The Bartels Family

Introducing Abigail Rose Bartels

2010-07-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Abigail Rose Bartels joined our family on May 11, 2010.

This delivery was much smoother then her sister Violet's, we opted for the scheduled c-section. It took them longer to prep me for surgery then for Abbi to be born. As they were pulling her out, John was surprised to see her wide eyed and looking around. She was born healthy and perfect so we were able to have her in the room with us the entire hospital stay. She weighed 8.12 and was 20.5" long, just a little bigger then her sister Violet.

It was a little tough the first 5 weeks as Abbi struggled with colic in the evenings from 5-10 every evening. With some great suggestions from friends and family, we used a combination of probiotics & acid reflux medicine; we were able to regain our sanity as well as catching up on our sleep. She has been a very strong and alert baby; holding her head up on her own so she could see what was going on around her. She is quickly approaching three months and believe me, my summer break has flown by. Abbi has begun to smile, coo and baby talk to her favorite toy above her changing table. She loves to watch Violet; who affectionately calls her "Abbi Bananas" (Daddy's nickname for Abbi). Abbi also loves it when her daddy talks to her and rewards him with big smiles. Frank our golden retriever has also become one of her favorite objects to watch and talk to. Why is it when they start to become so much fun, you have to return to work. I am looking forward to going back to work but will miss my one on one time.

Christmas Pictures

2010-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well as you can see, I am a little behind on my blog posting... We've been a little busy with the arrival of baby Abbi and just the normal day to day stuff. I will do my best to catch you up with some pictures from the past 6 months. Enjoy!

This first set of pictures are a combination of our Christmas photo session and celebrations with both sides of the family. As you can see I was nice and round like Santa for Christmas.

2009-11-12T15:45:00.001-08:00

My brother Charlie and his family came to visit us last month - it has been years since we have seen each other so this was a very fun visit. It was great to catch up and for Violet to finally meet her cousin Teagan. They are currently stationed in Japan but we are hoping they may be moving back to the states soon. Thanks again for the great visit!

2009-11-12T15:15:00.001-08:00

Okay I know I'm a little late in posting Halloween Pics - this was a fun night for the girls and little Gabe Monster.
We took the girls trick or treating in Grandma & Grandpa Bartels neighborhood.

2009-09-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Update on Violet -
This sassy but sweet little girl is fast approaching the terrible two's. She is like a sponge when it comes to learning and often will sing her own version of the ABC's and Twinkle Little Star. She is into playing with her stuff animals, baby dolls and she still loves her books. Her two most favorite buddies right now are Daddy and Frank. Her other two favorites are Lucy and Baka Bake (*aka Gabe) - we can't say Lucy's name unless we are on our way to see her. Another big milestone in the past month or so ... she is now sleeping in her big girl bed - she still brings about 5 stuff animals with her, but whatever works! Enjoy the pics as mentioned in the captions she is growing - I think John might get his vollyball player after all.

2009-09-17T17:02:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics taken awhile ago when we got together with friends and kids at Joe & Christiane's.

2009-09-10T19:50:00.001-07:00

My brother and sister in law live in Hawaii - they sent Violet a Hula girl outfit as a gift. She looked so adorable dancing around the living room.

2009-09-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pics of Gabe, Lucy & Violet at Grandma Bartels house.

Teddy Bear Band

2009-07-25T13:14:00.001-07:00

These are some pics from an outing with Grandma Bartels to see the Teddy Bear Band. Violet loved it - it included many of her favorite things - Music, Dancing & Teddy Bears! Enjoy

New Pics

2009-06-30T21:46:00.001-07:00

Cousins

2009-06-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Christiane and I took the kids to Como Zoo a couple weekends ago. I just had to post this pic of Lucy and Violet, I love the expressions on their faces as they are running - full of mischief.

More Pics of Miss Sassy Pants

2009-06-01T21:08:00.001-07:00

I received a special request from Aunt Julie for more pictures of her niece! My parents captured all sorts of personality. Here you go - enjoy!

Happy 3rd Anniversary

2009-05-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you John for being such a wonderful husband and father - I will always cherish this special day and I look forward to many more years with you! Love you! Tona

Sunshine

2009-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Hoping for some more Sunshine so we can enjoy many more lunch times on the deck.

Easter

2009-05-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well we finally downloaded some pics off the camera and found the Easter pics.
Grandma Bartels setup an Easter Egg hunt for Lucy & Violet. I wasn't sure if Violet would do it or not but as you can see she mastered Egg Hunting with no problem, she just needs to work on being quicker then Lucy.

Dancing with Grandpa

2009-04-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

My parents came for a visit a few weeks back. They wanted to celebrate their anniversary by spending time with V and me. =) They brought Violet gifts of musical instruments - as you can see she is mastering them with a little help from Grandpa. She is also showing off her other favorite activity "Dancing" she dances to everything - she is full of personality.
(*I most enjoyed Grandpa's dancing) =)

Chocolate Pudding Face

2009-04-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T19:55:00.001-07:00

Violet Showing Off

2009-03-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

Violet was in a good mood tonight and decided to repeat some of the words she knows. Most of the time when I try to get her to speak she just looks at me and laughs or runs away, so catching it on video was like photographing Bigfoot.

2009-02-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE BOOKS

I often find Miss V in her bedroom sitting in her comfy chair reading her books. She has a tradition of pulling all of her books out of the basket and spreading them all over the floor near her feet. It is one of my favorite things to watch her do. She will read out load in her gibber gabber and will point to all the pictures on the pages. Here are a couple pics.

Happy V Day!

2009-02-14T20:55:00.001-08:00

Christmas Pics

2009-01-27T15:17:00.000-08:00

Better late then never - here are an assortment of pics from Christmas. Enjoy!

Christmas Weekend in Madison with
Grandma & Grandpa Wallsch.

"Grandma you crack me up!"

"Is it breakfast time?"

Grandpa Wallsch showing Violet how to ride her new pony.

Miss Lucy & Miss Violet hanging out in their
chairs at Grandma Bartels

Violet carefully touching each ornament on the tree.

Grandma Bartels gave Violet her own chair - she has it in her room and we often find her reading her books...well trying to read the books.
(*Notice the guitar,Violet is showing a little of her rocker side.)

Violets First Birthday Party

2009-01-05T20:26:00.000-08:00

I know this is a over due post - but better late then never.
Enjoy the pics I'll write more when I get a little more time.

(*Smaller piece of cake - but just as much fun)

(*I'm actually hiding from the messy frosting hands)

Look at that belly!

One of Violets favorite books!

Mr Piggy Bank - it sings songs and Violet dances to it

Violets first baby doll - we are practicing hugs.

R.I.P. Brute

2008-12-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday night we got a call from our neighbors who were watching Frank & Brute while we were in AZ. Brute wasn't moving or eating much, and had vomited in the kitchen the day before. He has slowly been losing kidney function over the last couple years and has been losing weight as well. The vet has warned us that he will not last more than a couple years, and since he is almost 14, it is to be expected.

We came home last night and found him in the corner of our kitchen. He was having a seizure and was laying in his own fluids. We wrapped him up and took him to the emergency vet clinic. He was still having seizures and his heart rate was extremely elevated. They gave him some valium to ease the seizures and pain, but once it kicked in, his poor body could not handle any more and he passed away.

I took Brute in 6 years ago when his previous owner was going to have him put down. He has been my best pal and has given me unconditional love. It was hard to watch him pass away in front of me, but harder to know that he won't be waiting for me when I get home or waking me up on weekend mornings.

Rest in peace pal. I'm sure you are in a better place.

Arizona

2008-12-16T20:28:00.000-08:00

We just got back from visiting friends in Scottsdale this past weekend. It was a fun and relaxing weekend, and hard to come back to -13 deg weather. We spent most of the weekend hanging out and going to the Vikings game on Sunday. It was great to see everyone, and we want to thank Nick, Bannon & Marrya for being VERY gracious hosts. I also want to apologize to everyone I got sick. I got the flu on Friday, which spread to everyone by the end of the weekend.

Julie & V hanging out at the Rausch's

Marrya, John, Joe & Julie tailgating before the game.

Tona & John watching the Vikes hand out a beatdown.

Violet had a dry nose all weekend, so she was constantly putting her finger up it. She would sit there with a little smile and slowly move her finger into her nose. We would move her finger away and she would do it all over again. Of course she started doing it while we were trying to take pictures. That's my girl.

Mini B-Day party

2008-12-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

John's sister Julie, Timmy, Lizz and Grant are unable to come to Violet's party so they came over for dinner this week - John made wonderful Enchilada's and Julie made this very yummy Chocolate cake. Here are some pics as a preview to what's to come on Saturday.

(*Theresa helping V open her presents from Aunt Julie & Timmy)

(*Violet recieved three puzzels - she has not stopped playing with them)

(*As you can see V thinks the puzzle pieces are yummy too)

(*V's favorite place to sit and climb and as you can see make faces at me)

(*We thought a nice big slice of cake would show well in the picture)

(*Then V tried to put the entire piece of cake in her mouth -

this was the cleanest she looked by the end of the celebration.)

(*After a quick bath - V was ready for bed)

Thanks again for all the great gifts Aunt Julie & Timmy!

Happy Birthday Violet!

2008-12-01T21:59:00.001-08:00

Apologies to our loyal friends and family that are eagerly waiting for new pictures and updates.
I feel like we are so busy these days that I hardly have time for phone calls, let alone any computer time. So apologies to everyone!

Since our last post - Violet has mastered walking and I know it will soon turn into running .. she has attempted it a few times and it has resulted in total wipe outs. She is so tough that it doesn't really phase her - she just picks herself up and goes for another try.

She is also been very busy mastering her favorite words Mommy, Daddy , Bye Bye , Deny (*daycare lady) and still an assortment of gibber jabber. What we are enjoying the most latley are her many facial expressions it's as if she is trying out all sorts of emotions. She has been trying out her faxe whiney and sad face, I have no idea where she picked it up but we have the hardest time not laughing at her. My favorite face has been her fish lips - we are not sure if she is trying to blow kisses or just trying to see what she can do with her lips.

It is amazing how fast this year has flown by - my little girl is turning One. She has really developed her personality - my little sassy social butterfly. She is very aware of her surroundings and all the attention she can get when we are out and about running errands.
John and I still can't believe we have been blessed with this sweet little girl.

I don't have many new pics to share - but I will be taking many this weekend. We are inviting over a small group of friends and family to celebrate V's First birthday. Stay tuned for pics!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-12-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

This year we spent our the holiday with John's Aunt Judy's family in Wisconsin. It was great to see everyone - as we get older and our own familes grow we see less of each other. It was fun to see all the cousins and see now the littelest cousins starting their own memories. Here are a few pics from that day. Enjoy!

I am normally a very positve person the type that makes you sick sometimes as I look for the good in everyone and every situatation. For many selfish reasons this year I was having a tough time trying to find all "those positive things" amongst the stress of normal life. This is a thank you to my wonderful , wise and kind husband for reminding me. Here are just a few things that I will hold onto when I'm having a hard time getting through the week and I'm sure many of you share these same wonderful reminders.

I am thankful for the home that we live in - the warmth and protection that it provides. I am thankful for family and friends that no matter the time or the distance will always be there to lend an ear or my favorite, a hug. I am thankful for the job I have and the distraction it gives me as I miss my little girl all day long. I am thankful for the simple smile and hug Violet gives me every morning as I prepare for a new day. I am most thankful for my loving husband that encourages me to do and be all that he knows I am capable of.

(*I know a little sappy - but it had to be said)

This Week She's Walking....

2008-10-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

...and next week she will be asking for the keys to the car. She just started walking short distances the over last couple weeks. She can get a couple steps in before she falls, which she doesn't seem to mind. It's like a happy little drunken gnome keeps stumbling around the house.

She has also found a burst of energy that we can't explain. She chatters away all day while going from one place to the next. We both knew this was coming, but were surprised that it happened so quickly.

Wild Animal On the Loose

2008-10-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Somehow a lion found it's way into our living room. Even though she seems quite ferocious, we were able to lure her away with cookies and a bottle.

Cousin Playtime

2008-10-06T20:16:00.001-07:00

Last night my Mom invited the family over for dinner. Violet & Lucy got to spend a little quality cousin time playing together. It has been fun watching them interact, but a little scary thinking about how much trouble they are going to get into in the future.

Somebody loves ice cream:

Here comes trouble:

We've also found out that we can get Violet to dance by singing and clapping, even though it takes a little encouragement. Here is a video of V&L dancing to us clapping. My favorite part is how excited L is the ENTIRE clip.

Joseph Gabriel Bartels

2008-09-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Joe & Christiane on their newborn baby boy, Gabe! Everyone is heathy and doing well. Violet is happy to have a new cousin to play with. Check out their website (see links on the right) for more details.

Violet's 9 month Check Up

2008-09-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

"Look Mom - I found treats!"

"I'm sooo going to grab the camera when I get over there"

This is Violet's new "creepy/cute" smile - more teeth soon to appear.

Violet had her 9 month check up ... well closer to 10 months but who is counting. =) The Dr was very pleased with her development - she is a very attentive little girl. She enjoyed talking (gibber - jabber) along with playing with the Dr's cool new shiny toy(stethoscope). She had her first dose of the flu shot - it went well but I still hate that part of her appts. (*We get to go back for the 2nd dose next month- ya!)

Here are her stats ....
Height : 2' 6" - (95% percentile)
(*John likes to tease that she is almost 1/2 my height.)

Weight : 21.5 lbs - (84% percentile)
(*We like to call her "monster baby" -
I think she just wants to catch up with her cousin Lucy)

Head : 18" - (84% percentile)
(*Brain is healthy and growing - always good to hear)

I can't believe just a couple months ago she was just learning to sit up on her own and now she is everywhere. We have a hard time keeping track of her with her "turbo crawling" otherwise she is your shadow checking out anything you are doing including investigating the dog bowls. (*Yes she has sampled the dog food and played patty cake in the water bowl) She has learned how to open up drawers, so I've had to reorganize my cupboards and put away my fancy serving pieces. She will play with her toys by herself for 15-30min without any concern that mommy or daddy are not near by. She loves playing with other kids - especially her cousin Lucy - she will often laugh with excitement when she sees other kids when we are out shopping. She loves music and we will often find her clapping and bouncing to commercials on TV or to music on the radio. (*If you have any great kid music suggestions - please let me know) She is creeping all over the place and is so close to walking. John is greeted most days by Violet and the Dogs waiting at the top of the stairs - Violet of course waving her little hand through the baby gate. She is growing up so fast and we patiently wait to see what she will do next.

Here are a couple recent pics.... She make so many new facial expression it is hard to capture them all!

Christal & Ellie's Visit to MN

2008-09-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

Last Wed my sister-in-law Christal and her daughter Ellie came over for dinner. It was really nice to see them - we have not seen each other since our wedding reception in 2006. It was great to catch up and for the girls to play. Violet loves her cousin Ellie and ate up all the special attention she received that night. I believe they will be heading back to Hawaii this Thursday - here are a few pics from that night. (*Chace, we miss you!)

"More Hugs and Kisses Please!!"

What a great Smile!

Chace's "Special Ladies" =)

Violet's favorite toy she has figured out how to turn it on and proceeds to bounce up and down to the Video Game music - it is very entertaining to watch.

Vikings littlest fan!

2008-09-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Okay here are a series of pictures we took of Violet in preperation for football season starting. Do you see the proud look in John' s eyes as his favorite little girl sports her Purple and Gold gear. (*Sorry Grandpa Wallsch - this is a battle I can't win.)

Chace has left for Iraq....

2008-09-04T19:47:00.001-07:00

This is a very sweet picture of my brother Chace and his wife Christal. It captures their final "goodbyes" as my favorite Marine leaves for his third tour to Iraq. I will try to post occasional updates as I get them from his Christal but as you can imagine there is not alot of information that can be shared. If you are interested in sending any notes to Chace or to any of the other soldiers let me know and I will get that information to you. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

MN State Fair

2008-08-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

We made our annual pilgrammage for fried foods on a stick and went to the State Fair tonight. Julie, Timmy, Lu & Joe met up with us and help spread the food around. Violet got her first taste of pronto pups & strawberry malts tonight.

Here's Joe & Lu at the pig barn.

Violet had a little too much to drink at the beer garden.

Here's everyone with the biggest pig in MN (he's the one wearing glasses).

We are both amazed that this picture actually turned out, with both of them smiling. It looks like we photoshopped them in.

I also ripped my pants up the middle bending down for the shot. I blame it on the cheese curds.

Froggy!

2008-08-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

This pic was from the day of Luau - I have been wanting to get a little pool for Violet and found this adorable frog pool at Target. It was the perfect size and provided a little shade from the sun. I was half expecting her to be a little scared of this large green thing but she immediately crawled right into it.

2008-08-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this series of pics - as you can imagine Violet's new found talent for exploring everything and anything... I went into the kitchen to check on dinner when I came back Violet had made her way into one of the end tables trying to see if she could reach the "Forbidden Cords" - you can tell she knows her name as she looks back at me and then you can see how she attempts to turn around - yes she did get stuck and yes I'm a bad mommy and took the pic before I helped her out ... Enjoy!!!

(*This event did encourage me to move around the living room furniture - she is so quick and sneaky.)

Luau 2008

2008-08-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

We had our annual Luau party a few weeks ago could not have asked for better weather Luau - as some of our friends remember from last year the weather was cold and rainy - this year it was hot and sunny!

Here are some pics from that day .....

Mom where did my Cheerio go??

2008-08-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Violet - 8 Month Update

2008-08-11T22:09:00.001-07:00

As you can tell -our blog has been neglected - it is partially related to our busy work schedules and the other is the time we spend chasing Violet around. She started crawling about two weeks ago - and has not looked back.

Here is the progression we saw in a matter of weeks ......
It started out with her rolling everywhere, then it transitioned into a funny crab crawl on her belly - next it was getting on all fours rocking back-n-forth only to collapse in frustration into her "superman" pose. She then tried a new approach, "tushy" in the air while being on all fours - soon she took a few steps with her hands and then all of the sudden she was slowly crawling towards us and her favorite objects of affection, Brute and Frank. A couple days later she was like "Flash" hahah and we have been playing "Where is Waldo" ever since.

She has become a big talker these days - she is always telling me something and giggling and I just love it! It does not matter where we are - bath time - in the car - out to eat - she is going to make herself known - not much for volume control. She likes to trick me when it is bed time - while I rock her she will slowly close her eyes - right when I think it is time to lay her down she will open her eyes wide - smile - and start jabbering. I try soo hard not to laugh but it is soo funny.

Another big "trick" she does these days is waving to everyone - anything - sometimes just randomly I'll see her wave to her toys. My friend Ben was the first recipient of her wave - it surprised both me and Ben - he was about to leave and all the sudden her little arm started waving. I know I'm not the only mom out there that thinks their kid is the smartest kid on the planet! ahhaha

Violet is also growing soo fast - our "ittle one" is continuing to grow out of her clothes she is currently wearing 9-12 month clothing (*mainly in the pants) - I think John may get his wish for a Volleyball player if she keeps this up. She is over 21 pounds which means she is catching up with her cousin Lucy(*Lucy is 10 months older).

This has been a very fun stage for both John and I - we always thought Violet was full of personality but she just kills us some days with her bright eyes and terrific smile.

Here are some pics we had done with Olivia Wagner Photography - she does excellent work - very relaxed photo session and the pics turn out amazing.

Wallsch Family - Madison Trip

2008-07-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

(*Click on the photo to enlarge it)

Spending some quality time with Grandpa & Grandma

Uncle Wayne & Aunt Pam

Lake Delton in the Dells

Goerks Family

Molly - Violets new favorite cousin!

Aunt Rhonda & Uncle Gary

Chace & Daniel

Violet showing off her basketball skills

Well as I mentioned in my earlier post - my brother Chace was in town visiting from HI.
My parents came up on the 4th of July to enjoy a relaxing weekend with Violet's other Grandparents and to also drive Chace back to Madison to visit with more family. Violet and I made the road trip to WI so we could also see the Wallsch side of the family - most of them had not seen her in person so it was a very full day of smiles and new faces. Here are some pics from that day. Thank you again to Uncle Wayne and Aunt Pam for hosting the event - they live in the Dells near Lake Delton - it was crazy to see people literally walking around in the middle of what use to be a huge water attraction.

(*contact me if you would like me to send you a link to all the pics from that day)

4th of July Weekend - Uncle Chace

2008-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July weekend my brother Chace flew in from HI - it has been about two years since we have seen him. He has been stationed in HI on a Marine Base with his wife Christal and daughter Ellie. It was soo great to see him and for him to be home to visit with friends and family. Here are a couple pics of Chace with Violet.

(* We went to Madison to visit with the Wallsch side of the family - I'll post those pictures soon)

New Sleep Position

2008-07-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Violets favorite sleep position - no matter what position we lay her down in - by the next morning this is how we find her. Soo cute!!

Uncle Dan

2008-07-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

In late June my brother Daniel traveled to MN with some friends for a wedding in Stillwater.

It had been about three months so it was good to see him. Violet had changed alot since he last saw her. Let's just say Violet likes her Uncle Dan - he immediatly got on the floor and played with her along with talking to her in a funny Grover voice. It was a great visit and I just had to post this great picture of the two of them.

Gettin' in Shape!

2008-07-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Tona has put Violet on a strict exercise regimen. It includes mountain climbers:

and back bridges.

Just do it!

Teefers!

2008-07-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Violet has recently sprouted a couple teeth on her bottom jaw. We've been using them to open beer bottles (just like her grandma!).

Sneak Peek

2008-06-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Check this out:

http://oliviawagnerphoto.blogspot.com/

You will have to scroll down a bit to see the pics.
or
Click on the Ordering Gallery -
Find " Violet " then type in our last name to view her pics.

Violet On the Beat Box

2008-06-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Violet has figured out how to make funny noises recently. I think she's practicing to be a human beat box.

Father's Day Weekend

2008-06-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the special men in my life. What a great holiday - it was even more special this year for John. I wish I could capture the love and excitement that Violet showers on John when ever she sees him. It is just the sweetest thing ever - and you can just imagine how John just melts. We are soo in trouble - she is such a daddy's girl. It's crazy to think that we are responsible for this little tiny person. (* I don't think John will ever let her date!! hahhahh )

Here is a sweet pic of John & Violet during nap time.

Happy 2nd Anniversary

2008-06-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

John & I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary on May 26th - (* yes I'm a little behind on my posts) I was telling a friend that it feels like we have been together much longer. Longer in a good way - I can't imagine my life with out John - He is my best friend and I cherish our time together.

I did receive a lot of requests from friends to plan a trip back to Europe for one of our anniversary's - maybe our 10 year. I better start saving up! =)

John planned a surprise date, we started our afternoon by going to Harriet Island for St. Paul's Latin Festival. It was not as big as the Irish fest the year before but there was great music and delicious Tacos - Thanks to the Vets!!! John's mom met up with us so Violet could spend some quality time with Grandma. Next we headed to the Happy Gnome for a couple of drinks and then we drove to W.A. Frost for a romantic dinner out on the patio. The weather was great and it was so nice to get away and spend some quality time alone. We enjoyed our time out but we were anxious to pick up Violet - we are typical first time parents that can't get enough of all the coo's and giggles.

Thank you John for being such a great husband and father - I look forward to many more years with you! Love ya! Tona

Trying to figure out this crawling thing...

2008-05-19T20:43:00.001-07:00

Her are some pics of Violet trying to figure out how to move around like the rest of us. We have been encouraging the dogs to sit near her blanket to give her some incentive to move towards them. She loves to "pet" the dogs and normally squeals with delight.

*If you click on the picture you may notice a new addition to Violets cute little ear lobes - we got her ears pierced! She was a trooper and only cried a little.

Mothers Day Weekend

2008-05-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

Okay I'm a little behind on my blogging... =) My parents came up for a visit - I think it was my mom's wish to see her granddaughter. It was a nice lazy weekend - and Violet got her own special time with both Grandma and Grandpa Wallsch. We took Violet on her first Como Zoo outing. For Mothers day both John and I got up to make a waffle breakfast for our moms and then we drove out to Gertans to check out some flowers. John made my first Mothers Day a very special day... I received beautiful flowers for both the inside of the house and ones for outside - I also received a special card from Violet and new web cam to keep in contact with my mom. We then enjoyed a lovely evening at Joe and Christian's for dinner.

Here is a pic of Violet after her long day at the Como Zoo.

Let-go-my-Eggo!

2008-05-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

5 Month Update

2008-05-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Violet turned 5 months this past week - I was just looking at pic's of when we first brought her home from the hospital - wow has she grown. She is such a sweet baby, John and I still can't believe she is ours.

The Doctors have been very pleased with Violets attentiveness and strength - they recommended baby proofing our house soon. We can tell she is close to crawling - I will often set her down on her play mat and she will have moved in a 1/2 circle trying to get to me or more often the dogs. Sometimes I find her with her butt in the air - not sure what to do with her arms - it's soo funny to watch her figure this stuff out.

I started her on rice cereal a few weeks ago and I just introduced veggies this week - so far so good. I tried adding some apple juice to her cereal the other day and got an excited response - a very wide eyed baby with "fed me now" motions with her arms and hands. I will try to get it on Video one of these days. We think she will be a good eater seeing that she gets excited when ever we are eating around her - even to the point of yelling at Dad when he eats.

The dogs are her main entertainment these days she is just fascinated with them. We often hear her giggling at them as they walk by her. We are trying to teach her to pet the dogs nicely. I can tell Frank and her will be great pals, he adores any touch - we just have to make sure she doesn't try to put him in her mouth. Which brings me to her next "trick" DROOLING - she is teething which means everything goes in the mouth including mommy's face. So far she has a very sweet disposition and I like to do whatever I can to make her giggle - it is my favorite sound these days.

Here are a few recent pic's ... Enjoy!

California Trip

2008-04-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we made a trip out to California for a friend's wedding and to visit family. We spent a couple days in Burbank for the wedding, which was really nice. It was great to see some of the guys from college.

The morning after the wedding we got up extra early and started driving up the Pacific coast. We stopped in Santa Barbara for breakfast and to let Violet get her first chance to dip her feet in the ocean.

We made it to Hearst Castle for lunch and went on the tour. We spent the rest of the day driving up Highway 1. It was an amazing drive, but got tiring after such a long day. We made it in to Uncle Mike & Rosie's place outside of Oakland and San Jose late that night. Violet was exceptionally well behaved considering how long she was in her car seat.

The next day we drove in to San Francisco to Fishman's Wharf. We made it to the Alcatraz tour by the skin of our teeth and enjoyed the boat ride out in the bay. Alcatraz was interesting to see, but unfortunately Violet developed a cold and screamed through most of the Tour.

Everyone is given mp3 players for the tour, so the jail is dead quiet, except for our screaming kid. Most people were very understanding, but we did get a couple stink-eyes.

After a short walk around the wharf, we headed back for a nice dinner with Mike & Rosie.

The next day we spent visiting Tona's family. It was great to finally put faces to names and to finally meet the people we always hear about. Here are some pictures of the family:

We would also like to thank Mike & Rosie for letting us stay at their place while we visited. They made us feel very much at home (including the videogames).

Happy Easter!

2008-03-21T19:45:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2008-03-16T20:06:00.001-07:00

Triple G & Pirate

2008-03-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately my great-grandma Gert had a pretty scary weekend. She was in town visiting when she fell and landed on her face and shoulder. She was rushed to the hospital and they found bleeding in her brain and broken bones in her face. The good news is that the bleeding stopped and she has been in a stable condition for a couple days. She was just moved up to a nursing home in Sauk Centre today. She is pretty shaken up and in some pain. She is also having problems with her memory.

As you can see, she is pretty banged up from the fall.

Tuesday night I stopped in with Violet, seeing as Gert hasn't seen her yet. Julie showed up too, and Gert was very happy to see the baby. She got to hold her and Violet gave her some smiles (Violet was on her best behavior). My mom called the next day to tell me that Gert rememebered meeting Violet and how happy she was to see her. She didn't remember my sister being there though....

Miss This Face

2008-03-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

The good news is that Tona found a temporary job working for a company here in St. Louis Park. She will be working on a contract basis, helping them get caught up with their billing. They will also let her go to interviews at other companies if they come up. The bad news is that she can't look at this cute mug all day.

When Babies Attack!

2008-03-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

My mom had us over Saturday afternoon to visit with our cousins who have also had kids within the last year. It was great seeing everyone, and pretty funny trying to get all of the kids lined up on a couch.

New Highchair

2008-02-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

I bought a highchair the other day for Violet, she seems to enjoy being more upright vs. lying down or being in her swing. So I have been putting her in the chair when I'm in the kitchen washing dishes or making dinner. Here are a couple pics - her expressions crack me up.

3 Month Update

2008-02-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Violet will be three months on Sunday - she is getting so big. We can't get enough of her smiles and her constant talking. She will just lay in your arms and talk your ear off - hopefully we can post a video soon. She has always had a strong neck and she is continuing this trend with her constant need to stand. She is becoming her own little person and we are just enjoying every moment of it.

Surprise Road Trip to Madison

2008-02-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I decided to take a road trip with Violet to see my family in Madison. My dad just had knee surgery and I thought a visit from his granddaughter would cheer him up. Little did I know that I would be driving into a mini blizzard.... I won't go into the details but I planned on arriving at 3:00pm and didn't get in till 5:00pm. Other then the weather it was a nice visit - here are a couple pics of " V " with Grandpa and Uncle Dan.

This Old (Falling Apart) House & Other Updates

2008-02-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

For those not in the know, it's been a tough month. Here's the list:

-A water pipe going into our upstairs bathroom burst a couple weeks ago. It sprayed hot water all over the upstairs hallway and ran into the downstairs hallway (which I had just remodeled) and into the garage. There was an inch of ice on the garage floor and icicles hanging from the ceiling.
- A friend from my last job committed suicide the same night.
- I got called for Jury Duty.
- The hot water heating froze up a week ago. We found the pipe in our bedroom had completely fell apart.
- We have been without full heat in our house since then as some of the pipes are still frozen.
- I bought a new dishwasher and we had it all ready to install, when the screw holding in the power wire sheared off. A repairman took a look at it and ordered a part to fix it. It's been a week and a half with it sitting in the middle of the kitchen and counting.
- One of the frozen pipes finally unfroze tonight and started spraying water on the new sheetrock I put up in the basement this fall. I will have to tear out some of the wall to get to the pipe.
- We had a scare with Brute last week. He was moping around the house, barely moving, and making whimpering noises. It turns out that he has arthritis, and the medicine the vet gave us has made a world of difference. He is back to normal, but I thought that we were going to have to put him down.
- And last but not least, our taxes did not come out even close to what we were expecting (to the worse).

It's been hard staying positive when it seems like nothing is going right and your house if falling apart all around you. With all that negativity its easy to lose sight of all the good things that are happening.
- I really enjoy my new job.
- Violet has been an incredible kid lately. She slept 8 hours straight last night, and when she has been waking up, she has been entertaining herself in her crib. She is also much more aware of what's going on around her. She will follow us around the room and smile when she sees us. It warms my heart every time I see her.
- We have been having a good time getting out of the house more. With Shorty, CC and Dana's birthday, the superbowl party at Julie's, the birthday parties last weekend, and the early valentines day date we had on Monday, its been a fun couple of weeks.
- I have a fantastic wife who puts up with me.
- Brute is still alive and kicking.
- It's almost Friday!

Happy Belated Birthdays!

2008-02-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

Joe & Lucy

We celebrated Lucy B's and Joe Wilt's birthdays this past Saturday. Thankfully Violet was well behaved and didn't mind the loud noises at Joe's house and at the Chatterbox Pub. We had a good time at both events and wish them both a happy (though belated) birthday.
Joe Wilt & Violet

Previous Post Typo

2008-02-08T09:45:00.001-08:00

I did notice the typo in the previous post, but somehow I feel that it is appropriate.

-John

Cuddle Time

2008-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

Violet is defiantly Daddy's little girl.

Daddy's Little Angel

2008-01-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

This was the morning we were getting ready to visit Daddy at work. She loves getting her diaper changed - it is her favorite play time - we have a mirror with a Lion image that hangs right above her - Violet will just coo and giggle at him. Too cute!

Violet in her purple winter hat

2008-01-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

This is Violets face for.... "Mom! I don't want to be in this seat anymore!"

Happy Birthday John & Joe!

2008-01-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a special birthday wish to our favorite Bartels Boys!

Sorry this was a little late ... internet was down yesterday.

Violet Has Hiccups

2008-01-16T09:40:00.001-08:00

Here is a video of Violet that we took a couple weeks ago while she has the hiccups. You can see how much she loves her nook too. She is very much like Maggie from the Simpsons when she has it in.

Grandpa Time!

2008-01-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a cute pic of the Grandpa's and "Dad" with Violet.

All Smiles!

2008-01-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

Well....not always smiling, but she has been a much happier kid lately. She even slept 6 hours last night! In a row!

Tona picked up "The Happiest Baby on the Block" this past weekend. It's not rocket science, but they do have a pretty good technique for calming her down. It doesn't help put her to sleep, but she seems to be much more content when is is awake.

Tona's parents were also in town the last couple days. It was great to see them, and I am sure they were excited to see Violet. They were also nice enough to watch Pirate* last night while we got out of the house to go catch a movie. We saw Juno, which was much better than I expected it to be. It's on my top 5 list of the year. I also couldn't believe how many people were there to see it. It was playing in the biggest theater at the local multiplex, and every seat was full on a Tuesday night.

* One of our friend's kid was trying to say Violet, but was having a tough time, so it was coming out as Pirate. It's what we've been calling her lately. Pirates! Arrrghh!

Here's one more smiling picture for the night:

4 Weeks

2008-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

I can not believe that our little Violet is now 4 weeks old. Wow! time is just flying by ... every day she looks a little bit bigger - so that is what everyone means by "Don't wish this stage away - they grow up so fast". Violet has started to let us sleep longer in the evenings about a 4-6 hour time frames. I am defiantly thankful for this extra sleep - this helps me not feel like zombie mommy during the day. John & I are defiantly learning the art of patience with a fussy baby - we have a feeling she is going through a growth spurt along with being a little gassy. When she is not fussy she has been sharing her adorable smiles with us (*I will post a pic of her doing it - one of these days) She is very alert and likes to follow my voice by turning her head in my direction as I walk around her room. She has also started to become a little more vocal by cooing during her diaper changing. Despite the crying and lack of sleep I am enjoying being a mommy!

We do have to send out a BIG.... "Thank You!" to Grandma & Grandpa Bartels for babysitting both Lucy and Violet on New Year's Eve. It gave us the opportunity to go out to a nice dinner with friends & also to a friend's New Year party. It still ended up being an early evening for us - we are "too old" to stay out that late - but still a great night out!

That is it for now - Happy New Year!

Grandma Time!

2007-12-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

Both Grandma Bartels and Grandma Wallsch have gotten a chance to spend quality time with their new grandaughter. Grandma Bartels came over and watched Violet so that John and I could sneak off to a movie for my birthday. It was so nice to be out just the two of us but I was anxious to get back to her - now if I could just convince family to help out with Violet's late night "Very Awake Time" =)

Grandma Wallsch was able to come for a few days from Madison - it was soo nice to have an extra set of hands so I could do some of my favorite things - Shower / Potty / Eat.... hahahh Grandma & Grandpa Wallsch will be coming for another visit in Jan - I've already been warned that the "Grandpa's" are going to spoil Violet - teach her all sorts of stuff & when she is old enough she will learn all there is to know about A&W Ice Cream Floats. Too cute!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2007-12-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a quick picture of our family - I'll post an update very soon!

Xmas Pics

2007-12-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures from last week:

Snapfish

We had to take a couple pictures for the Christmas cards, but it ended up being more hassle than we thought it would. There is only a limited window where Violet isn't eating, sleeping or crying. We had to wait until she was settled down and not being fussy, then change her outfit, settle her down again, and hope she didn't want to close her eyes and go back to sleep while we were snapping photos. I think we got couple good pictures (see the link above) out of the 40 or so we took.

A little update - Two Weeks

2007-12-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

Well I can say John and I have survived being parents for over two weeks.

The pediatrician at our two week appointment said she looks perfect - she does have her nights and days mixed up but she was also very active in the womb at night too - the Dr. said she will take some time to adjust but nothing to be concerned about.

Violet has defiantly been a new adventure for us and we are soo enjoying all the special details about her. When she is feed and has gotten a good nap in, she is very alert and full of different facial expressions. We have started to call her "Little Houdini" because she does not like to be wrapped up and prefers to have her hands up near her face. (*You can imagine how feedings go when you have two arms blocking you.)

Besides my lack of sleep I'm feeling great and I'm enjoying being at home. John has been awesome with Violet and helps out as much as he can, I can tell he misses her when he is at work.

We will post more later - look for our Christmas Card - coming soon to all.

Home

2007-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Someone was not very happy when I took this picture....

I've posted more (and happier) pictures here:

Snapfish

Tona & Violet were given a clean bill of health by the pediatrician, so they were able to come home on Wednesday. Tona has been feeling better everyday, so much so that I have to tell her to take it easy and make sure she isn't pushing herself too hard. We both have been trying to sleep as much as we can, but I seem to getting more naps in than Tona.

Violet is doing well and is doing all the normal things a newborn does. We think she has her days & nights mixed up because she likes to wake up around midnight and stay up until 4am. We are hoping this will be just a short phase. Being at home with her the last couple days, I think we are starting to pick up on some of her habits and personality. She DOES NOT like to have her arms restrained. No matter how tight we bundle her, she will kick and squirm to get her arms and legs free. It's like a mini-Houdini. She won't cry when changing her if we get her while she is still sleepy. It's strange how finding out about little things like that make it so much fun to be a parent.

We would like to thank everyone for the great gifts we've received in the last week! We appreciate everything and it makes us (and Violet) feel very loved. If anyone wants to stop by, just give us a call as we are usually here.

I also wanted to apologize to everyone who has tried to call or email in the last week that I haven't got back to. With taking care of the kid, trying to finish the basement, and starting back at work, all of my spare time I have been sleeping and neglecting my phone.

Violet's 2nd Day

2007-12-06T21:06:00.001-08:00

I will add an update tomorrow with more pictures, but I have had some problems with my computer, so it is taking longer than expected. I did take a short video of Violet when she was two days old that should be posted here.

Quick Update

2007-12-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Tona did not have to have the blood transfusion yesterday. She felt good enough to walk and her fever went away, so they felt there was no reason to have the procedure. Tona has been feeling much better and we are both ready to come home.

Both Violet and Tona have been taken off their IV's and are finally able to move around freely. It was nice to not have to hear all the different machines and pumps while we were trying to sleep last night. Due to everyone being healthy, we should be able to come home tomorrow.

If people would like to visit, we would ask that they either come tonight while we are here at Woodwinds, or wait until Friday. Tona would like a couple days at home to rest and recuperate from her surgery. We like having visitors (seeing as we have been cooped up in a hospital room for almost a week), but just call before stopping over.

Day 2

2007-12-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

I finally got to hold Violet this morning! They let me try to feed her, but she was feeling too snuggly and wanted to sleep instead. I tried a bottle first, but she wasn't too interested, so I took some breast milk on my finger and tried to get some into her mouth. She clenched up her lower lip and went back to sleep. She looked exactly like Tona when she did that.

Tona is feeling and looking better this morning. She might have to have a blood transfusion soon as she lost quite a bit of blood in the surgery yesterday, but her temperature is back to normal and the hives are starting to go away. She will just have to take it easy for the next couple days.

Evidently, Tona got to breast feed in the middle of the night. I was sleeping a foot away from her and missed the whole thing. Violet took very well to the feeding and Tona was VERY happy she got to hold her daughter.

I've posted more pictures on Snapfish this morning. I apologize that you have to register to see the pictures, but Yahoo Photos closed down and I had to post them somewhere.

http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=24631196697573758/l=329340500/g=114741814/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Violet Mae Bartels

2007-12-02T19:58:00.001-08:00

It's been a long couple days. But was all worth it.

This morning Tona had dilated to 4cm, and everything was looking good. She got to 8-9 cm by 11am, but ended up staying there until 3:30pm. She also started running a high temperature and started shaking. The doctor was concerned that she had an infection, and that she still wasn't fully dilated 22 hours after her water broke. We then decided to do a c-section. It was a little hard to hear after 3 full days of labor. They got the staff ready very quickly, and before you know it I was gowned up and watching the surgeons cut open my wife.

At 4:52 pm, Violet Mae Bartels was born. She was 8 lb 9oz., and was 21" long. She did not cry after being pulled out, which caused some concern for the doctors. I just thought that she was tough like her mom. The doctors let Tona hold her for a second, then took her away to get her on some antibiotics. Both her and Tona are healthy and are resting to get better.

Violet is right across the hall from us, but since Tona is on bedrest, she can't go see her yet. I think Tona is a little sad that I've been to see her 6 times already, but they are going to let her breastfeed tomorrow morning, so she will feel better then.

I just wanted to thank everyone who had called or sent messages. It means alot for us and our new family!

PS. I will post more pictures when I get time tomorrow.

Waiting for Violet (Day 2)

2007-12-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Tona was induced again today, with really not much to report. She is still at 2cm, but at 75% thinned, which is supposed to be pretty good. Because of that, the doctor broke her water about an hour ago. If all goes well, Violet should be with us by tomorrow.

Waiting For Violet

2007-11-30T16:06:00.000-08:00

Tona developed hives over this past week that got progressively worse. The doctor felt it would be better if they induced early so she wouldn't have to suffer until Violet was born. We went in last night to the hospital, and they started inducing early this morning. Her contractions are around 4 minutes apart, but she is only dilated 2cm. They took her off the drugs and are letting her rest tonight so she can try again tomorrow. I also told Violet not to come out today so she wouldn't have to share her birthday with Pete.

Tona is doing great and both her and the kid are healthy. It's just going to take some time for her to come out. We brought a bunch of DVD's and books to keep us entertained, so it hasn't been too bad so far. We are staying at Woodwinds hospital, which is considered one of the best in the cities, and I can see why. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the facilities are great.

We do not have access to the internet at the hospital, and we are supposed keep our phones off, so it will be hard to keep in touch with people for the next couple days. I just wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciate your phone calls and messages, and helping us out with Frank & Brute. I have to head back to the hospital, but I will post more when I can.

Bed Rest

2007-11-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

Tona was put on bed rest by her doctor yesterday due to signs of pre-eclampsia (or toxemia). There is not much she can do other than taking it easy, keeping her feet up, and having the baby. Other than that, everything is going well with the pregnancy. Violet is in the right position for birth and her head is down. She hasn't dropped yet, but we think it will be soon. The doctor also thinks that she is average weight, but might be a long baby. She also thinks that she is going to come sooner than later. That would be great for Tona, but I am hoping that she waits until after Dec. 1st so I can go to the Vikes-Lions game.

I think I just jinxed myself.

Tona @ 36 Weeks

2007-11-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Here is Tona at 35 weeks. The due date is coming up quickly, but we are all ready to go. I have my bag packed, and we've also made over two weeks of dinners and put them in the freezer. Tona is hoping Violet wants to move out early as she feels she can't possibly grow any bigger. Unfortunately, that is what Tona said at the end of July.

Bathroom Complete!

2007-11-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the remodeling of the main upstairs bathroom. I'm afraid to say that I started on it over a year ago, but I am glad to have it behind me.

Now I just have to finish the basement....

Nosy Noserson

2007-10-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

This is what I have to deal with when I am trying to work on the computer:

Halloween Party

2007-10-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Tona & I went out to Jamie & Melinda's for a Halloween party this past Saturday night. I went as Dick Enrico from 2nd Wind Sports (see this site if you don't know who he is: http://www.2ndwindexercise.com/) and Tona went as a ladybug.

Here's Joe as Larry Craig.

Paul & Michelle Hemming - Wedding Day!

2007-10-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Awesome friends of ours got married two weekends ago... it was an intimate ceremony with family & then a beautiful reception downtown Minneapolis for friends and family. It was nice to have an excuse to dress up and enjoy a night out with our friends. I can defiantly say I have not danced that much in a really long time & my feet were defiantly sore the next day. Here are a few pics from that night. (*sorry about the red eyes)

The happy couple are honeymooning in Hawaii!

33 Weeks - Wow time is flying!

2007-10-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast the time is going - soon our little Violet will be here. I can defiantly tell the "nesting bug" is kicking in again. I have been trying to put away all the baby "goodies" that we have received so far & making the nursery ready for baby. I think I have rearranged the room three times now. I have to admit this pregnancy has been very nice - there isn't much that I can complain about. I am now just starting to feel more achy but other then that things are going very well. Violet has been a very active baby so John has had alot of opportunities to feel her move around and kick me. He says " She is "Feisty like her Mom" =) It's been fun trying to imagine what her personality will be like. It has also been fun to see how anxious & excited John is about becoming a Dad. =) He has been diligently working on our house projects, trying to get things finished before baby comes. We will post pics of our new bathroom soon! He has done an amazing job, and I can't wait for my first bubble bath. =) We will post more pics soon!

Madison Baby Shower

2007-10-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry everyone - we misplaced our camera connector to post pics.
A few weeks back my mom hosted my first baby shower for Violet - it was nice to be home and to catch up with family and friends I don't get to see very often. The shower was amazing and I can honestly say Violet is already spoiled! Here are a few pics from the party. Thanks again Mom!

2007-09-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Julie was kind enough to send us a picture from a housewarming party we went to a couple weeks ago. I guess Violet won't be a test-tube baby after all!

Busy Month

2007-09-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month and we haven't had much time to update our blog. We also lost all of our pictures since mid-August, so there was not much to put on the site.

Labor day weekend we spent up at my 50th Phi Kappa Tau Reunion, up at Michigan Tech. It was a fun relaxing weekend, and it was great catching up with old friends. Joe has pictures up from that weekend on his site (see sidebar).

Last weekend Joe & I met up with Chuck at Tech for Todd Brassard's wedding. It was a fun wedding. I did have one too many fishbowls the night before.

We've also spent most of the last month trying to get projects finished up around the house. Here is what we got finished:
- The main bathroom sheetrocked, primed, painted, and have most of the electrical in.
- The basement has been sheetrocked and primed.
- The driveway has been refinished.
Tomorrow I will be putting the vinyl flooring into the bathroom, and Saturday I hope to get the toilet in. We're trying to get the bathroom and basement finished before Violet moves in. I'll put some pictures up when the projects are complete.

I am also having a hard time getting Tona to pose for pitures of the belly. I guess I will have to tell Violet that she was a test tube baby, since there will be no proof that her mom was pregnant. Poor Violet....

John

Luau '07

2007-08-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting pictures from Luau up on our site (even though it was three weeks ago). Julie also has pictures from that night here:

http://juliebartels.shutterfly.com

Violet's Room

2007-08-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a few requests to see what Violet's room is going to look like ... this is what I've come up with soo far. (*I've also included a new photo to show you how round I've gotten - 23 weeks)

Minnesota Bridge Collapses - Tragic Event

2007-08-02T06:56:00.000-07:00

Tragedy too close to home ... we were alerted around 6:00 last night that the bridge leading to downtown Minneapolis that travels over the Mississippi river had collapsed. There had been some light construction on the roads leading up to the bridge for general upkeep ... no one expected this to happen. Our TVs and radios are full of stories from survivors and emergency officials ... all are just in shock as if this was just a terrible nightmare. We fortunately do not go over that bridge much during the work week and our family and friends have all been accounted for. This has been a very unreal event and will be a long road of recovery not only for the families that were affected but just to rebuild the bridge. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those families.