Months 7 & 8 with Hans

July and August have gone so quickly. This may be the first summer I wish could go on a little longer. Normally I’m ready to get back into the routine of schooling the kids. I can’t put my finger on the reason behind my feelings … maybe it’s that the summer was busy without any major vacation … maybe it’s that we’re loving this season of Hans’s life and the joy he is … or it could be wanting to hold on to these last days of everyone under our roof while it lasts. It’s good and right for our children to grow, to have their first job, and eventually leave home. The reality of Anne starting her sophomore year is hitting home. Just a couple more summers with all of us together. Anne even said the other day, “Where did my childhood go?” It’s a strange time of parenting a teenager, a baby, and lots in between. Hans will have a much different childhood from Anne. 

I’m a much more relaxed mom now than I was nearly 15 years ago. Anne was kept on a rigid schedule whereas Hans is dragged from one sport, sister’s work drop off and pick up, doctor, dentist, therapists appointments to another. He naps randomly, usually in the car, often in someone’s arms. Anne could only ever sleep in her own bed and rarely fell asleep in anyone’s arms.

I couldn’t say that one way is better than another; it’s just our reality. Hans will be different from Anne for his experiences. He is extremely laid back most of the time. He is most happy when someone is talking to him, looking at him, or holding him. He for sure does not like to be alone. Yet, in a flash, it’ll just be Hans and Heidi at home. As I type this he is laying beside me on the bed, gently falling asleep, his foot pressed against my arm. So peaceful. 

I intended to share some new things that Hans is doing but found as I sat down to reflect on the past two months that all these other feelings are in the front of my mind. 

The milestones are precious and beautiful to see unfold. But again, I’m much more relaxed in the way I parent baby seven. Hans starting sitting up pretty well around 6.5-7 months. Just this week at about 8 months he had been up on all 4’s, rocking, lunging forward, pressing with his feet, rolling and trying to move. He finds toys and paper and all manner of things and puts them in his mouth. 

He wants to feed himself bites of food rather than eat puréed baby food. 

He will grab hold of something and shake it vigorously. 

He smiles the sweetest smile. 

He looks like his dad and his grandpa. 

He has the brightest blue eyes. 

He is absolutely adored by so many. 

He has brought joy to our home. 

He is so loved by his sisters that they want us to have more babies. 

Heidi & Hans 

Hans & Magdalena 

First French fry! (Loved it!)

Last bath in the baby tub. 

Hans has been to the zoo, the pool, camping, to Cherry Crest, Dutch Wonderland, and craft shows.

He’s truly a joy and delight and we are continually grateful to God for his life. 

Love you, little buddy!

Half a year with Hans

Hans is 6 months old! Half a year of joy and delight with our little buddy.

He’s a good sleeper. He is finally starting to nap in his crib somewhat regularly. It’s been helpful for me to get a few things done while he naps. 

We got pool passes again this year and I wasn’t sure how it would go. Hans seems to enjoy having his toes in the water. He will kick around a bit then I hold him and he falls asleep. It’s very sweet. 

Anne taking a turn holding Hans so I can take Heidi into deeper water. 

He is enjoying looking at books! This makes the girls very happy. 

Hans continues to be a contented baby. He loves to be held. He sometimes sucks him thumb, or two fingers, or both his thumbs at the same time, and a pacifier

My sister, Audrey, loves holding Hans and talking to him. So sweet!

He’s the sweetest sleeper and I love his face. 

Hans loved our trip to the cabin! He did great in the car and slept fine in the pack-n-play. 

Hans is rolling over frequently now. He still doesn’t love to be on his belly even though he’s always rolling onto his tummy. He is close to sitting up on his own and getting stronger everyday. 

Hans is the youngest at church right now and Jean Bitzer is the oldest. This was such a precious photo to me. 

Daddy and Hans. I look forward to watching these to guys together. 

Little brother. So loved. So special. He’s going to be a great man someday. We’re grateful to God for Hansy’s life. 

Hans is Five Months

My little buddy is five months old. 

He is a joy and delight to our hearts. 

I turned 37 a month after Hans was born. It’s been eight years since we had a newborn in the house. Having one again is making me feel so many things. 

It’s been unbelievably precious to have the honor to hold this little man. When I was a younger mom I felt all the pressure for my kids to exceed every milestone. I felt all the judgement (likely mostly in my head) if my kids weren’t on top of all their skills. Being an older mom, and a mom of children with special needs, has shown me that those things don’t really matter all that much.

There was an article that just came out on Vox giving alllllll the reasons why women can’t breastfeed. It dedicated an entire section on the amount of time it takes. Their goal was to say “who really has time for this?” But I say, what better way can a mother show deep love for her child than by allowing her own body to nourish him? What a gift to hold my son for countless hours during his first year of life to gift him food, comfort, love, and to bond in a beautiful way. Maybe I feel it more deeply after missing out on the first 2+ years of my fifth and sixth daughters lives. The healthy emotional attachment that babies gain from nursing is irreplaceable. 

Now, some highlights from the past month!

We had a wonderful Easter celebration! Look at all these cousins who get to grow up together. Hans is the youngest of 20+ cousins. 

My sister, Stacy, took this adorable photo!

Hans found his thumb and is loving it. He rejected the pacifier for a few weeks in favor of the thumb, but now goes back and forth. 

Hans is a drooly, drooly baby! He goes through so many bibs that I would rather spend money on cute and functional bibs than clothes since no one ever sees his shirts (unless I’m changing bibs)! 

Love making my guy laugh!

He sleeps half swaddled so the thumb can comfort him through the night. He’s also a spitter which is why I have the blanket under his head to sleep. 

Hans is the master cat napper. I can already see him as a dad and grandpa gently dozing on his chair to “rest his eyes”. 

Mr. Blue Eyes! So handsome!

Ah! Both of my Mr. Blue Eyes. Love these guys. 

Hans is now rolling over from his belly to his back. He is getting close to rolling from his back to belly also. He still doesn’t prefer being on his belly but it’s good exercise for him. 

Hans is about 26” and 13.5 pounds. He’s definitely still happiest to nap when he’s held. Ruth loves to hold him - most of my pictures seem to be of the two of them. 

Hans & Magdalena. 

Haha! Snake on a baby tradition continues!!

We love you so much, little man! Happy 5 months. 

Abbey is Thirteen!

Abbey is now thirteen! It’s hard to believe we have another teenager in the house. 

In August, Abbey became our OAH (Oldest Available Hess). She has taken to the role like a duck to water. Abbey sees a need and fills it without being asked. She regularly starts breakfast, cares for younger siblings, bakes food, gathers the school books for the day, and all around makes my life much easier. 

As you can see, she’s very into Star Wars at the moment. We made this BB8 piñata out of paper mache and Abbey and Maggie painted it. 

Abbey still loves sweets. She’s the only kid in the family who has ever had any cavities, too. Coincidence? 

This photo about sums her up. 



Ah, but she does have a soft side as well. Abbey is SO good with kids. She is confident and exerts authority over them but with love. She expects to be obeyed and children respond well to her. Abbey will be an amazing mother someday as she has a strong sense of healthy boundaries coupled with a great sense of humor. Her current lament is that I’m not hard enough on the little girls. She remembers me being much more strict with the oldest three. 



Abbey and Peach! Abbey is very responsible in caring for Peach. She feeds her and plays with her and has even trained her to jump through a hula hoop. Abbey and Maggie together have taken over a bulk of the animal caretaking with Anne at school this year. Again, she has stepped into the role well. I never have to remind her to take care of the animals. 

This is one of my favorite pairs of earrings that Abbey made this year. She makes a lot of faux leather and leather earrings. I love them because they’re so light weight you don’t even know you’re wearing them. She recently got interested in making resin pieces and turning them into earrings and necklaces. She has made some really neat pieces. I’ll definitely need to have a little open house this fall to allow my girls to sell their creative works. 

Abbey has become quite the baker this year as well. She has made breads, cakes, cookies, coffee cake, and more. I was a little irritated when I gave her my best cookie recipe and she somehow made them taste better than mine. Haha! She definitely enjoyed our three weeks before Christmas school lessons as we cooked and baked items everyday as we learned about the foods other countries eat at Christmas time. 

This almond cake was amazing! I’m usually too preoccupied to take photos during the actual baking. Abbey also made a paper snowflake to decorate the cake. 

Abbey! She is such a lovely girl. I’ve loved how she’s grown and matured this year. She can be ornery at times but she is very trustworthy. She is a delight to be around. She is developing her own style and I like that. She is asking to be baptized this year and I’m so grateful to God for His faithfulness in Abbey’s life. She has my sister, Audrey, as a prayer partner this year so it’s also special to see Abbey develop a strong relationship with her. 

Happy 13th birthday, Abbey! I love you!