movie time

We're parents now, we can do this stuff....

Maeve Maryleigh Kalisz Schuler

Born on 4.24.09 at 8:10 pm, weight of 8.12 pounds & 20 inches long.

Mother & child are both thriving.

Maeve: An Irish Queen whos name means "intoxicating"

Maryleigh: Not only sounds cool with Maeve, but also a combination of grandmother names Marilyn & Beverly.

Kalisz: mother's maiden name

Schuler: father's name

Close Encounters...

Here's some shots from Grandma...

Our first day with "the kid"

It's been a busy first day with lactation consultants, dr. visits, periodic check-ups for mom, and grandma watch. We are so thankful and feel blessed to have mom and child healthy and doing so well.

Labor was a peach! We'll tell you all about it over a coctail, or several:) All is well.

But enough about us... check out our beautiful and serene little child. Her name will be revealed tomorrow upon check out (likely a surprise for us too!)

Thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts.

Mike & Katie

It's a girl!

Katie delivered this evening at 8:10 to a healthy 8.12 lbs little girl. No name yet. Pictures later:)

THE PLAN

Ok... so now we have a plan. After nearly two weeks of the wait, today we head into the hospital and start the process. We'll spend the evening priming the pump, then tomorrow we push. I say we, but I mean Katie. She's amazing... it's her work, I'm the water guy. Important I know... but she's the athlete... I'm on the sideline.

Anyway. We're excited. Her horoscope for today reads: "You're in a plum position today, but you'll have to make a big push." No joke... is that perfect or what?

We'll keep you posted!:)

Scared Baby

Any suggestions? We're out of ideas.

Katie is really into books and reading, so we've been doing a lot of that, and it's getting old.

Mike is really into work around the house and mini-trips, so we've been doing a lot of that, and it's getting old.

Yes. We know the many good things that come from the extra week of development, and we've been learning that with Caucasian women and first pregnancies this is about typical, and we know that nothing really bad is happening, at all.

It's just that... we've asked the baby to come out, and it's not... and that's really starting to think this baby has a little baby-tude. I mean - both of us listen to directions pretty well, so where's this baby get this obnoxious stubbornness?

I blame Suzie the cat.

Suzie the cat brought in two baby rabbits yesterday (dead). That's a Spring kill total of 4. If you count the stuffed pink rabbit - that's five (evidently where she's been practicing her technique.

Is it any wonder the baby isn't eager to enter the world with death-cat on the prowl???

Painting

Another few days and we're running out of things to do. We already have painted the kids room... so now we're moving on to our bedroom.

Katie has been amazing. It's discouraging (in a way) to wait -- it's been almost a week since the due date has passed. Of course we feel very very blessed. She's healthy, kid is healthy... all that stuff is noticed. However, she can only read so many books, write so many poems... so today we paint.

I said we need a picture of her belly for the blog, she walked away -- you'll have to wait to see... just like us.

Have an awesome day!

Scrabble in Spring

Spending time watching Mike get his word ready, and watching the plants grow...

Spring is here, even if it is indoors for a few more weeks. We've started several summer vegetables along the big window facing the river and overnight one tray has little shoots popping up, trying to reach over the ledge. It's the cabbage plants; they've come in first. Still holding my breath about the others - (tomatoes, artichokes, peppers, and basil).

Timely, this growing indoors.

I hope other things germinate soon too.

The beauty of craigslist

We have acquired the majority of our baby "gear" via friends' donations and by scouring three craigslist sites - northern Michigan, Grand Rapids, and even the Detroit area. It's amazing how much stuff a new small human gets marketed... I mean really, it in fact only needs a diaper, a breast, a bed, and a few shirts, right? However, Mike and I have to admit that we do pay attention when we see a baby sleeping (and if it's sleeping in a swing contraption, we are more likely to accept a donated swing contraption when a friend asks if we want theirs the following week).

Roomies

The blessing wall above the crib, created by family and friends is ready, either to calm the kid, or to freak him/her out.

Everyone is adjusting and getting comfortable, even Susie and Vita.

Vita may have thought this was some travel contraption, that would return her to her own home and space, sans Susie and Sable.

The Waiting

We're t-minus two days away from the official due date of our first child, and Mike and I find ourselves soaking up the minutes together while we're still a family of two instead of three. We've been playing Scrabble, taking walks, and sitting on the couch daydreaming together about what our baby will look like, what car would be perfect to buy, and how many steps we have until we step off the cliff that's in front of us.

Somedays, we're nervous, and others, we're excited. Almost everyday, we're meloncholy, because we're changing.

Mike came up with a 48 point word in Scrabble and this, to date, has been the most dissapointing aspect of pregnancy.