Tomorrow

Tomorrow is December 1st! Are your kids Christmas countdown chains ready to go? Ours are.

(Thanks to a little reminder from my oldest)

(Just incase you were wondering, Leah's chain is different because she made hers at preschool.)

Thanksgiving Day

We went to my brother and SIL's house for Thanksgiving. My dad came in town. We ate and ate and ate and had lots of fun, even though my brother broke his nose playing flag football that morning and Ashlyn broke her elbow in a pillow fight that night. I still have so much to be thankful for. A wonderful husband who supports me and helps me in more ways than I can count, four beautiful children who keep me busy, my health and strength to take care of said children (although I could use a bit more sleep these days), my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (don't know what I would do without that), my wonderful home (that I still consider a miracle that we even got), a fantastic extended family that I love and miss everyday, Paul's job (especially during this scary economic time), and so many more things that I wish I could name one by one, but my baby is crying at me, so I must wrap this up.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Funny little guy

I was trying to sneak a rolo from the newly placed Christmas candy dish that was on the dining room table. Brandon saw me and promptly ran over and asked me what I was eating. To which I responded...."nothing". He looks at me quizzically and responds, "I want some nothing". Hahaha...I'm still laughing about it. I just love that funny little guy!

A few photos

This is what Leah does for a lot of the day. Her gymnastics moves, mixed with some "diva". Yesterday she insisted on wearing her swimsuit most of the day. Don't know why, but whatever!

I finally talked Brandon into letting me get his haircut. It's quite an ordeal around here. I used to try and do it myself, but he throws such a fit, he ended up with a buzz cut earlier this summer. I was fine with that for the summer, but I didn't want that happening again. So we tried taking him to get his hair cut the same time as Paul thinking he might think that's pretty cool. Yeah....not so much. So I took him back to the same place we went for his FIRST hair cut. And voila...he went for it. I tried to take a picture of him and this is what he gave me.

A whole lotta mad!

He's actually trying to hit the camera out of my hand in this shot. Either that, or hit me. I prefer to think it's the camera he's going after.

But then later that day.....he was all smiles. And even asked me to take his picture. Go figure! So here you have it. I know it probably doesn't look that different to you, but to me, it looks WAY better.

And here's my other little guy. He's not too happy with me right here.

But he soon got over it.

He still sleeps quite a bit. And eats. And poops. Ah, the life of a newborn. Then he throws in a few (or more) screams when the above items aren't working out as fast or in the way he would like. But doesn't he just look so angelic in this picture. It's like once they fall asleep or get all comfy in your arms, you are totally over the fact that they were just screaming at you a minute earlier.

Look how long he is. He doesn't even look like a newborn. I'm sad about it. He's suppose to be itty bitty. But it seems that every one of my kids has been an inch longer than the last. Plus he was a pound heavier than my previously biggest child (Leah). So I'm trying to savor his newbornness, even if it is most evident in his sleeping patterns. Ha....

He's still so very sweet and snuggly and I love to cuddle him.

We did have Halloween (sort of)

One good thing (for us) about Halloween being on a Sunday this year, was that my kids didn't miss much in the way of festivities (since we weren't going Trick or Treating anyway). So our fun started on, let's say, Thursday night. Even though it wasn't a Halloween movie, we did get to all go to a screening of "MegaMind" at Dreamworks and the kids thought that was pretty cool. And while I am not a huge fan of superhero movies, I must say I really liked this one. It had a fun story and you really felt for the characters. Plus my cute hubby worked on it for almost a year, so look for his name under "modeling" when you go and see it. Cuz I know everyone is going to it, RIGHT!

Ashlyn was out of school on Friday, so we all got to go down to Dreamworks again (yes, thank you Dreamworks for making my kids Halloween more fun) to have lunch and enjoy some trick or treating around the campus. They had a fun pumpkin carving contest, games for the kids and we got to watch the new "Scared Shrekless" Halloween special that aired on TV the night before.

This is the pumpkin that won. Pretty cool huh!

Brandon wouldn't put on his costume, for the second year in a row. Good thing I just borrowed one this year from my SIL. So no money lost.

Saturday was our Ward's Trunk or Treat. We had our traditional Chili cook-off, which I did not participate in. I decided Chili gave me too much heartburn, so I made "Chicken Love Soup" from a recipe I got when we were in the Encino Ward. Unfortunately, it was a bit too popular (I don't think many kids like chili) and it was gone before I got any. But then again, I didn't have a huge appetite that night and got in line kind of late.

Heather and Blaike

The cousins minus Brandon

Leah catching a donut on a string. I guess it was another rendition of bobbing for apples.

Brandon found his little buddy Elijah and they started to wrestle. At least, I think they are wrestling and not fighting.

Some fun trunks all decked out.

Blaike traded his wig for an empty candy bag, so Tyler put it on. It was his attempt at being festive I guess.

Sunday, well you know how Sunday went. The kids came up to the hospital that night to see their new brother and then Paul and his mom took the kids out to dinner and then home for the night.

Brotherly Love

I have been so impressed with Brandon since bringing Carter home. He talks so sweet to him and wants to hold him all the time. I was really worried about him because he is such a momma's boy. And I'm sure he might act out more once Paul goes back to work, but for now I am enjoying watching him love on his little bro. So glad they have each other.

My Story

If you know me at all, you know I am pretty much a planner. I like to look at my calendar at the beginning of the month and map out what I have going on. Not to say I am not flexible, but I like to at least have a general idea of what's going on. So you can imagine how much I "love" the unpredictability of going into labor. It's one of the most stressful parts of being pregnant. Never knowing, always wondering, and hoping it doesn't happen at an "inconvenient" time. I figured though that since this was my fourth baby, I pretty much knew when to leave for the hospital and that I would make it there in plenty of time. That wasn't ever my concern. It was more of a "would everything go smoothly before getting to the hospital" that concerned me?

So to start my story, I should start back a few days before going into labor. On Thursday, I went to my last doctor's appt, where my doctor told me I was dilated 2 cm and 50% effaced. That wasn't much for me. I usually walked around at 3-4 cm for a couple of weeks before going into labor. So I wasn't too worried about making it to my planned induction day of November 2nd. Saturday morning came and it was the last day my MIL was going to be here (she had come to stay with us the whole week as my "insurance plan" as I called it). I decided we needed to go out and do something fun for her last day. So I made us appointments for pedicures and we set off. We got our pedicures, did a little Christmas shopping, went out to lunch and ran a few random errands. We got back home around 4 pm, she helped me make soup for our Ward's Trunk or treat that night and we got the kids ready to go. Just before leaving, I started feeling just a little "off". I wasn't really having contractions per say, but I just wasn't feeling too well. We got to the ward building, Paul was helping set up, my MIL was watching the kids, and I was helping get some games ready. I continued to not feel great the whole night but thought it would pass, as it usually does. We got home from the trunk or treat, I did some dishes and helped get the kids to bed. Me, Paul and my MIL sat down to chat for a while. During our chat, I had what I would call my first REAL contraction. One that actually hurt. It was close to 10 so we all went to bed, exhausted from our big day.

I got ready and got in bed. A little while later, another "painful" contraction came. I thought, hm.... that was weird. But then a good 15 minutes went by before I had another one. I waited. Another 15-20 minutes passed. I figured they were gonna slow down. Then about 11:30 or so (I kind of lost track of time at this point), my contractions started coming hard and FAST. Like from 15-20 minutes apart, to 2-3 minutes apart and lasting for at least one minute. Paul woke up, I told him to call my doctor, and I started throwing stuff in my hospital bag (stopping between contractions because they were getting pretty intense). Paul talked to my doctor and we left for the hospital. Every time a contraction came, they got more and more intense and there seemed to be a shorter span between them. My water still hadn't broken, so I thought I couldn't be dilated THAT far. We made it to the hospital (20 minutes or so later). I could barely walk at this point. Paul helped me down the hall and to the labor and delivery floor. I got changed and in bed and that's when they told me I was "complete". Unfortunately, I knew what that meant. It meant NO EPIDURAL FOR ME! I said, "no I want an epidural". The nurses calmly told me that wasn't gonna happen and then proceeded to tell me my doctor was still 10-15 minutes away. I thought, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I told them to get another doctor, which they did, but instead of getting ready to deliver my baby, they all stood there just waiting and staring at me. I was rather bugged. Later, I realized they were just stalling and that the "other" doctor was only there incase my baby started to come. After a little while, my doctor showed up, the nurses kicked it into high gear, my water conveniently broke, and Carter was born a few minutes later. Afterward, my doctor, who has delivered three of my babies, said to me, "I'm so sorry Amber. I know this isn't how you wanted it to go". Yes, she knows me well. But somehow I survived, as many a women have before me. And now I have my beautiful baby to hold and love for the rest of my life.

It definitely wasn't what I planned and I'm still in shock that it all happened so fast (less than two hours from the time my contractions kicked in until he was born), but I feel SO completely and incredibly blessed when I think about the chain of events and how everything really worked out so well. When I think about what would have happened if my MIL hadn't been at our house, or if it had been the middle of the day and Paul had been at work, or if I had been out and about running errands, it just gives me chills. So really, even though it was DEFINITELY not what I wanted, and natural child birth was NOT fun, I am still completely grateful for my many many blessings!

Hospital Photo

I had to take a picture of this picture because my scanner no longer works, but I just love this little photo.

Baby Pictures

Here are a few pictures of Carter while we were still in the hospital. I will post the story of the birth in the next few days. It's a doozy of a story if you haven't already heard it! Ha.....

I guess we should have gotten a family photo with me in it too. Oh well, that will have to come later. Besides, I didn't look too great in the hospital so you aren't missing much.

Sweet new siblings. Ashlyn was standing next to me incase you're wondering where she is. She was a little more timid. Actually I think she was just respecting my space and not climbing all over me. So thank you Ashlyn. It was much appreciated.

Brandon was surprisingly excited about little Carter. He has been wanting to hold him and kiss him and has been really good with him. Hopefully it continues after all my "help" leaves.

Fresh from Heaven and oh so sweet!

The Last Day

When I had Paul take this picture, I was really just wanting to document hitting my 39th week. Little did I know at the time, that it was going to be my last day pregnant.