5 in one post

We made Borscht.  It is a traditional Ukrainian beet soup that my sister taught me to make.

Charlotte loved it!

That made me happy until it spilled.

Rich and I went to Puerto Rico for a little get-away.
Fact: we both cried when we dropped Charlotte off with Rich's parents
Fact: Charlotte did not cry....Until we came home and she was left with us.  She had a great time with Nana, Doodles and Mammie.

Loved getting to tour the area.

Rich and I both got burned on our first day there.  I bought this ridiculous hat because it didn't seem to matter how much sunscreen I used I was getting burned.  

We went on a tour and Rich had this funny conversation with the guide:

Guide:So how long have you been here

Rich: We got here yesterday

Guide: You burned yourself this much in one day

Rich: Well I put sunscreen on but when I reapplied it, my skin started burning.  I think I might have had a reaction to the sunscreen.

Guide: You had a reaction to the sun, my friend!!

We are having baby boy in July!

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This is charlotte's excited face about seeing a bird.

2 years ago on Memorial Day we got together with 2 of my old roommates.  We were all pregnant.  We decided to float the James River.  It began as a lovely float and was the dream for 3 pregnant ladies to stay cool in the water.  We didn't realize where we were supposed to get out of the water and wound up going through Class IV rapids in $3 inner tubes. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life.  I didn't know if my friends were going to be okay.  We were all anxious to make sure our baby girls survived the experience too!  Thankfully, they all did.  Aren't they cute?! This time we got together and played it a little more safe by going to a kite flying festival instead.  We got this picture of us with our girls standing in the same order as we did in our prego pics.

We also got picture of our belly's again since we are all pregnant again. 

Cloud 9

Being a parent can so very surreal at different times. Often I feel like I am just pretending.  Sometimes I am still in shock that I am actually a mom.  Then there are times that have made me feel like I am REALLY a mom.  The other night Charlotte threw up in her bed.  Giving a pukey baby a bath before dawn made me feel like a real mom.  A few weeks ago we went to visit my family in Utah and go on a ski trip and I had a princess fairytale moment of parenthood.  We decided, on a whim, to take Charlotte on one run on skis.  

It all started with taking Charlotte out to play in the snow and she kept walking toward the ski lift.  She wanted to go for a ride and was very intrigued. They wouldn't let us ride to the top and back down.  My brother-in-law tried to take their son up in a pack and they didn't allow that either.  Then we tried to let Char sit on the lift after it was turned off and they wouldn't even let us do that.  I got a little idea just to check the price of a ski rental. They would let her ride the lift up if she had skis on and then all we would have to do is get her down the mountain.  It wasn't all that expensive and the lift was free for kids.  We took her to the shop and tried the boots on her and they fit!!  The next morning I woke up giddy with excitement.  I picked up the teeny tiny skis and I am pretty sure I floated across the parking lot back to the room to introduce Charlotte to the skis.  I was taking my little girl skiiing!!!  Today!!!  This is a like a dream come true. 

I had no illusion that she would actually "ski" on her own, but just the idea of putting those little skis on her feet and taking her out and introducing her to the sport that I love...I just grinned ear to ear the whole time!!  

The fact is she couldn't even stand up on her own, but she was smiling when we got off the lift and that was totally worth it to me.  

 Also, Thanks to Lauren for being our official photographer and videographer during this awesome day.

This is a little video of her getting off the lift.  

This is an awesome picture of my family all in our feet pajamas!! 

My mom bought these feet pajamas for Rich and Jordan...Those are good in-laws for getting in on the Schmidt Craziness.

Eye of the beholder

converstation between me and rather strange 22 yr old female patient with Conjunctivitis/pink eye.




Pt:But how did I get this? Nobody farted in my eye.

Me: Excuse me

Pt: you know like they say in the movies/shows..nobody farted in my eye

Me: what movie is that from?

Pt: Well, do you have kids?

Me: Yes

Pt: Go home and ask your kids where they think pink eye comes from...they'll tell you it means somebody farted in their face.

Me (Puzzled and not really feeling the need to explain that Charlotte can't even talk to explain this sort of knowledge): hmm...I have never heard that before

Pt: Yea, just ask anyone under the age of 40 and they will tell you that pink eye comes from fecal matter in the eye

Me: hmmm...very interesting (In my head...EXCUSE ME! I am only 6 years older than you...do I really look like I am over 40...I need eye cream and botox...and probably cooler clothes..new hairdo too!)

SCHWIMMING!

As one of my Christmas presents from Rich was a Mommy and Me swim class.

It is at this little swim lesson place in Richmond.  Here is the awkward part.  There is only one mommy and me class and 4 other classes every half hour.  Every saturday I go and get into my swimming suit and wander around the waiting room while all the fully clothed and made up parents get to watch (I am sure they are watching their children, but I feel like all eyes are on the one chic who didn't get the memo about appropriate attire in public).  I try to wrap the towel around my waist while I shove our ridiculously large amount of stuff in the locker, chase Charlotte, try to grab Charlotte before she opens the door to a changing room, grabs the merchandise off the wall, or runs into the business office.  I say try to wrap the towel around my waist, but I am sure you can imagine how successful that is.  The last lesson I went to was particularly awkward because they changed the time to my class and didn't tell me, yet all the other parents from the class got the message.  Not only was I the ONLY adult in my swimming suit (which feels an awful lot like being naked when you are the only one wearing one), but I got to spend an extra half hour enjoying the glory of it.  I finally went to the desk and asked what was going on and she cheerfully informed me that they had pushed the class back and I only had 10 minutes left.  The little jerk probably got some kind of sick pleasure from watching me live out one of my nightmares (yes, I often have nightmares about  going to work, church, school, etc....naked, in my underwear, shirtless, pantless, in my pajamas etc).  Finally, 3 other moms showed up in their swimming suits and I felt much more normal!  PS There will be no pictures of us in our suits. :)

With all of that you think I would dread the day, but it really is my favorite part of the week!!  I love to get one on one time with my baby girl. I am definitely the overly excited/proud parent in the class. I get kind of squeally and I kiss on her face every time she follows an instruction. I just cant help myself!  She has such a fun little smile and she is learning so much.  OKAY...I know I should stop gushing about her, but it is just too hard to suppress it!

Santa

We decided to go back to the Children's Museum to see Santa.  Last year's pic was so cute.  This year was a little more traumatic for Charlotte. Quite honestly, this Santa was a little more scary.  AND I was pretty set on snapping a pic, so I quickly deposited Char on this strange bearded dude's lap and started to run to the other side of the room.  I don't really blame her for freaking out.

Crazy Busy

Lately, I have been trying to cram in way too many hours of CME (continuing medical education) into the end of the year.  This crazy busy life has lead to lack of maintenance and upkeep.  The only reason our house is mildly decent is because of Richard's efforts.  However, I am feeling fuzzy.  I finally shaved my legs last Sunday and, because it was 70 degrees, I didn't wear tights. On the way to church I was putting lotion on my legs. Apparently, I missed part of my knee and the hairs looked like they had never met a razor.  Maybe in a few weeks we will have an introduction. Then, this weekend I was at a conference in Baltimore and looked in one of the super high powered mirrors in the hotel and realized I was starting to look a little like Bert on Sesame street.  Not to mention that I think my mustache is growing with wild abandon. I know what you are thinking: why are you blogging about this, why don't you just go shave your legs, pluck your eyebrows, and get rid of that mustache...good thought...I should...maybe soon.  

Speaking of cramming way too much in:  This girl was having a love affair with blueberries for the last few months.  Check this out.

Settling into her princess chair sans a shirt.

 Forget my hands, I am just going at this thing piggy style.

8 years

 The other day, actually the day before our anniversary (so when I say the other day, what I mean is 3 mos ago) Rich started drawing on my toe with a pen.  It felt kind of good...like a foot massage.  I told him he should just keep drawing.  So he made this little mural on my nasty, callused feet.  I thought it was kind of cute...our love tree, with our initials.  Strangely enough, I thought it was a very cute way to commemorate our anniversary.  We have been married for 8 years  That is longer than I spent at Grammar #2 (my elementary school).   Longer than I spent in college and graduate school.  Longer than I have lived in one house. I have been with Richard as long as I was in elementary and middle school combined.  It is really interesting to think about things with that perspective, those times of my life were huge developmentally...I mean I learned cursive AND went through puberty. When I think of the last 8 years it feels like it has just flown past, but I guess a lot has happened in those 8 years too.  I still feel like I am a young newly wed.  It has been a great 8 years and I am glad we celebrated by having Rich draw our love tree on my foot.  I am sorry you had to look at a yucky pic of my FOOT.  Don't worry I will post pics of Charlotte to make this post something nice to look at.

For those who don't recognize our Halloween costume was from Despicable me.