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Where did it go?

I'm talking about my motivation to blog, download pictures, be on the internet at all......

If anyone finds it, please let me know!

Hot Diggity Dog!

Here's Carter dancing to the Hot Diggity Dog song on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. How can you not love this kid?!

Carter My Dear

I'm not sure how it's possible to love someone so much, but I do. You have enriched my life and continue to do so each and every day. I just wanted to take a minute to tell you all the things I love about you - an 18 month old angel with a mind of his own.

I love that you dole at kisses and hugs at the slightest request without a moments hesitation. I especially love the unprompted sugars, because it brings me so much happiness to know that the thought "I think I'll give Mommy a kiss" just popped into your brain all on it's own. I know one day it will be gross to kiss your dear ol' Mommy, so I'm soaking in as many as I can now.

I love that you have a ferocious appetite and will make a bee line for any type of food and stand there mouth open like a little birdy saying "bIIIte, bIIIte, bIIIte" until you get just a little taste. I also love that you cram way too much in your mouth at one time, because you think if I hurry up and eat this and then sign "more", Mommy will go ahead and give me more.

I love that you love books and would rather sit and read a book or be read too than watch TV or play with toys. I especially love when you're not quite ready to get up in the morning because you want to sit in your crib and read a book. Hey - everyone has to wake up in their own way - I get it, trust me.

I love it when daddy tries to tickle you and after laughing this infectious, pit-of-the-stomach laugh you immediately straighten up, shake your finger at Daddy and say "No, No". Everyone has boundaries and I'm glad you are comfortable expressing yours. Really - who likes to be tickled anyway?

Oh, but Carter, it's not all hugs and kisses, laughs and tickles. I even love when you get so mad the tears start flowing and you hurl yourself onto the floor, feet flailing about like the world is ending right this moment and all you need to save it is that cookie or box of raisins. The overwhelming anger and frustration has to come out somehow so you bite your own little finger, cry harder, and then bring it to Mommy to kiss all better. While these little tantrums can be trying, it shows passion and a sheer determination in you that I love.

I love that when you've just hit Mommy in the head and then shaking your finger say "no, no" and gently pat Mommy's head as if to say "this is the way we touch, not hit". You're learning sweet boy; we just need a little more practice on the no hit and gentle touches rules.

You are amazing and I love you - good, bad and ugly - with all my heart!

Welcome Winn!

It finally happened - Winn is here and he's stolen our hearts.

After hearing the doctor's recommendations and doing some serious thought, Heather and Chap decided a C-section was the way they would meet their little boy. So, on Thursday, November 12th at 7:47 a.m., Winn made his grand entrance. Which by the way, Chap video taped and my mouth fell to floor upon watching. Even seeing it on video was so amazing!

I figured I wouldn't really get to spend much time with them in the morning since Heather would be in recovery and all of that so, I planned to go to RH around lunch. However, I was rethinking this plan about 8:30 am as I'm hearing about Winn being born and wishing I was there with everyone. Due to blood pressure issues, Heather had to stay in recovery for longer than expected, so I guess it worked out better the way we had planned anyway.

Once I got there, I met sweet Winn and got to see all of the family. He is pretty precious. We hung out a little bit and then somehow that afternoon, it ended up just being the four of us (Heather, Chap, Winn and Me) for a couple of hours. I really enjoyed getting to spend that time with them. (And YES, I did ask if they wanted to have some "family" time, because I could make myself scarce for a little bit, but they said no-so I stayed)

Heather wanted me to help her with the nursing thing, so that was the perfect opportunity when everyone was gone. It's amazing how much you forget about nursing a newborn. Eventually (and it doesn't take long) the baby figures out what he's doing and it gets considerably easier. I almost forgot what it was like (and how hard it is) to try to get a newborn to latch on - I'm sure Heather was thinking that I had no idea what I was doing and probably even wondered if I had even really nursed at all. But, I promptly asked the nurse if the lactation consultant was in and if she could come by. After some GREAT help and advice from the lactation consultant, Heather was on her way! Chap was so excited when Winn started nursing - it was great to see him so supportive of Heather. Keep it up Chap!

Right before I left, I got a call from Scott to tell me that Carter had puked on him not once but twice and he needed me to come home because he didn't really know what to do. I hated to leave Heather and Winn, but my little boy needed me so I had to get home. I was sure now she completely understood. The whole way home, I was just sick about the fact that Carter was puking and I had just been in the hospital holding little Winn who wasn't even 8 hours old. I was certain of two things: Carter was not sick that morning when I left for work and if Winn got sick, I would not be able to forgive myself. Thankfully, Winn didn't get sick and Carter's puking was limited to those two instances. When I got home Carter looked fine, was playing fine, had no temperature - WHEW!

Heather is already so in love - I love being able to see her and Chap be parents. Being a mom is the best job in the world to me and I know Heather will love it just as much. Chap and Heather - I'm so proud of you guys! You are going to be wonderful parents! I hope you know how much Winn is already loved by so many people - including yours truely. I can't wait until the next time I get to see your new family!

Halloween - The Results Show

Halloween was so much fun this year. We had supper club, which was also a costume party, on Friday night. Here I am (Octo-mom) with Jon and Kate.

On Saturday, we went trick or treating with our friends and their daughter Macy. We actually were able to get Carter to wear his beagle costume. He did amazingly well, considering it was 80 degrees outside and that thing had to be hot. Here they are showing off their costumes. Macy was a "scary" bat. You probably can't tell, but she had on some killer purple Converse to go with her costume. Too cute!
We took Macy's wagon for them to ride around the neighborhood, which was a BRILLIANT idea Chris & Mary!

It was nice to have Macy there to show Carter the ropes of trick or treating. It didn't take him long to figure out the process - knock on this door and someone comes out and puts stuff in your pumpkin. He caught on VERY quick!

And here he is checking out his loot!

Halloween

I'm pretty excited about Halloween. I just love the fall and Halloween is just one of those fun things that happens in the fall. It started on Wednesday night when we had some friends over to carve pumpkins, a long standing tradition since we moved to Columbia.

Carter hopefully is going to be a beagle for Halloween. I got his costume out last night, and I think it scared him. He cried and cried when I tried to put it on him. He was supposed to take his costume to school today for the Halloween party, so I sent it thinking "good luck!". About 10 this morning the day care called and said he had a fever, so I had to go pick him up. He didn't get to wear his costume at school, but since we've been home, I've been loving and kissing and playing with the beagle costume in an effort to get Carter comfortable with it. I guess we'll see how it goes tomorrow. Carter may be dressed up as a cranky little boy for Halloween. Some costume, huh!? Oh well, it is what it is!

Tonight we have supper club, which is actually a costume party too. I'm going as Octo-mom! It should be pretty funny. I'll have to post pictures in my costume.

Tomorrow, we have trick or treating with Carter which should be an experience, since he doesn't really understand any of this. But it will be fun regardless. I'll be sure to let everyone know how the costume situation ends up. Wish us luck!