Happy New Year!

Finally, Our Resolutions!

Heather--

1. Get back into my routine, which includes a regular schedule with the gym. I am wiggly and jiggly all over. It has been 6 months since I was on a regular schedule and I can feel it. I am sore and achy all the time. I can feel my lack of energy and lack strength increasing. And, let's be frank... my behind ain't gonna shrink on its own.

2. Knock out a few more of the classics... I just started Winnie the Pooh.

3. Prepare more meals with natural and organic ingredients without breaking the bank.

Cody--

1. Take out the trash for my beautiful and hardworking wife.

2. Have more fun.

Sam--

1. Sleep without a pull up!

2. Please and thank you without being reminded.

Annarose--

1. Take a bottle!!!!!

2. Take a nap in her crib for longer than 20 minutes.

Christmas Day

I loved this one! Janie, Annarose and me

Check out Damien's new Batman raincoat!

Janie Mac and Annabanna

Dennis and his Robot, this was a big hit with Sam too.

Dinosaur has become a major player in the battle against the super villian Joker!

All the ladies ( a very difficult picture to get)

Chillin out with Mickey

Our Christmas Day was wonderful and magical with the children, this year Sam really got it... I mean he REALLY got it. So, it was pretty darn awesome to watch the magic through his eyes! It was wild and crazy to watch the three boys open gifts and set up their new toys, we didn't even exchange gifts with the adults till almost noon.

Damien and his family arrived in the afternoon. The boys opened more gifts and played, the girls rolled around on the floor and were adorable. Janie is so stinking cute, you just want to eat her cheeks!

As wonderful and magical, wild and crazy, busy and chaotic our day was... you couldn't miss the fact that the house felt just a little bit empty. We didn't have our Tristan. In fact, the kid is still stuck in Germany! The weather, the faulty airplane and the holiday kept our brave soldier away for the second Christmas in a row. But, unlike a lot of families we at least knew he was safe. God bless, Skype and facebook updates.

We didn't have Dad. I like to think he was part of a grand celebration up in heaven. Jesus' birthday must be huge up there, right? Dennis posted a poem on facebook about it, but even before I read it... that is exactly how I wanted to picture him. My dad loved the Christmas season, more than most people. He liked to stretch it out as long as possible, and would never let my mom take the tree down until after the 12th day of Christmas. Last year, instead of doing all their gifts on Christmas morning... he had the idea to exchange one gift a day for 12 days. Cute, huh? He was such a romantic. On the road to "healing and grieving", everyone says the first year is the hardest. Once you get past all the "firsts", it won't hurt as much. It will not be as hard. I can't imagine Christmas ever feeling the same without my Dad.

The Stockings were hung....

Nana with the kids before church

The boys hung there stockings and put out the cookies for Santa man

The morning rush!

The Joker House was Sam's big surprise gift, he had no idea it existed and if you know anything about Sam these days he is all about the Batman.

Nana got Annarose her first baby, and her first American Doll at that.

We are back and there are tons of pictures from our Christmas together up in PA, but I am still sorting through them all! Editing and deleting takes a heck of a lot longer when you have two kids to manage.

I'll give you a little preview:

And, yes... Cody is trying a beard out for awhile. I kind of like it, even though it is still kinda scratchy.

I did give the old blog a "facelift" for 2011! Pretty huh? Well it is nothing fancy, but I was sick of the old style and wanted something a bit brighter. I have lots I want to accomplish in the new year, so I am trying to get my "resolutions" formulated... toning up and getting back into a routine with a work out is on the list for sure.

I will get a photo post up soon of Annarose's first Christmas and the mayhem that ensued Christmas morning with the Hauckies!

Sam the Shepherd

Sam's school does a Christmas program every year. This year they did a Nativity, and Sam played a shepherd. He told me shepherds don't talk. Apparently, in his mind shepherds keep their flock in line by gently knocking their heads with staffs. Who thought it was a good idea to give him a weapon, I mean a staff anyway?

He did pretty good. Aside from throwing dirty looks to the out of tune angel behind him that is.

I have some great video to share, but blogger and you tube don't recognize our cameras formats and won't post. Sad face.

Annarose is 3 months

She is getting so big! I don't know what she is weighing these days, but she is really filled out. Check out those thighs!!!

It has been a whirl wind of a month, planning for Christmas. We are lucky Annarose is so mellow and happy, she loves sitting in her bouncy chair and talking to the puppy on it. It is so cute, she kind of squeals and yells. It actually sounds like someone has stepped on a cat when she really gets on a roll. It makes us all laugh.

It has been tricky finding our rhythm with a schedule. I guess because we have to deal with Sam's schedule first. I have a decent night routine going, but the day time is still kind tough. It is lucky that so far she seems to not mind sleeping the morning nap in her car seat. However, I am such a control freak that I hope to have it all ironed out, so she is in bed in her crib for nap by January. We are up at least twice a night to eat, sometimes more.

She will not take a bottle, unless it is from me. You should see the song and dance I have to go through for her to take it from me too. What a pain! I have been actively trying to get that worked out too. She is getting a bottle twice a day. She has started to full on refuse it from Cody. It makes going out without her tough.

She is smiling and laughing. And, is almost rolling over from her back to her stomach! She get all the way onto her side, and kicks and kicks.

I guess that is it for now!

Annarose's Baptism

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, we had the little miss baptized. She did really, really good. She only cried for the dunking part, and was quickly happy again once she was bundled in a towel. It was a much more enjoyable experience this time around. Poor Sam cried through the whole of his, which if you ever nursed a baby... you can imagine how fun that was for me.She looked like a vision in her gown! A perfect angel! She wore the same gown that both her Nana and her Momma wore.

The girls

Dennis and Holly, the godparents

Grandpa and Oma

We had a little brunch afterwards for everyone, where we once again stuffed ourselves! I am officially on a diet. I had lost all my baby weight, and somehow in the last month put on nine, yes nine! POUNDS!!! Never in my life had I ever gained that kind of weight so fast.

Stuffed!

I am finally getting to writing a run down of our first Thanksgiving. It turned out so beautifully. You know I love cooking, so I did have fun making the menu and trying a few new things along with the standards.

Our Menu

Turkey

Homemade bread stuffing

Fresh Cranberry-Ginger sauce

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Gravy

Sauteed Spinach topped with goat cheese

Brussel Sprouts sautteed in pancetta

Fresh Green Casserole

Assorted rolls and breads

Dutch Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Roll

There aren't alot of pictures because it is really hard to cook dinner, feed a 2 month old, and take pictures. I should have put Cody in charge of the camera!

The bird right from the oven.

My table! I used my great grandmother's china for the first time and my silver. It was fun to use that stuff, I never get fancy. I thought the table looked really pretty. I even had matching glasses. This is big. If you know me at all you know what a klutz I am can be and my glassware is all mismatched from me breaking it.

Grandpa and Annarose

Uncle Mike, Aunt Christy, and the kids

They came all the way from San Diego to spend the holiday with us and be here for Annarose's baptism that followed up on Saturday. It was so great to have them here! It was Christy's first trip to the east coast. I think she was freezing the whole time.

Many nights ended with Grandpa snuggling Miss Sweet Potato. She really loves her Grandpa.It was a really great weekend. We ate and drank and ate some more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all! I am cooking and hosting my first Thanksgiving down here in the ole' South. We have got loads of company, Sam, Margie, Christy, Mike, Taylor... it is a full house, everyone under one roof.

The turkey is in the oven, the sides are all prepped, the kids are napping, the guests are watching football and here I am trying to occupy my time and mind so that I don't have to think about how much I am missing my Dad. I thought myself ready to take on this upcoming season without him, knowing it would be hard and it is. I will forever have this imagine in my head:

I know that I have oodles to be thankful for, too many things to count or even mention. But, it is kind of clouded and watered down after the last few months. It honestly is so difficult to engage my whole heart in all of these festivities, which I know my father would not want me to dwell in my pain... so here goes, this is what I am thankful for:

1. First, my dear sweet husband. What a freaking rock! I would not have survived this year without his support, patience, and unimaginable love for me and my family. I sometimes forget that he too lost a very important and close person to him, and is also healing. But, like a good spouse often does, he has put me first way to many times.

2. My beautiful children. Sam and Annarose has been the light of my year. I could go on and on about my deep love for these to wonders, but who wants to read that!

3. My family. All of them, from my mother in law Margie for dropping everything at a moments notice and coming to our rescue last August... to my sister in law Holly for taking care of Sam while I went to my family during crises... to my other sister in law Karen (and her family) for making sure I was eating and resting when I couldn't take care of myself. My mother for being the strongest woman alive and keeping us afloat when we all felt like we were drowning and being my best friend. My brothers. My aunts and uncles and cousins. My extended family... everyone showing such love this year, God bless you.

4. My friends. Where would I be without them, they make me laugh, they make me cry, they make life worth it sometimes.

5. I am thankful for everyday I have with my loved ones. I will never take another day for granted. And, with that, I am going to go spend some time with my company.

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving.

Race Car Drivers

Cody took big Sam for his 60th Birthday surprise. They did the Richard Petty Race Experience at the Charlotte Speedway on Sunday morning. The guys got to drive their very own car, it was a dream come true for the both of them. I have to admit, it was pretty darn cool.

First Sam went, and then Cody went. They reached speeds of 140 mph and probably more at times, 140 was the average. They got to do 6 laps.

In their jump suits ready to GO!Big Sam and Little SamSam is in the black car racing, they were going about 140mph.Cody's up!

I once asked Cody if he wasn't a dentist, what does he think he'd rather be. In all seriousness, he answered me "a race car driver". Well there you go.

Annarose is 2 months

Having 2 children makes posting hard! I am finally getting these pictures up of Annarose. Life at Casa de Fielden is really settling in, Sam is adjusting to all the big changes and so are we... Annarose is so mellow she is just along for the ride.

She had her two month appointment last week and she weighed in at 8lbs 8oz. and 21.5 inches long. I can't wait for her to fit in her 0-3 clothes, she has so much cute stuff! The pediatrician is very happy with her growth and progress and was surprised she and I did it all on breast milk. She is eating about 8 times a day, and is getting very proficient. I am only down nursing typically 10 minutes or so. She is for the most part a great little sleeper too. I am up two-three times a night if you count the 6am feeding. She also got her first round of vaccines, three sticks to the leg. She was very sore, but didn't have any reactions.
She loves tubby time!And is holding her head up really well!
We have got a busy week ahead of us, Margie and Sam are coming out for a week and staying through till Thanksgiving. I have lots of planning to do because I am cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner! I am excited and nervous... I need to start planning my menu. It is dinner for 8, plus Sam.

We had pictures taken of Annarose last week too, the photographer holds a contest for cutest kids and if you go to the website and vote, we might win a $200 dollar credit. So please go vote! Click on the contest button at the bottom of his homepage, there is a little slide show. Sam and Annarose are the 6th or 7th tile.

Busy month

First, Happy Veterans Day to all those who bless us with their service past and present... and a special shout out to my brothers Dennis and Tristan... and most especially my Dad with his 28 years of honorable service. I love you and miss you everyday.
What have we been up to so far this month? Well, it has been just plain busy!

We got a visit from some of my family this past weekend. My Aunt Marti and Uncle Dick came down to celebrate her birthday and we all attended the baptism of my cousin's baby Noah. This was really fun. We got to hang out with alot of our South Carolina cousins too and it was super mellow, which is unusual. Our family gatherings tend to be for weddings and funerals packed into a few hours, so Holly was kind enough to host everyone Saturday night for some dinner and drinks. It was wonderful.

I have been fighting a nasty cold, and unfortunately little girl picked it up. She is congested and is all snorty and sneezy. Hopefully it goes as quick as it comes, she has been very sleepy. I am keeping close watch on her. We have a doctor's appointment on Thursday for her two month well visit. I hate the thought of giving her shots when she already feels cruddy.

More Pics from Halloween

Here is Sam with his class for the Halloween parade. He took charge and led his class, it was pretty darn cute watching him strut and do his little Batman dance. He turned to me the other day, while checking his Bat-self out and asked, "Mom, do I look cool?"

"Yes you do honey, yes you do."

Sam's class.

The lady bug is Dixie, she wants to marry Sam. She tells him everyday.

The very lucky little Batman got to trick or treat twice this year, up at Nana's. They don't trick or treat if Halloween falls in the weekend on Halloween day, they schedule it for the Thursday before hand. Strange, I know.

Annarose and Janey played very nice together, their little bald heads matched nicely too.

Nana with her girls.

Annarose gave Uncle TJ lots of smiles and napped with him all weekend.

Lunch date at Red Robin, Nana and Sam split a vanilla milkshake, both their favorite.

The kids were little angels in the car for me on my first solo trip up to PA. It was a fast trip, and as always I wish we could stay longer. We did get to spend all day with Damien's family and Tristan came up too. So now, everyone on my side has met Annarose.

I wish I could say that everything is getting easier for us, but we are all still missing my Dad with much heartbreak. All of us are dealing in our own way, but on the whole we have a big hole in our family. It has made us stronger than I ever thought possible, even though at times we probably feel weakened. If that makes any sense. My Aunt Rosemarie sent me this little daily devotional to read, today's reading was so poignant. It was about our responses to the crosses we carry in life, our burdens and trials. I found comfort in the ending prayer:

"Today Lord, for love of you, I want to bear my cross well."

Nough said.