Baking Videos

Here are two videos I took while Claire was making the Christmas cookies on Sunday.

Cookies for Santa

This year, we decided to make cutout sugar cookies for Santa. Claire was so excited to help out. We cleared everything off the kitchen island and used it as our cookie making surface. Claire even has her own pink rolling pin that Nana got her for Christmas last year. Daddy really got into the cookie making and even let me put an apron on him. Claire finally let me put my Grandma's old Christmas cookie apron on her too. They both looked so cute, and everyone loved getting covered in flour and eventually icing! Even Aunt Hannah came over and joined in on the fun. Santa's going to have some yummy cookies at our house this year.

Daddy and Claire rolling out the dough


Claire and her cute rolling pin


Claire in my Grandma's apron


Daddy in his "candy cane" apron


Aunt Hannah and Claire decorating cookies

Carter is Two Months

Carter Man, as we affectionatly call him, turned two months yesterday. He is such a big boy - at least 12 pounds, but we'll know for sure after his well visit on Friday. He LOVES to smile all the time, and appears to be as ticklish as I am. He's slowly figuring out his sleeping patterns during the night, and I am praying that he starts sleeping through the night as quickly as Claire did (she was 3 months). He's in his crib, and we find that we are sleeping much better now. He enjoys laying on the floor and watching big sister play and being carried facing forward so he can see the world. I absolutely love having a boy, and can't wait to see what the next few months bring! Here are some pictures I took on his two month birthday yesterday.

Picture Tag

I know that nobody is going to believe me when I put this picture up. How is it possible that the BEST picture of Claire that's ever been taken ends up being the fourth picture in the fourth folder. I promise I did not cheat!



Derek took this picture on Claire's first day of school. I was so surprised that she cooperated and that he was able to get such a great shot of her. I can't believe how quickly my little girl has grown up. To think that just two years ago I was giving birth to my beautiful girl, and now I have another baby and my little girl is off to school. The way time passes just boggles the mind, but I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Pictures with Santa...almost

Friday was my first trip to the mall with both kids. Exciting and scary at the same time, but made much easier by having Heather and her mom there to help. I was prepping Claire for Santa all week - praciticing what she was going to ask Santa for, looking at pictures of Santa and just talking about him as much as possible. I knew Parker would cooperate on Santa's lap, so I made sure Heather sent him up there before Claire. I forgot that Peyton would most likely cry though. Claire saw Peyton get upset, and it was all downhill from there. I don't think Claire would have been happy either way. She's not really into strange old men. I decided that it wasn't worth the torture and opted to get a pic of Carter with Santa sans Claire. I think it turned out pretty cute. The Santa at Willow Bend is always so nice looking. The rest of the day went as expected - the kids had a blast in the play area, feasted on Chick-fil-a and icecream, and got restless with the shopping. All in all we had a great time!

Tag...You're It!

Since Carter and Claire have now officially been tagged by not one but two friends (thanks Mel and Heather), I have to do this survey for the kids. I have to admit...it is kind of fun!

8 Things About Claire

8 of my favorite things:
1. Teddy Bear lovie (the rest of the lovies no longer matter)
2. Monkey (a.k.a. Monk)
3. Books & Puzzles
4. Laundry & Cooking
5. Chocolate Milk & Macaroni and Cheese (a.k.a. Ronis)
6. School - especially Saku and Caroline
7. Minnie Mouse
8. Singing

8 things that happened today:
1. Went to school
2. Had my first practice for the Christmas program
3. Peed in the potty!
4. Helped Mommy stamp and mail Carter's birth announcements
5. Helped Mommy wrap birthday presents for my friends
6. Sang ALL the words to the Backyardigans theme song
7. Helped Mommy give Carter a bath
8. Went for a bike ride (but not for long...it was so cold!)

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Meeting Santa
2. Playing at the play area at Willow Bend tomorrow
3. Spending the night with Nana and Dooj this weekend
4. Making special cookies for Santa
5. My school Christmas program
6. My playgroup Christmas party
7. Josh's Mickey Mouse birthday party
8. Visiting Pops in Austin

8 Things About Carter

8 of my favorite things:
1. My big sister Claire
2. My swing (thanks Aunt Heather!)
3. Bath time
4. Christmas lights
5. My bottle
6. Sleeping in my carseat
7. Long talks with Mommy
8. Sleeping

8 things that happened today:
1. Went to the holiday market - slept
2. First visit to the post office - slept
3. Helped Mommy take things to the resale shop - grunted in my carseat
4. Dropped off donations at CCA - slept
5. Picked Claire up from school - awake and ready to eat
6. Bath time with Mommy and Claire
7. Layed on the floor with Mommy while she addressed envelopes for my birth announcements
8. Slept in my crib for the first time

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Crawling
2. Walking
3. Laughing
4. Talking
5. Christmas
6. Sleeping at the mall tomorrow
7. Spending time with Nana and Dooj this weekend
8. My next bottle

It's always fun to decorate when you are in a new house to see how all your decorations work and where they will go. Here are some pictures of how our new house turned out this year. I was especially excited to decorate the banister and the dining room this year. There will be more pics of outside when it gets dark tonight.

The nativity set we got on our honeymoon.

The dining room mirror.

The mantel...Carter's stocking hasn't arrived in the mail yet.

Entryway table...I need another snowman baby. The tree is our new advent calendar where Claire found all the chocolates.

Our banister.

Our new Christmas tree. It actually looks a lot like a real tree.

Claire's Microphone

I don't think these videos need much of an introduction...just enjoy the cuteness of a toddler's imagination. I'll have to remember these videos so I can use them as bribary when she's older!

Hershey's Chocolate...The Breakfast of Champions?

Each morning when Claire gets up, she sits on the couch with her cup of milk to watch Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. She's usually so content, that Derek and I are able to stay in bed a little longer or hop in the shower while she camps out. This morning I came out of my bedroom after she had been on the couch for about 30 minutes only to find her rounding the corner covered in chocolate. I thought maybe she had tried to make chocolate milk by herself or something. Then I remembered that I had put chocolates in each door of the advent calendar, and Claire has taken to pulling her stool up to just about every piece of furniture to get at things on top. She had gotten into the advent calendar, removed every piece of chocolate and managed to consume at least four of them before I found her. She was a huge mess, but luckily none of it got on the furniture. Normally I would have been so upset and she would have ended up in the corner, but the whole thing was just so funny that I didn't have the heart to punish her. Here she is...SO proud of herself!

What do you mean I can't have chocolate for breakfast?

Just one more Mommy.

So happy to be covered in chocolate.

Carter Update

Today I took Carter to his doctor for a follow up after our hospital visit. They deep suctioned him again and gave him a breathing treatment. He definitely sounded much better by the time we left. The bulb suction I've been doing at home just doesn't do the same job as the machines at the doctor's office and the hospital. I feel so bad every time I have to stick that bulb up his tiny nose because I know that his nose is probably sore and swollen. The doctor did give me a steroid nasal spray to help with the swelling though. She's also keeping him on breathing treatments every four hours through this Friday. We are to reduce the amount of breathing treatments per day at our own discretion after that. We return to the doctor next Monday for our next followup. She suspects he'll be much better by Friday, so let's keep our fingers crossed and keep praying.

On another note, Derek came home from work for a few hours this afternoon to watch Claire while I went to my doctor (my last checkup since my delivery) and Carter's doctor. Derek working late tonight seemed like it would be better on me and Claire than having a two year old who misses her daily nap. Claire was so good for me tonight. I think she was just excited to be having some one on one attention from Mommy. Of course Carter was awake, but I had to give her more attention than usually since Daddy wasn't here. We had to leave the house to pick up my perscription and drop off Carter's so I decided to take Claire for icecream. She was so excited and talked about it the whole way there. When we got home she was very eager to put on her new Christmas pajamas, and it was very easy to get her into bed. She really can be such a good girl. All it takes is me giving her just a little bit more attention and treating her like the big girl she is becoming.

Call Me Crazy

Our four year old Christmas tree finally bit the dust this year, so I went out last weekend and got us a new one. We decided to go ahead and open it to make sure all the lights worked and to see where to put it in our new house. So for the past week, we have had a Christmas tree sitting in our family room, and I decided we mine as well decorate. Yesterday Derek and I got down all the Christmas stuff from the attic and proceeded to decorate the entire house. We are now Christmas from top to bottom including ornaments on the tree, stockings over the fireplace and lights trimming our roofline. The earliest I have ever started to decorate for Christmas is the first week of December, and usually that is even pushing it. I'm not sure what possessed me to get into the spirit so early this year. After my mom passed away in January, I wasn't so sure I even wanted to decorate at all. Maybe subconsciously I was afraid that if I didn't get it over with early, then I wouldn't do it. I just can't believe that my husband has been so supportive of this early decorating rampage. Claire has found it especially exciting. Last year, I didn't want her to break the ornaments on the tree and she was too young to understand "no touching," so I only decorated the tree with flowers and pinecones. This year she's not only old enough to understand our rules, but she's also old enough to appreciate the beauty of them. We let her hand all the unbreakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree, and she was so excited to be a part of the decorating. Now I just have to convince her that the ornaments are supposed to stay on the tree.

Yes, Claire was also wearing Christmas pajamas

She was very proud of her ornaments


Daddy and Claire were playing dressup with Mommy's boots while I was taking a nap

Nona's House

Last night Derek had to work late, so the kids and I went to dinner at Robin's house (aka Adam's mom or Nona). She's from Louisiana, so we were treated to some authentic red beans and rice...yum-o! She also made homemade peanut butter cookies - my favorite! Claire had a blast playing with her BFF's and especially enjoyed bath time with Peyton. Nona was in heaven holding Carter all night. I also broke out my new little toy - the Flip - to take a video of the kids doing their "silly faces." The silly face is something Derek taught Claire a couple of months ago, and she taught her best friends how to do it too. Hope you enjoy the video of our kids being total goofballs. I've also posted a small clip of Carter and Nona loving on eachother.

Carter Update and An Awesome Birthday Gift

Carter is now more than three weeks old! I can't believe how quickly everything flies by. He is the sweetest boy - I am so in love. It's amazing how much less he sleeps than Claire did. He stayed awake for 3 hours straight yesterday! I couldn't believe it. He wasn't fussing or anything, he just laid in his swing with his eyes open just checking out the world around him. Nights are proving to be a little more difficult. He lays in his pack 'n play grunting and groaning on and off for hours, and as many of you know, that does not make for a restful night for Mommy and Daddy. It's much easier to sleep through the little noises when the baby isn't resting in a bed right next to yours. These noises aren't so bothersome when heard over a monitor. So of course, I am a walking zombie right now. In the beginning, he was grunting and groaning in pain with bad gas through out most of the day, but we've now switched formula for the third time (from Gentlease to Soy) and he seems to be doing much better. It's only been a few days, so time will tell. Everybody keep your fingers crossed that this is the answer. Also, let me just give praise to the lord for the papasan swing! Aunt Heather loaned us her swing and Carter sleeps so well in it - it's my lifesaver during the day. Big sister Claire is adjusting well to the changes our little boy has brought. She either wants to help me with everything or she's just indifferent and completely ignores him. The only time she really acts up is when she gets impatient and needs my help with something. Patience is definitely a virtue she has not learned, but is slowly adjusting to life without Mommy's undivided attention. She absolutely loves her baby brother and enjoys kissing him, holding him in her lap and watching him get diapers changes. All in all, life is good and we're really enjoying our sweet angel. He's so beautiful and he has totally stolen my heart!

On another note, my husband got me the coolest present for my birthday. A small - about the size of a cell phone - video camera called a Flip. It has a built in USB that just plugs into the side of my computer to quickly download video clips. It's perfect for putting small videos up on my blog. I can't wait to post my first video. Stay tuned...

Happy Halloween!

Tonight, Claire Hailey went trick-or-treating for the first time. Her Aunt Hannah and Ethan came over to take her up and down the block. Daddy was in charge of going along and getting lots of pictures. Claire had a nice long nap today, so she was in excellent spirits and couldn't wait to get her Minnie Mouse costume on and head out to collect her candy. She even let me draw on her face with eyeliner! She was so good and said "Happy Halloween," "Trick-or-Treat," and "Thank You" at every house. Meanwhile, Carter and I sat on the porch and handed out candy to all the other little trick-or-treaters. He was so comfy in his Little Monster costume that Aunt Heather found for him, and he stayed awake for the entire time. After all the trick-or-treating was done, Claire snuggled up in her bed with her baby brother and insisted on more pictures being taken. Hope you enjoy these pics of our Halloween cuties! I am so proud of them both.

Carter in his Halloween owl outfit.

Miss Minnie Mouse

Getting ready to head out for trick-or-treating

Me and the kiddos

The first house

Both kids trick-or-treating with Mommy

Claire and Carter snuggling

Carter's Two Week Checkup

Yesterday was Carter's two week checkup. In just two weeks he has gone from 6.7 lbs. to 8.2 lbs. and from 19.75 inches to 20.25 inches. I was so surprised...I kept thinking he was at least 7 lbs., but over 8 lbs. was shocking! Overall, the doctor was very pleased with him. She put him on his stomach and he held his head up so well and almost rolled over right there on the exam table. She recommended starting tummy time at home for 5-10 minutes a couple times a day. Later in the afternoon, Carter was wide awake, and I decided to take our first try at tummy time. Within 30 seconds, my two and half week old baby rolled over from his tummy to his back! I couldn't believe it! His big sister didn't roll over until she was more than three months old. I made him do it over and over and even caught it on video because I thought for sure no one would believe me.

Carter Douglas Has Arrived

Sorry it's taken me so long to post on my delivery, but as you can probably imagine, things have been rather hectic around here. Carter Douglas arrived at 12:07pm on Tuesday, October 14 via an impromptu c-section. He weighed 6lbs. 7oz. and measured 19.75 inches long. So far it looks like he's going to have blond hair and blue eyes just like his big sister. He's so tiny and perfect. I can't get over how beautiful he is. So I'm sure you're wondering how someone who had such a perfect vaginal delivery her first time around could end up with a c-section, well here are the details...

We planned an induction for Tuesday, October 14 because my doctor was going to be out of town on his due date. I was already dilated to 5cm and 80% effaced when I arrived at the hospital that morning. He was still not fully engaged in the birth canal though. My doctor predicted we would have a vaginal delivery by lunch time. She broke my water and everything was going fine on the Petocin. My contractions were coming 2 minutes apart and his heart rate was staying steady...until the epidural. Once we kicked my mother-in-law and friend out of the room for the epidural, they were never allowed back in because my L&D nurse said that Carter wasn't staying stable with the epidural. His heart rate was dropping every time I would have a contraction - sometimes as low as 50. When my doctor came in, they turned off the Petocin and decided to see how he did with me contracting naturally a couple times. She said if there was only one thing going wrong, she wouldn't do a c-section but there were several things not going well at once. She thought he would have come by this time as it was already lunch time. I was dilated to 8cm and fully effaced, but he refused to engage in the birth canal. His heart rate continued to drop and stay low through the contractions even though they had turned off the Petocin. She thought he could have the cord around his neck. Basically, the nurse told me that my doctor likes to play it safe and would rather have a c-section than risk any other complications. My doctor called it "not an emergency c-section" but an "asap c-section." It was certainly scary as I was expecting to have an easy labor like I did with Claire. I had prepared myself for anything, but you never expect it to happen. Derek was amazing and calmed me down pretty quickly in the OR. Having a c-section is just the strangest feeling, and the recovery has been drastically different. In the end, Carter's cord was wrapped all around his body, and he was "sunny side up." Guess he was smart enough to know that wasn't the right way to come out.

Things are crazy at home adjusting to a newborn and a two year old, but I'm loving every minute of it. Claire is so sweet with her brother - giving him tons of kisses and telling him she loves him all the time. So far, both kids seem to be adjusting well - now if mommy and daddy could just catch up!

Just Arrived

All bundled up

Meeting big sister for the first time

Four Generations of Crabtree Men

Proud Mommy

Just finished feeding

See his beauty mark on his right temple?

Smiling

Big blue eyes

So tiny next to Daddy

Claire holding her little brother

Claire loved her big sister present from her "Aunt" Heather

Opening her presents

Our wonderful family

Doctor Appointments - Updates on Baby Carter and Claire

Yesterday was my 38 week exam at the OB. I am currently dilated to almost 4cm and am 75% effaced. The doctor went ahead and stretched my cervix manually (OUCH!!), but she says that Carter is still so high up in my uterus that I probably won't go into labor on my own this week. Looks like we will be making it to Tuesday, October 14 for my induction. It will be nice to have the weekend to make sure everything is ready for his arrival. I am so excited! I can't believe he will be here in less than a week! I can't wait to see his little face and hold him in my arms.

Today was Claire's 2 year checkup. She was such a good girl at the doctor. Her weight, height and head circumference were all in the 50-75% percentile range. Looks like she'll end up being just above average - just as long as she's taller than her 5'3" mommy. She let the doctor listen quietly to her heart and lungs, held her eye open for the light, and turned her head to the side to check her ears. The doctor said that Claire was the most cooperative patient she's ever had. She even sat still for them to spray the flu mist into both of her nostrils. I'm so proud of my big girl!

Happy Birthday Claire!

I can't believe it's been two years since our little angel entered our lives and changed us forever. She amazes me as she grows and changes every day. I can actually carry on full conversations with her, she can tell me when she's happy or sad, she already bosses me around, and she gives the best hugs and kisses in the whole world!

Today she celebrated her second birthday with an early breakfast out with Mommy, Daddy and Pops. After our tummies were full, we headed to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch where Claire picked out 8 pumpkins ranging in size from itty bitty to 20 pounds! She had a blast carrying around her pumpkins and climbing on the hay bales.

We spent the afternoon at home getting ready for Claire's family birthday party. She was so excited when she woke up from her nap and found the house decked out in all Backyardigans, including two huge balloons of Uniqua and Tyrone. Claire had so much fun opening her presents, chowing down on pizza, cake and icecream, and going for a ride on her new tricycle. She really enjoyed having her whole family around and was still bouncing off the walls at bedtime.

Here are some pics of our happy birthday girl!