Playing with Dad on Sunday night

On Sunday, we went to Lowe's to buy more flowers for Dad to plant. Of course, we are supposed to have a frost tonight! Mom and Dad collected sheets from around the house to cover the new flowers and our cherished hydrangeas that look like they are full of buds.

Last night, Mom left Carter with Dad to meet friends for dinner in Rock Hill. It was a rough day. Carter was restless. He wanted to be held nonstop and was eating more often than usual. Carter's umbilical cord finally fell off during the night on Saturday. He got his first real bath last night.

Today was a lazy day. Dad was appalled when he got home to see Mom had left Carter in his pajamas from last night. We didn't do much other than nap and eat today.

We know our posts aren't as entertaining as Aunt Alana's, but we figure people are only looking at the pictures. Mom is also more sleep deprived than Aunt Alana.

I have been informed that I am not updating this as quickly as some people would like. (You know who you are!)

Sleeping very well in his swing:

Showing off his growing belly:

Yesterday, Carter experienced his first trip to Home Depot to buy plants. We decided to go ahead with our spring planting because we are having pine straw put down next Friday. Tonight, were really bad parents and took Carter grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. Both trips were rather uneventful.

Carter in his dinner time seat. You can't really see the tummy hanging out of his shirt.

Mom and Carter have been trying to take it easy this week. Yesterday, we ran a few errands. Mom felt guilty for taking Carter out in public. Yesterday afternoon, we met Dad at work, so his coworkers could meet Carter.

Last night was a rough night. Carter couldn't get enough to eat and seemed rather unsettled until 2 am. Unfortunately for Dad, Mom was sleeping so hard, she was oblivious to what was going on.

Today has been quiet too. We went to the post office to mail some stuff but did not get out of the car. After dinner, Mom escaped and went to Wal-Mart. She needed to replace the can of formula Tiger ate his way through. Tiger has been behaving rather badly. If animal control would have come by today, Mom would have thrown him outside. He has been banished to the laundry room.

Nothing too exciting here. We have noticed that Carter is starting to stretch a lot more than he did before. He grunts a lot too.

Carter went to the doctor this morning for his 2 week check up. He weighs 8 lb 12 1/2 oz and is now 21 1/2 inches long. He is in the 90th percentile for height and 60th for weight. He is probably in a growth spurt right now too.

This was Mom and Carter's first outing without extra help. It was hard to juggle the diaper bag, a purse, a baby carrier and the clip board of papers to complete for the doctor, but we managed.

Gammy left this morning. We were very sad to see her go. We got up early to take her to the airport. On the way home, we had to stop by one of Dad's neighborhoods to meet someone who never showed up.

We guess this will be the real test without any extra help.

Mrs. Connie made dinner for Mom and Dad tonight. It is nice when we don't have to do the cooking. Carter likes to be awake and alert around dinner time and barely gives Mom and Dad a chance to eat. We are noticing more routines with Carter. He is eating every 2-4 hours, usually every 3. He has an awake period in the morning and 2 in the evenings. He is starting to be fussy between 9-10 at night, but usually sleeps for 4 hours for his first stretch at night. Of course, Mom and Dad are in the habit of waking up every three hours no matter what.

Carter got another sponge bath tonight and didn't cry nearly as much as he usually does. We are ready for his umbilical cord to fall off, so he can have real baths.

Carter continues to grow. We had a nice quiet weekend. On Saturday, we made a run to Babies R Us. Gammy and Carter waited in the car while Dad and Mom went in to buy all the items we never thought we would need. It is amazing that we were able to register, but not able to predict our needs. It is so much easier to figure it out once the baby is actually here.
Last night, Carter had nice little vomiting episode that ended with the side of Dad's head and the side of Carter's covered in spit up. Dad hopped in the shower while Mom gave Carter a sponge bath around 3:00 am.

This morning, Carter went back to the doctor to have his bilirubin checked. His levels decreased enough that we do not need to be concerned. He is also right back at his birth weight.

We had a rough night last night. Carter was restless and didn't want to sleep. When he gets this way, he wants to suck on his fingers or his pacifier. After a little time, he still is not satisfied and gets rather grumpy.

Poppa left this morning to make the drive home to Louisiana. We hated to see him go. Poppa didn't get much time with Carter because he was not feeling well. He will probably be back before long. We are glad Gammy didn't leave with Poppa.

Today would have been Mom's due date if she weren't induced. With Carter's size, we are glad we didn't wait! We went to the doctor again this morning to have Carter's bilirubin level checked. The doctor was not very concerned, but we do need to go back on Monday to have it checked again. Carter had his first bath at home tonight. He only likes having his head washed. He screamed through the rest of it.

Carter and Mom

Carter with his cousin Zoe.

Carter with Aunt Alana

We survived our first night at home. Dad was taking Grandma Patsy home to Raleigh today. Mom let him sleep on the sofa, so he would be well-rested for his drive. We did have to get him once during the night to help us.

Aunt Alana and Mom took Carter to the pediatrician early this morning to have his bilirubin level checked. He weighed in just below 8 lbs. The doctor wants us to go back tomorrow to have his level checked again. The good news is no light for right now! After leaving the doctor, we drove by Mom's work and had her coworkers meet us in the parking lot, so they could meet Carter. No, Mom did not allow Carter to go into the school!

Mom had an appointment this afternoon, so Gammy and Carter waited in the waiting room. Aunt Alana and Zoe were leaving today, so we wanted to make it back home to tell the "goodbye" before Poppa took them to the airport. We barely made it home.

We waited all day to be released from the hospital. The pediatrician released Carter around 11:00. My doctor didn't come in until after 2:00. We were home around 4:00. All our family was still at our house, but we were happy to be home with Carter. We also new that the reality of having a baby at home was going to set in. It was great to have the help.

We moved to our own room around 3:00 am. Today was a nice, quiet day. Grandma Patsy and Poppa came to visit Carter for the first time and went to buy us lunch. Daddy went home for a little while, and Grandma Patsy stayed with Mom. We were quiet and rested. Jacquelyn visited us in the evening along with Gammy and Aunt Alana. The pediatrician also came by to examine Carter.

Mom went to the hospital at 6:00 am to be induced. After a long day of waiting, Carter finally arrived at 11:41 pm. Daddy, Aunt Alana, and Gammy were there.