Boise or Bust

What Carter has been up to in March

I think Carter might sing before he talks. He sings with me or songs. My nephew Lucas would sing Twinkle Twinkle to him and he loved it and would start singing along....in his own language and own tune. He still isn't saying recognizable words...but I'm not worried, he gabs up a storm.
He is tricky, he will pretend to want to hug you when sometimes it is just a ploy to get closer to grabbing the TV remote.
He loves to sit on our bed to watch TV.
He bites or at least wants to, but will stop when I tell him not to bite. He was wanting to bite me the other day, I told him not to bite me and he pulled back enough just to grab my shirt and bite it. So smart. He still thinks its hilarious to try to bite my big toe. He cracks me up.
I can't hug or snuggle him enough cause he is so cute and funny.
He is getting choosier about which book I read. Sometimes he will get a book of ours and open it and act like he is reading it.
He loves to dance with me. He either twirls on his own or wants me to pick him up and dance.
He is SUCH a good kid and usually listens and obeys what I tell him.
He LOVES being outside and always tries to go to our neighbors. He cries when I bring him home from their house or yard.
A first for me - Road trip with my baby! SCARY! Carter and I went to Boise to visit my sister and her family. He did really well in the car, thank heavens. And God bless technology and snacks. While we were there we were able to see my nephew Jacob, aka. Thomas Jefferson, give a speech for his class. He looked awesome and did great! We also got to attend one of his flag football games. He had a few great stops and I was so proud of him and glad I was able to watch. He is so great with Carter and an amazing kid, who is really growing up.

 Carter didn't always love the attention, but he did have fun playing with his cousins. Especially trying out all their cool toys. He was a whiz in the kitchen. Always loves pushing buttons and seeing how things work.

 Lucas is also so good with Carter and is such a sport, letting Carter play with all his toys. Lucas is becoming a great reader just like his brother and sister.

 A little play time in the playroom.

 The kids rediscovering old toys and showing Carter the ropes around the play room and trampoline. My niece Jessica is so mature and was carrying Carter around like a pro. She needs to live a little closer so she could watch him all the time. Can't believe how great these kids are.....guess we will give their parents props. My sister and her husband are amazing and I am so glad they live closer and we can see them more often.

We were able to meet up with my sister-in-law and her adorable kids at a park. Here is Carter's first swing ride. He liked it. But what he really loved was the park and being able to run around the playground equipment. We went on a nature hike and saw turtles, lots of ducks, and monkeys (Jacob) up in trees. My nephew Anson is such a doll and my two nieces have such fun personalities, partial because of their darling mom. My brother chose up, for sure! So fun to spend time with them.

It was a quick weekend getaway but it was so much fun!

Now back to more about Carter...

He likes snacks, especially fruit snacks. I have to cover treats on the counter cause if he sees them, he wants them. The other day he decided to have a snack under the sink.

He is a great helper. He is pretty good about giving things back to me and helping out. He was in the garage while Jim was putting a shelf together and had fun playing on it. When he was too tall to fit in it he moved on to checking out the tire pump.

 

Toddlerville

13 months old...time keeps flying by!  

And Carter keeps getting smarter and a little sassier at times too.

My sister let us borrow some of the toys her kids have out grown. We figure by the time my kids (hopefully that will be plural someday) out grow them, she will have grandkids that are ready to play with them. Crazy, but probably close to being true. 

One of the toys she brought is a big fire truck. It comes with blocks, which he plays with but his favorite part is that he can pull and push it around. 

That was his favorite part till his dad introduced a new way to play with it. 

He was playing the my baking drawer for a good 10 minutes. Stirring and moving things around. Very intent on what he was doing.

Until he noticed me taking pictures....then he started running for the camera. He doesn't let me take pictures anymore cause he wants to see the picture. I have to sneak attack him when I want to get a picture.

He had a play date a few weeks ago with a friend's baby, who is a few months younger. Carter loved having a friend....to take toys away from. haha. Anything Payne started playing with, Carter decided he needed. But the boys got a kick out of watching each other. Then they both loved eating mac and cheese for lunch. 

We have started letting him try to feed himself. Mac and cheese was not too messy. But Sunday we let him hold the yogurt container and feed himself, that was a lot messier. 

I also let him use a fork, cause it is easier to get the noodles with a fork. He did pretty good, stabbing the noodles and getting them to his mouth. He is getting to be a big boy!

For now fingers are still faster.

Jim is so proud.....that when I say twirl to Carter, he spins around in a circle. Here they are cuddling! So sweet!

Carter has thighs of steel. He has the deepest squat and he can hold it for a long time. Powerful legs.

Honestly, he is so fun and such a sweet heart. Today when I was upset he came and gave me a hug. Man I love this kid.

One is FUN!

Seems like he has become more attached to his soother (pacifier for you non-Canadians) and his blanket. He is always trying to get them and we are always trying to take the soother away.

He is into closing doors and shutting himself in rooms.
He loves jumping on our backs when we are on the floor. Sometimes to get a piggy back, sometimes just because. He is a funny kid.
His new sounds are so cute. He makes a circle with his lips when he says OHHH! And moving his tongue up and down in his mouth for lalalala.
Another funny thing that we taught him, after he takes a drink he says "ahhhh!" He does it all the time now and it's hilarious.
My sister got him a pull along dog for his birthday and he walks that around the house all the time. Pulls or carries by the string.

We let him lick the whip cream the other day and he loved it. Grandpa Hickman's kind of dessert.

He has had diarrhea for the past 2 weeks almost. So we have had him on the BRAT diet and I think he is getting over the bland food and not as many fruits and veggies. Poor guy. Last night he had throw up instead of diarrhea. He just sat in his crib confused about what was going on. When I went in it was all over him and his crib. But he wasn't really crying, just thought it was play time until he started heaving again. After awhile we got him back to sleep and he has been okay today. Just not eating much, but still a happy little guy. He was a trooper and has been pretty good considering he is not feeling that great. He is such a blessing, for an over protective mother.
He loves to snuggle with me, but of course there will never be a picture of that. But he was laying on Jim the other night and it was priceless. He LOVES playing with his dad and just having his dad home.
Love my cute boys!

Look whose's one!

Wow, it's been a year! My cute boy is growing up. He has been so easy, happy, and perfect. It's a joy to be his mother. His personality is coming out more each day. He is playful and loves music and the outdoors. I'm sure come summer time he won't want to come inside.
Grandpa and Grandma Hickman let us have the party at their house, which was so nice. They have a pool, which Carter loves. We found out it is a conditional love....based on there not being lots of others or noise. He would not stay in the pool once everyone else started getting in and it became loud. Funny, he loves when I vacuum and runs behind me trying to be louder than it. He is spoiled to be in a quiet home, with a mother that caters to him.
My family made the trip from Canada and Boise to help us celebrate! So nice of them! We love having them come visit.
We started the birthday off with ballons, which are always a hit. Lucas was trying to help Carter get the ballons, and they had fun chasing them around.

The theme was fish since it was a swim party.

This cake was not as easy at it looks. Mostly cause it was hard to ice the sides that had been cut. Carter did not get his own cake, but he did get a fin to dive into.

A little ocean jello. Note to self, Swedish fish are better outside the jello. 

Here is my sweet niece, Jessica. She is almost 11 and I remember when she was this age. I loved going to visit her. 

Here are Jim and my dad trying to convince Carter to swim...it didn't work. 

"Get me out of here, mom!" While I try to keep putting him in so I can get some pictures. Holly and Caden are in the hot tub.

Kyla teaching Carter how to doggie paddle.

Jessica, Haley, and Parker swimming. At least everyone else was enjoying themselves. I think all the kids tried to drown Jim at one point. I am glad he survived.

Drying off my little fish, as I feed him some gold fish.

Aunt Suzanne wishing Carter a happy birthday!

Uncle Rob, Grandpa Hickman, and Stacey all came to join in the celebration.

Our good friends the Robbins also came. Carter kept giving Haley the evil eye and frowny face cause I told him that she was going to babysit him someday. His reaction was surprising. He really understands so much it's amazing!

Daddy and the birthday boy!

Happy family! Can't believe our baby is ONE!

He will try to blow on food now cause we do it when his food it hot. It is funny to watch him do it.

Digging in to his fin! Mostly frosting but he is not afraid. After a while it starts to bug him that his hands are dirty, so I had to wash them off.

Frosting face!

Marshmallow face!

He liked playing with his balloons. He loved the jello and the cake. 

So fun to have my family in town.  My sister's 3 kids LOVE Carter and are so good to him. It took him a little bit to warm up to my sister and parents...well he is a Grandpa's boy. He loves being my dad's little helper. Sits with him when he is working on the computer, played with him in the snow, threw his watch in the toilet. That was Grandpa's fault in two ways. I told everyone that the only rule was close the toilet lids....which Grandpa forgot to do and it happened to be when he had given Carter his watch and the men were in charge of the kids. So I don't feel bad.
Carter loves to play outside. He had a great time with Grandpa and Jacob and Lucas in the snow.

My sister Angela playing with Carter on the drive to the Party!

A big thanks to Jim's parents for hosting and my mom and sister for helping with everything. So nice to have extra hands to get things done. It was a great weekend. We are so blessed.

 Then on Monday Carter had his 1 year appointment. He is 23 pounds, 30 inches long, and healthy. SO grateful for that! 

Happy birthday baby boy! So glad you joined our family!