My three cents

This really doesn't fit into any Dear Carter category, but one day I will want you to know these things....

On the 2012 Presidential Election (and possibly any election thereafter)

Many people say that America is at a crossroads.  Key issues are at the forefront of political platforms and debates.  I've heard that the next four years could set America on a permanent course.  The sanctity of marriage, the security of our economy, and the safety of our nation are all said to be at stake.

But who really determines the santity of marriage?  Is is a guy in a fancy suit sitting in the Oval Office?  No.  God alone has the authority to bless the institution of marriage, since I'm pretty sure he created marriage anyway.

Financial security?  Since when are we to find security in money?  It is all God's to give and take away.  As Christians we are to find security in Christ, not a dollar. 

Safety of our nation?  Who is the Great Protector?  The President?  The U.S. Military?  Men and women in uniform protect my shores and my rights, but ultimately, they do not protect life.  My life is not my own.  I am free in Christ, but my life no longer belongs to me.  (That being said, I am extremely thankful and grateful for our armed forces.)  No matter the outcome of the election, God is and always will be on his throne.  No candidate can boast the power to die for my sins and come back to life three days later. 


And in response to the tragedy of December 14, 2012 in Newton, Connecticut....

My  heart is broken and angry for the families and community for the horror they are facing.  However, I am sick of hearing about gun patrol and politics in regard to the tragedy.  This shouldn't be an opportunity or platform for such.  However, it is an opportunity to fall on our faces before the Great God of the universe and from the depths of our hearts begin to claim peace and protection over the hearts, minds, and bodies of our children.  Crazy pepole aren't the problem.  Guns aren't the problem.  The only problem is sin.  The only answer is Jesus.

That is all.

Sweet Dreams

Perhaps this is why I haven't been sleeping so well lately....

 

Between Carter and Lee, where am I supposed to sleep?  Boys, it doesn't get any bigger than a king size bed!  

If you look closely you'll see my head somewhere under Carter! 

Carter's favorite place to sleep is in the middle of the bed, or on my head. 

 

 

No, really, these are the things sweet dreams are made of!

Report Card Time!

Well, for "big kids" school has been in now for 9 weeks, and all my mommy friends are bragging on their childrens' report cards.  So, I'll brag on my Carter Boy! 

I am  amazed at how you learn!  Seriously!  I get so excited when you've mastered a new word or word-object association.  Excited to tears sometimes.  Literally. 

For months - before you could even point or talk - we've worked on body parts. During bath time and dressing time I'd point and label all your parts.  For whatever reason (probably because you love to pull mine (by the roots)), you've known where your hair is for a while now.  But you've finally mastered your whole head!  And it totally caught me by surprise.  I started with the faithful, "Where is your hair?"  And you pull on your hair.  Although, you do not pull your hair nearly as hard as you pull mine.  Then the ear.  You know where your ears are.  And you know how to poke those eyes right on out.  And then I nearly fell out of the chair.  "Cart, where is your nose?"  And you pointed right to it!  Do you know how long we've worked on the nose?  I pressed my luck with, "Where is your mouth?"  And your fat little pointer finger went right to your mouth!  Tears to my eyes!  Needless to say, you tired of the "where is" game long before I did this time.  Good job Carter Boy, good job! 


Last Sunday you woke up jabbering, and you haven't stopped.  Sure, before, you'd jabber a word or phrase here and there.  But now, its non stop "conversation."  Lots of jabbering and more and more real words.  I love how you are obsessed with birds.  "Bur" as you call them.  You hear a chirp, and you're breaking your neck to find the bur.  And oh how excited you get when a flock flies over!  It's too precious.  But what gets me every time is, "Carter, what does the bird say?"  And you make the cutest, high pitched "tweee tweee."  MELT.MY.HEART. 

You've mastered Ma and Pa for Grandma and Grandpa.  You'll get the grand before too much longer.

Actually, you were saying Zac (Grandma's dog) before you did Ma and Pa!  Rascal!  Every morning we get out of the car, and you go to shouting, "Aaaakkk aaaakkk."  You love to feed Grandma's "fiss."  And well, you like the "meeer meeer," but Grandma's cat isn't so crazy about you.  You pulling her hair and tail probably has a lot to do with that. 

And I love how everything round is a ball.  And you love "bay-bee."  It cracks me up when you look at pictures of yourself as a newborn or infant and say, "bay-bee." 

You're almost as fascinated with the "ree" on the front door as you are birds.  You insist on me opening the front door so you can touch the wreath. 

You love pointing to the "lie."  (Lights)

You can't say it yet, but you can sure point to the flag. 

So, for you my Carter Boy, you get an A plus too! 

And if you don't start performing on command....no one is ever going to believe this!

My Boys!

I love watching you two play together.

I just love you two to pieces!

They say.....

Everyone says I've had "it" really easy.  And I just look at people when they say that.  But, really, I can't disagree.  This weekend I've talked with several friends, sharing baby stories and developments.  And well, I have it made! 

See, I had this whole plan to WRITE you a journal.  There is just something special about handwritten notes and memories.  But you aren't THAT easy! :) Not really sure how an "e journal" is easier, but it is.  So, in case I failed to record some of your major accomplishments and milestones, let me recap. 

By seven weeks old, you were sleeping through the night. ( And I thought I was golden!) 

You ate babyfood no time!  Really a month or so maybe?  You wanted the good stuff! 

You walked before your first birthday!

And the transition to "red milk" was nothing for you!  You never noticed!  And one night, I just decided to take away the bottle, and no complaints from you!  (That was partly due to Grandma Patsy.  She took the bottle away long before I did.)  Way to go Carter Boy! 

I will say this baby business is no joke!  But all in all, you have been easy peasy! 

Eating Crow

Oh how I have learned the truth behind "never say never."  Of course I've always known better, but I know better than ever now.  (Remember, what you mock today, you're only a day away from tomorrow.) 

Anyway.  Before you, I was the perfect parent.  Of course, right?  I'd see parents and say, "I will never be THAT parent."  Or I'd see unruly children in public, and I'd say, "my child will NEVER act like that."  And I guess that is what I get for saying never.  Now don't get me wrong, when you act like a maniac in public (especially when it's just me and you), I do get a little rattled, but other than that, this is some pretty sweet crow I'm eating! 

I said, "we'll never let our baby sleep in the bed with us."  Really, it was a dangerous thing to do.  But you're the best snuggle buddy ever! 

Which brings me to the next never...."We'll never use a pacifier."  Never - 2, Momma - 0!  Yeah, we've go to get rid of that thing soon.  But in my defense, the hospital nursery started it.  All the poking, sticking, and prodding those first few weeks, you deserved the "pie-pie." 

I used to always say people who "pick their battles" are just weak.  Well, meet the weakest of the weak.  Yours truly.  It really is easier to give into you sometimes.  Giving into you usually means a scavenger hunt and more clean up for me later, but, as Aunt Heather says, "why the hell not?" 

Even if it means this....

Picking up toilet paper.

And what's it going to hurt if you play with the peacock feathers?  It's actually super cute to watch you tickle yourself and laugh! 

And so what if you want to unravel the tassel on the pillow?  It's just a pillow. 

 

The channel and cell phone are two of your favorites.  I've gotten pretty good at finding these.   

 

 

So stay sweet my little man, and I'll keep eating the crow.  I love you!

 



Happy, happy Birthday!

Happy, happy birthday Carter Boy!  My Biscuit is ONE!  (Except you hold up two fingers, but that's ok.)  Oh where has a year gone?  I remember it all as if it happened last week: every moment, every detail, every word spoken!  And now it's been a year later.  Sorry, I can't help but feel a little nostalgic.  You had a rough debut, and less than ideal first few weeks, but thank God, he's brought us very, very far!  So, that calls for lots of celebrating! 

I woke you early enough to dress you before going to Grandma Patsy's.



We got the celebration started early! 

 

Apparently, you had a happy day with Grandma too!  Mandy saw you at the school waiting to pick up the big kids.  Made my heart smile to see you so happy!

 

 



And you wanted the partying to last long into the night.  Daddy can forget trying to rock you night-night yet!  So you're one now and think you can stay up past 10:00pm?  You better go to sleep Carter Boy!  You need to be well rested for your party tomorrow!

 

Aaaah, the party.  Now I know why we have only one birthday a year!  A few hiccups, hitches, glitches, and meltdowns later, it was party time! 

 

  You tried to play shy at first.  But I know better! 

 

We had lots of family and family friends comes to celebrate with you!  Sesame Street style!  We had a big time! Lunch, cake, and lots of fun! 

 

 

I was pumped up and ready for the smash cake.  You had your very own.  

 

 

 

And you even had a crowd of onlookers......

 

 

Everyone was awaiting a huge smash, but you wanted a spoon! 

While I was anticipating a huge smash, you did make me a little proud.  I've tried to teach you some manners. 

 

And the end product wasn't that bad.  (However, for days I was still finding blue icing in random places.) 

 

 

You knew what to do, Buddy!

However, the tissue paper was most entertaining to you!  Go figure. 

This picture here....all for me.  Look at momma's arms! 

Do it Carter! 

Carter, how old are you?  (We're still working on the 1 finger.) 

And a huge shout out to these folks!  Mr. Billy and Mrs. Debbie! 



And Auntie Liz!

 



None of this would have been captured in pictures if Mr. Bill hadn't been here!  How did I ever think I could host a party AND take pictures?  And Mrs. Deborah and Liz took over the kitchen.  Such sweet people! 

 

So, Carter Boy, it was a very happy first birthday!  You have brought so much love and joy into our hearts and lives this past year, and we love you bunches and bunches and more bunches! 

 

 

And days like today....

And days like today remind me why yesterday wasn't that bad afterall!  Days like today make me look forward to coming home to you!  To this...



I hate the outside...but I love it with you!  Days like today...alarm clock, high heels, sticky notes, case files, disgruntled and irresponsibe clients....remind me why yesterday wasn't so bad at all.  

Days Like Today....

Days like today....

Days of no naps, pitching fits, clinging to my legs.....remind me why I work full time. :)  God bless Grandma Patsy. 

Carter Boy, if I could play all day, never get dressed, and sleep as long as I wanted, there'd be no tears here.

It's birthday week boy!  Get happy! 

Here's to hoping you rest well tonight for a more agreeable tomorrow.  

You made it!

You did it!  You DID make it!  I was beginning to wonder, but you beat the one year mark!  YOU'RE WALKING!  I just THOUGHT you were a man on the move when you started crawling.  You are UNSTOPABLE now, Buddy! 

I love how you walk like a drunk man - keep working on that balance.  And you're determined not to fall, so you run.  I've got to get this on video - what am I waiting for? 

And you're so smart!  I'm your momma, of course I'd say that.  But it's true! 

I love to make you "say" please in sign language!  We're so blessed to have Grandma and Grandpa Koop love you and teach you so many big boy things! 

Your "thank you" looks a lot like your "blowing a kiss," but keep working on it!  At least it is consistent!  Now we just have to teach you to SAY please and thank you. 

You're just growing up too fast my Carter Boy!  I love you!



That New Thing You Do !

You're really not old enough for me to be saying "remember when."  But 'tis true! I acutally miss some of the cute things you used to do.  I remember when we used to place you on the changing table, and you'd kick, kick, kick..."ninety to nothing."  It was your favorite place!  Now, you fight me when we're changing your diaper. Used to, giving you the Desitin or hair brush to hold would "soothe" you and do the trick.  Now, you won't be tricked.  However, I have gotten pretty good at putting on a diaper one handed...while you stand up!  Surprisingly, we've had no leaks....yet.  And why do you hate to get dressed?  You have such darn cute clothes!  When you were tee-niny, I dreaded feeding time.  Now I dread having to con you into getting dressed.  So, like yesterday, what the heck - I let you play naked most all afternoon.  So what I had to wipe up tee tee all over the house?!  It made you happy!  And thank the Lord for hardwood floors. :) 

What is your obsession with crawling under things?  I couldn't get my camera fast enough (and I thought it was more important to comfort you), but I did get a laugh out of you trying to crawl UNDER the couch when your toy went up under there.  It was funny until you banged your head on the wooden piece on the bottom of the couch. 

And the crib.  Silly boy, you're supposed to get IN the crib.  Not under it.

And the table.  Where's Carter?  When you go missing, I can usually find you where you aren't supposed to be.  Under the table.

Except you haven't learned you can't crawl UNDER things then stand up. Ouch your head!

You're pretty good at hide and seek.  And of all your toys...tell me why the dryer?  And dryer balls?  Really?

And just how do you propose getting out of there?

And when I can't feed you fast enough, you find your own snack between bites. 

Gross!  One day, this will not be acceptable table manners. :) 

I love you and all the new things you do!

Yay for Mommy!

Yes, yes, yes!  I am finally up to date on your blog!  Do me a favor.  Never read your Aunt Heather's blog.  She is so prompt, articulate, and eloquent.  And she's a much better photographer.  :)

You are a whole nine months old!  In just three months you'll be one year old!  Where has this year gone? 

You have learned so many new things!  You do something new that amazes us each day.  You finally hold your own bottle.  And it took a few weeks, and me spending a small fortune to find "the one," but you'll drink from a sippy cup now too! 

You're so silly sometimes!  You know what makes us laugh!

Mid "patty-cake" action shot.  You won't sing it yet, but you have all the moves down!

I love to sing Patty Cake and watch you do the movements.  And anytime you hear music, you "dance."  Ok, bounce and bob your head is probably a better defintion.  But where did you learn to do that?  Nana says you got your moves from your Grandma Sandra.  :) 

Cruisng on the furniture.  Let go and walk boy!

What a glorious day!  You will now hold your own bottle!  You were such a lazy booger at first! 

Your favorite places to play - where you're not supposed to be!

You know the meaning of "NO NO!"...

But you don't obey.