The Podunk Chronicles: 2006

Christmas

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

We made it through our first Christmas as "three" . The family Christmas was hosted at Bingo and Kyle's house. This was Kerry and Heidi's first official Christmas as last year Kerry and I spent our first married christmas in Charleston. We now have two "others" at the 25-35 table. The clan gets bigger. Tomorrow we make our annual trip up to Sugarbush VT for New Years. Ike will have his first look at snow if there is any up there. Merry Christmas and happy New Year. K,H, and I

The "Kids" Table

Christmas Eve at the Johnsons

Whatever it takes

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Parenting skill of the weekend : For the last 3o min I have been watching the television with the vacuum going 10' away. Why do you ask? Well I am now willing to do almost whatever it takes to keep little Ike from crying hysterically. He seems to like the vacuum. Alot. Lesson learned.

Christmas weekend

Friday, December 22, 2006

Last trip out

Well we finally made our last trip out of the Griswold Airport in Madison CT. As of Dec 31st the airport is closed. Bing, Rick, Pete, and myself ferried all of the planes up to our new home at the Chester airport. I think we ended on a good note with the last trip during twilght on a calm Dec night.
Turning out towards Hammonassett

Fanman soaking up a Dec sunset

Almost 3 weeks

Monday, December 18, 2006

A quick update before Ike wakes up from his nap! We are surviving life with Ike after almost 3 weeks- everyday brings a little something new. Jimmie and Pepe packed up the 'Margaritaville Suburban' and headed back to Charleston on Saturday- to say it was an emotional departure would be an understatement. We are looking forward to a long visit with them in January :-)

We are getting ready for the holiday festivities to start this week and then off to Vermont on the 27th for the annual Sugarbush Mountain trip to the Battleground with the Schutzs, Johnsons and Bennetts et al.

Ike and I with Jimmie after 2 weeks of mother-daughter bonding

Ike snoozing on Pepe's shoulder.

Christmas and trees

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Ike's first outing to the Christmas tree farm today. Time to deck the halls...

Word of the Week: Adjustment

Friday, December 08, 2006

We are all doing a lot of adjusting to our new life with our hairy and cute little dude! But, things on the homefront are improving as Ike is on a 3 hr daytime feeding schedule and is now allowing us to sleep longer stretches at night already- he is a very good baby so far... and yes I am knocking on wood!

It is 18 degrees here this morning with a windchill of 9 and some snow flurries...brrr!!!

Jimmie is here helping with everything and Pepe will return from work travel for the weekend. Uncle Dean will be coming from the city for a visit tonight so we are looking forward to that.

Our first family photo.

Uncle Robert checks out his new nephew.

Ike with his first "friend"- thanks to Charlene!!

wheels up

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

The other big news around here is we flew the Mike on Sun. Pete G and Bingo made the maiden flight around Griswold. All went well and today the plane logged 2hrs of flight time. I look forward to flying in it this weekend. We got a bit of sad news yesterday, we have to move out of our hanger by the end of the month as the airport is being sold to make way for condominiums. Next stop is Chester airport.

Bingo getting in for the first flight
Last minute "adjustments"
The finished cockpit
Bean getting warm by the fire

Motherhood... week one.

Well here is my first post since our lives forever changed last Wednesday morning with the arrival of Ike. I can't believe 1 week ago at this hour we were at Yale on the brink of labor. 9 days late and Ike finally folded under the pressure 18 hrs before I was to be induced. Thankfully, it was a much faster experience than I expected which was a good thing- I wanted to personally thank Dr. Wong- the anasthesiologist!! Ike's rocketship approach to the world will probably prove to make him a bold and daring person like his Dad.

Harcourt and I have had our ups and downs as far as figuring out what to do with a newborn but thankfully with the arrival of Jimmie and Pepe on Sunday things are starting to look more up than down. Jimmie is our saviour and we are so glad she is here to help and she even allows Harcourt and I to get some sleep so we don't lose our minds.

My "Big 30" was on Monday but it was certainly the most abnormal of birthdays...you know you are in a different world when you get a new baby swing as a gift and you are really excited about it :-)

The Mike (in case you haven't figured it out that is the Cessna 175 that he and his Dad have completely re-conditioned over the last 2 years) made it's maiden flight on Sunday but I will let Harcourt do his own posting with more details on that one.

Ike's first spa treatment- courtesy of Jimmie.

Jimmie and Ike.
Pepe with his 3rd grandchild- 1st grandson.

You can click here to see a slideshow of some more photos.

Back on the Farm

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Well yesterday we made it home from Yale. It was nice to finally get back to Podunk. Kerry and I want to thank everyone who stopped by to see us in the maternity ward. It is great to have some familiar faces at the hospital. We are now trying to get some sense of normality back, last night was everything but.. It also looks like Ike may get to see his first snowfall on Monday. Winter is here.

Aunt Dana checks out her new nephew.

Grandmother Kyle just can't get enough.

Ike on his road trip home from the hospital.

Yes, and we have a Penis !

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Harcourt F. Schutz III "Ike". 8.6lbs . He and Kerry look pretty happy. Everyone is doing well at the hosptital, and we take him home on Friday. We had a few visitors today. Amy Steffen stopped by this am, and Bing, Kyle, Robert, and CB Johnson came by in the pm. Busy day today. I will post some more later.

The "lo-jack" bracelet

A few minutes after he was born.

Strong contractions just before 2am. 2:37 he was born

Kerry is overdue

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Last day of the holiday weekend. Kerry is 6 days beyond the due date. We went for a nice hike this afternoon at Chatfield Hollow with the Peterson's, Steffen's and Brother Dean. 60 degrees and sunny today. I can't believe it is almost December.

Campout '06

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Well the stars aligned just right so that Kerry and made it to the annual post-Thanksgiving Campout. The holiday weekend is now complete. We had the usual band of charactors plus a few newbies who I am sure will be back next year. There is now a two time winner of the 'Camper of theYear Award' ....a big attaboy goes to Ty Streeter. It was great to see everyone, and a big thanks to the Johnsons for allowing us to try and burn down their woods again.