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.