Taking a breath...

Whew...these have been a busy couple of weeks!! We spent a nice long weekend with the Harper's for Thanksgiving, then my mom came up for a SUPER fun shopping visit this past weekend, and then today Carson and I hosted a Christmas Party play date.  I'm very thankful for a busy couple of weeks because it's making December 21st come faster!  I am just dying to know if Carson is going to have a brother, or a sister!  Next weekend the Harper's are coming up to celebrate Christmas with us, and go to a Ram's game.  Then of course the next week we will find out the sex of this baby and have Christmas all in the same week! Woo Hoo!

 

While at the Harper's last week Carson got to do all kinds of fun things.  He is quite the country boy, he obviously gets this from his daddy!  He loved running around at Mimi and Poppy's house and especially loved the four wheeler rides with Poppy and Daddy!  But I have to admit...I think his favorite part of the trip was going to the farm.  Carson and I crossed, "Ride in a tractor" off our bucket list!  He LOVED it, so much so when others went for a ride he chased it. haha He thought the cows were pretty cool, and made the funniest face every time he heard a "moooo".  He also got to help feed the horses, but wasn't too sure about petting them.  Most of all I think he just loved being able to run, run, run.

 

Lovin the hair....

I know this is blurry but this was the face he made every time he heard a cow!

He had a blast playing in the leaves with Mommy and Daddy!

 

 

Mimi and her boys!

 Last Monday I had a doctor's appointment to check up on my second lil baby!  Everything was PERFECT and my doctor is so cool that she did an informal ultrasound for fun.  I can't believe that at every appointment so far I've gotten to actually SEE this baby!  I'm spoiled :)  Oh and by the way....more fun news! James and I have decided to go on a baby-moon in February!  We are going to Cancun with our old neighbors from Minnesota, and we can not wait!  My parents are keeping Carson for the week, I think they might be more excited than we are! haha 

 

The bump is back...

I thought I'd make it official...

  

Is it just me?

Is it just me or is this month FLYING by... I feel like we just had Halloween and it's already nearly Thanksgiving, and my Christmas shopping is in full swing!  Crazy!  We are really looking forwards to spending the holidays with our families :) Next Wednesday we are heading to Benton for an extra long visit to spend time with the Harper's.  We are looking forward to spending time with both sides of their family, and taking Carson to the farm.  Last time we were there he wasn't even walking.  Oh my, he is going to love it there.  James is just dying to take him for a tractor ride, and honestly I'm excited too.  Maybe he'll take me...I've never stepped foot on a tractor!  I'm pretty much a city girl, through and through! haha  This week I made Carson a special little turkey shirt to wear at the farm....Check him out...

The ruler is last weekend's project...a giant ruler for measuring lil' turkeys!

 

Gobble, Gobble!

In baby news, this tummy of mine is getting bigger.  The pants are getting tighter, and it's sticking out more, and more everyday.  I plan to start taking weekly pictures this weekend.  I think by then you will actually be able to see this lil guy/gal in a picture!  How am I feeling? Pretty good.  I've been battling indigestion something awful.  It's been wayyyy worse that it ever was with Mr. Carson.  I'm not sure what this means...I've heard more hair?  Did you know that we are only a month and 5 days away from finding out the sex? Woo-Hoo!  I've had multiple friends try to talk me into  not finding out.  Are you kidding me? No really...Are you kidding me?  There is no way on Earth I would be able to wait, knowing that I could find out.  And honestly, James wouldn't be able to either.  He says he could, but he lies. haha Everyone has been asking what we think it is, and for now we both are going with a girl.  I know that every pregnancy is different but this one just feels so different from Carson already, I think it must be because there is a sweet, clam, creative lil' girl in there waiting for me :) 

In the last month or so I have taken some cute videos of Mr. Carson....Here are my favs

 

Sorry for the sideways-ness...This is Carson falling asleep in the car, hilarious!

Trying to teach him a little CATS cheer.  He does say "cat" so I know we're close!

The last two weekends we have gotten together with the Lawings (Sheri, mama Lawing, and her daughter Millie are friends from playgroup!) to take attempt to take family pictures.  Millie is a nice calm, slow moving thing so we got great shots of their family both times.  Carson on the other hand, is a wild man.  It took two weekends, and Sheri's funny sister Colbie to do the trick.  I think our most favorite is at the top of the blog.  It was the only one we got of the three of us during our first photo shoot at the Arch.  Here are some of our other favs!

I sure do love our family!  And I just can't wait to see what our second little one is going to look like!

Carson's 2nd Halloween!

This year was Carson's 2nd Halloween! Last year he was the, ever adorable, Pillsbury Doughboy

I must admit this costume was quite difficult to top.  After weeks of trying to come up with this years costume I came to the conclusion that I simply didn't have to top last years.  If I topped "last years" every year that would be ridiculous!  At the beginning of September I bought Carson the cutest monkey costume, complete with a hood and all.  He. Hated. It.  Then, a week before his first Halloween party I decided we needed a different costume.  I wanted him to be something he'd be comfortable in, and wouldn't have to fight.  We decided on a Cardinals baseball player.  Why not? The Cardinals are the World Champions after all!  We couldn't have picked better timing!  My parents hosted a little mini Halloween party last Friday, which of course was the same day the Cards won the World Series.

Granny and Pops with their boys :)

Parker and Carson sharing a little snack on the porch!

While Carson and I were in Owensboro my mom and I took him to get another haircut.  We took him when he was tired, hoping he wouldn't put up much of a fight.  He cried, but he didn't totally freak out like he did last time.  He looks SO much older with his new do.  I kinda miss his curls, and the long hairs that flipped out over his ears.  Don't tell him I said this, but since the haircut his face looks chubbier.  Geez, I hope people don't say that about me after a haircut! haha

Playing at the soccer fields :)

On Halloween night James and I took attempted to take Carson trick-or-treating.  When that boy get outside all he wants to do is run.  He goes up and down the sidewalks, up and down the driveways, and back again.  He can't get enough.  So, when we tried to have structured walking down the sidewalks, and up to the door, he wasn't going for it.  We only visited 3 houses, and I'm pretty sure he had more mini fits than he did pieces of candy.  Gotta love a good drop to the knees dramatic moment. haha  After the three houses I sat on the front porch, waiting for trick-or-treaters while Carson and James ran up and down our sidewalk, the way Carson wanted to.  In his eyes, that was much more fun.  Before it got dark we attempted to take a picture of the three of us on the front porch with our pumpkins, and ghosts.  I set up the tripod, got it all ready, and of course Carson wouldn't cooperate.  This was the best we got...

Pretty much sums it up...

 Sure do love my lil' arm swingin' boy :)

On Monday I also went to the doctor for my 12 week check-up.  It seems to be that Harper No. 2 is going to be a little like his/her brother...stubborn.  During ultrasounds Carson always seemed to be stubborn (Do you remember the whole hands in his face thing?)  Well, Monday my doctor was trying to listen for the heartbeat and couldn't find it.  Thanks to the stubbornness we got to see that sweet guy/gal in an ultrasound.  He/she was just kicking away, which is so strange that I couldn't feel it.  I guess that's because the lil peanut is only 5.7 cm from head to bottom.  I got a few pictures to bring home.  I love the one that shows the whole body. He/she is looking right at us, and you can see both hands, and both feet :)  The funniest part of this whole ultrasound was that it appeared Harper No. 2 didn't want to miss out on the Halloween festivities, he/she choose to be an alien for their first Halloween :)

Now that Halloween is over we are excited to be gearing up for the "Holliday" season :) Aren't you?

Happy Halloween!

 

Hope your bag gets filled with treats :)

More on Carson's 2nd Halloween to come...

Now Showing...

It's official, I am showing, just barely though.  I always have a "bump" on this belly of mine.  I'm pretty sure my entire life it's never been flat, that's just me I guess. haha Any who, in the last week I've noticed my always bump, is turning into my baby bump! Yay, a reason for a bump :) Nobody would probably even notice that it's there, mainly because it just looks like I gained a few.  I know for a fact it's gotten bigger because, as weird as it sounds, I've noticed that my belly button is more shallow.  Strange I know.  Monday I go back to the doctor for my 12 week check-up.  I'm hoping that Carson and I (Yes, I'm taking him solo to the doctor, crazy I know) will get to hear lil' Harper's heartbeat :)  The super nice lady at the front desk told me I could bring Carson because it should be a pretty quick check-up.  She said he could sit out front and color with them if I needed him to.  Ha, she doesn't know my child.  I wanted to say, "Good luck getting him to sit and color, because he will be way more interested in your wall of files back there."  I'll let her figure that one out, should I need her help.  haha My doctor is a mother of either 5 or 6, I can't remember.  She is so laid back I know she would love to have Carson running around in the exam room.  She loved getting to see him throw wadded up paper balls across the room at our last appointment!

Last time I posted I babbled on about the baby room.  I spent a lot of my free time last week browsing Etsy and Pinterest for cute baby bedding.  Maybe I am just picky, but it's hard to find bedding that isn't dripping with cheese...If you know what I mean.  I love the Chevron (zig-zag) pattern that is everywhere right now, along with all of the other geometric shapes I've been seeing.  Right now I plan on having a few Chevron print things in this baby's room (boy or girl).  Not a lot, because the print is so bold you don't need much.  Right now I'm loving these (from Etsy of course)...

The cuteness is killing me

This weekend Carson and I are heading to Owensboro.  James has a big audit at work next week and can't really leave town for the weekend.  Since he isn't coming with us that allows us to leave earlier than Friday after work.  We are heading that direction tomorrow after we meet him for lunch!  I know Granny and Pops are just dying to see this cute kid.

Is that hilarious or what?

 

 

Getting Closer...

I feel like it's safe to say that I'm getting closer to feeling like me again.  My energy level is increasing and I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm not out of the woods by any means but I think I see the bright shiny light at the end of the first trimester tunnel.  Today I scheduled my 13 week check-up, hard to believe the first trimester is already nearing end!  For a couple weeks there I was so down and out that I honestly couldn't even get excited about this pregnancy.  But now, it's safe to say I'm beginning to become obsessed with all things baby again.  I've been peeking around at baby bedding (both boy and girl of course), thinking of baby names, strolling through the maternity department, "ew-ing" and "aw-ing" over the newborn gear, checking out new diaper bags (because new baby means new diaper bag, right?), I even almost bought a crib this weekend.  Yes, you read that right, I almost bought a crib. 

Seriously, I think the one I saw was this same crib, only white.  Love, love, love it!

 IF, and that's a big IF, we have a girl I am dying to buy a simple crib and paint it a fun color.  So, while out on a little garage sale adventure this weekend I spotted the perfect crib for the job, and it was only $30. Ugh, still feel like I should have bought it. O well, it is a little premature. haha  IF we have a boy, we will probably use Carson's crib and move him to a big boy bed.  So, it seemed silly to buy one with the possibility that we wouldn't even use it.  The thought of Carson in a big boy bed is CRAZY.  But, you know what that means? If we move him to a new bed, he'll need a mini room makeover.  Now that sounds like fun! haha Maybe I should be shopping for girl bedding, boy bedding, and big boy bedding possibilities!  When I was pregnant with Carson the day I found out it was a boy I ordered his bedding.  I just hope this go around I'm on top of things enough to already have it picked out!!

James and I have had our "girl name" picked out since we were pregnant with Carson. If I get to start going crazy with all thing "girly" it will be for a little miss Jane Marie Harper.  Jane was James' grandmother, and Marie is my grandmother.  Love it!  On the other hand, if we shall be blessed with another "Harper boy" (and if this happens Pam, I will need lots of advice on how to raise TWO Harper boys) we haven't quite nailed down what his name would be.  Right now my favorite is Anderson James Harper.  I think James is on board with that one as well so my guess is that will be our name :)  Everyone assumes that I am just "dying" for a girl.  Do I want a girl?  Of course, but will I be disappointed if it's a boy? Absolutely not!  Carson is awesome, he is such a boy, and I love it.  It would be so great to have two boys, two years apart.  They could be such buddies, and would always be able to play and entertain each other. I feel like brothers are much closer than a brother and a sister ever could be.  

Geez...I shouldn't have written this post close to bed time.  My brain is what I'm going to call, "baby busy".  Bedding, paint colors, names, clothes, and room layouts, oh my!  Wish me luck ;)
 

What's New?

Why is it so hard to not complain when you don't feel well?  I know this is a total girl thing, but I just can't help it! haha Overall I have been feeling ok, but this weekend I had a little big slip up.  James took the day off on Friday so he could get a few things done around here.  It was super nice having him home all day :) While crossing off lots of things on the ol' "honey-do" list we decided it would be a perfect time to go get flu shots.  It felt about like any other shot and I didn't really think much about it.  That is, until I woke up Saturday morning feeling like death.  I'm convinced I had the side effects of the shot: NAUSEA, low fever, feeling like your dying, can't even stand to take a shower, just want to lay on the couch, and sleep, lots of sleep.  My Zofran failed me...haha I guess that only helps in the "morning sickness" department. Ugh. So, very, very glad that happened on a weekend when James was here to take care of the little man, and me for that matter!  Anyways, by lunch time Sunday I was feeling much more like my pregnant woozie self :) Thank goodness. 

Anyway, In an effort to stop complaining about feeling bad I'll fill you in on what's new at the Harper house!  Two weekends ago my parents came down to visit for a long weekend :)  We did lots of hanging out, watching football, and playing with Carson.  He took them to his favorite park, and we took him to the Pumpkin Patch for the first time!  If you asked Carson what his favorite part was (and he could tell you) he would probably say the sand.  There were a couple playground and random spots that had sand.

He loved it.  Maybe we should be taking another beach vacay before baby number two arrives? Yea, sounds good.

Carson also loved the open space.  There were so many places to run and explore!  Granny and Pops loved showing him all the different types of pumpkins too!

Pops liked the HUGE, fifty dollar, pumpkins.

Granny loved the grey ones, and the bumpy ones!

We loved that they had pumpkins still in the "patch" that you could pick yourself.  So fun!  We did not buy this big pumpkin but we did use it for a super cute family pic!

 

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, everywhere!

Love this guy. 

Carson is going on 17 months old.  Geez that is hard to believe!  Best way to describe him is that he is his Daddy made over.  Right now he is working the smile.  He knows when to flash it, and just how big he needs to make it.  Yes, James has used this trick his whole life.  Ask anyone.  He is quite the ham too.  He has his own little personality and he wants to share it with EVERYONE.  Gotta love that, again, just like his daddy :)

 One of my favorite things Carson is doing right now is hooting.  Yes, sounds weird I know! haha I have a couple owls in the house and when you point to them, or ask him what an owl says he makes the sweetest little hooting sound.  Today, at Target he started hooting for no reason. I didn't prompt him, and we didn't see an owl.  Hilarious.  He did it for literally five minutes!

How cute is he? Love it!  I apologize for the sideways video.  This is the first one I have taken on this phone, to upload. :)

I hope everyone is enjoying fall! It's been so nice around here lately!  All of our fall flowers are blooming and looking so pretty. 

Lovin' our pumpkins and gourds :)

  Right before my parents came to visit James and I bought a new kitchen table! We've been needing to for quite some time but just haven't found the right thing for our space.  Thanks to a very generous gift from the Harper's we were able to purchase this bad boy :) We love that it came with a cute two seater chair, and that it can seat up to 8 when the nifty little butterfly leaf opens up :)

And baby makes four

As most of you already know our little family is expecting another addition in May.  I have been so busy with Carson and his little social calendar lately that I haven't taken the time, or energy to blog.  So being pregnant again is the perfect time to revisit the blogging world :)  I have had so many of you ask me why I stopped, and tell me I needed to start up again (and just let me say I'm completly flattered).  So, I will grant you this wish.  Mainly because I want to have a detailed "journal" if you will, of this pregnancy for baby number two to read someday.  So, here we go.

Baby Harper 6 weeks old...Lookin' a little bean-ish

I should start by answering the number one question asked to a pregnant lady, "How are you feeling?"  That's a loaded question.  Physically I'm feeling not that great, although I have to thank my doctor for the Zofran (I think it's saving my life right now).  I feel sooo much better since I have been taking that.  Its nearly impossible to feel nauseous all day long, while caring for, playing with, and chasing a 16 month old.  Emotionally, I'm on cloud 9!  We are just ecstatic to be welcoming another wee one into our family!  As most of you know we had some issues with getting pregnant with Carson.  About a year and a half, lots of Clomid, and two inseminations later we were pregnant!  This go around we got SUPER lucky! We had the same issues ( I apparently don't ovulate with out drugs, and when I do its considered a "poor ovulation").  We'd been trying since May, and a couple months ago my regular OB referred me to an infertility specialist to get injection treatments to ensure a strong ovulation.  Well, we had a consultation with the new doctor, and were just waiting until a new cycle started to begin the injections.  Thing is....Never started a new cycle....I was pregnant :) Whew!  We were TOTALLY surprised and it was the BEST feeling ever.  I've always been jealous of people that are "surprised" by a pregnancy.  So I feel so lucky to have experienced my own little version of a surprise :)

Even Carson is excited about our new addition!

We went to the doctor today for an 8 week check-up, where I gave a little (more like a lot) of blood, and we did an ultrasound to pin point the due date.  Looks like May 12th, 2012 we should officially be a family of four! I love my new blog title picture. It's Carson getting his first glimpse of his baby brother/sister.  Such a sweet moment.  I didn't capture the part where he threw it across the room, mainly because it wasn't so sweet. haha

This pregnancy is already proving to be quite different from the first.  I was pretty nauseous for about a week or so and then my doctor prescribed me Zofran.  Which has given me a new lease on first trimester life!  I am still not feeling like my usual full of energy self of course.  One thing that hasn't changed from the first pregnancy is that I need a nap, daily.  Carson however gets to decide if I get one or not.  One major difference I am noticing, and battling right now is indigestion.  The first go around I didn't have issues with this until Carson was taking up most of the room in my stomach.  This new guy/gal is only the size of a raspberry and he/she is already causing me problems.  I hope this isn't a bad sign :/ haha 

Baby Harper at 8 weeks, 3 days.  The head is at the bottom and that little fin-like thing is his/her arm, and of course the bottom and feet are at the top.  The thing that made my heart skip a beat for a minute (that other little ball thing) is the yolk sack (it goes away after the first trimester).  I thought for a split second it might be a baby...yikes! haha