Pink?

Last time I was at Target I found these cloth diapers.  I love cloth diapers, but they are so expensive to get into.  I figure that babies don't hang around in just their diapers, so pink or blue it doesn't matter.  I got a lavender pair too, so check him out sometime! We don't mind!

Popcorn

Growing up we had popcorn every Sunday for dinner, or at least that's how I remembered it.  It was always a real shock for me when there was an actual dinner.  My mom always told us that it was Sunday, therefore it was the maids day off.  My dad would make this giant thing of popcorn and we would just eat for hours watching the Disney movie on channel 4.  I decided when I got married and had kids we would do this, but it happened maybe once or twice and I never got back into it.  So tonight we didn't have popcorn, but we did pull out the microwave popper and used some cute bags that Shelly MacMillan gave us and enjoyed the outdoors together.  It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

Of course you can't have a nice day without a popsicle.  We were watching our neighbors little boy and she brought a big bag of popsicles for us and we were more then willing to enjoy!

Sunday Morning

This morning instead of getting to church on time we did some family pictures! We walked in along with a crowd prior to the opening prayer but after the opening song...sorry mom.  It is difficult getting 4 people together all looking in the same direction.  It was hard with 3 and now just one more person with an at times over stated opinion.

I only attempted 2 with all four of us, but I was just amazed that I was able to get the three boys all looking in the same direction! Yeah maybe I chopped off half of Carson's head, but that's just a fact of life!

My wee one

Carson has been such a wonderful baby, but then again so were his brothers! I am beginning to understand what people have said about the third baby though...its like he doesn't exists.  I have not taken the time to take lots of pictures everyday like I did with James and Logan.  Poor kid.  At least I have filled out his baby book, well I completed the birth portion.  Didn't fill out the pre-birth data...anyway, I have a few new pictures that my sister helped me take the other day.  I hope to do better with Carson's pictures and put them in books too.  James are all in books, Logan's are printed and dated (mostly) and Carson is just here, healthy and happy!

Thanks Mom!

I grew up with a mom that believed that "Hallmark Holidays" are just that for Hallmark.  On that note its not Mother's Day, but I just wanted to say thank you to my mom.  Today James was outside playing at the neighbors house and I realized it was dinner time.  My mom has dinner planned by 6:30 am everyday...or soon thereafter.  I have never taken that from her, although that would be nice to have one less thing to worry about with kids screaming and food to prepare.  But what she did teach me is how to cook on the fly with what you have.  I opened the freezer and pulled out 2 chicken breasts, frozen Asian vegetable mix and threw some rice on to cook.  Next I tried to figure out what kind of chicken would work with my kids and rice.  So teriyaki is always a great fall back, but I am out of vinegar, so that was out...next up was orange chicken, which I've never made, but the recipe I had called for orange marmalade...and I don't have that.  Third times a charm.  We had Sweet and Sour Chicken for dinner.  James of course just had rice and chicken, but he really really liked the chicken! I must say it was so moist and it was a good combo with the Asian vegetable mix and the flavor packet I cheated with.  We cut up some watermelon, made some pink lemonade and sat down for a great dinner together! I am glad meals were so important growing up.  I am grateful that I can now share that with my boys and someday they can share that with their families. So thanks Okaasan!

Effie

Our friends the Hunt's have started their own little farm and my kids love to visit and play with all their animals.  Their 2 newest members to the farm are two Dexter (small) Dairy Cows (well one cow, Effie, and one bull calf, T-bone) and we got to see them milk Effie today! I was really surprised how comfortable James was around them.  He was even bumped into when Jason was moving Effie around after milking her and James didn't seem to mind.  Logan on the other hand kept his distance.  He wasn't fussy about it, but just watched at a distance.  James even got to feed her and pet her.

It's fun to see people using the resources around them! Christina just made ricotta cheese from the fresh cow milk :)

Look MOM!

Its been raining here for the last few days and look what you find when it rains in Washington.

James was so proud of his find.  He carried it around in a cup for hours until I made him put it in our little garden.  It was a sad good bye!

My Favorite Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Back in 1991 my home ward put together a Cookbook that has become a favorite and I use it more then my prized Betty Crocker cookbook!

Melt In Your Mouth Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. Shortening

1/2 c. Peanut Butter

1/2 c. Sugar

1/2 c. Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1/2 t. Baking Powder

3/4 t. Baking Soda

1/4 t. Salt

1 1/4 c. Flour

1 c. Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven and cooking stone to 375.  Mix thoroughly shortening, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar and egg.  Blend in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Add in chocolate chips.  Cover and chill (optional).  Place balls on a greased cookie sheet or stone, flatten with the bottom of a glass and criss cross with a fork.  Bake for 10-12 minutes and cool on paper towels or cooling rack.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

These cookies are so wonderful.  I have never had them not turn out for me.  I didn't flatten or criss cross this time.  I was cooking with two 4 year olds one of which had a cough, so I went as fast as possible with as little food handling as possible! The original recipe does not call for chocolate chips, but I believe everything is made better when you add chocolate!

My Baby

We got home yesterday and its been a whirlwind! Life continues even when we aren't ready for it! My family has been great and helped us a lot.  Yesterday when I got home my dad was napping James so we just had 2 boys to feed and nap.  We had a good dinner with the 4 of us and then bedtime.  It seems like babysitting that little baby has really helped the boys understand babies and thus it has been much easier on me then I expected. 

Today we didn't have gymnastics so my mom picked up the two big boys and took them out to the tide flats for 2 hours, which gave me time to make banana bread, clean up the kitchen a little and give Carson a bath.  Carson wasn't really sure about the bath at first but seemed to enjoy the warm soak after a bit.  Taking him out was another reason to scream however! Poor kid. 

Carson also found his thumb today! At the hospital his hand was constantly in his mouth looking for that thumb.  The nurses said he must have been doing that before he was born.  In this picture he has his pointer finger all bent out of shape.  My mom knows someone that has a slightly misshapen finger from doing that as a baby...we will have to monitor that finger! I am sure that today it was an accident that it even made it in there.

I brought a cheesecake to the birthday party celebration for Peter and Logan thought that he needed to drink the blackberry topping I made for it.  Looks good!

I'm holding him!

No pictures to post, but I thought I would just let my friends know that at least he is here and handsome!  Carson Lawrence was born yesterday at 10:37 and because its amazing I will even share his story!

7:00 My sister and I got to the hospital for my schedule inducing and started antibiotics

9:15 Broke water at 4cm and 70% effaced

10:15 a friend came to visit, had my first REAL contraction and I started feeling pressure

10:30 Nurse checked and I was 8cm and ready to push

10:37 Carson was born 8 lbs 7oz and 21 3/4 inches

At first it took him a long time to pink up so his apgar scores were a little low, but eventually he did, but they ran a CBC (complete blood count) to see why it took so long and found out that he was Coombs positive (a blood issue caused by mom and baby being a different blood type.  I am +O and he is +A so my last push of antigens were basically fighting his on the way out the door).  I was given the clear to go, but we are sticking around Coupeville until he passes all this tests!  We are watching for Jaundice and so tomorrow morning we will do another CBC to check his levels again and if they haven't spiked too high we can go home! My sister was great to have here with me and almost missed it when she was walking Wendy Baesler to her car and getting a book to read! That would have been very sad!  Things went so fast that my doctor almost went into surgery and the pediatrician almost left the building! Good thing my nurse acted quickly and pulled everyone together!

This morning my mom brought the boys in to meet their new brother.  I knew it may not go well, but the both came in and climbed up on the bed with Carson and I and we cuddled and ate ice chips together and graham crackers.  They did really good.  James even held him and Logan didn't freak out when I held him.  Good day for the Kincaid family!

Doughnuts

Today I went to Safeway and stocked up on a few things and I thought that getting treats for the last day of our threesome would be fun! So, we got some doughnuts to share! Who would have thought that a couple of doughnuts could have made these boys day!!!

Such a happy boy!

There is also ice cream on Logan's face!

Baby Watch 2010 Update

I had my last long awaited appointment today.  I am measuring a full 3 cm now and he said I was ripe...I guess that means we are ready to go! During the ultrasound he seemed a little concerned about my fluid levels, but then said that we could do this tomorrow. I told him, why not today? He said that he didn't want me to have this baby in the middle of the night.  I told him I appreciated his concern, but I figured the 3 hours head start I would get by starting the process tomorrow was unnecessary.  He didn't go for it though! The current plan is to have my mom come in the morning to stay with the boys, so that they could sleep.  Emily will drive me up to the hospital and my dad will drive James to preschool.  From there I am sure there will be someone watching Logan and  Amy and helping with the Campbell clan's daily activities.  I am hoping to be home and back to normal on Thursday and will update this when life permits! Think happy thoughts!

In Preparation

I have seen this on different blogs and of course Martha Stewart. So I decided in preparation of this baby coming, eventually, I would do something about lunches.  I have something like this already with prepackaged items, like granola bars and fruit snacks, but i thought this would be a good prize box too.  James has really enjoyed helping make his own lunches and this way he can pick out something with dried fruit in it and crackers and maybe a bag of cookies.  These have also been nice to grab for in the car while we're driving to give to the boys too!

Baby Watch 2010

Here in the Seattle area we love our weather forecasters.  Each year we have "Storm Watch 2009." It usually turns out to be nothing more then a little rain, but we cancel school and people flock to the local stores to stock up on water and candles.  That's what I feel like this baby business is.  I have stormed the grocery stores for grapes and water...don't need candles.  I know that he will come when he is ready and I have actually found myself OK with him taking his time.  I understand that there are just a few things we can't control, you know (I paraphrase) on the Lords time not ours.  This one is on the Lords time.  Last week I didn't have the blankets washed, this week I might even fold them! I have paperwork I need to get into order.  I kinda wanted to have a will put into place, not that I am expecting anything more then a simple, yet painful, delivery I want to know that my boys are taken care of. 

Anyways, I do have a status update. 

On Wednesday I had contractions every 15 minutes all day...until I went to bed.  I woke up at 3:30 with Logan and was made it was 3:30! Having contractions makes me nervous, I've never gone into labor on my own before!  I even learned there are different kinds of contractions!  

Thursday...nothing!

Friday I had a doctors appointment and he checked me and wondered why I haven't had this baby yet. I am 2-3 Cm dilated, 50% effaced, and minus 2 station.  But still not a single contraction!!!

When I left the doctors office he said, "See you this weekend!" "Unless you decide to hang on to this thing as long as you can!" Its funny because I have been telling him for months that with all my other babies I had to have my water broken and then the rest is the same.  My next appointment is on Tuesday morning and he will strip my membranes and probably schedule me to be induced on Wednesday, because he's on call at the hospital. He also listened for the first time that I accidentally wrote the wrong LMP by a month! According to my period I was due on the 19th of May.  My first ultrasound, in office, said June 3 and my second, in hospital, said May 31st.  My bags are packed and the car seat is clean and in the car so if he wants to come now I am...ready!?! My house is still a mess, but I can survive that.  I took a nap today so I am even "rested!"

James has really loved this belly! I am excited to see him with his new brother!

We love Strawberries!

I remember growing up and having a hot breakfast every morning and a packed lunch everyday for school and all my school friends being jealous.  To me it was just how my day goes, but to them I was lucky.  That's when I decided that I want to be that same mom for my kids.  Wednesday while James and I were on our date we stopped by Costco and picked up some strawberries.  So yesterday we made some waffles, cut up strawberries and got out some whipped cream! James thought it was such a treat.  We have waffles all the time, but its been a while since we had strawberries and whipped cream on top!

This morning when Curtis called James told him all about it.  Its funny what kids think are important! Meanwhile that Costco sized strawberry crate is pretty much gone! In two days my boys have managed to eat the entire thing!

Logan is hiding while playing with hair...I thought he was done with that fetish, but it's come back to town again!