Merry Christmas

4 months old today.

Caroline's first photo shoot

These were taken at 11 weeks. I'm one of those lucky moms whose best friend turned out to be an amazing photographer. You can see more of her photos at http://kimberlylairdphotography.blogspot.com/ 

Same But Different

This Thanksgiving I truly was the most thankful I have ever been. I have a healthy three month old baby!!! She is the light of my world and is showing me the meaning of true and unconditional love. She's like crack~ I could watch this movie over and over.... here's to her and the light she shines so brightly...

2 months...

These pictures start where the last ones left off! The last picture in this sequence was taken today which eases my stress as she is battling a nasty cold (you can imagine how tickled I am that I have a brand new baby in time for cold and flu season). She's pushing 14 lbs. and into her 3/6 month clothing already!! We're so in love.

The Many Faces of Caroline

I suppose I've kept you all waiting long enough. I'm exhausted and busier than I've ever been so we'll see how often I'm free to be on the internet! She is one month old today. These pics start with one day old and end with yesterday... enjoy! I sure am!

Preggo Pics

My dear friend Jess came and used her picture taking know-how to capture this bountiful time in my life. My deepest appreciation for not letting this time go by with out getting some quality pictures.

Full Term

One of many anticipated milestones around the Carlson house.... we're full term!!!!!!!!!!! Sitting at a ripe 37 weeks we just couldn't possibly be more excited to meet our little girl. Here is a much needed update as to the situation we call my belly.

Week 23: As you can see I'm still rockin' my belly button ring at this point... this will be the last week we'll see that for only God knows how long. I figured at this point a frontal view would be exciting. It was at this time that I came to grips with the fact that those full paneled maternity pants were no longer comfortable. I was shocked when I put them on and decided that they were "too restrictive". These are maternity pants right? How could they possibly be too small? It felt like loss. Once again my favorite pants didn't fit. I'd wore those pants nearly every day since I got them and now they would have to join the arsenal of clothing that I could no longer wear. Just getting pants on at this point started to be quite the conundrum.

Week 28: This was the last pic we took before Chris left for business on the east coast for two weeks. It had been a very busy few weeks (glass events/Chris birthday) and I recall being a tad more emotional than may have been necessary. Believe it when I say I tried to reason with myself but my brain and my emotions resisted my every attempt at mediation.

           

Week 32: This picture was taken on the 4th of July (hence the awesome decorations on the marker). Swelling of my hands, ankles and feet had become quite the norm at this point so I made the executive decision that the wedding ring was safer put away until some of this water weight sheds.  I had recently had my baby shower and for some reason this week marked an enormous shift in my energy level. Up until this point I was very adamant about doing things for myself. I didn't need help thank you very much and it was important for me to feel like I had some project every day that I tackled and conquered. After the shower I had a list of things that needed to be completed and in the middle of working on the first one I started to feel overwhelmed. Apparently it was obvious to everyone but me.  I had some very in tune friends visiting from out of town and they managed to prevent what could have been a very serious melt down. Thanks again girls. I had no idea that having someone do your dishes could make such a difference. I started taking it slower. I started getting my feet up as much as I could. I allowed myself to take it easy. I was officially a full time baby maker. 

 

Week 36: This was taken on Sunday, August 1st. Just 22 days to go until the due date. Unbelievable. Amazing. BIG. Officially 9 months pregnant. I'm still in awe. I haven't had the company of  'Comfort' and 'A Good Night's Sleep' in quite some time.  It appears as though they have run off together. My heart burn has taken on a whole new super power and there isn't a place on my body where I'm not feeling the extra weight I've accumulated over the past 248 days. My stomach has gone completely bipolar on me, starving and nauseated all at the same time. I've been big on snack foods as they have been more appetizing than full meals. Sadistically enough, I'm lovin' it. I have a knack for becoming very sentimental when events/processes come to a close. I had the time of my life during my last term of college. I realized I loved school. Weird. It's no different with this experience. I've found myself thinking that I love being pregnant and then a few moments later I realize that I've completely lost the shred of sanity I had been clinging to! It's my last first, and with the unknown process of labor and motherhood I am relishing in these last few days/weeks (anyone's guess) of what has become 'normal' in so many ways. Chris and I completed a breast feeding class and are attending birthing classes. I've packed her diaper bag for the hospital and all her gear is set up and ready for her big debut. We've got everything but the baby! The doc says she's head down and you can see her little bottom sits on my left side, leaving me looking a bit lop-sided.

 

The Sweetness of Summer

I'm still catching up on blogging....

Blame it on my age, (I'm turning 26 in September, ACK!) blame it on my highly revered position as Chris' wife, blame it on the pregnancy, whatever it may be, I was determined to start canning this year. My mother always canned while I was growing up. She'd slave away for days on end canning jam, peaches, pears, dilly beans, tomatoes, applesauce, green beans, you name it!!!! Not only was it cheaper but the quality of food was better, as much of what she canned came straight from our garden. I'm very fortunate to live in an area where berries are in abundance during the summer and this year I really wanted to take advantage of this treasure by canning some jam. My mother eagerly agreed to join me on this endeavor and we had such a great time doing it too. These are the moments in life that you live for.  Thank you mom for embodying and modeling such beautiful characteristics and thank you Chris for capturing an event that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. 

wife

pic by Chris

fresh local strawberries

pic by Chris

she's fun

pic by Chris

she did all the hard work

pic by Chris

see...

pic by Chris

raspberries too!!!!

pic by Caitlin
                                                                

               strawberry                                                                                  raspberry

pic by Caitlin

pic by Caitlin

another recent endeavor. it compliments the jam perfectly 

pic by Caitlin