F.O.U.R.

Carter is FOUR!!!  I was looking back at his post and update from a year ago, and it's crazy how much he has grown and changed!

He loves...
* his cowboy boots and "John Deere pants" as he calls them.
* playing outside or in the snow
* his brother and sister, even though he's the button-pusher
* looking at books
* babies and always wants to hold them whenever he can
* preschool
* coloring and other art

He's enthusiastic and energetic and overall very HAPPY boy and quick to smile, that's pretty much always described him. His vocabulary has completely taken off in the past year, it's AMAZING. He talks in full sentences (although still a bit stuttery sometimes) and is pretty understandable to most anyone. He dresses himself and potties by himself although he often says he "needs a little help". As a mom, it's hard to know when he wants to do things by himself and when he still needs me. But he clearly lets me know!!!  LOL  He attends big-kid Sunday school class and usually sits in church with us instead of staying in nursery. He walks beside the shopping cart now instead of sitting in it. So many big adjustments!

He's a great little guy, and I'm so thankful he's part of our family!!!

Celebrate! (potty reward)

When driving back from Iowa (from Carter's party), we were finally able to stop somewhere for Carter's ice cream reward for completing his potty TRAINing chart. Each sticker indicates days he had NO accidents. He earned it a little bit ago but with sickness going through the house, it took some time to get an outing on the schedule. This is a big accomplishment in his life, and I believe in supporting and encouraging him as a FAMILY so we all got ice cream!

This is Freddy's in Omaha.  If he's anything like Hannah, he will forevermore call that "his ice cream shoppe" lol.

 So proud of you, Carter!!

Party time!

Carter and Hannah have birthdays exactly 1 month apart, and being unpredictable winter months and a decently long drive for the families I've "struggled" with whether to have a joint party (which I don't like doing, I want the kids to each have their special days) or how to do it.  So this year I tried something new.  We had one party back home and one party will here.  So Carter's party was at my parent's retirement house.  I never know quite what to call it--their house that they own and are fixing up and will live in when Dad retires in Mom-knows-the-countdown. They were so gracious to share their space!  And it was actually quite fabulous! A huge bulk of the work (prepping our house for guests) wasn't part of the equation at all!  We bought simple decorations that were quick to put up, we ordered a HyVee cake so we didn't have to bother transporting one, and overall it was just a super easy party to put together.  

When getting preparing invitations, I asked Carter what he wanted on his birthday cake and he said Thomas. So Thomas the Train theme it was!

The menu: meatballs, coleslaw, crab cubs, and fruit salad.  I didn't notice til I was setting it out that it's all the same colors!!!  =S  Oh well, it tasted good!

Nothing like family gathered around the same table.

Cake time!

 Presents!

Jan. 14

Even though actual party day wasn't until the following Saturday, we still had to make Carter's birthDAY special and great for him!

 He wanted to get dressed in this that morning. It lasted a whole two minutes. =)

Breakfast was cinnamon rolls and eggs.  (I have totally and 100% converted to the frozen rolls, thawed and risen and yummy and delicious that tastes like the real bakery! No more Pillsbury for me!) Kevin was off so he got to enjoy the day with us. AND it so happened that Eli had to stay home sick that day, so we got to have the day together. At first I was bummed cuz it meant we couldn't out that night but it actually turned out pretty nice. 

After I dropped Hannah off at preschool, Mommy came back with a balloon delivery.

 He got to open a gift from a friend

 Lunch was chicken nuggets, apples, and Cheetos.

Tried to get a picture with the birthday boy, but he didn't want to be in it, so I grabbed Hannah instead.

Carter's always asking for Pizza Hut when we drive by so that's what I planned for his dinner.  We brought it home instead. And watched a movie.

A

Another fun day in the books!  =)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Carter!!

Wow.  I can't believer Carter is THREE!  My YOUNGEST is THREE! My baby, our last.  *sigh*  Things are rapidly changing around here.  There is no more diaper cupboard. No more baby/toddler silverware in the drawer. No cribs. No need for a pack n play, or binkies, or baby monitors. Board books are gradually getting phased out to make room for longer stories. And booster seats are optional (at the table). We are officially making a new step in parenting. Just a taste of the next phase.

But Carter, my sweet Carter. This day is about who HE is and where he's at in life right now as of January 2013.

* Carter is nearly fully potty trained. Except at night, and we don't push that one. He was pretty easy, and the hardest part of it was ME remembering to take him, or ME deciding to stop putting pull-ups on him.  HE did great, and we are all so proud of him!! 

* Carter has never been super verbal.  Chatty and communicates well but not really in fluent sentences or anything, as is familiar with many of our little friends.  (I try not to compare, but sometimes it's hard not to!!) His words and clarity have improved a great deal over the past couple of months though, and he speaks in 4-word phrases at most.

* He has a very delightful and silly personality. Quick to smile and never very serious.  He's shy around strangers sometimes but other times seems he's saying Hi to everyone.

* His very biggest struggle is sharing (imagine that) but he's otherwise pretty obedient and helpful.

* Of the kids, he's one of the biggest eaters. And besides cheese and tomatoes, there's not much he doesn't like.

* He loves cars and trucks and trains and diggers. He's gentle with baby dolls. He loves sledding down the stairs in a pillowcase. He loves the trampoline. He loves books, play dough, helping in the kitchen, or cutting with scissors.  He's a busy little boy indeed!

We are overflowing with joy!!

Video: Carter making up games

These are some of the sweet moments I get at home with Carter when the big kids are at school. Notice how QUIET the rest of the house is... I LOVE IT!!  And I love this sweet boy and his cute games.

He was playing peek-a-boo with his sippy cup for almost 10 minutes straight (a LONG time in toddler world!!).



Then I was trying to get Carter to say some words for me but then it just triggered another little game! LOL How silly!

Almost walking!!

Oh I've been soo anxious for Carter to walk again. And to be able to really play outside with Eli and Hannah and to walk to and from the car by myself so I can carry the other things I usually have. But the Dr did say it was going to take at least a couple weeks. And it has. But now, just finally this week, Carter started putting actual weight on his foot, then taking steps with his toes curled up, then standing flat-footed, and now taking hobbly steps all by himself and even doing SPINS! It's about as exciting as when he first was learning to walk at 1 year old! And now here he is again! So excited for him!!

By the way, I've been realizing how I need to get some video of him before these days pass me by! He's been learning lots of new words lately and I want to try to capture them on video in his cute little voice before he grows out of it! So more video clips will be coming...

Healed!

The day before his birthday Carter got his cast off!  He was given another x-ray and it came out clear and his leg fracture healed perfectly! {I was bummed we didn't actually get to see it though!} I was HOPING Carter would just miraculously walk right away, cuz I had a few ideas I wanted to do as a family that weekend in honor of Carter's birthday since his party isn't for another couple weeks ago, but Carter is NOT walking yet and I decided it would be better to just wait on our fun. He still has a really nasty nickle or quarter-sized pressure wound on his heal from his first cast, and it's very tender, so I believe that's the reason Carter is still avoiding standing on his leg still.  The Dr. said it could take a couple weeks anyway, even without the heel wound. Once it's healed, he'll probably take off again. But of course he's zipping around all over the house anyway! It sure would be nice not to have to carry him everywhere though, but I'll be patient! We're just thankful his bone healed! It's amazing how God has designed our bodies to take care of themselves!

Carter {2 YEARS}

Today we wish our baby boy a happy birthday!! We will party with family in a couple weeks in conjunction with Hannah's February birthday. But still today, we take a minute to look at our baby who is not so much a baby anymore. Who brings us all such JOY with his bright smile. Who is growing more independent every day yet still loves his momma to help him. Who is becoming more interactive and verbal. Who continues to develop his own unique personality that we love and adore. We are blessed. Happy birthday!!