First Two Weeks

As of today, we have been home for two weeks. In so many ways, time has flown by, and in so many other ways, I feel like we've been a little family forever. Carter has done such an amazing job putting weight on and sleeping. He went from 5 lb. 15 oz. and 19 inches long at his one week appointment to 6 lb. 12 oz and 20 inches long at his two week! (Picture at right is from his appointment.) We are just growing like a weed!

We have developed our little "routine" for mornings and bedtime, although we certainly don't stick to it everyday. In the mornings, Carter decides he's over the bed at around 7 or 7:30am, so we get up, change into daytime clothes, eat a bottle on the couch, and then he takes about a 2-hour nap in his bouncy chair. (We call it his baby lazy boy.)

After that, we are usually wide awake until about noon or 1pm. During that time, we eat more, "play" (which basically means stare at each other and make faces at this point), go for walks, or run errands. Around 1 or 2pm, we usually go back down for another 2-hour stretch, and we are currently trying to take this nap in our pack 'n' play. Some days it is successful (see below), other days, not so much.

We are then usually awake again from 4pm until 6 or 7pm when daddy comes home (best part of the day for us both!), and then we battle sleep until 9 or so when we begin our bedtime routine. Depending on the day, this routine includes a bath (which he LOVES!), a baby massage, a new diaper, pajamas, and a bottle in bed. We usually wake up twice during the night - the first dream feed is between 11pm and 1am, and the second dream feed is somewhere between 2am and 4am. After the first dream feed, we usually fight sleep for a little while, but we go back down like a champ after the second. We then wake up for the day sometime between 6am and 7:30am and start all over again! (Not bad for 2 weeks old!)

You make the BEST faces! Our favorites...

The Tweety Bird

 The Thinker

The Question

The Half-Smile

I could seriously stare at you all day and watch your faces. (And sometimes do.) Baby boy, you can be feisty, stubborn, and are sometimes difficult to understand, but you are a pure JOY to your mommy and daddy and really are an easy baby. You never cry without purpose (yet), love to just watch the world around you, and are such a handsome little man! It's only been 16 days, but it's already difficult to imagine life without you! We love you so much!

May 3, 2011 - He's Here!

Carter Wade Ezell was born at 2:41pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The little nugget weighed just 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 19 inches long. He is happy, healthy, and the new love of his mommy and daddy's lives.

38 Weeks: Labor! Or not.

So, Wednesday night after work, we did our normal weeknight thing. Around 5:30, we leashed up the dog and went out for a good 30 or so minute walk like we usually do before starting dinner. Around 6, we got back home and decided to make a run to Sam's to stock up on a few staples before the baby got here. While we were walking around Sam's, all of a sudden I was struck with an excruciating crampy feeling and lots of pressure down low. It actually took my breath away and caused me to hunch over and wait for it to pass before I could continue walking. I got a few more of these as we finished our shopping and paid, so in the car, I started paying attention to the clock. I realized these little episodes were happening every five minutes. Blake very sweetly made us a simple dinner while I laid down to rest, and around 8:30, they hadn't stopped. I decided a call to the doctor was in order. After explaining my symptoms to her, she agreed that she thought I was in the beginning stages of labor. She encouraged us to stay at home until the contractions intensified (which she said could be hours or days even), so we got ready for bed, made sure our bags were ready to go, and waited.

The next morning, we were still waiting. The contractions hadn't stopped, but they also were not intensifying at all. I called in to work and told them I was not coming in and moved my afternoon appointment up to 10:45 that morning. Blake met me at the doctor, and we waited to hear how much progress I had made. And, drumroll....NOTHING. No more dilation. No more effacing. NOTHING. You would've thought she told me the baby died, I was so upset. It was such an emotional roller coaster to think you are about to meet your son and then to hear that it might be weeks longer. (Our induction isn't scheduled until the 13th, so it could be 2 more weeks until we meet the little man.) We left the doctor very defeated and went to have lunch to take our minds off it. I went back to work the next day for my last day there, and life went on as normal. Frustration does not even begin to describe it! :(

Since then, the contractions seem to have basically stopped, and we are just continuing to wait. I am done with work, so that's nice to have behind me. The waiting continues...until then, here is the week 39 picture we took last night before a wedding. Big, big boy!

Week 37/38: Any Day Now!

Well...here we are, 37 weeks down and in the middle of week 38. We are full-term, active...and squished.

 Last Thursday, a sonogram showed that our little guy was about 6 pounds and in the shape of a C inside of me. (How appropriate!) His head is down low, his back is along my left side, and his legs are stretched out across my ribs on the right. I'd post the sonogram pic, but all you see is a little crushed skeletal face, so it's not worth it honestly. The sonogram tech asked me if I felt lots of pain and pressure under my ribs, and I told her yes thinking it was just a normal pregnancy thing. Apparently he is abnormally squished under my ribs which now makes sense why I feel all of that...it was kind of nice to hear that my complaining about that was justified! :)

The doctor did confirm that things are still progressing...no more dilation this week, but we are definitely more effaced and baby's head is lower than last week. Things are moving in the right direction, so we are basically in the "any day now" mode! Bags are packed, baby stuff is assembled, clothes are washed, fridge is stocked, and I leave my desk every day in a shape where my sub could figure out what's going on relatively easily...we are just waiting for the go from the little man! (And in the meantime, I am trying every trick in the book to get things going! Long walks, gym, spicy food, bouncing on an exercise ball...I'm not above trying anything except drinking castor oil or eating weird herbs. Ick.) 

Well, that's all for now! Hopefully my next post will be the birth story...I am SO ready for this little guy to be out from inside of me and at home in our arms!

Week 37: Family and Baby Shower Weekend!

This post will be more pictures, than text. (I know you're disappointed.) Friday night, we spent a great evening hanging out with my sweet brother and sister-in-law along with their new little boy, Pearson, who is about 2 1/2 months old. I was thrilled Uncle Blake got to meet his new nephew finally!

On Saturday, I was blessed with an INCREDIBLE baby shower thrown at the Beddoe's beautiful house by Sarah Beddoe, Gillean Wade, Katy Hopkins, and Natalie Lesikar. Just thinking about how much this little guy is already loved is completely overwhelming to me! Everything was incredible from the decorations to food to favors. I cannot thank these amazing ladies enough for doing this for me!

 Hostesses!

 Sweet teacher friends...and Ethan! :)

 Carter has somewhere to sleep when he gets home! Thanks, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Chase!

 The Baby Bjorn...thank you sweet hostesses!

 Such a gorgeous hand-knit blanket!

 Car seat! We have a way to bring him home!

We finished off the weekend with the Ezell family watching my other nephew, Liam, get baptized. We had a great time and are looking forward to seeing the family again soon...for Carter's arrival! So crazy to think that the next reason to get together is for his birth!?!?!?!?!?!

36 Weeks: Update

Well, we have officially finished weeks 35...

And week 36...

...and are starting week 37 today! At the end of this week, Carter will be considered full term. Hallelujah - the end is in sight! My doctor started checking me this week, and we found out that I was 1 - 1.5cm dilated and just a little bit effaced. It doesn't really mean anything...apparently people walk around dilated for weeks before the baby is born. But, it was at least nice to hear that my body is moving in the right direction! My weight dropped a little this week (which was SO odd to see after 8 1/2 months of watching it climb) so we are doing a sonogram next week to make sure Carter's growth is still on track and to check the fluid levels. We are looking forward to seeing our little grey blob one last time before he is officially out and in our arms in color!

We have just gotten home from Baby Care class...Blake was thrilled to be there and loved every minute. ;)

 Blake also made his first clothing purchase for the little man this week. Such a sweet daddy gesture! It will be very useful for Carter's second football season...if I allow it.

We are looking forward to a busy weekend of family and friends as we see Uncle Stewart, Aunt Gillean, and my nephew Pearson tomorrow night and celebrate my baby shower on Saturday. I am so excited to see all my sweet friends and to celebrate this little guy! My work baby shower is also this coming Tuesday so I will have lots more fun stuff to post after all of that! I have the greatest friends in the world. :)

Week 34-35: 3D Sonogram and Canteloupe

This week, we had some extremely nerdy fun with our belly picture. Canteloupes are one of our favorite fruits, and since Carter this week is a "large canteloupe," we thought it'd be fun to do a little comparison...

Looks eerily accurate to me! A few days ago, we had our 3D sonogram "second chance" appointment since Mr. Stubborn was not facing the right direction last time. This time worked...better. The problem? Little man has a mild obsession with his hands. As you'll see in a minute, we got LOTS of great shots of partial face and hands. He was certainly awake this go-round thanks to the Coke slurpee I drank on the way to the appointment, but he would not stop eating his fingers! I think we will be investing in a good baby nail file and some newborn outfits with cuffs to cover his hands or else we are going to have a baby with some nasty face scratches! Ok, here are the good pics...

Partial profile/ear

 Little foot

 Almost a good face shot!

 Arms/chest and crossed ankles

 "Hi, my name is Carter and I eat my fingers..."

 "Where's the weight room?"

 So close to seeing a full face!

 Pursed lips

And the ultimate question...who will he look like?? Regardless, we can't wait to see your REAL non-alien, non-orange, absolutely beautiful face in just 5 short weeks, sweet boy! XOXO.