The Last Bottle Update

I just wanted everyone to know that this is the last bottle update because Carson has officially taken a bottle! We decided that it would be best for us to start pushing for me to go back to work. So, Dave gave him a father's blessing this past Sunday and we went out of sight. We stayed at my parent's house, but we went downstairs and waited out of sight. He drank it when he became really hungry, but he would only drink my milk. We tried again when we came home from my parents and didn't have any luck, so I nursed him before he went to bed and he drank a lot. He was happy that he got to drink from something familiar. So, today I went to turn in my application at Utah Surgical Center and then I went to get Dave and go get something to eat on his lunch break. My mom started to feed him some Similac, which didn't make him break out since we weren't using a Playtex bottle, and he wouldn't take it. Then he got really hungry and drank the whole 4 ounces. He did really well. Then, later on, my dad fed him a bottle and he drank 6 ounces! He is latching on really well now and drinking formula! I don't like having to teach him how to eat a bottle so I can go back to work, but I am glad that I don't have to be home or somewhere where I have to go hide and feed him. I am so excited to be able to get a full 8 hours of sleep! I deserve one!! I want to thank Heavenly Father for helping us because that is the whole reason why Carson got on a bottle in the first place. I see the Lord's hand in many things now that we have Carson. He has helped us with all of our prayers and concerns we have had with him. I am thankful for Dave's faith and giving him the blessing when my mom and I asked him to. He's a great dad! We are so proud of our little boy. He has so much patience and he has the sweetest spirit! We have a video of Carson on YouTube.com. He is laughing at Dave while playing peek-a-boo. Just type in "pajama peek-a-boo" and you can look at it! Dave can make him laugh a lot more than I can. I put it on there so extended family and friends can look at it.

Rice Cereal

The past couple of nights, we have been introducing a little bit of rice cereal to Carson. I decided that was how I would top him off at night. I will feed him and then an hour later give him a little bit of cereal. It worked because he slept 8 hours. This was the third night we gave it to him and he seems like he is starting to understand a little better what to do with the white, tasteless mush. He really didn't like it the first night we gave it to him. He was only sleeping 4 hours each night, so that is what made us decide it was time for him to move on. That and me wanting to not have to nurse as much. He does seem to get a little hungrier sooner too. Plus, my sister in law said that is how she found out that her boys needed something a little more substantial. I put 5 drops of Karo syrup in it tonight so it would be a little sweeter like breast milk. He seemed to eat more of it. Pretty soon I will replace one of his meals a day with it and see how he does. We hope like crazy he'll like it more than a bottle. I can't believe he is already at this stage. He is growing up so fast!

More Fun

I didn't know that having a baby would be so hard, yet so rewarding. Carson is getting more fun as he gets older. He is starting to talk a lot. He is so cute. Instead of waking up and crying in the morning for his breakfast, he just lays there in his crib and talks. It's so funny. I delay going and picking him up because his cooing gets louder and louder for me to hear as I wait. He then gets frustrated and then will screech, but yet he doesn't cry. He is starting to rub his eyes when he gets tired as well. That is also another new thing that he does. I say"ahh" every time he does. He really likes his exersaucer as well. He gets so excited when he finds a new toy he can move on to. My parents bought him a jumperoo for Christmas. Of coarse we have already have set it up, but they are keeping it at their house until Christmas. It's so fun to see him shriek in delight when he sees the lights, then shrieks when he sees something else, then shrieks again when he sees the lights again and shrieks again at something else. He waves his arms when he gets really excited. He is such a joy to have in our home. Another cute thing he does is when he yawns, I will pretend to yawn with him and he will start to smile or laugh and not finish his yawn. He responds to peek a boo really well. He is also starting to suck his thumb really well. He would do it once and a while, but he is just going for his thumb now. fHe is really strong. He still needs a little support and he can't sit up very long by himself. He does remind me a lot of my nephew Jackson because he was so strong. We are happy to have another voice in this house besides mom and dads!

Christmas Decorations

Dave and I have spent the past 2 days getting our Christmas decorations up. Someone reading this would ask, "how in the heck could it take two days to put up decorations?". My answer to that is Dave. He started deep cleaning and organizing papers that we've had on our computer desk forever. Stuff that all needed to be done, but it sure put a few extra hours onto our decorating adventure. Carson, as always, takes a little of my time out of my day due to feedings. This is our finished work. Dave and I both decided we hated our tree topper. He still doesn't believe me when I say I bought the cheapest one to make him happy. It's not bad, but it's really dull. Carson loves to look at the lights. I am glad he is small enough so we won't have to worry about things getting pulled off just yet. It was a fun family night of watching Chuck and finishing decorating for Christmas.

What's New With The Parks

What can I say, there's not a whole lot going on with our little family, but I just thought I would write about something other than Carson. As Thanksgiving break is coming to an end, we are slowly getting out our Christmas decorations. It's been nice to have Dave home these past few days. It gets pretty lonely for me sometimes. It's really weird that it's already Christmas time again. December 4, 2006 was the day we found out we were having Carson. I can't believe that was almost a year ago. Carson will be 4 and a half months when Christmas arrives. Time is flying by so fast. Anyway, putting up the tree is something both Dave and I dread. We wish we had a pre-lit tree. It would save a lot of frustration and foul language, but when it's up, it's a lot of fun to decorate and have during the holiday season. I like the lights. We already have our village, snowman nativity, snowman tea light holders, and ceramic snowmen up. Plus a few wall hangers. I guess you could say I like snowman decorations. We still need to get stockings and lights up, but we'll do that when we do the tree. Enough of decorations. Dave and I are almost done Christmas shopping for each other. We have a couple more things for Carson and stocking stuffers, then we'll be done with our little family. We still need to do our families then we will be completely finished. I hope we can finish soon. Dave is almost done with the semester! We are both really excited because he graduates in May! I am so proud of him and his hard work. It will be a relief to the both of us that he is done with school. He has a second interview with the Marketing department at USANA on the 29th of this month. I wish him luck! We hope he gets the job! If not, he still has his job and at least he tried! I was supposed to go back to work on the 27th of this month, but Carson is still not on a bottle. My boss Lali, bless her heart, is giving me a 2 month extension onto my maternity leave in case Carson decides never to get on a bottle. I am grateful I don't have that time limit hanging over my head, but financially I need to go back. I would also like some freedom as well. Carson eats every 3 hours, starting from the time that he eats, so basically it's every 2 and a half hours for me...yuck. I wish I would extend the time, but it's hard when he's so hungry. I can't believe he is 3 months and 13 days old and he weighs 16 pounds! He's a big boy...thick is more like it. He has a blocked tear duct that got a little bit of bacteria in it, but he has eye drops that seem to be working. Our lease ends in February, so we have no idea what we want to do or where we would move if we didn't want to sign here again. I really don't want to move yet, but we have to when Carson turns one! It would also be nice not to share a room with Carson anymore. It's hard because we disturb him so easily and he does the same. We have been looking at this book Peggy and Randy found us with some hud homes in it and thought we'd try to look at a few. I highly doubt we want to buy a house right now, considering I am not working. It would be nice to look though. What else can I say? We are keeping busy with Carson and both Dave and I yawn like crazy. Dave is actually asleep on my shoulder right now. I think that I should be doing the same!

Brain Washing

I think the title explains it all! He is such a cute little Utah man!

Thanksgiving

I am doing this blog a little early because I am sure next week will be a little hectic. I just wanted to say what I am grateful for. I have been having a hard time at night falling asleep, so this month I have been thinking about things I am grateful for to help me fall asleep. So, I thought would share some of those things. I am so grateful, first of all, for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am grateful for His atoning sacrifice for me and my family. I am grateful for the prayers that have been answered lately in my life. The night before I had Carson I got on my knees and prayed so hard saying I was discouraged...okay...ready for this baby to come. I told Heavenly Father I was stubborn and to give me a big sign that I was actually in labor because I had gone in twice for false labor. Once was after a 22 hour shift I had at work. Well, sure enough at 3 in the morning, my water broke. Then when Carson was born, every test they performed, I silently prayed to myself that everything would be okay. Everything has been okay and I am grateful for it. I am grateful for my two boys! Dave is so sweet and always asks me if there is anything he can do for me or get me. He's always thinking of others. I am grateful for Carson. I am grateful he is not on a bottle so I don't have to go back to work as soon. Just kidding Dave. I want him to get on a bottle as much as you do. I am grateful for his little personality. He is so happy. No matter what. That is an example to me because it makes me want to be like him. He always puts a smile on my face and occasionally a tear in my eye with how much love I feel for him. I am grateful for my family. Every member!! I know I have been a little agitated with little things that bother me with Carson, but I do love you guys. Be patient. He is my first and I'll start to relax soon, I hope. I am grateful for Dave's family, especially for my mother and sister-in-laws who are all so helpful when it I have a question about Carson. You all have been so patient with me as well. I am grateful for my friends. They are all so sweet and come to visit me often...thanks to Carson. I am grateful for Dave's job and the people he works with. He loves supporting our little family thanks to the wonderful company and people he works for. They have been so nice to me too! I am grateful for food, a roof over my head, and warmth. Anyway, I think that is enough, especially if someone is reading this. I just thought that writing the things I am grateful for would help me to feel the spirit of thanksgiving a little more.

Bottle Training Update

This has been very challenging for the Park family! On Sunday, the 11th we gave Carson a bottle. It was a Playtex Natural Shape bottle with Parent's Choice formula. It was the Lactose-Free kind. He broke out in this horrible rash around his mouth. It spread up to his ears and down his neck. Of coarse I called my sister-in-law Kirstin first because I wanted to ask an experienced mom and I knew she would give me an honest answer. She told me to call the pediatrician on call, so I did. She said to stop using the formula. Luckily the rash went away about an hour later. She asked if there were spots inside his mouth and there wasn't any. We tried it again on Monday night. We gave him Similac and the Playtex Natural Shape bottle. He broke out again. So, I went to Wal-Mart and got the Soothie brand bottle. I called Carson's pediatrician and he said to try Soy. So, we tried the Soy that Kirstin gave us again, but we didn't use the Playtex bottle. He didn't break out, but he still wouldn't take it. I think that is our best bet when it comes to Carson getting a rash. I need to start pumping and using my milk to help him get on a bottle instead of trying formula. I am so blessed that my boss at work is letting me extend my maternity leave until this bottle conquest is well underhand. I am extending another two months in case he never takes one. I hope I don't need longer than that. I haven't signed any papers, so I might consider 3 months. But, if he gets onto a bottle, I will call my boss and I will start the following week. Oh, and Carson has had really bad green eye goop coming from his left eye. It just started to get really bad the past two days so I have to take him to the doctor a.s.a.p. Poor thing...it's one thing after another, but he's all smiles!

45 Degree Angle

I can't believe how fast Carson is growing and developing. He's laughing, he's tracking, and he wants to sit or stand up. Not to mention, suck everything that he can get his hands on. He can now lift his head at a 45 degree angle. I feel bad because I don't put him on his stomach as much as I would like considering he just lays there and spits up tons of food. He can look up at more for a couple of seconds at a 90 degree angle, but that's about it. I sit him in his bebe pod chair. He'll sit in there and I will put toys in front of him to track and to grab. He is so cute! I am still amazed as always about how fast he is growing.

3 Months Old

I can't believe Carson is 3 months old now! It seems like he's been a member of our family for much longer than that. But that is not a bad thing! Days and nights are a bit longer now. He is so fun! We love him so much!

Our 3rd Year Anniversary

I can't believe that Dave and I have been married for 3 years now. It has gone by so fast, but yet I can't remember life without him. I also feel that way about Carson. Carson is 3 months old today! 3 months on our 3 year anniversary! Since our Anniversary is on a Sunday this year, Dave took me to lunch. We were supposed to go to The Cheesecake Factory, but we went at 3:30 and it was a 3 hour wait, so we went to Macaroni Grill, which is one of my favorite restaurants anyway. We only had enough time in between feeding Carson, so that is all we really had time to do. We are going to exchange gifts later on today. I will have to hurry and do another little blog about what we gave eachother. I can't believe how much we have accomplished in our lives these past 3 years. Having a baby I feel was our biggest event. I have graduated from my Surgical Tech. program and he is almost done. We've gone to New York, hiked the Narrows and gone camping in Moab and lots of different places. I'm glad we got to enjoy some time and travelling before the baby came. Now the mushy part. Anyone who is reading this can stop here if they'd like. I'm so in love with Dave. He is such a good person and he has wonderful intentions. I think I keep on falling more in love with him the more I am married to him. I feel bad he has to put up with me. Ever since Carson was born, I've been a little bit more on the moody side. I am so grateful he keeps me in line. He is a great example to me and to Carson. He's very hard working and everyone can depend on him if someone needs help. He has supported everyone in everything they do, including me. He understands me better than anyone I know. I am so grateful to be his wife. He is a wonderful husband and father! Okay, enough of the mushy stuff and onto something fun! Here are some of my favorite pictures that Andrew took of us at our wedding. I love them because he caught natural poses. Don't kill me Kirstin, but I love these pictures! I can't believe how cute and small Jackson and Macey were! So so cute!!

I love this one because we have the real one and one from the side! Thanks Andrew for the great photos!

This one is cute because it caught me crinkling my nose at Dave.

We are so happy here! We still are!

Jackson is so cute there!You two look so adorable! It's so fun to see how little he was when we got married!

I can't believe how cute and little Macey was! Well, still is at 3 and a half years!

I just wanted everyone to know that Dave got me this beautiful Sapphire necklace with a sterling silver chain to go with it for our Anniversary! I gave him some framed photos of us with Carson and a mouse pad with Carson's picture on it. I also gave him a new wedding ring. As you all know, he lost his other one.

Bottle Training Update

Well, I guess we have learned a very important lesson in parenting. Never try to teach a baby how to bottle feed when he is sick! It has been really hard, but we have gotten a lot of answers from our friends, family and medical professionals about how to do it. So, when we try to bottle feed him when he gets better, we'll know quite a few tricks. I have tried many formulas and now I have bought an assortment of bottles as well. I hope something works! I really feel that Carson being sick is a huge factor. I feel bad for trying to push a bottle on him when all he wants is his mommy right now. I also feel bad I didn't keep giving him a bottle along the way. I just felt so bad about the formula making him sick that I didn't dare try it again for a while. I did try it a few days after and he wouldn't take it, but he was extremely hungry, so we'll see. I called the Lactation Specialist and she said she has heard of more success stories with Playtex Natural Shape and Soothie bottles, so I bought the Playtex one and soon will buy the Soothie one if the Playtex doesn't work. I have been given some excellent advice, so I am thankful for all of you that have helped. We are anxious to find out what works.

Carson's First Cold

Poor Carson. On the 3rd of November, he started to get his first cold. He slept a lot that day and Dave and I had no idea why. That night he woke us up every hour crying. We couldn't really figure it out until we could hear him snorting. Dave grabbed his rocker/vibrating chair and put him in it. He slept really well for a couple of hours. I stayed home with him that Sunday morning while Dave went to church and taught our primary class. Then, my sore throat came. Carson and I both spent Monday and Tuesday in bed. We bought a humidifier, which I think has helped incredibly well. I think it has helped both Dave and me. I felt really discouraged trying to keep up the apartment and take care of Carson with little sleep with me being sick. I worry too much over this kid, but the next one I'll know what to do and feel a lot better. He slept a lot, which was nice, but I needed some help. Dave being the awesome husband that he is stayed home on Wednesday and helped clean things up and take care of Carson while I relaxed. He even took me out just so I could get out of the apartment that I hadn't left in 3 days. Now Dave is a little under the weather, but he's doing good! He didn't get it as bad as we did. I feel horrible because we've been trying to put Carson on a bottle and I didn't know that when babies are sick you shouldn't try to change old habits. It came to mind after lots of praying, but then I asked Kirstin and she helped confirm it. I knew he just wanted his mommy and daddy, and wanted nothing to change for the time being. So, we are waiting to push the issue when he is feeling better next week. I thought about how I tried putting him on a bottle a month ago, a few days after his vomiting experience with formula, and he didn't take it. Everyone who reads this, please pray for us. I go back to work on the 27th of November and I don't want my baby to starve! In my blogs I always feel that I have to tell about the picture I put on it. I have to explain this one because he is smiling. He doesn't look sick or isn't acting sick, but he is. He has had a smile on his face the whole time. This is one of many pictures I have of him this week and he is smiling in almost every one. This one was our favorite. He is such a fun boy, even with a cold! We've been giving him lots of hugs, love and kisses. We are grateful to have his rocker, swaddle blanket, and humidifier to help him while mom and dad catch some shut eye!

Bottle Training

I decided to do an update on how Carson's "bottle training" is going. I made a mistake today and pumped everything I had. When I went to feed him with the bottle, he wouldn't take it. It's strange because he used to take a bottle all of the time when I would pump. I think that going a month and a half without pumping or using a bottle, he must be used to nursing. I thought for sure he would just take my milk today, but he didn't. I think it may be the bottle. I have tried regular Enflamil and Enflamil Soy that Kirstin gave me. Oh, Kirstin, tell Jackson I was careful not to spill any on the counter. He is so cute! Anyway, I have also tried Parent's Choice Lactose-Free since he gets sick when I eat or drink dairy products. I have also tried Similac. I don't know if it's possible to try anything else. I read online about a bottle called First Years. It has helped babies learn how to breastfeed. I think I will try that one. I hope he gets on a bottle soon. I go back to work November 27...sadly. I would continue to nurse if I was staying home. This definitely has been a challenge.

My First Seat

My mom bought this cute chair for Carson so he can learn how to sit up. It is so much fun! He loves it. I have had a lot of girls in my ward tell me how much they loved theirs. I am so excited that he has one. I think that he will enjoy it. The Bumbo chair ws recalled because it didn't have that yellow thing in the front, so babies were falling out of it. I bought the Bebe Pod, which is not on the recall list. Who would leave their baby unattended in one of these anyway? Hopefully he'll be sitting up in no time!