Emma Katherine Hoff
9/27/07, 11:25pm
7lb 14oz
Oct 26, 2007
Sep 12, 2007
An athlete in the making
So yes, I realize that she's not even born yet. But Emma (and her parents) has just signed up for her first race! Since we'll be in town for Thanksgiving, what better way to spend a beautiful fall morning than greasing up the jogging stroller wheels?
Now - don't expect miracles from any of us - we don't plan on setting any records. We plan to make it a family day - and hopefully Aunt Rachael and big bro Parker will be joining us (it is pet friendly). I am already so stinking excited I can't stand it!! :)
Check out more details about the "race" and send us some light feet!
http://www.thanksgivingrun.org/
Now - don't expect miracles from any of us - we don't plan on setting any records. We plan to make it a family day - and hopefully Aunt Rachael and big bro Parker will be joining us (it is pet friendly). I am already so stinking excited I can't stand it!! :)
Check out more details about the "race" and send us some light feet!
http://www.thanksgivingrun.org/
A pregnant woman WILL change her mind!
Ok, today's post will be a lot less serious. I can *finally* post pics of the finished nursery. The only thing missing from this picture is the lamp behind the chair with a light blue shade. 
Close of up the new bedding - mostly pinks and blues.
Close up of the chair and the new lace sheers.
The armoire, hamper and closet door.
View of side of armoire, walking in the room.
This little pipsqueak already has a better wardrobe than either one of us! :)
As you can see - I have changed some things. I decided to go with a more romantic theme to match the furniture. So while it's not totally "shabby chic" I think it works pretty well all together. Enjoy!
Close of up the new bedding - mostly pinks and blues.
New Chair - it's awesome! It rocks, glides AND reclines. Thank you Grandma Lee!
Close up of the chair and the new lace sheers.
One of these will be her coming home outfit - I can't decide!
Her dresser, topper and the frame above it is one that *I* made 20 years ago! It says "I love ice cream". My dad kept it and gave it to me on my 30th birthday. And what better place to put it then in Emma's room? It's also apropos - I have been enjoying lots and lots of ice cream! :)
The armoire, hamper and closet door.View of side of armoire, walking in the room. This little pipsqueak already has a better wardrobe than either one of us! :) 
Sep 11, 2007
I will always remember....
.....where I was this morning 6 years ago. I am sure a lot of people today are thinking back to that same moment. I just wanted to share my experience of that day:
I had gotten laid off from my internet start up company the day before (monday, the 10th), and I was at my mom's apartment in Arlington working on my resume. Both Roger and my mom had already left for work, my mom had taken the metro down to the State Department around 8am that morning.
Mark and I were on the computer when his niece called to tell us to turn on the news. That's when we saw what had happened in New York - I think only one of the towers had been hit. The details were somewhat sketchy, but at the time - it was just an airplane crash as far as anyone knew.
We all know what happened - so there's no need for me to recap. But I'll flash forward to the part where I remember looking out of the apartment window, and in the near distance, seeing the smoke rising from the Pentagon. I remember specifically looking down at the street, and seeing cars lined up like a parking lot, but nobody was moving. But nobody was honking - it was so quiet. People were walking - tons of people were walking the street, traveling west out of the city. We hadn't had any luck calling Roger (who was working downtown at the time) or my mom, since all the cell phones were jammed.
About an hour or two later, my mom walked through the front door, tears streaming down her face. She said she had never experienced anything like it. She had gotten on the Metro just like any other day at 8:15- 8:30am. By the time she made it down to her stop on Capitol Hill (roughly 30-40 minute ride) it was like she had gone through a time warp. She stepped off the metro to see the national guard running down the street, fully armed. It was sheer pandemonium (it was probably around this time that the 4th plane had gone missing, and rumored to be heading toward the Capitol). She didn't know what to do, where to go. what was safe or even what was happening. She was terrified.
Shortly thereafter, Roger walked through the front door as well - visibly shaking. He had walked all the way from his office on 12th Street to our apartment in Arlington - the only choice he had at the time.
We all just sat there that day, glued to the tv. I kept going over to the window to see that smoke from the Pentagon, as if I didn't believe it the first time. I don't feel the need to explain the feelings - we all know them too well. What's hard for me to believe is that it was SIX years ago. I think about what's happened in those last 6 years. I think about how - this will probably be (for my generation) one of those epic moments in time that seem to stand still. I still remember what I was wearing. I think about how we were all affected by that day, but some so much more so than others. I think about the stories of all the babies born after 9/11 - and for a woman 9-months pregnant, the thought just absolutely breaks my heart.
I think what also hits me - as bizarre perhaps as it may sound - is how proud I am to be from Washington, D.C. In my humble opinion, it is where things happen - for better or for worse - it's where so much of this country starts. Living on the west coast, I find myself frustrated sometimes when people seem fuzzy about the details of 9/11. Not to be insensitive, I realize everyone handles profound situations like that differently. And I just have to say for the record - that this has NOTHING to do with political affiliation. But I'm shocked when the subject of 9/11 comes up (at work for example), and there is almost an "Oh yeah" feeling. That bothers me - over and over. It's not fair for me to make any blanket generalizations - and I am definitely not saying that all Californians are blasse about the subject. What I am saying though - is that there is a definite, and obvious difference between the two coasts - in my experience - when it comes to this subject. These are simply my observations, based on my experiences.
Anyway, this isn't about comparisons, or one-upmanship. This isn't a political statement either. It's simply my thoughts. I just wanted to say this on today's post, that I DO remember, I'll always remember. And that I am proud to be from our nation's capital.
I had gotten laid off from my internet start up company the day before (monday, the 10th), and I was at my mom's apartment in Arlington working on my resume. Both Roger and my mom had already left for work, my mom had taken the metro down to the State Department around 8am that morning.
Mark and I were on the computer when his niece called to tell us to turn on the news. That's when we saw what had happened in New York - I think only one of the towers had been hit. The details were somewhat sketchy, but at the time - it was just an airplane crash as far as anyone knew.
We all know what happened - so there's no need for me to recap. But I'll flash forward to the part where I remember looking out of the apartment window, and in the near distance, seeing the smoke rising from the Pentagon. I remember specifically looking down at the street, and seeing cars lined up like a parking lot, but nobody was moving. But nobody was honking - it was so quiet. People were walking - tons of people were walking the street, traveling west out of the city. We hadn't had any luck calling Roger (who was working downtown at the time) or my mom, since all the cell phones were jammed.
About an hour or two later, my mom walked through the front door, tears streaming down her face. She said she had never experienced anything like it. She had gotten on the Metro just like any other day at 8:15- 8:30am. By the time she made it down to her stop on Capitol Hill (roughly 30-40 minute ride) it was like she had gone through a time warp. She stepped off the metro to see the national guard running down the street, fully armed. It was sheer pandemonium (it was probably around this time that the 4th plane had gone missing, and rumored to be heading toward the Capitol). She didn't know what to do, where to go. what was safe or even what was happening. She was terrified.
Shortly thereafter, Roger walked through the front door as well - visibly shaking. He had walked all the way from his office on 12th Street to our apartment in Arlington - the only choice he had at the time.
We all just sat there that day, glued to the tv. I kept going over to the window to see that smoke from the Pentagon, as if I didn't believe it the first time. I don't feel the need to explain the feelings - we all know them too well. What's hard for me to believe is that it was SIX years ago. I think about what's happened in those last 6 years. I think about how - this will probably be (for my generation) one of those epic moments in time that seem to stand still. I still remember what I was wearing. I think about how we were all affected by that day, but some so much more so than others. I think about the stories of all the babies born after 9/11 - and for a woman 9-months pregnant, the thought just absolutely breaks my heart.
I think what also hits me - as bizarre perhaps as it may sound - is how proud I am to be from Washington, D.C. In my humble opinion, it is where things happen - for better or for worse - it's where so much of this country starts. Living on the west coast, I find myself frustrated sometimes when people seem fuzzy about the details of 9/11. Not to be insensitive, I realize everyone handles profound situations like that differently. And I just have to say for the record - that this has NOTHING to do with political affiliation. But I'm shocked when the subject of 9/11 comes up (at work for example), and there is almost an "Oh yeah" feeling. That bothers me - over and over. It's not fair for me to make any blanket generalizations - and I am definitely not saying that all Californians are blasse about the subject. What I am saying though - is that there is a definite, and obvious difference between the two coasts - in my experience - when it comes to this subject. These are simply my observations, based on my experiences.
Anyway, this isn't about comparisons, or one-upmanship. This isn't a political statement either. It's simply my thoughts. I just wanted to say this on today's post, that I DO remember, I'll always remember. And that I am proud to be from our nation's capital.
Sep 9, 2007
Things I am grateful for Today: (and by no means is this an exhaustive list!)
1) Emma has turned! That's right, our little buttercup is "locked and loaded". I have no idea whether she decided to turn on her own, or if the accupuncture, massage, chiropractice, hypnosis, flashlight shining, ironing board lying, polar bear positioning that I tried had anything to do with it! :)
2) The weather has cooled off!! I almost melted last weekend (Labor Day) - and yes, I mean literally. It was approximately 95-98 degrees in the sun in San Diego, and it was 4000 degrees inside our house (we have no A/C). If it weren't for the use of three fans, very little clothing, 19 popsicles and the ocean five blocks away, I wouldn't have survived. It is a cool 69 degrees outside now.
3) I am officially done with work - at least until 2008! It was an almost surreal experience walking out of my building at 6:30pm on Friday afternoon. I was by far, the only person there, and I kept having panic attacks that I had forgotten to hand off an event, or that I didn't show my staff where I left a particular binder, table, key, whatever. I guess I felt this uber-sense of responsibility, like I was abandoning my post. I worked very hard to make sure that everything I was working on was organized and documented for my replacement - but it was still hard. I guess I had come to really appreciate my role as a manager, and I felt very protective of my staff. I also had another thought, as I was putting my box of things into the back of my car: I've been in that position for exactly 9 months. In other words, Emma and I had been working together as a team for the entire time that I was Manager of Project and Event Support. Pretty cool, huh? We already make a great team! :)
4) I am grateful for having such an amazing support team of friends and family, who generosity has allowed us to barely have to supply anything for Emma's arrival. I think we're set - and we're set really well. And I truly appreciate it.
5) That my weight gain has finally stopped! I think the pea-size stomach I have these days is primarily responsible. Of course, I think I'm making up for it by retaining water. My poor, poor feet. I am sorry.
2) The weather has cooled off!! I almost melted last weekend (Labor Day) - and yes, I mean literally. It was approximately 95-98 degrees in the sun in San Diego, and it was 4000 degrees inside our house (we have no A/C). If it weren't for the use of three fans, very little clothing, 19 popsicles and the ocean five blocks away, I wouldn't have survived. It is a cool 69 degrees outside now.
3) I am officially done with work - at least until 2008! It was an almost surreal experience walking out of my building at 6:30pm on Friday afternoon. I was by far, the only person there, and I kept having panic attacks that I had forgotten to hand off an event, or that I didn't show my staff where I left a particular binder, table, key, whatever. I guess I felt this uber-sense of responsibility, like I was abandoning my post. I worked very hard to make sure that everything I was working on was organized and documented for my replacement - but it was still hard. I guess I had come to really appreciate my role as a manager, and I felt very protective of my staff. I also had another thought, as I was putting my box of things into the back of my car: I've been in that position for exactly 9 months. In other words, Emma and I had been working together as a team for the entire time that I was Manager of Project and Event Support. Pretty cool, huh? We already make a great team! :)
4) I am grateful for having such an amazing support team of friends and family, who generosity has allowed us to barely have to supply anything for Emma's arrival. I think we're set - and we're set really well. And I truly appreciate it.
5) That my weight gain has finally stopped! I think the pea-size stomach I have these days is primarily responsible. Of course, I think I'm making up for it by retaining water. My poor, poor feet. I am sorry.
Aug 29, 2007
43
What's 43? That's the total popsicle consumption count for me for the month of August. It's been THAT hot!!
Oh, and it was worth every single one. :)
Oh, and it was worth every single one. :)
Aug 5, 2007
We witnessed baseball HISTORY!!
Let me preface this by saying that this weekend, the Levy's came to visit us for a long weekend. One of our traditions together is to see a Padre's game. So Saturday night, we went down to Petco park for some peanuts and cracker jack. But this wasn't just *any* game. Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron for the record. Bonds hit no. 755, tying him with Aaron as baseball's most prolific home run hitter. But that's not all - we saw it all about 10 feet away!! Bruce scored us amazing seats - we sat right behind the Giant's dugout and saw it all FIRST HAND! Check out these pictures!
Bonds is up to bat next, here he warms up.
He swings.......
IT'S OUTTA THA PARK!! A plumber from La Jolla caught the winning ball.
The Giants go up to congratulate Bonds.
History in the making!
Our new table! (sort of)
We bought this set last year off of craig's list for a great deal. It is an oak set, and while we weren't crazy about the color, it was too good to pass up. So just recently, we had it repainted and it made a WORLD of difference. The chairs aren't really my style, so we'll replace them someday. But for now, we're really happy with the way the set turned out and it really brightened up the kitchen!
Aug 1, 2007
Jul 29, 2007
Absolutely Preg-Tastic
It's warm in San Diego right now - and because our house doesn't have A/C, it's actually much more comfy outside. So for my birthday, Roger got me the best thing EVER - especially for a pregnant body. It's the "Outback Lounger". This is a combination hammock/chair and includes a footrest (this is a must). We finally got the stand for it, and set it up outside. This is where you'll find me most nights. :)
You can see why Parker loves it too - he comes up and dumps his tennis ball right in my lap. I have no excuse NOT to throw it!
Just chillin' like a villain
You can see why Parker loves it too - he comes up and dumps his tennis ball right in my lap. I have no excuse NOT to throw it!
GIT R' DONE!
After spendiung way too many weekends, cooped up inside doing house organization, it was time to get out. We finally made it out to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, after living here for 2 years to see the boys of the PBR. This is one of Roger's favorite things to watch on tv, so we had our first date night in a while, and drove out there Sat night to check out them spurs and lattigo.
There is nothing like a real-live rodeo. The smells take me back to the days I worked at Rock Creek Park Horse Center (nothing like a little manure to hit you with nostalgia!) These cats are *hard core*. It was a lot of fun - good food, giant custom RV's, country music and some old fashioned tailgating in the parking lot. Oh - and the belt buckles - I've never seen so many belt buckles and cowboy boots in my life. And that was just on the women! I should have worn mine (if only they fit right now!) :)
Uh oh - better run!
And finally - the entertainment for the night was called "Cowboy Teeter Totter" where they got 4 marines to volunteer to see-saw while a bull came at them. Last one standing got $500. Luckily, the bull was tired, and only teased them once or twice.
There is nothing like a real-live rodeo. The smells take me back to the days I worked at Rock Creek Park Horse Center (nothing like a little manure to hit you with nostalgia!) These cats are *hard core*. It was a lot of fun - good food, giant custom RV's, country music and some old fashioned tailgating in the parking lot. Oh - and the belt buckles - I've never seen so many belt buckles and cowboy boots in my life. And that was just on the women! I should have worn mine (if only they fit right now!) :)
Here's Roger in front of the bull pens eating some roasted corn. Yum!
This one's name was "Bodacious" And he was every bit as bodacious when he steam-rolled one of the riders! But the rider got back up and kept going. Like I said - hard core.
Rodeos are very patriotic. I think we sang the national anthem three times. :) This guy parachuted into the arena with the world's largest american flag. It was pretty neat.
Here are the guys waiting in the "chutes" - where they keep the buills. Notice the little kid in the middle of the picture. He was all of 3 1/2 feet tall, and helped his dad all night, tying the ropes and getting him ready. He was just itching to get out there - so cute!
Uh oh - better run!And finally - the entertainment for the night was called "Cowboy Teeter Totter" where they got 4 marines to volunteer to see-saw while a bull came at them. Last one standing got $500. Luckily, the bull was tired, and only teased them once or twice.
Comic Con!
It was a banner weekend for the Hoff's! After going to see professional bull riders on Saturday, we heaeded downtown to Comic-Con International. For those of you who don't know what Comic Con is, it's a world-famous convention for comic lovers. The convention lasts four days, and features thousands of comic books, movies, animation, games and lots of science fiction. It's not usually something Roger and I are into, but we got free tickets and decided to check it out - along with 25,000 other comic fans. Oh - and people dress up. BIG time. Check out some of the pics for a better idea!
Roger and Princess Lea chill out in front of Jabba the Hut.
I don't really know what this thing was, but it was cool looking.
The *original* Batman car - from the 1960's TV series!
R2D2 and C-3PO made entirely out of legos!
Dunno - but this was a home made costume - almost entirely out of tin foil. And he was HUGE!
And now......for the piece de resistance...... below, Roger hangs out with the "Evil Cheerleaders". What a stud. :-P
Jul 16, 2007
I'm in my 30's.......and now in my thirties!
This is the most recent belly pic: 30 weeks today. Not much longer now! I had to take it in the bathroom so you could actually see the outline. Of course, I post this with reasonable hesitation :-P
Showers of love
These pics are from my fabulous baby shower thrown for me at Roger's parents house. It was such a beautiful day, and we sat outside overlooking Norma's garden. The best part for me was seeing all my friends and family. The weekend went by way too quickly, and neither Roger or I wanted to come back!
Here is a picture of me with my "first" Emma, and our Emma's namesake. This woman is like a second mother to me and Anna. After I was born, and my mom went back to work, she came to take care of me when I was just 5 months old. She has been my guardian angel ever since. Emma is from Bolivia, and always spoke Spanish to both Anna and I while we grew up. That's how we became fluent! I was SO happy and honored to have her at our shower, since she is very, very special to me (and my family).
A recent picture of the original "Goddard Girls". Looking good ladies!
The fabulous spread that Norma created for the shower. Isn't it AMAZING!?
Rachael helps me record all the wonderful baby goodies, and Morgan was my very special helper that day. I couldn't have done it without these two girls!
Opening the "Grateful Dead" onesie from my family -- too cute!
Jul 9, 2007
Jul 3, 2007
Check out our little popsicle!
We had our 3-D sonogram pictures done last Wednesday. It was the coolest thing I have ever done! I could have watched her move all day long. We got some great pictures thanks to our very patient and thorough technician.
I think Roger and I both agree that she looks like she inherited his button nose (yay!) and maybe my chin. Not sure about the lips or eyes yet, but it's just fun to get a glimpse. Here are the three best pics:
I think Roger and I both agree that she looks like she inherited his button nose (yay!) and maybe my chin. Not sure about the lips or eyes yet, but it's just fun to get a glimpse. Here are the three best pics:
So, do you think a girl lives here?
It's not quite finished, but I couldn't resist sharing photos of Emma's room. It's a way nicer room than I ever had, I just had TOO much fun putting this together.
I hope you enjoy - I know I have! I literally just go in here and stare. :)
I am trying to figure out on which walls to hang which pieces. Then, all we really need is the crib mattress and changing pad. Hopefully, in about a month we'll receive our glider. That can't come soon enough because momma needs to put her feet up!
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