Mindless Meanderings of Schroedawg

With January just around the corner, here is the update from the Schroeder clan. We ventured to Colorado for a much needed vacation and to celebrate Christmas with my family. My dad had not yet Maddie and either had my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. The flight, both ways, went great. I was nervous about being one of “those parents”, whose child cries the entire flight and you don’t have the Dre Beats headphones to drown out the sound. We were fortunate for her to sleep most of the way or to wake up and giggle, and then be sweet the majority of the flight. The flight attendants were in love with her, which gave us brownie points with them at least. J Uncle Joe and Aunt Lindsey with Madelynne Posing by a display Being a gorilla Cousins We were lucky to bypass a winter storm that hit most of Wednesday, but dumped a fairly large amount of snow in the greater Denver area. The whole ordeal got me nervous and made me think about the year my nephew was born in 2006 and the

The past two months have really flown and it is hard to believe that December is already here. It is equally hard to believe that Madelynne will be 4 months in a little less than 2 weeks. She has definitely changed and her personality is prominent. She has a temper if she doesn't get her way, but then will smile, coo, and talk to you like you're the greatest thing in the world. She bicycles her legs to move herself around her play mat, and holds a steady neck and head up when she is on her Boppy pillow during tummy time.  She is developing fast, grasping and playing with objects, discovering body parts, and rocking from side to side. I know, eventually, she will roll over, but when other mom's post that their little ones, who were born after Madelynne, are already at that benchmark, I cringe in mini-worry that she is "falling behind" and then remind myself, of the little emblazoned statement at bottom of  each Baby Center Weekly Email update I get that "every

Madelynne has reached the two month mark and routine has been established within the Schroeder household. At five weeks, I was beginning to second guess myself as a mom, wondering if I would ever get the hang of this. I felt like a juggler trying to balance planning for my college courses I’m teaching, continuously looking for full time work (Wyoming or Colorado would be very nice!!), working on my PhD, and being a mom.   I was awed by the constant give and take that stay at home mom’s deal with every day. It is not easy to stay at home. But it is also not easy to be a professional, working mom, as well. I am lucky to fall somewhere in the middle, yet I realize what a task it has been to find a sense of balance with all that is on my plate. In the past two months, I have taken away three graces in my time with Madelynne. The first of these is to go with the flow, which ties in with the idea of releasing my control over situations. I hate not knowing what the outcome or future will ho

Madelynne turns 1 month old in a few days and it is hard to believe that 4 weeks have gone by already. Brad and I constantly look at her and ask ourselves where the time went, as she has developed even more. Everyone told me to take it all in and enjoy each day as she continues to grow, as it will go by fast, so that is what I have been doing. When she nurses, I examine her little fingers and toes, as her fingers wrap securely around one of mine. I love the smooth, softness of her skin. When she has play time on her little activity mat, she is looking around and examining the world with wide-eye curiousity, fixating on a light, the cats, movement, a picture. When she dreams she does her dad’s infamous half-lip raise quiver, or the Elvis lip as I refer to it, smiles, twitches, frowns, scowls, sucks, breathes deep and rhythmically, moans and grunts, coos…all sorts of emotions that I wonder what exactly she is dreaming about. I mean, she hasn’t been around long enough to engage in experi

Almost 3 weeks ago Brad and I officially became parents. Madelynne Elizabeth was born in the wee hours of the morning on August 15 th , 2011, weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz., and 19 inches in length. Words can’t even begin to describe the abundance of love I felt immediately toward this little miracle who was placed in my arms after I was able to go back to my room from recovery, after the c-section. The whole experience of giving birth is surreal in itself. One minute the life you created that was thriving inside of you, that you felt day in and day out, was now in your arms and real. Although there was this insurmountable amount of pain, (which is beyond description), it falls away as soon as that baby is placed in your arms. You forget everything because all you see is this tiny little person, whose fingers are wrapped around yours, and whose little heart is overflowing with the love from two parents who waited well over two years for this day. Madelynne is a blessing. After the surgery and

Brad and I got into an argument on Saturday morning, as I huffed and puffed to try to reason with him through my rising blood pressure and anger, that making a baby is a lot harder than he would ever know, and how I was ready for her to be out, and he, as nonchalantly as a male reacts, argued, “It’s only nine months.” Seriously? That’s the basis for your argument? Not that I am ranting about the joyous miracle of creating life or the new adventure of mommy-hood, but is he that clueless? Does he not see the transformation that has taken course over the last 9 months and the frustrations it has caused me to no avail? He even rubbed my belly as if I were Buddha about to bestow him luck, and stated, “That thing is the size of a basketball now! Wow!” Great. Thanks for that. The transition into pregnancy is, how do I put this…overwhelming? Again, let me reiterate that I have had a very, smooth pregnancy. I haven’t been bombarded with the urge to hurl at the smell of foods or lack thereof.

 On July 4th, we went to a BBQ, where we were the youngest in attendance. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to pig out and delve into the awesome display of potatoes salads, baked beans, and other scrumptious foods, I settled for just a hamburger, some veggies sans the dip, and my very own salsa and whole grain chips. As we literally baked in the sun, (my lovely legs got more burned than anticipated and I was smart to cover up my arms, shoulders, and chest), the ladies of the group kept asking about the baby and when she was due, etc. It hit me, then, that we were 8 weeks away and I said, "8 months." "Really? You're 8 months pregnant? You're so small!" was their response. I had to double take myself in the mirror a few times after this response when I stole away to the bathroom, but I think I'm huge.  In pondering these comments, I asked my doctor if I was progressing fine. She said I was measuring perfect and my weight is right on track, having only

I love animals. I have loved animals ever since I was a child. Maybe it has something to do with my veterinarian parents and their devotion to caring for all animals. I am not sure. But what I do know is that I just love them. They each have their own unique personality. This blog is devoted to our animals, who are technically our family. We have four cats. Yes, we’re nuts. I may end up one day as the crazy cat lady, retired in my little log cabin up in Cooke City, with my 12 cats, two golden retrievers, and visiting pet moose, but the reason for the four we have now is because I could not see myself turning them away. We acquired these four strays when we were living in Florida, at our little apartment, early summer of 2004. I had just moved Tiger, my old-timer cat from childhood, to Florida, and we were a happy little threesome until fate directed us to scurrying balls of black racing underneath house in front of us. Upon further investigation, we found five kittens, flea ridden, di

As I was sitting, yesterday, getting my blood drawn 4x in 3 hours, starving,   to determine my glucose level and whether or not I have gestational diabetes, I kept thinking, holy cow manure---10 more weeks and our little bug will be here! I thought about the wonder of life and what a little miracle she is, that took Brad and me a year and half to create. And, despite the circumstances in our life, how graced I am by God to have this little bundle of joy to welcome in late August. No matter what I am going through emotionally, our little girl will always, and forever, be the one thing that makes me happy every day, even when I will be annoyed, overwhelmed, or completely exhausted. Progressing into the 30 th week, I have been thinking about the milestones in my pregnancy. Like when I told Brad, two days after Christmas, with two wrapped up pregnancy tests with the double lines highlighting the obvious positive, and how excited he was   (at first, wondering why I would wrap up two used

Dear Baby Schroeder: There is something you need to know about your mom and dad, and you will probably realize this as you grow up, too. We are crazy and adventurous, and life never ceases to surprise us. Hopefully, in the next two or three years, when you’re finding your groove and getting settled into this world, we will be settled some place and not be bouncing around like nomads. By that time, we hope to be debt free, so we can take you to all the places we want to go, and where you will be old enough to remember it all. In honor of Polonius from Hamlet , (yes, your mom’s favorite Shakespearean play), If I could give you some advice, as to avoid the mistakes your father and I have made, it would be this: 1.        Always follow your gut instinct. Easier said than done, but if something doesn’t feel right, then listen to that voice inside you that says so. It’s usually right. 2.        Trust only a select few. I really hope you get your dad’s intuition on this. Your Aunt Lindsey

My sister is a ball of wisdom, despite being three years younger than me. In the midst of the drama I   have been dealing with, and trying to understand all that is happening, worrying about the future, and calling two or three times a week to get advice, she amazes me with her calm, collective reasoning and reminds me of what a great person and teacher I am and how everything will work out. “One way or another, it will all work out. I don’t know how, but it will.” She proceeds to remind me of the amazing people in my life, who continue to support me no matter what, and for that I am grateful. What really angers me about the situation in my life that I have been dealing with is the entire matter of trust and feeling alone, out on a limb, while people I thought supported me, has only turned their back in spite of doing what is right. I really despise those that are two-faced, who treat you one way in front of your face and the next minute, turn around and stab you in the back with the

   We are finally coming to a close on the school year. I cannot even begin to express my subdued happiness for this fact. Last year, despite all my efforts to “keep” my job, one that I truly loved and enjoyed despite the political B.S. and all the jazz that accompanies it, I was devastated to be strung along until the bitter end, in hopes of returning because I was part of the next years training, and then to have the chords cut, just like that. Devastated doesn’t even begin to describe the emotions I went through in the summer months that followed. Angry? Frustrated? Questioning? Concerned? My self-worth was empty, non-existent, and the only thought streaming through my head was survival.    We debated and decided to take the position I am in now and for the life of me, this entire year, I have been wondering, why. The area is beautiful. The Olympic Peninsula is lush with vegetation and forests, green as if looking at the Emerald City in the Land of Oz. The beaches are breathtaking