4 Months

Henry Joseph-

I cannot believe that you are 4 months old.  The older you get the harder you make it for me to go to work.  I miss you more and more every day. 

You went on your first airplane ride.  You were amazing but we will NOT be going again unless we are going on a family of 3 vacation.

You got to meet many of your family members.  You were such a joy during it all.  Now they have to come visit you if they want to see you.

You got to meet all of mom and dads friends.  We Loved showing you off and hope that you are friends with their babies as long as we have been.

You started "talking"!!!!  Hearing you talk completely melts my heart.  You seem to talk the most when you first wake up but you sure do like to talk to daddy too.

You found your feet a day before your official 4 month birthday.

You have become quit attached to your BB(part bear, part blanket).  It is crazy the attitude change you have when given BB.

You still refuse to smile for the camera.  Maybe one day.

Mom and dad love you so much.  We Love to talk about how you are changing and what the future holds.  We love spending time with you and experiencing things as a family. We have tons of fun times planned for this summer.  We Love you Bubba!!!!

HBD2U!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the BEST sister-in-law!!!!! 

I LOVE you like a sister!!!!

Thank you for giving me the perfect nephews and niece.

And thank you for Loving my brother like you do.

And of course thanks for loving and allowing my parents to be such a BIG part of your family!!!!

I Love you and wish that we lived closed so our babies could grow up together (maybe one day). Thank you for the daily pictures of the kids, I LOVE them. 

I hope you have a great day and a wonderful year!!!!!!



Thursday Thoughts

* What is up with this new layout?  You guys probably can't see it but Blogger sure has changed things up, not sure I like them.

* I get so happy to do these weekly posts because I know the weekend is right around the corner and I get to spend two whole days with my boys!

* We had an AMAZING weekend last weekend and I am hoping for another this weekend.  We don't really have anything planned.  Maybe an auction, estate sale or the Farmer's Market.

* I have always LOVED tennis shoes, although I go through phases where I wear them and then I don't.  Well ever since I was pregnant I have been in a wear them stage.  I bought a new pair while I was pregnant but already think that I need a new pair.  I am looking!!!!

* A certain little guy in our house has not been sleeping very well.  Probably has to do to his drainage due to this crazy weather we have.  I never knew I could function on such little sleep!

* While I was on bedrest I watched many TV shows.  One that I truly enjoyed was Ellen.  Well I have continued to make this a daily thing (at least I try to).  Well there are 2 little girls on there- Sophia Grace and Rosie.  They are the cutest little girls (next to Crimson Reigh)!!!!! Check them out if you haven't seen them.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9573kGBtuE

* The draft is this weekend and it's like Christmas for Andrew.  Wow what a weirdo!!!!!!!

Thursday Thoughts

* Today is our anniversary and we have nothing romantic planned.  That's just who we are!!!

* The weather is yucky here and is going to be for the next few days.

* I have been packing up Hen's 0-3 months clothes and it makes me sad but happy.  He is at such a fun age!!!! It makes me NOT want to go to work.

* We play the lottery, yes we are those people.  Well I have always said that if we won I would keep working.  Change of plans, this week I have decided that I will NOT work ever again.  I want to stay home with my babies!!!!!!!!

* We don't have any more plans for the rest of the summer.  Seems kind of crazy and amazing all in one.  We will make our annual trip to Wisconsin for a Packer game and then I have some fun things planned for Andrew's 30th birthday.

* Not sure if everyone knows this about us Van Bakel's but we LOVE us a good deal.  We buy junk and re-sale it on Ebay.  Let's just say we have a good thing going.  While we were in Tx I stumbled across a vintage purse at a great price that I hope to sell at an even better price in order to buy me something that I have wanted for a while to commemorate the birth of my son!!!!!  I am so excited about this!!!!!!!!  I will keep you posted.

* I am starting to think of ideas for ANdrew for his first Father's day.  Any ideas?

Texas Travels

We made it home from our trip to TX.  It was fun and exhausting.  Looks like we now get to spend sometime getting Henry back into his good sleep cycle.  Hopefully this won't take too long cause this momma is tired.  We got to see lots of wonderful friends and spend time with our families. 

We started the trip in Amarillo where we saw friends and hung out with Andrews family.

Henry got to meet some of his friends.

Silly Babies!!!!

Friends forever like their daddies!

Someone got distracted by his hands!

Daddy's mini me, checking out his surroundings!

We celebrated Easter while in Tx.  We did not have time for pictures before Church but got some after in our comfy clothes.

Henry got to meet his great-grandparents.  And of course we had to get a picture of 4 generations of Joseph Van Bakels.

We then headed to the farm where Henry met Papa and of course Daddy picked out Hen's outfit!!!

We then made our way to Lubbock where Hen met more friends (although we didn't take any pictures- Sorry Reeves family) and his Amazing cousins.  He LOVED his aunt and uncle too!!!!!

We had an Easter egg hunt too!

Of course no trip would be complete without KK yelling for the boys at a baseball game.

Little guy cheering on his cousins.

To end the trip we just spent more time with family. 

We saw many more people but somehow didn't get pictures with everyone.   It was a good trip but just let me say it will be a while before we do it again.  This momma and daddy are tired!!!!!  Henry is finally getting back on his sleep schedule! 

Rock My World

Today Andrew and I celebrate our 4 Year Wedding Anniversary!!!!!  I cannot even begin to think that it has been that long.  Oh how things have changed.   From living in a 1200 sq. foot apartment in Midland, Tx to now living in a home I LOVE with a newborn baby all the way in Minnesota. 

I am more in LOVE with Andrew Joseph today than I was 4 years ago.  I LOVE the life that we are currently living.  LIFE is pretty perfect right now. 

We had a kind of hard year with the pregnancy and bedrest but Andrew was GREAT during it all.  He took care of me and our unborn baby at the time.  Thanks, Andrew for all of your help and support!

Now we have our little boy and are enjoying our new life.  And Andrew has continued to be a wonderful husband and dad during this transition period.  Andrew- you are the BEST DAD EVER!!!

I cannot wait for many, many more years together!!!!  4 years has been a blast but I can only imagine what lies ahead for us.  Thank you LOVING me and taking care of Henry and I.