Well, these are of us trying to get some good pictures for our new my space page. We are new to the my space world--it is quite addicting! By the time we got to our family shot, Carson was sick of the camera.

I hope everyone's summer is going well! God Bless! If you have my space, look us up!

Summer Fun

Here are some pics of our summer so far, it has been a blast to be a "temporary stay at home mom". I love it!! Hope all is well with y'all :)

The last is with my new photo program that Greg got me for my bday! I love doing that stuff. I may have went a little overboard with that one :)

A Fun Week

Greg and I were able to have a quick little get away while Grammie watched Carson. It was our first "vacation" since having Carson, so it was nice to only be an hour away. We splurged and got a really nice room in Birch Run, did some, well, a lot of shopping, and visited the ever-fun Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth has really changed since we were there last!

Frankenmuth has great gardens!

Then, on the 4th we invited our close friends over, last minute, who also didn't have plans. We just grilled and hung out for a fun little picnic. It was also the first time the boys had met, it was really funny seeing them react to each other. Nicholas loved touching Carson, and Carson just smiled and touched him back.

Hope everyone else had a great fourth!! I love summers!

Picture Crazy

I can't get enough of this cutie pie. My grandma, Dodie, and cousin Jess, and I took him to Sears yesterday to get his first professional pictures. Honestly, they are cute, but I feel that I could have done them on my own. It would have cost WAY LESS than what I ended up spending. So, next time, I am going to have my brother Matt come over and help me get some great shots, for a great price. I can't believe the price of things these days. I probably sound like I am 60 or something, but come on...RANT<>

Well, time to feed the little one. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

A Whole New Life

Our life has been completely flipped upside down! This little man that entered our life nearly four months ago has changed everything! We never knew what life would be like with a child, and now we don't want to know life without him. He makes everything more enjoyable. The mundane exciting. The old new. He has given us this new zest. A new thankfulness. A new joy. All packaged in this little body.

Carson is the best baby anyone could ask for. I can take him on a five hour shopping excursion and he does nothing but smile and sleep on and off. He makes us smile and the people around us smile. I just couldn't imagine a better way for our life to be right now. He is just amazing! Enjoy the pics!! You can find more at photos.walmart.com/groups/carsonmatthew. Enjoy :)

First Mother's Day

Here it is, my first Mother's Day ever. I love that we get this holiday to relax and hang out with our families, and not have to do the work!!

Being a mom has been an amazing experience. Not only because there is this new little boy in our lives but because it has created this tight knit unit, a family. I love interacting with my son, I love seeing his dad interact with him, and I love the three of us hanging out.

Mother's Day came early for me today in the form of a HUMONGOUS bouquet of flowers. I have never seen anything like it! It has white hydrangeas, pink roses, white mums and a pink flower I didn't know the name of- gladiolus, found it on the web. It is truly beautiful. They are from my hubby for my first Mother's Day.

That man never ceases to amaze me, and completely surprise me! Now I have to think of something great for Father's Day!

Back to the Grind

Well, I had to return to work yesterday for the first time in seven weeks. It was a strange change of pace. First, I realize that we, well I really, have to get up significantly earlier. I was running a tad late getting up at 6, so 5:30 is my new alarm setting, blah!! Next, a sleeping baby isn't very easy or pleasant to wake up. Carson is like his father, crabby until fully awake. He will lay in his crib for a half hour stretching, looking around, and yawning. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time in the a.m., so he isn't able to properly wake up. This does not make him happy. By the time he is in the car though, he settles down some.
It wasn't as heart-wrenching as I thought. It was sad to leave, but I didn't cry. The hard part was picking him up and then having to leave a couple of hours later to go to my new kick-boxing class.

• SIDEBAR--Let me just rant about the class...It was the most difficult thing I have ever done! Afterwards I could hardly walk!! I had to have Greg massage my legs!

Back to the topic...When I finally got home, Carson was sleeping. It was a disappointment. I wanted to chill with my baby. So, in the end, work wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. The most difficult part was not spending very much time with him after work. I am very much looking forward to the summer when I can spend lots of time with him!

He Has Risen

Easter has now come and gone. It was a fun time, Carson's first. However, there was a uneasiness to the entire day. There was an unspoken sadness that hung in the air. It was at this time last year that we last saw our grandpa.

It seemed to be the happiest time of his life. His marriage was strong and his love renewed. He was childlike in his faith. He was smiling. He was excited about life. He was chatting about his fishing trip that seemed to be taken right out of the pages of the gospel. He was..my papa.

It definitely was different this year without him. It was obvious we all felt it, but no one said anything. We all just held it in.

Carson's presence seemed to ease some of my grandma's tension. She held him close during dinner, choosing not to eat with the rest of us.

It was a good Easter, however. Because of my savior's sacrifice I know that my papa is in heaven with Jesus. Carson's presence reminded me of how blessed I am. I have a great family. Thank you Lord for the good things in our lives. Those seem to make the hardships not so hard.

Shock and Awe

Now that the initial shock of parenthood has past, things have never been better. However, let me tell you that there is no way to prepare for parenthood. You think you know, but you don't. There is no physical way to prepare for the lack of sleep, the endless crying, and the parental bickering. They should make a boot camp for all couples considering starting a family so you can come close to the shock your system will sustain. That shock, however, is over within a couple of weeks.

Greg and I are five weeks into this roller coaster called parenthood, and things have taken a turn for the better, without a doubt. Instead of being shocked, most of the time I find myself in awe. I am in awe of my ever changing son. He is now over 9 lbs, he rolls over-inconsistently, he is awake and alert more often, he is so curious. Every day brings a new discovery for the three of us. A new noise, a new facial expression, a new movement...and on and on. I am not only in awe of my son, but I find myself in awe of my husband and his relationship with Carson as well. After eight hours of physical labor, Greg scoops up our son and starts to bond. He talks, plays, and just cuddles with him. On a daily basis, my heart swells with love, admiration, and awe.

God has blessed me with this amazing human. So small, perfect, and angelic. God has blessed me with this amazing husband. So loving, sweet, and patient. I couldn't imagine life without the three of us--and Tigger. It just seems so right.

So, I have to apologize if I scared any of you with my stressed out rants. It is just part of the new territory I have encountered. Know that parenthood isn't a cake-walk, but the cliches are true "Having a child changes everything". It changes your relationship, for the better. It changes your heart, I have never felt such love. It changes you. I am excited for everything it has to bring. The good times more than make up for the difficult ones. Like the picture above, the sleepless nights are pale in comparison to the new skills-like smiling. My favorite!!

Sweet

OK I HAD to post this as soon as I took it. He is such a sweet angel when he is sleeping and content :)

Birth Info: 7lbs 13oz, 20 in.

I was in labor for 9 hours. Epidurals didn't take-felt EVERYTHING! It was worth it in the end, though.

Welcome to the World

Here he is..... Carson Matthew DeGlopper. He has come into our lives like a whirlwind and forever changed them. Our hearts have never loved so much, and our eyes have never been so heavy :) They say your lives will change forever, and you cannot imagine how much your life will be changed. Forever. There are so many emotions. Some good, some bad. Being a parent is difficult work, but when I see his peaceful face I know it is all worth it. More pictures will follow, when my internet connection is faster.

Preparedness

I keep thinking about the things we have done to prepare for the coming of our son. We have read books, articles, and websites. We have went to a class-an EIGHT hour class. We have spent lots of money to get everything he needs. We have quizzed other parents to find out about their experience. We have went to numerous doctor visits, even the hospital once. We have toured the hospital facilities. We have packed our bags and have them waiting by the door when the time does come. There has been a significant effort and a huge amount of time put into getting ready for him.

This isn't normal for me. Typically, I procrastinate. I put things off until the very last moment and do them with little to no time to spare. This time, however, I wanted to be ready.

There is one thing even bigger in life that we are supposed to prepare for. Unfortunately, I haven't put one-tenth of the effort into preparing for that as I have preparing for my baby. Jesus, prophets, and countless others preach to prepare for Christ coming, to be ready because you don't know the day or hour.

Like the birth of our child, we don't know the day or hour, but when it comes we are prepared. However, I question whether I am prepared for Christ's return. I often finding myself asking Him not to come, just yet. Give me time, allow me to find the right guy. Allow me to get married. And now, allow me to see my baby. This is wrong, I know it but somehow I just can't utter "Come now!". I know what awaits us is not comparable to any other experience we have ever had here on earth, yet I am unable to put the earthly things aside and to just want God.

Am I the only one, is there anyone else who can relate? Am I the only one who is putting off preparing for Christ's return?

Two more weeks (or three)

Well, the time and hour are quickly approaching when Greg and I will be making that hurried trip to the hospital. I have spent a lot of time wondering when it will happen, how it will happen, and the events that will transpire hours later. I have dreamed of holding my little boy in my arms, but who knows what that will really be like until it happens.

At this point in the pregnancy (just about 38 weeks), I am getting anxious. Anxious to care for another human, to be responsible for his moral upbringing, material needs, support, and love. However, more than anything I just want him to be here. I want to see Greg as a daddy. I want to hold this little life that I have been carrying around for nearly ten months.

I am so excited to make my parents first-time grandparents, my brothers uncles, my granparents great-grandparents, and so on. The family is excited too. I get calls and emails everyday asking about my health and the baby's.

It will be a wonderful day when Carson arrives. God has blessed us. Soon, very soon!

Soon, Very, Soon

Well, here I sit all huge and round at 36 weeks. I can't wait for the next stage to start. As much as anyone loves being pregnant, and I did, it just gets old after nine months of funky things happening to your body. I am ready to see my little boy. I am ready to see my toes. I am ready to walk unlike a penguin--newest thing I have had to encounter.

The room is ready too. We had two more showers this week, and I honestly don't think there is one thing that is left on our registry. Our friends and family have been so generous. We are truly blessed.

So that's about it. I will update when the little one decides to grace us with his presence. Keep praying for a beautiful, healthy boy. Can't wait!!

Family Time

Its funny how when you are expecting a child you start to reflect on the kind of parent you want to be. You start to think about the fond memories of your childhood and how you can incorporate those activities into the life of your little one.

My favorite memories include: all three kids piling into a bed with my dad to read a book--the best was The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe!, I remember always eating dinner at the table as a family, I remember Friday nights eating pizza and watching TGIF, I remember our yearly camping trips (mom and the Japanese-need I say more?). All of those little moments seemed to shape who I am today. They gave me a great sense of love, loyalty, and belonging. I want my child to feel and experience those things too.

The question is how. Recently, as of Tuesday, Greg and I started eating home cooked meals at the dining room table (with real plates, mom :). We pray, talk, and clean up together. For three days now (WOW!!), we have cooked, eaten together, and cleaned together. It is a record (for those of you who know us well, know that we often order out, eat in front of the TV and don't do dishes for weeks). Just this little thing has made me feel closer to my husband. And this little thing will give my child a sense of belonging, love, and responsibility. That is one way.

Something else that I would love to do is read a book each night with both parents and our son. This will show him how important he is to us, and hopefully give him a love for reading.

More than anything I pray that our son knows his parents love him like both Greg and I do. I pray he is respectful, responsible, loving, and dependable. I hope to show him these things through my actions. I know I won't be all of these things all the time, but hopefully he will only remember the times we were.

Thanks to my parents for taking the time to spend with us even if it was just a family night watching TGIF :) Please know that every little thing you did made me a better person.

(The picture is the nursery as of a couple of days ago. Now we have ALL the furniture put together and in place. We plan on going to buy all the accessories this weekend. FUN!)

Well, he is gone. Matt, my brother (the older of my two younger brothers). He decided, in a whirlwind, that he was moving out to California for the winter and going to work and stay at a ski resort called Mammoth Mountain. It was really awkward to say good-bye yesterday. I have such mixed emotions about him leaving.

One part of me says, "He is young, not tied down, why not?" "Maybe he will have a good time then come home like he is supposed to in April." "Maybe he will meet a girl, fall in love, and they will move back here."

However, another part of me hates that he is gone. It is not like I saw him every day or talked to him every night, but we are still close. He calls me for advice sometimes and then in other instances I give him unsolicited advice-which he loves. We always laugh and tease and just have fun. This other part of me is saying "He is going to miss Christmas. He won't be here to meet his new nephew. He is abandoning us." OR "Maybe he will never come back. Maybe this is where he is going to live for years." Even though I really know this is just the selfish part of me. He isn't abandoning us. He is following his dream.

I pray that God is watching over him. That Matt is able to make good decisions and have fun at the same time. I pray that he is safe, not stupid, on the huge snowboard runs and in the terrain parks. I pray that my brother returns in one piece. RETURNS being the emphasized word.

I am already missing him, just knowing that he is thousands of miles away.

DOA

So I have come to the conclusion that blogs are kind of dead. I haven't had many visitors, and many others are not updating very often. Is the virtual world's appeal dying down? Maybe. I hope that instead, people are seeking out real people to talk to. Even better would be that others are turning to God instead of the faceless internet identities.
It was nice, though, just spilling. Since I didn't have a face to many people either, it did feel good once in awhile to empty myself. However, I think too many people are getting caught up in telling unknown persons instead of finding a real person to confide in. That is what your husband/boyfriend is for. That is what your parent(s) are for. That is what your best friend is for. We are hiding when we only tell the computer world our issues and then pretend to the real world that we don't have any. EVERYONE DOES!!
So instead of posting all the time I will be talking to my husband, dad, and friends. I will be praying. I hope you do the same!

Relationships

A while ago, I got a call at 6:30 a.m. It was my husband, who was supposed to be on his way to work. He had a flat, and the tire iron he needed was in the garage. I had to haul my soaking butt, fresh out of the shower, to the garage and then to the express way. It wasn't a big deal, he would have done the same for me. This situation got me thinking, though.
I love that God has blessed me with someone in my life that I can rely on. Not only that, but he is the one that I look forward to seeing to spill my guts about my day. I hold in my tears until I see him and he so gently wipes them up for me. It is just an amazing feeling to have this one person mean so much. What is also wonderful is that he can depend on me the same way I depend on him.
This baby is just kind of an expression of our love. It was the one way that you can tell the world that you want to be together forever. I am so blessed to be carrying a baby that we both had a part in making. I am so excited about sharing a family and seeing him interact with this little boy. God has been so good to us!
I thought that maybe the love would fade as the years go on, but you see couples that have been married for fifty plus years that are in more love than they have ever been. How wonderful! I am so glad that God allows us to share our lives with a special person here on earth.
Sorry about all the mushy stuff :)

Blue, Blue, Blue

I would like to introduce our little boy, due February 25th, Carson Matthew DeGlopper. Greg and I found out last night, after a painful ultrasound, that we are expecting a little baby boy. The ultrasound was only painful because I had to pee so bad :)

Currently I am 18 weeks. I haven't felt him move yet, but should soon. He was non-stop during the ultrasound, so we know he is moving around lots in there. I go Friday to my doctor for my 18 week appointment. As we find out more, I will post. Until then please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray that Carson will grow well and be delivered safely. But most importantly, that Carson will grow in the love and grace of Jesus. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

HOLY COW!!

That title is not referring to me, it is referring to the quick way that time is passing. I am already 18 weeks along, and today is the day that Greg and I find out if this little bundle of joy is a girl or a boy.
I have to officially stop going to the bathroom at 2:10pm, then I have to drink 24 oz of fluids in 30 minutes, and then I have to hold it all until after the ultrasound! Oh Lord, I hope I can. Hopefully I don't pee on the table :)
So here goes nothing. I will post the results tomorrow. OH GOODNESS!! I am just so excited to see which sex God has chosen to bless us with.