He's here!

Our chubby little man (Dray Kendrick Crandall) has finally arrived! He was born October 31st at Banner Gateway hospital. He weighs 10 lbs. 4 oz. and is 22 inches long. More info. to come soon!

Baby update

So, just a little update: I am still pregnant. I guess that reading my former post aloud to the baby didn't do the trick. Also, neither do really long walks, spicy foods, or any other natural induction techniques. For those of you who have gone over your due date and have a special inducing method, please let me know.
My OB GYN (who I really like and is a great Dr. - thanks for the recommendation Emily and Jenn) told me that the baby is getting pretty huge and that I need to be induced this week. She tried to schedule me into the hospital tomorrow, but all of the time slots were full and the next available time is Sunday night. So, I'll be induced Sunday at 9 p.m. unless I go into labor before then (fingers crossed.) I feel really blessed that everything has gone well so far and that I get to meet this little guy soon.
It has been fun getting ready for Halloween these last couple of weeks. All of our decorations are out and we're stocked up on candy. Our ward Trunk-or-Treat was last Saturday. I have to say, for as many kids as we have in our primary, a lot of people handed out the good stuff like Reeses and Hershey's bars (yes, I raided Alan and Ellie's candy buckets). We carved our pumkin a little early this year and it's rotting in a squishy orange pile on the porch, but it will soon be replaced by a plug-in jack-o-lantern. The kids are really excited about all of the school activities coming up and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.
There are some really over-the-top houses in our neighborhood this year. One yard has a mad scientist whose brain pops out every few seconds along with about 70 other full-size creatures set up around the lawn, complete with strobe lights, a grave yard and sound effects. I bet they have really good candy.
Hope everyone is having a great week!

Letter to Baby

Dear baby in my belly,
I woke up today and decided that I am really ready for you to come out of there now. I realize it is probably really warm and cozy in there and that you are used to the soothing, steady heartbeat sound, but I bought you some warm and cozy swaddling blankets and we have a swing for you that makes heartbeat sounds, so I think you’ll be okay with things on the outside. I know you hear some scary noises out here sometimes. That is just Daddy’s ‘80s music and Ellie and Alan occasionally fighting. You will get used to them both.

I just wanted to let you know that I’m excited to meet you and really love you a lot, even though in your sonogram picture you look like an alien. I can promise that no matter what you look like or how much you dirty your diapers or cry, I will always love you. So really, it would be great if you came out now.

Some people tell me that I should get rest now before you are born and that the longer you wait to come out, the more sleep I can get and preparations I can make. I understand that I won’t be getting much sleep after you’re born. Your brother and sister didn’t get a good night’s rest (and neither did your Dad and I) for years after they were born, so I know firsthand that once you come, the long, bleary-eyed nights begin. But really, I am so huge and uncomfortable, that those nights have already begun. I don’t blame you for the kicks in the ribs at 3 a.m. Space is getting tight in there and you need to stretch. I also don’t blame you for the twelve or so trips to the bathroom that I make each night and for the time, effort, and discomfort that it takes to roll over in bed. Those are just things that happen during late pregnancy. I just wanted to let you assure you that I’m not getting much sleep anyway, so it’s okay to come out.

Also, I have three shirts and two pairs of pants left that fit. Every week my pile of wearable clothes has gotten smaller and smaller. I think you might be a fairly big baby. My belly button is sticking out so far that it looks like a miniature, upside-down sugar cone. A lady at the store even encouraged me to tape it down the other day (“You know, you can tape that thing down with a band-aid so it doesn’t poke out so far,” she said.) I’m sorry that my protruding belly button offended her so, but for now, I think I’ll just leave it be. So, I have reasons to think that you might be over 9 pounds like Ellie was (ouch), but even if you are, I love you a lot and am ready for you to come out.

Your big brother and sister especially want to meet you. They are always asking me in obvious disappointment why I didn’t have you yet. They are getting kind of annoyed with me I think. You will really like them when you meet them. Your brother loves babies and will especially love you. Your sister told me that she will always love our pet hamster more than you, but that’s because she hasn’t met you yet. I think it might kind of be a jealousy thing and also the hamster does have a really cute face

So, your official due date is in a couple of days, but you don’t have to wait until then to come out. Really. We all want to see your face and hold you and snuggle with you. So, see you soon?

Love,
Your Momma

Ellie's Pumpkin

I just had to post a photo of the pumpkin Ellie decorated on Monday night. It makes me laugh every time I walk by it. Maybe it's the chompie teeth, excited expression, or wide eyes, but to me it's like an orange version of Ellie with a stem (minus the thick, wavy hair.)
It's so fun to see what kids come up with sometimes! I think that's what I miss most about teaching art classes - seeing the children's finished creations and then watching their smiles when they show them off. (:

A Fun Fall F.H.E.

For Family Home Evening this week we went to Mother Nature Farm in Gilbert. We picked and decorated pumpkins, enjoyed a sunset hay ride, fed farm animals, and found our way through a hay maze. Ellie and Alan also had fun jumping in the big bounce house and just playing around on the farm in general. We'd never been to Mother Nature Farms before, but found that it was a fun place to spend the evening. It's not as fancy as Shnepf Farms, but it's half the price and not as crowded. Definitely a fun family activity!

Huge-gantic

The other day Ellie told me that I was am getting "huge-gantic." I definately have to agree with that one. I can't believe that I'm almost 38 weeks! The baby hasn't dropped and I haven't progressed at all, so I think I might make it to my due date or beyond (it runs in the family.) The little ninja in my belly is extremely active (waaay more than Alan and Ellie were.) Ribs, bladder, and other innards are being wildly punched and kicked at all hours of the day and night. Though it hurts, the crazy kicks are a reminder that he is healthy and they are reassuring.

We watched the movie "Little Princess" yesterday. It's always been one of my favorite books. There are a lot of sad things that happen to the main character, Sarah Crew, but in the end good prevails and Sarah finds a happy life. During one of the sad parts Alan put his head under a pilllow and re-emerged with tears in his eyes. I assured him that everything would be okay and that the bad things that happened to her only made her stronger. At the end, when everything worked out, he stood up, danced around, and flapped his arms happily.

One of the reasons that Alan is so dear to me is because of his sensitivity to others. He is the first to get teary-eyed during a movie or upon hearing of the misfortune or sadness of those around him. He loves babies and animals especially, and is the first to defend the underdog or someone being picked on. He can't stand to see Ellie get in trouble and stands up for her on almost every occasion.

When I walk them to school in the morning, he walks Ellie to the Kindergarten playground and tries (sometimes unsuccesfully) to give her a big hug before they part. His teacher says that he is very kind and considerate in the classroom as well. I feel so blessed everyday that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with such a sweet son. It makes me especially look forward to meeting the baby boy who will be arriving soon to our family.

Costume Prep

Being that Halloween in just a few weeks away and the baby is due soon, we thought we'd put our costumes together before things get too hectic. So, after much contemplation, Alan and Ellie decided on Indy and Cleo. They tried on their costumes tonight and got into character big time. Alan fiercely whipped everything in site and Ellie did a lot of edgy Egyptian moves. I'll definately need to hide the costumes so they don't get tired of them before the big night out trick-or-treating.

I have to say I'm looking forward to seeing photos of everyone's cute kids in their costumes after Halloween!