Sawyer's Prayers

Jumping around with Mason! (01.31.12)


Sawyer helping Carter get more comfortable. (01.31.12)


First time going squirrel hunting with Daddy! He wanted to hold up 6 fingers and we have no idea why. (01.31.12)



Sawyer had asked for more juice and both Tom and I said he could not have any and that he had to wait until we ate supper. Sawyer did not have to wait long due to the fact that we were getting supper ready when he asked and Sawyer knew this because he was watching us. Sawyer, however, began throwing a little tantrum that involved a somewhat raised voice and whining while saying "I want juice". He continued on until we placed his supper in front of him and asked him to prayer. He then folded his hands and said, "Dear Jesus, I need juice." Tom and I lost it!

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Carter began crying so I picked him and went into the nursery to feed him. As I was nursing him Sawyer walked in and was admiring his brother, this is very normal. Sawyer then looked up at me and asked if he could pray for him; I said that he sure could. Sawyer then folded his hands and said, "Dear Jesus, thank you for his food and protection, help him to drink well and for him to stop crying."

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Carter Coming Home

The following day after Carter was born Tom and I enjoyed our Celebration Dinner at the hospital. We then began to pack up and left to go home at about 4:00pm. Shortly after we were home Mie Mie brought Sawyer and Mason home as well so that we were all finally home together for the first time!














Hard to tell in this picture but Sawyer's hand is underneath Carter's head. He really wanted to hold Carter's head while he slept.



Mason warmed up to Carter right away!

Carter's Visitors

You had lots of people excited to see you the day you were born!


Mie Mie - she was also there to watch you enter this world!


Papa was very excited to see you!



Aunt Holli, Simon and Uncle Ben



Auntie Sharyl and Mich Friedel



Your big brothers, Sawyer and Mason. Sawyer was so excited that you finally came that he kept showing you off. He was very protective and always made sure you were covered up with a blanket. Mason wasn't too sure at first; he just sat on the bed, stared at you for about 5 minutes and then got down and played with Audrey. Deep down we know he really loves you though!



Aunt Toni and Audrey



Uncle Tim (Alexa was there as well)


Aunt Amber, Audrey and Treyton


Kris Vilwock

Happy Birthday Carter!

I woke up Sunday morning at 2:00am with hard contractions. I didn't think too much of it because they were only 8-10 minutes apart. At 3:30am I finally got out of bed because I could not fall back to sleep or get comfortable. I went downstairs and checked my email, went on Facebook and paid our car insurance bill. By 4:30am I went back upstairs and woke Tom up. I told him that I didn't think we were going to make it to church and asked him to rub my back due to the back labor pain. He rubbed my back for about a minute and then that is when I said "my water broke" and I quickly got up and jumped in the tub.

While I took a shower Tom called my mom for her to come over and watch the boys. Tom also took a shower and ate some breakfast. Mie Mie was at our house just after 5:30am; we sat and talked to her for a little bit before we headed off to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at 6:00am. By the time we got checked in and all situated in the delivery room they checked me at around 6:30am and I was already 4cm dilated.

The morning was pretty uneventful in the fact that the contractions continued at 6-8 minutes apart and I had my normal back labor. At 9:30am my friend, Kris Vilwock, stopped in to check on us and that is when things started to progress a little faster. She ended up staying for the whole delivery with the way things took place. At 10:30am Dr. Strabel stopped in and rechecked me; I was then at 6cm. At this point I really started to feel discouraged in the fact that it took 4 hours to only progress 2cm.

The nurse asked if I had to use the bathroom and I decided to give it a try knowing that it would be awhile until I actually would meet Carter. Little did we know that getting up to use the bathroom was all I needed to do. It took me a half hour to get up, go to the bathroom and back on the bed. The contractions intensified and became closer together. At 11:48am I began pushing and Carter entered this world at 11:56am!!!

It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon being able to hold our precious new baby for a full 1 1/2 hours before they took Carter to weight and measure him. He weighed 8lbs 11.9ozs and was 22" long.













You and Dr. Strabel the next day

Growing Belly

20 Weeks September 2nd


24 weeks October 5th



28 Weeks October 29th



32 Weeks November 26th


36 Weeks December 22nd


40 Weeks - Due Date! January 20th, 2012
Waist = 50"
Weight Gain = 46 1/2 pounds

Sidenote ~ weight gain with Sawyer and Mason was 38 pounds.

Sleepy Boys

Since the boys have been in the same room, they have been incredible with staying in their own bed and going to sleep. On Christmas Eve everything changed. Mason now loves to get out of bed and crawl in with Sawyer. Often times we will find Sawyer sleeping in his bed with Mason sitting right by his head playing with cars or reading books. Every night before I go to bed I check on the boys one last time to re-tuck them in and prayer over them. It completely melts my heart when I see them snuggled together.


(December 24th, 2011)



(January 8th, 2012)



(January 16th, 2012)

D5 #10

Today we decided to have our D5 day at home in our jammies; it was wonderful!!!! We started the morning off with waffles. I then decided that maybe we should be productive and try to speed up Carter's progress on meeting us. So we cleared away the furniture to sanitize the floors. The boys saw this as a wide open space for their remote control cars! While they were busy racing I decided to scrub down some walls that needed some major help. While I was busy at work Mason noticed my bucket full of bubbles and decided to help by dunking his hand in and wiping it on the floors. Once the floors were clean, the boys had fun playing with their horse.

For lunch Daddy got dressed and got us all sandwiches at Murph's Chop Shop; it sure was a special treat. The rest of the afternoon consisted of Mason's nap, down time, playing together, watching football and enjoying just being together. For dinner we enjoyed a fabulous meal made by our friend Kris. Even though we had nothing spectacular planned it was one of our best D5 days! It was so nice just hanging out and having three meals together sitting around the dinner table!!!

Time with Mie Mie and Papa

We celebrated Mie Mie's birthday by going out to eat at Red Lobster; it was delicious!!! Sawyer and Mason bought Mie Mie one of her favorite toys; this one sings Happy Birthday! (January 2nd)



What better way to spend time with Papa then on the tractor!!! As you can tell by the picture all THREE boys are enjoying their time plowing snow. (January 13th)

Dentist Unit

This was not our typical school unit in that we did not do our normal tracing, cutting, counting, etc. type learning. We did a lot of reading, talking and explaining to Sawyer about what a Dentist does and how to properly take care of our teeth. We knew he had a Dentist appointment arriving so we wanted to make sure he knew exactly what was going to happen when he got there. Needless to say - it worked!!! Sawyer did an incredible job at the Dentist; we were very proud of him. When he came home he told Daddy "I didn't like it just a little bit" then showing how little with his thumb and index finger; it was really little. Daddy asked him why and he explained that he didn't like the part where they went in between his teeth. I don't know if this is when they used the pick tool or the floss.


Sawyer is "brushing" the yellow teeth to make them white.


Sawyer's Hygienist - Valinda. She was so nice and explained to Sawyer what she was going to do before she did anything and even let him touch every tool she used!


Sawyer and Dentist Seubert, normally we have Curran but he was not in that day. Dentist Seubert did tell us that Sawyer needs to come back though and get two little holes fixed - yikes!




Focus Books:
"Going to the Dentist" by Anne Civardi (Usborne First Experiences) - This one was the best!!!
"Brush, Brush, Brush" by Children's Press (Scholastic)
"The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist" by Stan & Jan Berenstain
"Clarabella's Teeth" by An Vrombaut