Little Full...Alotta Sap.

"We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols."

Because why wouldn't we do this?! You would too!

Michael & I (minus Oliver this year - too cold & too little) embarked on a 1st time excurusion for us both...hunting for & cutting down a real Christmas tree. We journeyed just outside of Sioux Falls to a tree farm full of evergreens. There's nothing like the fresh smell of pine to get ya going. It was a lot of fun to trudge through the snow on a chilly morning to find the perfect one. And sawing it down wasn't that bad...of course all the grunt work went to Mike...he was convinced before we left that a chain saw really wouldn't be necessary ;)

Kinda liked this "Charlie Brown Tree" too!

Saw.

A Little TLC.

Today I found myself watching shows on The Learning Channel (TLC) and randomly surfing the web while my 'Night Owl' slept the morning away. I stumbled across 'A Baby Story'. Now, this was completely off limits for me to watch before I was ever pregnant...because why?!...it frankly scared the bejezus outta me!!! Those of you unfamiliar, it follows a couple through labor/delivery of their child. It shows, although not graphic, every part of the labor...screaming...painful...uncomfortable...legs spread delivery. Ahh! With ladies explaining "labor pains as being hit by a Mack truck"...who would embrace that sort of chaos?! Well, today was a different story & I had confidence in watching the show...I mean, c'mon, I've travelled down this road already, what sort of a problem would it foster? It brought on some really great memories actually...of course, by the time the baby was delivered, I'm a dang blubbering mess of tears & shaking emotions. I'm sometimes a bigger baby than the one sleeping soundly next to me. My point...having a baby is such an amazing emotional experience! And I'm so blessed to have been able to have that experience...because if it were up to TLC to guide my urge to go down that road, nature may have never had the opportunity to show me how much of a grandiose emotional time it really it is! And, I no longer fear A Baby Story, I embrace it...

...because it brings on moments like this.

Haha...too cute!

...and by the way, there is definately truth to 'the Mack truck' reference. As much as I didn't want that to be true...there's a truck.

One.Mo.

"...we are one & that's wonderful"

Oliver.

You have been in our lives for one month. A month full of joy, lessons, sweet hugs & kisses! You have changed your Daddy & my lives completely, for the best & forever more. There isn't anything we wouldn't do for you. We look at you & can't believe how much of a miracle you are for us! It's amazing to watch you grow. You are a perfect charm in our lives & you are forever in our hearts. And just know that while we can, you will be smothered in Xs & Os! Love you sweet baby.

Mom & Dad.

Handsome Lazy Weekend Christmas Lights.

This weekend was a relaxing one! We spent it in Sioux Falls, mostly indoors, warming our bums by the fire as the ground was sprinkled with snow. Of course mama spent it taking tons more photos of Oliver! He is a handsome one...who can resist!

"Handsome good looks run in my family"

Look at his lil fist going...I think someone was getting sick of me snapping shots =)

You may have seen this on YouTube or in your emails around the holidays before, but Mike, Oliver & I parked in front of this house this weekend! On Saturday night, we took a break from being lazy & packed up the car, filled the mugs with coffee & headed just north of Sioux Falls (Crooks, SD) to check out a lights display that has earned much popularity in the area...even on the internet. After about an hour wait in the car, it was our turn for a front row view! It was so entertaining, Mike & I were giggling & smiling like little children! Haha. The actual child on the other hand, not so much impressed...I think we heard crickets & snoring from the backseat. Someday we'll have to go back when he can appreciate the show =) I do have video on my camera that I have been trying to post since Saturday night, but for some reason, it will not upload onto blogger. I will keep trying & hopefully I'll be able to share with you what we watched. I would like to go back again sometime this season though...I totally buckled under the pressure of making sure I got it on video too! Holy load of drama...it went down like this...After waiting an entire hour in line, making sure my settings on my camera were good to go, the three cars in front of us moved out of the way...we pulled up, threw it in park, blared the radio station (coordinating music), rolled down the window, jacked up the heat...(keep in mind you can only stay parked in front of the house for 1 song so, it was pertinant to be on top of our stuff)... then the music began...yay...awwww...& then I dropped the ball...not literally this time, but after half the song, my camera went dead (running on low batt due to all the photographing earlier in the day)...oh snap! I quickly turned it back on & hit record hoping that all of our waiting & planning wasn't going to go to waste. Well, it didn't completely, & I managed to get the last half of the song but...like I mentioned...blogger won't upload for me! Frustration has set in...so, until I get it figured out...you can click on the link below & watch the HD video on YouTube if you're so enticed...unfortunately, it doesn't quite do the justice of being parked in front of this dude's house. Amazing stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAPFte1SEzg

The rest of our weekend was spent with more fireside laziness (it's freeeeeeezing in South Dakota!), scooping some snow (Michael), drinking milk (Oliver) & visiting with friends Jill, Kent & their son Andrew. We packed up shop on Sunday & spent the evening sharing conversation & our Oliver. It was a nice low key weekend...which we thoroughly enjoyed considering Christmas traveling, visiting family, friends & more chaos is approaching quickly!

My Little Mini.

What is it about babies that cause you to change all of your vocab into 'baby talk'? They still don't understand it...& I'm pretty sure I sound like an idiot! I sometimes wonder if he's just thinking to himself...'wow! this lady is a piece of work!' Haha! Oh well, I guess that's just what happens, my cutie lil bobble head mini muffin pie punkin butt likes it as far as I'm concerned!

See! Lil punkin butt! =)

(He's gonna kill me when he's able to read this blog...guess it's never too early to start saying & doing things that will embarrass your child.)

I want to start & introduce a section of the blog where I simply list how he has grown from last update. It'll be appropriately titled:

Oliver Grows.

Spontaneous smiles & frowns...but more smiles!

Enjoys some tummy time!

Filling out in the cheeks, arms & legs!
Strengthening neck muscles...I dub him my "bobble head baby"!

Staying alert for longer than just feedings!

Bouts of...(not gonna go overboard here...but want to make a note that he has shown a capability to the following)...sleeping longer than an hour & a half at a time...like 3 hours! And it has made a handful of our nights better!

Getting used to diaper changes...sometimes ;)

Pees on Mama only once every 2-3 days instead of 2-3 times each changing!

Shows a liking to soaking in warm bath water!

Longer gazes at our faces!

Louder, stronger "voice" aka a distinct crying I call "The Lahs"...

...those of you who are parents probably know what I'm talking about...the cries that make you feel like you're the worst parent in the world & you've let your child go & starve for 5 days! There are variations, sometimes they're "The Wahs", but typically my child prefers to throw the L on the front. Whenever I hear those coming I have to plea "please not 'The Lahs' they make mama sad!"

Will take the Paci like no big deal from Michael, but spits that thing out a mile across the way when given by me! Maybe cuz he knows that I've got something better he wants instead?!

Prefers to be burped by his father also (in my opinion, not officially voiced by Oliver). Maybe my method just doesn't do it for him...but I'm pretty sure I'm doing it the same way...this is what I refer to as "Daddy's Touch". Awwww.

More to come!!!

I'm So Hungry I'll Eat My Arm & Other Moments.

Feetloose.

It snowed today.

Num num num...hey mama, stop photographing me & get me a bottle!

PS. Love the little hint of 'old man' wrinkly forehead =)

Thumb up.

Belly Button Turkey & Friends.

Hi there...serious blog slacker here...but I find myself with some extra time (what?!), so here are some photos to catch up the last couple weeks. Don't get too excited though, these may be few & far between. I have to confess too...when I was still pregnant, counting down the days, I became a serious blogspot stalker...meaning I was checking everyone's blog for new posts like every 15 mintues...I would get angry when my 'new parent' friends wouldn't post for days & days. I mean, they were neglecting my need to be entertained by their blogs...and now for this, I must apologize, I get it now! There is no time to blog! =( Which is major bummer because I want to keep you updated, but I have not been able to get it together yet! I have a very hungry baby! And I use all my "free time" to do things like shower & eat & maybe snooze. Except, I believe Oliver has an internal alarm that goes off when I hit the bed or the couch...dang it! But, most of you reading this...already know what this is all about. And for those of you reading this without children, I apologize & will do my best to keep it up. Please don't give up on me =)

And just a forewarning...I will probably cram as much into each post as possible. I'm going to have to figure out how to paraphrase (which will probably be a challenge for me b/c I love to ramble)! Hence...the titles of my blogs will more than likely not make any sense...hopefully as you read...it will come together! But, seriously back to the multitasker comment...I find that I'm not just folding clothes...I'm folding clothes, eating an apple, running to the store & talking on the phone. And I'm not just washing bottles...I'm washing bottles, changing a diaper, walking the dog & taking a nap. Ok, I don't have a dog, but there are major multitasking skills that are passed onto new parents that I can't even begin to explain! Haha, what a crazy riot! Mike & I have so much fun watching our Oliver grow & cry & make faces & poop. We love it so much!!!

Tried to catch some shots after Oliver's belly button fell out after his first week old...but he's a squirmy little worm so most of my shots are blurry...

Guess who dressed him on Thanksgiving Day =)

My hair matches Daddy's beard!

Little Turkey.

Oliver & Aunt Em.

He slept most of Thanksgiving away...not turkey-induced just yet though!

Cousin Wyatt.

Aunt Liz loving her Olly.




After TG, we went back to Holstein for the weekend.

Oliver had a lot of visitors too!

Meghann, Lilly & Luke Whitmer stopped by.



Great Aunt Connie & Cousin Donna.

Ambria & Oliver.

Oliver being a sleepy host when Amy & her daughter came by.

Waking up to hang out with Granny Hanny for a while!

After the weekend, we headed back to Sioux Falls to visit with Mike's fam one more day before they flew out to Jamaica. They get to enjoy a week of vacation, sun & cocktails...all leading up to Emily & Cory's wedding this Saturday. We are sad that we had to stay back, but we will celebrate with them when they get back! Congrats you two!!!

Good Day Sunshine.

Today has already started off on a great note! It's Friday & that means...Daddy's coming today! We made it through the week...it was long...but we (all) made it through =) Michael will be heading back to Holstein after work tonight...we're getting pretty excited about spending the weekend with him! We also plan on heading up to Sioux Falls after the weekend to meet the cousins! Ava, Kye & Wyatt have been pretty patient about meeting the little guy =) With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we're planning on meeting even more family too! So...the sun is shining today, Daddy's going to be here &...also good news...Oliver's belly button finally fell off! Woohoo. It's an innie. Enjoy your weekends everyone =)

Look at these two! =)

Bathtime Love.

So this would be one of those before-mentioned naked activities that he absolutely hates. He just hates getting cold...who doesn't. Poor man screams through the whole ordeal but the second you wrap him in his blanket...silence...all is good & peaceful again. Nuts! I wanted bathtime to be one of his favorite things to do...maybe once his belly button falls out & real baths are on the agenda, it'll be a different story. I mean, I don't know how much I'd like sponge baths while lying on the bathroom counter either, so I completely understand his protest. Same goes with diaper changes...just get that diaper strapped into place & his onesie back on & life is all good. I am NOT complaining at all...don't get me wrong...he's a chill baby all other times! Olly had a message for his Daddy tonight after his bath.

One Week Old.

Today, I kept thinking back one week ago & what I was doing...Oliver & I were up around 3:30aM this morning & I told him this was about the time he started deciding last week he was ready to come! My cousin Emily, due in December with her first baby, came over tonight with my Aunt Kathy to meet Olly. It was fun to share "my story" with them & answer questions she has. I think...one week ago, that was me with all the questions. I know she'll have a great labor & delivery too...no worries =)

Mr. Oliver had a busy day today. He had his first outing also! Soon followed by his second. First, we bundled up & headed to the nursing home in town here to meet Great Grandpa Leon. We had a nice visit & it was fun to see Grandpa hold his first Great Grandchild! We then came home for some lunch & got ready for his first checkup...

When we left the hospital our little guy weighed 5lbs11oz (note he weighed 6lbs1oz at birth)...and today our big guy weighed 6lbs5oz! He's healthy as a horse =) Big relief too, not that I was worried about anything, but as a first time mom there's so much I think about & it's relieving to here from the doctor that everything looks great! Here are photos from Oliver's big day. And we also had a bath. I've come to the conclusion that this kid doesn't like any activities that involve him being naked...news to a mother's ears =) Haha.

I've also included some other family photos that we've had over the past week! He has so many proud loving family members...the holidays will be so much fun sharing Olly with them! Can't wait.

Mama & her Oliver...don't have many of these...I'm always snapping them!

Cousin Emily...expecting Olly's playmate in December.

I hate all the pictures...please stop!!! Haha.

Uncle Taylor.

"Aunt" Hill.

Cousin Eric...do you recall the entry where I shared the story of cousin Eric contributing to the list of potential names...well Oliver was on his list! Nice work!

Papa Hanny (the 2nd). My cousins & I called Olly's Great Gpa "Papa Hanny" when we were young...well, we still do ;)

Great Grandma Verna.

Proud Aunt Brittany.

Great Aunt Kathy.

Great Grandpa Leon.

Great Grandma & Grandpa Ehler.