The Boy Knows How to Eat

Today we went to the doctor for a quick check up to make sure Everett had regained the weight he lost in the hospital. Not only did he regain the weight, but he surpassed his birth weight coming in at 8# 8oz!! I guess the constant nursing is paying off! Everett continues to be pretty content. My sister Jennifer came for the weekend to take care of us which was great because Jesse finally got to work his 3 PM-7 AM shift which I rudely interrupted last week to have a baby! He is working that same shift today, but luckily it is the last overnight. My mom arrives tonight to take care of us the rest of the week. We are too spoiled!! Maverick and Everett. Maverick really likes to hold his baby brother especially when there's a camera around.
The new addition. I would have to say leaving the hospital is nothing like they portray in the movies. We just literally walked out after the paperwork was signed. Not even a good-bye. But, that's ok.

All bundled up for the 4-block voyage home.

Grandma and grandpa Brower made a surprise visit to see us in the hospital.

I guess this was our first picture of just the 3 of us.

"With Honors" We Present Everett Van Heukelom

So, last night I decided to have a baby! I really wasn't expecting him, but I guess he was ready. We have added Everett (middle name is still out) Van Heukelom to our family. He weighed 8#4oz, 21 1/2" long, and was born at 3:15 A.M.

I'm still stunned by the short delivery time. Jesse is working in the ER this week in Yankton. He was planning to work at 3 PM-7AM shift. I texted him at 9:15 that I was heading to bed. Literally 15 minutes later when I crawled into bed, I started having contractions. I wasn't sure if they were the real deal, but I was sure when they were coming 5 minutes apart. I called Jesse at 11 to let him know he should come home. He got home about 11:45. He was hungry so I told him to run to McDonald's for the Cold Days Hot Deals quarter-pounder special. On the way back, he picked up our friend Angelica to watch Maverick. We then proceded to drop off my library book before heading to the hospital. We got to the hospital about 1 AM. About 3 I started to push, and at 3:15 AM, out he came! It was a short process to say the least. But, I didn't mind. Big brother Maverick stopped by with a kiss. He's not 100% sure about the whole ordeal.
Taking his stats.

Maverick would say "Listen, boom boom"

Brand new to the world!! He is a very healthy boy. The only thing is he has been a little on the chilly side, but we are getting his temperature up slowly but surely.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! It's hard to believe another Christmas and another year have passed. And, in about 2 weeks, there will be another Van Heukelom in our family. We know that 2010 has a lot of changes in store for us. Wow.

Luckily, we were able to make it to the farm with the blizzard conditions. And, of course, Maverick enjoyed the empty boxes and papers the most! He also enjoyed scooping snow and feeding cows with Grandpa Jerry in the tractor. It was a great way to burn some energy and get out of the house.
Maverick all bundled up. He looked like a sumo wrestler. Because he was dressed like a giant marshmallow, he couldn't quite master walking in the snow.

Here we are Christmas morning looking bright and chipper. Maverick is wearing his reindeer pajamas. They are so darn cute!

Opening a big present which he later just stood on the box and performed like a magician.

Maverick and Jesse heading out.

We celebrated St. Nick's Day at the beginning of the month. You can see Jesse was not a very good boy this year. We love our wooden shoes!

Our little Christmas tree. It took us about an hour to pick out this tree at Walmart. We couldn't decide if we should get the big fake one or the small fake one. Which will we more likely use again? Which will fit better in our apartment? Since we plan to get real trees once we move, should we get a fake one at all? The questions went on and on. We finally got the small fake one which was perfect for us.

Maverick was such a big helper decorating the tree. He knew just where to place the pickle!

Jesse and Maverick setting up the tree.

We hope you all had a great holiday season and look forward to seeing you this year!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Tonight Maverick and I headed to the first Parade of Lights in Vermillion. Although the parade only lasted about 10 minutes, it was fun to get out. It was a great night. It was cold, but there was no wind which makes all the difference in SD! After the parade, we headed to the library to make a stocking. Well, I made the stocking. Maverick helped by throwing our scraps away. Here's Maverick showcasing our work. Please excuse the pacifier; it was late and past bedtime!!
My marshmallow of a son and Santa!! Maverick wasn't scared at all. At this point, he was very toasty, and I think he could have fell asleep on Santa's lap. He did say "Bye" though.

Here's one of the trucks decorated for the parade. After the parade, they lit the city Christmas tree which was nice. I'm going to miss Vermillion and the small town feeling. It's been a great place to live and start our family.

Maverick was bundled up in his snow pants, marshmallow coat, and ovenmit mittens.

And, Jesse is returning tonight after being on the road for interviews and an externship for 3 weeks. Can't wait to have him home!!

Fun at the Farm!

Maverick and I loaded up on Friday and headed to the farm. The idea of spending the entire weekend in Vermillion alone did not seem like a good one. A better idea seemed like heading out and getting spoiled! Maverick LOVES the cows. He got to go out with grandpa Jerry and feed them their cubes. It's amazing how tame these cows are.
Maverick tried to hand feed one, but of course he grabbed a cube that was about 1 inch long. I think, actually I know, I was more scared of the cows than he was. There's just something about having an 800 pound animal feet away.

The cows are very curious about this little boy, especially the boy in the RED hat! Can anyone say, "Charge!" No fear. Luckily, the cows just want their cubes.

Silly ducks. The heater was turned on in the garage, so Maverick and grandpa played and played which included putting plastic bowls on their heads as hats. Maverick is quite a character; takes one to know one.

Our little devil. Maverick found this in grandma's storage of toys. I think it belonged to his cousin Cristian. Once he finds something he likes, he won't let go.

Home Sweet Home!

After 6 weeks on the road, Maverick is finally home! He had a great time staying with his family in Michigan, or so I think at least. We got home late last Friday night and he was so excited to see his toys. He just had to go around and touch all of them. When he went to daycare on Monday, he went around and patted all of his friends. Throughout the day, he went up to the daycare lady at least 20 times and said "Hi." Like, "Do you remember me?" He was very happy to see his buddies!

Maverick is just turning into such a little boy.

We found a backhoe (or as Maverick says, backpoe) on Saturday on our trip to Hy-Vee and just had to stop. Maverick loves tractors and big machinery. Can't wait for our trip next week to the farm so he can see grandpa Jerry's tractors!

Maverick is the next skater boy. He absolutely loved teetering on this thing. His reflexes and balance are pretty impressive for a kid who isn't even 2. They're better than mine which isn't saying much.

And, he loved the cozy coupe. It was the best when someone could just push him around and he could hang!

Maverick as tigger for Halloween. He went to a wildlife preserve for trick-or-treating. They got to see some pretty cool animals.

Jesse is back on the road. He left Sunday morning for a week of interviews. He'll then head to Grand Rapids, MI for a 2-week rotation. We miss him lots, but know the time will pass quickly!

Fun in Michigan

Wow, I have no idea where the month of October went! We made a trip to Minneapolis for our friend Ryan's wedding before packing up and heading to Chicago for Jesse's test and then to Michigan for Jesse's externship at the Kalamazoo hospital. Everyone says they have a hard time keeping track of our schedule, well, I do to! I came back to SD alone after spending just over a week in MI. Maverick and Jesse will be staying out there for 2 more weeks before I return. We will then come home, and Jesse will stay home for 1 night before heading out for interviews and another 2 week externship in Grand Rapids. Luckily, he'll be home mid-December with time to spare before the new baby arrives!! Maverick is finally big enough to sport his bomber jacket he got from uncle Jeff more than a year ago. I'm not sure how the red tasseled hat fits into the picture, but he needs something to keep his ears warm!
Maverick and uncle Seth enjoying the music.

Our family.

We had a group family picture taken, and we wore green, obviously. Maverick was so good for the pictures.

Jesse loving Beatles Rock band. Even if no one would play with him, he'd be a one-man band.

Maverick was often the drummer.

Every time I watch this video, I about die! Jesse's mom had recently pledged her wood floors which made them SO slippery for Maverick's pj's. As soon as he would walk into one of the bedrooms, he would bif it. So, we decided to slide him across the floor. At first, his head was getting caught up, and Jesse suggested we put a wash cloth under it to keep it from sticking. I had a better idea to use his winter hat, and boy, did it work well! Maverick had an awesome time!