SKYPE

We went out last night and finally bought a new webcam! We signed up for a skype account online (its free) If anyone else has a webcam and is interested in having video conferencing, please sign up for an account with Skype as well! We are hoping this will be another way of helping us feel a bit closer to ya'll after Kennedy has arrived!
9 MORE DAYS!!!

Only 11more days!

It has been confirmed, Monday, June 9th at 6am, We will head to Summerville Medical Center and start the induction of our little miracle! I have one more appointment with Dr. Orr on Tuesday June 3rd just to make sure we don't need to go in any sooner than that! I think it has finally sunk in with both of us, that we will be parents in just over a week! I am finishing going through the 4th box of clothes this week and making sure everything is neat, clean and completely organized...Can we say nesting??? I think I am officially driving Kendal crazy! I never knew how long 11 days could seem! Although I have been told by quite a few, that after the 10th poopy diaper, and multiple 2 am feedings, I'll probably being begging for those 11 days back! Have a great Thursday Everyone! Oh, and don't want to forget... HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY TO THE WORLD'S BEST BROTHER-IN-LAW!! WE LOVE YA JARED!

Some of the picture files were too big, hence why Kendal is cut out of some of them...I have to figure out how to re-size them! Bear with me!

"Grandma's Get Ready"


Doctor Update:
We went to the doctor this morning! We found out I tested positive for Group B bacterica. The group B streptococcus bacteria is usually harmless in healthy adults, but it can cause a relatively rare but very serious infection in newborns. Between 10-30 percent of pregnant woman carry the bacteria, but with proper treatment during labor the risk to the baby is very small! I will be put on an antibiotic during labor to ensure everything will be okay! I gained three more pounds, NOT HAPPY! Doc measured my belly and said "Oh Carrie, this is no small baby...we're going to have to induce you honey!" So... we looked at the calender and as of right now, we will be induced on Monday, June 9th (10 days before my birthday) We are waiting for confirmation from the hospital that there will be a room available for us! Pretty nerve racking... Only 12 more days! We got back our belly pictures last night... we think they turned out pretty well! Hope you all enjoy them!!!
Let the Countdown begin!

We hope everyone had a terrific memorial day weekend! Kendal & I sure stayed busy! Friday evening we went to dinner with a handful of some really great friends! Saturday we spent the entire day out on the river, Sunday was a day full of shopping! And Monday we headed out to the beach! It was a beautiful weekend and we couldn't have asked for more!
This morning I met w/ Shannon, Keith & the kids for breakfast and then sent them off with a tearful goodbye to the airport! Shannon made sure to slip me a bag of malley's chocolate from her trip to Cleveland, so I'd have something to cheer up with! And so far...its working! haha!
We go to the doctor again tomorrow morning, so I will have an update for everyone when we get home! We're praying I'll at least be a centimeter this time! I don't know how much more of this I can take, I even slept in the spare bedroom last night because otherwise I keep Kendal up all night flipping and flopping around~ Keep your fingers crossed everyone!

"Friendship is like peeing on yourself, everyone can see it; but only you get the warm feeling it brings"


Against the advice of our doctor and the begging and pleading of my mother, Kendal and I loaded up the car at 9am yesterday morning and headed out to the river with about 25 of our friends! After about an hour of packing the coolers, blowing up rafts, and dragging everything to the water we finally "set sail" We had a pretty bad storm roll through the night before, so with all of the rain, the water was pretty high and moving quite fast! The sun was in and out all day and the temperature of the water was comparable to a glass of ice. Of course everyone around me was staying warm by chugging beer after beer, doing shots of tequila, and peeing in the water one right after the other (which I suppose when you are drunk is quite funny) I on the other hand just sailed on, nice and quiet, keeping to myself and trying not to wiggle too much, in hopes that the cold water wouldn't splash up higher than my waist! We had been in the water for about two hours when the alcohol began to catch up with Kendal. Being nine months pregnant and 100% sober I didn't find him or the others around us too comical. We still had about two more hours of floating, and I had just about enough. So I floated the rest of the trip in silence and when I finally saw the end I was so relieved I could have cried! Kendal drug me to the shore, deflated the rafts and I disappeared to the car as fast as possible. It took about 40 minutes to drive home, we unpacked the car, jumped in the shower and past out until about 8:30pm. I'm pretty sure I would have rather remembered river floating from summers past, when splashing and tipping each other was fun, the sun was hot and the water warm but in typical K&C hard headed-ness, we didn't listen to the advice of anyone! But I'm pretty sure Kendal enjoyed the first half of the trip and got in probably his last float of the year, since daddy-hood will take priority this summer!
Hope everyone has a super Sunday:-)

"Men are like parking spots, the good ones are taken, and the free ones are handicapped"


I found myself going through some of our pictures yesterday afternoon and couldn't help but laugh hysterically when I came across a few from not too long ago. In a previous post I told you all about Kendal and his co-workers and how ridiculous they can be at times. Well, I found a few pictures that I just have to share with everyone. Like I said before, our group gets together every weekend to play games and relaxes after a hectic week. All of the ladies usually bring the same snack every time because otherwise the boys complain when their favorite is missing. Danielle brings buffalo chicken dip, Dez brings salsa or quacamole (but we haven't had quacamole in 9 months because Kendal eats so much of it, it permiates his skin for days and I can't stand the smell, so Dez is under strict orders to only make salsa for right now) Tara brings homemade conqueso dip and because I don't cook, I always bring a fruit tray w fruit dip that the boys refer to as "Crack dip"
Well, we typically make the dip prior to going to the get togethers but on this particular evening, we bought the stuff to make the dip on the way there and I planned on whipping it up once we got there. However, Dez' hand mixer was a battery operated one and the batteries were dead! So how else will we whip up the "Crack dip?" Leave it to the group of genius men we married to find the solution. I will allow the pictures to do the explaining as to what they decided to do! But it worked great, and no one had to go with out their pineapples and fluff! LOL! Have a great weekend everyone~

I realized that I had told everyone that Kendal and I had a doctors appointment on Tuesday but I never wrote an update as to how things went. And since I keep getting phone calls for "baby updates" I'll just go ahead and write it out. As usual, doc came in and made comments about my weight, I am up 51 lbs since the beginning of all of this and am expected to gain about 3-4 more! We talked some more about my carpel tunnel that I have acquired and what kind of splint I needed to get to keep my hands from going completely numb and also about the swelling in my legs and feet. No more watermelon from here on out, apparently it has a lot of salt in it and that could be a main reason for the swelling. I haven't dialated any centimeters yet, so Kennedy needs a bit longer to bake! We measured my belly and doc called our baby "a fatty" She is estimated to weigh about 8lbs right now. Then we talked about whether it was a good idea for me to join in on the infamous river floating trip that is happening Saturday. We explained that I was just going to sit on a raft and drink lots of gatorade and an umbrella to shade me. She had never heard of this floating thing and seemed a bit leary. She wasn't concerned about he water or the heat she was more concerned about me falling in the water and no one being able help me and my big fat belly back into my raft! She doesn't feel it would be a good idea but Kendal and I are still considering it! I guess we'll have to wait until Sundays post to find out what we decided! Well, I hope that helps ya'll feel a bit more updated! I will try to do a better job of this for the next 2 weeks! Have a good one everybody!

"I'm going where there is dignity and grace, I'm going to Charleston, Sc"
-Rhett Butler


I know, I know, I know, I'm behind! But as I wrote in my last blog Kendal and I had some out of town guests with us the last two days and we stayed VERY busy! Lindsay, Lauren and Glenna got to Charleston about 2pm on Tuesday afternoon! We immediately headed out for the beach! It was a windy day but that didn't stop us. We set up our chairs and towels and went running for the water like little girls! It was a bit cold at first but we jumped right in! We played in the water, collected some sea shells and layed out in the sand! Afterwards, we headed for the board walk and got some ice cream and then walked the street and visited all of the little gift shops! We came home around 5:30 and waited for Kendal to get home from work! Then we went to my FAVORITE Japanese steak house, KOBE! We had a hilarious chef and the food was excellent! The girls tried Sake for the very first time! I have to admit, although I don't drink, I was a bit jealous because Sake is the one beverage I LOVE to indulge in! But they enjoyed singing the ridiculous song that the entire restaurant sings whenever you do a shot and having the chef fling shrimp in the air and having them try to catch it in their mouths! It was the most fun we had ever had at the steakhouse, considering Kendal and I are bi-weekly visitors!
Today, Kendal had to go into work so it was just a girls day! After I finally got the ladies moving this morning we drove into downtown Charleston! We couldn't have hoped for a better day! It was beautiful out! We walked for a good 3 and a half hours all over town! I was their personal tour guide for the day! We visited Waterfront park, the old town market and plenty of historical buildings! The girls couldn't stop talking about how beautiful the town was and how much fun they were having! At one point Glenna told me she now understands why I never wanted to come back to Cleveland after living in a place like this! We live 25 minutes from the Ocean with palm trees rounding every corner and enough history and ghost stories to keep me entertained for years to come! She reminded me how wonderful my husband is and how blessed I am to be living such a dream! I couldn't help but get a tear in my eye, because it couldn't be more true! Dreams really do come true!
I had a great time these past few days, thanks for coming down to see us "Bestfriends" I love you all so much!

"Just another LAZY Monday"

Not too much to talk about today! Imagine that...Carrie having a lack of something to talk about! I am getting ready for my very best friends who I've known for about 19 years, Lindsay and Lauren and their mother, Glenna who are coming in from out of town tomorrow morning. They will be staying with us for two days and I am so excited to have one last final girls day before little miss Kennedy gets here! I'm sure we will produce some great memories just as we always do!
We have a doctors appointment tomorrow morning as well. We will be visiting Dr. Orr once a week from here on out! Only 21 more days... Yes I have a countdown! And for those of you who are awaiting those belly pictures I promise they are coming. Our photographer got lost yesterday on his way to our shoot, so we had to re-schedule until Wednesday evening! I promise as soon as we get them~ I will post them! Have a great week everyone!

"Friends are one of the most important ingredients in the recipe of life!"


My apologies for not writing yesterday. As usual, Kendal and I have had quite a busy weekend! Typically on Friday & Saturday evenings we can be found sitting around with a group of Kendal's co-workers and their families playing Cranium, Taboo, or poker, snacking on munchies, and just enjoying each others company! We feel very fortunate to have such a great group of friends and a "family" away from home. The men of the group are hilarious together. If one of them try something, they all have to try it. This month a couple of the guys started riding their bicycles to work and wouldn't you know it, now they ALL have bicycles to ride to work on. However, the road from our homes to the Air Force Base does not have a side walk nor a bike lane and it tends to have quite a bit of fast flowing traffic on it! It also has a lot of overgrown foliage which makes it tough for the guys to ride because they get whipped in the face and arms with tree branches! I have to share this story with everyone because it makes all of us laugh hysterically! For those of you who don't know... my husband is a problem solver at heart! When something bothers him enough he will spend hours, sometimes days, researching the issue just so he can formulate a solution. Well, I think he had just about enough of those tree branches last week that in typical Kendal fashion he set out to fix the problem. He told me he was heading out for a quick ride and wouldn't be long. After about an hour and a half had gone by, I began to worry and finally he called home. I asked him if everything was okay and his reply was..."I didn't realize how many trees and bushes there were out here, but I'll be home soon!" I was confused and asked him what he was talking about. And then he informed me that he took his pruning shears with him and biked up to the road where the guys were having a tough time riding. He had been standing on the side of this busy road trimming back the bushes. He came home after about 2 hours with blisters all over his hands but felt successful w/ his efforts. Even his shop superintendent made a funny comment to me that he will have to consider putting that on Kendal's EPR (evaluation) for community service points because now the boys have a clear path to ride on.
As for the women of the group, we are a lot less interesting. We spend our time together talking about houses, babies, and gossiping about our husbands. We just found out another one of us is pregnant and we can't wait for all our little bundles of joy to get here!!
We hope you all have a relaxing Sunday!!!

" May your days be filled with sunshine, cool drinks, and sand between your toes"


Well beach season has officially begun! The weather has been absolutely beautiful around town ranging from 75-85 degrees in the afternoons! Living 25 minutes from the ocean and having Palm trees rounding every corner is such a dream come true! Nothing makes me smile more than the smell of the sea and sound of those waves! Long ago Kendal & I vowed we would never take for granted the beauty of our surroundings in Charleston and we would visit the sand as often as possible!
We were lucky enough to visit The Isle of Palms (our local beach) twice this week! This afternoon Kendal and I were both off so we headed to the water! We went to one of our favorite little hole in the wall restaurants, The Banana Cabana! Which is where we went for our very first date! We sat at the same table and ordered the same things we always do!! After lunch, we grabbed our beach chairs and towels and plopped down in the sand! We were only out there for about two hours and I came home nice and crispy, while Kendal lucked out with simply rosy cheeks! It was a beautiful day and a great way for Kendal and I to spend one of our final Friday's as a "single" couple!!! We can't wait for everyone to come and visit and share in the beauty that surrounds us!! Enjoy the weekend everyone:-)

"Where you find true friendship, you find true love"


Today is a tough day for me personally. I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. It has finally hit me that one of my closest and dearest friends (more like my sister) is leaving us. Let me back up about two years.
For those of you who don't know how Kendal and I met, let me fill you in. My friend Shannon and I have known each other since elementary school. We were cheerleaders together for a little over 7 years! Shortly after graduation, Shannon married her high school sweetheart, Keith, who had just enlisted in the USAF, and they were stationed in Charleston, Sc. Shannon became pregnant with in months of being married and I was heartbroken that she lived so far away. Eliana Marie was born in July of 2004, and then Kylie Elizabeth came in December of 2005... I instantly became Auntie Carrie! Shannon and I used to joke around about me moving closer to them and how fun it would be. However, anyone who knew me, would tell you I would be a resident of my hometown until my dying day!
Time went on, we became the kind of friends that would talk over the phone from time to time, wrote letters, and sent pictures. One afternoon I received a phone call, Keith had just gotten word, he would be leaving for 6-7 months for Iraq. Eliana was 14 months old and Kylie was 4 months old. I only hesitated for about a day, when I decided to call my parents and let them know I had plans to pack up and start over somewhere new. It took about two months to finish up the lease on my apartment, finish out at my jobs, and hit the road. I packed what I could into my car, sold what I couldn't and drove south. I had planned on staying with Shannon to help her however I could but only until Keith made it home, and then I planned on moving back to Ohio. Now for the best part~
As everyone predicted after about two weeks the excitement had worn off and I found myself thinking, "what am I doing here, I can't do this, I just want to go home" Only an hour later, I truly believe fate stepped in! I had a new friend request from a local military man on the website, myspace. I ignored him at first but something pulled me back. Long story short, after about a week and a half of phone tag and trying to avoid his phone calls, that "military man" picked me up and took me on a blind date. His name was KENDAL! (who would have guessed, lol) And the rest is history! Two years later I am married to the most intelligent, gentle, brave and loving man I have ever met (other than my daddy, lol) We are due to have our first child in just 3-4 weeks and in a way, I feel I owe a large part of my happiness to the friend who made it all possible.

Shannon and Keith are in Ohio right now making their final visits with family. They are moving in just one week to the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal for the next two years. Being military families you become used to the idea of friends coming and going, thats just the name of the game. But these friends, or shall I say, extended family, is especially hard to say goodbye to. If it weren't for them, I don't know that Kendal and I would have ever crossed paths or I would have ever experienced such love and happiness in my life.
I'm sorry todays blog was so long winded, but I just had to find a way to let both of them know how much Kendal and I love them and will miss them and also how greatful we truly are for their friendship! We love you all very much and wish you all the best in your next adventure! Its not goodbye, just ta-ta for now!

Nursery Time!

"A baby fills a place in your heart you never knew was empty"

On Friday April 25th My parents drove from Cleveland, Ohio to our home down south, to transport all of the remaining baby shower gifts that Kendal and I could not fit in our suit cases when we were there back in February! Poor Dad! The Car was full from side to side and all the way to the ceiling with (what mom & I think are) " baby necessities" Dad and Kendal on the other hand would rather call it "unnecessary gadgets women think they must have!" Either way, I was so thrilled that my parents and my necessary equipment had finally arrived! We went to a great restaurant on the water Friday evening. Saturday afternoon was far from exciting in my opinion but the folks did a great job pretending they didn't mind sitting in the worst 3 & a half hour traffic jam ever to go to the Charleston Air Show! After sitting in the car for another hour and sometime on our way home from the air show, we headed downtown to the Charleston Riverdogs baseball game! Growing up in Cleveland, baseball was a huge part of our summer activities, so I knew Mom & Dad would enjoy singing take me out to the ball game and eating hotdogs at the stadium! After "playing" all weekend, we decided to get down to business on Sunday morning. Mom washed all of the walls in the future baby room as Dad and Kendal prepared to put up the wallpaper border! Then it was time for the boys to bring out their power tools and start putting some furniture together! Mom and I took that opportunity to do what the Peck women do best and we jumped in the car and went shopping for a few hours! Late that evening the nursery of my dreams had finally all come together! Her room looks absolutely adorable, her drawers and closet are full of baby clothes and blankets, and her bassinet is all set up and ready in our bedroom! I can't believe (and neither can Kendal) that I can honestly say, there is nothing else I want to go shopping for or buy at this time...All we need now is our darling daughter to get here and fill in the holes! BIG thanks to my folks for all of the hard work they put in that weekend! We couldn't have done it without you and we appreciate it so much! Hope everyone enjoys the pictures!

May 13th 2008

So I have been thinking about starting a blog page for quite sometime now and have finally decided better late than never. With all of the upcoming events and exciting changes in our life we thought we owed it to our family and friends to find a better way of keeping everyone updated rather than vague text messages and myspace. It will also be nice to have, kind of, a diary of our daily life for our own memories! We also hope this will help the grandma's feel a bit closer to the newest addition to the family in the next month! We know it is just as hard for ya'll as it is for us to be so far away!!
We went for our forth ultrasound today and our little booger wouldn't take her hand off of her face. Stubborn and dramatic just like her mommy (so says Kendal anyway, lol) Kennedy is right on schedule, weighing an estimated 6lbs to date and finally moved out of the breech position! All systems are a go! Only 30 more days!