Four weeks until D-Day.... Delivery Day that is

So yes it has been since July since our last post.... Writing is not my thing and what a crazy time it has been.  Right after our last post we found out we were expecting a sweet little baby.  It had been a long time coming filled with a lot of decisions and discussions that ultimately led us to that moment were we officially were going to be parents.... again.  So many people asked us those great questions like "Was this planned?" and "Do you know how this happens?" and yes though it is a different plan than many we feel so blessed to have our 4th little bundle of joy on the way in a mere 4 weeks.  Yikes!  It seems like we have been pregnant FOREVER and yet at times I don't want this to end,  the joy and excitement anticipating this little one's arrival at least.  I can not lie, the first 4 months were brutal.  The kind of brutal that makes you think you are being punished for making a terrible decision to have another baby, for turning your family upside down, and just at the time when all your other kids were going to be in school.  Really I didn't think I was going to survive and I hated the fact that all the things that I should have been doing with the kids over summer vacation were put on hold due to mommy being so miserable.  The girls were so great about it though.  They would come up to sad little me on the couch and say "I'm sorry the baby is making you so sick.. can we get you anything?"  And they were so excited about the baby!  They have tracked the baby's progress daily as if they were tracking Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve.  It has truly been remarkable to see the amount of love they have already for their sibling even before he's born.  If only they could adore each other as much as they do this baby!  Davis has especially been amazed by the baby as it has grown and progressed right along.  It's almost as if they have a special bond already.  Davis can touch my belly and the baby starts to kick... as if he knows that it is her.  Of the kids, she's the one that most wanted us to have a baby and to say that she is baby obsessed would be an understatement.  She adores snuggling with my belly and talking to the baby.    

 

 

So when it was time to find out if the baby was a boy or girl we decided to do gender reveal cupcakes to tell this kids if it was a boy or girl.  They were so excited to find out but a little bit of me was petrified how it was going to go... especially if it was a boy.  I was just nervous as always going into the ultrasound about if the baby was healthly.... 2 arms, 2 legs, a 4 chambered heart, an appropriately developing brain etc.  All those things that can go wrong that mommy's worry about so it was nice to plan something special for the kids.  This pregnancy has been so different than our other 3 because the kids are big enough to understand what a baby means and be involved with us, from picking out names to picking out toys for the baby.  When Dylan was born, Layla was 4 and Davis was 2 so they really didn't understand.  We are so blessed to have been able to share this with them so wanted to make it special when they found out the babies gender. 

 

 

I just love Layla's reaction.... she took a bite of her cupcake and as soon as she saw blue inside of it she dramatically swooshed herself down of the couch in distress..... I wasn't sure even how to react.  She then sat up and proceeded to blame Jamie for wanting a baby boy and therefore it was his fault that the baby was in fact a boy.  I couldn't argue it... indeed it is Jamie's fault but within a matter of a minute, they were all excited that they were having a little brother then the conversation quickly turned to what the baby's name was going to be.  Dylan was adamant that the baby's name was going to be cupcake and still to this day he has names the baby Easton Michael Cupcake Carter. 

 

 



 

 

 

In addition to all the crazy babiness around this house, we have had so many other great times as a family.  Layla decided for her 9th birthday that she wanted to have a few friends come spend the night and have a three tier big girls birthday cake so this is what she designed.  She was so proud of how it turned out.  It was so fun to have her decide what she wanted but a tiny bit on the sad side that she was becoming a big girl.  She then proceeded to inform us "This is a really important and big birthday."  When asked why she said, "because this is the last birthday when I will be one number, next year I will be 2 numbers (meaning 10)."  Ouch knife to a mommy heart. 

 

 

Then there was Halloween.  Layla changed her mind about a million times as to what she wanted to be.  I think she's just at that age where she still wants to be a princess and play dress up but doesn't want to seem like a little girl to her friends so it was a tough year for  her decide.  She finally decided that she wanted to be Barbie.  It was amazing how a tad bit of make up made her look like a teenager.  Just a glimpse of the trouble we are going to be in in a few short years. 

Davis wanted to be a witch and had so much fun deciding the little things about her outfit.  She wanted to be a a nice witch... with green hair but she added a heart wand so that everyone would know that she was nice.  I adore her free spirit.  She could have cared less what anyone though of her costume and loved it. 

Dylan on the other hand had no desire to pick a costume or come up with an idea for what he wanted to be.  In fact as long as he was getting candy he could have done without the costume all together.  He went through all sorts of crazy shenanigans along the way.  First he wanted to be a horse, then a cow boy, then a bucket..... and if he couldn't be a bucket then could he be a shovel.  He was all over the place but finally decided that he wanted to be a tiger and being Clemson fans we were all over that one so that's what he was. 

 

  We also celebrated Davis' 7th birthday.  She went with a candy themed cake and just had to have a tutu on the cake.  Where she got the idea of the tutu I am not sure but it was a must have.  She was most excited when it was all said and done that she got to eat the giant sucker on the top of the cake.  It was a beautiful day and she had the best time with her friends. 

 

 

There were so many other great moments.  The kids all played soccer and the girls did such a great job.  With Dylan on the other hand we were luck to get him out of the field but that how the girls were when they were his age too.  He's decide that he wants to try his hand at baseball this spring so Jamie is so excited. 

 

 

Then there was of course Christmas and all the fun that goes with it.  From picking out the tree, decorating, going on the Polar Express, going to see the lights at Saluda Shoals, seeing Santa at the library, making gingerbread houses, decorating cookies, looking for our Elf on the Shelf Candy Cane, etc. I could write for hours.  But there's just not enough time so here are some pictures from all the fun we had. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then in February we celebrated Dylan's 5th birthday.  He wanted a Super Mario brothers cake and his sister were more than happy to tell him all the characters and details that he needed to make his cake complete.  He is so excited to be 5 years old.  He also wanted to start Kindergarten the day after his birthday since after all he was now 5. 

 

 

 

It's been such a great few months and I wish I would have taken the time to write more, reflect more, and remember how blessed we truly are.  But I don't think things are going to slow down any in the next few weeks with Baby Easton's arrival.  We are just so excited to share this little guy with our family and friends.  And most of all so excited to add to our amazing little... ok not so little.. family.