Elmer Hicks

We lost my grandfather today. Elmer Ingval Hicks was 90 years old and went peacefully during his afternoon nap. I sent him pictures of Cliff and Sable this week... I hope he saw them. I'm having a difficult time with losing my grandparents generation. I'm getting my genealogy papers ready, there maybe some family showing up this week and I have some questions.

Elmer Hicks in Portland,OR, 1946

Elmer and Rose Hicks

Grandpa with me (Keri, on the left) and my cousin Misty

Click HERE to see Sable and Grandpa's first meeting just 2 months ago.

Spring weather!

Trying out her new swimsuit!

We bought Sable a water table to play with on the side porch. She's super excited about it!

Bexley gets worn out watching all these kids!

Best Kids Ever!

4 generations

Left to right - Keri holding Sable Rene' and baby Cliff, their grandma Dawn and Great Grandma Delores Rene'

Good looks run in the family

Cliff and uncle Jonathan look alike!

Latenight Milestone

It took her three tries, but she was finally able to put her shoes on all by herself!

"Me and my big sister"

Our kids in their pajamas.

Coming soon

Joel and I are about to hit a marriage milestone... 10 years!

Stuff that happens

Cliff has been a happy addition to our family. He's fitting in great. Joel and I are really enjoying having a baby in the house again. It's strange to say but it feels easier this time. He's a great eater and often ends up with hiccups, then sleeps for 5 hours. When he's awake he enjoys staring at faces and making baby noises. He's an easy little guy. We're calling him Cliff.

The umbilical cord fell off today. Sables fell off at 12 days old, Cliff's at 15. Kinda gross...

Sable has been up to new toddler tricks: making funny faces, hitting and grabbing our arms trying to get attention. We're including her in everything we can though it doesn't feel like we're spending enough time with her. She's had more TV time than I'm comfortable admitting to. We're still learning our new routine. It's nice that everyone is healthy and adjusting right now

It's official

We got Cliff's Social Security card in the mail yesterday. Legal and official. How odd...

Doctors appointment X 2

Both kids saw the Dr. today... it was hectic!

Sable's stats: Tall lady!
Height: 40 1/2 Inches - 97%
Weight: 33lbs 15oz - 80%

Cliff's stats: Big guy!
Height: 22 1/4 Inches - 98%
Weight: 9lbs 15oz - 90%
Head: 37.0cm - 90%

Playground!

We went to the playground today with Sable's Aunt Jesse and cousin Nathan! Fresh air, aaaahhhh!

Happy Birthday Sable!

You're the best little girl ever!

3 years ago today...





We took the kids out for Ice Cream. Cliff slept, I had vanilla in a waffle cone, Joel and Sable had Cherries Jubilee. It was messy and wonderful!

More pictures!

Cousins: Caine holding Cliff and Sable


Finding Easter Eggs at Grandma & Grandpa's house

6 days old

Sable's new guitar from David, Nicole, John & Elea (Thanks guys!). She's been playing and singing for about an hour...


He looks more like Sable. Babies change so much in the first week.




Sable with her baby


"Me and my little brother"

Cliff's first check up

Cliff is now 5 days old. He loves sleeping, eating and looking around. He does not like shots, dirty diapers and Doctors looking up his nose. He has no jaundice. The Doctor said he's perfect and mom agrees!

Weight: 9 pounds, 8 ounces
Height: 21 and 1/4 inches

We're home!

Cliff came home today around 4:00pm. He's been sleeping, eating and pooping, we're so proud. He makes his Grandma's swoon and his Grandpa's beam. He looks so handsome in all his baby clothes so far. He had baby acne that is now cleared up and his jaundice test was a little high, though not bad. He's still a crazy good eater!

Sable is off having adventures at grandma Jackie and Grandpa Keith's house. She's playing with her cousins and not missing us at all. Joel and I are really starting to miss her but it's nice to focus on Cliff right now.

Our nurse offered to take Cliff to the nursery overnight while we were in the hospital and we did Monday night. We slept HARD! It was nice. He showed up in the morning well fed, tightly swaddled and still asleep. Little luxuries!

I'm keeping up with my medication schedule. I liked having the nurses take care of me, I should have brought one home.

Our blog has had over 2000 hits since April 1st! I shared it on Facebook and "The Bump" website. We've had lots of happy web comments and family/friend support.

Cliff is here!

Guess who came early!

Clifton Michael Hills
1st of April, 2012 at 9:35am
9lbs, 10.6oz, 21 Inches long

At 6:10 this morning, my water broke. We called Joel's brother Jonathan to babysit Sable, he showed up fast. Joel and I headed to the hospital in a little bit of surprise.

7:00 arrived at the hospital and checked into triage.

8:00 we were in a room. I was having heavy contractions.

8:50 Status upgraded to emergency. The baby was coming FAST! We all ran to the OR and all the nurses started calling in Doctors and staff to help saying "We need to go now." I was contracting bad and had started pushing on the operating room table. "Jason" the anesthesiologist (and my new favorite person) quickly got my spinal in and the operation was started. I was 9cm dilated.

9:35 Clifton Michael Hills was born. During labor, Cliff flipped around and they pulled him out by his feet. No problems.

He has Joel's eye's and short little legs, my chin and Sable's lips and nose. He's a great eater and makes some cute cooing sounds. We've all taken naps and feel great.
It was just SO fast!


Sable playing Doctor on mom's belly.


Cousin Emma with new little Cliff.


Big sister Sable and little brother Clifton.







Aunt Stacy... very proud.