First Race - Dad's Vail Regatta

May 10, 2008
Albie joined the PwC team to compete in one of Philadelphia's most famous events - The Dad Vail Regatta. He's always wanted to row, but never got involved in the sport until now. The team practiced each Saturday for 6 weeks. The race showcases college rowing teams from across the nation. The "half-time show" was the Corporate Challenge, which is what Al's team competed in.

The race started off a little shaky. The course was crowded and PwC's boat and the neighboring boat had a little crash. Once they got their stride, they came back from behind to finish in 3rd place!






(Team PwC on their way back to the boat house with their metals)






Side Notes:
It's seems to me like an "elite" sport, so I got Landon dressed in his most preppy outfit - his polo shirt and sweater from "Aunt" Lisa in London. Landon nailed that sporty prep look! Thanks to Lisa!
(Landon and one of his many girlfriend, Nicole. Nicole's our co-worker, nieghbor and event organizer.)

(This isn't a good picture, so I'm sure Al will be deleting this portion of the posting, but for the time being I'd also like to ask Al if he has a license for those guns?!?)

Tax Season Celebration!

As a tax season celebration, the firm took us to a business man's special at the Phillie's game.

7 Months Old & So Much Fun!!!

It all seemed to happen so fast. Right at 7 months old, Landon learned to crawl. A few days later, he made it all the way accross the room - and fast! He's not only able, but he's totally fearless! It was only a week after that before he discovered how to pull himself up on anything and everything. He's so fun to watch because you can see his little brain working on trying to figure out how to climb on whatever he comes up to.
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The other day, I put him down for a nap and he stood right up agaist the rails in his crib and looked up at me and chuckled. Like "look at what I can do, mommy." I couldn't contain my laugh, he totally won that battle!
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Easter 2008

L-Train's First Fall

Easter morning was rough for our family. We were up at 6am, plenty of time to make 8:00 service. Al was in the shower and Landon was naked on the bed getting a diaper change. I turned to get his lotion from the counter and before I could turn back, I heard a terrible thud. Landon had crawled right off the bed and hit his eye on a metal floor lamp. Needless to say, he was crying - I was crying! I knew better than to leave him alone on the bed. Well, look at our handsome little guy in his Easter tie and matching black eye. It didn't turn out as bad as I expected, but it was his first fall and mommy felt so bad about it all day.

Date Night

Thanks to our friend Mike Gundzik who gave us a gift certificate to one of the best restaurants in Philly, Vetri. When we had Landon, he said, "I already know you guys are going to make great parents and will get all the diapers Landon needs. So, what I want to give you is a date night for the two of you so you can go celebrate becoming parents." We finally made it out, 6 months later. The food was amazing & it was one of our best dates ever! Thanks so much, Mike!

I'm Sick!

Had to post Landon's booger face shots!


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm sure most of you all had some form of that terrible flu bug that went around this season. It hit all three of us, but poor Landon had it the worst. Grandma Dee Dee took good care of him. When we got home from work, Landon's fever spiked and he was lifeless. We took him to the hospital because he couldn't even keep the Tylenol down. He had a fever of 104 degrees. Poor Baby!
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P.S. I must add a Post Script to this blog entry after both of my sisters called concerned that their nephew was sleeping in a crib on a pillow at night. No worries to all our blog readers: Landon was only propped up on a pillow right then as we waited for a call from the doctor to decide if we were going to the office or the hospital. The Schwartz family is very sensitive to sleep safety issues after our brother, Michael, passed away as an infant from SIDS. What a terrible and still mysterious condition. Our family honors the memory of sweet baby Michael and thanks God for the healthy babies in our family!

More Bath Time Nuddie Shots

At night, I'm trying to create a calming bed time ritual where we take a bath, go up and get a baby massage & into pajamas. Here's what I'm dealing with - the push up king.

Home Projects

Check out our new office and play room (basement). We have been so excited to do these two rooms. Thanks to Mom for all your help with getting these rooms put together! Thanks to cousin Chad for your handy work. And, thanks to my honey for all 20+ hours of your painting. Everything looks great!
Office Before:

Office After:

Basement Before:

Basement After:


Both are about 95% finished. The doors in the basement need to be cut down to clear the carpet and the office needs some organization & our college diplomas hung. (No comments from my dad allowed... YES, I did graduate from college! I just didn't exactly graduate at the time that I had you come down to the Indiana University Graduation Ceremony.)

Landon's World @ 6 months!

Unfortunately, he's celebrating his half-birthday by just getting over "baby bronchitis." He's been sick with fevers, coughing, weezing and lots of snot! (He's feeling much better now.)
Landon's changed so much lately, mostly because he's totally mobile. He's rolling over front to back & back to front. He's up on hands & knees. He's in downward facing dog pose. He's in push up position. Basically, he's a maniac! We think he's practicing in his sleep - he wakes us up to find him screaming, rocking back and forth on hands and knees. Hilarious even at 3am!
He's been really cuddly and clingy to us lately, it's so cute. Daddy describes Landon at 6 months as: "quite the personality; stubborn; cute; active; a handfull; we love him!"

Look-a-Like Link

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Yummy Yummy

He's a good eater so far. We're introducing solids and it's a mess! Maybe I should be more strict, but it's cute when he grabs his spoon and tries to feed himself. And isn't he "exploring" when he puts his hand in the bowl of rice and smears it all over the table and chair? ;)

This was also my excuse for going out and getting that food processor that I've wanted for the past 5 years! Yeah! I steamed, pureed & froze squash, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, green beans, rudabega, carrots, sweet peas, and apples. So far, he doesn't care for avacado or red potatoes.

It's a Man's World!

January 24, 2008

Landon learned the joys of being a man...He peed standing up twice today! In the morning, I was changing his diaper and was letting him "air out" a bit before getting him dressed again. I stood him up on his changing table; he was all smiles and enjoying himself. Then, he started peeing right on his pile of pajamas laying on the table. Big smile from Landon and I laughed thinking, "well, you learned that little trick awfully early!"

Then, later that same night, naked Landon was standing up holding onto the bath tub waiting for the water to get warm and he again peed standing up. That's one thing us women are jealous of...man's ability to pee standing up!

What a Month!

I am now 5 months old. Whew, that 4th month flew by! I did so much and learned so much! I went to Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and then home to Philadelphia. In my short life, I have flown THREE times. The trick is to eat and sleep on the plane and I did that really well.


I am a busy baby who loves to play! Papa (that's what Albie wants to be called. a.k.a. 'Pops') keeps yelling at mommy to leave me to play by myself so I'm not constantly stimulated, but mommy can't seem to leave me alone. I think she's obsessed with me or something!

It's no longer quiet at my house! I'm a constant jabberer. (Grandpa really got me talking at Christmas and I haven't stopped since!) Now when I'm upset, I don't have to cry anymore, I just make my other noises and someone comes to my rescue.



When I was 4 months old, I found out that I have feet. Then I learned to put them in my mouth. Soon I found that my whole fist fits in my mouth. I pretty much always have something in my mouth, usually it's my two fingers or a Nukie.





And, finally, I learned how to sit up on my own! I'm having fun learning how to move around and now I can play with a lot more toys on my own. My Grandma gave me this fun play mat from her daycare, which comes in handy when I topple over.

Back to Work

After 5 blissful months at home with Landon, I have returned to work and into the realm of working motherhood, and right in time for tax season! The transition was really hard for me, not because of the work, but because of not being there for every moment with Landon. (I know, but I'm a first-time mom!) Al was so great and supportive (and happy to have my paycheck rolling in again.) He had so many nice surprises for me during my first week back. Flowers delivered to my desk on Monday and then a lunch date at LeCroix on Wednesday.

Landon is in good hands, he's at home with Grandma Dee Dee while I am at work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays. It's such a great set-up, we're so grateful to have Al's mom watch Landon!