MMMMM

It's my birthday week! One thing after another keeps happening, and it hasn't brought my mood down yet! Our car tire shakes crazily when we go past 65 (found that out when I was on my way to my friends wedding), my computer crashed, we need new brakes, dentist bills (the worst) and Carter is growing out of all his clothes! Thank goodness we have such a great family, I'm not sure we'd survive with out them! I'm going to take my computer to the KU IT people, supposedly they can do wonders. And it's free!

Carter catches on so fast! He says "MMMM" when you ask him what a cow says. We have been practicing on where his nose is, and that is hit or miss. He tries hard though :) He got his first time out the other night - of course attempting to get on the coffee table. I felt like that one minute in his crib for time out lasted 5. He has to learn sometime, right? It seems like he is getting so tall, and wearing 2T already. Isn't time supposed to slow down when we want it to? I thought maybe I was getting baby fever, but it definitely fizzles when Carter wakes up 4 times during the night for whatever reason. Maybe when he's older, after we're married and have a house. I'm not in any hurry to get married. I want to be engaged for a few years so I can plan with out panic. It does make me giddy to see my friends get married though :) Some day...!

I can't wait for Halloween and my birthday! Carter is going to be batman! We plan on visiting all of our family, so be ready to give us a trick or a treat!! :) Carter has picture day at school tomorrow, and a halloween party. I am making cupcakes to bring, and we are both going to his halloween party!


My birthday is Friday and we are all going out to dinner with my mom - I can't wait! I am thinking Paisanos or Olive Garden! Carter is going to enjoy it so much more than before. On Saturday, we are all going bowling and drinking! It's kind of a tradition, and the only time I can get RJ to go. He's going to be such a good sport, almost the only guy coming. I did see on Thursdays they have ladies night, girls bowl free. I am thinking I might go bowling more often!

So even though crap just keeps on coming, I am so thankful that I have such a great life, and the best family and friends to spend it with!

i love fall :)

Ah, the last wedding of the year. Michelle's dress was the prettiest I've seen. I went solo, entertaining Carter in a formal setting is just about impossible these days. He's so full of energy and ready to see the next

thing! But having some mommy time was much needed, and RJ ended up just going into work late so I didn't have to miss out on the festivities :)

Michelle Heusi :)

Me and Kel

Carter didn't care that Mom had her 2 1/2 glasses of wine the night before, he was up at seven anyway. We have had a fun morning already though! We went to get donuts, and played at the park. It was Carter's first time in the bigkid slide, and he loved it so much he started to climb the stairs to go up again. He could even climb the steep ones, if mom would have let him :)

getting ready to go down!

let's go up again!!!

watching the cars go by!

can't keep him off the coffee table!

 

painting his pumpkin

  Carter has been talking so much, saying "Hi Dad" He can also mooooooo and say duck, dog, and mama of course. He seems to have his own dialogue too, if I could just crack the code. He knows nothing of the word no, and no matter how stern or consistent we are - climbing the coffee table and standing up, sitting back down, watching some tv, or just laughing about being on it- is way more fun.

No Fear!

                    

                        

 

                        

Even though these pictures are pretty self explanatory, I had no idea Carter was going to "look mom, no hands!" We were watching him attempt to stand up on his four wheeler, so thought we'd try to capture it. To my pleasant surprise, he didn't even fall down. Uncle Eric and Aunt Misty would be so proud.  

I am just hoping he forgot his little trick, but I am thinking we are not that lucky!

We had a great time at the pumpkin patch, it was everyone's first time. Ricky Jones tried some apple cider, Carter loved the ducks and chickens, and we found the perfect little pumpkin for Carter.

Almost fell asleep on the way there, so he relaxing on dad before the hay rack ride sounded great!

Pumpkins everywhere!

My little toddler :)

It's the weekend!!

Almost, anyway. It has been two long weeks of dropping Carter off at daycare, his little heart breaks every time I leave. Today, he was such a big boy and didn't cry at all. I then knew it would be a good day!

This weekend we have a playdate with Heather, Ky and Jaxon and are going to the pumpkin patch! We didn't get to go last weekend because I messed my arm up giving plasma. $50 is amazing until they give you a hematoma.

The weather is great, and so is life!!

Day by day, I think Carter is getting better in the toddler room. Two days ago, as soon as we walked into the daycare center he was bawling. I almost just turned back around :(. He usually at least waits until we get into the classroom. It's just really hard because he hasn't done this before, and it makes me want to be a stay at home mom! But who would pay my student loans? lol.

We went to an Alpha Phi playdate on Saturday, and Carter just ran around like he was having the time of his life! He wasn't too interested in the other kids, but he did laugh a lot! Him and Gwen are pretty much bff's though, they were so cute on the way up there! Carter didn't even mind when she was telling us how it is, and sometimes he cries if another kiddo does too.

I didn't end up going to Michelle's bachelorette party like I wanted, bummer. I just thought it'd cost a lot and be a lot of hassle to get a babysitter then go all the way up to KC. I do miss hanging out and laughing with my friends! On Sunday I donated plasma and they messed it up, so we didn't get to go to the pumpkin patch. Another bummer! This weekend we are definitely going, and finding Carter a costume. I have lots of ideas but no favorites yet. I have no idea if we're even leaving town for Halloween, but I sure hope so :)

My birthday is coming up, yaye! I wanted to get family pictures taken, but I think it would be more economical I guess not to. Maybe when we get our tax refund! RJ thinks they are a big waste of money, but it's MY present!

Life is all around good. Carter keeps us both sane with his smiles :)

Happy Birthday Gena!

Carter is so silly. We tell him no, and he thinks it's a game. He's been trying, and succeeding at climbing on the coffee table. So fearless!  No matter how persistent or straight-faced we are, Carter laughs. He isn't spoiled at all :) Ricky Jones and I both grew up way different than Carter I would say, and we are raising a spoiled rotten boy! We are entirely too poor to have another, but I'm just afraid that's the only way. I think when he gets a little older he can be more disciplined, but most times he's a perfect angel anyway!

Always entertained by his train!


Today we played with side walk chalk, and he colored so well! Last time he only carried them around and tried to eat them, so him making lines were progress! He of course put as many pieces in his hands as he could carry! You could tell he was learning because even when he was walking around the yard with his chalk he was pointing them down like I was showing him!

This weekend we are going to the Natural History Museum in Topeka for an Alpha Phi play date. A lot of my sorority sisters have had little ones, and I can't wait to see them all! I'm not sure if the museum is quite ready for Carter to terrorize it, but I did see online there's a play area! I was thinking this weekend we would take Carter to the pumpkin patch! Neither of us have ever been so it'll be a first time for the whole family! RJ and I have been carving pumpkins since we starting living together though. Carter will fingerpaint his!

Two days old, oh how time flys :) 

Carter has been growing so fast! He transitioned to the Toddler 1 room at daycare, and he isn't quite convinced yet. There are a lot more kids, and a couple of older ones but they get to go outside twice a day and he does love that part!

We went to Topeka this weekend for a day with Heather and her kiddos, it was a blast! We went to Gage Park and rode the train, and played on all of the classic animals they have there. Carter was more interested in the Octopus and following his own shadow! The swings were the high light though!
 

It's almost October already?

A few of my friends have created new blogs and it has inspired me to be more active on Carter's blog. Plus, RJ fixed our wireless internet so I that makes it easy!

On Saturday, Carter woke up bright and early so we decided to be at the library when it opened. After ten minutes of wandering down the bookshelves, I realize Carter has a little surprise for Mom. After avoiding dropping toys in the toilet, and a clean shirt later; we were back to the books! Carter loved all aspects of the library. He played with the legos and pulled them apart so easily. He would just smile and make sure I was watching him explore. The Lawrence Children's Library is set up so well for kiddos! Another thing he thought was really cool were the fish. He just watched them go back and forth! We did manage to read a few books, and he sat there and read a few himself :)

Today, dad made breakfast when he got home from work and Carter was a good little eater! We had breakfast burritos, yum! Kimberly came over and we all played with the blocks and the trains. He is getting really good at figuring out where the shapes go in his box. (Thanks Gena!) His favorites were the green and orange one. After his nap, we went to Chase's ball game. He is on a traveling team and the youngest one! He did really well, and they won their game. Carter thought it was fantastic just running around the big open area.

We had a great weekend, and now my two favorite boys are sleeping soundly! I am going to wake up RJ soon, so his sleeping schedule isn't thrown off. It's nice that he now has Sunday and Monday off so at least we get to enjoy one day off together!

I still haven't managed to transition Carter back to his own bed. He just sleeps so much better with mom! Now when I put him in his crib, he will wake up realize it and freak out! As long as RJ works nights, I don't see it as a big problem! It's really cute when we all sleep together :) I imagine if we make his crib a toddler bed, he might cooperate a little more. I wonder what age is the norm.

I can't wait for October, and have been looking at halloween costumes already! I haven't found any good ones yet!

long weekend :)

This has been such a great couple of weeks! Last week, grandma came to visit, and we all went to Paisanos. Carter couldn't get enough breadsticks, fast enough. He has been teething so we weren't sure about the restaurant setting but he was as content as can be :)

On Friday, he stayed with Aunt Stella and Uncle Dennis while RJ and I partied in Eudora with friends. I was reluctant to leave him since he hadn't been feeling well, but as soon as he was eating smokemasters, he didn't care where I was :) They said he had a great time, and he even got to bring home a toy.

We went to grandpa and grandma Jones next, and they bought the grandbabies everything you could need at their house! Carter really liked the ball and the blocks! He figured out that he could rock a little on his highchair that is connected to a chair, but of course he didn't fall!

On Saturday, we also went and watched fireworks with the family! I just love hanging out with my mom and everyone! We left a piece of his walker at Kims though, anyone seen it????????

Fourth of July was a perfect day, rain and all! Carter and I went and visited a friend of my who has a 6 month old little girl, and we had so much fun! She tried to pull his hair, but he didn't mind! He was a typical boy and was more interested in the ball than her, but he did smile at her a lot :) I have a cute video of them checking each other out! When RJ woke up, we all went and ate at IHOP and bought fireworks! During the day, we shot some off and Carter would just stare in awe - even the loud ones! We dogded the rain in between naps, and even had time to watch a movie all the way through. (hasn't happened in i dont know how long). At night RJ set up the back of his blazer as a play pen! He left the tailgate up and the window tilted to block the rain! He put on a great show and Carter laughed and loved the pretty lights! He was all tuckered out, and even slept in on Monday! Monday was great as well, we just hung out as a family :)

Carter has been expressing his opinions more, it's really cute. Some parts cuter than others.  He now cries or throws a fit when he doesn't quite get his way. Not for long though, he usually is ready to move on to conquering something else!

Night night!

10 months old already?

Now Carter is 10 months and growing so fast! This morning we woke up to Dad cooking french toast, and all got to eat breakfast together! I have such a good boyfriend though :) Carter ate one piece by himself!

He likes to climb up the high chair, the game chair, the entertainment center, the coffee table, the cabinets, everything! He usually just climbs up it and stands there for a minute with no hands and then he is on to the next thing to stand up on! It's really cute, but I have been going crazy thinking that he is going to fall and get hurt. But Daddy's there to make me calm down and tell me to let him be!

Today is my sister's baby shower! She is having a boy, Drake on Aug 13! It's really cool because they will be a year apart! My brother's gf Rusti will be having a little girl any day now! Phew, put the pressure off me to have more babies! My brother and sister decided to give Carter some play mates and cousins his age! Now it is Misty and Becky's turn.. Jk :)

Yesterday we went to my work picnic and Carter ate a slice of watermelon all by himself!  He didn't mind nawing on the rind a little bit either!


We are moving! At first they denied us, but then called back and said our current and previous landlord gave us such a good reference they reconsidered! It's pretty cool because there are so many good things about this duplex. It has a park very close, it has a bathtub, DISHWASHER :), a place for a small dining table, and they said we could still put a swingset out for Carter. It seemed like they were more strict of landlords but at least they fix their properties when they break! So Carter's first birthday we will be living in a new house :) A better one at least!

I am so excited about Carter's first birthday, we will probably have it at Forest Park! That way it's in the middle for both families.

Carter must have been worn out from breakfast and playing with dad and mom. He has been sleeping for 2 and a half hours! It gave me time to get stuff ready! Now I want him to wake up and play!! RJ put the swing in the tree for Carter so that's our new daily thing! We have an extra one and are taking it to Grandma's so all the grandbabies can swing there!

swimming

Yesterday was our first day at the baby pool in Lawrence! It's free and it's so cute to see Carter play! It took him a minute, but he was ready to crawl around and splash! He watched the other kids a lot too, and tried leaning over several times to drink the water! lol. Thank goodness for hot days, I'm tired of the rainy ones! We want to get a tan!!

Carter has been waving bye bye now every time :) He is such a big boy! He will be a year old in 2 months!

It is official!!!!!!!!!!!

Carter is crawling!! Not just a few steps, but across the room to get where he wants!!! Oh goodness, it's time to clean and organize.

We are so proud of him :)

spitting out his peas!

Last night when I was feeding Carter, he would start laughing and peas would come out of his mouth. When he realized how fun this is, he starting blowing his lips so it would spray out! It was so funny, but we were trying not to laugh because we were telling him not to spit his food out!!

RJ mowed the lawn and there was a baby mole that had gotten away from her family. It was such a cute little mole! But we didn't stick it back in a hole because we thought we'd just be burying it (and we dont want it to grow up and start it's own mole family) but we just left it outside for some natural selection to take its course! Someone told me today to buy some juicy fruit gum and stick them in the mole holes and they will die! Moles you are going down! (but not the baby ones)

We had a great weekend! On Friday, Carter stayed the night with Uncle Dennis & Aunt Stella and had a great time :) He slept all night for them, and was just a happy baby! They had a hard time setting up the play pen, but Kim went over to help. It really is a pickle because it seems like it will break when you pull it hard, but it won't. We ended up going to the Quenemo Cemetery for Danny Sundae's memorial celebration (fancy way of saying getting wasted remembering the good times with him) After that, we went to visit Carmen for awhile and then went bowling in Lawrence! I got some strikes!! :) It was really fun and a nice relaxing evening. First time I've been drunk in awhile!

On Saturday we went to Sam's Club to get food, and bought Carter his very first swimsuit! Well, he has one but it was given to us by a friend and it's for the lake! It's Mickey Mouse and really cute! He has been saying ba ba da da now, it pretty much melts dad's heart.

We went to buy a lawnmower yesterday, but they didn't have the one we looked up online. We are wanting to get the yard all nice so it will be ready for Carter to play! I even thought about planting some flowers..! Our $30 garage sale lawnmower from last year is about 50lbs too heavy because the self propel on it broke, so going through the mole kingdom in our yard isn't the easiest. If anyone has an extra weed eater, feel free to donate it :) Our yard is kind of out of control.

almost crawling!

Carter has been a busy man, trying to crawl and all. He has been waving bye bye to not only mom and dad now! It's so cute :) He has been getting up on all fours and rocking!!We are pretty sure he is going to crawl soon!

He is 8 months old today :) On Uncle Ricky's bday! Happy Birthday Brother!!

We went on his first trip on Tuesday to Springfield, Mo because our uncle passed away. He was a good baby the whole time, and didn't fuss during the car rides or anything! He got to swim for the first time with grandma, mom and kla, and also got into a bath tub for the first time! ( we dont have one, we still use the infant/toddler tub) He really seemed to like swimming after he got used to it not being all nice and warm like his baths are! I was nervous because we were the farthest we've been from home but it was so nice hanging out and spending quality time with the family.

On Saturday at ten, we are going to a KU Research facility where a researcher is going to give carter toys to play with and pictures to look at and he'll be in a motion sensor room :) I think he'll have fun and of course they will love my cute little child! It's cool that he can be a participant in research when I work in the research field :)

I can't wait for this summer to buy Carter a little swimming pool, infant swing, and all sorts of fun stuff! We went garage saling last Saturday but not for long since it was a little chilly. I'm pretty sure they gave us a deal because of Carter's smiles :)

He is pretty much eating at the table with everyone else now (when we go out to eat) haha! We need a dining room! but anyways, carter has been eating big people food and loving every minute of it! Grandma gave him hard cheerios this weekend and he has such a good little pincher grasp! It may be because I had been giving him soggy ones the whole time lol. I didn't want him to choke! So now he is a finger food champ!!

new pics

 

playing ball with mom 

     

                                                               on dad's shoulders

la la love ya

What a good day today! We found out that RJ DOES have weekends off, starting on Monday. He will have to go 2 weeks with out a day off because his days off were Mon & Tues but it will be worth it in the end :) Besides, I'm sure he'll call in one day! haha. But our life is pretty sane right now, and it's so nice not to have to worry about 100 things at once. Plus, I've been tanning so that makes everything all better too! When RJ gets home from work @ 630 AM, Carter and I have not left for our day yet so they get to spend some time together when I'm getting everything ready. That also makes things 100 times easier! :)

Carter is just getting more and more active everyday! He has been clapping his hands, and rolling the ball back and forth with mom & dad! He waved hi to his daycare teacher, and they having been playing outside since the weather has been so nice. She said he just laughs/screams when they swing. This weekend might be a great weekend for the park! He has also been scooting around so much, and making different facial expressions!

We went to see his grandpa and finally brought the rocking horse back! We brought them roast for dinner, and pictures, and of course the baby boy! It was fun, and hope to see them more often! Now it's their turn though :)

Tuesday we went and bbqed at Josh & Miranda's and Carter played outside for so long in his excersauser and his playpen. He would watch every single car go by, it was cute! He was one tired boy, but had fun playing with David and Maraiah. They both are so good with Carter, and it's also like having two little helpers!

Next week is Miranda & Josh's wedding! Oh goodness, it's going to be a great week! RJ has the weekends off, and will have Thurs off too :) I will have Friday off and we might get Carter a little suit! But he will only be there for the wedding part, which hopefully will only last 10 minutes! haha. But then we could use it for all of the lovely ladies graduating in May! I guess I could get him a short-sleeved one. I measured him and he's about 29.5 inches long.


Oh, and today Google is named Topeka - makes my day!

My little man this morning @ daycare.

what a crazy week!

It really felt like vacation this week! Except for spending Wednesday in the ER.I have been working half days at work.  Ricky Jones is back to work, but he was so sick! I stayed home from work for 2 days because there's no way he could take care of Carter. But Misty saved our life and played with Carter all day Wednesday so we were able to go to the hospital, get RJ ivy-ed up, and I could go pick Carter back up in Ottawa! It was great seeing my mom and being able to chat with her and Misty. Carter didn't' take a nap all day at Misty's, he was having too much fun eating cookies and playing with Chase.

Carter started chewing on his toes on Tuesday! Daddy called me from work to tell me :)He also started to say da a little more. It's mostly just bababa babbling. It's so cute! We got him this new book with Old MacDonald animals as a hand puppet and he laughs when we quack and moo at him.

Thursday to get away from sick dad we took a long shopping trip to Maurices, Old Navy, JC Penney's and Walmart. Carter was good the whole time. He ended up falling asleep in the cart at Walmart. We got him all kinds of stuff for Easter. We got him a piggy bank, a KU outfit (I can't believe he is starting to wear 12 months) a daddy's allstar onesie, and a rubber duck for Easter. Of course we already put him in the KU outfit but it is March Madness! We got him some toys for his easter basket from grandma! We have to wait to give him those :)


Today RJ and Carter took a walk and played outside. I bet it would have been so cute to see RJ walking Carter in his stroller :) Of course by the time I come home, it is already getting cold and now it is sleeting!

happy bday hannah!

We got his picture day pictures back, and I can't wait to show everyone! I know, I should have scanned them at work but hopefully we will see everyone soon! On Sunday, it's Hannah's bday party and we're pretty excited to give Carter some icecream and cake! We are going to start feeding him real food since he has SIX teeth! And we got Hannah the cutest gift ever, a baby with lots of accessories since she loves to play with Carter so much.

He is so tall though, the same height as a little girl who came over that was 18 months! Can't wait to start playing some basketball!!


I thought I would update daily, but it is so great having Ricky Jones home at night! He leaves about the time I go to sleep, and we have time to spend as a family too :) He doesn't have the weekends off like we thought but he does have this weekend off!

Carter fingerpainted at daycare this week, and it's a jayhawk! I'm so jealous, I want to see him fingerpaint! We got him a Dr. Seuss book this week about teeth, and have already read it to him so many times! It's a melt your heart moment to see RJ read to Carter. Another great thing about having him home!!

Computer started not starting up and acting crazy. We re-formatted it. Since my brothers got me such an awesome harddrive for graduation (thankks!), it didn't cost anything and it saved all my pictures, desktop stuff, and everything! All I had to do was press F11! 

mr. snotty nose cutie pants.

Yesterday was daddy's first day of being home in the afternoon with us, and of course Carter sleeps the whole time. He hasn't been taking very good naps at daycare, so he usually passes out for the rest of the night. RJ is now working the grave yard shift (11-7) so he can sleep during the day and spend afternoons and weekends with us! It's so exciting! Then in a few months he will be able to go to morning shift - bc the new shift bid will be coming up!

Next week Carter has Spring Break off! It's like he really is in school :) I can't wait to play all mornings with him. I am only taking off in the mornings, because I really can't take more than that off work and keep up. Does anyone else have spring break off? We thought about taking him to one of our relatives for some of the days, since that will be RJ's sleeping time (again). It sucks because we can't plan anything - everything always changes!! Worse case scenerio, RJ has to wake up at noon and then I'll get home at 4.

Carter rolls over like a champ, and now he's getting to the point where he's on his knees and elbows instead of just laying there. It's so cute, I will come in in the morning and he'll be looking like he's going to crawl right out of bed! He still has a cough after a week, I'm not sure if I should go to the doctor or not. I think we are going to change his doctor to a pediatrician, just so we have a baby doctor.

We are going to look at a duplex tomorrow @ noon! We are already trying to put a deposit down for moving in August, since every dang college student and their mom will be finding a place too.

A lady from work just gave me a bunch of 12 month clothes, but I can't wait for garage sale season!

New Blog

I decided to make this blog because I don't necessarily want to update my facebook everytime Carter does something cool. Because let's face it, he does a lot of new cool stuff every day :) This is just for family and close friends so they can keep updated since we live out of town! This morning he woke up pretty early and he's teething. He's getting four new teeth on top, and won't sit still to let me photograph it. I don't blame him, I'm sure it's painful!

On Saturday morning, we went to Mass St to shop and he was good the whole time! At night we went to his first KU basketball game with Kristine & Ryan! It was a girl's game, so they had a good crowd but not too many people. He really liked it, and looked around everytime the crowd cheered and stuff! We brought his infant carrier and I think he likes just hanging out on mom! I was devasted I forgot my camera. I got a few pictures on my cell phone though!

You don't have to have a blog to comment :)