Month 3 Update

Dear Gentry,

You are another month older and we had another month of fun adventures.  You, once again, have amazed your parents with how much you've changed in over a short period of time.  My little newborn is fading away and is being replaced by such a smiley, happy baby.  We don't have an EXACT schedule down yet because our day to day routine changes at the drop of a hat but you adjust well.  What was once my biggest stress has become so easy, you eat well and about every 3 and a half hours.  We were going every 4 hours but that put you going to bed at about 11PM.  Now you go to bed at 10 and don't get up until after 7AM!  I am so blessed!  Just this last week we stopped swaddling you because I noticed that at nap time you sprawl out.  See, my little newborn is fading away!  Every night I put you in your bed wide awake with a pacifier and you go right to sleep by yourself with little to no fussing. (thanks Baby Wise)  It is so hard for me to say goodnight because you are so darn precious and you are usually chatting away when I put you in your crib.  I foresee this becoming a problem when you are in a big girl bed and can speak actual words....like Mother like Daughter.  

Our days at home are absolutely wonderful!  The best present your Daddy ever gave your Mommy was the chance to stay at home with you!  He works so hard so I can feed you every meal, see your every smile, change your every diaper and wipe your every tear.  I feel so blessed to be your Mommy but even more blessed to be your Daddy's Wife.  Most days we have a day full of eating, napping, chores and working on tummy and back time.  All day long we talk and sing to each other.  You already enjoy the same music as your parents such as Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, The Civil Wars, plus many more.  We also play plenty of Elizabeth Mitchell and Caspar Babypants for you!  The louder the music is playing the better.  

On August 26th, you were baptized at Perritte Memorial United Methodist Church by Rev. Josh Hale.  It's the same church your Daddy was baptized in 27 years ago.  You wore the same baptism gown your Mommy wore almost 30 years ago.  Cooler than that, your Pops wore it 57 years ago.  Even Cooler is that your Great Grandfather Papa DeFord, wore it 98 years ago.  The coolest part is that your Great, great Aunt Belle wore it 100 years ago in 1912.  It was made by your Great, Great, Great Aunts.  We were so blessed to have both sets of your grandparents and your Uncle Evan at the baptisim along with our closest friends the Kahldens and Cullen!  After church we had them all over for a nice lady like lunch.  God has blessed us so richly!   

 Your beautiful parents.

 Pops and Lolli

Buddy and Gigi

 Uncle Evan and Gentry in the outfit he got you.  It's monogrammed!

Uncle Evan using the Bumbo seat and Tilly 

Update:

Weight: We are guessing 12 lbs
Length: We guess 23.5 in
Head: No guesses here Our next Dr. apt isn't until 4 mos.
Eating: 7AM, 10:30AM, 2PM, 5:30PM, 9PM (give or take 30 min)  1st feed is a bottle of bmilk.  5oz.
Bedtime: 9:30-10 PM
Rise:7:15-8 AM
Naps: 7:30-8:30, 12-2 and cat nap at 7
Diapers: You wear your Fuzi Bunz cloth diapers so well!  Size 1 at night but only until we run out of our gifted diapers.
Clothes: 0-3  Fit well.  You are still in NB shorts and have a few NB outfits you can still fit in.  You don't fit in shoes.  Not even the 6 week old shoes.
Favorites: Tummy Time Mat and Activity Bar, Pandora, Penguin Mirror
Latest tricks: You can blow bubbles on demand, You say "pooop" and you can "sing" Beyonce's All the Single Ladies (ohohohohohohohohohohohoh) 

Gentry is here!

Gentry Reaven (pronounced Raven) Hanke

arrived

4:41AM Monday, May 28, 2012

weighed 7lbs 11oz

21 in long

13.5 head cir.

brown hair and dark blue eyes

naked baby!

Our first family picture.  

We are home!

The whole crazy story about how she got here is next!

Showered with Love

 Shower at FUMC Preschool

Perritte UMC Baby Shower

Viva Las Vegas: Day 1

On July 6th (my 28th birthday) Carl and I along with our friends Ryan, Kelly, Britney, Cullen and Sarah headed to VEGAS! We have all been friends for almost a decade but we had not been on a trip all together during that time. Ryan, Britney and myself had been to Vegas within the last 10 years. Sarah went with her family when she was a child and didn't really remember much. For Carl, Cullen and Kelly this was the first time! So what did we do?

Tuesday, July 6th:

Carl, Kalena, Ryan

Sarah

Cullen, Britney, Kelly

Flew from Houston International to Las Vegas! We arrived in Vegas around 10AM. We checked into the MGM and went over to New York, New York.

Kelly wanted to have a real New York Slice! (We all had our priorities on this trip! Most of us had food requirements! This is why I hang out with this group!) Carl and I got a hamburger around the corner (OK I got a veggie burger). I think Kelly was pleased with her choice!

We then went walking. and walking. and walking. We walked up and down the strip marveling at the greatness of it all. We headed back to the hotel and some dipped into the pool (me) and some napped (Carl) and then we decided to walk the strip at night to see all the "shows". We stopped to eat at The Lux Cafe in the Venetian.

It was wonderful! The Lux Cafe is owned by The Cheesecake Factory. The menu at The Lux was just as big as the one you get at The Cheesecake Factory and there were similar menu items but The Lux was a step up and had a international feel. This is what we ate:

The Grand Appetizer Platter

Serves four or more! A Grand Assortment of Our Most Popular Appetizers Including Spinach Artichoke Dip, Crispy Thai Shrimp & Chicken Spring Rolls, Duck Potstickers, Buffalo Chicken Rolls, Cheese Steak Spring Rolls and Vietnamese Chicken Summer Rolls. Add: Seared Ahi, Crispy Ahi Sushi Roll and Edamame

I loved the spring rolls, duck potstickers and ahi sushi roll.

 

If I remember correctly here is what everyone ordered for dinner:

Kelly: Wiener Schnitzel: Austrian Style Thin Crispy Coated Veal Medallions. Served with Mashed Potatoes and Braised Red Cabbage

Sarah and Britney: Crispy Caramel Chicken: Crispy Battered Pieces of Chicken Breast in a Spicy Thai Caramel Sauce with Mushrooms, Onions, Red Chile Peppers, Garlic and Ginger. Served with Rice

Tried this! IT WAS SO GOOD!

Kalena: Indochine Shrimp and Chicken: A Fusion Dish of Chinese and Indian Flavors. Jumbo Shrimp, Chicken, Onions and Sweet Ginger all Sauteed in a Delicious Spicy Sauce of Curry, Plum Wine and a Little Cream Topped with Sun-Dried Cherries and Apricots. Served with White Rice

It was yummy but more like something you would find at Cheesecake Factory.

Carl: Fettuccini Alfredo: Wide Pasta Ribbons Tossed in a Rich Parmesan Cream Sauce. Can Also be Ordered with Chicken.

Ryan: Grilled Fish of the Day

Cullen: Chicken Royale: Lightly Breaded Sauteed Chicken Breasts Served Over a White Wine Butter Sauce with Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Herbed Carrots

We didn't finish dinner until well past 10 PM so we started on our journey to see all of the night shows and miserably failed.  We only saw the Bellagio water show and it always lives up to it's hype!  Before the show we did see a street fight between this small white guy and two large black men.  It literally happened right next to us.  I was pretty nervous but Sarah remained calm cool and collected!  We did manage to take a little time for a photo op.  Carl was less than thrilled :)

And that capped off day 1!  Stay tuned for the rest of the story!

Counting on Spring to Come Again

My friends Bevin and Dan got married in December and when the reception was over her mom told us to PLEASE take any of the arrangements. The wedding was beautifully decorated in what I would call a rustic Christmas wedding. Burlap squares covered the tables and I gathered them up not wanting them to go to waste. I didn't know what I was going to do with them until I stumbled upon this blog.

I thought..."Hey, I can do that." So I did. Just in my style. I bought a straw wreath to cover (3.99) and I used fabric I already had. This wreath cost me 4 dollars! I love it and can't wait until spring to put on my front door!

Year in Review

January

• My best friend left State Farm Insurance for a job at SFASU. It was the first time in nearly 5 years that we didn't see each other every day.

February

• Made an effort to be more GREEN!

March

• For the first time since working at State Farm I was finally doing what I wanted to do!

April

• Celebrated Easter and Andrew's First Birthday!

May

• CARL GRADUATED and I took him to the Dr. Pepper Mecca!
  
  

June

• I lost my job. It was the biggest blessing in my life so far!

July

• I enjoyed not having a job for the first time since I was 15.

August

• I had my first day at First United Methodist Preschool and I reconnected with my true calling...teaching.

September

• Adjusted to this new, wonderful, semi-grown up life.

October

• Fell in love with 16 toddlers and realized I really want one of my own! (Still discussing the next steps to fulfill that little dream with Carl!)

November

• Went with my brother and husband to get my tattoo for Nini.

December

• Redecorated my kitchen. Thanks to my awesome Christmas present from my parents, a stove.

Jacqui and Brice's Wedding

WATCH THIS!

That was the "Second Day" shoot and I can't wait to see more!

Something about Summer

Summer is back and the only way I can tell is because our AC is on the fritz at the office. I am waiting for the boss to say we can come in cut-offs and flip flops tomorrow. A girl can dream. I miss those long summer days as a kid. I wish I could take back every utterance of "Mom, I am bored." What was I thinking.

So far this "summer" (it isn't official by the calendar's standards) Carl and I have gone to Stephenville, TX for my cousin's wedding. You may know Stephenville as the place where Jewel and her hubby Ty live or you may know it as the town that was abducted by aliens a few years back. I didn't get any pictures of the wedding but I did get pictures of the Dublin, TX Dr. Pepper Plant and Dino Valley in Glenrose, TX. If you are in the area I suggest you go to both. It's fun and CHEAP!

Carl wanted to know if he could keep him.

Yup. That is an actual dinosaur track. Really. Really.

This was my gift to Carl for our 2nd anniversary. No, I didn't get him a huge DP. I got him tickets to go on the plant tour (actually my uncle Randy ended up paying for everyone) and buy anything he wanted at Doc's Soda Shop!

The only other big event for the summer SO FAR...was BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL! Again. I didn't bring a camera. I had to be at work at 10 AM but I did manage to eat blueberry pancakes and scope out the festival before going in to work. I went with the usual suspects: Kelly, Ryan, Andrew, Britney and Cullen. They stayed long enough to be swimming in their own sweat.

Here is Drew! Isn't he so big?

I am amazed EVERYDAY at his ability to sponge EVERYTHING.

Here is a small list of his latest "tricks":

• He can show you his muscles and make a face of one who is lifting something heavy
• He can say: Mama, Dada, Bubble, Bok (block), Ba (ball), Bath, Buh Bye....he loves 'b' words
• He will "swim" on command.
• When you ask him where his nose is he will point to his ear.
• He thinks he's really good a the fake cry. It makes people laugh.
• He says 'hi' and 'buh bye' to ANYONE.
• He loves to dance.
• He will kick his legs in a fit of excitement for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
• He can growl, blow kisses, wave hi and bye, attempt to blow bubbles in the pool, flirt.

And that's just all I can think of right now. Cool Kid.

Finally I can't forget about my Tilly. I had to add this picture of her after a long day of digging.

I tried to tell her that the dirt on her nose really gives it away!

Easter in Pictures. Very bad pictures....

Beautiful Baby

I entered Andrew into the Regis and Kelly Beautiful Baby Contest with the help of his mom Kelly! Andrew wasn't very patient but we got some good shots!

Runner Up: Shows how sometimes his hair is RED!

Funny expression.

2nd Place: My personal favorite! But it cuts off his head.

THE WINNER: Beautiful Baby!

Do you think he will win?

Bites Heal

Andrew screamed through the Super Bowl last night. It may be an ear infection. I felt so bad for him AND his parents. I got to leave. They didn't.


I can wait a little longer before having a kid of my own.


Thank you Andrew for reminding me!





SIDE NOTE: Andrew was asleep when I left....I just hope he stayed that way!

Finally...Photos!

Here are highlights of my last week in picture!

I did laundry.

I saw old friends! I can't wait to see Lauren a lot more often (wink, wink)!

I saw new friends. (These pretty girls belong to Clint and Amber Smith)

We ate lemons! (Andrew loves lemons)

Remix

WHAT HAVE THE HANKES BEEN UP TO?!?!?!

Let me break off a little REMIX!

*We had a visit from a Chinese Boy Scout! His American name was Gary. It's the "COOL" American name he picked for his English classes in school! That made me laugh. Carl and Regan gave him a "Cooler" name. B. P. or B***h Puncher. Sounds horrible right?!?! It's funny when an asian says it though! We went out and showed him how we Americans party. At Bullfrogs. Drank beer and played pool. Fun times.

*The next weekend my cousins Tyler and Rachel came for the weekend for some cousin fun! We showed them a good time. Drank beer and played pool. JUST KIDDING! We drank Coke and played Wii! The highlight was playing with dry ice. Kelly gave us some to take home and play with. It entertained all of us for a few hours and Carl made his SPECIAL milkshakes for the event!

* Carl and I went to my parent's house for the 4th and to celebrate my birthday. We had a good time hanging out with my parents, brothers and soon to be sister-in-laws. Tilly was cute as always!

*Finally this is a picture of my beautiful Peppermint Hibiscus. I am so proud that I have kept something alive long enough for it to bloom! It reminds me of Mr. Peppermint. Does anyone remember that children's show? I think it was only for the lucky kids in Dallas! Mr. Peppermint ROCKED!

P.S. A picture of Andrew for good measure!

Here Are Some Pictures to Prove It!

It's been over a year and I FINALLY have my wedding album! It wasn't my photographers fault! I couldn't make up my mind. I like that I didn't get my album for a year because it was so much more fun to look at the pictures and really appreciate the whole thing! A big thanks to my photographer! Check him out!