My Snow Babies

Thanskgiving Eve was with the Norton Family and of course I forgot to take any photos. We still had a great time visiting with family and introducing our little Carter to some family members who had still yet to meet him. Then on Thanksgiving we spent the day at my parents along with my sister Trina and her kids. I have several photos to post but these three were my favorite. After eating a yummy meal the kids decided to go outside and play in the snow.

Of course I didn't take little Carter out in the snow, but this is a photo upon our arrival at Grandma and Grandpa's when he was still bundled up in his snow gear. Thought it was cute!

I'll be sure to post more Thanksgiving photos tomorrow.

Some Advice Please...

Hello fellow bloggers

As you all know we have a new little one in our home. We are in love with him of course. He's already beginning to get little rolls on his legs. He holds his head up great when he's awake and loves to look around. He hardly ever cries and when he does it's more like a whimper. However today I did get to hear him really exercise his lungs when strapped in his carseat... he's not a fan of being strapped in. I don't blame him.

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He LOVES to nurse and because of this love of his, my milk came in by day 4 (with my others it took over a week). My others also loved their binkies (which both of them had by day 2 of their lives). However Carter has no desire to suck on a binky whatsoever. Occassionally we can get him to take it if we hold it in his mouth long enough, but it doesn't stay in his mouth long after we let go. The only one he has somewhat tolerated is a latex MAM. I've tried several others and he just spits at them, chews on them, or cries. Now I'm most definetly not opposed to the "no binkies"... however it's causing as slight problem for me at night time.

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With my older two I co slept. However down the road... well not so good having a 2 year old and 5 year old still wanting in your bed. Anyhow, I decided I did not want to co sleep with Carter for that very reason... it's almost impossible to get my kids out. So we've been attempting the whole bassinette ordeal. First few nights not so bad... but the last couple of nights have been a little more rough. We swaddle him and I nurse him to sleep... lay him in his bassinette and within minutes he's fussing (and sometimes crying). I nurse him back to sleep again and within minutes he's fussing again. I feel like I am non stop nursing and it would just be nice if he would take a binky because then I think he would actually stay in his bassinette. I'm really not sure what to do now. The last few nights he has ended up in our bed by morning and I really really really don't want to make this a habit. I am just so exhausted and frustrated at night that I give in.

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So I would absolutley LOVE any and all advice that you may have for getting him to sleep in his bassinette without fussing. I'd even settle for him sleeping at least an hour! But without a binky... I'm just not seeing this happening.

A Deer for Carter

For those of you who are "anti-hunters" just ignore this post. But if you've ever eaten a cheeseburger then no complaining about these pictures- someone had to kill that cow too. Anyhow, Doug's plan of Carter arriving on opening day did not go as planned but ever since the birth Doug has wanted to shoot a deer in Carters honor. (I know... kinda sick but at the same time, kinda sweet). Well tonight was Doug's lucky night!

With the help of doe urine (yes, store bought)... Doug was able to lure in this 7 point buck.

In honor of our newborn son Carter.

Last year we were able to put Bella on top of the deer Doug got but this year Bella wouldn't go near it unless Doug was right by her side. And no, that gun is not loaded...

One day Isaac hopes to claim a buck just like his Dad.

Adjusting To Three

First off, I had to add this photo above. Carter was the talk of the hospital in this little outfit. We have a little tradition of Doug picking out and purchasing the homecoming outfits of our children. With Carter being born so close to opening day of gun season, Doug couldn't resist this little camo outfit from Cabela's. Everyone at the hospital called him a little hunter.

And then there were three...

Bedtimes have been interesting. Before Carter arrived Doug would put Isaac to bed in his room, I'd put Bella to bed in her room... no problems. However now there is a third little person who needs attention during that hour of the night. We're still trying to figure out a good routine.

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I have yet to go to the store with all three. That will be quite interesting. However I did go to the store with the younger two and have since decided that I will do my very best to avoid trips with all three.

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Getting Isaac on the bus while keeping everyone happy... not an easy task. Especially now that the temperature outside is so cold! I have to bundle everyone up; I'm not quite trusting to leave Bella and Carter indoors together...

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It's only been a week... I know we have many more adjustments to come. For those of you who already have 3 or more children... I think you are amazing!

Vampires & Newborns

What a sight it must have been for those who did not know us personally. Last night, well early this morning at 12:05am, I attended the opening of the Twilight movie with my mother in law and 2 sister in laws. Also in tow was Joshua (12 weeks), Emily (4 weeks), and Carter (1 week). I'm pretty dang sure they were the only newborns at the theater. Quite the site really... wish I would've had a camera. The majority of movie goers last night were teenagers too. I hadn't realized the book was such a hit with the teens.

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Well I must say that I wasn't in love with the movie, but I wasn't disappointed either. It was simply a good movie. I wish it had been longer so they could've added more details from the book. I think the casting was perfect in all of the characters. Can't wait for second movie... Carter will probably stay home with dad for that one.

Home At Last

We're finally home! Thank you to my wonderful family members for posting all the great pictures and slides (you can view slideshows on their blogs- which I'll try to post on here). It is so awesome to finally have Carter out of my belly and in our arms! He's a great baby and very content.

Friday morning I went in for my regular check up to discover that on the doctors charts they have been considering my due date November 14th the entire time. Which makes his arrival all the more crazy. That morning (after a long debated friendly argument with my doctor) he convinced me to get my membranes stripped saying I'd probably go into labor within 1-2 days. Well, one hour later I was at my sisters to pick up my kids and the contractions started right up. They stayed 3-5 minutes apart and so my sister requested I stick around before heading home. After about an hour of that she started calling people, including my other sister Trina who came to get my kids. I knew Doug was on a job that really needed to be finished so I didn't want to call him or go into the hospital. Finally Kristin and Trina convinced me I really was in labor and I called Doug. Kristin drove me to the hospital where we were met by Doug and my parents.

The contractions continued to be every 2-4 minutes apart... hardly any pain at all. I was moved into a laboring room and still felt as though I wasn't really in labor. Amidst texting family of our hospital news I jokingly sent a text to my sister in law Rachael telling her he already arrived and was 10lbs 3oz. She believed me yet once she realized it wasn't true she sent back a text that said "May painful contractions be upon you..." And just as though she was using some type of witchcraft, my contractions literally changed night and day and I was in tears because they were so painful! This happened within minutes of her text at 5:30. That's when labor flew right along... I asked for an epidural by 6pm but they were so insanely busy I didn't recieve it until 7:20pm.

The epidural worked on the pain of the contractions but I still felt every single ounce of pressure from Carters head... that pain was insane. However that lasted less then an hour... after 15 minutes of pushing out he came. He weighed in at 9 pounds 6.8 ounces (so they rounded up) and 21 and half inches. His head measured at 14.4 inches... much smaller then Bella's!

I feel as though I have been glowing ever since that last push that got him out. It feels WONDERFUL to no longer be pregnant and finally see the beautiful product of all that pain I endured. He is amazing and sleeps great compared to my last two. I will be sure to post more pictures as the week goes on. Thank you so much for all of the support I have recieved from everyone. And to those of you who are still pregnant- best of luck on your journey. I'll be thinking about you and praying for you!

Baby Norton

Carter Douglas Norton
November 14, 2008
8:18 pm
9lbs 7oz
21 1/2 inches

Guest Post by Trina
Mom and Baby will be home on Sunday.

Due Date Shmue Date....

Well, I said I wouldn't do it.... and yet I did. Long before this child in my womb was ever created I promised myself that I would never "go by my due date" again. After Bella's late arrival (by 5 days) I had decided that next time I was pregnant I would bump the "due date" a whole week. Somewhere in the excitement of finding out I was pregnant with this little guy, I must have forgotten about that promise I made myself. Now I'm wishing I would have remembered.



Here I sit at my computer... it is the 13th day of November. The day my doctor says the baby is "due". Guess what? Still no baby! I think we need to throw due dates out the window. From now on we should only have "due months". Wow, when are you due??? Oh sometime in November. Yes, that is what I should've been saying this whole time. Maybe next time I'll learn- that is, if there is a next time.



Carter will arrive when he's good and ready. This I am quite sure. Doug still claims he'll be good and ready on the 15th (Opening Day of Hunting). Doug's theory (which he wrote in detail on our calendar): Doug will go hunting in the backyard early in the morning. He'll shoot a giant deer (hopefully a buck), gut it, then hang it. Once all is done and he's cleaned up my labor will start, we'll head into the hospital and Carter will arrive around 5pm. Funny thing is I'll never hear the end of it if Doug ends up being right. Only time will tell...

For the Twilight Fans

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!


Thank you Trina for finding this quiz! This is for all the other Twilight Fans out there- which female are you? This is what it said about me being Esme (not sure if I agree completley but I'd rather be Esme then Rosalie!)

"You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things"

Still Waiting...

This little cartoon is perfect! First off- my silly computer takes FOREVER to download anything. So comparing this pregnancy to downloading is absolutley perfect. It feels neverending! Secondly- my sweet children are constantly asking when Carter will be here. For so long I told them that he would come after Halloween. Well, it is after Halloween now and they want to know where the heck their little brother is. I'm sure you can tell by the tone of this blog that I'm growing very impatient. Horrible I know, considering my due date is still another 2 days away (13th).

It's amazing that Bella was 5 days late. It didn't even phase me that she was late! But with this one, I feel like he's a month overdue! I think much of those feelings have to do with the fact that I've been dealing with such difficult pelvic and pubic bone pain the past month. My body has just felt very ready to have him out. Of course I'd like him to come at his own time so that I may have better chances of an easy labor & delivery... but to top of the physical strain I'm starting to add emotional strain.

So I sat here yesterday, contemplating... why is this pregnancy so hard to endure and Bella's was not. I suppose the fact that I'm taking care of two children now instead of just one has a little to do with it. My energy level is not the same. I realize too the way I'm carrying this one has made walking, moving, sleeping, etc. all the more difficult. My belly is straight out in front and extremely LOW. But I think the biggest reason this has been so difficult to endure is simply the fact that I'm not first to go! What I mean by that is, when Bella arrived I had sister inlaws pregnant with me- but due after me (along with several friends). I was the first to welcome my little one during that time. With this one, my sister in laws have already given birth and even a friend that was due after me has already given birth!

Well I suppose I am just rambling now. I just wanted to let everyone know that Carter feels the need to keep on "downloading". Please say a little prayer for me- not necessarily that he will come soon, but that I will be able to gain a little more patience for his arrival. He can't stay in there forever right???

Trick or Treat!!!

This year we took the kids to Grandma and Grandpa's to trick or treat. We ate yummy appetizers before heading out. The kids all surprisingly lasted a very long time. Everyone had a great time. Especially once they saw the candy the received!

Meemee's Halloween Party

Every year Doug's mom "Meemee" throws a halloween party for all the grandkids. Everyone brings some yummy appetizers and a carved pumpkin. After we chow down the kids then parade around their costumes to the music "Monster Mash". After the parade we light all the pumpkins and see whose pumpkin stays lit the longest. During this time Meemee (or another adult) will tell a Halloween story or sing song. This year Jarod & Nathan's big pumpkin won. After the pumpking contest the kids have the opportunity to "Trick or Treat" for non candy items from all the aunts and uncles who strategically place themselves around the house (or in years past- in the yard). Everyone goes away happy and excited. This really is a fun tradition that we all look forward to every year. Thank you Meemee!!!

From Soccer Star to Little Wrestler...

Last Spring we were able to watch some of Isaac's cousins play in their soccer games and ever since Isaac has been dying to play as well. This past September he was finally old enough to start on a "learning team". No actual games but he still loved it. So far, he says he'd like to play again next year. Now the funny thing is- the entire soccer season, Doug kept on saying one thing to Isaac: "Soccer is cool, but wrestling and football are cooler." Obviously you now know which sports my dear husband favors. I suppose I should explain that wrestling was not only a sport in the Norton family growing up, it was a way of life. Doug and 4 of his brothers competed in wrestling during high school and they were all good... extremely good. Even to this day when we have family get togethers you can find these fully grown men pulling wrestling moves on eachother in the middle of the living room floor. One of his brothers is even a head high school wrestling coach (which of course is a dream of Doug's as well). So now that you know the "importance" of wrestling to Doug and the Norton family I can continue with the story...

Last week as I went through Isaac's papers that came home from school I discovered a flyer for a local wrestling club (for kids ages 5-14). I didn't even know that one existed in our area (guess I didn't care to know). But as soon as I saw the flyer and realized Isaac was old enough to participate I sent a text to Doug. Doug has been waiting for this day. He has asked several times in the past year if Isaac was old enough for wrestling yet. Well of course once Doug learned about the local club he made the decision to sign him up. Yesterday he took Isaac and registered him, along with purchasing his very first pair of wrestling shoes (above photo). Doug came home to tell me that the season will last until March and they will even have tournaments in the spring. Yes, my little 5 year old could be competing in wrestling tournaments... I'm sure you can imagine the glow on my husbands face. He's pretty hopeful that Isaac will form a passion for wrestling. In all honesty I think Isaac will love it. I'm just really glad that Isaac and Doug finally have something that they'll be able to do together.

I couldn't help but include a few photos of Doug in his glory days. These aren't the best pictures because I took pictures of pictures with my camera (no scanner). Doug is the one in red and white in the one below... beating the other guy of course!

Halloween

Finally! I have been trying for a week to upload halloween pictures. I really really need a new computer/internet. Anyhow- there are so many others I was hoping to post but due to a lack of time, these are the shots I was able to upload.

Isaac decided to be Batman this year. He actually made this decision back in the beginning of September when we saw the costume in the toy section. He had a blast trick or treating. This was the first year that he didn't want to hitch a ride in the wagon. He trecked the whole way with the rest of the cousins.

Doug unfortunatley did not dress up this year. Party pooper... he did however dress up like a geek at his mom's halloween party. I'll have to post that photo another day. I had a single shot of Bella that I kept trying to post but no matter what size I made it, it just wouldn't upload. This is probably the last year that I had a choice in her costume, so I chose Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. A friend of mine had given me the blue dress (not even meant as a Dorothy costume) and then I found the red shoes at Target. Cheapest halloween costume ever!

I must admit, the shoes really did make the outfit and Bella still loves to wear them everywhere.



This is a sad, sad, sad photo. Oh so big... and I can now see that in the last few weeks my face has started to get chunky (something I was hoping to avoid all together). Such is life I suppose. Anyhow- as you can see I decided to be a pumpkin. When out trick or treating I recieved a few crazy comments. First was passing the neighbors house (my parents neighbor), they called out "Tenille, is that real???" Ha! Funny! And then shortly after that I had a woman stare at my stomach ask when I was due and after I said two weeks, she replied with "wow, you just look miserable!" Oh my goodness, that is just something you do not tell someone who is in their last month of a pregnancy. Overall we had a great halloween. We have so many other "halloween" pictures from the holiday that I will hopefully make into a slideshow and post on here another day.

Last Chance Guesses???

Well I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant and Carter has not yet chosen to come out of my womb. I never did post all the guesses that came in about a month ago so I thought I would post them here now. I suppose the newcomers have an advantage now, so if you posted before and would like to "reguess" feel free to leave it in the comment section and I'll change it in his baby book. I'll include a few updates as well:

At 37 weeks I was 1cm and 30% effaced. On Friday the 17th of October I had regular contractions 5 minutes apart for 2 hours. Since then nothing has been too regular, but I continue to have at least one contraction an hour if not more. I've only had about 5 "painful" contractions in the last week. The baby has dropped a little bit. The pelvic pain has intensified. I'm no longer asking to be checked because I believe that only gives false hope. I also will not have my membranes stripped or anything of that sort unless I am a week over my due date. So with that said- here are the old guesses:

Theresa: Nov. 1st @ 8:36pm NOPE!

Jenny R: Nov. 2nd NOPE!

Jenny H: Nov. 3rd @ 5:30am - 8lbs 14oz 20 1/2 in. NOPE!

Kristin: Nov. 4th @ 11am - 9lbs 15oz 20in NOPE!

Trina: Nov. 7th @ 4:30pm - 9lbs 2oz 20 1/2 in. NOPE!

Talia: Nov. 10th @ 7:30pm - 8lbs 6oz 20 1/2 in.

Analisa: Nov. 12th @ 4:25pm - 8lbs 3oz 19 in.

Tonia: Nov. 16th @ 3:23pm - 9lbs 3oz 22 in.

Mom & Dad N. : Nov. 22nd - 8lbs 8oz 20 in.

Cecilia: Nov. 26th @8pm - 9lbs 5oz 20 in.


IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED YET- PLEASE GUESS NOW AND POST IT UNDER THE COMMENTS! THANK YOU!!!