The Speck Family

that's love

2012-02-15T13:17:00.001-06:00

How did we celebrate Valentine's Day 2012? At Gander Mountain. What did we buy? A gun.

Now that's love.

Oh, we also went to Target and bought some new pots and pans--it doesn't get more romantic than that!

*special thanks to Andrea for KC's Valentine's Day dress!

future deer hunter

2012-02-14T12:57:00.004-06:00

Carter is his father's son, that is, all things BOY!

His new favorite love, next to basketball, is deer. It started this past deer hunting season and has escalated to the point where everytime we pass a chunk of woods, Carter yells out DEER!--even if there aren't any. He is obsessed with reading Christmas books because they have reindeer and always wants to go look at daddy's deer head mounted in the mud room.

Last year, Judge Jensen made Tony and Carter noon-ball t-shirts, and this year--deer hunting shirts. Kendall even got a future deer hunter pink camouflage onesie! --you never know.

Thanks, Keith!

*Updated Videos:
Carter playing b-ball
Kendall
A kiss from big brother
Grammy Awards dancing--with Kent and Lisa.

daddy's girl

2012-02-12T14:44:00.000-06:00

Update on Kendall

2012-02-10T13:37:00.003-06:00

This morning we took Kendall to Gillette Children's Hospital, which is based in St. Paul, to see a pediatric dermatologist about the mole on the top of her head. Going into it, we really didn't know what to expect--whether it was a concern or something she could live with.

After a quick measurement, Dr. Wood was very up front with us that this is an issue. If we don't remove it, there is a chance it could become malignant--in a few years, 30 years, 60 years--it would be something she would have to monitor the rest of her life. And from a cosmetic standpoint, her hair in that spot would be a darker color than the rest (which we expected).

The risk of cancer is enough for us to decide she needs to have it removed as soon as possible.

Dr. Wood then explained that we only have one option, which is skin grafting when she turns 9 months old. We need to wait until she's a little older since she will be getting anesthesia, and we also need more time for her skull to harden. I'll spare you details for now, but it basically entails 2 hospital stays, 8 weekly visits for grafting injections, and then the final plastic surgery.

It's a lot to take in.

We decided it was still better to go ahead with this treatment plan while she's still young (which Dr. Wood strongly recommended as well)--she wont remember any of it, we wont run the risk of it becoming cancerous, and her hair will grow in with the rest.

As a mama, it's very difficult to hear what your baby will have to go through--it's going to be a hard few months. But it could be worse--much, much worse. She's a healthy, happy girl and we have so much to be thankful for.

We meet with Dr. Wood again on August 10th to go over details and schedule the appointments and surgery. Prayers for peace of mind until then are greatly appreciated!!!

6 weeks

2012-02-09T14:31:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe our little missy is already 6 weeks! In fact, when I went to see Dr. Olson this week, that's the first thing she said--It's been 6 weeks already?!? It seems like I just saw you yesterday. Yes, it does.

Kendall's eyes are now a dark blue, which is Tony's eye color--I'm anxious to see if they'll stay or turn brown. She's officially grown out of all her newborn clothes and diapers and is now wearing 3 months and size 1. We usually go to bed around 11:00-ish and she's been sleeping until 5 or 6am--then going back to sleep until 9. She's a noisy and deep sleeper, just like her daddy! Between Kendall, Tony, and Jack all sleeping in our room at night, it's definitely a chorus of noises!

I told Dr. Olson that things have been much easier this time around. I had some postpartum issues after Carter's birth and got a case of the baby blues--nothing that I was treated for, but I definitely fought off some depression when he was around 3 weeks old.

She told me, I think your expectations are more realistic now--which is true. With your first, everything is new and you really don't know what to expect. Your life completely changes overnight and sometimes that can be a shock to your system--physically and emotionally. I know that's what happened to me. This time, I don't stress myself out trying to keep the house clean or laundry folded. When dinner isn't cooked, we go out to eat. When the kids need a bath, bedtimes are pushed back. If it takes me an hour to get the kids ready for a quick trip to Target, that's okay. I do my best--and at the end of the day, what's important is time spent with the kids.

Everything else at my postpartum checked out just fine. I'm so thankful for Dr. Olson and all the great doctors and nurses who I've been surrounded by. They're excited to see your kids and when you doubt yourself, they tell you you're doing a great job--it's uplifting and refreshing.

I always give my parents a hard time for taking hundreds of baby pictures of my brother and just a few of me (okay, maybe a more than just a few...), so I'm trying to keep up and take as many of Kendall as I can. She is such a sweetie and I'm excited to watch her little personality develop!

We love you, sissy!!!

Carter's Book of WHO

2012-02-08T14:45:00.003-06:00

Just call my dad the modern day Dr. Seuss! He has been making Carter (and my nephew Tyler) books over the past few years about adventures in their life. Some favorites include Tyler Rides the Bus and Carter Goes to the Zoo. Carter loves being read to and I know both boys insist on reading these books all. the. time. My dad heard from a teacher that rhyming books help kids develop a love for reading and will also help them learn to read. Carter has already been picking up on the phrases and will let me know if I miss a word or a page.

My dad's latest creations are Carter's Book of WHO and Carter's Book of WHO #2. These are such special books that I know Carter will love and cherish forever. Here are a few pages...

Intro to Book #1

Intro to Book #2

Thanks, Dad!

Superbowl 2012

2012-02-06T13:51:00.002-06:00

Last night we all went to a neighborhood Superbowl party at Scott and Jacquie's house. Living in Minnesota, we definitely appreciate and take advantage of opportunities to see our neighbors during the winter months--since during the summer, we basically live outside. Most of the families around us have older children, so they all loved passing Kendall around--and of course, Carter provided endless entertainment throughout the game.

Now--looking forward to spring weather and baseball season!

Tony custom built this bar top

Divide and Conquer

2012-02-02T12:55:00.005-06:00

Kendall is looking more and more like her daddy!

Life with two kids is keeping us very busy! My dad compares raising kids with his love for basketball; with two you play man-to-man and with three or more, you're playing in zone. For the past two years, we've had full-court advantage. With another kid, and with each kid, you have to come up with a new game plan--and ours? Divide and Conquer.

It's challenging, rewarding, exciting--an adjustment learning all the new plays. Parenting is teamwork and in order for it to be successful, you both have to use your strengths and pull your own weight. I love watching Tony wrestle with Carter and dote on Kendall--it's those special Kairos moments that I want to cherish and remember.

Carter didn't pay a whole lot of attention to Kendall at first, I'd say he was rather indifferent--afterall, she can't shoot hoops or play cars. But he's really warming up to her (often asking us "where did baby go?" when he can't see her) and loves to be my helper around the house--bringing me burp clothes, giving sister her paci, helping clean up...I even caught him trying to burp Elmo the other day! It's probably been the hardest adjustment for him and we try and give him as much one-on-one attention as possible. He was sooooo close to being fully potty trained before she was born, but that quickly went out the door and now we're back at square one. That's okay, I can't really dedicate myself to training him right now anyways, so we'll pick up in a few months.

Kendall will let you know when she's not happy (I refer to it as a pterodactyl cry), but she's really been a great baby so far--laid back and easy going. Besides the middle of the night feedings, I really enjoy having a newborn in the house again. I find it to be so much easier this time around since we've been here before and know what to expect. Carter is such a boy and loves wrestling and building with his daddy, so I'm relishing my little girl who loves to cuddle and snuggle :) It's fun to see the differences in having one of each--they're both unique and fun in their own ways.

I'd say the biggest adjustment is having two little ones with two completely different sets of needs--and trying to meet them at the same time. Nursing Kendall can be very time-consuming throughout the day, so I have to be creative in how I can keep Carter entertained. It helps to be organized with schedules by trying to coordinate feedings and naps--it usually gives me some free time in the afternoon to clean, cook...or sit down for a minute!

Next Friday, Tony and I take Kendall to Children's Hospital to see Dr. Wood, a pediatric dermatologist who is going to look at her birthmark/mole on the top of her head. The day after Kendall was born, a pediatrician from the hospital came in and told us she was concerned about it and that they might need to do a biopsy to make sure it's not cancerous. After talking with KC's pediatrician, Dr. Kelley, it seems as if they might want us to remove it now, maybe in a few more years, or it could be something she can live with for the rest of her life. Dr. Wood comes highly recommended here in the Twin Cities (he has a 6-week waiting list) and we are hopeful that he can give us all the answers we need. Prayers are always appreciated.

We hope everyone is enjoying their (unusually warm) winter!!!

Grandma Speck's Visit

2012-01-30T09:51:00.002-06:00

We were happy to have Grandma Speck come and visit us for a week from Seattle, WA! We spent the week doing lots of fun things--shopping at Mall of America, playing at Edinborough Park, enjoying many meals at Cracker Barrel (they don't have them in Washington), and Carter had his first trip to Rainforest Cafe and Nickelodeon Universe. Carter and Kendall were both spoiled with lots of attention from grandma, along with some new toys & clothes! Tony and I were spoiled with lots of sweet tea, home-cooked meals (that we didn't have to make) and being able to sleep in a bit. It was nice to have an extra set of hands for the week--getting out of the house with two little ones in subzero temps isn't easy!

We're glad you could come visit, Grandma! Here are a few pictures from the week...

1 and 25 months

2012-01-25T15:11:00.002-06:00

welcome to parenthood

2012-01-24T16:26:00.015-06:00

Last week I had my first true test as a mama of two--I had been sick with a horrible sinus headache/fever and Carter finally got a touch of the bug himself. We all went to bed and none of us got much sleep that night. The next morning, I put Carter in bed with me so he could watch Elmo while I nursed Kendall. I looked over just in time to watch him throw up--all over himself, the sheets, the duvet...everything!

Thankfully, Tony was working from home that day since we were under a winter storm watch, so he was able to throw Carter in the tub real quick while I gathered up all the linens to put in the wash and finished feeding Kendall. I tried giving Carter some apple juice and crackers, which he threw up shortly afterwards. I felt my own fever going up during the day and it was extremely difficult trying to take care of a sick toddler, nurse a baby, and attempt to get myself together...

By evening, Carter was better--unfortunately Kendall and I were not. She woke up around 1:00 am and threw up, followed by four hours of whining and me having to hold and nurse her. It was around 4 am that I had a major breakdown--I woke Tony up and the tears flowed...I just couldn't take it! I was sick, Kendall was sick, and I'd spent the past 24 hours with a sick 2-year old. All I wanted was to curl up in bed and get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep...but that wasn't going to happen. Tony gave me a much-needed pep talk and I was able to pull it together and get a few hours of sleep before Carter woke up.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger--this came to mind during the middle of the night. I'm sure there will be many more moments where I'm stretched to my limit, but as Tony kept reminding me, the kids need me. And perhaps there lies the hardest part of parenthood--there is no punching in or out, no calling in sick when you have a fever. Rain or shine, you are it!

It wont be the last time I'm cleaning up throw up and doing 5 loads of laundry in one morning--but I can tell you I'm much more prepared and confident that I can rally it together for next time! It's a lot of work--let me repeat that, it's a lot of work. But there's something so fulfilling and rewarding in knowing that you can care for these little children--these little beings that look at you as their entire world. It's enough to get me up in the morning on just a few hours of sleep. And thank goodness for those rainbows after a storm.

Sometimes we land in Italy and sometimes the pilot announces, Welcome to Holland! We wouldn't appreciate one without the other...welcome to parenthood! :)

Snowless in Minne

2012-01-19T16:09:00.003-06:00

Is it really January?!?!

The temperature last week was 50 degrees with lots of sun and we have yet to see a snowstorm or blizzard here in Minne. Last year at this time, the snow in our front yard was above these orange snow markers and went several feet on top of our mailbox. It doesn't seem possible to already be mid-January without being blanketed underneath five feet of snow--but I'm not complaining. It's been so much easier to get out and about with the kids without all the white stuff. However, I'm sure we'll see a fair share before winter is over!

phone pics

2012-01-14T13:01:00.010-06:00

I recently got around to uploading some pictures off my phone--which is my primary camera these days! Here are a few...

Carter and Logan on Christmas Eve

Carter watching Elmo ("Mel-mo") with Lisa

Tony and I took the kids to Cabela's last week.

Carter likes to share his toys with sissy

While the kids are down for naps, Tony has been busy building me this new coat rack for our mud room--winter gear takes up so much room, so we're always needing/wanting extra storage. He later added 3 more hooks that hang from the top.

He had to put up his deer head--the finishing touch :)

Carter and Kendall

2012-01-13T18:48:00.000-06:00

little sister

2012-01-09T16:02:00.001-06:00

bath time!

2012-01-06T15:01:00.000-06:00

When she wasn't screaming, she was fast asleep.

24 months and 1 week

2012-01-05T14:16:00.004-06:00

Carter's 2-year stats-- weight: 29 lbs, height: 35"

Kendall has been gaining 1 ounce/day, which is great news!

So thankful for two healthy little ones.

newborn pictures

2012-01-02T12:40:00.012-06:00

Between birthdays, babies, doctor's appointments, and the winter holiday season--things have been really busy around here! I did have time to take a few pictures of Kendall last week while my parents were visiting. She has a silver-dollar-sized birthmark/mole on the top of her head that you can see in some of the pictures. When Carter was born, I thought he looked more like my side of the family--and with Kendall, I think she looks like a Northrop--from Tony's side of the family.

She's been a great baby so far, feeds every 3 hours and has been sleeping decent at night. Carter has been adjusting well to having her around--loves giving her kisses and always tries to help us. Tony is off work until January 11th and has been a huge help with Carter and keeping up with all the housework.

click here to watch a video of Carter & Kendall.

My parents were up last week and were a huge help taking care of Carter and doing odds-n-ends around the house--making meals, folding laundry, grocery shopping, taking Jack for walks, and so on. We really appreciated their help--Thank You!

Kendall's Birth Story

2011-12-31T14:00:00.024-06:00

It was Christmas Eve. We were enjoying a nice dinner with our neighbors--Scott, Jacquie, and their son, Logan-- and I proceeded to tell them about how I kept having these dreams when I was pregnant with Carter that I had a little girl on Christmas Day. After dinner, we all piled in the van to go look at Christmas lights before calling it a night and falling asleep to the wonderful TBS marathon of A Christmas Story...

1:37 am. I got up to go to the bathroom. Except when I sat on the edge of the bed, my water broke. I thought this isn't really happening, not right now... I hurried into the bathroom where my small trickle turned into something resembling Niagara Falls. I stood in the shower and it took a few moments to realize what was happening. I yelled for Tony and told him to call Scott and Jacquie. I tried to take a shower before we left for the hospital, but Tony wouldn't let me (very good thing, come to find out...) Jacquie came right over to take care of Carter and reminded me of my dream of having lil' missy on Christmas Day--after a quick farewell, we were on our way to the hospital.

Up until we got to the hospital, I hadn't had a single contraction. I called Jeanene and my mom--who shortly after started the 10-hour drive north. We signed into the birthing center, I got into the room, put my gown on, then WHAM--contraction. I wouldn't call this a typical first contraction because it was very, very, very, painful and lasted about one minute. It took me by surprise. By the time I caught my breath, there came another contraction--then another--and another...these contractions were like nothing I had ever felt before. They were so much more painful than with Carter's labor and right on top of each other, not giving me anytime to relax in between.

The labor and delivery nurse came in and said she was going to call the OB doctor and the anesthesiologist. It's a good thing she did because my contractions never slowed down--my body was shaking from all the adrenaline and I was wanting to push to help relieve some of the pain.
The OB on call was Dr. Christine Braun--she arrived first and told me I was 8 cm dilated. Initially, I had told Tony I didn't want an epidural if I was that far along, but I couldn't push without dry-heaving and I honestly just wasn't mentally or physically prepared for the amount of pain I was in.

The anesthesiologist arrived sometime after--at this point I was already dilated to 10 cm, so I was ready for some pain relief so my body could relax and I could focus on pushing. The next hour was spent getting the right amount of medicine--too much and you don't have enough feeling to push, not enough and I would continue to dry-heave through all of my contractions, in which I wasn't able to push.

They let me rest up a little bit before Dr. Braun and my labor and delivery nurse came in and said let's do this. Dr. Braun told me to get mad and push her out--my mind went back to those 3 1/2 hours of dreadful pushing with Carter's delivery and I was determined to get her out as quickly as possible.

They didn't remove the end of the bed, put my legs in stirrups, or turn on any lights--Dr. Braun sat on the end of the bed with Tony and nurse Christine on each side. It was quiet and very calm. After pushing through about 10 contractions, they all smiled with excitement and told me to give a few more good pushes. During the next contraction, I felt her little body wiggle down and watched as Dr. Braun pulled her out.

It was beautiful.

Tony cut the cord and they placed her on my chest. I was so thankful for a healthy baby, and thankful for it to be such an incredible and intimate moment--the best Christmas gift I could have asked for.

Tony had tears in his eyes the whole time and kept telling me--she's here--she's beautiful--you did it. He was instantly smitten with his little missy!

I only needed one stitch this time and was able to be up and walking around shortly after. I was the only patient at the birthing center the entire time, so my OB doctor had me stay until the 27th--which gave me plenty of time to recuperate and allowed Tony and I to really bond with Kendall.

Tony picked out her name and wanted Christine for her middle name (Carter's middle name is Anthony). I told him unless she happened to be born on Christmas Day--then it would be Noelle. However, both Dr. Braun and my labor and delivery nurse (who also delivered Carter) were both named Christine. I told them in the delivery room that it was a clear sign to me that we'd stick with Christine.

So at 6:34 am, we welcomed our non-returnable, healthy, and perfect Christmas present--Kendall Christine Speck. We love you, missy!

Our favorite nurse, Mary

first visit with our pediatrician, Dr. Kelley

Thank you for all the calls, emails, texts--we are so thankful for another healthy baby and appreciate all the kind words, prayers and support!

Blessings! The Speck Family

***At one point while I was in labor, the nurses asked us if we had already celebrated Christmas. Before we could respond, the anesthesiologist said "They're having Christmas right now!" It put a huge smile on my face during the middle of a painful contraction. Kendall's birth will always be a great reminder to us of the true meaning of Christmas.

carter turns TWO!

2011-12-31T11:37:00.003-06:00

hApPy BiRtHdAy, CARTER!!!

Carter has been in present heaven lately and is loving all of his new toys! When Carter turned one, Tony and I started his 529 college savings plan. This year, thanks to family who have given him birthday money the past two years, we started his own savings account. They may not be gifts he appreciates now, but hopefully he will when he turns 18!!!

click here to watch a video of Carter blowing out his birthday candle.

Thanks to everyone for all the cards and gifts! Here are a few pictures from C's special day...

Kendall Christine

2011-12-28T14:36:00.000-06:00

Kendall Christine Speck

December 25, 2011

7 lbs, 9 oz/ 20 inch

6:34 am

Northfield, Minnesota

Meet the newest member of the Speck family! Tony and I were completely surprised when my water broke around 2 am Christmas morning--four hours later, we received the best gift of all! I'm working on writing up her birth story, but for now, enjoy a picture of our lil' missy :)

*We had debated having her middle name be Noelle, however, both my OB doctor and the labor & delivery nurse were named Christine. Right before she was born, I told them I was naming her Christine so one day I can tell her she's named after the 3 women that brought her into this world!

The Twelve Months of Carter

2011-12-23T14:05:00.003-06:00

Ending the year of 2011 with our first baby turning two, it only seems fitting that we have another post of The Twelve Months of Carter.

Carter Anthony Speck

December 28, 2009

7 lbs 7 oz, 21 inches

3:57 pm

Northfield, Minnesota

Carter,

We hope one day you look back on these pictures and posts and have a memory or two of your childhood adventures and our life here in Minnesota--of your little red sled in the snow, pool days on hot summer afternoons, playing basketball at the neighbors, walking to the park, zoo trips, Jack--the list goes on.

You are such a happy, fun-loving and kind-spirited boy, and you mean more to your mom and dad than you can comprehend. There are no do-overs, no dress rehearsals in life--our hope for you in the future is that you live your life to the fullest, that you do all the things you love, that you work hard, remain humble, and have patience with others. We are here to love you through childhood and support you through adulthood--you will always be the baby that made us parents, who allowed us to grow into a family and continues to teach us valuable lessons about the important things in life.

Happy 2nd Birthday--We Love You!

Here's a look back on the past twelve months of Carter...

38/39 weeks

2011-12-22T18:34:00.003-06:00

I met with Dr. Olson on Tuesday and had her check me to see if anything was happening--long story short, she couldn't find my cervix. She tried about 5 times before telling me that in her medical career, that has never happened before. Before anymore attempts, she decided to do an ultrasound to make sure the baby's head was down--which it was. Turns out, the baby's head was somehow covering the cervix, so after getting sister to move a little bit, she was finally able to tell me that I'm still at 1 cm and my cervix is very soft.

One thing she knows is that sister is pretty big--currently measuring just under 8 lbs, so she went ahead and scheduled the induction for Thurs, Jan. 5th because she's afraid if baby gets any bigger, it might be too difficult for me to push her out. Hopefully she will come sooner than that, but it's nice to have an end date for peace of mind. She told me how she vividly remembers Carter's 4-hour delivery/pushing process--we definitely want to avoid any repeats of that!

I've been having a lot of cramping lately and I definitely feel that the end is near. My next OB appointment is Thursday with Dr. Dixon since, of all weeks to be on vacation, Dr. Olson will be out of town. She told me to have the baby in the next few days or wait until the new year so she can deliver her :) I hope the next update is announcing her birth, but nature knows best and all I pray for is a healthy baby girl! I can handle being uncomfortably pregnant over the holidays knowing that she just needs a little more time to grow.

We'll be sure to keep family and friends updated on baby news over the holidays!

minivan fam

2011-12-20T13:58:00.001-06:00

Yes, we are officially a minivan family!

Tony wanted an SUV, but we (both) ultimately agreed that a minivan would be a better fit for us. We needed a vehicle with plenty of space for road trips, friends, family, and the possibility of room for another kiddo. I also imagined myself going to Target with two kids in -30 degree weather--so the power sliding doors quickly won me over! We were set on the Honda Odyssey, but after test-driving the Toyota Sienna last weekend, it was a unanimous decision to go with Toyota.

So we ordered the 2012 Sienna on Saturday and picked her up last night--Tony was sad to say goodbye to his truck (he will be driving the Passat now), but it just wasn't practical for our current stage in life. I reassured him that when the kids get older and can start riding in the front seat, he can definitely get his truck back :) Thanks for taking one for the team, babe!

reindeer ornament

2011-12-19T13:49:00.004-06:00

Carter's thumbprint reindeer ornament--Thanks, Lisa!

All I want for Christmas...

2011-12-16T15:31:00.002-06:00

Tony surprised me this year with the new Samsung Galaxy II--the first time I've ever had data on my phone, to which I say welcome to the 21st century! Tony's had a blackberry for almost 5 years now and I've always been a step (or 2,3...) behind, so I'm happy to report that I'm finally up-to-date in the world of technology. I'll be sure to put the unlimited data to good use this winter :)

I also got several care packages this week, which totally made my day.

My friend Megan sent me a box full of goodies to get me through these next few weeks, including decaf k-cups, lip gloss, my gossip magazines, and favorite candle scent--along with some adorable outfits for sister and some books & snowman kit for Carter. Love it!

And my friend Whitney made me this adorable diaper purse + changing pad. She also made Carter's crib blanket, pillow, and storage containers when he was born--I think she should start a business on etsy!

THANKS GUYS! You are the best! xoxo

keeping busy

2011-12-15T14:27:00.001-06:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't sit still very well. In fact, the hardest part of this pregnancy has been having the physical limitations of not being able to hold Carter as much as I'd like, being told by my doctor over-and-over to take it easy, taking twice as long to do anything, and forcing myself to slow down and let some things go.

And I have...lightened up a bit. The house isn't always clean and my hair and make-up seldom done, however, I have enjoyed keeping busy with other things during this final waiting period.

Carter and I met Wendy and her 3 boys at the Minnesota Zoo this week, went mall-walking/Christmas shopping at Mall of America with Emmy and twins, wrapped Christmas presents & had Santa's Elves send our packages to loved ones, and even managed to get almost everything set-up for sister's welcome home (okay, that was mostly Tony...).

Even though I've had to slow things down a bit, It's been nice to get out-and-about as much as possible to keep busy and take my mind off the fact that I'm going to be having a baby any day here. Hey, I'd much rather have my water break at the mall than on the couch :) Enjoy a few pictures from our week!

The boys were excited to see the big tree! at Mall of America--and drive the trucks, of course.

Making his thumbprint ornament with Ms. Lisa at church. He's not in her 2-3's Sunday School class yet, but he still got to make one :)

Looking at the penguins with Jake, Trey, and Kyle.

37 weeks

2011-12-11T14:11:00.002-06:00

FULL TERM!

Sister dropped almost 2 weeks ago--I had only been getting between 3-4 hours of sleep a night because I literally felt like my rib cage was going to explode and I couldn't breathe anymore. On our way back home from Greenville, we stayed at a hotel and I remember sleeping for almost 7 straight hours, waking up and not gasping for air--it was heaven!

At my 36-week appointment, Dr. Olson checked me and I was 1/2 cm dilated--which doesn't mean much since I could go into labor tomorrow or in another 3 weeks. But sister seems to be cozy and warm in the womb with no signs of making her entrance, yet. Dr. Olson said that history tends to repeat itself, so she's betting I'll start labor between Christmas and New Years. Tony predicts she will be born on the 28th (Carter's birthday) and as of now, I'm thinking she'll come late--Jan 1, 2, or 3rd. We'll see...

Tony, Carter and I went to Northfield Hospital last week to do our hospital registration and birth plan review--it's actually mandatory that you meet with a labor & delivery nurse in your final month to go over questions, paperwork/insurance information, and to discuss your birth plan wishes--down to the simple details of how you want your baby placed on you after birth...with a warm blanket or not? If my delivery goes as quickly this time 'round as it did with Carter, I told Tony I just want to get to the hospital and push her out--no epidural to slow things down, just get her out!

There is a hospital much closer to our home, but I'd much rather make the 20-mile drive to Northfield because their birthing center (in my opinion) is simply amazing--by far the best around. When you call to notify them you're coming in, they have your birthing suite prepped with your wishes and ready for your entrance--and each of the delivery and recovery rooms come with a jetted-whirpool tub, which was my favorite part after Carter was born.

btw, my advice for any soon-to-be-mom is to take advantage of your time in the hospital. Limit visitors, if any at all, and sleep, rest, recuperate. You will not have doctors and nurses at your disposal when you get home and the hourly tasks of handling a newborn can be overwelming--so ask all your questions and get yourself comfortable with taking care of your little bundle :)

This final month is definitely the most difficult, so we appreciate all the thoughts and prayers!

deck the halls

2011-12-06T14:34:00.001-06:00

This past weekend, Tony and Scott went to the tree farm, walked miles in the cold and snow to find the two most perfect Christmas trees--and I will say, they did good.

I wasn't in the mood to decorate, mainly because I couldn't climb a ladder or lift any of the boxes--but thankfully, Tony came to the rescue and turned into Buddy the Elf on Saturday, hanging up lights and decking our halls to put us all in the Christmas spirit.

It's a rare opportunity that we get to spend the holiday season at our home here in Minnesota, so I'm definitely looking forward to spending this time with my family--relaxing, listening to Christmas music, and bundling up for a snowstorm or two...

Carter sat and played with these strands of gold beads for at least 30 minutes-- I had to leave his final masterpiece "as is" to display outside his bedroom...

Thank you for our Christmas stockings, Grandma Speck! Tony's mom makes stockings for each of her grandchildren, and this year (in addition to sister's) I asked her to make one for Tony and myself. They turned out perfect and we will cherish them for many holiday seasons :)

carter's reindeer

2011-12-05T12:57:00.003-06:00

We're getting into the holiday spirit around here.

Tony made his final trip to New York City last week and now we're prepping for sister's arrival here soon, as well as decorating the house for Christmas and gearing up for another Minnesota winter!

We got 3-4" of snow on Saturday, just enough for one little boy to enjoy some sledding.

CLICK HERE to watch Carter on his sled.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T22:24:00.000-06:00

We had a great visit over the Thanksgiving holiday with our family and friends in Greenville, IL. Carter got to spend time with his California relatives, grandparents, great grandparents, as well as Uncle Steve from Buffalo, NY and Uncle Brad & family from Springfield, MO. Tony and I enjoyed several adult evenings with my good friends from high school, as well as our friends Steve & Sonya who recently moved to St. Louis. It was really great to spend time with everyone while we were in town!

Tony got his fill of deer and pheasant hunting while I filled up on Mario's Pizza and homemade ice cream (blame it on the pregnancy...) Carter loved playing outside, riding his bike, going for walks with grandma and riding the scooter with grandpa.

Click here to watch a video of Carter going for a scooter ride!

We have much to be thankful for this holiday season and are looking forward to another year with our growing family!

Dinner at The Chop House in St. Rose

Yes, our dessert is on fire! --with Steve & Sonya

cousins

2011-11-27T19:54:00.001-06:00

We had a great visit in Greenville with my brother and his family from Pasadena, California--Carter loved playing with his cousin Tyler who is 14 months older. They kept each other entertained by playing in the leaves, riding bikes, playing b-ball and football, wrestling, coloring the tub with their bath crayons, and running all around grandpa and grandma's house.

click here to watch a video of the boys jumping in the leaves.

Carter also loved giving hugs and kisses to his little cousin, Angela--she and sister will be less than 9 months apart, so hopefully they'll be good playmates when they get older.

wrestling with Uncle Dave

deer season

2011-11-22T13:05:00.000-06:00

In the Knight household, Thanksgiving also means one other important event: deer season. My dad got Tony hooked on hunting after we got married, so now he joins the guys for a long weekend of hunting in Illinois. Tony used up the doe tag this year (unfortunately, pictures were too gruesome for the blog) and my brother brought home a 9-point buck. Looks like another year full of deer jerky and steaks!

Grandpa with his lil' deer hunters in training.

Carter helping grandpa dig up dirt to bury the deer head.

34 weeks

2011-11-21T13:56:00.003-06:00

Last week I had my 34 week check-up with Dr. Olson--gained another 4 lbs and baby is measuring right at 34 cm, so everything is looking good! She's going to start checking me next week to see if I'm dilated at all. Baby girl hasn't dropped yet, so it's still a challenge to breathe and the acid reflux at night is something awful...

After spending the weekend with my 7-month old niece, I'm definitely getting more and more excited to have a little girl--and for Carter to have a sibling. Tony puts on a tough front, but I know she's going to have him wrapped around her finger :)

fall la la

2011-11-13T20:39:00.001-06:00

Carter and I enjoyed one of our last fall weekends here in Minnesota--that is, before the snow comes and our path to the park becomes a road for snowmobiles. November delivered another beautiful Saturday, a perfect day for the park and Jaxon & Dominic's 2nd birthday party. After leaving for Greenville this week, we most likely wont see the ground again until March!

Tony had a quick trip to his office in San Francisco this week before heading up north with the guys for some deer hunting. No luck this time, but hopefully he'll bring one back after hunting with my dad and brother this weekend.

As much as I enjoyed having one-on-one time with Carter, I was definitely excited to have Tony back this afternoon--keeping up with this boy's energy is extremely tiring these days! I can't wait to have my coffee back...and my rib cage :)

Carter loves watching the ducks and geese in our neighborhood pond. He tries calling them by yelling Quack! Quack!

32 weeks

2011-11-06T21:03:00.003-06:00

We are in the final stretch!

My mind is overly optimistic these days and telling me I can still function at full-capacity. But my body, on the other hand, is telling me to slooooow down. It's hard coming to the realization that you just can't do everything you're used to doing--but baby's health, my health, Carter & Tony...they are all top priority.

I've gained 16 lbs so far this pregnancy and everything is measuring right on. I haven't been sleeping so well, which is typical at this point, and I've started having contractions here and there--especially during the night. Carter always felt very content being in the womb, but sister seems anxious to come out! Hopefully she gives us at least another 5 weeks...

Christy and Megan Take Minne

2011-11-04T14:00:00.002-05:00

I was so glad my friend Megan could fly to the Twin Cities for a few days and experience some of our life here in Minnesota! We definitely took over SP/Minne with some major retail shopping at Mall of America and IKEA, a nature walk around Minnehaha Falls & Park in Minneapolis, visiting the Cathedral of St. Paul (and having Carter tell us to shhhhh the whole time we were inside :) an evening stroll around our neighborhood, Starbucks coffee & Lucky Charms--I'm pretty sure she was leaving with a northern accent, don-cha kno!

Tony had to be in NYC this week, so it worked out perfectly that she could be here and we could have some quality girl time before sister arrives. It's always nice to have some help with Carter since my growing belly seems to be getting in the way, and he loved all the carrying-around and extra attention.

We hope she can come back and visit us again--we're excited to see her and the rest of the Greenville crew over Thanksgiving!

Minnehaha Falls is 53 feet high and the waterfall of Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. The river wasn't as high since it's November, but the falls were still beautiful to visit!

We had lots & lots of stairs to climb--but by the end, C was climbing them by himself!

Inside the Cathedral of St. Paul

Halloween

2011-11-03T14:06:00.005-05:00

Halloween was a complete success this year--this beautiful fall weather stuck around long enough to give us a sunny day with 50's temps, our bonfire was up and burning by 4:30, we were overstocked on candy & glow bracelets, and Carter loved wearing his tiger costume & trick-or-treating--our neighbors were prepared for his visit and gave him the best alternatives to candy: applesauce, pretzels, and coloring books!

Scott, Jacquie & Logan turned off their light again and joined our fire, but by the end of the night, we had two other families turn their lights off, bring their lighted jack-o-lanterns over and join us--allowing the kiddo's to quadruple up on candy in one stop. We sat around the fire, ate pumpkin seeds, snuck Reese's Pieces out of our bowls, and enjoyed watching the neigborhood become infested with golf carts, wagons, strollers, and an endless stream of trick-or-treaters.

Best trick-or-treater award went to our neighbors down the street who just had triplets. They pulled up with 3 little infants and their stroller had a sign that read: The scariest thing you'll see all night!

Tony always gives me a hard time because I absolutely love these cheesy holidays and look forward to celebrating them all year 'round. I'm already brainstorming ideas for next year--Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm???

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

weekend to myself

2011-10-30T16:43:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was just what I needed: 3 days to myself. It's been since before Carter was born that I've had that much alone time and I don't plan on having it again for quite sometime--so needless to say, I savored every second of it.

Lately I've been going hormone-crazy thinking about all that needs to be done--like, wake up in the middle of the night, write on my post-it note, take a Tums, and try to go back to sleep kinda crazy. Tony is in NYC and San Francisco the next few weeks before we leave for Greenville, then that puts us back home a week before I'm full-term. This pregnancy has gone by so fast and I know the hustle & bustle of holiday festivities in December will keep us busy, so I've been anxious to get things ready for sister's arrival.

So with 3 days to myself, I went through my entire to-do list and even had time to catch up on some tv watching (and bubble baths, of course). I can't tell you how much better I feel, and less anxious, getting the house cleaned and prepping the nursery. I'm relaxed and rejuvenated--just what the doctor ordered.

I'm excited to pick Tony and Carter up at the airport tonight--it was a tearful goodbye, but I didn't want my first time away from C to be at the hospital--so it was definitely necessary for all. As much as I've enjoyed this alone time, it's made me realize how much I love being a mom to our son and how much I enjoy being together as a family.

We have a bonfire-Halloween-extravaganza planned with our neighbors tomorrow night as we pass out candy to trick-or-treaters--and Carter will make his big debut as a TIGER! Pictures to come--have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Carter playing some football last week...

kid's playroom

2011-10-28T23:57:00.008-05:00

Our entryway room has always been referred to as the sitting room, but since it's hardly used, we decided it would better serve as a playroom for Carter and sister. I grew up in a one-story house, so the majority of our toys were kept in our bedrooms. But with a multi-level house, I like the idea of the kids having an area to play on the main level as well so I can keep a close eye on them--last time I left Carter alone upstairs, he got into my make-up bag and colored the bathroom floor with my eyeliner.

With winter quickly approaching and the addition of baby girl, we will definitely be wanting some extra play space. I really don't care how messy this room gets during the day or if it's picked up each night--I'm just glad the kids can be on the same level and they have their own, separate area of the house to play in.

What the room looked like 3 years ago:

Converted into the sitting room:

Tony hard at work in the garage building my corner shelf and the new storage unit for the playroom:

And now, the new playroom:

I'm in love with these chairs, so hopefully we'll be adding two soon. A special thanks to my talented husband for designing and building the new storage unit--and for putting up with my never-ending nesting needs ;)

30 weeks

2011-10-23T14:23:00.005-05:00

Baby's Growing! --was the polite way of my nurse telling me Thursday that I've gained 4 lbs in 2 weeks. She must have seen the surprised look on my face because she quickly followed up with, that's completely normal, you are 30 weeks afterall.

And then I had one of my Amy Poehler Baby Mama moments (as I refer to them)--What?!?! 30 weeks? There's a baby in there?!?!

You'd think the 3 lb human growing inside me and nestling into my rib cage during the middle of the night would be more of a reminder. But I suppose every soon-to-be-mom has that moment of realization when it really hits you, oh my gosh, I'm having a baby! It hit me. And I'm excited.

Next weekend, Tony and Carter are flying to St. Louis to help my dad set up deer stands for hunting season this fall--my first time being away from C, which will be good for both of us. My friend Megan is flying here next Tuesday to visit (Christy & Megan take Minne--watch out!), then shortly after we'll pack up for our road trip to Greenville for deer season/Thanksgiving, putting us back in Minneapolis early December--just in time to decorate the house for the holidays, send out Christmas cards and have a baby!!!

We always appreciate the thoughts & prayers are we prepare for our family to grow!

football and jack

2011-10-19T21:29:00.002-05:00

Carter's two loves.

October

2011-10-13T15:00:00.004-05:00

Nothing beats running barefoot through leaves on a fall afternoon.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of Carter being pregnant like mama :)

I hope you all are enjoying this fall season!

**my blood work came back from my 3-hour test and no gestational diabetes!!! I went out and bought some doughnut holes to celebrate :)

zoo trip

2011-10-09T20:35:00.001-05:00

We've been taking advantage of this gorgeous, sunny with 80's fall weather we've been having the last few weeks by spending most of our time outside. We took another zoo trip and wore Carter out by letting him run loose on the toddler-proof outdoor trails and playgrounds. We'll hopefully make one or two more trips this fall before the snow arrives!

Carter liked giving all the animal statues hugs.

Monkeys, meet your match.

28 weeks/ previa update

2011-10-07T09:10:00.000-05:00

Tony and I went to the hospital yesterday for our 28-week ultrasound to see if I still had placenta previa with this pregnancy. I wont lie, I've been anxious over the past 8 weeks not knowing if we'd be planning for a Thanksgiving or Christmas baby, being concerned about bleeding & possible hospitalization and thinking of people who could take care of Carter if I was put on bed rest.

We had a meeting with my OB/GYN right after the ultrasound and all these anxieties were quickly put to rest when Dr. Olson walked in and said I have good news!

My placenta is now 3.5 cm away from the cervix, meaning no more placenta previa!!! I can have a normal, natural delivery and all of my restrictions have been lifted. This is such a huge relief, I can't even begin to describe how excited Tony and I are to know that I can carry on with the rest of this pregnancy like I did with Carter's--and to know that I'm no longer considered being at high-risk for a premature birth. Aaaaaaaaah--my sigh of relief.

I also had my gestational diabetes blood testing--which I failed. So I have to go in on Tuesday for a 3-hour test at the doctor's office. I don't know much about this test other than I go in having fasted for 10 hours, drink my glucose drink, then wait in the waiting room for 3 hours while the nurses come get me every hour to have my blood drawn. I'm going to bring a book and hope that no one minds watching The Today Show or The View. If I fail this test, I'm not sure what happens next...we'll just hope it goes well :)

Everything is looking good so far--I gained 6 lbs last month, which Dr. Olson said she was pleased to see since my weight gain had been so up-and-down the first 6 months. Our ultrasound technician pointed out that our baby girl has a full head of hair and confirmed that she is extremely active and squirmy--she kept saying, there's her face, oh wait, she's over here now, okay here it is, oh now she moved to this side...she's definitely keeping her mama up at night!

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement--I was excited to send out texts and make phone calls with good news! We feel blessed with a healthy pregnancy and baby...it's definitely not something we take for granted.

*Since I named Carter, Tony got to name this one. And yes, our baby girl does have a name--but unless Tony tells you, my lips are sealed.

Here is a picture of my pregnancy with Carter @ 28 weeks (much smaller compared to now!)

fall football

2011-10-05T20:22:00.001-05:00

living room makeover

2011-10-04T13:45:00.005-05:00

After we found out we were pregnant, our big summer project of building a deck came to an end and we decided we'd start finishing our basement instead. But I still had the nesting itch of doing some house projects here and there--so I asked my lovely husband to help give the living room a makeover (okay, he did all the work--thanks honey!!! :)

I primarily wanted to do this because we decided to convert our sitting room area into a playroom for Carter and sister, so I wanted all the toys out of the living room and for it to become a place where Tony and I could relax and unwind at the end of the day--without stepping on squeaky toys and getting glares from Elmo. It's also where everyone congregates when they come over since it opens up to the kitchen--so it's nice for it to be a toy-free area.

Here is what the room looked like when we bought the house over 3 years ago...

And now the before...

After...

Tony built this corner shelf--designed from one I found online that only came in oak.

Tony also added some molding around the fireplace.

More pictures to come of the kid's new playroom!!!

friday night fires

2011-10-02T15:18:00.011-05:00

It's become a tradition this fall that every Friday night we host a bonfire. We usually get it started shortly after dinner and it goes until the last person says I'm done--which in the summer time was typically 2 or 3 am, but it's tamed down. Neighbors come & go and we always have hot cider, s'mores, shelled peanuts and popcorn. If there's one thing Tony loves it's a good fire--we've already burned through half our wood supply for this fall!

So last Friday night, Carter stayed up past his bedtime and enjoyed his first bonfire experience. He helped his daddy get the fire started, sat in his chair and oooo-ed and aaaah-ed whenever the wood gave off crackles that sent sparks flying. I think he's going to love camping when he gets older.

Hope you all are enjoying this fall!

Carter was completely mesmerized.

Our most memorable bonfire so far was this summer over 4th of July weekend. There were a dozen of us sitting outside around the fire when some teenagers went drag racing down our street, passing each other in front of our house while we're all sitting there--which lead to 12 angry adults, a 911 call, and 5 police officers at our house at 11 pm.

21 months

2011-09-29T13:25:00.002-05:00

Our little man is 21 months--which may not mean much to most, but we're seeing everyday how Carter is becoming completely enveloped in all things boy and all things toddler. He's changing so much and it's been nonstop entertainment lately to watch his personality develop, to listen to him talk and to see the lil' quirks he's inherited from us--like Tony's habit of biting the side of his lip, which I'm constantly telling Carter to stop doing!

Just in the past month, Carter's speech has really picked up and he is talking/jabbering constantly. He's starting to piece together two or more words now, so he's saying things like...

ba-bye dada

mama's shoes

big truck

thank you

more, please

go, Jack!

night-night

go outside

....etc.

It's been fun to see the things that he picks up on and to watch what mannerisms he imitates from Tony, myself, and others. For instance, when he's in the bathroom with us while we're getting ready in the morning, he'll grab our deodorant and rub it under his armpits, put a comb through his hair, and he always has to brush his teeth. When I get mad at Jack and yell No, Jack!, my little sidekick will go up to him and say no, no, Jack. He loves his daddy and if Tony is mowing or working in the garage, Carter will go grab his shoes and say dada, outside!

Something that has come up much earlier than anticipated is potty training. I wasn't planning on even introducing the whole concept until he turned two and life had settled down with the new baby, however, Carter is loving to sit on the potty and goes 2 times everyday. I put him on before naptime & bedtime and 9 times out of 10 we have something to flush down. Sometimes I'll ask him, Carter, are you poopy? (okay, if you're not a parent just disregard all of this) and he'll either say no or he'll run upstairs to be changed or sit on the toilet. I have no expectations of him becoming potty trained anytime soon, but I do think it's a good sign that he's been excited about it.

Recently, he's been noticing when Tony is out of town. Carter loves to watch videos of himself on my youtube account and after seeing pizza boy yesterday, he put on this really sad face and kept saying dada, dada, dada...which lead to a phone call to New York and lots of smiles and hi's and bye's.

Carter is such a joy and we're thankful each day for a happy, healthy son. It's easy to think about the future and what's in store, but I speak for us both when I say that we've loved living in the present during each phase and are definitely getting a kick out of this toddler stage. He keeps life busy & entertaining--we love you, Carter!

hello, fall

2011-09-23T16:25:00.002-05:00

It's the first day of fall and what better way to spend it than at the Minnesota Zoo! It was a gorgeous day and with kids in school, we had the whole place practically to ourselves. Carter loved being able to run and climb while I took some pictures--can't wait to start bringing sister along to see all the animals!

click here to watch Carter waving at the passengers on the monorail.

Looking forward to a colorful season!

Carter loved watching the river otters do their swim dance--I'm pretty sure he would have stayed here all day if I let him.

Caio!

fall boys

2011-09-20T15:36:00.005-05:00

Like father, like son.

Getting some 4-wheeler lessons from Scott.

Playtime and catching practice with Logan.

Look out, ladies.

ER visit? You'd never know it. These two have some unbreakable bond.

september

2011-09-12T21:34:00.003-05:00

I love this time of year--the days are warm enough to take a dip in the pool and the nights are cool for a nice cook-out and bonfire. As wonderful as the chaos of summer is, September is always a nice transition back into the routines of fall.

Things have slowed down around the Speck household--Tony has been working primarily out of his Minneapolis office, Carter has a new sport he's loving to play, and I just continue to move a little slower and breathe a little heavier. This fall is seeming to be much more quiet and laid back--a nice change of pace from the past 3 months. I'm looking forward to pumpkin carving & hot chocolate while Tony has hunting on his mind.

We hope you all are enjoying this September!

date night.

Our wood stockpile for the fall--thanks to Tony's co-worker Deb and her family for letting us come chop down some dead trees.

dip in the pool.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-11T15:16:00.001-05:00

Seems hard to believe that summer is coming to an end--we've really enjoyed a beautiful season this year, but I know this household is looking forward to fall and football!

My parents have visited every Labor Day Weekend since we've moved to Minnesota, so we welcomed them again this year. We were happy to celebrate the unofficial closing of summer with cook-outs, a Minnesota Zoo trip, outdoor projects, and family time. My mom stayed here with us for the week and gave Tony and I a break from cooking, cleaning, and let us enjoy a special date night. She watched Carter so I could start getting things ready for sister's room and get caught up with appointments that I've been procrastinating to schedule. As I was sitting in the dentist's chair I thought to myself, you know you're a mom when coming here is the only time you can sit (uninterrupted) for an hour during the day and watch tv--it was so relaxing that I didn't mind there was some ultrasonic cleaner in my mouth half the time.

We were glad my parents could come up to visit and that Carter could spend some time with his Grandma and Grandpa Knight. We hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend!

24 weeks

2011-09-09T10:26:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe we're at 6 months already! It's been a completely different experience than my pregnancy with Carter, but we're all thankful for a healthy baby and mama!

I had a doctor's appointment this week and we scheduled my ultrasound for October 6th. I have a meeting with Dr. Olson immediately following so she can either deliver exciting news or talk me through some disappointing. As optimistic as we are that things will be just fine, I wont lie and say I don't think about what could happen having complete placenta previa. I think it's good to be prepared for either scenario and go into it with an open mind.

The 2nd trimester has been treating me much better, but I seem to be having more obstacles this time around. My blood pressure was very low, which explains the dizziness, fatigue, blurry vision at times, etc. I have to stay on top of eating, drinking, and making sure I'm flexing and/or moving muscles to keep the blood flow going. Tony calls me Darth Vader every now and then because my breathing has been so heavy! I also have a lot of pain in my back and hip joints, which Dr. Olson says is common in a 2nd pregnancy since things are loose and have shifted around. I'm on restrictions for minimal lifting and exercise from having previa, but Dr. Olson stressed them again.

Carter has been obsessed with saying the word baby lately--or finding and pointing to babies whenever we're out and about. He likes to come and point to my belly and say baby, however, sometimes when we ask him where's the baby? he'll point to himself and smile.

December will be here before you know it and we're getting excited for the new addition into our family! I'm really enjoying shopping for pink and Tony has surrendered to the fact that there will be Barbie dolls, pink ponies, bows and another lady in the house :) He's the perfect man to handle us all!

We'll be sure to update family and friends after my next ultrasound--prayers always appreciated!

Carter's ER visit

2011-09-06T20:04:00.001-05:00

Carter had his first trip to the emergency room last week--the first of many to come, I'm sure. We were all playing outside when Jack and Carter collided at full speed, knocking Carter out--literally. Face planted, I ran over to pick him up and his eyes rolled back into his head. By the time I passed him off to Tony, he was crying and moving all his limbs, which was a huge relief. But after dealing with concussions on a sports level all his life, Tony wanted us to take him in to make sure there wasn't any bleeding in his ears--or anything else for us to worry about.

Besides a busted upper lip and bruised nose, everything checked out fine. The incident didn't seem to phase Carter as he and Jack are still best buds...we'll just hope for no more run-ins :)

Lately

2011-09-01T12:22:00.007-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks. The morning Carter and I flew back to Minneapolis, Tony caught a flight for some meetings in NYC--arriving at his office in the financial district of Manhattan just hours before the earthquake. I get a call while I'm standing in my dad's office, I'm okay, but there's been an earthquake... they evacuated the majority of the buildings downtown and thankfully everyone was okay. He came back just in time to escape the rush of people leaving the city because of Hurricane Irene.

Carter and I returned to our less humid state and enjoyed a week of sidewalk chalk, basketball, duck walks, and spent an afternoon at a splash pad park close to home. We'd never been there before and despite Carter being one of the youngest there, he still had a blast and it was a great way to beat the heat.

I called Tony because I felt bad that he was stuck in meetings in New York all week while Carter and I were out playing. He texted me right back--call you in a bit, at the Yankee's game. So much for a rough day at the office. And it ended up being a record breaking game with 3 grand slams hit by one team (Yankee's).

But we're all back, safe, and healthy (finally) and it's nice to have everyone home again. I'm really enjoying this part of the pregnancy--being past the sickness, feeling the baby constantly wiggle and kick, and seeming to have more energy than the 1st trimester. But I definitely rely on Tony for a lot more around the house and look forward to when he comes home from work--Carter gets so excited to see DaDa and Tony is always good at running whatever energy is left out of him before bedtime.

School starts next Tuesday--I can't believe fall is almost here! Looking forward to Labor Day weekend and enjoying these last summer weeks...

Watching dad and the older boys play some b-ball.

Greenville

2011-08-28T20:46:00.004-05:00

Besides our annual reunion, we had a great visit with family last week while in Greenville. Carter got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Knight, Great-Grandma and Grandpa Knight, Great-Grandma Aten, and visit several of his toddler friends from town--including Brooke and Reagan & Eva :)

We don't know if we'll make it back again before sister arrives (depending on if I still have previa) so we definitely enjoyed getting to spend some summer in the 'ville!

Carter loved going for scooter rides with grandma and grandpa.

22 weeks!

annual reunion

2011-08-24T20:45:00.005-05:00

Last week, Carter and I flew down to Greenville for our annual August reunion on Bond Co. Lake with Bond Co. friends. Once again, we invaded the McCracken's lake house for a weekend of relaxation and reminiscing, not to mention boating, swimming, skiing, tubing, jet skis and great food.

I'm so glad we can all take time away from whatever it is we're wrapped up in--careers, parenthood, married life, busy schedules-- and travel the hundreds of miles to all come together once a year. It's (seriously) something I look forward to all year long.

Thanks to Emily and her family for hosting again--and doing a fabulous job at it, might I add.

*Here's to next year!

showing off our snake tattoos, compliments of Megan.

We missed you Jen, Suzanne, Leslie & Claire!

And our thoughts & prayers are with Claire, who lost her dad to cancer last week. You can click here to see some pictures from Guy's art show in February.

cs photography

2011-08-23T12:01:00.003-05:00

My neighbor/friend Jacquie approached me last month and asked if I'd take her nephew's senior class pictures while he was in town visiting from North Dakota. She's seen pictures up in our house of Carter and she knows I love photography, but it's safe to say she went on total faith that I could do the job. After a time or two asking are you sure?? I gladly said yes and had my first photoshoot last Tuesday morning.

The clients were very happy with this photoshoot, so it lead to other referrals in our neighborhood. I have two more senior picture shoots lined up after I get back from Greenville (in town for our reunion), plus some other requests for family pictures.

Although senior pictures mean a great deal to moms and dads, I realize the anxiety of forking over major $$$ for a yearbook pose and a few 8x10 shots that make it into framed wall art. College tuition is on the horizon, not to mention the other expenses of those costly teenagers--so I'm more than happy to save families money while giving them more flexibility and 10x the amount of pictures than a professional. Depending on how the rest of the summer/fall goes, this might be something I try to do again next summer. But with two kiddos, we'll just have to wait and see.

I wont be putting many pictures on the blog for privacy/copyright reasons, but I'll be sure to post the link when my talented husband gets christyspeck.com up and running.

I did a practice shoot with Jake before I let his mom cancel their photographer. I will be taking his senior pictures later this week.

pool days

2011-08-16T21:49:00.005-05:00

We've had an extremely hot Minnesota summer this year and Carter has gotten spoiled with our neighbor's pool (actually, I think we all have). It's been a great way to relax and spend our evenings or weekend afternoons to stay cool. Fall is just around the corner, so we're savoring these last weeks of summer!

morning walks

2011-08-12T12:52:00.002-05:00

One of my morning routines with Carter is taking a walk to our neighborhood park, which is a short walk on the path from our house. And on the way, we look for geese and ducks to throw bread crumbs to, along with snakes, beavers, fish and other wildlife that live in the ponds.

If we go early enough in the morning, we can sometimes escape the sun from peaking out--which makes for a nice, cooler walk. Carter loves having an open range to run and knows that the path leads to one of his favorite activities--the swing!

It's the perfect way to start our day.

baby update

2011-08-12T12:30:00.004-05:00

Tony and I met with Dr. Olson earlier this week to discuss my ultrasound findings of having placenta previa. She's great about being open and honest with us and I definitely left feeling more at ease about the situation.

Basically, one of two things will happen. I have another ultrasound scheduled at 28 weeks and if this shows that the placenta has moved up, away from the cervix, then things are great and I can have a normal delivery like I did with Carter. This also means any restrictions would be lifted and I can resume all activities with the pregnancy.

If the ultrasound shows that I still have previa, they will go ahead and start me on steroids to get baby girl's lungs and organs more quickly developed, then schedule a c-section at 37 weeks--if she doesn't come sooner. C-sections are a 100% must if you have previa and the reason they take them early is to ensure the safety of both baby and mom.

Until my ultrasound early October, I have several, minor restrictions. I need to relax and chill a bit more, no heavy lifting (which means Carter, unfortunately), and mild exercise only. My neighbor happens to be an OB nurse in the city and works with a lot of high-risk pregnancies. She's been giving me great advice, answers all my additional questions and stops by almost everyday to check-in.

Dr. Olson said it is highly likely the placenta will move up as baby grows and everything will be just fine--and we are optimistic that this will be the case as well. We'll be sure to update everyone after my next ultrasound.

We feel very blessed to have a healthy son and baby girl on the way!

grandma and grandpa speck's visit

2011-08-09T20:46:00.000-05:00

We were glad to have Grandma and Grandpa Speck come and visit for the week from Seattle, Washington. They escaped some of their cool-60's summer and enjoyed some Minnesota heat!

While they were here, they had fun taking Carter to the Minnesota Zoo, going on walks and watching Carter feed the ducks in our neighborhood pond, meeting our neighbors and having a cook-out and bonfire, playing outside with Carter's new toys, going shopping at Mall of America--for blue and pink this time, playing Bingo at Babe's (Bill won one round!), trying out some new restaurants, working on house projects, and getting to spend LOTS of time with their only grandson.

We were happy to have them and look forward to them coming back sometime after baby sister arrives. Here are some pictures from their visit:

Grandma introduced Carter to our ice cream truck. We bought him an orange sherbet push-up, thinking that he would like that the best--but he took one look at his grandma's drumstick, took it over and ended up eating the whole thing! We made sure he gave his grandma a big, messy kiss afterwards :)

Carter's new outdoor playground from grandma and grandpa. He loves yelling through the telescope, going through the tunnels, talking on his cell phone in the fort, and going down the slide.

baby GIRL

2011-08-04T21:24:00.003-05:00

Looks like most everyone was right...we're going to have a baby GIRL!

Tony, my mother-in-law and I went in for our anatomy ultrasound this afternoon and our prayers were answered with a healthy baby! She's measuring right on with a calculated due date of January 1st.

It's funny because I went into Carter's ultrasound completely convinced I was having a girl, and then when I laid down and looked up at the monitor all I could think was it's gonna be a boy. And this time, I went to the hospital thinking that it would probably be another boy, but as soon as I looked up at the screen and saw Christine, I was sure that we were having a girl.

Because she was all curled up in a ball, the tech ended up doing a 3-D ultrasound along with the 2-D--which was really neat since I had never had one before. It took a bit longer to get most of the shots because she did not want to move around and was sleeping face down most of the time--so the tech also had to do a vaginal ultrasound to get some more shots of my placenta and cervix.

These pictures confirmed to her that I have placenta previa, which basically means my placenta is low and covering the opening to the cervix. We're not sure how much of the cervix is being covered and where the placenta is positioned exactly, but my OB will be taking a look and I have an appointment with her to discuss everything on Tuesday. It could be that the placenta moves up as the baby grows, but if it doesn't, that means bed rest and a definite c-section. They said they'd be monitoring me closely and I'll have another ultrasound at 28 weeks.

Carter has no idea what's about to happen, but I know that he's going to be a great big brother and look after his lil' sister. We're so thankful for a healthy baby and hopeful that the rest of the pregnancy goes without complications. Prayers are appreciated! Now enjoy a few pictures from our ultrasound today...

We had Carter's ultrasound on the same day 2 years ago!

summer bash

2011-08-02T10:58:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, our neighbor Logan and his friend from Philadelphia, Cameron, had their annual Camlo Summer Bash with all their 13-year-old friends. Summer parties happen every weekend in our surrounding neighborhoods for teenage kids and are hosted by a different family every week. It's actually a great idea--keeps them entertained while under adult supervision :) Scott and Jacquie put on quite the show with the pool, football, limbo, lightening basketball, tug-of-war, pucker powder stand, a hula-hoop contest, a smorgasbord of food, and ending the night with an outdoor projection screen movie. Jacquie asked me to take pictures during the party and help chaperone so there would be plenty of eyes on these crazy teens (T is on day 10 of mono--more on that later).

It's a great reminder that our babies will one day become teenagers--and I sound old-fashioned saying this, but my, how the times have changed. Teens are in a world of iphones, texting, facebook, short shorts, competitive sports, diets--and I'm glad to have an insight into what we will be facing in years to come. As much as we're looking forward to watching our kids grow up, going to school, making friends, and getting involved in activities/sports they love, we realize that there is great responsibility that comes with raising children.

With that being said, I had a great time helping out and getting to know Logan's friends a little better--they're a good group of kids, but it definitely makes me want to cherish these younger years with our own before they grow up!

someone heard the music and snuck out of bed to come join the party...

summer days

2011-07-29T13:26:00.001-05:00

It's been hot--definitely the hottest and most humid summer we've experienced since our move to Minnesota. The weather man said the other day that the Twin Cities are currently more humid than the Amazon Rainforest, and accompanied with some 90's-100's temperatures makes for good popsicle and water days to stay cool outside. I've even gotten into the habit of giving Carter his sunscreen mohawk and putting him into a swimsuit after nap time since I know we'll end up in a pool or sprinkler of some kind.

Despite the heat and our downstairs being torn apart with a living room remodel (more on that later), this has been one of the best summers and I can't get over how fast it's going by. Tony and I are chaperoning Logan's big summer bash this weekend and we're looking forward to Grandma and Grandpa Speck coming to visit us next week from Seattle.

We're enjoying our days with Carter--who is now 19-months and feisty, yet tender-hearted like his mama and inquisitive & cautious like his dada. He's such a typical boy--loves to play rough and tough, get dirty, and is a bottomless pit when it comes to eating. But he still needs and wants his hugs and kisses--a total sweetie.

Hope you all are enjoying summer and finding ways to stay cool!

and these were delivered yesterday from a special someone :)

5 years

2011-07-28T12:15:00.002-05:00

Much has happened since we first met in the summer of 2005-- college graduation, our wedding, first apartment, moving to Minnesota, becoming dog owners, buying a house and surviving the remodel, careers taking off, traveling, having a baby and starting a family...when I think about everything that has happened and all the high and low points of becoming an adult and starting a new life--I think to myself, there is no one else I'd rather be doing this with! It didn't take me long to fall for Tony and I knew instantly that he was someone I could face anything with--he stands up for me when I'm right and stands up to me when I'm wrong, he challenges and supports me, and is a steady rock in our relationship. Even if I weren't married to him, I'd still think he was such a great guy--but I'm lucky enough to have him by my side and I can't wait to see where our journey will take us.

It's been a great 5 years filled with growing, maturing, and most of all, love.

our first picture in June 2005.

July 28, 2006
underneath the tabernacle @ 7 o'clock

we said

I do.

Happy 60th Anniversary to my grandparents, Marvin & Violet Knight! Tony and I were married at the same location on their 55th.

minnesota zoo

2011-07-21T20:55:00.001-05:00

Emmy and I had a great time taking the boys to the Minnesota Zoo this afternoon--and with humidity levels dropping significantly, it turned out to be a perfect day to go! The boys were much more interested in the animals this summer vs. last, and they especially loved the aquariums, Grizzly Coast water fountains, and the new penguin exhibit. There was lots of chasing energetic boys around, but well worth it (as always). It was nice to have her friend Sarah along for some extra help :) Tony and I bought a one-year membership, so we look forward to many more trips to the zoo!

Watching the monkeys...

Now acting like them!

16/17 weeks

2011-07-20T10:45:00.004-05:00

BOY or GIRL??? Our ultrasound is scheduled for August 4th, so we'll be finding out soon! All we want is a healthy baby and there is no I'm hoping for... either one will be amazing! I asked Dr. Olson if there is a reason why my body is reacting so differently to the pregnancy this time and she said different genders require different needs and hormones from our body, so it could be having a girl caused me to be really sick this time around. The heartrates have also been very different, Carter's being at 140 and this one a consistent 160. Most bets are on a girl--Tony thinks girl and I just have no idea.

I'm so thankful to be feeling better--I had some really rough days after my last 14-week posting and Tony was having to give me daily pep talks of you can do this--which sounds silly, but the days are hard when you run out of energy, are constantly feeling like you need to run to the bathroom, and are trying to keep up with a busy summer schedule--and an even busier one-year-old. Having Tums, crackers, and water on my nightstand is a complete lifesaver during the middle of the night. I think I'm past most of the sickness--it's nice to have energy and feel back to my normal self again!

At my check-up this week, my nurse was a little concerned because I've actually lost 5 lbs since my first 8-week appointment. But Dr. Olson wasn't worried since a number of factors could be affecting that--including our 115 degree heat index we've been having! I'm sure the lb number will be going up soon.

We'll be sure to update everyone after our anatomy ultrasound (feel free to leave me your opinion...) Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers :)

block party and pan-o-prog

2011-07-17T12:10:00.002-05:00

It's been really difficult to get house projects done because we've had so much going on over our weekends this summer. Tony took a flight bump from NYC Friday night and returned home early Saturday morning, handing me a Starbucks vanilla chai when he walked in the door and a free airline ticket voucher--great start to my day, thanks honey! He only had a few hours to rest up before our big neighborhood summer block party started, also known as party on the path. It's hosted by two families in our subdivision--they supply the meat, chips, and an afternoon of planned activities for the kids while everyone brings their own drinks, chairs, and a dish of choice to share. It happened to be one of those rare, hot & humid days, so Tony and Scott filled a cooler with freeze pops for all the kiddo's to keep them cool.

We had such a great time and it was really nice to meet and mingle with more of our neighbors. Most of the kids in our area are elementary to college age, but the younger generation is on the rise. Carter is becoming friends with Piper, Lauren, & Cooper, who are all 2 and under--and there are more babies on the way! The kids in our neighborhood are all very close and the older ones definitely look after the lil' ones.

Last weekend, we celebrated Lakeville's annual Pan-o-Prog--a week-long festival that I can only describe as a pre-cursor to the Dakota County Fair in early August. On Saturday, we took Carter to the 3.5 hour parade with a group of neighbors and friends. There were thousands of people and it was extremely hot, so we were surprised to see how much Carter loved it--he even made it through the entire parade, which ended around 9 pm. After getting our fill of corn dogs and cheese curds, we put Carter to bed, jumped in the pool, and had another late-night bonfire. (our baby monitor works across the street in Scott & Jacquie's backyard, which is the perfect escape after we put C down for bed!)

This summer has been one our busiest yet, and despite house projects getting pushed back and feeling like we're constantly on-the-go, we've been having an amazing time and are really enjoying the season!

Carter & Calvin during the Pan-o-Prog parade.

jack to the rescue!

2011-07-14T21:22:00.002-05:00

Jack loves chasing and Carter loves being chased, so they are the perfect match for tiring each other out. Tony has been making short trips to NYC and San Francisco lately, so it's been nice to have Jack around to help wear out one very energetic boy!

4th of July

2011-07-07T13:33:00.001-05:00

The essence of summer captured in one weekend. I love it. We get to celebrate the beautiful country we live in by doing all-things-summer...sunscreening up in the morning for a day of ice cream and bbq's and pools and fireworks and bonfires. Some of my best memories from the past have been over 4th of July weekends--friends, family, food, fireworks and freedom. What better way to celebrate America?

We spent the majority of Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun swimming in our neighbor's pool, soaking and savoring the perfect high-80's with some summer tunes. We'd put Carter to bed, start our evening bonfire around 9 pm, and not an hour later we'd be joined by a dozen neighbors all craving a late-night fire and conversation. I grew up in a small town and after moving to a major metropolitan area, I love the fact that I can slip back into that everybody-knows-your-name kinda place.

We did the weekend up big--so much in fact, that when July 4th rolled around, I was sick. Too much sun, too much pool, too much bonfire, too late of a bedtime...I had come down with a mid-summer's cold. So we had to change some plans around and ended up staying home and watching the Lakeville fireworks with some neighbors on Scott and Jacquie's front porch.

When it comes to holidays, and life experiences in general, there is nothing greater than sharing them with the ones you love. And watching Carter learn to love and enjoy these memories with us made for an even more special weekend.

Happy Summer!

hello, baby. just one in there...promise.

firework snappers

2011-07-05T21:31:00.006-05:00

Carter helping daddy let off some kid-friendly fireworks. Click here to watch a video of him stomping on firework snappers.

What a great weekend--more pictures and videos to come!

hot. chalk. ala.

2011-07-01T15:10:00.002-05:00

Summer has officially made her entrance and it is HOT! I've been trying to think of activities we can do outside that don't involve running around too much--so yesterday we made a trip to the Dollar Store and purchased some sidewalk chalk and a new bouncy ball for his pool. And vuala! A happy toddler!

14 weeks

2011-06-30T09:54:00.003-05:00

Second trimester, here we go!

This pregnancy so far has been a night-and-day difference between my pregnancy with Carter. I spent the majority of May and early June feeling nauseous 75% of the day and it was really difficult for me to get out of bed some mornings. I felt like I was going to throw up if I ate something and if I didn't eat something--it was loose-loose either way. My energy would peak at about 50% of what it normally is, which was extremely frustrating and hard with an energetic one-year-old to take care of, along with working 2 days/week. Tony normally goes to the gym after work, but during this time he would come straight home to help take care of Carter. Thankfully, I am feeling much better, but I still have hard days here and there. I started taking vitamin b-6 which has helped out significantly.

With Carter, I found myself having food aversions to chinese food, mexican, any kind of sweets, etc. But this time, I'm having major food cravings. I'll find myself driving to the grocery store several times for just one item that I-have-to-have-this-very-moment and Tony's late-night Dairy Queen blizzard runs have definitely picked-up recently :) I have to be much more health conscious this time around-- I crave sweets like I'm some 3rd-grade-school-girl again. I stock up on fresh fruits every week and try to stray away from the sugars. I've given up coffee altogether and now start my morning with a large glass of chocolate milk :)

I decided to have Dr. Olson be my OB/GYN this time. She delivered Carter and after spending nearly 4 hours with me in the delivery room helping me push, avoiding what should have been a c-section and keeping me and my baby safe--there was really no question that I wanted her to be my doctor. She's my style--very personable and calm, coming across less as a doctor and more of a pregnancy coach. She's amazing and we're lucky to have her deliver another baby.

I've had 2 ultrasounds so far--one at 8.5 weeks and another at 12.5 weeks. It was pretty incredible to see the difference in just a month. Little Speckie went from being somewhat of a gummy bear to having defined hands, feet, body, head, etc. Once you see this little human growing inside you it definitely becomes more real, and you feel the instincts of motherhood quickly kick-in full force!

Our due date is the end of December, so it looks like we'll be having another post-Christmas baby! Carter's birthday is Dec. 28, so they will be exactly 2 years apart.

I get a lot of "Ooooh, what are you going to do about birthdays and Christmas being close together?" kinds of questions. First of all, let's remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas. Last I remembered it wasn't for presents. And secondly, I'm already planning on having family parties on the actual day, since we'll most likely be in Seattle or Greenville anyways, then having a friend party once the holidays are over and things settle down in January.

And if they have the same birthday? They'll be learning to share a little sooner than later :)

In all honestly, I love the winter holiday season and I'm really excited to have another winter baby...the best time to have them here in Minnesota, in my opinion. Let's just pray for no major snowstorms around that time!

Thanks for all the love and support! We realize having children is a huge blessing that we shouldn't take for granted. We appreciate continued prayers!

Much Love, Tony, Christy, Carter, & Lil' Baby

18 months

2011-06-28T20:08:00.004-05:00

Today I took Carter in for his 18 month check-up with Dr. Enders. Here are some of his stats:

weight: 26 lbs 2 oz
height: 33"
head: 19 1/4"

This well-child check-up was a bit different than his previous appointments. I had to fill out 6 pages of questions (which they mailed me beforehand so I could take my time-so nice!) and they screened him for autism, along with taking a close look at his speech development, gross motor skills, cognitive thinking, socialization, and a few other things. Not that I was worried going into the appointment, but I think it's always nice to hear that your child is progressing well and there are no concerns. Carter's gross motor skills top the charts and everything else falls into the your-kid-is-doing-just-fine-don't-worry category.

Carter is a very curious, independent little guy. Once you show him how to do something, move over 'cause he doesn't need, ahem-want, your help! He feeds himself, brushes his teeth, picks up his toys, climbs the stairs and up onto the couch, goes and gets his shoes when it's time to go outside, fixes things around the house with his own power tools--he gets frustrated if you try doing something for him that he already knows how to do. Our next step is letting him dress himself, which should be interesting.

Something I talked to the doctor about today is that Carter is a bottomless pit!--meaning, he eats just as much or more than I do at meals. 2 medium sized blueberry pancakes and a whole banana just get him started in the morning. I feel like he's eating all. the. time. I can only imagine what our grocery bill will be when he's a teenager...yikes! Dr. Enders wasn't concerned--when Carter's awake, he's on-the-go and his body needs all the extra calories right now. Thankfully, he loves his fruits, meats, and vegetables, so I don't have to worry about him not eating healthy.

We're so thankful for a healthy, happy boy who brings so much joy and excitement to our lives--we love you, Carter Anthony!

The basketball went under the truck and we had a major meltdown...but soon we're all smiles again!

I love you yesterday
and today
and tomorrow
I'll say it again and again!
I love you more...
than you can imagine
more than you can fathom
I love you more than the sun
and you shine for me. -Matthew West

daddy's helper

2011-06-26T22:18:00.006-05:00

Carter helping his daddy mow the yard this weekend :)

busted!

2011-06-26T21:59:00.000-05:00

Surfer dude, you're busted!

Our driveway is on a slope, so when the basketball gets loose it will roll across the street into either Jeff & Sue's or Scott & Jacquie's yard. Carter loves our neighbors and looks forward to (holding my hand) walking over to their house. So when I watched this video, I noticed that he intentionally rolled the basketball so it would go down the driveway! Seriously?!? What a stinker! And the look on his face afterwards says it all.

click here to watch

basketball boy

2011-06-23T10:33:00.005-05:00

Anyone who is around Carter for more than 5 minutes will hear the word ball probably a dozen times. He is completely obsessed with basketball--in fact, when he hears Logan and the jr. high boys across the street playing, he makes a beeline to the middle of the yard and will stand there pointing at them until someone takes him over.

So our neighbors, Scott & Jacquie, surprised Carter earlier this week with his own basketball hoop. He was so excited and ended up playing until about 8 pm that night--not even wanting to stop for a drink break. Now everytime we go out into the garage all I hear is ball, ball, ball...

Click here to watch a video.

Carter is also loving his daddy's new lawn mower--poor Tony, anytime he's trying to get work done around the house, Carter and Jack are all always shadows following him around. They want to be involved in everything he's doing. I usually put them both inside while he's mowing, and they'll move from the front windows to the back sliding glass doors watching him--it's pretty funny.

exciting news!

2011-06-21T14:34:00.006-05:00

Carter is going to be a BIG BROTHER!

December baby #2 is wiggling, squiggling, and on the way!

happy weekend

2011-06-18T16:57:00.003-05:00

After 3 long days, our garage sale is done and over. Ahhhhhhhhhhh --that's a huge sigh of relief.

I had two goals with this sale, the first being to clean out our basement so come winter we can talk about finishing it--or at least give Carter some extra room to run and play basketball. And my second goal was to buy this to match the rest of our kitchen and to downsize everything into one single container. The goal was reached, plus we were able to buy Tony a new lawn mower--happy father's day!

One more thing checked off our summer to-do list--Happy Weekend!

no place like outside

2011-06-14T10:00:00.006-05:00

Our first summer month is well underway, and sometimes I think we have a bit of confusion here in Minnesota--we're not surrounded by palm trees or salty sea breezes, but rather northern evergreens that line the streets and 95 degree days scattered with 55 degree days here and there. And even in the midst of our hottest 105 degree days, you'll be pulling out a sweatshirt at night to sit around an evening campfire.

Growing up in southern Illinois where summer meant being drenched in humidity and cooling off in muddy lakes--I've grown to appreciate the cool breezes and crystal clear lakes (10,000 to be exact) Minnesota has to offer. It's different, and sometimes, in the words of Sheryl Crow, a change will do you good.

I call Carter my lil' polar bear cub since he was born in the middle of a Minnesota winter and has a high tolerance for the cold weather. But recently, he has traded in his thick fur for a farmer's tan and the smell of mango-coconut sunscreen, accompanied with stinky, dirty bare feet. Rain or shine, snow or sun, there's no place he'd rather be than outside.

CLICK HERE to read a health news article my grandpa sent me on children's exposure to pets and allergies.

Carter loves pointing to the airplanes that fly over our house. He gets so excited and will let out this long Ooooooh, while pointing up at the sky.

*wink. Here's looking at you, kid.

the week

2011-06-12T15:00:00.005-05:00

This past week, my mom came and stayed with me while Tony was working in London--I had a long list of things I wanted to get done and things to get ready for summer. And when Sunday started with Carter throwing up in Target--soaking himself, me, and my mom--I was glad to have an extra set of hands around.

We're having a huge garage sale this Thurs-Fr-Sat, so I spent most of the week cleaning out our entire house--bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, kitchen, living areas, and our 1,000 sq ft. unfinished basement that had turned into a storage area for college, wedding, 1st and 2nd apartment leftovers, if you will. It took me even more time and effort than I had anticipated--but I'm happy to say that most everything is organized, priced, and ready to be sold or donated! I'm looking forward to having everything out of our basement so we can work on finishing it this fall/winter.

It was also nice to get caught up on other things. I've always been OCD about having our house organized and clean, and when you have a kid, that's something you just have to let simmer on the back burner. It's actually really difficult for me--after Carter was born and Tony went back to work, I would really tire myself out trying to keep up with everything while taking care of a baby. It got so bad, he started making me call and ask him before I did any household cleaning. I found myself on the phone asking can I vacuum today? He'd usually tell me to take a nap and relax when I was finished. I've gotten much better at letting some things go, but it's still nice to have some kid-free time to clean and get caught up.

Thanks for all your help, mom! I couldn't have gotten it all done without you--a special thanks to my dad for flying here on my birthday and watching Carter most of the weekend so the girls could go have fun! And welcome back, Toneeeeee! We're happy to have you back, safe and in our time zone :)

Here's to another week!

PS. Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes, friends & family. 27 feels nice.

june

2011-06-04T11:20:00.006-05:00

I love June. It's my birthday month--and I think I speak for all fellow June-bugs when I say that we were made for summer.

We have a lot going on at the moment and it can be easily overwelming--keeping up with house projects and Tony working in Europe and end of the school year projects and church and friendships and Jack and that adorable-lil-one-year-old boy. It's a lot to juggle. And I can't say I haven't dropped a ball here or there--but I can definitely say I've learned to weed out things that I don't have to stress out about anymore and focus on managing the things that are important.

It's funny how I'm constantly reminded to keep things in perspective. Like, this terrible-two's behavior that somehow pops up in 1-year-olds. Tony said it best--it's used to describe their behavior, it's not an excuse for it. So we're layin' the discipline down a little earlier than anticipated, but I'd rather prevent the bad habits than have to stop them later on. Because these tantrums and not following directions issues we deal with now are nothing in comparison to curfews and drinking and school work and dating and friends and sports--all the things we will have to face on a much larger scale when Carter gets older. It makes the toddler phase seem like cake.

And we are having so much fun with Carter in this young-toddler stage--it's a lot of work, but very rewarding. Carter is picking up on things quickly--he knows how to brush his teeth, get his shoes, put his toys away, bring us something we ask for, ask for more of something--and he loves balls, birds, dogs, books, airplanes, daddy's truck, being outside, dancing, baths, any kind of insect, getting dirty, giving hugs-&-kisses, and sleeping (yes, we lucked out with a very good sleeper). Tony and I really enjoy watching his personality develop and every now and then, keep a little list of he gets that from me. Or we'll award each other with a that is totally you.

We're excited for this new month and taking the time to enjoy summer and start new family traditions. And sometimes it's nice to have a kid as an excuse to eat ice cream on the front lawn or run through sprinklers :)

Happy June!
If you want music with the blog, you will need to scroll down and click PLAY. My playlist wont start automatically anymore.

Memorial Day

2011-05-31T13:23:00.008-05:00

It's a great reminder to enjoy and celebrate this great country we live in--so a special thanks to everyone in my family and yours who have served to keep America safe!

We were blessed with great weather, great food, and even better friends to share it with.

Welcome Summer!

Last year on Memorial Day, we planted a Maple Tree in our front yard. So this year we decided to work on some landscaping. Carter was a big help--he played with the worms, supervised the wheelbarrow and helped shovel the dirt. And by 6 pm, he was covered head-to-toe in dirt, ice cream and watermelon--I'd say the day was a success.

10 plants, 30 bags of river rock, 1 hummingbird and 2 trips to Home Depot later...

boys and projects

2011-05-30T12:11:00.002-05:00

It wouldn't be Memorial Day weekend without some house projects. We have several going on at the moment--deck, trim, basement, landscaping--to name a few. But Tony started with completing the drywall in the garage. We took a break to have a bbq with some friends, and then he stayed up 'til 3 am finishing the garage, complete with storage shelves for all of our stuff.

As you can tell from the pictures, Tony has a new sidekick. All Carter wants to do is follow him around, look at all the tools and just be a part of the process. He's trying new things and becoming more and more independent--our little boy is growing up.

Happy Memorial Day!

Carter loves our neighbors--and their dogs. Meet Sampson.

afternoon at the park

2011-05-28T11:36:00.001-05:00

oh! the places you'll go

2011-05-26T10:49:00.005-05:00

Tony has been quite the jet-setter recently--a week in Arizona, Chicago, and an overnight conference in Toronto this past Tuesday. Now he'll get to rest up for a week before heading back to the London office in early June.

It is a crazy schedule--but I'm proud of Tony for working so hard for us :)

I asked him to take a few pictures for the blog--so enjoy!

Dave & Tony during a team outing at Lucky Strike Lanes in Chicago.

They were filming a movie outside Tony's hotel in Toronto yesterday--he doesn't keep up with Hollywood actors, but he recognized David Strathairn from The Bourne movies.

may days

2011-05-24T11:35:00.010-05:00

I'm a sucker for the dollar section at Target. I purposefully park on that side of the store so I can meander through the cheap goodies, which, are both necessities for an energetic toddler boy: goodies and cheap. Meaning, if they get run over by a car or accidentally thrown away or purposefully chewed on by one golden retriever, we don't care.

My latest find? One shark-attack visor...

I tried to take it off, several times--even attempting to hide it in the shopping cart. But he wouldn't have it. So we got lots of smiles and stares as Carter proudly beamed his dimpled-filled cheeks through an hour-long Target shopping trip wearing this lovely visor--even getting the check-out lady to tell me this made her day...which made mine, of course.

It even made it through a late afternoon snack and round of golf.

Tony and I were talking recently about Comet, my sweet lil' shetland sheepdog that I grew up with--literally, from age 10 to 24. And he asked me if I had a favorite dog between her and Jack--to which I responded, Comet was the perfect dog for me, and Jack is the perfect dog for us.

I couldn't have asked for a better dog growing up, and I don't think we could have gotten a better dog for Carter...

love these boys.

We have a fun-filled weekend coming up over Memorial Day--a Carter-free date day on Friday and a pool-filled-family-fun overnight Saturday, a gift from one of my student's parents. And you'd better believe there will be softball and bbq's and drumsticks and walks to the lake and late-night movie watching--I love this time of year!

I hope you all are enjoying these May days!

Jaxon and Dominic

2011-05-19T20:30:00.008-05:00

Today Carter and I went to visit Emmy and her twin boys, Jaxon and Dominic. I remember holding these two in the hospital when they were just one day old--feeling the twitchings of a newborn that I was feeling in my then-34 week belly. And today they had their 18 month appointments. It made me realize that no matter how tall they grow--how many pounds they weigh--how many teeth they have--no matter when and how these little ones grow up, they will always be our babies.

Here are some pictures of the boys this afternoon.

Sundays

2011-05-15T20:35:00.001-05:00

Sundays are, without a doubt, my favorite day of the week. I love our morning routine of slowly waking up to a jammied Carter in bed, leisurely getting ready for our Starbucks breakfast before heading to church--a church filled with people who mean so much to us. Then returning home for long naps, hamburgers on the grill, the ice cream truck, neighborly chit-chat, and front yard golf. And with the refrigerator full, suits pressed, laundry done, bathrooms cleaned--we can sit back and take a deep breath before diving into another week.

Ahhhh, I love Sundays. We all do.

Apparently Jack thought that he was entitled to a portion of Carter's snack--went right up and ate it out of his mouth. Luckily, we had plenty of crackers to go around.

daddy's helper

2011-05-14T09:59:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we began marking off our 16x20 deck site off the back of our house. Tony has a natural eye for design--so luckily for me, once the plan was drawn up at Home Depot I gave my yep, looks good nod of approval and that was done. Next up is pulling the permits so we can start--more pictures to come of the progress.

Carter loves hanging out with his da-da in the garage and being around all the big-boy tools--such a little mini-Tony. He is going to be a great helper when he gets older. But for now, he's just excited to be around all the action.

enjoying the now

2011-05-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

It's been a whirlwind lately, let me tell ya. We have a million things going on right now--but some of us perform best under pressure. Tony is soakin' up some Arizona sun this week while Carter and I are experiencing the indecisive Minnesota spring of 80's today and 50's tomorrow--what's it gonna be? School is winding down which means between night meetings and end-of-the-year assessments and graduation and working a few days a week--I come home and crash. No exaggeration.

The lull of winter has left and I'm out of shape, figuratively (and physically) speaking. I'm not prepared for our summer to-do list--just getting through the today list keeps me busy enough. But I realize that through the chaos, it's important to slow down and enjoy the now. Because looking back, now is always the best time.

More later, enjoy some pictures of our talkative and lovable toddler :)

lil' hoopster

2011-05-03T09:24:00.005-05:00

Carter is obsessed with balls. It doesn't really matter what kind--baseball, basketball, football, soccerball, golf ball, tennis ball--he can point them out anytime, anywhere. And as soon as he spots one, his face lights up and he yells ball! and is entertained for hours shooting hoops or throwing them around. His strength has really increased recently, so we've had to move certain balls to be outside only.

Here are some pictures of our lil' hoopster :)

playing in the rain

2011-04-28T11:00:00.003-05:00

easter weekend

2011-04-27T09:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T20:48:00.002-05:00

from our family to yours!

easter brunch

2011-04-25T09:41:00.008-05:00

Half of the crew was able to make it to Greenville for an early Easter brunch on Saturday. I always look forward to seeing everyone and meeting the new babies that are added to the bunch :) I happen to think my childhood friends are some of the most beautiful and talented people around--love you all and can't wait for our upcoming summer reunion!

toddlerism #1

2011-04-22T10:49:00.002-05:00

I've decided to start some on-going posts on various toddlerisms, documenting some of those hysterically-amusing yet frustrating-keep-you-on-your-toes moments of one and two year olds. Perhaps most of you have had a toddler or know of someone who does and can empathize and/or laugh with the characteristics that go along with. I'll start with number one.

Toddlerism #1: If they can climb it, they will climb it.

what is it?

2011-04-21T09:33:00.006-05:00

Any guesses?A cow skull. Out of all the toys and tools and sticks and dirt and squirrels he can chase--he chose to play with this.