The Hoopers

Friends and family, both real and virtual:

2009-02-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have decided to launch a new project, and as of today, I will no longer be posting here at Hooper Home.

Please join me at my new site, Blessed Treehouse.

This will be my new home for family stories, motherhood adventures, and green living.

Thank you for your readership and loyalty, and I hope you will join me and my blessings at Blessed Treehouse.

*I will continue to run my mouth at alidotes. That will remain its own, unique site. In fact, check it out for a video of Team Cambodia's arrival home.

She's Back!

2009-02-09T06:30:00.001-05:00

And by she, I mean MoMo and me!

Morgan has many amazing stories from her time in Cambodia, and it's safe to say that she would love to go back. I thank God for giving her that incredible opportunity, and I thank Him for bringing her home healthy and safe.

And my weekend in Nashville was wonderful. I was so ready to get back home, but the time away was lovely.

Most importantly, Henry had a great weekend with Grandma & Grandpa (they took care of him on Friday), Daddy (although he's fighting an ugly cold), MoMo (Henry greeted her at the airport on Saturday), and Oma & Opa (they gave Matt some relief so that he could try and get healthy). I'm so thankful to my wonderful family for lovin' on my baby while I was away.

It's good to be home.

Until Monday . . .

2009-02-06T06:30:00.001-05:00

This weekend I am attending Blissdom in Nashville, Tennessee. Blissdom is a two-day conference all about blogging.

I imagine that some of you will roll your eyes at this, but I couldn't be more excited. The only downside is that I will miss my sister's homecoming (though Matt, Henry, and my parents will be at the airport to greet her!).

Believe it or not, I have established special relationships with many of my fellow bloggers via blogging. Additionally, I work with the conference host, and most of the ladies with whom I work will be in attendance. I talk to these ladies everyday (via skype), and they are all dear friends.

I won't return until Sunday, but I will be sure to post updates on Monday regarding the conference, Henry, and my sister's trip.

Be thinking of me as I will be missing my family.

Until Monday . . .

Missing MoMo

2009-02-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

MoMo returns from Cambodia on Saturday, and Henry cannot wait.

Before Henry was born, MoMo made him a monkey at Build-A-Bear, and when you press on his hand, he says, "I love you, Henry." It's MoMo's voice, of course. Everyday since MoMo has been gone, I press on the monkey for Henry to hear. He just stares at, trying to understand why a familiar voice is coming out of the stuffed monkey. He stares until I press it again, and then he looks at me, and then he looks back at the monkey, as if he is thinking,"is that really who I think it is?"

I know he will be so elated to see her on Saturday, and I imagine she will be over-the-moon to see him.

*In case you are new here, MoMo is my sister, Henry's Aunt.

Exploring.

2009-02-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

WHO ATE THE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE?

2009-02-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Henry & The Toy Box

2009-02-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

Check out this video to see how Henry dives in and out of the toy box. And five bonus points if you catch the "uh-oh" in this clip.

The cutest toy in the toy box

2009-01-30T06:30:00.002-05:00

About a week ago, Henry began digging for toys in his toy box so intently that we often found him feet up. At first he would laugh, but after a couple of minutes, he realized he was stuck and would ~~fuss~~ scream.

A couple of days ago, I turned around to find him IN the toy box. I guess our little bear figured out how to get himself out of one pickle and into another. And if you are wondering how he gets out of the toy box - just wait until Monday's video post.

How do you think this ended up?

2009-01-29T06:30:00.006-05:00

She leaves today!

2009-01-28T06:30:00.001-05:00

Do you remember when I made this very important announcement?

Well, she's leaving today!!!

My darling little sister, Morgan, is going to Cambodia to do missions work. She will be serving an orphanage in Prek Eng along with a group from our church through a third-party organization, Asia’s Hope.

Our church currently has a long-term missionary serving the orphanage, and if you check out her blog you can read about how God is using her in Cambodia (and maybe she will update her blog while Morgan and the team are there).

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. God has been so faithful.

Please continue to pray for Morgan and the team as they begin their 35 hour journey to Cambodia. We are so proud of these missionaries!

Has winter ever looked so fun?

2009-01-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

Did anyone guess . . .

2009-01-26T06:15:00.000-05:00

. . . Sledding?
Last weekend Matt, Henry, Jaeger and I bundled up and ventured out with Henry's brand new sled (remember the one Grandma & Grandpa gave him for Christmas?).
Henry and Jaeger both enjoyed spending time in the fluffy white stuff (although Henry was pulled around in a cushy sled while Jaeger was tied to a tree).

Watching Henry giggle as he's pulled across the snow makes living in Ohio during the winter months so worth it!

He should totally model for L.L.Bean.

Chillin' with Dad.

Can you see Jaeger in the background?

So relaxed.

Here we go!

He loves it!

Any guesses?

2009-01-23T06:30:00.001-05:00

What do you think we were doing out in the snow last weekend?
These pics of Jaeger are simply a sneak peek.
Pictures of the event to be posted Monday!

Innocent until proven guilty?

2009-01-22T06:30:00.005-05:00

Something tells me that these two are up to something.

Whose chair is it anyway?

2009-01-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

Two years ago I bought Matt a chair for his birthday. Not just any chair - a beautiful, plush, brown, leather recliner. I spent way too much money on it (especially considering how much we spent on our beautiful, plush, brown, leather couch). Fortunately, though, it gets a LOT of use. More use than I could ever imagine it getting considering Matt works 10+ hours everyday, and the chair doesn't even face the T.V.

But Matt is not the one who uses it 8-10 hours everyday. No, JAEGER is the one who loves this chair thus occupying it for hours at a time. Not only does he think it is comfortable, but it faces our front window, and he thoroughly enjoys watching all the action from that chair.

I suppose if Matt is gone everyday and can't enjoy the chair, then the next best thing is for our dog to keep it warm for him.

~~Matt's~~ Jaeger's chair

Guard dog extraordinaire

Tough life

Zzzzzzzz

Because everyone needs a good snuggle.

2009-01-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

When Dad stays home from work . . .

2009-01-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

. . . things get done!

Don't worry, Dad, I'm your assistant.

I'm a proud assistant!

What do you mean you need the screwdriver? I'm using it.

Mom, I can handle power tools. Relax.

Let me try, please.

Almost done!

Whoa. I'll let you take care of that one.

Okay, let me put on the finishing touches. Voila!

I spend most of my days chasing this:

2009-01-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

Uh-oh!

2009-01-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

It's official! That is Henry's first word. Once I pull my act together, I'll post video of the uh-oh machine.

Coal, anyone?

2009-01-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

Guess who was caught eating burnt wood?
And this photo doesn't do it justice. The flash washes out the deep black that was oozing out of Henry's mouth.
He was playing in the fireplace (sans fire, of course), and this is how we found him.
Sadly, he looks like he's enjoying it.
Ugh.

Cousins

2009-01-13T06:30:00.001-05:00

Last week we had family over to watch the Fiesta Bowl. Though the Bucks couldn't pull it off, we enjoyed hanging out and interacting with the kids. Here are a few pics of the cousins (and if you are wondering what's on Ella's cheek - she was having way too much fun with stickers. They ended up everywhere).

Mister-I-can-go-anywhere

2009-01-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

Henry is officially a crawler - on all fours (whereas before he only army crawled) - and my sister captured mister-I-can-go-anywhere on film. She posted this short clip on her blog. I now spend my days chasing after him, which is a lot more exhausting than it sounds.

Those were the days.

2009-01-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

I recently spent some time organizing my iPhoto, and it was so neat to go through the last couple of years in pictures.

This particular picture struck me for a few reasons:

I was pregnant thus often napping. Almost daily, I would come home from work, throw on my lounge wear, and sleep the rest of the afternoon away. This pregnancy is SO different. There isn't a moment in my day that I don't wish I was napping, but life with a 9-month old means that naps are few and FAR between.
Call us crazy, but shortly after finding out we were pregnant, we decided to get a puppy. I adore Jaeger, but there are days when I wonder, "what we were thinking?!" Those first few months, rearing a puppy and growing my way through a pregnancy, were rough, but I'd do it all over again in a second.
Snuggling with a little one that soft and itty-bitty is such a treat. And I am so blessed that in a few months, I'll have another itty-bitty, soft-skinned baby to snuggle with. I can't wait.

9-month update

2009-01-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Henry had his 9-month check-up. The best part? No shots!

Doc said that Henry looks great; he's hitting the appropriate milestones and growing beautifully.

He weighed 20 pounds, and he measured 29 inches long.

We can start introducing eggs to his diet (one of the three forbidden foods - nuts and honey are the other two), and in the next couple of months, we can introduce whole milk.

We continue to thank God for our happy and healthy Henry. It's been an amazing 9 months.

Hooper-Moore Wedding (I promise, this is it)

2009-01-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

You talkin' 'bout me?

I love my MoMo!

Oma, these are pretty.

I love Christmas lights.

Grandma, I love snugglin' with you.

Thanks, Dad. This wedding wore me out!

Hooper-Moore Wedding, More Pics

2009-01-06T06:30:00.001-05:00

Hooper-Moore Wedding

2009-01-05T06:30:00.000-05:00

My husband's sister, Kelley, married the man of her dreams on December 27th. They were married in the same church on the same date as my husband's parents. Though the weather was unseasonably warm, it was a lovely winter wedding.

We had a fantastic evening, and second to my sister-in-law, Henry stole the show. Check out his adorable outfit - I could simply eat him up.

Peek-a-boo

I see you.

And now he's eating.

Actually, shoveling is more like it.

Just chillin' with Grandma

Grandpa called him Payne Stewart. What do you think?

New Year's Eve!

2009-01-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

Though quite cold, we spent New Year's Eve touring the Columbus Zoo Wildlights display. The Zoo does an amazing job every year, and because they keep the indoor exhibits open, we tolerated the weather by slipping in the indoor aquarium and manatee exhibit (while sipping on hot chocolate, of course!).

Not only beautiful, over half of the lights are energy-saving LED lights. Gotta love that!

This is how the little bear spent the first half of the evening.

Our family, all bundled up!

Christmas with the Hoopers

2009-01-01T06:30:00.001-05:00

Our original Christmas Day plan was to travel to Matt's hometown after spending the evening at the Noskers. But because Matt was still sick, we postponed our trip until the 26th.
In addition to celebrating Christmas with Matt's family, we were also celebrating Matt's sister's union to her now-husband! On the evening of the 26th we attended the rehearsal and dinner, and on the 27th we celebrated Christmas and later attended the most beautiful winter wedding. More pictures from that coming soon!
Here are a few pics from our Christmas celebration with the Hoopers.

Did someone say more presents?

Mom, I don't need your help, I know what I'm doing.

Another Christmas? I really was good this year!

How does this work, hmmm, let me see.

Grandma & Grandpa, oh-no-you-didn't! This sled is AWESOME!

Bring on the snow!

Giddy-up, Rudolph!

And did I mention, "Happy New Year!" and "Happy 9-month Birthday to Me!"

Christmas with the Nameths, Part Two

2008-12-31T06:30:00.001-05:00

After opening all the gifts and indulging in a delicious brunch (thanks, Mom!), we all enjoyed my favorite part of Christmas Day - naptime! I think we each slept for at least an hour. It was wonderful.
The day ended with a tradition that has been in place for over 15 years. Every year we celebrate Christmas with our dear friends, the Noskers. We always have Christmas dinner at their house as they so graciously host a feast for about 20 friends and family. We love celebrating with them, and though Matt was unable to attend (still suffering from the flu), we were grateful to have dear friends and family together on this wonderful holiday.

I just woke up.

There were sugarplums in my dream. Don't worry. They were manly ninja fighting sugarplums, but sugarplums nonetheless.

And now I'm ready for round two!

Hey, mom, what do you think of my Christmas outfit?

You do? You really like it? Because I think I look like a snow bunny. And it's not even snowing.

Christmas with the Nameths, Part One

2008-12-30T06:30:00.001-05:00

After celebrating Christmas as a family, we headed to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with them.
As you might imagine, the afternoon was all about Henry.
He received a proper spoiling, and we are extremely grateful to my parents and sister who loved on him all day long.

Whatcha lookin' at? These are mine (and so are the hot Santa pajamas - don't hate).

So what if the box is bigger than I am, I'm gonna open it!

What's all the fuss about? Opening presents is a piece of cake.

Hey, is this an eco-friendly toy car? Alright! My mom's gonna love this.

Not only good for the Earth, but good for the teeth.

I can't help it. I like to eat things.

Now, Opa, if you would have just read the directions the first time, this thing would be put together by now.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Outta my way!

Check ya later, dude.

Henry's First Christmas

2008-12-29T06:05:00.000-05:00

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
Though Matt was sick the entire day, we began our first Christmas together on our couch, in our living room, just the three of us (well, four if you count Jaeger, and I guess, five, if you count the baby in my belly).
Henry is nearly nine months old, and it seemed like the perfect age for him to celebrate his first Christmas. He enjoyed the actual art of ripping open a present, and it was a joy to watch him discover new toys, books, and gadgets. He scarfed his way through many delicious goodies, and he babbled his way through new thoughts and ideas.
We would not have had Henry's first Christmas any other way.

Only on Christmas is everyone this happy before the sun comes up.

Santa was here!

Tissue paper? Who needs that? Let's get to the good stuff!

I prefer to eat my presents. Oh, and check out my mom's new green Bible. She likes God and the Earth.

Hey guys, don't forget about me.

Christmas Eve, 2008

2008-12-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday we celebrated our first Christmas Eve together with Henry. Unfortunately, Matt started feeling queasy around lunchtime, and by early evening, the stomach flu had consumed him. It was a bittersweet evening without him.
While Matt stayed home, Henry and I went to dinner with my sister and parents. Following dinner we attended a beautiful candlelight service at our church. As I sat through service, praying for my husband's health and thanking God for my precious son, I realized that this has been the absolute most blessed year of my life. It has come with its own set of challenges, some of which I have yet to overcome, but God has remained true to us each and every moment. I am so grateful.

Henry with his Opa and Oma.

The gang: MoMo, Henry, Me, Opa, and Oma

Isn't he so handsome?

Sometimes I still cannot believe he is mine.

Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T06:55:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Lord, for a blessed year.
We are so grateful for this wonderful family, and we are beyond excited to know that our family will be expanding next year.
Thank you for the good news.
As we approach 2009, we continue to pray for the good health of our families, we pray for the health of our unborn baby, and we pray for the health and well-being of all those we have come to know as friends.
We are forever joyful.
Amen.

Because the holidays are exhausting.

2008-12-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

And it's only Christmas Eve.

COLD!

2008-12-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

Wanna know how cold it's been in Ohio the last few days? Just look at Jaeger's whiskers.

The crazy thing is, my husband and dog actually make a significant effort to do stuff in this whisker-freezing cold. And by do stuff, I don't mean they just go for a walk around the block. No, I'm talking wade-through-partially-frozen-creeks do stuff. Apparently they get their kicks hangin' around bitter cold water with guns looking for innocent waterfowl. {shaking head} Boys.

At least he wasn't scared.

2008-12-22T06:55:00.000-05:00

Stunned? Maybe. In shock? Possibly. But our little bear's reaction to the jolly ol' man was anything but fear!

We were elfed!

2008-12-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A peek into Henry's nursery

2008-12-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

I posted pics of Henry's nursery 10 months ago (has it been that long?), and today we revisit those pics at Raising Peanuts. Donielle, the blog's author, is featuring Henry's nursery in Welcome to My Nursery.

Check it out, and enjoy!

Guess who discovered the Christmas Tree?

2008-12-17T06:45:00.001-05:00

Yeah, that's right, I caught ya!

Hey you, what are you reaching for?

Wait a minute, hey, stop that.

Oh, great. What are you eating?

"Ymm, crunchy."

{Mom shakes her head and walks away}

Henry's Christmas Stocking!

2008-12-16T06:55:00.000-05:00

My mother-in-law handmade this darling gem. Could it be anymore precious? And would you believe that she made our wedding cake, too. She is so Martha!

*Notice Henry's elf on the mantle? That was a gift from Oma. Like I tell our 8-month-old boy everyday, "your elf is watching and will report back to Santa." Naturally my little bear comprehends every word of it.

The cake!

Last lesson, First fever

2008-12-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Henry had his last swim lesson on Wednesday.

As always, he loved being in the water, and he went home with a cute Certificate of Completion. He makes his momma so proud. {tear}

We will take winter off from the formal lessons, but we plan to pick them back up in spring.

Unfortunately, two days after his last lesson, Henry came down with a serious cold. He experienced his first fever, ever! My, oh my, that boy was on fire.

He's doing better now, though he's still snotty-nosed and phlegm-filled.

But snot and phlegm aside, he's still our happy little bear!

Very important announcement

2008-12-12T07:00:00.004-05:00

My sister is going to Cambodia!

My darling little sister, Morgan, has been given the opportunity to do missions work in Cambodia. God has been working in her heart, and my brave sister accepted His request! In February, 2009, she will travel to Southeast Asia to serve an orphanage in Prek Eng.
She is traveling with a group from our church, and they are serving through a third-party organization, Asia’s Hope. Our church currently has a long-term missionary serving the orphanage, and if you check out her blog you can read about how God is using her in Cambodia.

Finally, if you want to help my sister, she can definitely use 1) lots of prayers, and 2) financial support*. Please let me** know if you are willing or able to help her out in either of those ways.

Morgan – I am so proud of you, and those precious children will be blessed to have you.

*All donations are tax deductible.

**Contact: alisonkhooper{at}gmail{dot}com

Playtime at The Hoopers

2008-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is what playtime looks like at our house.

Remember to share, boys.

"Come on, Mom, put the camera away."

Whoever said there was anything wrong with child labor?

2008-12-10T06:55:00.004-05:00

My philosophy is Start 'Em Young.

Let's not forget about our first love.

2008-12-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

Before there was baby, there was puppy. And we absolutely love our puppy.

But because baby is currently suffering a major rash*, puppy has not been given much attention lately.

Nonetheless, puppy deserves serious kudos because last weekend he single-handedly retrieved his first duck! Prior to Saturday, Jaeger had only successfully retrieved with Matt's strategic assistance. Then this past weekend, Matt, Matt's Dad, and Jaeger hit the creek for a morning of duck-hunting. Sure enough, Matt's Dad flushed a black duck, Matt shot him down, and Jaeger scooped him up and brought him to his master! Way to go, Jaeger!

No worries, while Jaeger was reveling in the high life, Henry was indoors enjoying a proper spoiling from his Grandma.

It's an understatement to say that these boys love their time spent on the farm.

*Rash update: Henry's rash is clearing up. Thanks to a lot of advice and concern from friends, family, and medical professionals, we determined that Henry possibly reacted to the Amoxicillin, but most likely the rash was due to the antibiotic flushing the virus out of little bear's system. Because his rash was not actually hives, the likelihood that he is allergic to penicillin is low (yipee!). Thank you to everyone who helped us better understand the little guy's rash. And thank God for our healthy, and as always, happy baby!

Pink polka dot baby

2008-12-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

Our little bear is now a spotted little bear. Thanks to a reaction to his antibiotic (we think), our little bear is covered in pink polka dots. I think the technical term is urticaria or hives, but who cares about technical terms when your baby is covered in spots!

Fortunately he is not suffering a fever or any other symptoms, so we are going to ride this out and hope it clears up in a couple of days (per our pediatrician's recommendation).

Spots!

Spots! And more spots!

Even spots on the cheeks!

But when you're spotted, off go the clothes!

And who wouldn't rather be naked?

Cuddlin' with MoMo

2008-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when Aunt MoMo visits during a break from work.

Boys weekend

2008-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

The boys spent last weekend on the farm while I stayed back and held down the fort. It was nice for me to actually catch up on ~~work~~ sleep, and Matt thoroughly enjoyed allowing his parents to watch Henry as Matt scoured the woods for innocent deer to kill.

While at Grandma & Grandpa's, Henry scooted around and played with his new favorite toy, a cooking spatula. {Note to self: do not spend oodles of dollars on expensive and fancy light-up toys for young child. Rather, cheap, plastic cooking spatula will entertain for hours}

As for the tale of Man v. Beast that unfolded in the woods: Beast won. Matt arrived safely home Monday night with puppy and baby in tow, but much to the hunter's dismay, there were no antlers to hang or carcass to stuff {Aww, Shucks!}. Unfortunately this means that the hunt for the big buck continues leaving me a hunting widow for a few more weeks. Good thing we have a lot of cooking spatulas {wink}.

Christmas card pictures gone wild

2008-12-03T06:55:00.002-05:00

Though it's been freezing here lately, we have had a few beautiful and sunny days. We took advantage of one such day to take the dreaded Christmas card picture with an 8 month old and a feisty puppy. It proved to be a challenge, but we managed to get a few shots that will find it's way into the mailboxes of our friends and family.

Here are a few that, well, didn't make the cut.

No, wait, look to the right, no, your other right.

Why does no one listen when Mom says SMILE?

Jaeger, these are G-rated photos!

Boys, up here! Look up here!

Forget it, do whatever you want.

Thanksgiving with the Nameths

2008-12-02T06:55:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday we unexpectedly made it back to Columbus in time to attend the Nameth side Thanksgiving hosted by Lisa. It was a special evening with lots of little ones running around. There is never a moment of peace when all the cousins get together - but we like it that way!

Just chillin'

"More, please."

"GrmThanHmk YouMmm."

"Yep, it's good."

Buddies. Best Buddies.

Does Thanksgiving get any cuter than this?

*Oh, and Henry had his first "sick" appointment last week. He's been fighting a cold for over a week, so I finally took him to see the doc. With a bit of fluid behind one of his ears, doc put him on an antibiotic. And for the BIG news: he weighed in at 20lb, 4oz!

Thanksgiving with the Hoopers

2008-12-01T06:55:00.004-05:00

On Thursday Henry celebrated his FIRST Thanksgiving!

Technically his first Thanksgiving was last year except that he spent the day much like the turkey spent most of its day (cookin' in the oven). This year, on the other hand, Henry indulged and enjoyed! He ate EVERYTHING, and his diaper the next day was evidence of that.

He spent the first half of the day with the Hooper side and the second half of the day with the Nameth side. It was a blessed day, and we loved every minute spent with family, friends, and our little turkey.

Here are a few pics from our time with the Hooper side.

Playin' with my cousin, Megan.

Cuddlin' with Uncle Dave.

"Cousin, Ashley, you crack me up!"

"Look, Grandma, I'm gettin' big!"

"Mom, is this turkey? It's yummy."

"I think I ate too much."

*I should probably note that Henry is 8 months old today! Happy 8 month Birthday, Little Bear.

Henry, meet Pony. Pony, meet Henry.

2008-11-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we attended a birthday party for a friend's daughter who turned 3. For her party, the birthday girl wanted a pony, and by golly, she got her wish!

And because Henry didn't want to be rude, he saddled up. Our little cowboy is a natural, don't ya think?

Happy Thanksgiving from Sleepy

2008-11-27T07:10:00.003-05:00

Our Little Bear is dreaming you up a Happy Thanksgiving. Either that or someone just ate too much turkey!

All growed up

2008-11-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

Sitting is so last season.

Here's the little-big-bear all growed up!

Unless you are a grandparent of Little Bear, you will probably lose interest in this video in about ten seconds. If you are a grandparent of Little Bear, I am sorry that there is not a "continuous repeat" button for you to push.

Brrr.

2008-11-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

The FREEZING cold weather doesn't stop these two (actually, three, but Jaeger missed the photo op) from taking a stroll outside. Could my boys be any cuter all bundled up?

Uh-oh.

2008-11-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Columbus, we have a problem. Our ~~little~~ growing bear figured out how to go from sitting to standing, in, uh, like 2.5 seconds. Looks like we need to lower the mattress yesterday.

Aunt MoMo and her kiddos

2008-11-23T19:36:00.001-05:00

What would we do without Aunt MoMo? Check out her recent post of her with her precious kiddos.

My son eats vegetables, how 'bout yours?

2008-11-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

OBNOXIOUS MOM BRAG ALERT. OBNOXIOUS MOM BRAG ALERT.

You were warned.

Henry eats veggies. That's right. Our son eats authentic, grown in the ground, plucked from the farm, vitamin and mineral enriched, leafy and colorful vegetables. And he likes them. Well, for the most part. See for yourself.

What's up, Doc?

Hey, at least I'm trying it.

Oh my gosh, eating vegetables is so fun.

You should totally try them. They're a blast.

Don't worry. I'm a normal kid. I like cookies, too.

See my serious I-just-ate-a-yummy-cookie face.

I'm just playin'. Cookies aren't serious. They are totally fun, too.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I can eat vegetables because I have teeth. Check out my two (count 'em, ONE and TWO) pearly whites.

P.S. Don't stick your finger in my mouth. You'll regret it.

Henry + Paper = Commotion

2008-11-18T08:27:00.003-05:00

Last week, when Ali was at her doctor's appointment, Henry enjoyed playing with the paper on the doctor's table. The only thing handy was a camera phone - here's a quick clip of him playing and making a lot of commotion.

Ali is WALKING!

2008-11-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Quick update from Ali:

I saw my surgeon Wednesday, and he said that I am progressing well. He gave me the thumbs up to start walking - gradually and slowly - and I am now wearing a normal tennis shoe rather than the boot. Additionally, he wrote me a script for two weeks of physical therapy. I saw my therapist yesterday, and she gave me a series of exercises to do 2-3 times a day. She told me that if I am a "good" patient, I might be jogging again in 4-8 weeks. I really didn't expect such a wonderful prognosis.

The best news is that I can pick up and carry Henry now. Yes, I (we) move slowly, but we are movin' - and that's all that matters. It is an amazing feeling to be taking care of my baby again.

And I cannot thank everyone enough for their continued support throughout this ordeal. We have been blessed with incredible help - thank you all so much. And thank you for your prayers. These last few weeks have tested me greatly, and I am so thankful that I have had God on my side. He is so good to me.

Happy Birthday to Hubby, Daddy, and Master!

2008-11-11T07:30:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday to Matt from your wife, son, and dog. We LOVE you like crazy, and we wish you a very special day. Thank you for taking care of us so well, and thank God for how He has blessed us through you. Y Ali, Henry & Jaeger

Thank you for making me your wife.

Thanks for loving me unconditionally.

Thanks for making me your huntin' buddy!

Aunt MoMo

2008-11-10T07:45:00.002-05:00

Check out this update, including a video, from Aunt MoMo's Corner.

Playin' at the Rec

2008-11-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

Friday before Matt, Henry, and Jaeger left for the farm, we took Henry to Open Gym at our local rec center. Open Gym is an opportunity for children ages 6mo.+ to play, play and play! Naturally, Henry had a great time. There are toys for every age group and level of development. Unfortunately Open Gym occurs during Henry's nap time so he didn't last very long. Nonetheless he enjoyed sitting on the cushiony mats, playing with toys, and watching all the big kids!

Because we like to play

2008-11-08T07:45:00.006-05:00

Now that Henry is sitting up, he spends a lot of time on the floor playing. More often than not, Jaeger is plopped down next to him joining in the fun. Occasionally Jaeger takes off with one of Henry's toys, but Henry doesn't seem to mind. There are plenty of toys to go around. The two playmates simply love each other's company.

Hippo Scraps Makeover

2008-11-07T22:34:00.002-05:00

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ashley of Hippo Scraps for the amazing blog makeover. We absolutely love the new look. We are proud to display your beautiful work and creativity. Thank you again.

Sing to me

2008-11-07T11:10:00.003-05:00

Months ago we decided to call Henry "Barchen," meaning "little bear" in German. To go with this unique term of endearment, Ali whipped up a special song just for her little bear. Henry LOVES this song, in fact, he enjoys most songs that are sent his way. Here's a clip of him listening to his special song and another of his favorites, Jesus Loves Me. Please excuse his mother's off-key and out-of-pitch tune; fortunately, Henry doesn't mind it.

VistaFest

2008-11-01T21:07:00.012-04:00

We spent this evening with our church family at the second annual VistaFest. We gathered on a spectacular property in Powell, and we enjoyed a night filled with hay rides, pulled pork sandwiches, live music, roasted marshmallows, and lovely friends.

It was a beautiful and relaxing evening, and we left feeling so blessed to be a part of such an amazing church.

I'd rather be playing in the hay.

I love being a boy. Rompin' around in the hay is fun!

Hey mom, is this edible?

I can't get enough of this stuff!

SEVEN months old!

2008-11-01T13:32:00.003-04:00

Being the organized and scheduled mom that I am (or try to be), I enjoy keeping track of Henry's many milestones and new developments. But I am often reminded that I could be doing a better job. My sister (Henry's Aunt Mo) is INCREDIBLY good at remembering special dates and upcoming events that pertain to Henry's life. Just yesterday Morgan told me that Henry will spend an entire year of his life having not celebrated Easter. Easter came early last year, and it will come late next year, so Henry will celebrate his first birthday before ever celebrating an Easter. Obviously he won't be affected by it, but Morgan seemed very bothered that Henry will exist for over 365 days before formally celebrating the most important day in all of history.

Today I was again reminded of how thoughtful Morgan is. Though I was aware that Henry is seven months old today, I didn't think much of it until I checked my sister's blog. Sure enough, she had published a post announcing Henry's seven-month-birthday to the world (and check out that darling picture of sleepy Henry)! That's just the kind of sister that she is - one that absolutely adores my son, and one that is quick to make me realize that I'm not half as organized and scheduled as I would like to be!

Y Ali

Trick-or-Treat, Smell my feet!

2008-10-31T08:38:00.019-04:00

Yesterday Henry participated in his first trick-or-treat. Along with friends and family, we gathered at Oma & Opa's for hot dogs before passing out candy to the dozens of kids in their cute, fun and sometimes scanty costumes. Of course Henry did not go knocking door-to-door, but the little bear enjoyed cozying up outside while watching all the kids come by. It was a chilly night so we brought out blankets and the chiminea, and everyone had a great time.

Much of the gang

(top row from left: Jared holding Ella the monkey, Lisa Ignaziak, Mary Rizzo with a baby in her belly!, Matt Rizzo;

in the middle: Ty a.k.a. Spiderman, Grace the elephant, Lexie the dog;

and on the ground - Henry the bear)

Sadly this specimen belongs to us, and we call him Opa.

Ella & Henry - SO cute!

The kids were in heaven.

Ella making "snow" angels in the mulch while Ty assesses the situation.

Our little bear

Cute as can be

Believe it or not, this wild child was the sign bearer at our wedding.

Lauren the butterfly - she's a doll.

Jared with the real firefighter, Jake!

Ella had way too much fun!

Ali with Jake and Lisa

Daddy bear and baby bear

Eating time = Serious time

2008-10-30T21:44:00.006-04:00

This is the face of a boy who does not want to be disturbed while he is eating. Can you blame him?

It doesn't get any better than this:

2008-10-30T07:12:00.004-04:00

Matt is usually the one to soothe Henry to sleep each night, and since my injury, Matt has been especially helpful with the bedtime routine. Each night, Matt takes Henry (and Henry's bottle) up to our bed as to let me finish up any work that is consuming me downstairs. It is also an opportunity for Matt to relax as his days have become extremely busy and exhausting taking care of Henry, Jaeger and me. So when I hobbled upstairs last night and found the three boys sound asleep in bed (Jaeger was at the foot of the bed), I was filled with warmth. I managed to capture this picture with my camera phone. Eventually Matt woke up and carried Henry to his crib, but for a few peaceful minutes, I was given a most precious gift: three sleeping boys. Y Ali

Busy, busy, busy

2008-10-27T20:58:00.006-04:00

We had one of the busiest weekends that we have had in a long time.

Friday night was the calm before the storm - we ate dinner out at Bob Evans and hit the grocery store for a few last minute items.

But by Saturday, it was off to the races. In the morning we headed to Newark for Marvin Baker's funeral service. Though the circumstances were not ideal, it was nice to see family that we haven't seen in a while. After the service we scooted back to Columbus to quickly change clothes and head back out the door. We dropped Henry off at Oma & Opa's and then headed to campus for the OSU v. PSU game. Because we made it down relatively early (we were there by 2:00pm for an 8:00pm kick-off), we scored great parking and a spot in line for Skull Session. We enjoyed a rare evening together without Henry, and though the Buckeyes couldn't pull it off, we had an awesome evening. We crawled into bed shortly after midnight, and because Oma & Opa (and Mo) kept Henry overnight, we both had a great night's sleep.

Sunday morning we were up-and-at-em again, this time for a trip to McConnelsville. Ali hosted a bridal shower for Matt's sister, Kelley, and it was an afternoon of too-much food, giggling ladies, and a spoiled Kelley. Matt spent the afternoon shooting clays and exercising Jaeger. We were back in Columbus by 6:00pm, and we were both exhausted. Too bad Henry didn't sleep well last night because we could have used the rest!

Go Bucks!

Stealing a kiss.

The infamous Script Ohio

Toys - Yum!

Hey guys, it's me, Henry!

Prayers for the Kelley & Baker families

2008-10-21T12:23:00.003-04:00

Early this morning the Kelley & Baker families lost Uncle Marvin. Marvin Baker was Uncle to Becky and her five sisters, and he was brother to Grandma Kelley (Marcilene).

Every Thanksgiving, Marvin and his gracious wife, Vickie, opened their home to the entire family for Thanksgiving dinner. We enjoyed our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple at Marvin & Vickie's last year. Not only were they extremely hospitable to the both of us, but they welcomed our rambunctious puppy as he enjoyed romping around in their large backyard. We were looking forward to visiting with Marvin this Thanksgiving as we knew his health was failing, and we are saddened to know that we will not have that opportunity.

Please be thinking of and praying for the Kelley's and Baker's as they deal with this loss.

Boo at the Zoo

2008-10-20T13:25:00.007-04:00

Saturday night we went to the Columbus Zoo for Boo at the Zoo. Henry's costume was the perfect outfit for the evening as temperatures dropped into the low 50s. We bundled up with our little bear (and Oma & Opa) for a stroll around the park. Most of the animals were asleep, but we did visit the fish at the aquarium (Henry's favorite). Henry also experienced his first ride on a carousel. He didn't offer much expression while on the horse rather he appeared a bit over-stimulated by all the lights and sounds. Henry's favorite part of the evening was probably when Mommy fed him iced animal crackers - a bit ironic, don't ya think?

Henry the fish

2008-10-16T09:11:00.006-04:00

Henry began swimming lessons yesterday, and he absolutely loved it. He will be taking six weeks of lessons at our local recreation center, and the primary goal of the lessons is to get the babies comfortable in the water. Henry went under the water twice, and it didn't seem to bother him one bit. Guess we have a little fish on our hands!

Ali update

2008-10-15T16:52:00.002-04:00

Ali saw her doctor today.

Here is the good news:

No more cast! She is now the proud owner of a BIG BLACK BOOT. Though she cannot bear weight on her leg yet, she can remove the boot to shower - how refreshing!
She can start stretching her ankle. Doc recommends stretching and rotating it a couple of times a day.

The less than good news:

Still another 4 weeks before she can bear any weight on her left leg.
Still another 6 weeks before she can pick up Henry and walk around with him.

Thanks again to our family and friends who continue to help us through this complicated situation. We don't know what we would do without you.

And thank God that it's just an ankle. It could be much worse, and we are grateful that there is an end in sight.

got pumpkins?

2008-10-14T20:03:00.000-04:00

Grandma & Grandpa were in town today helping Ali with Henry and Jaeger. In addition to visiting the pediatrician for vaccinations (Henry hardly fussed!), we stopped at the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins. Here are a few pics of our little pumpkin at the patch.

Check out my band-aid - that's right, I got shots today.

Check out my mom's boo-boo - Yikes!

Hey, Mister, I'm not for sale!

Pumpkins are F-U-N!

Gotta find the perfect pumpkin.

I'm not scared of no scarecrow.

Oh, and forgot to mention, I sit up now!

Laptime

2008-10-14T12:46:00.001-04:00

Each Monday our local library offers Laptime for babies. It's 20 minutes of songs and stories appropriate for little ones. Henry enjoys the songs with hand motions, and he especially enjoys watching all the other babies.

This past Monday my mom took us, and we met Jared, Lisa, Ella, Jake and my Aunt Kay (she was in town for the weekend). What fun!

*Thanks for the pictures, Auntie

Back home

2008-10-12T21:14:00.009-04:00

Though fun while it lasted, we decided to move back home today. The conveniences of Ali's parents house will be missed - first floor master bedroom and shower, two short steps into the house (as opposed to four steps into the condo), LOTS of extra hands to help out - but we are back at the condo in hopes of staying better organized and possibly regaining some independence (mainly for Ali's sake). By no means can Ali use her left leg (probably another month yet), but for those of you who know Ali, her independence and "space" are her sanity.
We have been so blessed to have Ali's family nearby during this complicated couple of weeks, and we are forever grateful for their hospitality. It's one thing to give up your bed (and essentially the entire house) for your injured daughter and her husband, but throw a six-month-old baby and rambunctious puppy in the mix - that takes some patience!
Fortunately we continue to have an outpouring of help from both Matt and Ali's families, and we welcome them as we transition back to life in our home.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Oma & Opa (and MoMo too) for rearranging your lives so that our life was made easier. We know that God uses these bumps-in-the-road to grow our family, thus we embrace life's challenges with open arms.

Ridin' in style

2008-10-07T21:37:00.014-04:00

Check out Henry's new wheels

(Oma found the Gator at a garage sale!):

And check out Ali's new wheels

(sticky-fingered by her law-abiding cousin, Jar-Head):

6 months already?

2008-10-04T19:13:00.005-04:00

It's already been six months since our little blessing entered this world, and he has filled our lives with such happiness and love.

On Friday, Henry had his six-month doctor's appointment. Henry continues to grow and hit the appropriate developmental milestones, and Henry's doctor is pleased with his progress. Henry weighed 18lbs, 5oz, and he measured 27.75" long. And with the exception of just a few foods, the doc gave us permission to feed Henry just about anything! With a second tooth popping up, Henry is ready to chow down.

Opa, I'm helping you mow the lawn.

This tongue helps me think.

Do you like the hat my Oma made?

I do!

Just swingin' from a tree.

Happy Half Birthday To Henry!

2008-10-01T21:11:00.005-04:00

Henry is six months old today, and because his Mo spoils him, she insisted on having a small get-together to celebrate the little man's half birthday. And even though Mommy can hardly move, she managed to bake cupcakes just for the occasion (thanks for your help, Oma). It was a special evening as Morgan premiered a darling video that she created highlighting pictures of the last six months. Not to mention, Aunt Mo treated Henry to a new karaoke toy which he LOVES! Several of our friends and family stopped by to check on Ali and give Henry some love. What a great way to spend a Wednesday evening.

I love my new toy, Aunt Mo!

Aren't we having fun, Opa?

Gee, I'm cute.

Hangin' with my pal Kel.

Cupcake time - delicious!

From Ali:

2008-09-30T18:55:00.004-04:00

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and prayers today. I'm experiencing some pain, but no more than what is to be expected. Henry was well taken care of by Grandma Hooper while Matt and my Mom were by my side at the hospital. We have been so blessed by helpful friends and family - thank you, thank you, thank you. Please don't hesitate to call me tomorrow or anytime thereafter. Sitting around the house all day ain't my thing, so I'd love the company and conversation. I'm still slightly weak and doped up, so I imagine that a good night's rest is in order. Again, many thanks to all of you. God is good.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months

2008-09-30T08:12:00.005-04:00

Saturday morning Ali and Jaeger went for an early jog. Eager to get back (Ali and Matt had tickets to the Buckeye game), Ali took a shortcut home across Avery Road and down a grass-covered drainage ditch. Because it was early, the grass was still wet, and on their way down the ditch, Ali slipped. Her ankle rolled, her body didn't, and down Ali went. On her way down, she heard a snap, crack and pop. Ali looked down and saw her ankle jiggle. Fortunately she was close to the road and was able to flag down passer-bys. Several people stopped (traffic backed up 20 cars deep), and someone managed to run to get Matt (Ali was only ten yards from home). Matt and a couple of other guys scooped Ali up and carried her home.

We decided to call the squad because Ali's pain was so intense, and within minutes Ali was in the ER. Several x-rays later, Ali learned that she fractured two bones (and later learned that she tore a ligament). Yesterday the orthopedic surgeon determined that Ali will need surgery - no question about it. And that brings us to today. At 10:30am, Ali will check into hospital for the addition of some serious metal to her ankle - three screws and a plate, to be exact. She will not be able to put any weight on her left foot for at least six weeks (yippee for crutches and a walker!), and there is a chance that she will need physical therapy.

Because Ali's parents have a first-floor master, we have moved into Ali's parents house. So now Ali's parents are hosting Morgan and her dog, and us: Ali, Matt, Henry and Jaeger! Additionally, Ali is requiring help everyday, so Ali's family and Matt's family have come to the rescue. Nearly everyday someone is making a sacrifice so that Ali and Henry can be cared for. We are truly blessed.

Say a prayer for us - these next couple of months are going to be quite interesting. But what doesn't kill us can only make us stronger, and for that we are thankful.

A week of firsts

2008-09-25T21:01:00.006-04:00

With his first tooth and first cold, Henry had a rough week. But no surprise to us, he has remained absolutely delightful. He enjoys exercising his tooth on crackers although he tends to fuss when the food doesn't get to his mouth fast enough. And even though he is snuffly, his cold has done no more than keep him in bed a bit longer in the morning and during his naps.

When he's not snoozing (or eating), Henry spends his days learning to sit up (he's getting close!), laughing at his puppy (the two are inseparable), and visiting the aquarium at the zoo (he could stare at the fish for hours). Henry appears to love life, and we love life with Henry!

A boy's best friends

2008-09-18T08:07:00.004-04:00

Although it will be a while before Henry is making requests to hang out with friends, there are four "individuals" destined to make his best friends list: Jaeger, Heidi, Hans & Jake. Okay, technically three of these "individuals" are actually four-legged friends, but ask any child growing up with a dog in the home, dogs count as friends!

At only five months old, Henry lights up when he sees Jaeger, Heidi or Hans (Heidi belongs to Oma & Opa; Hans belongs to Aunt Mo). Henry is still getting used to their frequent kisses, but it probably won't be long before Henry returns the love.

And as you can tell from the picture, Henry is already expressing his affinity for his best buddy Jake. With only seven weeks between them, the two boys are sure to be lifelong buds.

Fall Fun

2008-09-15T21:04:00.012-04:00

Although the September Equinox is a week away, Central Ohio has already experienced some beautiful fall weather. We got a jump-start on a couple of our favorite fall activities - evening walks and football games. Friday night we cheered on Matt's alma mater in McConnelsville - Go Raiders! Unfortunately they are going to need a lot more than a few cheers; they are struggling this season.

And in other news, our little man is cutting teeth! His Aunt Mo found the beginnings of his first tooth popping out of his lower gum - no wonder he is constantly soaking wet from drooling all over himself.

And finally, the little man laughs - a lot! While he is guaranteed to laugh when provoked (tickles underneath his armpits), he is beginning to laugh at just about anything - the dog, a smiling face, a goofy noise. His laughter is the best gift ever. We think you'll agree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbQh4lgo8VU

I've got my antler hat on,

and I am ready to cruise!

Uncle Curt, this one's for you: Go Raiders!

I'm pooped.

Smallest Buckeye Fan and Biggest Car Seat

2008-09-09T09:19:00.007-04:00

Saturday Henry cheered on the Buckeyes in the Shoe! Matt and Ali were given two tickets to the OSU v. OU game (thanks Kings), and we planned on taking Henry to his first Buckeye game. Just to be sure, we called the ticket office to ask if we could take Henry. Come to find out, EVERY person, no matter their age, MUST have a ticket in order to attend the game according to NCAA regulations. Can you believe that? As if Henry was going to use an actual seat?! Grrrr.

So we decided that Ali would stay home and Matt would take Henry to the game.

Matt's parents have adjoining tickets, and the four of them had a fantastic time rooting on the Buckeyes to a not-so-easy victory. Henry didn't seem to mind that the Bucks struggled; he was the cutest, and smallest, fan there.

Also this week, Henry moved into the next size car seat. Technically he does not have to switch seats until he is 30lbs, but instead of Ali's parents buying a car seat base for their vehicles, they took Henry's old car seat and helped to purchase his toddler car seat. Henry will stay in this car seat until he no longer needs a car seat. Right now it swallows Henry, but he will grow into it. Ali's dad is especially excited about the new seat because it is made by Recaro, the same company that makes seats for race cars. All Ali and Matt care about is that it is safe (and it is)!

What a beautiful day to be at the Shoe.

Check out Script Ohio in the background.

Grandpa teaching Henry about the game of football.

Sound asleep in Grandma's arms.

Vrrooommm.

Jaeger's best week ever

2008-09-09T08:52:00.006-04:00

He hunts and he swims! Jaeger had his best week ever last week. Labor Day was opening day of dove season, and for the first time, Matt took Jaeger hunting with him and his dad. Although they didn't see many doves, it was a great day to work with Jaeger on his retrieving. Matt reported a promising first experience with his hunting buddy, and they eagerly await upcoming duck season.

Then on Sunday our community pool opened to dogs. Every year they open up the pool to dogs before they drain it for the winter. Jaeger was in heaven as he swam amongst what must have been fifty other dogs. Unfortunately Jaeger also likes to exert his fertility so we had to cut his swim time short. The neutering debate is a hot topic in our household, but we agree that Jaeger sealed his fate on Sunday. We are going to give him a grace period through duck season, but he will most likely go under the knife next spring. Sorry Jaeg - one day you'll understand that it's just because we love you.

In his element

A proud moment

Eager to swim

Checking out the ladies

Hooper Family Pics

2008-09-06T11:30:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we spent Sunday and Monday in McConnelsville. As usual, Becky made a delicious five-course meal in addition to peach margaritas - yum! Kelley and Joe spent Sunday evening with us for dinner, and we all geared up in our Buckeye garb for family pictures. It's wild to think that we used the same gorgeous backdrop for our wedding day one year ago.

Here are a few of the shots that we captured.

Canoeing, Buckeyes, Pears & Politics

2008-08-30T21:28:00.004-04:00

What do these four things have in common? Henry!

Today Henry had a BUSY day. We started the day at Griggs Reservoir (Scioto River). Several years ago, Matt and his buddy, Kurt, purchased a canoe for hunting purposes. It's currently in Matt's possession, so we took it out for a row (actually, Matt did all the rowing). It was a gorgeous day, and Henry seemed to enjoy being on the water. Check out his stylish lifejacket. We weren't thrilled about the colors, but the marine store had a limited selection.

And speaking of colors, after canoeing, we rooted on the Scarlet & Grey as today was their season opener. They dominated the Horseshoe, and although we didn't make it to the game, we enjoyed watching the game at home, thanks to Time Warner's recent deal with The Big Ten Network!

While we watched the Buckeyes, Henry chowed down on his usual, pears. Our little man loves to eat.

Our evening ended on a political note. Obama & Biden made a stop in Columbus today - as a matter of fact, they stopped in Dublin at Dublin Coffman H.S. Although Matt and Ali don't completely agree politically, we decided to attend the rally considering we live only a mile away from the high school. After standing in line for well over an hour, we made it into the stadium. By that time it was standing room only, but we both agreed that it was worth it. Of course Henry didn't know what was going on, but we look forward to one day telling him about all the fun and crazy things we dragged him to while he was just a baby.

Anniversary Video

2008-08-30T21:11:00.003-04:00

Bless Morgan's heart. She posted the Anniversary video on YouTube. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM54v4uUetM

Birthdays and Celebrations

2008-08-29T22:11:00.009-04:00

This is an eventful week for the Hooper family. On Thursday Jaeger celebrated his first birthday. We've included a few of his "baby" pictures in this post - we can hardly believe that we brought him home at 7 pounds. He now weighs over 70lbs!

Also this week (actually, on Monday), Henry will be five months old. Like Jaeger, Henry was just a peanut when we brought him home, and now Henry is pushing 18 pounds. The two "boys" are the best of buddies. As you can see in the video, Jaeger insists on giving Henry a bath regularly, and wherever Henry goes, Jaeger follows. It's hard to see in the bounce portion of the video, but as Henry is bouncing away, Jaeger is lying right by his side.

Finally, Matt and Ali celebrate their one year anniversary on Tuesday. We both agree that this has been the absolute best year of our lives - we thank God everyday for all of our blessings.

Morgan delivered the most precious anniversary gift to us today. She put together a video of pictures and video clips from the last couple of years, and the song accompanying the video is Carrie Underwood's "I'll Stand By You." That is the song that we danced to on our wedding night. What a special treat. Thank you Morgan!

To check out the video of Henry and Jaeger, click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dpGfvroX4

At Jaeger's first home in Indiana

The car ride home to Ohio

Home at last

Nap time with Mommy

Mom, can I have more pears, please?

Thanks Mom - those pears are delicious.

I love to eat.

Hey Shorty, it's my birthday.

I'm gonna lounge-around-da-house like it's my birthday.

Henry at church

2008-08-28T06:44:00.004-04:00

Our church's Children's Ministry staff put together a 'thank you' video, and it was presented to the congregation on Sunday.
To check it out, click on the link and scroll down to the video titled "Thank You Vista." About halfway into the video you will see little Henry holding a 'thank you' sign.
Too cute!

To the farm without Mommy

2008-08-24T20:28:00.005-04:00

Henry spent his first weekend away from home without his Mommy. That's right - the three boys (Matt, Henry & Jaeger) spent Friday and Saturday in McConnelsville while Ali stayed back in Dublin. While Ali has spent the night without Henry before (thanks to Oma, Opa and Aunt Mo), she has never been without him while he was over 100 miles away! Ali feared that she wouldn't be able to get to her little man if there was an emergency, but just as Matt promised, Henry was in good hands. The boys arrived safely home Saturday night, and as you can see from the pictures, Grandma, Grandpa, and the three boys had a great time spending the weekend together on the farm (although there are no pictures to show for it, Auntie Kelley & Uncle Joe were able to love on Henry over the weekend as well).

First time in The Shoe

2008-08-18T22:29:00.010-04:00

Today the Buckeyes hosted an open practice at The Horseshoe. We headed down to campus when Matt arrived home from work (early - he only seems to make it home early when it involves Buckeyes or hunting), and we started our evening off with a Louisiana favorite, Raising Cane's - Yum! By the time we made it to the stadium, the scarlet and grey had begun running drills and practicing plays. It was a beautiful night to sit and enjoy Buckeye fever with our fellow fans. Henry was well-behaved, as always. He dozed off for a short while, but he was awake in time for Carmen Ohio. It was certainly a sweet moment to sing the alma mater together as a family.

"smallest fan"

Dreaming about a perfect season...

Headin' home

Growing boys

2008-08-12T08:06:00.004-04:00

Henry's 4 month appointment was yesterday although he is nearing 4 1/2 months old. He weighed 16lbs, 11oz, and he measured 25in long. He continues to be a healthy and happy baby. He is now eating bananas, pears and sweet potatoes (all pureed), and we will probably introduce a grain in the next week.

Henry's buddy, Jaeger, is also growing. Matt weighed him over the weekend, and Jaeger is now 73lbs. We still cannot believe that, less than a year ago, we brought him home at only 7lbs.

We absolutely love these two growing boys!

Summertime and the livin's easy

2008-08-10T19:03:00.006-04:00

After weeks of begging, Ali's dad finally granted Morgan's wish: a hammock in the backyard. It has been the PERFECT weekend for a hammock, and Henry has enjoyed it thoroughly. Check out the short clip of Henry swinging (and sleeping) away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuxOhSEKG84 (video courtesy of Morgan).

Cuddlin' with Opa

Sound asleep

Celebrating His Irish Roots?

2008-08-05T09:09:00.004-04:00

Dublin hosted their annual Irish Festival last weekend. Matt's parents came up on Saturday, and we spent the afternoon at the festival enjoying live entertainment, good food and cold drinks. It was also Henry's first opportunity to get in touch with his possible Irish roots. Both Matt and Ali have some Irish in their blood, so we assume that there is a bit-o-green blood in Henry as well. Minus the large crowds and overpriced vendors, we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon.

I love Grandma and Grandpa!

I really love my feet.

I love Mommy and Daddy too.

How can you not love this cute face?