Notes from the Hammans

Visit with Santa!

2011-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just 2 1/2 short weeks away! We have a lot of fun upcoming Holiday parties and Christmas activities planned. Last weekend we kicked it off and headed downtown to the Omni Hotel where they were having "Breakfast with Santa." We took Jackson there last Christmas for his 1st Christmas so we thought we would continue the tradition. We dressed him all up and headed out. Kyle and I were a little nervous about how the encounter with Santa would go. I mean, Jack is a REALLY friendly boy and will go to just about anyone, but he is also at that age where it could go either way. After we stood in line for a minute, we handed Jack off to Jolly Ole St. Nick! Jack did great. I think he was pretty indifferent about Santa. He didn't cry or freak out but wasn't really excited either. Afterward we had some yummy breakfast sandwiches and donuts and called it a morning. It was fun way to kick off the holiday spirit. It is so fun getting to experience Christmas through Jacks eyes and I am so looking forward to the years ahead when he really understands what Christmas is all about!

This Santa looked awesome!

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Happy Halloween..

2011-11-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Halloween but we have been celebrating Halloween, pumpkins and fall all month. Jackson was a scarecrow this year and despite hating his hat at first, he was such a trooper and looked soooo cute in his little costume. We went to a fun Halloween party at our friends the Olsons. All the kiddos there looked so sweet in their costumes. And then on Halloween night we had a yummy dinner and a little trick o treating with the Davis' fam. Jack's friend Emery was the cutest little peacock. They both did really good going up to people's houses. Emery was a PRO. Jack just wanted to go inside every house. Oops. Here are some pics of him all dressed up as well as our trip to the Pumpkin Patch with my nephew Bo! Happy Halloween...

At the pumpkin patch with my cousin!

So hot today....not much smiles, but still cute :)

I'll take this one...

Just chewing on some straw

Bo-bo!!!

My little scarecrow

Ready for some trick o treating!

Our 2nd Halloween together as a family

All the kiddos all dresses up!

Jack and his little peacock Emery

Lets do this!

Walking with the Daddies

One with Mom

On to the next one... Happy Halloween!

New chair

2011-10-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend when Grammie was visiting she noticed that Jack stands so close to the T.V. to watch it. Despite telling him to "scoot back" 1000x, he would always come back and have his nose practically touching the screen whenever he watched anything! Ahhhhh. Not wanting to have my 19 month old's eyes go bad, we brainstormed what we should do. My Mom came up with the idea to get him his own "special chair" to sit in. That way, we could tell him to go to his chair when he got too close to the T.V. We headed to Pottery Barn Kids (love that place!) and found the perfect little one for him. When we got home, we were pleasantly surprised to see that he LOVED IT!! He sits in it every time he watches a show and even likes to read his books in it! He looks like such a big boy in his chair. Where did the time go? But, problem solved!!!!! Thank you Grammie! We love it.

Sitting in my new chair!

I can read my books in it too!

Thank you Grammie!

A year and a half...

2011-09-12T14:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Jackson,

Last week you turned 18 months. It is crazy that you are now closer to 2 than 1! It is definitely bittersweet. I love watching you change and become my "little man." You are still a tiny little thing in the 8 % percentile but that definitely doesn't stop you...you are so independent! But the time is flying by and I know you are more of a little boy now than a baby! I try to hold on to every moment as I know they pass so quickly. You make me laugh everyday. You are trying so hard to talk even though the words won't seem to come. Daddy swears you say, "Go Ducks" but it sounds more like "du, du, du." :) You get frustrated at times when you can't communicate, so instead you grab our hands and pull us to what or where you want (pretty clever!). You LOVE to be outdoors and you have the scrapes on your knees to prove it! We went up to Nana and Papa's last week and all you wanted to do was play outside with the buckets and water. You love going to the park and playing in the grass and watching all the dogs pass by. You never want to hold our hand anymore. You have your own independence now and you go where you want! You are very smart and know all your body parts and where things are in the house. You like to go into your room and play by yourself, but the moment you hear "Chica" from the Sunny Side Up Show, you come darting out to see the T.V. You love to look and talk to yourself in the mirror. Anytime we put your sunglasses on, you have to run back into your room to check yourself out! You are still the most loving and affectionate boy ever. You love to give hugs and kisses not only to Mommy and Daddy, but anyone in your path! :) My favorite time is right before bed when you snuggle up to me and lay in my lap! You are kind of a picky eater despite our best efforts to feed you everything. You would live on fruit if we let you! You are so happy and so friendly. We are amazed at how good you are. We know the next 6 months are going to go by even faster. But with every change and every new stage, we get to see more of who you are becoming! Always know how much we LOVE you Jackson. You are the light of our lives and our world is made complete because of you. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy (and Daddy)

Bo and Grammie's birthdays!

2011-08-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

Whoa! I have really been MIA in the blogging world. The summer has just flown by. Where did July go? August is a very busy month in our family. Not only is it my sister and Mom's b-days two days apart, but last year my sweet nephew graced us with his presence when he was born August 2nd. This is a day I will never forget because I was there when that beautiful little boy came into this world. It really seems like yesterday that I was racing up to L.A. in order to get there in time. And now he is one! Last weekend we traveled up to my sister's house for the triple birthday celebration. Haley did an awesome job of planning and throwing an adorable party for Bo. His "under the sea" themed birthday was complete with "fish and chips," a kiddie pool for the small "guppies" and cupcakes topped with sand (brown sugar) and a life preserver! It was a beautiful day and a real treat celebrating our sweet Bo Mitchell. He and Jack had the best time playing together. They really are becoming best friends. Looking forward to watching them grow and enjoy more birthdays together. We love you Bo and we are so blessed to be your Aunt and Uncle. You bring us so much joy!

Bo's "under the sea" 1st birthday!

Beach cupcakes

Buckets for all Bo's buds!

My "smash cake" making skills.....under the sea style!

Family pic!

Proud parents!

Cake time!

Jack having a great time at his cousin's b-day!

Happy birthday Bo-Bo!!!

31!

2011-07-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

So I have to admit, turning 30 was hard for me. I didn't exactly embrace it well. My 20's were such an amazing time: college, getting married, traveling, little responsibiliy! It was hard for me to see how my 30's would top it. But 31, didn't seem so bad. I think the band aid had already been ripped from the year before! In fact, I am really learning how to embrace my 30's and all that is to come :) Sharing my birthday with a national holiday is actually really fun. I mean, who doesn't like the 4th of July? Sun, BBQ's, fireworks....so much to love. This year, we headed up to Del Mar again (it has been quite the tradition the last few years) to the beach with our good friends. We set up camp and enjoyed the morning relaxing and enjoying our friends and their amazing kids. Jack had so much fun playing in the sand and water with Emery and Dillan (and baby Connor)! This year was even more fun because he is so much more independent. He loved watching the cold, ocean waves move over his feet! And he ate quite a bit of sand too! After a while, we packed the kids up for their naps and headed to the beach house. We spent the afternoon lounging in the sun, going in the jacuzzi, and just hanging out while the babies slept. All 4 babies down at the same time = amazing! My good friend Kim and her husband had gone to the store and gotten a feast for dinner. Salmon, steak, baked potatoes...the works. We had a wonderful dinner outside followed up by an incredible homemade "flag cake" for my birthday that Kim made. It was absolutely delicious! The fourth of July could not be complete without an evening firework show and we could see them from the house. It really was a perfect way to spend my 31st birthday. Surrounded by amazing people that make me feel so loved. The beach, yummy food, wonderful friends. What more could you ask for?! Happy 4th of July!

Lovin the ocean

Jack and his favorite girl, Emery!

Cutest girl ever!!!

The gangs all here!

family pic

Dillan showing his patriotism

Jack, Emery, Connor and Dillan....best buds!

ready for the jacuzzi

Awesome bithday dinner!

Kim's homemade "flag cake." What a treat!

I love these girls!

Happy birthday to me!

A day out at Sea World...

2011-06-30T21:23:00.001-07:00

Enjoying a perfect summer day at Sea World.

Welcome to Sea World!

We saw turtles....

and touched star fish....

and checked out the shamus!

had a snack with Mom....

and checked out fish with Dad!

Jack's first trip to Sea World...

What a great day!

An EXTRA special day!

2011-06-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Today was an extra special day because it was Father's Day AND our 7th anniversary. When I married Kyle 7 years ago, I knew he was very special....a perfect match for me. We complement and balance each other out in so many ways. When I thought about my future husband, I hoped he would be a good Dad as well. Kyle surpassed anything I could have ever imagined. He is patient and loving and very, very hands on. I love the way his face lights up when he sees Jack, even after a long day of work. They are best buddies! The past seven years of marriage have been filled with so many amazing moments. None compare to the day Jack was born and I saw the instant bond between my boys. On that day, I fell in love with Kyle all over again.

I made Kyle a special Fathers Day/Anniversary dinner complete with his favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies! He surprised me with a homemade book of the last 12 years together (7 years married). It was so sweet and made my whole day. We laughed as we looked through the old pictures of us together. We have had a lot of amazing memories and looking through this book reminded me how blessed I am to have the most incredible husband to share my life with! Happy anniversary Kyle. Thank you for being such a wonderful husband and partner with me. I cannot imagine going through life with anyone else. And happy Father's Day too! Jack and I are so grateful for your unending love and committment to your family.

We love you!

Anniversary dinner at home!

Making Kyle's favorites

My beautiful homemade anniversay card

lots of wonderful memories!

Jack and Kyle's 2nd Father's Day!

Palm Springs!!

2011-06-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

There is nothing I love more than a family vacation. Last month, the whole family got together in Palm Springs for a week of relaxation and sun! Palm Springs is one of my favorite places because I feel so refreshed when I leave. We hung by the pool everyday, went on walks, had yummy dinners and just enjoyed being a family. My Mom and Kyle's Dad turn 60 this year so we thought this would be the perfect time to get together and celebrate. Jackson LOVES hanging with his Grandparents and Auntie and Uncle. Now that he is walking, he is NON-STOP! And he walks EVERYWHERE!

Another perk of having family around is that they love taking Jackson so that Kyle and I can go to dinner or even a movie! The only thing that is hard living in San Diego is not having family close by. So when we do get together, they take full advantage of their time with him! Here are some pics from our amazing weekend away...

pool time with Nana

I love Palm Springs!

time to swim

love my uncle Todd

tank topper!

my own private pool

swimming with my two grandmas

my two boys

sisters!

getting some sun

pool boy

Happy birthday Grammy and Papa

plaid twins

family pic.

What a great week!

Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

I asked my Kindergarteners to tell me why they love their Mothers. One little girl proudly said, "because she drives me to the gas station. They have the coldest drinks there!" Yes, Mothers do all sorts of things, comfort you when your sad, love you when your are sick. They cheer for you the loudest at your soccer games and and even drive you to the gas station for a cold drink afterwards! I love being Jack's Mother. He fills me with joy. He just makes me better. We had a lovely 2nd Mothers day together. Even though Kyle worked in the morning, he and Jackson surprised me with a tray of flowers and a very nice breakfast. Yum! Jackson and I spent the morning hanging out in our jammies and eating bagels and fruit. So wonderful! Another fun surprise was a dozen little notes all over the house from my boys. Notes on the fridge, in the cupboard, on the T.V. They were so sweet and made me feel so loved and appreciated!

One of Jack's best buddies turned 1 today so we stopped over at their house when Kyle got home for a little cake. It doesn't matter what I do, I just love being with my boys!

Speaking of Mothers, not too many people can say they have 2 incredible Moms! My Mom and my Mother-In-Law are the two most amazing people I know. They are everything I hope I can be to Jackson: caring, compassionate and strong. Thank you both for teaching me what a fantastic Mother is suppose to be!

A nice surprise to wake up to!

Some of my sweet "Mom" notes. On the remote...

On my keys...

On the cupboards too!

So blessed to be this boy's Mother.

Happy Mothers Day!

Spring has sprung!

2011-05-04T16:48:00.001-07:00

I love everything about Spring: planting new flowers in my pots on the deck, evening walks with Ky and Jack, and of course, the warm weather. The weather here in San Diego has been absolutely beautiful lately and I try to get outside at least once a day. Since I am only teaching in the morning, my afternoons have been filled with walks to the park, splashing with Jack in our neighbor's "baby pool" and playing outside. I feel so lucky to live in such a wonderful place and I am so thankful that Jackson gets to grow up in Southern California. I am looking forward to many beach days, BBQ's and surf lessons as he gets bigger. For now I am just enjoying all the sun-filled moments with him (And a tall glass of peach iced tea...Yum!).

Just enjoying the weather with my buddy Aaron!

The other reason I love Spring is for the clothes. If you know me, you know I rarely wear pants. I am such a girly-girl and I could live in dresses and skirts. And now that it is Spring, I wear one practically every day. Anthropologie(one of my most favorite stores ever!) has the cutest dresses and skirts right now. I just need to win the lottery so that I could go on a little shopping spree....

Happy Spring!!

Family Easter Celebration

2011-04-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

We spent Easter at my sister's house. Now that Bo is getting a little older, he can play with Jack, which is so much fun. We spent the day opening up baskets and having a good old fashion egg hunt for the adults. The babes were a little too small to hunt for eggs, but next year when they can both walk (or run!), we will have a hunt for them too! The Easter Bunny was especially generous and hid $$$ in the eggs. The four of us ran around like crazy, searching for the eggs at a park. It was a beautiful day and a great way to enjoy the holiday. We were all spoiled, especially the babes. Their baskets were filled to the top. And amidst the pastel eggs and chocolate bunnies, I am reminded of the depths of God's love. I love Jackson more than anything but God loved us so much that he allowed his ONLY son to die for our sins. As a parent, that puts my love for Jackson in perspective. What an amazing gift! Thank you Lord for your sacrifice. Happy Easter!

Easter basket time.

Bunny cousins!!

Easter egg hunt! On your mark, get set....

GO!!

Haley is not messing around :)

How did we do?

Thank you "Easter Bunny!"

I love my sweet boy!

My beautiful family.

Happy Easter!

One year later...

2011-04-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's crazy to think that last Easter, we had a one month old. In fact, Jackson was supposed to be due on Easter last year. And even though he is still a little guy, he is growing up so fast!

One year ago.....

This year!

More Easter pics to come....

My "ONE" derful boy!!

2011-04-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

Last week we decided on a whim to get some pics taken of Jackson now that he is ONE! We are taking family pictures at the beach in a few weeks, but we have a membership to this little portrait studio so we got all these pictures practically FREE! He was such a ham and of course loved the lady taking his pictures. I think they came out pretty sweet. But then of course, I am a little biased. Here is our big one year old...

Bathroom Shenanigans!

2011-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Jackson loves the bathroom. As soon as he hears the bath water, he makes a b-line straight for the tub. And for some reason, if I have forgotten to close the door, he will crawl on in and bang on the toilet or lick the glass on the shower door (I know, real sanitary right?!) He also LOVES the door stopper and will flick it over and over just to hear the funny sound it makes....boing, boing. We really try hard to keep all the doors closed but apparently on St. Patty's Day, it was open. As I went to go get him for dinner, I found him.....

A "nautical" 1st birthday...

2011-03-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

The day after my sweet Jackson turned 1, we had his birthday party with all his little friends and their Mommies and Daddies! After racking my brain for months on a theme (I am not really a big theme kind of person!) I decided to go with the very cute yet subtle nautical theme. The colors were navy, red and light blue and we threw the cutest party at a park nearby our house. The weather couldn't have been any prettier!

I had so much fun planning all the little details of his party. My family flew in early to help me get ready for the big day. They were amazing and helped with everything! We had sailboat sandwiches, "nautical" cupcakes and the sweetest "candy bar" complete with gummy "life preservers" and swedish fish! I even found the most adorable tote bags for all Jackson's friends to take home, with bubbles and goldfish crackers inside. When it was time for Jackson to enjoy his birthday cake, he took full advantage of it, not surprising since Kyle has the biggest sweet tooth ever! A definite highlight was Jackson's dedication at the party. My sister and brother-in-law spoke and prayed for Jackson as all our friends and family witnessed our commitment to raise Jack in God's word and love. We truly have the most amazing people in our lives and we are so blessed that they LOVE Jack so much. Needless to say, Jackson's first birthday was a very special day for Kyle and I and one we will remember the rest of our lives. We still cannot believe we have a ONE year old!

Let the party begin.....Happy B-day Jackson!

Some of the yummy desserts

Cake pops!

Jackson's "smash cake"

I love cupcakes!

All the little details: #1 and sailboat sandwiches!

Nautical decor!

The candy bar! Complete with gummy "life preservers" and swedish fish.

Some of the tables

A little nautical bag for all of Jack's friends!

These are soooo cute!

Birthday water.

What a beautiful day.

Jackson's dedication

I'm ONE today!!!

Jack and Jake showing off their rides!

With cousin Bo!

Cake time!

Yummy!

Nana, Papa, Grammie and the birthday boy!

Time to open presents!

Proud parents of a one year old!

Happy Birthday Jackson!

2011-03-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Jackson,

Today you are one year old! I cannot believe how fast the last 12 months have gone and how much you have grown. I remember how scared I was that day that you came so early. I can still close my eyes and remember every wrinkle and every smell as they put your tiny little body in my arms. And at that moment, every fear melted away for a second and I knew my life would never be the same. You came into this world strong and determined and have not let up since. You have shown me the depths of God's love and I am forever grateful for the gift of being your Mother. You are such a kind little boy. You pet the neighbors dog so carefully and you love playing with your friends. You and Daddy are BEST FRIENDS. You love to watch him shave and put things together and go on walks. And boy, does he love you too! I love the way you LOVE to snuggle, I love the way your face lights up when I come get you from your nap. I love the way you take both hands and pull my face into yours. You are a typical boy that is for sure and you have plenty of bumps and bruises to prove it! Every month has been more amazing watching you change and grow. For months my heart melted with joy as you said 'Dada" but there are no words to describe how incredible the word "Mama" can be! You are the joy of my life Jackson. And as much as I wish you would stay my baby forever, I cannot wait for all the adventures to come. Happy birthday sweet boy! May every year be as wonderful as this first one was! I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy xoxo

The day you were born.....

one year later.

Happy Birthday Jackson!

In one week....

2011-02-25T15:07:00.001-08:00

this little bug that surprised us 5 weeks early will be ONE year old! Most wonderful year of my life....

Back to work....what?!

2011-01-20T09:20:00.001-08:00

Last week I got an unexpected call from my principal who left a message saying that she had a "proposal" for me. When I called back, she explained that one of the Kindergarten teachers was going to take on more of an administrative role, and they needed someone to take over the morning Kindergarten class! After the shock wore off, I sat down and told Kyle about it. At first we thought, although it would be a great opportunity, we had no idea how we could make it work with Jackson. I mean, I was not even thinking about going back to work for another 6-7 months (maybe). Where would he go? I hadn't even thought about a daycare....plus, was I ready? So I called my Mom because she always gives me perspective and then I prayed about it. Well, I think God was giving me a little shove because Kyle came home the next day and said his boss was willing to work with him so that he could basically make his own schedule! So, after a day or two of going back and forth, I decided that I would take the job! And I start Monday....Ahhhhh!

I think this will be really good for me. I mean, it is only 3 1/2 hours of teaching a day (so easy!) I am home by noon and I have the rest of the day with Jack-man! Plus, it will ease me back into work. I am working with the best Kindergarten team too. They are truly amazing and have made me feel so good about coming back. One of the teachers even said in an e-mail, "You can bring Jackson to meetings anytime you want. He is part of the team now too!" It will also allow Kyle to spend more time with Jack which is awesome! He will have him 4 mornings a week so we don't have to worry about finding and interviewing a daycare last minute.

And even though I am at peace about starting back, I can't help but feel anxious about meeting my new kids and their parents, a little nervous (Kindergarten is a whole new ballgame) and a little bittersweet about leaving my little man (I know, I know, it's only 3 1/2 hours a day!!) But we have been connected at the hip the last 10 months and he is getting so big so fast. I am afraid if I blink, I will miss something. He is truly the light of my life!

So I am enjoying the last few mornings with him and feel so grateful that I was able to stay home with him this long. I am really looking forward to being in a classroom again and seeing all of my wonderful colleagues. I think it will be great and I am so blessed to be given the best of both worlds!

Who could leave this face?

Jackson's first Christmas!

2011-01-13T11:25:00.001-08:00

This Christmas was especially meaningful because this was the first one with our sweet little boy! Celebrating the holidays are always so special, but experiencing the sights and sounds with Jackson made it even more joyful! He is the best "gift" I have ever received!

We spent Christmas in Oregon with Kyle's parents, Kyle's brother and his girlfriend, my Mom, my sister, brother-in-law and precious nephew Bo and Grandma and Grandpa! Lots of family around us! The week was filled with parties and lots and lots of people in the house. Kyle's Mom hosted a Christmas Eve breakfast for 60 people in honor of Jackson!!! All of their closest friends stopped by to meet Jackson and have some yummy food. We also had a dinner/gift exchange one night with another family and their kids. Christmas morning was so fun! Even though Jackson was only 91/2 months, he had a great time "opening" all of his gifts from Santa, Grammy, Nana and Papa. So spoiled! :)

I definitely gained a pound or two from all the eating that always seems to take place when we get together......but, it's the holidays, it's ok to have a second piece of pie right??

It was a great week full of new memories, laughter and joy! And for the cherry on top, we even had a little snow! Jackson was memorized watching the little flakes fall from the sky!

What a special year! We cannot wait to teach Jackson about baby Jesus and the reason for the Christmas season. We are so thankful everyday for our little miracle and we are looking forward to many more Christmas' together.

1st Christmas as a family!

Ready to celebrate!

Christmas Eve with Dad

Nana!

All the girls with their matching necklaces

My sweet boy!

I love my Great-Grandma and Grandpa

Time for Bo to open his presents

With cousin Bo!

All the kids minus Bo-Bo

Christmas morning in my robe!

Look at what Santa brought me!

How are we going to get this back to CA?

The Milligans

Its snowing!!!

Watching it fall...

What a wonderful Christmas we had!!!

Getting ready for Christmas...

2010-12-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Hammans household has been very busy decorating and celebrating the holiday season. This year is especially exciting because it will be Jackson and Bo's(his cousin) first Christmas! The past few weeks have been filled with fun and exciting events like Christmas parties, gift exchanges, looking at Christmas lights and getting our own house ready.

I love the whole holiday season: decorating our tree, the Christmas cards, the music. It just puts me in a wonderful mood. I love sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa. I love the smell of pine and cinnamon floating through the house. I love making cookies and soup and other yummy holiday treats.

We are looking forward to a "white" christmas up in Oregon with the whole family. Something about the Northwest makes it feel a little more like Christmas! 70 degrees in southern California just isn't the same :) Even though Jackson is still too little, I am so excited to start new traditions with our family and watch Jackson tear open presents, come running down the hall on Christmas morning one day and learn all about baby Jesus and the reason for the season. I am especially blessed to have this precious little "gift" this holiday....my heart is full this Christmas!!!

Taking our family picture for our Christmas card!

Our little Christmas tree...

Santa's helper

Watching the lights on Garrison St.

Jordyn and I being silly

Jack's favorite girl Emery!

Dads and their babes

Look at all those lights

Jackson visiting Santa

Helping Dad with the tree

Time for the ornaments

Where should this one go?

Our beautiful tree...

Holiday Card Time!

2010-11-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know I am a little early but Christmas is right around the corner which means it is time for my favorite part of the holiday.....the Christmas cards!!! I absolutely love getting the mail around the holidays and opening up all the unique cards from my family and friends. So I am jumping on the bandwagon and letting everyone know about this FABULOUS deal that Shutterfly has going on right now for the holidays. They are giving away 50 holiday cards for FREE. If you have a blog and would like to pass on the great news then go to http://bit.ly/sfly2010,

answer a few questions and voila!

We LOVE shutterfly. Every year we pick out the cutest designs for our family Christmas cards. They also have great ideas for Christmas gifts too, like albums and mugs. We just made Kyle's Dad a mug for his birthday with pictures of him and Jackson in Hawaii.....He LOVED it!

So.....if you are looking for a Christmas card (it's just right around the corner!) go to Shutterfly and take advantage of this great deal. We can't wait for you to see ours this year.....the hard part is just picking out one.....there are sooooo many!!!

Aloha!

2010-11-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

I am a little late with this post but at the end of October we went on our first family vacation to Maui. Kyle's parents have a timeshare at the Westin Villas....soooo beautiful! The month leading up to Hawaii, I swear I was having ulsers thinking about the flight. Not only do I have a little flying anxiety, but now we were attemping a 5 hour flight with an almost 8 month old. Jackson did AMAZING! We were lucky to have an empty seat between us so he could lay down and play. Such a good baby...Phew!

Maui was so great. The villas are so beautiful and we got hooked up with a ground level villa looking out to the ocean and directly in front on the pool. It was perfect! We brought the baby monitors so we could take them to the pool while Jackson was napping because we were so close! We also rented some baby stuff from a company in Maui and it was so helpful. He got a baby bath, and jumper. Super cheap and they delivered it right to our hotel when we arrived. (For all you Moms out there, seriously check into rental companies when you go on vacation! It was awesome!)

Kyle, Jackson and I had such a wonderful week swimming, kayaking, eating and just relaxing with his family. They are so wonderful and they LOVE Jackson so much. Kyle's Dad (Papa) and Jackson were attached at the hip. They would go on walks together, swim in the pool, run errands and just play. We are so lucky to have such an incredible family. On a sadder note, 1/2 way into the vacation, Kyle's Mom got a call that her Dad had a major stroke. Kyle is very close to his Grandpa and the new devestated the whole family. Kyle's Mom had to jump on a red eye that night and leave Hawaii early. It was hard to see her go but we knew she needed to be with her Mom and Dad. We tried to make the best of the rest of our vacation despite the sad news. We left Hawaii with a ton of pictures and a lifetime of memories. Jackson loved Hawaii and we cannot wait to bring him back for years to come.

Aloha, I'm in Hawaii!!!

Swimming with Papa

Family pic at the pirate ship.

The whole Hammans gang!

Just hanging out by the pool in my jumper.

Snuggling with Mom at the pool.

I love the water!!

Dinner in Lahaina

Best Mai Tai on the island!!!

Last night in Maui...

A beautiful way to end our fantastic vacation!!!

Halloween!

2010-11-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

We had been looking forward to dressing Jackson up for months and taking him out trick o treating for his first Halloween! Yes, we know he is only 8 months old and doesn't even know what candy is. But we were so excited to get a little costume for him and take him around to a few houses with some of his buddies. We decided to get the most adorable bat costume from Pottery Barn Kids. And Kyle and I didn't want to miss out on the fun so we dressed up too! On Halloween we met up with some of our friends and their kids. After the mini photo session, we headed out to a few houses to get some candy for the daddies of the group! Jackson looked so cute and he actually loved wearing his little bat costume. It was a fun night and a great first Halloween for our little "pumpkin!"

My first Halloween!

Aren't I the cutest bat you have ever seen?

Vampire Dad and his little bat.

Spooky family.

Just hanging with my friend Jacob the monkey

Yay! Time to go trick or treating with Wyatt and Jacob.

Heading to the first house with Dad.

Lets get some candy for Daddy!

Pumpkin Time!

2010-10-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took Jack to Bates Nut Farm (Pumpkin Farm) for the first time. We had been looking forward to this since last year when we saw all the pictures of our friend's babies playing in the hay and looking at all the pumpkins. Now we finally got to take our little "pumpkin!" I pretended it was fall for a while in my scarf until it got up to 90 degrees....what is going on? I am getting desperate for chilly weather, boots and scarfs, warm soup and pumpkin bread....all signs of fall. But not yesterday. Shorts and flip-flops were more appropriate attire! Jackson loves being outside and he seemed to love looking at all of the pumpkins and fall decor. It was fun hanging out with his friends Wyatt, Landon and Jake and their Moms and Dads. After a few hours, the babes were getting tired, So we said goodbye to the Farm. Now, more than ever, I am looking forward to the Fall season and Halloween in a few weeks. Here are some highlights of our fun day!

Looking for pumpkins with Mom!

With my friends Jake, Landon and Wyatt

Family pic in the pumpkins!

Farmer Jack!

I found some pumpkins!

Which one can we take?

I love Fall!

With Mom and Dad

Just hanging with my friends in the wheelbarrow!

Checking out the cornfield with Mom!

I'm a little punkin!

Our Visit With Bo

2010-10-04T20:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Kyle, Jackson and I headed up to L.A. to visit my nephew Bo. He is already 2 months old and getting bigger by the second! My Mom and I went with Haley to his doctors appointment and he is already 13 lbs 5 oz! That is the 90% percentile!!! To put it in perspective, Jackson was 9lbs 6 oz at 2 months so needless to say he is a great eater!!!

It is so fun watching Bo. He is beginning to smile and loves taking baths. Jackson really loves his cousin too. He always wants to touch him and see what he is doing. He even starts to cry every time he hears Bo crying. I am really looking forward to watching the boys grow together. They are going to be the best of friends. I definitely miss having my family close by. They are such an amazing support. But I look forward and savor the times we are together. Can't wait for more adventures ahead...

What a sweet face!

With Uncle Kyle

Hi, Cousin Bo!

Do you want to play?

Cheese....

Bath time

I love him!!!!!!!

P.S. Jackson is 7 months today....pics to come!

Grilled heaven...

2010-09-18T10:24:00.001-07:00

So, I have always wanted a panini maker. I love how the sandwiches have the little ridges that make it taste so yummy. But I never thought I would use it enough to go and buy a $100.00 one at Crate and Barrel or William-Sonoma. Still every time I would browse through one of those stores, I would always think, "I wish I had a panini maker!" Until...

A few weeks ago when I was making a regular visit to Target (deadly!) I came upon a beautiful display of cookware designed by Giada De Laurentiis (the really pretty cooking channel lady!)Apparently, she had collaborated with Target and developed a line of stainless steel products for the kitchen. One of which happened to be an awesome panini maker!!! It was really nice. Non-stick, really big surface area, expensive-looking design.....ALL FOR 50.00 BUCKS! (Do I sound like an infomercial) At that point, I looked at the pile of items that were stacking up inside my cart and realized that maybe I should wait a little longer. Sadly, I left without a panini maker but now I knew that a really nice one existed that I could afford.

About a week later, my wonderful mother-in-law came for a visit. Again, we made the trip to Target(because really, Target has just about everything!) As we were walking down the isles, I saw the panini maker again. I mentioned to her how much I really wanted a panini maker and how cool I thought that one was but of course, there were NO MORE!

About another week passed and one day I received a surprise knock on the door. It happened to be the UPS man that was dropping off a package for me. I was little confused because I was not expecting anything. But I am sure you all know what was inside....Yep, the panini maker from Target! My amazing mother-in-law surprised me with it. She is the best! And let me tell you....I love it. I have been making paninis up a storm: Chicken pesto, turkey and swiss, grilled cheese, tuna melts. So yummy. So I know this post is a little random but I just wanted to pass on a great product that I think you will LOVE (especially if you LOVE sandwiches like me). Oh yeah, and if you have any good panini recipes, please send them my way.... dessert paninis??

Voila!

Thank you to my mother-in-law and Giada D.L. for making my tummy very happy!

Dear Jackson...

2010-09-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Jackson,

Today you are 6 months old. I cannot believe how fast you have grown. You are getting bigger and changing everyday. When I think back to that little peanut in the NICU with tubes and wires, I cannot believe you are that same child. Being your Mother is the most amazing gift in the world. I love when you smile with your lips closed, I love when you take naps on my chest, I love watching you play with Daddy. You have learned to roll over and now you "steamroll" everywhere around the house. I can't leave you alone for a second! You love music and dancing, you love to take walks, you love your bear blanket. Daddy and I thank God everyday for bringing you to us. You have brought us nothing but joy the past 6 months. We can't wait to watch you grow and get dirty and play soccer and everything else little boys should do! Just try not to grow up so fast OK? We promise to always be there for you. We promise to teach you about Jesus. We promise to love you unconditionally. I am so blessed to be your Mother.

I love you Jackson.

Love, Mommy xoxo

Our first photo together!

Almost 6 months old!

San Francisco

2010-08-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago Jackson, Kyle and I flew to San Francisco for one of my best friends wedding. It was Jackson's first plane trip and even though it was a quick 1 hr and 15 minute flight, I had been anxious all week in anticipation for the trip. Jackson is a GREAT baby but he definitely has his moments and I was just praying that all would go smoothly. To our delight, he did amazing on the way there...not a peep. The way back was a little different :) He had a little meltdown that seemed like an hour but was probably only 10 minutes. And even though I became "that person" with the crying baby on the plane, I was surprised how calm and patient Kyle and I were though the little episode. We never stressed, or got upset with each other. We just worked together to get Jackson calm and comfortable. Just one of the many reasons that Kyle is such an awesome husband and Father. We are a great team!

We had such a fun weekend reconnecting with old friends, walking around the city, and enjoying a beautiful wedding and reception. Alisa and Philip looked amazing and their wedding was the perfect blend of the two of them. It was a great getaway but it was our first taste of what life is like traveling with a child....a wonderful experience but definitely different than just the two of us. Looking forward to more traveling memories as a family. We love you Philip and Lis. Wishing you many, many blessings in your new married life together!

Getting ready for takeoff...

San Francisco, here we come!

Alisa and Philip...such an amazing couple!

The beautiful bride

The lovely ladies of Point Loma!

Our little family all dressed up!

P.S. Jackson turned 5 months a few days before we left. Here is his 5 month pic! He is getting so big :)

Bo Mitchell Milligan

2010-08-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

He's here!!!!! On August 2nd at 7:55pm, my nephew Bo Mitchell Milligan made his debut into the world. And despite being 6 days late, he weighed only 7 lbs 8 oz! I had the honor of watching his birth and it was a complete miracle. Jackson came into the world so different and I did not get the full experience of contractions and the labor process so this was my chance to see how a "typical" birth goes. Haley did amazing....she was such a warrior! It was such an amazing experience watching my baby sister bring her son into the world. She only pushed for 13 minutes....it all happened so fast! And as I watched the nurses weigh him and clean him off, I couldn't help but remember the day Jackson was born just 5 short months before. Bo seemed so tiny and it was hard to think about Jackson being even smaller than that when he was born...it is so crazy how time flies. Everyone always tells you it goes by in a blink, but you don't realize until you see how small a newborn is. I am looking forward to many family memories of Jackson and Bo growing together.

I am so proud of Haley. Her and Freddie are going to be amazing parents. And I am going to be the best Auntie. I love you Bo and I am always here for you. I have been praying for you for a long, long time. You are so loved and have so many people to guide you. Thank you Haley and Freddie for allowing me to be a part of such an incredible moment in your life! He is amazing!

Not too much longer...

Mommy and son.

We have been waiting for you.

Welcome to the world!

Together at last!

First family photo!

My turn... so proud of my sister!

Such a proud Aunt!

Snuggling with Daddy

Waiting for my cousin Bo to come home!

I am soooo excited!

Fish face

Yay, Bo is home! I love my cousin!

Turning 30 and the fourth...

2010-07-27T22:07:00.001-07:00

Fourth of July was a big day in the Hammans household.....Jackson turned 4 months and I turned 30!!! I have to admit, I was kind of dreading 30. I mean, when I was a little girl, I always imaged 30 as being so old. But as I look back at the last 30 years and all I have accomplished, I am proud of the person I have become and the blessings I have been given. I am embracing 30 and looking forward to the next exciting chapter with my growing family!

Jackson is getting so big and finally fitting into his 0-3 month clothes at 4 months. We went to the doctor and he weighed in at a whopping 12 lbs 10 oz (What a little peanut!) He is talking a lot (babble and coos) and trying desperately to roll over. He loves his friends Dillan, Wyatt, Jacob and Emery and he is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his new cousin Bo (due any day!) We are having a great summer so far and we are looking forward to some fun events coming up (including Jackson's first plane ride to San Francisco!)

Red, white and blue family!

Jackson (4 months) with his buddy Jacob (5 months)

Jackson and Daddy hanging by the pool

4 months old- Happy 4th of July!

Fathers Day!

2010-06-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

Watching Kyle with Jackson fills my heart with so much joy! He is such a hands-on, loving, gentle and protective father. He changes diapers, does 4am feedings, gives baths and loves to snuggle. He absolutely adores Jackson and Jackson adores Kyle....they are BEST BUDDIES! Last weekend we celebrated Kyle's first Father Day at Coronado Island. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed spending the time together as a family. Happy Father's Day Kyle. Jackson is one lucky boy to have such an incredible Dad! We love you! xoxo

I also want to wish my wonderful father-in law a Happy Father's Day too! Steve, thank you for loving me like your own daughter and for all your encouragement and support. Kyle is a wonderful Father because of your example. I am so proud to call you Dad! We love you Papa!!!

Fathers Day at Coronado Island

Just the boys.

Rad like Dad...

My father-in-law Steve (Papa) with his first grandbaby!

Three generations of Hammans men! Happy Fathers Day!

Uncle Todd and Palm Springs

2010-06-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening the past few weeks. We had a very special visitor a few weeks ago: Kyle's brother came down for a visit to meet Jackson. We had a great time hanging out and going to the zoo. Todd spoiled Jackson by bringing him literally 10 cute new outfits. Who knew Todd had such good taste in baby attire! We really loved having him here and can't wait for another visit soon.

Last weekend, we went to the desert for our first mini vacation as a family. Jackson got to get in the pool for the first time! He did really good and seemed to like the water! If he is anything like his Mom and Dad then I think he will be a little fish :) It was great to relax for a few days and spend time with our close friends. Nothing better than getting some sun and hanging out together. I am sure this was the first of many family trips to the desert!

Here is Jackson's 2 month and 3 month picture. I am a little late getting it posted. He is already so much bigger than a month ago!

Hanging with Uncle Todd at the zoo

Just some of the clothes that Todd bought for Jackson! So spoiled :)

Palm Springs.....ahhhhh heaven!

Jackson catching some rays

Swimming with Mom...

And again with Dad!

Taking a little cat nap in the shade.

My first Mothers Day.

2010-05-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

I could never have imagined how becoming a Mother would completely overflow my heart. Everyone tries to explain the joy you have for your children. But until you have your own child and finally see their angelic face for the first time, it is hard to explain the amount of love you have. As I celebrate my first Mothers Day with my beautiful Jackson, I am so thankful not only for the opportunity to be a Mother, but for my own amazing Mother who has taught me how to love and be loved. She sets the bar pretty high for Mothers and I can only pray that I can be the kind of Mother to my child as she is to me. Thank you Mom for being my teacher, counselor, healer, shopping partner, and best friend. I am so lucky to have such an incredible role model. I am also sooooo lucky to have the best mother-in-law who embraced me from the beginning and always treated me like a daughter. Thank you for raising a man of integrity, faith and love. You are the best "second" Mother any daughter could ask for. To all my friends who are Mothers, I hope you know how important you are and I hope yesterday was as special for you as it was for me. Being a Mother is the greatest joy of my life!

The most amazing Mom in the whole world.

My wonderful Mother-In-Law with her first grandbaby!

My first Mother's Day with Jackson!

Showered with love...

2010-04-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Because of all the craziness with Jackson coming early, I did not get to blog about the other baby showers that were held in my honor before he was born. In February, I was thrown two amazing showers. The first one was given by my wonderful Mother-in-law up in Oregon. Of course she had a "duck" theme complete with little duck finger sandwiches and a frog and duck diaper cake. She has some of the most amazing friends and I felt to blessed that they embraced me and spoiled me with everything. It was a very special day spending time with many women that have known Kyle since he was little. Thank you to my mother-in-law for making me feel so loved. You always go above and beyond and this shower was certainly no different.

The second shower was thrown by my best friends overlooking the beautiful San Diego ocean. My friend Sheri had this awesome connection and we all celebrated in this gorgeous house in La Jolla. Surrounded by my best girl friends, I enjoyed a wonderful day eating yummy salad, opening beautiful gifts and just spending time with the most amazing girlfriends anyone could have. I love each and everyone of you and Jackson is so lucky to have so many wonderful "aunties." Thank you for a wonderful day!!!

SD SHOWER

The two preggo sisters, she's due in July!

All the yummy toppings to make your own salad!

Look at that view!

One of my beautiful hostesses....friends since junior high!

OREGON SHOWER

Look at that diaper cake!

You can't have an Oregon shower without some "ducks!"

Jackson's beautiful quilt made by his great-aunt Cathy.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-07T20:36:00.001-07:00

Well, yesterday was my due date. Pretty funny to think that he would still have been in my tummy this whole time. But God had other plans and Easter Sunday was not only his first holiday but also his one month birthday. I can't believe a whole month has gone by. It really does seem like yesterday that we were in the hospital. My Mom was right....it goes by so fast. He is getting bigger everyday (he is up to 7lbs 3 oz)! I love him so much!

Jackson had a wonderful first Easter celebrating with his Grammy and Auntie Haley and Uncle Freddie. They love coming down and spending time with us and it was so hard saying goodbye at the end of the weekend.

Thank you Jesus for dying for our sins and thank you for your endless blessings. I am so grateful for my beautiful son and my amazing family. Happy Easter!

One month already...and I am still 2 days from my due date!

My first Easter....I love my new friend

Family photo on Easter

Spending time with Grammy.

Our early arrival....

2010-03-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am actually laughing right now because my pregnancy ticker says that I am 37 weeks pregnant which is funny considering that he actually came 17 days ago! That is right, Jackson William Hammans made a surprise appearance on March 4, 2010 after a little bit of a scare. Although he is a little small he is healthy and strong and home with us. Here is our story about the week that Jackson came into our lives:

Saturday (the 28th) we moved into a new townhouse. After a long day of moving (don't worry, I didn't do much, just babysit Wyatt!) we all went out to Mexican food. That night I just did not feel myself. I was pretty uncomfortable and had some sharp back pain. I asked the girls about it at dinner and they all agreed that they had some back pain towards the end of their pregnancies too so I just tried to breath and make myself more comfortable. Later that night, the pain got 10x worse. I was having sharp, shooting pain down my back and stabbing pain in my tummy. After hours of trying to tough it out, I finally called the doctor. She asked me if it felt like contractions. I told her "no" because the pain did not come and go, it was constant. She told me it did not sound like labor but possibly that the baby was pushing on a nerve so I needed to lay on my side, drink lots of water and rest. As soon as I hung up the phone, I was in tears. "Rest and drink water! What did she think I was doing! I was in pain!" That night I think I got like 45 minutes total of sleep. The next morning the pain was still there but not as bad. I got up, got dressed, and Kyle and I left to go clean the old apartment. That night, same thing, extreme back and stomach pain, not to mention I was so swollen: my hands, my feet, my face. But again, I dismissed that it was anything but 3rd trimester pain. For the next 4 days, I was in so much pain. Each night Kyle and I were up all hours of the night as I was doubled over in pain. Nothing helped: Tylenol pm, heating pad.... I was miserable. On Wednesday (the 3rd), I got up to go to work. I still felt pain but not as much however, I could not find a single pair of shoes that fit my extremely swelled feet (we are talking 3x the size!) Kyle and I tried to shove every pair I owned on. I was bawling thinking how can I teach in bare feet. After I managed to squeeze my poor feet into the largest pair I could find, I went to work. That day I felt horrible, I could not teach, I was in so much pain. I ended up leaving at 1:30 in the afternoon because I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I went home early, took a bath and tried to catch up on some sleep. That night, the pain increased and I finally had enough. I called my Mom around 3am crying and she demanded that I wake Kyle and go to the hospital. After she finally convinced me (I was pretty stubborn) I called another doctor on call and he recommended I come in just get it checked out. So at 3:30 in the morning, we left for the hospital.

At the hospital, triage was expecting me and the first thing they did was check my temp and blood pressure. As soon as they did, I saw the nurses' eyes get big as she read my blood pressure 200/110 which is extremely high (most blood pressure gauges only go to 180. Needless to say they were very concerned and had me lay on my side to rest and calm down. For the next 30 minutes, they checked my blood pressure every 5 minutes. It was not going down. Also, my urine test had come back and I had a large quantity of protein in my urine. My platelet (responsible for clotting) level was very low and my liver was enlarged. The doctor came in and told me I was in not so good of shape and I will never forget his words, "Well, you are not going home tonight. You are having this baby today!" Kyle and I were shocked. I began to cry because I was so scared. Scared for my son who was about to come 41/2 weeks early. Plus, we were not ready. Yes, ready to be parents but we had no bag packed (everything was still in boxes from the move!) No clothes washed, no car seat in the car, no childbirth class (we were suppose to take them that weekend), no camera, no change of clothes...NOTHING! Kyle looked a little panicked but I could tell he was trying to be brave for me. I was scared to death. The doctor said I had preeclamsia and on top of it something called HELLPS syndrome. HELLPS syndrome is a variant of preeclampsia. There are three phases. Phase 1: High blood pressure and swelling. Phase 2: Enlargement of the organs (this was causing my back pain) Phase 3: swelling of the brain. I was in phase 2 and the doctors said I needed to get the baby out fast before I went into phase 3 and may have a stroke or a seizure. After I was wheeled up to my room and admitted, they started me on patocin to start labor moving. To make matters worse, for some reason, I was not going to be able to have an epidural because my platelet level was so low. So I sat there for the next hour in shock and fear and panic. An hour later, the doctor came in and said I was not progressing and for each hour we waited, my health was at risk. Also, if I delivered naturally, she was worried that because my platelets were low, I would not be able to clot properly. She said the best thing I could do was to have a c-section in an hour to get the baby out ASAP. Again, panic set in as I was not expecting a c-section. She said the baby would be small but that because he was past the 34 week mark (I was 35 weeks) his prognosis was good. Kyle and I both agreed we just wanted to do what was best for both me and the baby so we said yes to the c-section. Kyle has one hour till so he sped home as fast as he could to grab a few things (the camera, the car seat still in the box, toothbrush etc.) He returned and 20 minutes later we were talking to the anesthesiologist about the risks of the spinal block that I was going to have to make me numb. Everything happened so fast. Before I knew it, Kyle was in scrubs and we were being wheeled to the OR. Kyle waited outside while I was being prepped for surgery. Being numb from the neck down was the weirdest feeling ever. They put oxygen over my face and told me that some women have panic attacks because they can't feel their chest to breath. Great! Also, the medication makes you shake uncontrollably so they had to pin my arms down. Kyle came in and sat next to me as they put the sheet up. As I lay their shaking, I kept praying to God that Jackson would be ok. Before I even knew they started, I heard the doctor say, "Ok, Dad go ahead and look at your son." I saw Kyle stand up and look over as they pulled Jackson out. Jackson William Hammans was born on March 4th at 9:38 a.m. Immediately, we heard his little cry and we both began to sob. He was here!!! They did not let me see him because they had a team from the NICU waiting to work on him. I lay there and tried to catch a glimpse of him but there were too many people around him. Kyle kept telling me that he looked good. Then they took him down to the NICU. Kyle stayed with him till I was stitched up and then he went down to be with Jackson. They took me to recovery for the next three hours until I was able to get feeling back in my body. Finally, they wheeled me down to the NICU and I was able to see Jackson for a few minutes. He was all hooked up with tubes in his belly and his mouth and nose. It was sooooo hard to see him like that. Then, they wheeled me back up to my room. I did not get to see Jackson again for another day because of my high blood pressure and recovery from my c-section. Kyle would go down and see him and then take pictures to show me. It was the hardest time ever not seeing my little boy. On top of it all, I was extremely swollen and sick from all the medicine. I was throwing up every hour and it was so painful because of my incision. It was a rough 24 hours.

We were first told that Jackson would be in the hospital for 3 weeks but by the next day, they changed it to a week. He was 6lbs 7ozs (good size for a preemie). Can you imagine how big he would have been in 5 more weeks! Yikes! But he was a little fighter down there and he was able to get all of his tubes out by day 3. We are so blessed he was as big as he was. Being down in the NICU was not fun. There were babies down there that were soooooo tiny. One baby had been there since December 20th. It broke my heart to see these babies. We were so fortunate that Jackson was as strong as he was. I was finally able to go down and visit him once my blood pressure was better. By day 4 he was ready to come up to our room....praise the Lord! The doctors were so impressed with how quickly he was recovering. They were mostly worried about his underdeveloped lungs because he was 4 1/2 weeks early. On March 8th (Monday) I was recovered enough to go home and Jackson got to come with us. We are so thankful to all the nurses and doctors that took such good care of us.

I am so in love with my son. It is true that no one can tell you how much love you have for your child but I can honestly say my heart is overflowing. He is such a good little boy and he is getting stronger everyday. He lost a little weight but now he is gaining it back and is at 6lbs 2 oz. I can't wait for you to meet him someday. My blood pressure is still a little high and I am taking medication 3x a day to get it down. I have been laying low the past week. My mother and mother-in-law have been AMAZING. As soon as they heard I was going into labor they jumped on planes and got here as fast as they could. They have done so much for us. Unpacked our boxes, laundry, cooking, painted the nursery. I could not have done it without them. They are needless to say in love with their grandson (1st one on both sides). We are all doing well and loving being a family. It was quite a scary experience but God put his angels around Jackson and me and healed our bodies.

Unfortunately, the likelihood me getting preeclampsia again is very good but at least we will be aware of it now. Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers. I miss and love you all and can't wait for you to meet Jackson.

Our first family photo!

In the NICU....poor little guy

Getting stronger.....

Our beautiful miracle......so in love!

Jackson William Hammans

2010-02-07T19:33:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, my Mom threw me my first baby shower. She went crazy with all the beautiful details from blue cupcakes to personalized candy. She is going to be the best Grandma! It was so great to visit with such wonderful women that have been a part of my life for so many years and have watched me grow up. It was a very special day and I am so blessed to have such an amazing Mother. Thank you Mom for a wonderful day...

On another exciting note, our baby finally has a name. Jackson William Hammans!!! We had been back and forth for quite a while and Kyle could not seem to make a commitment. Well, the other day, I came home from work and there was a little wrapped package waiting for me. Kyle just stood there with a little smirk on his face and told me that he had gotten me a little something. As I opened the gift, I saw a little mini Charger jersey in the box. As I begin to look at it, Kyle said, "turn it around." As I turned the little jersey around, I saw that the back of it had a name on the back, "Jackson." I looked at him and he immediately said, "I picked a name!" I was so excited. Having a name makes it more and more real and even more exciting for him to get here. We can't wait to meet you Jack!

Me and Mom (Grandma-to-be!)

The two preggos.....both with boys!

Wonder who Jackson will look like? Mom or Dad?

All the little details...."Baby Hammans" M&M's

We picked a name!!!

7 months down!

Holiday fun!

2010-01-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I am pretty far behind in my blogging. Kyle and I have been going, going, going since Thanksgiving. We have enjoyed many Christmas parties, a trip to San Francisco, a fabulous birthday party for one of our closest friends and a great New Years!

I am almost 7 months pregnant and feeling great. This trimester has been terrific and I am enjoying getting ready for our son to come. My first graders are so thrilled as my bump grows bigger. They love to hug "the baby" and always talks to him in class. Kyle has been getting excited too. He has already started "nesting" and has been organizing everything in the house (who is the pregnant one here!) He reads to the baby every night and was so excited to get many of his old books that his Mom kept when he was a baby :)

We went to San Francisco in December for our friend Alisa's birthday. We all flew in to surprise her. It was so much fun being together and seeing all the fun places around S.F. Can't wait to come back in August for their wedding!!!

We spent Christmas at my sister's new place. They just bought a condo so we all came together to celebrate at their house. We had a great time opening our stockings, decorating Christmas cookies and playing board games (our favorite family pastime!) It was a little strange knowing that this was our last Christmas before all the babies come. Next year Haley and I will have an 8 month old and a 4 month old in the mix.....so fun!! It was a great holiday and a great way to end 2009!

New Years was a lot of fun! We spent the evening with our friends hanging out and eating yummy food. On the 2nd, we got all dressed up and celebrated one of our best friend's birthday at her home in Orange County. Her husband Dusty did an outstanding job of planning a beautiful party filled with amazing food and even more amazing friends. We love you Kim and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you for including us in your special day!

We are so excited to begin the new year and are looking forward to all the new adventures that lay ahead. We hope 2010 brings your family many blessings!

Here are some pics of all the festivities including my 6 month pic that I forgot to post.

6 months (from last month) getting BIGGER!

Merry Christmas!

Making Christmas cookies.

What a great job decorating!

The two preggos in our matching p.j's

Family pic in our jammies...

On the trolley in S.F. with Kim, CP, Kenz and the babes.

Kim, Kenz and I at the painted ladies (think "Full House")

At the birthday party with the birthday girl Lis.

Fisherman's Wharf

The birthday girl blowing out her candles.

The boys!

The girls.

Car, Sarah, Nic and I all dressed up!

Watching the Rose Bowl with the newest Duck Fan, Wyatt Smith!

New Years night with the girls

Almost midnight... HAPPY 2010!

Happy Turkey Day....1/2 way there!

2009-12-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving! I love the food, I love hanging out with my family, I love the shopping the day after. Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite times of the year. I have so much to be thankful for! And this year was extra special because we found out that our baby will be expecting a cousin four months after he is born! Yes, my little sister Haley is preggers too! Her and her husband announced the BIG news over the holiday and we are all thrilled. How blessed are we that baby Hammans (no name yet) and baby Milligan will get to grow up together! Unfortunately, I have passed the morning sickness torch on to her. I hope she doesn't have it as long as I did. Luckily, I have given her the long list of remedies that made my first trimester bearable. Congrats Haley and Freddie! I can't wait to be an Auntie!!!

November 17th was also my 20 week milestone! I am 1/2 way there! The past month has flown by. It still is a little surreal that in 5 short months, my son will be here. I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. Kyle and I finally got to feel our baby move a few weeks ago and since then, he has been non-stop. Feeling the little kicks and punches never gets old and Kyle is already getting a head start by reading to the baby almost every night. We are so thankful for this opportunity to be parents and we can't wait for him to arrive!

Beautiful fall day at the vineyard where we got

married 5 1/2 years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a new belly pic. I have been a little behind lately.

1/2 way there!!!! Is that really me?

Weekend in the Desert...

2009-11-28T18:05:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, Kyle and I headed to Palm Springs, one of our favorite places, for a relaxing visit with the in-laws!! We had a great time going to dinner, laying by the pool and just hanging out together. The weather that weekend was perfect! One morning, before it got too hot, we all took a family hike up the mountain. It was no easy task let me tell you....especially with a few added pounds I am carrying. But the views were beautiful and I got some buns of steel!

This weekend was also the weekend I embraced my new body and sported my two-piece (tummy and all)! We really enjoyed our time together celebrating my father-in-law's birthday. We love Palm Springs and it is a great place to get away for the weekend. We definitely came back relaxed and refreshed.

Dinner with the fam

Kyle on the waterslide

Embracing the baby bump! Lounging by the pool.

Hammans family poolside.

On our hike (5 months pregnant) that kicked my butt!

The boys did awesome!

It's a BOY!!

2009-10-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the month has flown by and I am well into my second trimester. I am happy to say that I am feeling so much better and my nausea is occurring less often....YAY! My tummy is beginning to "pop" out and clothes are much tighter. I am excited to embrace the next phase of pregnancy. Everyone says this is the "fun" part of pregnancy so I am really looking forward to having more energy, registering, showers and watching my body grow!

Last week we were ecstatic to learn we were having a boy! Kyle was sure it was going to be a girl for some reason so needless to say we were shocked but thrilled to find out we are having a son! Almost everyone we know with kids have boys so we are excited to watch them grow up together. I am such a girly-girl so I will need all the help I can get learning how to raise a boy! Knowing what we are having makes this baby seem more real for some reason. And while we have not quite decided on a name, I find myself wondering all the time what he will look like and what traits he will have. My heart is overflowing with love and joy for this little boy.

Fall is finally starting to make it's way to San Diego and that means cooler weather and pumpkin parties. This week we attending two fun get-togethers with great friends. The first one was with our friends in S.D. and the second was with our friends in Orange County. Kyle carved pumpkins and we ate lots of yummy fall goodies! It is such a fun time because so many of our friends have new little ones. I took a bunch of pics of all the babes in their costumes......so cute! I couldn't get enough. Can't wait till next year when we will have a 6th month old to dress up!

It's a BOY!!!

16 weeks!! Starting to "pop"

Happy Halloween!

All the kids in their costumes right before the "meltdown!"

Dusty with his "Dill" pickle.

Jordyn and her little bee.

Carving pumpkins

Can't wait to dress up our little one next year!

Morning Sickness?

2009-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

So whoever came up with the name "morning sickness" did not do a very good job! Well, it would be great if every woman only got sick in the morning. Me on the other hand has had "morning sickness," "mid-morning sickness," "afternoon sickness," "early evening sickness" and "nighttime sickness." Not so fun....I am unfortunately one of the unlucky few that has been sick for weeks 5-13. Now getting ready to be at week 14, I have had enough already. I know it will all be worth it in the end and I probably seem like a little whiner. The doctor finally prescribed me some medicine so it is probably my own fault that I am still feeling crummy. But I am being a neurotic first time mother and trying to do this pregnancy "au natural." The internet says that sickness has been linked to intelligence. If this is true, then get ready for a Nobel Peace Prize winner or a Rocket Scientist folks! Still, I am staying positive and very thankful that the baby is growing and developing!
Kyle and I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time a week ago and it was the most amazing sound ever. It made all the sickness seem OK! It truly is a miracle!

I am a little behind on belly pics. At almost 14 weeks, I am starting to get the little in-between "pooch" when people start wondering if you are pregnant or just had a little too much ice-cream. Can't wait for the "bump" to show in a few weeks!

8 weeks

10 weeks

12 weeks

The Adventure Begins!

2009-09-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I feel like I am the last person on the face of the earth that does not have a blog. But I figured with the announcement of our first baby, this would be a great way to update our friends and family on all the changes that have been happening in our lives!

Kyle and I are overjoyed to be starting a family. It has been a desire of our hearts for a long time and we feel so blessed that with God's perfect timing, we now have the opportunity to begin this new adventure!

I guess I should start at the beginning. We had been trying to have a baby for a while so I did not get my hopes up too high when I was feeling "under the weather" one day. Kyle had just left for a "guys weekend" in Palm Springs and I was really tired and not myself. That night I decided "what the heck," maybe I would just take a test. Almost immediately.....the little digital test read PREGNANT! I was standing there, in shock, all alone. And then I begin to cry :) Still in disbelief I ran to the drugstore and brought 6 MORE TESTS! All positive! It was the best feeling I had ever had and yet, no one to share it with. I had to wait 4 whole days till Kyle came back from the desert......the longest 4 days of my life!!!

For the next four days , I thought long and hard about how I was going to tell Kyle the incredible news. As we all know, Kyle is a HUGE Oregon duck fan. So it was pretty obvious that I would incorporate a little Duck Spirit! I had an Oregon Duck onesie overnighted from the internet and I made a sign that read "WE missed you. Welcome Home! After 4 agonizing days of waiting, I hung up the sign, and put out the baby outfit and my positive pregnancy test. I counted the minutes till he arrived. Finally I heard the garage door open and stood there in anticipation. But as Kyle walked down the hall into the kitchen , he completely missed the sign and the baby outfit. In fact, for the next 20 minutes, he proceeded to tell me all about his weekend and golf and yada, yada, yada! At this point, I am trying to be interested in his story when in reality I was dying for him to look over and see the sign. Finally, after he wrapped up the details of the weekend, he sat on the couch and looked over at the table. After a few seconds, he looked over and says, "Who's WE?" He told me later that as the words came out of his mouth, he knew and he went running over to the table. As he looked over at me, I had tears streaming down and we both hugged and stood there in shock. Kyle is soooooo excited. He is going to be the BEST Dad ever and I feel so blessed to share this experience with the most amazing husband and friend!

Keeping the Secret!

2009-09-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

I found out I was pregnant around 5 weeks. This will be the first grand baby on both sides so needless to say we knew our parents would be ecstatic! Especially because they have been asking for a grand baby for the last year! It was really important for us to tell them in person. The problem is, they don't exactly live down the street. My family is on the Central Coast and Kyle's family is in Oregon. So the dilemma began as to how we were going to see both of them and when. I had to report back to school in a few weeks so we had a short window. And last minute airfare to Oregon was pretty steep. But we wanted to make this moment as special for them as it was for us.

We are very fortunate that our families are so close so we decided to organize a family get together over Labor Day weekend. Kyle's family would come down to my family's and we would tell them all together. Sounded great! Except for one thing......Labor Day was 5 weeks away! That's right, we had to keep this secret from all of our family and friends for 5 whole weeks! I didn't think I could do it. And between the constant morning sickness and "little white lies" to my friends, I thought I would cave. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

But finally Labor Day weekend came and we were both on pins and needles. The baby is due April 6th which is 2 days before Easter so we decided to surprise them with an Easter basket. We bought an Easter Basket, filled it with grass and then put in three Easter eggs. Inside two of the eggs were our first sonogram picture from our 9 week appt. The third egg had the due date written on a piece of paper...April 6th 2010. We got to my Mom's house on Friday night. Saturday morning, Kyle snuck out of the house and put a box with the Easter Basket in it on the front door. We had written a Fed-Ex label addressed to all families and put it on top so they would think a package had come. Kyle rang the doorbell and ran back into the garage and into the house before anyone knew he was gone! My Mom went to the door and looked a little shocked to find a package addressed to her and my in-laws. Everyone was in the kitchen trying to figure out where and who this package came from. Kyle and I played along of course. Finally, they opened the box and found the Easter basket inside. More confusion. Kyle and I were dying inside! They looked for a note or explanation but found only the three little Easter eggs inside. My Mom grabbed one, Kyle's Mom grabbed one and my sister grabbed one. As they opened up the eggs to find the sonogram pictures and due date, the realization hit them. They all screamed "It's a baby! It's a baby. Oh my gosh. Kyle, Karly is it your baby?" As we smiled and nodded they began to scream even louder. Then the Mothers ran to each other crying and hugging and crying and hugging. We did not see them for the next 15 minutes because they had called everyone they knew to announce "their" news! The secret was officially out with the family and we felt relieved. It was a very special moment for the whole family and definately worth the wait! We are so blessed that this baby will be surrounded by a family with so much love! He/she is very lucky and so are we!

The new Grandmas and Auntie Hay!

Our Easter Baby!