1st Movie

Aubrey's first ever movie, "The Proposal." She enjoyed it so much she slept right through it.

where does the time go?

The, "we've got her home, she just spit up on my shirt, what do I do now" face...

Funny story.
See Chelsa kept saying to people who held Aubrey, "she hasn't spit up yet." But Brad, I think you would fall in line with me when I would reply, "well she's going to."
Unrewardingly I was right, she did. So there it is, her first spit up.
(and on the one day i get all dressed up)
note: unrewardingly is now a word

The "we have been here for twelve hours" time check...

Time now.
We are at the hospital, checked in, and in the room.
Let the fun begin.

6 Days Old

New Beginnings

Just one of the ways Ben supported me during these long hours! Other ways included A LOT of back massage.

Together at last!

Our fearless, wonderful, amazing midwife - Karinda

Proudest, most in-love grandparents

I was surrounded by a team who cared deeply and provided amazing support. Lily - above - was also there the WHOLE time - about 20 hours.

It has been a wild and crazy ride this past week and it doesn't look like it is slowing down. The beautiful girl in the pictures above is Aubrey Lynn Schaefer. She was entrusted to Chelsa and I on 6OCT2009 at 0238 hours; weighing in at a rock solid 7 lbs 9 oz.
Now I'm not just saying she's beautiful because I'm her father, but shoot, she is gorgeous!
Chelsa and I have so much to look forward to; like sleep, pink clothes, and cleaning my gun as the boys come around! It seems as if we have an infinite number of thank yous because so many were praying for us before, during, and after her birth. THANK YOU! Slowly but surely we will get off this cloud and phone all of you.

There's so much I would like to write about the experience, hold me to it and I'll keep the updates coming, but for now I will only comment on one. The one thing I wasn't expecting, was the deep urge I would have after her birth to worship Jesus and his Father. If you have read the story in the old testament of David bringing the Arc of the Covenant "home" you will know what kind of worship I am referring to. (that's as best as I can describe it) It was amazing and I am so thankful for my relationship with Jesus because this wouldn't be the same without it.

More to come...

37 Weeks - By Christina DeCamp

More belly photos by my beautiful and talented girlfriend Christina DeCamp. This session was so fun, we drove out until we found a really private location (which i am in love with and will have to bring future clients out to!). It is so fun having a photographer friend here now to share ideas with, shoot with, and be creative with. Even though she is super talented in the "artistic retouching" aspect, she let me do my own editing on this session. Plus I wanted to because she is BUSY! This week she is getting ready to leave for her missions trip to India. Pray for her! I am pretty sure she is planning on creating a coffee table style book out of the images that she captures of the people there...and I am looking forward to the story it will tell.

We are now at 38 weeks...so hard to believe!

Belly Photos by Christina DeCamp

God has placed a kindred spirit in my life this summer! Her name is Christina DeCamp and you simply must check out her work. I've really enjoyed getting to know her and talk "photography" with her! She did a belly session for Ben and me at 32 weeks....i can't believe how much bigger my belly is now (nearly 38 weeks!! those photos coming soon!).

Christina I am so excited for your upcoming missions trip to India, I know God will use you in powerful ways to show His passion and heart for people through your lens. Can't wait to hang out when you get home. Thank you so much for being a blessing in my life!

New Bern, North Carolina

Above : belly at the end of 35 weeks...in the stables of the Tryon Palace

We took our last little road trip, pre-baby, this Labour Day Weekend. We had 2 free nights at a hotel in Greenville, NC (don't go there for a vacation unless you want to see the Eastern Carolina University. There is nothing there. It's kinda like going to Fayetteville. But ECU is really quite nice!!! We enjoyed a picnic lunch there :) ). Anyway, from there we drove to the coast, which is beautiful, took a ferry ride and landed in New Bern. Super neat town!!! Next year it will be 300 years old. There is just a ton of history, and you can learn a lot of it by doing the Tryon Palace Tour. Which we did. It made our trip worth it, because we really did just wing-it.... and we could have planned things better. Now we know! Enjoy the pics!

PEI - Prince Edward Island -

Cavendish Beach, PEI

34 weeks!

Lily as Anne of Green Gables

Where L.M. Montgomery grew up

You can't go to PEI and not have a lobster feast!

the Maritimes "Poutine"

Lots of red soil, green grass, and country-side

Carson in BC mastering his back flip on the air-chair (Okanagan, BC)

This summer Ben and I spent a week up at the Lake in British Columbia, Canada with my family. Although we didn't have perfect lake weather the entire time, we still enjoyed the relaxing holiday. They had some huge fires on the valley directly across the lake from their place this summer, and a water bomber crashed into the lake! No one was hurt, just lot of excitement around there this year.

Ben then flew to Denver and had a short but sweet visit with his family before getting back to work in North Carolina. I stayed another week and was able to see family and friends (including meeting the adorable Hudson Gage!) and then going to Prince Edward Island with my family. This is where my Grandma Shirley was born and raised. My mom spent a lot of time in the Maritimes as a little girl too.

My girlfriend - Lily - flew up from NC and met us there for a fun filled week (after Hurricane Bill passed through of course!) . One of our highlights (for the girls) was seeing the "Anne and Gilbert" play at a theater in Summerside, PEI. Carson was playing golf in the Canada Games. We even saw a few more relatives out there....such a pretty island!!! I can't wait to go back! Us girls are inspired to read more L.M. Montgomery books, and catch up on the Anne of Green Gables series once again :)

31 Weeks & Counting!

This past Saturday Ben & I were down at Linear Park for a family photo session (which was so much fun for me!). It was about time for us to take another belly photo of me (& baby) so we stayed around after the shoot and Ben took these awesome shots!!! Then we had fun checking out Fayetteville's "Joe's Crab Shack". I REALLY wanted to try the new Coffee Scene's homemade-onsite gelato so we walked over after and sat on the super comfy couches eating our AMAZING gelato!! love it! (See all the fun things we can do if you come and visit us here in the south?)