getting closer

Can't get enough of that beautiful SMILE...

Hattie is getting so close to just walking on her own. I am hoping she will be taking some steps by Thanksgiving so everyone can see her. She can stand up from anywhere and just stay there for a good 15 seconds. As soon as she realizes she is on her own she immediately sits down. No desire yet to take a step. We are enjoying these last few days of her not walking though because we know once she walks she will be climbing. There always seems to be another stage or step to take. It is fun to see her change very day.

first big buck

Yea for Ryan. This was Ryan's second season at camp with Dr. J and the Friesen boys and he did not go away empty handed this year. Ryan shot his first deer ever...an 8 point BUCK! This deer was shot the first morning of the opener at 7:45am.
After all that money Ry spent on a new gun and gear I was hoping he would bring home some meat. Now we will have food on the table all winter. Or should I say we will have lots to give away! Papa G has already requested some and don't worry dad you will not be forgotten. Any other takers??? All kidding aside, way to go honey!!!

weekend wrap up

It was a mommy and Hattie weekend in the cities. Ryan is taking an aesthetics course at the U so he was busy from 8-8 Fri-Sun. The girls drove down Friday night to meet dad at gma & gpa's house. Saturday Hattie and I headed to the U to check out our first game at The Bank. What a beautiful venue it is. My mom came to join us along with cousin Zander and Auntie's Allison and Ashley. Thank you to the Hegg's and Schnathorst's for the tickets. From the game we headed to the mall for a little play time for the kids. They just loved this car when we put money in it. Friday night we joined dad and headed to the Bengtson's for Adam's birthday feast.






Sunday we headed to Plymouth to join my friends in celebrating baby Slygh who is joining the world in January. The picture above is L to R: Megan & Addison Chung, Lana and baby girl Slygh and Hattie and I. Meg, Lana and I all lived together for a few years after college. It was so fun to see everyone at the shower. Lana is just so darn cute with her baby bump too!!

Sunday afternoon Hattie and I headed home. For supper we stopped in Little Falls at the Pizza Ranch. Hattie was such a good girl I let her ride on the saddle. She just loved it. Maybe she will ride horses one day like her daddy. What a fun weekend!!

miss hattie

She is changing and growing every day. Her favorite thing to do is to sit in her chair. She would go on and off all day if we let her. Vocabulary- wow we can't believe how much she can say. I pick her up from daycare yesterday and she is just babbling away pointing at all the pictures (and the right ones). She must have got the smarts from her father. Still not walking. Really she has no interest in it at all. Finally last night we saw her on the step and she would stand up for 20-30 seconds by herself and then just sit down nicely. No interest to take another step. That is really okay with both of us for now. Hattie has conquered the stairs and can go up and down safely now by herself.
This weekend mom and Hattie have a girls weekend. Dad is going deer hunting with some friends up north. Is is supposed to be a beautiful weekend and I am looking forward to being outside if possible!!

Pre-Halloween Party 09

miss hattie the monarch butterfly

meeting casper the ghost

with friends carson(batman) & quinn(princess)

l: princess isla r: ava with her mommy becca

Friday night we took Hattie to a Haunted Halloween Party that was held at Detroit Lakes High School. It was so much fun. We ran into several of Hattie's friends there. Hattie as you can see if the monarch butterfly. She had lots of compliments on her costume. A Princess is definitely the most popular costume of the season for little girls. There were sooo much cute ones there last night. Wishing everyone a fun and safe Happy Halloween!!

GO.....

Hawkeyes. Yes you are reading that correctly. I know, it's hard to believe. Hattie is a Iowa Hawkeye cheerleader today for her daycare Halloween party. She received this outfit as a gift from her great-gpa & gma Te Slaa from Iowa. Grandpa Orlin is a huge fan too so here you go...
We have to admit that Ryan and I cheer for Iowa when they are not playing the Gophers. After all they are 8-0. Go Hawkeye cheerleader Hattie!!!

We are looking forward to seeing all the trick-or-treaters tomorrow night. Stop by if you are in the area!!

growing so fast...

Miss Hattie had her one year check up today. She was such a trooper. On top of her scheduled shots she got the optional one for chicken pox, the flu shot AND blood work for lead check and something else I don't remember. I think mom was more traumatized by it all than she was. The blood draw was for sure the worst. I didn't know a little baby had so much blood to come out of one little finger.
Dr. Brian said she is growing just as she should be. Hattie is almost off the charts is height in the 98 percentile at 31 1/2 inches. Her weight was 21 lbs. 7 oz. in the 52 percentile. Ryan and I kept thinking she was looking tall and we were right.
Mommy and Hattie enjoyed a fun, rare afternoon off together at home afterwards. Days like today make me not want to go back to work :(

birthday photos

What a lucky girl miss hattie is. We would like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, presents and most of all sharing in Hattie's special day.
Wednesday: Monessa, Hattie's daycare provider had a party at her house over lunch. Some of the parents of the children came to spend some time with her and Ryan and I went to throw a little party over the lunch hour. That night we had some of Hattie's special friends over for cake and pumpkin carving.
Thursday: we headed to the cities to stay with gpa and gma Te Slaa. Thursday we saw Auntie Coco and Uncle Jason.
Friday: we had our family photo shoot with Mandy Birdwell. Can't wait to get these back. She is so great. Check out her work at mandybirdwellphotography.com.
Had a visit from ggpa & ggma Schwartz & g. auntie Deb. Friday night we had a party with gma & gpa Te Slaa, gma & gpa Tauer, ggma Coners, Aunites Ashley & Allison and cousin Zander.


hattie, monessa & ella



baylee, the petsingers, the lauingers, henry, dad & hattie & the barkers



gma Julie & miss hattie



coco & j, zander & ashley, ally



papa & gma Tauer, family at the bday party

happy birthday hattie georgina

i lOvE my new chair

opening my presents

hattie & mommy

hattie & daddy...i just woke up check out my hair

I know miss Hattie has no idea it is her birthday but mom and dad sure are excited. We can hardly believe her big day is already here. Today Wednesday October 14, 2009 Hattie Georgina Ritchie is the big number O-N-E. You only turn one once so we are still celebrating with her. Hattie has a big day ahead of her. She is having a birthday party at daycare and mom and dad are coming along with the other kids parents for lunch. This is a tradition Monessa does for everyone. So fun. Then tonight her friends and their parents are coming over for supper, pumpkin carving and cake. Looking forward to this special day.
I woke up at 2:22am this morning. This is the exact time to the minute that I woke up one year ago from starting contractions. That was pretty cool I thought, especially since I did not have to really go through that all again.hehe. I don't know why but it is already an emotional day for mom. Just so thankful to have a beautiful healthy little girl. Children are truly a gift from God and we thank him everyday for what he has given Ryan and I.
We love you our georgie girl!!

Papa is turning five-O

My dad George has a big birthday tomorrow, Friday October 9th. He is turning 50 years young. Hattie's grandpa is our biggest blog fan. He tells us he checks this twice a day for updates. Too bad I can't post that often. Grandpa celebrated this week in South Dakota on a big hunting trip with some SuperValu execs. I'm sure they shot a lot of birds. We look forward to celebrating your birthday next week with you dad. Hope you have a great day. We love you! Your Georgie girl is getting so big and is excited to see you.