She's one month and big news!

She is getting big! Okay, so she is 8lb 10oz but that is huge! 2 lb 2 oz in only a month! She is working on trying to be a chunky monkey! I thought pictures were most appropriate but also figured I would say she is doing really well! Sleep is still at a premium but she is so darn cute!

The big news in our family (after Evangelyn) is that I will be starting a new job in just over a week! I accepted a position at US Bank as a personal banker! That not only means that we will be planting some deeper roots in Sioux Falls (sorry Emily) but it also means that I will be working one mile from home and will have weekends off! First time since high school! We are very excited about this new opportunity!

Finally, thank you for all the prayers and support that so many of you have given to us throughout our pregnancy and Evangelyn can't wait to meet you all!

Pregnancy: things I did not see coming...

As the young lovebirds sleep tranquilly under the brisk April sky, a piercing shreek is heard from the fair maiden. She is up like a bolt, very tense, and obviously in a bit of pain. The dashing knight quickly arrives (rolls over) at her side and is ready to assist (asks what's wrong). Knowing that she is eight months pregnant and having just watched part of Lord of the Rings only two thoughts come into the young man's mind. Either, Ringwraths have appeared and his wife is fraught with terror, or his beloved is having contractions and is ready to deliver child. Luckily for all, it was a calf cramp and so we went back to bed.

Okay so I embellished a little bit (not about the dashing knight bit of course). Every time Miriam yawns, winces, breaths funny, or does absolutely nothing that would indicate anything, I assume that she must be going into labor. And then, just before opening my mouth, I ask, "How are you doing?" Usually, the response is, "I'm fine." I know, however, one of these times I ask, she is going to say, "Baby is coming!" I will then whisk her off to the hospital where the doctor will be waiting (that's a long shot, has a doctor ever waited for someone?). Then after a short, period of time, I will get a snack from the snack room and Miriam will deliver our baby once I'm done. Or at least that is what I imagine.

One of my least favorite questions when asked about Miriam is if she ever has cravings. The reason why I disdain this question is because the answer is a resounding NO! I was looking forward to getting calls on the way home from work saying, "I want Chinese food," "I want pizza," "I want ice cream." Sadly, never. Well, once she said "I want Taco John's," and five minutes later, I produced a six pack and a pound and we ate it all.

One day, I decided to cook up some chicken and some pasta and mix Alfredo sauce with some tomatoes (which I had never done before) and make supper while Miriam was at work. Miriam took some of the left overs to work the next day and voila, Pregnancy Pasta was born! Pregnancy Pasta is only my second claim to victory in the field of cravings (after the six pack and a pound). Pregnancy Pasta has reached a new high point this weekend though. On Saturday, we added in Eggers and Schultz homemade Alfredo sauce to my concoction of delicacies to make what Southern Austrians might call Uberpregancy Pasta! Wowwza! Delish! Anyway, I'm thinking we started a new tradition here. Oh, and don't ask for the recipe, it is now a family secret locked away in a steel cage, which has bars that are inconveniently wide enough to let the place I put my keys slide right through.

Only three weeks till D-Day!

a dry shower...

  No matter which way you interpreted the title you were correct! Last week my sisters hosted our baby shower! Baby showers are pretty cool in my book. Every baby shower I've been involved with, I get to go swimming with my nephew Prescott! We had a blast!








Yesterday was another benchmark date for Baby. 36 weeks and one day. After that, the doctor does not automatically send kiddo to the nicu. Less than a month away before the actual due date! Preparations for baby's arrival are starting to slow down as most of the things we physically need are purchased and in place. 





  Our baby swing has taken the place of our RockBand2 Drum Kit. A stroller is blocking my guitar amp. The back seat of our Escape has a child seat in it. We now have a garbage can that is made for holding poop in between our living room and kitchen. In the corner of our bedroom is a crib (I can't wait to tell Miriam, "Nobody puts baby in a corner.") We aren't crazy though, we still have our PS3 hooked up (how else would we watch movies and baseball?)

I can't believe it...

It's Thursday, that means tomorrow we are at week 34! Now that we are getting close to the home stretch, I find myself scouring the web for the best deals on diapers knowing that baby could tear through more than a dozen in a day. Now that one of my co-workers just had his first and has returned to work, I find myself getting even more excited about the prospect of going home to our bundle of joy!

One of my other colleagues from work pointed me to a website called www.dudetodad.com. I've only checked it out a little bit but I like the concept. It is definitely been a change in mindset so far. We definitely pay more attention to how we spend our money, making sure to be saving and we have even met with a financial adviser for the first time.

I have also done a lot of thinking about my faith in Christ and what it means to be a Christian father. At times it seems to be daunting task to be the father God calls me to be but I know that I have the best helper in the world in Miriam. I also know that if I put my trust in HIM, I have no reason to worry and that he will lead me as I lead our family.

We have a big day today. Right now we are going to the clinic for an ultrasound to check up on baby to make sure everything is okay since Miriam has been told to take it easy. Then after that I have a couple meetings at work followed by watching an hour long episode of The Office tonight! This week Michael proposes to Holly. I'm putting it out there, I think Holly is going to leave Michael in the finale and Michael is going to quit and move to the UK.

I'll see ya when I see ya!

D-day minus... a month hopefully!

Spring is upon us which means three things 1)Baseball season is starting! Go Twins! 2) Grilling season has started! 3) I'm going to be a father soon! So, what's been happening at the Schultz residence?

I think that pretty much sums it up. Yesterday we went to the doctor, saw a financial planner, and rearranged the living room to make it more baby friendly. We are due May 7 but, knowing that Miriam came a month early and hoping to not have a repeat of that (we are hoping for at least 36 weeks and a day to stay out of nicu), Miriam has to start making some difficult changes to her habits. First, no more twelve hour shifts (shucks). Second, when she is not at work, she must rest! The doctor specifically mentioned no laundry, lifting, or prolonged exertion.  I don't know if she will be able to handle it... Other preperations that are completed include acquiring a car seat, setting up a crib, and constantly thinking about how little space we have here.

That is all for now. In the words of Linus, "I'll see ya when I see ya."