Birthday Girl!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Schuyler opening her first Valentine's Day present from Mom and Dad. (We got her a book, appropriately titled "I love you all the time" and new, pink pajamas. The pjs are two-piece - a top and bottom. I was so excited that she is big enough to wear two-piece pajamas!)

After opening her present, Schuyler enjoyed some blueberry pancakes. She enjoyed them so much that we had to give a bath afterwards!

Where's Schuyler?

It's hard to believe that our Schuyler Bird is 10 months old! Here she is a couple of weeks ago hamming it up for the family at Sunday brunch.

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!"

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!

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!

Good morning, Miss Schuyler!

Groovin with Dad

Happy Fourth of July!

We braved the rain and celebrated Schuyler's first Fourth of July a couple of days early by taking her to her first concert. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra played lots of patriotic songs at an outdoor bandshell in a nearby town and the show ended with fireworks. (She seemed to enjoy the music, but slept through the fireworks. The bottom pic is of our pooped out little girl when we got home.)Despite the rain, we had a great time! Todd, the consumate Eagle Scout, kept Schuyler completely dry. I felt like we packed for a weekend trip even though we were only twenty minutes from the house!

Milestone Mania

July has started with a bang! On Saturday, June 29, Schuyler laughed for the first time! Todd and I had just finished dinner, a delicious shrimp boil, and he was talking to her while she sat on my lap. We were so excited! Later that night, he got her to do it again when they were dancing to the music on the soul channel. (The XM radio stations on Direct tv are a parent's best friend! The classic channels soothe her and we sing and dance to the oldies and country.) I'll try to post a video of that soon. The daycare ladies tell me that she is giggling throughout the day. Although she smiles a lot for me, I haven't gotten many laughs. I hope this isn't like that Friends' episode where Rachel's baby would laugh for everyone but her. Eventually Rachel had to sing rap music to get the baby to laugh. I am not above that.

On July 3rd, I got a call at work from Todd. He was so proud. "We have a roller!" he exclaimed. He had laid her down in the crib on her back, but when he came in a couple of minutes later she was on her tummy! I went and told all of my co-workers. Now, that's she's rolling, we can't get her to stop! Hope to get some video of that up soon, too.

I feel like we have a ways to go towards sitting up. She has started to spend some time in the orange Bumbo chair. She looks so funny in it - like a little humpty dumpty!

D-Day

The "D" meaning "Daycare," of course. After six weeks of doting grandmothers, Schuyler attended her first day of daycare last Monday. (The picture with Linda was taken right before we left that morning.) Dropping her off was hard, but not horrific. However, when I picked her up, some woman that I did not know was holding my crying baby. As we drove home in the pouring rain, I was consumed with doubts about my decision to return to work. And then, I truely believe that God spoke to me in one of "His Mysterious Ways." (I used to really love reading that part of my grandma's Readers Digest.) As we pulled into our neighborhood, a perfect rainbow came into view. It was God's way of assuring me that everything was going to be just fine. I know that I am making the right decision for myself and our family.

I know it's been a long time since our last post. We have been very busy since Memorial Day. Todd's Mom was here to take care of Schuyler. She did an amazing job. Schuyler loved having Grandma Linda around to find her "sugars." (That's a spot for kisses just under little girl's chin.)

Schuyler was three months old on June 7. To commerate that day, the four of us took little girl on her first shopping trip. We hit some outlets near the coast. Changing a diaper in a Ralph Lauren dressing room was certainly a new experience! We almost didn't make the trip because Schuyler was sick the weekend before with some sort of cold or infection. She had a slight temp of 100.2, but it went down pretty rapidly and we never had to take her to the doctor or give her any medicine.

Aunt Jennifer and Grandpa Larry were here last weekend to see Schuyler and accompany Linda home. It was the first time that Jen had met Schuyler. The birthday buddies were pretty smitten with each other. The six of us rented a a big SUV on Saturday and drove over to western Connecticut to sight-see and visit a couple of wineries. Litchfield County is very pretty, but the wineries do no compare to our wineries in Missouri. I'll take my place overlooking the Missouri River with a glass of Les Bourgeous' finest any day.

Schuyler, who we think is probably around 12 pounds now, is doing fabulous. She is "talking" to us more and more and very responsive. The daycare providers told me that she is "very observant" for a baby her age. One also told me that she is probaby one of the best babies they have ever had. I, of course, wished to know more, but I didn't press. ("If you had to rank the babies from best to worst, where she would fall and why?" It seemed inappropriate.) She really is a very easy and content little girl. Todd and I are so lucky to have such a happy baby girl!

She is also now a little more independent. As of June 7, she is sleeping alone in her nursery instead of next to our bed in her basket. The transition was easy (for her) and so far so good. That first night sure was lonely for Mom, though! The newfound realization that she has hands and can use them did come in handy. She has never shown much interest in a pacifier, but she really does like sucking on her hands right before she falls asleepl

Nine pounds, baby!

Schuyler had her two-month check-up last week. She weighed 9 pounds and one ounce and was 21.5 inches long! We couldn't believe it! The rest of the appointment went really well except for her first set of shots. I don't know who took it worse - Schuyler or her grandma.

Schuyler has become really alert this past week and a half. She is smiling and occasionally making goo sounds. She loves her activity gym and listening to music, particularly the Symphony Hall channel on XM radio. She also did a complete 180 and now really enjoys bathtime!

DD's Here!

"Keep Ya Head Up"

As promised, here is some video of Schuyler's tummy time yesterday where she raises her precious little head Later on that night, she even rolled over! I think it was a shock to the both of us One second she was on her tummy and the next second she was on her back!

Schuyler's Nursery

Our dear friend, Nancy Rizzuti, made Schuyler's bedding, curtains, and other pink and chocolate accessories like pillows, blankets, etc. She did an amazing job. The nursery is just as I imagined and words cannot come close to describing our gratitude. You can't tell from the pic, but the rocker is chocolate with pink polka dots and the book shelf behind it is a gift from my Uncle Dale.

More Schuyler Pics

Mom and Dad help Schuyler fill out her first NCAA Tournament bracket.

The newest Tiger fan arrived just in time for the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Here she is watching Mizzou win the Big 12 Tourney in her baby Mizzou hat (sent via courtesy of the Fadlers). Her life as a Tiger fan is starting off with a bang! When she is older, Todd and I will explain that it won't always be that easy!