I can't think of anyone I'd rather...

...share my birthday with than you! Happy Birthday to my very best friend and sister...



The best birthday present is one I've already gotten, getting to live in the same town with you! This is gonna' be fun!! I love you, have a wonderful day!

Calling all members of the Ma-Ma Sisterhood

You may be asking yourself what the heck is the Ma-Ma Sisterhood? Well, I just made it up...and if you have ever uttered the words "I'm breastfeeding my baby" or better yet "That's about as good as a Soothie on a sore nipple" you're in!In other words if you're a guy, this blog posts NOT for you!

I breastfed Carter for a whopping 13 months, but we got off to a really rough start. I was so sure that this time would be different. I just knew that things would go so much smoother. I was wrong. The last 10 days have been painful and I've thought more than once, "sure would be easy to just make a bottle". I think the issue was an improper latch initially (Carter's problem as well) and by the time I corrected it I has some nice sore "ninnies" as Carter likes to call them. Cracks in places there should not be cracks make feeding your baby like entering a torture chamber every few hours.

I think at this point things are looking up. But, being that so many of you are moms I thought what better place to ask for a little advice. What are your thoughts, tips, and pointers for getting through the "early stages" of breastfeeding. I'm determined not to give up, knowing that once you break through it really is an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. So Ma-Ma's I'm all ears...

Beam Me Up Scotty

Continuing on with the saga of Carter and her latest blow to the mouth (which you may remember from a couple of weeks ago)...

We just took her to the pediatric dentist to have her two front teeth checked out, and she looked a little more like a space cadet than a dental patient...

One tooth had started to change colors, which is really all the indication you need that there is a problem, but I still felt the need to have a "professional" confirm it. Unfortunately it is confirmed, and it looks like we may have a visit from the tooth fairy in our near future. While my post baby hormones may have contributed I definitely shed a few tears and gave myself a guilt trip about the whole thing. A few hours later, and with a healthy dose of perspective under my belt, I realized it will all be fine. She may be missing a front tooth for a while, but let's face it, there are worse things in life. Besides our soon to be toothless wonder seems a lot more excited about the possibility of meeting the tooth fairy than she is concerned with missing a tooth. She teaches me more about life than I care to admit sometimes, and her glass half full approach is one I'm trying to grasp a little better. Thanks Carter, for being four, for being positive, and for loving life...I love you munchkin'.

Brand New

Welcome to the World Little Dumpling

Having a baby is an experience unlike any other. I think I read somewhere that there is this unspoken bond between mothers, like a club so to speak, once you have a baby you're in. We just know without actually discussing it exactly what childbirth entails. I feel like now is a good time to mention that I know a lot of you who read this blog are moms and so I feel like we share this bond. Can I also just say thank you to all of you? Some of you I know well, others I don't, but through this blog you have truly become friends and all of your comments, well wishes, and congratulations truly blessed my heart.

I was induced Tuesday morning about 7:00 am. I'm going to go ahead and stick with my original theory that pitocin is from hell. I had tried to convince myself maybe I would feel differently the second time around...I didn't. They broke my water about 10:00 and that's when things got a little hairy. Let's just say that for about an hour in there I probably looked a lot like a lady on the verge of losing it. I am pretty sure not much was coming out of my mouth other than, "I can't do this..." and "Somebody please help me..." The thing about pitocin is (for those who haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it first hand) you get no relief. You go through one majorly intense contraction only to move right into the next one. Thankfully in those last moments where I was pretty sure I wasn't going to survive without passing out my savior, aka the anesthesiologist, arrived. I was supposed to receive an epidural, but long story short wound up with a spinal block instead. No sooner had I received some much needed pain management, and Nate and my sister had headed out to get some Taco Cabana, then I started feeling some major pressure "down there". Being that they had checked me about an hour ago and I was only 5 cm. I was sure it was nothing...but, then I started feeling like I might need to push. Another check "down under" revealed I had jumped to 9.5 and would be having this baby SOON! Nate came running up from the parking lot just in the nick of time. There is nothing like welcoming a new life into the world...especially one that weighs approximately 9 lbs. (as a side note I've been searching for the perfect loving term for describing our "large for her gestational age" baby and chubby just doesn't have a nice ring so I've decided dumpling it is)!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let those tell the rest of the story. After months of anticipation she's here...

We were all pretty excited...

and she was pretty adorable...

Service with a smile was delivered along with our sweet baby...

and one very proud dad may have shed just a few tears...

He wasn't the only proud member of our family, we had one very proud big sister too, and for her it was love at first glance...

She's been waiting for this moment for quite a while now...

and it was such a sweet one...

one of my favorite from the day...

because her sweet smile...

and excitement...

showed exactly how we were all feeling about this sweet new addition to our family (who just happened to find her thumb shortly after birth)...

First bath...

First night at the hospital with mom and dad...

second time my heart has felt this in love with a little person...

The next day brought more time with a very happy big sister...

Speaking of big sister, Monday Carter would like to share this photo that she took of Emme...

These two are already sweeter than sugar together...

and somehow we feel more like a family than ever...

funny how someone so small can make you feel things so big...

By the next day there was just one thing that would make us smile...

we were FINALLY getting to go home...

and someone was looking quite adorable in their car seat...

almost as adorable as her big sister who had set up camp at the front door with a few books while she waited for us to arrive...

and with a little help from her Nonna and Roxi had made our house a very sweet place to come home to...

and one thing is for sure, there's no place like home...

it's the perfect place for snugglin' (which Aunt Kimmi is getting really good at)...

sleeping (which Emme is very good at)...

and spending time with the two most adorable girls on the planet (okay, so I'm just a little biased)...

This is one great life!

And, speaking of great I just have to say our family is above and beyond. This experience would not have been the same without all of your love, support and help. We are truly blessed and so thankful for all that you did. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We're all in love with Emme Kate!

Emerson Kate is here! She arrived Tuesday at 1:33 in the afternoon. I'm looking so forward to writing all about her entrance into the world, but for now here are the highlights...

She was quite the little butterball coming in at 8 lbs 15 oz...20 3/4 inches long...and one full head of DARK hair! We're all in love...

We are so happy to be home and there will definitely be more to come on our sweet little brunette beauty...

For now this happy new mommy needs a little shut eye! But, seriously, isn't she just the sweetest!?

Oh, one last thing...Happy Birthday to one of the people I love most in the world...my dad. I love you and am sorry I've been just a little too pre-occupied to get you anything! Will you accept a new grandkid as your gift?!!