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!