Using my hands

It's amazing how you have grown. You love to sit in your Exer Saucer that Grandma Rita gave us. You started reaching for all the toys on it and will sit for up to an hour sometimes playing with all the toys.

Here you are in a starring contest with your cow....

I think you won! You also love to spin the noise maker.

And sometimes you play so hard that you just fall asleep without a peep!

An Eventful Day

Can't believe it has been over three months now since baby Carter was born. Today the four of us took Carter on his first trip to the zoo. Although he wasn't that interested in the animals he did exceptionally well while Andilyse enjoyed the animals and the water.

Here's my little caterpillar and butterfly!

After returning home Andilyse managed to fall off the toilet and smack her head on the floor. She got a good size goose egg on her head from the fall and shortly later hit her eye right below her bump on her rocking chair. We felt sooo bad for her, thankfully she seemed fine and didn't' show any signs of a concussion.

Needless to say the two of them are both very tired and should sleep good tonight.

Welcome Carter Finn

Carter Finn Clark joined our world Sunday January 16, 2011 at 3:15 p.m. He was 6 lb. 13 oz and 20 inches long.

Although my labor was slightly longer than Andilyse's it still only lasted about an hour and a half. Every thing went well and I was able to have Carter naturally without pain medication the way we planned. We got to bring Carter home on Tuesday, Andilyse and Braum were excited to see us. Andilyse is a great big sister to Carter. She loves to help change diapers and feed Carter bottles. She also likes to help me give Carter baths. She is so gentle, loving, and caring.

Carter is a beautiful baby boy and has been an amazing baby thus far. We are truly blessed to have two beautiful, amazing, healthy children. We definitely have an adventure ahead of us but it's going to be an amazing wonderful adventure. We are so happy to have Carter home and finally a part of our family.

38 weeks

I am 38 weeks pregnant with you Carter and I am ready to meet you. I have a Dr. appt. today, one that my Dr. didn't think I would make it to. When I was 36 weeks I was dialated to a three, she said I was 90% cerfaced and your head is down and in position. So It seems that you are in position to be born, but are waiting for the perfect time to join our world. We are so excited to meet you and are anticipating it every day. Your big sister took this picture of me today, that's why I am on my knees.

Life

It's been a few months and a lot has occurred.... Baby boy has a name, Carter Finn Clark. It is only six more weeks until he is due to come into our world. We are all getting excited and anxious to meet our little guy. I graduated from college early November and it has been such a relief in some ways but it seems we keep getting hit with more and more things since then. I have enjoyed spending more time with Andilyse and we have got to appreciate the true essence of me being a stay at home mother.
On the other hand we recently found out that Nathan is deploying shortly after baby Carter is born. Honestly I haven't had time or the energy to even think about what it will be like without him around for so long. When I do think about it I usually start to cry so I push it away and am trying to stay focused on the here and now. Nathan has a lot of requirements and responsibilities to fill before he leaves, and we have Christmas, a baby being born, and a lot more to accomplish over the next three months. I have a lot of fears and uncertainties in my mind about the upcoming deployment. My biggest concern is what to tell and how to help Andilyse through this time. Nathan will be leaving some time close to her 4th birthday, and she has become quite the daddy's girl lately. I love to see her excitement and love for her daddy, but at the same time it makes me realize how much she is going to miss him. How in the HELL am I suppose to tell a four year old that her daddy has to leave for so long? She doesn't understand the concept of time... and every time she asks me when is daddy coming home I'll have to push the idea out of my mind that he may never come home..... it is so hard for me to not question God right now. Why now, why ever? I'm sure many men and women have asked this question and we see and hear about the war every day, but it takes on a new reality when it is your own family.

I'm trying to be strong because the last think I want is for Nathan to worry about us while he is gone. I want him to stay focused on coming back to us safely, but I can't help but wonder, how am I going to do this??? I can handle the day to day, taking care of the kids house etc. and I know I will have lots of help from family and friends, what I'm not sure I can handle is the uncertainty of when if ever he will come home, and the reassurance I will have to provide for Andilyse when I am so unsure.

Needless to say this is a bitter sweet time in our lives, we are so excited about having a baby boy, but the birth of Carter only brings us closer to the day when we will all be seperated for so long....

Big Day

Today was a big day for the Clark family. We went to the Dr. today to have an Ultrasound and we found out that our precious baby is a boy! We are all excited especially daddy. Andilyse isn't quite sure yet, she is still saying that your her baby sister. This is a picture of your legs spread and your anatomy for everyone to see.

This is a picture of your profile.

Later today we went Andilyse's first soccer practice. This is Andilyse getting her soccer cleats and shin guards on for practice. Daddy had to help you because mommy just didn't know how to do it right.

It was really cute to see all the little kids playing soccer and carrying on conversation with each other. You kept walking around asking everyone "what's your name? my name is Andilyse"

During practice you did pretty good listening to Coach Juan and had fun kicking the ball. You wanted to use your hands sooo bad and every time we told you no hands you would try and use your fingers or forearms instead.

Kicking

You have been very active today, kicking away inside my stomach. You kicked so hard today your big sister was able to feel you. Her face looked like she was in shock. It was if she was saying "so there really is something inside mommy's belly?!?" She wanted to feel you do it again and again, and you did. She felt you kick several times, then I think you got tired after a couple of minutes and stopped. She didn't want you to stop, and she was so excited to feel you. Hopefully you will do it again tonight so your daddy can feel.