Grandma

Well, I've been out in Illinois since March 25th. Sawyer and I flew out here Monday afternoon. We were able to see Grandma and say our final goodbyes. She passed away March 26th around 2:30am. I can't stop thinking about her. She's everywhere. We played liverpool last night (Mom, Dad, Opa, Shawn, Bek, Meaghan, Dum Dum, Dean, and myself). I must say, it feels so wrong to play without her. Even entering her house seems so strange. She was always sitting in the living room waiting to greet whoever walked through her doorway. Pr Ball delivered an excellent homily for her funeral services. Thankfully, all of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren (with the exception of Dorothy's husband, Chris) were able to make the trek out here for a final farewell. Her sister and two nephews were also able to make it down. It was hard. I think about her often with sadness in my heart. I wish we had lived around here when she moved out here. I think I was the only grandchild who didn't get to spend a few years living nearby to her (and Opa). I was so thankful this summer for the month we were able to live in their basement. By the time she moved here, I was already at college in Nebraska. I didn't even live at home during the summers (Mom found some letters I wrote to her during my time at Concordia and at Camp Wartburg). We did live closer when we were in St. Louis, but we didn't get home as often as I would have liked. I did thoroughly enjoy that when we'd come home to visit Mom and Dad (Bek and Dum Dum) that they'd be within walking distance (or at least a 2 minute drive).

Miss you Grandma!! 

Here are a few pictures I found.

 I LOVE this. Halloween 2011

 Our Wedding

 May 2009--- Concordia's graduation

 Dorothy's wedding

 I have no idea when this was taken but I love it.

 August 2012--- 4 generations

At Christmas 2012

Hugs and Kisses from Hamel! :)

Savannah Rose

ANOTHER beautiful baby has entered the world today! :)

Savannah Rose entered the world at 7:27 this morning. She weighs in at 7lb and is 18in long. Mommy and Baby are doing well! :)

BTW....This makes me feel EXTREMELY old. Hannah was my first babysitting job. I was 11 or 12. I ended up watching/sitting for Hannah, her brother, AJ, and sister, Michaela--aka Little Miss, on different occasions, but most notably I spent the summer of 07 and 08 being a permanent sitter during the days. Here's a BLAST from the past! :)

 On a completely DIFFERENT note, look at how TAN we are!!!!! I miss my tan......

Congrats, Miss Hannah! :)

I can't wait to meet her in person! :)

Hugs and Kisses from Norlina!

Feeding Time!

I know it's not the most EXCITING thing, but some people (cough...cough...Bek) wanted this up AS SOON AS HE ATE. Well, this was the closest we could come since it won't download at home. BEK you're lucky we came into Raleigh today! :)

Anywho....I think he enjoyed his first taste of food, even if he was a big confused! :)

What did he eat?!
B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

We gave him the bowl when he was done eating. He wanted to play with it more than he wanted to eat anywho.... :)

GIGGLES!

Now, Dean has a better audio of him giggling. However, it's only audio. AND he wouldn't send it to me. He didn't want you to hear his voice. Lame. I know. Still. Enjoy!! :)

The Psychotic Beast

Sawyer pulled down his play mat at the beginning of this week. We decided it's probably time we put it away. I'm not sure who will be more disappointed, Sawyer or The Psychotic Beast who Lives in our House.

We're rolling, rolling, rolling....

The last time I posted, I mentioned that Sawyer was rolling over, but it wasn't that frequently. That has since changed. He rolls over in both directions----A LOT.

This video, however, is one of the very first times he rolled over. Dean had to bribe him to get him to roll. We don't need to do that anymore. As a matter of fact, we were playing this morning, and he rolled over with a book in his hands.

Those of you on Facebook have already seen this video. Those of you NOT on Facebook, enjoy!

Here and there pictures!

 One of Sawyer's favorite activities is standing. If he's fussy, we either put him on his feet OR take him outside.

See.....outside. This day was especially warm. He ended up ditching the vest. We kept the hat and glasses though. We've been going on daily walks---- weather permitting. He LOVES being carried and exploring the outside. I think he gets that from his papa! :)

 Don't judge. I'm completely aware you're not supposed to have blankets IN bed with babies. HOWEVER. You try to get him to sleep otherwise. It doesn't work. You can as Sawyer's grandparents. They've witnessed the screams coming from an empty pack n play. We DO check on him frequently. Which is good because he tends to throw the entire blanket over his head, and we have to take it off. At night, his crib his EMPTY except his snuggle blanket. Night sleeping wasn't an issue.....nap time sleeping, we've got that resolved! :)

 SNOW in Norlina.

 Happy naked baby! :)

 Wearing Papa's hat like a champ.

 Partial smiles!

 I absolutely LOVE picking Sawyer up out of his crib/pack n play when he wakes up happy. In his crib, that happens occasionally. He is almost always happy when I pick him up out of his pack n play after nap time. He's so smiley, and he likes to give bear hugs.

 Again, naked baby!

 Sawyer LOVES his papa! :)

 Dudly <3 Sawyer and Sawyer <3 Dudly
We even took both Duds and Bilbo to the vet today and she commented on how WELL the animals did with Sawyer. Sawyer was attacking Bilbo when she walked in.

 He likes to CHEW on everything! :)

He likes to shake his maracas! :)