Umbrellas given during the storms of life

A year ago today, my life changed in a way I had not imagined. It began some of the hardest days of my life. I was 5 weeks pregnant and lost my job at a place I adored and felt like I spent time with family each day. Prior to losing my job, I had met with my pastor about my uncertainity at my job since I was being met with about my performance - which before that I felt like I was doing well and it was reinforced by my direct supervisor. Anyways.....My pastor gave me a book "A Tale of Three Kings: A studying in brokenness" by Gene Edwards. I now understand why he gave it to me and I wish I would have read it a year ago. I didn't get around to it due to school, trying to find a job, finding a HORRIBLE job and surviving it. This book is an easy read! I truly appreciated what it taught me and how I was given an umbrella for the storms now and to come. I recommend this book to anyone who really wants to grow in the Lord. The back cover describes this book as a study in brokenness, submission and authority.

I hope you will check it out!

Joshua's New Swing

This is Joshua's new swing. It is bringing him hours of naps and me hours of silence in order to get things done around the house. This little swing is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me. Before Joshua had a small travel swing. It did not go very fast and it didn't go high. His sitter, during school, insisted that he loved her swing - but he didn't care for the swing at home so we finally came to the conclusion that our swing just wasn't doing it for him.

It's an automatic difference. He loves it. I am kind of jealous. I want a swing this nice. Can you imagine what a sing like this for adults would be like...first of all it would be probably the size of my office...lol. Anyways, this swing is making everyone in the Schindler household very happy. Thank you Grandma Brenda for buying it for us.

College T's

I was wondering....how long do you keep your old college T-shirts. I have TONS of old college T-shirts from all my time participating in campus activities, sorority functions and even the free T-shirt given by vendors and such. They are OLD. I graduated in 2000 - 10 years ago. And I know how silly I look sporting a shirt with 1996 Mizzou Homecoming, but they are just so darn comfortable.

I do have many that have small holes in them and at one point I was going to make a quilt out of all of them so I could still have the memories but not be able to weart them to the gym. Now I have to admit - I don't wear these shirts out of the house much, they are usually my night shirts. Michael is really lobbying hard for me to get rid of them. I know I should but how do I replenish my T-shirts. I will be getting rid of 80% of my T-shirts when I get rid of all my college shirts. I know that there are grown-up options for gym wear and lounging around the house - but I don't have the money to completely replenish my causual wear to plain T-shirs and printed T's from Old Navy, etc.

So what's a girl to do? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and whether or not you are still holding on to your college memories through your old T-shirts?

Our new talent

He's Calling Grandma

I know that one day he will actually say this to me and call Nina, Grammy, or Grandma. They can't wait for this to happen....

Christmas Baby or Chippendale

So my mom gave me this bib. I put Joshua in them and didn't realize he kind of looks like Chris Farley as a Chippendale....LOL.

Two Lovies+ a Passie + a Swing = A Sleeping Baby

He is so funny. He double fists his lovies and puts them up to his face and will fall asleep. The funny thing is he has to have both - one won't do it. My son is one funny kid. I am still trying to keep his thumb out of his mouth.

Our little Fish...or Water Spaz..same difference

Look What I Did...

So I am trying to be more productive when Joshua is napping. I didn't realize how ambitious I was being when I decided to try and put the exersaucer together. I am usually very able and capable of putting things together - this had more pieces than I was prepared for. I did get it done though, with only a few choice words. But here is the contraption that will possibly drive me crazy and give me moments at sanity (all wrapped up in one).

Aren't we a BIG BOY: Eating with a Spoon

So we started eating with a spoon today - or attempted to eat with a spoon today. He did pretty well. He did learn that he can spit out his food and I don't like it - so he kept doing it. Kids...there's no doubt we are born sinners - lol.

Love the bib...it says "Spit Happens"

This is Joshua's look of "I don't know about this...?"

Bumbo Time

So we're getting used to the Bumbo. Our first time putting him in it - he was happy for all of 10 seconds. He's grown to tolerate it for around 10 minutes. So we are making progress. I am, however, worried that he won't be able to fit into in a few weeks - if he keeps gaining weight like he has been. He already gets stuck in it...lol.

Everything goes right in the mouth these days. And we've mastered the ability switch items from one hand to the other.

It takes him a little while to get used to it....balance is a learned I guess.

He loves pulling things off his tray. He is really grabbing at things well.

4 Months

Our little man is getting quite big. He can touch each side of the crib. We went to the pediatricians today. Dr. Ayers says that he is looking good. She wants him to be rolling over by 5 months - so we're on a mission to get him to rollover.

He's started consisting sleeping 9-11 hours per night. We still have some nights were we have random wakeup calls at 3am but they are fewer and fewer. With the suggestion of a good mom friend, we changed his feeding schedule back to 6oz every 3 hours. This has eliminated him waking up at 5am. Our last bottle we up'ed him on his last bottle to 8 oz with 3 tbsp of cereal. Dr. Ayers has given him the green light for cereal twice a day and working towards his first solid foods in two weeks - but I think we are going to wait until he turns 5 months. There are no reasons to rush - right?

His stats:

Weight - 16 lbs 1.5oz (80 percentile)

Length - 24 in. (30 percentile)

Head - 42 cm (50 percentile)

So he's short and round... just like his mama...I hope he's going to grown taller soon. We're still in 0-3 months but wearing some 3-6 months.

He can touch each side of the crib now - I can't believe how big he's gotten.

Gumbo is looking smaller and smaller.

Just another reason why we are continuing to swaddle - he's hurting himself in his sleep these days. We can't leave him alone for a minute. He looks like he has 1/2 of a mustache.

Miracles do happen -

This past semester was challenging to say the least. I started the semester and after 3 classes, I was a mom. I took one week off of classes - since my mom was with us for 2 weeks, I skipped the Tuesday right after we had Joshua. I even took Joshua with me to class after my mom left. He did really well and slept through the class and then the magic ran out and I had to start taking him to the sitters.

I started the semester with 6 credit hours: OT History and Theology (3 hrs - weekly class), God's world mission - online class (2 hrs), Adult Children of Divorce (1 hr. weekend class). I ended up dropping the online class - because by the time I had Joshua, I was WAY BEHIND! I picked up another 1 hr weekend class. Leaving me at 5 hours.

For those of you who do not know, my old testatment class had roughly 200 pages a week of reading of text and bible. It was insane!!! And then on top of that we had a paper, 2 tests, and a 50 page journal on 25 books of the bible in the old testatment.

During the semester - Michael was gone for a full 3 weeks on business trips. Which made getting homework done a real challenge. I also was looking for employment since my previous employer let me know in my 6th week of maternity leave -they were not having me come back - wonderful! So needless to say, It was a stressful semester.

I took time off from youth group, my bible study, and pretty much everything except being a mom, wife and student. I had braced myself for my first C's in seminary. I really felt great if I was able to get C's with the chaos of the semester.

Today I checked my grades, I couldn't believe my eyes. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN. I got straight A's, 1 - A-, 2 A's . INSANE - I might not being modest... I didn't turn in A work. My professors applied some serious mercy and grace to my grades. I can't even believe it. Thank you for everyone who prayed for me!!! I really appreciate it. It just makes me feel good that I survived.

I am taking the semester off, because last semester really did a number on me, my marriage, and Joshua. I will be returning Fall 2010 and will be graduating (hopefully) May 2011. It is crazy to think that the finish is in sight and is coming soon. I just hope I can get a job after I graduate.

Where is Happiest Place on Earth?

Most people would say...Disneyland, right now - some might say - anywhere where the sun is warm and there is a beautiful beach to enjoy.

Joshua thinks the best place in the whole world is his changing table - he goes crazy! He kicks, and dances (at least what we calling dancing), squeals and smiles. When he was younger, he screamed every time he peed. Thank goodness - he's finally over this, which helps with the number of diapers we use in a day but he still gets super excited when we put him up there. It is the silliest thing. I am scared though when he starts to be more active I will really have to get quick at changing his diaper or he'll wiggle right off. LOL

Today's Schedule

Today we started at 2am - with a unwanted wake up call. I was able to get him back to sleep

6:00am- woke up, fed 6 oz, put in his swing and did some floor time
7:30am - put down for a nap
10am - hallelujah - he took a nap longer than 45 min. I would have woke him up at 9 - but I also feel asleep. fed oz - did exercises and tummy time.
11:30am - nap, actually slept 1 hour (only 15 minutes more but its a start)
12:30 put in his swing until time to eat
1:00 - Feed 6oz, tummy time, exercise and practicing rolling over, reading
2:15 - nap
3:00 - woke up and I let him CIO (15-20 min) didn't really work, went in put in the passy and he went back to sleep for all of 5 min.

3:30 got him up and put him in his swing

4:00 fed him 6 oz

5:00 - he was acting fussy and rubbing his eyes so I put him down early
He slept for all of 30 minutes - I just can't win
I let him cry it out for 20 minutes. He didn't give up. So I put him in the swing and he ended up falling asleep around 6:20
7:00 woke him up and fed him 8oz with cereal
8:00 put down for the night (hopefully)

Today was better than yesterday - I am hoping tomorrow is better than today

Calling all Veteran Mommies

Ok, I am really struggling with feeding and sleeping schedules with Joshua. I am going to be posting his daily schedule and ANY suggestions you have - I will take

Today.
5:00am - wake up, fed 6oz , Changed diaper and put right back to bed
9:00am - woke up, fed 6oz, played, tummy time, read
10:30 am - put down for a nap only slept 45min, let chill out on his activities mat
12:00pm - fed 6oz, played, did exercises with him
1:30 pm - put down for a nap slept only 30 mins, let him cry for 20 mins to see if he would go back down - never happened
3:00pm - fed 6oz, did activies for 1 1/2 hours
4:30pm - put down for a nap - again only 45min nap, let him stay in his crib for 15 min - didn't go back to sleep - put him in his swing - acted tired but never fell back asleep. put him on the table in his bouncy seat while i cooked dinner and ate
6:00pm - fed 9oz with cereal in the bottle for last feeding...
(I left for a meeting at 6:30 ) Michael said he started putting him down at 7:15 going through our bedtime routine (read book, turn off lights listen to music, pray, and then lay down)
He put him to bed four times - yikes - poor daddy. He finally went to sleep and stayed asleep at 9pm. Michael had given him Milacon and Tylenol before bed to help him sleep. It didn't help. We'll see how he sleeps tonight but I am hoping that he can sleep the 10 hours he was before this 5am business started.

Seriously....any widsom or advice is totally soliciated!!! I need help.

Taking after his Mama

My mom will appreciate this post. All during my childhood I had a blanket. This was more than a blanket - it was a permanent fixture until I stopped sucking my thumb, which I am ashamed to say didn't happen until age 6 or 7. And so - braces inevitably followed.

I hope that braces aren't in his future but he has definitely found a favorite blanket or lovey. He loves playing with it and it really calms him down in his swing. He takes it and puts it on his face - which is really funny. And today - he finally figured out how to suck his thumb - but thank goodness - it didn't last long and he was bored with it. I have been trying to have him avoid the thumb sucking since I know how hard it is to beat the habit...lol.

Thank you Nina for my favorite blanket. She bought it for him before we even knew he was a he. Mother's intuition I guess.

Be careful all St. Louisians - it's getting ugly out there with the snow.

Tummy Time

Since Joshua has started teething... this is the extent of his tummy time. Once he finds his fist, its all over with. He is never going to roll over - at least not until those first teeth come in.

Sleeping, Eating, Swaddling and figuring it all out

So my son and I are constantly learning each other. Just when I think we have it figured it out - he changes. So I am so blessed. Joshua started sleeping through the night at 3 1/2 months. We by chance changed him from eating every 3 hours - 5 oz to every 4 hours - 6 oz and the last bottle we do 8 oz with cereal. It was working. He was sleeping 8:30pm - 6:30am, 10 hours which is suggested for his age.

Even though he was doing so well, New Year's eve it went to pot. I don't know if he is going through a growth spurt (as suggested by other moms) or if he needs more food - I can't imagine any more food fitting in him. I know it sounds stupid - but he is so big already I don't want to make him to be too heavy. Babies who breastfeed never have issues with overeating but bottle fed babies can - I don't want to start bad habits.

A friend of mine gave me some material she received from an infant sleep specialist. I am eager to read it and learn the best way to get a baby who is getting what he needs as far as sleep and eating. I go to the doctor on Monday with him and hope to talk to her about it too. I am thinking it might be time to start cereal or some solid foods.

The last issue were working out is to Swaddle or not to Swaddle. I love my son he is the best thing in my world, however left to his own devices he is a mess. HE is so active in his sleep that if we don't swaddle him he wakes himself up. He ends up hitting himself in the face. So we've continued to swaddle him but he's breaking out. He is also moving a lot more and I a scared that he would roll over and not be able to prop his head up since his arms are in the swaddle. I would appreciate any wisdom you want to share with me about your swaddling experiences and how you transitioned.

Captain Adorable

My sister Christi got Joshua the most hilarious stuff. The things you can find in Los Angeles. I love this shirt and he can finally wear it. Newborn - my rear. This thing was huge until just recently. I am amazed at how much baby sizes can vary between brands. Well here's my little super hero - hope he brought a smile to your day.

I want to make him a cape and mask to go with this....maybe even some arm bands - like Wonder Woman....LOL

More pictures of the cutest boy ever (but I am bias)

These are just a few more pictures of his first month of life on the outside. His head is getting a little rounder, his face is less jaundice and we are falling more and more in love with this little boy.