Everyday Stuff

Carson figured out there's something staring back at him in the fireplace glass!  

Sadie wanted a "princess crown" and I guess she didn't want to go upstairs to get one.  Instead, she cut one with paper and GLUED it to her head!  Yes, she GLUED it to her forehead!  Thank goodness Elmer's glue sticks aren't permanent!  

Random Post

I realized that I haven't downloaded pictures from my camera in about a month, so here's some of what we've been up to:

Carson managed to get his entire arm out of his pajamas.  I know it's terrible that I took a picture of him like this and he's crying, but I still regret not taking a picture of Morgan diving into the bathtub, fully dressed, as a toddler.  Some moments just need a picture so you can laugh later.

Carson is a very oral baby.  He puts EVERYTHING into his mouth!  This is one of his favorites, aside from his binky--it's a rubber jack.

Carson only found this funny until he realized his head was too big to scoot back and under the rocking chair, and his diaper was too big to scoot forward.

The usual "Mom, take a picture of us!" shot requested by the girls.  Many more of these to come over the next 15 years!

Boys will be boys!  Brian and Carson just laughed and giggled with this little trick!  They both thought it was hilarious!  (The truth: Carson has a BIG, BALD head, perfect for resting a frisbee)

Brian and the girls have been spoiled with D-Land THREE times this past year!  Brian won tickets at work a few weeks ago, and AON was super awesome and let him turn his +1 into +2 cute little girls!

I still can't get over the fact that they went on the canoe AND that Sadie didn't lose her paddle!

Who doesn't love a good carousel ride? Round and round and round...I think I'm gonna be sick!

Who doesn't have a picture of their sleeping kids?

Her Own Balancing Act

More Good Times!

Oh, how I love babies that can actually do things!  Carson is becoming more fun every day!  Despite this last week, where he's had a HORRIBLE cold, he's turning into a mostly happy kid!  (I say mostly because he's also starting to figure out when we leave him alone, and he's not a fan.)

Carson loves to jump.  Grandpa has been very willing to bounce him in his lap, on occasion, but, Carson's needs for bouncing just weren't being met.  Enter Craigslist.  I found a practically brand new bouncer (the lady even steam cleaned it for me!) for a fraction of the cost, and, it was the closest one to our house!  Super bonus!  

Tonight, we ate pancakes for dinner.  It's been one of those days.  Little by little, I've been putting food on Carson's tray at mealtime.  Until tonight, crackers ended up mostly on the floor.  While there was still quite a bit of pancake destined to meet its fate due to the law of gravity, a greater portion actually made it into this little guy's stomach.  I don't know if it was the stickiness of the pancakes (he usually just crumbles bread) that helped, or their delectable taste, but he gobbled them up!  Yum!

O Happy Day!!

Carson reached a VERY IMPORTANT milestone about 2 weeks ago!  Quite possibly my favorite baby milestone.  Here's proof that I no longer need to lug 19+ lb. Carson, strapped into his 10 lb. carseat, into the store!

Way to go, Little Buddy!

Now, if only Sadie would walk so I could have the cart space back...

You Won't Find These In Colorado!

From the kids' perspective:

SADIE:
Sadie points to every palm tree she sees and says,  "Look!  A Hawaiian tree!"  Not sure where that came from, but I laugh every time!

MORGAN:
Last year (2010), when we visited Brian's family in Arizona for Christmas, I remember having the following conversation with Morgan, then age 4.

Morgan: (pointing to a palm tree trunk) Mom, what is that?
Me: That's a palm tree.
Morgan: That's not a tree.  Trees have branches and leaves!
Me: (pointing up to the top of the tree) See, the leaves are up at the very top.
Morgan: Well, it's not a Colorado tree, then.

6 MONTHS OLD!!

Wow!  How time flies!  I can't believe our little guy is already 6 months! 

In honor of his birthday, for FHE, we each shared our favorite thing about Carson.  Then, we celebrated with Golden Spoon!  Yummy!

Here are some favorite (and not-so-favorite) things about Carson:

* He rolls all over the place and loves to explore (he recently got his head stuck under the ottoman reaching for a toy)!

* He smiles and cries at the same time!

* He loves to blow bubbles with Grandpa!

* He pulls his socks off and undoes the velcro on his shoes  (notice the picture)

* He charms everyone he meets!

We love our little buddy! 

This month, Morgan is learning about American History, and last week, she made a Statue of Liberty Crown.  This is how she walked out to the car after school.  Notice the "torch" in her hand.

The girls received even more train tracks for Christmas.  They got out the blocks and Sadie built a city and Morgan built the tracks.  It's pretty impressive!  Sadie even created the suburbs with smaller buildings apart from the tall buildings downtown!

Meet Fillmore

Or, as the girls are always saying, "Carson, here's your friend...Mommy, what's his name again?"

I've been searching for a lovey for Carson for a few months.  First, I couldn't decide on an animal (all the fun ones are taken by cousins--hippo, lion, giraffe, monkey...).  Then, I didn't know what I would name said animal, once I decided.  So, I kept searching.

I happened upon a frog named Fillmore, and thought it was a very fitting name, but I didn't like that Fillmore.  So, I continued to search.  I found a different frog, named Ponds (original, huh?), and I just decided that his name would be Fillmore.

He came in the mail last week.  Carson loves to chew on his face and grab his hands (legs??).  It was love at first gnaw.  And, the rest will become a fun family journey, just as Rae and Lulu have.

Sadie's Latest...

I knew from the day she was born that Sadie would always have to do things on her schedule.  That being said, I haven't pushed her to learn her letters, numbers, etc.  I knew that eventually, she would take an interest, and, at that point, she'd dive in full speed ahead!  

She's been counting for a while, and about 4 months ago, she started wanting to recognize letters and numbers, but still no writing.  So, I started doing workbooks with her, but at a very casual pace.  

Two weeks ago, she said to me, "Mommy. I want to write my name.  What are the letters?"  And, after only tracing my dot letters three times, here's what she did all on her own!  (And, of course, to document her first name writing, it had to be on a piece of scratch paper.  Oh, well!)

(side note:  right at her 2nd birthday, I remember talking to her babysitter about my concern that she might be colorblind--she was that aloof to learning!  But, I now know that's what happens when you compare siblings!  Morgan was eager to learn at an early age.)

Twinners

Carson and his cousin, Jack, must have received the same church shirt for Christmas from Grammy.  Both times that the Jones family has been up for Sunday dinner since then, Jack and Carson have both sported their new attire.  And, for those of you that think taking a picture of all your kids is hard, try taking a picture with a toddler who is intrigued by his bald cousin's head.  Yeah.  Here's proof that it's really interesting (to Jack, at least).

And, here's the best we could get.  At least Alie and I look good!