The Bibler Family

Our Ever Growing Baby Boy

2010-03-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

When I think of Love, this is what I think of...:)

Big boy with a bat - watch out!!!

All smiles all the time - well, almost all the time.

Too fast. Those are the best words to describe Kane's growth these days. Even his hair is growing out of control too fast!!! But no matter how big he gets, there's just more to love. :) He is currently just ounces away from 27lbs and his top two teeth are growing in literally any second. He's wearing 18 month or 2T size clothing at 8 months old. He crawls like a maniac and can pull himself up on anything in a flash, and can let go and stand on his own for a few seconds too! We love this little man more than words could ever say. :)

Meet Mr. Pickles!!

2010-03-04T10:49:00.002-05:00

Mr. Pickles in a rare moment - letting Austin hold him!!

Pickles and Buffett

Two of my three boys. :)

His breath is awful, but he's such a good boy!!!

Mr. Pickles is our newest furkid. We adopted him last month from a Michigan Pug rescue. It was just too empty and quiet in the house after Hoonis and Chester were gone. He's a black pug, LOVES his Mama more than anything else (can we say Hoonis Jr.???), and is great with Kane. All around perfect dog - except for teh horrible breath... :)

Gone but Never Forgotten

2010-01-25T09:19:00.001-05:00

After MUCH discussion with both Austin and their vet, we made the heartbreaking decision to put both Hoonis and Chester to sleep together on Saturday, January 23rd. Worst day of our lives. We will miss them so much, but are glad that they are pain free, seizure free....free of it all. R.I.P. boys - there were no better boxers in the world then you two and you are sorely missed. :'(

Our Little Shrimp in Action...

2010-01-12T15:17:00.001-05:00

Our Little Shrimp!!!!

2010-01-12T15:04:00.005-05:00

Just getting in - and liking it already!

Kane wanted to go back in as soon as class was done...so they did... :)

Kane's cheering section - both Grandmas and Mommy. :)

Trying to teach him how to blow bubbles...

Swim, Little Man!!

Paying attention to the rules...

My water boys. :)

Happy boy!

Kane started a six week swim class last night at our local YMCA. He loved it!! Austin braved the pool with him, but it looked like so much fun that I may do so next week. :)

The Many Emotions of Kane Bibler

2010-01-11T12:13:00.003-05:00

This is what comes of crawling backwards...

But this is what we see/hear most of the time - big laughs. :)

Love him. :)

His first two teeth!

Can't get enough of him. :)

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T20:16:00.001-05:00

Just want to wish everyone a very Happy 2010!!!

Big Boy!!!

2009-12-28T14:46:00.003-05:00

The bowl is empty, but the belly never is...

Do I have something on my face?

GIVE. ME. FOOD. please...

Even though this pic doesn't portray it well, he does love his highchair.

Long story short, our chubby little man LOVES his big boy food (aka Solids) and has had no problem eating anything yet. So far, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, banan yogurt and puffs (for an occasional snack) have all been A-OK with Kane and his tummy. He leanred quickly that his highchair = FOOD!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T14:38:00.005-05:00

GiGi and Santa with the Kiddos
Kane with Uncle Jordan, Uncle Blake, Daddy and Uncle Brogan

The three of us

Kane and Cru getting into some trouble...

The three of us...again...:)

Kane and Daddy, with the football that Santa gave him

Kane and Santa on Christmas Eve

Kane had a fabulous first Christmas with both families. We were so blessed to see just about everyone over a three day span. Hope your Christmas was as fun and family-filled as ours was. :)

Kane's First Time Meeting Santa

2009-12-14T11:37:00.003-05:00

Kane threw up all over Santa and pulled on the poor man's beard with all his might, but we had fun!!

Bath Time Fun!!!

2009-12-09T19:34:00.002-05:00

Just some pics I took of Kane last night during his bath time!!

GVSU is 'Bama Bound!!!

2009-12-07T11:49:00.003-05:00

Mom!! Do you see that score? I think it means that GVSU won!

Goal post ripped down as a new part of Laker football tradition

Chilly walk to the car after the game! Look at those cute, chubby, rosey cheeks and red nose. :)

Kane and Louie the Laker

GVSU's football team won the semi-final game against Carson-Newman on Saturday, shoeing their way into the Muscle Shoals, Alabama National Championship game on December 12th!! We'd LOVE to make the trip down there, but are going to wait until next year when Brogan's actually playing and no longer red-shirted. GO LAKERS!

Happy (almost) 19th Birthday, Uncle Brogan!

2009-12-07T11:42:00.005-05:00

Kane and I, Peter, Austin, Blake, Tessa and the Birthday Boy

At Cinco de Mayo

Kane with Daddy and three of his five Bibler Uncles

Yesterday we celebrated Brogan's 19th birthday a couple days early with most of the fam. His real birthday is tomorrow (December 8th), but with finals coming up next week, he better keep his studying behind out at school!! We went to the new Mexican restaurant in Rockford called Cinco de Mayo for way too much greasy goodness, followed by cake and ice cream back at Mom Biblers house. Happy b-day Brogan!

First Snowfall of the Season!!!

2009-12-04T12:07:00.006-05:00

Pretty excited about what he saw first thing this morning...

More than eight inches!

I LOVE SNOW!

Cool...

Do you see what I'm seeing?

Watching the very first flakes of the season come down (yesterday, before we got dumped on)

I think I really like snow...

We woke up to 8+ inches of snow this morning!!!!! Kane was SOOOOOOOO excited about it (as was his Mommy, since I got a snow day out of it!!)! It's FINALLY beginning to look a lot like Christmas....:)

2009-12-04T10:32:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-27T22:34:00.007-05:00

So full he couldn't even keep his pants buttoned...

Playing w/ GiGi Klingerman :)

Mmm, real grown-up sweet potatoes!

The three of us

The EASTER outfit that he wore for his first THANKSGIVING. :/

GiGi Snellink with five of her Great Grandkiddos. :)

GiGi with Kellie, Mom Kane and I

Making silly faces with Grandma Bibs

Chillin w/ Uncle Blake, Daddy, Uncle Brogan and Uncle Jordan

My favorite person on the planet

Kane with Grandma and Papa Hosford

We had not one, not two, but THREE fabulous Thanksgiving dinners this year!!! The feeding frenzy kicked off at Uncle Steve and Aunt Brenda's down in Buchanan on the Sunday before the official Turkey Day, followed by fabulous dinners at both Austin and I's parents houses on Thanksgving.

Kane did eat plenty of 'big boy' food (aka Mashed and sweet potatoes) and became a Spoon-eating Master after the first two bites. Solid foods are just around the corner (Christmas Break!).

We are so truly blessed w/ such incredible family to spend the Holidays with and thankful for an awful lot. :)

Kane and Daddy

2009-11-16T09:13:00.001-05:00

Baby got BACK! They have the exact same swirly cowlick!!

iTouch = yummy snack!

Game's gettin serious...
It's getting so serious I have to grab on to Daddy's hair!

I just love my boys. :)

Wiggin' Out!!

2009-10-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

Just some fun we had while I was trying to find a costume for the Howl-n-Boo... :)

Howl-n-Boo 2009

2009-10-26T10:19:00.004-04:00

I love my family. :)Does this costume make me look fat?

Kane and Mommy

Kane and Daddy

Kane w/ Uncle Brogan

Kane w/ Aunt Kel Kel

Kellie and I volunteered again for the Humane Society's 5th annual Howl-n-Boo. We saw tons of great costumes worn by both kids and pets! It was a blast, as always, and this year we were both Parrotheads (not hard to be!). We even got a surprise visit from three of our favorite men -- Austin (who went all out and dressed up as himself), Brogan (who also dressed up as himself), and Kane (as Chewy, of course).

Four Months Old Already

2009-10-21T11:32:00.004-04:00

Our little (well, that's a lie - he's more towards the larger side) man is already four months old. He can sit up by himself if his hands are in front of him, and is now a rolling over maching (both from tummy to back and visa versa). Here are some pics of our happy boy. :)

Big Boy Toys!

2009-10-12T13:23:00.001-04:00

Kane loves his Excersaucer!!!

...and his Jumperoo!

Sneak Peek at Kane's Halloween Costume

2009-10-12T13:18:00.003-04:00

Three words:

First Halloween.

Chewbacca. :)

Say CHEESE!!

2009-10-12T12:58:00.001-04:00

Well, he can't say it, but Kane can definitely do what he's supposed to in front of the camera!!

Future Laker

2009-09-13T13:53:00.007-04:00

Looking at the field before the game

Put me in, Coach! I'm ready to play!

With Grandma Hosford and Papa

Kane went to his first GVSU game yesterday at 12 weeks old. Only about 17 more years and he'll be commiting to their football program!! ;)

First Big Boy Toy!!

2009-09-13T13:48:00.004-04:00

Look Mom, I'm a big boy!!

What's in there???

This thing is pretty cool...

Now that Kane can keep his head up and sturdy (well, 9 times out of 10, anyway), we broke out his Excersaucer and he seems to like it so far! He can't figure out which toy he wants to play with, but he definitely looks like a big boy in there!

GO IRISH!!

2009-09-05T10:55:00.002-04:00

Today, which happens to be Kane's 11 week old 'birthday' (hehe), Notre Dame has their first game, and for all who know the Bibler family well, you know this is a much anticipated event every season. Well, last night was Austin's turn to pull baby duty (which is no longer hard to do since Kane sleeps through the night!), but whoever pulls night duty gets to get Kane up and ready for the day. This is what I woke up to when Austin brought Kane in to the bedroom to see me...:) GO IRISH!

More Randoms...

2009-09-05T10:51:00.003-04:00

We're really trying to prevent this issue, but keeping his thumb out of his mouth (after working SO HARD to find it!!) is tough!!

Yes, he has multiple chins...

Shhhh...trying to sleep....

My sleepy boys. :)

Just love him.

MOOCH!!

2009-09-05T10:44:00.002-04:00

Mooch the monkey was given to Kane by one of his wonderful daycare providers Darcy. HE LOVES HIM!!! We have tried to had to get him to play with stuffed animals, but up until Mooch came along, he wanted nothing to do with them. My mom, Kellie and I went out to lunch yesterday and saw Kane literally hugging Mooch several times. It even appeared as if he was smooching him, but then we realized he was trying to eat his face, since everything goes in his mouth nowadays. Kane just loves him, and Mooch will now go with him wherever we go. :)

Our Little Cub

2009-09-04T20:03:00.003-04:00

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

Happy camper. :)

Another huge thanks to Lauren for more great pics of our kiddo!! These are of Kane at 10 and a half weeks old. :)

Kane + Cru = Cute Cousins!!

2009-09-04T19:57:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday of this past week my fabulous sister-in-law Lauren watched Kane for me while I was at work. Kane had a blast (he told me so...) with Lauren, Maddie and Cru. Cru was attempting to show Kane that Tummy Time can be so much fun, but Kane didn't believe him. Anywho, here are some pics that Lauren took of the boys!!

Two Month Check-up

2009-08-21T21:50:00.002-04:00

Oh...life is just too much at two months old!!

Well, aside from the tramatic shots in the thighs (for kane and I both...), Kane's doctor is thrilled with his progress thus far!! He weighs in at an even 15lbs now and is 24.5 inches long. His height and weight are in the 90-97th percentile!! He's definitely a big boy, but a very healthy one!!

Boat Adventures

2009-08-21T21:39:00.005-04:00

I just love this kid!!!!!!!

Getting sleepy...

Happy Boy!!
Driving!

Driving w/ Uncle Jeff
My chubby boy!

Kane sure loves boats!! His favorite part is when the driver "floors" it and goes super fast...he just smiles the whole time!! We went up to the lake last weekend and here are some pics from the fun day....:)

Just Some Pics of Kane...

2009-08-12T22:18:00.004-04:00

Happy, mad, sitting up, laying down...we can't get enough of this kid!

6 Weeks Old Already!!

2009-08-02T13:34:00.004-04:00

Cannot believe that our little man was six weeks old yesterday!! Every day gets better and better!! Kane is now rolling from tummy to back, and can ALMOST roll completely from back to tummy!! He is without a doubt the best thing in our lives and we love seeing him grow!!

Say Cheese!

2009-07-28T18:49:00.002-04:00

Not the best pic, but we just love this smile!

Kane's Favorite Toy

2009-07-28T18:45:00.002-04:00

We had the rest of our driveway poured last Friday, and Kane literally spent two hours with his Daddy watching the cement truck!! He was in awe of the size of the truck and loved the noise. Oh, and the driveway looks great! :)

Beautiful Bay Harbor

2009-07-28T18:39:00.003-04:00

Austin and I spent the weekend in Bay Harbor, MI with the fam. BEAUTIFUL!! So beautiful, in fact, that Kane and I didn't get enough and are going back tomorrow for a couple more days! WOO HOO!!

Tummy Time!!

2009-07-16T22:53:00.003-04:00

For the most part, Kane likes his tummy time. He was even joined by Chester today, as you can see from the pic. It amazes me how much stronger he gets everyday. Even though he's been lifting his head up since the day he was born (literally!), he can now hold it in place for a few seconds without looking like a drunken monkey! But after that few seconds, he's exhausted, lays his head down, and then does it all over again!

And by the way, I have never posed him...he naturally puts his hands together all the time! :)

Kane's First Boat Ride!!

2009-07-06T11:30:00.003-04:00

Well, Austin and I bought a boat (a 1984 pontoon -- woot woot!!) about 6 months ago and FINALLY put it in the lake this weekend. Kane loved his first ride on his boat, and we can't wait to get him up there again for more!! :)

Fourth of July 2009

2009-07-06T11:26:00.004-04:00

Well, along with Kane's 2 week old mark, we celebrated the Fourth at the lake with family. Kane loved the cottage so much we had to go back the very next day! Hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth! :)

Kane Charles Bibler

2009-06-23T23:44:00.004-04:00

Well, he arrived and Austin and I could not be more in love. Kane was born on June 20th at 11:33am, weighing in at 8lbs. 2oz, and was 21 and 1/4 inches long. We love this little man more than we thought we ever could...and he's only three days old!! Cannot wait to see what the rest of his life has in store for us!! Welcome Kane--you complete our little family and we LOVE YOU!!!

38 Week Belly!

2009-06-03T14:24:00.001-04:00

It's definitely not small...:)

Brogan Graduated!!!

2009-06-03T14:21:00.002-04:00

A huge congrats to our little brother for graduating last night!! It was nice to have the whole family here for the event!!

Congrats again, Brogan Thomas! Now we wait for his GVSU graduation in the upcoming years! :)

Making Some Progress...

2009-05-28T14:25:00.002-04:00

As of yesterday, I am a mere 1 centimeter dilated, 50% effaced, and as soon as Dr. Pete began the exam, he immediately said "Oh boy, there's Baby's head!". Apparently Kane is just about as low as he can go (without coming out, of course), which would explain my constant peeing, waddling and the I-feel-like-I-could-burst-pressure.

As Dr. Pete was leaving the room, he made the comment that he "Just might see me before my appointment next week", which I blew off at first, but then came to realize he might truly think I'm about ready to pop! However, if Kane is nice and snug in there, Dr. Pete gladly offered me an induction around the 13th of June (give or take a couple days), since Kane appears to be fully developed (we even saw the little hair sprouts on his head on Friday via Ultrasound!!!).

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! Come on Kane -- Daddy and I are ready for you!!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-10T21:03:00.003-04:00

Well, I am considering myself to be a "half" mother today...I know Kane's alive, I can feel him all day long, I sort of know (via ultrasound) what he looks like, BUT...I can't hold him in my arms and kiss him yet, so I therefore only give myself the "half" mommy label. But that didn't stop my wonderful husband from spoiling me with my favorite perfume and some new shirts!! I can't wait until next Mother's Day, when I am a complete mommy!! Happy Mother's Day to all the fabulous mommies out there!

Another Incredible Shower!!

2009-05-10T20:59:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, we were blessed with fun and family as the Bibler side threw us another awesome Baby Shower. We can now say that we are ready for Kane, as he has EVERYTHING he needs (literally!!). It was wonderful having family and friends (some that drove in from out of town) to celebrate with us. Here are a couple of pics from the fun day!

30 Weeks

2009-04-12T19:59:00.003-04:00

Technically, I am 30 weeks 5 days today. :) I think Kane is growing daily!! And check out the serious pregnancy mask I have goin' on!! Looks like I have a mustache and racoon eyes!!

P.S. Happy Easter to all!

Daddy's Girl

2009-04-12T19:57:00.004-04:00

Can you tell they missed each other?? This has been a common sight since we've gotten home...

Gulf Shores 2009

2009-04-12T14:41:00.006-04:00

Another fabulous Gulf Shores, AL trip has come and gone. We spent 10 days with family and family friends, on the beach (most days) and enjoying each other. We took full advantage of this being our last year in Gulf Shores as just the two of us by being extra lazy and sleeping in everyday. I don't see that happeneing next year with Kane in tow, but we say bring it on!!

The highlight of the trip for me was meeting Jimmy Buffett's sister Lucy!! She is the owner of LuLu's, a favorite Gulf Shores restaurant for many. She was just as I expected...very outgoing and friendly with that deep south accent (the Buffett family is from Mobile, AL). I think Austin's highlight was getting thrown out of the famous Florabama bar for showing his "cheeks". ;)

As much fun as it was, we are both so glad to be home safe and sound. Can't wait 'til Gulf Shores 2010!!

Kane and I Were Beyond Showered!!!

2009-03-30T19:00:00.004-04:00

This past Saturday was Kane and I's first baby shower!!! It was so much fun to spend a few hours with such amazing friends and family. My Mom, sister and sister-in-laws did a trememdous job and worked their tooshies off to make this such a memorable day for me...and Uncle Jim catered a phenomonal brunch buffett. And Leticia Dykema (see side panel for her blog!) made THE MOST delicious and adorable cake I couldn've imagined with exact replicas of Kane's nursery animals. I was blown away by it all...thank you ALL!!! I am so blessed!

Speaking of blessed...wow. The gifts that we recieved were incredible. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the amount of gifts on the gift table. It was beyond overwhelming to see how much people love this little man already. :)

Thank you again to all who prepared for, attended or contributed to this amazing day for me (and Kane!). Again, I feel so blessed for having such amazing friends and family!! :)

P.S. An extra thank you to Lauren for the fabulous pics!! :)

One More Week...

2009-03-25T11:02:00.003-04:00

One week...new blog song (for obvious reasons!)...growing impatient....ready to go!! We're comin', Alabama!

Happy Birthday Dan and Tom!!

2009-03-15T10:41:00.003-04:00

Happy 29th Birthday (which was yesterday on the 14th) to the two best brothers a sister could ask for!! Here's to many, many more...:)

It's Almost Time for the Third Trimester...

2009-03-15T10:39:00.003-04:00

Here I am at just under 27 weeks, doing what I do best lately...cooking Kane! I cannot wait to meet my little man. :)

3 Weeks until We're 'BAMA BOUND!!!

2009-03-10T13:20:00.003-04:00

Three weeks from tomorrow, Austin, Kane and I will be "leaving on a jet plane" for sunny, southern Alabama. I simply cannot wait to put my feet in the sand, lay in the warm sun and hear the ocean waves crashing 24-7. This three weeks cannot go by fast enough, but between doctors appointments, birthday dinners (Dan and Tom's is on Saturday), Brogan's District basketball games and the Hosford-side Baby Shower on the 28th, I think I'll be too busy to even THINK about time dragging on!! Ahhhhh....can't wait (can you tell?).

Cru Thomas Hosford

2009-03-03T20:57:00.003-05:00

Austin and I became an aunt and uncle again today!! Cru was born at 6:35 this morning, weighing in at 6lbs 5oz, and is 18.5 inches tall. He is such a little cutie pie, and looks JUST like his big sister Maddie!! Congrats to Tom and Lauren (and Maddie!) to the newest family addition. :)

We Have a Thumb Sucker!!

2009-02-05T22:08:00.005-05:00

So, when we first went in to see if Kane was a boy or girl 2 weeks ago, he gave us what I considered one of the cutest things I have ever seen in my 26 years...a nice big yawn. Well, today we wasn't tired, but he found his thumb right before our eyes! At first, he just opened his mouth with his hand in front of it, then kind of bobbed his hand around, then closed his mouth, then opened again and BAM! He found his thumb!! Well, he didn't stop there. Then he found the rest of his fingers on that hand and started sucking them too, a couple at a time, until they were all in there!! I was in tears because it was just so adorable. The ultrasound tech said it was one of the best thumb-sucking pics she's got in a long time!

We both love this little man so much already. :)

Kane Charles Bibler

2009-01-27T20:39:00.003-05:00

As much fun as it's been to call this little guy "Barney", it was really starting to catch on a little too much with friends, some family, and even both Austin and I's places of work. Needless to say, we needed to name this kid so he's not branded with Barney his whole life!!!

We both absolutely love the name Kane Charles Bibler. In fact, as I am writing this, Austin is sitting in his video game chair repeating the name saying "I really like that...". :)

A couple interesting things about our little man's name:

1. The Irish meaning of Kane is "Tribute", which of course would be to this little one's late grandfather (Austin's dad) Charles Alva Bibler.
2. Austin got his way with an Irish name...:)
3. Charles (the middle name) was a given, and we are honored to have our son share a name with his grandpa. Charlie was such an incredible man (I could go on for days here...), and while Kane will never actually meet him here on Earth, he will certainly know who his Grandpa Charlie is, the values he taught us that we will in turn teach Kane, and the importance of Charlie in our lives yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.

The results are IN!!!

2009-01-21T22:06:00.003-05:00

Barney is a BOY!!!! We are SO EXCITED to be having a son!!! Another Bibler boy...God help us all!! And yes, the picture with the arrow is pointing directly to Barney's "boy parts". :) Now we just need to come up with a REAL name for our baby boy!!

P.S. Good call on the 16 of you that voted boy!!

G-V-S-U-Let's Go Blue!!!

2009-01-20T17:58:00.003-05:00

These words are chanted each and every fall by us, and now we have even more of a reason to chant them...Brogan committed to Grand Valley State University today!!! He is officially attending one of the best, and playing football for one of (if not THE) best Division II schools this country has to offer. Not only did we get to watch both of my brothers play (yes, Austin and I have been together that long!), but now we get to watch a third brother play!!

Austin and I are so incredibly proud of all of Brogan's hard work, and cannot WAIT to see him on the GVSU football field this fall!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Days Left!!!

2009-01-19T09:03:00.003-05:00

Wednesday is the big, no HUGE day for Austin, Barney and I!!! We will find out what Barney really is (though most of you seem to think boy!), and make sure he/she is happy and healthy in there. :)
To be exact, from this very minute, we have to wait 49 hours and 10 minutes. I'll have to find something to do for those 49 hours and 10 minutes to keep me busy so I stop thinking about this!!

74 Days!!

2009-01-16T11:01:00.002-05:00

OK...due to the current sub-zero temperatures and the most pale, pasty skin I've had since middle school (not pretty), I am looking forward to this years trip to Gulf Shores more than ever!! The thing I most look forward to is putting my feet in warm sand...not sure why, I'm just dying to feel sand! I might just roll around in it when we get off the plane...

And I can't wait for Barney's first time there, even if he/she can't actually see it this year. He/she will definitely taste lots of fresh, seasoned shrimp from Tacky Jack's, feel the warm sun, dance at the Florabama, shop with us as we indulge in way too many baby clothes at the Tanger Outlet Mall, and smile right along with his/her mommy and daddy for 10 days straight. :)

P.S. Lauren and Tracy, I know you're both getting giddy reading this!!

He'll Always be My "Original" Baby...

2009-01-13T18:09:00.004-05:00

Well, Hoonis will be 9 years old this coming May, and we have owned him since he was 5 and a half weeks old. Needless to say, we're both extremely attached to him (even though Austin won't always admit to that, like when Hooney has bad gas). For those who know me well, you know that I love all of my animals, but Hoonis is my baby. He has overcome so much during his 8 years, including chronic seizures, corneal ulcers, pancreatitis, 4 leg operations (including hip replacement) after a bad accident, skin cancer, etc, and we've been there through it all. Long story short...we have gone through a LOT with him, and I truly am his mom (regardless of how silly that sounds). He would prefer to sit right at my side over anything else in the world, including eating "tootsie rolls" out of the litter box and taking a "bye-bye". That's a huge compliment to me. :)

We found out tonight that Hooney is in the beginning stages of heart failure. He has developed a heart murmur, and the X-Rays showed his heart is most definitely enlarged. Hoonis has overcome SO MUCH that I hope and pray he can overcome this too, but I'm afraid he may be too old and has already gone through too much. He will be starting meds and will be monitored for the remainder of his life. I know he can't live forever, but Hoonis' death will be one of the most devastating days of my life (and Austin's too). So, if you are one who believes that animals are kids/members of the family, maybe you can squeak Hoonis in your T's and P's. :)

Baby Bibler Poll!

2009-01-12T10:35:00.004-05:00

Cast your vote!!! Austin and I find out next Wednesday (January 21st) whether Barney is an actual Barney or a Barnita!!
*Poll is on the right side of the screen.....>
**And once again, no, we are not really naming our child Barney/Barnita. :)

Another Laker in the Works?!?!?!?

2009-01-07T12:46:00.002-05:00

Brogan was approached today by Grand Valley's recruiter!! He is going to work out with them on Saturday, so he can show them his star quality!! He has also been approcahed by Ferris and Saginaw Valley, but GVSU is where Brogan REALLY wants to go (and so do the rest of us!)!!! Keep your fingers crossed for him! :)

Christmas Day 2008

2008-12-25T14:43:00.004-05:00

Another Christmas done already? Wow...time sure flies when you're having fun and working full time and married and having a baby!! I hear it only speeds up once the little ones come, too. Anyway, we were all spoiled rotten this morning at Mom and Dad Hosford's house, as you can see from the pre-gift-opening shot above (which wasn't even all of it!). This is Austin and I's last year as "Austin and I", so we're going to relax the rest of the day and enjoy the quiet. :)

Thank you Mom and Dad for another incredible Christmas!! And the Barney Wipes were my favorite gift ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Barney has been very spoiled already between last night and this morning. Also, take a look at Lauren's belly!! Holy Moly! I have some serious catching up to do!!!!

Christmas Eve 2008

2008-12-25T09:31:00.003-05:00

Oh, what a night!! We got to spend another wonderfully memorable Christmas Eve at Grandma Klingerman's house last night. It's always so nice to see family, and always guarenteed for a good laugh or two when you put us all in one room! Austin played Santa again, which he does so well, even though he tells every single kid that they'll get whatever they ask for.....laptops, cell phones, anything! Thanks for another great Christmas Eve to all! :)

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-13T20:07:00.002-05:00

I saw this on another blog and had to give it a try! I can't stop laughing...:) Click on the link below for a chuckle.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/jpFeMHWBxHebQVlpcLV3

Barney's Blossoming Bump

2008-12-11T17:37:00.005-05:00

Yup...Barney's still growing!! Austin and I actually got to see him/her on Monday night via ultrasound, and he/she was waving it's arms and legs all over and bouncing around! By far the coolest thing we've ever seen...so far. And no, Chester is not one of those "crotch smelling" dogs, as it looks in the pic. He actually jumps up on me and "bumps" the baby bump (he's not a "kisser", but he "bumps" us on the mouth as his way of kissing). It's so cute! Hoonis literally looks the other way when I point to my belly, and LuLu tries to jump all over it, so at this point, I think Chester is the only animal in this house that's excited for a baby!

Two more trimesters to go!! We love you Barney Bibler!!

Look at This Mug...

2008-12-04T21:04:00.005-05:00

This is Lucy TenBrink. She was Hooney's sister/littermate (can't you tell-they look so much alike). Anyway, she was euthanized this morning due to several complications of cancer-the number one killer of boxers. For any of you who know any of the TenBrink's (Mike, Linda, Mike Jr., Carrie, Kristi, Graham, etc.), please let them know that you're thinking about them, as this was extremely hard on all of them. They are nuts about dogs, particularly Boxers, just like I am. They still have Matilda, aka Tilly, who is Hooney's real mom (but don't tell Hooney that...he thinks I am his real mom).

R.I.P. poor Lucy.

117 Days....

2008-12-04T15:49:00.003-05:00

...until we get to put our feet in the sand again!! That's right, I'm already counting down, but I have been counting down since 225+ days, so it doesn't seem that far away now! This year, Austin, Barney (who will still be in my belly, but he/she counts too!) and I will be flying down (thanks to Dr. Pete's pre-approval, of course!) to sunny Gulf Shores, Alabama on April 1st....so we get an entire 10 days! WOOT! Right now, as I sit here and am freezing and looking out at SNOW, I seriously cannot wait...:)

State Champs!!!!

2008-11-30T20:25:00.002-05:00

Well, the Rams pulled off another State Championship yesterday at Ford Field!!! Brogan finished his Ram football career on the best possible note, and we are so proud of him for all his hard work and accomplishments (including Second Team All-State, All-Conference, and making the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team, just to name a few). The Rams and their coaches should all be very proud and satisfied with a tremendous season. GO RAMS!!

Now.....bring on basketball season!!

Barney Bibler Update!!

2008-11-20T15:51:00.003-05:00

Today Austin and I went to our first actual appointment with my wonderful OB/GYN, Dr. Pete (I know there are several of us Dr. Pete fans out there!). He gladly answered all of my 27 questions, and after reviewing my three previous ultrasounds, he bumped my due date back from June 16 to June 20. No big deal to us! Also, for an "early Thanksgiving present" to us (and this is why I love Dr. Pete!), he surprised us with the heart tone doppler. :) We heard Barney's little heart just beatin' away! It was so cool!

So there it is...a new due date, two beating hearts in one body, and two very happy parents-to-be. :)

We love you Barney Bibler!

Rams off to the Semi-Finals!!!

2008-11-15T20:20:00.004-05:00

Today Rockford beat Heartland 24-8 in a good but COLD football game!! Brogan (#2) played great, as always. :) And Brogan's best friend Jordan (who is #21 and very much like another little brother to Austin and I) scored ALL THREE TOUCHDOWNS!!!!!

Next week the Rams (and us Ram fans) are headed to a 10:30a.m. game at Michigan State University for the semi-finals!! After that win, it's off to Ford Field, baby! GO RAMS!

Barney's Baby Bump

2008-11-14T23:02:00.002-05:00

Yup...it popped this week. At just under 10 weeks, I have definitely developed a belly! Barney is definitely growing like a weed in there! Can't wait to see how big it'll be in 10 more weeks....or maybe I can wait...:)

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!!

2008-11-14T22:56:00.003-05:00

Tonight we celebrated Grandma Snellink's 80th birthday!! Of course, birthday celebrations in this family now consist of horrible singing, great food, and ultimately...bad gas. :)

Happy birthday, Grandma! We love you!!

Quick Clarification...

2008-11-05T11:27:00.003-05:00

While we think Barney Bibler has the perfect ring to it, we are definitely NOT going to name our baby Barney. Not that there is anyting wrong with the name Barney, but it's just a temporary name for out fetus before we have an actual infant. :) So you will continue to hear the name Barney Bibler for months to come, but just remember, it's only temporary!!

Meet Barney Bibler

2008-11-04T19:34:00.003-05:00

We got to see Barney and his/her speedy little heart today! We think right now Barney looks a lot like a Ram, but we love Barney anyway! :) What an incredible experience for us both... :)

You Might Think I'm Crazy...

2008-11-01T09:35:00.002-04:00

...but I already know I am! Actually, those who know me best know that Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year, and I feel it's never too early to start celebrating it!! In fact, it's only 53 days away from today, and that's just not enough time to enjoy this fabulous time of year!! It has taken me all that I have to wait until Halloween was done to change my music/background to CHRISTMAS!! So, if you are a Christmas fanatic like myself, enjoy!! If not...enjoy anyway!! :)

PINK!

2008-10-28T15:44:00.004-04:00

Kellie and I volunteered ALL day on Saturday at the Humane Society for their annual Howl-n-Boo event. This was as creative as we got for costumes, and Hoonis wanted to wear my pink wig too when I got home. Actually, he was humiliated. :)

All the Bibler Boys Together Again...

2008-10-18T16:04:00.003-04:00

Well, this is now happening at an average of every three years...all six of the Bibler boys are together at one time! None of us had seen Mike since Austin and I's wedding in June of 2005, so you can imagine the excitement when they all get together (and the name calling, and the sarcasm, etc.). It was great to see them all, and of course, I had to capture some pics of this monumental event! ;)

Thank You! (and a confession...)

2008-10-14T20:09:00.003-04:00

We cannot tell you all how much we appreciate all of the congrats, thoughts and prayers we are getting now that we've announced that we're turning from a Bibler duo into a Bibler trio! Well, technically, we have the three dogs and the cat, so that makes...

ANYWAY, thank you all once again. It means so much to us both that we have such supportive family and friends. We know (from bloodwork alone, and a lot of it) that Baby Bibler is growing very rapidly! In fact, the numbers are going up so fast that we're beginning to wonder if Baby Bibler is actually a "Baby" Bibler and not "Babies" Bibler?!?!

One last bit before my confession. The beautiful flowers were sent to me at work by my parents after they heard the news, and I just wanted to share their beauty with you all! They make me smile. :)

OK...confession...I'll make it as short as I can...

I swore I would never EVER eat Kentucky Fried Chicken again after I saw a video on how incredibly inhumanely those poor chickens are treated, or I should say tortured. *Tear*. For the past week, my stomach/baby is telling me that the ONLY thing it wants to eat is KFC chicken. And lots of it. I have probably eaten two chickens in the past week. I want to sincerely apologize to all of the chickens at the KFC farms. *Tear* I still am a true Animal Rights Activist in the sense of humane treatment, however, I can't help it right now!!!!!!!!!!! *Tears flowing*

Had Every Intention of Keeping This a Secret, BUT...

2008-10-11T13:12:00.002-04:00

...it didn't turn out that way!! Austin and I are thrilled to announce our huge shock to the world...WE'RE (well, mostly, I am) P-R-E-G-N-A-N-T!! The picture is hard to make out, but there are 6 very positive pregnancy tests taken (and they were taken well before a missed period)!! I have had bloodwork done from the fabulous Dr. Pete's office twice already, and my hCG levels are not doubling, but tripling (sp?) every 48 hours. I go back for another round on Monday. We can rest assured that Baby Bibler is defintely growing already! :D

I am very, very, VERY early (only about 5 weeks), but we couldn't contain oursleves (and neither could our parents, my sister....anyone esle want to confess to this??). Long story short, after a couple horrible years of infertility (including surgery, a very painful HSG and the dreaded Clomid pills), finding out that I only have one funtional fallopian tube, having weight loss surgery only 8 months ago, and JUST going off the pill last month...we were totally shocked to get pregnant as soon as we did. I expected months, if not a year or so, but someone had other plans for us. :)

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fat Guy in a Little Bed...

2008-10-05T15:16:00.004-04:00

So, apparently Hoonis, Chester AND Gertie all think that they are small enough to fit in one of 7 pound LuLu's toy-sized beds. Hoonis weighs about 103lbs, Chester about 75 and Gertie about 14lbs (yes...she's a very chubby kitty). The pictures just don't do this hilarious scene justice....

P.S. Chester is the top pic, while Hoonis is in the middle. :)

Benjamin Boes :)

2008-10-05T15:11:00.002-04:00

I got to see Ben (and his Mom and Dad!) for a while last week, and my has he GROWN (he's already almost 5 months old!)!! He's such a good and happy little man. My dear friend Kristi (formerly TenBrink) says she already wants another...and she should! She and Ryan are great parents, and it was so good to see all three of them!! :)

Please Pray

2008-10-01T15:13:00.002-04:00

Austin's Uncle Bill passed away today. Theresa Schwartz, one of Austin's cousins (and a very near and dear friend to me now) e-mailed the following to me today:

He was found to have stage 4 cancer in his stomach and when they were trying to do a bowel resection, his bowel/intestine burst. The doctors weren't sure that he would ever wake up. He did wake up and was in terrible pain. There was no more that could be done for him. He passed away at 12:30 am.

Please pray for Aunt Patty, Uncle Bill's children, as well as all of their nieces and nephews during this time. Bill was such an incredibly sweet man everytime we saw him, and he definitely will be missed by us all.

Brogan's Final Homecoming

2008-09-29T09:15:00.002-04:00

Brogan went to his Senior Homecoming this past Saturday. Unfortunately, Austin and I didn't make this picture session before, so I stole this one (of the couple plus Mom Bibler) from Brogan's girlfriend Tessa. :) Brogan and Tessa both looked phenomonal, and they had a great time. I still can't believe Brogan's a senior...

Tim's Back!!

2008-09-28T09:58:00.003-04:00

Well, sort of. He's in town (back from living in Mobile, AL for months) for a while before he moves to Utica, NY to join the love of his life, my cousin Claire, who he recently proposed to!! We are patiently awaiting a (probable) June 2010 wedding for Tim and Claire. We got to see him last night for a little while, and will see him much more soon. Welcome back (well, to the Northeast corner of the US anyway) Tim! It was so great to see you, and I personally cannot wait for the upcoming Utica trip!!

GVSU Football

2008-09-28T09:55:00.002-04:00

Well, we've already been to many of these this season, but for some reason, I haven't taken any pics? Anywho, GVSU beat Michigan Tech 52-6 last night during an absolutely BEAUTIFUL night for football. GO LAKERS!!

And yes, Jamie, Kellie and I are all wearing matching shirts, and truly not on purpose!

RHS Homecoming 2008

2008-09-26T22:08:00.004-04:00

Tonight was Rockford's Homecoming game, and the Rams pulled off a 38-6 win (and Jenison didn't even score until the last second-literally!). The night started of with the four 2008 Hall of Fame inductees , so I got to cheer on my brothers once again! Then, we got to play with Maddie and Gracie, snuggle with Livvy, AND watch Brogan play another great game...what could be better? Again, congrats to Dan and Tom!! :) And of course to the Rams for a great win.

P.S. Spiderman was actually Tessa, Brogan's girlfriend, #51 is the fabulous Cody Knott, who I just adore, and the beautiful little gal is Ryleigh Keller, a huge Ram/Brogan fan and the daughter of great family friends Dave and Deb. :)

Proud Sister Here!

2008-09-25T12:39:00.004-04:00

Last night, both of my brothers were inducted into Rockford's Hall of Fame! I am so proud of them both, and hearing Coach's Munger and VanderVeen talk about all of their hard work and all they went through really brought back a lot of memories. Congtats to you both!! Austin and I are very proud siblings!!

Mommy's Little Girl

2008-09-23T13:20:00.003-04:00

LuLu is a real trooper. Well, sort of. She had some complications from her spay last week and got through them, BUT...according to Dr. Swift (the Humane Society veterinarian), she has an EXTREMELY low pain tolerance, so she kind of made the complications for herself.

But as you can see, she's back to jumping on the couch to snuggle up with her mom! Gald she's back to LuLu Buffett Bibler now. :)

Best Buddies

2008-09-23T13:16:00.001-04:00

Hoonis and LuLu....can they get any cuter?

Just Plain Cute

2008-09-23T13:08:00.003-04:00

Uncle Brogan snuggling w/ "Cheddar Bob", as he calls Chester. :)

Better Late then Never!

2008-09-23T13:04:00.003-04:00

Happy belated birthday to Mom Bibler (9/8) and Matt Bibler (9/7). We celebrated with a fabulous dinner (prepared by my wonderful husband!) at our house for both b-days, and while we took this pic on September 7th, it's taken me a while to get new batteries for this camera. HAPPY BELATED B-DAYS!! :)

P.S. Mom Bibler was camera shy and took the pic, which is why she's absent from it!

Another Quick Brogan Blip...

2008-09-23T10:17:00.004-04:00

...from the GR Press, in case you missed the phenomonal game last Friday...

Sometimes these amazing matchups between unbeaten teams live up to the hype. Sometimes the fans -- nearly 10,000 folks crammed in the stands and sprawled on the hillsides -- get there early and stay until the decisive play.
That play, a 40-yard interception return by Rockford's Brogan Bibler with 1:25 left, sealed the win.
"Points were just brutal to come by, it was a tough battle up and down the field," said Bibler, a rare three-year starter for the Rams. "They hit hard, they came back and we tried to hit them hard, too. Hudsonville is a great team, and it's great to come out on top of this (game) one time."
The win, the first for Rockford at Eagle Stadium and the second all-time against Hudsonville, was a first for Bibler. But that does not mean the Rams have not done well.
The last three seasons, Hudsonville and Rockford have captured at least a share of the O-K Red Conference title. Since 2004, both teams have made trips to the state finals, and Rockford won it all twice.

And here's the clip of the interception! http://www.rockfordfootball.com/images_multi/04_int_bibler.mov

Prayers Requested, Please

2008-09-22T18:09:00.002-04:00

There are three very special people that are in need of prayers. The first is my mom, who is suffereing from severe chest (and neck/back) pains and cannot find an answer as to why she is having them. Fortunately, all serious medical concerns have been ruled out so far, and she has been told that she's not in any immediate danger.

The second is for Autsin's Uncle Bill (on the Bibler side), who has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. Please keep him and his wife Patty (Charlie's sister) in your thoughts and prayers.

The third is for Tom Willey, a very good friend of ours. He just got home from a 48 hour hospital stay for several blood clots, and found out through testing that he is genitically prone to them, so he is not out of the woods yet. His case was very much like my dad's last summer, meaning Tom is very lucky to be alive today.

Thank you all for these thoughts and prayers...they are needed.

Animal Festival 2008

2008-09-20T13:14:00.005-04:00

There are very few things that I would wake up at 7am for on a Saturday morning...and the Animal Festival is definitely one of them. This is the Humane Society's biggest fundraiser of the year, and we had a tremendous turnout!! There were SO MANY DOGS!! From a 265lb. Mastiff named Mudge (picture above) to a 1lb. Chiuhuahua puppy, all dogs were happy as clams to be there. I recruited my wonderful sister Kellie to volunteer with me. :) We ran the Doggie Treat Toss had a blast. I also got a surprise visit from nieces Maddie and Gracie, my mom, Austin and Chester. Chester was supposed to take his Canine Good Citizen test today, but was too overwhelemed, so his certification is postponed for a little while. :)

From a Blessing of the Pets from a priest, to a Waggin-walk-a-Thon in memory/honor of pets, to a Bobbin' for Hotdogs game, to a pet fashion show....today was such a fun and memorable day.

A lot of animals are going to benefit from this event. :D

We all had fun, and I cannot wait until Animal Festival 2009!

194 Days...

2008-09-19T10:37:00.002-04:00

...until Austin and I fly to sunny Gulf Shores! I know it's a bit premature, but when I first started this countdown, it was at 275 days! So for us, it's not that far away...:)

Rams Beat Davison

2008-09-07T20:57:00.004-04:00

The final score was 20-19. It was a close but a very exciting game. Here's our bragging bit for the game...Brogan scored a 79 yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff!! Also, Peter, Jessica and Matt were all in from out of town (Chicago and Ft. Wayne, respectively) to see the big game!! And on top of most of the Biblers being there, the whole Hosford clan was there too (hence the pic of myself and the Madster...Gracie and Livvy were home and snoozing at that point!). :)

Way to go Rams (and of course Brogan!) :D

P.S. HUGE props to Lauren for the pics!!!

??????

2008-09-02T19:36:00.003-04:00

This is what happens when all the Biblers get together at the lake for Labor Day weekend...