Videos of the Little Man

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Hope you are all enjoying the break from work to take time with family and (hopefully) good food!  We are doing our first Thanksgiving for just us, no friends or fam this year.  It's kind of fun so far, but we would love to be near family today.  We are doing an Advanced Plan dinner this year, and we decided to skip lunch and eat a later meal today, around 5pm.  I also decided to wait and make everything fresh today.  So far hasn't been a bad decision, even though I could have made just about everything the night before and baked today.  I was in the kitchen for three hours so far making breakfast, side dishes and dessert.  Taking a break now, then just two more hours to go and our meal is complete and ready to eat!  I'm only using two recipes from my Season's Eatings holiday cookbook, the rest are new and will be posted on Healing Cuisine in the next week or two.  The menu at Chez Schwartz:  Individual Cornish Hens with Dijon Mustard Herb Glaze, Homemade Gravy, Garlic Mashed Fotatoes, Caramelized Sweet Potatos, Green Bean Casserole, Sunshine Broccoli Salad, and Blueberry Crumble.  And we had Baked Apples with Praline Whipped Cream and Pumpkin Muffins for breakfast.

Can you tell I'm excited about today's meal??  :)  Go figure.  Always excited to try a new recipe and make it "Advanced"!  Dave is playing Mr. Mom today and doing a fabulooous job!  We can tell Austin is loving his extra Daddy time.

As requested by Grandma, we wanted to share some videos of Austin.  He is growing up so quickly!  He turned 2 months old this past weekend.  The weeks have certainly flown by.  He is getting chubby and starting to giggle and coo now.  His temper is also starting to show when we move or stop bouncing him, anything he doesn't want to do.  Dave reminds me, while it might not be fun at times, we are blessed with an independent child from the start.  Here is the first video, more to come as i have the time to upload them...maybe later tonight or tomorrow.

We are so grateful for Austin, and all of God's blessings onto us this last year!!  Lamentation 3:22-24:  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Happy Halloween!

Our little monster!  Halloween night, we dressed Austin up just for fun, even tho we didn't do any door-to-dooring.

Our Smiley Austin Wayne

Announcing the arrival of our first bundle of joy, Austin Wayne.  Born Sunday, September 18 at 5:32am, 7lbs 4oz, 21 inches.  We call him our smiley baby:

Austin had his newborn photo shoot this past Tuesday, and our photographer, Lora, was able to capture some of his most precious moments, including this photo of Austin smiling sweetly.  Warms my heart every time I look at it!  Check out more of Austin's photos here on Lora's facebook page.

Austin is such a sweet, sweet baby.  He's almost always in a good mood, and we just can't get over how cute and cuddly he is!  He's always making us smile.  Dave and I could just sit and stare at him all day!  Here is more of Austin smiling:

And now back to parenthood for me!  Enjoy the video :)

Waiting Somewhat Patiently

Just a quick note that we are still patiently waiting the arrival of our little Schwartz!  At 40 weeks right now, so we know it can be any moment (or still a week or two in the distance).  Of course I'm wanting it to be happening right now, but trusting in my body and baby's perfect timing.  Been saying I feel like a watched pot that never boils...  It's hard to keep my mind distracted, but I'm trying!

Baby S at 40 Weeks

Went thru a night of prep surges a few days ago, so Dave took the liberty of getting the apartment all ready for the birth.  Birth tub is set up, plastic covering all the floors, bathrooms and kitchen spotless, and all our birthing and baby's first items are set out on our dining table for easy access.  So proud of this dad-to-be!  I can tell he's just a little excited for what's to come.  ;)

So, we're ready when you are Baby S!  Thank you to all those praying for us!  We've been asked by our prayer warriors for specific birth prayer requests, and wanted to share them with you all as well: that Elise stays calm and relaxed thru labor and birth, that baby and mom work together with each surge, Elise to stay focused thru each stage, and a calm entry into the world for Baby S the way that God intends.

As a friend told me yesterday, no news is...no news.  Lol!  We'll post pictures as soon as we can after the birth!

Realized we needed a family picture before baby arrives!  Check out the ficus tree Dave got me (we've always wanted one).  He wanted us to have it in time for the labor and birth.  Very "zen".  :)