Scaredy Cat

Katey Jane is such a scaredy cat! If seems everything scares her these days. Movies, books, dogs, toys, and anything else she deems as "scary". When she is watching a movie, we know she is getting nervous because she starts to back away from the TV. She keeps going until she is about in the kitchen :) she is still totally watching, but somehow being farther from the movie makes it better!

11 Days

We went with all of Halsy's family to the great wolf lodge 11 days ago and Cameron just decided to take off his bracelet from the water park!

I think he had a good time :)

Laughter

One of my favorite things!!

4 months old

Landon is growing so fast! We are loving every minute. He is the happiest baby. Very content and sweet. He loves to sleep. He sleeps 10-12 hours a night with only one feeding in the middle of the night! He takes 3 naps during the day - 2 cat naps and one big one. He is wearing 6 month clothing and 9 or 12 month pajamas!!! He is such a chub, we pinch and kiss his rolls/cheeks/thighs daily. He has started laughing. We get big smiles and belly laughs, oh it is so cute!!! He pushes up when you put him on his tummy and rolling is not far off! His favorite part of the day is bath time. He hears the water and gets excited. We are loving having Landon in our family!!

 

Doctor Stats:

 

Weight: 17 lbs  oz (85th percentile)

Head:       cm  (75th percentile)

Height:        inches (85th percentile)

Halloween 2012

Laman and Lemuel

Coming home from church last week Cameron was singing "Nephi's Courage" and in the first verse it talks about Laman and Lemuel being afraid.

He asked me, "Mom, why were Laman and Lemuel afraid to try?"

I answered, "Because they didn't have faith in Heavenly Father and they didn't believe Nephi was telling the truth."

Cam came back with " Well, why didn't they believe Nephi?"

I told him that it was because Laman and LEmuel weren't good people. He asked why they weren't good people and I gave the following reasons:

"They were rude, ungrateful and mean"

He paused.........

then said "So, they were in time out like, every day?"

"Exactly Cameron! That is exactly what they were like" I couldn't stop smiling - it was so cute!

I'm a Bat

Cameron was brushing his teeth and was using his bath towel as his wings because he was pretending to be a bat. Halsy went to help him down from the counter and Cameron said,

"No Daddy, I have to fly down because I'm a bat, bats always fly down!"

Halsy replied, "OK Buddy." and let him leap from the counter.

He landed very hard and his legs collapsed, causing his face to hit his knees. Cameron then said,

"Bats always hit their face" and walked off.

Sleep.........Zzzzzzz

Landon fell asleep at 9:45 last night and just woke up at 5am!!!! 7 hours in a row?? Thank you little man !!!

Little things I don't want to forget

KJ always takes her shoes off in the van. Drives me crazy!

Cameron's face when he is embarrassed, priceless!

Kj's accent when she talks.

Cameron makes the best funny faces! He had me rolling at bedtime tonight.

Kisses from my little red lipped babies! Oh I hope I will get so many more, I adore them.

KJ's love affair with her binky.

The endless amount of laundry and folding tiny clothes.

Doing Katey Jane's hair. Today she let me blow it dry and flat iron it. When I was done she looked in the mirror and said "it looks like Tangled". I died.

Falling in love with Landon. He is wrapping me tighter and tighter around his chubby little finger. His smiles and cooing make my day!

Cameron's love of photography. He loves to take my phone and take pictures of anything and everything around the house. He is actually getting pretty good.

Watching KJ eat. She truly enjoys every bite!

Watching my kids with my mom. She is such a wonderful GG. We are so blessed to live here and my kids get to be loved so much. She teaches me a lot too, such good advice!

Reading books together.

Saying prayers while holding hands. It brings a little joy tonight prayers at night, especially for me.

Listening to Cameron play alone in the other room.

How much my kids LOVE bath time.

The smell of baby soap and kid toothpaste.

May I never forget :)

This made me laugh......Oh, motherhood!

http://www.thebabablog.com/article/2012/10/03/steps-to-follow-before-you-decide-to-have-kids

I Love being a mother and it feels so wonderful when someone can put into workds what it is like everyday. The ups, the downs, and all the in between. I wouldn't trade my time with my kids for anything.

Who knew

I have used the same pacifiers with both my older kids, but Landon has his own opinion. From day one he hated them. He liked the ones they have at the hospital. I have always hated them, they are so weird looking. It is hard not to look in their little mouth hole and watch them suckle.

I must say I am now converted. I love puting my pinky finger in there and letting him gum it while he is going to sleep. Also, he is so darn cute with it, who knew? :)

2 month old boy!!

Our little, well not so little Landon man is 2 months old! We are so excited that you are growing up so quickly. You are my biggest baby yet and we are in love with your rolls! We love your double chin, your wrist lines, and your leg chub. You love to eat and are such a happy baby. You are sleeping much more day and night - and I LOVE that!

We went to see Dr. Palmer yesterday and here are your latest stats:

Height: 23 1/2" (65th percentile)

Weight: 12lbs 14.2 oz (75th percentile)

Head: 15 3/4" (50th percentile)

 

 

You have broken the mold for the Carter kids! You are the heaviest and tallest at this age! It is so fun to have a roly poly baby. When we hold you facing out - your head is so heavy it droops from the weight of your cheeks.

You have started to smile and coo at us and we LOVE every second.

You have the bluest eyes and the most beautiful skin. You are very handsome and you look the most like your daddy of everyone so far!

You are a sleeping champ - you go to bed at 10 and sleep until 3am (5 hours!) then you go back to sleep until 7am (4 more hours!)

You are allergic to Lactose. For the first few weeks you had lots of tummy aches and you cried a lot! You had trouble sleeping and you were very constipated. A friend at church suggested I try taking dairy out of my diet. I LOVE dairy, but if it would help I thought i'd give it a try. After 3 days the difference was apparent!! You were a new man. Tummy aches gone, poopy diapers galore, and lots of sleepy time. We were so happy that you were happy. I sure miss Milk - but I will get it back soon :)

 

you love to take baths! when you hear the water running you stop crying and you are so happy during the entire bath.

 

I love to hear your little nioses while you nurse and my favorite is when you find your binky.....Ohhhh it melts my heart.

You are now wearing size 2 diapers!! Size 3 month clothing (but they are getting tight) and you just moved into 6 months pajamas!! Way to go buddy.

We could never think of a nickmake before you were born, but someone started by calling you Lando and it totally stuck!

Chubby baby

 

1 month old and so happy! We love having Lando in our family!!

Bye bye Altima

We let my brother borrow our car to go pick up his girlfriend - despite his horrible driving record and judgement history - and this is what we got. He was following to close and couldn't stop fast enough and rear ended another car, totalling our car. The best part of the story is we had just paid it off months before this. Luckily no one was hurt in the accident, that way we could focus all our anger on Matt :) He felt awful you could tell, but we couldn't tell if it was because he wrecked our car or if it was because he now had to pay our $1000 deductible. We got a rental car for Halsy and played the waiting game to see what our Altima would be valued at so we could get a replacement. We were offered $7800 (a fair deal). We are currently on the hunt, but miss our beautiful Altima that was going to last us another 5 years.

Goodbye Altima - you were a great car. You hardly made a fuss and ran like a champ. You got Halsy to and from school for years and you were our good looking date night car! Thanks for the memories -we wil miss you!!

Intern in the house!

   Halsy officially never has to drive to Gresham for classes again!! We only have to go back for graduation in December. He had a two week break and last week he started his internship in Wilsonville. He gets to work with Dr. Coral and he really likes him so far. He has already gotten to treat some patients. He has his own "office" and starting monday - he will get all the new patients that come into the office. He is learning so much already. In school they don't teach too much about "how" the office should be run - so that has been the most beneficial part of this experience so far. Halsy is really enjoying it and we are excited to be moving forward.

  The next step if for Halsy to find a job. Dr. Coral is not currently in the market for an associate - so the hunt is on for us. We are trying to stay local because we love our life here, but we shall see what Heavenly Father has in store for us!

No more milk please

Thanks to the suggestion of a friend, I have become lactose free, and Landon is a new man!

He wasn't sleeping well and had lots of tummy aches. My fried heard him grunting and suggested something that worked for her daughter. I was functioning on very little sleep and was willing to try anything. I LOVE milk and was sad to say goodbye, but it has been well worth it.

He is a different kid. He sleeps better at night, he is happy and content during the day, he nurses better, and the list could go on and on.

Book reading at bedtime is getting crowded

The stares have begun

Today was a busy day! I dropped all three kids off at jena's so I could go to my post pardon OB appointment and Hurried up the freeway. Everything looks dandy and I am feeling fine! I am also completely off my depression medication and doing very well. I grabbed some subway and drove back to jena's. Fed the kiddos, changed diapers, nursed, woofed down some food, and headed to our next appointment - Cameron's dentist check up. It was unavoidable that I could go with no other children, so I put in a happy face and went for it. ( the only time available was also smack dab in the middle of nap time) love that! I had Landon in the front pack, KJ in the stroller, and Cameron walked. I had at least three people say " wow, you are a busy lady" or "boy do you have your hands full" I always smile and whole heartedly agree :) the kids did so well, I was very surprised. No meltdowns or antics. They all slept on the car drive home and oh how I wanted to pull over an climb in the back to nap with them. It has been a doozy around here. Whew!

Happiest boy

Landon has started smiling and cooing! I love it. He loves to look around, especially at faces. He is holding his head up and is awake more during the day, giving us more opportunities to smooch, oogle, and love his little face!

I know Halsy loves me when....

He brings me my favorite flowers!

I am not really a bring home flowers type a gal, except twice a year. Dahlia season and daffodil season - my two favorite flowers. Halsy came home on Monday with flowers and a large fountain diet coke! I loved it and I love him.

My hubby has worked so hard over the past 7years. Getting good grades, passing tests, meeting all the requirements, and missing family fun!
We have almost reached the finish line. Halsy has taken his last class ever and all that is left is his internship and a few big tests until he will officially hold the title of Doctor. I am so proud of him and us for making it this far. .

Escape Artist

We moved our "house" down to katelyn's old room (she left for BYU). It is a much smaller space, but we have a bathroom and laundry on the same level as us. It was well worth the sacrifice of space.
We had to curtain off half the room to make a bedroom and a living room. KJ also got her own big girl bed because the crib sucks to move. Well we have found a problem, she doesn't stay in her bed and curtains are easily penetrable. She has weaseled her way through the curtains many different ways. Today I thought I had her fooled, but I was the fool. I came up to check on her and this is what I found.

She had to fall asleep here because she can't get down once she is up.

I think I have a solution. Bunk beds with her on top!!! I will let you know the results soon :)

Landon Halsy Carter ~August 14, 2012~

 We were scheduled to go to the hospital at 5am for our induction. I was very happy that we had a date picked so I could be sure to have bags packed and ready to go. I stayed up until 12am and was finally able to make myself fall asleep. I woke up at 3am and got ready for the long day ahead. I called the hospital at 4am to confirm the induction, only to be informed that there were too many mommies that went into labor the night before. We got pushed back to 7:30. I was wide awake and was not able to go back to sleep, but Halsy did. I called again at 6am to be sure they were ready for us and they gave us the green light!! I was excited!! I woke Halsy up and off we went to have our baby.
  We got to the hospital and after I got into my sexy gown, they hooked me up to the monitors and got an iv into my hand.

I was pleased that I was already having small contractions before they had given me pitocin.....and was hoping that meant this would go quickly. My nurse was absolutely adorable and took really good care of us. I was nervous about getting the IV because I don't have a great history with them. With Cameron I was poked 4 times before they finally got one in my hand. With Katey Jane, I was stabbed 3 times before they finally listened to me and brought in a specialist. This time, when I told the nurse that I am very difficult to get an IV into - she listened to me!!! She called the IV therapist and he got it on the first try!! I was so relieved and grateful. They started me on pitocin and off we went.
   My family showed up around 9:30 to hang with us. We had: Mom, Megan, Jena, Jerry, Katelyn, John, Tiffany, Jane, and all their kiddos! We were quite the hoard and very loud I might add! My nurse was a champ to put up with all of us :) Dad came a little later and played with the kiddos in the lobby so the other adults could take turns in the room with me.

    They broke my bag of water at 10am and that was definitely the worst part of the entire labor. The doctor had HUGE hands - and we will just leave it at that. I felt the contractions ramp up quickly after that.Within a few hours I was really having to breath through them. I was in so much pain that I was getting angry. I was very short with my husband and even yelled at him at one point because he wasn't listening to me. He kept making jokes and I was not in the mood. Finally I put my face right up to his and hissed "STOP". I think he got the message :) He helped me though some contractions with massaging my shoulders and scratching/rubbing my head.

 
   I tried to go for a walk - hoping to get his head to sink a little before the epidural. I slowed down after the epidural in previous labors and I was trying something new. We didn't make it very far :) It sucks walking while in labor. We made it back to the room and I asked for the epidural. Luckily he was already there and came within 15 minutes. It was the best epidural experience I've had. It really didn't hurt at all. The anesthesiologist's name was Landon - such a fun coincidence. He let Megan stay to watch, because she'd never seen it done on someone else before, and was talking her though every step. I felt the effects within 5 minutes or so and I was so happy! I apologized to Halsy for yelling at him. At the time it seemed so rational to let him have it for not being at my complete beck and call, I did feel bad, but luckily he said it was no big deal and he understood (He better!!). I put in some ear plugs and took a nap after that! I kept waiting for that tingly feeling in my bum - meaning it was time to push, but nothing yet.

  All of a sudden - I felt it and asked to be checked again (they had just checked me 30 minutes earlier). Sure enough we were there!! 10 centimeters and ready to push! Everyone got so excited and began shouting instructions! Boys out - Take the kids - Get Dad - Find the Camera!! The girls were so excited!! The doctor came in and wanted me to do a "practice push". I told him that practice pushes bring my babies and he was pleased that I was right :)

 I pushed for 6 minutes and out came our beautiful little man Landon Halsy Carter! 7 lbs 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long, 5:05pm.

  He was put right up on my chest and we sat together skin-to-skin for at least an hour. He was so calm and sweet. He looked around at everyone and we all oogled him. I finally agreed to give him to the nurses to be bathed. He loved the bath, but hated to be pulled out and fussed with. He was passed around the room and kissed to death! I got him back to try to nurse and for more cuddles.







Everyone came in from the Lobby and then I sent Halsy to go get Cameron and Katey Jane. They were so excited to see their new little brother.










    I was feeling really good and was ready to try and get up to go to the bathroom, but getting up made me super dizzy and nauseous! My face was creepy white and I felt like I was going to pass out. they had to use a "people transporter" to get me back to bed. I got to eat and then everything felt better!!! I was so excited to eat some FOOD!!
  My friends came to visit me late that night and brought me delicious fruit (which i ate entirely by myself) and wonderful company. Halsy was able to stay with me both nights in the hospital, he only had to leave when he had clinic. We had a good time. We were spoiled with friends and family coming to say hi!!

  We had a great experience, best yet if you ask me, and we are so happy to have our little boy here!!

Welcome to our family Landon man!!

Such a big girl

KJ is definitely not my baby anymore. She looks so big next to Landon man.

Update

Landon's birth story is in the making - but for now I wanted to put up a little update.

I miss feeling normal, but I know it will just keep getting better. My house is a complete mess and I really don't know what day of the week it is, but I am kinda ok with that. My emotions are the best they've been this time. I am supremely happy and I love how that feels. Thank heaven for medication. Little man is sweet as can be and sleep pretty well for a newborn. He is not a puker!! YAY and he is so cute I can't take it.

Cameron and Katey Jane are in love with him and ask to hold him all day long. Cameron gives him hugs and kisses constantly and KJ is always asking where he is. They are helping me too, especially Cameron. He is old enough to go and get things from specific places, which is so helpful!!

We are doing well and I look forward to sleeping more as the months go by!

Pregnancy Update (38 Weeks)

     Went to the doctor yesterday and I am 3.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced! WOO HOO!! He also stripped my membranes to hopefully start my body moving on this labor thing. It wasn't painful at all, I was grateful for that.
     Landon man is happy and healthy in my tummy. He still moves all the time, which is super uncomfortable, yet comforting. I like knowing he is okay. We have our induction scheduled in 4 days!! I am so excited!!! I am counting down the insulin needles, prenatal vitamins, etc. I only have to do this or that for 4 more days!!! I can't wait to be a normal human again without timing my meals and testing my blood sugars.
     My body feels great, the only complaint is being uncomfortable. I have had many contractions, but nothing heading to labor. They have not gotten more painful than crappy period cramps, but they were regular for a couple hours. I am just so DANG EXCITED to meet this little guy!
     I have been getting a lot of anxiety about food. I have been excited for so long to eat whatever I want, but lately it has changed to fear. I am afraid of food. I am very worried that I will put sugar back into my mouth and it will be all over. When I say sugar, I am not just talking about candy and sweets, I mean white bread, pasta, chips, etc. Foods that most people eat without thinking, foods that I have really had to give thought and even completely cut out of my diet. I have become super aware of where sugar/carbs are and have become very adept at avoiding them or creating alternatives. My goal is to continue eating as I have, but add in fruits (I have really missed fruit) and the occasional treat. I learned that I have a whole lot of self control. I now have to learn to keep it when it is not being forced upon me. I am very nervous about all of it.

  I am excited, nervous, anxious, happy, and very impatient about this birth experience.


Hospital bag packed........check
Cam/KJ bag packed........check
House clean........check
Laundry to zero........a work in progress :)

Its now a waiting game.

We LOVE the Oregon Coast!!

 Friday we headed to the beach and we had Soooooooo much fun! The weather was dreamy and the kiddos were splashing in the waves and got covered in sand!

 

Cameron was excited because not only were we headed to the beach - but it was Friday, so he got to have a tootsie pop!

 Building Sandcastles and Feather Towers :)

GG was covered in her grandkiddos and was loving every second!

 The water was so close that the boys were running in and out of the waves for hours!!

I just love KJ's little legs in this swimsuit!

We sent pictures to Daddy at school to show him we wished he was there!

As you can imagine - the sleeping commenced within 10 minutes of driving home. We survived with no sunburns and tons of awesome memories!!

Too much walking.....

We had a blast at the zoo today! The weather was perfect and the kids loved it!

We stopped to play the drums!!

 

We saw Lions and Cheetahs too!!

     

If all that walking doesn't make Little Landon man come I don't know what will......whew I am beat!

Cutest Cameron

Cam: mommy, who planted all the trees?

Mommy: heavenly father did.

Cam: he must have gotten really tired.

We have a date Folks! (37 weeks update)

Got to go see my OB today and I am very pleased with the results. I am now dilated to 2cm and 50% effaced. Not too much further along - but it it moving along and that is good. We have a date for little man to arrive: August 14th @ 5am we get induced. I am so excited I can't see straight. To know the finish line is in sight and have an end to this pregnancy is so glorious!!!!

Little Landon is perfectly healthy and happy in my tummy. He had another ultrasound and he passed all his tests. They are estimating him to be about 7.5 lbs. Which is big for me - a whole pound bigger than my first two, but I am grateful. I was worried I might have to push out a 8+ pounder.

Everything is ready for him to come. His clothes are washed and folded in his drawers, blankets are ready, the house is clean (thank you Halsy), his little bed is made and we are SO EXCITED!

I just have a few last errands and jobs to get done.....it seems to be an endless list. I'll keep checking them off as I go, 12 days left!! THAT IS SO CRAZY!

36 Weeks (17 days and counting)

I am giving in and am posting a picture of myself pregnant - not my favorite, but it's history!

I am feeling pretty good still - just very "filled to capacity"! He still moves, but it is different, I can tell he is running out of room in there. He pushes more instead of little jabs and kicks. My feet have started to swell, but not too badly. My body is happy and so is he. I went to the OB yesterday and he passed all his tests again - which is always reassuring. My blood sugars have been high this past week so they readjusted my medication and I am hopeful that helps.

Last week I tried to stop taking my anti-depressants, just to see if I didn't need them anymore. Let me tell you - I DO. It took two days of no medicine and I was off my rocker. Lots of crying, lots of anger, and I felt very out of control. My mom and sisters were so nice to let me get two days off meds because they knew I was trying so hard to not have Landon with the drugs in my body - but I was also glad they were there to tell me - Brooke, it's not worth it, take the pills! :) After a day back on my medication I am back to myself and it feel lovely. I am very thankful for my little blue pills.

17 days and counting!!