MOUNTAIN CLIMBER

I was resting on the sofa this afternoon with my eyes closed. I could hear Carter playing on the floor beside me and I knew that he was safe...or so I thought. He's never tried to climb the stairs in our home before, so I was really surprised to find him on the stairs when I opened my eyes. He was standing on the third step and grinning from ear to ear. *Sigh* I guess that my little man now thinks that he is a mountain climber.

Today is Labor Day, 2010.

INDEPENDENCE DAY part 2

Click here to view these pictures larger

Home of the Brave

by Roger Robicheau

Through the feel of war they

brave this day
How proud they stand,

their unselfish way

Our soldiers bear what we cannot see
They assure our right to live life free

Each trained will face an unknown fate
Our support they need, don’t hesitate

Just imagine how this land would be
Without their courage - catastrophe

All the liberties we have grown to know
Would not exist, this life would go

Find a thankfulness within your mind
Speak gratitude for our bravest kind

Have the willingness to show you care
For fallen heroes, hold back no tear

Reach out to God with his guiding light
For our troops do pray,

both day and night

America raise your flags to wave
For we truly are 'home of the brave'

©2003Roger J. Robicheau

---

This 4th of July was pretty uneventful. We didn't even get to see the fireworks. However, we did go to Matthew's house for a BBQ today after church and it was nice to spend some quiet time with my family. While Matthew and Mom were cooking, I was outside taking pictures of the kids. Matthew's kids are getting so big now. They fight over who gets to hold, feed or sit beside Carter. They adore him and they think that anything he does is so funny. Sometimes Carter and his cousins create a stir in church when they are supposed to be sitting still. (Sigh!) So far I've not had much success at getting Carter to be quiet during church services. Why should he sit still? He has a large adoring audience who think he's the cat's meow.

---

Jonathan (almost 10),

Hannah & Savannah (almost 9),

Dillon (6) and Carter (10 months)

INDEPENDENCE DAY part 1

I took these pictures of Carter today at the pretty gazebo across from the Methodist church near the Fairgrove Fire Department and elementary school. This is his 10 month photo shoot. It was a beautiful evening, but so hot. It's been a super hot summer this year. I usually only take Carter outside to play early in the morning or late in the evening. Rachel went with us and assisted me in the process.  She's really learning how to be a good "photography assistant." 

---

Carter is such a funny little guy.  At 10 months old he is getting into everything. Gone are the days of planting him in one spot and walking away to do a chore. He can move so fast now and I have to really supervise him. He is crawling and pulling himself up on furniture, large toys, etc...

I'm in the process of trying to get him to drink from a sippy cup, but thus far I've not been very consistent in my training.  Carter still prefers his bottle and fusses if I give him a sippy cup.  This is going to have to change though because soon (sometime in the next 4-5 weeks) I will take his bottle completely away and start him on whole milk. 

Carter loves to laugh, squeal and shout. He's a happy little fellow and he talks constantly in baby language.  I think he gets this from his Daddy, but maybe a little bit of it comes from me too! LOL.

One funny thing that he does is he picks up each one of his toys and talks to it, chews it, plays with it and then throws it down and goes to the next one.  He really loves his toys and plays with all of them every day.

Carter has started taking his baths in the regular bathtub which he loves.  He gets on his belly and kicks his legs, which reminds me of a tadpole or large frog.  I think his practicing his "butterfly stroke" - cute!!!

Carter loves it when Daddy plays with him.  They wear each other out.  Daddy flies Carter around the room like an airplane and sings "As God as my pilot I will fly safely home, fly safely home, fly safely home..." Carter loves this song and fun ride and he squeals in delight.

Carter is desperate to learn to walk.  It's so much fun to watch him hold onto my hands as he walks, trots, skips and jumps as we go around the room. He has a funny little quirky walk and it reminds me of Hitler's solders - remember how they swung their legs high into the air? This is what Carter looks like....so adorable!

Carter is changing so fast and I can hardly believe that he's almost a year old.  Time has gone by so quickly.  As I type this I'm crying softly that my little baby is almost a toddler.  I can say with all honesty that this has been the absolute best year of my life. Watching Carter grow has been an amazing and life changing experience.  I never want this special time to end.  I love my little man with all of my heart and I want to relish every moment with him.  I guess this is why I take so many pictures - it's because I'm so afraid that my memory will fade and I will be left to live the rest of my life not remembering what Carter was like as a little boy.

HOPPING DOWN THE BUNNY TRAIL

Click here to view these pictures larger

This was Carter's 1st Easter, but we didn't really celebrate it because of the family crisis going on.  These pictures were taken after Easter had already come and gone.  My family was going through a really difficult time because Grandpa was at death's door in Baptist Hospital.  (His doctor made a horrible mistake in his gallbladder surgery.)  In addition, my mother was sick on Easter Sunday and she didn't go to church. My sister, my brother, my brother's children, Carter and I met for lunch after the church service on Easter, but Carter didn't get to unwrap his Easter basket because of all the drama going on in our lives during the Easter holiday.  Carter did get to wear his new Easter outfit to church though and he looked so handsome.

EASTER OUTFIT

Click here to view these pictures larger

Wilson and I purchased this outfit for Carter from The Children's Place which is one of my favorite childrens clothing stores.  These pictures were taken at Carter's daycare several weeks prior to Easter.  I think that he looks like such a cute little man in this outfit.

TURKEY BIRD

Click here to view these pictures larger

 

Albuquerque Turkey

(sung to the tune of "Clementine")

Albuquerque is a turkey
And he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles
and he's absolutely mine.

He's the best pet that you can get.
Better than a dog or cat.
He's my Albuquerque turkey
And I'm awfully proud of that.

{Author Unknown}

[PREGNANT: 10 weeks 4 days] VALENTINES DAY

Click here to view these pictures larger

[PREGNANT: 4 weeks 2 days] NEW YEARS DAY

Click here to view these pictures larger