IN THE STILL OF THE EVENING

I was rocking Carter tonight in his bedroom which had a little bit of light shining through. I was tickling him and both of us were laughing. Then things got really quiet, so I decided to pray out loud because I think it is good to live by example. He was being so unusually quiet and still that I decided to take a little peek to see what he was doing. To my astonishment, he had his head bowed and his chubby little hands clasped together. It was a solemn, sweet moment. I never want to forget these little moments between the two of us.

My simple prayer tonight went something like this:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for answering my prayers and giving Carter to me. He is the perfect baby for me. I pray that you would help me to be the mother and Christian that you would have me to be. Help me to serve you Lord. I want to become an example for Carter of what a Christian should be. Help me to be consistent, loving and kind to my little boy. Lord I pray that Carter would accept you as his personal Savior at an early age and that he will serve you all the days of his life. Thank you for answering my prayers and for blessing my life. In Jesus Christ's name I pray, Amen."

Wilson and I have been praying with Carter since he was a newborn. He is learning to be quiet and reverent - that is until we get to the end of our prayer when he loudly states, "Maymen!!!"(aka amen). This is his favorite part and the way he says it so matter-of-factly is just too adorable.

THIS LITTLE MONKEY...

I was peacefully sleeping in my bed this morning when Carter started screaming for me to come get him. Being that it was only 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, I decided to let him howl for a little while to see if he would drift back off to sleep. This ended up being a bad idea from the get go because I was never able to get back to my peaceful slumber with all of his persistent racket.  I even tried to no avail to cover my ears with my pillow. Unfortunately, he kept howling until about 7:30 a.m. when he decided to scale his crib bars and climb over.  I didn't know any of this was going on until I heard a very loud THUMPETY THUMP THUMP and a very loud WAAA!  I knew instantly that my little monkey had climbed out of his crib, and my heart jumped out of my chest as I sprang of my mattress.  Nothing mattered except getting to him...and FAST.  He was already sitting up and rubbing his head when I came bounding into his nursery.  After scooping him up and searching him from head to toe, I quickly determined that he was going to make it without even a scratch.  Not even three minutes passed by before he stopped crying and was ready to go on with his day. 

I feel kind of sad that Carter figured out how to climb out of his crib because it is just another reminder that my baby is turning into a "big boy."  I view this as sort of a right of passage that I believe most babies/toddlers learn to do.  I know that I should consider myself lucky that he is 17 months old and just learning to figure this out (my little brother learned to do this when he was just 9 months old). I'm going to really miss letting him sleep or play in his bed while I go about my business.  Now I've got to brainstorm and figure out other ways to keep him safe especially while I'm still sleeping.  

A TALE OF TWO CUBS

I snuck into my Little Bear Cub's room tonight to check on him and discovered that he had fallen asleep with his arm tightly wrapped around his big brown bear. So cute! I love the way his little behind is stuck up in the air and how his ankles are crossed. This toy is very soft and cuddly. Carter loves to hug, kiss and wrestle with him. I had to turn on the hallway light to get these pictures because his room was way to dark even for my newer camera. 

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

AFTER A LONG DAY

BREAKING NEWS STORY: RECKLESS DRIVER/STUNTMAN SURVIVES AUTO ACCIDENT!!!

News Watch Warning: 

"A young dare devil was involved in an automobile accident on the daycare playground this afternoon when he attempted to stand up/climb out/jump out of his moving vehicle. He survived the accident, but he did sustain some minor bumps, bruises and abrasions. Injuries to other persons at the scene were not reported. Ms. Mary, the injured subject's teacher and an eyewitness at the scene, said that she did see the driver shed some tears and cry uncontrollably although he appeared to look like he was going to make it. Ms. Mary also stated, "He is a reckless driver!" Therefore, the authorities are advising anyone living or playing in the vicinity of the crime scene to keep a watchful eye out for this dare devil stuntman less they desire to become the next victim. The driver's name is Carter McKinley and according to the authorities this is his 1st automobile accident (but certainly not his last). Mr. Carter was released today into his mother's care. He is at large in the community and it is unknown when he will attempt this stunt again. Women and children are advised to stay off of the playground until further notice. Mr. Carter is short in stature. He weighs approximately 19 lbs 6 oz. His dark brown eyes and black hair are dead giveaways to his identity. No other details of the accident are available at this time."

CRY BABY

THE NIGHT BEFORE CAKE SMASH

ON THE BRINK OF BECOMING 1

EXPLORER

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

STANDING TALL

Tonight I was playing with Carter on our living room floor and watching him crawl around after his toys. I decided that it would be a good time to take a video of him crawling and got my camera. As the camera was "rolling," Carter crawled over to the ottoman and stood up! Just like that...as if he had being doing so all his life. He had been pulling himself up on objects that are below the height of his waist, but tonight was the first time he was able to pull himself up on such a large item. Later that evening (after he had gone to bed) I opened his bedroom door a crack to peek in to see if he was sleeping and there he was - standing up and chewing on the top crib rail. I ran to grab my camera and when he saw me through the door he started to cry as if his heart was going to break. He was crying so hard he was gasping for air and his little body was trembling. Crying for Mommy is getting to be a nightly event for us. I try not to pick him up when he does this, but tonight he was just so upset. After cuddling him, I ended up letting him fall asleep in his swing with a bottle and then transferred him to his crib once he had been sleeping for awhile. I think this is really becoming a bad habit.

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SICK DAY

Carter is sick this week. He's sick so often it's disheartening. I think that sometimes being sick so frequently has at times delayed his development. This morning he was running a fever of 103. In these pictures he had crawled up beside me (the army soldier crawl) and rested his hot little head on the large floor pillow in his nursery. After he fell asleep, I took these pictures. So cute, so sweet...

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BATH NIGHT WITH DADDY

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Carter really loves his bath time now...splashing, squealing, tasting/chewing on the faucet and playing with his bath toys. He's still taking a bath in the kitchen sink, but he's not using the little plastic folding tub anymore. He finally outgrew that thing. Tonight Wilson gave Carter a bath while I took these pictures.

LEARNING TO CRAWL

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Carter is trying his very best to crawl, but he cannot get the hang of it.  He just learned to get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth.  I can see his frustration in not being able to make his arms and legs move the way he wants them to and it's exasperating to watch try over and over again without success. I can almost hear him thinking, "Everyone else can crawl or walk, why can't I?" A part of me wants him to reach this milestone, while the other part wants to scoop him up and keep him as a little baby forever. He's growing up too fast and I find myself often feeling conflicting emotions.  I didnt' know that parenthood would be so difficult. I found this poem today and it made me cry...

---

Baby Song by Diane Woolley

At first you didn't lift your head;

You didn't know to smile.
The time before you knew my voice
Seemed such a long, long while.
I couldn't wait for you to roll,
And then to sit and clap.
And now you're off and crawling,
Not helpless in my lap.

Why didn't someone tell me
How fast a baby grows,
That every little baby stage
Soon comes, but sooner goes

So I'll enjoy the fleeting time
Before you learn to walk.
And treasure every tiny noise
Before you learn to talk.

For soon you'll learn to walk,
Then run,
And talk and sing a song,
And never be my babe again.
The babe's forever gone.
Little baby, take your time,
For while you're tiny, you are mine.

RELAX'N AT HOME

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Carter and I are just relaxing at home today while I play with my new camera.

6 MONTH CHECK-UP & SHOTS

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Carter had his six month check up today. As you can see in the pictures, there are bright blue band aids on both of his thighs from where the nurse gave his inoculations. Ouch! I've thought about bringing my camera to one of his doctor's appointments, but so far I've not had enough courage to do so. Also, as any mother can tell you, baby check-ups are not exactly the proper time to take pictures. It would be difficult to juggle a crying infant in one arm and a camera in the other. These pictures were taken after we got home.

GYM TIME

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Carter turned 6 months old yesterday.

A few times recently Carter has “teased” me by sleeping from the time I put him to bed until his 5:00 a.m. feeding. It was so wonderful to wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized.

I’m still using my Moby sling sometimes to carry Carter, but he sure is getting heavy in it.  I really only use it when he’s really fussy or when we are out running errands and he refuses to sit in the stroller.

I’ve been reading some baby board books to Carter in the evening, but so far he seems more interested in chewing on them then listening to the story.

Carter can just about sit up on his own, but he’s still having trouble balancing.

I have been putting a little bit of oatmeal once a day in his bottle, but I’ve not really started feeding Carter any baby food yet.  I’ve been waiting until he turns 6 months old because this is what the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends.  Therefore, I guess this means that I will start feeding him actual food just as soon as WIC give me the vouchers to do so. 

MOMMY'S LITTLE LAMB

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My Dearest Carter,

In the stillness of the night I tiptoe into your nursery.  It is so quiet and peaceful here.  I can hear you breathing softly and I watch your little chest rise and fall.  Sometimes I reach over to stroke your hair.  It is so soft and very fine.  Other times I gently caress your little chubby hands or pat your little round tummy.  Every once in awhile you stir a little so I have to stop before I wake you up.  I go in here to check up on you to make sure that you are warm enough and that you are breathing okay.  This is a nightly ritual. I think about you all the time and want to spend every possible minute of my life with you.  You are my heart’s delight and you have brought unspeakable joy into my once dull life. I begged God to give me a baby and he gave you to me.  Now my arms have someone to hold and to love forever.  I’m more fully aware of my human existence now that I have become your mother.  You are part of the reason for why I was created and for why I was put on this earth.  I thank God every day for giving you to me.  If anything ever happened to you my heart would be rent into pieces never to be put back together.  As I stand here in your nursery I think about our future together and how I can help you grow into a man.  God has given me this responsibility and I do not want to let Him down.  I look forward to watching you grow and mature. You are so precious to me.  I want to experience with you every happy or sad event in your life.  No matter what happens I will always be here for you with open arms to share in your excitement or to wipe away your tears.  My love for you is like a two edged sword – one side is a dull, constant pain because I know that someday you will grow to be a man and leave me to start your own family.  Sometimes this pain feels so sharp and I weep.  This time of your infancy is too short and so precious.  I try to slow the time down, but to no avail.  We’re living on God’s timetable.  The other side of the sword is a feeling of excitement, happiness and contentment in living our lives together here and now.  I prefer to feel this side of the sword the most, but I cannot get away from the knowledge that you are growing too fast and the ache in my heart sets back in. The clock is ticking fast and I feel so rushed to spend as much time with you as possible. You are my darling baby boy and I love you extreme.

- Mommy

PLAYTIME WITH DADDY

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 Wilson came over for his bi-weekly visitation today.  Look at how short Carter’s legs are in these pictures.  He wasn’t quite sure what to do about sitting on Wilson this way.