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.