What Are We Going To Do?

Normal Week

This week was pretty uneventful with a few exciting moments. On Thursday both Dan and I had dentist appointments while the other watched Marissa. Dan chose to go to the second appointment so that he could go to swimming lessons with Marissa (of course he would choose that). They had a great time and Marissa continues to come "out of her swimming shell".

Sister Time

On Friday morning I attended MOPS and was able to relax while enjoying time with other moms. Dan had left the night before (Thursday night) for a guys weekend at Sunriver snowmobiling. So, Friday evening my sister, Michelle, came over and we worked on making Marissa's birthday party the cutest we possibly could. We made centerpieces for the tables and came up with many other great ideas to make sure the kids and adults have a good time celebrating Marissa's first year of life.

Typical Saturday Morning

Normally on Saturday mornings Marissa and Dan will wake up (let me sleep in :) and go to Gear Up (a local coffee shop in town) to bring us home some pastries and coffee. Well since Dan wasn't around I figured I needed to keep up the tradition with Marissa. So we walked to the coffee shop, sat and had pastries (Marissa had a banana, which is like a pastry to her :) and walked home, just in time for her morning nap. In the afternoon we were able to go over to my moms house to swing, which she also absolutely loves. Grandma got out the wagon and walked her around the property for a while. When it was time to go, she actually resisted going to her mother...I guess gramdma's is just too fun. We had a good weekend together.

"What Do You Think We Are Going To Do..."

On Sunday night after Dan got home we spent some time talking and he spent hung out with Marissa. It was about an hour before her bedtime, Marissa was getting a little cranky, and so in passing I made the comment "what are we going to do for another hour". I get this funny look from Dan as his eyes pass around the room and he grabs a blanket. He then replied "what do you think we are going to do for an hour" as he puts Marissa on the blanket and begins to pull her around the room. They had such a good time together doing the silliest of things. Marissa is so blessed to have such a fun and creative dad, that cherishes each moment he spends with her. I can't wait until she is old enough to remember the crazy things he does and the caring look in his eyes.

Dan pulling Marissa around on a blanket for almost an hour.

More Than Just Naps and Laundry

The Birthday Girl

I am excited to put together a fun party for Marissa. I have already thought about ideas and gone shopping for decorations (about a month ago I started looking). Tara gave me the idea to do brown and pink polka dots and I am so glad that she did, because it is going to be fun to decorate. I have already found and ordered some cute stuff online and my sister and I are going shopping next week for more decorations. I found the perfect brown and pink head bow and onesie (shown in the invitation picture) for her to wear. I can't wait to celebrate Marissa's first year of life...it only happens once.

Getting a "bottom shot". How cute is that?

So What's Actually Been Going On?

Well, the last few weeks I have been feeling SO tired (you think that would have been a hint that I was pregnant), and have not been doing much but sleeping when Marissa sleeps and relaxing when Marissa is awake. I have been pushing myself each day to walk with my mom, so that takes up 1/2 of my day's energy. My husband has been amazing and doing all the laundry, but unfortunately that is where he stops. I am then left folding and putting away clothes. I don't like folding and putting away laundry anyways, but especially when I am feeling so tired. I feel guilty because in our upper den area there is folded laundry everywhere, waiting for me to put it into our closets. So, if my blog hasn't been that exciting over the course of the last few weeks...it's because my life hasn't either...sleeping, folding laundry, and watching Marissa play.

Swimming Lessons

After hearing from a friend that the YMCA in Silverton was starting a new round of swimming lessons, I decided to sign Marissa and I up. We began this week on Tuesday morning. I normally go to BSF and leave Marissa with my mom, but this week she was out at the beach. So, I decide if I couldn't go to BSF, I was going to take Marissa to her first swimming lessons. We got there way to early, so Marissa was very antsy by the time it actually got to her lessons. She was very excited for the water at first, but once the swimming instructor took her, it became a different story. Now Marissa is normally a pretty independent girl. Not this time...all she wanted was to lay on her mothers shoulder. I actually felt needed by her for the first time in a while. After swimming for 20 minutes (she was getting pretty cold, so we got out 10 minutes early), taking a warm shower, getting bundled up, and going back home, Marissa took a 3 hour 45 minute nap (I did too :). WOW, that must have taken a lot of energy to go swimming.

On Thursday, we went to our second swimming lesson, and did much better. She was still a little scared at first, but eventually warmed up to the teacher and ventured off mom's hip. Dan was able to stop by for a few minutes to watch and Marissa warmed up quite a bit once he got there. It is amazing what dad's can do. Looking forward to next Thursday to see what she will be willing to do.

Marissa blowing the camera "kisses" in her new bathing suit and cover up.

Bible Study...Soon to Turn "Spiritual Play-Date"

I am really excited about the opportunity that I have had to meet with a couple of girls, that I previously taught with at Butte Creek (and two others), on Wednesday mornings to do a Bible study. Two of the gals have babies (one 4 months old and the other 6 months old, then Marissa) and the other two are pregnant (one is due in June and the other late August). With the addition of my pregnancy (in September) we were laughing on Wednesday about what our Bible Studies are going to look like next fall. With 6 children, 3 newborns and 3 walkers, we can't wait to figure out how we are going to "study" the Bible. We all decided it was going to be more like a "spiritual play-date". I am looking forward to Marissa playing with the other children and hearing their moms (and her mom) talk about the Lord....what could be better?

What It Means To Me To Be A Mom Full Time

On Friday night, the three (four including baby #2) of us ventured out to our second basketball game this year (sad to say, it was only our second). I always enjoy watching my old Young Life girls play and I am always up for talking "coaching strategy" with those interested around me. Dan was able to take Marissa up to the mezzanine to run around during the second 1/2 of the game. Unfortunately the girls lost, so afterward they were a little upset.

While I was waiting for the girls to come back from their "post-game meeting", I ran into some people that I only see occasionally. The question came up of whether I was back to teaching or not. I politely answered that I was able to stay at home full time with Marissa. Now it is not that people blatantly come out and say something, it is more the look on their faces when you mention you are a stay-at-home mom. *Disclaimer: I am not meaning to offend anyone with the following statements. I am blessed to be able to stay at home and realize that some people are not wired that way or are not able to financially be at home full time. So, please don't take me the wrong way!* At the beginning of my ventures into motherhood, I almost made excuses like "I am thinking about going back" or "maybe next year", but lately I am realizing that it isn't something that I should have to defend. So, I decided to write a list of what being a "stay-at-home mom" means to me, in order to prove to myself and the rest of the world that it is something that is WONDERFUL!

Me and my beautiful daughter after a bath.

1. I feel blessed to discipline my children every day of the week, the way that I choose.
2. I feel blessed that I get to teach my children how God has blessed our family, every minute of the day.
3. I feel blessed to be able to read the Word of God to my children before each of their naps during the day.
4. I feel blessed that my child is able to study me throughout the day. The way I react, how I treat people, and what I say.
5. I feel blessed to have a husband that works so hard at whatever he does to make sure that I have the choice to stay-at-home.
6. I feel blessed that my husband is able to come home to a child that he can enjoy and not have to worry about laundry or dishes.
7. I feel blessed to be able to track the development of my child throughout the day.
8. I feel blessed that I get the entire day to figure out what my child's God-give talents are and then find ways to encourage her in those areas.
9. I feel blessed that I get to meet other moms to encourage and lean on for encouragement.
10. I feel blessed that the Lord gave me a calling, maybe a hard one to do at times, or one that is not looked on favorably, but is rewarding in ways I could never have been rewarded with a full time career.

Not to say that sometimes I don't miss the excitement, challenge, structure, accomplishment, and pride (the list could definitely go on) that goes with being a professional. I often times think that teaching is quite a bit easier and would be worth getting back into. However, I am humbled by my baby girl and the difficult calling that God has given me at this point in my life. I don't know what the future will bring our little family of four, but I do know that right now I am a "stay-at-home mom", maybe not the best one around, but a proud one!

A Relaxing Valentines Day

On Saturday, Dan spent some quality time with Marissa while I was able to go to Salem with my sister for a much needed pedicure. For some reason being gone for 3 hours just doesn't seem long enough, however, I didn't have anything else to do. Once I got home, Dan and Marissa had gone on an adventure and so I was able to take a nice long nap. When they got home and after I woke up, I found that Dan had gotten me a dozen roses, chocolates, a teddy bear, and 2 tickets to a Blazer game (on my birthday). Now, I am not the kind of person that demands gifts, flowers, or even chocolates on Valentines Day. In fact I even told Dan this week that the whole day was kind of a joke and a marketing ploy. What a sweet, sweet husband. In the evening, my mother brought over a casserole for Dan and I and a Valentines Day basket for Marissa. Then Dan's sister came over, hung out, and ate dinner with us. It was a wonderful, relaxing day.

The "presentation" Dan created.

Dan, Annie, Marissa...and Baby Schacher

Surprise...EVERYONE!

About 3 weeks ago, Dan and I got a surprise...a positive pregnancy test! We had not been planning on having another baby just yet, but it wasn't something we were totally waiting on either. Dan is VERY excited (Dan would have had another child RIGHT after we had Marissa...yeah, only 9 months apart), and I am still getting used to the idea of having another so soon. We wanted to wait till Marissa's birthday party in March to announce the arrival of our second, but we just couldn't wait...I'm not good with secrets. So I decided (with the help of a friend) to let everyone know on Marissa's birthday initiation in a subtle way. If you can read the invitation it says: "Celebrate! Please join Dan, Annie, Marissa, and Baby Schacher". As you can imagine, on Monday evening after everyone got their days mail, I got quite a few calls. Many people said they read it over and over making sure they really understood what it meant. I enjoyed announcing it this way and can't believe that I am already 10 weeks along (I guess that goes with not realizing you are pregnant until you are already 7 weeks). So my due date is September 12th, which makes Marissa and Baby #2 only 18 months apart. Everywhere I go, I ask mothers how old their children are, because I am curious about what Marissa will doing at that age. This was definitely not planned by Dan and I, but completely by the Lord! What a blessing baby #2 will be when he/she arrives.

"It's Not a Phone...It's a Music Player"

So last week was pretty routine, with my sister coming over on Monday to watch "The City" and hang out, BSF on Tuesday morning, lazy days on Wednesday and Thursday, and then going to a play group with MOPS on Friday. Well, one of those days Dan came home while I was trying to get ready. He walked in and Marissa had my phone. We have always said that we didn't want Marissa playing with cell phones, because we didn't want her to scream when we needed to take it away. Sometimes as a mom, you find that only a few items will truly entertain your child....it is cell phones for Marissa. When I am absolutely in a pinch and need to have a few moments of worry free time...I do the unthinkable...give Marissa the cell phone. Now the way I justify it to Dan is that it is not actually the phone that Marissa has...it's a music player. She absolutely loves it when I turn on the music player and let her carry it around while it plays music. Dan just shook his head in disbelief.

Marissa VERY excited to have her "music player". This is even an "action walking" picture.

All funniness aside, it is so precious when I do turn the music on. The first song that comes up is "Alleluia" by Jennifer Knapp. Marissa will bounce up and down and today she began mimicking the noises of the song. I had to stop for a moment and listen to my beautiful, almost one-year old daughter singing. Maybe she wasn't intentionally singing to the Lord, but my heart was pleased it was music that would be pleasing to Him coming out of the "music player" and out of her mouth. I can't wait for the day that Marissa sings praises to our God, how amazing those sounds will be to a mom...and even more to a Creator.