Ghost Rider

Carter came around the corner with his blankie in his head, riding his bike. I could barely contain my laughter every time he would crash into something.

An Evening Out

Gas from home to the Venetian Hotel: $4.14

Two tickets for the Gondola Ride: $32.00 (yeah, I choked too)

Carter gazing in wonder, Camden relaxed and happy: Priceless

Dancing Dudes

14 months today. . .

What is it about your little expressions this month that leaves me thinking of you long after we have tucked you in, all snug with your lovey and two blankies?

The smirk, where you tip you head forward and squint your eyes and grin. You do this when someone gives you a BIG smile. Which happens often. I think it embarrasses you maybe and you try to hide the sheer joy you feel by squinting your eyes. Like "if I can't see you, you can't see me." But I know it elates you that someone is giving you their attention and you respond with this toothy grin.

Then there is the "Daddy's home from work" smile. Your blue eyes literally light up and you reach your little hands for him and say, "Daddy, upppppy uppppy uppppy", with a smile that NO ONE could resist. You wiggle out of my arms to get to him, not because you don't like me (you are quiet the Momma's boy) but the excitement you must feel makes you want to jump to the moon, at least that's how it looks. 

Of course, you also developed a "only for Carter giggle" this month. When Carter makes a loud noise or throws something and laughs, you laugh along with him. A shriek of pure thrill then a giggle from somewhere deep in your belly. A "should we be doing this" laugh. And then you copy whatever Carter is doing, and look over your shoulder at me with a silly purse lipped grin.

Well, there is also the smile when you and Carter are dancing. Silly, wide mouthed, eyes almost closed just bopping along to the beat. You clap your hands and bop your little butt and I laugh every time. 

Carter argued with me last week that you weren't his brother, but his friend. You do have that way about you. Even at 14 months, people are drawn to you. You will have many friends, I am sure of that. All these smiles and giggles, a daily occurrence are part of the reason I love you. Why I get up in the morning. To witness the light of my life and his smiles. 

Love you.

Momma

What I remember about 28 . . . .

Carter,

You are getting very observant, opinionated and are developing your own serious likes and dislikes. These are some phrases I want to remember you said this month that shows your little personality shining through . . .

At the top of your lungs and 2 inches from Camden's face . . . you shout, "GIVE IT TO ME!" Camden, unshaken and smiling, gives you the truck he was playing with. You then say sweetly, "That was so nice of you, Thank you!" 

As I was washing your hands for dinner, "Easy mom! Easy!"

After your bath, your hands were wrinkly and you said, "My hands drunk toooo much water tonight, you kiss them, ok?" (We have never talked about this before so I had no idea where you came up with this theory of your hands drinking water) Anyhow, I did kiss your fingers and assured you they would "unwrinkle" in a couple minutes and when they did you shoved them in my face unexpectedly and said, "Kisses made "em all bedddda! seeeeee?"

Lately, you "overhear" alot. If you think we are going somewhere, you immediately run to one of us and say, "I come ok?" If we are going somewhere, we get loaded into the car and you now ask, "You going to Mexico? You going to the mall, You going to Pappas? You going grocery store? To the Venetian? all in under 2 seconds. If we aren't going anywhere you ask, "You going on a date?" I made the mistake of saying we had to run some errands one day. We went to the post office and store and when I said we were all done, you came unglued and said, "No we go see Auntie Erins!" I guess errand and Erin sound alike.!?

You point to the sky and say, "There's GOODNIGHT Moon Mama!" 

Monday was Grandpa Lyle's birthday and you sang Happy Birthday to him on the car ride over. All by yourself, no help. So cute.

Then the best moment. As we were all sitting in the living room you said "I want to hold my baby Ellie" You did hold her for quit sometime, smiling at each other and "petting" her head as you call it.

Tonight I thought about how cute you were holding Ellie as we read one of our favorite books,

"You Are My I Love You"

I am your parent; you are my child.

I am your quiet place; you are my wild.

I am your calm face; you are my giggle.

I am your wait; you are my wiggle.

I am your carriage ride; you are my king.

I am your push; you are my swing.

I am your audience; you are my clown.

I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.

I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.

I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.

I am your water wings; you are my deep.

I am your open arms; you are my running leap.

I am your way home; you are my new path.

I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake.

I am your finish line; you are my race.

I am your praying hands: you are my saying grace.

I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.

I am your night-light; you are my starshine.

I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo.

I am your good-night kiss; you are my I love you.

Well Cub, not to long ago you were like my little baby Ellie. You cuddled and slept and that was about it. We hung on every smile and I just wanted to hold you. Now you can't sit still for very long. Now we carry on whole conversations and I hang on every word. You request certain bedtime stories and can recite most of them back to us. You have attitudes and good/bad days. You mean it when you say, "NO!" and don't say yes very often. You say thank you unprompted. You pat me on the back. But one thing hasn't changed, you are and always will be my I love you.

Mama

Friday at the Beach

You just can't travel to Cali and not go to the beach, so Friday that is just what we did. 

Headed to Laguna Beach for some fresh air.

Not sure why I like this pic but I think it's because Camden is leaning his head into mine trying to cuddle so I give up the stick I had in my hands. He has a little way of getting what he wants.

My boys

Our family

Snack time

Aunt Sandy, Camden and I out on the rocks.

Cam playing in the sand while Jeff and Carter look at the ocean.

Jeff and Camden

Camden loved watching the seagulls.

The boys, sand and sticks. This is all you need . . . 

for 15 minutes of entertainment.

It was a HAPPY Thanksgiving. . . . .

We left for Cali on Thursday morning at 6:00am. We arrived by 10:30 at my Uncle and Aunts house. Turkey in by 12:00 and then we went for a small walk around the block to burn some "crammed in the car for 4 hours" energy.

Chatting with cousins.

My lil' turkey walking

I love that he is reaching for Ryan's hand here like he is saying, "Protect me from that lady up ahead."

More smiles, behind the binky of course.

Then back to the house for dinner.

Carter the spectator.

Carter's first piece of lemon meringue pie, he didn't like so much but we made such a fuss over it that he picked at it until he got a taste of Pumpkin pie and then he was hooked on that.

All in all a very good day . . . . . .(minus the sickies we all came down with that night)

ROAR

The MGM hotel has Lions that the boys are crazy about. 

There is a walkway under their habitat that you can look up at them.  

You can see Jeff lifting Carter up for a closer look. 

Camden mesmerised

Camden walking

Happy Birthday Paula!

A very special Birthday wish for Paula. An amazing mom, a super friend. Thinking of you today!

The Kissy Monster

Lately, when I say to Carter, "Can I have a Kiss?" He says "NO!" of course. 

So then I say, "Oh, Good, I didn't want a kiss. And he promptly plants one on me.

I turned the tables on him. . . and he actually played along.

He said "Mommy, give me a kiss!" I said "no"

 He said, "Fine, no want kiss" 

And then I got him. 

He's saying "KISS" right here, I said No, but little does he know that the kissy monster is coming.

Got him.

I look like I'm biting his ear off, but I'm making kissing noises that he thinks are hysterical. He seriously laughed for 10 minutes.

Still laughing.

The only smiling picture I have of Camden recently.

He is teething, 5 at once.

He's a little irritable.

I feel like dressing him in this shirt EVERY DAY!

Carter is also wanting to "dress up" lately. 

I think he gets this term from his cousin Bree and her princess stuff.

He isn't asking to put on any of my dresses so all is well. 

He sure thought he was funny.

Faces of My Boys

Carter's fake smile. 

(He does this when I say, "Carter say Cheese" - sometimes he obliges.)

Camden, so serious about his soup, he doesn't notice the noodle on his nose.

(I love when he is so focused on eating that he purses his lips together with such force

 his cheeks puff out)

His new infatuation, wearing sunglasses for everything. Breakfast, playing inside and out, whatever, he scoots over to me and says, "on on on on on on"

I guess I should get used to this face. 

He was annoyed at the flash from my camera  . . . .

 . . . and even more annoyed that I was bothering him while he was cuddling with Jeff.

"Seriously, Mom . . .  

" . . . . Just go away."

Then there is the little "quiet" face he gets when he is reading. 

We got his 1st Library card on Wednesday.

He was so happy to just sit and read and then get up and pick out whatever book he wanted. 

We could've stayed for hours.