Carter {9 months}

At 9 months Carter is full of personality!  He usually has a big cheesy grin for us that brightens anyones mood!  Usually in the mornings-if he doesn't wake up crying-he's just laying there with paci in mouth and as soon as he sees me starts kicking away!

He's still a little guy.  Daddy can hardly stand it that he still wears some 3 month clothes!  We throw in a few 6 month clothes too!  His little tush is still in size 2 diapers!  We just are getting more bang for the buck there! ;o)  He checks in at 15 lbs. and 5 oz. and 25 inches!

And just to prove he's got some chub on him (in case you didn't see the last post)...

He still scoots around on his back some; although, he loves to sit and if we come back after a little while he usually has scooted himself into a different direction and not quite at the same place he was plopped down in.  Carter loves his brother still and Riley loves him (we'll see how long that lasts--probably just until he starts getting into his things!).  No crawling yet.   He loves to bounce up and down when he's sitting there (I'm thinking that's how he scoots himself around) and occasionaly will bounce himself over to his tummy.  And he's finally allowed us to see him roll from tummy to back--multiple times!  Going the other direction is still a bit iffy.

He loves to grab our faces and give us 'kisses.'  They are pretty wet and you have to watch out for those teeth!  Those bottom 2 teeth are sharp and the top 2 are not too far from showing their stuff either!  Thus, everything goes into his mouth, which is why a lot of the time it's plugged with a paci!  When it's not plugged and there happens to be nothing in there he can babble with the best of them.  He says 'mamamama' and 'dadadadada.'

He's starting to eat some table food and loves Cheerios!  Hasn't had too much of a complaint with anything...yet!  Seems to love the carbs (must take after mama!) and loves muffins and banana bread--and even pancakes!

He makes us all laugh and we wouldn't trade him for the world!   

Summer Fun

It's been getting hot around here.  Not really much different than Kansas-just not so much humidity!

So, in light of the heat, we've been doing a little swimming.  Nothing major...just a backyard kiddy pool, but it's seems to be a hit!  Carter doesn't do a whole lot, but Riley loves it.   Can't think of a better way to cool off then a dip in the pool!  As much as you can 'dip' in a kiddy pool! ;o)

Oh to be '3'

Riley loves to play outside....IF you're out there with him!  When we're out there it's usually to play catch or basketball or have races to the balls we throw.  Usually if Dad or Mom misses a basket he tells us, "That's why you need to start practicing!"  Oh, if only he knew how much time both Dad and Mom have spent in the gym!  And, of course, Daddy has to make sure we get the right technique down when we run the ball back.  You gotta tuck it in!

He figured out a new "game" too.  Throw the ball on the roof and try to catch it when it comes down.  We're still working on the catching part!

He also loves to do puzzles.  We usually have to help him even though he doesn't need it.  So our "helping" usually is one of us sitting on the floor beside him and watching.   This time he decided to make himself a little line of pillows to lay on while working on puzzles.  Sometimes it's amazing what they come up with!  And, typically while working on said puzzles he's always saying, "Oh, my back hurts!"  Where he ever got that I don't know!

Nice smile, right?! 

Carter {8 months}

So, I realize it's been awhile since I've posted.  Not much going on around here.  Quite boring actually.  We just got back from a vacation--if you can even call it that.  I spent the most time with Carter in our whole 5 days of being gone.  Riley got some quality time with Papa and Nana and Bret got to play with his friends.  Me?  I got to spend time with Carter in the hotel room and actually got a little scrapbooking done.  I think I made the tiniest little dent in my scrapbooking.  I am WAY behind!  I'm almost finished with Riley's second year (haven't completed his first) and only just begun on Carter's 8 months of life.  Someday maybe I'll catch up!

All that to say...Carter IS 8 months old!  Can't believe it!  I know I say that every month, but 1 year is approaching faster than I anticipated.

At 8 months Carter has 2 teeth, which popped through the SAME time!  And I believe he's working on more.  He still loves to put everything in his mouth and clamp down.  Sometimes it's with a little grin as he's clamping down on whatever may be in there!  I think it is safe to say that he is sleeping through the night once again!  Yay!! 

Every time we're out and about I think there is AT LEAST one person who comments on his size.  Many people ask "oh, what is he like 3-4 months old?"  to which I just laugh and say "nope, he's 8 months!"  And then the "oh he's' so little" comments usually start flowing.  He does have rolls though!  Just because you're little doesn't mean you don't have rolls on your thighs!  He's still wearing 3 month clothes and breaking into the 6 month range. 

He's not too fond of being on his tummy--except when he's sleeping. Sometimes at nap/night time he'll roll himself over to his back and wake himself up--then he's not fond of being on his back!  Go figure!!  This whole rolling over thing is just now starting to happen more frequently. I think he's finally figured out what he's doing!  If we could get him to roll from his back to his tummy we'd be golden!

This past month he has really started loving his paci.  Mom and Dad love it too!  Keeps him quiet when he decides it's fun to screech at high pitches!

Carter loves his brother!  Riley comes in from wherever and Carter will flash him a grin.  Riley loves to tickle him and loves to have Carter "take him down."  Riley will sit behind him on the floor and pull him back onto him.  Carter just usually grins and Riley will sit him back up and do it again!  Riley is super excited for Carter to be big enough so that they both can take Daddy down!

Carter {7 months}

Seven months old!

 At 7 months Carter is...

-sitting up (still a little tipsy)
-getting his first tooth (maybe more!)
-mostly sleeps through the night
-has found his LOUD voice
-eats cereal, sweet potato, squash, and carrots (and don't forgot those yummy puffs!)

-thinks his brother is funny and doesn't care if he is basically squashing him
-chews on EVERYTHING

We love you sweet Carter!

The Canyon

Last weekend we had some visitors!  Ryan and Lindsay came to visit and it was a lot of fun!

On Saturday we decided to take a little trip to the canyon...and I don't mean the Grand Canyon...that would have been quite the drive!  About 20 miles to the south of where we are is Palo Duro Canyon.  It's the 2nd largest canyon in the U.S. (next to the Grand Canyon, obviously).  The Canyon is about 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and a max depth of more than 800 feet.   Compared to the Grand Canyon at 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 6000 feet deep.  It was pretty impressive.

Driving out there all you see is ranch land.  Flat as flat can be and then...boom!  All of the sudden, there's the canyon!  We didn't drive too far into the park.  There are numerous hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping spots.  We chose to take a 1.5 mile trail (one way) since we were hiking with a 3 year old! 

Our view from where we started hiking.

Riley and Lindsay checking out the cactus.

We didn't quite make it all the way to the end of the trail.  We decided what was at the end of trail wasn't that interesting to see, which is kind of unfortunate because we were less than a 1/2 mile from the end.  Oh well!  It was a good thing we turned around because Riley was pretty tuckered out by the time we got back to the trail head.  He had to be carried some of the way back.  But, other than that, he was a trooper!  Carter had a nice little seat in the carrier and snoozed a good portion of the hike.  We didn't really hear a peep from him almost the whole time!

It was stinkin' windy though!  I'm talking the kind of wind that feels like it will knock you over and the kind of wind that pelts your legs and face with dust!  It doesn't feel too good!  Needless to say we all felt quite grimy when we got back to the house!  And on the way back home there was so much dust in the air it just looked like we were in a huge smog. Crazy. 

Lindsay took this picture on a walk later in the day. That's dust in the air!

It was a fun, but tiring day.  Riley crashed even before we were out of the park and the rest of the day was pretty laid back! 

Easter {2012}

Easter this year was a little different for us.  Typically, we would have gone to one side of the family or the other and ate yummy food and had an Easter egg hunt.  However, since we don't live across town anymore we had to do our own thing.  It felt quite strange, but all in all, it was a relaxing day spent with just the four of us. 

I'm not usually one to do projects and activities with my kids.  That's just not really my thing.  But, this year I thought I'd try to do some special things with Riley since we weren't getting to do our usual Easter.  I saw this idea on Pintrest to do Resurrection Rolls and thought Riley would enjoy making them.  I decided I'd give them a shot on Thursday since I had other things I needed to make on the weekend.  Here's what you need:

ingredients

AND

a little helper!

Really quite simple.  Each ingredient represents part of the burial of Jesus.  Riley had a lot of fun making these and while we waited our '3 days' he found something to occupy his time!

He loves to wash dishes!  I think thanks to Nana! =)

He enjoyed eating them too!  Forgot to take a picture of the final outcome, but the 'tomb' was empty!  HE HAS RISEN!

On Sunday we headed to church after the boys dug into their Easter baskets.  That's one way to get Riley out of bed!

And Carter dug through his own basket too!

Riley eventually got ready for church and just HAD to have some candy.  Good thing there wasn't very much in one egg!

We managed to sneak in a few pictures before church.

After looking back at this picture I realized that everyone was completely ready except me!  Oh well!

After church, we headed home for our own Easter dinner.  We even pulled out the china!!



For dinner we had:

Spiraled Ham

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar

Roasted Asparagus

Frog Eye Salad

Easter Egg Bread

and Strawberry Pie

Then, after we all had a nice nap, Riley got to go on a little Easter egg hunt.  It wasn't terrible exciting--there's not too many places to hide eggs when there aren't any trees or landscaping in our backyard to hide them in!!  But, he had fun and actually hunted eggs a couple different times.

HAPPY EASTER!