More Baby Dillon

These are some beautiful pictures that Mandy, Meagan's sister took this morning. She is a professional photographer and she did a wonderful job with Dillion's first photo shoot. He was even more beautiful this morning. We got to see his hair all clean and shiny and it is so black!! I think we got our Choctaw baby!! I sure hope his coloring, eyes, and hair stay this way!! But Meagan says her sisters kids all started out with dark hair and then went blond so you just never know! Great grandparents, Wayne and Jo came to DL today to meet Dillon and they were just beaming! Dad says he like them a little bigger before he holds them to much, but he was very very proud! They and Billie and Mark are coming to the lake this weekend to see him again, so it will be fun to see how much he changes. We had to come home tonite so I could go back to work, but I can't wait to get back! Auntie JJ (Jenn) came to visit too - and while we knew that Andrew and Meagan would make beautiful babies, she just couldn't believe just how beautiful he is. Of course we are just a bit biased. :) She looked so happy holding him - it's amazing how you can fall in love with someone so new and little!!

Take care everyone, have a great weekend coming up and enjoy the warmer?? weather. Love, Grandma Becky

He's Here!!!

We are so proud to announce that Dillon Lewis Barker has arrived!!! He is a 7lb 8oz, 19 in long beautiful baby boy with a beautiful head of black hair and from what we can tell, brown eyes. He was alert and looking around when we met and his eyes would move to all the new voices he was hearing! It was a total surreal moment watching our son holding his new son - Life is WONDERFUL!! Andrew and Meagan are naturals and they are all doing beautifully! Here are the first (of many you can be sure!!) pics! Isn't he cute??

Deep Thinking

This may seem strange, but as I was reading Jenn's blog today about it being Briggs' 1st Birthday today - I started to think about how much she has fallen in love with that dog and how that will translate into her being a wonderful mother some day! I know that may be weird, but when I see her with Briggs and even more so when I see her with Mike's son Jack - I see that she is a very loving person and I know she will be a wonderful Mother someday. Not that Jack needs a mother - he has one, and a very loving one I'm sure - I just know that she has alot to give and Briggs, Jack, and all of us are better for it!

I also know that I was the kind of mother I was because of my own Mom, whom I love dearly, and I hope that some of me rubbed off on my kids too. I know both of my kids will be wonderful parents - it is so gratifying to look back on their childhoods - while not perfect of course - and know that they turned out to be such wonderful people! I feel such pride in my heart for both of them and I'm so grateful that our family is so close. Jennifer Jo and Andrew Aaron - I love you both so very much and thank God everyday for both of you.

Ok that's enough - I guess I am getting a little emotional with this new baby on the way! "I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!" Love to all, Grandma Becky

PS My Mom just called and said Grandma Elliott is in the hospital - please pray for her to get better! I love you Grandma!

So Excited!!

Words can't describe how exciting it is to see your kids about to become parents! Andrew and Meagan are getting very close to "the day" their son will be born and the excitment is overwhelming! Meagan is the cutest pregnant lady ever and the ultrasound pics we saw today are so beautiful! I just can't wait to get my hands on my grandson! The baby's room is done as the most beautiful crib was built and delivered by Dick and Jill, Meagan's parents. It looks showroom perfect - they are such talented people! It completes the room that turned out just beautifully! Andrew is so cute and nervous - whenever Meagan has a pain he is practically grabbing the suitcase and is out the door ready to go! Nervous and excited at the same time! The next appt is Monday - the baby measures about 7 1/2 lbs today so by next Monday, maybe the Dr will be willing to schedule his birthday! I will keep you posted! (check out their blog for pics!) Have a good week everyone! It's a shortened one for me, no work today!!

Happy 2009!

Happy New Year to all my family and friends! I wish all the best to all of you in the new year - may all your dreams come true! We had a very nice holiday season - busy but fun! We hosted the Barkers and the Radebaughs on Christmas Eve - served torsk, ham and lutefish. Greg did most of the work since I was working, and he did a wonderful job!! The fish turned out great - even the slimy lutefish and I think the meal was enjoyed by all! We served it dormitory style in our empty basement and it worked quite well! It was so nice to have everyone all together!! We had our own family christmas after everyone left and I got two digital picture frames to show off Briggs and our coming grandchild. One will fit in my purse for my Grandmas brag book and I can't wait to use it! Christmas Day was at Dave and Shortys and they had their signature prime rib. Even if I don't enjoy rare meat so much, they put a piece in the microwave for me and it is excellent! It was a wonderful, relaxing day. Back to work on Friday and then to the lake for some rest and relaxation! Greg and I went over to Andrew and Meagans and they primed the babys room to get it ready for Meagans Dad to spray it after New Years. It turned out so good by the looks of the pics and I can't wait to see it in person!

New Years was spent at the lake for the second annual party with Bil and Mark and Dave and Kim. Richard and Marj chickened out this year, but wanted to be kept on the guest list for next year! I was done with work by 3:30 this year (a new record!) and was there before the guests for a change. We had alot of good appetizers, good drinks, and great company. We played games and had alot of fun. The next day we did our bar hopping in DL and a great time was had by all! I was the DD since again I had to drive back to work.

We stayed home this weekend and Billie hosted a family baby shower for Meagan and Andrew. It was very nice, except that the weather was threatening so some the girls didn't want to venture out into it. It was to bad, but I'm glad we got it in anyway. It could be anytime now, and I think she enjoyed all the gifts she did get. Greg and I got them a Sony Camcorder so they can remember all the great times they will have with this baby and record every minute!

The time is coming for this baby and we are all getting so excited. Meagan is the cutest preggo lady ever and while I want the baby to come - it all seems to be going so fast! Maybe not for her, but for us! I just know that time flies way to fast and he will be here before we know it! I can't wait to get my hands on him!

I am dreaming of getting out of this weather for awhile - we are planning our vacation but waiting to schedule to see when the baby gets here. We don't want to go before cause we would hate to be gone when he arrives and don't want to leave to soon after he comes cause we would miss him - so the time frame is on hold, but my dreams are not. Right now we are thinking we may go to CA to see the relatives for a few days and then on to San Diego for a few days cause it looks really nice there. The weather sounds great and I have found some really nice hotels to pick from. It just sounds like a really nice place to check out with lots to do. Maybe, Maybe.

Take care everyone - have a great week!

OMG

Oh my God! I forgot Meagan! I'm standing there drying my hair trying to make sure I didn't forget anyone and the mother of my first grandchild pops into my lame brain! How could I forget the women who supplied the troops with yummy caramel rolls, christmas treats from her cooking club, and her uterus to grow our very first grandbaby! She apologized when she was leaving for not being able to do much, but she is doing the most important job ever and we love her so very much. She is caring, sweet and a very loving wife to our son and I couldn't have picked a better match for him myself! Thank you for all you do! Love to you all, stay warm, Becky PS If I've forgotten anyone else, please forgive me. Old age is setting in very quickly in my head.

Plop Plop Fizz Fizz Oh What a Relief It Is!

Dear Family and Friends - I'm not sure I could have ever imagined what a release of feelings and emotions occurred after Greg and I sat down and talked about what has just happened. The feeling of relief and stress and the weight off our shoulders was complete when the sale was over, but what we were both surprised about was that neither of us teared up much during the day - watching the auction process - watching the machinery leave the yard - we both thought would be alot harder. I think that just proves that we were both so ready for this to happen. I much longer than Greg of course , but he was so ready too. Leading up to the day was so much work and worry about the timing of it mostly - we needed to get a certain figure out of it and did we do enough to make that happen?? Would people show up? Would the weather cooperate? Did the farmers have enough money to spend b/4 the end of the year? Would they just be looking for deals? So many questions. The Steffes were the best convincing us it was the right time and they were right. We exceeded our goals - some pieces went low, but then others went high to offset it. All in all we are so pleased with the outcome. Now we just wait and see - meet with our tax advisor - see how all this shakes out - and plan the rest of our lives. I can't wait to see where this all goes. I'd like to be able to post some pics of the day - but THANKFULLY Tim Keckler has all the pics! I was so relieved to see his camera around his neck that morning - I was going to try and take pics but no one does it like he does - and we saw some of those pics later that nite and they were great!! He will make us a DVD of all of them and we will cherish it forever. Thanks Tim!!!

Now - it's time for the thank you that I wanted to say to everyone that nite at the party, but couldn't get out without the "ugly cry face" - so here it goes. We can never thank our family enough for all the support that we have gotten over the years. First and most important - ANDREW - without him and his financial planning knowledge and support of his father's long decision process - I don't think this would have ever happened. He took us by the hand and made us believe that this was all possible and we can never thank him enough. Greg can now take the rest of his life and decide what he wants to do with it - without the stress of farming hanging on his shoulders. There will still be money decisions to be made of course - we can't just sit back and sip umbrella drinks on the beach - but he can decide what he wants to do to make him happy for the rest of his life. That in turn will lengthen his life and then also lengthen mine. I can't imagine my life without him, and I was always so worried that farming would kill him somehow - the stress, and the fact that he was always alone in a terribly dangerous job. Andrew will help us manage all of this (yes folks - he's very good at his job 701-361-0661) and we will rely on him for the rest of our lives!! Thank you our number one son. RUSS - After Brian died and the whole family was reeling - you stepped in and helped Greg with his last farming season. Both Russ and Andrew took time away from their full time jobs and helped Greg get the spring work done and then the harvest from hell that wouldn't end - they were both there through it all! Russ, Greg couldn't have done it without you there and we thank you so much. You are the best and we both love you (and your crazy sense of humor) very much! DAD (WAYNE) You were also there offering your help whenever necessary to run the tractor or whatever Greg needed you to do. When it came time to get ready for the sale, Greg never doubted that you would come out and help if he called and he knew he could count on you to do whatever job he gave you without complaint. Your advice, support, and love will always be remembered and appreciated. JENNIFER, MIKE, BILLIE, MARK, TIM, RICHARD, JOSH, DAVE, SHORTY, MOM when we called in the troops to work cleaning, polishing, vaccuming, picking up food, buying groceries, cooking, apple pie, meatballs, wings, cleaning up the shop afterwards, and general LOVE AND SUPPORT, we don't know how to say thank you for all you did. You are always there for us whatever we need and we love you all so so much. We have the best family in the world and feel like the luckiest people on earth right now. Thank you all.