Meeting Santa

While I went to bootcamp last night my mom and dad took Carter to the Nashville Fire Department Christmas party.  Santa was there so Carter had to dress in his Santa suit too!!  Duh!  I was so excited for mom to take pictures of Carter with Santa!!  I just knew that it would be so cute!!  I even planned to have it blown up so I could set it out during the holidays.  And this is what I got....

Maybe next year buddy....maybe next year.

Santa gave him his present and back to dad and he was a happy camper.  He got a pretty good present.  It was his very own phone!!  I was pretty surprised because I bet it cost 16 bucks.  There were lots of kids that got presents like that!



Conway and Baby Jesus

Nick, Carter and I had a very busy and fun weekend.  Friday afternoon around 3 we left for Conway.  We mainly went because one of Nick's good friends, Dennis, has a little girl that had her first birthday party.  Who drove all the way to Conway pulling a big trailer?  This girl.  Nick and Dennis played baseball together at Tech.  His wife Julie is the sweetest and funniest person.  I am glad that I got to see her too.  Anyways, when we finally got there we went straight to Brent's house.  Brent is Nick's best friend from their freshman year of college--they also played baseball together at West Ark College.  We got all of Carter's stuff unpacked and settled in.  When we pack for a baby it's like packing our whole house.  Brent found out real quick how his house can get taken over by toys and baby stuff.  We just stayed there the rest of the evening and talked and relaxed.

Saturday morning Nick and Brent went duck hunting and I went over to Brent's parent's house.  His mom could not wait to meet Carter.  I can't believe that we waited nearly 8 months to take him up there.  They are like Nick's other parents.  Mrs. Linda is one of the sweetest women I know.  Carter did great for her and said DaDa about 100 times and laughed the whole morning.  She was amazed at how he concentrates on the cartoons.  This is how he was acting:

Hadleigh's birthday party was at 1:00 that afternoon so I left Mrs. Linda's house at 12:00.  When we arrived at the party this is what Carter was doing:

And that is what he did for half of the party.  PARTY POOPER!!  Nick had several friends that were there that he played baseball with.  I am soooo glad that we went because Nick really enjoyed himself.  It was so good to see him have such a good time with all of his buddies that he never gets to see.

Here is the beautiful birthday girl.  She looks just like her mom!

Once Carter woke up he was ready to play.  He was smiling at everyone and so glad to get out of that car seat!  We were just standing there talking to everyone and all of a sudden we hear the "bucking bronco music".  It's the same song that we hum whenever we are bucking Carter on our knee.  Carter's little head turned around so fast when he heard it so we had to go over and check it out.  It was one of those bucking horses that go whenever you put a quarter in.  We put him on it and he went to town.  He was kicking his legs and it looked like he was spurring it trying to make it go faster.  It was the cutest thing and everyone enjoyed watching him.  I think he rode it about 6 times and would have rode it all day if we let him.  Nick was there in case he fell but he rode it all by himself.

After the party we went over to Dennis and Julie's house.  All of the other guys and their wives went too.  When we got out of the Tahoe at their house it was like seeing a bunch of teenagers.  There was literally nearly 30 year old men wrestling in the yard.  I guess they knew how to act at the party but just cut loose at the house.  All of the women and babies went in the house.

Nick and Dennis are so funny when they get together.  They mouth each other so much.  Nick has the upper hand every time though.  Anytime Dennis says something about Nick losing his hair all Nick has to say is "Well, that's okay because you will stop making fun of me when Carter is sneaking in Hadleigh's window in 18 years".  He makes Dennis so mad and he always shuts his mouth.  Dennis came in the house one time and saw Hadleigh and Carter playing together.  So when he walked over there he saw Carter playing with the bows that were on her booty.  He got in Carter's face and said "Hey, I don't like that one bit!!"  It was the funniest thing!

Carter got to play with Hadleigh's cool toys. 

Hello teeth!

After we left we went back over to Mrs. Linda and ate a wonderful dinner.

Sunday morning Nick and Brent went duck hunting again.  Carter got up a little early so he took an early morning nap.  He slept hard too!

I got to pack up our stuff and clean up Brent's house for him.  We left around noon to head back to Nashville.

Alright....what everyone has been waiting to hear about.  Carter as Baby Jesus and me as Mary.  It was very nerve racking to me because I had no clue how Carter was going to act....and we had to do the play TWICE and stay out on stage for 4 whole songs each time!  He has been very loud and talky lately so that worried me.  But, low and behold he did perfect.  He did have a babbling moment one time but it only lasted about 5 seconds.  It was a miracle because usually when he starts that he don't want to stop.  He sat up in the manger like a big boy and just looked out at the crowd and smiled for the most part.  During the second program he slept for the first two songs then sat up and smiled at everyone again.  My dad was in the play and when he walked by Carter during the second play he stuck his tongue out at him so Carter got all excited and started laughing and waving his arms.  Thanks Dad.  That got a laugh from the crowd.  Everyone I talked to said they never took their eyes off of him and they could not believe how good he was at his age.  My mother in law took pictures for me so when I get them I will post them for everyone.

Carter is no Baby Jesus but he is pretty perfect!

Random Annoying Facts

I really didn't know what to post today so I just decided instead of talking about Carter today I would tell you some annoying facts about me.  Oh boy!

• I'm addicted to online shopping.  All of Carter's clothes, shoes, toys, ect. come from online!  The stores always get me when they have free shipping.  Darn them!!
• I would sooo rather watch a 30 minute comedy tv show than a long movie.  Will and Grace is my absolute favorite.  Karen and Jack are the funniest actors on the planet.   And something that I have started watching recently.....The Big Bang Theory.  I love dry humor.  Like Napoleon Dynamite...hilarious!!  And Everybody Loves Raymond--will never get old.
• I get hiccups ALL THE TIME!!  I think there is something wrong...seriously.  My papa told me to eat a spoonfull of mustard to get rid of them.  I tried it, and it was brutal, but it didn't work.
• I STILL rock my son to sleep and he is 7 1/2 months old!!  Am I crazy for that?!  I am such a softy and I can't stand to hear him cry.  He is only going to be a baby once so I guess I am going to let him stay one for as long as I can.  I also still sit and watch him sleep sometimes.  I am still so amazed by him just as much as I was when he was the first time I laid eyes on him.  He is just the most incredible little boy.
• When I am driving in the car by myself or when I am at home alone, I sing and and dance like it is no body's business.  I get my hair brush, a pen, a remote...whatever I can find and use it as a microphone. In my fantasies I am a rock star that takes the stage!!
• I hate the cold weather more than anything but my most favorite vacation is snow skiing. 
• I think I'm a pyromania.  I think Carter is too.  We could sit and stare at a fire for hours.  It is really fascinating.  It changes colors---blue, orange, yellow, and red.  I love to hear the fire wood pop too!
• Carter and I watch cartoons together and I actually like some of them.  Phineas and Ferb....so cute and actually pretty funny!
• I workout all of the time just so I can eat as much sweet and fattening stuff as I can.  I should really be a lot smaller than I am.  I am going to start working on that!!
• I wish I was tall.  Like 6'2" tall.  It get's reallllly old only being 5' 2.5".  I have to have a step ladder all the time in my house to get things from the top of a closet or the top shelf in my kitchen.
• I am waaay over protective of Carter.  Well, to me it's not over protective.  But to others it might be.  You wanna see a crazy mom, feed Carter something off of your plate or take him outside without socks or a warm hat on.  I will cut you my friend.
• I paid 5 dollars to a psychic one time and everything that she said about me that had already happened were true.  She said that I would get married in the next couple years and have a little boy first.  Both things have turned out to be true.  I won't tell you what else she told me.  It's kinda scary.
• I miss Carter at night when he is asleep and not up smiling and looking for me.
• I need glasses to see while driving and reading that I refuse to wear.

Frist Christmas Parade

Something that I forgot to post the other was Carter's first parade.  Nana and I drove into town so that Carter could watch the Christmas Parade in Nashville.  I figured that he would have liked to see all of the fire trucks and lights.  Ava was there with Callie and Mrs. Brewer to watch it too!  Finally the parade had started and the first car was a police car.  All of a sudden the window to the back of the car rolled down and my mom sticks her whole body out of the window waving for me to bring Carter to her.  She literally stopped the whole parade so that she could get Carter.  I ran in the middle of the street, trying not to trip and fall in front of everyone, and all but threw him in the back window.  My mom.....she's a mess and crazy about her grandson!!  I look back and the first thing I see is mom passing him to the front of the car with dad.  Mom took some pictures for me with her phone.  If look closely at the first picture you can see that he is waving at the crowd.  Dad said that he was punching all kinds of buttons in the car and making it do different things.  Even though he did not get to see all of the floats, I'm pretty sure that he enjoyed his first parade.



Guess What......

Carter slept all night last night for the first time in a very LONG time.  I feel like I could run a marathon.  I am so proud of him.  His second tooth finally broke through sometime yesterday and I am so glad that he got some relief.  I just hope he has a little break before the top two come in.  From what I have read, if adults had to have teeth come in, like babies, we would be in horrible pain and could not handle it.  Poor babies!!

Since I have been staying home with Carter, I have been eating like a big ol hog!!  I have GOT to get some self control about me.  A couple evenings ago, I went to Walmart hungry.  Worst mistake ever.  I grabbed 3 Hershey bars, a box of graham crackers, and some marsh mellows so I could make smores.  Then I went over a little and grabbed the double stuffed oreos.  Oh em gee!!  I went down the isle a little more and grabbed the salt and vinegar pringles.  Every bit of it is gone in just a matter of 3 days.  Holy moly!  I won't even talk about the two nights that Nick and I ate pizza.  As I am typing this I am looking at my Slim Fast sitting next to me waiting for it to thaw out.  I forgot it in the freezer.  I would like to think that this one Slim Fast will counteract all of the other mess I ate over the weekend.  Diet starts NOW!!  Many salads in my future.

Let's talk about the horses that were stolen in Magnolia.  I knew that they were stolen and that they were all found except one.  I read the whole story this morning and I had no idea that the horses that were found malnutritioned and that the other horse, Credit Card, was shot, throat slit, and cut up into pieces.  That honestly breaks my heart.  I think I would rather hear that had happened to a person instead of a horse.  I can't stand it when animals are abused.  I honestly think that I missed my calling.  I think I was set out to save abused animals.  If I had the time or money, that's what I would be spending my time doing.  I seriously think that the girl who stole the horses should be treated like a murderer.  That's what she is.  AMEN!?!?

Alright...something else that is really sad but I think that everyone needs a reminder.



I didn't want to put this on here because I know that no one wants to see this.  I was just going on and on about how much I ate over the weekend and I just take that for granted. I always go on and on about how Carter does not sleep well at night or how I really worry about him when he has a little fever.  I also really worry when he does not eat a full bottle because that is so unlike him.  I really take everything that I have for granted and that is just not right.  I am the main one that needed to see this picture and I am positive that I am not alone.  Look at that baby.  Carter gets a bath every single night and this baby probably has not had one in months.  I wash Carter's clothes even if they are on his body for 10 mintues.  This baby's shirt looks like it has never been washed.  I change Carter's diaper even when there is nothing in it.  This baby does not even have one on. Carter eats every 2 hours on the dot and this baby probably has not had food in 2 days.  I just want to take him home with me, give him a bath, cook him whatever he wants, and show him so much love. This is a real eye opener for me.  And what really breaks my heart is that there are millions of babies in this same condition.  God, be with them and thank you for everything that you have given me.  I am so truly blessed.

Ho Ho Ho!!

Carter and I had a very lazy weekend.  He is feeling much better, thank God!  We have had a couple of bad nights but he is starting to get a lot better.  He still has a runny nose and coughing some but his snot is now clear instead of green!  I know you wanted to know that.

I am taking him to Aunt Toshya's house tomorrow so I can get this house in order and have some "Catherine time".  I have decided that we need some organization in our lives.  I think that will make my life so much better.  I am going to do a little research on the best way to go about that.  If anyone has some suggestions I'm all ears.  Well, all eyes.

Something that I think will be pretty funny....Carter will be the newborn Baby Jesus and I am going to be Mary for the Christmas program at our church.  The 7 1/2 month old newborn Baby Jesus will be waving at the crowd,  jibber jabbing, and trying to stand up.  America's Funniest Home Videos?

I have put it of waaaaay too long so I just decided that today was the day.  I took pictures of Carter in his Santa suit for some Christmas cards.  These two are not on the cards but I still thought they were cute.  The other ones are like 100 times cuter.  He has a hat on in some of the others.  They also have really cute props.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

Is that not the sweetest and most precious Santa you have ever seen?

I just love sleeping all night long without getting interrupted.  Oh wait, I forgot what that is like because it has not happened in 7 months.  I slept a total of 3 hours last night and had to be at work at 5:45 this morning.  Carter and I got a lot of bonding time in last night.  He was a happy camper as long as I was holding him.  I usually let him try to self soothe himself back to sleep but he is sick so I knew there would not no self soothing going on.  I took him to the doctor yesterday and he has a virus and cutting another tooth.  He weighs 17 1/2 pounds.

When he lays down his nose gets stopped up and it gets hard for him to breathe and he coughs a lot more.  So the three hours that he did sleep was on me or in his swing.  Nick was NO help.  It is not his fault though.  I think he is starting to get his feelings hurt because Carter only wants me right now.  He has been doing that for about a week now.  Nick used to put him to sleep, but he will only go to sleep when I am rocking him.  Has my heart grown 100 times bigger?  Of course!  Nick just does not understand the connection that a child has with their mother, especially when they are sick.  I know that one day I will be getting my feelings hurt because he will only want to be with his daddy. 

We were not given any more antibiotics because he was just on a very strong dose for the passed 10 days and we have to wait at least a full week to see if he needs more.  Plus, he is still smiling, playing, eating all of his food, drinking every drop of his bottle, and there is not fever so he probably would not give him any antibiotics anyways so he can build an immune system.  So, we just have to ride it out.

To brighten things up a bit I am excited about a recent purchase that I made.  My recipe book that I got for Carter's first 3 years came in  yesterday.  I was running out of ideas of what to make for him.  I love it and it gives me so many options.  It gives lists of things that are safe to give him before 1 year and things not to give him.  I am so thankful for that because I didn't have a clue.  It is sooo much fun making his food.  I know that he is getting all that he needs and no preservatives!!  It gives me a good feeling.  Plus, I have people who help me make it.  It is usually me, Nana, and Mom and we have fun!  The oatmeal is the hardest to make because it is steel cut oats.  We make it from scratch for him.   It takes about 25-30 minutes and we do it about 3 times a week.  Steel cut oats are generally less processed than instant oatmeal and infant oatmeal and contain more nutrients.  Only the best for my precious boy!