Happy Birthday Andrew

Andrew is 21!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Andrew was born July 3, 1986 in Bethesda Hospital, Boynton Beach, Florida. We lived in Greenacres, FL at the time.

Due to the July 4th holiday, he celebrated more of his Birthdays away from home than at home in Florida. My parents moved from New Jersey to Atlanta when Andrew was 9 months old. Birthdays 1-3 were celebrated at my parents' house. My mom would round up the neighbor children and somehow a party always happened for Andrew. The following photos are from early Birthdays. Each one with a story.

This was Andrew at 3 years old on his way to attend a Birthday Party "All Alone" for the first time. I think It was Caroline R's Birthday party. He was so excited to go without his brothers or me. He loved Birthday parties.

July 3, 1987 Happy First Birthday! Atlanta

Andrew took his FIRST STEPS alone on his FIRST Birthday. I am not sure how old he was before he actually got to blow out his own candles without help!

July 3, 1988 Atlanta ( I have always loved this photo)

This is the morning of Andrew's 2nd Birthday. My dad, Grandpa Hogie, was home from an early Sunday morning Church meeting and visited with Andrew prior to us heading to Church. See Andrew- you always did like suspenders!

July 3, 1988 Andrew's 2nd Birthday-The Evening Celebration

He was surrounded by family and the usual neighborhood crew that Grandma mobilized.

July 3, 1989- Atlanta

Birthday #3. An Ice Cream Cake was his main request when it came to a Birthday Cake.

July 3, 1990 Birthday #4

Finally we were home for a Birthday Party on his actualy Birthday. This was at the Royal Palm Beach Mc Donalds on Southern Boulevard (no longer there due to road widening of Southern) The kids would have stayed in the spinner all day long had I let them.

From left to right around the circle:

Lauralee F, James C, Katherine S, Jeffrey, Caroline R, Andrew, Andrew R, Curt, Lauren S

4 Year Old Cake

July 3, 1990- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cake. The Turtles were the rage that summer.... unfortunately...or fortunately, depending on who you are.... They're Back here in 2007! Yikes! ( We still have the original Pizza Thrower with the Pizzas)

Big Brother, Jeffrey using restraint to not help Andrew blow out the 4 candles.

More of the 4 year old Party Guests after the Mc Donalds excitement.

Caroline R, Katherine S., Lauren S, Lauralee F, Andrew R, Andrew, James C, Jeffrey

July 3, 1990

Andrew was born on Thursday, July 3, 1986 in Bethesda Hospital, Boynton Beach, Florida. He was the 3rd Hostetler Boy.

He was the best baby. Very calm and slept through the night earlier and easier than any other of the Hostetler children.

The morning he was born, I woke up and was certain that my bladder was not functioning. I thought, oh great, just one more thing going wrong with this tired, sore pregnant body. Quickly, I realized that my bladder was fine, and that my water had broken. I was in Labor.

Of all days to be in labor, our friend Dawn K, was going to watch Curt and Jeffrey and this was a really bad day for her. She had a very busy demanding day ahead of her. She was hosting a luncheon for our friend, and Primary President, Thalia. I felt terrible calling Dawn to tell her that I needed my boys to go with her. Being the friend she is, she picked up the boys and off they went with her and off I went to the hospital

Andrew was born that afternoon. I remember we could not reach my parents as they were at the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. They were still living in New Jersey at the time of Andrew's birth. Shortly after Andrew was born, my mom and my sister, Jenni came down to Florida, helped for a few days and then took Curt and Jeffrey back to New Jersey with them. It was the medicine I needed. I slept and rested for the week they were gone and then flew to New Jersey with Andrew being 3 weeks old. It was an extended recovery period for me, which was so needed and appreciated. My sister, Jenni, being a young teen, would stay up at night with Andrew while I got some sleep.

Andrew is the only one of the boys who I knew for sure what his name would be the entire time I was pregnant. The other boys' names were decided for certain once I had to sign the Birth Certificate Papers. If he had been a girl, his name would have been Laura Ashley. That was back in the day when ultra sounds were not routine and I never knew whether the babies were boys or girls until they arrived. Andrew is the only one for sure I knew was a Boy. I just felt it in my heart the entire time I carried him.

Andrew, being born the day before July 4th, thought for many years that the 4th of July Fireworks and celebrations were specifically for his birthday. I am not sure when he figured out the separation.

Currently, Andrew is in Peru serving a 2 year mission.

I am so proud of him.He is working harder than ever with a wonderful attitude under sometimes very difficult circumstances.

I love you, Andrew.