8 Months Old!

8 Months Old!! How did this sneak up on us? Kind of like, birthday number one is doing...trying to sneak up on us! We have such a wonderful baby on our hands, and yes, I say baby because I still can! Nathan always calls him "big guy" which is partly true! Gunnar's stats for this month: Weight: 20 lbs Length: 30.5 inches! He is so long, we're already starting to look into new carseats, since he has almost outgrown his first one!

As you can see, this is Gunnar's "move of the week" he clenches his fists and sometimes his mouth and shakes his head like "uhhhh!" We're seeing more attitude everyday!

This look will get you everytime! Luckily he can't  hold it very long, because usually a smile is right after! I think he's thinking "seriously Mom, ANOTHER picture?" Ohhh Gunnar, I love you.

And this, well this is something we rarely see. Gunnar crying. He was not to thrilled when I was trying to take his "monthly picture" with a sign. I had taken the paper away from him, and 10 seconds later, gave it back and everything was fine again. Nice lesson, I know.

We've been blessed in so many ways throughout 2009.

Please count your blessings, and think on the positive side of things for 2010.

Our 2009 Blessing of All Time

Happy New Year Everyone!

A few of Gunnar's favorites!

Gunnar has been a ball of fun lately. Seriously, since Thanksgiving, he's been a whole different kid! NOW I am seeing why people say kids are so much fun! I could skip the newborn phase, and go straight to this! I think though, with baby #2, (and no, there is no #2...just not yet atleast) that I will enjoy that newborn stage, knowing that they do grow, and they do grow fast! Here are a few of the fun shots that I've captured lately... 

Gunnar scoots himself everywhere on our hardwood floors! We were watching TV on the couch, and he decided to join us, front and center!

Gunnar's other favorite place to scoot himself to, is right in front of the furnace.This picture was taken while the warm air was blowing on him. The force of the air takes his breath away, but he loves it! You can see his hair is blowing from the warm air, but it's hard to capture his excitement of the furnace.

I put the laundry basket on the couch for Nathan to help fold-hah-the next thing I know, Gunnar is sitting in the warm clothes reading, more like chewing, on his fuzzy farm animal books!

I think it is safe to say....our son FINALLY is eating baby food. We've been working on foods for quite awhile now. More like 4 months of trying! Some frustrating days of trying to shove new foods down him! Finally, last week we did the usual, "let's try some food..hmm..how does squash sound?" and guess what, he loved it! SO, we've gone from a shelf of food, down to an empty shelf of food. Sweet Taters, Carrots, Prunes, Peas, Pears...he's eating ALL of them, of course with his favorite, Oatmeal! :)

His favorite place to play, under the piano!

His choice to play with...the remote!

And last, but not least, his favorite thing...his thumb.

Tomorrow Gunnar will be 8 months! Where has that time gone? Tonight we'll get his new measurements, and tomorrow we'll get his monthly picture taken. I'll post his monthly stats tomorrow..but for now, I hope these put a smile on your face!

A Christmas to Remember

Gunnar's 1st Christmas!

This Christmas was so very different from my past 24 years of Christmas, but a good different. Usually I was in Iowa, with my husband, and my parents and brother, but this year we were on the ranch. As the huge blizzard swept through Montana and into the Midwest, down South and far North into Canada, it kept many people at home and off the roads. In my mind, it was perfect timing. Most people couldn't get to their destinination, and for once everyone had to stay home, and was made to forget about the hustle and bustle, and concentrated on the REAL meaning of Christmas, and time with family. We loved it! I was bummed at first that my parents wouldn't be able to make the trek from Iowa to the Painter Ranch, but then I thought, what better Christmas than sitting in our little warm house, in the middle of the prairie, during a blizzard, with nothing else to do but eat, drink, stay in comfy clothes, and watch movies. Of course we had Painters livestock to worry about, but after getting a good day on the 24th, and Nathan getting everything fed double, Christmas day was wonderful, and so much fun getting to spend time with our amazingly cute little boy. This Christmas for sure is going in his baby book, lots of snow, and lots of memories!

Grandpa Tom gave Gunnar his 1st Barn and Farm set!

Chuck and Friends from his Uncle Chuck (Cullen)

Gunnar and John Deere and Farm toys!

Trying to combine two people's traditions isn't always easy, espcially when you are dealing with two stubborn people! :) I think we've came to a conclusion of opening family gifts to and from each other on Christmas Eve, and then Christmas morning, Santa gifts are under the tree. Gunnar was excited for new wrapping paper and bows again on Christmas morning!

Being lazy on Christmas Day!

Daddy & Gunnar

Gunnar and his snowman from Grannie Annie! He LOVES his walker, he zooms in and out of the kitchen! These jammies had extra traction on the bottom, so we really had to watch him! The girls have been in the mud room since the blizzard and cold weather, we have them blocked off, but Gunnar sits in front of them, and Jade and him sit and make noises back and forth, with Gunnar giggling away...the cutest thing..ever!

Gunnar in his walker!

The sign says "My 1st Christmas" and "Merry Christmas 2009"

Nathan and I are so blessed with Gunnar. He is so patient with us, and we try to be patient with him in return. The past 8 months have been the fastest 8 months of our lives, and we didn't know it was possible to love something as much as we love Gunnar. This Christmas was wonderful, and even though we weren't with EVERYone that we love, everyone was on our minds, and Thank Goodness for Skype too!

We wish everyone a wonderful end to 2009, and a great start to 2010! Keep checking in, there is  never a dull moment at the Wagner's!

A Hiding Baby & A Welcome Home

Where to start with the new adventures of Gunnar! His personality is changing, and every day we sit and just laugh with him. A few days ago I had laid him on the floor, like I usually do. Well, this time he decided to roll, roll, roll, and scoot, scoot, scoot, himself under the coffee table, which is by the piano. So here I come walking into the livingroom, to a hiding baby, who was being so quiet that when I found him, I think I scared him by bursting into laughter! I grabbed the camera, and here are the shots I got..

Little stinker!!

Chewing on the foot pedals of the piano

Who me?? Are you laughing at ME?

On Thursday Gunnar and I loaded up and drove to Bowman, ND which is about an hour away to get some supplies. Caitie, Nathan's sister, and her boyfriend were coming for the weekend, and we needed some groceries! So, Gunnar and I parked on Main Street, and went to a cute drugstore, which also happened to be a Hallmark store! I was shocked! We also went across the street to a coffee and flower shop, which is so cute, warm, and welcoming. The Christmas decor was beautiful, and I got a warm fuzzy feeling listening to the older women having coffee and talking. It is so cute to listen and watch older women interact. Gunnar of course was being his usual cute self, and had all the women swooning over him! We headed home after getting groceries, but all in all, it was a fun morning and mid afternoon spent with Gunnar shopping!

Gunnar has been chatting like crazy, and has learned his first word...MOM. That's right, he is finally showing some appreciation and saying MOM. It is adorable, and I listen to him say it all day long! Dad is a little jealous, but definately won't admit it! haha...least we know who his favorite is forsure now...right?

On Friday, Caitie and Bret got here around supper time. We had supper ready to go, so when they got here we ate, had some laughs, and then got ready for bed! Saturday came, and the girls and Gunnar hung out inside, while Nathan had Bret help him with chores. Caitie and I also went and checked the snares that we hung, but nothing was caught...again. I will get something in one of those snares, even if it's only a jack rabbit, I won't complain! :) Saturday afternoon we had lunch in town and then took a roadtrip through the Cave Hills, my favorite! The snow was a little iffy in spots, but we made it, and Gunnar got a nice nap in! Saturday night was spent eating a spaghetti dish supper, opening gifts, and watching Hungover, the DVD that Caitie got us! Here is Caitie enjoying her new gift that we got her...

A pheasant hunting vest! She has went out with Bret a few times, and has found that I haven't been crazy all of these years...hunting IS fun! It fit her great, and I'm sure she'll get a lot of use out of it!

Sunday morning the guys did chores, and then we all ate a yummy breakfast that Nathan cooked up. After eating and getting packed up, we said our goodbyes. They were heading to Pierre, and we were heading to the Hills for supplies! My parents will be coming on Thursday for Christmas Eve and Christmas through the weekend, we're SO excited for them to come, and for Gunnar's 1st Christmas! Here are some pictures I snapped today before we said our goodbyes..

Caitie, Bret, & Gunnar

Bret & his new friend, Gunnar

Aunt Caitie bonding with her favorite nephew! :)

All 3 of them! Gunnar is wearing the hat that Aunt Caitie got him

A very CUTE looking couple!

Us girls were tired, and we look it, but still, I am so lucky to have such a fun sister in law! Thanks for coming to visit us! We all had a blast, so Thanks Caitie & Bret for making the haul out here!

Aunt Caitie got Gunnar a V-Tech Train for Christmas, and he absolutely loves it! After we got home from the Hills we sat him on the floor, and he went right to playing with it!

Nathan got me a new hat for part of my Christmas gift, here I am after opening it tonight. I know I know, I am worse than a child, getting to open a gift already! :)

Merry Christmas!!

A Birthday Weekend

Another weekend gone! Time just keeps flying right on by it seems, and before we know it, 2010 will be here! We had a visitor this weekend! Tom came from Pierre on Friday morning, and right away, got put to work! Nathan had him helping with chores and other jobs around the ranch, while Gunnar and I were at home Christmas decorating. I'll back up....On Thursday, our alarm went off at 3:30 am. Yuck. I am a morning person, but that even kicked my butt getting up that early, especially when our little stinker didn't want to go to sleep until 11:00 that night! Anyway, we had to take a load of buffalo to Rapid, and they needed to be there by 7:00, which put us on the road at latest, by 5:00 am. After an early morning, we stopped in Sturgis on the way back home and picked out a Christmas tree! On Friday when Tom got here, we got it put in the house and Gunnar and I went to decorating! Gunnar's high chair also came Thursday night, so he sat in his new ride and watched me! He seems to really enjoy it, and with the temps being so darn cold, the girls have been in the mudroom, and some how they accidently roam into the kitchen to visit Gunnar...hmmm.. :) He LOVES Jade, and just likes Libby. He sits and talks to Jade, puts his hands out for her to lick, and just giggles at her, it is A-dorable! Friday was Tom's birthday, so I wanted to take him somewhere nice, or as nice as it gets in this neck of the woods. We went to Bowman, to Hawk's Landing. I LOVE this place! They had 2 people playing Christmas music on electric keyboards, drinking wine, and lights were dimmed. It felt luxurious to me! Anyway, we filled out bellies with steak and prime rib, and then got home to a Jello Cake that I had made, along with 53 candles!

First experience in the high chair, which he loves!

Gunnar wearing his South African Rugby jersey from Vessel. We had Vessel and Max over for supper on Thursday night, since Vessel was leaving for home on Friday. We have lots of memories with our friend, Vessel. He will be missed on the ranch, in many ways! I said that Gunnar will be the most diversified baby, because he had on his SA Rugby jersey, while Max was singing to him in German!

Tom's 53rd Birthday cake!

Blowing them out! He got them all out pretty fast I must say!

Playing with his toys on the floor! What a big boy he is getting to be!

Bubble bath! He LOVES his bubbles! He giggles when we blow them at him, we have so much fun during bath time! Gunnar looks forward to it every night, as do we!

This week is pretty uneventful, just counting down the days until my parents come for Christmas! The tree is decorated, and presents wrapped. The homemade sugar cookies and frosting still need done, but we usually eat all of them the day we make them, so we'll hold off for a bit! Nathan's sister, Caitie, and her boyfriend are coming to visit this weekend, so we're looking forward to that. That's the update for this last week! We hope this finds everyone healthy, and getting ready to celebrate Christmas.

Happy Holidays to all of our family and friends!

Family Time

We went to Iowa for Thanksgiving! With leaving on the 25th, we had wonderful fall-like weather to travel in, and made it to Iowa around 5:00 Wednesday night. Thursday was Thanksgiving, and everyone went to church. Gunnar enjoyed his 1st Thanksgiving, and was sporting his Baby's 1st Thanksgiving turkey outfit and bib! As usual, my Mom captured some great photos! Grandma & Grandpa Satter, Roger Carstens, Evan, Julie, Mom, Dad, Nathan & I ate a yummy Thanksgiving supper. After supper, Tim, Maureen, Craig, & Nikki Andresen came over to visit. What a wonderful time with family! 

Here is Great Grandma Bonnie & Gunnar

Here is Grannie Annie & Gunnar wearing his 1st Thanksgiving outfit from her!

Gunnar eating his oatmeal and playing in the exersaucer at Grampy & Grannie Andresen's house!

Family picture! Our 1st Holiday as a Family of 3! Thanksgiving 2009 in Iowa

We had our first date night while in Iowa too! We hadn't gotten to go out as just "Nathan & Erica" so while we were home, my parents watched Gunnar for us, and we went to Cherokee for supper at the Ghausthouse. It was so fun, and I only caught myself ONCE talking about Gunnar, pretty good huh? :)

Here we are just before going out for our first time alone in over 7 months! Date night! Nathan has lost around 25 lbs and it shows, he looks great!

We also helped with Harvest while back home. Well, Nathan did most of the work, I was with Mom and Gunnar most of the time-ha! BUT, I did get to drive the new green combine with Evan's supervision! Thankfully, after we got home, they finished up corn harvest, the BEST they've ever had for a corn crop! Lots to be Thankful for this year!

We got home on Wednesday December 2nd, and that is when the COLD weather hit. As of this morning, we were at a balmy -19 degrees with -40 windchill...nice. Tomorrow we are heading to Rapid City with a trailer load of buffalo. Hopefully the temps rise a little bit, and I'm hoping to stop at a couple places for some shopping! We hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with Christmas sneaking up on us fast! Happy Holidays!