A NEW ADDITION!

I'm absolutely terrible about updating my blog, usually because I have no good ideas or interesting things happening. Just the same old being a stay at home mom as always. But, on October 6th, our world was rocked and our new baby girl arrived! Eleonora Kate Hofman was 7 lbs 15 oz. She arrived at 10:36 a.m. (after being in the hospital for almost 30 hours of waiting after my water broke.) She is healthy and wonderful and we all love her so much, especially her big sister! YAY!

I'm so bad about this...

If there is anyone out there still following our family blog, I am so sorry. I don't get around to posting new information enough. Perhaps that's because there just aren't that many exciting things to tell you about. It would be pretty narcissistic to just blab on all the time about doing the dishes or changing diapers. Not to mention really, really boring. So I'll keep it short and somewhat exciting:

Christmas was good, but a lot of sad things happened in the couple of days beforehand. My cousin's mom, former aunt, passed away pretty tragically on Christmas Eve. The day before that, an old friend's baby boy, 2 months, died suddenly in the night of SIDS. When I got home from visiting family and checked my facebook, I discovered a friend had also passed away on Christmas Eve. It really showed me how Christmas comes no matter what and life doesn't stop for it. It was nice to have Hadlee around, so excited and completely oblivious to everything sad, constantly "singing" Jingle Bells. I was able to truly appreciate all of my blessings this Christmas with all of the things that happened.

With all of the ending of life that I've seen this Christmas season, I was also blessed to see what joy new life brings. My best friend Kelsee gave birth to a daughter yesterday. They named her Shyloh Elizabeth and I can't wait to meet her in person. Listening to her tiny cries over the phone made me miss having a tiny baby in our home, and all of the light and newness in brings. We'll just have to keep trying for our second addition.

I've heard it said that the more people you tell about your goals, the more likely you are to meet them, so here goes: as a New Year's resolution for 2010, Cor and I have decided to read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover," and do what we can to start cutting down our debt and living more frugally. It will be hard, especially not traveling or going out for dinner and movies, but we can do it and we'll be better off for it. I'm hoping that it will help me appreciate my blessings even more. I'd also like to buckle down and start writing a book in 2010, so hold me to it people! I'm not going to mention the old, "I'm going to lose weight this year," because, as much as I'd like to, I'd like to be all fat and pregnant even more. If we could welcome another baby into our home in 2010, I would love it. But I can't really make that a goal, because it's kind of up to the Lord, no matter how hard we try. Ha ha ha. I'll keep you posted though.

Nothing that's the most important ever really changes in my life. I love Cor and Hadlee so much, and they love me back, even though they see all my imperfections. That's what makes us family and that's my greatest blessing. So even if it's same old same old, and perhaps boring to read, it's what brings me the most happiness and that's worth sharing I think. It's a struggle to be the stay at home mom whose not the independent woman out conquering the world, and it sometimes feels like thankless work, but the rewards are there. And perhaps I'll still shine in other ways later. If I can shine as a Mom for Hadlee now (I'm pretty dull but trying to polish up,) then I'll take that.

SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG! I know, I'm a total slacker. Well, since the last time I posted, Hadlee turned one!!! I can't even believe how fast time flies. I got some poetry and photos published in Black Rock & Sage, which was flattering and exciting. I GRADUATED from ISU. Hallelujah. Cor and I took an AWESOME second honeymoon to Guatemala and Belize (actually Ambergis Caye, Belize), and went to see Tikal. It was a dream come true, especially because our stay in Belize was free, our plane tickets were a combination birthdays/graduation gift, and the Tikal excursion was only $300 total which is what I got as a graduation gift from my Dad, and we've always been fascinated by the ancient Maya and never dreamed we'd be able to go on such a trip. Plus, we got to go on some awesome snorkeling trips, had a beachfront villa all to ourselves, and we got to hang out with Jessice and Steve, who we've missed. IT WAS WICKED AWESOME! I would suggest Central America as an inexpensive and super entertaining trip to anyone. I thought that upon returning from the trip my life would slow down and I'd be able to start enjoying the life of a graduated house mom, but I was so wrong. June has been the BUSIEST month EVER for my photography business. And since it wouldn't stop raining, I had to cram a ton of appointments into short spaces, which made it even more hectic and stressful. But I'm not complaining. I'm just running out of fingers and toes to count my blessings on. Just kidding, I ran out of those a long time ago. My two greatest blessings: Cor and Hadlee. Every day I think about how lucky I am to have my sweet little family. And my extended family as well. How did I ever get so lucky to be born into a family I love to death, and then marry into one that I love SO SO much? It's crazy. That's another exciting occurence in my life, my sister (in-law, but just sister to me) Brittany is getting married to an awesome guy named Justin. Another family member to be grateful for! Cor is still chugging along, working and trying to enjoy summer. He'll return to school in the Fall. It's crazy that I won't be. I don't know what I'll do without school! Besides lots of photography work, take care of a little HANDFUL child, and eventually start a novel. And perhaps one day start considering extending the Hofman clan once again, but that day is not in the near future for those that are wondering. I'm still learning how to be a mother to the one I've got, and that's a very daunting task!!! Well, until next time, be happy my friends. Look at the bright side, there is always someone who loves you. And I'm not just talking about me!

Another Tear Jerker

So, the new song that makes me teary is Guns N Roses Sweet Child of Mine. Just read it, and look at pics of my beautiful daughter, and you'll know why.


She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry


Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine


She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by


Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine


Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o' mine

Picture Update

Sorry we haven't updated much on our blog for a very LONG time. If you click on the links below you can see some updates from our life and our ever growing Hadlee.

• Hadlee's Baby Blessing and Trip to Boise - Click Here


• More of the CUTEST BABY EVER!! - Click Here


• The Summer of Hadlee Begins... - Click Here


• The Trip Madness Begins... - Click Here


• Our Summer Vacations Continued... - Click Here


• Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotypes Only - Click Here


• Our first Lake Powell (Hadlee and Mommy's at least) - Click Here


• More Lake Powell + August '08 - Click Here

So Long Sweet Summer...

So, I can hardly believe that summer is coming to a close and my beautiful Hadlee is FOUR MONTHS OLD already. Sheesh time flies by. Hadlee can roll over, grabs at EVERYTHING (and of course it goes straight towards her mouth,) and thinks getting scared is funny. Come to think of it, she thinks tons of things are funny. She's a pretty happy baby in general. Her laugh is probably my favorite sound in the whole world. She's been the highlight of our life ever since she was born. On both of our vacations she was an angel baby. I was worried about all that time in the car, but she was a trooper. She didn't even start fussing until the last ten minutes of the trip to and from the coast, and didn't fuss at all on the way to Lake Powell. I think on the way back from Lake Powell she finally got fed up because she fussed a little then. I will say that since we've been home from vacations she's been a little bit of a turd because she got so used to non-stop attention and stimulation. Oh well. I couldn't ask for a better baby. Cor is still working for his dad and loading trucks in the morning for Fed-Ex. I'm living the life of a stay at home mom. It's an adjustment for me, but I don't think I could leave my baby every day for work. In a few weeks it's back to school and I'm SUPER excited to do as well as I can and GRADUATE in the spring. (Summer at the latest!!!) Cor just had his 23rd and mine is on Friday. Birthdays really lose excitement as you get older I've discovered. I have moments where I'm all anxious inside because it's almost my birthday, but then I realize it will probably be just another day and I'll be just another year older. Blach. Anyway, it was great getting to see so much family and loved ones this summer. I love you all! I'll try to keep this updated, and keep checking for new adorable pictures of our sweet baby girl.

Hadlee Update

Hadlee is doing great. She eats A LOT! And consequently urps up ALL THE TIME! And it's projectile. It's nasty. Still, I think she's adorable. Perhaps only a mother can be burped up on again and again and still think her baby is perfect. Cor finished his finals today, and thusly his semester. That was a relief. We were able to work it out so that in the fall I can go back to school full time but still be home. I just have class at times when Cor is home so Hadlee doesn't have to be in daycare. It's a blessing it worked out. I only have class one day a week during the day. I have two night classes (three nights a week) and an independent study (hopefully.) It worked out so perfectly. I was so happy. Night classes stink, but I'm willing to do it in order to get to stay home and not put Hadlee in daycare. The coolest part was that my adviser in my department told me that I should be able to graduate a year from now. YAY!!! I kind of wish I was graduating this semester with a lot of my friends, but taking time of to have Hadlee was totally worth it. If I could have all of college to do over, I would have taken more credits other semesters and been more serious about everything. I wouldn't have taken semester's off. Then again, maybe I wouldn't change anything because life happened in a way to get me here, and I'm so happy. Anyway, summer is about to begin! We're planning trips to the coast to stay with my grandparents and to Lake Powell for Hadlee and I to meet a lot of Cor's family. Both trips sound like fun, but I'm a little weary of traveling extended distances with a baby. Especially since my baby is already a home body. She gets fussy if she's away from the house for even a couple of hours. Yikes. Oh well, we'll just hope for the best. She's a month old already! I can't even believe. Watching her grow is so exciting and makes me so happy, but at the same time breaks my heart. Time just goes by too fast and I'm so scared of losing moments with my precious baby. Sometimes when I'm so tired and frustrated, I feel so guilty for thinking, I can't wait until she's big enough to sleep eight hours, or, I can't wait until I'm done breastfeeding. I know I'll be so sad, and excited, when we reach those points. Right now I just want to stay in this moment with my tiny girl forever. But I know I'll love the moments to come. Man, do I love her. I never imagined how much love I would have. It's so hard getting babies here, and so hard sometimes once they get here, but every time I hold her I think that she's so worth it. I never truly understood it when everyone said it before I had her. Now I understand. I think I love Cor even more now because I see how much he loves our baby girl. Life is good. So this is somewhat cheesy but I cried when my sister in law sent me these lyrics right after I had Hadlee... I Saw God Today - George Strait Just walked down the street to the coffee shop Had to take a break I'd been by her side for 18 hours straight Saw a flower growin' in the middle of the sidewalk Pushin' up through the concrete Like it was planted right there for me to see The flashin' lights The honkin' horns All seemed to fade away In the shadow of that hospital at 5:08 I saw God today I've been to church I've read the book I know he's here But I don't look Near as often as I should Yeah, I know I should His fingerprints are everywhere I just slowed down to stop and stare Opened my eyes and man I swear I saw God today Saw a couple walkin' by they were holdin' hands Man she had that glow Yeah I couldn't help but notice she was startin' to show Stood there for a minute takin' in the sky Lost in that sunset Splash of amber melted in the shades of red I've been to church I've read the book I know he's here But I don't look Near as often as I should Yeah, I know I should His fingerprints are everywhere I just slowed down to stop and stare Opened my eyes and man I swear I saw God today Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass She's sleepin' like a rock My name on her wrist Wearin' tiny pink socks She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes My brand new baby girl She's a miracle I saw God today