Big Day Tomorrow... Hopefully...

My friend Sarah from work knows the owner of Baby Preview... It is a place near Mayfair that does 4D ultrasounds... they do pictures and videos... I am waiting to hear back from her to see if she can give us a "peek" at baby boy Schutten tomorrow afternoon... the cutoff is 36 weeks and I turned that on Monday, so hopefully we will be able to see him ok... It all depends on his position and if his face is turned towards my spine... we will have to wait and see what happens... I am hoping we can go, she is going to do it for free too!!! I checked out the prices online and it is like$150!!! Wish us luck!!!

Still Christmas...

Last night Aunt Mary, Lauren, John, Andrew, and Auntie Stacy came over to visit... And guess what??? They brought presents!!! Ethan got and Elmo laptop and a wooden puzzle... he loves both of them!!! I got a present too!!!Lauren made me a blanket for baby boy Schutten that is so cute and soft!!! They brought our favorite pizza over for dinner too!!! It was so nice to see them!!!

Merry Christmas - Again...

Christmas this year came and went in a flash!!! I can't believe how fast it went!!! Ethan turned 18 months on Christmas Eve. and I feel like it was only yesterday he was born!!! Now I only have 4 more weeks (or less I hope) before our new baby boy will be born!!! We thought this Christmas was interesting with one kid, then we thought about what next Christmas will be like... YIKES!!! Ethan actually had 3 days of Christmas... We didn't get to have him open his gifts from us until Friday morning because he slept until 10:30 Christmas morning and we were out all day and night... Lucky boy... Anyways, we had a really good day with our families and friends this Christmas and we hope you all had a great Christmas too!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas 2008!!! We are half way done with our Christmas celebrations at this point and I am extremely exhausted... the hormones and emotions are in OVERDRIVE and I just am hoping and praying to make it through today without a breakdown... I know Christmas is supposed to be a fun and joyous celebration, but this year it is different for a few reasons... Last night we were at Aunt Lori's house and then Aunt Janet's house for parties and Ethan was a WILD man!!! We didn't get home 'til very late last night and I think he is going to sleep all the way up to G-ma and G-pa Raap's party at noon!!! Then tonight we are going to G-ma and G-pa Francis's house... I am surprised that he wasn't a shy-guy last night either... Oh, except for when it came to sitting on Santa's lap... he cried and screamed bloody murder!!! So needless to say I couldn't get any pictures of him with Santa... Oh well... Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Static Hair Head!!!

Snow Day!!!

Today we all just stayed home and did a lot of nothing, although I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do... It was nice... Ryan, Heidi, and Jillian came over in the afternoon and they exchanged Christmas gifts... Ethan got a cool guitar!!! Then they ran around for 2 hours!!! We got a lot of pictures, but because they were always on the move, it was hard to get a good one with the both of them!!! I guess this is what it will be like having 2 kids!!!

Living Nativity

Scott and Ethan met Grandma and Grandpa Raap at our church last night to see the "Living Nativity" that was going on... There were live animals and actors - they put on a live performance for everyone... Ethan really enjoyed it (and so did everyone else)!!!

The Schutten Family Christmas!!!

Yesterday we were at Grandpa and Grandma Schutten's house with the family for our Christmas celebration... Usually we would have our Christmas up north at the cabin, but this year we all decided to stay home because of our growing family and all of new babies born this year!!! We had so much fun eating and opening gifts and just hanging out... Ethan really loves his new toys which include a deluxe Radio Flyer Wagon, a tent with a tunnel, a race track with cars (he was up past 10:00pm playing with them), his new cell phone, and the list goes on... I think it is time for me to pack away some of his other toys to make room for the new ones!!! Scott and I got some nice things too!!! We are so blessed to have such a loving and generous family!!!

32 weeks and counting...

Well, today I had my 32 week appointment with my doctor... actually I saw his Nurse Practitioner because he got called out to a delivery... Everything is fine with me and the baby... Baby boy's heart rate is in the 140's. I now have to go for appointments every 2 weeks for a few appointments, then every week at the very end... I feel like I have kung foo fighter inside of me... he is CONSTANTLY kicking and punching!!! 8 weeks or less to go!!!!

Lovin' Christmas Time!!!

Ethan is all about the Christmas tree... he wakes up in the morning and from naps and turns on the lights... normally he would turn the switch on and off a million times, but not with the tree... I even turn it off when we are leaving to go somewhere and he goes and turns it back on right away... also we have learned to keep most of the ornaments out of reach... notice the bottom of the tree is almost bare?!?!?! Oh well...

Lovin' the water!!!

Ethan loves the water... he likes to stay in the bath tub until his fingers and toes are like little prunes... then he inspects them and wonders why they look and feel the way they do!!! During this bath, he decided he wanted to take not only 1 Nuk in with him, but 2!!! I guess he was scared to lose one under water!!!

Thanksgiving continues...

Yesterday Scott and Ethan went to Gma and Gpa Francis's house for a belated Thanksgiving dinner... Gpa was in Ashland hunting all week so Sunday was the big feast...

Christmas Is Coming!!!

Last night we (well, mostly Scott) put up the Christmas tree and lights... What a job!!! Maybe if we didn't have a 12 foot tree, it wouldn't be so bad... Ethan loved the lights!!! He also discovered how to climb a step stool... While we had our backs turned he climbed the 3 steps to the top... Kids have no fear!!! He was obsessed with climbing the step stool all night!!! He also enjoyed playing in the empty Christmas bins... Today we are going to put all of the ornaments on the tree which is the fun part for me... I was thinking about starting already since I have been up since 3:30am... decided to wait for Scott and Ethan though... Can't wait for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving Day

Well, we made it through a very busy day yesterday... We went to Gma and Gpa Raap's house for turkey and all the trimmings... yum!!! While we were there, Ethan got his first injury of the day... he fell and hit his head on the wheel of the piano - OUCH!!! He was lovin' the rocking horse and playing video games with the boys... And of course watching football... We got home around 4:00pm and he only took a 45 minute nap!!! He already had missed his 1st nap of the day in the morning!!! WOW - where does all the energy come from?!?!? Then Gma and Gpa Schutten visited on their way up north for the weekend... Then Auntie Stacy and Uncle Nick (and Gus) visited... It was not only Thanksgiving, but also Auntie Stacy's 30th birthday!!! (Oh.. and it was Gus's birthday too)... His second major injury of the day was when Auntie Stacy and Uncle Nick were over and Ethan decided to get on his ATV and ride it down the 2 stairs... OUCH again!!! What a bruiser!!!

Trouble...

Not only does Ethan like climbing into the bottom of the oven, he also has learned how to open the dishwasher now... He is now obsessed with climbing into the dishwasher and also taking out the dishes and silverware...

Home Stretch!!!

I have only 9 more weeks to go (or less I hope) before baby boy Schutten will be here!!! Yea!!! We still don't have any names for sure, we have a few we like, but if anyone has any ideas, let us know... It is so hard to find a good name that Scott and I both like!!! AHHH!!!

Aunt Mary Comes Over...

Aunt Mary came over today to watch Ethan for 5 hours or so while Mommy was at work and Daddy went to a conference for his work... She came bearing gifts too!!! She bought a really cool sweater and shirt for Ethan... She spoils him all the time... He was a good boy, or so she says... Thanks Aunt Mary!!!

Visiting with the Cousins!!!

On Friday night we went to Uncle Aaron's house to visit with all of Ethan's cousins... Adam and Lauren came into town for the weekend... It was great to see everyone!!! Ethan especially likes playing with Niko and all of his cool toys...

Kait LOVES Ethan!!!

Ethan's new obsession is with giving Kait treats... He recently found out that he can take down her treat jar and open it... Yesterday when I wasn't looking, he gave her half of the treat jar!!! Kait was lovin' it!!! I think it is time to put the treat jar where Ethan can't reach it...

Celebrate!!!

Last night we went to Botanas for a "Celebration Dinner" for Uncle Matt and Heather... They got married yesterday!!! Ethan loved the Mexican food and loved running around with Auntie Stacy!!! Congratulations to Matt and Heather!!!

Runnin' Wild...

Ethan and Jillian had a play date last Saturday...

Uncle Sean Visits!!!

Last night Uncle Sean came over to visit and have dinner with us!!! He "flew" Ethan around the house like an airplane and he loved every second of it!!! Ethan has been getting to be a shy guy around people - even people he knows!!! But last night he was not at all shy with Uncle Sean!!! Ethan has been "riding" Kait like she is his horse too!!! She gets up fast and he lands on the floor!!! What a daredevil!!!

Mischievous!!!

Ethan is getting into everything these days... literally... He climbs on AND into everything - even the bottom of the oven!!! He also tries to get into the dryer when I am changing the wash loads!!! What a character!!! He constantly makes me laugh!!!

Buddy

Buddy passed away last night... We are all saddened by the loss... We will miss him so much... His favorite thing was to be up north at the cabin - swimming, exploring, sleeping, and going to the neighbors to find his friends... He will always be remembered...