The Arrival of Baby C

And Baby C has a name, too!

Carter Chance came into our family on June 1st at 10:26 a.m. weighing 7lbs. 14oz and a whopping 21 in long! (No wonder it felt like his feet were in my lungs and throat... they WERE!!)

We arrived at the hospital at 6a.m. after NO SLEEP due to severe heartburn and some awesome thunderstorms! I got hooked up to pitocin at about 7:30. My doc broke my water about 8:45, and the contractions that I was already having got pretty strong. At that point, I was at a 2 and about 70-80% effaced. They kept asking if I wanted stadol or my epi, and I said no. (I have heard icky things about stadol, and I have no idea why I wanted to wait for the epi!) Finally, the contractions did get very strong, and they felt different than with C&C - these were so intense and almost a sharp pain. So I got the epi about 9:30, I guess. My mom, bless her heart, was so hungry. (This was about 10:00.) I told her to go get something to eat because it wasn't like we were going to have the baby in the next 15-20 mins! She did. I was laying on my left side to "numb it up" and was to turn to my right side after about 15 minutes. I started feeling really strong contractions again, but only on the right side. So Bill helped me turn over. When I did, the monitor lost the baby's heartbeat. We tried to find it ourselves, but couldn't so the nurse came in and fiddled with the monitor. She couldn't find his heartbeat, and I saw a flash of concern on her face. She kicked everyone out (besides Bill), slapped on a glove, and checked me. The look on her face was PRICELESS... She said, "THAT'S why we can't find the heartbeat! He's coming out NOW!" So Bill called my mom while the nurse had me go ahead and give a couple of pushes. They called my doc over, though I think they didn't expect him to get there in time because a team of nurses came in. Mom finally showed up just about the time the doc came zooming in. Up my legs went, 3 pushes, and out he was! The easiest delivery by far.

Carter is adorable. Connor wasn't sure what to think at first, but now he can't stop kissing him. Caleb is so smitten that he doesn't like for ANYONE else to hold him. He wants him all of the tme. It's cute. I'm sure it will be cute but rough once we get home. At any rate, I'll take it because my big boys LOVE their little brother. And, I think I kinda like him a little bit myself!

Glen Rose Getaway

We took a nice weekend trip to Glen Rose - our last "vacation" before having Baby C. We figured once he gets here we won't be able to do our usual week-long trip to San Antonio. Just too much. Plus, we really wanted to go to Fossil Rim Ranch and Dinosaur World, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect the weekend we were there. I'm sure it wouldn't have been the same if we waited until summer time. We had a great time - Fossil Rim Ranch was more than amazing, Dinosaur World was fun, and we enjoyed some relaxing time in the indoor HEATED pool at the hotel. THAT was the very thing this very pregnant lady needed! Ahhhhhh...

*don't worry - the slide show does NOT include any pregnant pool pics!! ;o)

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Easter 2009

Yes, I realize how late this is, and I'm sorry... I'm doing good just to keep up with making sure my family is dressed, fed, and where they need to be lately! Ease up, already, will you? I'm trying here! A pregnant mom can only do so much! Have you SEEN my ankles lately? Well... neither have I...

Ooops... sorry. Didn't mean to go off on one of my lovely third trimester rampages... I'll try to stick to the topic at hand... Easter.

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It was a blessed one this year - as they are every year, I believe. But this year was bigger and better when it comes to the family department. We had an Easter get-together at our house on Saturday evening - complete with an egg hunt for Caleb, Connor, Aidan, Annaliese, and Trevor. Everyone brought something yummy, and every side of the family seemed to be there. It was hectic, tiring, and wonderful all at the same time. While our family is definitely a mixed blessing... it is, indeed, a blessing.

The cousins post hunt:
Caleb showing off his loot:

Connor and his big find:

Me and my favorite Easter Bunny!

Can you guess who has the prize egg???

My handsome boys on Easter morning:

For the Love of Pete...

I've got some catching up to do!

Maybe I can do that while the rest of the house is snoozing!

T-Ball!!

Where to begin...

I guess, first and foremost, I am in shock that my Caleb is old enough to play the sport! I mean - he was a baby just yesterday!

Second has to be pride. I am so proud of him. When I watch him practice and play and see how into it he is and how well (I think) he does... I overflow with pride. And then it grows even more as he comes home and "teaches" Connor the ins and outs of t-ball.

Today was Caleb's official first game. He played short stop. He's got the "ready position" down to a science! He can hit the ball well, and he even knows to run to first base first! He plays for the Cubs, he's #6, he's the most handsome little t-baller, and he's good, too! And, NO, none of those statements are dripping with any sort of bias what-so-ever!!!

Here's where it all began:

And here's how far we've come:

Caleb playing short stop:

Caleb in "ready position":

Up to bat:

At third, and ready to run home:

A snow cone treat after the game:

Caleb and his favorite coach:

Reliving the game...

And what would t-ball be without the support of a #1 fan?

Child Stars!!!

Well, in a Mommy's mind, this constitutes stardom... a local commercial about our local annual Children's Fair. How did my kiddos get into a commercial for a Children's Fair, you ask? Well, I would LIKE to say that it's by good looks and amazing personalities, but they truth is... we know people in "high places." ;o) Truth be told, Nana is on the committee that puts on the fair, and they were all told to bring their kids or grand kids - if they wanted - to be in the commercial. So - of course we had to give it a go! It took about 2 hours to film what is a one minute commercial, but the experience was really just a lot of fun!

The whole group in the opening of the commercial:

Connor quickly figured out the perks of being a child actor... endless animal crackers and Capri Sun!

Caleb plotting with his side-kick cousin on how the confetti egg crack down was to go.

1-2-3, CRACK THE EGGS!!


Connor's trying to understand what is wrong with these eggs... the ones Mommy cooks NEVER have this come out!

Can you please tell me what's wrong with these eggs?

Caleb decided that the ASU football player who let him crack on egg on his head must be his new found BFF... he kept coming up to me and Nana saying, "Mom! Can you come take a picture of me with The Guy?" Creepy enough, I think The Guy looks like he could be Caleb's big brother!

Connor and Tater's part in the commercial... bowling with The Guy. (Caleb's part was biting into a corn dog, but I didn't get a picture.)

Water balloon yo-yo's to close things down... THAT'S A WRAP!

Connor, really didn't understand what it was all about, must have at least enjoyed himself! Over and over he has said, "Mommy, I'm so excited to go to duh 'mercial!'" We've decided Nana needs to stay on that committee for sure! And I think she's got the same plans... with an added one: Caleb playing "Smiley the Clown" in next year's "mercial!"

Wonderful Wednesdays

Wednesday has become a day I cherish. It has become a day that I look forward to. It has become a day that I hope will be remembered lovingly for 2 people throughout the rest of our lives... Caleb and myself. I know it will always be special to me... I can only hope the same for him, as well.

The funny thing is - we don't really do anything that "special." I pick him up early from school on Wednesdays. Well, not necessarily early - he just doesn't stay for lunch and Stay & Play. We use the time from 11:45 - 1:30 (when Connor gets out of his "school") to spend time together by having lunch, running an errand or two, window shopping, whatever we want to do. Usually, he picks where we have lunch, and we usually end up at McDonalds (insert vomiting smiley here), Quiznos, or his recent favorite - Subway.

Today, however, he wanted to go to Olive Garden. (Ok, so maybe I kind of suggested it heavily, but he still wanted to go once it was suggested!) Anyway... today I sat there in total and complete awe. I sat there full of pride. I sat there in love. Across from me was the most handsome date ever. The darkest brown hair; the most beautiful hazel-green eyes; the most polite little gentleman... *sigh* I could see people at other tables admiring my date - as they should've been, and my heart swelled even more with pride. We had lunch and visited. I love hearing what's on his mind. It's so interesting to me. He's growing up far too fast.

Like I said... we don't do anything "special," but the time we do have together on Wednesdays is and always will be special to me. I wish Wonderful Wednesdays would last forever...