Hayden Nicole Schmidt
Born 12:26 PM 4/10/08
6lbs 14oz. 20" long

We're home! All is well and we are going to get some rest. Some pictures are below until we have time to write and post more.

A night out with no kids! We got some babysitters and went to a concert last night. We all had a lot of fun... honk (horn) :) Picture below. Doesn't Marnie look great for 9 months pregnant! (Sorry Jaclynn... 8 months and 2 weeks pregnant)

If the videos are not playing back smoothly for anyone you can always download a copy of the original in the bottom right hand corner of the video's website under the "downloads" section. You can save it anywhere on your computer to play on your own media player. It gets choppy unless your internet connection is really fast as it is a lot of data to stream. Other times it is because there are just too many people using the service. Some of you will not be able to play the file you download due to not having the correct codec. We used an xvid codec to do the encoding. Just click the link below to download and install the latest version so your media player of choice can do the decoding. Let me know if you have any problems.

http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Ok, I know it has been a really long time since I actually have posted something. I don't have a good excuse, I have just been lazy. Plus Mike has been trying out new software for the videos, so he has been doing the updates.

Kendal has been enjoying the weather we have had lately, cold one day nice the next. Kendal loves the snow, especially as a snack. We will probably have to get a snow cone machine this summer so she can have her snow cups she enjoys. We have been going on a lot of walks in our new wagon. Maddy and Ben usually come along, but we don't make it very far before the girls are fighting over who gets to pull Ben in the wagon. So much for exercise, since we usually only make it around the block one time.

The kids enjoyed a night out on Sat at Castaway Cafe and got to hang out with Shrek and Puss-n-Boots. I had to work so Mike and his parents took Kendal. Maddy, Jaclynn, Ben, Greg and Sarah also were there. From what I heard the kids had fun running around. Maddy and Kendal made it to the top of the play structure and rode down the big slide with Mike. When they got home, Kendal was telling me all about the kitty and Shrek while I was getting her ready for bed. It is amazing what can come out of this kids mouth.

We have been getting ready for Baby #2. Kendal has her own baby swing, stroller, and pack-n-play that she can put her babies in. We have been working on holding the baby dolls with Kendal. Sometimes she is good other times not so much. I was down in the basement and Kendal was up stairs, I heard a thump thump down the steps. Kendal was standing at the top of the steps and her baby was down stairs. She told me, "Baby downstairs now." I tried to tell her that we don't throw babies down the steps, and she just laughed at me. We are all set for the new baby now we just have to wait. We think that Kendal will be good once we are home with the baby.

Sorry no belly pics, I don't let people take pictures of me. We will keep you updated as our waiting continues. We should start a poll on when Baby #2 is going to arrive and how much she will weigh. I will have Mike start that. Lots of recent pictures and videos below:

Kendal and Maddy Dancing

Kendal and Maddy going down the slide!

Ben's Turn

Greg takes Ben!

Dorks

Maddy's turn with some slow motion replay...

Jaclynn takes Kendal and Maddy

Kendal and Maddy one more time...!

Kendal's mullet

Kendal and Maddy sharing... Very rare!

All the kids eating at the Kreider's

Maddy giving Kendal a hug goodbye

Kendal's Pretty's...

Ben at Castaway Cafe a few weeks ago with Kendal

Ben and Kendal sharing the baby pack-n-play

Kendal watching TV in the baby stroller

Kendal borrowed Ben's bandana

Jaclynn with all the kids

You think Maddy will be a cheerleader?

Kendal and Maddy sharing again...

All grown up heading into Shrek Night at Castaway Cafe

Kendal and Grandma Schmidt

Weeee!

Kendal and Grandpa Schmidt

The kids posing for a picture...

Maddy sneaks a kiss... oh no!

Ben showing off his guns!

Jaclynn taking Maddy and Kendal down a slide

Kendal, Mike, and Maddy up top!

Grandpa Schmidt showing Kendal Shrek... all the kids were afraid of him!

Kendal and Daddy getting a picture with Shrek!

Kendal and Mike ready to go home!

Kendal gives Ben a hug goodbye!

I walked in the door from work yesterday to find Maddy and Kendal both sitting in the toy Pack 'n Play for Kendal's dolls. I have no idea how they got in there together but when Kendal had enough, Maddy gave her one more squish! They truely are just like sisters. The video and some funny pictures are below:

Kendal and Maddy in the Pack-n-Play

Kendal and Maddy in the toy Pack 'n Play

Ranch Mustache for Maddy!

My parents came to visit this weekend and we took Kendal to Castaway Cafe this morning. It's the biggest indoor playground in Michigan and only 5 minutes down the road. We got there at 11am when it opened; by 11:15 the place was packed. Kendal had a great time interacting with all the other kids. After watching some of the older kids take on some of the smaller slides, she finally took the plunge all by herself! A video is below... I even put a little slow mo in there for ya. She was a little scared going down the first time but after that she was hooked. She was worn out in no time. Other pictures from this weekend below as well...

Kendal at Castaway Cafe!

Kendal and grandpa having a tea party! ha,ha Paps

Kendal reading a book

First one through the door!

Kendal at Castaway Cafe

Peak-a-Boo!

Kendal built her first snowman this weekend (with daddy's help)! She saw Ben's snowman next door and had to have one for herself. Pictures below. There is a funny video as well of Kendal sliding down a snow pile we made. This kid can't get enough of the snow. I'm trying a new video hosting site that claims 1280x720 playback in full screen mode (click the "full" button on the bottom right of the video). I have my doubt's so bare with me and give me some feedback on how it plays. Enjoy!

Kendal Snow Slide!

Kendal helping daddy shovel the driveway.

Kendal making her first snowman!

Weeee...

Marnie, Kendal, and I got to see baby number two up close and personal this morning at Marnie's last ultrasound. The growth study did require plenty of blood to be drawn and numerous appointments for Marnie, but she would say it was worth it for the pictures alone. Not to mention the target gift card she got every appointment. Baby number to is beautiful just like her big sister and mom. Check out the comparo below.

Baby number 2 at 32 weeks (Looks like Kendal huh?) She was sucking on her hand the entire time.

Kendal at 31 weeks

So what's new in the last two weeks... First off, Marnie is doing great still. She struggles getting comfortable at night so getting enough sleep is becoming an issue. No major problems though, so we are just counting down the days! We are still concerned about how Kendal will react, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. We decided to do the first two weeks just like when Kendal was born; no visitors, just us all getting to know each other.

We are still trying the potty training thing here and there. Kendal went twice in one day for me last weekend! Still progressing slowly so we will see.

Valentines Day was fun... Marnie and Kendal gave me a surprise visit at work with flowers and candy! Thanks hunny! I got made fun of for having flowers on my desk, but I think they are all just jealous that I have such a great wife! Greg and Sarah watched Kendal for us so Marnie and I could go out for a romantic dinner... Quizno's it was since Marnie was not feeling up to a traditional sit down dinner. Either way it was nice to have some time alone. Thanks neighbors!

Volleyball is still going well, we had a few weeks off and then a snow day, but we played again this past Thursday and did well despite being a little rusty. Sarah was this weeks MVP, me on the other hand missed a ball and took it off the head, not good. Funny to watch I assume.

Other than that, we are just hanging in there for a few more months. Work is going well for both of us. The company I work for is struggling just like the entire automotive industry, but I've been surprisingly busy working on some really challenging projects lately. Future development is what I love to do and keeps me going to work every day... just never on time :) I'm heading down south in a few weeks for a long weekend of golf. Very excited about that. Make sure to check out Maddy and Ben's blogs as there are some good pictures and video with Kendal in them. Good stuff. Recent pictures below:

Kendal getting dressed in her Urkel tights...

Kendal and the lid to Greg's birthday cake.

Maddy's turn!

Now Ben's!

Kendal trying to take a nap on the couch.

Kendal imitating a walrus with some green beans.

Kendal and Maddy watching some Saturday morning cartoons!

Another good picture below from this weekend that my mom just emailed me... As well, we just got a copy of Kendal's x-ray from last week. Have a great week!