Getting prepared...

As most of you know, I had a not so fun experience with Carter's labor and birth. He apparently thought we were in some kind of a speed race and he was afraid of coming in last. I wasn't prepared at all to not be able to have any medicine to manage the pain, and it sucked real good. I even joked with the girls at work that I would call ahead to let them know I was coming, like you can call ahead for seating at The Outback Steakhouse. Well I wish I would of. So since everyone is so great at reminding me that most of the time the second baby comes faster then the first I decided I need a back up plan to the epidural that I never got the first time. I'm a member of an online community for other women expecting babies in May and through them and a special on ABC I found hypnobabies. It is self taught hypnosis that is suppose to help you deal with the pain of contractions/labor and birth. Now, I know, I'm thinking ok, that sounds pretty hooky. I'm a pretty big skeptic myself of those women you see having a grand ol time in labor. But I thought, what the hey, at least if I can't get an epidural, I'll have SOMETHING else to try, instead of the "wing it" technique. (which I do not recommend) Anyways the program just involves me listening to a CD every night to "practice". I actually really enjoy it. I didn't think I would, and I didn't think I could actually be "hypnotised". But it relaxes me, it relieves back pain, and I can even use it to alleviate heartburn, which in and of itself is well worth the training. I don't know how well it will work for labor, but I figure it will at least keep me relaxed in between contractions, and if I have time for an epidural I can still go that route if I want to. The program has a place for partner involvement, but I just can't imagine Clayton reading to me in a soothing voice or being a great hypno-coach, so I'm going to have to forfeit that part of the program. Honestly I would probably die laughing if clayton even attempt to say "now go deeper, feel the peace fill your body" :) If I had a close girlfriend a little closer I might enlist her help, but since they all live a million miles away I don't think they'd make it on time.

If you are interested in learning more here is a link http://www.hypnobabies.com/

and here is a news clip featuring hypnobirthing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7kA3PMJwA8

snow much fun again!

we played in the snow again yesterday and today. it has been so much fun!

SNOW much fun :)

well we got white stuff on the ground last night and all day today. It was mainly sleet, but now that the sun has set, there is real snow falling! We took Carter sledding and him and daddy plowed the streets in the subdivision with the backhoe today. They will probably have to do it again tomorrow, because we are suppose to get 3 more inches! woot!









I think we have finally decided on a name for the baby: Camryn June. I'm not completely settled on that spelling, but I feel like Cameron is a more masculine spelling of the name, and Camryn is more femine. However, I fear that dad and others will constantly be spelling it wrong. Although that could happen regardless of how we spell it, huh? lol




Clayton and I cleaned out the spare bedroom the other day. We moved the extra beds to the basement, cleared out the shelf with all the junk on it, and moved all my ebay stuff down stairs. The only thing in there now is the pack n play and the new stroller/carseat. We plan to get Carter a new bed, dresser, and bedding set for his birthday, so we'll move the crib and changing table after his bday.
Trying to think if there is anything else to update you on. I can't think of anything right now :)

It's a.......

GIRL!!!

We found out yesterday baby #2 is a girl! My laptop crashed on christmas eve, so I can't post the pics from christmas or do much of anything yet. But once I get it back I will get those up. We had a great christmas. I also don't have anyone's email address right now, so I can't email anyone unless they send me one first ;)
ok so I will blog more when I get my computer back

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Ready for Christmas

first things first, I been tagged. Apparently I have to go into my photos, go to the fourth folder and pick the fourth picture...and then tell you about it. I'm suppose to tag four other people to do the same, but since I really don't know four other people who are regular bloggers I will skip that part :) so here it is:
hmm okay, I've been taking belly pics every week since I found out I was pregnant. I would say this is around 8 weeks or so.
Here, just to show you how much I've gained since then, here is the one from last week :)


Gorgeous outfit I got going there huh?

Ok on to the more important things. We are getting ready for christmas. We emailed Santa earlier this week to see if he could come a day early because we are not going to be here on Christmas morning. He called just a little bit ago while Carter and Daddy were at Lowes to say that he had all of Carter's presents wrapped and ready to go and he would deliever them tonight after Carter goes to bed. So Carter will get to open his presents tomorrow morning. Then we will head to Grandma and Grandpa's in Rolla. Once we meet up with them we will drive on to St. Louis to stay in the hotel we stayed in last year. We are going to go swimming in the indoor pool and eat pizza :) Then on Christmas morning we will visit with some of Clayton's family that live in St. Louis. We'll head back to Rolla to visit Beth and Jennifer, and then head on home. I'm sure Clayton will have to go to work sometime Christmas night, so Carter and I plan to head back towards Rolla to visit Grandma Brenda, Grandpa Duck, Aunt Jayme, and Aunt Kerri over the weekend. We are gonna be busy for the next few days. I will post pictures when we get home. I'm sure Carter is going to LOVE all the presents and food this year :)
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and enjoys spending time with family and friends!
~Merry Christmas!~

Dear Santa

All I want for Christmas is to never have to sit on your lap again! Oh, and maybe a train movie and some more leggos.
We took Carter to see Santa yesterday. And even though you can't tell too much, he wasn't diggin' it. He was on the verge of crying the whole time he was sitting there. We couldn't get a smile out of him. I don't blame him though, I remember being scared of Santa too.
I also went to the doctor yesterday. Everything is going well. We find out on January 2nd if this little one is a boy or a girl. I was hoping we'd get her to do an ultrasound yesterday to tell us, but no luck. Oh well.
Ok I need to get back to making out Christmas cards!

Reading, Thanksgiving, and First snow!

Carter now enjoys reading magazines. Not just any magazine though. Train magazines. He will climb up on the barstool and sit and read a magazine for hours.




We had a great Thanksgiving. We visited my Aunt Brenda at her house in Dixon. My Aunt Laura and Uncle Chuck were also in town. After eating with them and taking Carter to the creek to throw rocks, we headed to Clayton's parents. We ate with them and visited for a bit. Clayton got called to work just as we left. We were suppose to go to Beth's, but wouldn't have time. So Clayton dropped me and Carter off so that we could spend some time with them, and came back the next day to pick us up. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving getting to see everyone!




Here are some pictures of Carter playing with his favorite backhoe while wearing Daddy's hat.


We got our first snow Sunday. It didn't stick much but it did snow all day long. It was really pretty!