Funny Girl

We sure love Ashlyn. She continues to be a great big sister and is really quite helpful and obedient. We are trying really hard to give her plenty of attention so that she doesn't feel neglected and I think she is adjusting quite well (knock on wood).

She can sleep almost anywhere. Yesterday afternoon she fell asleep in her brother's portable swing. She had even turned it on, so she was swinging back and forth.

This afternoon I decided to take a quick shower while Carter was sleeping in the swing and Ashlyn was eating lunch. As I stepped out of the shower, Ashlyn came into the bathroom and said, "Carter crying. Where firework go?" I responded, "it's in the crib," and she promptly ran to get the pacifier. She had it in her hand, but then got distracted by some diapers and didn't make it back to the swing to console her crying brother. When I went to get him, I noticed that he had lasagna (Ashlyn's lunch) fingerprints on his clothes and face. Hmmm. . .  I wonder why he was crying . . . 

Also today, Ashlyn was playing with some wooden dolls. I heard her singing her version of "I love to see the temple" and saying "knock or treat" over and over. So precious!

Goodbye Halloween

Ashlyn really enjoyed her third halloween. This was the first year that she went trick-or-treating and she loves all the candy. She went at Brad's work as well as to a few houses in our neighborhood. We laughed really hard when she would say "trick or treeky." The highlight of the evening for her was handing out candy to the "kids" who came to our door. She was actually pretty good at it!

Our little chicken turned into a witch.

Ashlyn and Carter are all ready for tonights football game in their Cougar blue.

Our two favorite boys! Carter is turning into a little chunk, isn't he?

The Tire Swing

Yesterday we met Kyle and Tiffany at the Discovery Park. It is a really fun place for the kids to play and a really easy place to lose track of your children. Ashlyn and Kyle spent a little bit of time spinning and swinging on the tire swing. These pictures aren't the greatest (it was hard to get a good shot), but I still think they're cute. 

I would love to have a tire swing in our backyard, but I don't think we have a place to put it. They're so fun!

On Wednesday Ashlyn tripped on her pants (they were a little too bit) and fell on her face. So, her nose is all scratched up and she has a good sized goose egg on her forehead. 

The Fall Social

Tonight was our ward fall social. Ashlyn was very excited to wear her chicken costume and she also wanted to wear Carter's pumpkin costume (I don't think it would've fit). Ashlyn played Bingo, Go Fish, Beanbag toss and did some dancing too. She loved getting candy and would not let me hold it for her! Carter slept in his dad's arms for the majority of the night. We sure had a fun time with our neighbors!

Here are some cute shots of the kids before the social.

More Pics that Mom Took

Grandma Buttle came over for a visit and Carter was very content in her lap.

Ashlyn loves her hooded towel.

Ashlyn loves her Uncle Bryon. 

Say "cheese."

Carter was not very happy about his first bath.

The longer the bath went on, the less happy he got. 

He was fine when it was over though.

We had Ashlyn try on her Halloween costume for us. 

Grandma is Gone!

Grandma Cheney left this evening to fly back to Georgia and we are sure going to miss her around here! Among many other things, Grandma did a great job of taking pictures during her visit, so I'm going to share a few:

My two precious angels. 

Carter doesn't always enjoy being held as much as Ashlyn enjoys holding him. 

Saturday night I went to a baby shower (it was so nice to get out) with Carter and my mom took our picture before we left. 

My two favorite boys.

The sweet big sister. 

A Few More Details

It has been five days now since the arrival of precious Carter, but it feels like it has been weeks. He is a wonderful eater and sleeper and has really been no trouble at all. Ashlyn loves him and calls him "mine brother." She likes to hold him as often as possible and give him kisses. My mom has been here helping and she is a life saver! Her and Brad are just wonderful at making sure I get time to rest and shower and eat . . . 

I thought that I would share a few details of the birth for those that are interested. Many of you may know that since the birth of Ashlyn I have wanted to deliver my next baby at home. During this pregnancy I saw a midwife who has delivered hundreds of babies in homes (even breech and twins). A month before my due date, she gave me a box of supplies and a pool to set up at home for the delivery.

On Sunday, September 21 Brad's parents were visiting at our house and I started feeling pains in my back, but I was unsure as to whether they were contractions or not. After about an hour of sporadic back pains, I decided that I was probably in early labor (I think it started at 8pm). I didn't want to call the midwife too soon, especially at night time, so I tried to time my contractions. Unfortunately, they never got very consistent, so when they were getting pretty rough, I decided I should make the call. 

We called the midwife at 11 and she arrived at 11:30. She measured me immediately and said that I was at an 8 or a 9. I was honestly afraid that I was only a 4, so it was such a relief! So, I jumped in the pool that Brad set up, had several very intense contractions, pushed for 12 minutes, and Carter was born in the water at 12:01am!

He was born in the amniotic sac (my midwife said that about 1 in 100 babies are born that way) and I got to hold him immediately. Ashlyn woke up just after he was born and we got to enjoy some time all together while the midwife and her assistant cleaned up. 

It was definitely everything I hoped it would be and probably even better. I think what we loved the most was just being at home afterwards (and not having to sleep in a hospital bed and a fold-out chair). Most of all, we are thankful that there weren't any complications and that Carter is so healthy and happy!