What’s in a name?

So it has come to my attention that I have been severely slacking on the blog y’all! I know, this is how these things go with me, I start well intentioned and then life happens and I don’t write as often. It’s a shame because I enjoy writing so much! But, have no fear, because here we go!

So, one of the things that has been so hard, is that Missy is making it really difficult to write my typical comical blog. She has been really good: no morning sickness, only a bit of fatigue, really nothing of note. I think someone upstairs knows how hard this whole process was for us and not having all that crap was her reward! But as good as she’d had it, there have a been a couple gems in here:

1.   Strangers will say whatever the hell they want! Seriously, if we just met you and told you Missy is expecting with twins, the proper stranger response should not be “damn, you’re going to get HUGE!” Uh, yes asshole, we know this, no need to let her know. These responses are reserved for family and the closest of friends, only! Take note should you find yourself as the stranger one day.

2.   As a gentleman of large stature, I am no stranger to heartburn. It is a part of life, you know if you eat certain things, the burn will come and you know to expect it. Not only that, but you know to carry the things you need with you! Missy has NEVER had heartburn, but apparently one of the fun side effects of pregnancy is heartburn. Missy first discovered this while we were riding home one night:

Missy: Man, something doesn’t feel right.
Hans: What’s wrong?
Missy: My chest hurts. It’s like there is acid in my throat…kind of like throw-up, but not.
Hans: Oh no! You have heart burn! (I begin to laugh a little maniacally as Missy always gives me a hard time about how much I get it).
Missy: What?!? This is what you deal with all the time?!? This is horrible. ‘
Hans: Don’t even trip. Open the glovebox, there are tums in the back of it.

Now keep in mind, I drive around a good amount for my job. I go from school to school, event to event, meeting to meeting. Not only that, but I HATE being sick. So, I come prepared. In my glove box you will find the following at all times: Tums, Day Quil, Hand Sanitizer, Airborns, mints/gum. IN the trunk you will find Right Guard spray deodorant and static guard for when the slacks get staticky.

Missy opens the glove box: Holly shit, are you running a pharmacy out of your car?!?
Hans: Uh, no, you know I’m always prepared!

3.   This discovery of heart burn as well as lower back has sparked a new game that we play: Fat Guy or Pregnant Lady? A symptom is named, and you have to guess, is it an ailment of a fat guy or a pregnant lady? What we’ve discovered: being pregnant is like living the life of a fat guy for 9 months.
Ok, so these my friends are the vignettes I should have been writing over the last two months. BUT, unfortunately, one City Year Gala, two district contracts, a theory of change seminar and being short staffed a couple people has gotten in the way of that! Now, for the part you’ve been waiting for, what’s in a name?

So, this past weekend, we had a gender reveal party. What is that you ask? It’s a good question because I had no idea what it was prior to Missy mentioning it to me a couple months ago. It went something like this:

Missy: We should do a gender reveal party?
Hans: The hell is a gender reveal party?
Missy: It’s where you have a party and tell everyone the gender of the babies!
Hans: You need to stop watching that 19 kids and counting show so much.

So, after a short amount of discussion, we decided we’d do one since my mom was going to be in town the same week we found out the genders of the babies. This past Saturday, we had some friends and family over for a little dinner, a few drinks, and some holiday cheer. It was really nice. Missy and I don’t have large families, so we’ve spent a lot of time building up an extended family of really amazing friends who have been there for us through this whole process and have been super supportive. We’re lucky to have them and were happy that most of them could make it, and the ones who couldn’t helped wrap the presents that would tell us the gender. Missy and I had her friend Melissa and Melissa’s husband James wrap up outfits that corresponded with the gender of each baby that Missy and I opened in front of the family. Check out the video below:

Yes, you see it right, two girls! Man, it’s about to get real purple up in the Schmitz household! Missy and I are overjoyed and the grandmothers are beside themselves! These are the first grandchildren on my side of the family and they are the first granddaughters on Missy’s side!

So, not only do we know the genders, but Missy and I have been lying to most people and telling them we haven’t been discussing names…but, we have! And, the Schmitz household is excited to welcome Madison Marie and Alexa Louise Schmitz in late April/early May!

Madison (Maddie) and Alexa (Lexi) are names we just love. They don’t necessarily have a particular meaning, except that they both sounds like a boss, which was my main requirement for the names of my children! Marie is Missy’s middle name and also the middle name of a lot of the women on both sides of our families. Louise is my mother’s middle name and has been the middle name of women on her side for something like 5 generations now! We are really excited!