Happy Daddy's Day - Mommy is Back to Work

Happy Father's Day! We had a great relaxing Father's Day weekend. Since it was 95 degrees outside, we opted for a weekend in air conditioning. Daddy and Gracyn made Rice Krispie Bars and ate the majority of them. They had such a great time. Daddy and Gracyn also made a trip to BJ's and stocked up on the household necessities. Gracyn took a big fall and now has a big fat lip:( We also went to the Wellingtion Mall which was a total zoo. For dinner we feasted on 1 1/2 inch rib-eye steaks which Daddy grilled up perfectly. I feel so lucky to have such an amazing man in my life. Luke is such a great daddy and husband. Watching him with the kids makes me love him more and more every day! Ahhhhh

Now for the not so fun stuff. I returned to work last Monday to a new job at my company. Before I went out on leave our company went through a major restructure and I was fortunate to retain a job, although it was a different one that I was in. Wyatt started his first day at my work day care, the JM Family Center. Gracyn is two doors away and her teachers have been nice to sneak her away during the day to check on her little brother. Wyatt had a great first week. I on the other hand, had a melt down on Monday when Luke and I dropped him off. It really was harder to return back to work this time around. The bad new is.....after one week he has already caught the nasty germs and has a bad cold. We will be taking him into the doctor tomorrow:(

Happy Father's Day to my daddy and to all of the other daddy's that we know!

Grandpa J's Visit

Grandpa J came to meet his new grandson for a long weekend! We had such a great time. It was nice to have a little break.....Grandpa was on Gracyn potty duty and kept her occupied for the majority of his stay. We ventured to West Palm Beach for a beach walk and pizza. We also got ice cream at my favorite shop, The Working Cow!

Wyatt is still a little love bug! He is staying awake for longer periods of time in the day which is so much fun. He is starting to babble a lot and smiles effortlessly. I go back to work on June 15th....8 days from today. I'm so sad to leave him! He seems way to little to leave. I feel so lucky that he will be at the daycare at my work. I'll be able to see him through out the day because I'm still nursing full time. Wyatt and I are going to visit his teachers this Thursday so he and I can ease into it. He will have the same teachers that Gracyn did as an infant which puts our minds at ease. We love the both of them so much. I really am in denial that my maternity leave is almost over! It seems almost harder for me this time, even though I know to expect, to return back to work. I'm sure that I will be a hot mess next Monday!

Congratulations Adam & Katy

Adam and Katy are engaged!!! During their visit to Florida, they escaped the crazy Schipper household for a little R -n- R in Fort Meyers. Adam proposed to Katy at sunset on the Gulf coast. We couldn't be more excited and happy for the two of them. Katy promised that she would be keep me up to date with the planning through email and Skype. I can't wait to see the details!!!

We had a great visit with Adam and Katy. The weather was not that great, it rained most of the time. We managed to sneak out of the house to swim and gator watch when the rain stopped. The visit was short and sweet....I'm hoping we get to see the two of them before their BIG day! They are thinking next July. Gracyn caught a bug that is going around her school and kept most of us up for the night. Lucky for Adam and Katy, they left the house at 4am to catch their flight. I am praying Wyatt doesn't catch it! That reminds me, we had his 2 month check up on the 19th and he weighs 12 pounds and is 23 inches. I told you he was a big boy!!!

Team Medin

Gracyn has a new BFF, Addison! Our friends Peter, Claudia, Addi (2 years 8 months) and Lincoln (7 months) Medin came down to visit from Minnesota. What a great 6 days we had at the tiny Schipper household. Addi and Gracyn were sooooo cute together. We've never really spent a significant amount of time with another child Gracyn's age at our home. The girls were absolutely hilarious.

Gracyn and Addi slept in Gracyn's room for a slumber party. Even though they are two, they mastered all of traditional slumber party behaviors. Staying up until wee hours of the night giggling, making fake tooting sounds, giggling, holding hands and jumping on beds, giggling, shhhhing each other, giggling and non-stop chatter. Did I mention there was a lot of giggling going on? Too funny! We packed in a lot in 6 days.....visiting the beach, neighborhood pool, Schipper pool, blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk, making pancakes, lizard chasing, visit to the waterpark, mini manicures, visit to Chucky Cheese, night gown fashion shows, lots of coloring and quite a few melt downs. Gracyn is NOT used to sharing her things. Ahh, what she wouldn't do to get her hands on Addi's Dora backpack! As Addi would say, "Sharing is fun!"

Lincoln is an absolute sweetie. What a good baby. He loved spending time splashing in the water and warm weather. He and Wyatt shared some moments on the activity mat together. Both Wyatt and Lincoln were troopers with all of the non-stop action going on around them. We have Wyatt's 2nd month check up tomorrow and are anxious to here his latest stats!

As for us four adults, we had a great time drinking beers, eating good food and talking non-stop about our kids. Luke and Peter managed to get a round of golf in and a night of softball. Claudia and I managed to sneak away to Target during naptime. A lot has changed since we were 19 hanging out, partying like we were rock stars. We managed to go to bed around midnight every night. We miss them so much already. When I picked Gracyn up from school today she said "Mommy, Addi went bye-bye on the plane to Minnesota." Tonight she came up to Luke and I separately and said, "I miss Addi, Mommy." We are so grateful to have such awesome friends. I miss Addi and the rest of the Team Medin too!

Happy Mommy's Day

Happy Mother's Day! What a great weekend. We celebrated our friend Darra's MBA graduation with a BBQ on Saturday. Gracyn had a blast playing with Baby Katie and the older girls. Wyatt slept through the entire event in the Baby Bjorn. The party was just getting started when we left at 8 pm. Professional beer pong tables were set up and the rules were being argued as we left the party! Ahhh, the days before I was a mother of two.

We had a relaxing Mother's Day today. Gracyn and Daddy made me the cutest card. We also had special bagles and coffee for breakfest. After a major breakdown when Gracyn got sunscreen in her eye, we headed to the neighborhood pool for some rays. It was over 90 degrees outside today! Wyatt chilled in the shade as Luke and I took turns playing with Gracyn in the pool. When we got home we took some pictures with my two babies on the deck. I still can't believe that we have two kids! Wyatt is smiling all the time and Gracyn is still smothering him like crazy. I feel so lucky today to have such an awesome little family! Happy Mother's Day to my mommy and to all you mommies and soon to be mommies out there.

Grandpa Schipper - Smiles - Turning Over

A lot has happened in the past two weeks. Wyatt is now smiling like crazy! It absolutely warms my heart when he gives me a big open mouthed grin! He also hit another big mile stone about a week and a half a go. We had him on the floor activity mat doing tummy time and he turned over!!! I can't believe that he is already that strong. We thought maybe it was just a one time event so we put him back on his tummy and again, he turned over. Grandma and Grandpa Schipper got to witness it on Skype. Wyatt and I also caught terrible colds that Gracyn brought home from daycare. We were both pretty miserable for over a week. Wyatt had to sleep sitting up in his car seat at night so he could breathe more easily. He has also been cursed with a terrible case of baby acne. The doctor tells us that it should clear up within a few months! We took him to the doctor over a week ago and he already weighs 10.6 pounds. He is such a big boy. He is also trying to talk. His vocabulary consists of "ah" and "goo". We are having such a great time hanging out at home together. I'm trying not to think about returning to work in 5 weeks.

Grandpa Schipper came to visit for a few days. It was so good to see him. Gracyn warmed up to him right away and Grandpa officially became "No, mommy, Grandpa do it!" We had a great time walking the beach for shells, playing at the park, planting flowers, oooing and ahhing over the baby, laughing at Gracyn & drinking Coronas. We were so sad to see Grandpa leave.

Daddy taught Gracyn how to break dance. He put an old table top in the backyard and they have been doing their bootie and back spins daily! Gracyn's vocabulary is unreal. She can say anything and the way she processes and puts her thoughts together out loud is hilarious. "Look at that lizard, that lizard is so freaky! It scares me!"

Happy Easter - 4 weeks as a Family of Four

4 am - Chocolate Bunny

Wow!!! Has it really already been 4 weeks??!! I can't believe that Wyatt is already one month old! We have had a busy 4 weeks. I started feeling better about 2 weeks ago, and am now on the run. Wyatt is such a mellow, sweet boy. Gracyn had colic which occurred 24/7. Wyatt hardly makes a peep, and when he does it's because he's hungry or a little gassy. It really is such a different experience. We feel so lucky! He has been sleeping at night, and only gets up to eat or have his diaper changed. A routine is starting to sink in.

Gracyn has taken on full responsibility as Big Sister. She is helping in all the right and wrong places. She smothers Wyatt with the best of intentions. As you can see from the first slide show, she loves to brush Wyatt's hair and to push him in the stroller.

Easter morning started very early for us, 4:00am!!! Gracyn got up to go to the bathroom and spied her Easter basket across the room. Needless to say, we were all up at 4am. Chocolate bunny and all! We celebrated Easter at the Miller's house with a delicious dinner and egg hunt. Wyatt had his first official visit away from home. Gracyn and Sarah had a blast gathering up eggs filled with stickers, stampers and tattoos. We always have such a great time with them.

Happy spring all to all of our fellow Minnesotans! We are excited to hear that you have come out of your caves and are fully in BBQ mode! We wish we were there to celebrate with you:)

Wyatt Lucas Schipper is Here

It's a boy!!! After much anticipation, we finally got our little boy! Despite the fact that both Luke and I were determined it was a girl, we had a healthy little boy! What an amazing feeling. We checked into the hospital on March 19th at 5:30 am, and 3 hours later, Wyatt was here to hold! All in all the planned c-section went fine. Since Gracyn was born by c-section, we were not given an option for the delivery of Wyatt. I had some terrible reactions to the anesthesia in the beginning, but felt fine by the end of the surgery. Scary!!!

We had an amazing bonding experience with our little Wyatt during our 4 day stay at the hospital. Luke and Wyatt had their first official March Madness time as father and son! I did forget how hard the whole surgery recovery thing would be. Today is our third day home and I am feeling a million times better. Both Grandma's made it down from Minnesota to help us out. We are so grateful that they are here. This was the first time that Luke and I have been separated from Gracyn overnight since she was born.

Gracyn assumed the role as big sister with no problems. She is eager to kiss the baby and wants to hold "it" all the time! She was more into playing hide and seek in our hospital room and eating her animal crackers than hanging out with her little brother. I'm anxious to see how our first weekend as a family of four goes.

As for Wyatt, he is eating like a champ! Breastfeeding was so difficult for Gracyn and I in the beginning, but Wyatt picked it up with no problems starting day 1. We had his first doctor's visit yesterday and he already weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Our doctor couldn't believe it. He has been fussy during the night, which has been exhausting for us since Luke is trying to take care of me and Wyatt. I am hoping this is just a phase. If not, I will be up all night and sleeping most of the day. I am planning on taking 12 weeks off of work to be with him.

Jamee and Jeff Yung were vacationing in the Florida Keyes and made it up for dinner and to meet Wyatt on Monday. It was so good to see them!

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes. We miss you all so much and wish we could be closer to you to share this experience. Now, I'm off to bed.....

Happy 2nd Birthday Gracyn Ella!

It's hard to believe that our little baby girl is now a sassy 2 year old! What an amazing 2 years!!! We started the birthday festivities at Gracyn's school for a little Nemo dance party. Gracyn had a good time but you could tell that something wasn't right. Friday night mommy and Gracyn were not feeling well.

By Saturday mommy had the full blown flu and Gracyn had a mild case. Daddy was busy taking care of his girls all day. The good news is we all woke up today and felt a million times better. The bad news is we canceled Gracyn's birthday party the day before because we were under the weather. Regardless, the three (four) of us rallied together and opened presents and made a pink, sprinkled birthday cake. As you can see, Gracyn buried her "2" candle into the cake! We had a great relaxing day together. Gracyn could not get enough of her new froggy boots (thanks grandma b) and bubble gun! Little does this monkey realize that in 11 days her AND our lives will never be the same! GRACYN IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!

potty time!

Last week Gracyn officially moved to the "Two's Room" at daycare. We decided to transition her before the baby came so she doesn't have too many changes at once. In her new classroom they have REAL miniature toilets and Gracyn has taken an immediate liking. She is now volunteering to sit on her own potty at home and over the weekend, successfully tinkeled 2 times on her own. Imagine the shock when we went in to see why she was yelling with joy! Luke and I could not stop laughing! Besides the potty, she struggled at the beginning of the week having withdrawl from her old classroom teacher. She did much better towards the end of the week. News break!!!!! I've just been interrupted......Gracyn just tinkeled for the 3rd time on her potty! Hugs and kisses all around!

We also headed to the beach for a long walk. As you can see......baby schipper's anticipated arrival is in 39 days and I am getting bigger by the minute. Hope you all have a great week!