Brooks' 1st visit to Santa

I took Brooks to Roper Mountain Lights to see Santa. We parked and went through the winter wonderland to Santa's workshop. I wasn't sure how Brooks would act because he's usually scared of people dressed up in costumes (like the characters @ disney), but he just jumped right up on Santa's lap. This was his first time meeting Santa and he was SO excited he got to tell him what he wanted for Christmas! He talked and talked and Santa told him to listen to Mommy, to be good and to go to bed early. I told B he better listen to Santa! He kept telling me "I met Santa!" Then we got some hot chocolate and marshmallows to roast over the fire. After we walked around for a while, we got back in the car and drove around looking at the lights twice. He loved the lights and didn't want to leave. I see another trip there in the near future :)

The past few months...

So I've been pretty bad at blogging since Carson was born, but now that I feel like a normal human being again, I'm going to get going again! We have decided not to move to Greensboro and Brian has been back home since the 1st of November. SO relieved we're not moving because I love our house and being here with all of our friends and family! And a HUGE plus is having both of our parents here to help out with the kids :) Carson is such a blessing and a joy to be around. He smiles and talks to us all the time. That little smile just melts my heart! Brooks is the best big brother and likes to "help" when he can. He keeps saying that when C gets bigger he's going to share his toys...little does he know that he has no choice, but it's good that he wants to share them. C started sleeping through the night at 7.5 weeks. Now by sleeping through the night, I mean that he would sleep about 3-5 hours. He has had about a week of 12hr nights that were incredible!! But now its back to 7-8hrs. That is way better than I could have dreamed of...Brooks was a nightmare as a baby and never slept, so we are counting our blessings! It was hard at first to adjust to having 2 kids, but now I can't imagine it any other way! We've just been spending time with family and friends and trying to get back into the swing of things. Brooks turned 3 on November 20...I can't believe how fast the time has flown! We had a wonderful party with his friends. Then we hosted Thanksgiving at our house and had about 28 people here! It was nice to spend it with both sides of our family. Now we can't wait for Christmas!

Brooks helping to feed Carson

                                         

Me and the boys on Halloween

Brooks' 3rd Birthday

The kids eating at the party

Carson sitting next to his cousin Evan (they're only 2 months apart!)

Brooks painting a tree at the art center

Brian and I on Thanksgiving

Our niece Mia holding Carson

My sister-in-law Susan and her husband Harold (he cooked the turkey and it was AWESOME!)

Me with my 2 nieces Anna and Mia

Anna, Carson, Brooks and Mia

Me, my sis-in-law Helen and my sis Blaire

Car Car holding his head up like a big boy :)

Como was so happy to put Car to sleep :)

Carson Myles Langley

Carson Myles Langley was born September 4, 2010!! He weighed 5lb 7oz (1oz bigger than Brooks!) and was 19 1/4 in long. He was 3 weeks early, so I was surprised when I went into labor on Friday night. Brooks was 17 days early, so I figured he would come early, but not earlier than Brooks. I had been so anxious about going into labor since Brian is in Greensboro during the week. But the timing couldn't have been more perfect! Brian got home at around 10:30 that Friday night, and I was starting to have real contractions by then. I just didn't think it would go as fast as it did. My contractions were very irregular, but were starting to be more intense in pain. By 5am I knew we needed to get to the hospital REALLY fast! I called Brian's mom to come stay with Brooks, and it was after 7am by the time we got outta the house. I was dying by that time and was so worried about delivering in the car! It was a constant contraction, one right on top of the other, with no time in between. We checked in at St. Francis at 7:53am and Carson was born at 8:41am by c-section. Apparently I was complete (10cm) before we left the house! Luckily since I had a scheduled c-section for exactly 2 weeks later, I got to have one. My doctor was amazing and once I got the spinal I was feeling great. Brian got to watch Carson being born and was able to be with him while they were stitching me up. He was the first to hold him! I was so excited when they handed him to me as we were leaving the OR! He was so tiny and looked exactly like Brooks. Brian was able to take the whole week off of work! He was only going to be able to stay for 4 days if I had made it to my scheduled c-section, so we got lucky he was here for 8 days :) Brooks is the best big brother and loves to spend time with C. I feel like such a lucky mom to have two sweet and beautiful boys! Carson will be 1 month old tomorrow and Brooks will be 3 in 7 weeks! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I'm loving watching them grow and being their mom :)

Our first picture together!

My parents, Me and Carson

                                
                                 

  

Ice Ice Baby

The title says it all- I love ice, and I'm pretty sure it has to do with the baby! I have become obsessed with chomping on ice. It started about 2 months ago or so, and I cant live without it now. I've heard other women say that when they were pregnant they loved ice. I'm sure my teeth aren't too happy I've picked up this habit, but I'm addicted. At first I would just pour myself a glass of ice water and chomp away after I drank the water. Then I would put a lot of ice in the cup, with just a little water, and wait for the ice to melt down some before eating it. Now, there's no waiting. I just fill my cup full of ice and immediately chomp away. I'm hoping this will stop after the baby is born, but if not, I might need an intervention!

Weekend in Greensboro

Brooks and I went to Greensboro this past weekend to visit Brian. We usually switch off weekends, but we went for 2 in a row. I'm starting to know my way around now and am getting excited about moving to the area! Brian really likes it, but doesn't get to explore much since he works all week, so when we are there we drive around a lot. I can get to most places I want to go, especially the shopping center! And Brooks' school is a block from it, which I'm sure thrills Brian ;) On Friday night we were able to go to another Grasshoppers baseball game. Brooks has a blast and was such a good boy that he got to eat dipping dots. On Saturday we hit the shops for a while, but it got a little too crowded for us with it being tax free weekend. We took Brooks to a park we found the weekend before and it we had it all to ourselves! It was cool outside and he had a blast once Daddy agreed to get on the slides with him. We had a relaxing Sunday and then headed back to Greenville. I am looking forward to my next visit, mostly because it will be my last before I have the baby. And shortly after that, we will officially be moving there for good!

26

Tuesday was my 26th Birthday, and Brooks and I had such a great time together. He walked in my room when he woke up and said "Mommy, its your birthday"! He was really sweet to me which was all I could ask for. He asked when we could go to my birthday and if I would share my cake with him. He thinks that a birthday is a party with presents and cake. In a lot of ways he thinks right, just bc he's a little kid and will have that on his bday for many years to come. Luckily my wonderful parents and sister took me to dinner and we had cake and presents! I am looking forward to celebrating with Brian this weekend when we head back up to Greensboro.

Charleston Trip

Brooks and I went with my parents, sister, and her boyfriend to Charleston this week. Since I have lived there, and we have gone 100 times, we decided to just spend time at the beach and pool. Our good friends Emily and Jimmy live on Mt. Pleasant in a really nice apartment complex where they rent out apartments for the week. It was so nice being able to stay there and have the pool to ourselves. The pool and ocean water felt like bath water, so it wasn't too refreshing, but it still felt much better than just sitting in the hot sun. I wouldn't have survived without the water! Brooks had a great time playing on the beach and building a sand castle with me and Jordan. Emily watches a little 2yr old girl named Gracie 2 times a week, so she brought her to the pool to play with Brooks. He loves girls and followed her around the whole time :) Us girls got to leave B with my Dad and Jordan and go shopping for a few hours one afternoon. I needed the girl time, and bought some stuff for after the baby is born. It was tough for me being out in the sun and walking a lot, but it was so worth it to have time with B at the beach before we add another kid to the family!

 Blaire and Jordan putting the final touches on the sand castle

          My Dad and Brooks

July 4th Weekend

Brooks and I headed up to Greensboro for the long weekend. We had a blast hanging out with Daddy, Helen (my sister-in-law) and her girls. We were invited to a get together with Helen and some of her friends on Saturday night. They live out in the country and it was so beautiful...perfect for fireworks! Brooks had a great time flirting with the older girls haha! We had a wonderful dinner, and the girls played volleyball afterward. Brooks cheered his cousin Mia on from the sidelines. He went on a walk around the property with Brian, and found a rock he had to go show his "friends." Once it was dark enough, there was a small fireworks show. Then on Sunday, my parents came into town and we spend the day with them. We cooked out at Helen's house, then went into town to see the fireworks show. It lasted 30 minutes, and once Brooks warmed up to the sound, he loved it. He's been talking about the fireworks ever since! It was a great weekend and we are so glad we got to spend it with our families!

                             He found a grasshopper

Holding his rock in one hand, and a brownie in the other

Cheering Mia on                        

                                He loves attention from girls

Moving/Dinner with my parents

If you haven't heard already, we are moving to Greensboro, NC. Brian got a job offer we couldn't refuse! Brian has already started working, while Brooks and I are hanging out here until the baby is born. We see each other every weekend, and so far it has gone by quickly. My parents wanted to cook him a nice dinner before he left...I won't be there to cook, so who knows what he's going to be eating ;)  Brooks swam in the pool my parents got for him, while we hung out and watched him play. It was a great evening and dinner was awesome as usual!

Finley

One year ago next month, Brooks and I went and picked out a Beta fish for him. His name is Finley and Brooks loves him. He has been really into fish the past few months, and insists on being the one to feed him everyday. I sit him up on the counter and he wants to drop one pellet of food in at a time and watch and wait until Fin eats it. It can become a long process, so he only feeds him once a day, while I feed him the rest of the time. He wants so badly to reach  his hand in the tank and pet him! I have to keep a close eye on him, but he's done great so far.