Photos February 2010

Hunter has fit right into our family, and we are doing so well. We've had a wonderful first few weeks, and enjoying every single moment. It's already hard to believe he will already be 3 weeks old tomorrow.

Baby Hunter's Birth & Homecoming

Welcome Baby Hunter!

Hunter William Schantz joined our family on February 7, 2010. Just after the snow finally stopped falling, after a blizzard all day Friday & Saturday, Hunter decided it was time to make his grand entrance... Labor contractions began about midnight, and by 1am were quite uncomfortable. I decided to get into my bathtub in hopes this was just another episode of false labor. Our streets had not been plowed, and more than 2 1/2 feet of snow coated the entire area.
When the contractions didn't stop, I started to get nervous, and started praying for a snow plow. Sure enough a snow plow came down our street. Troy went outside to talk to the plow driver, explained that I was in labor and could he help us plow out the bottom half of our drive way so we could get to the street.

Then we called Aunt Jessica & Uncle Tom, woke them up, and told them we were on our way with Owen. My contractions were about 3 1/2 min apart when we left for the hospital. The drive there was unreal. Cars had slid off the road, plows and bulldozers were everywhere, but the roads remained quite coated in snow and barely passable. However, we made it to Aunt Jessica's street, which hadn't been plowed. Uncle Tom met us at the entrance to their neighborhood and helped Owen to their house. Then we continued on to St. Joe's, just a few minutes away from their house.

So relieved that we finally made it to the hospital around 5am, we got checked in, and I was already 4+ cm dialated and baby Hunter was definitely on his way. Once we got settled, and got the fantastic epidural, we were finally able to relax and let the rest of our family know we were at the hospital and that Baby Hunter would be here soon. It wasn't long after that, they broke my water, and by 9am we knew it was almost time. The nurse told me they'd be back at 9:30. I started pushing about 9:40 and Hunter made it into the world at 9:45am.

He weighed in at 7lbs .02 oz, he was 20 inches long at birth. His hair is a lighter color brown, but he looks a lot like Owen did as a baby.

Big Brother Owen was very excited to find out his "little peanut" brother had arrived. Daddy called him to tell him the big news, and Owen was very excited. Our family is now complete and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful baby join our family.

Given that Hunter was born in the middle of a blizzard, everything was a little rushed, and unexpected... But what was even more unexpected was that a second blizzard was to arrive on Tuesday. Therefore, Mommy & Hunter were discharged from the hospital Monday evening and went home with Daddy and Big Brother Owen a little ahead of schedule.

The second storm was much nicer. We were all home together as a new family, and relaxed around the fire place, watched movies, enjoyed the baby, and poor Daddy had to dig and dig and dig out the driveway. Within 5 days we received more than 50 inches of snow!!!

Winter Wonderland, Gymnastics & Waiting for Baby

January has been incredibly busy getting ready for the new baby to arrive. After Christmas and Owen's birthday party, it was definitely time to start getting ready, and getting the necessary items that we need for the baby, and doing a little decorating and organizing in the baby's room. Owen and Mommy have also been having lots of one on one time, doing fun activities, playing and arts and crafts. It's hard to believe now that any day we could have a new addition to our family, and the dynamic of our family will be changed forever! We are all very excited for the baby to arrive, and the waiting has begun. Even as I type this, I've been having very strong contractions, but nothing that is getting regular enough to consider it labor yet.

Owen also has been coming to many of my OB appointments, and this past week, was probably the funniest thing ever to happen. When I picked him up at school, I told him we needed to go to my doctor appointment. He said, good, because I have some questions for the doctor. I though uh oh! Sure enough, when the doctor walked through the door, before she could even greet me, Owen said - "I have a question for you". The doctor said - "Yes, Owen" Owen responded - "When are you going to take that baby out???" The doctor chuckled, and responded "very soon, probably a few more weeks, when the baby is ready" The doctor then included him in the appointment much more than she ever has before, telling him he could be her assistant, and talking to him, it was so cute... then when she was about to leave she asked him if there were any other questions she could answer for him... he responded "YES" and she said asked what other question did he have... Owen responded - "Can I please pee pee on your potty and then have one of your lolly pops?" I think the doc nearly fell over. I cracked up! It was so funny!

We went swing set shopping out in Columbia, and Owen had a ball at the show room. They allow you to swing and play and have a ball. We spent a small fortune, but our new swing set will be arriving this spring. Owen can hardly wait to have a playground in his back yard.

We also had a nice visit with Great Mom-Mom and Maggie this week. Mom-Mom had some great presents for Owen's birthday and Christmas.

He also really loved Maggie's Guinea Pigs, and even helped feed them.

Owen also now goes to "BIG BOY" Gymnastics Class. No more Mommy & Me classes, Owen goes in with the other 3 & 4 year old kids, and he is so cute to watch in the class. He listens very well, and has really had fun in the new class. I kinda miss going in with him, but know it's for the best, because in a few weeks, Owen can still go to Gymnastics and I can still stand in the lobby and watch and hold the baby. He's so cute, he'll be watching the teacher or doing the exercises, then remember I'm watching, and he'll turn around, smile and wave to me. It's too cute!

Our little artist. He just LOVES his art projects.

And of course, it wouldn't be January, if the weathermen didn't botch a weather report. They were calling for a dusting, but we got 6 inches of snow! Owen loved it, even though it was FREEZING out, he and Daddy had a blast shoveling and having snowball fights all morning.

And now the waiting begins... We just are sitting back and waiting for the day that Baby Brother will enter our family.

It's Tumble Bus Time!

Owen's long awaited 3rd birthday party with his friends was such a success. He very patiently waited almost a month after his birthday to have his friends join him on the Tumble Bus. Some of the kids were rather intimidated by being sent onto a school bus without Mommy/Daddy, but most enjoyed themselves after they understood better that it was going to be a lot of fun. Owen hopped right on, so excited and ready to participate. It was a great afternoon, and Owen and his friends had a great time!

Tumble Bus Time Videos!

The kids really enjoyed the parachute on the bus.

Owen LOVED the zipline, he did it like 5 times!

Singing Happy Birthday to Owen on the Tumble Bus!

End of 2009

We finished off the year, and what a great year it was. Owen has grown and changed so much, it's amazing to look back at the earlier posts from this year and then the videos and photos from the end of the year.

We spent our new years playing with Owen's toys... He loves his new Handy Manny tool bench that Aunt Jess & Uncle Tom gave him for Christmas. This is one kid who LOVES his tools. He and Daddy made quite a few of the projects, and Owen really enjoys that Manny talks to him. Very cute.

Uncle Steve, Aunt Lisa, Taylor & Sienna sent Owen his very first set of golf clubs and a putting green. He got quite a thrill out of opening that gift, and really enjoyed practicing his swing. He actually has a pretty good swing! I know he'll love going to the driving range this spring with Daddy.

So what a year it has been. We are thrilled to be entering 2010 when we will be welcoming a new addition to our family. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Videos

Owen enjoyed opening his presents this year. Although he was still in the stage of not wanting to just rip through his presents, he wanted to open each one and then play with it. So it took us nearly 2+ hours to get Owen to open all of his presents.

Owen figuring out that Santa did bring the Air Hockey table that he had been wanting for months!

Owen has been eyeing up the Touch and Brush Infomercial for months now, and we found it at Target and had to buy it for him. He is still delighted with it, and absolutely LOVES to brush his teeth. Now when the Infomercial comes on, he wants to run and brush his teeth again...

Four Christmases

Owen's 3rd Birthday

Plans got all messed up because of more than 20 inches of Snow that fell on the day Owen was to celebrate his 3rd Birthday. But boy did we make the most of it. He had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast before school. Cupcakes with his friends at school. Granny, Pop, Aunt Liz, Aunt Jess, Uncle Tom, Ms. Carolyn & Mr. Ron all rearranged their plans and came over to help Owen celebrate his birthday Friday night. We rescheduled his kid party for January. And on Saturday, he loved playing with his new presents and watching the snow fall and pile up! Then Sunday we got to go out and shovel and play in the snow. What a weekend!!! Certainly one we will remember!

Photos from Early December

Pre-Christmas Videos

Driving his new Birthday Jeep in the Snow! Thank you Pop & Granny!

Checking out the massive snowfall from our garage last night.

Owen & Aunt Lizzie

Owen singing Frosty the Snowman

Owen mailing his letter to Santa

Enjoying the 1st Snowfall

Owen really enjoyed the first snowfall. Last year, the only snow we got, Owen had a terrible ear infection, and wasn't able to go outside. This year, he's been asking for snow for weeks, as all the Christmas shows and books have winter scenes. So he got what he's been asking for on Dec 5th, and loved every minute of it.

November 2009

We had a lot going on during the month of November. As the weather got colder, we tried to figure out ways to let Owen still enjoy being active, without as much outside time as we have had earlier in the fall. So we moved our Bouncy House into the basement, and that has been a great way for Owen to play especially in the evening after dinner. We also had a great time at the Imagination Movers Concert.

He also learned how to ride his tricycle and gave up wearing pull ups during the daytime (he still needs to wear them at night). He has done remarkably well, and we are so proud. It's not to say there are not accidents, but we are certianly understanding the concept of using the potty and being a big boy. He also attended a couple of really fun birthday parties and had a trip to visit Grandpa & Grandma Bev. Daddy's birthday was also during November and Grandma came down to visit for that too. Not to mention Thanksgiving which was lots of fun, and everything went very smoothly.

Then there was the Christmas decorating. Owen was so very excited to see all the neat decorations, the tree, and we bought a new Lionel train for underneath of the tree. He has been enjoying it so much, and is much more understanding of the Christmas Holiday, and is extremely excited about it. I can tell we're going to have a lot of fun this season.

Here are some videos -

Riding Tricycle

Painting Pine Cones

Talking to the Turkey

Thanksgiving 2009