Future boxer? Diana keeps her hands up and mouthguard in place - ready for all contenders. 

Please meet Diana Christine Schwarz

Here's a quick post to introduce you to the new addition to our family! Diana Christine Schwarz was born at 3:47 a.m., July 17, 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19 inches long. Everything went very well and Lisa and baby are recovering in the hospital. We will have much more later, but for now here are a few pictures of our new daughter. Enjoy! - Mike

Ponies, ponies, ponies!

Though we were both tired, Michael's dad and I decided to take Amelia to the local park this afternoon. This park is more than a park in the summer with rides and events for children. Len (Mike's dad) was really looking forward to letting Amelia ride the train in the park and I was just eager to let her get out of the house and have some fun.

We first brought Amelia to the petting zoo but quickly found out that tickets for all attractions were only available at the train station. It was difficult to get Amelia back up the hill, but she became very excited when she reached the top and saw both the train and the nearby carousel.

We bought tickets for all of us and tried to get Amelia to walk to the train, but she insisted on riding the carousel saying, "This train!" and "Ponies!" So, I brought her through the gate and put her on a pretty mechanical pony. She was a bit nervous when the ride started, but quickly started cooing with happiness. When the ride stopped I could not get her off her horse. I told her the ride was over, but she complained, "No, no, one more!" The ride had only cost one ticket, so we went around again on a different pony. After the second ride, she still wanted to try it again on yet another horse, but we managed to leave the merry-go-round and headed for the train.

Amelia enjoyed riding the train with grandpa. Again, she was a little tenuous at first but had fun once the ride began. She even applauded when the train returned to the station. After the train, came the petting zoo. Amelia's favorite animals were the goats who would lick her hands and attempt to eat my clothing.

It was almost impossible to get Amelia away from the goats, but we eventually got her to the pony rides. I walked along beside Amelia and her pony "midnight" as we took a lap around the small corral. It was difficult keeping up with the pony (being so pregnant), holding onto Amelia and avoiding the manure on the path but it was great to see Amelia so happy.

Then she became fascinated with the kids' fountain. Luckily, she did not insist on playing in the water as neither she nor I were dressed to get wet. After a while, Len and I decided we were just too tired to do anything else and tried to get Amelia back to the car. On the way there, Amelia ran off in the direction of the carousel. She could not let herself leave the ponies. It was difficult getting her back to the car and she cried and sniffled all the way home.

I guess the park has special attractions all summer long. I look forward to bringing Amelia there again when I'm not so pregnant, or better yet when Michael is available to chase after Amelia (he was moving all day again today).

Lisa

Still pregnant, after all these weeks

Everything is going fine for the family and I. Amelia is having fun at grandma and grandpa's house, though it has become extremely difficult to get her to go to sleep (again). The little baby is still moving and stretching every day. Sometimes she pushes against my belly as if she's trying to expand her shrinking world.

I feel pretty well, except that my calves are very sore. I can't hardly stand for more than a minute, but walking sometimes helps. I also find myself with my feet up a lot of the time. I feel lazy and pampered, but I'm not sure what the alternative is right now. I am very grateful that I have family around to help.

Michael and his brother have started moving things into our new apartment. I was originally going out to Livermore with them today, but Mike decided I wasn't needed too badly...which suits me fine. For one thing, there's really no where to sit at home right now. I can sit on a cooler for a bit, but that isn't as nice as grandma's recliner.

Tomorrow night I may be sleeping in Livermore - we'll see. Thursday night Michael and I are supposed to tour the maternity ward of our Pleasanton hospital. Hopefully, the baby won't be born until then, but at this point she's considered full-term (I'm at 38 weeks) so I'm sure everything will be fine regardless.

Lisa

Our exciting week

It has been an exciting week. First, I was attacked by Odd Job (of James Bond fame) during my drive from Fresno to Santa Rosa. A hub cap, or some other shiny metal, hollow ring flew at my car after being loosed from a tire and hit by another vehicle on Highway 99. The ring flew threw the air straight at the top passenger portion of my front window. There, the metal ring connected with my antenna and decapitated my poor Oakland A's antenna ball. I saw the two of them bounce down the road behind me in my rear view mirror as I continued north to Napa valley.

On the Fourth of July the family attended a local block party. Amelia got to play baseball with daddy, which she thought was a lot of fun. Daddy held Amelia while fielding and batting (with a wiffle ball bat) and ran beside daddy as they crossed home plate together. Mommy took it easy, but at one point did get up to bat and slowly jogged the bases.

Late that night, I noticed that I was experiencing some abdominal pain and possible contractions. After midnight, Michael took me to one of the local Santa Rosa hospitals where I was examined and kept for closer monitoring until the following morning. According to the contraction monitor wrapped around my belly (what I like to refer to as the "pain-o-meter") I was having some fairly strong contractions, but as the night wore on the contractions became weaker and weaker until I could actually sleep a bit. The doctor checked me and found that I wasn't making any progress toward delivery, so I got ready to check out. Apparently, contractions can result from being mildly dehydrated - so I have been doing my best to rest indoors and drink lots of fluids these past few days.

Today I saw my new apartment for the first time and had my first doctor's appointment in Pleasanton. The doctor was very nice and after feeling my big belly let me know that my baby was already 6.5 to 7 pounds and would almost certainly be at least 7 pounds at birth. I told the doctor that I was happy the baby would be bigger than our little 4 pound 5 ounce Amelia and his comment was, "We'll see if you feel that way when you're in labor."

Everything is going fine. We will probably be moving into our new apartment early next week. Our next doctor's appointment is next Friday. We have already registered at the Pleasanton hospital, so as long as the baby can hold on until Tuesday or so she will be born at our planned location and near her actual due date.

Lisa

On our way

Amelia and I want to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July.

I am still pregnant and feeling good. We are heading up to the Bay Area today to meet daddy at his parents' house.

Amelia has been missing daddy. The first thing she said this morning was, "Good morning" followed by "See daddy?" I'm sure she'll be very happy to see Mike again tonight.

Wish us luck on the drive.

Lisa

Beat the Heat

Grandma Lola was nice enough to buy a wading pool for Amelia, so we tried it out yesterday. It was a big hit with Amelia who also had new magnetic fish and a fishing pole to play with in the pool.

Of course, because our suitcases were packed so tightly when we left Indiana neither one of us had a swimsuit. Amelia had a couple of swimming diapers, but mommy didn't have anything at all that would work in the water. Still, Amelia wanted me to join her and after asking me to stand up, she would point at my leg and say, "Pants off." It was pretty cute. Luckily, I managed to convince her that no one wanted to see a pantsless pregnant woman in a wading pool.

My pregnancy is still going well. The baby is starting to slow down a little bit, as far as her activity level goes - but that is perfectly normal. This morning, once I had some corn Chex and a peach (a terrific Fresno peach, I might add) the little one started her workout kicking and punching for about 45 mins. I guess that wore me out because I needed a nap shortly thereafter. It seems that I'm very tired these days, but again that's perfectly normal for a pregnant woman.

Lisa