just for laughs

It's just the sweetest sound in the world! Can't get enough of it!!!

To my baby girl

Cradle song

by Sandi Patty

I watch beside your cradle

Your face touched by the moon

My heart just aches and trembles

With all my love for you

Your eyes shine like your Father's

That nose looks just like me

I stare in awe and wonder

At such a mystery

How God can touch the love of a man and wife

And blossom it into the breath of life

Just look at this life

Our eyes are filled with dreaming

We want so much for you

But we might fail you often

Before your life is through

Only your Heavenly Father

Can hear your every prayer

When we are just a memory

Your Lord will still be there

So on our knees we pray this cradle song

That you'll always know the Lord will keep you strong

We want you to understand

You rest in His loving hands

For you are Jesus' little lamb

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

Chewing away, as usual

Hannah and her Daddy

sitting in front of the tree

Daddy's favorite

A note from my heart

Every other Friday I go and join a group of wonderful women for a time of prayer. Our sole purpose for meeting together is to pray for our nation. We are living in a time of change. I wish I could say that this change is all for the better but I fear that it is not. What have we done to this gift that we've been given? This country was founded on God. Our money still says "In God we Trust" and yet we try and leave Him out of every decision made when He is the One that should be consulted first! I'd love to say this is a new epidemic sweeping our nation, but it's not. Abraham Lincoln was quoted saying

"Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us"

The situation may have been different in his time, but the end result was still the same. We as Christians have a responsibility to lift our country up in prayer. There are so many of us nation wide, why are we so silent?

There is a Christian radio station in our area that I listen to on a regular basis. This time of year they play Christmas music and the other day while driving along I heard this song. It's by a group called Casting Crowns, the song is called "While You Were Sleeping". I've posted the Lyrics here.

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you’re lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His throne

And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem,

what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem,

you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him

in the world He came to save

Jerusalem,

what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world

is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem,

you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we’re lying in the dark

There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night,

in the night

America,

what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America,

will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping?Will we be sleeping?

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

This is still a country with a purpose and a calling, I pray that we as a country would remember on whom this place was founded. We serve an awesome God and He is worthy to be praised.

My love, my husband

Yesterday Kevin and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. Well, kind of. Truthfully we did more of the celebrating on Monday because we knew that Hannah had a Drs appt on our special day that would involve several vaccinations. Since she had such a hard time with her first set we decided that she probably wouldn't be up for much that day, so we got to spend the evening together as a family.

It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years already! At times it seems like just yesterday I was walking down the isle toward my best friend, then there are other times when it seems like we've been together forever! I couldn't ask for a better partner to go through life with. He's a wonderful husband, attentive father, and a great friend. Kev has a wonderfully annoying habit of putting everyone else before himself. He's the kindest person I know.

We've been through a lot together these past 2 years, both good and bad. We've gone from a family of 2 to a family of 3. We've gone on trips, made good friends and built a home together. All in 2 years!!! So being part of the blogging world, I couldn't let this momentous occasion pass without a word or two.

Kevin, I love you very much. You have given me the most precious of gifts. A true friend, unconditional love, and a beautiful baby girl. I cannot and do not want to imagine my life without you in it. I thank the Lord for you every day and pray that He continues to watch over you and our family. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the years to come!

I love you, bear.

~Annika

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.

Happy birthday Jesus

I'm so glad it's Christmas

All the tinsel and lights

And the presents are nice

But the real gift is You.

Happy birthday Jesus

I'm so glad it's Christmas

All the carols and bells

Make the holiday swell

And it's all about You

Happy birthday Jesus

Jesus I love You!

Christmas is coming!

The holiday season is now in full swing and I'm loving every minute of it! It's my favorite time of year, but I have to admit this year is different. We have a little one in the home, and although years from now I know she won't remember her first Christmas, I will. Along with many families this year, our Christmas will be sparce in the present department. Kev's Christmas present to me this year was an extra 6 weeks home with my baby. It's the best present I could ask for, but calls for some extra care in the finance department as these 6 weeks we are living on one income instead of two.
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

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

Mornings with Hannah

Hannah and Mom just waking up

She's a morning baby... all smiles

She's talking, can ya tell?

It was quite the story!

update from the Hoffmann's

Sorry it's been awhile since I've been on here. Our little family has been doing so well staying well since Hannah's arrival, but alas... I have succombed to the dreaded cold. Runny nose, coughing, hacking the whole nine yards. So far (praise the Lord!) Hannah has not followed suit. I believe Kev and I have decided to buy stock in purell since I'm pretty much bathing in it daily to try and keep from giving my baby girl this lovely virus that I brought home. She still continues to bring us daily smiles and wonder. She has recently found a new love for her rattle. She grasps it and shakes it and then holds really still. I don't think she realizes yet that she is the one making the rattle make the noise.
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...

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!

To my Hannah

Masterpiece
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

Hannah's Top Ten

Hey everybody! Since I've been around for almost two months now I've kind of picked up on some things. There's so much to do and see, I thought I'd share my top ten favorites so far.

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

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

A beautiful reminder

So I have to say that today was a pretty uneventful day. I ran a few errands, went out to lunch with Hannah and Kev, it was a nice day. Then we got home and it hit me. All the "stuff" that was waiting for me. Dishes to be done, clothes to be washed, dinner to be made. My endless list of stuff. Hannah is a pretty laid back baby, but she still takes a lot of time and attention. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love her and the time I get to spend with her, but I still feel like I should have a better handle on the house. Kev, as always is very supportive, telling me not to worry about it. However, i still feel like I'm slacking on my wifely and motherly duties!!! Then, I ran across this poem that my Mom gave me when I found out I was pregnant with Hannah. It's a beautiful reminder of what's truly important. No my house isn't spotless, it's definately lived in. But my daughter is definately top priority and there's no doubt that she's loved. So I thought I'd pass on this wonderful poem to all of you. May it bless your day!

Love in the Home
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

Busy Day!

So yesterday Hannah and I had a very busy day. Lots of running around. I have to say I'm still perfecting the art of judging how much time to allow to get both Hannah and I ready to go somewhere. I hate being late to things but getting ready with a baby in the mix is quite an adventure in and of itself.

Anyway, first stop on our little outing was the hospital where I work. I had to drop off something at our "lactation station" (a wonderful little store that provides support and encouragement for us breast-feeding mommies). They have a scale in the store so I weighed little Miss Hannah and would you believe she's already 10 pounds?!? She's moving up in the world! She's now in size 1 diapers as well as 0-3 month clothes verses her newborn stuff. (there was even a time that she was in preemie clothes! What a difference 6 weeks makes) Then it was off to the high risk maternity ward where I work. I can never go to the hospital without stopping by to say hello to the wonderful ladies that I've worked with for the last 5 years. They love our visits and Hannah just eats up all the love. This visit however, she slept through most of the passing around.

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.

A busy day for the two of us, but full of friends, catching up and of course loving on Hannah. We are a blessed family and Hannah is one loved little girl!

The many faces of Hannah

" How do I look,Mom? I mean, is yellow really my color??"

-Hannah at bath time

How can you not kiss this face??
bedtime shot

"Well, if you must make sure you get my good side"
candid after dinner shot

so I'm pretty sure we have a model in our midst. I wish I could show you every little face this child makes, as there are so many, but by the time I have the camera ready to go, she's moved on to something else.

So here are a few of the many faces that make our sweet Hannah the fun little person that she is. More to come, I'm really enoying this blogging thing!

Love,

Annika

Hello blogging world!!!

My first blog! I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a while, but now that Hannah is here it seemed the perfect way to keep up with family and friends on all the goings(is that even a real word??) on of our little family. As I sit here typing this, Hannah is fast asleep on my chest so I'm practicing my one-handed typing skills. Overall, Hannah is a very easy-going, laid back baby. However, every now and then she has these times where all she wants is to cuddle. You put her down and she wakes right up. Can I tell you all a little secret? I LOVE IT! I could hold her all day and never put her down. I think every mom should have a maid and a cook because honestly, how are you supposed to do house work and make meals when you have this perfect little one who just needs to be loved and held and adored??? It's times like these that all I can think of is that all too soon the day will be here when she's not going to want to cuddle with me for hours on end. All the more reason to take advantage now, right??

Yesterday, Hannah and I went with Grandma to the prayer group she meets with twice a month. My Mom wanted these wonderful ladies to meet Hannah, since they'd been praying for her(and me) throughout my entire pregnancy. One of the ladies there made a comment that's stuck with me. I had just finished feeding Hannah and she was in her semi-comatose state that she so commonly takes after eating. She was lying in my arms and this lady looked at Hannah and said "when I see a mother holding her child I can't help but think that that's exactly how our heavenly father wants to hold each of his children, He loves us so much!"

Since having Hannah I have to say I have a new understanding of the Lord's love for His children. I would do anything for Hannah, to see her smile, to keep her safe. I'm excited to see her life unfold, to see her personality form. I know that this journey will be wonderful and scary all at the same time.

So I'm hoping that this blog will give you a glimpse into our family's journey. All of you, no matter if we see you once a year or once a day, are a part of that journey, and for that we are truly greatful. So here we go...