Ward Christmas Party

In traditional fashion, Ethan screamed bloody murder when we tried to put him on Santa's lap at the ward Christmas party. Of course, last year we were able to pry him off of us to actually sit on Santa's lap. This year, Ethan's grip was tearing into my skin deep enough that we just all jumped in for a family picture instead. Hopefully this just means he will always value and remember the true meaning of Christmas with the nativity story, more than he focuses on the pagan traditions?


2008/ 2009

Mini Me

Ethan loves to imitate his parents.
One Saturday morning, Ethan insisted he and Brian get ready to go to school by putting on their shoes and backpacks (pj's are apparently an okay dress code). Brian sweetly complied. Off they went pretending to get on the bus.


Ethan experiments feeding his baby like mommy.

This may be needed for blackmail some day...

Bundle of Blessings

Gavin received his baby blessing at church a few weeks ago by his father. It was so sweet, my favorite was that Brian blessed Gavin to be a leader through quiet example throughout his life. So far, Gavin has been just that in our family. He is a sweet angel who doesn't mind hanging out by himself when mom is busy and sweetly cooes to himself or at us as we bustle about our busy little activities at home. We are so very blessed to have him in our family, we all love him so much. And he got his daddy's big blue eyes, I just giggle with joy to have a blue-eyed baby!

Ethan is such a good big brother and completely adores "me bebe."

This photo wasn't even posed. Ethan was insisting on helping Gavin to read a book, so Brian stepped in to help. What cute boys!

Who's who?

Left: Ethan Right: Gavin

TWO!

As of October 5, Ethan is now officially a two-year-old! It was a pretty low-key birthday since his mom was too exhausted to plan or do much since it was just about two weeks after having a baby. Since Ethan (Mr. Picky) doesn't like cake or ice cream, we settled for chocolate chip cookies. He got to have some friends come over to play that day, watch a few Elmo movies, play at the library, and shoot balls into his new basketball hoop for his big day. Terrible twos here they come! Yikes! Good thing he's so darn adorable, his laugh and little personality just make me melt!

It's the Great Pumkpin, Charlie Brown

Happy Halloween from the Peanuts Gang!

Love,
Schroader, Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy

Sister Sister

The weekend after Gavin was born, Alyssa and Kaitlin, two of my three sisters (we missed you Carmelle!) came to visit for two days to meet little Gavin and see Wicked while it was on tour in Des Moines since it was Kaitlin's big 18th birthday! It was so fun to see them-- I can't wait to see my whole family at the same time for Christmas!

A Whole New World

It turns out that welcoming a new baby into the world also brings the whole family into a whole new world. Our lives have definitely gone through some chaos with the adjustment, but with the gradual settling into a routine, we can't imagine life without little Gavin.

Labor and delivery was-- let's say, a little bit of heaven and hell (depending on if the epideral was in effect yet). Once my body became numb to the pain of contractions, my spirits soared as I cut my previous PR time from pushing for 2 1/2 hours to delivering in less than 2 1/2 pushes and a happy healthy little Gavin entered our lives.

Gavin is a great baby. He has adjusted smoothly to a routine and good sleeping habits with the exception of evening fussiness/sleeplessness. He is quickly learning to be tough as his older brother slowly weans himself of jealousy for taking up so much of his mother's time. This week he has started smiling in response to our cooing at his adorable little face.

Ethan initially had a real love/hate relationship with his new sibling, not sure if he wanted to hug or hit Gavin, usually attempting to do both at the same time. With time, he has now decided this kid is a good thing and loves to constantly talk about and point at this favorite new "toy" of his. "Me bee-bee" is his biggest conversation piece. Luckily, Ethan has his own baby doll that has endured his attempts at parenting-- making his baby do anything Gavin does, including my favorite--last week I caught Ethan in Gavin's room, sitting on the glider, feeding his "bee bee" doll (lifting up his shirt to nurse the doll--apparently we need to discuss gender differences at some point).

I have had a much easier recovery and adjustment this time around. I've definitely had some ups and downs, but thanks to heaven-sent friends who brought dinners, or took Ethan to the library, park, or just to play; my mom coming to help for a week; and an amazing husband who sacrifices studying and sleep to stay up those late fussy nights for his exhausted wife; things are going well. I really do love being a mother and getting to stay home with my boys every day.

Brian has been enjoying his hospital rotations this year. Currently on a Pediatrics rotation, he gets to spend his days with sick, cranky kids at the doctor's office, and come home to his kids that may or may not be just as cranky, but regardless, he comes home smiling and ready to play with his boys. Our home lights up when he comes through the door.