Chicks and Geese and Ducks Better Scurry...

When I take you out in the surrey! Sorry...no fringe on top of this surrey, but it does have great shocks for any intense off-road stroller riding we do!


Connor's Twichell grandparents arrived yesterday and we got to have some time exploring the neighborhood and enjoying the sunshine. It has cooled down into the 70's here in NC and is beginning to feel a tiny bit more like fall. We met some ducks along the way, as we usually do here, but we saw one lonely white duck that we've never seen before. The poor thing was being ostracized by the rest of the ducks - which of course made us think of "The Ugly Duckling" - but it was not ugly at all.


Connor spent some time "skiing" with his Grandpa Bob - apparently I spent many hours doing this with dad when I was being a cranky baby. I will try to get a video of it later - because there are noises and motions included.


This week our church is in full swing of making our Christmas program recording - which means Jonathan is definitely busy. I am not going to church or choir for a while until Connor's immune system is ready to handle meeting lots of people at once!

On Monday, we got up early to have an appointment with a lactation consultant (in plain English - a lady that helps with nursing babies) and it took us about 40 minutes to get to the office. I was a little nervous for my first trip out alone with him but he mostly hiccuped and slept in the car and we had a great appointment. The cool thing is that they have very accurate scales that they weigh baby on when you get there - he was 7 lbs 14.5 ozs...already over his birth weight - so even though it has been challenging, he has been getting enough to eat! Then, they have you nurse and they weigh him again - he was up over 8 pounds by the time that we left, so we're making progress and have some new tips on the whole process!


Tuesday was when the Twichells flew in (we're not sure if they're going to be "grandma and grandpa" or some other names yet - they'll let Connor decide). I got to do a recording for Christmas so he spent some time with Jonathan and my parents while I did that. It was the hardest singing I've ever done. During my grad work we studied how childbirth can effect a mom's voice and let me tell you - it's going to take some work to feel good about singing again. Since I also felt pretty exhausted, I was sweating by the time we finished just because of the energy and concentration it took to try to sing my best! The rest of the day was pretty chill...and today so far I am still in my pjs, just enjoying time with the family!

Connor still likes to get plenty of snoozing in and he is the sweetest thing ever!

Hello world!

My name is Connor, and I am one week old today!

This is my first time blogging, so take it easy on me if I miss any details.

I got to have my first visitors when I was in the hospital...the morning after I was born Daniela and Levi came - I know Levi is going to be a good buddy. They brought me a balloon and my first "boy" gift, and some food for daddy since they don't do to much for him at the hospital! Levi was born in the same place, so Daniela told Mommy all the details before I came.

During the rest of the day I had a few other visitors - Traci, then Pam and Donna all came from church. That night it was a party when the Chaneys and the Kenleys stopped by. Mostly I had to hear about them all from mom and dad, because I was busy either eating or sleeping while they were there!

The pediatricians said that I looked just perfect and I spent a lot of time cuddling with mommy and daddy - loving some skin time with my daddy! Daddy also did my first diaper change - he is a pro!

On Tuesday afternoon, my mom and dad got to bring me home from the hospital. I cried all the way out the door and then was dazzled by the North Carolina sunshine. Can you believe it was the first day of fall and still over 90 degrees? My Yankee parents aren't used to it, but I didn't know the difference! My mom and dad told the nurse that they wanted a special picture when we left - with my mom in a wheelchair with me and my dad pushing the chair. When they were in first grade they went on a field trip to a hospital and they have a picture with dad pushing mom in a wheelchair - so they wanted one with me too! Maybe I'll meet my future wife when I'm in 1st grade. :)

I loved riding in the car and looking around for a while and then snoozing for a while. When we got to my house, I met Otto for the first time! I could barely see him since he was running around so fast - and then I found out how cold and wet his nose was! He likes to be near me and comes running when I cry to make sure that everything is alright. We had a big sign on the front door and lots of balloons from fun friends.

I don't know why my mom and dad were so tired, but they crashed on the couch with me until I got to see Levi again when the Jones brought some food over (I don't get this food thing, but mom says I'm just like her - hungry all the time). I stayed awake most of the night - testing out my lungs and getting plenty of snacks. By the way, I do NOT like to lay on my back!

On Wednesday we mostly hung out, did the important things (you know - eat, sleep only in someone's arms, and poop). When I can catch a finger or thumb in my mouth, that's the best! I love to sleep on my daddy's chest and my mommy and daddy sing to me a lot. Daddy went to work for a while and showed my picture on the big screen so that all the choir could see. Mom says I can't go to choir quite yet, even though I try to show her how loud I can sing!

I had my first pediatrician visit on Thursday morning. Mom and Dad both took me and I did great! I did not like the cold scale and cried and kicked a lot. My eating paid off though, because I had gained 2 ounces since leaving the hospital! I was 7 lbs 12 ozs when I was born, 7 lbs 6 ozs when I left the hospital, and 7 lbs 8 ozs at the doctor. Dr. Wiese said that I looked just perfect and I even showed off a poop for her while I was there!

My nana and grandpa Schallmo could not wait to see me so they used some frequent flier miles and scored direct flights for $5! Our friend Sammy picked them up at the airport and they were at our house when we got home. They stayed until today and we had lots of fun snuggling and hearing stories and taking pictures.

Mom took me on my first walk in my stroller and Grandpa walked Otto with us.

I had my first bath and it was crazy with everyone in there watching and taking pictures! Mom was worried that I didn't like the water, but I had my second bath today with her when no one else was home and I got to check myself out in the mirror and have some quiet time with mommy. I swam a lot of laps in mom's tummy, so I'm sure I'll be ready for more water adventures in no time!

Nana and Grandpa Schallmo probably wished that they could take me with them, but I know how much they love me and that I will see them again soon!

We have had a lot of visits, food brought over, and calls and cards this week - even from some neighbors we have never met but they saw my balloons! It will be fun to get to know everyone in the neighborhood when my mom is ready for more walking. Mom and Dad say that lots of people at church want to meet me, but I'll go when I am a little bit bigger. I can't wait to have some special visitors soon - my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even my great-grandaddy!

Today Daddy had to do a lot of work at church - Sunday is a busy day! He wore a royal blue tie with his suit this morning to let everyone know that I was all boy! He had a pink tie ready too, but I kept it a secret until I arrived last week!

Okay world, Daddy is snoring, I'm about ready to wake up and eat (isn't it amazing I can share my week with you and sleep at the same time?) and Mommy is very tired from one-handed typing. Love you all and I'll update you again soon!

Love and sleepy smiles,

Connor

By the way...Baby Schallmo is HERE!

Hi friends. I know you all have figured out that "HE" is here. Phew! It was not as easy as I thought it might be to hop on and do a quick blog post! So let me go back in time a little bit and I will share with you the sweet sweet details as much as I can as our precious boy sleeps or is cuddled by some other loving hands!

Saturday, after I posted about our morning, I was feeling a little icky. I didn't really know what the deal was. That evening our church choir sang in a beautiful service for a choir member that passed away last week. We had planned to have dinner with the Jones' and I headed right home to put it in the oven and whipped up an apple crisp (reason #1 for loving fall?). We had a great dinner but I continued to feel a little uncomfortable, kind of a crampiness. Jonathan got to bed early as he has to be at church by 6:45am on Sundays. I got into bed around 10:30 and was reading a book and realized that my stomach pains seemed to be coming in waves. Uh oh. I started counting the minutes and then hopped out of bed and checked that everything we needed was in our hospital bags and tidied up a couple things I was working on in the nursery. Jonathan woke up at 12:30 wondering where I was and when I told him how I was feeling he was wide awake! We tried to go back to sleep for a while but I continued not to feel well and we called the doctor around 3am - they said head on over to the hospital!

We arrived at the hospital at about 3:30am, feeling anxious but excited. They hooked up a monitor for the baby's heartbeat and to measure contractions - which I told them I couldn't be sure were really contractions. After many questions and watching the monitors, it was decided that it must be very early labor, and either we could hang around and walk the hospital for a couple of hours to see if labor progressed, or we could go back home and see if these small contractions would go away.

We picked go home.

They didn't go away.

Jonathan went to church in his shorts and t-shirt (instead of his suit and tie) to get some things set up and warm up the choir before the 1st service. Everyone knew something was going on then! He came back to a wife feeling more "pain" than "cramps" and we spent the day trying to breathe and keep moving and try to figure out exactly when we should call the doctor again!

We made the call around 6pm and were back in the hospital, all hooked up again, by 7:30pm. Our nurse recognized us from the morning, when her previous night's shift was ending. She checked to see if my labor had progressed - and proceeded to gasp and say, "You're almost 8 centimeters! You must have been working hard at home! I'm going to go call your doctor." Thankfully we hadn't waited any longer to make the call to head over.

I'll spare you the rest of the details, but I'll just say it was past the point of painkillers and I didn't want an epidural, so it took some time and concentration and then Daddy Jonathan got to say "IT'S A BOY!" - and he cut the umbilical cord - what a great dad!

Baby Boy Schallmo was born at 11:45pm on September 19th, 2010. He weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces. He was 20.5 inches long. He scored a 9.0 on his 1 minute and 5 minute APGARs. I think that is all the "stats" I have - but all I can tell you was that he landed on my chest and Jonathan and I saw the most beautiful thing that we had ever seen in our entire lives. We are so in love! We were still making a final decision on the name and finally we both knew the right one about 18 hours after he was born...

CONNOR JONATHAN SCHALLMO!

So there is the beginning - we are taking lots of pictures and I will post every chance I get. THANK YOU for all of the messages on facebook, calls, texts, e-mails, cards, prayers, and all the love that has been sent our way. I promise that we will be returning messages as soon as we can and can't wait for everyone to meet our sweet sweet son. We are doing well at home and all of the grandparents are visiting within the next couple of weeks - and Otto is adjusting to our new family addition just fine!

Right when Connor was born.

First bath and sucking his cute thumb.

More pictures to come. :)

Sunny Saturday Morning

This morning Jonathan got up at 6:30 to head to the men's breakfast at church. He has had some cold/allergy stuff going on so the past two nights I have tried out sleeping in the recliner downstairs - not just to be away from possible germies but also because I've heard it can be pretty comfy for preggo ladies. It is. Anyway, he left a little before 7 and I went back to sleep - then about 20 minutes later I about had a heart attack when I woke up to the door being unlocked - the breakfast is actually next Saturday - whoops! Both of our brains must be distracted...

No worries though - we had other big plans! We headed out to a cross country meet where we had some runners to cheer for - here are couple of shots I caught - they all had great runs!

Justin coming out of the woods.

Sister Lauren cheering her bro into the finish!

Jonathan and Justin.

Friends and competition today! Blake and Justin.

Lauren representing MCA in maroon out in front.

Lauren coming into the finish!

It was a great time - Jonathan and I are hoping to see some more meets and games even with Baby Schallmo. We also hope to get back into some running...the Virginia 10-miler is next weekend, which we have done for the past 2 years and have some friends running in this year, and we miss it! Tomorrow my cousin Jill is doing a HALF IRONMAN (she is an ironwoman, for sure) in Syracuse and is going to kick butt! If you've not heard of an Ironman triathlon, it includes a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a MARATHON (26.2 mile) run. Even 1/4 of that would be excruciating, I'm sure - and tomorrow Jill will do half of each of those distances, including an extremely hilly, challenging bike portion. Hopefully I will get some pictures to steal from all of my family that is cheering her on. We wish we could be there too - GO JILL!

Last note of the day - when we got back from the meet this morning, my dearest husband rescued a turtle from the middle of the road right outside our house. There are a lot of small "lakes" in our neighborhood, but we think someone must have actually moved him there (sad) and that his shell looked like he may have been run over a little already. Anyway, he swam away in the water after his hero walked him over!