Henry's 3rd birthday

Henry's 3rd birthday is on October 29th, but we celebrated it early (along with Sam's baptism).  Henry is obsessed with the Disney Cars characters, so we had a Cars theme.   He got Cars-related presents from everyone, too - matchbox cars, a remote controlled car, sleeping bag, puzzle, book, and plates.  He's in Cars heaven!!

It's hard to believe that he's 3 already. He's really stretching out and slimming down.  And he's POTTY TRAINED!  (And has been for about a month already.)  We thought it was going to take awhile, but bribery of Cars matchbox cars did the trick in about a week.  It's such a relief to have only one son in diapers and we're so proud of our BIG BOY!!

Sam update at 2 months old and his baptism

Sam is 2 months old, which means Mommy goes back to work in just 2 weeks.  This maternity leave has been fantastic and full of so many wonderful memories with all 3 kids.  I will treasure it forever!

Sam had his 2 month check-up last week.  He is a big boy!

• Weight - 16 lbs, 7 oz (off the charts)
• Length - 26" (off the charts)

He has been pretty easy to figure out.  Usually, he only screams when he is over-tired, so it's a quick fix.  He's been sleeping in a very consistent routine since he was 7 weeks old.  He eats at 7 p.m. and goes to bed.  He wakes up for his next feeding anytime between 4 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., so that's 9 to 10.5 hours between feedings!  I feel so spoiled with his nighttime routine.  He's been smiling and cooing all the time now, and he's recently found his left hand which he sucks on like crazy.  So cute!!  I've heard a few laughs so far, and I can't wait until he laughs more often...

We also celebrated Sam's baptism on October 23rd.  It was a very special mass, surrounded by God's love and so many of our family members.  Sam's God-parents are Abby and John Lape and Aunt Laura.  He is a very special and very loved little boy, and we will always be so grateful to God that He trusted Samuel to us to raise and love.

October fun

We've done some fun things this fall!!  Earlier this month, we went to the apple orchard with the Lape family (Amanda and Dean pictured on tires below with Madeline and Henry).  The kids enjoyed a pony ride, the corn maze, a tractor ride, and petting the goats.    Sam was there too.  I made sure his presence was documented!

  

We also got to spend a weekend in Madison with Nathan's cousin, Jenny, and her family.  Gotta love the cousin shot below!  

Jenny and Eric treated Nathan and I to the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin game - suite tickets, too!!  It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend and we really had a great time, even though the Gophers lost.

Sam - 7 weeks

Wow, do we love our little baby Sam!  He is 7 weeks old already.  He is fairly similar to his older brother and sister so far-  nothing new to figure out, thankfully.  He's been doing a GREAT job sleeping - the last five nights he's had 8-9 hour stretches between feedings!!

Sam's first bath - he didn't like it at first, but now he really enjoys his nightly bedtime baths.

Sam's first bottle - he DRAINED it.  We still need to get him used to bottles more, but I think he's going to do just fine.

Madeline and Henry love to hold their baby brother, even when he's not cooperating!

Madeline's first homework assignment...

...was to make a giant cut-out of herself. These pictures of all of the kindergartners are hanging all around the hallways in the school.  She did a great job!  She had fun adding little beads and gems to make her fingernails and facial features. 

Overall, Madeline seems to enjoy kindergarten. I'm so impressed with all of the creative activities that the kids are doing.  The biggest change I can see in Madeline is that she wants to write all of the time. She constantly has a pen and paper in her hand, loves to make mini books - complete with staples, and she always asks us to help her spell a word.  It's fun to see her excited to learn.

The cutest thing she has said to me so far...  I asked her what her favorite part of her day was, and she said she got to walk to the library with some other kids WITH NO TEACHER.  She was little Ms. Independent!

Madeline's first day of kindergarten

Big Change #2 in the Knutson family happened this past week.... Madeline started Kindergarten on Tuesday after Labor Day.  Leading up to her first day, she said she was nervous, especially about meeting new friends, but you'd never know she was nervous as we walked to school.  (Yes, we live ~4 blocks away from her school and we get to walk her to and from school.)  She is in AM kindergarten.  Her first day must have gone well, because she was mad at me when she got home, saying "I don't like it here at home.  I want to go back to kindergarten."

I think getting dressed is going to be a big challenge.  She picks out the craziest stuff. And I don't really care if she matches or not, but I don't like her "wear only leggings" phase that she is in!

She also gets to pack a snack each day.  On her first day, she requested yogurt, an apple, and carrot sticks.  Whew - big eater!  I have to convince her each day that only one item is necessary.  :)

Sam's first 3 weeks

The first three weeks of Sam's life have been busy and so much fun!

Week 1 - Sam got to cuddle with Mommy and Daddy on his own!  Madeline and Henry stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Schwartz for 4 days and then with Grandma and Grandpa Knutson for 5 days.  They had a great time with their grandparents, and I think they were so disappointed to be back to the grind with us.   We were so grateful for the 1-1 time with Sam!

Week 2 - Grandma Rita visited us from Indiana, and stayed with us for a week.  She kept Madeline and Henry busy with trips to the pool, the maze, and the park.  She had a great idea to throw a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast party, in honor of Sam (who is the main character in that Dr. Seuss book. )  My mom always is a HUGE HELP whenever she visits - laundry, grocery shopping, more laundry, ironing, cleaning, cooking.  I was so sad to see her go....

Week 3 - My sisters and their families visited us.  Between the three of us girls, we have 6 kids - and all are ages 5 and under.  It was a busy week, and we didn't really do too much during our visit.  Just played with the kids and went to the candy shop.

So, how is Sam doing?  He is a GREAT eater, and always wants to eat every 2 hours or so (even in the middle of the night.)  But overall, everything seems pretty textbook with this little guy, and we're grateful for that.

Knutson kids comparison

The early consensus is that Sam looks alot like Madeline.  What do you think?

Madeline

Henry

Samuel

Loving the pool!

While I"m making blog updates, here are pics of the kids enjoying a nice summer day in our little kiddie pools....

Announcing the arrival of Samuel Michael!

Nathan and I welcomed our baby boy, Samuel Michael Knutson, on Friday, August 13th!   He is a VERY healthy baby boy, for which we are eternally grateful.  It's hard not to feel completely overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the blessings God has given to our family.

Stats

Birthday - August 13, 2010 at 9:13 a.m.

Weight - 10 lbs, 15 oz

Length - 24+" (they didn't have a tape measure long enough to figure out how long he actually was)

Birth Story
Starting on Thursday, the 12th...
10 a.m. - I drop off Madeline and Henry at my dad and step-mom's house.  We were on the list to get induced the next day on Friday, so it was nice to get them settled in without being in any sort of mad dash.
4 p.m.  Kid-free, labor-free.  Last minute preps in anticipation of baby delivery the next day.
8:30 p.m. Big storm moves in....  I had gone into labor with Madeline after a big storm, so I had been getting my hopes up the past 2 weeks that each storm was going to put me into labor.  THIS was finally the storm.  Or else it was just time all on its own and it was just a coincidence.  Some contractions start up. 
10 p.m.  Going to bed is hopeless. Having some contractions about 15 minutes apart.  And I'm hot in my room.  I tell Nathan that I'm going to the basement to sleep, but didn't want to keep him up, too, so didn't tell him I was in labor yet. 
11 p.m. Contractions are steadily 10 minutes apart.  I read a random romantic novel in between to keep from going crazy.
2 a.m.  HUGE thunder rips outside.  Suddenly, one contraction stays for about 10 minutes - with slight variance on intensity throughout.  Things have changed.  Next contraction is 3 minutes apart.  I go upstairs and wake up Nathan.
2:10 a.m.  Trying to get through to Nathan that I'm in labor.  Might have been a bad strategy not to fill him in on the progress up to this point.  Ask him to track time - are they really staying at 3 minutes apart?  Yes.  Okay. Let's call the hospital.  They say get in the car and come in right now.
2:15 a.m.  Mad dash.  2 showers, grab the bag, get in the car.  Still explaining to Nathan that labor is really intense.
2:30 a.m.  Nathan drives to hospital in pouring rain.  He's stressing because he didn't properly check out the route because we know there is construction.
3 a.m.  Arrive at the hospital.  I ask for epidural to start IMMEDIATELY.  Contractions are 2-3 minutes apart and lasting 1+ minutes each.  They check me out and I'm 5 cm already.  They immediately admit me and get an IV drip, which is the prerequisite for the epidural.   Nathan and I celebrate that we don't have to "walk the halls" trying/waiting/hoping to get to the magic 4 cm mark that is required for the hospital admission and epidural.
4:15 a.m.  I'm ready for the epidural.  Waiting for the anesthesiologist. (spelling?)
5 a.m. Yeah! Epidural is in.  Time to rest.  Labor progressing nicely on its own.  No pitocin needed.
7 a.m.  Checked out and I'm at 9.5 cm. 
9 a.m. Ready to push.  Took only about 3 contractions and 10 minutes.
9:13 a.m. Samuel Michael is born!!  He was SO ANGRY and cried so hard.  Poor guy.  What trauma!  But thankfully, he also has checked out to be very healthy.  Our prayers have been answered in his arrival...

All in all, the labor and delivery was as perfect as I could have hoped for.  Also, my recovery has been easier this time around than it was for Henry, for which I'm obviously grateful.

His First Week
Nathan and I prefer to get out of the hospital as soon as we can, preferring the comforts of our home over the hospital. So, we left around noon on Saturday.  Sam has been a good baby so far.  He's eating, sleeping, and pooping just like he's supposed to.  Only thing we're working through is that he prefers sleeping in our arms, especially at night, and that obviously isn't going to fly.  But last night he slept all swaddled up in his crib so we had our first successful night of having a Sam-free bed.  The stinker!

Madeline and Henry stayed with my dad and step-mom until Monday morning, so we had a few days at home with just Sam, which was great - I got more time to recover and rest and we were able to get to know Sam better 1-1.  The kids arrived on Monday morning and just smothered Sam with love.  They affectionately fight over who gets to sit next to the baby and who gets to hold the baby.  They are just obsessed with trying to figure him out.  They only had 1 day with us at home, and then they were off to Grandma and Grandpa Knutson's on Tuesday.  They'll be back on Sunday.  So, we've really had 10 days or so without Madeline and Henry underfoot - a great way to ease into the reality of having 3 kids!  I know they'll be great helpers, but it will also be very busy.  I miss them terribly, but also am glad they get to spend so much quality time with their grandparents.

Random Thoughts

• Why in the world did I buy a CASE of newborn diapers?  Definitely do not fit our big baby boy.  On to size 1 in his first week.
• How do I answer Henry's question:  "Mommy, do you still have a baby in your tummy?"    No, honey, mommy just has a baby gut!
• We're a family of 5!  This is it!  No more babies.  Never going to be pregnant again.  And I'm okay with that.  I love having the privilege of being pregnant and also feeling the baby kick.  But, it's hard on your body, it's not comfortable at all, and you have to make alot of sacrifices both during the pregnancy and afterwards while you nurse.  And I LOVE the 3 kids I have.  So, it's time to be done.  It's just kind of strange to be in the phase where you are done with the baby stuff and are ready to downsize already when you've been accumulating baby stuff for the past 5 years.
•  It's exciting to realize that the number of major changes in our lives are over and we can just focus on the 5 of us.  I think about how our family vacations will be with 1 girl and 2 boys and how Christmas' will be.  I think about how much Madeline and Henry already wrestle - what are Henry and Sam going to do to each other?  And what do we need to do now to prepare for how much food 2 teenage boys will go through?!  It's fun to feel so settled and permanent, if that makes any sense.
• GOD PROVIDES!  Wow.  His love and generosity overwhelms me.  I couldn't ask for anything more, and I'm going to try my hardest to show Him my love and gratitude in return. 
• Cute Henry story #1 (and note that he's only been around the baby for 1 full day) - if anyone is holding Sam and he starts to cry, he looks at them and tells them that Sam wants his mommy.  :)
• Cute Henry story #2 - when Sam was crying, I told him that I needed to feed him.  He goes over to the fridge, opens it, and starts suggesting food... apple sauce?  cheese stick?  yogurt?  banana?  No, Henry.  Thanks for your help, but he only drinks milk.

Fishing trip to Lake Kabetogama

An annual tradition is our trip up north to Grandpa Bob's cabin near Lake Kabetogama.  This year, my sister Katie and her family joined us, which was extra special because we hadn't seen them since Christmas.  My dad was really nervous about me being out in the boat on the rocky water (for fear of kicking me into labor or something), so Katie and I tended to stay back at the cabin and play with the kids.  That was great though.  The boys had a great time fishing and the girls got to catch up.  So, I don't have any pictures on the lake, but lots of cute pics of the kids!  It was a great trip and always something fun we look forward to each year.

1.  Henry and Landon digging in the sand.  (Landon is almost 3 and Henry is 2.5.) They sometimes have a tough time getting along, but they really did a great job of sharing this trip.  They were obsessed with Landon's collection of Cars movie matchbox cars.  I think Henry has a Cars collection in his future....

2.  When not playing with Cars, the three older kids constantly were wrestling. 

3.  Look at my sweet, adorable little 1-year old nephew, Andrew.  I hadn't seen him since Christmas, when he was 6 months old, so it was so special to see how much he's grown.  He looks SO MUCH like my sister Katie when she was this age.  Check out the picture of my sister in red to see for yourself!

4.  The kids have a very cool fascination with the fish cleaning process, so they always had to be out there with grandpa Bob when they brought the fish back.

Twins game

We took Nathan to a Twins game for his father's day gift.  It was the first ever baseball game for Madeline and Henry, and also my first visit to the new stadium.  The kids were probably too young to understand everything, but it was still a fun little family outing.  Unfortunately, it was raining the first 2 hours we were there, but we survived!

Preschool graduation

Big week for Madeline... turned 5 on Wednesday and had Preschool graduation on Thursday.  Her class did a cute little program - singing a few songs for us.  It's so hard to believe that she is going to Kindergarten in the fall!

Camping trip gone awry

We've had bad luck as far as rain goes so far this spring.  Even though we don't have a ton of plans, rain does seem to interfere with the dates we do have set ....  our garage sale, Madeline's birthday party, and our recent camping trip.  Nathan got our tent all set up and bought some firewood, and then it proceeded to rain for the next 5 hours straight.  Since the campground was 20 minutes away and our tent was wicking in water all over, we made the decision to go home for the night.  We had a BBQ at our fellow camper's house that night and then tried again on Sunday to make the most of the trip.  Fortunately Sunday was much better and we enjoyed a few hours on the beach.  Well, we tried!