June 19th, 1976... The arrival of "the baby"...
a boy, a girl and a baby...
She had her boy, Matt... and her girl, Jill...
and now she had her baby...
Her dreams had been fulfilled.
JI was not due until the 25th of June but Mommy was tired of carrying me around in her tummy and so she asked the doctor if she couldn't "do something" to speed things up.
The doctor told her NOT to do anything until Sunday, June 20th...
but by Friday she was fed up and drank Castor Oil which was supposed to start things moving. The pains began about 5:30 PM that evening.
Daddy took Mommy to the hospital about 10:30 PM leaving Matt and Jill home with a neighbor girl, Tammy.
which was in the 1400 block of Charles St at that time.
When they got to the hospital, Mommy found out why the doctor said to wait till Sunday... He was out of town for that weekend.
Luckily there was another lady in labor that was having some problems and everyone pretty much ignored us. Mommy's labor pains stopped about 3:30 AM and no one cared, including Mommy who was sleeping by then. When the doctor finally got there and finished delivering the other lady's baby, he stopped in and checked on us. At 9:30 AM he broke Mommy's water and gave her a pill to start the contractions. They started about an hour later and were really strong by noon.
I was born at 1:23 PM on Saturday, June 19th, 1976...
Weight 10 lbs and 5 oz... Length 20 1/2 inches
Mommy always said that I looked just like Vasily Alexeyev the 1976 Super-Heavyweight (+247 1/3 lb) Olympic Champion from Russia because I was so short and fat and had no neck at all... was just a round little ball. I guess I'm surprised they didn't name me Alex after him...
Actually I was to be named "Jennifer"... I was supposed to be A GIRL!! Mommy had had an amniocentesis done in her second month and the lab tech read the boy/girl results backwards, reporting I was a girl. Soooooo... for months they did not refer to me as "the baby"... they referred to me as "Jennifer"... "Jennifer kicked today" etc.
After I was born they had to dig out the list of names... and my Daddy chose Wade, telling Mommy that she got to name Matt and Jill, so he was naming me!! Mommy chose Christopher for my middle name because she liked the sound of the initials W.C. (as in W.C. Fields an old time movie actor)
Mommy found that list when doing this project...
Here are some of the name choices in the beginning...
Holly, Erin, Ashly, Molly, MiMi, Jennifer
Ryan, Aaron, Andrew, Adam, Grant, Wade
Mommy seems to be saying,
"What happened?? You were supposed to be a girl...
Where's Jennifer?"
Jennifer couldn't make it."
Three days later I went home, wearing this adorable yellow romper and yellow booties that my Great Aunt Opal gave me along with a matching yellow blanket. The romper said, "Special Edition" on it and everyone agreed that's what I was!!
When I went home I weighed 9 lb 15 oz.
Daddy had to work until 4 PM so Grammy and Matt picked Mommy and me up and took us home around 10:30 AM. Grandpa picked Jill up from summer school and brought her home at noon. Mostly I slept and hardly knew I was home with strange people holding me and fighting over me.
She was a real pest that first day... and many after!
my first smile... 3 days old.
got to hold me for the first time.
He had a beard for the Hall County Bi-Centennial.
a cradle borrowed from Mommies friend Peggy.
I had my first checkup at age 2 1/2 weeks, on July 7th. I weighed 10 lb 10 oz and was 20 7/8" long. The doctor said, "Wade is doing just beautiful"... continue with Enfamil only, adding 1-2 oz if I wanted it, stretching the feedings further apart.
This is one of Mommies favorite outfits for me.
July 9, 1976 was my 1st picnic... in Kearney, NE with Great Aunt Opal & Great Uncle Melvin and cousins Penny, Kyle and Kori. This was also my first travel experience. I rode down to Kearney with Grammy and Grandpa Reher ALL ALONE... I slept the whole trip.
August 4th Mommy took me to the Dr. Marshall for my 6 week check-up. I got to start having rice cereal, carrots, sweet potatoes, applesauce and bananas. The doctor said Mommy was keeping me too warm and I should wear a diaper only.
"He's going to be a giant, Mrs Govig" the doctor said.
12 lb 4 oz ... 23 1/8" long
I was such a good baby! I slept all night from 5 weeks old on, I smiled at 5 weeks and laughed at 6 weeks when Mommy was singing to me, I could hold my head up by 6 weeks, and I turned over between 3-4 months. I also got my first tooth at 3 months.
The funniest first recorded in my baby book occurred on June 21, 1976, I was only 2 days old and Mommy and I were still in the hospital. Daddy called us on the telephone and Matt wanted to talk to me... so that was my 1st telephone call and conversation... Matt said, "he sure breathed cute!"
After my Sept 17 doctor appointment I got to add any baby food except pure meat and eggs. 14 lb 3 oz ... 24 1/2" long
I was 3 months and 1 week... see it here...
The second one came in the next day
when they took Matt's school pictures...
At my Nov 2 doctor appointment I was told to have baby food 3 times a day (1/2 a jar) and milk 4 times (20-24 oz).
Dr Marshall said, "Wade is just perfect!"
Weight 15 lb 9 1/4 oz ... 25 3/4"
November 7th & 8th I got my 3rd and 4th teeth... these were on top...
November 24th my 5th tooth came in... on the bottom next to the first two.
November 29th, my 6th and December 1st, my 7th... giving me all 4 of the front ones on top.
December 3rd I got number 8... completing the 4 on the bottom...
Looking a little ornery here... and a lot cute!
December 16 we went back to the doctor for a checkup... He said, "Wade is just a super kid!" Switch to regular milk and any food or table food. Wear soft soled, low top shoes or go barefoot. I should drink from a cup and be off of the bottle when I was good at that. After my checkup, Dr Marshall held me up, gave me a big hug as he always did and then handed me to Mommy. As he was giving instructions, Mommy was holding me naked and I wet all over her.
The doctor laughed and laughed.
most of the time...
This picture is so dorky of my Mommy...
I'm surprised she even allowed it put in here.
My First Christmas
Christmas Eve we went to Grammy and Grandpa Reher's for dinner. My Aunt Jerri and Uncle Dee were there as well as their daughter, my cousin, Marci. Mommy, Daddy, Matt, Jill and myself. They ate turkey with all the trimmings about 5 PM and afterwards we opened all the presents. I was fussy. So much confusion and Marci, being a typical almost 2 year old, wouldn't let me play with my things which made me mad. I got a three piece outfit with "Cowboy" on it, a sweater outfit, shape sorter and Jack in the box from Reher's, a radio that played "Raindrops" and small wooden helicopter from Haussler's, and a panda bank, elephant mug, pop beads and fish ball from my family.
Christmas morning Santa had come in the night. It was fun opening the Santa gifts with just our family. My favorite gift this year was the push and go fire truck that Santa brought. Sunday morning Jill was playing with it with me and I laughed and laughed... which I never did with noise.
Santa also brought me a top, 2 books, a squeeky hammer, bottle and balls and stocking goodies.
Later that day Grandpa and Grandma Govig, Great-Grandpa Glenn, and my Aunt Bev and Uncle Kenny, and cousins Randy and Kim came over to our house for Christmas dinner... more turkey with all the trimmings. We then opened presents about 3 PM.
I got a crib toy and pale turquoise strumplehosen from Gleasons, a stuffed dog and mirror toy from Govigs, and a $25 savings bond from Great-Grandpa Glenn.
Other gifts that year were a slack set that said "Engineer" on it from Mawhinney's and two rattles from Werner's.
The Sunday after Christmas Grammy and Grandpa Reher came over for coffee and lunch and we played The Game of Life all day. It was fun!!
1977
By 7 months old I was playing Peek-a-Boo, So Big, clapping for Pat-a-cake, and waving Bye-bye.
Just before I was 7 months old, I pulled myself up on the dishwasher for the first time.
Then on January 20th in the bathtub, in bed and walked quite wobbly along the couch.
It would be May 24th, at 11 months old, before I took several unaided steps.
Don't know what this means... my Mommy found me like this several times during or after my afternoon nap.
In November we got an Old English Sheepdog named Heather
In March of 1977, Heather, had 11 puppies...
Here I am with 5 of them.
We eventually got rid of Heather and all of the puppies but one which we kept and named Molly. We didn't have her long though as it took so long to sell all the puppies that it was hard to house train her so we sold her too.
Memorial Day 1977 we had my 2nd picnic at a sandpit in a cow pasture with Grandpa and Grammy Reher. Jill caught her first fish.
We grilled hamburgers. It was a lot of fun and I liked it. Then we played in the sand and I threw sand, had it in my hair and ears and my pants. I waded in the water and I really liked that.
I didn't quite know what to do...
Am I giving him a kiss??
I got lots of nice gifts...
a three wheel "motor cycle" which you'll see later...
a dog pull toy...
a musical push/pull toy we called a "sweeper" (Mom still has this)...
clothes & pj's
and this squeeky rubber ducky from Grandpa and Grandma Govig
At one year old I weighed 21 lbs and was 30 1/4" tall.
My favorite toys were balls and balloons.
My favorite foods carrots and ice cream, although I loved everything.
Mommy wrote in my baby book when I was 1 year old that she "hasn't found anything I don't like...
I love rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp and even asparagus."
My favorite stories were "The Daddy Book" and "The Ear Book" and favorite songs were "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and "Raindrops" which Mommy sang to me when she rocked me to sleep along with "You are my Sunshine" and "Rock-a-bye-baby" where she would sing "Rock-a-bye-Matt, rock-a-bye-Jill, rock-a-bye grandpa", etc... rock-a-bying everyone we knew and everything... When I got older and could talk... although I don't think she rocked me to sleep... but we would play that game and I would insert the words... one day I said, "rock-a-bye potty chair"... and she laughed and laughed.
I had my 1st Train ride
Now here's something you have to understand... or know... as you read about my life and see photos of me from here on... My Mommy didn't do a good job recording things or putting pictures into an album after that first year... They are all in a shoe box. 95% of them have no dates on them or anything... So now... as she tries to do this project for me... she has them all laid out all over the dining room floor and is trying to put them in order... looking at the hair and the clothes and what I'm doing... trying to get them at least close to the right age and in the right order.
Let that be a lesson to you all...
Do albums & journaling as you go and put the date on the pictures.
Write down the cute things your baby does and says...
You WON'T remember later.
23 lb 2 oz ... 33 1/2" tall
although Mommy can't find that picture of him now...
Thanksgiving 1977 we had the traditional turkey and all the trimmings at our house. Grammy and Grandpa Reher, Jerri, Dee and Marci, Opal and Mel, and Mrs. Mawhinney, Penny and Donnie, Kyle and Kori... a fun day!!
I just loved the Christmas tree! I was real good and hardly ever bothered it and never bothered the gifts until I got to open my 1st one... then I wanted to tear them all apart. I couldn't stand it when the tree lights were off.
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I saw Santa at Matt's program. I watched in awe til I noticed he was giving out candy... then I went right over and even sat on his lap.
December 23rd Christmas with Daddy's family at our house. I got a sweatshirt and nerf alligator from Gleasons and Fisher Price Lil' People set and donkey from Govig's.
December 24th Daddy had to work. We had supper and us kids opened some gifts at Grammy and Grandpa Reher's. I got a workbench, boat and blue slacks and sweater from Grammy and Grandpa.
December 25th Santa came in the night and left me some blocks, talking Bib Bird, a kazoo, candy and pocket frog.
Then we went to Grammy's for the rest of our gifts and Christmas dinner. At 3 we drove to Central City to see our Great-grandpa Glenn and then had a sandwich with Grammy and Grandpa when we got back.
I got a dog puzzle from Matt, Seseme' Street block puzzel from Jill, jumpsuit, 2 shirts and overalls from Mommy & Daddy, a turquoise jumpsuit from Great-aunt Opal and Great-uncle Melvin and 6 little cars and trucks from Mommy's friends the Werner's.
1978
Mom's guessing possible in the spring of 1978...
There's a funny story about that shirt Matt has on... Grammy and Grandpa Reher took Matt on a trip to the Black Hills all by himself the summer I was born and that shirt is one of the ones he took along (as you can tell by how small it looks on him almost a year later)... It was patchwork... each side a different color and the yoke and sleeves another.... stitching between the different colors tacked down the raw edges and that made the shirt look like it was wrong side out... when it wasn't. Matt had this shirt on the day Grammy and Grandpa brought him home. Grammy had thought the shirt was put in his suitcase wrong side out and had turned it... Well the stitches no longer showed but the tag was on the outside in the back... she didn't notice that. We all laughed about that.
Actually... I turned two... but there was no terrible involved...
Grammy and Grandpa came over for cake and ice cream...
I was excited and silly all day!
I wonder if it came true...
They don't want me do that any other time...
then I can get a bite of Big Bird's fat tummy!
I got a cool choo-choo from Haussler's
overalls from Werner's
a basketball outfit and hoppity owl & penguin from Gleason's
$10 from Mawhinney's
and a bat and ball from Grammy and Grandpa Reher
Grammy and Opal were talking just the other day about how cute I was that birthday and how excited I was with my gifts. They said I hit the ball and then ran around the circle we had from the living room, to the hallway, to the kitchen and back to the living room... running the bases.
They both said it was one of their favorite memories...
Mommy, Daddy, Matt and Jill got me a tennis racket set, beach ball, puzzle, 2 short-alls (like I have on in this picture)...
Mommy wrote in my baby book that "Daddy is going to make me a sandbox and swing set"...
Hmmmm... I don't think he ever got that project done.
We did have a sandbox... but... I think Matt and Jill had that before I was born... we never had a swing set...
Guess Dad owes me for one... HaHa...
I'll collect when I have my own little boy... That'll teach him!
On June 28, 1978 Mommy and I had a car accident early one morning after taking Matt to the YMCA for summer camp. A pick-up truck hit us almost broadside as he was going east on Hwy 30 and we were going south, crossing the highway at the west side of the Hwy 30 overpass. It totaled our car. I broke out the passenger side window and after we spun around 2 or 3 times, coming to a rest in the ditch, Mommy found me hanging over the window, half in and half out of the car. Mommy wasn't hurt but we were taken to the hospital in the ambulance where I had 22 stitches on my head, right arm, right side and back. It was a miracle that I didn't go all the way out the window... and if I had, I wouldn't be here to tell you about it. I didn't even cry!
July 3 we went back to the doctor for my overdue 2 year check-up and to get my stitches out.
The doctor said, "Wade is going to be just as tough as nails when he grows up."
I weighed 26 lb 3/4 oz ... I was 34 1/2" tall ...
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My Mommie was NOT good at writing the dates on my pictures...
so we'll just put them here...
They were taken sometime between my 2nd birthday and Christmas 1978
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They cut off all of my cute curls...
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I was the devil again for Halloween 1978...
Before Christmas I saw Santa 5 or 6 times at the mall and each time I just marched right up to him and told him, "I want a train, a helicopter and a tool box!!" I wasn't even afraid.
That's Jill behind me...
On December 23rd Mom made lasagna for supper and we opened our gifts to and from each other since Daddy had to work Christmas Eve. Then Grammy and Grandpa came over about 8. I got a puzzle from Jill, a tractor with wagon from Matt and a little horn, books and clothes from Mommy & Daddy.
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The bowl haircut must have been popular that winter as everyone seems to have used a bowl when cutting their hair... and bangs!!! I'm sure glad I didn't have much hair yet... haha...
I wonder what we are thinking about... or plotting??
December 24th we had dinner and 1 gift for the kids at Grammy's house. Then we came to our house for our exchange. My Aunt Jerri and Uncle Dee and cousins Marci and Phillip were there. I was realy good and excited. Marci wouldn't let anyone open or play with their own stuff.
I got a Snoopy velcro ball and glove from Haussler's, Seseme' Street clubhouse, and clothes from Grammy and Grandpa. I also got a sweater from Great-Aunt Opal and hot wheels from Mommy's friend Maureen.
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December 25th Santa had come and left me a helicopter, train set & a tool box, and some hot wheels and other things in my stocking.
Then we went to Lincoln for dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Govig. Uncle Kenny and Aunt Bev and my cousins Randy and Kim were there and Great-grandpa Glenn. I got a set of cars from Grandparents Govig and a Ladybug game from Gleasons.
1979
The following three photos were taken just before my 3rd birthday by a professional photographer...
Then my Daddy took a whole roll of film with me in the same outfit... trying to get better pictures... or something...
I will only bore you with three of them...
Well... That's the first 3 years of my life...
From here on in there won't be as many pictures...
and the stories will be fewer as nothing is written down...
Mommy can't even find pictures taken on my 3rd birthday...
I have that same outfit on... must have been a favorite...
We didn't have her long as she would be so excited to see us when
we got home that she'd run in and potty on Mom and Dad's bed
I had my first (and last) modeling job that fall for a local children's store.
When Matt was 2 or 3 Dad took some "jumping on the bed" pictures of him and won a local photo contest with one... He tried to duplicate it with me jumping on my bed...
1980
Daddy, Matt, me and Laura and her Dad, Mickey built a big snowman...
I had my very first birthday party for my 4th birthday... Laura, Nikki and Angie, Brian and Ryan attended. The invitations, napkins and cake were all Big Bird.
I was shy and didn't want to eat cake or play games at first...
I just wanted to go play. Actually I look pretty sad in this picture.
That's Laura watching me blow out the candles. She lived next door and was only a few weeks younger than me. We were best friends all through school.
Afterwards we played Pin the Tail on Benji, pop the balloons and other silly games.
Following are pictures from my 4th year... from June to November...
I went to Wackypatch Pre-school when I was 4... This is my class...
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I was voted "The Silliest Clown" in pre-school...
1981
all sitting on posts in the Platte River...
Mom and I had gone to Honore Kennels to look at puppies because she missed having a dog so much. We found this really cute little poodle puppy and had Daddy come look at her, thinking he'd fall in love with her and let us have a dog. Well, he found this little puppy that looked like a cocker spaniel (but was a terrier mix) and when he picked her up she laid her head on his shoulder and rolled her big brown eyes at him and he said, "if you want a dog it has to be this one." So that's the one we got and named her Casey. We had her a couple of years... and then got rid of her because she shed so much and because she would have nothing at all to do with Jill... or even me. She was Matt's dog, his best friend and he never forgave Mom for getting rid of her.
This is one of my Mom's favorite pictures of me. I was bit on my cheek by a mean cocker spaniel when I tried to pet it after it wandered into our yard.
Well... that raps up my first 5 1/2 years... and 1981...
Tune in again for the next 25 years of my life... beginning with 1982...
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