Carl's New Wheels

 

Happy New Year Everyone!!

A visit to Santa's Village in Fargo

Carl wanted nothing to do with Santa, but Abe didn't mind

sitting on his lap!

L&M Cookies

Here are John and Carl making their L&M cookies!  You might think they look like M&M's but Carl is convinced they are L&M's....  I think it all started a few months ago when John and Carl went shopping at L&M's Fleet Supply in Detroit Lakes.  Carl loves this store because it has tractors, lawn mowers, toys and sometimes even some live baby chicks.  Well, John bought him some M&M's at the checkout.  That was Carl's first experience with M&M's.  So M&M's candy at L&M's store...  I would get them mixed up too!

Birthday Buddies

                                                                          Here is a picture of Abe and Sara, with Sara's mom Kim.  Our babies were born on the same day!  Too bad we weren't at the same hospital.  Look at how sweet they are sleeping so soundly.  Pretty soon they will be running around and causing trouble like their big brothers!

Abe

Abe is amazing and we love him like crazy!  Carl calls him "Abe the Babe" and is always concerned about where he is and what he is doing.  Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from the hospital.  In the first one Carl is putting his toy tow truck into Abe's hand.

Baby is Here!

Abe Alexander was born Monday November 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am.

His birth weight was 8lbs, 15oz. and he is 19.5 inches long.

Everything went very smoothly and baby Abe is an absolute joy!

baby update

I had my final doctor appointment today!  Baby's heartrate was 138 beats/minute. 

Due to some scheduling conflicts at the hospital, my c-section will now be on Monday Nov. 23rd at noon.  It's hard to wait 3 extra days, but it may be the best for baby to get a little extra time in the womb if he needs it.  Can't wait until Monday!!

Video

Carl gets a little crazy pushing the stroller.  I think we'll hold off for awhile on letting him push his little brother!  Click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qloeGcL67U

Trimming the Tree

 We decided to put up our Christmas tree a little early this year, before the baby arrives!

Carl loved helping!

Carl Quotes

"I gotta go outside and do a project"  (What happened to "Mom, can I go outside and play?!!")

"Mama, I'm gonna go ask Dad if I can watch Tom & Jerry!"   (also, "I'm gonna go ask Dad if I can have a cookie!")  So Carl has figured out which parent is more likely to say yes, I just wonder when he will figure out that it's best to skip telling Mom first and just go right to Dad!

Me: "Carl why are you dumping out Mama's can of pop?" (luckily we were outside)

Carl:  "I didn't... the wind knocked it over!" (as I watch him pour out the last few drops)


While riding in the car, "There's a T, there's another T, there's another T, etc"  I realized he was pointing out each telephone pole that we drove by.  At the time I didn't know that he knew the letter T, but sure enough when we got home I showed him some letters and he knew the letter T!! 

Other favorites:

"I'm am"

Mow the "lawm"

Counting to 10 but always missing the number 7.

Raimins (for raisins)

"Toya and Tatwats" (the dogs, Sequoyah and Sasquatch)

"Mama Mia and John-Dad" (what he calls his parents)

"There's NORBAZ" (Every time we drive past Zorbaz in Perham.  We have only eaten there twice but I guess it made a big impression!)

I'll be adding  to this list as I think of more quotes.  I have to get them written down now before I forget them!

Baby Update

I went to the doctor again today.  I go in every week now.  I am showing no signs of going into labor soon, which is good because that would mess up our planned C-section on the 20th.  My surgery will be around 1:30 pm that day (next Friday) so think of us around that time!

Baby Update

I had another doctor appointment today.  Everything is still going very well.  The baby's heartrate was 144 beats/minute.  I was finally able to get my H1N1 vaccine.  In fact, my clinic was expecting a shipment of 20 doses first thing this morning so I waited around after my appointment until they arrived.  I figured it might be awhile before they get another shipment!!  We also confirmed the c-section date...  it's now officially scheduled for Friday Nov. 20th!!  That is 2 weeks from tomorrow.  Woohoo & Yikes, that is right around the corner!  See you very soon Baby Koch!

Halloween pics

Carl went trick-or-treating at about 5 houses on John's old street in Richfield.

He was excited but a little scared and wanted to be carried up to each door.

Going up to Grandpa Arn's house

Enjoying some of his loot!

Then it was on to Grandma & Grandpa Tell's house.  He wasn't scared here, he kind of forgot the trick-or-treat process and just barged right in!

We wanted to take him to a few houses in Katy's old neighborhood, but Carl was more interested in helping Grandma pass out the candy!

BATMAN!

We've been talking about Halloween at our house for the past couple of weeks and trying to get Carl excited about it, but for some reason he doesn't want to wear a costume or go trick-or-treating.  We looked at costumes several times together and he said "no" to every single one.  So finally I just bought him a Batman suit so that he would have something to wear IF he suddenly was willing to dress up.

Well, this morning Carl went to a birthday party for his little friend Yasmin.  Since her birthday falls so close to Halloween they decided to make it a costume party.  Carl would NOT put on his costume at home, so I just brought it with us.  Once we were at the party and he saw the other kids dressed up, he was completely willing to become BATMAN and wore his costume for the whole time!  (He still wasn't thrilled about the mask though.)  Here are the pics.

In front of the Giant Slide

Max was Batman too!

All the kids

Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin

Eating Cupcakes!

 

Baby Update

I had my 34 week doctor appointment today.  The baby's heartrate was 153 beats/minute, probably because I went in the afternoon when he starts to get more active.  The average baby at this point weighs 4.75 pounds and is almost 18 inches long - he is growing quickly!  We can't wait for his arrival!

Bedtime

Carl is usually good about going to bed, as long as he can pick out a few toys to bring with him.  Most kids would probably choose to bring stuffed animals or something cuddly, but Carl loves his tractors and dump trucks!!  Here he is tonight - he can barely fit into his bed after collecting all of his favorites!

More Duluth photos

 We took a boat ride on Lake Superior (or Lake Gitche Gumee as it is more fun to say with Carl)  Carl loved being out on the water and watching all the big ships.

 

 

 

Duluth Trip

We spent this past weekend in Duluth, MN.  It was chilly but a beautiful time of year to visit.  Probably our last get-away for awhile since baby #2's due date is quickly approaching!  These photos are from Gooseberry Falls.

 

BABY UPDATE

I saw the doctor today for my 32 week appt.  (I am technically 32 weeks & 4 days today)  Everything is going extremely well.  Baby's heartbeat was 129 beats/minute which is on the low side but he hadn't been moving much all morning.  He is much more active at night.  Baby should weigh approx. 3.75 pounds and be about 16.7 inches long at this point.  We go back for another check-up in 2 weeks!

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting our NEW family blog!!!  We hope to keep you all posted on baby news as well as Carl updates and of course lots of photos.  Check back often : )