The Wedding

The wedding was gorgeous and such a fun day!! I didn't bring a camera, because I knew I would be too busy with everything else, so for now, I'm relying on pictures that have been passed on to me and waiting excitedly for proofs from Kels' photgrapher - who is so so good! Can't wait! The day was perfect! It was very overcast all day and sprinkled a bit during pictures, but not enough that our pictures were ruined at all, but the pictures should turn out really well because of the weather. Once pictures were about done, it downpoured! And then about an hour before the wedding the rain stopped, and the clouds cleared just in time for a gorgeous blue sky and colorful clouds during the wedding. Pretty, pretty! The wedding was perfect, and Dad sobbed through the whole thing. I don't know how, but I felt like I grinned through the entire thing (exept during the one picture I have that I'm in during the ceremony. ;)). I only teared up a bit when Scott read his vows to Kels. Kelsey looked gorgeous and radiant and like she loved every moment of it. And the reception was so much fun! I danced the night away making a good effort to get Carter to make his appearance before Natalie and Nathaniel left town - but to no avail. I am still pregnant, and nesting like a crazy person! Cary made fun of me because I was SO exhausted and sore on Sunday from a week of wedding, but on Sunday I got home and deep cleaned my kitchen. I even cleaned the light fixtures and hand scrubbed the tile under our kitchen table. Then I picked up the rest of the house (except for the boys room and our room because all of my boys were taking a Sunday afternoon nap). I was beat, but felt so much better once things were in a better order around here. I've been going in spurts like that all week. On a side note... I had an OB appointment on Monday, and am dialated to 1.5 cm, and still 50% effaced. I'll probably still be hanging in there by my next appointment this coming Tuesday. Anyway, here are pictures from the wedding that have been passed on to me, and hopefully I'll be able to post a few of Kels' proofs once she has seen them. :) Love you Kelsey Lou! You were such a gorgeous bride, and I'm so glad you are having so much fun on your honeymoon!!

I sang while the grandparents were escorted in... Sara Groves' "He's Been Faithful." I look so huge here... don't normally, so it must be the way the dress just keeps going out to the bottom??


the girls:


communion:


thanking the parents at the end of the ceremony:


bustling Kelsey's dress before the reception:


Me, Natalie, and Miss Brittney at the reception:


Caden getting ready to steal Uncle Alfred's cupcake:


Sweet success:


I don't have any pictures of my handsome boys in there adorable suits (or Carson at all... :( ) - or Cary for that matter either... he was one of the officiants and looked super handsome.... Hopefully I'll get a few pictures soon...

And finally the sweet couple, Scott & Kelsey Lasher! Love you both!!

Wedding Week (I'll add pics soon)

Oh my goodness, we're in the final block of the baby ticker! How did THAT happen???

Well, we are in the midst of wedding week here. My sister, Kelsey's wedding is Saturday, and we have been doing tons of fun and busy things since my other sister and brother (Natalie & Nathaniel) got into town last Saturday. Busy, busy, but oh so fun! Monday was my sis' bachelorette party. We went to Dave & Busters for dinner and play, and then all of the girls stayed together in a hotel for a traditional girls' night. It was lots of fun! Then Tuesday was the Bridesmaids' Brunch. It was kind of an English tea style, and mom had lots of awesome recipes. It was SO good! Wednesday, me and my sisters and mom went to get our nails and pedicures done for the wedding. My toes are SO cute! I so need to get that done more often. ;) Today was Kels' personal shower that Natalie and I threw for her. I think it was fun for everyone. We had fun at least! :) Tomorrow, everyone is pitching in to put together all of the flowers, boutonnieres, bouquets and such, and then we have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner in the evening, and the wedding is Saturday!! So exciting, and busy busy, but I'm loving every minute of it... and trying to sit as I can... ;) (That was just in case my OB somehow found my blog... ;)) It is nice to have all of the siblings around for the week. It will be sad when Natalie and Nathaniel have to go back to Cali.

Carter and I are hanging in there... at least we haven't made any hospital trips or anything. I have a check up on Monday, so we'll see where we are then. I told my mom that we'll just hang in there through the wedding, and then my water can break at the reception. :) So don't think that will happen, but as long as we get through the wedding day, everything is fair game. I still think I'll go for several more weeks though... but it would be nice for Carter to make his arrival before Natalie and Nathaniel leave on Monday so they could meet him before Christmas... oh well... I'm not holding my breath for that.

Never Been Here Before a.k.a. 33 week appt

So I had a regular check up today at 33 weeks, 4 days that was supposed to be a regular uneventful check up... you girls know the drill... get weighed (only gained 1/3 of a pound in a month - WOO-HOO!!)... blood pressure (which thankfully was normal finally)... get my stomach measured... and listen to Carter's heartbeat, but it turned in to so much more. She asked me how I was doing, and I told her that I'd been feeling lots of pressure and discomfort down low, that I knew that he was head down and pretty low, and that I'd seen bits of (Cary hates this term, but since you posted about yours, Alicia, I'm putting mine on here too... ;)) my mucus plug during the last week. She took me seriously. I suppose because I've done this a time or two. She said that even though I would normally get checked out and have an ultrasound to verify the baby was head down at my next appointment (in 2 weeks) she wanted to do it now. She also said that I should not be experiencing any of this except for maybe the head down part for a few more weeks. Thankfully, Carter looks great, and my fluid levels are good, great in fact. He's measuring right on as far as size, but my belly is measuring a few weeks ahead which goes to show that my fluid levels are a-ok. Then she checked me, and thankfully I'm not dialating yet, but Carter is low, and I'm already 50% effaced. The kicker in all of this is that I haven't had any contractions to speak of aside from braxton hicks every now and then, just lots of pressure, so I don't even have anything to really watch for. So... her next statement was that if I experience ANYTHING that caused me concern, that I was to get checked out immediately. Her next question was when my sister's wedding is. It's the day before I turn 36 weeks. She didn't really say anything about that. Just looked thoughtful. She then put me on pelvic rest for a few weeks. She said she really wants me to make term - 37 weeks. Hmmm... She also said that she could put me on bedrest, but knew that with two little boys, that wouldn't do much good unless I was in the hospital, but she wants me to take it easy. This is all so foreign to me. I've never gone early before. We've always made it up to the week I was due. Watch... with all of this, I'll probably go overdue this time. :) But she was serious enough to get my attention at least. So, I've made the rest of my prenatal appointments. I have one on the 25th, and then one each week after. She said there is no way I'll make all of those, but at least they're made and I don't have to worry about it. Guess I'll just have to see how far we make it, and hopefully it's far enough that Carter won't have any issues. I'm a little more nervous about him just because I know boys tend to have more breathing issues than girls if they are early. Hang in there, Carter. You have to stay put for at least 4 more weeks! Mommy says.

Glen Eyrie Castle

Yesterday, Cary was saying that I should go somewhere overnight with a girlfriend or something before the baby was born since I wouldn't be able to just up and go as easily for a little while. I told him that this would normally be fun, but with all of the major stuff coming up that I'm already thinking about and planning, I thought it would be stressful to figure out, and I'd rather go with him and that would mean childcare, so it probably wouldn't be able to happen. Well, he went ahead and figured it all out for me! :) SO, this next week, we leave on Tuesday evening and will meet my grandparents in Colorado Springs and give them the boys. They'll bring them to our house and take care of them while we are gone. We will be staying at this castle, Glen Eyrie, for two nights for my birthday (Wednesday)! Evidently, Cary has some connections there (love all of his connections, by the way), and was able to work it all out for us. We'll have two nights and a whole day to just enjoy! I'm so excited!

Happy Early Birthday to ME!!

Cary came home yesterday from yet another trip for July (Okay, technically August.) and thankfully won't be traveling for a little while at least. On his way home he called to say he had to pick something up, and when he got home, he surprised me with one of these:

A new iPhone 3g! He got me a white one. Evidently, he's been on a wait list for one of these since well before they were even released! Talk about advanced planning! Well, he was worried it wasn't going to get here in time for my birthday (August 13), but then when he got off of his flight, he had a message that it had arrived. They had to activate it for me when he picked it up, which turned my current phone off, so he had to give it to me early so I wouldn't be an extremely pregnant person without a phone. I'm not complaining at all! :) I've never even had an iPod, so it's lots of fun to get to have my own, with a phone and a date book, gps, games and more all wrapped into one. It is the coolest phone EVER, and I'm having so much fun with it! :) Happy (early) Birthday to me!!

32 Weeks Belly Shot

Here I am. 8 weeks to go! Pardon the washed out, tired look. It's Sunday evening, and I'm feeling a little tired and washed out! :)





The girls from my youth group threw me a surprise baby shower this afternoon! It was so awesome and thoughtful, and I totally wasn't expecting it!! Very sweet. We got lots of cute clothes for Carter, especially in the 6-12 month sizes, and I'm so excited about it! Caden is such a messy eater, that those sizes are when the hand-me-downs are thinner, and it will be so nice for Carter to have some things that are his alone. They totally had me fooled! My mom had me thinking we were going to a craft fair at their community clubhouse! She even made up fake fliers to fool me!! So funny. When we got there and they all jumped out and yelled SURPRISE! I was floored! Thanks so much girls for your thoughtfulness!! You all mean the world to me! I love you all so much!! (I'll try to add pictures from the shower to this as I get some from the girls.)

Carter's Coming Home Outfit

Today, I bought yet a third outfit for Carter to come home in. The first one I bought and loved, is super cute and soft navy overalls with striped lining that folds at the cuffs, with a cute onesie to match. When we got it in the mail, it just seemed to big, so I started looking again.

Then, I got these short winnie the pooh overalls at Target in newborn, and I think they will fit him right away. I was happy with the outfit, and got socks to match, and felt settled until I found....


THIS!!! The boys and I cruised the mall today for something to do, and I fell in love with this outfit right away. I'm so excited! :) Check out the accessories! :)

Crafting to pass the time

Since this is our third little, and since he is a boy, I don't have a whole lot of prep to do before Carter makes his first appearance. That being said, the nesting instincts have kicked in full force. I don't want to set up the pack n play that he'll spend his first 4-6 months in (depending on when Caden moves to his big boy bed) because then I will just have to dust it. I have however cleaned out our closet to make a nursery corner of sorts in there, so it's space is ready. I don't want to wash the baby clothes yet, because then I will just want to refold and reorganize everything so it doesn't become permanantly pressed from being folded for two months without use. I don't want to set up the swing and other baby toy paraphanalia because then I just have to keep Caden out of it all so he doesn't hurt himself, and they are all one more thing to dust for now. I am cleaning and organizing, but I can only handle so much of that before my body starts to tell me to sit down. 3 pregnancies in 4 years have really been a doozy on my body, I have to say. And I don't want to pack the hospital bag yet, because then I'll just start to get anxious for it to be "time." So I've resorted to what Cary says is so domestic. I'm making all new burp cloths for this little one. And I've made two identical lovey take-along blankets that are matching fabric to the large one my mom is making Carter. So fun, and I'm loving making this stuff! :) I wish I had thought to do this with my other boys. I did make burp cloths for Carson, but I was just reaquainting myself with a sewing machine, so they weren't so cute. And while I was pregnant with Caden, my sewing machine was in storage and we were renovating our house. That's okay though. Carter will have some things to call his own, which will be nice since he has so many hand-me-downs, toys, clothing and otherwise.

Here are some of the burp cloths I've made so far.

And here is one of the lovies. It's kind of hard to tell, but the soft side is a baby blue, and the backside is a lime green satin.


My next project is to decorate these fun dyed burp cloths that I just found. I found them in navy, baby blue and kelly green. So fun! :)

Check It Out

Right now, and for the rest of the week, Cary and many of our youth are on a missions trip to Iowa to help with the flooding and devastation that they have had there. Here is the link to the blog they are keeping about their adventure:

SLCC's Iowa Blog

Please keep them in prayer as you think of them all! Thanks so much!!

Family Reunion and 30 Weeks

Home again, home again. We had such a great time on the family reunion! So much fun. It was awesome to see everyone and get to spend some time catching up. All of Grammy's sisters and Uncle Bud came out for their reception. I haven't seen many of them in years. Then my cousins Daun and Leslyn came, and I haven't seen them since I was 15! It was an awesome time! The boys had so much fun, and were Papa's buddy's of course. They also had a great time playing with Daun's little boy Joshua who is a little older than Caden. Carson kept asking to play with the boys, my cousins Devin and Drew, and thought they (along with my brothers) were the coolest boys in the world. He kept saying, "I want to go play with the boys." And they would play too. It was funny watching them treat him as if he was as big as they all are and see them cracking up at everything he would say. It lit up his world! The reception for Grammy and Papa was SO nice, and turned out nicer than any of us had hoped, I think. I don't have all of the group shots that we took to remember the trip, but I have some candids that we took on our camera, so here are a few of those...

Caden & Uncle Nathaniel (or Uncle Faniel as Carson calls him):


Carson and his buddy Papa at a Fort we toured:




the boys taking a walk with Uncle Nathaniel and Uncle Tina (Austin):




Kels and Dad:


the boys (Nathaniel, Cary, Dad and Tina):


My immediate fam minus the future bro in law, Scott (Kelsey, Natalie, Dad, Mom, Nathaniel, Me, Caden, Cary, Carson and Tina


Papa & Caden throwing rocks in the lake (Caden's arms crack me up):

Sisters, Kelsey, Natalie and I (mom, the one with you in it didn't turn out well....sorry....):


The boys and I before Grammy & Papa's reception:



I can't believe I only have 10 weeks until we meet Carter! Crazy. I'm not stressed so much, just can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone! I'm sure our schedule has helped it go even faster, but seriously, it feels like I should only be about half way. I'm feeling pretty good for the most part, but I've reached that point in pregnancy when I start to doubt that my body will ever return to normal. I just keep reminding myself that it always has before. When I was reading stories to Carson tonight, he had to adjust himself in my lap because he said he was going to fall off, so evidently he is noticing that my lap is getting shorter as well. He's pretty excited about Carter's upcoming debut. Hopefully his excitement will help Caden adjust as well. I don't think he knows what he's in for, but that's okay. In the next few weeks, I have a short list of things I want to do for Carter. I need to wash all of the baby clothes, at least newborn to 3 months or so. I need to rearrange our walk in closet, since Carter will be using a portion of that as his nursery until we move Caden to his big boy bed. Carson and Caden will be sharing a room, and Carson is SOOO excited about that. I was really nervous about how that might work, but they shared a room for a few days at our reunion, and bedtime was a breeze. Nap time on the other hand did NOT work, so we'll have to figure something out for that. Or maybe since they'll be a bit older, they'll come around...time will tell. I also need to order the new crib bedding and car seat cover for our infant seat. We're keeping the same nursery theme that Caden has had, but changing up the bedding so that Carter has something that is his alone. The car seat cover is just worn out and needs replaced, so I think I'm going to change the pattern up. Oh, and I also want to get a sling carrier so I can leave the house with 3 littles in tow. Other than that, and getting some little diapers, there's not too much to do this time around, which is nice and is helping me not stress out. It's probably also adding to my shock that we can be this close to the end though, because I've done nothing but make some super cute burp cloths for fun. That's okay though. With three boys in a row, the baby could come tomorrow, and we would be just fine! That is definitely a nice thing.

What's In A Name?

Naming our 3rd boy has been quite a challenge. When we first thought of names for our children, we had 1 boy name, since we're now on our 3rd, we really had to think hard! We finally believe we've come up with one! Drumroll please.....

The name of our 3rd sweet boy will be:


Carter David


Carter traditionally means one who pulls a cart or transporter, but we have decided it should mean one who chooses the right path (to pull his cart). David means God's beloved. All of our boys' middle names are family names, and we have chosen them in hopes that their character will be like that of the person who's name they have been given. David is my Dad's name (my mom's current husband), and if Carter serves God and loves his family like my Dad does, we will be quite blessed! So there you have it ladies and gentlemen! Our third son has a name.


Right now we are at my family reunion in California in honor of my grandparents' 50th anniversary (my mom's parents). It's been so fun to see everyone again, and it's a great reason to be together. My Grammy brought a lot of things from their wedding that few of us have ever seen. She even brought her gown and my Papa's tux! Gorgeous. I'm sure I'll have lots of fun pictures from this week to post!

Summer Camp '08

We got back from our youth summer camp a few days ago, and I think it was the best one yet. At least that seemed to be the word among the people... I don't know where that came from... We went to Lake McConaughey, NE and stayed in cabins on the beach there. It was so nice! I believe it will be our new summer camp tradition for quite some time. We normally leave the boys with someone during camp, but because our summer is a little ridiculous with all of our happenings and Cary's travel schedule, we decided to take them along, and it worked pretty well. They just went along for the ride and LOVED being in the lake each day. Carson had so much fun playing in the sand and building forts and castles, and we couldn't keep Caden out of the water. We had a really great time and each of us has a nice tan to show for it! My sister and sister-in-law are just going to love seeing my tan lines in their wedding pictures! ;)



Don't worry...the red mark on Carson's forehead is marker...








Cary took Carson out on the jet ski - very slowly - he was in Heaven! :)






Look how big the vest was on him! :)

Just in case...

anyone else thought the kid in the background of the 3rd pic below was Caden....


IT'S SO NOT!!! I would never let my boys sport a rat tail. Gross.





It would be kind of funny if it was though! ;) Poor kid.

An Afternoon At Belleview Park

We had a MOPS playdate at Belleview Park today. This is the park I posted about last summer that has the petting zoo and train. SO fun. It also has a creek that runs through it and is only a foot or less deep, so it's perfect for wading and cooling off, which was a very good thing for today because it was HOT. Anyway, it was so much fun!

Carson loved seeing the animals this year and was running around to see each one. Then he would walk up slowly to pet them. He was so sweet and gentle.


Caden was completely enamored by the animals and ran around to each animal but kept his distance.


The creek water was cold, but it felt SO good! The boys loved being able to wade around in it, and really loved that they could get in and out as they pleased.







Caden decided to test the quality of creekbed sand...








It was such a great way to spend a warm day!