12 pounds 9 ounces (59%)
24 ¼ inches (82%)
head circumference (41%)
This month you’ve continued to grow and change. You still nurse eight times per day. You love to eat! You only get up once during the night now, so I am beginning to get more sleep! We still swaddle you while you sleep. During the day, we talk, read books, and sing songs. You like for the person holding you to walk around and prefer to be held on the shoulder. Sometimes you’re gassy and it hurts your tummy. When you’re upset, you like to go outside and listen to bugs, birds, the breeze, and lawnmowers. You enjoy swinging with me on the porch swing, too. You are so much more alert and aware of your surroundings. You now really enjoy having your diaper changed, and in fact, your changing table is one of your favorite places to be. It’s a good place to get a smile from you! You get to sit in your bathtub now, which makes baths a lot more fun. You like the lotion massage afterwards, too. You are really beginning to enjoy your floor gym and bouncy chair. We keep both of them in the kitchen and you play in them while I pump, cook, and clean. You’re getting better at tummy time, and you really seem to want to roll over on your own. One of your favorite things to do is lay under your turtle mobile and watch them move and sing. You’ve started making more noises. We love to hear you “talk” and coo! Your legs are getting strong, and you like to stand up while we’re holding you sometimes. You aren’t interested in a pacifier, but you’ve started chewing on your hands quite a bit. At first your mouth was really dry, but now you’ve got some slobber. You’re still wearing size one diapers and 0-3 clothes. You took your first bottle of pumped milk on September 3. Sometimes you eat from a bottle while we’re at church or out running errands. You like being at church and don’t mind being passed around from one person to another. Our church family loves you!
During your first month, you’d only gone to church and the doctor, but your second month of life was quite eventful!
On September 3, you went out to eat for the first time. Daddy and I had a double date with you and Kaye. We went to San Antonio Grill and then to Kaye’s house. You and “Aunt” Kaye are good buddies.
On September 8, at five weeks and two days, you SMILED!!!! It was a great big open-mouthed, dimple-producing smile, and I loved it! I knew it was more than just gas relief, because it was big, it was in response to me, and your eyes smiled, too! It was a special moment I will always treasure! Since then, you’ve smiled more and more, and we love it every time!
On September 9, you went to your first sporting event. We went to the high school volleyball game with Kaye and Kayce. Kayce is a high school girl at church who is so sweet with you.
On September 13, your six week birthday, you had your first plane ride! You and I flew to Texas without Daddy, so I was pretty nervous, but you did a fabulous job! You were happy and content. You slept in the moby wrap while I went through security and walked through the airports in Nashville and Dallas. The other people on the plane were nice and helpful. One man befriended us and gave you a gold dollar as a souvenir to remember your first plane ride. The plane ride must have worn you out, because you slept through the night for the first three nights we were there!
We enjoyed relaxing with Granny and Pops for several days. You’d grown a lot since they’d seen you. They loved snuggling, playing, and taking lots of pictures of you! Aunt Misty came to their house every evening after work to spend time with us, too. We went to my old school in Roby and introduced you to friends there, and we went to Maryneal so you could meet Mama and Daddy’s sweet church family there. Several cousins and friends came to Granny and Pop’s house to meet you!
Then, Daddy joined us, and we went to Abilene and stayed with Aunt Misty during ACU’s Summit. While we were there, we spent time with Aunt Laura and Abilene friends. We went to Bonham and you met the teachers I used to work with. We enjoyed showing you the town, home, and college that are special to us! We drove home and stopped in Fort Worth and Dallas to visit with and introduce you to some very good friends. Then, before heading home, we stopped in Memphis so you could meet your great-grandmother, Mam-ma. It was a busy, but fun two weeks.
On your two month birthday, we went to Jackson to meet up with Bobel and Reenie for a few hours. They were surprised how much you’d grown and loved snuggling and playing with you! We enjoyed visiting with them about their new home in Saint Louis.
Carson, you have made life so much more fun! Your daddy and I continue loving you more each day. It is an absolute joy to watch you grow and learn!
10 pounds 4 ounces (60%)
22 ½ inches (70%)
head circumference (50%)
During your first month, you enjoyed time with all four grandparents and both aunts. You also met lots of your church family. You loved snuggling with all of your new friends! You did not like to have your diaper changed and kicked your legs the whole time! You did not like your sponge bath, either, but you always seemed to feel refreshed afterwards, so it was a good time for mommy to take lots of pictures! Your circumcision healed at two weeks, and your cord fell off at three weeks. You went to church for the first time on the day before your three week birthday, and you did a great job! You slept through most of worship, but you were wide awake and met lots more people at the church potluck. Everyone thought you were adorable! Just before your one month birthday, you moved from newborn to size one diapers and from newborn to 0-3 clothes. You were already growing! You were staying awake more and more and were able to focus your eyes on people and objects more all the time. You loved to look at bright lights! You have a strong neck and you liked to hold your head up, even early on. We got into an eat/wake/sleep rhythm. After a couple of weeks of sleeping in your pack ‘n play in mama and daddy’s room, you started sleeping in your own room. We always swaddled you in your swaddle me blanket and it seemed to help you sleep. You ate about eight times per day. We were getting better and better at nursing. You’re a good eater, and I love spending that special time with you. Your daddy and I love to snuggle with you! We love you so much, sweet Carson, and we’re so very thankful that God blessed us with you. It is a joy to be your parents!
Sunday, August 1
We had dinner with all four of our parents and both of our sisters! What a treat it was to spend one last evening together with our family of eight, all anxiously awaiting the miracle the next day would bring! Knowing it would be a while until I would be able to eat again, and since it was my last guilt-free pregnancy meal;), Mama cooked my favorite meal, homemade chicken strips, and they were yummy! We all had a wonderful time visiting! As the night went on, I got really silly and excited about meeting my sweet son the next day! Finally everyone convinced me to calm down and try and get some rest for a couple of hours before it was time to get up and head to the hospital.
Monday, August 2
3:00 am We woke up, showered, loaded the car with way too much stuff, and headed to Columbia
4:00 am I had good conversation with my sweet husband! Our hearts were full of so many emotions!
5:00 am We checked in at the hospital, too bad I didn’t get a picture of Keith carrying all of our stuff and me and my big belly waddling in beside him! What a sight we must have been! We settled into our labor and delivery room, and they made Keith go to the waiting room while I answered questions and got hooked up to an IV.
6:00 am I was still only dilated to a one, but I was fully effaced. Dr. Pelletier came in and broke my water and they started my potocin to induce labor. Breaking the water was painful, but only for a second. Lots of water poured out!
7:00 am-10 am Keith and I enjoyed visiting. He read me encouraging texts and facebook notes throughout the morning. Our sweet families were in the waiting room and took turns coming in the room to say hello. Each time I got up and went to the restroom, more water flowed onto the floor! I was feeling contractions, but they were bearable.
11:00 am The contractions intensified. After experiencing some of the pain, I decided to request the epidural, and it was a good thing I did, because just before they gave it to me, I was dilated up to a six. The anesthesiologist was very nice and informative. The injection hurt, but only for a moment, and that tiny pain was worth it, because I could no longer feel the contractions!! Very nice! During the injection, Keith got a little bit woozy, and realized it was time for him to get something on his stomach, so his dad brought him a burger and fries from McDonalds, and he felt better.
11:30 am The dilation increased to nine centimeters soon after the epidural. Our parents and sisters came in for a quick hello and hug before it was time to push!
12:00 pm It was time to push! Keith and the nurses were really sweet and encouraging. Pushing was intense. I can only imagine what it would have been like without the epidural.
12:30 pm It wasn’t long until they started telling me that they could see a head full of dark hair!! Wow!!! This was really happening! How crazy and exciting! I continued to push as Keith and the nurses continued to encourage and coach me through it. After about an hour of pushing, I heard the nurses whispering to each other that the baby was not going to fit and that it was time to call in the doctor.
1:15 pm Dr. Pelletier arrived and did an episiotomy so that Carson could fit! With one more big push, I felt a blub blub, and there he was!!!!
1:43 pm My baby boy was born!! Wow!!!!! I cannot put into words how amazing it was to see him! Keith cut the umbilical cord. Dr. Pelletier was trying to lay Carson on my chest, but Carson grabbed the tie on his surgical robe and would not let go! Finally, Dr. Pelletier just cut the tie and laid him on me!! Wow, wow, wow!!! It was the most amazing miracle I’ve ever experienced!
2:00 pm After a couple of minutes, the nursery nurse got Carson cleaned up and weighed. Keith took lots of pictures of our sweet baby while Dr. Pelletier got me all stitched up. Keith was so sweet and excited. Carson weighed in at 8 pounds 11.8 ounces, and he was 21 inches long! Keith got to hold Carson for a few minutes and then handed him back to me. What a special time it was for our family of three. After a few minutes together, Carson’s sweet grandparents and aunts came in to celebrate with us! They were all so happy, too! Kaye and Lloyd were in the waiting room, and they came in to see us next! When everyone left, I was able to nurse Carson for the first time! It was such a sweet moment that I’ll never forget.
3:00 pm They took Carson to the nursery for his bath and shots, while Keith and I were moved to another room. Our parents and sisters had fun watching everything through the nursery windows. Keith and I had a chance to visit and settle into what would become our home for the next few days. I had some water and crackers. All of the nurses that cared for Carson and me were wonderful! I could not have imagined them being any sweeter or more helpful. We were so thankful for that.
4:00 pm The nurses brought Carson to our room and our families took turns coming to see him and hold him. He was our precious miracle, and we all loved him so much already!
Carson spent the nights in the nursery and the days in the room with us. During our time at the hospital, we rested and snuggled with our baby. Carson and I had to figure out breastfeeding and Keith was so sweet and supportive. The nurses and lactation consultants were outstanding.
Because of the positive results of the beta strip test, we were supposed to stay in the hospital for 48 hours. On Wednesday morning, they discovered that Carson’s left clavicle was broken, so we ended up staying until Wednesday evening. Thankfully, the broken bone did not seem to bother our sweet boy. We just had to be careful picking him up and changing his clothes. We were a little nervous to leave all of the support at the hospital. The last three days had gone by quickly, but we were looking forward to taking our baby boy home!
August 1, 2010
Carson,
After more than nine months, we’re in the last several hours of preparing for your arrival. It’s hard to believe the time has finally come. Your mom and I have enjoyed so much our time together as a couple, but now we are so excited for you to join us in the adventure of life.
When I think about your joining us soon, I think about how much I am anxious to share with you. I’m excited to be able to read to you. I’m excited to share my love of music with you. I’m excited to share my life’s work as a minister with you. I have so many wonderful memories of time I spent with my dad growing up, and I hope that when you are my age, you’ll have equally wonderful memories of the time you and I spend together.
I want you to know how thankful I am for your mom. You do not realize how wonderfully blessed you are to have her as your mom. She is unconditionally loving, faithfully supportive, infinitely caring, and incredibly kind. She has prayed for you since before you were even conceived and has done everything she can to take care of herself and take care of you while she’s been pregnant with you. I hope I will demonstrate for you clearly just how much I love her.
It’s often tempting for parents to dream dreams for their children, and I suppose there is a time and place for that. But rather than dream all kinds of dreams for you, I simply hope to teach you to dream for yourself and to equip you to pursue those dreams with all of your being. But there is one dream I dream for you, one which will serve as a paradigm for all your other dreams: I hope that you will choose to follow Jesus, that you will live your life in selfless service to others, that you will commit yourself wholeheartedly to what you will come to realize is the upside-down ethic of the kingdom of God, and that you will dedicate yourself to loving God and all of God’s children, both those like you and those different from you. I pray I will be a faithful example of such a commitment to you. I promise you I will do everything I can to equip and empower and support you, whether that means cheering you on or offering constructive criticism. I want you to know it doesn’t matter whether you feel like you’ve done great things or insignificant things, what matters is that you have been faithful.
As we welcome you into this world we call home, we do so with eyes wide open. We have seen both some of the best this world God called “good” has to offer and we have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. Sometimes it seems as though the evil outweighs the good. But we believe God is still at work seeking to make right all that has been gone wrong in the world, and we are convinced God desires us, including you, to participate, in whatever ways possible, in the pursuit of that mission. So we welcome you boldly. We long to model for you a way of living that is captive not to fear but to the hope with which this mission of God has filled us and we pray humbly, therefore, that you will imitate us as we imitate Christ.
Carson, may the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and give you peace. And may you live your life in gratitude to the God who has so graciously blessed our lives with your presence and company and called you to be a Son of God.
I love you so much and can’t wait to share life with you!
Dad
your first picture with daddy
It was very special to see the two of you together!
You looked so comfortable together from the very beginning!
You have the very best daddy in the world!
July 29, 2010
Dearest Carson,
Your daddy and I have been thinking about and praying for you for a very long time. We could not have been more thrilled or more thankful on December 1, 2009, when we found out that you were an itty bitty baby growing inside me! We had lots of fun telling our family and friends about you! March 25, 2010 was another fun day, because we found out that you are a boy! It has been an answered prayer and an absolute joy to carry you with me for the past nine months. Each time I feel you move inside me is such a special treat! It has been lots of fun preparing your nursery and shopping for you. Even the queasy stomach, sore back, swollen ankles, and sleepless nights have been sweet reminders of becoming your mama!
After carrying you for all this time, I cannot believe it is finally time to meet you. I will miss having you inside me, but I know that having you on the outside will be even more special! I’ve dreamed about what your sweet face will look like. I can’t wait to see those tiny fingers and toes that I’ve felt wiggling inside me! I’ve imagined cuddling, reading, and playing with you, and in four more days, I get to do just that! I can’t wait to see you, feed you, and learn how to take care of you.
I have wanted to be a mama for as long as I can remember. It is a dream come true, but I have a lot to learn along the way. Please be patient with me while I figure out how to be your mama. I am thankful that your sweet daddy loves you as much as I do and that we get to work together to learn how to be your parents. Throughout the pregnancy, he has taken such good care of us! We could not be more excited that you’re becoming a part of our family. We are thankful that you have four loving grandparents, two precious aunts, and many friends that love you and will be important to your growing and learning.
It will be such an honor to watch you grown and learn. It will be exciting to watch you develop various gifts and use them to glorify God and imitate Jesus. Carson, I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
I love you more than you know, sweet Carson Robert. See you soon!
--Your mama
Our first picture together!
I will never forget finally getting to meet you! It was a holy moment!
