chop and change

After much deliberation (why is everyone's schedule so crazy!?!? ...What? Not everyone is tied to their house by two young kids, a full-time job, and running their own business!? People are VACATIONING this summer!?!? ...jerks) we have decided to bless Carter on Sunday, August 1st in the Idaho Falls 4th Ward. I am scrambling to get some pictures taken of the bebe to send out a birth announcement. Wish me luck.

So... It's embarrassing story time. But, first, some background:
I have been getting tired of the sideways glances that I get every time I tell someone Carter's name. It goes something like this. "Aww! Cute baby! What's it's name?" (Peeve: SHE IS IN A PINK BLANKIE. I'm pretty sure that if you just went right ahead and assumed that she was a girl that you'd most-likely be right. But way to err on the side of caution.)
"Her name is Carter."
"...Oh. Wow. I love that name. (Audible Inner Monologue [okay, I can't actually hear it, but it's written all over their face]: For a boy.)

And if you think I'm being paranoid, when my own grandmother heard what we were naming Carter the phone went really quiet for a few looong seconds, then she said, "Oh. That's interesting ...I know a little boy named Carter. What about Carlie?" I am not kidding.

Anyway, here's where the embarrassing part comes in. I did not come up with trying to single-handedly change the gender orientation for this name. I promise. I actually heard it on a movie last summer before I was pregnant with Carter. Avery and I watched a lot of Disney Channel back then, and one lonely Friday night a made-for-TV movie came on called Princess Protection Program. I would like to blame the fact that we watched the whole thing on my princess-obsessed toddler, but, sadly, I had the remote. And I'm pretty sure about 5 minutes in she started playing with her toys on the floor.

So... yeah. Selena Gomez's character's name was Carter. And Selena Gomez is a girl. I thought it was so cute (Not the movie; that was pretty dumb. The name... and Selena. She's gorgeous. ...Man. Have you ever realized that you're a tad bit jealous of a twelve year old and sort of wanted to veer into oncoming traffic?... but that's beside the point) that I remember telling Klayton about it that night. And I've wanted to name this baby Carter ever since we found out "it" was a "she". Sorry if you still think I'm a lunatic. Honestly, if you didn't think that before reading this post then I don't see why further proof would tip the scale.

Still, it took us a couple of days to definitely decide on Carter. K wasn't convinced and, really, believe it or not babies have such distinct personalities when they come out. We wanted to get to know her a bit and make sure she is a Carter. I'm glad we did. The name absolutely fits her, I think. The craziest part is that after my c-section, K and I were holding our new baby and debating about names, trying to throw some other options out there. Well, we were also flipping through TV channels and guess what was playing on the Disney Channel?! No joke, not one hour after Carter was born, while we were discussing names, the same silly movie was on.

Do you believe in fate?

suck fest

Oh dear... I have never seen one of these parody movies before, but I juuust might have to check this one out.

éclipse totale

I'm all alone at home with my girls now... well, unless you count Klayton, which is hard to do because he's always working. :) This is going to be a great summer! In a couple of weeks we head to Vegas for a few days to meet our friends, the Hourdiers, who are flying in from France to spend a month here! I love these guys soooo much. They hooked us up big time when we were in France and they are pretty much some of the nicest people I have ever met.

I can't wait to see them again and make sure their trip here is as wonderful as ours was there. We are going to have tons of fun and I'm going to practice my French on the girls by making sure that they are all Team Edward (they have all become big-time Twilight fans since I last saw them), as every sane person is. I expect they will practice their English telling me how every good pre-teen girl is Team Jacob because his six-pack is better (I wonder how you say "six-pack" in French. Note to self: must look that up) than Edward's. I should get a lot of mileage in that argument, though, by using the phrase "chien puant" (smelly dog).

heavy in your arms

Life with Carter has been pure bliss so far! Avery is a great big sister and my family have all come up to help at one point or another. My Grandma Clark leaves us tomorrow night (after being here for 10 days cooking and doing laundry and dishes and helping me potty train Avery! She is amazing), so we'll see how I handle things on my own after she goes. I'm a bit nervous, but we'll figure it out! Carter has had a few follow up visits and blood tests and has now been pronounced good to go! No more doctor appointments than normal from here on out! She is two weeks old and already 6 lbs 9 oz!! I'm not used to a baby who grows normally! haha At this rate she will definitely pass Avery in size by the time she's two!

My parents flew to England this morning where my little sister, Mallory, is set to have her baby any moment now! She also graduates from college on Wednesday! She is Super Woman! I wish I could be there with her. She is naming her little boy Giles (I call him Sir Giles) and I can't wait to see him. He's going to be a proper British baby in knickers and nappies and what-not.