Our Family Blog

Message From Evan

2012-01-27T07:41:00.000-06:00

Adoption Update

2012-01-11T20:34:00.000-06:00

Dear Family & Friends:

THANK YOU!! With your amazing generosity we have raised 50% of the funds we need to complete our adoption and bring our son into our family in just 5 weeks! We are humbled by your commitment to support us financially in our journey!

Just this week we were accepted as an official Cradle Family and we will be able to complete our Illinois home study update with this amazing agency that has been helping place children with loving families for 89 years!! (http://www.cradle.org/)

While we are working on our home study update, we will also be working on our dossier, the paperwork we will need to give the Ugandan government. We are working closely with Holt International the agency that will actually facilitate our adoption on this. (http://www.holtinternational.org/uganda/)

As many of you know, we have partnered with AdoptTogether, a brand new non-profit that exists to help families that want to adopt with raising the funds they need to adopt. We are their very first family and we have been able to start coaching some other families that are looking to work with them as well. (http://adopttogether.org/)

While our fundraising is going amazing so far, our agency has set a goal of $19,000 for us before we can move forward with the next part of our home study update. This means we need to raise at least $2,000 as quickly as possible. If you have not contributed financially would you consider donating now? http://adopttogether.org/thewittigs/

Also, would you consider talking to your family and friends and sharing our story on social media? We have had several donations from the friends of our friends already and are amazed by people’s generosity!!

Thank you so much for your encouragement, prayers, and financial support!! Without all of you we could not be moving towards our son so quickly!!

We love you all!

Andrea & Mark

32 years, 32 people, $32

2012-01-06T11:18:00.001-06:00

I thought I would get a little creative with our need to raise funds to be able to continue on with our adoption journey. :-) I am turning 32 on January 7th so I put a goal out there on social media asking 32 people to contribute $32 (or more:-) to our adoption. I have been blown away at the 14 people that have chosen to donate on behalf of my birthday thus far. Thank you to all!!!

Each time I think and reflect on the ways our friends, family & acquaintances have have chosen to support our family - I get emotional. Now those of you that know me, know that is not much of a surprise, but I sit here in such surrender and amazement of the ways so many of you have loved us and supported us. In 5 weeks of asking for support we have reach about 40% of our financial goal. I am so amazed!

We literally would not be able to grow our family through adoption if it were not for AdoptTogether and our friend, family & acquaintances that have been and I know will continue to be so generous. We have a 60% to go, but we are EXTREMELY encouraged & feel so LOVED!!!

These words - THANK YOU - are not enough to express our gratitude.

https://adopttogether.org/thewittigs/

UPDATE:

Over 32 people contributed to our adoption on behalf of my Birthday and we are now about 48% to our over all $$$ goal. GRATEFUL!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-19T15:55:00.000-06:00

Will you join our community supporters?

2011-12-19T15:25:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends,

Almost four years ago Mark called me on the phone somewhat emotional and said, “Andrea, we need to adopt.” He had just gone through an AIDS in Africa experience in which he felt the tug on his heart and deep desire to love and adopt an orphaned child into our family.

After listening to Mark share about his experience, without hesitation I said, “OK, let’s do it!” I have often thought, I am not extraordinary at any one talent, but one thing I know I am meant to do in life is Love. I have learned that being a mother is one of the greatest ways to be able to LOVE another human being. I deeply desire to love a child who no longer has parents of his own, to become his mother and love him for the rest of his life.

Now, four years later we are ready to grow our family again and this time we long to do it through international adoption. Last spring we completed a home study in California and last summer we received our USCIS (US government) approval. Currently, we are working on updating our home study for the state of Illinois, updating USCIS and working with Holt International‘s Uganda program. Holt is our placement agency and they will actually facilitate the adoption. Our hope is to adopt a little boy between the ages of 0 – 3 years old. We have been working on the adoption process for almost a year and we expect to work and wait another 8-12 months.

The adoption process has been and will continue to be long, emotional and resource intensive. We cannot continue to go through this process without encouragement, prayer and financial support from our friends and family. We would like to invite you to journey with us throughout this process.

Will you partner with us and support our family in bringing our Ugandan son home to our family?

If you have the financial means to support our adoption, no amount is too small or too big; $5 to $5,000 - any and all funds will help! Our goal is to raise $35,000. And, 100% of your financial support will go toward our adoption costs, thanks to Adopt Together.

We also very much need your encouragement and prayer support! Paperwork can be tedious, interviews are nerve racking, waiting can be hard & traveling twice to the other side of the world – things can go wrong or missing…we need a community of supporters to walk through all of this with us.

Will you join our community supporters?

We are so grateful for the love and support you have already shown us and we long to continue our journey together and share the joy of bringing our son home with you!

Love,
Andrea, Mark & Evan

Ways to support the Wittig’s throughout their adoption process:

Prayer. Commit to praying on a regular basis for our son, for us, and for this process to go quickly and smoothly.
Encouragement. Check-in with us. Send us letters and emails. Share your experience with adoption. Help us to remember what the work and wait are for.
Financial. We are working to raise $35,000 to cover the costs (legal fees, social workers, government documents, 2 trips to Africa) involved with bringing our son into our family. You can contribute by going to: https://adopttogether.org/thewittigs/

Adopt Together is a non-profit created to help families raise the funds needed for adoption.

Ways to stay connected with our journey:

Our blog: http://markandreawittig.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @WittigsAdoption
Phone, Email, Letters

Adotption

2011-12-07T21:25:00.000-06:00

About a month before Evan was born in 2008 we decided to adopt.

As many of you know, last year we decided its was time to grow our family again, and began the adoption process. In December 2010 we started our CA home-study and completed it in March 2011. Mark's job change put a hold on things until we were settled into our new home here in IL.

Its taken a few months to get the ball rolling but we are finally gaining momentum in process with updating our home-study and we were accepted into the Uganda program with Holt International adoption agency (check out their Uganda Program info here:http://www.holtinternational.org/uganda/).

Mark and I are so excited to be working towards bringing another child into our family.

Race weekend in Minesota

2011-09-14T11:42:00.000-05:00

Evan and I went up to Minnesota to cheer on my sisters and dad while they participated in the 13.1 Minneapolis half marathon. We also had the opportunity to cheer on Evan's cousins, Caleb, Mikayla & Anika at a triathlon they do every year on behalf of cancer and caner survivors (which Mikayla is a Leukemia survivor).

Both events were super fun to be a part of - cheering everyone on & celebrating these accomplishments.

Cousin's at the tri

(left to right) Zoe, Evan, Caleb, Anika, Ella (from Texas) & Mikayla.

Erlenborn family after the tri

The three, youngest in their family, cousins waiting to cheer the kids on as they finish their run.

Evan and Caleb after his finish

Mikayla and I after her finish.

Day at the WI State Fair.

2011-09-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back we all went to the State Fair in WI.

Grandma and Grandpa went on the big yellow slide with Evan.

Cream puffs...mmm...

Fun day at the fair!

Evan and Cars

2011-07-13T17:48:00.000-05:00

Evan was anticipating the movie Car 2 for the last several months. We capitalized on the opportunity as motivation to potty train. After 6 days of looking at the Cars in the packages it was motivation enough to learn a lot about his body and was completely potty trained.

Here is Evan's current collection of Cars.

The week the movie came out David Hobbs who is the voice of David Hobbscap in the movie (green announcer car) was signing autographs at his Honda Dealership just a few miles away from where we have been staying in Milwaukee.

They had Grem and Acer in the parking lot.

Evan LOVES the bad guys!!!

We had a blast at the movie and Evan keeps asking to go back and see it again.

Evan Spring Concert 2011

2011-03-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

Evan's Spring Performance!

2011-03-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

Evan and his class preformed the bunny hop and sang a song.

Evan was one of the loudest singers and one of the best bunny hoppers/dancers.

We hope to upload the video of performance very soon!

Watching his class was so darn cute!!!

Note Evan scrunching his nose to have a bunny nose. :-)

Evan turned 3 years old!

2011-03-27T12:50:00.001-05:00

Our big boy turned 3 on March 20th.

On March 21st Mark and I went to Evan's classroom for lunch and had a Birthday Pizza Party with all of his school friends. It was a blast!

Pizza and cupcakes for everyone!

Our Trip to Monterrey Mexico with Back 2 Back

2011-03-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Mid February Mark and I had the privilege of going to Monterrey Mexico to learn about & experience Back 2 Back Ministries (an Orphan Care Ministry). It was an amazing trip that has changed the course of our lives forever!

We were with a medical team, doctors and nurses from FL, OH, & TN. Below is a picture of three doctors caring for (diagnose & give medication to) people that live in one of the slums of Monterrey (Back2Back serves the poor to try & prevent parents having to give up their children). For two days we cared for people in this room. My job was to keep the flow of people coming to the doctors. Mark had a much different & intense labor jobs these two days (pictures below).

Day 1 at a church in a slum of Monterrey Mark dug out the floor in the corner of this church/community center. They were lowering the floor to build a kitchen. In this church they feed the community one meal a day. Back 2 Back partners with this church in serving this slum community. Mark shoveled and wheelbarrowed out the dirt for 5 hours.

Day 2 Mark helped jackhammer and sledgehammer out a portion of the wall in the church.

See the pictures below to see he progress.

I also found a few kids to play with.

It was hard not being able to communicate with even the kids, but we found ways to still play together. We all smiled a lot at each other. :-)

Sunday morning we made pancakes (for about 80 kids) and them brought the pancakes over to one of the orphanages, ate pancakes with them & then went to church with them. Mark LOVED making the pancakes for the kids -he loves a fancy breakfast!

This little boy LOVED Mark.

Picture taken after church.

The below pictures are from the slum area in Monterrey we worked in for two days.

People literaly made their homes out of garbage & they lived in a garbage dump along a river. You see a horse in one of the pictures (note how thin it is).

It was a powerful trip for Mark and I.

Our future while we were down there was very unknown, but really connected to what Back 2 Back is doing. We are excited for the future possibilities to continue to support & work with Back 2 Back. :-)

A day at the Long Beach Aquarium

2010-11-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

We had a family adventure at the Long Beach Aquarium.

Evan was so excited to see the sharks in the big tank!!!

When we got there his favorite tank was the one with all the little Nemo's and Dori's in it.

Halloween

2010-11-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

I volunteered on Friday at Evan's Halloween classroom party & parent parade!

It was so adorable being around ten 2 year olds all dressed up!

Evan picts

2010-11-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

Sticker fun!!!

Beach Day!

Wittigs on the News in LA

2010-09-22T17:11:00.000-05:00

Mark and Evan came with me this morning to the
LA Marathon Charity Awareness day
& we got on the news!!

Check it out!!!

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/9bc3b615-f563-4dc6-9ffb-829f28db3d46/News/KTLA-Team-World-Vision-Girls-on-the-Run-1PM-

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/7a312f71-e215-482d-a95e-f66b182fb5ba/News/KTLA-Dodger-Stadium-7AM-

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/d8a4b12b-ae0d-4e5e-b23b-e6a9b96f080e/News/KTLA-Youth-Mentoring-Program-9AM-

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/f31af0b6-d054-48a2-a3c7-2003fd29d0cc/News/KLTA-Angelino-Heights-8AM-

Random Picts

2010-08-22T18:25:00.000-05:00

Mark officiated his first wedding in August.

Happy Birthday Uncle John!

Mt. Whitney Here we come! At the trail head about to start our Whitney summit.

At the Summit!

"Up North"

2010-08-22T18:21:00.000-05:00

Going to the pool.

Family Picture

2010-08-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

Mark's cousin got married this summer and we attempted to take family picture.

Evan was being a silly...

Happy Birthday Uncle Chad!

2010-08-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

From Evan

To Uncle Chad

Memorial Day fun!

2010-06-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

We went up to Sequoia National Forest with John and Amy.

Uncle John carried the little guy the whole way.

Evan pretending to sleep.

Evan actually sleeping.

Our NEW place, Moved in!!!

2010-05-18T21:44:00.001-05:00

Pictures of our place after moving in.

Kitchen Nook

Evan's play/reading corner in dining room

Living room (well played in by Evan).

Evan's room

My home office

And Evan wanted me to take a picture of him after taking some of these pictures.

Handsome little guy!!!

Spring Picts Update

2010-05-18T21:30:00.000-05:00

Easter. Evan starting the search for his Easter basket....

O He found it!

In April we went to Disney Land before our passes expired...Evan met Mickey for the first time.

He liked Mickey so much he wanted to go back and meet him again.

Day at the beach...beautiful thing about living in CA.

Evan on his 2nd birthday, March 20th.

At the LA Marathon 5K

Our NEW place!!!

2010-04-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

We are super excited that we have found a new place.

barring the credit check we'll be moving in May 1st.

The pictures are in no particular order.

Also the picts are full of the current tenants things, they are packing up to move out. :-)

Entrance of our apt.

Entry way. Evan enjoying the staircase.

Front of building. We are the lower left.

Kitchen, through one door.

Kitchen, through another door.

Breakfast nuk.

Other angel of kitchen.

Mud Room/laundry room through rear entrance.

Rear entrance into laundry room.

Back shared patio area.

Evan enjoying running around!

Dinning room and living room

Secured entrance into parking and back patio area.

Beautiful flowers in front.

Evan being all cute!!!

Here is a link to more picts the building owner has taken.

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/AEE918239A16?source=pw980

DINO EVAN!!!

2010-02-18T00:23:00.000-06:00

Evan LOVES wearing our shoes!!!

2010-02-17T23:27:00.000-06:00

Fun Picts!

2010-02-17T23:02:00.000-06:00

Evan and I had a blast with some stickers!

Mark and I went on a 24 hour getaway for our 3 year anniversary.

Drove past this breath taking view!

Trip to Texas

2010-02-17T22:42:00.000-06:00

Started off the Olson family weekend celebrating Vance's 11th birthday.

Christmas celebration...cousins showing off their stockings

Newest addition... Ella Esther Hooper.

Vance's basketball game.

BEST picture ever!!! VJ Hooper

Sisters evening out.

Zoe and Ella cute dresses!!!

Nana's visit & Andrea's Birthday

2010-01-11T09:38:00.000-06:00

Nana came out to help take care of Evan so Mark and I could focus on work, since it was my half marathon week.

A few afternoon's Mark, Nana & Evan went to the park.

Evan learned to go down the slide by himself.

These pictures are taken one after another...capturing his hair & emotions.

Swing time.

It was my birthday last week...I turned 30!

It feels GREAT so far!!!

Mark serving my birthday cupcakes.

Cute Picture of Evan!!!

Wittig Family Christmas!

2010-01-01T22:02:00.000-06:00

Christmas with the Wittigs

We started off the holiday season with being sick & an invasion of ants in the Christmas tree.

Two days before we left for Christmas vacation Evan opened his Christmas present from us.

Trying on mom's new boots.

First night at Grandma & Grandpas...riding on dad's back.

Checking out the snow...

Evan did not like the snow...

I don't think he understands what it is and why its fun.

All he experiences is cold and wet white stuff.

Evan did not want to help build this!

Mark and I had a BLAST building the snow man!!!

I have NEVER built one this big before!

To bad it rained later on that day and ruined it!

Evan in his Christmas Eve outfit.

Me opening my Wii.

Mark is good to his wife!

Evan looking all cute in his Christmas PJs & hat.

Christmas day at Grandma's family get together.

Evan's Nana & Papa (Andrea's parents) came to hang out with us!

We were so glad they made the drive down to Milwaukee to spend time with us for a few days!

Evan and Mark went down the sledding hill once...that was enough for Evan!

Uncle John got a hold of our camera without our knowing it.

So he gets his pic on our blog!!!

:-)

Blowing Kisses to YOU!!!

2009-12-09T22:10:00.000-06:00

Hollywood Parade

2009-12-09T21:56:00.000-06:00

Mark & took Evan to the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Evan waiting for the parade to begin.

Evan was so cute that some people, waiting for 3 hours for good spots, let us sit in the front row in one of their chairs

Dad and Evan

Evan's favorite were marching bands and the BIG balloons

Mom joined in the parade fun after he got home from small group.

We had lots of fun at the parade!

Here is our kid friendly tree this year!

Thanksgiving Weekend Adventures

2009-11-29T16:56:00.000-06:00

Mark, Evan and I stayed in LA this Thanksgiving and spent it with John and Amy. It was a wonderful day with yummy food!!!

On Saturday we have a few adventures...

First we went to Santa Monica for coffee and some shopping

Evan in his cute fall sweater!

Mom sat next to him for the drive

Crabby faces...

Freedom from the stroller, being cute while we all drink our coffee...

This is Evan's new face he likes to make...surprised excited!

Evan laughing at Uncle John being funny, trying to get him to smile for the camera.

Second adventure for the day, After Evan's nap we went Christmas Tree shopping.

Evan had a BLAST running up and down the rows of Christmas Trees.

He finally stopped to pose for a picture.

After I got the lights on we all decorated the tree together!

It was so fun having Evan help put on the tree decorations.

He would just set the ornament on the tree. Then he would get SO excited when he would set it on and it did not fall off. :-)

We have a kid friendly tree this year!

Another picture or two of Ella

2009-11-12T11:39:00.000-06:00

I LOVE this picture of Ella's brothers and dad watching over her.

I think this is a very symbolic picture of how Ella is going to grow up.

Protected!

I call this picture "Princess Ella"

She is and will be the ultimate girly girl!

Her mother will make sure of it! :-)

For more Ella Hooper pictures go to: vincentreneehooper.blogspot.com

Our NEW Niece!

2009-11-10T20:21:00.000-06:00

My sister and her family welcomed their first daughter into the world today.

Ella Esther Hooper

9lbs 3oz

20 1/2 in long

Born at 9:54 am CST

Mom and baby are doing well!

I also hear her 3 brothers had a grand time meeting their new little sister!

We can't wait to meet you Ella!

Fall FUN!!!

2009-11-07T16:37:00.001-06:00

Holy CRAP!!!! Is that a T-Rex about to eat the pumpkin!?!?!?!?!?

SCARY!!!!

O No! Its cute little baby Evan in his Halloween costume.

whew...I was about to run away screaming

Evan had a blast walking around trying to pick up all the pumpkins.

Then we went home to carve and make pumpkin seeds

(Amy & I were the only ones that like the pumpkin seeds.)

Evan would not get his hands dirty or slimy...but he did enjoy taking the top off his pumpkin and try to put the top back on....on, off...on, off...repeat!

Finished product...

Mosaic Fall Festival...Bounce House

Evan was in there all by him self and had a BLAST!!!

Random Update...

2009-11-07T16:23:00.000-06:00

End of September Mark, Evan and I went to Disneyland for a family day before we were all going to spend a full week apart. I dropped Evan off with Grandma Sue then I went to Chicago for work and the Chicago Marathon.

Evan met Goofy and then had a blast playing in his house in Toon Town.

While Mom and Dad were away Grandma Sue found Mr Bear look a likes and bought a few just in case we ever loose Mr Bear. For those of you that don't know, Mr Bear is Evan's FAVORITE thing to sleep with and carry around ALL day long.

Here is a picture of us breaking the "other" Mr Bears in.

As I was going through my pictures on my computer I came across this one and thought it was beautiful and wanted to share it with you.

I took this picture flying in an airplane from LA to Chicago

(the summer Mark and I were engaged)

I got glasses.

For driving and looking at things far away.

Evan's first Pumpkin Patch & Carving Pumpkins

2009-10-25T10:11:00.000-05:00

Happy 30th Birthday Amy Wittig

2009-09-28T13:34:00.000-05:00

We had to take Evan's shirt off to eat the ice cream cake.

He was so TIRED!

Evan is going to be a T-Rex for Halloween

2009-09-22T22:00:00.001-05:00

Here is what our last year's little monkey is going to be this Halloween...

2009-09-21T12:25:00.000-05:00

Andrea and Amy's 30th Birthday Weekend in Cabo San Lucas Mexico!

2009-09-14T12:46:00.001-05:00

Dream's Resort was a dream!

We had an AMAZING, relaxing, romantic, fun weekend in Cabo & it was all because of where we stayed!!!

AMAZING pool, with swim up bar, beach grass huts, yummy food, relaxing spa treatments, beautiful rooms and views, ALL inclusive!

Lunch on the beach.

My hottie husband being funny.

Sunrise

We went on a sail boat/snorkel adventure...

Classic tourist attraction...the arch, where the Sea of Cortez meets with the Pacific Ocean.

Snorkling...Amy's first time.

Trying my first Cosmo...it was good.

John and Amy looking cute!

Chilling under the grass hut before we have to leave.

Evan's Swimming Lessons

2009-09-14T12:38:00.000-05:00

Mark found out about free two week swimming lessons for baby and parent.

So we signed Evan up. BOY did he have fun and learn a lot!!!

We are so glad we did!

Evan learned how to stick his face underwater, hold his breath, float on his back, get in and out of the pool, kick, have fun going all the way under the water, and have LOTS OF FUN!!!

His favorite part was song time, sing songs with actions splashing around in the pool.

Here are some picts from swimming lessons...

Wittig Family Fun!

2009-08-20T23:35:00.000-05:00

Going to the beach with Grandpa Up North.

Evan's Bath Up North

Evan's favorite area to play at playground.

Evan and cousin Caleb

Playground FUN with cousins!

Evan giving Zoe kisses!

Swimming at Nana and Papa's

Evan climbed up the latter all on his own, with a little help from Papa of course.

Evan practicing his camera smile.

Evan LOVES his stuffed animals.

Family Saturday at Griffith Park Carousel

Watching the carousel go around and around while listening to the music.

Running around in Grandma and Grandpa's yard.

2009-07-08T11:17:00.001-05:00

Dancing Evan

2009-07-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Chomp Chomp Mr. Bear

2009-07-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

2009-07-02T10:33:00.000-05:00

Video from our trip to MN

2009-07-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks...

2009-07-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Evan and I being silly.

Fathers Day

Working up in Seattle at the Rock N Roll Marathon.

My co-workers Lauren and Kirsten.

Going on a hike in Seattle area with Mark's cousin and his family.

At the top...it was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Evan taking a break from the hiking pack.

Way down was nap time.

We had a blast with Jim and his family!

Thanks for the amazing hospitality!!!

We Loved Seattle! Such a beautiful city and area!!!

John and Amy watch Evan while we go to movie

2009-07-02T09:23:00.000-05:00

Trip to Minnesota

2009-06-12T15:32:00.001-05:00

We had a great trip to Minnesota visiting my dad, that just had hip surgery and family.

My sister Renee came up from Texas with one of her children, Vance.

My dad is doing GREAT after his surgery!

We had a great time working around my parents house, celebrating our niece, Anika at her birthday party, playing, sleeping, watching movies, we had fun!

This Picture is of Anika getting ready to do games at her party

There she goes!

And her sister Mikayla. I know she looks like a bunny and its hard to tell that its her.

I was the official face painter for the party.

My sister Renee and Anika with a butterfly on her face.

My sister Christine and Anika

After the party we went to McDonald's most of Evan's cousins are here.

Missing Jovon and VJ (they had to stay back in Texas.

Evan has been making lots of opinionated faces such as this one lately.

I think its kind of cute, and you can tell exactly what he is thinking.

Monday morning Sesame Street with cousin Vance.

Vance and Evan snuggled together watching Sesame Street while I was getting work done.

So cute!

This picture was taken after we got home from our trip. Evan was practicing going up and down stairs and enjoying our neighbors new puppy.

The puppy would lick his hand and he would giggle!

Evan LOVED the puppy!!!

As you can see, its really cute!!!

Evan is trying to sneak around our door to climb up the big stair case.

I leave in 4 days for Michigan, my friend Jen Geib is getting married, then I'll be home for 1 1/2 days and I fly to Seattle for a week for work. Think of Mark for he will be home with Evan by himself for 4 days while I'm in Michigan and then 2 day alone and then fly with Evan to meet me in Seattle. He'll do a great job he is an amazing father!!!

We'll be posting more pict from our upcoming trips first of July.

Until then,

Andrea

Stacking Blocks With Dad.

2009-06-02T21:09:00.000-05:00

Evan's Balloon

2009-06-02T20:55:00.000-05:00

We have ourselves a little climber!

2009-06-02T20:51:00.000-05:00

Team World Vision Weekend!

2009-05-26T21:33:00.000-05:00

It was a busy weekend for us.

Started off with team dinner on Friday

Then spent Saturday and Sunday right here... the Expo

Cute picture of Evan looking like his daddy.

Then on Monday we cheered all the LA Marathon runners on.

Evan in his TWV outfit with his friend Elijah.

Yes I made a fool of myself with the orange wig, microphone, and face paint.

Friends that came to help cheer, Jess and Ernae.

After race BBQ, John and Amy were such a help with cheering and Evan.

Evan found a spot at the BBQ he LOVED! Playing with the corks.

Evan Kisses

2009-05-21T23:26:00.000-05:00

We got our new camera!

2009-05-21T23:13:00.000-05:00

Evan is sporting his new outfit we bought him for this weekends LA Marathon events

Bought the outfit, ironed on the logos of Team World Vision.

No words to describe how cute my boys are!!!

and Evan!

Happy Birthday

2009-05-03T23:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Mark A. Wittig!!!

We started off the day by surprising Mark with a visit from John & Amy along with breakfast made by me. We hung out until Mark had to leave for church.

After church uncle John came over to watch Evan while Mark and I went and saw the movie, X Men Origins, Wolverine. It was a GREAT movie!!!

Now we are just hanging out until, playing games, Mark, John, and I.

Happy 28th Birthday Mark!

We Love You!!!

Bad News!

2009-05-03T23:36:00.001-05:00

Some of you maybe wondering, "Why are there no updates?"

Well about 2 weeks ago our camera was stolen out of our car along with my wallet and ipod touch. Grrrrrrrrr!!!

We were at a friends wedding with our car packed to leave from the wedding to visit my sister and her family for the weekend and staying in Orange County. So we don't have a camera to take pictures and post until our insurance claim goes through and we hopefully get some of the money back to buy a new one.

Until that happens check out these pictures taken this last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/janda614/sets/72157617556459153/

Evan and Charlie jumping on the bed.

2009-04-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Evan and Charlie had a grand time together!

Whished we lived closer so they could be good friends.

NYC

2009-04-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

We had an amazing time in New York City last weekend.
Enjoy the pictures!

NYC is full of cute little places like this.

In Brooklyn looking over the river to Manhattan.

Evan flirting with EVERYONE while playing in a park.

Evan riding the subway.

Evan and Charlie play time.

Cheryl and Charlie, our friends that moved from LA to NYC.

Joan and Mark at Ground Zero (construction behind)

Our family at Time Square

At M&M World

FAO Schwartz, Joan and I with our favorite stuffed animals.

Central Park

Family picture in Central Park

Evan tired on the subway

Mark and I on our date, walking across the Brooklyn bridge.

Our last day in NYC, eating bagels and coffee in this cute coffee shop.

Evan having a BLAST at one of the many fun parks in New York!

More party pictures...

2009-04-08T21:20:00.000-05:00

This is my job....

2009-04-08T16:09:00.000-05:00

I am amazed sometimes that I get to be apart of this...

2009-03-31T12:04:00.000-05:00

Where's the duck? from John Wittig on Vimeo.

Happy 1st Birthday Evan

2009-03-29T23:07:00.000-05:00

We had a small party for Evan on his birthday March 20th.

Evan got to open birthday presents throughout the day.

Waiting for his party guests to arrive.

First guest arrived. Anya and Elijah.

Marshall and Bailey playing with Evan

Cup Cake time.

Yum Yum!!!

Caden Becker

Marshall Becker

Evan did not get as messy as I thought.

Elijah and his daddy Chris

Bailey Becker playing pin the tale on the donkey.

Evan taking a turn.

We had a great party with some of Evan's little friends and their families.

Day at the ZOO

2009-03-29T22:40:00.000-05:00

The day after Evan's Birthday we all went down to the San Diego Zoo.

We had a great time!!!

Evan's Dedication

2009-03-29T22:19:00.000-05:00

March 22nd 2009 we had Evan dedicated by Marvin Moore
a friend and leader within our church.

Evan and Avery

Clayton and Evan

Grandma and Evan

Reverend Marvin Moore and our friends

Prayer dedication time.

Time to eat! Thai food, yum yum!!

It was a wonderful time and thanks to all our friends and family that were there and to those who were there in sprit. We Love you all!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2009-03-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

Evan turned a year old today!! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-!-!

Here is two pic's of him with his cup cake and one with his presents. Tomorrow we head to the San Diego Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle John and Aunt Amy and on Sunday we have Evan's Baby Dedication.

We will post more after the weekend!

Thanks to Elijah, Marshall, Caden and Bailey for helping Evan to celebrate.

And thanks also to the Badgers for their spectacular overtime win on Evan's day. GO BIG RED!!

Evan is AMAZING!!!

2009-03-16T15:52:00.000-05:00

Evan is learning all sorts of new things!

He gives kisses on your cheek, high fives, and he brings books to you when he wants you to read them to him.

He is so FUN!!!

"All Done"

2009-03-11T14:09:00.000-05:00

Evan is starting to communicate without fussing.

As I was playing this video after uploading here on our blog. I looked back at Evan playing with his toys and he was listening to the video saying "All Done" and he was signing all done. He is so smart and wonderful!!!

For those of you that know sign language, I realize I might have taught him the wrong sign. Ops!

Evan Picts

2009-03-11T14:03:00.000-05:00

He enjoys chillin on his bouncy.

Cape pajama man!

Walking...

2009-03-06T22:09:00.000-06:00

Nana...

2009-03-06T13:38:00.000-06:00

We just had a nice visit from my mom.
She spent 5 days with us, Evan had such a fun time playing with his Nana!

This picture was taken at a Griffith Park playground.

Look what I caugh Evan doing!

2009-02-24T13:23:00.001-06:00

Last week I turned around to find Evan doing this.

We had the bouncy seat out for a friend's baby during a visit and after they left, Evan decided it was going to be his new climbing bouncy toy.

Our play date at the park!

2009-02-24T13:02:00.000-06:00

Last week Evan and I met our friends at the park.

He swung a little...

He walked around and checked out all the kids playing...

He was very interested in this thing!!!

We had a fun day at the park! We'll be going again soon!!!

Video of Evan on his car.

2009-02-23T19:50:00.000-06:00

My boys!!!

2009-02-23T19:49:00.000-06:00

Evan spend a 5 days with Grandma & Grandpa Wittig

2009-02-23T19:36:00.000-06:00

While I was doing Team World Vision stuff in Chicago.
Grandma and Grandpa Wittig looked after Evan for us.

Evan had a great time!

He even got a play date in with his 2nd cousin Max

I ran an Half Marathon Feb 1st

2009-02-23T19:28:00.000-06:00

I ran my first race since having Evan, Surf City Half Marathon.
It was a beautiful course and day!!!

Here are Evan and Mark waiting to cheer me on!

Evan being cute as he waits for mom to pass.

I finished in my goal time!
It was slow but: 11 1/2 min miles.

Please don't hate me!!!!

2009-02-23T19:10:00.001-06:00

I am so very sorry everyone for being such a bad blogger this last month!!!

It has been a crazy month!!! Evan and I had a trip to the Midwest and Mark just finished his CRAZY Oscar working week.

We have lots of video and picts to post. I hope to post them soon.

Quick update:
- Evan is now walking. He took his first steps two weeks ago.

- Today he started signing back to me that he wanted "more" to eat.

- He has started expresses his dissatisfaction by waling his arms, throwing things and biting. We are starting to talk to him about choices and teaching him appropriate ways to express his frustration, age appropriate of course.

- We have also recently discovered Evan loves music, when children's music is on or his toys start playing a tune he bounces up and down and sings along in his baby noises. It is quite adorable.

- This past Sunday at church I went to pick him up from childcare and the lady taking care of the children told me that a little girl, his age, and him were little trouble makers, she said it with a smile. They crawled off together, away from everyone multiple times and once they found Evan on top of her about to suck on her face. He is a ladies man!

That is all for now stay tuned for picts!!!!

Love,
Andrea

Baby Evan and Mom!

2009-02-02T21:42:00.000-06:00

2009-01-28T20:56:00.000-06:00

WOW!! HE'S SMART!!

2009-01-19T22:27:00.000-06:00

Tonight Evan and I hung out with John and Amy giving mom the night off. I fed Evan, which is a challenge there without a high chair so he crawls around. After he ate 3/4ths of his cereal he was bored and wanted to play which is typical for him to take a play break during his meals.

After 5 or 6 minutes of playing I tried to feed him some more cereal. He scrunched his face, puckered his lips, and turned his head away. His full 'No I don't want to eat that."

I figured he was just done eating, but then he did something amazing.

Evan crawled away from me, across the room to where his unopened, gerber baby food was. He picked it up and crawled back over to me where he held it up for me to take it.

I opened the food and he started gobbling it down.

Evan clearly chose not to have cereal but to have his baby food instead!! I was shocked that not only did he know what was in the other food jar, he choose that food over his cereal!!

Unreal!!

Baby Evan's new word....Baby

2009-01-19T15:14:00.000-06:00

2009-01-19T14:33:00.000-06:00

Pre-Christmas in LA!

2009-01-14T18:54:00.000-06:00

Evan looking at and trying to touch our Christmas tree.

Our Chrstmas outing, we went to an outdoor mall to watch it snow.

Family Christmas photo.

Wittig family Christmas photo

Mosaic Christmas party at Disney Land and California Adventure!

Evan's friend Marshall.
Marshall thinks Evan tastes good.

Evan is 6 weeks older than Marshall.

Evan giving Marshall's dad a happy face.

Evan opening some of his Christmas gifts from mom and dad early.

Christmas in Wisconsin

2009-01-14T11:17:00.000-06:00

Evan had his first Christmas in Wisconsin.
Experiencing the snow for the first time.

We had a joyous time!

Evan is getting all bundled up to experience his first with SNOW!!!

Mom, Dad, and Auntie Amy came along!

There was so much snow we just stuck Evan in and he stood up.

Touching snow for the first time!!!
oooooooooaaaaaaaaa
and of course I gave Evan a taste of it too!!!

It was, of course, snowing when we went outside.
So when Evan sat back the snow fell on his face, he did NOT like that!!!
Hence the face he is making here!

Christmas Day...look at all the gifts to be opened by Evan!!!

He loved the bows!

3 of the 5 great grandchildren born this year.
With their grandmas of course!

Evan and Max, being cute together!

Going to Bed and Waking Up

2009-01-14T09:51:00.001-06:00

Evan and I have settled into a routine as of late. At night we but him to sleep in his crib in our bedroom. Then when Andrea and I go to sleep I gently pick him up carry him to the living room and gingerly put him in his pack and play to sleep the night away.

When morning comes Evan will often 'wake up' sometime between 5 and 6. I usually get up so Andrea can catch a few more z's. What I find is that while he doesn't want to sleep in his pack and play anymore, Evan is not quite awake enough to seize the day. When this happens we grab his bear, his nuk, and his blanket and dad and Evan head for the couch. We snuggle up together and he gently plays with his bear or touches my face until he drifts back to sleep.

Some mornings, I too drift off again and others I barricade him in with pillows and get ready for the day.

There is nothing sweeter then watching sleepy Evan gently touch his bear as he quiets himself down for another hour or so of sleep. It melts my heart.

Our overnight up the coast...

2009-01-12T19:58:00.000-06:00

For our Anniversary we went on an overnight up to the central coast.

Here we are getting ready to go.

Lunch on the bluffs

Evan rides his little car.

2009-01-10T17:29:00.000-06:00

My Birthday

2009-01-10T17:23:00.001-06:00

Thats right folks I just turned 29...my last year as a young adult. It's going to be wonderful!!!

On our way to dinner.

Back at our place for cake and ice cream with friends.

Evan Discovers

2009-01-10T17:14:00.000-06:00

We rearranged our living room to make it more kid friendly and Evan now had a spot at the window he can look out. He discovered it the other day and LOVES it!!!

Blogging

2009-01-10T17:06:00.000-06:00

I am very sorry you all. We have been very bad at blogging this last month.

Let me catch you up to speed, starting backwards.

Evan LOVES the bear!!!

2008-12-12T21:21:00.001-06:00

Sue made the bear calendar when Mark was little. Mark loved it so much that he/we now own it! Until this year I would put it in the darkest corner of our apt. Well this year I put it over Evan's play area thinking its will be a fun place to put it. Well as soon as I put it up Evan could not stop staring at it! He sat on the floor straining his neck to see the bear calendar. I even catch him glancing at it throughout the day, everyday, looking at it with wonder and excitement.

Everyday Mark comes home from work and they move the bear together. Evan gets to be close to the colorful bear calendar and hold the bear, he LOVES it. And everyday this is what he does when its time to give the bear up!

Evan's First Christmas Tree

2008-12-12T19:55:00.000-06:00

Last weekend we got our Christmas tree.

Here Evan and Mark are checking out the trees.
Trying to find the perfect one for our apt.

Tree on top of the car and we are ready to drive the 3.5 blocks home.

Who would think they could wear no shoes or socks to pick out their Christmas tree.
Its a California Christmas!!!

John and Amy came over to help us trim the tree.

I made the wreath out of some branches Mark sawed off.

Evan is not allowed to be near the tree alone.
He LOVES touching the branches and looking at all the lights.

All done!

We are enjoying our tree!
It helps us get in the Holiday spirit, as there is not snow or cold weather to help.
(Not to rub it in the fact we have 70 degree weather,
I would prefer the snow and cold weather at this point in the season!!!)

Getting ready for Chrsitmas

2008-12-12T17:59:00.000-06:00

We pulled out the Christmas stuff last week and Evan found the bows.

We also reorganized our living room for the tree and made Evan a new little play area.

Chilly California evening, I think it was in the 50s.
Going outside to try and fix my sick car with Mark.

Sickness

2008-12-09T15:42:00.003-06:00

We are all sick!
Evan has his first real sickness...103 temp.
poor little guy.

Growing and Develping so fast!!!

2008-12-01T16:15:00.000-06:00

Before Thanksgiving...(about one and half weeks ago)
Sorry for the sideways video.

After Thanksgiving...(1 day ago)