The first two days the water was perfect – very calm and clear. But as Hurricane Ike made its way through the Gulf, the waves and water picked up. By Thursday, the waves were huge and the wind made it hard to walk. The storm caused a very high tide…the streets in the bay side were flooded and on the gulf side the tide came up almost to the pools one night. During the day there were waves in the pool from all the wind and our truck was covered in salt spray no matter where we parked. But thankfully we didn’t get any rain.

The week went by way too fast and by Saturday it was time to head back home.

Our condo on the beach
Looking for cool seashells
Carson thought riding his scooter inside was the greatest
Digging down to China

Beach bum baby
Sleeping in his bouncy seat

In the pool for the first time

Look how nice the water was…later on we couldn’t even go in it, the waves were too big and the rip tide dangerous.
Carson’s froggy mask and snorkel
Snorkeling in the pool
Ready to go go-karting at Sam’s Fun City


At the Naval Air Museum
Carson sat in every open cockpit he could find
Blake enjoying the ride
Lots of really cool planes everywhere



Silly boy

Friday night we at at The Fish House – one of our favorite Pensacola restaurants.

Watching the ducks below


Carson loves making Blake smile and laugh
After dinner, we played in Seville Square for a while

Something must have startled Blake – poor baby!

That’s all until next year!

Carson started the summer afraid to get in the water – now look at him!!
Brandon and I took the horses to a local arena to ride on Saturday. We let them run around first and they had a blast.

Blake is growing like a weed. I’ve been able to get him on a decent schedule, which has really helped all of us. He’s still up once during the night for a feeding but that’s much easier to handle than two or three times a night! He loves to “talk” to us and smile and laugh – it melts our hearts.

Carson’s enjoyed his summer. He spends Mondays and Wednesdays at Mrs. Diane’s, along with his buddy Sarah Lynn, and has loved being able to swim in Diane’s pool. He started out the summer very hesitant to even put his feet in the water – now he jumps right in and swims all over!

Every now and then he’ll say something that cracks us up. For example, a while ago he sneezed and said “Mom, I’ve got ‘bless you’ on me.”

Yesterday, I bought him a sandcastle mold for the beach and told him he had to wait to open it until we got there. I saw him trying to get the side open and asked him what he was doing. His reply: “My hands are tired. They need to take a nap in here.” I just about died laughing. He has quite an imagination.

We are REALLY looking forward to vacation. We’re headed for a condo on Pensacola Beach in about three weeks. It will be so nice to not work and just relax and enjoy our little family.

Blake in his new shirt from Gram
Watching the Olympics
Carson actually took this photo of us!
This is what happens when we try to take a photo after church – disaster.
Cousin Joy and her friend Emily spent a week at Grandma’s. Carson, Blake and I went up one day so the girls could ride. It was ridiculously hot, so of course we had to have a water fight.
Carson’s mohawk, courtesy of Joy.

We’re starting to get some more sleep at night (translate, I am getting more sleep while Brandon snores away, ha! He’s always ready to jump up though, and change a diaper or hand Blake to me so I can feed him).

I have been incredibly busy between the boys and work. I have so much writing work coming in from various clients that I’ve had to turn some down, which is a great problem to have. Some days I’m not sure how it all gets done but it always does somehow!

Blake at 8 weeks old. He loves to smile at his fishies and talk to them. It’s so incredibly adorable.

Carson wanted to hold his brother. He got a hair cut this past week and looks so much older than 4!Hanging out
The brothers watching cartoons
How funny is this?! We put ‘em to work early around here.Riding in the wagon with his friends at the Warbington’s.

Having two has been an adjustment for me. I feel like most days it takes me all day to get one thing done. Plus, I started working again last week (yes, I’m crazy) so I’m trying to balance the kids, work, the house, etc. I’m so thankful for all our friends who brought meals – that was such a blessing and gave me one less thing to worry about.

Brandon’s parents also came out two weekends ago. We all had a good time and Carson loved spending time with them. The day before they left I developed an intraductal infection (which was quite painful) and Blake got thrush as a result – thank goodness that’s mostly cleared up now.

I’m very thankful for a happy, healthy baby boy and big brother. And for a husband who truly is my help meet.

Carson propped Blake up with his Batman “doll”
Carson’s new rocket jammies from Gram
Reading before Carson’s bedtime


Leaving the hospital
First bath

The Friday before he was born, Brandon and I went out for dinner and a movie. I started having consistent contractions, more uncomfortable than usual, but nothing to worry about. I timed them and for three hours I had one contraction every 15 minutes. Then they disappeared.

Earlier in the week at my appointment, that day’s midwife wanted to schedule an induction. Her reasoning was that since I was Group B Strep positive and needed to get antibiotics four hours before delivery I should be induced. I wasn’t thrilled when she said that and told her I’d need to think about. I had been induced with Carson and really wanted to experience a natural labor progression. After doing research and talking to another midwife, I decided an induction wasn’t necessary – the risks outweighed the benefits (the only benefit being I got to the hospital early). I wanted a midwife because I wanted to stay away from the philosophy of “convenient labor and delivery” (some docs push c-sections and inductions instead of using them as a last resort)…I’ve discovered some of the midwives I see aren’t as traditional as I’d like but it’s also forced me to become more educated about my body and my choices, which I am thankful for.

Anyway, on Saturday I was uncomfortable most of the day and stayed home instead of driving up to take care of the horses. I didn’t want to get that far away from the hospital. Brandon and I watched a movie that night and went to bed about midnight. I couldn’t sleep so I read for a while. When I finally turned off the light, close to 1 a.m., and tried to sleep, the contractions started. I started timing them at 1:15. At 2:15, when they were about 10 minutes apart, I called the midwife, told her I was GBS + and what was going on. She said to go ahead and come in.

Brandon was awake at this point so we got up and got ready. I called my neighbor who was supposed to come over and stay with Carson but she didn’t answer her phone (later found out she forgot to put it in her bedroom. She felt so bad). So I called Stacey, who lives about five minutes down the road (it was about 3 a.m.), and asked if she could stay with Carson until my parents arrived. She’s so sweet and said she’d be right over. I then called my parents and they soon were on the road. During all this, Brandon’s nose started bleeding and I had to wait for him to get it stopped before we could leave!

We kissed a sleeping Carson goodbye, thanked Stacey again and headed to the hospital. When we got there about 4 a.m., we got checked in and admitted to a triage room. The nurse checked my cervix and said I was still at four centimeters (where I’d been since that past Tuesday). The midwife, June (my favorite), came in and said she was trying to decided whether to send me home or not. Internally, I was screaming “NOO, please don’t send me home.” Thank goodness she decided to check me herself. She said I was at 5 centimeters, and she definitely would not send me home.

I got set up in the labor and delivery room, had my IV put in and the antibiotics started. By this time, the contractions were increasing in intensity. At 6 a.m. I was more than ready for an epidural. The anesthesiologist had two patients ahead of me so I had to wait. I waited, for an hour, and started praying that the doc would hurry up. The contractions were really painful at this point and I was afraid I wouldn’t get the epi in time! Finally, at 7 a.m. the doc showed up. Once the epi was in, I felt 100 times better and actually was able to nap a bit. Before this, the contractions were peaking halfway up the graph. Brandon said by the time I was ready to deliver, the contractions were at the top of the graph – I can’t imagine the pain I would have been in at that point. As it was, I slept through the worst. Thank God for pain medicine!!

About 10 a.m. June checked my cervix again – I was at 9 centimeters! She told me to let her know ASAP if I felt pressure down below because then it was time to push. At 10:30, I started pushing (Brandon’s nose also started bleeding again during this time – way to steal the limelight, ha!) and at 11:01 a.m. Blake was born.

It was a great labor and delivery. The room was so peaceful – the lights were dim and it was just me, Brandon, June and a nurse – no hustle and bustle, bright lights or NICU team like there was with Carson. June was a great midwife and I’m so glad she was on call that morning.

Waiting
My midwife June
Our new son!

36 weeks
Finally got the baby’s bedding done – I love it! Now I’m waiting on the glider cushions to come in and the dresser to be finished. I attempted to strip and repaint the dresser myself, but after realizing it had six layers of paint (some had been on there for 65 years!) I gave up and took it to a professional.
The bumper fabric is a vintage Dick and Jane print

Our precious firstborn, napping in his new “big” bed.
He has been wanting to fly his Lightning McQueen kite ever since he got it for his birthday. He was so excited when he and Brandon put it together.

Our baseball player (he bought his helmet with his birthday money from Gram – out of everything in Toys”R”Us that’s what he wanted).
He dressed Tigger up in his new helmet and jersey.
Getting ready for bed – such a silly, cute boy.

Blessings Cottage – great place for a shower

Me and SharonMy mom and me
The beautiful flowers my mom brought
Presents!
The BEST cake ever – strawberry from Feddeaux’s
My sister-in-law Valerie and niece Morgan
Jody, Shannon and Rebecca



Opening gifts

How cute is this? Sharon (also my riding buddy) had this done for the newest Loveridge

Cute bibs from Brandon’s mom

We spent the night with them and went to Rusty’s church the next morning (we survived the preaching, ha, ha!). On our way back home we stopped at the festival -walked around the street fair, tried to see a tiger show and let Carson ride a ride at the midway.

Climbing up the big slide

Scott bringing in Joy’s birthday cake

Having fun at the festival

We were married at this church in Macon. I think it’s such pretty old church.

After church, we met my parents at the Payne-Corley House in Duluth for Easter brunch. The food was good and the setting very pretty. Carson even had an Easter egg hunt after brunch.

The Payne-Corley House
Handsome little guy

Playing in one of the trees
Silliness
Dad and Mom
Hunting for Easter eggs

Enjoying his loot