Cool Beans......!!!!!!

Believe it or not, there is yet another special day coming. October 23, 2008 will be the 34th birthday of my son-in-law, Christopher Stein. I don't have pictures of Christopher when he was little because I didn't know him then, so we will just have to find other things to laugh at him about.

This picture was taken in my living room when we lived in MenRiv Housing. As I said before, we had neighbors who knew Christopher and he took it upon himself to introduce himself to our daughter. Victoria was still in high school at the time and was sitting out front studying for her finals.

This appears to have been taken at the door to our son's room. Our son is also named Christopher, and believe me it can get confusing. I usually refer to them as "my Christopher" and "your Christopher" when I am talking to my daughter. I don't think I have ever seen Christopher Stein with a baseball cap on that wasn't backwards....


As you can see, Christopher was a second class petty officer here. Check out the haircut. He was stationed at NPTU (I think I have the letters right) at the Naval Weapons Station, in beautiful downtown Goose Creek, South Carolina, HOME of the US Navy (SALUTE!)


Now, this picture is from the time in Christopher's life when he was leading a life of crime and was taking our daughter with him to be his "Maw". We were so glad when he finally saw the light and gave it up.




This is Christopher Stein and Victoria and Victoria's best friend Lori Rucker and her soon to be husband, David Ard. I think this was after the Ring Mass, when the Senior Class of Bishop England High School had their rings blessed.


These next several pictures are of Christopher and Victoria's Wedding. Now, Victoria's father and I were not exactly pleased when Victoria got married. Not because we had anything aganist Christopher, but because, as all parents feel, we thought they were too young to get married and that they also did not know one another that well. They had dated for a few months at the end of Victoria's senior year of high school, but then Christopher left South Carolina. Victoria went on to Clemson, and while she and Christopher did keep in touch they only saw one another once or twice in the four years she was at Clemson.




By the time Victoria graduated from Clemson Christopher was stationed in Washington State, and soon after graduation Victoria moved there too. She sent all of her earthly belongings there in boxes via UPS.



They had an apartment with a couple other people, and Victoria went to work in a day care. The first Christmas they were married Christopher was deployed and Victoria came home. Just a couple days before she came home she slipped and fell on the ice and ended up with several stitches in her chin. It was a good thing her father had been a Corpsman for 30 years, becasue her mother the nurse could not take the sutures out of her baby girl's chin.

While Michael and I had hoped they would wait to get married, they were both happy, and even though we felt we did not know Christopher that well, he was good for our daughter. Victoria used to get angry at me when I would tell people he made my daughter happy, but what more can any parent want for their child?

Here they are signing the marriage certificate after the ceremony....

...and here they are with the minister. I have to say this too--not to upset anyone but just to maybe let others know another reason we were a little concered about the wedding--we found aout about a month after the wedding when our dear baby girl sent us an e-mail!!!!!!

I think this picture was taken when Christopher and Victoria went to a Navy Ball one year. I don't think was too many years after they were married, and Christopher was a first class petty officer.

For a couple years they lived here in South Carolina. In 2000 my family decided to have a reunion. My father's family never spoke much about the family history and I had done some research and found more than anyone else knew. My aunt, Regina Shinners, and my brother, Robert Small, hosted the reunion in downtown Baltimore, which is where I gre up. Christopher and Victoria also attended.

Christopher Stein is very outgoing, and while he had only met my father a few times he had no problem talking with my dad.

This is Christopher and my 86 year old father. A lot of young people may have been bored with the stories of an elderly man, but Christopher has always shown nothing but caring and respect to everyone in my family. My dad was very impressed with Christopher and said he "seems like a good boy".

The morning after the reunion everyone returned to the same hotel and had brunch. Christopher and Victoria once again sat with my dad, and when everything was over they took my dad home to North Carolina. My father lives in an assisted living facility in Southern Pines, and on more than one occasion when I have asked them to visit my dad with Michael and me never did Christopher refuse to do so. He was more than willing, and even shared in getting a $300 ticket along with us the year we went to celebrate my father's 90th birthday. Now, how many sons-in-law would do that???

In 2004 Christopher and Victoria had their first baby. Clara was six weeks early. I was at work when someone told me I had a phone call and that it was my son-in-law. I knew something was wrong, and when I got on the phone he told me Victoria was in the hospital with pre-eclampsia. As a nurse I knew the outcomes possible, but was not about to tell Christopher. When Michael and I got to Trident Hospital both Christopher and Victoria seem calm--much calmer than I felt. Luckily, Christopher's mother had been visiting. She had come form Phoenix the weekend before for Victoria's baby shower, and though she was supposed to have left, when she realized Victoria was having difficulty she stayed. I know Christopher felt much better knowing he had his own mother there.
While I know Christopher was scared to death, never once did he show his fear to Victoria. I was so very impressed by how well he handled the entire situation. I know he had to be terrified for his wife and daughter, but he was wonderful.

Christopher was so proud of his new daughter and he thought she was absolutely perfect, which she was and is. He was strong and brave under very stressful conditions and I can only say he never faltered in front of Victoria the entire time.

From the very beginning Christopher held Clara, changed diapers, fed her, cared for her. He was totally remarkable. I know on the inside it was the most difficult time for him and I am still glad he had his mother there for him. I think the time came when he was finally able to open up to her and when it was just the two of them he was able to relay his fear. I don;t think he would have done that with Michael or me, and I think the reason was he knew we were scared too. He was scared for his wife and daughter and we were scared for our baby and her baby. Chris did not want to add to our fear.

Clara went home a few weeks after her birth and has been a pure joy from the beginning. She is bright and intelligent, but in other ways takes after her father :). As I said, I have few pictures of Christopher when he was little, but Clara looks just like her dad.

This was Clara's first birthday. Christopher was everywhere. Whatever Clara wanted to do he was the first to do it. He is firm with his children, but gentle and is a wonderful father. I know he will always have a great relationship with his children and they will always have a lot of respect for him.

Last October the Steins went to a pumpkin patch to pick put the best pumpkin for their Jack-o-Lantern and once again it was up to the children to pich the one they wanted.....

So, of course, they got the best WHITE pumpkin. I personally had never seen a white pumpkin until this. Christopher and Clara decorated it--of course it had to be a princess--and were very proud to show it off.

They spent Christmas with Christopher's family because Christopher knew he would be deployed for six months in the spring and he wanted to spend some time with his family before deploying.

Christopher never tires of posing with his children. His children and his wife are the most important things in his life. He does everything and anything he can to make them happy and to see they are properly cared for....

.....and he ALWAYS makes sure they all have matching t-shirts. Can there be anything better????

And here is the entire family. Aren't they beautiful?? Happy birhtday Christopher. I know you miss Victoria and the children, but the time is getting short. I hope you will have many, many more birthdays and that you will be able to spend them with your family. You have been a wonderful addition to our family and we are proud to have you as part of us. We also thank you for the love and care you give our daughter and grandchildren. We love you. Happy Birthday!! May you continue to take my daughter's breath away for many more years.

. . .now those reindeer, they're real!!!

A very special day is coming up. On Tuesday, October 14th my daughter, Victoria Regina Mullikin Stein will be 32 years old. How can that be? WHere did the time go? I certainly don't remember getting that much older, so how did she? Can it be possible that she is now a mother herself? That would make me a grandmother. Grandmothers are old, and I'm not old. No, this just can't be true. But in case it is, here is a birthday tribute to Victoria.

This was Victoria's first Thanksgiving. As you can see she has enjoyed turkey from the start.
And obviously the triptophan and a full stomach worked.

Her first Christmas she didn't care about that silly old man in the red suit. Looks like her brother wasn't too impressed either.

But she did seem to like that little snowman, especially when you made him move and he played music.

In January 1977 we had her Christened at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Her Godparents were Jackie and Jerry Ciciora.

Her second Christmas she really did not care for that old man. Her brother still doesn't look too impressed, do you think?

She did like opening presents, and she liked the doll she got that year. In this picture you can also see my mother, Bernadine Small.

And how cute is this?

She loved laying on this big bean bag chair I made, and while she was actually sleeping, Christopher wasn't. Notice she already was a picky eater--her bottle by her side and her fingers in her mouth.

Christopher went to preschool in MEridian and when they did school pictures they allowed you to bring in siblings to have their pictures taken too.

At about this time Victoria and her brother started to question the reality of Santa Claus. They were still willing to sit with him, but they were a little unsure. One day they had a conversation and Victoria told Christopher, "I don't think Santa Claus is real. I think he's just a man in a red suit. Now, those reindeer, They're REAL!!!"

Another red dress for Christmas.

Looks like Monica was n't any better at picking out hats for Victoria than Bernadine was at picking hats out for Monica.

For a couple months when Michael first was stationed on the USS Tattnall we went to live in Maryland at my mother's.

And while they still weren't sure, Victoria and Christopher made their parents happy by posing with Santa again.

Do you think she liked holding this alligator in St. Augustine?

And once again with Santa. Seems Christopher didn't grow much in that year--notice he seems to be wearing the same shirt he had on the year before.

Now, this was one of the many red dresses I made for Victoria.

Do you believe she actually played T-Ball in Mayport?

And then came the years we promised her a Cabbage Patch Doll for her First Communion. Oh, did we make a mistake. They were the rage and not to be found anywhere. We went as far away as Raleigh, North Carolina, and finally paid a rediculous price for one. In the end, she had about 20 of them, which she now has for Clara. Because her father was a corpsman, each one of them had a real medical record.

No, she isn't a young bride. This was her First Holy Communion in Havelock, North Carolina.

And this was Easter one year in Havelock.

Don't you love school pictures?

And these next several pictures are from when she went to Margaret Fletcher's Dance School in Havelock. She danced in the Nutcracker twice--once as a mouse and once as the King Rat!!!

I'll bet she can't still do this!

I think by this time we were here in South Carolina, and Victoria asked us to get her braces. We took her to Dr. Jan who said he would do it and it would take about six months. Much to his surprise it took more than two years. SHe had to have four teeth pulled, and go back frequently for checkups. Each time they changed the braces they put diffierent colors on--pastels for Easter, black and orange for Halloween and red and green for Christmas. Victoria didn't complain at all about wearing the braces and she loved Dr. Jan.

Victoria played Basketball when she went to Divine Redeemer. . .

. . .and swam on the Weapons Station Swim Team for several years. She enjoyed swimming, but not necessarily the competition.

And look at her poise. She had no trouble balancing that bow on her head when she was 16! Maybe Barney and Agatha helped.
She also loved pigs and had a huge collection of them.

One year she and her brother had their picture taken for us as a Christmas gift. Notice how the braces paid off?

She graduated from Bishop England Catholic High School in Charleston, South Carolina. . .

. . . and Clemson University with a degree in psychology.
When she was still in high school we lived in Menriv Park. It was military housing here in CHarleston. There was a family across the street from us who had a friend who used to come and visit them. Once he came and Victoria was outside, and the friend came over to talk to Victoria. Well, that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Even though Christopher Stein left that summer to go back to Arizona (I think), he and Victoria kept in touch all through her college days. Shortly after she graduated she went to Washington state, which is where he was then. Soon after they married.
For a few years they were stationed here in Charleston.


One year around Christmas she asked us to ahve pictures taken with her. She also included her grandfather in the sitting. Here she is with Michael and me.


And here is actual proof that I really am a grandmother. This is Victoria and Clara Elizabeth Stein. Clara was six weeks early and sooooooo tiny. She weighed under five pounds when she was born. She was absolutely beautiful. This was taken in the NICU at Trident Regional Medical Center.
And here is Miss Clara and her mom when Clara was three months old. Even though she had an early start Clara has done wonderfully. She is beautiful and smart and a real joy.
A couple years later I was a grandmother again with the birth of Jonathan Michael Stein. He waited the full term and he weighed over eight pounds. He was born in Pensacola, Florida.
And here are Clara, Victoria and Jonathan today. Who wouldn't be proud of such a beautiful group.

So, Victoria, enjoy your birthday. I know you miss Christopher, but he will be home soon. I hope Vic and Virginia have arrived by now safe and sound and all of you ahve a great time together. May you have many, many more birthdays. No matter how old you get you will always be my baby. I love you.