Hunter's Nana made the cakes that we all loved.




This is great fun & yummy!

Aunt Adelie and Uncle Calvin enjoy a little cake.

Uncle John shows Hunter what todo with his new truck.



Hunter with his Uncle Josh play with
his new duck toys!

PARTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hunter loves to drive his new car!

Maddie and Hunter have some play time.

Yea!!! New toys!!!

Hunter's new shirt from Mommy. "My mommy's
hotter than your mommy!"

Look at all those gifts!!!

1 Year

Well now that Hunter is a year old I thought I might put some thoughts on here about being a new parent and what I've learned.



Kids are expensive. Endless diapers, formula, cloths that he never wore because he grew like a rouge weed, We do laundry ALL THE TIME. Cheerios by the ton. (I'm thinking of calling my stock broker and try to recoup some of my money) :)



Kids are FUN!! in every way everyday. We have too many funny stories but the most recent is the 1917 Schaff Bros. piano we got and Hunter is a aspiring Jerry Lee Lewis (in style).



I asked my brother a simple question around November last year when does the acid stomach of worry go away? He told me he would call me when it happens. (He's been a dad for a while)



Have you ever been eating dinner and had a mushed up version of the same thing suddenly smack you in the face?



I remember this well. About 12 years ago I had a great talent of playing with my nephew and handing him off just in time for a spit up. While shopping with Michelle and my sister, I was attempting to do the same thing when my nephew spit up on me. I threw away the shirt I was wearing and purchased a new one. NOW no big deal.


Kids will make you make others to mind their manners. My neighbor (at the time) had friends that showed up at 3 a.m. and instead of going to the door and knocking they just blew the horn. One night when Hunter was about 4 mos old this happened. He had just got to sleep. A LOOOOOONG CONTINUOUS BLOW OF THE HORN. So I walk out at 3 a.m. in only boxers and told his friend that if he did that again and wake my 4 month old up he would have a hard time blowing the horn in its new location. He knocked on the door from that day on.



I know why Pops is always tired ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.



Well all I can say is that I'm having a blast. I would not trade it for ANYTHING. I love every second of parenthood. I don't care if I wear his dinner or have to change a horrible diaper or deal with screaming of teething. I love it.



Hunters party pics will be up on Sunday. Until then keep smiling : )

P,M&H Winters

Hanging out with Dad

What am I to do when I have a LOT to do around the house and Hunter does not want to be with Michelle?

EASY he just works with me... he he he

Hunter had a great time working with me in the yard and when I went to cut a few customer yards he had enough and fell sound asleep.

Later I hung the dolphin swing that Nana got him and his thanks show in his face.

As a nice added bonus Dad has just figured out how to loose some weight and work around the house with out missing out on family time.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week,

P,M,&H Winters

EASTER (posted a lil late)

Easter at Nana & Pops' was a real good time but, Mommy was not feeling well and was at home with the flu :(
Anyway a good time was still had and Hunter was a little sad at times but, stayed happy most of the time. He was pretty attached to ol' Dad for most of the time but, he did make time to make some rounds and flash his NEW smile sporting 2 teeth now !!
Jennifer and Michael made the trip to enjoy Easter and Jennifer made Hunter a beautiful new blanket !! She said it was her first time making a blanket but, this like the one Nana made will become a treasured heirloom.
That is about all for now. I know I'm a week late but, better late than never.
Have a wonderful week,
P,M,& H, Winters

I got my Pops
Rebecca smiling big
Aunt Adelie having a good time
Grandma and Michael enjoying the day!
Rachel joining the in on the fun :)

Some fun before Easter

Playing with Mom at Dr. Meyer's office
Child Prodigy?
Sleeping in with Mommy
Hello Easter Bunny !!!
Hmmm Daddy told me colored eggs come from colored bunnies. Mommy showed me I can make eggs diffrent colors. We had alot of fun at Nana and Pops' house.

Food critic?

I'm not real sure but, Today I was running late for work. Hunter was eating some rice cereal instead of his normal oatmeal and out of nowhere on his second spoon he said loudly "YUCK" and refused to eat anymore. I don't know if I'd say that was his first word or he was just running through some sounds but, just to be safe mommy made some oatmeal and a few calls and a good laugh was had by all. Look for more pics as Hunter displayed some interest in music while with Pops the other day. Child Prodigy? maybe

Have a great midweek !
P,M,&H Winters

Fun, Work and FUN

A lot has happened since the last post. Hunter now has a Hanger Cranial Band to correct his Plagiocephaly. In other words he has a helmet to reshape his head. He has to wear it for 23 hours a day for about a month and a half. He is also doing therapy for some preemie problems that will catch him up to the 9 month level. OK enough of the work it's play time .

Hunter has been playing a ton. Hunter and Mommy has been spending more time at Nana and Pops to play with Aunt Adelie and He had his first trip to the ZOO !!!! Daddy didn't get to go but, pictures show that Nana, Pops, Michelle, and gang had a blast. Hunter did some sleeping while there. Too much excitement caught up to him.

Everything is well and we are closing in on the final stages of the adoption. We are sifting through the last bit of paperwork and getting last minute things together. It looks like it will be final in about 2-3 months. So until next time keep your dreams in the air and you feet on the ground. (but keep your dreams in arms reach)

Have a great week,

P,M,& H Winters

RACEDAY!!!!

Ok call me a redneck or whatever you want but, I'm a HUGE race fan. While Hunter spent most of the day wondering why I would play with him and make vroom vroom noises I was enjoying a good race. I'm nuts I know. But, we got some good pics and Hunter was pretty interested in the race while sitting with me in arm chair crew chief mode. We all had a good time and Hunter did the twist when Chubby Checker sang it during the prerace show. Very big week this week and more posts to come. Looks like I'm having some issues loading pics so check back for more later! We wish everyone a safe week,
P,M,&H Winters

Pictures

Big Weekend

Hunter had a Big Weekend! Saturday we went to Nana & Pops to web cam with Nana & Aunt Adelie ! Very cool Hunter heard Nana but, it took him a minute to realize she wasn't there and her voice was ! We also went to see Aunts Sherry & Lisa, Uncles Ron, John, Brian. AND Cousins Maddie, Brian and Cody. Then Sunday we got up early and went to Johnny's Toys for the train show. Hunter surprised Daddy when he got to see trains like Daddy has and loved them !! I don't need to steer my son to my hobby he likes it already !! Then after the train show we went to a birthday party.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD
Truer words were never spoken. I can say we have been tremendously blessed when Hunter came into our lives. We have been equally blessed with the amount of support we have. Now granted we do not have a village per se to help us raise Hunter but, we do have lots of support from family and friends that will always remain close to our hearts. Support comes in many ways from a simple word of advice to luxury items. The people in our village may never know the simple things they do to lend a hand in raising our son has a profound effect on the way we now live our lives. Even if it is a simple word of advice.

Unfortunately my program for loading pictures on to the PC is having some issues so when I get it fixed I'll put some more up. sorry
Have a great week and call someone you have been meaning to call. You might make their day!

P,M,& H Winters

Thoughts and Prayers

Well a little misleading title I must admit but, good news all the same. While Michelle and Hunter are in bed I'm putting some thoughts in my weekly update. Hunters Nana ( Nancy Ann) is in China right now to bring home the newest addition to the ever evolving family. Hunters newest aunt, Jiang Yu Xuan (very soon to be Adelie Wartman). Very exciting. She is 2 years old and if you have looked at the links above you know the story. Now some friends of mine or if you are new to this site may wonder why Nana and Pops would adopt from China when they already have 5 kids between them (6 if you count me in-law) My answer is simple. When you have a great home and family why not give to someone who may not get a good chance. Michelle and I may not be monetarily surplussed by a long shot but, We are rich in the support of loving families on both sides. While I can ramble on about this for a while I encourage you to take a look at the past posts in this blog and check out the links above. You might be very astonished what motivated people can do with support and guidance. Our hearts are here but, our thoughts are half a world away as Nana draws a new better chapter in Adelie's challenged life. I know that when Nana comes home and has Hunters Aunt Adelie with her the real fun will have only begun.

Just in case your wondering how Hunters feels about having a Aunt only 16 months older than him well. He grinned a lot when we said Nana's getting Aunt Adelie. The pictures above say it all.

We wish you all a wonderful week.

P,M,& H Winters

Just like Dad

After spending all day watching Mom and Dad work around the house doing laundry, dishes, trash out and of course tend to Hunter. My son showed me that he is just like his Daddy and can sleep anywhere. We work hard, he plays hard. He was so tired that when I took him out and put him in his pac in play he did not wake up. Have a wonderful week, P,M,&H Winters

A Thank You

Hunter, Michelle,and I would like to thank all of you for making Hunters first Christmas a very special one. While I'd love to post all of our pictures from the Holidays but, I have soooo many!
In Hunters 6 1/2 months we have learned to enjoy everyday more than the day before. We also learned that rechargeable batteries are the best.
Best of the season to all,
P,M,&H Winters

Christmas,Smiles, Snores and more

Dear Santa,

My name is Hunter and I have learned so much in my 6 1/2 months. I learned to eat from a spoon, give big sloppy kisses, love Mommy and Daddy, and be really cute. But, I learned that if I leave you a little snack I get more back. He he

Thank You, Hunter