Slacking already!

The picture taking has slowed down already....he isn't even the second child. I will just say it is harder to take good pictures of him when it is just us two. But here are a few... of him at one month. This is Carter and Grandpa Hickman chilling on the couch for Sunday night Hickman get togethers.

This is Carter dressed in actual clothes. He doesn't have very many outfits but I have started dressing him when we are going out. Jim and I managed to go to dinner Saturday night with our little man. We had to take a few extra circles around the restaurant so that Carter was asleep, but it paid off.

If you notice most of his shirts are more like 3/4 length sleeves on him and he can't straighten out his legs all the way, but he is so skinny 0-3 months clothes still drown him.

Carter is just resting, looks like he is ready for a photo op with his arms crossed this way.

It was nice a few days out this week, so Carter and I went for a stroll to the mailbox. (it is a community one down the road) So I got him all dressed and ready for the walk. I think he likes being outside, except it is too bright for his little eyes and the breeze is still cold. But we enjoyed getting out of the house for 5 minutes and being outside. we can't wait for nice Spring and Summer weather.

Tummy time. He doesn't mind it now.

I love his sleep poses.

Not sure if you can tell but he is filling out a little and growing longer. He is getting more used to things and doesn't scream when he gets his diaper changed. He has been waiting a few days and then really blowing out his diapers. That is fun and his gas in between.....are you kidding me with how stinky it is. WOW! What is in that formula??????? But we are loving him to pieces. He is a good boy!

Another week under my belt

Maybe only a mother thinks every face their baby makes is pretty stinkin cute....so these pictures may not be for everyone. But I am trying to keep on top of pictures for everyone that doesn't get to see him. He is now 3 weeks old. He is starting to sleep a little longer (most nights, knock on wood)

He likes his fingers, fist, or thumb in his mouth.

Here he did good with tummy time. You may not believe me but he has actually rolled over to his back twice when I have put him on his tummy. What we like to call none-stop little legs and determination. My mom saw him do it too. He has also smiled, real smiles. Pretty cute.

This is his look of surprise when he rolled over on his own.

This is documentation of his large feet. By the looks of it, he might be tall.

His first outing, besides to the doctors and things like that. We got him dressed in something other than PJ's. He went to Walmart, but slept through the experience.

Look, I put on make-up today. Someone showed up at my door the other day and I had just finished feeding Carter. My mom answered it, but I decided to go say hi. Once I reached the door I realized I hadn't even looked in a mirror or showered. I glanced in the mirror after the fact and my hair was all over the place and I looked pretty scary. Pretty funny...or maybe I should be embarrassed. I had a pilates training Friday afternoon and all day Saturday.....can you say hello abs. They had been on vacation and have not fully returned. It felt good to do something, but I can feel it today!

I asked my mom if this picture was inappropriate and she said it was fine. I just happened to take the picture at the perfect time to catch him in the act of peeing in the bath.

His face says "Oops, she caught that on camera!"

Busted little guy!

Jim was in Vegas this weekend cheering for the Aggies at the WAC. My mom and I both went to BYU and this is an outfit my mom bought for my brothers 30 years ago. So we put it on and sent the picture to daddy. They say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, stuff happens here too when daddy is away.

These are some high lights of the week. My mom leaves Tuesday and I am not looking forward to my full time nanny being gone, or doing everything all on my own. I was spoiled. Thanks to my amazing mom, who sacrificed time, energy, and sleep to help me and help take care of Carter. We will miss her! Reality is about to hit, scary!

I am 2 weeks old and way too cute!

Yes, he is partly Canadian! Yes, he is sleeping with his hand against his cheek. So adorable. He loves his hands.

Grandma trying to get a burp, Carter just hanging out.

Carter's first bath! He was not to sure about it!

Momma just looking at her little peanut. He is so small and cute.

This is how we found his diaper....half off. We had to switch to preemie diapers so they wouldn't come off his skinny butt. At his two week appointment we found out he is back up to his birth weight. So we are supplementing him trying to fatten him up. I hate not being a good enough cow. What can you do.....nursing maids are a thing of the past, so spitting up formula is what we have to deal with.

His stylish hair!

Some quality time with dad, while watching sports. Jim is so great with him. My two amazing men!

Look closely....both legs are in the same leg of the PJ's. He crosses them, or gets them stuck when he pulls his knees up to his chest. Once again, the pains of being too skinny.

He likes his swing.

We bought a wedge, so he could sleep at angle to try to help him not spit up. He rolled down and turned sideways and was sleeping at the bottom of it. Less helpful.

That is our cute little man. We are loving him and getting used to less sleep.....sort of!

Carter James Hickman

Our baby boy is a week old. I went into the hospital on Thursday, got my water broken, started on the pit, after 4-5 hours of intense labor and no dilation I decided it was time for the epidural. He came a few hours after that at 1:18am after an hour and 20 mins of pushing. He weighed 7 lbs 3 ounces and was 20 inches long with lots of dark hair. His first week has not been without trauma. He had blood sugar issues in the hospital, had to be on a jaundice light bed for the first week home, got circumcised, along with trying to figure out his little system and sleep. He probably handled most of the trauma better than his mother. Let's just say I feel a little overwhelmed and am not sure what I would do without my amazing husband and mother that are by my side. How do people do this on their own or more than once. Honestly.....he is pretty darn cute though. Especially when he is sleeping, haha. He has long fingers and big feet, doesn't like to get changed, but loves the sun and light and car rides. He covers his eyes with his hands when he sleeps and he did that in the womb as well.

Greeting his mom with big eyes.

Dad is amazing with him. He takes the 11pm feeding shift so mom can try to sleep for a few hours. I really married the best guy ever!

His first car ride. Leaving the hospital and coming home.

Grandpa taking his turn babysitting. They are both sleeping, classic.

First family picture!

Carter has already graduated from the napper to his crib, mostly because he had to sleep in it with the bilirubin bed. He is already growing up.

Grandma is a life saver. She is there at all hours of the day or night to help out with Carter. I couldn't do this without her and am so grateful that I don't have to. Carter loves his grandma.

Big wide eyes wondering what mommy is doing.

Sleeping in his bilirubin bed. The blue light special. We tried to make him as comfortable as possible. He was a trooper.

He has had a few visitor, some close friends and some uncles and aunts. Jim's parents came over for dinner, but baby boy was having a hard night that night. Some days are better than others....but we are doing good. We sure are glad Carter is here and that he is part of our family. Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, calls, gifts, and love you have offered us.

Grandma Hickman with Carter.

His little jailbird pjs. He still pulls his feet up to his chest in them. He also scratches his face with his long fingers and nails. He is pretty stinkin cute.

We love you Carter!

Baby Moon

It has taken me a few months to get this trip documented....laziness. But in October Jim took me to Ireland for our last big vacation before the baby comes. It was a combo anniversary/ birthday + a little nagging vacation.  It is our baby moon, last big trip before our lives change forever. Some of our favorite traveling companions came with us, Heather and Don (Jim's sister and her husband). To start this trip off we were blessed to get upgraded on some of our flights. Thank you business class, for reclining seats so I could elevate my legs. Heather and Don were very gracious, even though they didn't get upgraded, sorry guys.
The weather was better than we expected, which left Jim feeling bitter cause he never experienced that kind of weather the other times he has visited. We only had a few days of chilly and overcast, most of the time it was clear and warmish.
We had a fabulous time sightseeing and having Jim as our tour guide. We ate dinner with a family that he knew from his mission. We started off our trip by going to a soccer game. Talk about fans, the energy is crazy.

We also went to the Waterford Crystal factory. Beautiful stuff but not baby friendly! No crystal for us!

We ate a LOT of chips (french fries) and chocolate. Chips are served with everything, even Italian food. And well, the chocolate is so good over there so we always had a stash for car rides or walking tours. We might have gained a few pounds...but what can you do. (Work it off when you get home, or blame it on pregnancy) We saw lots of amazing castles! Here I am kissing the blarney stone for the gift of eloquence. Not sure it worked.

Here we are in Kinsale checking out the forts. Grass grows on everything, cool.

A stop on our drive through the countrysides of Ireland.

The Giants Causeway. Amazing what nature can do. Kind of reminded me of the Superman scene when they are in the ice cave talking to Superman's dad.

The Cliffs of Mohr. You can't tell from this picture but they are gorgeous. Jim was mad that they have put up fences so people can't go close to the edge of the cliffs like they once could. Apparently some people have been blown off, but Jim's theory is "Survival of the fittest!" I told him guidelines to keep us safe are not a bad thing. But he likes to live on the edge, so we hopped the fences and walked the path by the edge.

Ireland sights were amazing. We had a great trip and the only snag we had was when we (not mentioning any names) put the wrong kind of gas in the car. Had to take a 2 hour detour to drain the tank and refuel. The most amazing thing was the mechanic didn't charge us for the service cause he said we paid enough in wasted gas. So NICE! It's always a good reminder to be a giving and Christlike person.

Stolen

Just stole this from a friends blog, cause it fits. It's a lesson I continue to be taught, that our lives are in God's hands. He has so many amazing things in store for us, if we just trust him. I do, and I am glad he is going to be trusting me with a little boy soon. I can't wait!

It's a Boy!

After all my talk about wanting a girl, we are excited for the news of a boy! I must explain my desire for a girl, I actually don't care about what order boys or girls come in, and I have nothing against boys....I just always knew I would get boys and I want to make sure I also get a girl. So I wanted a girl so I wouldn't have to stress about what else came. But apparently, I will have to sweat it out down the road. But I am happy that so far everything looks good and I swear just today the little guy started to pop out.  So I guess now I will start thinking about getting some maternity clothes and I can start looking for cute boy things. It will start being more real, cause we haven't discussed anything so far.
They gave us a DVD of everything they saw today, with the baby moving around....actually he wasn't moving much, we had to push him around to even see what he was. He was hanging out with his feet over his head most of the time. Just picking up my moves from pilates. It was a relief to me that everything looks good. I just like to worry, but so far so good. Can't believe I am half way done. This half was the easy part.
I think my husband is a little disappointed, I haven't had any cravings yet, or really nothing to complain about. It has been nice....does that mean he will be a disaster when he comes out? Oh dear!