New Pictures of "OUR LITTLE PEANUT"

We are weeks away from walking as well as the 11 month mark. He is growing up so fast. I weighed him on the scale yesterday- - -19.2lbs. He has come a long way from 6 lb 7 oz. newborn to a 19lb almost 11 month old. I hate how quickly my little peanut is growing up. He is such a joy, as Chris said to me at dinner tonight..."I am so glad he's ours". I too am glad he is ours while in mortality as well as the eternities to some. He's stuck with us.

Long Hard Week

It's been a long and busy week between Carter's tooth finally coming threw, Chris finishing up the semester with projects, exams, study groups and little sleep with me working 5 busy days we are ALL tired.

We spent the weekend with my brother Jon and his wonderful wife Becca. They just moved back from Rexburg (Jon graduated from BYU-I) and are now living in Columbus Ohio-just 3 short hours away. We had a great time playing cards, looking like idiots playing the Wii, and laughing at one another. Carter enjoyed playing with uncle Jon and aunt Becca. He would laugh whenever Jon said "Apple!" in his strange voice. We weren't sure what it was abuot the word "apple" but Carter would belly-laugh every time he said the word. We sure are glad they live closer. We have missed them.

The weather has been beautiful here lately...the high 70's all week. We even got out our summer clothes this week and Carter wore shorts. He definitely is a warm weather kid. I caught a glimpse of what I am in for this summer. We stepped outside to walk my mom to her car and then walked back inside, only for Cartre to quickly let me know he was not done outside yet. He just loves being outside, going on walks in the stroller and playing in the grass.

I am attaching some pictures from this week. The one of Chris w/ Carter was after a long day wih moommy. He was not feeling well and was exhausted. This is how he finally crashed while watching ESPN w/ daddy.

Carter sure does love to fall asleep for his daddy. Carter also was climbing in his basket that same day. He looked so cute I couldn't resist a picture. Here is my monkey in the basket. I played around with the photo a little bit.

Swimming lessons are going well to update you. We had to miss this week because I had to work yesterday, but the past two weeks have gone great. He loves the water and I am getting the hang of wrestling a naked baby in a dirty locker room. Carter sure does love the water and if he had the choice, would stay naked all the time. After baths it is extremely difficult to convince him he needs be get clothes on. This week we had him in his froggie towel w/ the hood and he was crawling all around the house w/ the hood still attached. Crazy boy.

It is Sunday night with another busy week ahead of us. Chris has some more "end-of-semester" stuff to finish up and I am working 4 days and throwing a bridal shower on Saturday. Carter's schedule if pretty packed too...play...eat..play...sleep...and play some more. He keeps us on our toes but we love every moment of it. He is the joy of our lives and we can't remember what we did before he came along. I am so grateful for my two boys...Chris is just the guy for me and makes me happy everyday I am with him.

What a Beautiful Day

The sun is shining it's supposed to be in the 70's again and I am off of work at home w/ my little man. We have swimming lessons again today. Last night, Carter got in Papa Edward's hot tub and had the time of his life. He watched his cousin Brady swim like a fish and belly laughed till I think his cheeks hurt. There is nothing better than hearing him belly laugh...I just love it. The weather has been beautiful and Carter has loved being outside, he just laughs everytime we go from the house to the car. I think he is a warm weather child like his mom and dad.

Chris came home from the MSU Football Alumi Association Golf outing a little red in the face. Yup, first time the white skin has seen sunlight since last summer. He spent the day on the golf course while I saw sickies at the hospital. Hmmmmm...not exactly the same. Today we will not see him most of the day either. Today is the Green and White/Spring game and Youth Clinic. I think he has to be there starting at 8:30am and who knows when he will be done. We miss Dad when he's not here. Carter had a moment on Wednesday when Chris same home for a short time only to rush off to Mutual for church. Chris started walking towards the door and opened the door and Carter had a melt down. He missed his daddy.

My brother Jon and his wife Becca moved back to Ohio from Rexburg and they came up for the weekend. We are excited to spend some time with them today. Right after swimming lessons we are headed to my parents. Carter will love seeing them again. We are just sad Chris can't come. Also it is my parents anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

So I don't have a new camera yet, but I took a few photos w/ the old one for now and am just getting around to posting them. This will have to work until I buy a new one.

My mom and I made and sold 350 wedding cake sugar cookies for a wedding. It was a lot of work, but paid for Carter's big boy car seat. These cookies are so yummy.Carter used to sit still for picture time, now you can forget it. He is a busy boy and wanting to start walking. Yesterday he was trying to let go of my hands to walk on his own. I know he thinks he can do it, but not quite yet.
Chris and I used to play a lot of Scrabble when we first got married in Boston. That was our Sunday night activity. So we got it out the other night and dusted it off...I won't tell you who won, you can see that for yourself if you look closely.

With warm weather coming also comes garage sales. I love garage sales and can hardly wait to get out there. If only I could take the summer off like I had last year for maternity leave and Garage sale Thursday to Saturday. I love it when I can find a deal. I keep you posted on the deals I find this season.

BUSY BOY = TIRED MOM

Since I have really slacked on the journal writing since Carter came into our lives, I am trying to keep up w/ this blogging thing. It is Sunday, and I used to think it was a day of rest...take a nice afternoon nap...have a good meal, etc. No such luck. We have church from 11am-2pm, so it is right in between two major daily events...Carters morning nap and Lunch. Sundays always throw him off. So I spent most of church wrestling mu busy boy. He was very happy as he got in a good nap before church, but he wants to move and get into everything. He had me hopping in Relief Society. He makes me smile, especially when he looks at me and gives me his BIG "chipped tooth" grin while trying to rip the pages out of the hymn book. I am not sure what I learned at church today, it is hard to pay extra close attention, but I was glad to be there.

Well, swimming lessons yesterday were a hit. We got right in the water and he was right at home. He started clapping and layed on his back. He even went under several times while we sang all those silly songs. He had a great time when it was time to learn how to use the wall and climb out. He gripped those little monkey toes to the wall and used his elbows and was able to get out on his own. The best part of the whole experience was trying to get him dressed and me dressed without him crawling around on a grimey wet locker room floor. I was unsuccessful. I got him dressed and sat him on a dry spot. He was too nosey and had to wander over to the next locker over where the woman was naked and trying to get dressed herself. By the time I looked up he was between her legs. That boy is quick and I was embarressed. We need to come up w/ a post swimming dressing plan, cause waht I did on Saturday did not work AT ALL. After I finally was dressed and had him in his carrier, he was sound asleep before I even made it to the car. He was so sleepy. We had a great time together.

So I have not updated photos recently...my new camera broke. I am working on getting a new one. New pics of Carter in his swimming suit will have tp wait another week.

Chris has been super busy w/ school work. End of the semester is always busy. Lots of project work, papers, exams and late nights. We miss him, but we understand I have been super busy w/ work as well. I started covering the open heart unit as well as the pediatric, cardiac and surgical units. Plus trying to pump twice everyday...I have been a bit overwhelmed lately. I am hoping things will get better SOON.

UPDATE ON SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT:
- - -He was doing so well even through the "cutting teeth" stage. Sleeping from 8pm-4:30am. Then he went back to his old ways. Waking up at midnight...3 or 4 am. Last night was the worst...he woke up almost every 2 hrs. I don't know what was going on, but I was EXHAUSTED.
----So...we recommitted ourselves this evening, if he wakes up before 5 am and there is nothing visibly wrong and no poopy pants...then we just go in his room...let him know we are here and give him back his pacifier and say good night. He went down at 6:45 pm...already woke up at 8:24 pm crying. I went in and let him know things were OK, he reached out to taked him out of the crib, I resisted and just said good night and gave him his pacifier...walked out of the room. Five minutes went by and Chris went back in to reasure him. Another 5 minutes and he had fallen fast asleep. We will see how it goes. This mom needs a full nights rest.

More pics to come...I will have lots when I get a new camera.

10 Months Old...and busy as ever!

Carter turned 10 months old on Monday April 7th. It is so hard to believe he is getting so big. Well, we made it through the teeth...OK so only one popped up on the bottom to join the other 2 he already has. That makes the grand total of 7 BIG TEETH. I see the pair to the one he just got, but it is not quite ready to come out. Carter has discovered how to use those teeth...I am nursing...so I know. He also will bite my shirt or pretty much anything he gets his mouth on. Other things Carter has discovered:

-HOW TO STAND UP TO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING (CHAIRS, COMPUTER DESK, DRESSERS, STOOLS, BOXES, ETC)

- HE HAS A VOICE...YELLS WHEN HE IS EXCITED, SAYS "MAMA", "DADA", "BABA", AND "GAGA"....IS STILL GROWLING ON A REGULAR BASIS...STILL BLOWING BUBBLES AND MAKING FART NOISES...AND OF COURSE IS CRYING LOUDER WHEN HE IS NOT HAPPY. (the lady in the condo next door stopped me the other day to say..."i knew he must be getting bigger, because I heard him this morning!"...I felt bad)

- HE CAN PULL ANYTHING CLOSE INTO HIS CRIB WITH HIM. (Chris got him up one morning only to find a bumper pad folded up as a pillow in bed with him. It was near his crib, and he had grabbed the string through the slats and pulled it right in!)

-HE LOVES THE TUB AND WANTS TO SIT UP LIKE A BIG KID...NO MORE LAYING DOWN.

-HE DOESN'T LIKE HAVING HIS DIAPER CHANGED AND CRAWLS AWAY EVERY TIME.

-HE SHAKES HIS HEAD "NO" WHEN YOU DO MIMICKING, WAVES "BYE-BYE", PLAYS PATTY-CAKE, GIVES "FIVE", GIVES THE SWEETEST KISSES TO ANYONE WHEN ASKED, AND SHRUGGS HIS SHOULDERS AND GIVES YOU A CHEESY SMILE!

He is discovering new things everyday and so am I. Nothing makes me happier than being with my gigglng happy little boy. We are starting "mommy-baby" swimming classes this Saturday. I can't wait. I feel so blessed.