Carson I apologize...

Any of you that are big coke, or "pop" as they call it up here, fans know that McDonald's has the BEST fountain drinks around. I look forward to the time of year when they start selling the large diet cokes for only a dollar. It's SOOO hard for me to drive by there and not get one. I'd say a large diet coke from McDonald's might very well be my favorite beverage. haha There just really isn't much better than a big "peppy" diet coke!

If you remember at the beginning of my pregnancy I had the whole struggle with whether or not I should be drinking diet cokes while pregnant.... Well, I never really stopped drinking them. I decided to lay off the caffeine though, and stick to caffeine free diet cokes instead (which are just not the same). I only have a REAL diet coke every once in a while, or if we are eating out or something and caffeine free isn't an option. So, while in utero Carson has already experienced the wonderful world of soda, and he's doing just fine. Maybe that's why the doctor said he was having "fun" in there at my last appointment? haha Since finding out I was pregnant on September 20th I have not had a large diet coke from McDonald's. I've resisted the urge many of times but on this chilly spring morning I caved. On my way to school I drove through and got my large diet coke. Carson, I have to apologize for the early morning caffeine buzz. Mommy just needed a little jump start to her day...I'm sure you understand, and now you get to have an extra "fun" morning!

For those of you who are wondering... The coke is hitting the spot, and I will be sad when it's gone. This is the only "large diet coke slip up" I'm allowing myself until Carson gets here.

Sitting pretty...

I am starting to notice just how cumbersome having a large belly can be. Common everyday tasks are beginning to become A LOT more difficult as Carson continues to grow! Shaving my legs, putting on lotion, putting on pants, getting in and out of the bed, the list goes on and on... Last night I was washing dishes after dinner and I felt like I had to stand a mile away from the sink. It was like there was a whole person in between me and the sink...Oh wait, there is! haha I am also finding it nearly impossible to not get the belly a little messy when I eat. Sitting a napkin in my lap to catch crumbs, or messes doesn't really do much good when there is a large belly in the way! Now, my belly just catches the mess. Seems like every time I cook something or clean up a dinner mess I've got water or some trace of food splatter on the belly! haha

Another thing I'm starting to have trouble with is the simple task of sitting. I am one that always sits with my legs crossed and my days of this are just about up. I'm finding that crossing my legs is getting harder and harder every day. Not only do they not seem to want to bend that way but my feet are falling asleep after like a minute (guess it's the whole poor circulation when your pregnant thing). I guess I'm going to have to start sitting like this guy....

Or maybe this guy...

Move over James... Momma needs the recliner!

34 Down...6 more to go :)

I feel like we are FINALLY on the homestretch! Woo Hoo! With only 6 weeks left until Carson should be here I find myself getting more and more anxious everyday about his arrival. James and I are the type to usually be a little early everywhere we go, so I'm hoping Carson makes an early arrival as well because honestly... I just don't know how much longer I can wait! I just have a feeling that the little guy will be here around the 38 1/2- 39 week mark! Lets keep our fingers crossed :)


Yesterday I had my 34 week check-up and everything is still right on track! I measured just under 34 and Carson's heart rate was 140-150 bpm :) They pointed out again where all of Carson's little body parts were which is just so cool. His head is still down and his little bum is at the top of my stomach. His back has been facing my left side which is what is causing the lopsided belly... haha It's so cool that I can actually rub, or pat on his back while he's in there! I keep reading that by now he is moving around a lot less which is strange because it actually feels like he is moving more. I guess this is because of the lack of space! I feel him stretching out his arms and legs all of the time, which causes a few lopsided spots on my right side. haha This week Carson should weigh around 5 lbs, and he should be about 15-16 inches long!


I have not experienced any contractions yet, or Braxton Hicks (kind of like practice contractions before the big day), but Carson has been putting some pressure on my sciatic nerve (a nerve that runs down under your uterus and down into your hip/butt). For now these sharp pains have been coming and going which is painful, but bearable. I know that boys can be difficult but I hope this one doesn't continue to be a pain in my ____ (I think you know where I'm going with that one) haha! I read a very interesting piece of information today about eye color that I wanted to share! No matter what color Carson's eyes end up being, right now they are blue. Supposedly all baby's eyes start out blue and the pigmentation process of the iris doesn't begin until his eyes have been exposed to light. So, we may not know Carson's true eye color for weeks, months, or even up to a year after birth. Crazy right?

Outdoor Baseball!!

Yesterday James and I enjoyed an afternoon with our neighbors at the Twins baseball game! In case you weren't aware this is the Twins first season at Target Field, their new OUTDOOR baseball stadium. Baseball was definitely made to be played outside! The weather was perfect and the new stadium is beautiful :) I think that Carson enjoyed his first in utero baseball experience...now if we can just get Daddy to take us all three back in a few months! Carson don't worry, I'm working on it. I have lots of great pictures from the game but since they take SO long to put on the blog I thought I'd just attach a link to them http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2259876&id=41102203&l=eac83fdc92 much easier!

James and I really enjoyed our weekend. He was free of homework so we really got to spend a lot of time together which was SO nice :) We did however get some bad news yesterday. James has a cousin, Joseph who's been battling cancer for quite sometime. Saturday night he passed away right where he wanted to be, at a church revival with his family. He was only 36 years old, with three young kids, so it's been really difficult on everyone. Please keep James and his family in your thoughts :) I know he'd appreciate it. It's amazing how fast our happy little lives can change. Just makes us extra thankful for everything we have, especially our health.

The Wonderful World of Boys

At one of my showers my aunt Paula gave me The Wonderful World of BOYS by Dr. James Dobson. I sat down this afternoon to read through it and check out the cute photos inside. For a coffee table book it actually had some great info about raising, and understanding BOYS. It was also full of hilarious information and tips about boys! It seems I know several people that have little boys, or are about to have little boys so I wanted to share my favorite part of the book with you all:

"One of the scariest aspects of raising boys is their tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason. If a toddler can climb on it, he will jump off of it. He careens out of control toward tables, tubs, pools, steps, trees, and streets. He will eat anything but food and loves to play in the toilet. He makes "guns" out of cucumbers or toothbrushes and like digging around in drawers, pill bottles, and Mom's purse. And just hope he doesn't get his grubby little hands on a tube of lipstick. A boy harasses grumpy dogs and picks up kitties by their ears. His mom has to watch him every minute to keep him from killing himself. He loves to throw rocks, play with fire, and shatter glass. He also gets great pleasure out of irritating his brothers and sisters, his mother, his teachers, and other children. As he gets older, he is drawn to everything dangerous-skateboards, rock climbing, hand gliding, motorcycles, and mountain bikes. At about sixteen, he and his buddies being driving around town like kamikaze pilots of sake. It's a wonder any of them survive."

All I can say is YIKES! haha I'm sure any of you that have seen a little boy grow up would attest that this is all true... I can just imagine a little James doing ALL of these things... Pam, I give you props for raising TWO boys! I thought I was excited about being a stay-at-home-mommy but according to what I've just read I might have bitten off more than I can chew. Carson, please go easy on Mommy....

Another first...

Today I worked the later shift at work (11:30-6:00) so I got to sleep in! Which meant I actually got to lay around in bed for a while without having to jump up and get ready....It was the best! James and I were laying there talking about how we wished we could lay there all day when he was like, "What was that? Is Carson kicking around in there or what?" I noticed the feeling about the same time he mentioned it. It definitely wasn't kicking because it was more like a twitching or something....After a few minutes I figured it out.... Hiccups! How cute! They didn't last too long though, and of course it wasn't uncomfortable...Just cute! What a fun way to start my day :) I looked up online today what causes hiccups in utero and found that it's just a result of the baby practicing his breathing! Good job Carson :) Keep it up...Lets make sure we have that down before your big day!

I also want to say Congrats to our friends Amber and Greg Norris... Yesterday they welcomed their little princess Lillian Gail into their family! She is absolutely adorable and just might have to be Carson first girlfriend! haha Congrats again you two and we just can't wait to meet her :)

And, another congrats goes out to Melodye and Jeremy Phelps... Their little bundle of joy arrived this morning! I haven't seen his picture yet but I'm sure it's safe to say that he is precious!

Babies, babies everywhere!

The room is complete!!

Is it possible that one little baby is going to need all of these?

This is a rhetorical question....I already know the answer is yes! We have many of diaper changes in our very near future....

This afternoon I spent an hour or so unrolling all of the diapers from my diaper cakes. Whew, I didn't think the pile was ever going to end. Chloe supervised the project the whole time...She was quite unsure about the whole process. I'm sure the poor thing is totally confused by all of the changes that have occurred in, what used to be, the spare bedroom. She used to enjoy sitting on the bed and looking out the window, along with hiding treats and bones in every nook and cranny she could find. Not anymore!

Carson's room is officially 100% ready for his arrival :) Woo Hoo! The only big job I have left is to do all of his laundry...and I'm saving that for a rainy day!

Week 33 happenings...

James and I have had an exciting last couple of days!! Friday afternoon Carson's stroller/car seat was delivered and I just love it :) I have to admit I might have ordered it a tiny bit early considering it's rather large and we have no where to store it.... Because of our lack of space we are storing it in my trunk, that's where it will stay anyways once the little guy gets here!! We are looking forward to our first stroll around the neighborhood to show off our main man!


Last night James and I had a date night! We went to dinner and Houlihan's, and I might have had my new favorite food...Pickle Fries! Yum, Yum, Yum :) After dinner we went to our first Minnesota Wild hockey game, and had a blast! I have to admit we don't know much about the sport, aside from if the puck goes in the goal, it's a score! haha About 5 minutes into the game we saw our first goal, followed by our first fight! I have to give some credit to hockey players...those guys are tough! I of course took my camera to the game but knew so little about the Wild I didn't even know who to take a picture of! haha

Chloe is enjoying week 33 of pregnancy too!

7 months down...2 to go!

Yesterday I had my 32 week check-up, but I'm actually closer to the 33 week mark now! I guess this is the official start to the 8th month of pregnancy! Woo Hoo :) The last few doctors appointments have been pretty uneventful. They check my weight, blood pressure, listen to Carson's heartbeat, measure the belly, and answer my random two weeks worth of questions. In and out in about 15 or 20 min.... But, yesterday was a little more eventful. Not in a bad way, but a good one :) Everything was perfectly normal, blood pressure, weight, and Carson little heartbeat! The doctor said I was measuring 33 weeks which is said is about right considering I was 32 weeks and 4 days yesterday. Before he listened to Carson's heartbeat he felt around on my belly to try to determine just how that little guy was positioned in there. Good news... He's head down for now :) Let's just hope he stays that way!

That brings me to a totally random thought that my Mom and I have been pondering:

Why is it that a baby can be upside down for weeks in utero but can't be held that way once they are born? Another one of life's little mysteries?

So, back to the appointment....Once the doctor located Carson's little head and bum he helped me feel it too. The head was kind of hard to feel considering it was down below my belly, I had a hard time reaching! haha But Carson's cute little bum was right at the top of my belly! I have to admit I spent a lot of my afternoon yesterday rubbing and patting that little thing! It's amazing that I'm stretching out SO much that we can start feeling these things! James of course got to feel his little bum when he got home too :) He couldn't seem to find his head so next time James attends the appointment (36 week check-up) I'm going to have the doc help him, I know he'll be amazed!

Carson is still growing every day! Thebump.com says he's about the size of a honeydew melon. I don't however feel like this is a very good comparison considering Carson is not a round ball shape. I guess they are saying that while in the fetal position he's about the size of a honeydew. If he were all stretched out he'd be somewhere between 17-18 inches long! This week Carson should weigh in around 4-5 lbs, about the weight of a pineapple :) Thebump also tells me that he can recognize and react to simple songs and lullabies...Carson, Mommy apologizes for her singing abilities in advance. I'm aware that I do not have a pretty singing voice, and neither does Daddy for that matter. I guess it's officially time to start teaching James some baby/kid songs... he claims he doesn't know any. Thebump says that growth inside the womb will start to slow up some this month, but I'm guessing on the outside growth will be speeding up! My belly feels as though it is growing at a rapid rate! By the end of the month Carson should begin his descent into my pelvis, safe travels little man :)

Will Carson be a lefty?

For the past few weeks I have noticed Carson moving around constantly... My guess is that he's going to be one that can't sit still for very long, just like his momma :) He has been spending alot of his time on the left side of my belly lately which makes me wonder.... Is Carson going to be a lefty? What makes someone left handed or right handed anyways? Does your brain just tell you which hand to pick up the crayon with when you're 3 or what? The more and more I think about this the more curious I become. I am one that likes to understand how and why things work the way they do, I get this from my dad :) So, I turned to the good old Internet for some answers.

According to Familydoctor.org scientist aren't really sure why some people are right handed and others left. About 90% of the world's population is right handed which has to make a person think... Why are only 10% of us left handed? Scientist have found that being left handed does run in the family, which means that your DNA and genes do have some influence. James' dad, "Poppy" and my brother, Andy are both left handed so Carson could definitely come out that way :) But, there are cases of course where there could only be one person in the whole family that is left handed. I guess the whole left or right handed thing is one of life's little mysteries! I do know this however...When Carson is on the left side of my belly it looks quite lopsided.

The luckiest little guy on Earth...

Oh little Carson, you have NO idea just how lucky you are! You're family never ceases to amaze me! Yesterday we had our last baby shower in Benton, Ky hosted by Mimi, Connie (Mimi's friend), Nan (Carson's great aunt), and Ashlie (Carson's second cousin)! It was of course over the top! All of the decorations were absolutely ADORABLE, we had food, food, and more food, and Carson was showered, once again, with TONS of nice things :) I'm not quite sure if he understands just HOW much everyone loves him already! James and I really enjoyed getting to spend the day with family and friends :) And of course it is very comforting to know how much love and support we have as we are about to jump right into this next stage of our lives...a party of three! Woo Hoo!

A belly milestone...

Last night James and I were sitting on the couch each enjoying a little bowl of vanilla ice cream with strawberries when I discovered a new trick. I can now rest an item safely on top of this belly, that item would be my bowl of ice cream! haha I wondered when the day would come that I'd find myself resting my hands, or bowls of ice cream for that matter, on top of my belly. Well folks, the day is here! Carson wasn't so sure about the ice cream on the belly thing. Once it had been sitting there for a while I felt him kick right under the bowl... Must have been too cold for his liking! haha Good thing I had a hold of it or we could have had a big mess on our hands :)

Carson is getting bigger, and bigger everyday! James and I think that the ol' belly has grown in the last week or so. I'm still feeling pretty comfortable though which is amazing! We'll see if I feel the same way after our 12 hour trip to Kentucky... We leave this afternoon and plan on driving a little over half way and spending the night somewhere in Missouri. So, that means we should get into Benton tomorrow around lunch time! Yay!!! We just can't wait :) On Saturday we have our last baby shower! We are both really looking forward to seeing family and friends and I just can't wait to see what kind of goodies Carson gets :)

Happy Easter!!!