Growing, growing, growing

Everyday I am amazed at the little boy that is front of me. He has grown so much in this first year and now it seems like everyday he grows by leaps and bound. I continue to enjoy my journey on the parenthood path. Charlie and I reflect daily on how different our lives are now that we are parents. We used to try to picture what our life was going to be like with kids and it seemed so unreal. Parenthood brings something new everyday. Now, we are trying to put our arms around what it is goint to be like to have 2 little people running around our house!

Today, I was going down the stairs with Mr. Independant and of course, he likes to be a big boy and go down the stairs by himself. Well, I looked back and caught him trying to walk forwards down the stairs! He is seriously not afraid of anything! He made it down about 3 stairs and then started to wobble...he then grabbed onto the railing and collected himself and then tried again. My heart probably skipped about 10 beats! No one ever tells you that after kids turn 1, it is a whole different ball game! Determined, tantrums, sneaking things they know they shouldn't have......it's like a switch turns on and all of a sudden you have a different child!

Nico is really starting to understand the world around him.....and let's just say he is really figuring out what he wants! We love our playdates with our friends and we have been spending more time with Charlie's sister Kat and her family. Nico LOVES his cousins Grace and Briah and is a complete ham when we get together.

Uncle Ed and Nico on his birthday

Nico in his first pair of shorts...it was a really warm day
and he just looked like so darn cute!

Being a peanut in the kitchen with me!

Starting his day with his buddy Gus!

Nico's 1st Birthday!!!

Nico turned 1 on March 29th! I am so sad that this post is so late! It is really mind boggling that in one year of life, you have grown and learned so much! We went to Monkey Bizness on Sunday and LOVED watching you explore and try new things. You are not afraid of anything little buddy! I went down the big slide with you and you thought it was great! We celebrated with friends and family and it was a really special day! We thought you would plow into your cake but you took your time and enjoyed little bites! Nanna came down the Friday before and played with you all afternoon. Nana and Papa came over after Monkey Bizness and we put together some of your toys with Aunt Kathy and Aunt Dorie and then on Monday we spent the day together and Nana and Papa came over.

Nico, you have shown your dad and I a new side of life. Laughing with you is pure joy and seeing you discover new things everyday is so much fun. You are such a little love bug. You bring sunshine with you everywhere you go. You start each day off with a smile and you are such a happy little guy! Daddy and I feel truly blessed to be your parents. This year has been so full of happiness for all of us and you are so much fun. I can't believe you are one already! Happy Birthday little man! You are so loved!

Oh Charlie it's just gas!

Okay, I might be the worst wife in the world! Sunday night Charlie told me he had some stomach pains....well, Charlie is famous for telling me to walk it off if I don't feel good. Soooo, I joked that it was probably just gas and he would be fine. Monday rolls around and he is still experiencing pain and the whole family tries to diagnose him. We all conclude that he might need a little Miralax but he will live. Tuesday after he is done picking up all of our customers orders, he says he is still not feeling well and maybe he might have appendicitis. I tell him to call our primary care doctor but I am sure he will be fine.

From the dr's office he is sent to get a cat scan because the dr. is afraid it might be appendicitis or a kidney stone. After waiting for about 3 hours, he calls and says he does have appendicitis and he has to go to the nearest emergency room.......really???? Well, needless to say I have been eating a steaming hot plate of guilt! The good news is that Charlie had the surgery Tuesday night and is recovering well. He is still in the hospital and may have to stay one more night, but I promised him when he does come home I will take really good care of him.....but of course not because I feel guilty!:)

BABY #2 IS........

Okay, I know some of you have been waiting with anticipation for the announcement of the sex of baby #2.....here it is...........................It's a GIRL!!!! We are really excited even though we have said how scared we are to have a girl. It still doesn't seem real that we are going to have two kids! We feel truly blessed and we think that little miss sunshine better be prepared for her big brother Nico! Wow, I never thought I would be at this place in my life. A wife, a mom...it just blows my mind that so much has happened in the last year, 5 years, 10 years. Charlie and I had a hard time picturing ourselves as parents because we were both so focused on our careers and now to have such pure joy in our lives is awesome! Now our complete focus is family and making sure that our kids spend as much time with our extended family as possible. I can hear every word my Nana told me about the important things in life and I am so grateful to Charlie that he has such a big heart and holds family time as a priority. Now that we are going to have two little munchkins, I can't promise that my house will be clean, the laundry will be done, or that I may be organized in anything, but my goal is to have a happy home and for anyone who comes over to feel welcomed and loved.

OUCHY!

Last Monday I came home from work and Charlie says...."Nico took a little digger today but he's fine." I respond, "how did it happen?" Charlie:"Well, you know how he really likes the doggy door...well, I was letting the dogs out and Nico is so quick, he went out too...."

Nico wakes up from his nap and we both go in to check on him....Charlie let's out a very concerned "Oh My Gosh!" and my response is....."how could you let this happen to our baby!"
His whole face was swelled up and looked so sore! Charlie was so upset and I just couldn't believe how many bumps he had....I shouldn't have said what I said next but I did....."A little digger huh?" Charlie responds, "I swear it didn't look this bad when I put him down for his nap!"

Thankfully, a week later, Nico is all healed up and doing just fine. As for Charlie, and all the grief he took from everyone, I think he learned that Nico is still a baby, maybe a daredevil, but still a little baby who can't climb out the doggy door on his own. If you are looking for action and adventure...stop by the Stiver's...we don't charge for free entertainment!

My cousin Danielle and her brother are amazing soccer players,

and we went to the awards dinner where she was entered into the

Colorado's Sportswomen Hall of Fame! It was really amazing! We are so proud of her!

Zach will be playing at UCLA and then possibly for a team in France!

It really was such a fun night with the cousins!

Mornings with Nico

I have to say one of my very favorite things in life are mornings with Nico! He is just like his dad...wakes up with a smile! I have always been a morning person, but starting the day with Mr. Happy Pants is so rewarding! We usually start the day with a little SPROUT TV...now don't go judging me...he loves Chica the Chicken and it is very educational. After he has woken up a little, he is ready to start moving and start playing. I love that he just follows me around from the kitchen to the laundry room and then we cuddle on the chair until it's time for breakfast.

Growing up in a house where my brother would put up all the cereal boxes so that he wouldn't have to look at me and my mom wasn't "awake" until she took her shower and my dad was either coming off of a shift at the firehouse or just not a morning person any way you look at it.....Nico is quite refreshing. One of my favorite memories though, is when we were little, my mom would let us stay in our pj's and just play all day. It is the simplest things that make life so fun! I want so much for Nico to have memories like that. I want him to look back and remember the ease to starting the day and that we never rushed. I love that Nico laughs and makes little games up with me! Thanks little buddy for being a ray of sunshine and filling our lives with so much love!

OOPS! I unbuckled him and wet to get a cloth to wash his

face...he's quick!

Just chillin, drinking his milk

Starting the day off nice and slow with Elmo!

Friends

Last Sunday we had our good friends Mark and Amanda and their 7 month old little boy Jude over! We had such a wonderful time catching up and seeing how the boys interacted with each other! Nico was in heaven having company over! He was going from toy to toy, almost as if he was showing Jude everything they could play with! Then Amanda put Jude in this little walker and Nico started to push him....well, then Nico wanted a ride too so he hopped on back and I pushed them around! It really was hilarious!

As we walk through parenthood and through life, it is so refreshing to connect with great friends and realize that you are not the only ones going to bed at 8:00! We feel truly blessed to spend time with the Schaad's! Thanks for a fantastic evening and all the entertainment!

Catching a ride with his buddy!

Nico was so happy to have Jude to play with!

Nico found my baking drawer and pulled

everything out....so we had to clean it....


And then he crawled into the cubby.....

Starting the day off with a smile!