Happy Father's Day to my other half! I blog a lot about the boys and kinda our lives in general but don't generally blog much about us so today I wanted to honor my husband on this Father's Day and just give him a little shout out!
This is one of my most favorite pictures ever. The early moments of becoming parents, the relief after hours of agony and pushing, the protective, loving man by my side watching over us.
Gunnar, thank you for keeping our lives fun and reminding me that sometimes life doesn't have to be so serious.
One of my favorite things about watching Gunnar father is that he just always lets the boys be right there with him no matter what he's doing. They love watching him and Monte is already starting to ask 1000 questions and Gunnar just works on letting them learn and observe as much as possible.
Unloading calves...
Fixing my hutch
Installing our RO system
Fixing a trough... Grandad got roped into this project too apparently!
I feel like instead of seeing them as "in the way" or "slowing things down" which they totally do, Gunnar is so good at making them feel valuable and part of something! That they are important and wanted.
Fixing our main water line. Monte is already becoming a good little helper!
Welcoming our second little munchkin added more love and more tiredness! I was so grateful for Gunnar totally taking over Monte at night. Monte has never been a great sleeper and still wasn't even after Kit was born so Gunnar told me that he would take care of Monte at night since I was nursing and taking care of Kit. Sharing that load was such a blessing to me and really made me feel like we were in this whole parenting thing together!
Embracing our new family of four.
I love this picture so much! Welcoming our tiny little newborn yet also making Monte feel loved. There's just so much going on in that chair.
Like they say, children learn from watching so much more from what we actually say to them. Watching Gunnar include Monte and now Kit in household chores makes me feel like they will grow up to appreciate their own wives someday. It also sure makes me appreciate him!
I mean *LOVE*
Our boys already look up to and love Gunnar so much!
Knowing that they are looking up to a man of strong character and love for the Lord makes me so grateful!
Those eagles eyes watch everything he does!
Wife who wants to go hunting, baby who won't take a bottle, no problem! "We'll just take him with us and hold his ears when you shoot! If he happens to cry and scare off deer, oh well, we'll still have fun just getting out there!"
I am so grateful to have him by my side during those nights of sickness and tired. The hours no one sees, the middle of the night parenting, those moments you think you just can't go on without some sleep. Spending hours during the night holding our puking toddler, cleaning up our sick baby, being gentle and tender whenever Monte just didn't know what was going on. Comforting me as I also became sick and was trying to just hold it together.
Thankfully our babies have generally been super healthy and well but in those times of sickness it is so wonderful to have someone by my side making decisions, praying, comforting, and yes cleaning up sick babies.
Back when we lived at the ranch and Gunnar had to go check cattle and waters most days he always took the boys with him. I loved that he valued special alone time with them and that he was aware that having some alone time for me was such a blessing!
Gunnar always says that naps with babies, especially newborns are just about the best thing ever. It warms my heart watching him snuggle with our babies knowing that they are learning that they are loved and protected even before they can talk or comprehend much at all.
I am so grateful knowing that as my boys grow up, they will always know that their dad will always be by their side, will always be there for them, will always support them, and will hold their hand when they need it.
I love watching Gunnar pass on his love for animals!
I wrote this a while back and think it deserves to be repeated here.....
"I'm glad I was able to grab these last couple pictures! Chad and Gunnar
were resting in the shade discussing the calves, the plan with them
over the next few days, how they looked, etc. and both boys, Krease,
Chad's 5 year old, and Monte ran over and were both resting against
their Daddy's legs. Krease is really sweet with Monte and was playing with him and then they
both ran over to soak in some Daddy time. It's crazy to think how much
children learn and pick up from just listening! I'm so grateful for the
opportunity to live somewhere where not only are children allowed to be
around the work, as much as safety and time will allow, but welcomed
and encouraged!"
Gunnar did not grow up around little kids much so he has kinda had to learn as he goes so to speak. I love that he just embraced it all! He is in this all the way and fully embraces fatherhood! Our boys are blessed to call him "Dad!"
I am grateful to be tacking this season of life with Gunnar by my side. He doesn't let failure or mistakes hold him down but continues to press forward to continually become a better man. (Not that he isn't already pretty great!) I admire his desire to not become stagnant!
Do yall see a theme going on here?! Gunnar holding animals while holding babies?! HA! I kinda love him!
Daddy makes everything fun!
Gunnar has definitely had to learn and grow as a parent. He is kind of a perfectionist so letting go of control and just letting the boys do it their own way has been tough at times. I really admire his desire to learn and grow as a parent and his willingness to change as the Lord convicts or stirs him.
These two! High school buddies, football players, went hunting and fishing together, both work in the oil field! Grew up working after school and during summers together some. How times have changed. Now here they were, drinking a beer, holding cute plastic Easter buckets while their kiddos hunt Easter eggs.
Gunnar is so great at encouraging Monte's curiosity! Well and Kit's too. He is so good at exploring, pointing out animals or objects of interest, taking time to invest instead of just getting the job done.
I love this man! Kit was fussy, the dishes were dirty, he solved both problems!
Something that might seem kinda trivial but that really is a huge deal to me is that Gunnar always does bath time! I think that by that time of day my reserves are quickly nearing empty and he truly seems to understand that. Most of the time I'm still busy doing dishes or getting pjs ready but just having that few minutes alone in the evening makes a huge difference seems like! Plus post bath wrestling is always fun to watch!
I like to tell young women to marry a man who will come home and get down on the floor with your babies! I think it is sound advice!
I remember growing up Sunday mornings were snuggle time with my dad. We would go pile in bed with him and snuggle, make sheet tents, and giggle a lot! So it makes me really happy when the boys get snuggle time in bed with dad. I hope they cherish it like I do when they grow up!
Checking cows
Happy Father's Day Gunnar! I love you and and am grateful to be your parenting teammate! I know our boys are blessed to call you dad! I know it has been super super hard at times but I also know like you say all the time that we will never stop! I am thankful that you know and desire to obey the Lord! You are a wonderful leader for our family and I trust your heart!
