Thankful

This morning, I got woken up to breakfast in bed, and these sitting by my bedside.  What a wonderful way to start my day!

My husband is amazing.  I am so thankful for him.  He is definitely my rock, and the one I lean on.  He makes me a better person, and helps me through everyday.  He is so amazing, even when I am so un-deserving of such wonderful things.  He is an amazing Husband, and Father----and I thank the Lord everyday for placing him in my life.  I am so blessed.   

Stickers

Our little Wee Lad loves stickers.  Anything that has a sticky back, he is a pro at removing it from it's surface.  And when I say anything, I mean just that.  For example:  the little sticky cushion pieces that you put on the corners of a cupboard door, to prevent them from slamming shut?  Yeah, he picks those off...and puts them in random places.  Which, usually results in them sticking to himself.  Which also means they go through the wash, because they are stuck to his clothes.  I have no idea where, or why he would have even gotten the idea that those things come off the cupboard door!  He is too funny.

When Grandma Sally was back a couple weeks ago, she surprised us with a sticker book for Carson!  Oh, how thoughtful of her.

He will take his pudgy little fingers, and peel the stickers off one by one.  And, one by one, he will stick them to himself, or the couch/chair.  I try and help him put the stickers in the book, where they belong.  But, we are still working on that step of the process.

None the less, he really enjoys playing with stickers.  It keeps him busy for quite some time at night.  Until he gets side tracked with other things......like---him thinking that the dog should be woken up by him sitting on him, or hitting him with a golf club.  But, that's a whole different topic :)  

Grandma---Carson absolutely loves the sticker book.  Thank you!

Traumatic and Painful Weekend

This is the current status of Carson's big toe......

Yes, it makes me wheezy everytime I look at it.

It all started with the Lazy Susan cupboard, which, by the way...he knows he is not supposed to get into.  But, Friday morning, he decided he would take a stab at it.  A can of chicken noodle soup looked appealing to him.  He dropped it right on his toe, and he was down on the ground in a split second.  He instantly started crying hysterically, and was grabbing his foot.  I knew this wasn't going to be good.  I looked at his toe, and watched it swell, and turn red, then to purple...almost instantly.  It is now black, and the toe nail is going to have to put up a huge fight to stay attached.

He whimpered and cried all day long.  It was a long day, as I am sure he was in a lot of pain.  Heck, I hate it when I just stub my toe, let alone drop something on it.  Ouch!
So, my Friday that I took off to spend with Carson, didn't go as planned.  But, that's ok.  We improvised, and he was held by either Carl or myself all day.  He didn't walk on it for most of the day, and that really bothered him.  He wanted to play all day long, but just couldn't.  Later that evening he finally mustered up enough guts to try and walk on it, and he hobbled around, just to get to his destination.

It broke my heart to see him like that.  He would whimper as he walked, and I just wanted to take the pain away.

Even the smallest, every day tasks that we were so used to doing, we had to think twice about.  Will this hurt that poor little toe?  Putting his shoes on, putting his pants on, grabbing his legs to change his diaper....things like that.  Anything that involved his foot, we had to really think about.

Saturday was a better day for him when it came to walking.  We headed up to Prairie on Friday night, and spent the day with Frannie and Grandpa Gary on Saturday.  We stopped at DG for a quick fruit bar run, and Carson was very content playing in the "Back to School" area.  He was rearranging things, as that is one of his favorite things to do.  But, a bottle of glue got the best of him.  He dropped it right on his hurt toe!  So, we made a quick exit, as he was in a lot of pain, and crying.

Then came time to leave Prairie, and head home to see Daddy.  Carson had done well all day with the stairs, until the very last time he would have to make his way down them.  I was loading up the car, and heard a painful cry from the distance.  Goodness, he couldn't have possibly hurt himself again today, could he?!  Sure enough.  He went head over heels down the steps, and in slow motion made his way to the pavement.  Frannie was right there to rescue him, and get him calmed down.

So, now Carson has a bruised forehead, beat up eye, skinned knee, and a black toe!  I think we have met our quota for the rest of the Summer for injuries.  Or, so I wish/hope.  He is a tough little guy though, that's for sure! 

Cozy Coupe

I have recently discovered that Carson really enjoys the Cozy Coupe.  I had heard this from daycare, so we decided it was time to get one of his own.  Of course, Frannie came to the rescue (once again) and bought Carson his first car! 

Carson really enjoys riding his little car around in the garage, or on the street in front of our house.  And, after reading that sentence, it sounds really dangerous.  But, it's not.  I am usually by his side pushing him, and we live on a very slow street--so it works out perfectly!  Our driveway makes for a very fun ride down, as it is very steep, but it's not ideal for outside play.  So, we make do with the road, or the garage.  And, Carson doesn't seem to mind.  He has mastered getting in and out, and how to make himself coast backwards.  But, we are working on moving towards the prize in front of us.  The van behind him?  Yeah, that has gotten in the way a few times :) 

I also hear that Carson gets a little possessive of the Cozy Coupe at daycare, so we should probably work on that.  And, when it's time to go inside at nights....he doesn't like that either.  But, we will get there.  For right now, I love watching him enjoy himself-- while he sits behind the big smile, and big car eyes that are staring at me.

Aplington Days

Last night, we attended the Aplington Days parade.  It was hot and humid, but we found a shade tree, and had a blast!  Frannie was along for the ride, and joined us for the fun festivities for the night.

Carson was so good during the parade, and it was so fun watching him observe the moving obstacles that were passing by.  The sirens scared him, as he jumped everytime...but, it was kind of cute.  He would jump, and look up from his candy bucket---wondering what was going on.  He sat so good, and only got up a few times to get a piece of candy.  Otherwise, he was content as could be sitting on Frannie's lap, unwrapping tootsie rolls.  He figured out how to unwrap them by himself, which probably isn't a good thing.  He was shoveling them in his mouth, and I was just waiting for his belly ache to set in. 

After the parade, we decided to brace the heat, and head for the park.  There are always rides, people, food, expensive tickets, and scary carnies that hang out in the park...so why not, right? ha.
I decided to buy a few tickets, and send Carson on his very first carnival ride.  I bought the tickets, and stood in line with him, as he waited impatiently.  I don't think he really knew what was going on.  I was so nervous for him.  We handed the man our tickets, walked to the car that Carson was going to ride in, and I strapped him in.  I was worried that he wouldn't like the fact that I would be walking away from him, and was going to leave him alone.  But, he didn't mind.

The ride started, and he went to town steering the wheel on the car.  He was pretty serious about this car drivin' business.  It was so darn cute to watch him ride in circles, like a complete big boy.  I had butterflies in my stomach.  I had a complete Proud Mama moment hit me square in the face.  It was amazing, and I loved it!

My son, who really should still be a baby, was riding in a car, at a carnival, all by himself, without me sitting right next to him.  Someone please pinch me.

So, the first ride was a success.  A huge success.  We got him out of the car, and let the other children enjoy themselves as much as Carson did.  I decided, after Carson was trying to find his way back into the gate to get back to those cars, that I would buy a few more tickets, and let him ride again.  It was another success.  He sat by a complete stranger, and he could have cared less.  Then came the 2nd time of getting out of the car.  Yeah, it wasn't pretty.  He was kicking and screaming.  He didn't want to leave that ride that he was having so much fun on.  It wasn't our best moment, but that's ok.  Other than that, the night was so much fun.  Carson did exceptionally well, considering the heat, and it was past his bedtime.  We headed home, and got him ready for bed.  He went down without a fuss.  I think he was so exhausted from the big day, and all the excitement!

Oh, how much fun it was to see our little Wee Lad enjoy himself, and be so brave.  He didn't show any signs of being scared, and that makes me so happy.

19 Months

Carson is 19 months.  How this happened, I have no idea.  He is inching his way closer to the 2 year mark, and I don't like it one bit.  Well, I like that he is growing up to be such a sweet, loving, caring little boy.  But, I still want him to stay my little baby!

Carson is growing up so quickly, and is learning new things everyday.  He likes to mock our every. single. move.  So, we really have to watch what we do, and if it's something we want him doing.  For example:  Carl kicks the dog because he is barking uncontrol like (which is an everyday occurrence) and Carson will walk over, and kick Tucker as well.  "Ummmm.  Well, Carson, Buddy...let's not do that.  It's not very nice to kick your puppy, we have to pet him nicely."  All the while saying this to Carson, I am giving Carl "the look" of........"see, I told you, he copies your every single move, so please be a good role model, and don't do things that he will mock, and then we have to try and cover ourselves up, and tell him not to do that, because it's not right, or nice!" 

Carson is also becoming a very independent little guy.  He tries to dress and undress himself a lot.  The other morning I walked into his room, and he was kind of fussing in his crib.  He usually wakes up very happy, so I was wondering what was going on.  Sure enough, I found him half undressed, but in a not-so-comfortable state.  He had gotten his shirt over his head, but nothing followed suit!  So, his arms were stuck, and sticking straight out.  It gave me a little laugh that morning, as he had such a frustrated/confused look on his face! 

Carson is wearing a lot of 12 and 18 month clothing.  The 12 month pants/shorts fit him perfectly, but the shirts are getting a little small with multiple washings.  So, if we have our pick, its 12 month bottoms, and 18 month shirts.

He is still in size 4 diapers, and probably will be for awhile.
Wears size 4 shoe.  Yes, he has tiny feet--but they are so cute.  His Dad wears a size 9, so I am not banking on boats for shoes in our house from our little guy! (Carl probably does not appreciate this comment about him.  But hey, this blog is about our family, which includes him, right?! hehe)  Oh, and when I was searching on-line for new shoes for Carson, a size 4 is still considered an infant size!  So, I will hold on to anything "baby" from my growing little toddler!

Carson loves to play outside, and at the park.  He especially likes the swing.  We have a swing in our backyard that he enjoys swinging in during the evening hours.  He will swing in that thing for hours if you would push him that long!

Wee-Lad is still a little shy when it comes to strangers, or people he doesn't see often.  He clings to familiar faces, and I can't blame him.  I do have a funny story to share though:
Scene: Orchard Hill Church, Sunday Morning, 9:30 AM Service
Carl and I decided that it was time to take Carson to the nursery for his very first Sunday.  He does really well during the service, but I feel like he is very busy, and may be disrupting people around us.  Not to mention, I never seem to get everything I would like to from the service.  With him hopping from lap to lap, from snack to snack, and trying to keep him quiet, it's a lot going on.  So, we decided to sign him in, and take him to his classroom.  Into the "Walker-Talker" room he goes.  There were sooo many other kids and toys to play with, that I figured he would latch on to something, and be just fine.  We checked him in, and I got a wrist band of his number.  #150.  Carl and I left him in the room as he is crying, and screaming "Da-Da."  Carl's heart about broke hearing that, as did mine.  But, I continue to tell him that we have help him to continue to grow, and we needed to do this.  He would have fun, and he would meet new friends.  Carl and I walk into the service, and find my family.  My Mom was not very happy that he wasn't in the service, as she had enough snacks in her purse to feed the whole congregation.  I told her to save them until after the service.  So, we begin to sing, and about 2 minutes into the first song, #150 comes up on the screen!!  "Oh, Great.  Carl, that's our number!"  So, I walk out of the service, and go to his room.  He is still crying hysterically.  So, I pick him up, and settle him down.  And, back into the church service we go.  The little pistol got his way (as did Frannie).  I really do think that he will have fun in the nursery though, so I think we will be trying it again soon.  Hopefully my next report on Carson's nursery experience is a great one!

Carson is such a sweet little boy, and we really enjoy watching him grow.  He is so loving, and it makes my heart melt.  He gives hugs and kisses, and they are to die for.

We are really looking forward to Summer, and what it has in store.  Parks, picnics, bike rides, river weekends, the pool, vacations, outside time.......

Not to mention, a BABY GIRL COUSIN that is scheduled to arrive later this Summer.  Carson was so good and sweet to Baby Tinley when he met her the other night, that I think he will be wonderful with his baby cousin.  He got some practice to confirm that he is ready to step into the role of "Big Cousin."  I think he will excel greatly in that field, and I am excited to see him interact with her. 

Carson, you mean the world to us, and we thank the Lord for you everyday.  You are such a good little boy, and we are so Proud of you.  We love you so much!!

Baby Tinley

Carson and I got the opportunity to go and meet Baby Tinley the other night.

Tinley is one of my good friends' daughter.  She is so cute, and so tiny!  All 5 pounds of her is so precious. 

 

Carson was so excited to hold her, and looked so proud as he displayed this cute little girl on his lap.  She is so little, so she fit perfectly on his lap, with his pudgy little hands surrounding her body.  He knew exactly what to do, and was so thrilled.  He is such a lover, and it was so fun to watch him cuddle her.  He would give her kisses, and hug her as to show us that he is really enjoying himself. 

 

 

Congrats to Carrie and Kyle on their precious buddle of joy!  She is such a sweetheart.