Claire's 2nd Birthday Party

This past Saturday we had Claire's 2nd birthday party at Gymboree. At first, Claire was a little shy. I have come to find that she does not enjoy having all of the attention put on her. It took her quite a while to warm up and play with her friends, but by the end, she was begging Daddy to play some more. The kids played on all the equipment, sang songs, popped bubbles and played on the parachute. They all had a blast! And of course, the cake was a big hit too. It was definitely the perfect place for me to have a party at 9 months pregnant because the staff did everything for us. I didn't have to lift a finger, and everything went perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better party for our sweet girl. I can't believe how quickly she's growing up. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, and now we're about to bring home our second one!

Claire climbing on the obstacle course

Claire and Daddy

Peyton and her maracas

Claire with Mommy and Daddy

Claire "surfing"

The kids with the bubbles and parachute

Even Monkey and Duck joined in on the fun

Claire blew out her candle all by herself!

Mmmmm...cake...

Baby Carter 36 Weeks

Today was the big appointment to determine if bedrest was helping to keep our little boy in my tummy longer. Hurray for good friends, family and especially Derek! We succeeded in keeping me from dilating any further this week. I have still been ordered to maintain bedrest for another week. As soon as I make it to next Tuesday, the doctor says I can "have at it." If I make it all the way to 39 weeks, we will be inducing on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30am at Plano Presby. I can't believe we will see little Carter so soon! Thanks to all who have been helping us through this last month!

I Am a Robot

On Thursday night, we decided to forgo our usual bath time for some Daddy and Claire play time. Claire was really enjoying climbing into the boxes we had from some recent deliveries, and Daddy decided that it would be even cooler if she was wearing the box. He honed his knife skills to create a one of a kind robot box for Claire. She was so excited with her new outfit. She ran around the house saying in her best alien voice, "I am a robot." Here are some pics I snapped of our night of playing.

Our little robot girl

Special Delivery for Mommy

Claire running around in her new outfit

It even turns upside down for a new look

Baby Carter Update - 35 Weeks

Yesterday was my weekly OB appointment. After discussing my progress and my previous pregnancy, the doctor and I decided to scheduled an induction for October 15 (if I make it that far). As of yesterday, I am 2cm dilated and 50% effaced at 35 weeks. I have been put on modified bed rest by my OB. Basically on the days Claire doesn't have school, I have to have someone else at the house to help out with Claire and other household chores. Our goal is to make it at least 2 more weeks. Derek and I are taking the bed rest to the extreme so that I won't end up on full fledged bed rest or hospitalized bed rest. Every time I get up from the couch or the bed, he wants to know where I'm going and what I'm doing. It's pretty funny since I'm not used to anyone waiting on me hand and foot. Everybody please keep baby Carter in your prayers, we just need to make it 2 more weeks for him to be considered fully developed and ready to enter the world.

On another note, Claire did one of the cutest things every yesterday! She got up at 6:40am which is unusually early for her (she's usually up around 7:15am). After breakfast I took her to change her diaper and she said, "Mommy, I'm tired." And I said, "Of course you're tired baby. You got up really early today. Why did you get up so early?" To which she replied, "Hmmmm. Think. Think. Think," while tapping her chin with her finger. The little things she does just melt me!

Sharkarosa Ranch

This Sunday, we went to the Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch near Sanger, Texas for her friend Mia's 2nd birthday party. It was a beautiful day, and the ride up there was an experience in itself. We passed many horse ranches and drove over the dam at Ray Roberts Lake. When we first got there, the kids were able to explore all the different cages of animals around the pavilion. There were many lemurs (including 2 babies), kangaroos, bobcats, mini donkeys (including a mini zonkey - zebra/mini donkey) and baby camels to name a few. After a while, one of the ranch workers brought out a baby albino kangaroo as well as two different kinds of lemurs and a Great Dane. Claire loved being able to interact with the animals. We then loaded the kids onto a John Deere tractor train for a little ride. Claire was totally chill while waiting in her train car for the ride to begin. Once they got going she was doing fine until they stopped to turn the train around. At this point, "Miss Independence" decided her ride was over and stood up in her train car. She was one of the only two kids who had to be returned on a four wheeler in the arms of a ranch worker. We then took a 45 minute ride on a tram around the entire ranch. Buckets of food were hooked to the sides of the tram so that the animals could stand right next to us and eat as we pet them. We saw many different kinds of horses (including a beautiful baby zorse - horse/zebra, camels (including an albino), deer, and many other types of wildlife. Overall, Daddy, Claire and I had a great time! I will definitely take her back for another visit. Thank you Mia for an exciting birthday adventure!

Claire petting the baby albino kangaroo

Claire petting a lemur from Madagascar

Claire and the ring tailed lemur

Claire riding the John Deere train

Elvis the baby zorse

Claire petting the camels

The albino camel

Daddy on the swing with Claire, Anna and Avery

Baby Shower #1

This Saturday, my good friends Heather and Melody gave me a baby shower for Carter. We had the shower at my house which was wonderful because my family and friends got to see Carter's room. Heather decorated the house with primary colors and hung sea creatures in the windows (following the theme of his sailboat room). The girls had a yummy spread of food and we had so much fun playing the baby shower games. One of the games was a sheet of paper with Carter's name on it, and guests had to write snippets of advice to Carter or to me using each letter of his name to start the sentences. Some of them turned out so special, and I know we will read them for years to come. Carter got lots of great gifts and many cute outfits. Overall, we had a great time! Thanks so much to Heather and Mel for throwing me a great shower and thanks to everyone who came.

Me and Heather

Heather, me and Melody

Me and Ashli

Claire Knocks Out Daddy

This morning, Claire found Daddy's kickboxing gloves and put them on. Mommy then encouraged Claire to punch Daddy. She loved it! Here she is hamming is up as usual.

Carter Douglas Is On His Way

I had my 33 week doctor's appointment yesterday, and things are really moving along. While the nurse was weighing me and getting my blood pressure (which is back up to normal), she asked if I had anything to discuss with the doctor. I explained to her that I have been having some false labor contractions - similar to the Braxton-Hicks I have been experiencing over the last two months only much stronger and lower down on my stomach. She said she would pass the word on to Dr. W and have her "check me" (check my cervix for any possible dilation). Dr. W asked me to describe my contractions and sited them as simply a combo of Braxton-Hicks and round ligament pains - common pregnancy pains. She said that the uterus during the second pregnancy can be much more irritated and that I would be experiencing stronger/sharper pains due to this irritation. She said that she didn't think what I was experiencing would cause my cervix to change/dilate but she would do a check just to be sure.

...SURPRISE...

Dr. W was just as shocked as I was to find that I am already 1 to 1.5 centimeters dilated. Her concern was minimal since I was already 2 centimeters at 35 weeks with Claire. She thinks that I am probably moving along the same path. However, I now have to go in for weekly appointments, and she will be checking my cervix weekly for any changes. She has put me on some restrictions - no sex (hahaha! like that happens at the end of pregnancy anyway!), limit my exercise and just try to relax as much as possible. She said, "If he comes at 38 weeks instead of 39 like Claire, that would be just fine." Ummm...38 weeks!!! Does she realized that 38 weeks means October 7 - just two days after Claire's birthday and one day before our wedding anniversary. Could we possibly cram more things into one week of our lives?! I had a little talk with Carter after she left the room letting him know that the most important thing was to stay put so he will be as healthy as possible and so he won't ruin his big sister's birthday. Either way, I can't wait to see his precious little face. I am definitely going into nesting mode - packing my bag for the hospital and washing all of his clothes this week. Whew! So much for trying to relax!

Claire's First Day of School

Yesterday was Claire's first day of preschool. I was especially nervous because Daddy was taking her due to my doctor's appointment in the morning. The night before, I was like a mad woman rushing around the house packing her lunch and tote bag and making sure everything was ready to go.

Daddy made it on time with my camera in hand - hurray! At first, Claire didn't want to go into the classroom, so Daddy accompanied her and found her an Elmo book to read. Within seconds, she was distracted and Daddy slipped away. Easy as pie. She adapts so easily.

I went to pick her up four hours later, and she was so excited to see me. "Mommy, mommy, mommy," was all I heard as she approached my car. As soon as her teacher, Miss Frankie, put her in the car she began telling me all about her day. She was so wound up! Claire's first day report said that she was "Good" all day, but got a little sad towards the end due to sleepiness (school ends right before her nap time). She had goldfish and yogurt for a snack, and ate almost all of her lunch. Seems to me like we couldn't have asked for a more perfect first day of school. I hope Thursday goes just as smoothly.

Here are some pictures of Claire all dressed up for her first day.

Claire's crayon dress and fancy shoes.

Look at those blue eyes!

A little unsure - thank goodness for lovies!

The Elmo book that saved Daddy.

Our Little Cowgirl

I just thought this was such a sweet picture of Claire. She insisted on wearing her cowboy hat all morning, and she really showed it off for the camera!