Bouncing the Day Away

On Sunday, February 7th, we went to a birthday party at Bounce U.S.A. for our little friend Matthew! Carter had the time of his life! He played in the ball pit, bounced in the bounce house (while giggling hysterically), and slid down the slide several times. Thank you Brantley family for a great time with great friends!

"This is so much fun!"

We were thinking... glad he's still on his antibiotics!

Joe took Carter down the slide a few times with him...

and then Carter went down one time by himself!

He wasn't too fond of that trip down the slide!

Carter's favorite toy at Bounce U.S.A. apart from the ball pit!

I have a best friend...

and that best friend is ME!

Courtney was reminded of a book she reads to her class called "I Like Me!". It's a great story for little kids about loving themselves and their uniqueness. Carter could have written the story because he truly LOVES himself! He loves waving to himself anytime he sees his reflection. He also loves to play peek-a-boo in a mirror with himself! We get the biggest kick out of watching him! Joe had put a mirror in the hallway so that he could look at his shoes and guess who found it? Carter made a bee-line for the mirror and started kissing his reflection! He tries to use the faucet in the bathtub as a mirror to do the same thing!

Carter's New "Ears"

As many of you know, Carter had tubes put in both ears before Christmas break. Unfortunately since then he has continued to have ear infections (3 times in the last 6 weeks!). We went for our follow-up visit to the ENT on Friday, February 5 and learned that we will need to take Carter each week to have his ears suctioned for the next few weeks. While we were at the dr., he also suggested that we have Carter wear these special ear plugs during bathtime. Oh boy was it fun putting these things in! Carter screamed the entire time while we tried to get his plugs in just right. Once he was in the tub he forgot about them and had a great time playing with all his toys!

Which toy do I go for first?

Bathtime is so much fun!

He LOVES the letter "I"! He is always able to find in amongst all the toys!

Joe "hides" bath toys in cups and Carter thinks it's so fun to find them!

"Snow" Much Fun!

Mommy and Daddy took me to play in the snow for a little while today (Sunday, January 31st). The dr. said the cold air was good for my lungs so after I pitched a fit while Mommy and Daddy bundled me up, I was ready to go outside! I had on so many pants and shirts! Thank goodness I had some big clothes I could put on from cousin Owen! I had so much fun sledding and playing outside! I can't wait for it to warm up so I can play outside more often!

I'm such a big boy that I can stand now but I refuse to walk without holding onto someone or something!

I decided to take a break from standing so I sort-of fell over! "Uh-oh" (sometimes I try to say this after Mommy or Daddy say it first)

I went down a hill with Daddy and we went FAST!

Then I went down a hill with Mommy and she made us go s...l...o...w!

Daddy and I went down a very big hill! It was so much fun!
This made Mommy a nervous wreck!

Daddy and Mommy walked away from me so I decided to crawl after them in the snow!

I was trying to tell Daddy to pick me up!

I enjoyed eating the snow! It was cold and I would bite it with my teeth!

Our Family Picture-

I have the best family in the world!

What a busy month!

Carter has been so busy this month! He has learned so many things and is growing up so fast! We are constantly amazed at what he can do! Look at what all our little man has done this month!

Carter playing his kazoo from Guggy and Grammy! He has learned how to hum into the end so that it will make music! Every time it makes noise he gets so proud of himself!

Playing catch with Daddy for the 1st time on Friday, January 8th!

He was so excited that he could throw the ball at Joe!

Walking with his walker toy for the 1st time on Saturday, January 9th!

He pulls up on the handle and takes off!

Our baby cut his 4th tooth on Wednesday, January 13th!

If you zoom in you can see all 4 teeth in this picture!

Carter had his 1st taste of ice cream from Bruster's on Wednesday, January 20th!

He loved it! Is anyone surprised by that?

On Monday, January 25th Carter crawled over to the stairs and he didn't stop! He has never been interested in the stairs or even tried to climb them. This time he put one foot on the 1st step and he took off! He never looked back or stopped until he got to the very top! Joe followed him up just in case he started to fall while Courtney grabbed the camera and started taking pictures!

Ready or not? Here I come!

I made it!

Look at the excitement on his face! He got to the top and gave us the biggest grin!

Christmas with MawMaw and PawPaw

MawMaw and PawPaw (Joe's mom and step-dad) came to visit the day after Christmas. We hung around the house Saturday and after dinner we had "Christmas". MawMaw's friend Kathy gave Carter some new Christmas pajamas that said "What Santa Doesn't Bring Me, Grandma Will! " so we put him in those for pictures. He looked adorable! Carter got a Radio Flyer Wagon, several toys, and new clothes. He LOVES his wagon and enjoys going for rides in the house. We can't wait until it warms up so we can take him for a ride outside! Thank you MawMaw and PawPaw for visiting and for all our new stuff! We love you very much!

The best present of all- our baby boy!

"A... B... C... D... E... F... G..." next time won't you sing with me!

Carter's 1st Tool- A Craftsman Tape Measure!

Opening his new pair of shoes - Maybe now he'll start walking without holding on to something!

Carter LOVES music and LOVES to bang on his new drum!

Posing with PawPaw and MawMaw (and all his new stuff)!

Christmas at Guggy and Grammy's House

We went to Courtney's parents' house to celebrate Christmas around lunchtime. The kids were so excited about opening presents! Carter loves having his cousins hold him and play with him. Grammy cooked a feast (as always) so we all ate before the unwrapping started. Papaw and Mimi (Courtney's grandparents) came up to watch the kids open gifts. Carter got a new outfit and Eric Carle book from cousins Noah, Zoe, Ellie, and Ainsley and a piano from cousins Reed and Owen! He loves it all! Thanks Guggy and Grammy for the presents! We love you all!

A kid picture before the chaos begins!

Carter opening someone else's present! He would just start ripping paper and opening things if anything got within his reach!

Finally opening one of his presents!

Carter's new piano- he loves music!

One of his presents from Guggy and Grammy- a walker/riding toy!

Carter was so exhausted after all the presents were unwrapped! He was ready for his afternoon nap!

Merry Christmas!

We woke up Christmas morning to a "talking" baby over the monitor. Every morning that Carter wakes up on his own, he sits up and starts telling us (in his own way) that he is ready to get up! Some mornings he bangs his pacifier on the railings to get out attention. He doesn't like staying in his bed long after he wakes up as you can tell. We gave him his morning bottle before we all went downstairs to see what Santa had left. Carter had so much fun with the bows and tissue paper. Unfortunately, Santa didn't wrap Carter's presents in paper that liked to rip so we had to help get into his presents several times. (Note to Santa: Try ripping the paper before you wrap the gifts!) Carter enjoyed unwrapping for about 20 minutes and then was over it! Courtney cooked biscuits, sausage, gravy, and eggs for our 1st Christmas breakfast together. It seemed Carter enjoyed the food more than the presents! We had a wonderful 1st Christmas morning together! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family to enjoy this special day together!

Santa must have enjoyed our cookies after all!

Our Christmas tree on Christmas morning

We put Carter down and he took off straight for the big bow!

Trying to unwrap a gift

"Look at my new books!"
Carter LOVES the books by Eric Carle. His favorite is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". He even has the caterpillar that goes along with the book and it is always one of his favorite toys.

He has to have a school bus with both mommy and daddy being teachers!

Time to take a snack break!

"YUMMY!"

Carter refuses baby food so now he eats basically whatever we are eating... and loves every bite!

Carter with all of his new things!

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours!