Christmas 2012

Christmas was a blast! C got into the presents and excitement so much more this year. We celebrated with the Hubby's family on the 24th and Matt got off that morning. When he got home C said, "Merry Christmas!! Presents?" He was so excited we decided to let him open them a day early. Matt and I both agreed that Christmas is WAY more fun when you have kids! :)

 New Thomas Ornament! 

 New markers! C loves to color.

C's big present-- a bike! He was so excited! Love that smile!

 With Aunt Sadie

Hina, a friend visiting from Japan.

New Tigger!

Ears and a tail for C too!

Baby G with Boppa

Thankful for our many blessings!

Christmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas!

Matt: Got assigned to a fire station earlier this year and is enjoying his new crew. We love his flexible schedule and all the time we can spend together as a family. Matt likes to run and is planning to run a marathon in 2013, his fourth. 

Elyssa: I love being home with the boys and still manage to find some time to maintain my jewelry business. I’m enjoying making our new house a home and getting all settled in.

Caleb: Is a great big brother! He brings lots of joy to our family with his enthusiasm for life and cheerful personality. He is quite the little talker. He is into anything with wheels; trains, firetrucks, and our riding lawnmower, which he likes to get rides on with Daddy.

Gunther: Lots of smiles and coos! He just learned to roll and is starting to giggle. He is a happy, content baby and we feel blessed to have him be part of our family!

We hope this holiday season is filled with joy and special memories for you! 

Here are a few pictures of highlights from this year:

We welcomed Baby Gunther to our family October 8th!

Caleb turns 2!

Pella Tulip Festival

Wisconsin Dells

Jogging Buddies

Our new home!

Happenings

I can't believe baby G is already 2 months! Where has the time gone??? Here are some pictures of things going on in our world.

 Lots of smiles!

Baby G has really started liking being in his bouncy seat and tries to touch the toys. He also smiles and coos at them. :)

Daddy and C have been able to have a lot of fun together lately while mommy is busy with baby G! Trips to the library, running errands, jogging, tractor rides! (The tractor mower came with the house. Probably C's favorite thing about living here. :) 

 Jogging buddies!

 Coloring together!

 C with daddy and his "John Deere Green" Tractor.

Donut run.

C is really into deer right now. We live in a wooded area now and see them quite a bit. One night a neighbor dog chased one up onto our front porch. Ever since when we or guests leave our house C says, "Be careful the deer on the porch!"

Some of C's favorite things:

Activities: Being read to and reading to us, playing with his doggie scooter, tractor rides with daddy, coloring with markers, and baking with mommy.

Foods: Thomas gummy snacks, quesadillas, smoothies, fruit leathers, fruit, black olives, chips and salsa, cheese and crackers and anything else Hubby snacks on. Caleb is always mooching off daddy. "I have some?"

Things to play with: Thomas trains! His doggie scooter. He pretends it is a motor cycle and makes it "jump." Blocks. His tractors from when daddy was a boy and daddy's old firetruck. Puzzles. He can do   24 piece ones now.

C knows all his colors now and is learning how to count. The highest he's gotten is 7. :) 

In other news, we've started easing into some potty training and he's already gone twice in his little potty! 

 G loves tummy time! He rolled over at 8 weeks!

 Taken at Thanksgiving.

 My 3 boys!

C as an angel at our church's Christmas program.

He looks so big here! He is a big boy! We're curious to see what he weighs at his 2 month doctor visit. He's definitely at least a month ahead of where C was at his age size wise.

Trying hard to roll. (He did a couple days after this picture was taken.)

Things have definitely settled into a new "normal" and we're adjusting well to being a family of four. Hubby and I are usually worn out by 8pm, but I think that's to be expected with a active 2 year old and 2 month old. :) We wouldn't want it any other way and are very thankful for our precious treasures.

He's here!

Last week we welcomed our new little guy to the family! Gunther Lee. His name means "Warrior" and "Fierce as a Lion." He weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs, 3 oz. and 22" long only two days after his due date. I was glad we decided to induce so soon after my due date! With Caleb we waited 10 days and he was 9 lbs. Hubby says I "know how to grow them." :)

Here are a few pictures of our new little blessing!

 40 week picture

He's here! 

 Peaceful moment with Daddy

 Big boy!

 C meets Gunther for the first time. Not quite sure what to think at first but by the time he left he had called him by name and announced to a nurse who came in, "Baby Brudder." :)

 Gma and Gpa McDowell

 Ertz Family

Uncle Joe

 Our family of four!

 Little bright eyes with daddy!

 Caleb "sharing." Too sweet. Caleb has only continued to warm up to baby Gunther. He loves to give him toys, help burp him, hold him, give him kisses and mimics his little coos and cries.

When we go places he asks, "Baby tum too?"

He'll often ask, "Baby a little sad?" when Gunther cries.

First Bath.

Our two sweet boys!

We feel very blessed! Gunther is a great baby. He took right to nursing and is an awesome sleeper. Most nights I only have to get up once! He is starting to get so much more alert and has started smiling. I have yet to catch a smile on camera.

Look at those cheeks! They get kissed a lot! :)