Twilight

I have finally succumbed.

My sister gave me this book for Christmas in 2005. I have not picked it up - using the excuses that I was too busy (Ha, I thought I was busy then!), That this book was so obscure and unheard of that I probably wouldn't find it that interesting (I'm not hip to pop culture apparently), then after the movies came out that it was just some teen fad. Up until I read the book I really had no idea what it was about. Well now I'm hooked.

Sorry David for allowing your underwear drawer to empty yesterday, and for the fact that we had ZERO clean towels for your shower. The dishes are so backed up, I don't think we had a clean spoon to eat breakfast with. I cannot put these books down. I read the first one in 8 hours, and the second one on Monday. I couldn't even make it through work without this book. I took it to the dog park with two dogs and to toddler playgroup with two babies today - knowing that I wasn't going to be able to read. I just couldn't part with it.

The sad thing about the whole situation is that a year ago today I went to a family reunion on the La Push Indian reservation. Not having a clue about the significance, and turning down a quick trip into Forks - I am completely blind sided now.

I hope my family will make it through this week without me.

Ball Pit Fun

Carter went to his friend Lily's first birthday party. They have a ball pit - it was loads of fun. He sank right in.

Also to note today, I discovered Carter has two teeth that have already come through on the top. Usually after meals I wipe his gums with a washcloth. He has not let me in the past week and a half. Nobody gets in!! Well, he has been working on teeth. I don't know how long they've been there, but SURPRISE, they're here.

And now to pictures:

I thought it would be cute to portray Carter's head as just another ball. David captured it really well:

My husband

David and I went ice skating on Wednesday at the Kent Valley Ice Centre - the location of our very first single date together. They now have miniature golfing - the activity of our second date. Both of which went very badly. I fell three times ice scating (not once this time), and my miniature golfing skills were/are non existant. I hit my ball into the freeway last time and David fished me out a new ball from the water hazard. Then I hit a lady in the butt with a ball before it was over. This time, I did none of those things. I still had 17 more shots than he on an 18 hole course. And he still married me!!

All this made me realize that I need to write down why I have the greatest husband in the world. He is so good to me. I am constantly amazed at all the things he does for me. Especially the ones he does without being asked.

Like:

• Turning on my curling iron when I am in the shower.
• Setting out my toothbrush when we are both getting ready for bed.
• Cuddling with me at night despite the below freezing temperature of my feet and rump.
• Getting up in the middle of the night to re-tuck in dogs that have squirmed out of bed.
• Getting up with the baby in the morning - diaper change and all - so I can have that extra hour of sleep.
• Multiple nights of getting up with Carter and feedind him milk I had pumped so I could sleep the whole night through.
• Preparing and feeding Carter his solid foods after I finish nursing him.
• Washing my car inside and out and taking the seats out and the trim pieces to get those little spots.
• Making my lunch when he sees me running late.
• Making Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner when he is home from work.
• Taking out the stumps from cut down trees in our yard, even though leaving them in would be so much easier.
• Watching Carter & Lydia without pay during his entire summer break - even on the days that I am home.
• Always making sure my water bottle is full.
• Telling me how beautiful he thinks I am - every day.
• Getting me gifts "just because".
• Slipping Lindt chocolates into my bag for surprise snacks to find later.
• Watching Carter so I can take my dogs to the park.
• Great communication (most of the time - He's still a guy).

And so many more things . . .

Cousin Brylee

I haven't posted anything about cousin Brylee yet!! David's mother's cousin's daughter Kara (we just consider her a cousin) came over with her daughter Brylee to play last month. Carter is not showing a whole lot of interest in other kids yet - even when someone takes away his toys. It is kind of nice, not having to deal with a tantrum.

Brylee and Carter playing nicely on his saucer:

Taking a walk in our neighborhood:

Playing with shapes, and sharing:

Well, I don't want it either!!:

I want that one too:

Outside

It has been a consistent 80+ degrees outside. We had some fun in the grass with the dogs. Blu actually showed some interest in being around the baby.

Albeit gross interest. He had spit up a little chicken noodle soup mush, and she was quick to say "Waste not Want not". You have to click on the picture to get the full effect of this shot. I do not let them lick Carter in the face, I was just not quick enough to stop this:

Flying with daddy:

Kisses

We had a busy weekend. We went to Kent Cornucopia Days and saw lots of doggies and fun bubbles. We also went to a birthday party. Carter and I drove all the way up to Snohomish for my friend Steve's 60th birthday party. They roasted a pig and had a live band. Carter was quite happy to just play with a water bottle the entire time. I left all his toys in the car - which I knew he wouldn't mind. However I also left the camera at home. I didn't get any pictures of Kent Cornucopia Days or the birthday party. It mostly would have been pictures of Carter in his stroller though. The only thing we might've taken pictures of were the Llamas - but they charged $5 to get your picture taken with them. NO THANKS!!

Anyways, back to the party. . . .

I met a couple at the party. We sat next to them for dinner. They had several grandkids, and loved Carter. The husband really liked Carter, he told one of his friends that walked by: "I guess now I'll have to buy him a pony". Then they took out pictures of the ponies they bought for their own grandkids. They pretty much adopted Carter as their own grandchild. The wife (Rocky was her name) was holding Carter and talking to him while I ate. I watched as Carter leaned in to her face and kissed her right on the lips. He closed his mouth and planted her a big one right smack on the lips!! I couldn't believe it. I have no idea where he learned to do that. I certainly don't kiss him on the lips. I thought it was an accident at first. Five minutes or so later he did it again. He gave her 4 kisses that night!! She was a very nice lady - and certainly deserving of the kisses - but he couldn't have practised on me first?? She told me that I could tell me people that he kissed me first instead, but the truth makes for a much better story.

What is a post about the baby without a decent picture of him right? These were taken by my friend Chandra - two babies in aqua with denim overall shorts. They seem to share secrets between them. Except for this morning when I found Lydia trying to gouge out Carter's eyeballs. He had fallen over, and she crawled over to him and was scratching at his eyeballs. It was quite a scary sight. He made it through alive, just relieved that it was over.

Yum

David has always been the cook. When we first got married, I told him that I would have dinner ready for him every night when he got home from work. I would even give him options of what he wanted: Frosted Flakes, Cherios, and Life. That I could do. Otherwise - I don't cook. I clean. So we made a deal - He cooks and I clean. I have been slacking since we got this house to remodel. It is hard to "clean" a construction zone. But, he has kept up his end pretty well. This was breakfast this morning:

(it was only mine, his was plain. I kind of think it was because we were out of syrup after his, but it was a great effort for such a simple reason)

This is his usual Sunday breakfast. Sausage, maybe bacon, red/yellow peppers, onions, and sometimes salsa all scrambled in eggs wrapped in Pillsburry Cresent Rolls. I can only say YUM:

And, he still thawed the baby's breakfast and fed that to him. I made all the food and froze it. He just had to pull about 4 ice cube shaped bananas or avacados or carrots from the bag in the freezer. Isn't he amazing?!?! All while trying to give me an extra hour of sleep.

4th of July

It wouldn't be a normal photo shoot if Lydia didn't break down like this.

Amazing Sleepers

I have never been one for holidays. I don't drive anywhere (we made and exception this year for church). It is just too dangerous. Two years ago, David took me and the dogs to Leavenworth for the 4th - no fireworks allowed there. We had a fun time walking everywhere. This year, with a baby, we decided to stay home. Our dogs appear not to notice fireworks. Blasts that make me jump apparently don't appear on their radar. We let them out to use the facilities (namely the lawn) at night with all the fireworks going off in the street in front of our house, and they come back 5 minutes later without a bark. It is wonderful. They slept in their beds all night long through the battle zone sounding neighborhood.



We put Carter to bed at 6. He hadn't had a nap all day long and was pretty cranky. He woke me up this morning at 8 AM. I haven't really put anything on my blog about his sleeping because everybody tells me not to talk about it - even my pediatrician. He sleeps so well. He was waking up at 4 every morning. Then the guy 2 doors down lost his job, and we stopped having that 4 AM problem. He consistently sleeps for 12-14 hours a night. I am so blessed to have an amazing sleeping baby. I attribute his sleeping to Baby Wise. I read it while I was nursing, and loved it. A lot of our friends used this book, and it worked for them too. I highly recommend it.

Carter and Nevaeh

July 3rd is our friend Audrey's birthday. We went to her party and got to play with our friend Nevaeh. She is 2 months older than Carter. Someone declared Carter a cute present.

Carter and Nevaeh:

Carter showing off his new outfit from grandma:

With matching bib:

Sad Day

We dropped the crib mattress last night. He is not pulling himself up yet, or even rolling in his crib, but you never know when he will. I would rather be prepared for that day so he doesn't fall and hit his head. It is only lower by about 4 inches, but it feels like 4 feet when you have to bend over and pick him up.

Silly Face

Carter has a new trick. He started shaking his head, like he is saying no. We told him he was silly. Now every time we ask him to show his silly face, this is what he does. He kept staring at the screen saver on the computer.

P.S. Don't you love that fake cough he's got going there?

Carter & Chloe

Carter and Chloe are 8 1/2 months apart. They met for the first time on Father's Day. He was pretty skeptical of her at first. He is hesitant of any advancements by any girl other than Lydia.

But they later got along pretty well. He didn't mind her so much.

He even let her kiss him!!!

She was so excited to hold "The Baby"

Still Sick

Carter has been sleeping his life away. He has lost about half a pound, yet drinks A LOT. I have been feeding him every 2 hours instead of every 4. He is consuming 14-16 oz of milk above what he normally drinks. On Wednesday he was only awake for about 2 and a half hours. He was just awake enough to eat, then he would go right back down to sleep. Despite it all, he still sleeps 12-13 hours per night. What a guy.