Is it possible?

Is it really possible that my son ate more breakfast than my husband...yes you heard that right Carson ate more than Mikey, which I will add deserves a prize in of itself. My child has always been a good eater since day one and the quantity of food he can consume just seems to increase exponentially as the days pass. So today he had a whole yogurt, mind you we have graduated from the baby/kid yogurt cups...they just aren't enough, a whole banana and cheerios...just a standard breakfast for a 9 1/2 mos old! And as I watched him this morning, I could only imagine how much food he'll be consuming at 16!

Camping, Rain Storms and Teething, OH MY!

We took our first ever family camping trip up to Shasta this past weekend, and let's just say it was an adventure for sure! I would like to point out last year we camped here with me at 7 months pregnant...not sure which year was more challenging! :)

We did upgrade this year to a larger tent (photo comparisons below), but we didn't quite realize the tent we would be unfolding had automatic rolling windows and a hinged door...who even knew they made tents with such things, well now we know! Needless to say we fit, with room to spare...guess our family will have to grow to fill the tent some day.

Last year's little tent

This year's family size tent

So 1st big adventure begins day 1 of boating. Head out onto the lake and it is fairly chilly and fairly cloudy, until the storm rolls in. Nothing like being on a boat in the rain and with two babies! Babies stayed dry...parents did not. Would have loved to have come home to a warm shower, heated house and warm clothes...oh that's right we are camping. Thankfully Jilly's parents kindly let us crowd their trailer and get warm.

Carson did awesome sleeping outside in the tent. He woke up a couple of times and eventually made his was into bed with us, not that we minded a little extra snuggling and body heat. But, all in all for a 40 degree night, he did fantastic!

Next day was much much warmer and sunnier. Boating was actually fun and warm and this little Momma got to have her 1st wake board session since being pregnant...made me extra happy! Carson did so well for being trapped in a life jacket for 5 hours on the boat. So he got treated with a couple of bites of ice cream sandwich when we got back.

Mikey wake boarding

Hanging out with Daddy on the boat

Yummy!

When we got back Carson was unusually snuggly and warm and low and behold he got his very first fever. :( Poor guy. He got some extra love from Daddy and napped some more. He is getting both top teeth, so thinking its a result of that, but still feel for the little boy.

Night 2, Carson slept well till 4 am, then we had some family bonding time in bed...well for the rest of the morning...

All in all, it was a fantastic trip with great friends. We had lots of yummy food, the boys had fun playing together, had some time out on the water to wake board and well survived our first camping trip. We only think the next trip with be a breeze with warmer weather, no rain and teeth that are already fully in our mouth!

Loving playing on the air mattress

Sharing Brandt' big boy bike

9 Months

9 MONTHS

There are moments it seems like our baby seems less and less like a baby and becoming more of a little boy.  He seems to changing by the day...I keep telling him to slow down! He seems to be understanding so much more language and baby signs and trying to communicate his wishes by showing excitement or reaching for things.  He is starting to wave "hi" and "bye" although still not consistent, I think Daisy gets more "hellos" and "goodbyes" and than anyone else.  Still is so snugglgy and loving and now will crawl into our laps and lay his head on our shoulder to be snuggled.  Has loved being outside (when we have good weather) more and playing with his new toys in our yard.  Also, continues to be flexible and easy going with our spontaneous and on-the-go life style...travels like a champ too! So here is the latest in the life of little Carson John...

Golf Tournament Charity Event

- He drank from a bottle all on his own, likes to play with it more than actually drink
- Has mastered the roll both ways and uses it to get to the next place of interest
- First foods- bagel and cream cheese, smoothie, quesadilla, grilled squash/zucchini, cheese, honeydew, stir fry and brown rice, cereal bar, eggs, sausage, lasagna, beef stew, spaghetti, turkey meatballs, cherries, strawberries, grapes, and salmon.  Basically any and everything we are eating Carson wants!
- Set up his sandbox in the backyard

- Gets onto his knees from sitting

- Walks well assisted, someone holding both hands
- Celebrated my first Mother's Day at Carson's 1st baseball game

Love my little boy

1st of many River Cats Games

- Began side stepping while holding onto an object...now cruises between the couch, his standing toys, chairs, people, his push toys and getting pretty fast

 - Loves standing up to play, and finds it especially fun to take everything off the shelves in the playroom...this is a really fun game for Mommy too

- Went down a slide for the first time at swim lessons
- Scoots backwards on his tummy...still no forward mobility
- Will twist and spin on his tummy to get to a new toy
- 2nd haircut...and traumatic for everyone- Carson didn't like the clippers and Mikey and I were VERY sad that it ended up way shorter than planned and he lost his little fohawk.  Don't worry though it will be back and we promise hair trims in the future, no more hair cuts!

So it was definitely time for a hair cut though

- Got to play in his sprinkler toy for the first time

- Went to Santa Cruz to visit the Gillespies and stayed in a hotel for the first time

Playing in the sand

1st hotel stay..,and 1st ever sleeping through the night!

Meeting baby Nora

- Had our first night of no nighttime nursing (5/22) Hooray! And we haven't gone back to it...just a midnight pacifier retrieval or quick "i love you" is all we need at night now!

- 1st wagon ride to the park
- 1st time riding in his big boy carseat

And some of our favorite things...
food- blueberries, yogurt, Mum Mums, meatballs, salmon, bananas, muffins, pasta, grilled squash, strawberries, cherries...
toys- a light stick (by far our absolute favorite), small books, cars, balls, music table, play kitchen, playing in his sandbox, and swinging in a swing
And a few favorite photos from the month...

Till next month!

So ready for summer weather

This evening it was warm enough to get out Carson's sprinkler mat. We stripped off his clothes, hooked up the sprinkler and let him play. The water was freezing, but that didn't stop little buddy from soaking himself and loving it. I truly believe this will soon by an evening ritual...so glad our little one loves the water as much as his Momma and Papa.

Crazy 8

8 Months that is! Our little guy seems not so little anymore.  He is beginning to really want to move, whether it be rolling, scooting backwards or trying to stand and move along, soon enough we will be trying to keep up with him I'm sure.  Lately he has us constantly laughing too.  He seems to understand when we are being silly and realizes when he is being funny...lots of smiles and giggles in our house now. It has been another fun filled month of growing.... and Carson NOW...

8 Mos with Hungry Hungry

- Went up to Tahoe for Daddy's birthday

- Went to visit Jill with Mommy in Santa Cruz and got to play at the beach in amazing weather for March

- Got up on his hands and knees for the 1st time, and hated it, but hey we are making progress toward mobility

- Has his 2 bottom teeth!

- Has added to his meal time menu- blueberries (an all time fav), papaya, frozen peas, beets, sweet potato fries,  cantaloupe, bread, chicken, blueberry muffin, yogurt, tofu, cheerios, kiwis, pancakes and teething biscuits (the world's messiest snack). And now more than ever wants to feed himself, he is actually quite good at it, but leads to some messy mealtimes!

1st beets

- Had his first ride in his wagon with his little buddy Dylan

- Can pull himself up from sitting to standing

Easter present from Nana and Grandpa Whittaker

- Started Music Together classes

- Went to the Folsom Zoo for the 1st time, uneventful zoo, but great company with the Reeds

Bears...oh my!

- Rolls back to tummy

- Went on his first boating trip with the Reeds, rocked his life jacket, took a little lake nap and watched the boys wake board

Best Buddies

- At a Dr. Appt weighed 18 lbs 14 1/2 oz (4-21)...getting big!

- Completed his first art project

- And celebrated his 8 mos birthday on his 1st  Easter with family and friends

Little Bunny

Egg Hunt at the Paynes

And just a few fun photos from the month...

Mommy's Laundry Helper

Little Dude

Crazy bath hair

Till next month! :)

Our Weekend Rewinded

Saturday Carson went out on the boat for the first time and he LOVED it! He did awesome in his life jacket, loved watching the boys wake board and even got a good boat nap snuggled up with Momma. This soon will be a weekend ritual...

Ready to go!

First time boating together as a family

Best Buddies

And then he enjoyed his first ever ball pit and by far maybe one the the best and inexpensive toys ever...

Sunday we hosted our Play Group Easter party. It was a sunny (and quite warm) and beautiful day to be outside. The babies played and found some eggs while all the parents got to hang out and catch up. All in all a great time!

Little Buddy with his eggs

Mommies and their Babies

Most of the babies...and Carson's meltdown

Carson's 1st Bunny Cake

Such a fun weekend enjoying our finally spring weather!