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...