Hunter's Blocks?

First off, I thought Hunter got those blocks from his Great Grand for Christmas. However, Christian seems to enjoy them just as much! Check out what he built while Hunter played with his matchbox cars and blocks. He was very proud of himself. He wanted me to point out that the smaller building is the garage for the house. Engineers, need I say more?!?!?!

Jumping High!!

Hunter loves to jump off of anything and everything! This has become one of his favorite pass times. He jumps off the couch, which we are working hard on stopping, he jumps off the steps into our bedroom, he jumps off the toys at Funtastic, and I could go on and on. He simply loves to jump! It really is fun to watch and he is so proud of himself as he jumps! He sure is growing up fast.

(Sorry about the other little boy in the picture. I have no idea who he is. He followed us everywhere at Funtastic that day. Kinda creepy.)

Merry Christmas!

We just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!! We hope you all are having just as good of a day as we are and plan to do all day long!

Wow - We're Spoiled!

There's a new hobby at the Schoeneman house - and it is AWESOME!!! Katie has picked up some seriously incredible cooking maneuvers in the last few days! Hunter and I have been eating some of the best food ever. A few nights ago, Katie mentioned she wanted to make Boulionada (no idea how it is spelled), but OMG! So tonight, she made a cassarole that... well, there won't be any left tomorrow :)

Needless to say, I'm really really really enjoying this new found talent! Wow, we're very spoiled!

Hunter and Santa

We took Hunter to visit Santa earlier this week and it went a lot better than we thought it was going to go. He loved looking at all the lights and the Christmas trees surrounding Santa. We put him on Santa's lap and he was ok for the most part. The lady snapped the picture really fast and it turned out great!! I will post it as soon as I get it scanned on to the computer. Hunter had zero tears while he was sitting on Santa's lap. You could tell he was a bit nervous but as long as he could see his Daddy he was fine. After his visit we went and got some cookies from Mrs. Fields. Those were a huge hit! So, it turned out to be a successful trip to visit Santa - Yay!!! One more thing, Hunter also knows that Santa says Ho Ho Ho and every time he sees a Santa or you ask him what Santa says he replies Ho Ho Ho!!! It really is quite cute!

On a different note, we are getting buried with snow today. We had about 4-5 inches from the other day and so far today we have an additional 5 and they are calling for about 5-8 more. Wow, that is a lot of snow! Hunter loves it and just keeps saying snow over and over as he looks out the window. So, we are getting snow today, another storm for Sunday and they are calling for another one on Christmas Eve. I think it is safe to say that we are going to have a white Christmas this year!

Way to go Christian!!!

I just need to brag for a minute about my husband. He had his yearly review today and he got the highest rating possible!!! Only 3 engineers in his department get this and he was one of them!!! I am so very proud of him! He certainly deserves this and more. Way to go Christian!!! Now, to think of a way to celebrate.

On a different note, Hunter got another molar. This brings him up to 18 teeth! Only 2 more to go and he is done! Woo Hoo!!!

2 Year Molars

Hunter finally cut one of his 2 year molars!!! He has been working on this tooth for the last couple of weeks and I noticed today that it was finally through the gum!!! This means he only has three more molars to cut and he is done for quite some time!! He is really close to cutting another one too. It won't be much longer and he will be done teething. Now if we could only break the cycle of these nasty colds/coughs that he seems to get ever few weeks. Hmmm....

Small Fry Update.

We had another OB appt today for Small Fry and everything looks great! Small Fry has grown a lot and is very, very active! He/She was all over the place doing flips and bouncing off the walls of his/her little home. Our doctor was really pleased with all the activity. We are right on target for where we should be at this point. So, all is well with both of our kids. Wow, that sounds strange - kids. Yikes!

Hematoma

It turns out that Hunter has a pretty good sized hematoma on his forehead. It looks worse than it is, at least I think so. His doctor told us as long as it does not continue to increase in size then he should be fine and the hematoma should go away within a week. The bruising, once it completely shows up, can last a couple of weeks. If the area continues to get bigger then they want to do a cat scan to figure out where the bleeding is coming from. So far so good. The area has not gotten any bigger. This is a very good thing. We are just going to watch it for the next few days and apply warm compresses for as long as he will let us and go from there. I guess our little guy is a true little boy - bumps, bruises and all!

Ouch!!!

It has been quite the day here so far. First off, Hunter decided to get up at 6:45 am. Then he decided to pull the coffee grounds out of the kitchen garbage and grind them into my carpet. Not cool. So, I end up pulling the vacuum cleaner out at 8 am to try and get as much of the coffee out of the carpet as possible. Then I decide to vacuum the entire house since I vacuum every week and have already started the process today. So, as I am taking the vacuum to the back of the house I hear Hunter start screaming. You know the scream I am talking about - the one where you know something really bad has happened. So, I go running back to the media room where he was watching Little Einsteins and he is crying and screaming and holding his head. I scooped him up and and started to examine him to see why he was screaming. Apparently he hit his head on something really hard and his forehead was swelling and turning an ugly shade of purple. I pulled out his ice pack and tried to keep it on as long as he would let me. Poor kid now has a lump the size of a silver dollar and it is red and yucky looking. It is going to bruise for sure. I am wondering what else is going to happen since it is only 10 in the morning right now. We have a long day ahead of us still. Ughhhhhh.......I sure hope it gets better and does not end up being one of "those" days.

It is already December!!!

Where on earth did the year go? I cannot believe that it is already December! Wow, time sure is flying by fast! Things here are getting busy as we are getting ready for the holidays. The house is beginning to look much more festive. Christian got the Christmas lights put up over the weekend since it was somewhat warm (35 degrees). Hunter loves the lights! I think we will take him out to see some displays this year. He is that into them! It is really cute to see his face light up with excitement when he sees all the lights. This year is going to be so much fun with him! I cannot wait for Christmas! Since he is just about 2 now he should be able to get into the fun this year. How exciting is that?!?!?

On a different note, we would like to congratulate a good friend of ours on her engagement.
CONGRATULATIONS CANDICE AND WYATT!!! We are so happy for you guys!!!

Trains it is!

We have decided on a theme for Hunter's room - trains!!! He LOVES trains so that will be perfect for his room. Since we will be moving most of the furniture out of his room into the other bedroom for the new baby it is a great time to give him a big boy room! I am so excited to do this for him! He will no longer have Classic Winnie the Pooh in his room, his brother or sister will. Since he is growing up and beginning to express his likes and dislikes this is the perfect time. We are going to start hunting down trains for his room today. Little by little his room will come to life! This is going to be so much fun!!!

The First Snow.

Well, it happened. It snowed and is still snowing. It is nothing major but it sure is pretty. Hunter is fascinated by the snow! This is the first year he understands what is going on outside and he is excited about going out after his nap to play. It is cute watching him standing at the doorwall asking over and over again what that white stuff is outside.

So, for all our southern friends, enjoy your warm weather while we sit up here in Michigan watching the snow fall. Honestly, I do not think I would trade it this early in the year. Ask me again in January and I am sure I will have a different answer.

All is well.

Everything here is on the quiet side. That is a good thing. Hunter is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. He is talking more and more each day. Of course, some of the words coming out of his mouth only his parents can understand, but that is ok. He is talking! For the first time in a long time I can say that all of us are healthy at the same time! At least we were yesterday. Hunter and Christian are still sleeping away. I am the only one up. Which is kind of nice. I am sitting here at the computer listening to the rain falling that will soon be switching over to snow. So, today will mostly be spent indoors. Perhaps we will head up to Canton to visit MeeMaw since Papa is gone hunting. Hunter sure does love his MeeMaw! It is wonderful to see them together. There is something special about seeing your child with his grandma. It simply melts your heart.
So, all in all, everything is well here. We are slowing getting ready for Small Fry. It is still hard to believe that I am pregnant again. Some days I totally forget because Hunter keeps me so busy! This pregnancy is completely different from my last pregnancy. It is amazing how they differ. Perhaps this one is a girl. Hmmmmmm.....we will find out in a couple of months! We are not waiting until the birth this time around. We want to know before hand so that we can get ready if it is a girl.
Hunter is now waking up. That means Christian will be getting up as well. Enjoy your weekend everyone. I know I will enjoy mine. I have my awesome family to spend it with!

Big Brother!

Hunter is going to be a BIG BROTHER!!! We are happy to announce that our next little one is expected on June 22, 2009!!! This will complete our family and we could not be any happier! We are so excited and blessed to be able to experience this all over again. I will make sure to post updates and belly pictures as we get them.

Congratulations!!!

CONGRATULATIONS JOE AND JAIME!!!

Our friends, Joe and Jaime, welcomed their first child last night at 10:45 pm. Joseph Michael arrived on Halloween! We are so happy for them and cannot wait to meet their newest family member. Congrats again!

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! We hope everyone has a wonderfully spooky day!

On a different note we wanted to wish our friends Joe and Jaime good luck today as they are being induced with their first baby!!! Best of luck to the two of you and here is hoping for a good delivery!

Monkey Man!

Hunter can now get into his stroller all by himself! It is really quite cute. All you need to do is unfold it and tell him to get ready for a walk and he climbs right in! I will need to try and get it on video and post that. He loves his walks! He will go and try and pull his stroller out when he is ready to go for one. Even while he had the Croup bad he still wanted to go for his walks. Speaking of his Croup, it is getting so much better. We had to stop his steroids and cough suppressant and expectorant because he began to vomit and there was a small amount of blood in it. The doctor said it was a reaction to the meds. Poor kid, not only did he feel yucky from the Croup but the meds were making it that much worse. Last night was the first night in well over a week that he did not cough or wake up all night long! I sure hope he is over the Croup.

The Croup

Hunter has the croup. This is not fun for any of us. Poor kid. He started out with just a cold and it has become the croup. He is coughing so hard that he is vomiting. I feel so bad for him. The doctor told us this could last 10-14 days and we are only on day 4 - YIKES!! He is on an oral steroid and a super strong cough suppressant and expectorant. I sure hope he is better for Halloween.

Changes with the house.

Well, we have done some big changes in our house. At least they are big for us! We got new carpet, thanks to a certain black kitty, in our media room and it looks awesome! It went from a navy blue to a light cream. It makes the room look so much bigger! We also got a dishwasher!!! This is huge for us since we have never had one! No more doing dishes while Hunter eats lunch and Christian can relax a bit now once Hunter is in bed. Christian has also been working hard on the kitchen. He got the ceiling painted, the new light fixture hung with the help of my dad and most of the mudding and sanding done on the walls. So, now all he has to do is paint the walls and the kitchen will be done! It looks great!!! So, needless to say, we have been quite busy over here!

Too Cute!!!

Hunter went to his first Halloween party this past Thursday and had so much fun!

Yes, this is his second Halloween but his first party. He was too young to attend any last year and have fun. So, Hunter and I went to one this year while Christian was at work. Hunter had a blast and looked adorable in his monkey costume! I sure hope he enjoys his costume on Halloween. We shall see.

Changing Weather

Well, it is sad to say but the seasons are changing. Even though autumn is my favorite season it leads into winter. This winter is forecasted to be below normal temperatures and above average snowfall. Yuck. So, we started getting the house ready for the cold and dark days ahead. Our pool is closed until spring and the AC units are taken out of the windows. Hopefully next year we will have central air and not have to worry about this task. I am getting ready to cut back all my gardens for the year. This is quite depressing. Although fall does lead to winter there are fun things that we are looking forward to doing as a family. Apple Charlies is not far away and molasses for my cookies sounds pretty good. The leaves are beginning to change colors and fall from the trees and this means we will have piles for us all to run and play in including Hunter. I think he will really like this! There is a certain crispness and smell to the air that only autumn can provide. I wish I could bottle that smell and save it for the dead of winter. There is also Halloween right around the corner! I cannot wait to carve pumpkins with my little man. Then before we know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here. I just love the holiday season. So, I guess it is not that bad that the weather is beginning to change. Afterall, in order to get to next summer we need to conquer winter first. So, I am going to enjoy my most favorite season of all to it's absolute fullest - autumn!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

We hope you have a great birthday! We love you lots!

3 years ago....

Three years ago at this time I was getting my hair done at my parent's house for my wedding! I married my best friend three years ago today! Our wedding was PERFECT!! I would not change a thing that happened that day. That includes the rain in the morning and my dress getting torn. Everything that happened that day added to our memories.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CHRISTIAN!!! I love you with all that I am!

Prayers

Please keep our Texas friends in your prayers. They returned home yesterday to find their home practically destroyed. They lost just about everything due to Hurricane Ike. They are at a complete loss right now and are very frustrated, scared and sad. We are going to do anything and everything we can to help them out from up here. But, that will be hard. We wish we could go down there to help them out personally but that is not possible. So, please say a few prayers that everything turns out ok for them.

One Big Bird!

Wow, the other day I was looking out my kitchen window and I saw this hawk in my neighbor's backyard. This bird was huge!! We do not see birds like this everyday where we live. It just stood there for several minutes until it walked into the bushes and caught some poor animal. I knew it had caught something because you could hear the scuffle from under the hedges. It has not been back since.

When do they slow down???

Ok, this morning I was getting Hunter ready to go to Funtastic and we were putting on his sandals and he fought me tooth and nail. So, I decided it was time to take another trip to the shoe store after his nap. Well, our son no longer fits in his 6 1/2 double wide shoes. He now wears a size 8 double wide!!! The lady at the store assured us that he had some growing room and these shoes should fit for 3-4 months. I really hope so! We are going to go broke spending money on shoes and clothes for this boy! When on earth do they slow down in the growth department?

Big Plans!

Well, they are to us anyway! This coming weekend Christian and I are actually getting a very special treat! MeeMaw and Papa are taking Hunter for Saturday night so we can go out a bit early to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary!!! We are going to see a concert that my parents got us tickets to on Saturday after we go out to dinner and then we are planning on going out dancing!! This has been a long time coming and we are so excited! Then on Sunday we are going to the Renaissance Festival! Don't get me wrong, I love spending lots of time with my son but I do miss going out alone with my husband. So, while we are out on the town Hunter will be getting spoiled by his MeeMaw and Papa for sure! Now, if only it were Saturday............

Colds are the worst!

Poor Hunter. He appears to have a cold. Summer colds are some of the worst to get rid of - poor kid. He is so congested and is not sleeping well either. His nose will not stop running and we are constantly wiping it. I feel so bad for him. Just when we think things are great something like this happens. Now Christian and I are just waiting for the cold to make it's way to us. YUCK! Purell is all I have to say and Lysol too!

Look what I found!

Well, this morning I was doing some dishes and Hunter was playing really well by himself in the great room. It suddenly got very quiet and for those of you with kids you know that is never a good sign. So, I dried off my hands and went to check on him. I found him perched upon the table next to our couch grinning from ear to ear and then he giggled and waved at me! Not good. So, my son is taking after his Uncle Matt. Hunter's Uncle Matt climbed everything as a child and that is what Hunter is determined to do too. What fun times!

18 Month Check Up

Hunter had his 18 month check up today and all is well. He is 30 pounds and 33 1/4 inches tall! Quite the big boy now!! He is basically wearing 24 month pants/shorts and 2T-3T shirts. It all depends on the brand. The doctor was not concerned with anything about Hunter. She said he is right on target for his age. She did note that he does have a temper and he does come by that honestly from both sides of his family. That is nothing new to us! So, he is free and clear until his two year check up in February 2009!

We have a fish!

Hunter had his first swim lesson today at the YMCA! He takes the class on Saturdays with his Daddy. He really loves the class! I was able to sit back and watch as Hunter splashed until his little heart was content! Christian really enjoyed the class too. He got to meet other dads. Much to our surprise most of the kids in Hunter's class were there with their dads. It was perfect for Christian and Hunter! Hunter even decided today would be a great day to go under water for the very first time all on his own! So, needless to say, swim lessons are a huge hit for our little fish!

Savannah has arrived!!!

CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE AND STEVE!!

Stephanie and Steve welcomed their second daughter earlier today!!! Savannah was born at 8:41 am after a very short (3 hrs) and hard labor. Both Stephanie and Savannah are doing well. Savannah is BEAUTIFUL!!! Kaylie is now a BIG SISTER!! We are so happy for them!

Haircut???

Well, I think it is safe to say that Hunter is in desperate need of a haircut!! His hair is a bit on the wild side after playing in the water or a bath or just after he wakes up. What do you think? Time to go and visit Jessica. I still think he is a cutie even if his hair is out of control! Yes, his hair may look wild in the picture but it is able to be tamed. The above picture was taken after he was finished playing with his Daddy and lots of water in the backyard.

Playing in the rain!

This past weekend we had some friends over with their kids and we all had lots of fun! The kids enjoyed playing with all of Hunter's toys and little pool. However, the rain was the best! The kids had a ball running in all the puddles and playing in the rain as it fell! Christian and I were amazed at how much Hunter opened up with his two friends! It was awesome to witness! Now I really need to find some sort of a playdate thing for Hunter. He loves other kids! We have tried Gymboree in the past and in my opinion it is just not worth the money. We spent a majority of our time waiting in a line - not fun. So, I am off to search the web to find something for my little guy.

Joyce's Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOYCE!!!

We hope your day turns out to be all that you want and more! Hunter sends his Great Grandmom special hugs and kisses!!

It's July 15th!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN!!!

Hunter and I hope you have a fantastic day!! We are looking forward to spending the afternoon and evening with you! We love you very much!! Happy Birthday!!

Splish, Splashin Fun!!!

Well, Hunter has taken to the water GREAT!!! He loves the pool, both ours and Nana Kay's. He loves to get his feet in and kick like crazy!! The more of his body that is in the water the better it is! The best is when Christian takes him in the pool. They could spend hours in the pool. They both love it that much. So, needless to say, swimming lessons are in our very near future!! I am so glad that Hunter likes the water as much as he does. Christian and I are both water babies so having Hunter join in is perfect!

Just some random shots.

I figured I would just post a few pics since nothing new and exciting is going on here. We are enjoying our summer and working away on some house projects. That is about it. Hunter is still doing great and getting into anything and everything!

30

Well, I turned 30 on the 22nd and it sure was not as big of a deal as everyone thought it would be. Everyone kept telling me that you are leaving your youth behind and that I am old now. Hmmmmm.....I still do not feel old or that I left my youth behind. I feel great!!! I had an awesome birthday weekend! My husband got me a spa weekend along with tons of things from Bath and Body Works and even some candles and a new DVD. We took Hunter to the petting farm for the first time and he had a blast! He loved to pet the bunnies and look at the baby chicks. The cow was a bit intimidating for him. But, that animal is HUGE!! My parents came over for dinner on Sunday and spent some time with Hunter. Then on Monday we spent the day as a family and took Hunter down by the river and he discovered seagulls! Man, he loves to chase those birds! He gets that from me. I loved to chase seagulls growing up and I still love to have fun with those birds! So, overall, my birthday was amazing!! Being 30 is really no different than being 29. Age is just a number afterall!!

#39!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!
We hope you have a fantastic day in Ann Arbor and enjoy yourselves at lunch! Take a minute to just enjoy each other today and look back at the wonderful 39 years of your marriage!
We love you both lots!!

5 Days Left

I only have 5 more days left of my 20's. I have been told by many people that your 30's are the best years of your life - I will have to wait and see. So far my 20's have been incredible! I graduated from Madonna University with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education. I met Christian and we married and later had a wonderful little boy! I can only imagine what is going to happen in my 30's that will be able to top my 20's. Hmmmmm.........

Happy Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE!!!

Hunter wants to send out a special Happy Father's Day wish to his Daddy. He hopes his Daddy has a wonderful day and he will try to be extra good today! We love you Christian and hope you have a fantastic day!! You certainly deserve it because you are the BEST father for our son! We love you lots!!

Busy, Busy, Busy Day!

WOW!! Today was a jammed packed day! Hunter was on the move A LOT!! First off, we had business to take care of at the bank this morning and Hunter was such a good boy. Next, we had our daily 2-3 mile walk and then a nap. After Hunter's nap we played out in his new pool and then went to Bouncing Off The Walls and had lots of fun jumping in all the huge inflatables! Hunter has been there before with me but this was his first time with his Daddy and they had so much fun! Hunter is certainly in a Daddy phase right now and he just lights up with laughter whenever he sees his Daddy. It really is a sight! After our jumping time we had pizza for dinner, which is one of Hunter's favorite meals! Then our friends stopped by and Hunter and Evelyn got to enjoy his pool together. Then it was time for a bath and then bed. My little guy crashed hard! He sure was tuckered out after his day. May he sleep well. I just love my son to pieces! Hunter and Christian are the BEST part of my life!! I am so lucky!

June, already?!?!

Holy Cow! I just realized that it is already June!! Where has the year gone? It almost feels like Hunter's first birthday was only a few weeks ago. Wow, time really does fly by once you have kids.

So, we spent the last day of May at Elizabeth Park and had lots of fun as a family. We spent time at the playground and then walked over to the ponies. We eventually ended up down at the water and relaxed for a bit. It was a really nice day. As a matter of fact, it was the perfect way to end the month of May.

I absolutely love the picture of Hunter and Christian walking together hand in hand over to the ponies at the park. It was just one of those moments that was perfect for taking a picture. I can't believe how big our little boy is getting. Before we know it he will be off to his first day of school.

All is well.

We are all still doing well - no worries. It has been a while since I posted last thanks to our computer deciding to die. Perhaps a little blonde headed, blue eyed little boy had something to do with it. We may never know. Anyways, the computer is up and running again so I am able to post!! There is no exciting news to report. We are all just fine and Hunter is still growing like a weed. As a matter of fact, we took him to get his feet properly sized for shoes the other day and his feet are HUGE!!! He wears a 6 1/2 double wide! HOLY COW!!! His shoes were more expensive than mine! WOW! The major upset to that is that he will most likely outgrow these shoes within the next few months. Will the spending of money ever slow down???

A Happy Day!

Today is a great day! It is my cousin Erin's birthday and we also got wonderful news yesterday. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN and CONGRATULATIONS JOE AND JAIME!!!

We are really looking forward to celebrating Erin's birthday with her and her husband this coming weekend. It should be lots of fun even if our son is being a complete crab apple!

We can't wait to meet Joe and Jaime's new addition to the family. That is right, Joe and Jaime are expecting their first baby this November!! It will be an adventure that will last a lifetime!

Happy Mother's Day!!

First off, I would like to wish all you moms out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! I hope you all have a relaxing day because as moms we all certainly deserve it! I would also like to add that I think I have a great family! The picture helps to prove that, except for the fact that Hunter is desperately trying to get down!!

Next, I would like to share what my wonderful husband and sweet little boy got for me for Mother's Day. First, it started out with me sleeping in, a rare thing. Then Hunter brought me a card from just him. He carried it to me and all. It was adorable! Christian then gave me his gift. It completely blew me away! He got me an afternoon at the spa!!! I have never had this before and I must say that I am super excited about it! I get a full body massage, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure! That is all going to take about 3 1/2 hours!! I get a 3 1/2 hour break! WOW!!! My husband ROCKS!!! So, needless to say, I am definately getting pampered for Mother's Day!

Let May Begin!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!
We hope you have a great day and we are sure you will since you have the day off of work!! What a wonderful birthday present!! Hunter hopes his MeeMaw is smiling all day long! We love you lots!!!

One of the best moms!

I just wanted to take a minute to say that I think my good friend Mandy is one of the BEST moms I know!! She has two incredible little girls and they are the way they are because of their terrific parents! Mandy has been there through some pretty rough times for me and I just want to tell her thank you! She has always offered wonderful advice on how to handle things with Hunter - even if it was to find a toilet big enough to flush him right down! If she was not a great mom I would never go to her for advice. So, Mandy, if you are reading this please know that you are a fabulous mom and your girls are so lucky to have you and Jason for their parents!!

Random Jibber Jabber

Well, we have a few projects going on at our house for the moment. They are sure to improve on how the house looks both inside and out. First. Outside, I am beginning to line all my gardens with a stone border. I am really excited about how the gardens will look once this is complete! No more lawn growing into my gardens!!! That will be awesome!! Second. Christian has started to tear out our kitchen ceiling. My Dad and him will be redoing it together. We will be adding some new lights to it as well. This will really open up our kitchen and make it a lot brighter too! We are both super excited about this project. Third. I am hoping to begin repainting our bedroom and bathroom. I love to paint and this will make our bedroom much nicer. Last, but certainly not least, we are working hard at getting Hunter off the bottle. He will only drink water from a sippy cup. Strange child, I know. However, today I used an Avent trainer cup and he used it!!! This is a step in the right direction! Now, if only I could get him to use one of the other million sippy cups that we have on hand. One day. Of course, he has to give up the bottle sooner or later. He would pretty silly sitting at the lunch table drinking out of a bottle! What would his future girlfriend and friends say about that?!?!?!

Toddler Fest 2008!!!

Toddler Fest 2008 was a HUGE success!!! We got home yesterday from Sioux City and we had a blast!! We left on Thursday the 17th and got to Grand's house later that afternoon. Hunter was great on the plane as well as the drive up from Omaha! Hunter made himself right at home the moment we walked in the door - he had no fear!! He took off and went right up the stairs and that is how he spent most of his time - going up and down the stairs! We were all amazed at how comfortable he was immediately! Grand could not have been happier!! The look on her face when we finally arrived was enough to make our year! She was so happy and we were so happy to be there and for her and Hunter to meet! We made so many wonderful memories and have lots and lots of pictures. Not only did Hunter spend time with his Great Grand but he also met his Great Aunt Jan and Great Uncle Sandy as well as Tim, Heather, Henry and Hailey! Grand sure did have a house full! We all really enjoyed staying with Grand and visiting with each other. It was great to have us all in the same place at the same time! It truly was a trip to remember!!

To see more pictures from our trip visit http://picasaweb.google.com/the.schoenemans and click on the April album.

Wonderful Mom!!

Yesterday may have been an incredible day for all of us, but I wanted to say what an incredible mom is :) We're getting ready to head to Sioux City to have Hunter visit his great grand mother. Katie is absolutely the most super mom ever!!! There is not one detail that she hasn't thought about, and not one thing that the little guy or I will ever be without.

All I have to say is that Katie is truly a wonderful mom and that Hunter and I are incredibly fortunate to have her!!!

Wonderful Day!!!

I just wanted to share how wonderful of a day I had yesterday. I woke up early and headed up to Canton to spend the day with my mom. It was just me and my mom. Hunter stayed home with Christian and they had a great time!! My mom and I went out to lunch, went shopping and watched a DVD without being interrupted by a small human - aka - Hunter! It was fantastic! The break was very much needed and I think my mom and I may even do some more shopping today! Wow, two days in a row - whatever am I going to do?!?!?

Fun at the park!!

Hunter and I went to the park yesterday with our friends Mandy, Evelyn and Reagan and had a BLAST! Hunter loved being outside and since it is finally starting to warm up here we have been outside a lot! Hunter had his first experience with the slide yesterday and could not get enough of it! Last summer he was way too small to have fun at the park but this summer it is all about the park. We are going to be there lots! I am so glad that my little man is an outdoors kid! Christian and I are always outside when it is nice and now our son will be too! Yay for warmer weather!!

Another Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!!!

Our nephew Caleb is turning 3 today! We can't believe it has already been 3 years since he was born! Wow, time sure does fly by fast!!

We love you lots Caleb and we hope you have a great day!!

Congrats!!!

Our friends were married in December and had their reception last night and it was AMAZING!! We are so happy for them! Their daughter, Kaylie, was certainly a charmer too! And, I am thrilled to report that the happy couple is expecting another baby girl this August!

CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE AND STEVE!!!

Congratulations!!!

CONGRATULATIONS MARK AND JEN!!!

Our friends in Iowa welcomed their second daughter, Brynn, yesterday evening! Both mom and baby are doing great! Payton is now a BIG sister!! We are very happy and excited for them!

Easter

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!!
We hope you have a blessed and joyous day!! The Easter Bunny was good to us, was he good to you?

First Birthday!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!!

Your Uncle Christian, cousin Hunter and I all hope you have a really fun day!! We are looking forward to helping you celebrate on Saturday with MeeMaw and Grandpa and everyone else too!

Texas Wedding

Congratulations Matt and Nicole!!!

Our great friends, Matt and Nicole, are getting married in Galveston, Texas later today! Christian is down there as Matt's best man and could not be any more proud to be next to his best friend on this important day! Hunter and I are hanging in there too. My mom came down for the day and night yesterday since I had either food poisoning or a really bad case of the flu. I got sick on Thursday and I am just starting to feel human again. Thank god for my mom! She is a life saver!!! Christian left on Friday morning when I was still not able to function well and my mom took over care of Hunter. Hunter has been having a blast with his MeeMaw!!! I love that I have such a wonderful family that is willing to do whatever needs to be done for anyone!!

Just Checking in!

We have not posted a picture of our little man in a while so we thought we would just check in and say hi and post a cute picture!! Nothing new to report except that Christian leaves tomorrow to go to Texas for the weekend and Hunter and I are on our own!! We will miss Christian lots. He will be back before we know it!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDY!!!

Evelyn and Reagan are going to be little angels today - I just know it!!! Have a wonderful day! Hey, it may be super cold, but at least it is not snowing!! Spring is right around the corner!

New Arrival!!!

Our good friends, Mandy and Jason, welcomed their second daughter today!!! Reagan Catherine was born at 1:15pm and weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz and is 19 inches long. She has a full head of dark, curly hair. She is absolutely gorgeous!!! Reagan is taking after her big sister Evelyn in the looks department!!! Both mom and baby are doing well and should be home in a few days.

CONGRATULATIONS MANDY AND JASON!!!

Any Ideas???

Well, I would love some new suggestions for food for my son to eat. He is becoming quite the picky eater! I am slowly losing my mind!! Every day is becoming a bigger challenge than the last to get him to eat. He used to eat like a champ and now all of a sudden he has ZERO interest even in his favorite foods. So, if you can come up with anything new and exciting for him to try I am all ears!!!
Just so you know, he won't touch pasta at all! There is something about the texture that he hates. He used to love bread and sandwiches but not any more. This goes for chicken nuggets too. He will not eat mac and cheese to save his life. Eggs are even a toss up. Pizza was a great thing for a while but that is even shaky now.
So, offer away - please!!!!

February is a special month!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAND!!!
We hope you have a wonderful birthday! Hunter sends lots of hugs and kisses! Christian and I do too!
We miss you lots and can't wait to see you again!

One Year Check Up

Hunter had his one year check up today and everything is GREAT!! He is over 25 pounds and just over 32 inches tall. He is way off the charts with his height and between 80% and 90% for his weight. He also got his MMR and Chicken Pox vaccines today. To top it off he also had his blood drawn to check for anemia. Poor guy, he sure has had a rough day. So, he does not go back to the doctor until he is 15 months old.

Very Special Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZUMMA!!
We love you very much and hope that you have a wonderful day! We miss you and hope to visit soon!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE!!
May your sweetheart treat you extra special today!

Hunter LOVES cake!!!

Well, Hunter's first birthday party was yesterday and it was a complete success!! We had so much fun and so did everyone else who came. Everyone seemed to really get a kick out of Bo Bo the Clown who made a special appearance at the party for an entire hour! Hunter really liked him too! Hunter's favorite part was his cake by far!!! He kept trying to get it to hit the ground and had everyone laughing out loud!

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!! You all made Hunter's first birthday one to remember!

First Birthday!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!

Your father and I are so proud of how far you have come in the past year! We cannot believe that a year has come and gone. We are honored to call ourselves your parents! We hope you have a wonderful day and a great time at your birthday party tomorrow. We love you more than you will ever know!

365 Days Ago

At about 6pm this evening, exactly one year ago, I went into labor with Hunter. We didn't actually go to the hospital until about 9:30pm when my contractions were about 3 minutes apart. I got admitted at 10pm and Hunter was born at 4:39am. Wow, that was a long night but so very worth it! I still cannot believe that it was a year ago already. My little man has less than 12 hours to go until he is ONE!!! I know, kinda a silly picture but that is my little guy - silly!!

Friday is almost here!!!

My little man is turning one on Friday and that is just around the corner!!! Where has all the time gone? I can't believe that he is almost one! He has come so far in the last year - walking and starting to talk now! Yikes, I have a toddler!!! What happened to my little 6 pound baby?

First February Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAT!!

Have a wonderful day and we are looking forward to seeing you next weekend at Hunter's party! Skip better spoil you today, which I am sure he will!!

Sledding Adventures

Well, we took Hunter sledding for the first time about a week ago and he LOVED it!!! It was his first time playing in the snow and wearing his snowsuit. He thought it was AWESOME!! I thought he was going to lose his mind with his snowsuit on but I was wrong. He didn't seem to care at all. He laughed and smiled the entire time we were out in the snow! It really was tons of fun. We even went over to Nana Kay's to show her Hunter using his sled and she loved it too! Thank goodness Hunter likes the snow because we are supposed to get hit hard with a big winter snowstorm tonight!! I think we will be going sledding again tomorrow!!! YAY for snow and little boys who like to play in it too!! I think this helps me and Christian get back to the little kids that are in us too.

Have fun and be safe!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!!

Have a fantastic day!! We also want to say to have fun and be safe while you are mountain climbing in Patagonia (South America)!!! We can't wait to hear all about your adventure! We love you lots!

Another Special Day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!!

We hope you and Matt have a nice and relaxing day out in Colorado! We miss you both lots!!

I am in trouble now!!!

It is official.....

We have a walker!!! I guess from what I am told I am in trouble now!! Hunter took his first steps just over 2 weeks ago and today he surprised me by walking across our entire bedroom with a big grin on his face! As the day went on his walking became more and more. He walked to his daddy as he came in the door from work and the look on Christian's face was priceless. We are both so proud of our little boy!! Of course when he wants to get somewhere fast he cruises on all fours but I think that will soon come to an end. He will be running in no time. That thought is scary!

On top of walking he also said hi and fishy today!! His vocabulary is growing! It has certainly been a very busy day for Hunter. This is a day for the baby book for sure!!!

New Picture Site

I know we posted the address to our new picture site on the old blog but I thought it would be a good idea to post it here too. Enjoy!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/the.schoenemans

Special Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

We hope you had a wonderful day and that Caleb and Michael were both good little boys for you!!!

The Old Blog

Well, we've moved our blog to this new site.

To visit the old blog, and all of the wonderful things that it documented, please check out: www.geocities.com/syoke_2001

Less than a month!

Wow, my little boy will be one in less than a month!! I still can't believe that he is growing and changing so much so fast!! It is so exciting and sad at the same time. I was looking through pictures from when he was a newborn the other day and he looks totally different now. It is amazing! He is looking more and more like his daddy each day. We are such a lucky set of parents to be blessed with such an amazing little boy!!