but on Mom or Dad is preferable
8. bath time-- Mommy says since I love bathtime, I'll love spa time when I get older.
7. my flower-- I have the coolest pink stuffed flower that I LOVE! I got a little mad last time Daddy tried to take it away from me.
6. tummy time-- 30 minutes a day on my quilt from my Great Aunt Ina May, it's part of my excercise regimen
5. nap time with daddy-- He's got the perfect chest for napping.
4. eat-- did I mention this one already?? It really is a favorite of mine.
3. outings with mommy-- mostly to Target, but I'll go anywhere she takes me!
2. talks with daddy-- Dad and I, we have this connection. He really gets me, you know?
1. being loved on-- Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles, they all do a great job, and I can't get enough!
I'm sure my list will change as time goes on, but this is it for now. Talk to you again soon!!
Love,
Hannah
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Pumpkin festival
What a wonderful day we had today! The only thing that would have made it even better would have been if Kev had been able to join us. For now he has to work weekends. He's such a great Daddy, he and Hannah seem to have a language all their own. He comes home and picks her up and they just stare at each other. He gets smiles out of her that I can't. I tell you, there's something truly special about the father daughter relationship. But I digress...
This afternoon Hannah, my friend Larissa and I packed up and headed to our local park for the pumpkin festival. I've lived in the Elk Grove area for the greater part of my life and this is the first I'd heard of it. It was a lot of fun! They had a scarecrow contest, a pumpkin recipe contest, live music and entertainment (all different kinds of dancing... the dance studio I used to teach for was there) good food, crafts, and much more! The weather was perfect, a real nice breeze to keep you cool but not cold.
Hannah slept through probably 2/3 of our trip, which worked out nicely.
We ran into some lifelong friends of mine, Jim and Lisa Brown (or Miss Lisa as she's more commonly known). Miss Lisa was one of my first dance teachers, I started dancing with her when I was 4 or 5 and ended up teaching for her in college while finishing my nursing training. We've kept in touch mostly via e-mail, but I was so glad she was able to meet Hannah in person. Hopefully one day Hannah will be in one of her classes just like mommy! (I can hope, anyway)
All in all it was a nice afternoon, Hannah was her usual sweet self, I got to get out and get some fresh air and spend some time with a good friend. Who could ask for more?
"This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalms 118:24
Hope everyone has a blessed week!
Love,
Kevin, Annika and Hannah
Friday, October 3, 2008
A beautiful reminder
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
But have not love, I am a housekeeper—not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not love, my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the
toddler, runs with the child,
then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.
As a mother there is much I must teach my child,
but the greatest of all these is love.
~author unknown
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Busy Day!
Susan, Janette ( 2 of Hannah's surrogate grandma's)
Then it was off to my Dr's appointment for my 6 week postpartum checkup. Hannah came with me to see our favorite OB, Dr. Gonzalez who took such wonderful care of us throughout the whole pregnancy. Unfortunately since Hannah made her debut a little earlier than planned, Dr.Gonzalez wasn't able to be there for the delivery... there's always next time!!!
I got a clean bill of health, we took a couple pictures and we headed home.
Dr.Gonzalez with Hannah
Later that evening we got a call from Grandma and Grandpa that Uncle Paul was in town for the night. Hannah was already ready for bed (pj's and all) but we made a quick trip over to see Uncle Paul.