Carson is 1 month old!

What an amazing month it has been! I have so much to post here!
I'll start with his Birthday...
I woke up at 6am... was 4cm dilated (we had gone in the night before and was on Cervidil overnight). Pitocin began and my water was broken about an hour later. I was having consistent contractions, all the pain was in my back... uncomfortable but bearable. I asked for the epidural at 9am since there was no time between contractions and I couldn't think of any reason to be in any pain if I didn't have to be! The epidural was surprisingly pain-free... though it only took on my left side. The anesthesiologist had to give me an additional injection that was 3 times the strength of the original dose so that it would work it's way to my right side, and it did. I was at 8cm immediately following the epidural. Whew! Glad I didn't wait any longer! My mom and dad were with us in the room by now, and I slept for about an hour. At noon, the nurse said it was time! But I could not feel any pressure, so they put it off a little while. At 1:00, visitors were asked to leave the room... Dr. Loncar arrived... and it was time to push. I pushed through 2 contractions and Carson Bryant was here at 1:28pm! Tim cut the cord, gave the first bath, and changed the first diaper. We were discharged from the hospital around 4pm on Sunday. That night, we received 8" of snow!!

The days that followed were easier and harder than expected. Easy because we have such a good baby. Hard because of the time he demands... I laugh that I ever thought I was tired before he arrived! Every day is easier than the last. We are learning so much, and really starting to get the hang of this parenting thing!

At his 2 week doctor appointment, Carson was 7lb 9oz (25%) and 21 1/2" (75%). Now, at a month old, he is really growing and changing! I'd say he's probably a pound heavier and definitely longer since he can't stretch his legs out in his newborn sleepers anymore. He is really strong, already starting to hold his head up some and quite the wiggle-worm when he's out of his swaddle. He's more alert everyday, which is so fun to see those bright eyes discover the world around him!! He is a very good and routine eater... and he's a good sleeper too. He has been sleeping in our room in his pack-n-play, and usually sleeps one or two four hour stretches... we recently got a five hour stretch, what a treat! And Hide and Seek seem to be coping pretty well with our new addition.

I go back to work on March 1. Though I am really enjoying this time with Carson, I am ready to go back to work. He will be going to Slaughter Road Child Development Center, and I feel confident that he will really thrive there.

January 7, 2011 @ 1:28pm
7lb 6oz and 19 1/2"


Ready to go home!



Photo Uploader is hating me right now... refuses to allow me to post more pics... will try again later...

Personal notes:
Thank you to Tim for being such a good husband to me and a great father to Carson. I am so grateful for your love and devotion! I love you!
Thank you to all of our family and friends who visited us in the hospital and since we have come home! Even those who have not yet been able to meet Carson, thank you for your kind notes and thoughts for us. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. Carson is surrounded by love and we are grateful to each of you!

39 weeks

Wow, I can't describe how I'm feeling today. After my doctor's appointment yesterday, we have decided that I will be induced tomorrow and I go into the hospital at 9pm tonight. Tim and I will be holding our son tomorrow!

We had dinner at Mellow Mushroom, and then shared a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream - our "last meal" before we must focus on losing weight, haha! The night went by and seemed still. We snuggled on the couch with Hide & Seek and watched "Dinner for Schmucks"... our last night at home as a family of four.

Tim is working, but I am off today to run a few errands and get all of the last-minute things in order. Our lives will forever be changed, and we are as excited as we are nervous!

Wish us luck as we bring our baby boy into this world!
We can't wait for you to meet him too!

37 weeks

I'm a little behind in updating, but there's really no news to share. I apologize if this post is scattered. On my 36 week appt, I was dilated 1 cm and 70% effaced... there was no change in that on my 37 week appt. Mostly, I am just really tired from not sleeping well these days - either due to discomfort or my mind racing. I feel very anxious and nervous and worried and excited. The swelling from my knees down is unlike I could've ever imagined. But for that matter, almost everything about pregnancy has been unlike I could've ever imagined, haha. I remember finding out I was pregnant... how surreal those moments were... and how 40 weeks seemed lightyears away. And here we are, waiting for this tiny life to finally be in our arms - any day now. It's hard to wrap my head around it sometimes. It's funny how unfocused I am at times lately... I found my phone in the work refrigerator, topped off my glass of milk with tea, and on several occassions have driven past my destination without realizing,. I turned 30 a couple weeks ago, but I guess it didn't really phase me.

Christmas Eve we went to movies to see Little Fockers and then had friends over for cocktails that night. We woke up Christmas morning to 3 inches of snow!!! It was beautiful! We enjoyed spending the day with my mom and family. I couldn't believe that the snow lasted and even accumulated overnight, so Tim had a snowy birthday which was really special! We had a really nice day and evening, ending with Christmas with my dad and family. And the ground is still covered in snow this morning! It's been so wonderful to see the ground and houses covered in this white powder snow for 3 whole days... what a treat!

These pics are @ 35 weeks. Yes, I feel as uncomfortable as I look!

33 Weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have had a wonderful and very busy last few weeks! Our first baby shower was at my Aunt Shirley's house (Summer Williams, Stephanie Crawley, and Emily Spencer helped in hosting) on 11-11 after work. The next morning on 11-12, we had our LG baby shower (hosted by Heather Thatcher, Emily Owens, and Vanessa Stacks). And our last shower was this past Saturday 11-20 at Chad and Miranda's home (hosted by Chad & Miranda Matthews and Dorsey & Jennifer Pumphrey). We had a wonderful turnout of friends and family at every shower; we are so blessed with the people in our lives!! Everyone was so kind to shower us with gifts and wonderful food!! I have posted a few pics from each shower below (more to come later).

I have been to the doctor 2 weeks in a row, one a regular visit and the next due to a virus but am feeling much better this week. Carson is doing great and everything seems to be right on schedule.

Tim's mom, Gay, arrived Saturday in time for the shower and has spent the week with us. We all got to Tennessee last night along with Bill, Josh, Hope, and Madison for a long Thanksgiving weekend, and cannot wait for the rest & relaxation ahead!

11-11 Shower

A preview to the baby book Granny is making!


The blanket Franny knitted for Carson!


Indeed!


11-12 Shower

We love this diaper cake! RTR!


Ugh... I guess it will be a while before I'm thrilled about any photo of myself...


Adorable cake to match the nursery!!

11-20 Shower

Everyone just loves to feel my belly!


Big Al to welcome Baby Carson :)


Chad, Miranda, Tim, Me, Jennifer, Dorsey


And here's a pic of me today at 33 weeks...

30 weeks!

And so the final 10 week countdown begins!
Here are a couple of pics we had taken at Tate Farms 2 weeks ago... I am growing bigger (all over, ugh!) everyday!





Thank you Miranda for taking the pictures!

28 weeks!

Time has started to fly by like I could've never imagined. 10-12 more weeks and our baby boy will be HERE! This week's appointment was very exciting! Thank you Dad and Jen for the 4-D ultrasound! Now we know what Carson really looks like! This ultrasound was so amazing! I had some caffeine and sugar before the appointment and he was on the move! We could see every facial expression from laughing to pouting! He put his hands in his mouth, rubbed his eyes, and played with his toes! His feet were over his head and he was so scrunched up, but we got some great pics! He should be about 16" long and 2.5lbs by now. His heart rate was 136. I had my glucose screening also to determine if I have gestational diabetes and should have the results this week. I'll be posting more belly and nursery pics soon!

Who do you think he looks like??

Sweet boy!

Grinning!

See my tongue!

Fingers grabbing toes! SO cute!

24 weeks!

I'm 24 weeks today, wow! 6 mths! I don't even know what to say...I am stunned with the reality of this! We did decide on a name in the last few weeks, Carson Bryant Hicks. So it's been fun to start referring to him by name! My appointment last week went well. His heartrate was 149. No news which is good news! Carson has been moving a good bit and getting stronger, but Tim still hasn't been able to feel him. Soon we hope. I feel like a blimp - there's no hiding it these days! We've done a lot of work in the nursery in the last couple of months and it's really coming together! Thank you Gramma Gay for the bedding! It looks so good and is so perfect for our little one!! Hope you like the pics!