Grandma

Grandma -

I remember…

Playing hide and seek

Your pumpkin bread :)

Drinking cold coffee out of your really small coffee cups when I was way too young to be drinking coffee.

Watching Psalty The Singing Songbook religiously at your house and how we’d all sing along when the kids were lost in the woods…“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”.

Sleepovers – I can still smell the sheets.

The big Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings ever year, we’d always stay as long as possible.

How the grape jam always tasted better from your jar with the little spoon.

School shopping with you every year.

Walking you down the aisle at my wedding.

Swimming at your house and how you always made us use the ladder (when you were looking)

Going to Chicago with David, Josh, you, and Grandpa.

The way you prayed.

How you’d come to almost every school function and church event I was a part of.

Playing MadLibs on the way to the Tiger’s game.

Introducing Ella to her great Grandma.

How you’d read us Bible stories.

I know these are just a few things, but most of all I simply remember you as being a part of our lives and I wish I could thank you for that in person!

I love you and will miss you until we meet again.

Love,

Brad

In Memory of Grandma Koning...

Today we lost a wonderful person in our family; this morning Brad's Grandma Koning passed away. She was an amazing Grandma- a loving Christian woman of grace and beauty. She will be so missed by us and her family. Please pray for Brad's Grandpa and the Konings as they will be missing her greatly but also rejoicing that she is in heaven with her Savior.

question

Jill - did you go in and edit my congratulations to the President and put my name at the end?

wuss :)

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

3 "Crappy" Nights

Little did Brad and I know that when we wished that Ella would poop that we would get the response that we did. We were worried that Ella might be a bit "backed up" this weekend and were impatiently waiting for some "activity". (We lead exciting lives, I know) Well, we got what we asked for...three times over.

Monday night we were out with Mere and Joe Geurink for supper when it happened the first time - she blew through all her clothes and somehow ended up even getting some in her hair by the time I got done changing her. The changing pad that we keep in our diaper bag was nowhere to be found and thanks to Mere she let us use a disposable one...I don't think there is anything more disgusting than cleaning off your baby on a surface that is probably more disgusting than your baby's butt:)

The second occurance took place at auntie Betsy's house. This was the worst of all - Betsy was babysitting and Ella blew through her clothes, blankets, and even through the Boppy lining - yikes. When poor Betsy, with her 29 week belly, went to lay her in the tub she realized that she couldn't bend over the tub with her prego stomach, so she threw on a bathing suit, and gave Ella a bath that way - now that is true love:)

The third (and hopefully final) blowout was at Applebees last night. We were there with our Grandpa and Grandma Essenburg. Ella was super fussy and we couldn't figure out what was wrong with her - she was so bad we each took turns walking with her. It was my turn when I realized that there was a foul stench in the air and I asked Brad if he noticed anything. That is when Brad proclaimed "Oh my word - she stinks - I thought she was wearing a brown onesie!" Nope - we do not own a brown onesie:) Apparently Brad noticed the "brown onesie" about 45 min before that and didn't think anything of it. Needless to say, poor Ella had every right to be crying and we had to race home to get all the stains out of our clothes as well - funny how we didn't even notice it all over ourselves -good grief. The sad part was that the restaurant was packed and everyone kept looking at us all night because she was so loud - I even was called over to a table because they wanted to see Ella close up - how many other people noticed that our poor daughter was caked with poo before we did - how "crappy" is that:)!

A New Leaf

Figured it'd be reasonable to take a quick moment on a pretty grondbreaking day to wish all the best to the new President. Here's to the hope of better tomorrows for our friends, our country, and the world. Congratulations Mr. President! Brad

The Babysitters Club

(I was trying to think of a cool name for this posting and this is all that I came up with. Not to get sidetracked but did any of you read the babysitters club books? Oh my word - they were my favorite books ever when I was young - I read them all - my best friend Lisa had the whole collection and I was so jealous but I thought it was so cool because I could borrow them whenever I wanted. I rememeber there was Stacey, Mary Anne, Claudia... and Logan (its weird but I feel like a had a crush on him - is that wrong to have a crush on a character in a book?:)

Anyways- I just wanted to write about the awesome babysitters that Ella has. She is blessed to have Auntie Betsy and Grandma Koning watch her each week while I am working. Ella loves going to Betsy and Jakes house especially because Macie is there. We heard Ella laugh (for real laugh) for the first time last week when Macie was running around their house - she laughed a few times in a row really loud and long - it was so precious! Grandpa and Grandma Rotman have watched Ella on several occasions and Uncle Bryan and Auntie Daysha watched her for an hour last Saturday. Beyond that Ella hasn't really been watched by anyone else except for Great Grandpa and Grandma who will watch her this week Friday because I have to work an extra 1/2 day so that will be so nice. Although Brad and I prefer to take her wherever we go instead of getting a sitter, when we do want to go on a date night or whatever we so appreciate those that love Ella and will watch her. And for those of you who have offered to babysit and we haven't taken you up on it yet - don't worry - I am sure there will be a time in the future when we will really want a babysitter.

Macie and Ella taking a nap together:)"Ella, I think I am going to get you!!!" (she loves when Grandma plays)Ella loves her cuddle time with Grandma and walking laps with GrandpaShe is so blessed to have Auntie Daysha babysit - she sure knows how to capture a precious moment!

"Toys for Tots"

Ella is finally getting a little more hands on with her toys although her favorite thing still tends to be her little patties. She is grabbing for her rings and things that are hanging in front of her and loves anything that makes music or noise or blinks. She really enjoys her activity mat because it does all of the above and today we set up for her an exersaucer bouncy type thing - she is too young/small to be in it herself, but she thought she was big stuff sitting in it but all she really ended up doing was sucking on the seat part since she can't sit up unattended yet. She cracks us up because all she want to do is suck on her hands which has made her become a crazy drooler. Here is some pics of her favorite toys right now (we are working on the Bumbo still being a favorite:)

3 months old!

Ella turned 3 months old this past Saturday- we can hardly believe how fast time has flown by. She is such a joy - cooing and smiling and jabbering in her own little language. She is beginning to hold up her head really well - she only enjoys the bumbo for seconds at a time but loves to sit up on the couch (as long as we are there to prevent her from flopping over). We don't have any updates on her weight/height because the next appt is at 4 months but I have no doubt she is growing...a lot. She loves to eat and suck on her hands - her new favorite past time. Here are some random pics of Ella - our little tooter:)

Sporting her daddy's favorite band's tee:) Little big foot:)

Yea - we finally love baths!!!

Below are some pics that I took of Ella in her baptism outfit - I didn't get any cute pics the day she was baptized but I wanted to take some because it was also worn by me and my mom - it is very old and precious and I couldn't resist taking pics of her in this ancient bonnet:) (she did not wear the bonnet at her baptism though:) She is even wearing the baby ring that was worn by many babies in our family.

Holiday Happenings

Christmas was a wonderful time for us this year - Ella made it so special. Although she is too little to personally partake in all the festivities, it just felt so great to have her there - our little family felt so complete. We spent time with all of the families this year - immediate and extended. Here are some pics of those parties and special moments.

Making Christmas cookies with Mom and Dad Koning, Jake, Betsy and Kylee before Christmas

Ella being entertained by Macie

Rotman Christmas party - Carley, Kennedy, Ella, Kooper, Reed, and Kolter

Reed and Kennedy with "Santa Brad""Santa Dad" and EllaJill, Ella, and Brad

Me and Ella in our PJ's on Christmas morning:)

Our little family at the end of the day in front of our Christmas tree 

Our Koning Christmas - Kylee, Macie, and Ella

Brad and JillOur favorite Christmas present this year:)

Ella with Grandpa and Grandma Rotman

Jill with cousins Angie (prego) and Sara at our extended Rotman party

New Years Eve party with our friends...Layla, Jonathan, and Ella
Jill and Ella as the ball drops and turns midnight (yes, she was still awake:)
Us as we welcome in the new year!