Mish Mash Fun...

John and I try to lead a healthy life...we work out and try to eat "lean and clean". We both love trying new foods and cooking at home together. We hope FC shares that love someday too! John and I both have siblings that are very picky eaters - so we are going to try and start developing those taste buds young!

This past week I tested my hand at baby food making - two words...CHEAP and EASY! You mommies out there have to give it a try! By making her food I can control where her food comes from and what her food contains...another bonus is that we can now afford organic food for her. We are definitely not an "organic" family, but I think it's important to give your child the best you can.

For babies first foods, you will want to steam your fruits and veggies and then simply puree with some of your cooking water until it reaches the desired consistency. Roasting veggies comes later (it changes the consistency and taste) along with making yummy combinations (like roasted spinach and strawberries!). We went for a slightly thicker consistency because a) you can always add more liquid later (i.e., formula, breastmilk, water) and b) FC seemed to prefer a thicker cereal. Use your pediatrician as a guide for what foods to try first and how often you can introduce a new food. We have started with sweet potatoes and butternut squash - because these veggies get very soft when roasted I opted to roast vs. steaming for these. We have a good food processor which blended the veggies up in no time at all! (Literally less than 1 minute!) I then poured the purees into store-bought babyfood cups. HOWEVER, as experience has taught me, Don't bother with the cups!! (Should have listened to my good friend, Becca!) Ours popped open, were extra mess to clean, and pretty much just unecessary. Use a few ice cube trays: Sterilize in your dishwasher and then pour your puree into the tray and freeze. Each "cube" is approximately one ounce. Pop out your cubes once frozen (4-6 hrs/overnight) and put into freeze safe bags. Homemade babyfood is generally good for 3-6 months when stored in a deep freeze, but you shouldn't need to keep it very long if baby is eating so don't stress over the timeline.

We had fun making food as a family (Daddy was at work) - even the pups got in on the action and acted as official taste-testers too.

Ah-num, Ah-num, Ah-num!

Has potential mom...lets try another bite!

Trusty food processor - one of my favorite kitchen appliances (I even make pie dough and cookies with it!)

The cute, but not so functional storage cups. I did buy some super cheap ones so maybe a more expensive brand is better. As for us, we'll stick to the ice cube trays and freezer bags.

Just a cute picture of FC on our first day going to church completely by ourselves...made Daddy proud. She did so good!

A typical scene from a Friday or Saturday morning...Mommy trying to knock out paperwork while appeasing the baby. Amazing how much multitasking a girl can do when pressed for time!



Happy 4th Month FC!!

The past four months have been such an amazing adventure with you, my love! FC is a growing! She is a little over 13 pounds, rolls from tummy to back, sits up for several seconds on her own, loves to eat her hands, and play tag with mommy and daddy (*imagine one adult holding baby while the other "chases" - it is really wild how our life has changed). Oh the life of a 4 month old!

Felicity Catherine, we are so in love with you and thank God for you, our incredible blessing, everyday. This is the scripture that I prayed when I was pregnant with you,

"For every good and perfect gift is from above, comming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1: 17(NIV)

I pray, sweet girl, that you will come to know your Father like we do - to know His grace and His constancy. We love you Lissie Girl!

4 Months old and SO cute!!

Ducky play at bath time is this 4 month old's joy each night! The sillier the better!

Capturing a smile is nearly impossible! We've are learning FC's personality now...she is definitely a very studious of others, a bit reserved, and definitely very sensitive. 

I love my feet!!

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." - Philippians 1:3 (NLT)

Vacation...or RELOCATION??

When my dear sister-in-law referred to her family vacation with her 5 month old as a relocation,  I laughed. When I began to prepare for our family vacation with a 3 month old, I reconsidered that laugh! Traveling with children is such an adventure...a treat for those who love a logistical challenge. The end of July was very busy for us. My youngest brother Nate married his highschool sweetheart Ashley on July 21st - such a beautiful day! And then 1 day later we left on a plane for my hometown in Pennsylvania. Sooo, literally 1 month before we left the travel prepartions began, checklists were made, and bags were packed (lots and lots of bags).

FC loves the airplanes...Daddy really enjoyed this part of the trip.

FC did amazing the weekend of the wedding and on our travels to PA - despite not being around Mommy and Daddy much, being passed around to various family members, and having disruptions to our already loosley-formed schedule. We are so thankful to have family and friends that love us and took such great care of FC when we couldn't.

Our vacation was FULL of "firsts" for FC. So glad Daddy was there to experience so much of it with us. We spent a day in Lancaster and rode a steam engine train and ate some yummy PA Dutch food. We swam in a pool and traveled to see Aunt Becca and Chip for an afternoon. John was able to satisfy his nerdy history buff side with trips to the Carlisle War College barracks and a day at Gettysburg. Best of all - we were able to spend quailty time with my Grandma (and FC's "GG") and even celebrate Grandma's 90th birthday with a HUGE surprise party the day before we left.

A little hotel room rumble before bedtime...peek-a-boo Little Duck!

 Gettysburg was a hit....though John really could have spent a week there. Next time...

Near where Pickett's charge took place and "High Water Mark"

John and FC showing some AL pride...we even got a "WAR EAGLE!!" from another passerby!

Finally, a FC smile captured on film!!

FC's vantage point of the battlefield...she slept through the last half of the tour. :)

Daddy and FC on our first trainride!

On the Strasburg railroad in Lacaster

A trip to Montoursville, PA was also on the dockett! We had a blast with Chip and Aunt Becca!!

John enjoying the day at the barracks...maybe I should have left him there!

This gear was just for the day at Grandmas...really?? And I was packing as compactly as I could.

Some PA countryside....I commented on this state's beauty constantly during our trip. Miss it!

The 90th Birthday Bash!!

Four Generations of Schwarz! A memory never to be forgotten!

We spent time with all our family and friends - FC with my childhood family friend Alex!

Our week of fun family time was worth what would happen on the eventful trip home. Really! Took some convincing on my part, but as I look back on the pictures and am reminded of the memories made I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. As I have retold the story of our return flight to other parents I have recieved these glances of empathy that are heavy with unspoken words of shared experience - I imagine this is true for all people who share in similiar traumas (and trauma it was!!). FC held it together until 1 minute prior to boarding our plane home - we were just 1 hour shy of our vacation being over...really?!? That's when I watched my sweet baby hit her point of no return - no amount of swaddling, feeding, singing, shusshing could stop this monumental fall apart. And Yes...we were THAT family on the airplane. I will never again pass that judgement for we "did" everything one could reccomend when flying with a small child. Fast foward past the hour of screaming, vomitting that resembled a garden hose of milk (per John's perspective - mine was much different as I was the one being thrown-up on), and the largest poopy diaper ever made (it took out 3 diapers and 2 outfits)....and we survived. A week later I feel like we're nearly recouperated - nearly. We are doing well...just don't mention that "V" word anytime soon around me...it has been known to induce nervous twitches in Mom's like me.




A bond from the start - worth it all!! Such a precious sight!

Mommy's Musings

Call it "Mommy Brain", but all this sleep deprivation and multitasking has fried my brain. It has become so hard to actually complete a task...let alone blog. The weeks are literally flying by. FC is growing like a weed. I've started back to work. John's Navy summer camp that I was dreading has come and gone. We really are doing pretty great these days!

As promised by many wise mommies and daddies out there, the early days of baby fog has lifted and we are truly beginning to love life again (FC  included!!). FC is now 3 1/2 months old and hitting all her important milestones. More importantly, she is happy and thriving. We sing - she sings back. We smile and laugh - she does too. I can honestly say that it is a joy to just "be" with her.

3 Months Old! Do you see that reddish-blonde hair?!?

Such a cutie - she loves to be naked.

FC was baptized on July 1st. We were surrounded by our family and close friends. It was such an emotional experience - for both FC and myself. FC cried throughout much of her baptism! As Catholics, we believe that baptism washes away original sin and sets the stage for a new life in Jesus Christ. She was sealed in prayerful blessing by both John and I, her Godparents Nathan and Ashley, and our Deacon. We asked for Jesus and her namesake, Saint Felicity, to pray for her and us as we strive to lead and guide her new faith. She was annointed with oil and a candle was lit to symbolize God's light and our faith as a light in this fallen world. I am overcome with the great responsiblity God has given John and I!



We experienced our first 4th of July...one that won't be soon forgotten. I, for some odd reason, thought that FC would actually enjoy the loud explosions. Ha! That was quite possibly the longest 4 minutes of my life - trying to soothe a scared baby with booming explosions and loud barking dogs all around us. So. Much. Fun. (read sarcasm please) We are also enjoying having my mom with us this summer to help with FC when I'm at work. How we managed to talk her into this, I don't know!! We are so thankful to have her in our life...she is such a huge help and made my transition back to work tolerable! Imiss my baby, but am so much more at easy knowing Mom is with her.

Before the fireworks started...

Comming soon...First Vacation and Escapades in babyfood making!

I have a two month old!?!

I have a two month old today! Is it really possible that I've been a mommy for TWO months? No way! I feel kinda like I've been in this 'baby fog'...you get so immersed in baby's needs, her smiles and cries, and all the other mundane daily stuff that you don't realize how quickly this precious time together is passing. That said, we're doing great! I head back to work week after next which is only going to be okay because my fantastic mom is comming to stay with FC when I work this summer. The past two months have also surprised John and I by what we've learned in such a short amount of time regarding baby care....

1. I didn't know what tired was until now.

 

2. You can actually explode water in a microwave. Oh, and it's never a good idea to microwave a bottle of breastmilk, thinking it is the water - you'll get an even bigger explosion. Trust me.

3. Bathtime can almost always stop a fuss attack in its' tracks.

Aunt Ashley Time!

4. Pacifiers are NOT a bad thing. Crying IS a bad thing. Funny how being an SLP will warp your mind.

5. Boppy's are a great way to get a child to sleep. What...your's has THREE tags telling you NOT to let baby sleep in the boppy? Huh. Funny, mine doesn't. (She's sleeping, Mommy is watching, All is good.)

Murphy gaurds his little master.

 5. Family time is sacred. It comes in many different forms...but don't mess with our time together. Having a baby has made it crystal clear how special our time is together.

6. Some times will be bad, awful bad...(like driving in your pajamas at 11:00 at night in a desperate attempt to calm a baby that's been screaming for hours, like vacuuming your entire house three times with baby strapped to your chest because it's the only thing that will calm her).

Her outfit was so cute I couldn't resist...tears and all!

 BUT....it ALWAYS gets better. When times are good, they give you happiness beyond imagination.

Litle duck and her daddy. Melts  my heart.

7. A Father's hands snuggle way better than a swaddle sack.

8. There is really no wrong way to care for a baby when done with true thought and care. I'm the mommy and I get the final say on taking care of this sweet baby. As a good friend told me recently, "It's just love"- it won't hurt her. So I will continue to happily love my baby (hold her, sleep with her, feed her as I see fit, and the list goes on) - what a gift she has been to my life.

Happy Two Months Sweet FC!! Mommy and Daddy love you to no end.









We Love Family Time!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.—Psalm 9:1

I am starting to like my Bumbo!

The past two months has been such an emotional journey full of blessings, milestones, and moments of sadness. My baby girl, FC, was born nearly two months ago...it is AMAZING how many wonderful changes our family has experienced in such a short amount of time. Early morning cuddling now includes three - and is typically more of a midnight to 4 am timeframe. We are now elated by simple milestones such as that first purposeful smile (at Daddy I might add), steady head control, and weight/height gains. I am warmed by my husband enjoying these early moments of fatherhood for the first time. He sings to FC, bounces her with love, and shows a level of concern for her wellbeing that I havent seen him show for anyone else, including himself. I give thanks to God for all that we have experienced - even the fussiness and colic - as I do believe it has tightened our family's bond that much more.



Daddy and FC love to snuggle - She won't sleep like this on my chest!

As I elluded to, we have also experienced sadness and grief as a family in the past couple of weeks. My dear grandfather passed away. While his death was not unexpected given his age, general health, and dementia, it was sudden. I think you can never be "prepared" for death...it is still a shock. It took my breath away and brought immediate heartache despite my mental prepartion for the "news". While we all deeply miss him, we also rejoice in knowing that he is free from pain and is no longer lost and confused...we will see him some day again in heaven. Praise the Lord! I give thanks to God for all the time I had with Pappa, for his full life, and for the legacy he passed on to his family. I look forward to taking FC to his farm in Arkansas this summer to meet Mammy for the first time and to experience some of the sights and smells of my childhood.

I was also blessed with the opportunity to spend an extended period of time with my family in Huntsville. My godmother, Miss Carol, was even able to come and spend part of the week with us as well! I am so very grateful for such a close-knit family - parents that continue to care for me despite my age, brothers and sister-in-laws to dote on my little one, and an extended family of brothers, sisters, and parent in-laws with whom I truly enjoy their company and friendship. FC has been snuggled by all!



Lula and Grammy on Memorial Day

John and RM - see the resemblance!

Pap and Nate teaching FC a little bit about basketball - Go Celtics!

FC likes her Uncle Nate - this picture was taken a week ago and it amazes me how quickly FC has grown!!

Aunt Carol could get FC to sleep when no one else could.

Nana just had to get a play mat for FC!



These pictures are just precious to me - My dad has taken to walking FC around the yard in the evenings. You can hear whispers of their conversations from the back porch - Im thankful I caught one of their sweet exchanges last night.

Snuggling with Pap.

Playtime is rough!