Baby Piercings

How do you feel about babies who have their ears pierced? Would you ever pierce your baby girl's ears? I'm just curious because a few people have asked me if I plan on piercing Kalianna's ears. I think piercing a baby's ears if kind of mean. You cant say "This will only hurt for a minute" or "we're doing this to make you pretty". A baby is not going to understand. I also think a girl should be able to choose if she wants her ears pierced or not. And I don't think a child needs their ears pierced until they are old enough to care for it themselves. Matt and I have settled on age nine (its a long story why). But if Kalianna wants here ears pierced, I will take her for her ninth birthday. This is just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own. Whats yours?

Bath Time

We gave Kalianna her first bath this week. At first she seemed curious about the water, or surprised to find herself sitting in a little pool.
Then she decided she had had enough and started crying. And what did mean mommy do? She pulled out the camera, of course! (Please excuse the camera string)
As soon as we washed her head and put her in the towel, she was fine. A little traumatized maybe, but fine. Doesn't she look like she's thinking "I can't believe they just did that to me!"

Once she was wrapped up warm in her towel and safe in mommy's arms, she was relaxed and happy once again.
It's really weird to not be sitting at a computer every day anymore! So I'm afraid my postings will probably decrease. I know. You are all crying inside. But I will try to keep you posted on my beautiful, sweet girl and the goings-on in our lives. Kalianna is one of the calmest, most content babies I have ever known! She has some of the funniest facial expressions and she keeps me smiling all day. I'm tired and still a bit sore, but am loving getting to spend all day every day with my baby.

April Fools Surprise

Kalianna Dace Carroll is here! Can you believe it? Sometimes I still can't believe it and she is sleeping right next to me! Since many people ask about the pronunciation, I will spell her name phenetically for you. Cal (like the beginning of California) Cal-E-on-a Dot-say Carroll. Kalianna is the combination of two names we liked and back when we were first married, Matt and I decided to give all our children Latvian middle names. Dace was a good friend of Matt's on his mission who really helped him a lot with his Latvian. So, there you go. Now for the fun story:

Wednesday I took it easy all day and then I picked up Matt for our appointment around 4:00pm. We got to the hospital around 4:30 and they began getting me ready for the procedure at 5:00. I was having a few contractions, but nothing steady. I've been having contractions for the last two months, so I thought nothing of it. They gave me something to relax my uterus, so it would be easier to try and turn her. They hooked me up to an IV as well as monitored both mine and baby's heart rates. The doctor came in and asked if I was ready, and they began. She and a resident began trying to get her little head to move out of my ribs and down to my pelvis. They had her halfway turned (so she was completely horizontal) and then she went right back to where she was. The pain was just a notch below unbearable. They worked on my stomach for a good half hour when Dr. Brown said it was enough. She wasn't budging. They noticed that despite the medicine, I was having contractions throughout the procedure. And in fact, the contractions may have been why they were having such a hard time getting her to move. So Dr. Brown checked me and I was dilated to a 4 and 90% effaced. Plus her little foot was poking in and out of my cervix. Dr. Brown looked at me and said "I think you've had enough. I can't send you home like this, so what do you say we deliver this baby tonight?" I started crying (it was a little overwhelming) and I think Matt just about passed out. After joking all day about how funny it would be to have her born on April Fools Day, our little joke was coming true. The doctor left to check the schedule, and the phone calls began. We called my sister to pick up our dogs and take them to my parents house and told my mom to meet us at the hospital and to bring a camera. We called both our families to tell them the baby was indeed coming that night. Several people didn't believe us until I text them a picture of her after delivery. We didn't have anything with us, so thank goodness for family who could bring the items we needed to the hospital! Its incredible how calm I felt about the whole situation. After my brief burst of emotions when the doctor told me I'd be delivering that night, I was amazingly calm and happy about the whole situation. They took us back to the operating room and the anestesiologist gave me a shot to numb me from the armpits down. It was so weird watching them move my legs around, but not feeling a thing! I could feel a lot of pulling and pressure, but no pain. One of the strangest sensations I have ever felt was the relief of pressure as they pulled her little head out of me. The moment I heard that first little cry, I knew my life had changed forever. I was in love! Tears of pure joy started streaming down my face. It was SO HARD lying there while they stitched me up and listening to her cry. Matt was able to watch as they cleaned her up and weighed her and everything, but I had to be patient. All I wanted was to finally meet my beautiful little girl! They brought me back to the room and sat me up and I was able to look at her perfect little face for the first time and cradle her in my arms. She latched on immediately and has been a champion eater ever since. We had a couple names in mind, but the moment we saw her we thought she looked like a little Kali. Kalianna was born Wednesday, April 1st at 8:08pm. She weighed 6 lbs 2 oz and measured 19 1/2 inches long. We enjoyed many visitors over the next few days, but are glad we were able to go home this morning. Its nice to be home!

Still Breech

So our sweet little girl has decided my stomach makes a better pillow than my pelvis. Can't say I really blame her, but it is making me pretty uncomfortable. Dr. Brown said she is in the exact same spot as last week, she could even feel her little toes when she reached in to check everything. Thank goodness I didn't dilate anymore this last week! I'm still at a three, which means tomorrow I get to go in and have them try and manually turn her around. I go in at 4:00 and they give me something to help my uterus relax. Then at 5:00 Dr. Brown will come in and maneuver my stomach to see if they can get her to rotate. There is a chance it won't work or that she will turn herself around again, in such cases we will schedule a C-section for week 39. The procedure is apparently quite painful, according to several ladies who have had it done and shared their stories with me (Thanks for the encouragmenet guys!) =) But I feel like its something we need to at least try. I'm actually not so worried about the actual procedure, I'm more worried about what Dr. Brown told me I had to do to prepare...I can't eat tomorrow! She said I can eat a big breakfast and sip water occasioanlly throughout the day, but I need to have an empty stomach when I go in. No food? Is she crazy?! I can't even go a whole day without food when I'm Not pregnant! Oh well. C'est la vie, right? So, needless to say, I'm not going to work tomorrow. My doctor suggested I take it easy and take a long nap in the afternoon to help with the hunger. Also because I need to be relaxed when I go in.

I realized when I wrote the appointment on my calendar that tomorrow is April 1st. And there is a tiny chance that the procedure can cause me to go into labor. So if you get a text or a phone call from Matt tomorrow telling you baby Gertrude has arrived, I am promising you here and now that it is NOT an April Fool's Day joke! Wish us luck!

The Magic inside Me

The magic inside me twists and quakes
It rolls and jumps and swims and aches
Astounded each time I look down
To see the magic move around
It started as a tiny seed
That barely moved and didn't breathe
Then the magic took effect
It grew and now we do connect
She came from nothing to take on form
And together we have endured the storm
I feel the magic more each day
She's anxious to come out and play
She's got her own personality
It's hiding there inside of me
A gracious hand will help her learn
Until it comes to be her turn
For now I wait and enjoy the ride
That's taking place deep down inside
With every movement I see the sign
She's magic and she's mine

Bulging Baby

I'm sure most of you have seen this picture before. I think its kind of gross looking, and obviously photo-shopped. But this is the image I had in my mind last night. Matt and I were laying in bed watching a movie and I was rubbing some lotion on my itchy belly. (You're welcome for the nice visual.) Plus I like having my belly free when I'm lying in bed because I enjoy watching her move around. Well, my right side suddenly got very tight and began cramping. I wasn't sure what was going on because her moving around has never been painful, but what she was doing started to hurt. Then it was clear Gertrude was popping up to say hi. She shifted most of my internal organs to accomplish this maneuver, so it was quite painful. But I was laughing at the same time as saying "Ow!' because it just looked so darn cool! She had her entire body pushing up and out against my right side. I put my hand over the bulge and she was literally sitting in the palm of my hand. I could feel her tiny body wriggling against my palm and fingertips. So cool! I, of course, got Matt's attention when I started saying "Ow!" That word really freaks him out these days. Go figure. But he didn't find it as fascinating as I did. He actually thought it was pretty creepy looking to see our child bulging out of her mother like that. I'm not a big fan of taking naked belly pictures when pregnant, but I wished I had the camera right at that moment! I could feel what she was doing from the inside and the outside, but it would have been cool to see how it looked to him.

Baby Ripples

Do you remember that scene from Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is coming and the water in the cup on the dashboard starts rippling as he gets closer with each step? Well last night I was taking a nice, warm bath and Gertrude started moving around a bunch. The water started rippling away from my stomach and it totally reminded me of that scene! She even had that same beat going, just like the T-Rex's footsteps. No, I'm not comparing my child to a giant, flesh-eating monster. I'm just saying it was really funny!

I Love...

I Love watching my belly expand! My whole life (with the exception of one dark summer) I have always had a flat tummy. I'm not just talking skinny; but would look hot in a bikini, put super models to shame, type flat tummy. And now I find myself squealing with delight every morning when I look in the mirror and see the snails-pace expansion going on around my middle.

I Love feeling her move! Every time she kicks, wiggles, and practices somersaults inside my belly I get a big smile on my face. On Thanksgiving we went and saw the new James Bond movie and she was moving for the full two hours. Probably because that is a Very loud movie, but I enjoyed it even with the constant interruptions. She is very strong! I'm surprised at how well I can feel her this early. Matt is excited because I keep saying she has strong soccer legs.

I Love having boobs! I've always been rather lacking in this area, but its nice to feel more "blessed" even if its only for a little while.

I Love having an excuse! I can eat as much as I want, and no one says anything. I can take a nap in the afternoon, and no one says anything. I can cry at silly things, and no one says anything. I can be completely honest and blunt, and no one says anything. They just laugh and say how much they will miss the pregnant me.

I Love how every woman in the world has my back! When I started feeling sick at church, a lady in my ward handed me some crackers and told me to eat. When Matt and I were walking into work on a snowy day a lady I work with looked at Matt and said "Don't you dare let her fall!" I've had more offers for used cribs and other supplies than I can even keep track of.

I Love looking at cute girl outfits and little pink dresses at the store! I can actually look at baby things now and know I will be getting them soon.

I Love showers! I have always enjoyed going to baby showers and this weekend my roommates are throwing me my first one! (Its a joint shower with another roommate who is also pregnant and due in February) It will be very different being on the receiving end this time. I'm excited!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Matt and I were both really hoping for a girl first, so we were very excited to find out it was a girl! Everything looks perfect and she is exactly where she is supposed to be (size wise and everything). Hold on tight, the winner of the drawing will be announced tonight!

Cookies, Movement and the Flu

Keep in mind, this isn't even all of the cookies.

Here's a closer look. Some of them are really cute, but notice the amount of candy and frosting on some of them. Its like a cavity waiting to happen!

Saturday was our final primary party with this year's Valiant 11 class. Every week the kids get points (1-10) based on how well they behaved during class. Then when the class reaches 100 points, we have a party. Our first class party was games at our house, then we combined two parties and had a swimming/pizza party, and on Saturday we decorated holiday cookies and brought them to the primary presidency. So Friday after work, Matt and I made 116 sugar cookies. It seems like a lot, I know. We wanted to have enough for the kids to be able to eat some while they decorated, plus enough for them to bring some home to their families, and enough for the five people we were taking them to in the ward. The kids had a blast! Although the cookies started out with so much frosting and candy on top, the average person would not be able to fit in in their mouth! The goal among the boys was "I'm going to make this so gross that no one will want to eat it!" Awesome. I think the favorite part of the day was leaving the cookies on the porches and getting to doorbell ditch the primary leaders. Then we played Catch Phrase at our house until their parents came and it was hilarious! Watching six kids, hopped up on sugar, screaming out details to get the rest of us to say a word. Sobaka and Kutse also enjoyed the party very much! Not only did they get a special treat of chocolate chips (stopped that one real quick) but the kids had a blast playing tug-o-war and wrestling with them. Sobaka was passed out for the rest of the night. Whereas Kutse seems to gain strength from being played with and was bouncing off the walls the rest of the night.

I wasn't feeling very good on Saturday, and had to sit down a lot, but I put on a happy face so we could enjoy the party. But as the night progressed, I felt worse and worse. I couldn't keep anything down (which hasn't been a problem for weeks). Matt went to the Real game with his sister that night and Breezy came over to have a girl's night. I felt bad she spent the evening having to listen to me vomit instead. But, thinking it was just a bad pregnancy day, I pushed through and we did end up having a good time. We got some dinner, played Mario Party, and then watched a few episodes of Gilmore girls. After Matt got home from the game, I got a lot worse and ended up crashing in bed. Sunday I woke up with a fever and spent the next two days in bed. Turns out I had the stomach flu. And yes, I even followed the advice from my doctor and got a flu shot a couple weeks ago. But as she explained to me at my appointment, the flu shot is for the respiratory flu and I got a different strand of the stomach flu. I'm just lucky I guess! Now I really hope, after making all those cookies the night before, that six children in my neighborhood don't come down with a case of the flu. However, as Matt pointed out, their parents will just think they got it at school. =) But now Matt is sick in bed today. He wasn't feeling good yesterday or the night before, but was so sick this morning he couldn't fight it anymore and had to stay in bed. Poor guy!

As for the baby update, since I get asked several times a day, I felt it move for the first time last week. Very cool! But weird too. I've felt it move a few times since then. It always happens at night when I'm laying in bed. Probably because I'm holding still enough that I can actually notice it. I had a few people describe it to me like a butterfly in your stomach. But it didn't feel anything like a butterfly to me. I can't describe it, but it felt stronger than that.

Well, that was our weekend. How was yours?

Vote to Win!

Wow, I feel like such an intense blogger! Three posts in two days! So Matt and I find out the sex of the baby in 12 days. YAY!! Anyway, we want to share our excitement with all of you so, through the inspiration of my sister, we thought it would be fun to make a game out of it. Here is what you do:

1. Vote on the right column whether you think we are having a boy or a girl. (If you've already voted, don't worry about it. Or if you're like my sister you've voted several times, hoping to make the baby a girl through sheer willpower.)

2. Then, leave us a comment telling us what you voted for. (If you don't know how to leave a comment, e-mail me! I don't want anyone to miss out due to "technical" difficulties.)

3. On the 25th, after our ultrasound, we will have a drawing. If the baby is a girl, all those who voted girl will be entered in the drawing. If its a boy, all those who voted for boy will be entered in the drawing.

4. We will then announce the winner on our blog! The winner will be receiving the fabulous prize of assorted pink or blue items! (They won't be baby items, just a basket of fun things to match the 'color' of the sex).

If you live further than driving distance or out of state, don't let that stop you from entering! There is a fabulous newfangled system called UPS who is more than willing to deliver your prize right to your door! Tell your friends and family to vote. The more who enter the merrier!

Its a...a...an alien?

As promised, here are some cute first baby pictures! Awwwww! I had another ultrasound today and I actually made sure to take the pictures with me this time. If you've had kids, you can tell what everything is (hopefully). If not, they are nicely labeled for you.

I love this one! It looks like the cute little hand is just above the mouth. Almost sucking their thumb, but not quite.

A close-up of the profile.


This one made me laugh. Looks like an alien. Seriously.
Here, let me rotate it and zoom in for you. Now check it out!


The head looks like it comes to a point. Then there are two large, dark circles on the sides that look like huge alien eyes. The head looks detached from the egg-shaped body. I think its awesome! A keeper for the scrapbook for sure!

I'M PREGNANT!

My sister, Julie got married on Friday and it was a very cool day. We were waiting till after the wedding to share our good news to prevent stepping on toes and stealing her thunder. So the moment Julie and Seth drove away from the reception, we made our big announcement to the family. I decided I would share our good news on our blog next so that our "real" friends could find out before we continue spreading the word.

Isn't it funny how life works sometimes? Matt and I try for two years to get pregnant and it finally happens when we stop trying for my surgery. Yes, I got pregnant about three weeks after my surgery. Which is the real reason I have been so sick lately. I started out severely underweight and my body was trying to recover from surgery as well as deal with all the changes that come with pregnancy. Matt and I were worried at first, but with a great doctor and the miracle of drugs, I am feeling much better! We had our first appointment on Thursday where we were able to see our little blob for the first time and hear its tiny heartbeat. Very cool! I am due April 20th which makes me further along than we first thought--which is always good to hear. My doctor said everything looks perfect so far. She actually thought at first that we were having twins because my HCG levels are super super high. But the ultrasound only revealed one baby. Dr. Brown said some women who have such high levels can have complications later in pregnancy or it can simply be that I am just naturally high. Since this is my first pregnancy, there is no way to know yet. So for now we are just keeping an eye on things.

I'm sad to say my twenty-four year streak of only throwing up a handful of times has come to a screeching halt. Now I understand how bulimia works. I've lost five pounds just throwing up this last month. Like I said though, we finally found a nausea medicine that works and I am doing much better. No matter how tired or sick I get I really don't feel like I can complain. I am just so thankful to be pregnant!

Thank you so much to those of you who have showed your love and support as we have struggled! Especially Aubrey, thanks for always being such a good friend and support! I will post pictures as soon as I can but we accidentally left our first ones at the doctor's office.