Almost here

Happy St. Pat's Day! Hayden had a party at the babysitter's house today. She's really excited about being a big sister. We found out we are expecting a boy. The name we've picked out is Joseph Richard. Steph is 34 weeks. We've had some scares along the way. Two weeks ago she was having labor pains and we found out she was dilated already (only to 1 but still...).

Here are some pics of Hayden

Pictures of the family

Long Time, No Blog

Ok, so I know it's been a really long time. Needless to say things have been busy. I took a new position at our middle school - Athletic Director (part-time) and Special Ed. teacher (part-time). I've been trying to adjust to that schedule. It's a continual work in progress (the A.D. spot that is).

Steph is still at both middle schools, although her job as school psychologist is the same, her role is changing a little due to the district's vision for how special ed. students are identified and new federal mandates that have been enacted the past two years or so.

Now for Hayden......oh Hayden. She just turned two and is quite grown up in her own right. She is walking--no running, all over the place. She talks up a storm and loves to carry on conversations with everyone. We went to the zoo over the summer and loved every minute of it; especially the dinosaurs display. She's dancing and singing whenever she hears music. We went to a pumpkin farm this weekend and she loved it. She brought home about 6 or 7 little pumpkins and plays with them. She thinks they are little orange balls. She's a hoot. And.....she'll be a big sister come late April.

Steph and I found out about a month and a half ago that she is pregnant. This will be our second. Steph was pregnant last year in September and August but lost the baby due to an ectopic pregnancy. It was the scariest thing I've ever had to face, I can't imagine what Steph was feeling. She had surgery on Oct. 4th and near the end of the school year we both kind of looked at each other one day and could tell what the other was thinking....would it have been a boy or girl? We were a little upset about it but the time had past and we worked through it. I'm choking up a little now, thinking about it because I've never really opened up to anyone about it. I was grateful for the opportunity to that little one's father; still am, but I have to focus on what I have here now, Steph, Hayden and the little one that's on it's way. I'm excited and nervous all at once. Mainly because now we have to get a house because we will outgrow or have outgrown the house we have now.

When we found out about this pregnancy, we were told that everything and everyone was where it was supposed to be. We were both relieved. How exciting.

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I'll put pictures of the family on the next post. Take care!

Rich

My how time flies!

Been a while, I know. here's the latest...

• Hayden turned one in August, the birthday party was a blast!






• Steph and I went back to work just before the party. I'm now at the same school as Steph. I took on a new role. I'm now Athletic Director / Special Ed. teacher / 7th grade football coach / 7th grade basketball coach. I'm lucky enough to get home to play some with Hayden before bedtime and tuck her in, but not before she grabs a book and let's Steph or me read it to her. I LOVE THAT!!






• Hayden now has about 6 or 7 teeth. Talk about growing pains, ouch. She cut a molar last week, poor girl.






• About 4 or 5 weeks ago, Steph and I found out she was expecting again. Yep, Steph was pregnant (notice the past tense verb - for you English freaks out there). In early Oct, Steph was having pains, so I started to take her to the hospital. Eventually I had to pull over and hit the On-Star button to have an ambulance come and get her. She gets into the ER around 9 am, by 11:30 the Dr. comes in and tells us that they have called in a surgical team and she'd be going into surgery. Come to find out, the egg had caused a tube to rupture and she was miscarrying. We were both kind of in shock. We thought that they'd tell us she was miscarrying and that she'd get something for the pain and then be sent home. Steph went into surgery around 2:30, got out around 4 and stayed overnight for observation. After staying home for a week, she returned to work with Dr.'s ok and tests last week revealed that she is fully recovered and can still have kids (Praise God!!).






• Ona happier note, Hayden is really coming into her own as far as her personality goes. She dances everytime she hears music, she chases the dog around, she wants you to chase her, she is starting to tell us when she is tired and wants to go to bed (not before story time though), and is really talking up a storm.






• Here are some pics from the birthday party and the visit to the pumpkin patch that we went to with Grandma & Grandpa Breecher. We went to one with Grandma & Grandpa MArtin, Aunt Deanna & cousin Brittany this past weekend; there was a petting zoo there. Steph was afraid Hayden would lose a digit. I figure she has 10 so what's the big deal is she loses one? LOL. Anyway.






• I'll try to have something on here before Thanksgiving, but if not....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Long Time No Blog

Been a long time since the last post. Here's the latest...

• Steph and I finished the school year on a good note
• We took Hayden on her first plane ride. We went to the Seattle area to visit Bonnie, Steph's sister, and her family. Steph's parents went with. We all had a good time. Hayden loved the plane ride; she was giggling when we landed in Seattle.
• While in Seattle, we visited with my friend, Kevin, and his wife and new baby girl. Gabriella is adorable. She and Hayden hit it off and I think will be good friends.
• Speaking of Hayden, she walked for the first time the other day. Here is video of it (I think). This is the first time I've done this. Can someone let me know if it worked? The video of her walking is closer to the end of the footage.

We'll try to have pics of the trip out to Seattle next time. We have yet to decide which ones we want to put on here. Until then...

Growing Pains

Time to update. Hayden is 8 months old. She's not crawling but she's darn close. We also think she's really close to popping out her first tooth. She's cranky, cries alot, isn't getting much sleep and she's putting everything, I mean everything, in her mouth. Growing up stinks!! Here are some pics.

Long Time No Blog

Sorry it's been a while. We've been really busy. Anyway, here's the latest...Hayden is 6 months now. She's doing all sorts of things. She's making cute little noises, eating food (she loves the sweet potatos if you haven't noticed). She's almost to the point of rolling over and crawling. Since the last post, she's met all of her cousins on Steph's side of the family. This picture is with her cousin from Washington, Reid and her Aunt Bonnie, Reid's mom. She also met Steph's Aunt Sue and cousin Alli. Here are some pics with all of them. Hopefully, it won't be so long between posts.

What a Party Animal...

Today Hayden went to her first Christmas Party. Kathy, our daycare provider, had the parents of the kids she watches over for dinner. Santa made a surprise visit with gifts for all the kids and the families. Hayden had a ball. Check out her picture with Santa. P.S. Merry Christmas from Hayden

Thanksgiving

This was Hayden's first Thanksgiving. Grandma Breecher bought her a cutie onesie. After traveling to Sandwich to see Rich's family, we drove to Barrington to spend the next couple of days with my family. My sister Sara and her family were in town from Ohio and met Hayden for the first time. Travis, Justin, and Kaylee just loved Baby Hayden. They couldn't get enough of her. Saturday was my birthday and Hayden bought me a tickle me Elmo. I think she really bought it for herself!! Enjoy the pictures!

Trick or Treat...

Hayden celebrated her first Halloween. We didn't get her a costume, instead we bought this outfit she is wearing. Stephanie and I dressed up however....as sleepy parents (HA!). I've included some pics of Halloween and other activities. The winter hat Hayden is wearing was made by her Aunt Bonnie. It will definitely keep her warm. It has earflaps!! Hayden loves trying to chew on them. All is well. We'll write again at a later date

Back to Work

Yesterday was Steph's first day back to work. She was a little upset about that so Hayden and I wanted to make her first day back special. The pic was Hayden's idea (yes, I understand baby jibberish. Sometimes I speak it!)

Rich

And Still More Pics

The Many Faces of Hayden

Hello all!

This is the last week Stephanie gets to stay home with the baby. She goes back to work Friday. She's a little anxious obviously, but I think things will be ok. While on maternity leave, she took some really neat pics of Hayden. Here are a few.

An apple a day...

Hayden needs to start eating regular food. We had a Dr. apointment today and he gave her a shot. She cried and Steph and I felt bad about it. Typical parent feelings I guess. Anyway, she has grown to 21.5 inches and is about 9 lbs. 7 oz. The doctor says she is coming along fine and wants to see her in a month for more shots. (If he hurts her, I might have to beat him up!!!)

Rich, Stephanie & Hayden

More pics

The lady holding Hayden is named Ruth. She is the mother-in-law of Rich's Aunt Peg. She was the best friend of Rich's grandma.