Another First....

First family sick day.

While I was at work yesterday morning, I got a phone call around 7:30 from my mom.  She said that I needed to call Nick and tell him to bring Carter to me at work because she was so sick.  Stomach virus symptoms.  Yuck!!  So Nick brought him to me around 8:00.  I love having Carter at work with me but I had so much to do yesterday.  So I just threw it to the side and said that I would get it all done tomorrow.  We played for a while then I started to feel really bad.  It was like all of a sudden I was hit by an 18 wheeler.  I got really light headed, my head started pounding, and my stomach started cramping up really bad.  So, I called my Aunt Gloria and asked her to come and get him because I didn't think he needed to be around me.  She did and I told her that I would pick him up at 2:00.  By the time 2:00 rolled around I thought I was going to die.  I called Nick and told him to go pick Carter up and that he will have to take care of him for the rest of the day.

When I got home I pretty much crawled in my bed and passed out.  I was running 101 fever and just felt horrible.  I had 101 fever but I was freezing.  My joints hurt and my skin was so sensitive.  I hate feeling like that and it had been a while since I had.  I laid in bed for about 4 hours and decided to come check on the boys.  Carter had been asleep off and on for 4 hours!!  He only does that when he is sick.  He also had diarrhea....bad!!  Nick had 3 of Carter's suits that had poop in them because he blew out of his diaper.....poor thing!!  He never once cried or acted sick though.  And he did not have fever.  It amazed me how tough babies and little kids are.  Anyways,  Carter has been up since 6 this morning and Nick is still in bed sick.  I had felt better this morning so I decided to eat some cereal since all I had yesterday was half of a
Slim Fast.  Really paying for that decision now.  All I want to do is go back to bed and Carter is pooping all over the place and laughing and playing.  Go figure.

Amazing First Christmas

Carter's first Christmas was so wonderful.  There is going to be lots of pictures so I won't type so much.  Christmas Eve was spent over at Nick's parent's.  We all had a very good time.  I think Carter and Nolan had a great time together.  Carter loves other babies, and for some reason he just wanted to climb/tackle/bite Nolan the whole time.  We will have to work on that.  Nolan is a champ though and took it with a good attitude.

But then Carter decided to be nice



Then we had to have an outfit change into something more comfy to open gifts

This next picture explains a lot about Carter and Nolan's personalities.  They are exact opposites.  Here we have a very exciting elephant toy that throws balls out through its trunk.  Pretty cool.  Carter cares nothing about the toy but is examining the ball with everything that he has while Nolan is all into the toy and having a great time.  Carter is the serious thinker/ponderer and Nolan is the care-free one.  Who'd a have thunk it?



Christmas day we went and celebrated Jesus' birth at my Nana's house.  It was so nice to see everyone.  I only get to see the family from out of town twice a year...maybe three...which is something I think we should all work on.  I know we are busy, though!  We miss David and Mary El very much but understood why they were not there.

Then we went over to my parent's house with just immediate family

The deal was to not get Carter so much stuff this year because he is still too young to remember.  My family listens real well...

As a result we had to take a bed out of a bedroom to make a playroom. 

It will be the most awesome playroom of all playrooms.  One whole wall is going to be shelves with a place for a flat screen and video games.

Thank you everyone for spoiling my child rotten!  He really enjoyed his first Christmas.

What did I get?  A Pandigital e-reader, new vacuum, and a new front door, pajamas, lotions, shampoo and conditioner, candles, and new makeup.  The thing that I got that meant the most to me was my family Bible.  My Nana got it for me and it is beautiful and it will always have sentimental value to me and my family.  I am so happy that I have that to pass down to many generations to come.  It has a family tree that we are going to work on.  Santa was so good to us this year.

Shopping

Soooo....I was supposed to be at work this morning at 5:45 and I rolled over in bed to look at the time and it said 6:12.  Ooops!!  I am looking a hot mess!  I have on jeans I wore yesterday and shoes with no socks on.  I did manage, however, to grab my makeup and toothbrush.  I did forget my breakfast and lunch though!  I don't get a lunch break so I guess I will starve.  Maybe my husband will love me enough and save me.  I have a slight bump on my head from where I hit the door while running out, but we won't go there!!!

I went to bed pretty late.  I stayed up making Carter's food.  I only have one steamer and everything that I made for him had to be steamed (except his oatmeal) and I had to do it one at a time.  Instead of Carter eating the same thing for lunch and dinner like he has been doing, I decided to make him two different meals for each day.  For breakfast he is going to have oatmeal and bananas, for lunch he is going to have cauliflower and applesauce, and for dinner carrots and pears.  Nick peeled the apples and pears for me because I usually cut myself every time.  Never fails!!  Plus, when I peel them, half of the apple comes off with the skin.  Nick thinks that Carter will hate the cauliflower and I think he will love it like he loves everything else, we shall see.

My Nana and I had a blast shopping together.  We did some damage!!  I really enjoyed that time with her.  I do get to see her nearly every day but since I have had Carter, we have not spent the whole day together, just me and her, in a very long time.  If there is a day that I don't see her, I call and we talk for at least 20 minutes (and we only live about 1.5 miles away from each other).  She is so much more than just a Nana to me.  She really is my best friend.  She is such an inspiration to me and I really hope that I become half the woman that she is.  She loves the Lord very much and she is a very hard worker.  I like to think that she is immortal and that she will be here with me forever.  She is in my prayers every night, along with Carter, before I go to bed.  She sure does love her great grandson!!

Is it bad that Carter will not open one thing from me or his daddy for Christmas?  The few things that I bought for him he is already playing with.  I just didn't go all out for him this year.  I know that he will get so much stuff from everyone else.  And do you really think that he NEEDS anything?  Not quite.  I am just going to have a blast seeing everyone and enjoying everyone's company.  I am really wanting to teach Carter what Christmas is all about.  It is not about the presents at all.  I know he is too young right now but I want him to understand the story of Christmas and that it is a time to give to people that actually need things.  Like food, water, and shelter.  Yes, he will always have lots of presents and we will make a big deal out of Santa, but I also want him to be aware that not all children get those things and it is a time to celebrate Jesus' birth.  Christmas is not about us at all and I think people lose sight of that.  Maybe I can make him understand by getting us really involved in the shoe boxes that we send all over the world...I don't know. 



Anywho, I don't know if I will get back on here until after the holidays.  I am sure we will be very busy.  So, Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year!! 

What is your new year's resolution???  Lose weight?  Be more organized?  Study your Bible more?  Mine is all of the above!  Can I have three resolutions?

8 months

Well, another month came and went!!  It's crazy how that happens so fast.  I feel like it was a week ago that I wrote his 7 month blog.  What else is crazy is that in 4 short months I will be celebrating his 1st birthday.  AHHHH!!!  I can't wait but I just know that I will be the blubbering fool in the corner.  I cry each month so I can't imagine what I am going to do when he turns one.  He is not 8 months until tomorrow but I am going with my Nana to Texarkana to help her finish up some Christmas shopping. 

My Carter is growing up so fast.  I know I say that in every single blog that I post but he really is.  He has grown out of his night time bottle and drinking out of a sippy cup.  I am so very proud of him for catching on to things so quickly but then again it makes me so sad.  I have never ever ever been an emotional person.  My friend, Elizabeth McCrary has always told me that I am "cold" because the things that she thought was really sad, I would always laugh at.  But now, it's like I can cry at the drop of a hat.  When I see an animal being abused, a child not being taken care of, when Carter smiles at me.....bring out the tissues.  Being a parent has made Nick the exact same way.  At one point we had like 6 dogs because they were just dropped off on the side of the road.  The old Nick would have just taken the dog to the pound or not think a thing about it and just keep driving.  But no, we have to save EVERY animal in the world.

Carter,

You are my little miracle that I just can't get used to.  I still get just as excited when I see you in the morning as I did when you were first born.  I absolutely love to show you off to anyone and everyone and I love how you smile at anyone and everyone.  You are just the cutest thing.  I love your care-free temperament.  You are just fine sitting in the floor by yourself, playing with a spoon, and watching cartoons so mom can get things done or get ready for the day.  I love how you love to learn.  You love your books more than any toy that you have.  You get so excited when you see me get one out and get so sad whenever we have to put it up.  I don't know where you got that from...definitely not from me or your daddy.  I love how you become a wild little maniac when you get excited about something...arms and legs just fly everywhere.  I love how you "sing" yourself to sleep every single night.  You try your hardest to stay awake and I guess singing helps you stay focused on that goal.  I love how you love me so much.  When something goes wrong and I am feeling down in the dumps all I have to do is just look at you and I forget about it.  I pray for you every night before I go to bed and thank God for giving you to me.  When I am not with you, I am constantly thinking about you.  I love discovering new things that makes you laugh.  When you laugh....it's not just a chuckle.  It's a belly laugh.  Sometimes you laugh so hard that you either lose your balance or get a little choked.  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!   I love you more than you will ever know baby boy. 

Love,  Mom

Graduation and Basketball Game

Saturday morning mom and I left for Texarkana.  It was Holli's college graduation.  I am so proud of her!  She has worked so hard to get where she is today.  She was asked to speak at graduation.  That is a huge honor and she rocked it!!  She is going to be a Chiropractor!!  How cool is that?  I am so glad that I am going to get my bones popped for free :)

Here are some pictures of that day

It was a full house!

Aunt Holli on the big screen

Holli and her wonderful mom

Aunt Holli

This is what Carter was doing THE WHOLE graduation.  He loves turning the pages by himself!  He also ate a lot of puffs!!

After graduation we went out and ate

After we left the restaurant Mom and I did a little shopping then headed home.  When we got back to Nashville we decided to go to the Scrapperette basketball game.  He loved it!  He got really excited whenever everyone clapped and cheered.  By the end of the game, though, he was so wore out!

Monday morning Aunt Toshya kept him and this is the picture she sent me

This little boy LOVES his bath!