Merry Christmas!

Ho ho ho!!!  Meeerrrry Christmas!  What a great weekend!  Presents certainly aren't everything to me by any means, but I was certainly blessed this weekend by my family.  To start off, I enjoyed one of my favorite Christmas Eve services since I can remember.  A quote from Scott our pastor, "I know many of you wanted to come here and hear about little baby Jesus and how we was born and it WAS great, but he grew up!  And this is how he showed love..."  So awesome.  Love who I am.

Katie and I had a wonderful Christmas Eve routine that includes a service, looking at Christmas lights and champagne.  Service was wonderful.  Daniel cried after the service most of the ride home so we nixed the Christmas lights.  The champagne was on sale at Wal-Mart and was pretty awful.  BUT, I came home to an HD Television from my wife.  She had given my parents the keys and they set up everything while we were out.  I had NO idea.  Very cool.  It's just one of her many gifts.  A couple before and after shots below.

Clever thief

Santa in his younger years

Christmas day was wonderful.  We woke up (or I should say, were woken up) at about 5am and decided to exchange gifts and hang out with Daniel.  Daniel got a Johnny Jump Up and just LOVES it.  He jumps around more than House of Pain.  I should be honest, he probably spins more than he jumps right now, but as my father always says, "spininess is next to jumpiness".

Happy dude

Following our small family Christmas, we went over to MY parents and celebrated with my mother and father, Eric and Noelle, and Jason and Tina. What a nice time.  I do love ALL of my family.  Beyond gifts even, I just love having such a great support system on all sides while we go through this transition in our life. 

Daniel is growing like crazy.  He's so heavy and it's starting to take a toll on my back and legs.  I need to do some calisthenics or something.  We got big plans this week of random acts and planned resting.  I wish you all the best.  Daniel has been steadily improving night to night with not having his Swaddle Me and we're so thankful..rest is good.

Family picture in front of our tree

Little elf

I Should Be Replaced

There's been many calling for my replacement as blog updater.  To those people, you are required by Blogger bylaws to issue a recall vote.  Until then...you're stuck with me.  I also apologize for the lack of updates lately.  I blame one of my two room mates.  I actually typed the below last week, but have not been able to finish it until today.  Please forgive me.

Last Sunday we celebrated our first of many Christmases together as a family, both for this year (we have 5 total) and those to come.  We began with Katie's immediate family and ended the day with the Tomes side of the family (Katie's mother's side).  It was a wonderful time and I received some very, very nice gifts personally.  Also, more toys/books for Daniel = more toys/books for Daddy.  As much as I love my son, it was always nice to rest my arms/brain and allow the other members of our family to enjoy Daniel's company through holding.  What a wonderful time though.  Certainly enjoyed it and best of all...NO TOWED CARS (story for another day).   I enjoy all my Christmases (is that a soap opera?), so we're continuing to look forward to some more good clean fun this weekend....that means no holding, no low punches, no biting, gouging or rabbit punches...anyways.

If I could work in reverse chronological order, last Saturday was an interesting day in the Konrad household.  Katie has been involved in a wedding with one of her great friends, Amanda and has needed to be gone for various events.  Which means...that's right, Daddy's in charge.  I've had a few nights where I've been responsible for putting him down (to bed I mean), but yesterday presented the first entire day without Kate (on a side note, I constantly jump between Katie and Kate to refer to my wonderful wife, Katherine and either or works, so it just depends on how I'm feeling at the very moment..thank you, this has been a Zac Konrad Side Track).  I always knew that being alone all day with a child had as many, if not more challenges than being out all day doing a job or something else, but man oh man, yesterday was a BEAST.  I have great respect for Katie for all the days she did and others that do the same.  I do not know how many single parents do this, because I would have been lost without my honey bunny (Katie...or Kate...whatever floats your boat).

Alright, I'm going out of order.  We went caroling last night and were very blessed to have my mother watch Daniel.  You see, he ROLLED OVER last weekend and since then, we've had to stop swaddling him with his Swaddle Me..kind of a difficult transition.  Thanks to some motherly advice and dedication on our parts, he's been improving night to night.  He's grown up up so much.  Can you believe he's 17 lbs when last weighed him!  Porky.

Katie and I are both on break now and looking forward to this weekend with both our family and MY family.  Although Daniel was with us last year in utero, I'm sure he'll enjoy it more this time around.

Last note, Daniel laughed for the first time with us.  I have not seen it yet, but Katie claims it is true.  I give credit to the rubber ducky.

3 Months Down

Holy smokes!  Our little guys is a whopping three months old!  He's officially out of his fourth trimester.  He no longer thinks he's still inside a belly.  He's been growing up quickly.  I'm estimating his weight at 34 lbs or so.  Again, I'm a terrible estimater, but I have spunk and that's all that matters.

Great picture

We had a nice weekend of just chillin' and relaxin' and actin' all cool.  We had our first snow, so the decision to stay in was an easy one.  We did venture out once or twice, but only to visit my father, worship it up at church, and I decided to go shopping...grocery shopping that is.  We were also able to visit with our friends, Patrick and Sarah Hammers on Saturday.  They braved the snow to come visit lil' ol' us.  I should've taken pictures...dang..but having visitors was certainly nice. 

Daniel has been making great strides. We're still figuring out some of his routines.  He had been sleeping at night like a rockstar and all of the sudden this past week he decided to..well...sleep like a very rude, loud walrus.  I don't know how rude walruses usually are, but this was an exceptionally rude walrus...anyways, he went from sleeping 8-9 hours a night to remaining awake 8-9 hours a night.  The weekend was a different story, but it took a toll on our work days.  Maybe he's hatching some sort of plan...maybe he's just rude. 

I've been reading online baby things again and apparently he recognizes my face now.  I should probably grow my beard out so that he gets used to that too.  What if I wanna join a ZZ Top cover band...gotta be ready.  I guess I could always be the drummer...I'm trying to use more vocabulary too.  Lately it's been a lot of "meeee meee mee mee mee" in a very high voice.  It makes him smile.  He's smiling like a champ though.  We think he's pretty close to laughing.  I think he's got the "hah" part down, but not the "hah hah".  I'm going through my joke library to see if I can get him going. 

We're nearing our first Christmas together and boy are we excited.  Stay tune for more (hopefully more frequent) updates. 

Shrunken socks

Snuggling

He's playing at a 4 month level.

Dancing Daniel

Daniel's very talented.  I have to give full credit for this idea to Katie. 

I also added some great pictures from Sunrays Photography.  Thank you Brandon and Rachel!

Happy Thanksgiving...ish

Cutest monster.

It has been a day since the Great Thanksgiving Feast of 2011, but this'll have to be my Thanksgiving post seeing as time seems to fly by more quickly...I wonder why...

It was a bittersweet Thanksgiving this year for me as I had fantastic times and meals with both of my families, but my mother was not able to join us because of my Poppy's (her dad's) health in Alabama.  It sounds like she had an enjoyable time, however, so we are thankful for that.  Three things I'm thankful for and three things I wished:

1.  I'm thankful for my wife and son.  Daniel has been sleeping through the flippin' night almost EVERY night.  Holy beans!  I could not ask for a better wife either.  I've been able to spend much more time with them lately and it has been great great great.  I'm excited for what we grow into.

"Leave me alone! I'm resting!...where's my milk!?"

Cute stuffs.

2.  I'm thankful for the rest of our families.  If for nothing else, they give our arms breaks from holding Daniel..I gotta get this kid walking.  Rehabilitation or something...anyways.  They are just so supportive, loving, and understanding of what we're going through right now.  These past two days show me how blessed we are.  I know not all families are such.

Grandma and her troop of grand children...well...except one.

GG and GKs

Aunt Jenny carrying two babies.  Queño watches in amazement.

Aunt Tina

Daniel ruined this picture

My dad closed his eyes as well.

3.  I'm thankful for my friends.  It is especially great to have so many friends going through this journey right now.  The advice and sympathy is very encouraging and helpful. 

Zac, Jeremy, and children.  Daniel's acting like a big baby.

4.  I'm thankful for Netflix.

I wish...

1.  ....that dirty diapers could be used as some sort of fuel alternative. 

2.  ....that spit up could be used as some sort of a fueld alternative.

3.  ....for world peace.


We're inching closer to Christmas and our Daniel's first experiences.  I'm going to have him write down his experiences this year so he can meditate on them next year.

Here's some pictures to wet your whistle. 

November

Whoa!

Helloooo November.  Also, Daniel's 2-month birthday came and went.  Am I not the best father in the world?  We did order hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and entertainment, but the thought of me neglecting to update the blog has left a rift between my son and me.  Whatevs..I'll just keep his diamond-encrusted iPad to myself...don't tell him I took it.

Happy to be sporting jeans.

Well, it's been awhile since I updated this, which means a lot has happened.  Daniel had his 2-month checkup last Friday, and he's coming in at 13 lbs 7 oz!  He's also exceptionally long.  He's in the 93 percentile for his length, the 85 percentile for his weight, and 95% for being a whiny baby.  In regards to the last figure (one which I will take full responsibility for evaluating) I should note that he had his shots at this appointment and Katie swore the needles were at least 8-9 inches long or something.  I think she might have been over exaggerating (or I'm getting my facts crossed).

Katie carved the kitty, I did the bat, and Daniel did the last

Let's see, Katie also headed back to work over a week ago.  The first day was obviously tough, but since then, she seems to have been doing much better.  We're still trying to figure out the best morning routines, but we're fast learners.  Emily and the Cooper family have been great in caring for Daniel.  I'm glad she's already a mother of three, because I would not wish the bodily functions of my son on anyone, but I'm hoping she's "seen it all" by now.  We certainly miss spending the whole day with Daniel, but, as I've said before, we're glad he is in good hands.

Eric Konrad

Our last post referred to our date night coming up, and a quick note, we ended up ditching out on the movie because we're turning into a couple of old fogeys (I say this as my wife slumbers in the next room at the late, late hour of 8pm.  Granted, our spawn decides to wake her up whenever he's hungry...how rude.

I write this at 8pm on a Thursday night, but I likely will not post this til' Friday because I need to upload pictures and I do not want to wake my shnooky-wooky to get the camera.  Anyways, I'm listening to Daniel chirp and squawk in the other room.  He's very cute.  I'll let him get away with it.  When he's 13 though???...no more chirping. 

Welp, this weekend, we'll be spending time with family and preparing for another week of November.  My mother is currently down in Alabama with her father, my Poppy.  He is not doing so well, so please keep them all in your prayers as we certainly miss them and want the best for everyone this holiday season.  We love you all and will have you in our prayers regardless.

Cutie patootie.

Date Night!

Good pic.

Although one could argue that last Friday night was a date night to Brian and Dani's wedding, tonight we're actually going to dinner and a movie!  We're going to try and make this a periodic thing.  So...we'll be watching the Huskers today throw MSU into the Pit of Death (or at least Pit of Defeat...Death seems so...morbid..) then we're off to pig out and enjoy a good flick!  We've certainly had some times this week. 

Parasite.

Daniel is continuing to grow, but perhaps the greatest feat continues to be his sleeping habits.  He's already had a few nights where he sleeps through the entire night (I'm talking 8-9 hour!) He wakes up fairly hungry, but never in hysterics.  I'm sure he has his reserves built up.  Last week he weighed in at 12lbs 7oz...little under my guess, but eh.  You'll get there buddy.  He tends to like playing in the morning most (which I sadly miss), but still has some nice play times throughout the day.  Play time includes the following:  Standing up, sitting down (in his Bumbo), laying on his play mat, shaking a rattle in his face, taking advantage of his Palmar grasp reflex to have him hold something, and having him dance (which looks like a noodle flailing in the wind.  It's a lot of fun. 

Watching Greys.

He was also able to have a play day at the Coopers (our eventual day care).  It sounds like it went well and I think he's looking forward to Hangin' with Mrs. Cooper (shout out to Mark Curry)...I throw that reference to Jason Cooper too often...I'll give me two more times.  This always gives Katie time to actually get some stuff done rather than acting as a host to our cute, parasitic son (I said "cute' to offset the parasite comparison).  This week is a big week for our family as Daniel has his 2-month birthday, which means that Katie will be returning to work as well.  Please keep us in your prayers as we make this transition, because, as we've heard, it's not always a simple one.  We're very thankful to have Emily to watch Daniel because we know he's in safe hands.

In other news, it's getting quite chilly outside.  It makes me reflect on our good friends, the Norths (check out their blog here) and the rough climate change they're experience in southern California.  Please keep them in your prayers as well as they deal with the mid-70s temperatures and sunny weather.  Change can be tough (I guess they ARE from Texas...)

Konrad out. 

Rocking B-Day Party with Queño

This is what he enjoys watching.

One expression looks more contrived than the other.

What a Nutso Week!

I do not mean "nutso" in the literal sense.  I mean, we did have some peanuts at one time or another, but not many other types of nuts.  I mean, don't you agree that to be actually "nutso", one would need to partake in at least 8-9 different types of nuts...don't you?  Anyways, I don't mean it in the literal sense (as previously written), I mean it in the, "we've been quite busy" sense.  I had our state marching band contest (also our final performance of the season), our final volleyball pep band, and an Elsasser Family Wedding.  Does this sound like I'm trying to make excuses...hah!  It shouldn't sound like anything, unless you're reading this aloud.

Family wedding photo.

This past weekend was a beautiful, beautiful time.  Kate's brother, Brian, married and we now have a new family member, Danielle Elsasser.  Her friends call her Dani.  The rehearsal dinner was great!  The wedding was great!  AND the reception was great!  It was a wonderful weekend and one of which I'm glad to have been a part.  The reception was an exceptional time too because we were able to leave Captain Crybaby at home with my mother.  Hence, we were able to dance our butts off without worry of Daniel being a party pooper (literally?)  Katie was also able to take part in Saturday festivities with her family (it was a Friday wedding) and it sounded like a GREAT time!  I finished up my final 2011 marching band performance and contest in Lincoln, NE.  It was a great way to end the season and I am mighty proud of my students, although I am excited to spend some weekends at home. 

Looking dapper

Oh yeah, congrats to Jen and Queño!  They're having a baby too!

Big surprise...Daniel's still packing on the pounds.  He was a whopping 12lbs 1 oz on his last Tuesday visit.  I'm sure he's close to 20-30 lbs by now.  I don't know..I'm no good at guesstimating.  We had a huge benchmark this week.  After many nights of not sleeping on his own and his poor mommy not getting any quality sleep in bed, Daniel's going on almost a week of sleeping in his crib BY HIMSELF (not that we could fit).  Big, big deal.  It's very nice for Katie to get an extended amount of sleep.  Since modern technology will not allow me to feed Daniel on our terms, I'm able to sleep more, but Katie was getting the brunt of his crabby nights..but he seems to have turned a corner and is doing much better.

Hyuk!

Monkey man!

We got more smiling pictures and I'm teaching him to walk.  He's a smart kid.  Very smart.  He's becoming much more playful and interacting much more than he had.  I'm teaching him also to pull on this cord that makes a ladybug play a song..I'm sure I'll regret this later when he does so incessantly.  His head/neck is also much stronger.  He's not holding it up completely on his own, but certainly stronger.  Katie goes back to work in less than two weeks on November 2nd.  She's not looking forward to this and I can imagine it will be quite hard, but we know we'll have some great care from our friend, Emily.  It's all part of the process and I'm just excited to see him get bigger, stronger, faster, and cooler.

We match!

 

I should have a talking bubble coming out of her mouth saying "wazzzzzup!"