Blog Challenge, day 17: Goodbye infant carrier hello Convertible Car seat

We have said goodbye to our infant carrier recently and hello to our stage 2 convertible car seat for young Carter. Although it was beyond heavy carrying him in his infant carrier because the two of them combined weighed a lot, I loved our infant carrier. And have now realized how EASY it was to not only switch between cars because of the base that stayed in each car but also the convenience of being able to carry him into places without having to take him out if he was asleep.  That is no longer the case since I cannot just take him into a place in his stage 2 car seat and the base is attached to his new "big boy" seat so to switch between cars has become a lot more difficult and somewhat a pain. Oh well. I still love it.

Adios Peg Perego infant carrier and hello Recaro convertible seat!!

Carter Grey - 1/14/11, leaving Hospital and going home

November 2011 - one of the last times in his Infant Carrier

Hello Big Boy Recaro seat

He loves it!!!

Blog Challenge, day 14: First words

Carter has a few words in his vocabulary now. As a parent, every milestone is exciting. Every new word is thrilling. I shriek like a teenager who is seeing Justin Bieber in person whenever something new happens with Carter. New word, I shriek. New tooth or teeth, the same reaction. I find it all exciting and wonderful.

Carter's 1st word was back on Sunday, August 7, 2011. Jeff, Carter & I were shopping for things for our house all day and while we were at Bed, Bath & Beyond, it happened. I was pushing a cart, Jeff was pushing Carter in his stroller and Jeff told me to come over where they were and listen to Carter. I heard him as I was walking up and became overly exciting and acted somewhat hysterical. Carter of course kept  quiet whenever I would walk up and as soon as I would walk away, he would start again.  His first word....."mama"!! Yippee.

Carter's 2nd word was spoke a day shy of six weeks later, on Saturday, September 17, 2011.  His second word was "dada"! So cute.

He actually knows which of us is which and will say it when he wants one of us. If one of us walks away while playing with him, he'll say "mama" or "dada". When he wakes up. When one of us walks up to him, etc. Carter's first two words were the most thrilling and mean the most to us both. Melted my heart when he said, "mama" and again when I heard him say, "dada".

Since those two first words, he now says, "ya" and "no". We think there are a couple others he somewhat says and is trying to say right now but not enough to share. He is definitely a talker and excited for when it all makes sense to us one day. Until then, enjoying the few words we know and all his baby talk.

Blog Challenge, day 11: Halloween 2011

This Halloween was Carter's first. Although he is too young to really understand all the fun that is Halloween, it was still great to experience it all with a little kiddo. We know that every year it will be that much better to experience Halloween fun with Carter as he starts to figure it all out.

There were three things we did to celebrate Halloween this year:

1) Attended a pumpkin carving party with friends and lots of other kiddos. We did not get around to carving our pumpkins at the party as we were busy hanging with Carter and some other young kiddos around his age. Getting all the kids in costumes and trying to stay in one spot long enough to get photos of them all together was task enough. He took a liking to twin girls (5 months old) and we all hung out together the majority of the time at the party.

2) Carved two pumpkins at home a couple days before Halloween. Next year, we decided we will wait to carve pumpkins until the day/night before Halloween. This will help keep them fresh looking longer since it is so dry here. They tend to curl in after a couple nights....we found out the hard way. Do you keep or throw out your pumpkin seeds after carving? I decided to roast our this year and coated them with splenda and cinnamon. Delish!

3) Handed out candy to all the Trick-or-Treaters that came by on Halloween. This was our first Halloween ever together handing out candy, not only as a family of three but for Jeff and I as well. Years prior we were always at parties or out to dinner, and that was because we didn't get many trick-or-treaters where we lived all the years before. This year Carter was dressed in his costume all night and was included in greeting all Trick-or-Treaters and passing out candy. Great to see all the various costumes and have another memory for Jeff and I with our little guy!

Here our pictures from our various Halloween events:

Da-da, Ma-ma & Carter the Giraffe at the Pumpkin Carving Party

Just me and my Giraffe - love him!!

Carter with the twins, Molly & Ellie

I don't remember if this is Ellie or Molly but she DID NOT LIKE her costume! 

She kept crying. Carter was curious what the crying was about trying to cheer her up by poking her cheek. It didn't help. :)

Pumpkin carved by Meghan

Pumpkin carved by Jeff

Our little pumpkin (Carter's Halloween PJ's) and our two carved pumpkins

Splenda & Cinnamon roasted pumpkin seeds

Blog Challenge, day 6: 8 & 9 month pictures

Carter Grey - 8 & 9 month pictures

Carter - 8 months old

Carter - 9 months old

These photos amaze me just how much he has already changed and that he is already 10 months old.  Time is going by too fast but we're trying to enjoy every moment.  When people always say, "it goes by so fast, enjoy it while it lasts", they aren't kidding.  We love our little guy and are amazed how FAST the past 10+ months have gone by.

Be back tomorrow.

xoxo

Blog Challenge, day 5: Six month weight & height

Never posted the stats from Carter's six month doctors appointment......

Weight: 16 lbs, 15 oz
     Percentage: 39%
Height: 26 3/4 inches
     Percentage: 65%

*** I'm stretching for this post. Is it bad that at this early into my challenge I am stretching it?!?! Hopefully not. We have a friend in town staying with us who we're having a great time catching up with and during the day I was busy with various appointments scheduled at our house for the day so needless to say I haven't focused on our blog AT.ALL.TODAY! I decided today this will be my post. Amazing to look at these stats and see how different they are now....mostly his weight!***

Happy day 5 of the challenge - how many more to go...yikes!

Blog Challenge, day 4: Carter's 1st Hair cut

There is a kids salon near us that we stumbled upon a couple weeks ago. It is called Jack & Jill Kidz Salon. What a cute name, right?! Yesterday, we had a hair appointment for Carter. Although we buzzed his hair ourselves when he was 3 1/2 months old, this was his first "true" hair cut done by a professional. For first time kids cuts, J&J has a special keepsake package they offer; certificate with a photo and locks of his hair. I was hooked that they would be the place for his first cut after I learned of that nice little memento.

Carter sat on Dad's lap for his hair cut. He did so well for the appointment. Didn't squirm, cry, and was a good boy. He really enjoyed the part of having his hair sprayed with the water bottle to make it wet. The hardest part was getting him to keep his head down while cutting the hair at the nape of his neck. Thank goodness for Velcro on his shoes and the help of another stylist kneeling down with me to keep his attention down when necessary. Fun experience and love how his hair no longer looks like a ragga muffin.

Here are some pictures from yesterday:

Little man rocking his new hair style:

He looks so much more grown up.  Love his new style and know we'll be back for future hair cuts for our little man.

Blog challenge, day 3: Ten months old

Our little Carter Grey turned 10 months young on Saturday 11/12/11. He is such a joy. We're very fortunate because most of the time, Carter is very happy and content and curious of everything going on around him. After his second two hour nap for the day on Saturday, I got him ready for a night out.

Before we left the house we took a few photos to capture his ten month birthday. Cannot believe ten months have already past.

Carter, after waking up from his afternoon nap. Notice his rosy cheeks?!?!

(still rocking his Michigan shirt after watching the game earlier)

Carter's 10 month picture

The past ten months have been such a joy and looking forward to all that is to come. 

We love you little guy!  

Blog challenge, day 2: more teeth for little man

So exciting, little mans top two front teeth have broke through the gums as of this week. These two teeth are now officially numbers three (his left front) and four (left front right)! Cannot believe our little man has four teeth.

We're happy to report that the only signs of these teeth breaking through the gums, was again nonstop drooling and rosy cheeks. THAT.WAS.IT! He still slept, took good long naps and was cheery as usual. Not sure how we lucked out again with such a happy and great baby while his second round of teeth came in but not complaining. Doubt we'll always be this lucky with teething so we'll take it while we can get it.