Blessing #4

Our Angel Emma is a blessing everyday in our lives. Before we had Emma we didn't know what it was like to be parents. We didn't know how much we could love someone after meeting them for one second. We didn't know how much she would change our lives forever. Emma came into this world for a purpose. She filled that in only three months and one week. Even with her broken heart she gave us the love that we needed and still need to this day. There isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't cross our mind. Always wondering what she is doing this exact moment. Knowing that she isn't in any pain that she is whole again and in the arms of Jesus.

Thad will always know his big sister and when we say her name he smiles. We miss her so much and await the day we are with her again.

Baby food or puppy food?

Last night Thad officially ate his first piece of dog food! EWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! He dumped Chauchi's food dish and I caught him (I thought) before he put anything in his mouth. The little stinker had one hidden in his hand. I brought him back to the living room and I went to the kitchen to clean up the mess. I noticed him chewing on something and he had brown drool on his face and shirt. I was positive it wasn't dog food until I dug it out of his mouth and found a half eaten kibble!!!! It made me squirm! I'm sure it won't be his last but how could that taste good that he would want to keep it in his mouth.

Thad's Birthday Party

Saturday was Thad's big party! We rented the pirate ship bouncy at the YMCA. The kids had a blast running and jumping. Thad and I even got to jump around in the bouncy. We found a little room inside the bouncy that was away from the other kiddos and hid in there with Jill and Maddix. By 4:00 Thad was one tired boy! He had his own little cake that he got to destroy! After we all sang Happy Birthday to him I gave him his cake and he looked at it for a second then took one finger and dipped it in the frosting and licked it. It was so precious to see him dip one finger in and taste it! He must have liked the frosting because he went back for seconds and thirds and so on!!! The cake had lots of frosting so he didn't get too much cake. He had fun with it all over his hands and smeared it all over his face.

Question, is this cake all for me?

All the kids were around Thad while he was eating his cake and one boy ran back to tell his Grandma that Thad was eating all the cake and that he wasn't going to get a piece. He wanted to know why all the kids were just staring at Thad while he was eating his cake. He was very worried that Thad was going to eat all the cake and he wouldn't get any.

After all the excitement of the bouncy, cake and the guests he was beyond tired and ready for his afternoon nap. We waited to open his presents at home. He got so many toys and clothes! There was only one gift that he started crying when he saw it...........a bronco jersey and pants. My friend Sheila and her husband are big Bronco fans and thought it would be funny to give him a bronco outfit. Adam wanted to burn it but we decided not too! Good thing she left the gift receipt so we can take that back to the store! He got a wagon, cars, trucks, bath toys, clothes, a table he can stand up with, a zoo membership, tent, books, two different sock monkeys, and so much more. He is having fun playing with it all.

Thank you all so much who came to celebrate Thad's first year and for all who helped with the party. We appreciate all our family and friends and when Thad looks back at the video and pictures from his special day he will know how much everyone cares about him.

We took so many pictures so I put them in a slide show for you to watch rather than post them all.

Birthday Fun

Thad had so much fun eating his first piece of cake! He loved grabbing at it and smashing it in his hands. Our friends Natalie and Leif came over for cake and icecream and brought Thad a cool car from the Cars movie. He had a big day today and went to bed early! He has to rest up for his next party this weekend.

Chauchi also joined in the fun!

Birthday Party at Rhonda's House

Rhonda is so great, she throws each of the kiddos a birthday party and decorates with streamers and banners.

Thad and all his friends! (his best friend is Jesse the one sitting beside him in the blue)

It's my party and I'll cry if I want too!

I think Thad was a little overwhelmed with everything and had a little melt down (after all it was his party and he was making a statement!) Adam and I went to Rhonda's house for the birthday party with pizza and cookies.

The cool dump truck Rhonda gave Thad with blocks he can haul!

Thanks Rhonda for everything you do.

Happy Birthday Thaddeus!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY THAD!!!! (Each row below is a seperate month from Jan 08-Jan 09)

Happy Birthday to our special boy! What a year he has had and looking at him now you would never know what he has been through. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. He is crawling everywhere and nothing is safe! The pug is especially not safe anymore. I think Chauchi likes it when Thad takes a nap so he doesn't have to run from him. Thad likes to open and shut the bedroom doors and then beat on them. Why is it that the kitchen and bathroom are the most interesting places for babies? He has dumped Chauchi's waterbowl over a dozen times but luckily hasn't eaten any dog food (yet!). When he crawls he runs into the wall alot because he puts his head down and plows forward! I think he got this from his daddy. Adam's mom told me when Adam was little he would plow forward like a bulldozer! Looks like Thad is taking after his daddy!

He has also learned how to throw a temper tantrum. If you walk past him and he thinks you are going to pick him up, he throws his body forward and starts crying. Then he'll look up to see if you are watching him and throw himself back down and start wiggling his body on the floor. Most of the time he'll get distracted by a toy and then crawl over to it. He is too funny!

We also started Thad on whole milk last week. I am still nursing at night and early in the morning but he would rather drink his milk from a sippy cup during the day. He kind of weaned himself and made me a little sad! I guess that is one more step to becoming a big boy. He seems to love the whole milk and guzzles it down. I am still pureeing some of his veggies but have a feeling that will end soon. He would much rather feed himself than have us spoon veggies. He will let us get 3-4 spoonfuls in his mouth before he shakes his head no and covers his eyes. I'm not sure why I started this but if I sing "Ride a horse, ride a horse, ride a real fast horse" he opens his mouth and lets us feed him the rest.

We have his one year check up on Friday and then his big birthday party on Saturday. We rented the YMCA pirate ship bouncy! I'm sure I'll have lots ofpictures and stories to post this weekend.

Here's to the birthday boy, we love you soooooooo much!

Blessing #3

Everyday is a blessing with Thad. He brings so much joy and happiness to our lives. If I am ever having a bad day all I have to do is think of him and realize what is important in life. Everyday he does something new. He is so innocent and precious and totally depends on Adam and I. When God made Thad He made him extra special. Going into this week thinking back to a year ago, his birth, surgery, all of the roller coaster emotions wondering if we would make it to his first birthday. Well it has almost been a year since Thad came into the world and he is a strong healthy boy. God is good and he has blessed us in so many ways. I know I have said it before but I am so honored I am Thad's mommy. He was put in our lives for a reason and has filled our hearts with so much love. I love you so much Thad, thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives.

Peek-A-Boo

Thad's new game is Peek-A-Boo. He likes to do it while he is getting a diaper change or when he doesn't want to eat his veggies anymore. He sure is a silly boy!

52 Blessings- #2

My mom. She is one of my best friends, she is always there for me when I need to talk, cry or rant. She is understanding, loving, forgiving. She is a great grandma to Thad. If I need something I can always call her even if I have nothing to say I know she will be there to listen and give advice. I am finding myself to be more and more like her which if you would have told me this in highschool I would probably disagree but now each day I am finding myself to be more like her. Just simple things that she does or says I am saying or doing. For example she is a list maker for everything!!! I too have become a list maker whether its for the grocery store, things to do around the house or things to pack for a upcoming trip. If we are making a list for house chores and we have already vaccumed we will put vaccum on the list just so we can cross it off and feel like we have accomplished something.

I talk to her at least once a day, sometimes it can be more like 5 or 6 times a day. I will forget to tell her something so I call her back and vice versa! We even have a special ring for her when she calls our house so we know without looking at the caller ID that it is my mom. Adam is used to how much I talk to her and when he gets home he'll say "have you talked to Lou Bop today?" or "when's the last time you talked to your mom?" Yes we call her Lou Bop, I think Adam came up with this nickname since her name is Luci and last name is Knopp he just shortened it and now we call her Lou Bop.

Mom, thanks for being such a big part of my life and always being there for me when I need you whether its a question on how to make something or something more serious and personal. You are a great mother and I look forward to Thad growing up with you in his life. You can move to Colorado anytime!

Dip, dip, dip

Thad LOVES to dip his food! He started this a few weeks ago and wants to dip everything! When he see's a bottle of Ranch, cheese, ketchup, etc. he says "dip, dip, dip!" Sometimes we try hiding it from him and he see's it everytime. Now we make sure he has something that he can dip his green beans, pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.

This is the end result of his dipping! He gets it all over his face, hands, table, etc.! He is too funny.

Cadbury Eggs

I love Cadbury eggs! You can only get them at Easter and Christmas so I stock up on them during those times. Well I guess I'm not the only one who likes them! This is Thad's face when he saw me unwrapping one.

I figure I'd let him have a few licks on the chocolate and then I would eat the rest.

He took more than a few licks, he took a huge chunk out of it!!! He loved it! His face was so lit up from tasting the chocolate and the cream on the inside. I guess I won't be sharing my cadbury egg with him during Easter! (He might need his own!)

52 Blessings- #1

I have seen this on other blogs and decided to try and post once a week what I am thankful for or what is a blessing in my life for that week. I will try my hardest to keep up with it.

Here's to blessing #1 (blessings are not in any sort of order of importance-just random blessings)

My blessing this week is my husband Adam. I realized this week how much he does as a husband and father. He had to work late this week and Thad and I missed him! The little things he does around the house like dishes, taking the trash out, changing a diaper, letting Chauchi outside, helping with dinner, feeding Thad, picking up toys, and I could go on and on!

I am very lucky to have him in my life to be my husband, friend and father to my children. He is very understanding, compassionate, loving, forgiving, funny, and so much more. He is such a great dad and Thad loves spending time with him. Thad's first word was dada so you can see how special he is to all of us! Thad loves it when Adam puts him on his shoulders. He is so high in the air and loves to beat on his daddy's head!

We love you Adam, thanks for being such a blessing in all of our lives!

Watch out world, here I come!!!!

Need I say more?

Thad decided to take his first "crawls" last night at a friends house. He is a natural at crawling now! He still would rather be carried from one spot to the other but enjoys trying chasing the pug and going up and down the hall way. Adam was home with him today and was able to work with him and get great videos! I was happy we both got to see him crawl for the first time. We got carpet about a month ago and we are so glad we did. Thad likes the new carpet and it isn't as hard on his knees as the hard wood floors would have been. He still has red knees from crawling today!!!! Our little man is growing up, a birthday right around the corner he wanted to show off for his party!

I'm a Big Boy Now!

Thad has already had two big changes in the new year! We turned his carseat around so now he is forward facing and loving it! He can see where we are going and loves looking out the window. He also likes seeing us and dropping his toys so we can pick them up and hand them to him. It is much easier putting him in the car and getting him out!

These are also his big boy shoes we just found. I have been on the hunt for shoes for him for over a month. His feet are a little fat so it was hard to find shoes to fit them. I finally found a size 5 that fits him. It makes him look like a big boy with them on!

Thad also got his first haircut today. Adam has wanted to cut his hair for a while now and I kept saying not until after he is one. I didn't want to take away his little boy look. Well it was creeping over his ears and getting rats in the back from sleeping so I gave in and we took him to Kids Cuts. This is his before picture:

When we got to the place they had a taxi seat waiting for him! He got to drive the car and watch Thomas the Train while Ms. Wendi cut his hair.

He was such a good boy during his hair cut. He didn't cry or fuss, he was happy as can be!!

Almost done, finishing the backside

Look at our big boy!

They even had a little envelope packet with a lock of hair and a poloroid picture to put in it. Hopefully all his haircuts will be this good!

Happy Birthday Chauchi!!!

Lounging in the van on the way home from Tribune. He can't lay on the floor, it either is on your lap or over the seat!

Today is Chauchi's 4th birthday!! We got Chauchi in May of 2005 from Adam's sisters. He was our little baby until Emma and Thad came along! He was always allowed on the furniture, sleeping in our bed and being a spoiled pug. Well he is still sleeping with us but not allowed on the furniture and not quite as spoiled as he once was. There are times that I am ready to give him away when he is annoying me but deep down we love him very much and could never give him up. I think Thad loves him the most. First thing in the morning Thad looks at the floor looking for his pug. Once he spots him he has the biggest smile on his face and giggles. When we say "where's Chauchi" or "where's pug" he immediately looks at the floor to spot him.

Best buds!