Reine Vonique Hibbert

November 11, 2009 Veteran's Day

Now there is another (more important even) reason to remember 11-11 for me. I can't tell you how many times I've looked at a digital clock and seen the numbers 11-11. And every time it would remind me of the date I entered the Language Training Mission in Provo at the start of my full-time two year church mission. That was 33 years ago. Now 11-11 will also remind me of the birth of our first grandchild! Reine Vonique Hibbert was born at 11:49 AM in the Providence Hospital in Anchorage Alaska, to our daughter Lindsay and her husband Michael. Julie and I have not been able to get enough of her since.

Lindsay watching Michael bathe Reine.

I'm sure Lindsay won't like this photo but when Julie was on her way to the hospital Linds called Mom to ask for some Arby's. She was starving!

Reine's great-grandfather Don Rogers (Julie's father)

Reine's great-grandmother Georgia Rogers (Julie's mother)

Last night we admitted to each other that we needed to see Reine so we called and asked if we could come over. We did. Tonight on the way home from whatever, we wondered if we could stop by the Hibbert's for just a few minutes and see Reine. We did. Michael and Lindsay have been so kind to us, letting us barge in to see our little bit of heaven. We fear they will tire of us calling to see if we can come over.

This little girl is so precious. And beautiful.

I was fortunate to see Reine on her birthday. I worked in Fairbanks Monday through Wednesday and was to catch a 5:00 flight back to Anchorage and then go right to the hospital to see the newest addition to our family. When I got to the airport I discovered my flight had been canceled due to high winds in Anchorage. I didn't leave Fairbanks until 10:00 PM! After the hour long flight and leaving the airport, I finally was able to meet Julie at the hospital just before midnight. It seemed so late but time has a way of losing all sensibility after labor and delivery and the schedule of an infant comes into play. We spent about an hour there breathing in the essence of our new bundle of joy. The kids have put up pictures on their blog and facebook but I have to put up some of ours here along with some videos that were too large to email to our family and friends.

Lindsay laughing at her dad trying to take his own picture with Reine. Didn't work. No Reine.

Lindsay is doing so well, sore, but so well. She looks great. Michael has been an awesome father and husband. They make a wonderful little family unit! No, I don't feel like what I always thought a grandpa should feel like but I do love owning the title so very much! And it is so cool that I'm married to a hot grandmamma. (Did I just say that out loud?)

Okay, so here come a bunch of Reine pics.

Reine is pronounced like "Wren" the bird or "Ren".
Reine is French and means "queen".
Vonique is my youngest sister's name though she spells it with a capital "n" like VoNique.
That was my dad's inclination in naming his daughters.
My sisters RaNae, JaNel & VeNicia also have a capital "n" as you can see.

By the way, now that she is three days old, she is even cuter than in these pictures. Oh yes, you better believe it!

Ready for a few videos?
Well, I'll look at them then. All of them. Over and over.
And over...

Welcome to our loving family little Reine Vonique.
You are so welcome here.
Love, Grandpa