The Hannig Home

First of all, Meredith is almost 6 months old (on Jan 2nd).  I missed her 4 month stats - she was 87% for height and 85% for weight (16lb 8 oz).  She gets smothered with kisses from her brothers, who cannot seem to get enough of her.  They crawl in her crib the minute she wakes up in the morning and for about 20 minutes they kiss her and love her.  And she just chills out and takes it, whether or not she's hungry or wet from a full night of sleep, she is sweet and kind to her brothers and doesn't complain.  See pictures below!  She doesn't roll over yet, but started eating some solids recently and is sitting up on her own pretty well.  She is the most content little girl ever.  She will go for hours without making a peep, just sitting with anyone who wants to hold her.  She likes to chew on her bottom lip and talks to us in a very high-pitched squeal, excited to hear her voice and learn how it works.  She has beautiful blue eyes with long eyelashes.  So far there isn't

Earlier in the Fall, as Paul drove away to head back to work after lunch, I heard Ben exclaim in his booming loud voice: Dad's got a HOOKER, mom!!!!!!!!!!!!! He continued to point this fact out in different ways, such as: Do you see Dad's hooker, mom? Dad's driving away with his hooker, mom. I didn't know dad had a hooker, mom. Why does daddy have that hooker, mom? It took me a few seconds to understand what he was talking about.  I looked out the window and realized that Paul was driving the Rambow (company) van and it has a HITCH on the back.  Ben refers to those as 'hookers.'  And why wouldn't you?  Things hook onto it.

Last February of 2012, when Ben was not quite even 2 years old, he moved into Luke's bedroom to prepare his room for baby Meredith's arrival.  We have 3 bedrooms on the main level and one in the basement, but we didn't want to move Luke downstairs, so Ben moved in with Luke.  Ever since then, Ben has been the boy without a bedroom.  Since last February he has referred to the bedroom as "Lukey's room."  Here are some sample conversations: Ben, where are you? In Lukey's room, Mom! Ben, have you seen your socks? Oh yeah, in Lukey's room, Mom. Ben, it's nap time, honey.  I want to take a nap in Lukey's room, Mom. I put my clothes in Lukey's room, Mom. Ben, it's your room, too.   Tonight, almost a year later, Ben referred to the room as his.  He has a home - finally! He's been fascinated by his little flashlight lately so he turned out all the lights and with excitement yelled: Come in my room, Mama!  I turned out the lig

Ben watched me clean the toilet last night and had begged to help.  Believe me, I would LOVE to have someone else take it upon themselves to clean the toilet (and the surrounding floor, for that matter)....especially when it seems like I'm the only one who manages to not make a mess when going to the bathroom.  I'm always cleaning up others' pee it seems.  I suppose that is what happens when one of the potty'ers is a 2 year old.  I knew it could be messy with Ben helping, so after letting him slush the toilet bowl brush around one time I said, that's it , much to his dismay.  Fast forward to this morning.  Ben was back at it.  I was enjoying a nice cup of coffee with white chocolate caramel creamer in my favorite coffee mug from the lovely Eryn Hannig, listening to Christian music before church, chatting with my husband, and thinking how nice it was going to be to spend the day with my mom's family for an early Thanksgiving in Watkins at the Streit farm.  I gla

Boys, daddy on his soap box here.  Talking about something very important.  He clearly has captured your attention. And afterwards, all smiles.  He must have said some stuff that really resonated with you.  I wonder what it was...

A few weeks ago my mom and dad watched Luke and Ben on a Saturday so I could have a "girls day" with my sister-in-law, Eryn, Joe's girlfriend, Hannah, and little miss Meredith.  It was such a FUN day hitting some crazy thrift stores and flea markets in Paynesville.  I headed to Richmond to pick up the boys around 5:30pm.  I asked my dad how the day went and he informed me that they had a great day and that they went to Happy Hour.  Of course they did!  They went to Haffley's - one of the little bars in Richmond - just a 2 block walk from the home I grew up in.  My dad continued to tell me that he, Luke, Ben, and Grace (cousin) walked up to Haffley's for Happy Hour and had pop and popcorn.  This is just one of the many things I love so much about my dad.  I love that he loves Happy Hour.  I love that he enjoys the atmosphere, excitement, friends, and laughter he finds there.  I love that everyone knows Ernie wherever he goes.  I love thinking back to the Happy Hour

Last night Paul and I collapsed onto the bed after a particularly challenging and chaotic day of parenting.  Paul sighed and said, Well, another day in the books.  ( pause... ) We're one day closer to the kids moving out. I busted out laughing.  He said it so casually and matter-of-fact-ly.  The days are long and the years are short. That is what we've been told again and again.  It seems to be true at times, although from the perspective of a sentimental mom I would argue that the days are short, too, especially as I see the boys growing up before my eyes. Ben will be 2 1/2 on November 1.  He just seemed to be one, and now he will be closer to three years old than to one year old.  I can't capture his personality or bottle up the amazingly "Benny" things he says and does fast enough.  Everything out of his mouth makes me smile, laugh, feel pride, love him more. I remember feeling that way about Luke at age 2, too.  It's a special time of learning and