One Birthday, Two Cakes, Lots of Kids!

This weekend we had Carter's first birthday party. We decided to keep it really simple and have cake, ice cream, and bubbles. I didn't know what to do for a one year old's party, but I thought bubbles was something that Carter and the older kids would all enjoy. I got the cake from Publix which gives you a free "smash" cake if it's a 1st birthday. Basically, it's just a small cake for the baby to play in, but it was great. Anyway, I ordered the cake, bought the ice cream and balloons, and got lots of bubbles. I bought this outfit for Carter hoping Granny would put something cute on it for his birthday and she didn't disappoint. Now, to just get it clean so he can wear it again on his actual birthday (Wednesday).

On the big day, lots of family and friends came to help Carter celebrate. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends who would care so much about our child. We set up everything on the back porch so the kids could run around (or crawl) and we didn't have to worry too much about them. Here is Carter just strolling around with dad holding tightly to his bubble wand. Next, it was time for cake. Carter looked a little concerned when everyone started singing happy birthday to him. It was almost like, "Mom, what the heck is going on?!" We sang and then gave him his cake which took a little coaxing to get him to try at first, but once he did he was licking every finger.

Then we got to come inside to clean up. I mean, how cute is this little mouth smeared with icing?

All in all, it was a great party. That's not to say that I wasn't exhausted and in desperate need of a beer when it was over. But it was really great. I can't believe my baby is one! He's almost not a baby anymore.....so sad. Let's see, how many more years did Scott say we had to wait......

3 peas in a pod

Carter and I went over to Krissee and Daniel's the other day and Carter got to play with Smith and Addison. Playing these days is a new adventure. It's all about, I want what you have, gimme, gimme, gimme. But they are all so cute. We remembered that we took a picture of the 3 of them soon after the twins came home in the chair in the twins nursery. We thought it would be fun to see the difference 9 months down the road. Time sure does fly and these babies are growing way to fast. As you can see in the first picture, Carter looked like a giant compared to Smith and Addison, but that's all changed now. Smith and Addison have all but caught up to Carter...actually I think they are all right around the same weight give or take a pound or two.

They look like little people now, don't you think? They are going to have so much fun growing up and playing with each other.

Mother, Mom, Mamma, Mommy

This will be my first Mother’s Day as a mom, and I’m really quite excited. Having Carter was such a defining moment in my life where I realized that I was BORN to be a mom. I thought I would enjoy motherhood, but I could have never guessed that I would enjoy it this much! I love everything about it, even the not so fun stuff. Now don’t get me wrong, there are those moments when I want to scream in frustration or run out of the house, jump in my car and drive away with the music blaring. But most of the time I love every single minute. Being with Carter and seeing him grow and changed makes me so happy. If we could afford it, I would have five more! OK maybe not FIVE more, but definitely several more!

Being a mom has changed the way I look at everything…..movies, politics, news stories, music, dining out, bed time….mainly because now I automatically think how these things affect my son or I imagine myself in those situations (like with the news). When I became a mother, I thought WOW my mom and dad love me this much. It’s an amazing perspective that you’ve never had before.

I have always had a special bond with my mom. I can truly say she is my best friend (although she did not raise me as an “I want to be your best friend” kind of mom-if you know what I mean) and I can count on her for her support anytime I need a little help or encouragement. I hope that my children will grow up to love and respect me as much as I do my mother. Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms and moms-to-be out there!

The New Babysitter

Carter has discovered the doggie door lately and has been absolutely fascinated by it. He'll sit there for seriously 30 minutes just playing. It's really great when I'm in the kitchen doing something and he can just play right there with the doggie door. It's a little inconvenient for Calhoun and Belle since sometimes they get trapped on the other side. Belle can normally sneak through, but poor Calhoun doesn't want to jump through on Carter so he just sits outside and waits. And sometimes mommy even gets trapped outside especially if I've gone out to check the laundry or something. Thankfully someone has always been there to move him out of the way, but I can see a time when either I have to crawl through myself or pull him through (the more likely option). Carter's only fallen all the way through one time, which I think is pretty amazing since most of the time he's hanging half way out.

Easter and More

We had a wonderful first Easter with Carter. We went to my parents’ house Friday after work, and Carter just spent the whole car trip looking at himself in the baby mirror and laughing. Saturday me and mom went to the mall and just paled around. It was so must fun just hanging out and doing whatever we felt like. We also went to the outlet stores where we hit a really good sale at the Carter’s outlet. Of course, Carter and Noah got a few new items.

Sunday was really fun! We all got up and Carter had to check out what the Easter bunny left in his basket. He was a huge fan of the yogurt melts. Yummy! Really he’s a fan of any food, but he seemed to particularly enjoy these melts. After that, we all got ready and headed to church. Me, mom, Scott, Carter, Holly and Teagan all went to church at the church we grew up in. It was a great service and we even got a few pictures of us all dressed up in our church duds.
After church we headed back to mom’s where we met up with the rest of the gang for dinner. Mom and dad fixed ham, potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs…..all the delicious Easter favorites. It was so very very good! Then of course it was time to hunt Easter eggs. I think everybody took a turn hiding the eggs for Teagan. She loved trying to find them all. Anyway, while I was helping Teagan find the eggs, Holly was holding Carter and she says to me, “I think he feels kind of hot”. So, she takes him inside to take his temp and sure enough 102.2. GREAT! I’m telling you, we just can’t catch a break

Carter had a doctor’s appointment on Monday anyway to see if his ear infection was gone, so that did work out pretty nicely. Scott took him to the doctor on Monday and the good news was that his ear infection was finally gone. The bad news was that he had a highly contagious virus. My poor baby….he just can’t seem to get over the hump. So, not only did Scott stay home with him Friday because the daycare was closed on Good Friday, he also had to stay home with him on Monday. I really didn’t know what to do, because Scott really needed to get back to work and I had to take more days than I actually had when I was sick a couple of weeks ago. I could take unpaid leave, but who can afford that, really?! I called home and Dad said he could come to the rescue! So, Papa came up to keep Carter on Tuesday (and possibly Wednesday if he still had a fever). They got along GREAT. Papa said Carter did wonderful and he had no problems whatsoever! I was a just a little worried, because up until this point Carter cried every time Papa held him. But I guess when it was just the two of them Carter straightened his act up.

Anyway, Carter is doing much better and actually went back to day care today. So thanks Papa for bailing us out of a jam. You’re a lifesaver!

Minute Clinic

Have you guys heard of the CVS minute clinic? Well, I am now a HUGE fan. As you know, I'm still sick, and I had the sneaking suspicion that this crunk in my head had turned into a sinus infection. So, I just needed a doc to give that wonderful cure-all antibiotic, but I didn't need to miss anymore work because seriously I just started and missed a ton last week. Anyway, the CVS near work has a minute clinic with a real doctor where they can treat things like seasonal allergies, strep throat, sinus infections, etc. You know the real common stuff. So today at lunch I run over to the minute clinic. There was no wait so the doctor took me right in. She asked some questions; looked in my ears, nose, throat etc.; took my payment (which is just your normal co-pay) and bingo bango I had a prescription for my antibiotic. Then the best part was that she sent it electronically over to the pharmacy so they could get to work filling the script. I was in and out in about 30 minutes and then just had to go pick up my meds at the pharmacy. It was GREAT!! I'm now a huge fan of the Minute Clinic.

Still Sick

This week has been a doozy! It started off Monday with a huge allergy attack that just led to more and more congestion. Then I ended up getting the chills and body ache and fever and all that jazz. NOT a fun week. I had to miss 2.5 days of work, which I don't think I've even got that much saved up yet. Plus, on Thursday I had to take Carter to the doctor about that ear infection that we can't get rid of. Of course, the ear infection is still not gone and he had to get a big shot of antibiotics in his leg. He was not too happy. Now we have to take another oral medication and go back to the doctor in 10 more days. Hopefully, it will be gone by then. On a bad note, Carter and now Scott has caught the cold that I had. I HATE the pollen, I HATE not being able to breathe, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT.

In other news, Carter's day care is taking school pictures on Tuesday, so I'm super excited about that. I have the cutest outfit that my mom bought for him that he's going to be sportin' on picture day. I'm also really looking forward to Easter. We're going to be going to MB and spending Easter with my family, and I'm so excited to get to spend some time with them.

Also, it's now officially public...my best friend Heather is pregnant after months and months and months of trying. It seemed like forever, but YEA!!! FINALLY!! I know that her and Chap will be amazing parents and I can't wait to help them welcome this little one! For some reason I automatically think it's a boy...I'm not sure why. But, we'll see in time I guess.