Knapp Family

More Pictures

2012-01-13T09:46:00.001-06:00

Family Photos

2012-01-12T17:33:00.002-06:00

Here are some more pictures to tide y'all over. My dear friend Kara took some great photos the other day. She is a great photo taker and editer, I did what I could in a hurry for editing.

Caleb is such a joy. He is a pretty easy baby so far. He cries a little when hungry. Eats Great! (my tank) He knows day and night, but he still likes to wake up often and eat at night. He'll go back to bed pretty easy.

Labor and Delivery

2012-01-10T19:42:00.002-06:00

Tues Jan 3rd I was 41 weeks pregnant. (that's 1 week late). My dr. said I was still still carrying a little high. Caleb was just nice and cozy. The dr did set an appointment to be induced on Jan 4th at 9pm. However, she said call before I head over to the hospital to make sure they have an available bed for me. I guess the hospital has been really busy. (there must be something in the water).
We actually decided to call earlier and see if we could come in before my appointment, who wants to labor all night long? Chris called at 5am on the 4th and the charge nurse said if we could be there before 6am she could get me in before the shift change. So out of bed we sprang and got ready as fast as possible. Chris' folks are in town to watch Carter and Chase while I was in labor. So we called them, but just in case traffic was bad (they are about 20 min down the road with traffic), we called my friend who lives around the corner. Her mom was visiting town, and was soooo gracious enough to come over at 5am so we could scoot as soon as possible.
We got to the hospital. Got checked in. I was not showing any signs of labor at all. Caleb had dropped alittle and i had started to dialate a little. Then came the IV ...
My fear of needles is deep. It's not in a childish fashion, it's in my body. Once the IV was finally inserted after 3 attepmts, 1 blackout, a few drinks of water, fanning and lots of sweating... my body started laboring. I think it was stressed into labor. However, it still was not enough to keep from inducing. So a few hours later after they had monitored me, they started the pitocin IV drip.
My body started having contractins, but after about 4 hours had made little progress at all. From 3 to 5cm. Around 1pm they were going to break my water, but my progess was still not far enough. So they just kept upping the dose of pitocin. (Caleb was just not wanting to come out.) After 2 more hours and still only about 1cm of progress. The contractions were also coming and going. (they called me almost 6cm) They decided to break my water at 4pm to see if my body would progress quicker. My body was just not ready to go into labor.
Well, just like Chase's labor. Once my water broke.... my body got the hint. Caleb finally got the eviction notice. The intensity of the contractions intensified and became more regualr. I was becoming more excited that I must be progressing really good. Should be soon.
Nothing really happened for the next 3 hours. During that time Chris helped me count and breath through each contraction to distract me from the "discomfort".....PAIN!...Chris was amazing! I could not have continued on without him. (without any pain medicine). Chris fanned me after each contraction because I would be so sweaty, he gave me ice, squeezed my feet, counted, warned me when the next contraction was coming... he was great! Such a servant!
However when they broke my water I was 6cm, and at 7pm right before the shift change I was only 7cm. I was having very intense contractions and yet I was barely making any progess.
The shift change occured and the nurse and dr I was with all day were gone, and I quickly became very discouraged. I just didn't think I could go on another few hours of those intense painful contractions. This was looking very unbearable to me. Chris was so encouraging, he knew I could do it. I had some grape juice since I was feeling very weak. (I hadn't eatten in 24 hours)
The new nurse came in about 7:45 for another check, because I was starting to feel the need to push and in so much pain and contractions were super close together. She checked me, quickly said, "you're complete, let's do a practice push" ... leaves me and Chris while she runs to the doors and yells "We Need a Dr in here!!!"
I was asking Chris, can I put my legs up? (in those strap thingys), he helped me get all situated and I just started to push....no dr was ready. Caleb's head came out and Chris said, "we have a baby", one dr who had just got his gloves on, held Caleb while I continued to push, then passed Caleb off while he continued to get ready. ...I was so relieved it was all over. It was such a blessing from God that I wasn't in labor another few hours, like I had been progressing.
Once i was all takencare of. (i'll skip that part for the sake of ewwy gooy on delivering a baby.I will say I had a 3rd degree tear, my worst ever. Dr said it was due to scar tissue that hadn't had time to heal... hence I had 2 previous children very recently)
Caleb nursed about 15 min after birth, he was immidiatly a great eatter. I was pretty relaxed, pretty cold though from all the hormones shifting in my body.
My first thoughts when I saw Caleb were: He has BLACK hair? (which he actually gets from me.) He looks Hawaiian.. all red and black hair, and a little chubby. Caleb had rolls on his arms, which I had never seem on one of my babies. But that face... he looked just like his brothers. He was soooo cute!!!!!!!
Caleb was born 21 inches (my tallest baby by 2.5 inches), 8lbs 7oz. (1.7lbs's bigger than the other boys). Caleb was just so much bigger.
In the hospital Caleb had elevated levels of jaundice so we had to stay 2 nights. Once the pediatrician came in to tell us he may be jaundice (we had been through that with Carter, he needed to be on lights). I nursed Caleb for about an hour and he was still rooting to eat, and I knew he was at risk for jaundice so we asked the nurse for formula to suppliment till my milk came in. (with jaundice you have to get food in to get waste out. The billirubin is carried out with peepee and poopoo, so I wanted to get him eatting a lot.) Caleb was cleared to go home after 2 days without needing lights. However, this child is a tank! Caleb can eat! At his 5 day followup appointment he was above discharge weight. pooping about 8 times a day and having tons of wet diapers. The pediatrician said Caleb looked great!
Carter and Chase are adjusting great. Carter has no interest at all in taking a picture with Caleb. Chase will give Caleb a kiss but other than that... he's pretty indifferent.

Looking back, I just don't understand why Caleb was so late. He was by far my biggest baby. He is very healthy. Being my third child, I just figured I should have been able to sneeze Caleb out... but no matter what I am just so glad he's here.

Caleb Alexander

2012-01-06T21:56:00.003-06:00

Caleb Alexander

Jan 4th, 2012

8lbs, 7oz. 21 inches long

I will post more later. We are just now home and so excited to see how Caleb meshes with Carter and Chase. Pray for the adjustment. Carter was not very happy at the hospital to visit Caleb, or knowing he was not staying there. Chase, he just didn't want to hold Caleb.

Knapp Christmas

2011-12-29T10:35:00.010-06:00

Christmas a lot of fun this year, since the boys really understood opening presents. They didn't get up any earlier than normal, but it was still 6am, and we were tired. (I usually get to sleep an extra hour or so, till Chris gets me up, but there was so extra hour on Christmas, the boys were ready to open those gifts and stockings.) Santa brought them all essentials in their stocking, hey why not.... at this age a toothbrush is super cool.

They also got a few movies, mcqueen chairs, kid laptops and other toys. After opening up everything we all relaxed and watched Toy Story and they sat in their chairs..... for about 10 min... max. Then off to play with all their new things. We then got ready and went to church.

I know it's a weird tradition, but one things we started doing is taking down the tree either Christmas evning or the next day... I guess it's because we're both home and can help. The boys loved helping daddy all over the house. They thought unscrewing the tree from the stand was pretty neat.

Happy 3rd Birthday Carter!

2011-12-28T17:01:00.003-06:00

We were very low key for Carter's birthday. He did get to enjoy opening presents. He really liked everything. His big gift was a bike.

Lest you think Chase was totally left out Chase for a 4-wheeler for enduring life with Carter and making it to Carter's 3rd birthday.

Christmas 2011 Letter.

2011-12-01T15:49:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas 2011.

This may be your first Christmas letter of the year. I wanted to make sure to get it
out. I am due with baby #3, December 27th 2011. Caleb Alexander Knapp.
What a busy year. They say once you have kids time fly's... they are right.

Chris is still at All Import, and loves his job. Speaking of cars, we traded our Tahoe
for a Suburban this year too. Long awesome story short, one of my jewelry
hostesses family wanted a Tahoe and we wanted a Suburban, year and mileage was
almost the same, so we traded. Boy did God provide there.

I still have the best job ever, with Premier Design Jewelry. I get to stay at
home with my active boys and give away lots of free jewelry while I hang out
with other women. One women mentioned the other week, "I just noticed,
every time you go to work, it's a party that you don't have to clean up
after." So true, I love having the opportunity to be around other women,
since I will be totally outnumbered at home.

The boys are doing great! Carter is almost 3, and he acts 3! (By that I mean,
timeouts and discipline are a daily thing in this house) He likes to tell
everyone his opinion, and wrestle with his little brother Chase. He also loves
to read, color, paint, play outside, and work on cars with daddy. Chase is
still below the charts on size and we've had to go through some testing because
of that. Everything any Dr. has recommended has turned out normal. God has
blessed us with a peace in our hearts that everything is just fine. He is extremely
stubborn, strong-willed and independent. (like I always tell Chris, I have no
clue where Chase got that from) he is very smart too, but so different from
Carter. It's neat to see how God makes everyone so unique. Chase is able to do
so many things despite the fact that he's not even 18 months. He plays on our
huge play structure with Carter, talks a lot (only words a mother can
understand), loves the bath and he is 100% Carter's shadow.

This year was amazing! God has prepared us for many things in our church, our family
and our community.

We were able to take a vacation in September for a number of family reunions. My
grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and the whole family got
together, it's been 20 years I think since we had a whole family gathering. But
personally it's been at least 5 years since I have seen my whole family, since
we've moved to Texas.

What a fun fun time!!! Another awesome reunion was Chris and I got to meet his
birth parents. It was so neat getting to spend a whole day talking with them
about everything. Timing could not have been more perfect for anything.

Chris, Jolene, Carter, Chase
and Soon to add Caleb!!!

Halloween

2011-11-02T13:42:00.002-05:00

Wow it's been a while since I updated. Ooops, sorry about that. I have just been busy I guess. Things have been going very well. I am learning to keep my life more simple, and focus on my family first.

On Halloween Carter helped me snap green beans. He snaps the bottom and top off, and puts the rest in the pot. His southern drawl is soo cute.

The boys had a lot of fun trick or treating. Chase got the concept sooo fast. After the first house he knew tolook for those bowls they hold out. He just loaded up his pumpkin... the neighbors thought he was soo cute they just let him keep taking candy.. Chris and I were like, "wow Chase, that's too much!" Chase did NOT like his monkey outfit, so we last minute changed him to Tigger. Check out te video, to see how much Chase liked being a monkey.

Carter loved trick or treating, but he was soo good. He never ran ahead, and always waited for Chase. Chase was taking so much candy, but Carter would also get a piece for Chase and put it in his pumpkin... Chase really scored big! Carter was a sherif. Both the boys were actually the same thing this year they were last year..... well acept our last minute change for Chase.

2011 Trip to Oregon

2011-09-25T20:53:00.008-05:00

Chris, Carter, Chase and I at Camp 18 by the coast. We didn't get any photos of us at the beach. The kids HATED the beach. Carter wouldn't even stand on the sand. He was very upset we were there. But the streams and river... he loved, he would toss rocks in and of course Chase would copy. It was pretty nice while we visited. It was about 90F.

Me and my Buba Chase eatting breakfast.

Carter saying "Cheese", "Do you see it?" Camp 18 has little games to play while you wait.

The kids were very unimpressed with the carrisol. Carter flat out didn't like it. Chase was just neutral. In Carter's defense he did have fun at the coast, and Oregon, even though in many of the photos he isn't happy. I promise he was happy till the camera turned on.This is a photo of Dawn, Sam and Chris.

This is a long awaited reuinion! (I am sure they are saying, "tell me about it.")

Chris was adopted at birth. These are his birth parents. Both live in Oregon, near Beaverton. They waited almost 28 years to meet Chris. What a great story each one has to tell. It's too long for now, but we are so greatful for the way God works all things out for Good! What a blessing to be able to tell each one Thank You!!!!

Carter at a park in Oregon. (It's not raining, it's a fountain. But it really does rain a LOT in Oregon.)

And of course if Carter can do it, so can Chase!!!!!

Sam, Dawn, Chris, Linda and Mike.

We were so glad to get to see our great friends Andrew, Courtney and their 3 kiddos. We all went swimming, which our kids liked the hot tub the most. (Since they aren't used to cold weather.) Carter also learned he liked the jumping board. It was so cute seeing him jump in! Once again, he had a great time playing with his friends, but didn't want to sit for a photo.

We took a trip from the Portland area out to central Oregon. We stopped at Detroit Lake. One of my favorite spots in the world! My grandparents own a cabin up there, and I grew up going there every summer with them to ski. What a great place. I was so glad to take my family there and eat at Cedars. Carter was so excited to see the bear, but once again, the camera came out and didn't want his picture taken. The boys did really really well in the car. They enjoyed looking at the trees.

Once in central Oregon, we stayed in Tollgate, near Sisters. We had a great big family reunion with my side of the fam! It was time we finally all got together, and were so blessed that we had the privillage of getting together to celebreate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. (I know I am bad at spell check, or rereading, but that was NOT a typo!) 60 years! What a great example they have set for their whole family. Love, commitment, family, trust and friendship. I hope to one day to tell my husband Happy 60th wedding anniversary!

We each stayed in houses around the community. Our house was sooo nice. All the homes were super nice! We had a huge yard with a hot tub, which the boys loved. We had many activities each day. I was sooooooooooo glad to get to see my family. I miss being close. I actually haven't seen my cousin Carmen in 5 years! We really can NOT do that again. I just loved getting to spend time with each and every one.

The ladies had a nice tea one afternoon, walks, dinners together with toasts and speeches, a jewelry party and the highlight of my whole trip: a surpirse Baby Shower for me and my cousin Lissa.

I was in such shock it didn't really set in till later just how special that was for me. I have 2 other kids, both of which I never had any one from my family at a shower. It was so special for me to have my mom, aunts, grandma and great aunts there!!!!! It was overwhelmed with love. Thank you thank you thank you!

Chris and I in Sisters, trying to get a photo of the Mt's behind our big heads!Deer came right up to our house in Tollgate. Lucy, my parents dog, was really not ammused!My cousin Lissa with her daughter Charolet.

And yet again, trying to get a picture of Carter and Chase with their cousin. Carter was not happy about that either.

Believe it or not, this is the best photo of all of them on the couch together! They at least all made it in the same frame.

My bos with Uncle Leo. Go Leo. They loved taking pictures with him!

my grandpa Stuewe with Chase

My grandparents with their greatgrand babies.

Central Oregon Driving back to PortlandPortland, just like I remember it. The Freemont Bridge....and RAIN!

We Love all our family and friends and look forward to coming next year to show off Caleb too!

Cute videos

2011-08-30T15:48:00.005-05:00

So Carter may not be the most artistic, but he has great vision!

Just hanging out on a hot day. Both kids love to say "cheese"

Before nap and bed time I always rock and sing to the boys "Jesus loves me", so Carter does that to polar bear too. Then he turns the light off and says "goodnight Polar Bear."

Hot Fun in the Summer Time!!!

2011-08-20T12:43:00.005-05:00

The boys love to play outside. We started to "finger" paint..... you can see why we moved this to an outside activity.

Chase learned some sign language... some much faster than others, "please" he learned in a heart beat when Chris gave him Coke. But here he is saying more paint please

Playing with their water table

Carter loves to splash in the table and jump in

Ut-Oh... I think we're gonna get paint on the play structure......

All the boys... every morning, Chris gives them their milk and they sit and watch the news.

Carter reading. Our studious child!

What a Week.... or Two

2011-08-17T09:10:00.004-05:00

Here is a photo of the boy's room. Carter and Chase like to share. But they don't get as much sleep as they used to. Chase started tossing out his blankets and animals so Carter would get them. Carter got in trouble for getting out of bed, and Chase got in trouble for bombing Carter with his water cup one night. (kid has an arm!) It's been a little tough in the mornings, since they used to sleep till 7-8. Now they are waking up around 5:45. Yes AM! We leave them till about 6:30, but then the screaming is so loud, we aren't even resting anymore. Little buggers!

This is the reason they are sharing. This thermometer was in Carter's old room. It's been so hot outside, (109.9) His room inside was reading (91.4) at almost 5pm. It was just too hot to sleep in there. We are thinking of seperating them for a while once fall hits, before they share again when we have Caleb. They just need more sleep. They are so much more irritable these days.

Chris was given sombrerros from a customer at work. he got big ones and small ones.

"well, I recon that snake looks 'bout fried."

My 100% independant self feeding child.

Many of you may have heard, we were so sick last week. We have been held up inside for a few weeks. It started with Chase, then Carter then me, Chris believe it or not then our dog and a day later our cats. It was quit the bug. I slept in the bathroom all day. With the boys we washed more linens then I even thought we owned. We were just so sick! it's been rough, because once one person is better another gets it. I have been so afraid to go anywhere or have anyone over, fearing they might get this. None-the-less. We are hoping to be all over with that!

Caleb Alexander Knapp

2011-08-07T19:14:00.003-05:00

Our baby #3 is Caleb Alexander Knapp.

His official due date is December 27th, 2011

We are so overjoyed!!!!!

Carter was the one who kept telling us, "I love baby Caleb". I would ask him, "What about Reid?" "no mommy. I love Caleb!!!"

So today, Daddy prayed about it, and he decided this will be our baby's name!

We are so excited, and can not wait to meet him!

He is super happy in all the sono pics we saw. He had his mouth open and waving!

All Import

2011-08-05T15:40:00.001-05:00

Hey Y'all. I have a fun update coming! (BABY Sono pics and all.)

However, this post is for something else!

Chris works at All Import Auto Parts.

Please "LIKE" them on Facebook. If he gets the most people to "LIKE" them today, he'll win a Mystery Envelope! We want that envelope.

www.facebook.com/AllImport

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell your friends!!!!!!!!

Busy Weekend

2011-07-28T16:08:00.002-05:00

Boys will be Boys. Carter with his face all banged up. (play structure accident)

In Dallas, pre smoldering Hot days.

Chase's 1 year shots. 6 total. The other side looks the same. 2 in each leg and 1 in each arm.

Carter is so OCD. Everything must be symetrical

Chase all smily, after a bath and a 104.7 fever. He seems fine now.... just wanted to scare mommy!!!!!!

yummy. donuts, last attempt before a weight-in almost 14 months, he's coming in at 16.14lbs, 27.4 inches.

Carter loves his new art box. (yay school supplies are on sale., ps, you can see I bought the off brand.... to save a few pennies.... well our friends took care of Carter and Chase last weekend, and I forgot to tell them they were getting a smurf. it did NOT wash off. So much for off brand washable.)

Chris and I took a get-away weekend at the Hilton in Southlake. Which they so generously upgraded us to a large room, close to the elevator, so i didn't ahve to walk that far..... walking into the hilton I must have looked pitaful, it was 109F outside and I was tired from no sleep the night before and a long day in training. So they must have took pitty on me.... great! We got a beautiful room!

After our get-away weekend. (which we spend at the hotel and training for a marriage class) we picked up one of my best friends, from Oregon. Amanda. It was absolutly awesome hanging out with her! It's great to ahve friends you can just step right back into your conversations. Man did we have some great time chatting too. (Hey man! I know you're reading this...don't we look good!!!!!)

Chase...or is that Santa? (Yogert covered pretzel)

July

2011-07-13T20:17:00.002-05:00

Wow, I am so sorry I have not updated in a while. (I am surprised mom, you never said anything!) :o)

Well we have been really busy.

Carter is being a typical 2 year old. He has such a great personality. He is super smart. He started telling us NO all the time. He also started pushing Chase a lot. (Chase is trying to take all of Carter's things now. They are already fighting like brothers) Carter loves to color, organize, jump, run around, chase the cats, play outside, he loves to run with the hose spraing anyone within range, he is sooo full of energy! (I am still watching 1 other baby, Charity. Wow, what a difference between boys and girls. She can sit and do one thing for hours....Carter, it's like his body gets all this energy and explodes!)

Chase is a little spit-fire. He is a 100% determind, strong-willed child. He may be small, but he has a BIG personallity. He has gained good weight by the way. He has also grown in height and head size. His ratio is still very small compared to both the world and american charts, but he doesn't care. He lives as big as anyone else. He is SUPER smart. I said Carter was smart too, but Carter seems more studious kinda smart. (like all the kindergarden bench marks, Carter can hit those.) Chase...he is socially smart. You need to constantly stay one step ahead, or he'll beat you. he knows everyone's name, where to get all the things he could possibly want. He knows where mommy's room, Carter's room the bathroom are. He knows when it's time for things, I can say anything in the whole house and he'll walk over and point to it. (things like, oven, light switch, computer, alarm clock, door mat, milk, etc.... anything. At 13 months old he is now 16lbs and 27inches. (We may finally switch to size 3 diapers.) Speaking of diapers, Chase loves to sit on the potty. When I say i have to go potty, he'll follow me, and grab Carter's potty seat, and sit in front of me. (yes, it's great to have an audience....but he's so smart) When I am done Chase is the one who flushes and goes and stands on the stool to wash hand....not that he can reach, but he knows the drill. I am thinking he'll be potty trained around the same time as Carter. Which Carter has made a small step, he wears underware, (don't get too excited, it's over his diapers) He'll sit on the potty, if and only if he gets to watch Go Diego.

Baby #3: I have switched doctors a few times now. I started off seeing my original OB, who delivered both Carter and Chase, but we now have maturnity coverage for our health care (MAJOR blessings) but I switched and later was told they don't accept our insurance, so I had to switch again. Last monday I finally went to where I am going to stay. They were great. Nice, organized, clean and the fasted appts I have ever had. I didn't ahve to wait around in the office for hours, and the lab tech was great and quick too. I will have a sono in August and if baby cooperates we'll know weather this is another knapp boy, or a girl. We are excited either way. We didn't try for another baby because we want a girl. We would love a girl, but we love our boys so much, we would love another boy too.

Well that's about all for now.

y'all take care

Chase

2011-06-20T14:39:00.002-05:00

Please keep Chase in your prayers every time you eat. I know there are other families going through much harder times.

I am feeling down, frustrated and at the end of my rope....which is short compared to God's anyway.

Chase lost a lot of weight last week, this week he is refusing to eat. He barly eats a thing. He acts normal!!!! He still has lots of energy and is super happy.

God keeps reminding me: I AM in control, I LOVE Chase more than you do, I KNOW what I am doing. It's just his earthly body, (who cares that he doesn't fit the "scale")

I just want to pour into him things of eternal value. But sometimes I get so stuck on his eatting, weight and growth.

Pray for peace, and God to use Chase for many wonderful things!!!!!!!

Chase's Birthday

2011-06-09T08:17:00.004-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2011-05-22T21:13:00.002-05:00

I know, I know I know..
New Years is still oh... 7 months away. Well. That's the day we're told we will have another Knapp in our home.

I am pregnant with baby #3.

We'll just have to wait and see if this baby will be like Carter, (early) or Chase (late). Which is odd, based on their personalities. Chase is the one always doing things so quickly, and Carter is my cautious child. huh. Maybe this one will be on time?

Much Love

Chase, Easter, Playstructure

2011-04-26T14:54:00.004-05:00

Beautiful Sunrise, just the other day I saw this.

Chase LOVES his Twinkie, (grandma Stuewe really wanted him to have this for Easter)

Yummy.

Carter loves his Easter basket. He was so excited I couldn't get a good photo. (They are all blurry)

Chase got a arm band and head band with his new vollyball.

Yummy, egg and Twinkie

Chase and his Easter basket

I took the kids to Jump Zone the other day. LOVED IT!!!!

grandpa and Chase

Chse playing with the pool. Cute in his hat huh?

Chase passed out after all the testing at Cook's Children's Medical Center

Chase got his favorite cheese and crackers as a treat for all his testing. Cute bandaid

Chase just sitting with daddy waiting for the sweat to collect under his arm bandages. Finally calmed down for a bit.

Chase looking at the dr. ... he didn't love him. But he was great with Chase.

Chase was sooo upset after all his tests at Cook's Children's Medical Hospital.

He was tested for Cystic Firbroises, NEGATIVE.

Blood Work, Hormone tests, thiroid, ALL NORMAL

Carter was making sure daddy and grandpa have all the blocks level.

We just got a new play structure, grandpa and daddy put it together. (more photos to come)

Chase LOVES cheese and crackers. (lots of caleries)

Carter trying on mommy's gym shoes.

Carter reading to McQueen

Chase Walking

2011-04-07T12:59:00.003-05:00

This year we planted our veggy garden earlier than normal, aside from the annual strawberries. (They don't grow crop all year, but you never pull them up or replant them.) This year the strawberries just took off. This is only year 2, and I heard year 3 is even better!!!! We already have some almost red and ready to pick. Carter is just beside himself waiting. We also have tomatos in the same box, pole beans, bush beans, and peppers. In our other box, (not pictures, because it would be boring to look at just dirt) We have carrots, pumpkin, cantelop, watermellon, celantro and basil. This summer will be so fun, since I won't have a new born, we get to play outside a lot more. it's already in the high 80's, it's been great.

Chase decided on Monday to try to not crawl anymore. He's been walking for a while, but now he's really trying to learn some fun walking manouvers. He can walk sideways, and squat to pick things up, and he can even turn his head around to look at you and keep walking forward. They grow up sooo fast. Speaking of walking, I think Carter forgot how. All he ever does is RUN!

Boys

2011-04-06T13:33:00.002-05:00

Here is day 2 of Carter's lip. It is starting to scab over, but the inside is all puffy and gross. He doesn't complain about it, or cry when I touch it. I don't think it hurts that bad anymore. One of his teeth is loose. Dentist said it should tighten up in a week or so... if not, let him know.

Then there's Chase. he has 4 teeth now. 3 fully grown in, the other 1 still growing. He loves to feed himself, and watch food fall on the floor too. I think I feed my floor more than my child. Don't you think he's looking fatter in the face? I sure do... at least I think i do....

Carter's Lips

2011-04-05T14:22:00.003-05:00

Well First of all, Carter found mommy's lip gloss. Chris wasn't the most excited about this new discovery, but Carter is super curious. (just glad he can't reach my mascara yet) Carter's toy nails and screws. He was having lots of fun. He looks like Edward Scissorhands to me.

My buba bear Chase. He is usually naked because he eats A LOT, and makes such a mess I just strip him down. For those who don't know, Chase has been weighed every week for a month now. (he has his weekly weight-in's). He hasn't changed in 1 month. 9 months, he was 14.2lbs, same at 10months. We have a lot of testing for him on April 18th, at Cook's Children's Medical Hospital in Ft. Worth. We will keep you updated. He is just not physically growing, but he is developing GREAT.

Chase did start waking at 9 months 2 weeks. He has now decided he would rather walk than crawl, even if it takes a little longer. He does still crawl too though. He can stack cups, blocks, say mama, dada, dog, cat. He waves, points, and reaches up when he wants up. He also is very good at getting Carter in trouble. He has figured out that when he cries while Carter is around, mommy would usually punish Carter and give Chase the toy.... well, that has ceased. I was treating him like a baby. (I have said numours times, Chase would say, "Don't treat me like a baby" if he could) He also tries to use a spoon and bowl for meal. (if you didn't think meals could get any messier....oh WOW, the whole floor needs a bath too... hence the always naked baby) We also are slowly weaning him to whole milk mixed with instant breakfast. To fatten him up. I really think he's looking fatter in just a week, but haven't had the weight-in yet. He loves the milk. He gets real mad when I have to take it away. (I am increasing his oz a little every day to get his body used to it, so far I've seen NO ill effects. Carter was on whole milk by 11 months too.) What else....He is just acting so much older than he is....

Chase got a cookie on the way home one day. LOVED IT!!!! Every Saturday we started going to Target and stopping by the bakery firstfor a cookie, then a fresh bagel, after our Target trip, we hit Jamba Juice and all share a orange dream machine. (the kids LOVE it, and it gives then lots of hydration, since it's been getting pretty hot here already.)I am hoping the bagels fatten Chase up too.

Carter slipped in the kitchen and hit his mouth on the tile. At the time I didn't know if he lost a tooth or what. He actually, put his tooth into his lip, inside. PRAISE the Lord it didn't go through. I had my nighbor come over and inspect him. (She's a nurse...ps, if looking for houseing, I highly recommend a nurse neighbor!!!! She gets childcare, I get medical help) She did say there was nothing a dr. could do, so just watch for infection. Popcicles and Tylenol. Both are recieved with great appreciation!!!

10 min later

2 hours later

Chase LOVES shoes. He wears a size 1. (NO JOKE). I bet he's the only baby walking in size 1 shoes. Crazy huh?

Take Care!

Carter and Chase 9 months

2011-03-26T13:57:00.003-05:00

First of all you can see the shere size difference in the two of them here. I had to stand back from Chase, because he just gets so distracted when I am too close. He tried to eat the camera. His new "trick" is to stand up all on his own... he can walk... and has a little, but frankly, it just takes too long. He likes things here and now, and the walking thing is slowing him down. But he still does practice in his slow/off hours. (;o))

Anywho. It's funny to look back and see Carter, he was a big boy.... but you know his laugh is the excact same... 100%. That hasn't changed at all. Chase also likes to talk a lot now too. dada, mama, gaga, and he points at things and tries to wave. He likes to point at Koda, and his food, he pokes and points at. He always waves at Chris. Super cute.

Life with 2 Boys

2011-03-19T20:39:00.004-05:00

Daddy and his boys, watching McQueen.
Carter and Charity were pretending to be pirates.... I think they captured Chase

Carter playing with his dishes.... ...outside?

Kid never stops moving... see hand... Chase really likes Lightening McQueen...he dances when he pushed the horn... he has moves like his daddy though... :o)

Carter was helping me feed Chase his smoothly... well it was Mommy's that the kids really wanted.

MESSY BABY

Chase gets into EVERYTHING now. If he can't reach it.... Carter can.... they work together already.

We had a major catastrophy. I was just going potty.... I heard Carter's drawers slaming shut and open, I thought, great I am gonna hear Chase scream any minute, because he's gonna get his hand smashed. Unfortunatly that would have have a much better sound. Instead I heard a parents worst sound ever. Both kids screamed...full on, I need help, I am in trouble scream. (This photo was taken after I retrieved both kids, calmed them and me down, and picked up the dresser.)

Somehow Carter had pulled the dresser down on himself. It was laying flat on the ground...not on the automan, that was a "recreation" for the photo op. (you can thank my mother for me always wanting a photo of everything.)

I ran into Carter's room, surveyed really fast, saw Chase hollering at the top of his lungs, PRAISE the LORD!!!!!! Chase was standing by Carter's bed... had he been inches over he could have been so seriously injured. I then threw the dresser up, cutting my own hand, all the drawers flew out, and I couldn't see Carter, he was still crying and I grabbed him, he was under the bottom drawer.....not either kid had a single bruise or scratch....

On top of all that, Chase didn't sleep the night before, he was sick with a fever and vomiting. Carter freaked me out by almost getting hit by a car... Carter jumped off his slide and smacked his face on the concreat, and after all that I just didn't want to make dinner so Chris took us all out to dinner at AppleBee's.... where Chase in 1/2 a second climbed onto the table and pulled Chris' Coke down on me and him (Chase) and proceded to SCREAM because he didn't like the cold. ...arg... what a day it was...

Carter got to stay up really late that night, to help daddy strap the dresser to the wall.... THANK YOU DADDY!!!!!!! (carter helped with his own drill, toy drill)

90's already. and enjoying the pool.

Chase... so close

2011-03-14T10:57:00.006-05:00

our Baby Boy Chase. He is just wanting to stand right now. He'll usually drop down to crawl, but he doesn't like the grass all that much, so he will attempt to walk. (9 months, 1 week)

(This is what a baby looks like who was diagnosed, "failure to thrive".... yes, I understand it doens't take into account his ability, just based on his size, but I think it's funny. What he should have been labeled was "failure to grow".... this kid thrives!!!!)

Bass Hall & Big Boy Bed

2011-03-06T14:55:00.007-06:00

Chris and I at our Date Night. Chris bought me tickets to see the 10 tenors at Bass Hall. They were AMAZING. They are from AUS, and can SING!!!!!! We both got all gussied up and ate at Olive Garden and then downtown we ate desert at a neat little Italian restraunt for desert after the show.

The inside of Bass Hall. I love how it has the look of the old theaters. (We couldn't use camera's during the performance)

Chris and Carter building. Carter, "mommy, look Daddy build Carter's big boy bed."

Carter helping with his own tools.

Carter puting all his stuff on his bed.

Carter crawling on his bed.

This was the first night Carter slept in his big boy bed. It was actually dark, but the flash lite the whole room up.

February

2011-02-22T09:23:00.005-06:00

Texas got a major wintery blast. It was sooooo cold!!!!!!!! Here is some of the snow.
On our way to Plano to visit family Carter fell asleep with a prezel in his mouth.

Greatgrandma, Grandma, Mommy and baby Chase (Carter was sleeping, so we did a partial shoot)

Look Daddy, footprints. (right now Carter is talking up a storm, everything is, "look mommy," or "look daddy"

Chris and Carter's footprints in the snow... Can you tell who's are who's?

Family photo. My dad visited for our birthdays.

Day before he got 2 teeth. Celery.

Happy Baby

Carter and Koda

Carter doesn't like spagette, but he enjoyed playing with it.

Chase, "here mommy"

Brothers, with a new haircut. (surprisingly, Carter said, mommy take Carter and Chase picture)

yummy apple. Chase just likes to have whatever Carter has.... and no, I wasn't letting him eat it. He just had fun getting an apple photo op.

Wintery Blast

2011-02-02T15:27:00.002-06:00

So for those of you who aren't in Texas. Rest assured, we DO in fact get cold weather. You can't believe the steretype that it's always 80F or more here. (it's close, but not 100%). Monday night DFW was hit with FREEZING rain. It came down so hard and fierce it sounded like metal hitting the house. my the morning we had about 1/2-1 inch ice covered by a little bit of snow. (Chris and Carter both ate it on the ice)
Not only is there ice and snow, but our temps are super low. (I actually don't think I have ever been in this cold of weather.) Tues morning it was about 20, Wed morning it was 9, and our high is about 16.
Wed morning I woke up about 6am, which is much earlier than normal, but I was just checking the news to see what was happening. Around 6:30am we lost power. It was off till about 11am. (With outside temps around 12). I wasn't sure what I would do...I kept hearing it would only be about 15-45 min. (almost 4 hours)... Our house dropped from 76F to 61F in those almost 4 hours. I set a limit at 60. Once our hosue got that cold we were going to load up the car and head somewhere else...maybe starbucks.
Don't worry the kids were playing inside with about 5 layers on. Poor Chase he was taking a nap and could barly roll over he had on so many layers. It really wasn't that bad... I wasn't super worried, just planning ahead. I was just hessitating going anywhere due mostly to the 1/2inch of ice on the ground. I would rather wait at home than venture into conditions I didn't feel 100% certain of... with my kids especially.
My dad and grandparents on the other hand... are trying to fly in this afternoon. (Good timing right.) Visiting Texas and it's way colder than Oregon. Go figure.

Trip to Midland

2011-01-28T07:58:00.003-06:00

Well this isn't part of our trip, but it is Chase trying to be just like his big brother. Carter isn' going potty in the potty yet, but he'll sit there for a m&m all day. Carter never unrolled the toilet paper.. Chase did.
Chris and Chase at cousin Esther's 1st birthday party.

Carter playing in the sandbox at cousin Esther's 1st birthday party. (Andrew's Texas)

Carter holding the stick tohit the pinjuata

Here he goes.

Poke.

He then dropped the stick and ran.

Esther "blowing" out her candel. (it was eally windy, so she had help)

Carter with his cupcake. (He doesn't lie cake, so he just ate the marshmellows on top, the cupcakes were sheep and piggies, super cute)

Swinging at a park in Midland. Carter had cheese peanut butter cracker in his teeth, but he was so happy. He Loves to swing.

Carter with friend Andrew.

Chase

Carter

New Things

2011-01-20T09:43:00.002-06:00

Well,
It's been a while. We ahve been busy.
We took Chase in to the Dr. again. He is 7.5 months old, weights 13.10lbs. He is so tiny. Deep down, I am just not in the least bit worried. He has fat on his legs, he eats a lot.... for him. His belly is SOOO large in the tub, it just cracks me up. He sits there with a budda belly. He has been pulling up on everything, climbing, and crusing along furniture. He stood up all by himself for a while last week. (We were in the grass, and he just hates th way grass feels, so he stood, to avoid touching the grass.) Chase is also almost on 100% solid table food... and he doesn't have 1 tooth. Like I have said before, if Chase could talk he would say, "Don't treat me like a baby". I give him purred peas, screams. I give him whole peas, loves them. I do the same with green beans, chicken, meatballs, mac N cheese, muffins, blue berries (kid could live on blueberries alone I swear), strawberry, fruit in general he loves, carrots, sweet potatoes, black beans (kid loves beans), He likes to use his hands and shovel stuff in his mouth. Meals time have become even messier than before though. I find myself sweeping and swiffering 3 times a day.
Carter is learning so much. He is starting to count with his fingers, he can do 1, 3, 4, 5. Holding up 2, he tries, but it's hard. Loves to play with his "tain table", (train), He loves toread his new books, and watch Sid the Science Kid (DVD's he picked out with his ToysRUs gift card from Christmas). He talks so much now. He is having lots of trouble with Chase. I hear, "Mine Chase." All day long. Poor Carter, most kids with a 7 month old brother wouldn't have his toys snatched away. It is really cute to see them playing together too. Carter will give Chase lots of toys too. Poor Chase, if I hear, "Here you go Chase." I find Chase covered in a million toys. Chase puts toys in his mouth, and Carter laughs, so Chase does it more. THen Carter puts toys in his mouth and shows Chase. They are just too cute together.
Chris and I are doing very well. We hvae some exciting news to share.... soon.
(NO... We are NOT having another baby, just get that thought out of your mind).
But it does involve family, so stay tuned.

More Christmas.

2010-12-30T09:58:00.004-06:00

My Fearless Chase. He climbs, crawls, and pulls up on everything. I have to be so careful with him. Much more than with Carter.
Carter was so exited to "shave" with daddy.

Carter opening up his tools on Christmas morning.

He was so excited.

Chase was just happy to play with the wrappings.

Matchy-matchy. My grandma Cook sent the boys matching outfits, and I LOVE IT!!!! Carter yuo can see just doesn't like to take pictures with his brother.

Texas, cowboy Christmas. Merry Christmas y'all.

Brother Photo Op

2010-12-29T12:35:00.006-06:00

Well attempt #2= FAILED.
I want to get a picture of the boys in their matching pj's. I just think bedtime is not the best time. Chase was okay, but not sitting still. This was just too funny I had to videos it.

Well I couldn't resist video taping this. I was busting up laughing. Is that the best parenting, NO. Should have done somthing different, YES. Is it funny, OH YES. Do I let Carter get away with that kind of behavior, NO. So Don't judge, just sit back and laugh at a good 'o temper tantrum. (The terrible 2's have begun.) Oh, and for all you who think, my kid is terrible, remember when yours did this, and for those who's kids are no yet there. They WILL be. Carter is such a sweetheart, cuddle bug, obedient little boy. Does he get tired and at the end of his rope, obviously. In his defense, it was the end of the day and he was feeling real yucky, (both boys had a 102 fever or higher) I was asking a lot to make him sit there and smile. Was it acceptable behavior still, NO.

Christmas and More

2010-12-26T19:07:00.006-06:00

More of the boys photo session. These are still some of the "best" Happy Boy!!! Chase is pulling up on everything now!!!!!

Carter got Polar bear Pj's. (He sleeps withhis Polar Bear animal everynight, he loves Polar Bear), Giving the Polar bear Kisses.

Just cracks me up. So a 2 year old thing to do.

Chase's first black eye. THis kid is Fearless!!!! He pulls up on everything, then tries to look around, and dropped his hold and SMACK.

Yum. Lime. Chase. My Sweet Bubba bear. (Nick names: Bubba, super funny since he's so tiny, Chaser, and Baby Bear)

Grandpa Knapp.

Carter loves his tools.

Carter just loved his semitruck full of cars. (Joe & Meredith, what a hit!!!!)

Carter's new Cars "puzzle"

Opening gifts. We celebrated an early Christmas while Chris' folks were here. (18th) The kids liked opening gifts.

Chase is everywhere. He is so fast. He loves to look outside. Believe it or not, it's actually been too cold this week to go outside.

Yummy. Teething Bisquits.

My Happy Chase. (He was kinda a fussy baby, but ever since he's been able to get around, he has just really calmed down, and become so happy.) He just wasn't content.

Chase does love himself some food!!!! He gets a hairwash daily.

My Baby Chase is so tiny, he litteraly can share a swing with his brother. They were both having fun, till Carter started pushing on Chase.

Yes, December and it was 80F outside.

This kid is totaly Real: Hair is crazy, snot in his nose. (It's like his mother just let's him run around like that!!!!!! :o)

Chris' folks took us out the Gaylord one night. It was great to get away without kids. Even though Carter would have loved all the trains. We ate at the Steak House. YUMMO!!!!! WOW, Best steak I have ever had. I am the only one who finished the WHOLE thing. Yes, a 10oz steak. YUMMY.

"Here you go Snow Man. Koda Share Bone"

Carter playing with his train table and grandpa.

Sorry Linda, this photo is to show how wiggly Chase is. The kid hardly ever stops moving. (hense the gaining .1lbs in a month)

Well Baby Visits

2010-12-21T13:31:00.003-06:00

Carter had his 2 year check up. He is falling in the weight, he's only 5%, at a wopping 23 lbs. (gained 3 lbs in 1 year) He is 33 inches tall. (I have heard you double the height at age 2, and you'll get the grown adult height) So Carter should be about 5'6". Not very tall, but hey he has Stuewe genes. (My whole fam isn't very tall)

Chase had his 6 month check up. He now weights a whole 13.7lbs (yes I re-read that... it is NOT a typo) My baby Chase is tiny!!!!!! He hasn't even double his birth weight yet. He is 25.5 inches tall though. So he is growing. His head was also growing. He is still below the charts for his measurements, but he is proportional I guess. Our pediatrician gave us clearance to give Chase, ANYTHING. Fatten him up. I mix formula with his baby food. (which I have been making.) I will start giving him Mac N Cheese, Ham with Gravy, IceCream with his yogert. Muffins, Nacho cheese, cream cheese. etc. (Any other good ideas) This boy just doesn't eat a lot, he just wants to play. He started pulling up on everything. He is scopping out the whole house too. He likes to play with blinds, the kitchen cabinets, Koda's dog bowl (Which he gets in trouble for), he lies to bathroom too. At the doc's, he was soo wiggly, the little boy just wouldn't sit still.

I am so exited to see what is in store for these 2 little boys.

Terrible 2's

2010-12-21T13:28:00.002-06:00

(See Previous Post)

Carter just turned 2. He is such a joy, but he has his moments. He didn't want to take a photo with his brother. Also he still hates getting his hair cut. He actually ended up getting sick from screaming so hard, he threw-up his whole dinner. (Poor baby Boy)

Carter turns 2

2010-12-21T13:14:00.003-06:00

My baby Carter turned 2 on December 19th. Wow how times flys. I can't believe it's been 2 whole years. I still think of him as my "baby boy". Infact, now I call him that, I say, "oh, baby boy." and he'll repeat me. He is doing so many things. He loves to play, read, build, make noises, etc. He can run, jump, climb, count to 12, knows all his colors, knows most letters, seasons, he even sings songs. My fav is "God gave me you"... he sings, "God gayee you" . Carter is also really into telling me what things are Not. "Not Carter's toy, Chase's toy". "Not mommy's shoes, Daddy's." etc. It's real cute.

Carter got some really neat toys for his birthday. My grandma sent him a drill, hammer and tool box. The drill really works with the screws. Carter lvoes it. Now he says, "Carter fix it."

We had a really casual birthday for Carter, just cake and ice cream. (Carter hates things on his head, so his brother wore his hat)

Carter also got a truck full of cars... WOW he lvoes this. He hauls te truck around everywhere. (He'll even fix the wheels with his new drill, just like daddy fixes wheels)

Carter left his sippy cup out. Chase just wants to be like Carter.

Chase not moving for the first time... :o)

We had cake and ice cream for Carter's b-day. Unfortunatly, Carter doesn't like cake.

Proud of our Baby Boy.

Carter was surprised one morning with a train table from grandma and grandpa knapp. He loves it. We moved it to Carter's room. Now he'll just go into his room and play. (He can also open doors, which is tough when Chase is supposed to be napping, but instead he's crying and Carter just wants to go tell him, "It's okay Chase. Nigh-Night Chase" .. on a side note, he doesn't cry much for naps, but he started pulling up to standing, and can't figure out how to get down, so he'll just scream.)

Video of Chase

2010-11-27T10:58:00.005-06:00

5 months 3 weeks.

Good Week

2010-11-23T19:46:00.002-06:00

It's been a great week. I guess it's only tuesday, but I am really looking forward to this week. Spending time with family, friends, Thanksgiving and all. Here is a pic of the kids I watch. It was really tough to get them all together. Hence the lack of pics most the time. I had to bribe Carter and Charity with Ritz, Michael is in the bumbo, so he was good and stuck for photo ops, Chase well, he rarly looks at the camera, he's always twisting to see what Carter is up to. Brady, man, that kid won't sit still. Once he started crawling, he's off. I had to put Brady between the bumbo and Charity to have more than 1/2 a second before he took off. What a gret bunch of kids.

The other night Chris and I were talking, and I told Chris, "Don't move, I have to take your photo." I took it, and I was really dissapointed, till I realized, I just needed to turn the flash off.

Can you see it?

In case you ever wondered what Chris would look like with a mullet!!!!!!

2010-11-18T20:04:00.001-06:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Chase update

2010-11-18T16:10:00.003-06:00

2 weeks ago we went in for a measurment with Chase. He was small....still. infact, he is below the charts. He is just a tiny baby. We scheduled another appt for 4 weeks later. Well the next day the dr. called and wanted to see us sooner than that. (That's never a "good" sign) We weren't really worried, since Chase is so developementaly ahead. However, it's tough when you can't do anything about it.
Well today we took Chase back in. And of course, he is still small. His height and weight are a little smaller in % again, if you can keep getting smaller than 0% he would. (He is growing, but the rate is slower than the "average" rate of kids, even slower than 1%, it may be confusing for those who aren't aware of the children's growth charts, but just go with me here. He isn't shrinking, he is groing, but not fast enough.)
To answer a question you might have, because I have gotten this question a few time. No my child is not going to be a "little" person. (I don't joke saying that. And I am not offended either, it is a valid question for thsoe not sure of what is going on.) I have to keep in mind that I was a VERY tiny baby too. I didn't weight 20lbs till close to 2 years old. (most weight that around 1). My head has also ALWYAS been tiny.
So the dr. told us today, she would call Cook's Children's Medical Center to consult about getting an MRI. (not the worst thing a mom could hear, but I still wasn't excited about it. The thought of my baby being sedated and limp is aweful.)
However, the dr. called and this is what she was told:
Most babies being remeasued about head size, is due to a large head, not small, so they would be looking for an abnormal growth, obviously that wasn't the real concern here. There simply isn't room in his head for anything. (that was a joke).
Also the only reasons they would examine a baby due to a small head is because the baby showed signs of metal slowness, or learning disablilities. Praise the Lord, God maybe made Chase little, but He also made him super advanced, so it is NO question that Chase is not sufferning from any learning disabilities.
Also Chase' softspot looks good, and the head plates are still just the way they should be.
The Solution:
Cook's Childrens Hopital did not recommend and MRI, so we aren't going to do anything.
The dr. is going to measure my head and use that as a guide for Chase more than the "average" baby charts. I am very confident in this, since I know my head is very small. I have always been able to wear children's hats, sunglasses etc. I am almost sure now that Chase's small head is a simple result of genetics.

Pics

2010-11-06T14:54:00.006-05:00

These are a rondom assortment of pictures from the camera. It's been a while. (Haloween, Air Show, Coloring, etc.)

Chase, Money

Carter, Sherif.

"Go Rangers"

Blue Angels, Carter says that now, every time he hears and airplane.

At AirShow

Carter fell asleep on daddy's sholders at the airshow. (hilarrious)

I promise we love Chase just as much, even though he doens't have ear protection.

why color paper, when my body is more fun.

yummy, sun.

helping daddy change oil

Carter insisted on a walk. Rain or shine, he doesn't care. He also wanted to push. Not walk.

Carving our pumpkin.

Chase on all 4's

2010-11-05T11:37:00.001-05:00

Chase Update

2010-11-05T10:41:00.003-05:00

Well. To start from the begining a little. Chase is small. He has always been petite. His height and weight are in the very low %, (I think around 3%), but they are proportional. His head however, has not been staying on a consistent growth line. (There is a regualr growth rate for kids, it doesn't matter if they are small or large, they should stay on their same growth track).
Chase however, isn't. His head is very small. (unfortunate, because that's something I can't do anything about... well, that's not true. I pray. A LOT!!!)
I think his head has grown a total of 1,5cm in 5 months... (That's not a lot at all.)
We took him back in this week, and it didn't grow much at all in a month, infact, it went down a lot in %. (not that his head is shrinking, but it went from about 10% to 3%, to less.). The doctor called back next day, and instead of waiting another month, we go in again in another week.
From there. I have no idea what's to come. I am just praying for massive growth... but not too much. just to be growing on a consistent basis.

On a side note. Yesterday Chase spent most of th day on all 4's propelling himself forward to Carter and Carter's toys. He just wants to play with his brother. It's too cute.
And Carter went with us to the last appointment. He got a flu shot and I was soo proud of him. He didn't like it, but he did such a good job.

Chase ....

2010-10-23T16:06:00.002-05:00

All I can say is that Chase was the perfect name for my second little boy. He was sitting at just prior to 4 months. He is now just over 4 1/2 months and trying to crawl. He is trying to get up on all fours and he can propel himself forward a little. He is super chatty these days too.

I also started Chase on baby food. (I have made it myself, which I didn't do with Carter, but wish I had, now that I know how easy it is.... and cheeper. Everyone is cutting back these days and on a budget. So Chase can help us out too.)

Chase started with sweet potatos, squash, carrots, bananas, avacado (didn't like one bit), and green beans, today he had prunes. (because he liked the bananas too much.) That is all he's tried so far. I have so much of the baby food, that he won't really try anything else for a while. (He isn't even 5 months yet anyway.) I mix a little rice cereal in each food so he gets his calories like the Dr. recommended. I can tell his little legs are getting cubbier. I am exited to see how much he's gained. (We go back to the doctor in 10 days.)

Circus

2010-10-21T19:57:00.002-05:00

We took the kids to a circus last weekend. They both enjoyed it. It was tough for Carter to sit the whole time tough. But he did like popcorn (first time), and CottonCandy (also first time). Chase fell asleep at the intermission. Both kids slept for about 3 hours when we got home. It must have been so mentally exhasting to watch. We went with our friends, the Looney's. Mikayla is at a great age. I think she really enjoyed it. Kara was saying that Mikayla was really looking forward to it for a few days. (I think Chase might even have blond hair like Carter..... now that he's getting hair, it's easier to tell.)

Chase...... he is just soooo nosy. He wants to do what all the big kids do. If you are ever around me, you'll know I always explan Chase this way, "don't treat me like a baby, don't lay me down." He acts 16. He sits, tries to grab all Carter's toys. Watches Carter do everything. He'll roll to try to be by Carter, or twist and turn to see him. He won't cuddle at all, he must look around at everything. (my social child)

Carter and Chase. Watching their night time Baby Einstein Movie. Carter leans over to tell Chase "nigh-night, Love you Chase", then gives him a kiss on the head. Carter usually has, a blanket "mommy's blanket", brown bear, pooh bear, tigger, and glowy, his glow worm, goldfish for a snack and a sippy cup.

My kids

2010-10-15T16:18:00.002-05:00

Baby Chase. 4 Months old. (it's a 6 month shirt, he's swimming in it. Yes no pants on... it makes him so frustrated, when he tries to crawl.)

The past week I feel like my kids have grown sooo much. Carter walks around the house counting EVERYTHING!!!!! Chairs, couches, people, toys, blocks, doors, etc. Chase is just lovig sitting up, he's started to reach real far out in front of him and fall to his tummy, and he procedes to try to push and crawl. (that is a little far away right now, but he's trying to get toys). He is sooo alert, he sees Carter playing with a block, and he tries with all his might to get it.

Chase goes to bed around 6:30, and Carter at 7ish. I was having a hard time keeping Carter out of Chase's room while I was nursing Chase. So our new routine: bathtime, get both boys all ready for bed, get Carter a snack, (goldfish and applejuice mixed with water of course), then he gets to watch a movie, (baby einstein), it's his favorite part of the day I swear. He actualy watches the whole thing, 25 min. Then it's time for him to go to bed. (don't be fooled, just because he is in olong footy pj's don't think it's been 'cold' here, Carter just likes to pick out his own clothes now. Speaking of...... he will NOT wear a shirt that buttons down. Chris put him in one for Church on Sunday. Poor Carter wouldn't even come out of his room, he was sooo embarrassed and upset, we asked what was wrong and he kept saying, "off, off, off, and pulling on the buttons).

Chase Update

2010-10-09T10:28:00.002-05:00

At Chase's 4 month appt. He was soooo tiny. I knew he was small, but he's not growing very fast either. He weighs only 12lbs, 3oz. (3%), his hieght is 24 inches, his head has not grown much...if at all.
Infact, I have to go back into the doctor in a few weeks to remeasure him. Our doctor wasn't super super worried about him, since he's developing well, sitting, moving, rolling, even trying to crawl at this point. If he wasn't doing anything she might be more worried about brain development, but she just wants to remeasure for extra precaustions. I am not really worried, he is just very petiet. He is sooo active too though, and since he is skinny, she recommended we start him on foods. I just wasn't really thinking about that yet, I forgot how fast they grow up. I started Carter on food closer to 6 months, but Chase is such a mover and groover, he is burning more caleries, so he needs extra food.
He has taken to eatting very well, he loves to grab the spoon and put it in his mouth, (remember he's been eatting for 3 days now.) It shouldn't come as a surprise to me how fast he's getting the swallow, spoon thing, since he's doing every other thing quickly. He seems to want to eat more than I give him, so this weekend I am going to make some baby food from sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and peas. (chris had given be a food processor for Christmas last year for this very reason, so I am exited to start using it!!!)

Photos while Heather Visted Texas

2010-10-09T10:11:00.002-05:00

Rolling????

2010-09-28T21:08:00.002-05:00

I heard Chase this morning, just talking to himself. I walked in and found him using the rails on the crib to help him roll over. He has been facinated lately with trying to roll to his tummy. (much sooner than Carter did. Chase isn't quit 4 months, Carter was a week over 5 months) Chase loves his "taggy" already too. He swirls around to grab it...........
yes, that is him in a somewhat swaddel...yes...still.... Chase is the wiggeliest kids EVER!!!!!! So we had to swaddel him to calm down, after a while, he was just accustomed to it as a que to go to sleep. He is very quickly moving on from that stage. I have tried a few times to lay him down without it. He always wins that battle. Mama just isn't ready to ehar him cry that long.

Chase and Carter in the I Heart NY shirt from aunt Carmen and uncle Leo. Chase was way to interested in Carter to look at the camera. Carter just wanted to see himself in the camera...so this is the best I could get.

He was probably thinking, "really mom, more pictures, I heard the second child get break from all that...."

Carter got to stay up late tonight and help mommy and daddy cook dinner. (normal bedtime is abour 6:30-7, this was at 7:15. What a treat!)

This is Chase trying with all his might to roll over. He has done it. Infact, when he does it in his crib, he gets MAD!!!!!!!! But while playing he doesn't mind as much, because there is always more toys. He tried to swivel around to watch Carter or grab another toy. Ijust feel like this is soo young to be doing that, but I have always said Chase doesn't want to be treated like a baby. He thinks he is about 16. He also does fairly well on tummy time, compared to Carter at least. He'll play there for a good 15-20 minutes and even talk with you.

Videos are taking forever to upload, so I just had time for one.

Chase and Cotton

2010-09-26T20:13:00.002-05:00

Cotton doesn't really like Carter anymore. Now taht Carter can chase him around. However I think he is okay with Chase for the moment. He doesn't seem tooo happy either though.
Well at least the rest of his hair is growing too. (heheh)

Chase sitting up at 3 months old. Truly this kid is going to give me a run for my money.

My Great friend Kara stopped by the other day with a coffee for me. I was having a tough week. Chase has a stuffy nose and the other kids were going through a hard week too. I has 15 minutes to sit and read, and Kara happened to stop by at the perfect time with Coffee. My how much I appreciate her. God has perfect timing doesn't he? (I have the whole Left Behind series and I have never finished it, so I started again, I didn't want to forget or miss things. I am on book 3 now)

Lots of Laughs

2010-09-09T15:58:00.002-05:00

Carter has these soft blocks. One has a bee on it, I had no idea what a big hit it would be, to pretent to be a bee stinging them. The boys were laughing for about 15 minutes.

My Kids Are Great!!!!!

2010-09-08T21:00:00.005-05:00

Chase is such a happy baby!!!!! He is in his own room now. He sleeps so much better, and so do we. We must have been distracting him from sleeping well. He sleeps 2 or 3 naps a day in bed around 6, and sleeps till 7-8am. (waking up 2 times to eat). Nurses 4 times during the day. And really enjoying playing with his toys now. He likes the bouncer, bumbo, tummy time, baby Motzart, and watching Carter, and of course making funny faces with mommy and daddy.

Labor Day. Chris and I and the kids went to Bear Creek Park with a bunch of friends and ate BBQ.

Carter found a deck of cards and had so much fun playing with them. He is learning all his numbers and shapes. Chris was shuffeling and Carter thought that was great. (Chris tried to show Carter some card tricks, he's still too young.)

Happy Baby Chase. He loves to laugh at his daddy

Chris installing a door lock on the top of our sliding door. Carter continues to keep us on our toes and childproofing the house. He is smarter than ever. He knows how to unlock the slider, then he'll pull a chair over and try to pull it open.

He likes when I take a picture of him, and he'll run over to see what he looed like on the camera.

ooooo. froggy. (I like this one)

(Chris likes this one)

This is the sweetest video ever. I hope it works. Kids listen so much to what you pour into them, even when you doni't kow it. I had a song on and I was singing to it, next thing I know Carter started to copy me. The song was "Rinse and Sing", Carter was singing "hallelujah", I tried so hard to get him singing wit the song, but he won't do it with the camera in his face, so I had to just get him from the side. SUPER SWEET!!!!!

Well I did it.

2010-09-04T12:59:00.003-05:00

Finally after a week of contemplation. I had to let Chase just cry to sleep.
I have no choice right now, I have to do childcare. Chris and I have cut every expense possible. We don't have tv, not even a converter box, so we watch salt and pepper, we own both our cars, we don't have a home phone, gas and groceries are on a tight budget too. So, we are tossing any extra money right and left at all the medical expenses and other debts. (big praise my school loan was paid off in August!!!)

So with me watching 5 kids total, 2 my own, I had no choice but to let Chase cry it out. (I just dont have enough time for 3 naps and bed time, to soothe him for an hour each time) The past few days were very evident that he is very mature for his age. He is already insisting to spend time with us rather than sleep.
I made sure he was fed, burped, dry, etc, I rocked him and nursed him, and placed him in his crib......screamed. Chris tried to rock him. He quickly opened his eyes and started flashing those awesome smiles at Chris. I walked in a few minutes later, only to see them smiling at each other. okay, enough is enough. It was 1hour and 40minues of trying to get Chase to take a nap. At that point we are just robbing him of his sleep. So I decided if all he wants is to play with us, we need to respect his Need for sleep. So out we walked.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
pg. 215, there is no evidence that babies are harmed when they are allowed to cry.
pg. 215, different children require different approaches
pg. 220, keep in mind the distinction between a protest cry and sad cry. You are leaving your baby alone to let her learn to soothe herself to sleep. You are not abandoning her.
pg, 225, This is no different from being sensitive to her need to be fed or changed.
pg. 226, it's never to hot or cold to sleep well.
pg. 232, usually the total duration of wakefulness plus time of soothing should be less than two hours. ..... crying is the consequense of becoming over tired. ..... nap deprivation causes night waking.
pg. 235 contrary to popular belief, your child will not develop night-sleeping porblems if you include breast-feeding as part of the wind down process.....also contrary to popular belief it's not nessisary you always put him down fully awake. just be consistent.
pg. 239, teaching them good sleep habits and more importantly the ability to fall asleep unassisted is the best gift you can ever give!
pg.210 always consider you child's ability, temperment and your resources for prolonged daytime and nighttime soothing.

The last quote was the kicker. I don't have the resources to spend all that time with Chase right now. I have 5 kids to tend to. If he doesn't have a need, just a want, i have to let him sleep. I really don't like making a young baby cry. But my situation has changed from just having Carter, and Chase is just soooo different.

I have learned after having Chase. To each his own. I am greatful for the time spent with both Carter and Chase, sleeping in my arms, endless hugging, cuddeling and nursing, but now it's time for us all to get better sleep. I will be a better mommy now when we all get better sleep.

Besides like my mom tells me all the time. "Jolene, you cried all the time, and look we still have a great relationship now." I know my kids won't even remember this stage, and you know what, chances are I won't either.

3 Months

2010-09-02T10:42:00.002-05:00

Chase is now 3 months old today. Wow, time has gone by really fast. However, at times, it seems to drag forever too.
Many of you know my personal opinion on raising my newborns. (It's emotionally driven, no scientific facts.) I just don't feel it's right to let a newborn cry-it-out. It worked with Carter, he slept for a few hours at night, and took long naps. Chase on the otherhand is more stubborn. He was on a good track. (I will put this out there too, Chase actually is easier than Carter to get to sleep, but doesn't sleep for long periods. Poor Chase, the real problem is with Carter I had 1 child. With Chase I now have 5 to care for during the day.) We went to Oregon and Chase was sleeping about 5-7 hours at night. I don't know if Chase is going through a phase, but for almost 2 weeks now he wakes up every 2-3 hours. Sometimes he is hungry, (I know that's not what wakes him up, but nursing him is what will put him back to sleep.) He is on a good nap routine, but after I put im to bed, it's like....will I get 2 or 3 hours or praying for more.
Another factor is Chris' alarm clock goes off every morning at 5am now. (Also something I didn't have to worry about with Carter. We just slept in till about 8)
I think I am going to move Chase into his own room this weekend, maybe not having us disturb him might be the ticket. Otherwise, I am not sure what I will do. I don't feel comfortable letting him cry till at least 4 month. However, I know others have done it. I know the child isn't scared for life. (I did let him cry one night after waking up after only 1.5 hours, but he cried for 45 minues. I just couldn't take it. So I nursed him down, then he slept again for only a little while. I know he just needs to learn to fall asleep alone, but I just think he's too young......and darn STUBBORN. He is super persistent, I think he gets that from me.) I still ahve no problem doing nigth time feedings, but the past few nights he's woken up 4-6 times.
Besides his contant night wakings, he is napping well. (falling asleep at 9, between 12-1, and again between 3-4, and in bed at 6:30ish)
All that said, it really isn't that bad, Chase is easy to soothe and return to sleep, unlike Carter, however, it's just uch more often than what I remember with Carter.
Another factor different this time is i know what a good routine and schedule look like now, and am anxious for Chase to be old enough to reach that point.

any thoughts?

Brothers

2010-08-30T12:15:00.002-05:00

I just love the idea of having my boys match. Chase was upset, then Carter got upset. Needless to say we didn't get great shots. We didn't even have a chance to get a family photo, becuase Carter decided to toss a cup at Chase and he spent the next while in time out. THen it was time to go to church,

More Oregon Pics

2010-08-25T15:49:00.022-05:00

This was at the duck pond in Chris' neighborhood. We went on a walk the morning before we left.
Carter really liked the ducks. It was neat, because they let him get really close to them.

We also stopped by the elementary school Chris and I went to, while on our walk, so Carter could play. he really likes the slides and swing.

Notice the jackets we all have on....it's August in Oregon, and yes, a coat was needed.

"daddy, how do I get it down?"

He walks with such purpose

My friend Heather stopped by early one morning to see me, but mostly the kids. We took many photos, and seriously these were the best ones. (I bet her camera got better ones.) But with Carter being so wiggly, it was tough to get a good one.

I went to Washington Square with my mom and met my friend Courtney and her daughter Elle. Carter and Elle got to ride Clifford. It was moving, and I was on the wrong setting, but Carterwas having so much fun. He was soooo tired though, he fell asleep after we left the mall, before we even got out of the row we parked in, he was out.

My mom bought Carter some chalk. He really liked that too.

Chase really liked my mom. She could always get him to fall asleep in her arms, and smile at her.

Chris' folks took me to see Mike's dad one day too. He got to meet his two great-grandkids. (he'd met Carter before.)

"Hi there, I'm Chase, I like you." (Chase was super happy)

My grandma Cook stopped by my folks house a few times. it was sooo good to see her and chat. She played with the kids for a bit too.

My mom, dad and I ventured down to Corvallis to visit my grandparents one day. It was a horrible trip in the car, neither kid wanted to sleep. Once one would fall asleep the other owuld hte them up. It was a Long drive. it was sooo great to see them though. I was glad to go see their place. My grandpa took me around to a few things to show me. It's been a while since I've seen all they are up to.

Once again. My mom with a sleeping kid. (Carter did actually fall asleep with my dad, but my mom carried him out to the car. Yes, he did wake up while they were buckeling him in.....and he never went back to sleep.)

Carter met a few of my cousins too. He really liked Grace. He does what I call, his alligater death roll hug. (or steam roller).

My mom, with Chase, asleep.

Carter

we walked around my grandparents property a little, and Carter insisted there was a cow. He kept pointing and saying, "cow, moooo." It was so interesting becuase there used to be cows there, but how would he have known that. Maybe it was the farm looking house.

Cow. Mooo. Cow...Mooo

My grandpa build his Miss T a while ago. It's been on trips to Indio, CA, and in a few parades in Oregon, but Grandpa has sold her to a man in CA, so it was real neat that Carter got to ride in it and see it before it leaves. (Carter wasn't too happy, he was just sooo tired.)

What a great picture. Great Grandpa and Carter in Miss T.

This was Carter leading my grandma to see the cows that he insisted were there.

Having so much fun.

My grandma gave Carter some great books too. He loves to read.

Carter, Chase and greatgrandma Stuewe

Carter, Chase and great-grandpa Stuewe

Cousins, The Next Generation.
my cousin Lissa has the cutest little baby girl in the whole world. She has such a sweat gentelness. Charlotte Ocean Forbes.

Me and Lissa

Chase and Charlotte (They are 5 weeks apart.) I think it'll be neat having someone else in the family so close in age. They might not know it now, but they will be good friends.

All the Next Generation Cousins. (Or Great-grand children)

Carter, Chase and Charlotte. (I had to bribe Carter to lay down with M&M's, I told him he could reach in the bag and get one handful. I have never seen his hand open so wide. I ended up taking about 10 out of his hand to eat myself, and he probably ate just as many.)

It was such a great trip to Oregon to see my family. I am sorry if I didn't get to see you, but I really wanted to spend lots of time with my mom and dad. It was their first time meeting Chase. I know they already miss the kids liek crazy. It was great staying there too, my parents stocked up on toys, and all the essentials needed, burp rags, blankets, diapers, it made travel so easy. (Well, packing.)

Travel with 2 "lap babies", it's kinda tough. In the moment we said, never again, either family comes to us, or we drive. But once we were all settled back at home, it wasn't so bad after all. Chase slept the whole time. Carter just proved he's in hie "terrible 2's". I don't blame him, it much be so hard to sit for 4.5 hours without much to do.

Trip to Oregon

2010-08-25T11:07:00.004-05:00

Carter had sooo much fun on the Carossel. He was having trouble seeing me as he rode by. Chris' kept trying to point me out. He was a little antzy at first when it wasn't moving, he didn't know it moved, so he was probably thinking, okay this is fun, but let's go now. Once it started to move though, he loved it. He held on sooo good, all by himself. Chris was right there of course the catch too. Carter really likes to draw.

Carter didn't touch the starfish, He was very content just looking.

Me and Carter playing in the sand

helping me "pat, pat pat" the sand down in the bucket

We went to the beach the first weekend we got to Oregon. It was tough on Carte,r fromthe time change. He didn't nap all day. He slept maybe 20 minutes in the car, but refused to miss out on anything. (hmm....wonder where he gets taht?!?!?!)

We played in the sand a little, but it was super windy, so Carter wasn't super into that. He helped me make sand castles, we went to the Seaside Aquarium, he really liked all the fish, and star fish.

(more to come. ... I am watching 5 kids total these days, so posts will be short, but I'll try to get the rest up soon.)

Another busy Week

2010-08-09T14:13:00.003-05:00

You know how we all have a celebrity look alike. Here's Chase and his.....
Jack-Jack, (The Incredibles)

Somebody likes to color with his markers.

Yummy. Chocolate popcicle and swimming.

This is our outside setup this week. I move things around all the time. Otherwise our grass dies.

We have 2 kiddy pools, one was for the dog, but Carter wanted to use that one too. And we have a slip and slide.

Charity's sister Faith was here this last week too, and she showed Carter how to use ear buds.

Faith also caught a Red Wasp. These are very aggressive. But if you get their wings wet, they can't fly. (something she taught me.) She did use a glass cup to catch it, and trap it. Let's just say with no air, and the 108F temps, the little bugger fried. Doesn't he just look mad. (I used my zoom on the camera....there was NO way I was getting close to this thing.)

Chase. 2 Months old.

The Tilands came to visit this weekend.

Chase in the bouncer. He has such great head control!!!! No he didn't like the bouncer.

Carter helping daddy fix the fence, and bringing him water.

Chris was so gross and sweaty. It was over 105 that day.

8 Weeks, 19 Months

2010-07-28T13:08:00.002-05:00

This morning. After Chris' alarm went off, I pulled Chase in bed with me, because I was too tired to get up, we both zonked out till about 9, when I heard Carter, "mommy, daddy."

I know this photo looks out of focus, but it was in focus. My child, Chase, suffers from R.B.S. (Not RLS, restless leg syndrom, but RBS, Restless Baby Syndrom) He never sits, lays, or cuddles still. Only when he is 100% asleep does he stop moving. He is our super active, social baby. I just don't remember other babies moving this much.

(He was still in motion here, but I changed my picture setting to get a moving object.) Isn't he so cute in the high chair. he's so tiny compared to Carter. We never put Carter in a high chair this little, but Chase has such good head, neck control. (Probably because he wont stop moving)

Wow. Time has gone by so fast.

Chase is 8 weeks old today. I just can't believe that. He is really filling out. He has a cute mohawk thing going on. Looking back Carter did too. Chase is doing really well. He isn't on a specific schedule, but he has a routine. He takes 3-4 naps a day. The noon nap is usually the longest. (That's when Carter sleeps now too.) Both Carter and Chase get ready for bed together. They sit at the table and we eat togeher, well Chase just watches. Then they take their bath's together. (They have both managed to pee on the other at one time or another, Carter thinks it's funny now, because Chris and I just couldn't stop laughing when Chase peed on Carter, because he didn't know what to think. he just sat there, staring at Chase.) Then Chris takes Carter to get ready, I take Chase. I feed Chase, while Carter comes in to say goodnight. Chris puts Carter down, then I put Chase down. It's been going so well. Chase sometimes want to be rocked a little longer some nights than other nights. But he does great. he sleeps from about 9ish till 2:30, then wakes up again at 4-5ish.

I am contemplating moving Chase to his own room sooner than I moved Carter, sooner even than I would like. Chase sleeps in his packNplay, but Chris' alarm goes off every morning at 5:30am, and I am getting so tired of Chase waking up, and wanting to be held, or fed again. I know he doesn't mean to wake up at that time, because on the weekends, he wakes up at 7:30ish.

Carter by the way is sleeping great still! We moved his bedtime later, to 8, so Chris can have more time with him everyday. He started sleeping in till 9!!!!!!! You read that right, 9am. WOOOHOOO!!!! I can't wait for Chase to sleep in late too. Carter can still take 2 naps, but can also get by with just 1, he's in this transition stage. I feel like every 3rd or 4th day, he Has to have 2 naps.

Fun Week Here in Our Home

2010-07-23T11:04:00.007-05:00

This is the first time Carter willingly sat by Chase and let me take pictures of them. He even gave Chase a "hug". You can see he kinda smothered Chase, but it was sweet. Chase loves to stare at Carter.

New toys. (Thanks Meredith)

Carter at 2 months

Chase at 7 weeks. I think they will look a lot alike. There is no question though in my mind. Chase will NOT have blue eyes. I just don't know what color they will be. I thought brown, but now I think maybe green or hazel?

Chase likes to smile a lot now. (Also I was looking at Carter's baby pics too, his hair Did do the same thing. I forgot that Carter's hair wouldn't settle down in the back either.)

Carter likes to color....mostly on his hands

Chase is so strong. He likes to stand up. He has really good head control too. For about 3 weeks now.

Another Fun Week

2010-07-15T12:06:00.005-05:00

For the 4th of July I made a bunch of fun snacks. Here is the cake and strawberries.
Cake was such a hit: (poundcake, vanilla pudding, vanilla waffers, wanilla pudding, homemade whipped cream, and fruit.) I let it sit overnight!!! DELICIOUS!!!!
Strawberries:(red), white chocolate dipped (white), blue sprinkels (blue)....super cute, but I don't like white chocolate.

This was this morning. It was about 92F at 9am, so I tossed the kids in the pool as soon as I could. It's just been too hot to be outside in the afternoons, I even used the canopy for some shade, but it was just hot. The pool was filled about 2 hours eariler, with cool water....it was already getting hot. The kids didn't care. They are loaded with spf 55.

Carter loves to slip and slide. It's toy Story, which he's never seen, but still likes Buzz.

They played with Chalk for the first time. Carter tried to eat it, toss it in the pool, and draw with it. He just likes to experiment. (No he didn't like the taste, and it was the green one he ate.)

Carter has really enjoyed helping mommy clean lately

Carter likes to walk into the pantry and close the door, and toss all of Koda's foon just outside.

This was Carter's 4th of July outfit. Super cute huh? He started digging in his drawers to find fun things to play with. He found some mittens, and loved wearing them around the house. I showed him how to dust the tv and chairs.

Carter started helping me muffins every other day or so. I have been craving baked goods, but am trying to avoid too much junk, so we make muffins. Carter thinks they are cookies. Good for him. His favorite is a blueberry muffin. Go figure, the kid could live on blueberries.

Photos

2010-07-12T09:23:00.003-05:00

(I know Chris won't like this one, because his eyes are closed, but it's the best one we got of the family.)

1 Month and Climbing

2010-07-02T10:56:00.003-05:00

Chase was very tired here, but holding his head up great. He has such good head control already.

I don't know if these videos work today, try again later if they don't. I have noticed sometimes they take a day or so. Well anyway. Carter is talking up a storm....NON stop. (I wonder where he gets that from). He labels everything. He loves to say, hello, bye-bye, choo-choo, all-done, love you, and so much more. I finally caught him talking and had to video it. (Because they never do it when asked or infront of others.)

Also Carter has figured out that he has been able to move the chairs around, well he finally put it together that he should move them to the countertop, and climb up and see what's up there. His love for climbing has really taken off this week. He will climb anything and everything. I have moved the knives off the countertop and into the pantry....not safe you say, the pantry has a babyproof door knob, becuase we didn't want him to get into the litter box...(it's a BIG pantry/laundry room.) I guess it works for now till he figures out how to open that up. He is close to figureing out how to open up the cabinet door locks too, you know the childproof ones. He's just too inquizative. He must know how everything works. I love to see him figure things out, but it's making me be much more creative in hiding things.

Chase is now 1 month old. He can lift his head great. He hates tummy time. He sleeps well at night, taking a 3-4 hour stretches of sleep. He eats great, especially in the middle of the night, once he's done he goes right back to sleep. He isn't very fussy, only when he's tired or hungry. He is super alert and lvoes to look around and watch you. He is also very long. he is longer than Carter was....I think he'll be taller, which isn't that hard considering Carter has always been in the 10% for height. Carter worn NB clothes till 7 weeks, at 4 weeks Chase was in 0-3month no more NB for him. Well I could go on forever...but that seems good for now.

6 Year Anniversary

2010-06-28T14:55:00.003-05:00

Our Wedding:
This year we were trying to figure out something we could do as a new family of 4, and not spend too much money, or go too far from home. So we went to the Gaylord Texan, a really nice hotel, which is set up insde like San Antonio. We have never been there before, and thought it would be great to just walk around. They were having an Alice in Wonderland theme, so Carter got to see some neat things. (not that he knows what Alice in Wonderland is yet, but he still enjoyed it.)

Carter looking at a train. (ever since my grandma sent him Thomas the train, he's been really into trains.)

Look more trains

Chris and I for our 6 year anniversary photo. (it's not my favorite at all, but hey, I just had a baby)

Carter, "Kitty."

Carter looking at the fishies with Daddy

Almost family photo, I didn't want to wake up Chase, so we left him in the stroller.

Mommy and Carter walking around the fountains

We ate at the Riverside Cafe. GREAT food. We could have stayed much longer, and enjoyed much more. It's all you can eat. And we ATE. they have steaks that they grill just the way you like them. They have great meats, pastas, salads, deserts, fajitas. (It's the best all you can eat place I have ever seen. I really tried one of everything, and it was great.)

There was band playing at the Riverside Cafe, and you can see why we didn't stay much longer. Carter was antzy, so he didn't want to sit in his high chair, Chase was hungry, so Chris took the kids while I finished eating, then I went to feed Chase while he tried to finish eatting, and watch Carter. Carter did like the band though.

It was a great Anniversary. Chris surprised me in the morning with a full hour massage. It was the best hour I've had in weeks. I got to leave the house alone.....ALONE. I went to the massage, and when I walked out, I kinda thought....freedom, where can I stop before I have to go home?

I love my family, but it was a great treat from Chris to let me out for an afternoon. Later that night Chris went to rent a movie. I told him to pick, because we usually like the same kind of movies. He came home and said he rented Avitar. ....I laughed, and thought he was joking, no really what did you rent? I guess he didn't realize how much I didn't want to see That movie. Well I watched it anyway, because he bought me pound cake and strawberries. It turned out to be an okay movie anyway.

A lot has happened in 6 years.

graduated college

moved to texas

had 2 kids

bought 2 homes

sold 1

vacations

friends

family

So much to be remembered.

2 Lives 2 Hearts,

Joined together by friendship

United foever by Love

Week at our house

2010-06-24T12:42:00.004-05:00

On our way to the hospital. June 2. Chris' folks put this up, once we had Chase.

Baby Chase, 2 days old

Carter. Daddy was filling up his pool, and turning on the slip and slide....he told Carter he needed to get his swim suit on first. I guess he thought all clothes were swim wear appropriate.

My grandma Cook sent Carter and Chase some new things. Carter just loved those trains. (Thomas), I couldn't get them out of the box fast enough. Now he goes around the house with them saying, "choo, choo"

Relaxing Saturday morning.

Carter really liked the boppy pillow, because mommy uses it.

Look Daddy.

Where did it go?

Carter saw the baby bath tub, and climed himself in it, and layed down.

I tried to get some pictures of Chase and Carter in their matching outfits. Carter wouldn't stay, and Chase was just mad. .....and drounding in that outfit. We'll try again later.

Carter's matching outfit...you can't see the shorts, but they match.

2 weeks, 18 months

2010-06-19T10:30:00.002-05:00

Wow, it's been a great first few weeks with Chase. I love having him around so much. Carter is learning to adjust to having Chase around. He really doens't understand "brother" yet at all. But he likes to point to the "baby's" body parts. (toes, nose, eyes, ears, knees, etc.)
Carter is acting out a little, but not like what I expected from him with Chase around.
Chase is such a good baby. He doesn't cry or wine alot. He is a squirmy little one though. He just wiggles all the time. he spits up and is much gassier than Carter ever was, so we started giving him gas drops. (even with that he still doesn't get mad.) He does Love to be held. He eats Great, sleeps well, even sleeps all night, just wakes up to eat and goes back to sleep. Sometimes it is tough to put him down, because he just wants to sleep in your arms, which is so hard to resist. Chris spend one night just holding him for an hour because he didnt want to put him down.
Yesterday was one of the hardest, worst and yet Best days ever with the two kids. I woke up fed Chase, and checked on Carter. He had been sick at night, and puked, and slept in it. My poor baby. Once I changed the bed sheets, and hurried to get his "taggy" (favorite blanket) washed for nap time, Chase had his first major blowout, in the swing too, so then I had to quickly wash all that too. Then, I started to feel real ill. I had to call Chris to come home, because I couldn't stop throwing up. The best part is coming.......Carter, me and Chase were all cuddeling on the recliner. It was the best moment of my life. I love having my boys cuddle with me. Even if it takes a "ucky bug" (as carter says), and we all feel ill, it was great to have a moment of sweetness.
Chris was a big help too. He is so great!

Some pictures

2010-06-10T16:44:00.003-05:00

Labor & Delivery

2010-06-10T16:18:00.002-05:00

Many of you know I was earily with Carter by 3 weeks. So needless to say, I thought I'd be a little early with Chase too. Never did I think I would find myself past my due date of May 29th.
Chris and I were in a new stage we never saw coming, we actually discussed being induced. Something I never thought I would have to do. I went to 40 weeks and decided that at 41 weeks I would be induced. I was getting to the point where I couldn't even take care of Carter. (It turns out I never had to make it to my induction appointment)

Tues June 1st I had a doctor appointment, and I had been 3cm and completly dropped for 3 weeks at this point. I had contractions every 10-15 minutes, and I still wasn't going anywhere. My doctor said she could try to break my water and see if I go into active labor before inducing, however, if she breaks my water and nothing happens she'll have to induce the same day. She said if anything changes or happens to just come on in whenever I was ready. The very next morning Wed June 2nd at 4:53am, I woke up to another contraction, but this time it was different. It's hard to explain, but I knew something different was happening.
Chris and I got up, got ready for the day, and around 7am headed to the hospital. Carter was in good care of Chris' folks, don't worry we didn't just leave him at home. We stopped at Starbucks, per Chris' request. In the car on the way to the hospital was the first time I thought, man, these contractions are really taking my breath away. So labor I knew had begun on it's own..... yay.

I got all checked into the hospital, at that time I was 3-4cm, contractions every 8 minutes or so apart. It was about 9am. My nurse said that the doctor would let me labor a while, then come in and break my water. Since it was my second they thought labor would go faster. By 1:20pm I was just at a 4-5cm. (NOT GOING FASTER) I was a little disappointed. But the contractions still were not unbearable. Chris and I watched the Food Network, played pictionary, and talked a lot.
Then when the doctor came in to break my water....it all changed. She broke my water right around 1:25pm. She said she'd be back in 2 hours to check my progress. The very next contraction after my water broke was very strong. I knew things were changing. I no longer wanted to talk with Chris, but just focus. I walked around the room a little, sat on a exercise ball and rolled back and forth, while Chris rubbed my back. I was feeling a little nausiated, since I didn't eat that morning. I also kept telling Chris I just felt like I had to go to the bathroom. (we should have paid much more attention to that.)
After about 30-49 minutes I had to get into bed and sit and count my breathing with Chris, because the contractions were coming so fast, every minute for 1.5 minutes. My nurse came in because she was watching my monitors and the baby's heart rate dissapeared. I wasn't really worried by that since I had wiggeled around a few times that day and it happened then too. Well she couldn't find the heart beat. She asked me to roll on my side, she still couldn't find it. Finally she looked lower and found it. (she acted very relived, which made me nervous, since I was thinking after going through all this natural labor and pain, I was going to end up haing an emergency C-section.) The heart beat was so low, she wanted to check my progress at that time, 3pm, and not wait for my doctor at 3:20. Good thing she did.
I was already 10cm, plus 2 and crowning. No wonder the baby's heart beat was so much lower. She quickly pushed the call nurse button, shouted, "get Dr. Allen here for delivery", and tossed an oxegen mask on me, and said keep blowing and don't push. (WHAT!!!!!!!)
That was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. Way harder than the pain of the contractions. I remember I was still on my side holding Chris' hand, while he kept saying, blow, blow, blow. (I guess if you are blowing out, you can't really push at the same time) The nurses were quickly changing things over to get ready for delivery. Dr. Allen did make it in. At 3:07, while I was still not pushing I was asking, can I put my legs up, (they had just gotten those stirup things would to help push) before I could move my legs, Chase's head poped out, at that time I was trying to lift my right leg. As soon as I got my right leg up his body poped out, then I got into position to have the placenta out.
Looking back, It was kinda nice not having to spend anytime "pushing", I spent 7 minutes trying to not push, but Chase wanted out. So I guess I could say that labor did go really fast for me, since I wasn't really in any pain unless 1:30, and had Chase at 3:07. It went so fast, that I didn't even have time to think.
It was more painful afer this time than I remember. I had a 2nd degree tear, there was so membrain in my unterous that the doctor had to keep trying to get out, I actually was given a shot in the leg right after delivery because I was loosing so much blood. (no kidding, Chase just kinda ran out.)
At the end of the day, I had no drugs, no pitocen, just had my water broken. I was also in and out of the hospital in 24 hours. It was a great experience. I also got to enjoy a yummy Cheese Cake from the Cheese Cake Facory that evening.

Chase Vincent Knapp

2010-06-02T19:40:00.002-05:00

Born June 2, 2010 3:07pm

18.5 inches

7lbs.

Fort Worth Zoo

2010-05-24T09:38:00.005-05:00

Chris, Carter and Chris' folk all went to the Fort Worth Zoo the other weekend. I was at a baby shower that arfternoon. Carter really liked the fish and birds. He was so quiet and just soaked it all in. It's so neat to see kids just really check things out.

Blessings

2010-05-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

God is Good.

Thank you to who ever you are.

Thank you!

38 Weeks 3 Days

2010-05-18T15:58:00.003-05:00

Sorry no pictures of Chase yet. I am still pregnant. I know my doctor said that I would most likely be early.....well now, it's anyone's guess. I have had a few false labor moments. I even woke Chris up one night at 3:20am, and he helped me time my contractions. We really thought, this is it.....I decided to rest a little, and next thing I knew it was 6:30 and my alarm was going off.
I went to the doctor today. There isn't much change from last week. I am still just abour 3cm, which I couldn't belive since I have been having so many contractions. I am about 50% effaced, though. Which is an improvement. I did even have to make an appointment for next week, just in case. Goodness sake. I couldn't imagine what being this pregnant in July and August would be like. I have to admit, pregnancy is pretty good to me. I get nausiated the first trimenster, and have bad heart burn in the last. But I don't swell, I don't need bed rest, my blood pressure is great, I even lost another 2 lbs this week. (I've been playing the Wii.......I know, and still no baby)

The other day Carter was helping make dinner....kinda. I let him play with the dirty dishes in the sink. (What harm can he do with those right?) He looked at the measuring cup, and saw a bowl in the sink....filled with water......FLING. .....it was SOOOOO funny. We were all laughing SO Hard. He completly soaked the floor with water, but he was lauging, too. It was one of those fun moments, where a mess didn't matter. (He did help clean it up though, he likes to take a towel an soak things up.)

We had a storm roll through the other day. Part of our fence fell down. (Cheep fence anyway). Chris' folks did a great job putting it back up.

Out to eat. Carter got an M&M for desert.....can you tell what color?

Carter was such a big help. He's been helping mommy and grandma clean the house. He really liked taking everything out of the fridge.

Pool Time. It's been so hot here lately. (90's) I set up the pool, but it's even too hot for that outside, so we put up a canpoy over the pool to give shade. (It was my birthday gift from Chris' folks.) I love having that. There is such a big difference in the sun and shade here in Texas. Carter was having a great time in the pool, and I got to sit in the shade. It was fun. (I still smothered him with sunblock though.)

(He got carried away with the splashing...but he was having so much fun.)

Isn't he so hansom.

Full Term....37 weeks

2010-05-08T11:56:00.003-05:00

I am 37 weeks pregnant today. I had Carter when I was 37 weeks and 3 days. So I am getting into the rush feeling of cleaning everything....I mean EVERYTHING!
Chris' folks are here in Texas now, which has been great having all the help with childcare, and cleaning the house. They have helped with so many thing.
At my last doctor's apt I was 2cm dialated. When I was 2cm with Carter I had him 1 week and 3 days later. I am tracking the exact same this time....I know things can be different, but so far it's all been the same, so we'll see if we have a baby next week. I have had contractions every 20-60 minutes, nothing too painful. I usually don't even say anything, I just keep talking or working through it.
Here are some pictures from the past few weeks. Carter found Baby Chase's stuff. He likes to cuddle in his blanket and boppy pillow. (The blanket in this photo was made by my aunt Lainey in Cali. She sent it for Chase. Carter is loving all the new baby stuff. I am trying to keep it hidden from him)
Carter hasn't been feeling well the past 2 days. He's been warm and just sluggish...it's not like him to sit with us and rock. (This is Chris and Carter watching Car's Sat morning.) Carter really likes "lightening" He says it so well.

Last weekend, Chris mowed the back, and of course Carter had to help. He is so smart and active for only 16 months old.

Carter plaing in the rain....with his carrots.

Carter and Chris BBQing in the rain. (It's only rained one time in the past 2 months....and I really craved a hamberger)

Yes, we just left the pool out in the rain. It was still almost 80 degrees. It's been warm the past few weeks. Last week it was 90's. I think we're in for a warm summer. Chase might be a very tan baby here soon. :o)

More Maturnity/Family Photos

2010-04-29T10:20:00.002-05:00

Thank you again to Kara who took the pics, and took the time to edit and e-mail some to me. Aren't the colors so pretty.

Maturnity/Family Photos

2010-04-28T16:26:00.003-05:00

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to my friend Kara who took the time to take these pics. There will be more to come. But here's a little taste. By the way, it was super windy, so in some pics my hair will look GREAT, in others, it's in my face.

Poison Control

2010-04-27T15:47:00.003-05:00

Well. Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel like you're in over your head?
I have.
Yesterday I had to call Chris to leave work early, I just couldn't keep my eyes open, (litterally, Islept only 2 hours the night before.) Carter was running around. My allergies were so bad. Last night I enjoyed a benedryl, sounds so wierd I know. But hey I slept for 5 hours straight. It was the best night sleep I've had in weeks.
I started havng contractions on Sunday, I am 1cm dialated. My guess is another 1-3weeks. My contractions are only every hour or so, but they take mybreath away.

Today Carter was helping me with the "baby" (our neighbor's little boy, who I watch 2-3 days a week.) When I was putting him down for a nap, Carter grabbed my Tums,from my side of the bed. I have always called them a "Shaky Shaky" He liked to hold it and shake it. Like a rattle. Well, he's growing up so fast. I guess he figured out how to open it. While I was putting Charity down for a nap. (the other little girl I watch, can you see when I feel like I might be in over my head sometimes) Carter sat himself down in the living room, which was my first clue something was different, he normally helps me tell Charity good-nap. Well I walk out, to find Carter sitting in the baby's bumbo seat, munching on Tums.

I think I normally have things pretty together. But these past few weeks I know things have slipped a little. I have had to call the doctor multiple times, Cat Bite, Tums, not including the times I didn't call and wanted to: rash on foot, rash on tummy and spread to wholebody, blisters all over one foot, (most likely new shoes are the cause), etc. Well called the doctor today too, and they gave me the number for poison control.

It didn't even occur to me that my child may have just ODed on vitamins. (to be honest I don't have any clue how many Carter had, I dug 2 out of his mouth, he may have only had 1 or 2, or maybe 15? who know.)
Well Poison Control said to have him drink 4 oz fluid, ......right, do you know my child? I can't force him to eat or drink anything unless he wants to. I tried Apple juice, Ice tea, Chololate Milk, etc. He was full. (he really should have taken advantage of the moment I would have given him Coke if I had it. Which may have counter acted the Tums anyway.)

Long Story Short. I hvae much more understanding for mom's who's children get into things. When your pregnant, and/or watching other kids, you really can't see what's going on every second. Even good parents still have to call Poison Control.

34 weeks

2010-04-20T10:04:00.002-05:00

I am 34 weeks pregnant.

Wow, I feel like I am getting ready to ahve Baby Chase in the next 1-3 weeks. My body has been getting ready. I have dropped. I can tell when I try to sit, I now have to sit with my legs wider than before, or else my tummy is in the way. My heart burn is BAD. This kid beter have hair, (I know that's an old wives tale, but I have heart burn with water.)
I think I can feel Chase's booty , which means he's probably all engaged and ready to come out. The braxton hicks have become much more apprarent, or I think I am having contractions every now and then. Nothing is consistent yet, but there are times I just have to sit because it kinda takes my breath away. My booty is soar, and I think it's due to my hips widening.
I have another appt next Monday. I am sure she'll check me to see if I am afacing or dialating yet. Every time I walk for a while, I have this overwhelming pressure and feel like Chase will just fall out.....(wouldn't that be nice. I know it won't be that easy)

Carter has been just a little sweet boy. I have taken pictures, but honestly an too tired to go get the camera to upload it right now. He is starting to like the label everything. I will tell him, table, chair, fridge, oven, swing, toys, dog, and he just follows me and repeats everything I say. Garbage is the funniest, because he actually calls is a "yucky". We'll just be sitting eatting lunch and I hear this sweet little voice say, "table". He makes my heart melt.

First Time for Everything

2010-04-16T11:13:00.003-05:00

Carter is on anti-biotics for the first time ever. He's never had an ear infection, or other illnesses that have needed anti-biotics. I am a little nervous because I have heard they can get bad diaper rash with anti-biotics, and I just remember how bad Carter had diaper ras at his one year birthday, and it took 2 months to get rid of it.

He needed anti-biotic because of our kitty cat. In Corderoy's defence it was 100% Carter's fault. For the past few days Carter has been dragging the cat around the living room by his tail. Carter has been laughing and loving the cat, but poor Corderoy has beenvery patient. He's hissed a few times, but for the most part, just let Carter do what he wanted to. Well yesterday he had it. Corderoy bit Carter on the hand. Ever since then, Carter has just hugged the cat, no more tail dragging.

My Sweet Little Carter

2010-04-16T11:02:00.003-05:00

Carter playing outside, he just ate a red popcicle, hence the lipstick looking mouth.
Cute new swim suit huh? He doesn't get in the pool, so I just leave a shirt on him, so he doesn't get too much sun. (he's just like his mommy, he likes to put on sunblock.)

Helpping daddy make fried rice, eatting a carrot. (I think he's getting his molars)

Carter met a horse for the first time, when we went to the Keller Point, (like THPRD for you Oregonians), we walked around, and saw the horse. Carter was a little unsure of it at first, it was so big.

At Southlake, my little GQ.

Carter looks like daddy. They were looking at an airplane.

Wait for me.

Look another plane