It's a......!

I promised that I would share with you our news after my ultrasound last week, so, here goes...  It's a BOY!!  Yes, another little Schmidt baby boy.  I am feeling slightly outnumbered, yet am filled with joy and excitement about the new baby.  We are so excited to have a little brother for Caleb.  As Tyler said, "Now he will have a little brother to roughhouse with!"  You can see what Tyler loved doing with his little brothers.  It will be such fun to observe how different our two sons will be. I think we are both most excited about Caleb having a playmate - he just loves other kids and playing with them/ observing them.

We are supposed to see some snow this weekend, but this is at least the 5th prediction we've had and still no snow.  Next week Tyler's siblings will come to spend Thanksgiving at our home.  It is the first time we've stayed home for a holiday and we are super excited to have family here to celebrate Thanksgiving and an early Christmas.  We hope you all have a wonderful holiday whatever you do, and appreciate the many blessings God has given you over the last year. 

Many thanks to you for your friendship and support in our lives!
Renae for the Schmidts

Christmas music before or after Thanksgiving?

I would rather not get into a debate, knowing that many of you are advocates for the "after Thanksgiving day listening to Christmas music idea", but we have never been able to hold out that long!  Ever since we got married, Tyler and I have either been year-round Christmas music listeners or would start about mid-summer.  However, this year we have actually made it until October!  That's right, for the past few weeks we have been enjoying the heralds of angels and the anticipation of family togetherness that Christmas music alone can bring.  It strikes me that though all the sentiments of Christmas are great to look forward to, I do not spend much time anticipating the true reason we celebrate.  That is why during our pre-Christmas listening time this year, I am trying spend more time thanking the Lord for the perfect Gift He gave us.  (having a baby moving around inside me does help me remember to do this too!)

This past weekend Tyler and I were blessed with the chance to attend a Weekend to Remember marriage conference.  What a gift to married couples!  If all couples could attend one every few years, I think it would help many more marriages stay together.  I was reminded and convicted of the importance of making our marriage a priority above the family.  Since becoming parents it is so difficult to love and cherish Tyler the way I did before our precious boy came along!  I am so thankful of the reminder and commitment to put our marriage first (which will hopefully start including some fun and creative dates planned by both of us!).  I am looking forward to the challenge of showing Tyler how important he is to me both through dates, prayer, and special reminders through the week.

Tomorrow I have my 20 week ultrasound to make sure the baby is healthy, and also to find out if it is a boy or a girl.  We did not find out what we were having before, but are most likely going to this time.  Of course I could wait another day and then post this blog so all of you would know, but you will just have a wait a week or so while we let all our family members know!

I hope this entry finds you healthy and joyful, abiding in the strength of the Lord.