Baby Schwartz Update

Hi all!

We're at 26 weeks this week.  Baby Schwartz sure is growing up fast!  I am now officially out of all my regular pants.  I'll admit to wearing Dave's shorts most days that I don't have to go out in public.  :)  Here's an updated belly picture that we took yesterday.  Had to laugh again, because we decided it was best to take it outside, in the sun, hence my squinty face again.  Next month will need to remember to do an indoor shot!  It's so cool to feel the little life moving around inside of my belly.  Surreal still sometimes.  And the weeks are just flying by.  Just a few more months to go!  We can't wait!

26 weeks baby belly

Next week we are starting our HypnoBirthing birth classes.  This is the natural birth method we have decided to go with.  I'll be combining it a little bit with the Bradley technique, and they go very well together.  We finally decided on HypnoBirthing for the sheer fact that it focuses on teaching mom (me) how to relax thru the labor, making it safe and easy for both mom and baby.  I've got to say, relaxing is one of my weaknesses, especially when having to work hard at something, so that was my #1 deciding factor on going with HypnoBirthing.  And if you haven't heard of HB before, just know it's not actually "hypnosis," as the name may suggest.  I won't be hypnotized or anything during the birth.  But it's the art of getting your mind to the state of self hypnosis (the super relaxed feeling you have just before you drift off to sleep).  We all enter this state multiple times per day (when we day dream).  Our classes will focus on teaching me how to control my enter and exit into that state of mind while still being in control of my body functions.  It's pretty exciting stuff!  So much more goes in to it, but that's the basis of the philosophy, used for hundreds of years!

For all of you Minnesotans who have been emailing asking for updates and wondering what baby items we need, well I'm finally getting this out to you!  Now please don't feel like you need to get us anything.  You'll see the list below, we have been so so blessed already with numerous items for baby.  What we need is simply your love and support thru the pregnancy and birth!  I love getting your emails and sharing the little parts of the amazing experience of pregnancy with you.  It's great to feel so connected to you all even when we're so far away.  xo!!

What we have:
We've been so extremely blessed with new friends with big hearts both in Orlando area and Charlotte, as well as old friends in Minneapolis.  We have been given some great items in perfect condition that moms were ready to part with.  Wanted to post the list here, in one central place, so everyone is on the same page.  We already have -

Pack-n-Play with sleeper attachment
Car seat/stroller combo
Baby swing
Bumbo
Boppy pillow
Winter jacket/snow suit
Shopping cart cover
Dirty diaper bin
Bouncer chair
Moby wrap (baby carrier)
Set of cloth diaper
Plenty of newborn size caps and mits
Plenty of bibs
and most likely going to get a glider chair from someone on Craigslist

So, as you can see, we have a lot of the big items already.  We are so grateful for all of the support.  Thank you to all who have donated to our family!  We will keep the baby tithing circle going!

What we need:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW REGISTRY

Check our baby registry at Amazon.com.  What I love about Amazon is that you have the ability to check something off if you found it somewhere else.  So please please, our goal is not to get a bunch of gifts or have a ton of money spent on our baby.  We much prefer to have used or borrowed items, not only to cut costs, but our way of staying green.  If you don't mind helping us by keeping an eye out at garage sales, consignment stores, or asking friends if they have any of the items similar to what's on our Amazon list for sale, we would much appreciate it!  If you do find something for us, go ahead on the list and click the "Buying this gift elsewhere" link.  Thanks guys!!  We will happily reimburse the cost and shipping!

Clothes...!  This is something we're not putting on our registry.  Hoping to acquire all used clothes either from garage sales or second hand stores, or a family who is willing to give or lend to us.  Since we are doing an all-natural pregnancy and birth, we are waiting to find out if it's a boy or girl.  So hold off for now and picking out dresses or a lot of pinks or blues!  We're all for neutrals, purple, green, orange, yellow, brown...  Or in general waiting to get clothes for baby until after the birth and we know if it's a He or She.

We will appreciate:

Marshall's gift card
Amazon.com gift card
Harris Teeter gift card

Dave says hi to everyone reading this!  He's doing well both personally and professionally.  His start up is going great.  Most every day we're out at a community event of some sort meeting people and spreading the word of what we do at Family Healing Chiropractic.  His practice is growing and we're so happy to finally be settling into what we've been planning for so long.

I've got to say though, this North Carolina heat is brutal!  It's been 4 straight days of 90 degree weather.  At least humidity hasn't been too bad.  I don't know if it's just because we're used to Michigan/Minnesota summers, but we can't stand to be outside more than an hour!  Monday was brutal...we were at a 10 hour Memorial Day fundraiser event at a local band shell park.  At least we had the shade of our pop-up tent!   Besides the heat in general that day, let me just say it was no fun being pregnant, having to go to the bathroom every at least hour, and only having access to a porta-potty in 90+ degree weather.  That pretty much sums up my Memorial Day experience.  ;)

Also at the Memorial Day fundraiser, The Patriot Festival, they opened the day in a pretty amazing way.  Check out this clip.  Two paratroopers who were wounded veterans dove from high above the band shell and landed dead center of a flag marked out on the ground, surrounded by the crowd of people.  I was hoping to find a full video of the jumps, but all the news stations cut down their clips.  We had forgotten to bring our camera with us on Monday..  For Channel 14, the one I linked, the camera guy was standing right next to Dave and me shooting the entire 10 minute jump.  Too bad we didn't make the final cut, haha.  It was quite amazing to see and experience the paratroopers.  The patriotism in the crowd instantly grew stronger when we saw the red smoke streaming from their backs and the three flags drop down, waving thru the sky.  Such a beautiful tribute to all those who have sacrificed for our freedom.

Hope you all had a blessed weekend!  Take care everyone!