Joseph "Wesley" Schroeder

Here are a few closer pics so you can actually see what he looks like. We finally decided on his name- he'll go by his middle in the male Schroeder tradition, so we'll call him Wesley or just Wes.
Abby says she might call him " Chu Chu."
We're all doing fine, low on sleep of course but all healthy and happy.

Meet our sweet BOY!!!!

More to come but some pictures for now. We are all home safe. Now just some rest, sleep and just basking in the miracle of it all. Thanks everyone for all your love, help and prayers for us- we did it!!!


An hour after he was born, the relief and the sheer amount of love you feel after is like no other time in life.







Joe says, "Yes, put that one on, this is exactly how i felt......
















Abby holding her brother for the first time. One proud sister.

The Last

Just saw this quote and have to post it.

If pregnancy were a book they would cut the last two chapters. - Nora Ephron

First Time Up

She was one excited girl!! AWESOME.

Some Recents

Abs and Ethan- they had a great week joined at the hip. :)





















Part of the Devil's Punch Bowl crew out at Lake Cresent jumping in the super cold water.









Joe and Asha getting ready at Cresent beach for a little surfing.









Alex and Jerry heading out with Joe. We all spent the day at the beach - was Joe's brother Matt's birthday and we all decided that he was smiling at us all being together and the boys learning how to surf. :)

Abs with her favorite horse Quiz at horse camp. She was one happy girl. It only took one day of camp for the negotiating to start regarding how long exactly she could go to horse camp- the whole summer please???

Waiting

Up drinking water and eating tums at 2am.
Wondering how much longer until we get to see that sweet baby's face
and knowing how much work there is to do in between.

Near

Getting closer....?
My sleeping is all whacky...
and yesterday amongst other normal food I came
home from the store with red licorice, chocolate ice cream,
and chocolate brownie mix! hmmm.....
For some frantic cleaning... for me rapid chocolate consumption???
We can only hope.

Birth

This week the world has been blessed by two sweet new angels.

Two of my dearest friends and amazing mommas had amazing strength

and so much beauty as they labored their babies into the world.

It is interesting being present for their births when I, too, am so close to having

our baby. Thank you Anna and Kristy for wanting me to be there, for how much love

and trust that takes and for being so enspiring and empowering for me as my time to labor gets

closer. I love you both so much.

Today

Thanks Carla for the idea... Your turn Jess! and anyone else who feels so inclined...

Outside my Window... the grass is mowed and i hear the sprinkler going. Thanks to the all the boys- you are awesome!!

I am Thinking... about how happy I am that I don't have much work left to do but that I'm going to miss my work buddies.

I am Thankful for... staying home longer with this baby, that I won't be leaving a 10 week old baby with someone else while I go take care of other babies.. For my midwife, my family and my friends.

From the Kitchen... Sunny farms pizza and watermelon. Not too exciting these days...

I am Wearing... My favorite Costco sweats, a hoody, and slippers.

I am Creating... A healthy baby and some baby blankets. :)

I am Going... the first thing that came to mind was crazy but only for short moments, other times I feel just fine.

I am Reading... Spiritual Midwifery but would love some good fiction suggestions.

I am Hoping... That Kristy calls me tonight to tell me to come over because she is having a baby!!
I am Hearing... The fish tank water and stillness.

Around the House... all I can see is work to do..

One of my Favorite Things... watching Abby lead the horses around the pasture by herself, she is talking to them, the sun going down, and that lovely evening light.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week... Hopefully being present at a birth, finishing up work duties and trying to chill out...

Summer Solstice!!

Happy Papa Day!

Abby took this pic of Joe. I love it, his eyes are so sweet. Happy Fathers' Day Joe we love you so much.

Alex and Jerry are finally here for the summer- Horray!!

Abby has been asking when they are going to get here for months. She is soo thrilled and they are great with her, putting up with her teasing and being a bit crazy.

Alex jumping off the log at Kinkaid- pretty cold water but in the usual Schroeder' fashion no one seems to mind.









Jerry jumping. I think there is talk of going to the punch bowl at lake cresent for the real jumping. I think the highest you can get there to jump off is 40 ft!!

Ahhhhh.














At the end of a really busy, stressful week, it was heavenly to be at Kinkaid in the quiet woods.

Today

Another ultrasound for low amniotic fluid. Today the fluid looks great and the baby is head down again! Hopefully now he/she stays there. I think i referred to this peanut as a stinker today for all the up and down. I also made an exit plan for work that involves being done after a few days next week and feel relieved for sure.
We got to listen as Abby led her own end of the year conference for Joe and I - showed us all her favorite art and her "portfolio" of work for the whole year, so so impressed on how much she learned and grew in such a short time. To the buzz for some ice cream and then some girl time tonight for a "circle of stones" ceremony for summer solstice.
Happy summer everyone, only a few days away...

Breech o Breech

Today an ultrasound to check for growth post influenza.
I got to see the baby's hands, thigh bone, all the chambers of the heart,
baby was doing "practice breathing" the diaphram going up and down.
The baby's head is back up in my ribs however, changed since tuesday. This baby
is a mover for sure, not crazy, not violent thrashing around, just lots of moving.
The midwife says to have Joe talk to the baby and tell him/her to turn around, to play
music down by my pelvis- that baby's will follow it.
I feel like my body is telling me to slow down, my feet hurt and my back is so tired.
Work was heavy today, a baby not ok, crash c-sections, and lots of homevisits and I am
seriously wiped. Wondering if i can make it physically and emotionally through 5 more weeks
of work. Its gnarly for me to admit that maybe i can't do something, to feel like I'm letting my co-workers down if i leave early or don't work as much up until the end. I am learning all sorts of stuff about myself this pregnancy some stuff that i like, some that i don't. Carol, my midwife says that there are no better teachers than our children for us, this baby is starting already and we haven't even met yet.....wow.

Last weekend we had a blessing, a few close friends, great food, some henna, lots of laughing, some tears, and a feeling of undeniable support and love for me and the baby.

It is amazing to hear verbalized what you feel from people around you- what they think of you, how much they love and what it is they appreciate about you. Intense to just sit and take it all in but so so amazing to feel it.