Bananas for the little man

The little man has tried his first solids! He tried bananas just like his sister did. He also LOVED them just like she does too!

He loved them so much that he kept trying to grab the spoon and push it in faster. His top lip flared out because he was concentrating so hard on getting the food to his mouth. Needless to say all of us enjoyed watching him eat for the first time. This sure are exciting with a baby in our home!

He really is the SWEETEST little baby!

Vegetarian for dinner

We've been trying to branch out around here and try some new things at the dinner table. A few nights a week I try out a new recipe that is usually vegetarian. We are by no means vegetarians. To say my husband LOVES meat would be an understatement (not to mention he can cook a seriously good steak) we have just decided to cut back and have meat with dinner 3-4 nights a week instead of everyday.

{This was from Father's Day this year. He cooked 18 steaks total that day.}

On the menu tonight: 

Lemon Spinach Orzotto

Makes 4 servings

Start to Finish: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3 shallots, minced {I didn't have shallots so I just used what onions I had- 1 medium yellow onion}

1 garlic clove, minced 

1½ cups orzo

½ cup white wine {I used cooking sherry instead}

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth 

4 cups baby spinach 

1 lemon, zested and juiced 

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until translucent and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.

2. Add the orzo and stir to combine with the shallots and garlic. Add the white wine and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine has been mostly absorbed into the pasta, 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Add the broth gradually, about 1 cup at a time. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until the orzo has absorbed the broth before stirring in the next cup. Continue until the orzo is completely tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

4. Stir in the spinach and let it wilt in the warm orzo. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, butter and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Note: To reheat leftovers, add a little broth or water and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, pausing to stir once or twice.

Here's the link to where I found the recipe: http://www.purewow.com/recipes/Lemon-and-Spinach-Orzotto

I really enjoyed this dish {they had me at lemon and cheese.} Mr. Carter wasn't big on it but he's not exactly a lover of pasta or rice so...

We've tried a few other things that have been pretty good. However, I have yet to find anything that I love so if you have any favorite vegetarian recipes please share!

A few new things...

We have learned a few new things around here...

WESTON:

Wes has figured out how to put his toes in his mouth today. It's funny to me how when babies do certain things it can be so adorable and yet if an adult were to do something like this it would be so disgusting.

Babies just make everything cute!!!

ABIGAIL:

Within the last week Abi has braved the water. This has been a HUGE step for her! 

For the past two years she has wanted nothing to do with actually being in the water. She has always just sat on the side or in the most shallow part of the water.

For some reason she was just ready. And she is LOVING it!!!! She now asks to go swimming everyday. {I've created a monster.}

Not only has she been super interested in swimming but she has been  really big on doing arts and crafts as of late. She is always coloring and today I gave in and let her paint. The smile on her face will be worth the mess when she is done. 

Weston - 4 Months

I have such mixed emotions when my babies get bigger. I want to cry because we have met milestones and they have come and gone and yet I am unable to wipe the smile from my face when something new is learned.

This little man has

...learned to roll from back to front.

...found his voice and is continually trying to push the sound out which results in a high pitched squeal. (That I love!) 

...found his feet and loves to play with them.

...finally started wearing ((some)) 6 month clothing.

This little man loves

...the bath but hates the swimming pool.

...his big sister. He is always squealing at her and grabbing her hair.

...his little blue elephant and any Aiden & Anis blanket.

...EATING. He has gone from eating every 3 hours to eating every hour and a half to 2 hours. So we are nursing A LOT.

...his pacifier. He is a pacifier snob and will not use anything but MAM. (Too bad I spent too much money on adorable custom NUK pacifiers that he wont use.)

...to snuggle when he is tired. (MY FAVORITE!)

Four Month Stats

Height: 24 inches

Weight: 12 lbs

Normally I would edit out blemishes however I want to remember him exactly how he is, tiny little scratches and all. This little bruise that is healing though was from me. :(
I accidentally pinched his poor cheek with his pacifier clip a few days prior to this. He cried more than I did.

Those blue eyes!!!!

We are so in love with this little man!!!

It's a miracle!

At night I usually swaddled this little guy in an "Aiden & Anais" blanket but he has managed to get his arm out every time I wrapped him up. So I've been on the hunt for a swaddle blanket that would hopefully keep him sleeping longer and I happened to hear about the "Miracle Swaddle". It doesn't necessarily keep him sleeping longer but it sure keeps him swaddled nice and snug and this means he's not longer waking himself up. I'll take it!

Sister has to get in on the action too!

And just so we can keep things real...

I totally went to the store like this today in a desperate need to get out of the house for a few minutes. Messy hair and no makeup is the glamorous life that I lead but I wouldn't change it! So if you didn't get ready today please know you are most definitely not alone. 

Weston - Part 2

I am terrible at keeping track of the time and therefore don't remember exactly when things happened. After receiving the epidural and repeatedly saying "epidurals are SO amazing" to David - (poor guy) the doctor on call came in and broke my water. The nurse checked me and things were progressing. I was propped up on my left side to help with blood flow for the little guy. An hour or so later I started to realize that I could feel my right leg pretty well. I didn't want to be a wimp or complain too much so I didn't say anything. After what I think may have been an hour and not only the feeling returning to my leg but now I was feeling lots of pressure and contractions on only the right side I finally said something. (My left side was deader than dead and my right side was feeling everything!)

 Due to being propped on one side my epidural was only working on that side of my body and it did NOT feel good. I had my button to give myself more pain meds but I remember not wanting to push it because I wanted to at least have control of my legs when it came time to push. To make a long story short I finally pushed the button twice and they had to come give me a little more. 

Once I was nice and juiced up I couldn't feel ANYTHING. I was bummed but was thankful that I wasn't in pain. Sometime between 6 & 7pm I was dilated to a 10 and they had called the doctor. The nurse had me start pushing to practice and help the baby descend before the Dr. Wilkes arrived. While pushing I started to notice the feeling coming back into my legs. I was so glad! I wanted to be able to feel a little and hopefully be up and walking pretty quickly after having him. I pushed for what I think was about an hour and by the time my doctor arrived I was feeling more than I wanted to again. I had pushed my little button but wasn't getting any relief. By this time it was shift change and there were a bunch of new nurses, my doctor and David rooting me on and coaching my pushing. I was feeling way too much and kept asking about my epidural. The pressure was NUTS! I was feeling SO thirsty and nauseous with every push. I felt like a lot was happening really quickly. I kept pushing. The anesthesiologist finally came and gave me more epidural - the bag had ran out and no one noticed! My doctor had said that the baby wasn't descending and that he was probably face up. He said that he wanted to try the vacuum and if it didn't work we'd have to do another c-section. 

By now I am exhausted and glad that I can't feel anything but bummed at the thought of a c-section. As we get ready to start pushing with the help of the vacuum David gets a little teary-eyed. He was very concerned about Wes and I. He had been my rock telling me that I was doing so great and that he could see the baby and to keep pushing he was almost there! He was really unsure about the vacuum and how it would effect the baby and I. Doctor Wilkes asked if he was alright and he quickly composed himself. We were ready to push this baby out.

I pushed with the help of the vacuum while David cheered me on. But to no avail the little guy would come down but not far enough. Dr. Wilkes let the staff know that we needed to prep for surgery. The nurses were coming in and out quickly and the memories of my first c-section came flooding back. They administered a few different things through my IV and gave me a "tasty" sour drink (this is to keep the stomach acids etc. down while in surgery) before heading down to the OR. (It actually wasn't too bad. I remember telling the nurse "It's a good thing I like sour stuff!")

Before they took me into the operating room I had to tell David good bye for a few minutes while they finished getting the room and myself prepped for surgery. I could tell he was concerned and I was a little scared to leave him. (I love that guy SO much!)

My body was pretty numb when we got into the room where we would be meeting our little guy for the first time. I remember feeling so excited that we were FINALLY going to meet him! They asked if I had enough strength to help move myself from the bed I was in onto the operating table. I felt so funny trying to move but I did it and I didn't think I could! While laying there waiting for things to move along I remember feeling like the process was taking FOREVER. I was so exhausted. I had already stared to get the shakes and my jaw was chattering. One of best parts of this surgery (I know! There's a best part? What!? I must be crazy...) is when they place warm blankets across your arms that are stretched out along armrests. For some reason this always feels so good and comforting. They hung up the curtain so I couldn't see anything and the anesthesiologist gave me a lot of juice to make me feel nice and extra numb. By this time David was finally able to come into the room. He waited by my head holding my hand as we anticipated the arrival of our son.

After feeling like an eternity had passed by I finally heard his little cry for the first time. There is nothing in this world like hearing your baby for the first time. Nothing.

Dr. Wilkes held the little guy over curtain so I could see him. He was finally here!!!!!!

They wrapped him up and brought him around to where I could see him. (David is able to watch everything if he wanted as the curtain isn't too high.) The nurse held him next to my face so that I could kiss his sweet little cheeks.

 They asked David if he would like to take him and he jumped as soon as they asked.

We are so in love with our little boy!!!

Weston Pierce Carter
Born 2.13.15
8:56 pm
7 Pounds 11 Ounces
20 Inches Long

This was the view from my bed. Heaven