Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Florida...

In April I promised I'd post more Florida pics soon. Wow, Florida sure seems like a long time ago now! So, as promised here is our 2010 trip to Anna Marie Island, FL! Sorry it took so long, but we really had a great time. 4 kids and 8 adults sharing one house is a bit chaotic, especially when 1 of those kids and 4 of those adults had to share a big, lofty room (aka- Trey, Steve, Me, Katie and Joe), but we had SO much fun! Our house was right across from the beach. We visited Steve's grandparents and their pool, had lots of great lunches and dinners out, did lots of shopping :), and Trey LOVED the beach. We got him a little inflatable bath tub and he sat and played, crawling in and out all afternoon! We saw some great sunsets and even A MANATEE!!!























Tuesday, April 27, 2010

First trip to the beach...

We just got back from our "spring break" getaway to Anna Marie Island, FL.  It was SO much fun and I will get around to posting more pics and stories soon, but for now here is Trey's first experience with the beach and the ocean... :)



Thursday, April 1, 2010

FINALLY...


Wow!  I just thought I'd try this and it finally worked for me, a video uploaded!  It is nothing too exciting, just Trey playing in Ripley's dish like he isn't supposed to :)  He has just recently discovered it, and now thinks it's as much fun as being in the bath tub (he LOVES the bath tub).  Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Goings on...

Nothing super exciting has been going on at the Boss house lately... well, Trey has been doing things and learning everyday, but nothing much new for Steve and I.  We've had a couple fun night out recently, which are great every once in awhile.  It is really nice to get out of the house and do things with friends.  We celebrated St. Patrick's Day downtown GR- we hadn't celebrated in 3 or 4 years, so it was fun to "get back out there" :)  We also celebrated our very good friend Arron's (surprise) 30th birthday party.  So fun to see lots of friends we hadn't in awhile- some since even before I was pregnant!  
Trey has been a VERY busy boy lately... he did FINALLY stop rolling and start crawling- he mostly drags his tummy and does an army crawl, and it's SO cute!  He can lift his tummy up, but it takes him longer to get to the entertainment center and the cords, or the woodstove, or Ripley's water bowl... all the things he's not supposed to touch.  :)  He's also clapping (which is SUPER cute) and doing "SOOO big"- which really makes him think he's a big deal, because I get very excited.  I do hear random "da-da"s and "hi", but don't really think he knows what he's doing.  He's also standing up all alone, which is VERY scary to me.  He already runs into enough things with that noggin!  He walks if he's holding someone's hands and a little bit along the couch, but only with someone behind him.  And, most recently, like today, he climbed up a step in our house- from the family room to the landing leading to the kitchen.  Again, exciting but scary.  The coolest thing was discovered on his 9 month birthday the other day... A Tooth! We've been waiting and waiting for those pesky buggers to appear, and appear it has, with a vengeance.  It is very cute, but hasn't been easy on him- he has had to suffer through a little fever and runny nose and I have had to suffer through a VERY needy, VERY fussy baby.  I do feel very bad for him though and Steve's only question is, "is it going to be like this for all of them?"  No sympathy, that one. :)  
We've also been TOTALLY loving the weather lately.  Belfast really comes alive in the spring and summer.  It has been great seeing everyone come out from winter hibernation and the kids playing up and down the block.  Hopefully it bodes well for summertime and lots of warmth and sunshine!  Fun times coming up... excited for Easter weekend in Newaygo and seeing Steve's mom's new church... Steve and I are going to Tigers opening weekend (unfortunately not opening day) and Whitecaps opening day next weekend... AND THEN... FLORIDA!!!  Cannot wait for our week long trip to Anna Maria Island with Steve's family- the WHOLE family.  8 adults and 4 kids in our beach house... chaotic and crowded, just like we like it! :)  Steve and I are also training for the 5/3 Riverbank Run 10K.  Should be fabulous... just kidding.  It has definitely been hard training, I haven't exactly been a runner lately... or anytime since high school... but, we're doing it.  Steve is an excellent motivator and it is so much nicer having someone to train with- it's way harder on days I do solo runs... Ripley just doesn't have the same encouraging words for me Steve does. :)  So, wish us luck May 8!

And, just because he's so cute, here are some recent pics :

Just a couple of Pearl Jam fans hanging in the sunshine

"Grrr... I'm the little bear"

SOOO cool...

"C'mon Ripley, let's hold hands..." "Seriously, Mom?  This kid wants to hold my hand???"

Awww... just two buddies hangin' out


Friday, February 26, 2010

Eight Months Later...

Eight months ago today Trey arrived and changed our lives forever, obviously.  Most things were all for the better- I admit I wish he slept in til 10am like I would like to :)  Other than that though, he has been the best thing I've ever done.  As I watch this little munchkin roll his way across the floor in front of me (yep, rolling, not crawling) I am so amazed at how quickly the last few months have gone.  They certainly didn't go that fast when he was inside!  I love watching him discover new things.  He is just like his daddy and loves anything electronic- ipods, phones, cameras, wires, cords, speakers, remotes... you name it, he has probably gotten into it and most likely covered it in drool.  I can hardly believe this little person is on the "little boy" end of life now- he's closer to being a one year old than to being a "baby" anymore :(  It makes me sad to think that part of his life is getting closer to the end, but I am so excited watching him grow and learn.  I love you little 8 month old...
Ha, ha Ripley, that tickles!

Just out taking a walk in the snow with mommy and Ripley...

I'm such a big boy I help pick out my own clothes :)


Just look at that Buddha belly

And, that is what 8 months does... 




Thursday, February 18, 2010

HE Finally Arrived...

Our newest little nephew, Samuel Stephen Hwang, was FINALLY born yesterday, February 17, at 4:05 am.  He was five days overdue, which was REALLY driving Carley crazy (and the rest of us, but mostly her) so when the phone rang at 7:30 am I knew it had to be baby time!  As with the rest of her kids Carley didn't know who was going to be coming out, so we were pretty interested to see who it was going to be.  We weren't allowed to know what "it" was until we got to the hospital, and low and behold (and much to my surprise) there was a little blue hat in the bassinet!  We are so excited to have another little boy.  He and Trey are only 7 1/2 months apart, which is going to be very fun and very interesting in the next couple years... Carley and I both think with Jake, Trey and Sam we are going to have our hands full!  Steve was also very excited and surprised that his middle name was Stephen, also very happy and flattered, maybe?  Mom, Dad, Claudia and Jake are all doing well.  The kids are super excited.  Jake is definitely going to have some adjustments to make, but I think soon enough is going to LOVE his little brother.  And, I know Claudia is going to be very helpful.  She is great with Trey and LOVES reading books to the babies.  Here's a couple pics of our ever growing extended family!
Little Samuel Stephen- He's such a cutie pie and looks like his big brother, Jake.

It's AMAZING what just 7 short months will do- hard to believe Trey was even a whole pound smaller than Sam!

Meghan and Sam :)

R. Stephen and S. Stephen

9 lbs 3oz, 21 inches
Oh yeah, and Carley looks absolutely fabulous and since Sam cam out so quickly (just 3 quick pushes) she didn't even have an epidural!  She's amazing! :)




Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Vote for Trey Baby...


I entered Trey in Parents magazine's photo cover contest... I don't find out until March whether or not he makes it to the finals, but he was selected to be a "weekly finalist" for the photo of the week.  He needs votes though, so I am asking anyone who happens across this to click on the link and vote for Trey and if you want to tell your friends and family to do the same, please do so. :)  Also, enjoy the cute pic that got selected.