Henry Update

For those of you that received our Christmas letter, I hope to keep this blog updated with Henry information as often as I can. Henry is growing and changing so much everyday it seems like. He really knows who his mom and dad are! He lights up every time one of us is in the room. Henry is also starting to eat Cheerios and also is starting to drink out of a sippy cup. He's said mama a few times but has yet to say papa. He is also starting to sit up on his own and finally his hair is growing back! These are all changes that have occured in the last month if you can believe it. Henry is such a good little boy. He cries only when he's overly tired or super hungry. He is content hanging out on the floor or in someone's lap. I am totally in love with him, and can't wait to see what changes are next!

Henry's Holiday Adventure Continued

Christmas Day brought with it more adventures for the little guy. It was off the Grandma and Grandpa Schwartz's in Iowa. Six hours later we arrive happy and ready for more lovin'! Henry loves his special time with Uncle Nick and the rest of the gang. He was such a good little guy except for the lack of sleep at night, which mom is not used it, it went GREAT!

As I reflect on my life during this holiday season, I realize how blessed TRULY blessed to have such an amazing family. I never in my life ever thought I would be were I am today...and I thank God for giving me this opportunity to raise my own son with my wonderful husband. I hope that each of you can find the same peace in your own life along with the joy that family brings!

Henry's First Holiday Adventure

Well....to say we were busy over Christmas is an understatement. I am finally home with my boy, and I finally have some time to reflect on this wonderful holiday season. Our adventure started the weekend before Christmas when we visited the family in Madison for an early christmas. The highlights from this adventure include: Henry rockin' out on the guitar, the boys rockin out on the WII Rockband, and my cousin Carson's reference to grandma and grandpa's lack of holiday spirit as "crap"! Those pictures are coming. They are on Matt's camera.

Christmas Eve we went to Matt's parents and went to Christmas Eve service along with Christmas dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Schulte's. Henry was spoiled this Christmas! He got an amazing Radio Flyer wagon and lots of other goodies. Matt also scored this year landing TWO Terry Redlin prints.

Merry Christmas from The Schulte's

Last Sunday we got together with the photographer that took our wedding pictures to capture some raw Schulte photos. The whole family was there, and Henry was in his prime. There's nothing like an exciting afternoon with your in-laws to make anyone smile! For those of you that know me, you can sense the sarcasm...

I am thoroughly enjoying my time with Henry these last two weeks. I don't miss the daily grind of the office and the stress that comes with it. I feel built to be a mom, and I love that connection I have with my son.

My dad is in the hospital because they thought he was having a heart attack. Thankfully it was not a heart attack but rather a blocked artery they were able to place a stint in and help clear it out. I went down to Des Moines to be with my family, and when I returned this evening, my house was a mess! Again for those of you that know me, when I say "mess" I usually mean something out of place. NO NO NO..my house was a total disaster. And to top it all off our neighbor was over feeding Henry. I realized in that moment that a mother is really the heart and base of the family. It is she who commands many a task and performs them simultaniously without anyone really noticing this Herculian task.

But, for the pictures......that is what everyone really enjoys! I think they turned out amazing! I didn't realize how much Henry looks like his grandpa until I saw these pictures....

Also Henry is getting Baptised this month!!! I am so excited. We have finally found a church that we BOTH feel comfortable in.

Halloween a little late...

So I understand that Halloween was ohh...what...about 2 weeks ago give or take, and I will take the bad mom title for the day. I haven't posted any pictures of Henry's adorable Halloween costume. He's such a ham in it with his little chubby cheeks. He was the hit of the night. We took him down the street to visit our babysitter, Han, she just LOVED him up, and Matt even got some extra Halloween candy out of the deal. Then it was down the street to another neighbor's where Matt, once again, got some extra candy. We ended up at our next door neighbor's house, where, humm, surprise, surprise, Matt got some more Halloween candy. Henry was a little angel the whole time....Smiling and flirting with all the little kids that came to the door. He loved handing out Halloween candy, and of course, being photographed. Here are some of the highlights...Matt and I also went as Jim and Pam from The Office if any of you have seen that show. We went to a Halloween party on Saturday night and Grandma and Grandpa Schulte and aunt Teresa watched Henry.

BOUNCY....

Last weekend Henry discovered a love for his Johnny Jumper. Are any of you out there old enough to remember these things? I don't even know if they still make them, but Henry, under direct supervision, absolutely LOVES this thing. He started out jumping on it with one foot planted firmly on the floor and would swing around with his extended foot to give him so umph....He has sinced moved on to more a Tigger move where to take both feet and launches himself off the ground all the while giving the cutest little scream. Right now he actually refers this to his other toy a Fisher Price Jumperoo. I think he's a little overwhelmed by all the sounds and toys. It's it amazing the expensive nice new toy dosen't have the same appeal as the 5 dollar garage sale find. Go figure, right?

Mover and a shaker...

So I was browsing, OK, rather staking my friends and their blogs tonight. It seems that everyone has these great and wonderful ideas about how to capture their children's special moments. Then I look at my plain jane boring blog with random pictures posted, and I think to myself, oh Henry, I'm sorry your mom is kind of weird and unorganized. I did want to share this special video of the little man exploring his environment. He's just amazing each and everyday...he's really starting to talk and let us know what he thinks of things. Tonight I had him going laughing out loud. It's probably the best feeling in the world to make your child laugh...so the moral of my blog is that no matter how "cool" everyone else seems to you, you will always be the "cool" one to your child. No matter what you give him or her it's the time you spend with them that means the most. Until they become teenagers, but we have a long way to go before that becomes an issue....ahahaha

Happy Autumn!

Well, the month of October has been pretty eventful for Matt, Henry, and I. Henry had his 4 month checkup. He is off the charts on his height at 26 3/4 inches and weighs in at 18 pounds which puts him just at the 95th percentile. The little man is starting to notice things in his environment. I caught him watching Go Diego Go pretty intently, oops! He is now grabbing for things including mom's hair and face which gets interesting when he trys to attack my face with his mouth...Henry took a trip to Iowa with great grandma and grandpa George to see grandma and grandpa Schwartz. Dad was hunting pheasants with the hounds.

Pheasant season has begun and Matt is eager to get out with the dogs whenever possible. They are still young and have alot of training ahead, but Matt has been doing great getting them ready this year. Matt was out in Emery, SD for the big opener with his family.

We hope to see more friends and family in November and cannot wait to see what exciting things Henry will be up to in the coming weeks. I feel like everyday he is changing and growing and discovering the world. To have your own child is to truely understand what it means to see the world through a child's eyes.

Sleepy boys!

While I was pregnant with Henry, I always wondered what he would look like, who he would act more like, and which characterisitics of Matt and I he would have. This picture pretty much sums all of those questions up for me in one word: Matt...It was really difficult for me when Henry was first born because Matt didn't really seem all that interested in spending any amount of time with Henry. Sure he was excited to have a son and has always been a good dad. Only lately have I seen how much Matt truely loves his son. Now that Henry is becoming more interactive holding his head so well, laughing, and talking. Matt can't get enough time with his son. They are going to be two peas in a pod, and I can't wait to watch their relationship blossom. He'll always be my baby and run to me when he scraps his knee, but he's going to be a daddy's boy tinkering outside in the garage, hunting with the dogs, and "fixing" things are the house...watch out world, here comes Henry and Papa....

Picture of the day

This is the imfamous middle finger shot...I'm not quit sure what to think of the look on his face...

I couldn't resist this one. Henry has totally found his hands and is in heaven when they are near his mouth or better yet in his mouth. As soon as his flappers get to eye level, his brown eyes light up like hey there you are, where have you been, and they immediately gravitate towards his mouth. My view on this: hands are free and you don't lose them, so better than a pacifier. Henry was laying on the bed yesterday when I got home just going to town on his hands when all of sudden I am looking at my 3 month old son giving me the middle finger:)! Luckily he's so darn cute I couldn't get mad but rather grabbed my camera to capture the moment. Note to Henry, this is the first and last time you are getting away with that...

Henry Birth to 3months

This is Henry before we took him home from the hospital
Henry's first attempt at lifting his head. What a ham for the camera!
Sleeping at grandma Kim's house in July. He's too big for that seat now.
Smiling for the first time at Auntie Lindsey.
Papa and the boy hanging out. Matt looks so happy!

I was going through some pictures tonight, and couldn't believe how much my little boy has grown in the last 3 months. I thought I would share his short but amazing journey through life.

Welcome!

Hello everyone...I decided to start a real blog because I realized that I was getting too old for Facebook when all of my friends have real jobs and at least one kid. It is also a great way to keep everyone up to date on our newest addition on a regular basis.

So where to start, well since this is the first post. I probably should start at the beginning. Matt and I have been married for 3 years on November 5th. We have two labradors. 2 1/2 year old Bailey aka "Leroy" is our laid back chocolate boy. Lucy aka "Psycho" is our 1 1/2 year old yellow female. She goes 100 miles an hour 100% of the time!

The newest member to our crew is Henry Marvin Schulte born on June 16th, 2008 weighing 8 lb 3 oz and was 21 inches long. He was 3 months last week as is now over 17 pounds and almost 25 inches long. You do the math...He didn't make it very long in the 0-6 month clothes. He's also the love of our lives and spoiled rotten by his grandma's and aunties....