Growing Up

Sophie has really made some big strides this year. This proud father has noticed her really "blossoming" into a little, big girl.

Just this fall, she has come to love going to her Sunday School class. The change has been so dramatic, we have actually contemplated pre-school for her. We couldn't fathom this by her behavior before.

Sophie's understanding and comprehension is growing. Jennifer and I struggle to answer some of her questions. How do you explain "die" or "lying" to a 3-year-old? It's tricky.

She still can't sit still much and prefers to be active. She will go outside in the dead of winter and play until she can't feel her hands. I took her to some snow last week just outside of Corvallis, and she had a blast!

She also has some problems with listening and being gentle around Cole. I wish I had a nickel for everytime that I start counting, "1..... 2......".

She's our girl and a spirited one at that:)

What's HP up to?

Registered trademark of HP.

HP has announced plans to expand it's presence in the super-wide format printing (industrial printing). HP intends to buy NUR Macroprinters for this purpose (http://www.nur.com/nur/). This follows the acquisition in 2006 of Scitex.

Now HP will make prints for building facades, billboards, and who-knows what else.

BTW, this announcement is public (http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2007/071210d.html).

Coming to an Airport near you

If pre-schoolers were in charge....

...our Christmas tree would look like this.

Here's Cole after our tree-hunting expedition. He slept the whole time.

We had some snow-flurries at our house after church today. Sophie and I went out to look at it. We found some ice in a wheelbarrow with water in it. Sophie is holding a piece of ice getting ready to throw it.

It's a boy!!!!

Our new son, Cole, was born about three weeks ago. Here's a picture.


It was a memorable experience that I won't forget. Jennifer had her first contraction around 5:30pm. Following the instructions of doctors and medical professionals, we timed these and expected to wait at least an hour. But, instead of contractions being 10-15 min. apart, they started off at <5 min. and lasting more than one minute. Whoa!

After less than an hour, we started making calls to get babysitters over for Sophie. By 7:10pm we were on our way to the hospital and the contractions were almost on top of each other. Never has the drive from Albany to Corvallis seemed longer than with a woman in transition labor. It wasn't much fun for Jennifer - or me.



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We went straight up to the maternity floor at GSH, after a stop in the ER, and reached the floor at 7:40. Cole was born 7:46. No time for IV's or epidurals.

I'm so proud of Jennifer doing something neither of us thought she would be able to - deliver a baby with so little medical intervention. She didn't have time to break a sweat.

What a great family, God has blessed me with. Welcome, son!!!!

Family Portraits

After trying Sears Photography for a couple years, we opted for something different. For one, the experience is difficult in a tiny studio where Sophie just won't cooperate for a totaly stranger. And another, our discounted rates have expired.

This time we used a friend of Jennifer. She is getting into doing photography professionally. After doing this, we think she's got a future.

One great thing is that we were able to do them outside (something Sears doesn't do). And the price is quite good as she's just getting started.

Here's a link to the portfolio*. http://www.evansheathphotography.com/Flash/Hanson%20Family/Hanson/index.html

*please note that most of the pictures have not been "touched up". This is a service that is included. This portfolio is simply how Jennifer and I are able to view and select pictures.

Remodel

This week-end, our family is in the Subaru cruising north of Corvallis on our way to our Church. We were stopped by some flaggers Lewisburg-Granger Road. After about 5 minutes they let us through. We saw buses and trucks and about a dozen sheriff's officers. Then Jennifer sees a sign that says Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Whoa! In Corvallis?

Later that day, the news started coming out about the hit ABC shows presence in little, old Corvallis.

Here's a link to a site covering the build (extrememakeoveroregon.com). I signed up to help later this week...if they need me. Maybe I'll get to meet Ty.

The family has a daughter with rare, serious form of cancer.

Sweet Double Play

Here is one of the sweetest double plays. OSU vs. Cal State Fullerton. Amazing 6-4-3 double play.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IR7CCvrZAt4

National Champions

OSU.....2007 Div. I National Champions

What a great day!!!

I enjoyed these two games so much this weekend, in part because it was rather improbable and in part because the Beavers were so dominating.

There are too many superlatives to use in this post. Jennifer informed me that OSU is also the cutest team. Girls probably have crushes on several of the players.

BTW, last night on Sportscenter, the highlights from this game came about 40 minutes into the show (how lame). Then the not-so-bright Stuart Scott at one point called the Beavers, the "Ducks". Brilliant.

Props to the team and coaches. Way to go!!!! What a great new tradition.

Sports

Well, I'm on a roll today. Three posts!!!!

I have to add that the week-old news that we're having a boy this fall is setting in. I have to really wrap my thinking around this. To prove a point, Jennifer spent an hour showing me various websites with crib bedding for boys. This is too complicated. But it's important for Jen. I think that cars theme won out.

I'm usually a casual fan of college baseball during the College World Series. But the past three years the Oregon State Beavers have made it to this final 8-team tournament. Last year, they won the national championship! Today, the Beavers have a chance to get back into the national championship series this weekend. They play UC-Irvine (a first-time participant). Go Beavers!

I was listening to a local sports talk-radio show a couple days ago. The host mentioned something about a "6-4-3 double play". Baseball fans understand the meaning of that phrase. However, a caller (adult, male, sports fan) asked what "6-4-3" meant? The host was gracious enough to explain it on the air. I was embarrassed for the guy. I promise that my son will know what a "6-4-3 double play" means and not go through life ignorant.

Adventures in Potty training

An adventure is what this feels like. Those with kids may remember what this is like. If it's been a few years, you might have blocked this period out.

Good news though is that Sophie appears to have taken an interest in using the toilet and it's only been about three days. I'll spare the details, but it's another one of those big milestones in the life of a child and parent.

New Title

I have to change the title of this blog. I had used the highly unique and original "Sophia's world". While Sophie is my precious, charming, and spirited daughter, it would be unfair to my unborn son to keep this title so exclusive. Thus the change.

For those interested, we still don't have a name for Child #2. Number 2 probably doesn't work either. Jennifer has shot down my request to use "Mac". Oh maaaan.

Off-line for awhile...

....I'm back to updating my blog. I thought that I would explain where why I've been busy lately.

The past two weeks I've been on jury duty. This week I was actually selected for a jury that went to trial. Until this time, I only recall being in a courtroom a couple of times. During the jury selection, I actually felt nervous for a few minutes; as if I was on trial. That went away and it turned into an interesting experience despite a very difficult case and deliberation.

Most people are reluctant to serve as jurors and consider this an inconvenience. I was one of them. Now, though I have great appreciation for the way that the justice system works. Having experienced it firsthand, I have new found regard for it. I find being an attorney (especially a trial attorney in criminal cases) to be very difficult.

In the end, our jury reached a verdict of Guilty on 2 of the 3 charges. The hardest part was delivering the verdict. The best part is knowing that the justice system does work. Jurors are for the most part impartial and take their responsibilities seriously.

Va. Tech (04.15.07)

Today's tragedy at Virginia Tech reminds me that despite many good things in the world...each and every one of us is capable of true evil. Without the grace of God in my life, who knows what wicked, evil things I could do. And yet God's grace is free and available to all. It gives liberty to know that we have a hope beyond our temporal lives on earth.

"Lord, look upon the lives that have forever been changed by the events of today. Ease the pain and suffering, comfort the grieving. Fill the void left by those who were lost. Most of all, bring hope of salvation to the families, friends, campus, and community. Amen."

160

That's the number of beats per minute of an unborn child's heart at 12 weeks. Awesome!

Amazing Grace

We saw a good movie a couple weeks ago. This was Amazing Grace. It's the story of William Wilberforce and his political crusade to abolish slavery in the British Empire in the late 18th century. Through his powerful persuasion skills he slowly - over years - convinced the Empire to end the human slave trade. It was even done without a revolt, unlike that of the United States.

The film is not high-budget (read: not much on the special effects) but the acting is decent and the music is very nice. Included at the end (before the final credits) is a moving rendition of "Amazing Grace" by a bagpipe band.

www.amazinggracemovie.com

In loving memory...

My grandfather, Robert Hanson.

He passed away in his home in Washington state last night. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, fives sons, 11 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Grandpa was a humble, Christian man and a veteran of WWII. He spent most of his life in blue-collar jobs (farming, truck-driving). One of his favorite hobbies was woodworking. He created many decorations for his home, his family and friends.

He is loved and will be missed. But he is now in a better place (Praise God!).

Boom......A new blog is born

A monumentous moment. Today dawns a new blog. A better blog. A brave new world awaits you blog. Go forth and inform. Discover all that cyberspace has to offer.

This is my new weblog.

I'm creating this as part of a work assignment to learn and understand how the internet is evolving. Should be fun.

Looks for more posts soon.