Party Hearty!

We celebrated Colter's 2nd birthday this past Friday. I still can't believe that my baby is two! Gosh, he is so cute!

I am so thankful for my extended family. I'm extremely blessed with such awesome parents and lots of siblings who I love and adore. Our days are numbered here in Billings together. Come this spring my parents are moving to Washington state! Makes me a little weepy, okay a lot weepy thinking about it. So, any opportunity I have to get together with them, I'm jumping on it! No different with Coley's birthday - so we packed up and headed to Nana and Papa's house to have a party.

I love getting together with my enormous family, all the dynamics in personalities, the kids running and screaming, the noise of many conversations taking place, laughter that echoes. It feels like home. I'm sure my poor husband feels like he is thrown into a zoo, which at times isn't far from the truth. But, I love it. Love the craziness of it all.

We had pizza and some very colorful cupcakes that I did not make. Hunter was our entertainment, he sure is our little comedian. Oh man, I have my work cut out for me. He makes my heart smile...a lot. We enjoyed conversation, good food and great company. It was such a blessing to celebrate our sweet baby boy. Here are a few pictures, enjoy!

 

Happy Birthday Mr. Sunshine

Today is the day my sweet baby, Colter James, entered the world two years ago. Our home has been made warm and fuzzy with the addition of this little man's sweet personality. I can't help but look at him every day and think to myself, "there is no way you could get any cuter" but somehow, he does. Not only does he bring a smile to my face a bagillion times a day, he lights up any room he walks into. He is such a blessing to our family and I cannot imagine our lives without him.

 Colter James Schwaderer

 January 6, 2010 at 7:56am - 7lbs and 19.5 inches long

Coley's 2 year well-child check up is next week. So I'll have his "official" stats then. But in the mean time, here is Colter's year in review:

• He walks on his knees with amazing form. 

• His vocabulary continues to grow, some favorite words: snack, milk, noey (no), puke, poop, I love you and nigh, nigh (night, night), okay, gosh and ceweal (cereal) 

• He sleeps all night in his own bed from 7pm to 6am. 

• Took his first trip to the ER for 4 stitches on his sweet little forehead.

• He takes one nap a day from 10:30am-1:30pm.

• Finally walks on his FEET at 19 months! 

• He eats just about anything, except peaches.

• Loves to read books and likes to sing songs and dance.

He is generally a good natured little one who tends to go with the flow, smile lots and still likes to cuddle, ohhh that makes my heart happy!

Dear Colter,

You are genuinely the sweetest, most beautiful two year little boy in my book. You have blessed our family beyond measure with your gentle spirit. You light up our lives and remind me daily of unconditional love. I count myself blessed to be your Mama and look forward to all your new milestones this year. I pray that Jesus would protect you and soften and mold your heart in His timing and will. You are fearfully and wonderfully made little one. I love you so much, Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mama

Mr. Sunshine today.

A New Year - 2012

So, I took a year off from blogging. But I'm back! It's one of my goals for the New Year to get back to it! It's a super fun way to keep a journal. Now, to just stick with it! I feel like I have a million goals for this year....here are a few in no particular order:

• Lose about half my body weight, attempt to drag myself to the gym 3 times a week.
• Become an "avid" not extreme couponer.
• Organize my life a little better. So, actual use the calendar and day planners I purchase.
• Become a better housekeeper and cook.
• Read one book a month, so this also means we will utilize the public library more than once a year.
• Join a woman's bible study.
• Get out of debt - actually sticking to my very structured budget.

That's all I can rattle off at the moment. It's kind of exciting to plan and look forward to this new year, fresh start. I can't wait to see how things change.

As for the celebration of the New Year, well it was spent right here at home. I attempted to make a grocery list, the boys napped most of the day and I cut out a bagillion coupons in preparation for my "avid" couponing. I've rented 3 movies to watch tonight, hmmm for a moment I must have thought I was 16 again, standing there at the Red Box kiosk, I'm not sure I can make it through one movie tonight let alone three. The warmth of my bed is calling my name, along with my soon-to-be 2 year old who is throwing a royal fit about bedtime. So, I'm off to rescue him and tuck myself in. Movies will have to wait.

To more blogging days ahead...

Happy 7th Birthday, Walker!

December 9th, 2003

Today, December 9th, 2010 at exactly 4:59am my Walker Jason Schwaderer turned seven years old. Wow! I cannot believe it has been seven years. Just seven years ago I received such a great, sweet, wonderful blessing! My heart is so full.


Walker you are my shining star. You have a way of making me smile everyday. I am so proud of the person that you are becoming. You are kind, gentle, warm hearted and full of life. I am so thankful that Jesus is the Lord of your life and that you want to please him in all you do.

Walker 1 year old

Walker's First Birthday 12/09/2004

Walker, 7 years old

You are the best brother any boy could ask for. You are patient and loving, you sure are smart and share your knowledge with others. You are the best son any mother could ever ask for. You light up my days and you fill our home with laughter - I am so proud to be your Momma. Happy Birthday!

Thanksgiving 2010

So, we had a small change in plans. We ended up not traveling to Missoula, rather we stayed here. We have had what I would call massive amounts of snow over the last week which helped in derailing the travel plans. It was a blessing in disguise. I was feeling really stressed about going - just the norm...packing two cribs, clothes, shoes, diapers, wipes, snow boots, pillows, snacks, DVD player, oil change in car the list really goes on and on (that's how I was feeling) not to mention it was going to be a short trip anyway (leaving Wednesday night, coming home Saturday) So, after a small ridiculous (as in I don't even remember what) argument with Jason (we manage to have lots of those), we both decided that it would be best to stay home. I felt relieved. I called his parents stressing they would be super disappointed, but they were glad we were staying home due to the road conditions, they were worried we would try to tough it out. Hopefully, if the weather permits Grandma and Grandpa Schwaderer will be able to come to Billings for Christmas!

I called my Mom to let her know we weren't going and see what I could bring over on Thursday. Thanksgiving was really nice, it was a lazy, nice quiet day. The kids were up super early (like 4:30am early), that is the trend here lately - so we had breakfast and watched a movie. Jason slept in and as soon as he has his coffee I was down for a nap - a massive 3 hour nap. I felt like a whole new woman. Love, love naps! We headed out to Mom and Dad's about 4ish and enjoyed lots of yummy food, visited with family, the kids played. Colter was a mess - poor guy. He is cutting his two front teeth and he was just miserable. My sister, Sarah, even said I've never heard him cry this much. It was so true, he is such a happy baby, but he felt miserable. Not to mention the stranger anxiety has kicked in - he wanted nothing to do with anyone that wasn't Mom or Dad. So, we did cut our visit a bit short for the sake of Colter. We were home by 7pm and we were all in bed at 7:30pm. It was glorious!

Friday, I did get to go do some shopping all alone. Hehe. That was fun and fantastic, just to have some alone time, try on clothes, do a little Christmas shopping, eat a nice quiet meal. (It was so appreciated Jason, thank you again) I brought home sandwiches for dinner from Staggering Ox and again it was a nice quiet night.

The whole weekend was just that...relaxing. There were moments that the kids were going stir crazy, but we managed.

There are so many things that I am thankful for. This whole month I have really tried to take time and think of all the things I am thankful for, remembering all the ways that God has truly blessed our family. Here are just a few, I am thankful for salvation and a loving, forgiving, gracious Savior. I am so thankful for my three boys, for their health, for the love they display to each other, the joy they bring Jason and I. I'm so thankful for the jobs that Jason and I have, that we are able to work, that we have the ability to avoid daycare and one of us is always able to be with them. I am thankful for our home, and all the comforts it provides. We have so much to be thankful for, it really makes me sad how I can complain so much. I am thankful for that reminder - that we are stuffed full of blessings and instead of complaining about what I don't have or what I wish I had. I should be beaming with gratitude and thanksgiving for all I have.

Here are a few snapshots from this week:

Colter and his teeth

Hunter (he is so hard to get a picture of, always moving!)

Look at all that snow!

The Holiday Season

Well it is that time of the year. I love that the holidays are all around the corner. I am so excited! Thanksgiving, Christmas and for us Walker's birthday and Colter's birthday. We have a very busy couple of months ahead of us.

The kids and I are making cards for family writing why we are thankful for each of them and the special ways they have touched our lives this year. We are working on Christmas tree ornaments and we are also working on our Advent calender. I love finding projects and making time to accomplish them.

I really want to make the Holidays special for our family, but I also want to instill in them at a young age that Christmas is not about gifts and "stuff", that it is our Saviors birth and that alone is the reason for this wondrous celebration. I also want my children to grow concerned about others that are less fortunate, but more that just be concerned or just a fleeting thought of what we could do, they would be motivated by the love of Christ to contribute, to make a difference, to share the message of our Savior even if it is in small childlike ways. So, we are coming up with ways that we can give, different ways we can share the love of Jesus this holiday season. I can't wait to share... so stay tuned!

We are heading to Missoula for Thanksgiving this year. It will be a short trip, but a meaningful one. We are leaving Wednesday evening when Jason gets off work and returning to Billings Saturday. Earlier this week we found out that Jason's grandma has colon cancer - and the prognosis isn't very good at this time. She is seeing the Oncologist this week and we are praying that there would be more optimism at this appointment and that the cancer can be treated. I know that seeing her great-grandsons will lift her spirits, so this trip is really needed. Not to mention the boys are really looking forward to seeing their grandparents!

Hope you are having a blessed week.

Whirlwind

Oh my I am so far behind. This post will be like a months worth of updates and pictures. But better late than never, right?

Well Colter is now 10 months! I can't believe it! Where did the time go? I just enjoy him so much! He is such a good, happy, content little man. Here is an update of from his 6/9 month well baby check up: October 27, 2010 - Colter finally has his 6 and 9 month well baby check ups all combined into one. He is so the third child. Here are the stats: 20lbs 2oz, 27 inches long, his little noggin measured at 18 inches. He is 30th percentile for weight, 20th for height and 50th for his head. He got caught up on all his shots and Walker and Hunter got their flu shots. They did great, I was pretty impressed myself.

So while we were at the doctors I talked with her about how Colter hasn't been eating any baby food or people food for that matter, and how he is still not sitting up at 9 months. She reassured me that he is very capable, it's just the 3rd child syndrome. He will when he wants to. Fast forward to two weeks later...Colter is eating three "meals" a day, usually fruit and cereal or a yogurt and/or a vegetable (no green beans or peas - he won't eat those) He is using a sippy cup with just water at meal time and he is doing awesome with it! He still has three 6oz bottles a day of formula usually before his morning nap around 10am, again in the afternoon 2pm ish and before bed at 7:30pm. His two front teeth are making there way out as we speak...pictures to follow soon.

He also decided that sitting up was alright. He has been sitting in the Bumbo chair quite a bit and today I put him on the floor with the Bobby pillow behind him and he stayed sitting up for 20 minutes. Momma was proud and so was he. He will be crawling soon, it seems like overnight he has just grown so much. I cherish every little moment with him.

Colter - 10 Months

Okay so there is a little update on Colter...switch modes- Halloween! Oh we had fun, party and all! Walker had a Halloween party Saturday the 30th - I had six boys all decked out in their fabulous costumes, a pinata, lots of candy, great weather, fun games and one tired Mama post party. How does it work that everyone was in bed by 7:30pm (including my husband) and I was still trudging away? Oh yes that's right, my name is Mom...we are always the last to fall asleep and the first to awake? Am I right?

Frankenstein Cupcakes

Ironman, Harry Potter and a Ninja

Decorations

All the boys, minus Walker

Love this picture, oh memories! (this will be fun to look at when they are all teenagers)

Colter the Tiger

Trying to get a picture of these boys...

Love it - Great family photo!

We also had a party at Walker's school, Spooktacular! Jason stayed home with the little boys and Walker and I headed out to the big event. He loved the haunted house, I think he went through that thing like 20 times. More candy and he even won a cake! It was a pretty good time.

On Halloween we went to out church's Reformation Party, the boys sure had fun playing games, eating candy, running around like wild animals and I again was exhausted by the time we got home. I was secretly glad it was raining, trick-or-treating was cut very short. Walker was unhappy, but I just couldn't do anymore. Walking around in the rain, asking for candy was not on the priority list at that time. Maybe next year we'll make it out to more than our next door neighbors.

We have been busy these past couple of weeks. I am looking forward to a some what slower schedule, Thanksgiving and the holidays. We are planning to go to Missoula to share Thanksgiving with Jason's parents and visit my grandparents - hope the weather cooperates. I will post more pictures soon. Blessings!