The Woodland Park Zoo

After a busy 4th of July, Bill, Erin, Carter and I headed to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle on Thursday.

Carter was quite amused by the Elephants, Giraffes, Otters, and Bears

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!!!

The Bears were playing in the water which offered perfect viewing for Carter.
Then off to pet the goats.

Checking out the chickens

Peek -a - boo
All worn out, time to head home.

Feeding the Ducks

Friday night, Grampy and Grammy babysat Carter and took him to a little park by the house to feed the ducks.

" Ohhh wow!" -Carters new phrase

Meeting Blu

Saturday, Dave brought their puppy Blu over to meet Carter. He seemed interested at first but after about 10 minutes he just wanted to climb the back porch stairs. Oh well, I guess that means we can wait on getting a puppy for now.

3 Things NOT to say . . . EXTRAS ADDED DAILY . . .

. . . to a pregnant woman

1. "Boy, you inhaled that." - Jeff after sweetly bringing me Taco Bell at 9:00pm, to which I showed him I had not eaten the whole taco in 2 seconds, I was merely pacing myself . . . and then he finished my taco.
2. "You playin' hoops after this" - Checker at Costco while pointing to what he thought was a basketball under my shirt.
3. "You are as big as you were at 8 months with Carter" - Nice lady from meeting, oblivious to the fact that I already FEEL like a refrigerator.

Just FYI in case you were wondering. - I then proceeded to Wendy's at 10:00 pm in my PJS for a frosty. The guy at the drive thru looked at me like - "Yeah, I've seen your type before."

ADDITIONALLY - ADDED 06/26/2007

4.) "You look exhausted" - A client I had today. (I wish I could've said - "Listen Dude, I AM exhausted. I have a 10 month old, I can no longer bend at the waist, I don't sleep well considering there ARE NO comfortable positions. I am always hungry . . . so yes I am tired, but you are lucky I am happy."

Happy Birthday Jessica!

Don't hide, the birthday monster will always find you!

"Hopfy Birfdeee Auntie Jessssssss" - Carter

Saturday at the Water Park

We took Carter to a city water park in Henderson on Saturday. It was 109 so he was slathered in sun screen and we didn't spend much time out in the heat. But he enjoyed the cooling off.
Mike, Amanda, Dane and Teddy came with us too, Dane was off running around the park, Mikey chasing him. Teddy (the dog in the background) and Amanda cooled off in the water with Carter.
Carter met another puppy, his name is Rudy. They got along quite well.

Just the right size for each other.

1 Week and counting . . .

We are going to visit Grammy and Grampy next Sunday.

Thought this silly picture would tide you over till we get there.

FYI: Grammy and Grampy, Get out the brooms and curtains and return all conventional toys, this kid entertains himself with household items.

Kitty Chasing

Shower Fun!

Jeff was showering after work tonight and Carter decided it looked like fun. He started out a couple weeks ago by crawling into the shower, now when he hears the water running he wants to play in the water.

Peek-a-Boo

Father's Day

Jeff's 1st official Father's Day.

Meeting at Riverton in the morning and a 6 hour car ride home in the afternoon.

Yipppeeee!

Brothers and Cousins celebrating the day.
Handsome Shepherd brothers, and the kids who refuse to pose for pictures.

A weekend trip

We went to Riverton Convention this last weekend. Stayed in Park City, in a cute Soho style condo. Carter enjoyed his Cheerios for breakfast as usual.

We managed to explore the town a bit, Carter met a very uninteresting frog.

Oh well, I thought it was cute.

Wrestled a bit with Daddy. His newest infatuation is pulling Jeff's glasses off when he's ready to tackle.
Carter also met a huge Bear in the Park City village.

Best Friends

A little jam session.

Silly Carter, that's not how you talk on the phone.

Bath time

Mohawk Man!

Jeff and Carter went out on Saturday morning to run some errands.

Carter decided he wanted a mohawk.

What a cool dude.

New Pictures of Baby

His little face, sucking on his bottom lip just like Carter used to do.
Sucking his thumb
Side view.

They told me he weighs 14oz now, his belly is 4 inches around and he is 6 inches long. Tiny little thing, wonder when I've gained 20 pounds already?????

WARNING: Peek-A-Boo Could Be Hazardous to Your Health

This week was eventful, well one event - ful - moment at least. The morning started out lovely. Carter was in a fabulous mood and was playing happily with his toys in the living room downstairs. I was collecting laundry that was in Carter's room upstairs. As I came down the stairs, handful of tiny socks and little onesies, Carter looked up at me and waved. This cute expression threw my heart into a tizzy and I decided to play Peek-a-Boo from the top of the stairs to get a few more smiles. Carter got in a few giggles and then all of a sudden I was plummeting to the bottom of the stairs, somersaults and all. All the while saying to myself "don't hit your tummy." Thankfully I didn't hit my belly, only my head.... but who needs a brain, mine is half gone these days anyway. Pulled my shoulder good too but I landed at the bottom of 15 stairs on my rear end. (Which thankfully has become more padded the last couple months) Carter thought this was quite amusing and happily greeted me with a smile at the bottom of the stairs. Today, I got another check up from the doctor to make sure all was ok. Yes, all is perfect, I will post some great ultrasound pictures soon. Baby is still kicking up a storm, happy and healthy. We saw him blink today on the 4D ultrasound. I left his office with relief and very strict Doctor's orders: No flying leaps down any stairs until after baby #2 is born. After that it's still not advisable but I can do what I want I guess.

Memorial Day

Carter, Auntie Kari and Bree in the pool. It was a nice 95 degree day and the kids loved the pool.
Some Grandpa time.
Carter floated in his boat for quite awhile. Smiling at everyone.

Where does the time go?

It wasn't all that long ago that we brought a very fragile, breakable, completely dependant, or so we thought, little baby boy home from the hospital. So tiny, we thought moving him would break him. He cuddled with his Auntie Erin for hours and she didn't even have to hold onto him. He would just lay against her and snooze. I found one of his extra newborn diapers today and can't believe he's already in a size 3. The newborn size looks so small now. He had to eat every 2 hours and cried just as often. He woke in the night every couple hours. Jeff and I took turns rocking him back to sleep after midnight meals. Going out to run errands was a huge ordeal. Took 2 hours just to get ready and then we still wouldn't have what we needed. Smiles were rare and priceless.

Now, almost 10 months old, he has been in the world longer than he was inside my belly. Carter babbles up a storm, BA-BA, MA-MA, DA-DA, HI, BA-NAAAA (Banana?). He recognizes family and looks for his daddy in the morning when we come down stairs. He likes to talk to Grammy and Grampy on the phone. He loves the kitties. He crawls. He stands with help and walks between furniture. He is trying to stand on his own now. Carter has 2 teeth, and tries to feed himself now with his spoon. He feeds himself finger foods like bananas, crackers, pancakes, etc. (By the picture below you can tell he misses his mouth a lot) He squirms out of my arms and you have to hold tight or he will jump. He reaches out for us to cuddle. He sleeps through the night. He smiles all the time but now when he finds something funny or sees someone he likes, they aren't rare but still as priceless. His infancy is speeding past. How is this possible when the days seem so long but the months fly by?

Where does the time go?

Carter and His Walking Toy

Carter is getting his legs to work more everyday. Just a couple weeks ago he would just crawl over to this toy and push it, now he stands up and walks with it.

Check out the new fashion statement too: One sock rocks! He usually takes one of his socks off in the night and so when morning comes he is ready to show off his new style.

Baby Boy Shepherd #2

Here's a 4D ultrasound side profile of the little boy on the way.

These were taken at 18 weeks along (2 weeks ago)
Regular Ultrasound, here the Dr was checking his facial structure. Perfect palate, ear, nose and chin.
Another 4D Ultrasound, pretty amazing at only 18 weeks.

Friday Funny . . .Thanks to Grandma Vi for the Giggle . . .

Learn Chinese in 5 minutes (You MUST read them aloud)

English = Chinese

That's not right = Sum Ting Wong

Are you harboring a fugitive? = Hu Yu Hai Ding

Small Horse = Tai Ni Po Ni

Did you go to the beach? = Wai Yu So Tan

I think you need a face lift = Chin Tu Fat

It's very dark in here = Wai So Dim

I thought you were on a diet = Wai Yu Mun Ching

This is a tow away zone = No Pah King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week = Wai Yu Kum Nao

Staying out of sight = Lei Ying Lo

He's cleaning his automobile = Wa Shing Ka

Your body odor is offensive = Yu Stin Ki Pu

Pregnancy Q & A - So Funny, I stole it from another blog

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Mother's Day

Auntie Erin visited.
Cuddled with Mommy.
Swam in the pool.

That was the day.

To My Everything

Absolutely LOVE this song.

To My Wonderful Husband, in this crazy life and through these crazy times . . . it's you, it's you. . . . you're my Everything.

Piano Man and Naked Butt

Jeff is teaching Carter to play piano.
Carter doesn't care that he isn't wearing any pants.

(But he will when I show this picture at his graduation.)
I hope Jeff isn't teaching him to play "Tinkle Tinkle, Little Star."

Darn, another boy...

I was in Flagstaff Arizona for the week on business when Renee called to give me the news on the "development" of our little girl. Dad's response? I was so disappointed I went shopping. I think Carter knows he's getting a brother now too....

The Story of the Little Girl Who Grew a Penis . . .

Yep, you guessed it. An ultrasound today revealed a little more than we expected. Our little girl decided she'd rather be a boy. I guess you can never count on 90%. We are very happy that Carter will have a brother. Double trouble. Bunk beds. Soccer games. No weddings to pay for! Send back the pink bedding, more blue coming our way.

The Ultrasound tech was scanning the baby when all of a sudden I saw something that looked out of place. (Pictures to follow shortly) She said, oh so sweetly, "Do you know what you are having?" I thought, "Well, yeah. The Dr. said last time it was a girl." But as obvious as it was I responded, " Well, that's certainly a boy." No mistakes, our thoughts of pink ribbons and lacey dresses quickly changed to race cars and fire trucks. The Dr. came in and confirmed the obvious. (He was certain he had told me only 80%) I remember a figure like "between 80 and 90%." But it doesn't matter now, we are having another boy!!! Good thing we found out before Erin and I painted the nursery..... which was planned for this weekend by the way.

Anyway, the little guy measured just on target 18 weeks and 1 day. "Healthy, good heart, brain function, good organs, no deformities, active" I have to admit the word "Healthy" was all I wanted to hear. Girl. Boy. . . . doesn't matter. Healthy. . . . 10 fingers, ten toes . . . squirming around . . . music to my ears.