Lou on Channel 9

My former coworker/buddy/drinking companion, but most importantly inventor of the Spark View Engine, Lou DeJardin, has a video interview up on Channel 9.  Check it out.

4 Month Checkup

Calvin had his big 4 month wellness check this morning and he’s doing great! Weight-wise, he’s up to 15 lbs 3 oz, which kind of surprised me at first although it only puts him at the 50th percentile. That means he actually slipped a little on the curve from his 2 month check where he was at the 65th %ile. But the doctor said nothing to worry about, that still means that he’s average (in weight only!).

In terms of height, he’s staying pretty constant. He measured 26″, putting him at the 81st %ile. At his 2 month, he was 23.75″, at the 80th %ile.

And now what you’ve all been waiting for, his melon. Here’s where the boy shined. His head now measures a solid 18″, which puts him proudly at the 99th %ile! At his 2 month, he was 16.5″, at the 91st %ile. Before you make any slanderous comments, the doctor said that’s good since that’s where his brain is developing. So that’s why he’s such a smarty-pants!

He also got a couple shots which he was NOT happy about! … for about 5 minutes and then fell asleep. Poor little guy!

Also, check out the startling discovery Denise made yesterday!

Calvin's first teeth!

Happy Thanksgiving

Denise and I certainly know what we’re thankful for…

Calvin

Denise and I would like to officially welcome Calvin Jacob Schmidt to the world. He was born Saturday, November 21, at 3:58pm. He was 8lbs 10oz and 21″ in length.

Goodbye, Grandma

In honor of my grandma’s passing on Oct. 30th, I’m posting a copy of her obituary…

Oneeta Reuter

Funeral service for Oneeta Wanda Reuter, 96, Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Anoka, took place Nov. 16 at Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Chapel, Anoka. Rev. Gary Wilkerson.

Reuter died Oct. 30. She was born April 13, 1913 in Kiota, Mo., to Charles E. and Fanny F. (Gault) Tracy and was a retired nurse at the state hospital.

She is survived by her children, Charles Reuter, Dallas (Nancy) Reuter and Mary Kay (Larry) Schmidt; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Interment was at Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

My grandma was also famous in our family for having a quaint colloquialism for pretty much any situation. Here are a few I could think of off the top of my head:

  • “Excuse the pig, the hog’s out walkin’.” (used when one of us burped, a personal favorite of mine.)
  • “I’m so hungry I could eat the north end of a southbound horse.”
  • “I’m so hungry my stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”
  • “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”
  • “It’s like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.”

Updated 12/2:

  • I haven’t . . . since Hector was a pup.
  • . . . ’til who laid the rail.
  • . . . (doing/going something) hell bent fer ‘lection.
  • He’s as thick in the muck as she is in the mire.
  • I’ve gotta pee so bad I can taste it.
  • She already had a stallion in the paddock.

Still No Kid…

Well you had to think that any offspring of Denise and I would be a little on the stubborn side… the little bugger is 5 days late today. So just to update everyone, Denise is tentatively scheduled to be induced this Friday.

Full Term

Denise hit 37 weeks today so according to the OB this morning, she’s now officially considered full term…

Auto-Tune the News

For those who haven’t yet discovered the genius of Auto-Tune the News yet, here are a few links to get you started:

The see them all, Michael Gregory (co-creator) posts them all under the YouTube account schmoyoho.

Auto-Tune the News #6: Michael Jackson. drugs. Palin.

Wild Preseason Game

I got to go to the Wild preseason game tonight. Not only were they amazing seats (in the corner, only 3 rows up) but they were free thanks to my brother-in-law’s girlfriend (thanks again, Missy!). And if that weren’t enough, it was against the Chicago Blackhawks which means you can always count on plenty of intensity (read: lots o’ fighting).

Even better, the Wild won 3-0!

I posted some pics from my cell phone on Facebook here.

Back from the Dells

Denise and I took a weekend road trip to Wisconsin Dells with our friend, Gredd. No occasion really, other than it being most likely our last little vacation before the baby arrives, which is also why we had to drive. But despite Denise being pregnant, we did manage to play no less than 271 holes of mini golf!

And while we’re on the topic of statistics, although it started off as a kind of sad commentary on modern life, it’s actually becoming a road trip tradition in our family to count Walmart trucks. One which began on our honeymoon. The funny thing is we only saw 51 on our entire 4,365-mile honeymoon road trip. Last weekend, we saw 55 on our little 574-mile road trip… and 35 of those were on the way there!

Pictures after the break.

Continue reading ‘Back from the Dells’

9 Weeks and counting…

Denise officially hit 31 weeks yesterday. Crazy!

New Deck

After a few weeks, due to a complication or two, our deck is finally done! Thanks again to Nick for all his hard work in building it!
Pictures after the break.

Continue reading ‘New Deck’

Back Home

We’re back from a very relaxing vacation… 10 days, 3077.3 miles of driving and 5 states. Highlights include seeing Colonel Mustard at a rest stop and Denise almost getting blown off a mountain.

Pictures are here.

Our approximate route is here.

Southwest Road Trip

Denise and I are on Day 5 of our southwest road trip. After landing in Phoenix, AZ, and spending the first couple days with my parents down in Green Valley, we hit the road. Day 3 took us up to Laughlin, NV. Kind of a funny little version of what Vegas should be… or used to be before the Strip took over.

Day 4 brought us up to St. George, UT. On the way, we visited another cool little city, Mesquite, NV. Today, the plan was originally to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. That was before we saw that the drive is over 5 hours… each way! Obviously that’s why most people visit from the south side.

So we decided to alter our plans a little and hit the Grand Canyon on the way back into AZ. Instead, we made our way to Grand Junction, CO. On the way, we saw Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks.

Crash Update

Denise is feeling pretty sore today but in general she’s doing remarkably well. Anyone who would’ve been with us earlier and saw the Explorer at the towing place today would have to agree! Here are some pics of the aftermath.