Baby Charlotte Learns How to Blow Bubbles...

This Christmas was extra special because of a certain little baby named Charlotte.  In this video, she is discovering how to blow bubbles....

Charlotte's Bubbles

Where in the World is Carmen Santiago - I Mean Jean Hamberg?



Chalk it all up to my advancing age and the fact that I'm a new grandma, but I haven't posted in a long while, so here's a bit of an update.  Ah, by the way, there are others in our family who could also use a nudge - it's really fun to read the updates, but I know it's hard to find the time sometimes to do it.  I think Jen definitely takes the prize for being the most reliable about keeping us updated on her darling family - thanks, Jen!

Anyway, as you know I've been spending lots of time in Chicago lately, and that has been great - Charlotte changes by the day, and it's always exciting to see what's new with her.  Right now she's at the stage where she is beginning to smile a lot - especially for mommy and daddy, and she's also starting to coo and make those cute little sounds like she's trying to communicate with you.  Of course she IS a genius, so that helps - haha.  Also sleeping 8-9 hrs. a night, so that really helps Rachel and Dave to get plenty of rest.  They have arranged for Charlotte's daycare situation, and Rachel is already dreading having to leave her each day, but it sounds like a very good situation - a referral from friends of Dave's, who have a young son who goes there, and in a couple of months they'll also be bringing their 2nd son there.  It's in a woman's house where one floor is completely set up for the children, tons of toys, special place for the babies to sleep, and run by a really sweet woman in her late 40's or early 50's and her licensed helper.  Just a few children in her care, and Dave & Rach can drop her off right on their way to work (just a few miles from their house).  She actually lives in Oak Park, where Dave grew up.  Still, it will be hard to leave her, especially at first.  Here are a couple of current pictures:

Kate and I had a great time at the play "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theater in downtown Chicago last week.  Here are a couple pics:

A couple of the Macy's windows, decorated for the holidays.....

A few pics from Thanksgiving at our house, that I think were mostly taken by Carol - thanks, sis!  Hope everyone had a good time, even though the Lions lost.

Food coma....

It's amazing - dad can sleep anywhere....

It was so nice to see Bren, Jen, Mace and Kels in Chicago a few weeks ago, too.  Those little ones are beyond adorable, as usual, and so polite.  I think they had fun going to the Lincoln Park Zoo (below) and also meeting baby Charlotte.....

Haven't taken a picture of these 4 beauties all together for like 10 years....thanks, girls!

These pics are a bit out of order, but who feels like moving everything all around - not me,  haha...

Looking forward to seeing "The Wizard of Oz" at Holland High with Carol and Rachel tonight.  So for now, I'll just say, "Love to all, and to all a good night.".....

There's a Very Pregnant Lady Living in Riverside, IL.....

And here she is!

Thought you might enjoy seeing what Rachel looks like these days - she has just one more day of work and then will be starting her maternity leave, and of course the baby is due in about 2 weeks!

Katie and I had a blast attending the Renegade Craft Fair this past Saturday!  She found a really cute handmade dress there, and I picked up a few cute things like handmade stationery and soap.  Good times...

We started the morning with a nice breakfast outdoors at a restaurant near Katie's apartment.  Bella came too!

What a happy girl!

Awwww

Love this picture of my girl, if I do say so myself....

Bella loves grammy, too!

Fun at the Fair

After the fair we drove to Riverside to see Dave, Rachel and Ally and their beautiful new house.  They have been working hard to update a few things, get the nursery ready, etc.  Just a couple of photos below....

Part of the living room and dining room...

Living room looking into the sunroom....

Two buddies....

 Thanks, girls - for a fun weekend! 

So, anybody have a guess as to what day the baby will be born?  (Due date is Oct. 1.)......

3 Weeks and Counting....

It's been 2 months since I've posted, and here we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Schwartz in only about 3 weeks from now!  Rachel is feeling good and now going to the doctor every week.  Everything looks fine with the baby and we are very grateful and excited beyond words to greet our new grandchild.  Rachel and Dave will call us when they go to the hospital, and of course we'll head right out, pick up Katie on the way, and hopefully arrive in plenty of time for the birth.  Dave's parents will be driving in from Colorado on her due date of Oct. 1, unless the baby comes sooner, at which time Dave will call them to hurry on up here - haha!  An ultrasound was done yesterday to confirm that the baby is in the right position for birth and it's "all systems go!"

This pic was taken at Ottawa Beach when Dave, Rachel and Ally visited for a few days while waiting to get in their new house - so this was in early August. 

I'm excited to be going to Chicago this weekend!  Katie and I will attend the "Renegade Craft Fair" (Bella gets to come too!), and then we'll drive to Riverside to see Dave & Rachel's new house.  I'm glad to be able to spend a bit of time with Rachel one last time before she delivers.  The kids have been going non-stop since they moved to get some things done around the house before the baby arrives, even taking on the big project of renovating their kitchen!  I'm glad that Rachel's last day of work will be next Thursday, so hopefully she'll have a few days (but not TOO many - haha) to rest up and enjoy a bit of downtime.

Scott and I had just a delightful, fun time with Katie and Bella in Door County, WI on our camping trip a couple of weeks ago.  Keith and Brenda were nice enough to let us borrow their big tent so that Kate and Bells could sleep there.

One of the countless things I love about Katie is that she is not a diva, and loves to get out there and camp, be outdoors and just rough it.  The weather was wonderful, warm or hot and sunny almost every day.  We took lots of walks, Bella did a lot of swimming, and we just drove around to do some sightseeing and shopping.  I have posted all of the pictures from our trip on Facebook, if you'd like to see them.  Just a couple more of them below...

Good girl, Bella!  She was so cute - on the days we took her swimming, she would just conk out at night.  Whenever she was ready for bed, she'd head over to the tent, use her nose to unzip the door, walk in and lay down as if to say "see ya, I'm ready for bed now." 

Giving grampy a kiss....

Love this pic of Katie and Bellsie sitting in an oversized adirondack chair at the restaurant we stopped at....

Don't know where the summer has gone and that fall is upon us.  I'm now working part-time, which I love!  Monday-Wed. each week, so I have a nice long weekend.  So many new things happening in the Nykerk/Hamberg extended family these days!  I'm so grateful that dad is now living with Jim and Rachel and that the boys are staying at his house; Dave and Rachel have a new house; Carol will be moving home next week - even Jean H. has a new house, too!  Lots of movin and shakin going on!  The baby's coming soon; Macey has started kindergarten; Katie has new roommates - it's all wonderful!  I'm sure there are many more things going on that I haven't mentioned. 

We will keep you all posted about the baby, with pictures and plenty of details to follow...

Love you all!

Summer is flying by, and I can't believe we'll be meeting our new grandbaby in less than 3 months!  Looking forward to Rachel's baby shower coming up in a couple of weeks, too.  Dave and Rachel have been extremely busy in the last couple of weeks.  They decided to put their condo up for sale in hopes that they could buy a house in the suburbs before the baby comes.  I"m so excited to tell you that they sold the condo after only a couple of weeks on the market!  As you know, in this real estate market, that's rare indeed.  So now they're starting their search for a house, most likely in Oak Park, where Dave was rasied.  We're keeping our fingers crossed for them.  Ally has been staying with us recently, and we're really enjoying that, too. 

Katie has moved to her new office in the loop, and is loving her shorter commute.  She has a very busy summer going on.  Next month, Scott and I will be camping with Kate for a week in Door County.  Of course Bella is coming, too!  We're also going to Chicago for a Journey/Foreigner/Night Ranger concert with Kate at the end of July.  She's also been casually dating a couple of guys who actually live in Chicago (as opposed to Michigan) so that's keeping her busy, too.  Last but not least, her roommate Justin and his girlfriend (who moved in a month or so ago) have decided to get their own place, so guess what?  Time for 2 new roommates.  I'm happy to report that Katie has already found one (a girl) and is sure she can find another one soon, too.  All the excitement just never ends...

Dave, Rachel, Scott and I had a wonderful week up at Clam Lake in June (at Loon's Landing).  Since I've posted all the pictures of that week on my Facebook page, I don't think I'll post them here, but if you'd like to see them, check out my Facebook page....

Rachel had another 3D ultrasound last week - the pictures from that are so exciting to see.  She said that baby was being a little stubborn that day and so they couldn't get a lot of pictures, but here are a couple of them...we can't wait to meet our precious grandchild in person soon....

Hope all of you are enjoying the summer that's going by way too fast...lots of love and hugs being sent your way, and hope to see all of you soon.....

Pictures of Baby Schwartz - Already!

Rachel is between 18-19 weeks pregnant right now.  Time is going pretty fast, although I can't wait to meet my new grandchild in person!  One thing that's kind of neat is that Rachel is participating in a pregnancy study that Northwestern Hospital (I think?) is sponsoring.  That's the hospital where the baby will be born.  Anyway, one of the things that they offered her was a 3-D ultrasound!  (She will also be able to get another one at 28 weeks.)  She will also get her regular ultrasound(s) at her doctor's office, but what's nice about these 3-D ones, as I'm sure you'll see, is that you can really get a good feel for what the baby looks like - it's quite amazing, I think, for this stage of the pregnancy.  Below, you'll see just a few of the pictures of the little peanut, who is developing just fine and getting bigger and more complete every day. 

See how the baby is sucking its thumb?

Here's an arm coming across the baby's face....

Baby has its arms crossed!

The last couple of shots are regular ultrasound, which was also taken that day.....

Taken from above - see the head and a hand, I think.....

Katie will be planning a baby shower for her sister that will take place in Holland, probably in August, so hope all of you can come!

Time for another family breakfast soon, huh?  (Bren, that place you went to in Grand Haven would be great - wish it was a bit closer.  I think Dave & Lynne Hall go there every time they head up north; I know they love it....)

How about we go sometime after Tulip Time - I'll send everybody an email with a suggested date or two.....

Happy Birthday, Rachel and More.....

We were happy to have Dave, Rachel and Ally home this past weekend to celebrate Rachel's birthday!  Dad was here for Sunday dinner, so he was able to see them, too.  He and Ally are buddies, as you can see, below:

Dave and Rachel are two of the best puzzle put-together-er's (word?  whatever...haha) that I've ever seen.  They finished two of them over the weekend:

It was a good weekend to sit by the fire and hunker down, what with the cold, rainy weather...

Rachel picked Pereddie's for her birthday supper; we enjoyed a nice meal there and then came home for some birthday cake from Alpen Rose....

Just a little bit of a "baby bump" starting to show (Rachel is 16 weeks along).......Ally loves to help get the paper off the gifts...

Ally and her pal, Rufus....

Last week, Dave Hall had successful kidney surgery again!  This time the donor was his sister, who was a perfect match.  (Long story, last time she was not able to donate.)  So, he already looks and feels much better and everyone is extremely grateful.  I stopped up to see him/Lynne and Chelsea at St. Mary's a day after his surgery.


Already looking more chipper...


My dear friend, Lynne (relieved at last)

Chelsea

 Can you tell we were all in a festive mood?

Just a couple of pictures from our trip to Savannah and Charleston - had a great time!

 Old church in Bluffton, S.C. - built during the 1700's..

 What a good boy - going to church, even on vacation....

 Azaleas in bloom everywhere....

 Buildiings like these are one of the reasons I love Charleston...

 We had our own private tour with our very own pirate, and his parrot, Captain Bob.  This guy told us all about the pirates that used to roam around the coast of Charleston - a few were even women - it was fascinating!

Before ending this post, just a quick shout out to our darling little Kelsey, who will have her tonsils taken out on Thursday - what a big girl you are, Kelsey - we'll be thinking of you that day, and Silly Uncle Scott and Aunt Jean love you - hope to see you soon!