Our Weekend Highlight

As I slowly walked into the building, I was overwhelmed with my senses as memories from my childhood came back to me... the sounds of blades slicing through the ice, occasional toe picks hitting the ground, grunts and groans of hard work and of bodies hitting the ice. The smell of cold ice and Zamboni exhaust, of leather skates, and of sweaty hockey players (who we shared locker rooms with)... everything sounded and smelled just the way it had 20 years ago when I put my first pair of ice skates on and entered the rink for my first ice skating lesson. I remember how hard I worked through the years, all the coaches I had, the competitions and shows I participated in, and most of all, I now remember how good it felt to pass on my love and passion for the sport, onto my three nieces, who made me so proud at the ice skating show last weekend. It was the ice skating club's 20th anniversary and they re-skated routines from past shows. My brother's oldest daughter, Brittany, actually skated my last solo performance that I skated as Elvis Presley, during my senior year of high school. For grins and giggles, I have actually attached a video of me as Elvis below, along with videos of my nieces, Brittany, Sarena and Natalie from this year's show. I was so proud of them!

Before you watch, you should know that I got back from a month in Germany the night before this show. I was suffering from pretty bad jet lag and hadn't slept in hours! If you think that it looks like I forgot my show and was just skating and dancing in circles, you are right, I did! Oh yeah, and I recorded this off of a TV, so it's pretty bad quality. Enjoy...

Here is a little clip of Britt skating the same routine. She did an awesome job...

Here is a little clip of Sarena's solo, "Great Balls of Fire," which is so fitting for her. She is a little ball of fire, always on the go. I've never seen this girl run out of energy!...

Here is a little clip of Natalie. She's the little one in this group, "At the Hop," and is sooooo good for her age. I was impressed...

And to end this post, here are some pictures from the skating show! The show got really long for Maida. Her favorite part was actually the national anthem at the beginning of the show, in which she sang to VERY LOUDLY in front of everyone (in her own language and in her own tune). It was so funny, cute, and embarrassing all at the same time. I wish that I would have videoed it. Skogen slept most of the time, but did wake up long enough to see Uncle Jay, Aunt Nancy, and his cousins.

Micah Came to Visit!

Micah came to visit last weekend. He is one of Erik's best friends from high school and college. He and Erik spent many special times together, some of which include being college roommates for 3 years, spending a semester in Europe together, having Micah as a Best Man in our wedding, and Micah was the first visitor I had in the hospital after Maida was born. He's been a very special person in our life and we've been looking forward to seeing him. Last weekend turned out to be the perfect time for this! While he was in town, Erik, Maida, and Barkley! met Micah and some other friends at Jay Cooke State Park. There they did some hiking and enjoyed the nice weather we had. After hiking, we all met up at the Dvorak's house for dinner and games. Even though it was a short stay, we all enjoyed Micah being in town and can't wait to live closer to him next year.

Here are some pictures from Jay Cooke State Park last Saturday.

Two Months Old

To my happy little Skogen Roux,

You are TWO months old today! Although time seems to be flying, I can't remember life without you, which makes it also feel like it's been standing still for a while. You seem a lot older than two months old because you can now hold your head up really well. You also seem a lot more aware of your surroundings and try to communicate with those around you. You have started smiling - A LOT, and even cooing a little too! Many times you open your mouth to say something, but nothing comes out! I know you'll soon be a jabber box and I can't wait to hear the conversations you and Maida will have! You are on a really great schedule now, for both eating and sleeping. You eat about every three hours during the day (sometimes you like to stock up before bed and will eat every two hours in the evening) and you will still take a bottle if Mommy has to be gone, but will ask to nurse whenever Mommy gets home, even if you just ate! You take an hour or two hour nap out of every three hours during the day and are a pretty good sleeper at night too. In fact, last night you even slept for 10 hours (but mommy still didn't get much sleep cause she was up every three hours making sure you were still breathing!). You still fall asleep on your own in your bed. All Mommy does is lay you on your back, give you your paci, cover you up, rub your head a few times, and say, "Go night-night now." You are usually asleep within two minutes or less of laying you down. You suck on your pacifier the whole time you sleep, which I have heard helps prevents SIDS, so I'm okay with that. You sleep with a little turtle that has some swimming fish in it's belly. You have learned to push the button on the turtle to make the fish swim and the music and lights come on. Whenever you wake up, you won't cry right away, but you'll turn on your turtle for a while instead. It's so cute! You love to watch your sister and will kick your legs and move your arms like crazy when she's around. You love to play on the floor on your playmat and also love your bouncer and your swing. Mommy took her first trip alone with you and Maida to Grandma and Bumpa's house a couple days ago and you slept the whole way in the car. You like your car seat more now that we took the head support out, which was way too small for your broad shoulders anyway. I haven't had you weighed in a while, but if I had to guess, I'd say you are between 13 and 14 pounds. You are in size 12 month onesies, but still wear a lot of 6-9 month outfits even though they are getting tight. You've always recognized Mom's voice and are the happiest when you are with her, but have also discovered Daddy. You no longer cry when Mom leaves you with him, and in fact, will smile and smile whenever you hear his voice after he comes home from school. You stretch out your neck and your eyes follow him around the room until he picks you up or acknowledges you. I am so thankful that God has given you to us to raise - just like your sister, we love you more than I ever imagined loving anyone.

Best friends in the making

This week has flown by. We have spent most of it trying to get all of our schedules back in order after the time switch. For the most part, Maida and Skogen just naturally adapted, but it was me that really got thrown off. I think that this waking-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night stuff really messes with me! However, Skogen has started sleeping a 5-6 hour stretch every night, which really helps - thank you Babywise!

Here are a few pictures with some quick updates. I will post some pictures later of our weekend with Micah, Erik's best friend who was here visiting us from the cities.

*Playtime*

Reading books and hanging out together on the floor.

*Barkley!*

Barkley! has officially accepted Skogen as a member of the Scharrer family! Yesterday when Skogen was playing on the floor, Barkley! came over and laid his head down on top of him, which I had remembered that Barkley! did that same thing to Maida when she was just a babe. I tried to grab the camera for some pictures, but by the time I got it out and focused, Skogen had kicked Barkley!'s head off of him. I also dug out the old photo of Maida and Barkley!. He's such a great family dog.

Barkley! with Skogen


Barkley! with Maida (June 2007)


*Thrush*

We went through a full round of treating Skogen's thrush, about two weeks ago. Yesterday I noticed that it was back, so I started treating it again. It seems like we just can't get it to go away. I've read that the thrush can make a baby's mouth sensitive, and so sensitive that they won't want to suck. Well, I didn't notice any sensitivity before, but this time around, Skogen has acted a little sensitive to his pacifier, which is hard since he likes to go to sleep with it in his mouth! (The thrush is the white stuff on Skogen's tongue in the picture. It is also on the sides of his mouth and lips - which you can't see in the picture.) I know things could be A LOT worse, but I'm just praying that it goes away soon.

*Erik*

I have been so thankful for Erik lately. I know there will come a day soon (residency!) when I won't be able to depend on Erik for as much as I do, and so I am trying to savor and enjoy every minute with him. He's been a great help lately with the kids, chores around the house, and grocery shopping - thank you, Erik! He also fell on Monday night skiing, hurt his thumb, and after seeing the doctor on Tuesday, has been referred to an Orthopedic doctor on Friday. It isn't broken, but is soooo very painful and swollen that they are worried about ligament damage. Besides being in tons of pain, he has a test tomorrow, so I know he's had quite the week!

The kids with Daddy at bed time

These pictures are for Dr. Repesh, Phyllis, Kathy, and Dina. Thank you for the new outfit! I am hoping that he'll be able to wear it for Easter!

Date With Daddy

On Friday afternoon, Erik decided that the weather was just too nice to stay in and study, so even though Maida hadn't had a nap yet, he bundled her up and they went skiing! They skipped the Bunny Hill altogether and headed straight for the bigger hills. Maida is continually improving and never ceases to amaze everyone else out on the slopes. Erik is so proud of her and excited to be spending some one-on-one time with her doing something that he loves.

Date Night!!!

Erik and I don't get out much. Erik gets out a little more than I do, but for the most part, we're home a lot. Friday night was the first time I have been away from Maida and Skogen at the same time. We actually got a babysitter for Maida and a babysitter for Skogen (I figure since I can't handle them both together by myself sometimes, why should a babysitter have to try?!) and went out on a date! We met up with our friends, Dan and Heidi, at a Thai food restaurant down town. From there we went to a UMD hockey game! It was so much fun to get out of the house and be away from the kiddos. (However, I missed them like crazy and couldn't help but count down the hours until I could see them again.) Some of my favorite parts of the night were my Red Chicken Curry, walking in Canal Park at night, getting to know Heidi better, listening to Dan teach Erik about hockey, the UMD fans, and being with Erik without a textbook or computer in front of him. Here are some pictures from the night...

Got milk?

Got milk?

"My momma gots WHOLE milk!"


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This is why our one-month-old wears a 12-month size:


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Last year when I was in the hospital with mastitis, one of my nurses had a baby who was in the NICU and he was living on donated breast milk. He was very ill and he couldn't have anything other than breast milk, but she couldn't produce any.

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I've often wondered if I could use my gift of producing a great quantity of milk (and the fattest quality of milk!!) to help other babies. There are places that ship donated breast milk to babies who are in the NICU here in the U.S. and places that ship it to babies in Africa.

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I'm thinking that my milk would plump up a hungry baby in no time!

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(Don't forget that you can click on the photos to enlarge them.)

22 Months

Dear Miss Maida,

Today you are 22 months old. Where has the time gone? I remember when you were Skogen's age and the complete center of my universe. Although you've grown older, you still are the center of my universe sometimes, however you've had to learn to share that position with your brother now. :) I am the luckiest mom to get to spend every day with you. Now at 22 months you have started talking a lot more. Sometimes you can say things as plain as day, but other times you have your own language that we can't quite understand yet. Luckily you still do some sign language, especially when you want "more" of something and are really desperate to get whatever it is! You love to run and jump and you love to be naked ("nay-nay"). Your favorite toy is either your purses and my high heels or your doll house that you got for Christmas from Grandma and Bumpa. You are completely potty trained (except for a few accidents at night sometimes) and wear a size 2 or 3 toddler, depending on the brand and style. You fall asleep on your own in your big girl bed, only after we say our "Now I lay me down to sleep...." prayer, which you know a few words of, and our butterfly and Eskimo kisses. You love to read books, especially the dinosaur book, which your dad had to hide for a while because it was teaching you how to say, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" You are pretty independent and will go with anyone and everyone to do anything and everything. You love Sunday school, drawing circles and lines, sledding, skiing, swimming, taking baths, ECFE, and Dora the Explorer. You're usually a great help with your baby brother and mostly like to hold him or steal his pacifiers. You are the best part of every day. I enjoy waking up to your voice saying, "Morn Mommy!" I love you so much, princess.

Barkley's Mini League

Song for a Fifth Child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

*

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

*

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

*

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

*

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.