Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas again this year. The weeks leading up to Christmas are my absolute favorite and I go through a slight depression on Christmas Day night when I realize I have to wait a whole year for Christmas to come again!  Jason and I stayed up a little later than normal on Christmas Eve so we could soak it all in--I really feel like a parent on Christmas Eve. 

We headed to the children's service at our church. It is a really fun and LOUD service. There are kids all over the church so you don't feel so bad when you look over and see your son wrestling in the pew with his buddy (true story-I look over and Davis and his friend were putting each other in headlocks)! 

We brought our little angel with us and she slept through the majority of the service. 

 Jason and Davis in matching Christmas shirts:

 Christmas jammies:

 Growing up we had a tradition at my house. The 12 nights leading up to Christmas you got to open a box and inside was a suprise. It might direct you to look under your bed for m&ms or tell you about some family event we would do together. We have continued that tradition with Davis. We did all kinds of fun things this holiday season including looking at lights, ice skating, ornament making and reading Christmas books. It really added to the season.

 Papa and Carter

We hosted Christmas Day at our house. Here is some of the craziness:

For some reason there are no pictures of the other side of the room--sorry guys!

Here is our fireplace this year--it looks complete!

 Grammy made Carter her first quilt. It is even prettier in person

 And Aunt Lo being Aunt Lo spoiled Carter with her first doll house. You can tell that Carter is totally pumped about this gift! It is awesome-Lo's talents never cease to amaze me. The house is a replica of ours right down to the same exterior paint color....

Here is our second adventure out to look at Christmas lights. The night started with one screaming and one wanting the other to be quiet...

 And before we could even get into the neighborhood....

Luckily by that point both kids were asleep so Jason and I enjoyed looking at lights together!

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Davis meets Carter

Thank to Stephanie from /http://www.simplycharmedphotography.com/ we got some wonderful pictures of Davis meeting his baby sister for the first time.  When Jason brought Davis he initially didn't want to hold her or kiss her-he was pretty timid. But after a minute he warmed up and then could not get enough of his sister.  He and Jason returned to the waiting room to get the grandparents and when they asked if she was pretty he responded "she is beautiful, just like my mommy!" Smart boy :) He was so proud of the bracelet he received from one of the nurses that says "big brother" and he has yet to take it off. When he returned to school he took Jason's iphone and walked it around to each of his friends to show them pictures of his new baby sister! He is a proud big brother. 

More hospital pics to follow!

Carter Elizabeth

Carter Elizabeth Knecht joined our family on November 27, 2013. Sweet girl weighed 8 pounds even and was 20.5 inches long. She has made our family feel complete! 

We arrived at Methodist Hospital at around 5:30 am to check in. Here is our last family photo as a family of three. Davis was SO excited to go to the hospital. The night before we let him sleep in our bed. It was so weird knowing that we would be leaving as a family of three but coming back as a family of four!

 One of the last photos of my belly. Hard to believe there was an 8 pound baby in there. I knew she was big but had no idea she was 8 pounds!

 Waiting to be wheeled to the operating room:

 Jason was ready to go!

 It went so much faster with Carter than it did with Davis. I felt like with Davis they pressed on my stomach forever. With Carter Jason came in and we held hands and talked for a few short minutes before Dr. Peakes said she was almost out! And all of a sudden we heard this high pitch crying and they brought me my daughter!

 Proud daddy!

The best part about this delivery is that I got to hold Carter right away. With Davis I had to go to recovery for about 30 minutes before I could hold him. I loved being able to hold her right away. They took her to weigh her and then immediately brought her to our room. She had to go in the warmer for a few minutes. Here is Davis checking out his baby sister in the warmer

We are so thrilled to welcome our sweet Carter to our family.

The night before you were born

I can't believe the time has come. I feel like it was just yesterday I was texting Jason from work a picture of the positive pregnancy test. Hoping and praying I was seeing a line but not wanting to get my hopes up. I remember a co-worker telling me that it probably was not a positive but that I should call my doctor anyway. And then I had to go to the doctor every other day to have my blood drawn to make sure it was a positive. I remember getting a call on a Saturday while we were at a friend's birthday party. The doctor told us that my levels were going up--we were pregnant. 

Throughout the first trimester I was convinced it would not stick. There was a night we went grocery shopping and I stayed in the car because I was cramping and I just knew we were loosing this pregnancy. 

That's why when we made it to the second trimester I had a good feeling this was a girl. Because she is tough! 

This has been a wonderful pregnancy. I had none of the issues I had with Davis. With him my fluid levels were so high the entire time and because of that I delivered at 38 weeks. With her we will go to 39 weeks and 4 days. 

She is a mover. Once she started moving she has not stopped. She moves all day but especially at night or when Jason is talking to her. As I type this I feel an arm or a hand brushing against my stomach. I will really, really miss watching her move at night as I lay on the couch or feeling her move. I know exactly when she went head down-I felt her turn. She has stayed primarily on my right side this entire pregnancy. My stomach may be permanently lopsided. She stayed there the entire pregnancy. 

Three weeks ago Dr. Peakes predicted she was nearly seven pounds. I am predicting 7 pounds 8 ounces, Jason thinks 7 pounds 10 ounces. I think she will probably have as much hair as Davis did when he came out (not much).  I'm also thinking she might be a little longer than Davis since she had more time to cook--maybe 20 inches?! 

Davis has been amazing about becoming a big brother. I can't count the number of times he wanted to kiss my tummy or "hug" Carter. He has been talking up his sister to his teachers at school. He is so excited. He will sometimes ask me if Carter likes something or what Carter thinks. I also think he is excited to have his mommy back to rough house with him. He told me that when Carter comes out of my stomach I can play football with him. Tonight he asked me if he would still be my baby when Carter comes out. I think this comes from me repeatedly telling him that he will always be my baby--no matter who comes along. 

Tonight in the nursery:

 Our family of three (but not for long)....

Carter, I have prayed for you for a long time. I can't wait to get my hands on you tomorrow and meet you. I can't wait to see what you look like and if you will be a cuddle bug like your big brother. I know I won't sleep much tonight in anticipation of meeting you sweet girl. I already love you so much.
Love you,

Davis lately...

It doesn't come any cuter than this love bug :) 

Davis is at such a fun age. I think I keep saying that but it is so true. I am trying so hard to keep track of some of the funny things he has said lately to help me remember (this blog is my baby book).

Davis has been doing a pretty good job of staying in his bed. Every morning I know he is headed to our room when I start hearing "thump, thump, thump." This is him coming down on his butt down each stair :) I have taught him that when he comes in our room he has to shut the door behind him. So if you somehow managed to sleep through him coming down the stairs-the door slamming behind him as he enters our room will take care of that!

On Saturdays he and Jason head to Starbucks. Last Saturday he crawled in bed with us and then Jason declared it was time for them to go. He was about to crawl off the bed when he told Jason "just a minute" crawled back over to me and said "Good Morning Mommy!" kissed my face and then headed off the bed to go with Jason. As they were leaving I heard him tell Jason "Daddy, I have an idea let's wear our pajamas to Starbucks!"

Jason took Davis with him on an errand to a warehouse where they had bulldozers. As Davis spotted them he said "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness daddy! That is so cool." He loves to say "oh my goodness!"

He also has started adding "something" to the end of sentences. I find this hilarious. So he might say "maybe we could go to the zoo or something."

He is growing up way too fast!

34 Weeks

This pregnancy is flying along. I keep wanting time to slow down! I know she will be here soon enough and I am just trying to soak in our last few weeks as a family of three.  We had a fun session at our house to celebrate (I am actually 32 weeks in these pictures) and the very talented Stephanie from http://www.simplycharmedphotography.com/ took the photos. She is amazing if you need a photographer. 

 My monster. I love this little boy so much. I know he is going to be an amazing big brother. He has to kiss Carter good-bye every morning. He also loves to tell Carter about his day or about fun things they will do together when she comes out of mommy's tummy. If I ask Davis whose baby is in mommy's tummy-he always replies "that's my baby!"

I am so grateful to Stephanie for taking these sweet photos of my family.