November Pics

November brought lots of new achievements. First, came sitting all by herself! Then, she quickly mastered pulling herself up to a sitting position. And she continued crawling - she's everywhere and so much fun to be around.



Schuyler had a week off from daycare when DD came to visit. These are from her first day back - she literally squealed when she saw her little friend.


Schuyler - our little spelunker - loves to crawl under small, tight spaces and find her way out. She crawled under her crib at the daycare and just giggled away at herself.


"Daddy, when do I get my own cell phone?"

Ear Tubes

It took two attempts, but Schuyler finally got her ear tubes! She was scheduled for the first Tuesday in November and my Mom flew in to help take care of her. But the morning of her surgery, she was running a low fever and the doctor's did not want to take a chance. We certainly agreed with that approach, but were disappointed since the poor girl had to get three more antibiotic shots to take care of the existing ear infection. Two weeks later, she was fever free and ready to rock! Of course, Todd and I were both with her throughout the entire pre-op process. And I was able to walk her into the operating room and be with her while they gave her the general anethesia. She did great, but my stomach was doing flips! I barely made it back to the waiting room when the doctor finished the procedure. She was a little fussy when she woke up, but recovered quickly. Todd's mom sent her a card and told her that she was "one tough little Anthony." I couldn't agree more. We are so proud of our brave baby girl!

Schuyler's First Thanksgiving

We checked out the Macy's T-Day parade while Uncle Jonathan worked on the turkey and Daddy made the dressing.


The turkey weighed only slightly less than our Schuyler Bird.


Sharing a delicious meal with great friends!


Helping with the dishes - don't worry, I checked for knives!


Schuyler helped me get the leftovers out the next day.


Should I be concerned that she went for the champagne?

Bouncing's what Schuylers' do best! Oh my!

This video was shot the first Saturday in November. It was the first time she really bounced in her bouncer. She loved it! Later on in the day, she jumped until her little legs couldn't jump anymore and fell asleep!

Halloween Fun

Schuyler had her first school Halloween party at daycare on the Friday before Halloween. She dressed up as a little pumpkin for the day. Todd and I made sure to leave work early so we could take part in the fesitivites. I'm so glad we did - she was adorable and so was her little buddy, Jack a/ka/ Dumbo the Elephant.






We also hosted a small Halloween party for Schuyler and some of our friends. We all dressed up and each carved a pumpkin. Then, we made the trick or treaters vote on which one they liked best. Congratulations to our friend Lauren who carved her college mascot - the winner by a Nittany Lion landslide!










Mamma and the "Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch!"

First Halloween

October Pics

Faces of Schuyler

Duty Calls

Well, this weekend did not go exactly as planned. We were all supposed to be in Missouri visiting friends and family, but nobody told Schuyler's left ear. That's right, the ear infection is back or rather it never went away. She got sick again last weekend and I had to take her to get super antibiotic shots three days in a row this week. Todd and I had plans to fly to St. Louis on Friday morning. We decided and the doctor agreed that it would be better for Schuyler not to fly with her cold and her ear infection. Todd went a ahead - with my blessing of course - because he was in our friends' wedding.

So, I was super bummed out about not seeing everyone and missing the wedding. Not to mention being bummed out about missing Todd in a tux. But I was also happy to be making the right decision for our girl. It's sort of fun being a responsible parent!

I have to thank my friend Lauren for sending me pics throughout the wedding from her I-phone. It was sort of like being there! Actually, I felt like Phoebe in that epsidode where all the other Friends were in London at Ross and Emily's wedding.

Alright, better finish up the laundry before bed. For not doing anything this weekend, I sure still feel behind!

September Pics

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September was such a busy month that I'm just now blogging about it! It was a month of ear infections. She went through three different antibiotics and even had to visit a pediatrician while we were home in St. Louis. She finally seems to be on the mend, though.

Schuyler made her first trip to Missouri over Labor Day Weekend. I was in college before I ever flew on a plane, but our little Bird was not even six-months old! She did great despite her ear issues. We were in St. Louis for a couple of days before heading down to Sikeston. Schuyler finally met her four great-grandmothers. Our dear family friend, Mrs. HeiRonimus, also threw a "Sip-n-See" so that some of our friends could meet Schuyler. We had a wonderful visit and are so thankful to everyone who took time out of their busy weekend to visit with us. My camera battery died so I got zero pictures of the party.

On Sunday, Schuyler was baptized in the church I grew up in. Several family members and friends came to support us. Another dear family friend, Mrs. Hamra, made the most beautiful gown for Schuyler. It meant so much to us. Schuyler slept through most of the baptism except for a little yell when the preacher actually sprinkled the water on her - she didn't want to be woken up! She did raise her little head up in curiosity and surprise when the congregation applauded for her. Clapping was her new favorite thing at the time. Afterwards, several church members came up to greet us including my kindergarten teacher! It was so special to me that so many of the people who influenced and were a part of my childhood showed their support of our daughter.

Leaving was hard especially since I'm not sure when Schuyler will get a chance to visit with her great-grandmothers again. Leaving was also hard because the TSA at Lambert insisted on extra screening. To make a long story short, we had to do the extra screening so that they would not open Schuyler's formula which would make it go bad. Just a day before her six-month birthday, Schuyler was frisked for the first time - and I guess hopefully her last!

The following weekend was the town's annual carnival and Canine Contest! You know if there is a canine contest within 30 miles we are doing it! Dixie actually entered last year and was robbed. (I'm not biased or anything.) I blamed it on anti-southern judges and contest organizers. Determined to right such a horrid wrong, I joined the contest's organizing committee. Todd, with Schuyler strapped to his chest, "showed" Dixie while I worked the event. You would think that an owner-mom on the inside and a cute guy with a baby would work in poor Dixie's favor. Wrong. Dixie entered the best paw shaker, best sit-stay, and best in show divisions. She didn't even place. We are so proud of her, though. She really gave it her all and the judges are just biased against non-rescued, labradors with a little extra junk in the trunk. Maybe next year!

September was also exciting for two good friends. My best friend from law-school and his wife had a baby boy on Sept. 30. And, Uncle Chad got a new job in New York as a Yankees' beat writer. We are so proud of him. Chad came to visit us a few months ago while Brooke was here. After Schuyler went to be, the four of us sat on a couch for three. We watched the Cardinals (much to Brooke's chagrin), drank beer and ate blueberry cobbler. I could not help but think that as much as things change, some things always stay the same. I pray that Schuyler will make the same sort of loyal and lifelong friends that we have always had.

Can't wait to see what October holds for us!

Red October

Schuyler is 7 months old today which also happens to be the first day of baseball's postseason. She went to daycare today wearing her little pink Cards' t-shirt. (Thanks Uncle Cory and Aunt Ann!) Go Cards!

First Cereal

Schuyler took her first bites of rice cereal on Sept. 8. It's hard to upstage Schuyler, but I think Todd is actually more entertaining in this video!

Dinner Time

Schuyler decided to take matters into her own hands tonight! She liked the apples so much that she took the spoon right out of my hands and put it in her mouth. There was applesauce everywhere, but it was too funny.

Sorry for the delay in blogging. September has been busy. We went home for her baptism, she started solids, and has been plagued by ear infections. I promise to post something special I've been working on for all her September pics very soon!

Anthony Family Status Update

Sorry for the delay in postings. It has been a busy couple of weeks. After coming home from vacation, all three of us got colds. The starter went out on Todd's truck, but my man fixed it himself! I was so proud. The next day Todd left for Montreal for work and for five days I got a chance to see what single mothers go through. I felt like I was performing all three acts in a three-ring circus: wash the bottles while simultaneously kicking the ball for Dixie and singing and making funny faces at Schuyler. She was sniffly all week and just not herself. I thought it was probably teething. Then, on Friday the daycare called not five minutes after I sat down at work to tell me that Schuyler Bird was running a fever of 101.6. I left work immediately and took her to the pediatrician. Right ear infection. Amoxicyllian is an amazing thing. She was back to her normal self in less than 24 hours. And, even better, Daddy came home!

We are heading home to Missouri next week so Schuyler can see her family and finally get to meet her great-grandmothers! We are so excited to take her home.

Schuyler's Beach Vacation

Schuyler takes a dip in the Chesapeake Bay!


Schuyler was tired after her big swim.


"Oh man," says Hudson after being buried in the sand by his own Mother!

Wes is now four years old. I can't believe how "grown-up" he is since we saw him last summer. He is a walking, talking, little man who was very interested in "Baby Schuyler." Hudson is lucky to have such a cool big brother.

Our little "Crab Hunter." Wes probably caught more hermit crabs than all the other kids at the beach combined.

Two very cool Moms after a little shopping trip to the resort shops.

I couldn't let her sleep through both of our trips down to the pool. It looks like she's drowning, but I promise she was not. Much like the beach, she was not necessarily unhappy to be in the water, but I wouldn't say she was happy about it either.

We were so happy to also visit with our friends Sean and Erin and meet their little Hudson. He turns one this month and is quite the ladies man.

The Great Adventures of Dining Out with Children.

Have baby gear, will travel! Looks like we may need to get that roof top carrier for the Subaru sooner than we thought.

Yummy, Sonic!

We had to go south of the Mason-Dixon line, but we got finally got some Chick-Fil-A!