Welcome To The Family

The Prelude To An Update…

May 27, 2009 · Filed under Exciting Things

Oh geeze.

My apologies for not posting anything here since December 24th of 2008. Our lovely & dear friend Shari just pointed that out to me.

2009 has been a doozy of a year for us so far…and I can’t believe it’s almost half way over. It’s been a good doozy, though…full of lots of things. Really, it’s been a good doozy since Thomson was born and I really desire to catch you all up on the happenings and the pictures that accompany those happenings. I promise promise promise to probably do that in the next few days. “Why not now,” you ask.

Here are the answers:

1) You’ve been patient this long, you can wait a little longer. The Nuggets are in the thick of the hunt for an NBA title and…

2) WE’RE MOVING. In two days, we will leave our digs at 2607 West Stuart Street behind for new digs at 1263 Truxun Drive. Still in Fort Collins, but closer to Jes’ work and closer to open spaces so Chris can relax. We’re moving kind of out of town for some of the same reasons my parents first moved kind of out of town…to be able to better disconnect from things when neccessary.

So, let us get this move out of the way and then I will update you concerning things like:

Thomson’s first Christmas, scooters, houses, Thomson’s first hike, buttons, trips places, more nachos, friends in Woodland Park, friends in Fort Collins, friends in Denver, friends in Boulder, family everywhere, Chris talking, pictures of most things just listed.

Okie dokie? We love you a lot. Here’s a picture of Thomson & I in matching cardigans to hold you over:

talk to you soon.

love.

chris, jes, & thomson

Comments (1) »

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: Our Friends Make Good Music

December 24, 2008 · Filed under Family, friends, Holidays · Tagged Aaron Strumpel, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Josh Dillard

A handful of our friends are also a handful of our favorite musicians. They decided to record a Christmas song the other day and make a video out of it. Now, we want you to watch it. Just in case you’re wondering, the performers are Aaron Strumpel, Josh Dillard, Phillip Waggoner, and Dave Wilton. The adorable little girl is Thomson’s friend Norah Wilton.

Jes, Thomson & I do hope you have a very merry Christmas. We love you all very much and look foward to seeing you soon.

Comments (1) »

Chris Makes Mix CDs For A Living

December 8, 2008 · Filed under by Chris, Exciting Things, Thomson · Tagged everyday joe's, free download

Well, at least part of a living.

A year ago, I had the idea that Everyday Joe’s (the place I work) should give out a compilation CD for Christmas. Being a concert venue, contacts with artists & the donation of songs ended up being simple enough. Over 1700 people downloading “Love, Everyday Joe’s- Volume 1: No More Gloom.” It seems that making mix CDs in high school & college when I should have been studying has paid off.

Today, we released “Love, Everyday Joe’s- Volume 2: …and a little child will lead them.” 20 musicians that have played at Everyday Joe’s in the past year donated songs and we’re giving the CD away as a free download. We’re also accepting donations this year to help pay our music licensing fees.

My apologies if this post seems like a shameless plug, but that’s exactly what it is. I’m sure most of you have a mix CD I’ve made, so now you can have another one. And, if you feel like donating to the cause, you can do that on the download page too. If this shameless plug has annoyed you, please become not annoyed by looking at the festive picture of Thomson and I below. Then, click on the CD cover art below that to go to the download page.

love.

chris

photo-67

Leave a comment »

Thomson Garners Us Attention

November 3, 2008 · Filed under Exciting Things, Family, pictures · Tagged photo de novo

Hi there.

So sorry it’s been so long. This whole “parenting” thing seems to take up most of our time and energy. Luckily, we have a mini-vacation to Arizona on the horizon.

It has been a busy 10 weeks since Thomson entered the world. We’ve changed diapers, we’ve watched him learn to smile, we’ve purchased a motor scooter (more on that later), we’ve mastered the shhh & pat, I’ve changed jobs (kind of), we’ve become truly thankful for white noise.

Mostly, we’ve learned that Thomson seems to garner us a lot of attention. Maybe not us, probably mostly him. He has a natural mohawk, and methinks that has a large part to do with it. This attention has officially entered the blogosphere and information cloud. In September, we had our first round of family pictures taken. Our photog, the wonderful Sarah Boyd of Photo De Novo, thought enough of Thomson to make him & us (mostly him) the subject of a blog post.

Read that here, and then have Sarah take some photos of you.

We’ll get new pictures uploaded sooner than later, that is a promise. Some we’ve taken, and the ones Sarah took. The number of picture frames in our house has already tripled, so if you have time to stop by you can see both pictures of Thomson and the real Thomson. Jes & I would like to see you too.

love.

chris

Leave a comment »

We are proud to introduce…

August 26, 2008 · Filed under Baby, Exciting Things, Family

Thomson Scott Hess. Our little boy. 9:55 pm. 6 lbs, 15 oz.

Jes is a champ. Completely natural birth in under 5 hours. She amazes me. Thomson amazes me.

Thank you Jesus.

Welcome to the family.

Comments (6) »

Thundercats Are Go

August 26, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized

5:16 p.m. - We’re at the hospital. As far as Jes is concerned, Bonkers is coming. This could be a live post…updated every so often…or not. Either way, baby’s address to the union will be transcripted here. Right now, I guess we’re considered “Labor Check.” Hospitals have lots of terms I’m not familiar with. Apparently they have to make sure this is for reals and that Jes isn’t pretending to be in pain.

Nancy is our nurse. She is nice.

Our reality is changing.

Comments (2) »

Jes as Abstract Latte Art

August 20, 2008 · Filed under Baby, by Chris, Exciting Things, food, Jes · Tagged latte art, pregnant

Two nights ago at dinner, Jes informed me that her belly was resting on her legs.

As I was leaving for work this morning, Jes stood at the top of the stairs so I could see how much her belly dropped overnight.

A few minutes ago at the coffee house, one of our volunteers – Mattie – poured my good friend Seth a latte. He immediately came over to me and said, “Look, it’s Jes.”

I really couldn’t agree more:

Rather cute, I think…and delicious. 1.5 weeks to go.

love.

chris

Leave a comment »

In July We Partied…Hard

July 29, 2008 · Filed under Baby, community, friends, Holidays, Jes' parties

Oh, the month of July. Where have you gone? Back to wenst you came? It seems like only yesterday I was waiting in heated anticipation for fireworks and hot dogs.

July really does seem like a blur…a blur full of parties and showers and setting up baby monitors and hanging up very tiny clothes and learning about birthing and saying goodbye to friends and hello to other friends and touring hospitals and even crying a little bit (happy & sad tears).

In order to put some structure to the month, I offer you the synopsis of three parties, each with different purposes, and each totally radical.

Party A: Hello Brooks & Forsythes, Goodbye Hamiltons & Josh

This one was a little bittersweet. Our friends Nick & Katie & Josh all moved to the other side of the country. Our friends Ben & Katie & Will & Lauren moved back to Colorado from the upper regions of the country. It was good bye to some and welcome home to others. There was bocce and washers and adult beverages. It was a nice time. Jes can throw a party.

Charlie - Nick & Katie's dog - wishing he wasn't moving to Tennesee.

Party B: 4th of July Sleepover & Pancake Breakfast

Inspired by our friends Tim & Laurie, we decided a sleepover and pancake breakfast were necessary to properly celebrate the 4th of July holiday. We grilled hot dogs, we went up to Horsetooth Resevoir to watch fire works, we sat around a fire pit while our neighbors set off commercial-grade fireworks above our heads, and we all slept in the backyard. There were about 15 of us all together. Jes & I slept on an air matress.

When we woke up in the morning, Nick & Katie’s dog (who paced the yard all night protecting us) had eaten Cori’s glasses and a mosquito had eaten part of Michelle’s eyeball. Then we had pancakes. They tasted nice.

Waitng for the fireworks to start- I'm pretty sure we were fighting

Party C: Baby Shower at the Thurber’s in Elbert, CO

It’s rare that a baby shower can qualify as a party. We’ve had several showers this summer, and if you are offended that the one you threw is not listed here, tough beans pal. All the showers were great and it was good to see everyone and we are well provided for and eternally grateful to our wonderful community. But, the shower the Thurbers threw was a shower only in name. Do you know of any showers that culminated late in the evening with everyone out on the porch singing Jimmy Buffet & Van Morrison songs after the wine and beer and Crown Royal had flowed freely? No? Well, I do, because I was there…and because Crown Royal had flowed freely into my being…and it was delicious. That is when the shower became a party…when Ben was playing guitar with men old enough to be his father and my father was yelling the lyrics to Margarittaville at the top of his lungs.

See how much we love each other?

Thank you to everyone who is responsible for these parties. You are the responsible party. Zing!

I guess Jes is the responsible party for two of the parties. I am saying thanks to her as I write this. Thank you Thurbers for the Baby “Shower.”

Talk to you soon.

love.

chris & jes

Leave a comment »

7 Hours of Fundus & Chris Talks More

July 16, 2008 · Filed under Baby, Chris, Chris Talking · Tagged birth, fundus, nehemiah, sermon

Hello loyal followers of us.

On Saturday, we attended our birthing class. In 7 hours we watched 3 births, Chris fell asleep, Jes took a lot of notes, and we both learned what is meant by the term “nipple to nose.” All this should start coming in handy in 6 weeks or so.

On Sunday, Chris spoke at church. He talked about forceps, the Atari 7800, and Nehemiah 12:27-43. You can download the message here, or just click on the play button below to listen. You may have to give it a little bit to load.

We love you.

Chris & Jes

Leave a comment »

Poll Question: What Should Be Bonkers’ Musical Monicker?

July 3, 2008 · Filed under Baby · Tagged Baby, band name generator, music, poll

About a month ago, a CD was created for Bonkers to listen to while in the womb (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, click here). Baby listens to about a song a day…and sometimes moves around and sometimes goes to sleep. It’s quite intersting.

Methinks being exposed to such quality musical creations before even seeing the sun could embed some sort of desire in Bonkers to create music. This means baby will need a musical monicker. Through a grueling process involving bandnamemaker.com and several rounds of rock-paper-scissors, Jes and I have narrowed the options down to five choices. Please choose by taking the poll here and the results will be announced to Bonkers at birth.

Leave a comment »