He's Here!

Announcing the safe arrival of Roland Flynn Carpenter!

Born Wednesday, January 30, 2008, 3:03 pm. 7 lbs. 14 oz. 20 3/4 in.

Mother, baby, father, & brothers are all doing well.

Our Saturday Project

When we found out we were having another boy, I told Aaron the only thing we needed was a set of bunk beds. And obviously that wouldn't come for a while - it's not like Emmett is ready to give up the crib for a big boy bed. But I've been keeping my eyes open for a year or so and decided I wanted the ones from Big Lots. My sister has had them for a couple years and they like them and they are holding up well. Plus they're pretty cheap. I watch the ads for them and knew they were on sale this week. So when my mom offered to go in halvsies with us... we couldn't pass it up and went out and bought them Sat. morning.

Let me say I have a list titled, "Things to do Before the Baby Comes 2008," and putting up bunkbeds was not on the list. This was my last Saturday to get things done - but instead I (and the whole family) spent most of the day buying, hauling, assembling, and installing them. Which was kind of fun, but man! I was so worn out by 4 pm. Alden slept on the bottom bunk Sat. night though and seems to have made the transistion just fine. He wants to sleep on the top though, of course. We didn't buy bunkie boards, but this afternoon Candice took me to Home Depot in her truck to buy plywood to support the mattresses. And she helped us put them in so we're all stable now. And tomorrow, on my last free day, after I teach preschool in the morning, I will install the ladder and the front railings so that Alden can climb up there as much as he wants. Emmett has proven his monkey pedigree and seems to be a better climber than his brother even, so look for an ER visit in our future. Here are the pictures to document the whole thing. Alden was a big help putting everything together. And a huge thanks goes out to our neighbors, the Spencers, for coming over to help us get them into the room, stack them, and haul mattresses around. You guys are awesome!

Before & After

Pregnancy Update

Today I am 38 weeks pregnant, which officially puts me 2 weeks out. But we have scheduled for me to be induced next Wed., Jan. 30th. I just asked my OB if I could go a little early because of some scheduling and insurance issues and he said sure. So unless I go into labor on my own sooner, this 3rd little monkey boy will be born Jan 30th. Hooray! I have been ready to do this for a couple weeks now, ever since my OB told me before 36 weeks that I was already dilated to 3 cm and 75% effaced. I've been holding steady at that, but hopefully that will give me a head start for the inducation. I've been trying to take care of everything around the house and make sure I'm ready just in case. And since I was sick for a week and a half, things were pretty bad around here anyway. Have you ever had a sinus infection? They are the worst things - I had a couple days I thought I would just die. A big thanks to Aaron's mom for helping out with the boys. And let me just say antibiotics are wonderful. So, the last 2 days I've worked a ton to be ready.

Aaron and I went out to dinner tonight for our last big hurray. We went with my parents, Happy Birthday Mom! We had a lovely time, spent almost 3 hours out - and still were home by 9:30. Yes, I am humongous. 38 Weeks pregnant, you know.

Pictures

A play date at the park. Emmett needs head protection from big brother and won't let go of the soda from Sam's Club. It's only Sprite. I swear.

Alden & Jaycee watching Star Wars on the bed together.

Somehow the bibs turn into superhero capes. Alden used his superhero powers to build a pile out of all the outside toys. He was very proud of it.

More pictures of cute cousin Jaycee (and Candice). Emmett & Jaycee love each other so much. Everytime Emmett holds her he sticks his thumb in his mouth too. Like she's a security blanket.

Alden loves his sleeping bag, and so does everyone else apparently.

Free Bowling

We got a coupon over the holidays for free bowling at AMF and last Sat. I happened to find it and realized we had one more day before it expired. So we called up our trusty friends, the Rasmussens, and invited them along. Kirk & Jody bowled with the 4 kids (ok, sometimes for the 4 kids) and even Emmett had fun pushing the ball down the ramp. Thank goodness for bumpers too. Turns out the kids' favorite part of bowling was pretending to play video games, which sounds like a good free activity to me, if not exactly educational. After dragging our 1 game out for 90 min. we finally adjourned to our house to eat pizza and watch the NFL playoffs. A fun, free activity for a Sat. afternoon - and much better than putting the kids off while I try to clean the house.

Someone's in Primary Now!

Out of nursery and on to the big kid primary!

We are proud of Alden and his teachers say he has been doing very well. He loves primary and always asks about it during the week. He got this cute corduroy suit from my mom for Christmas and looks all grown up. Well, like a Sunbeam anyway. He knows all the words to I Am a Child of God and loves learning about prophets.