Addie's Holiday Attire

It Only Took 19 months To Grow These...

Happy 19 months to our tenacious baby girl.

Best Friend Squabbles

I will always remember my first major fight with my elementary best friend when she was sleeping over at my house for the night. For some reason I got her clean pair of underware wet and in a panic decided to "microwave" them in order to dry them the quickest way. After calling her mom to pick her up in the middle of the night, we got over that one but I definitely don't have those early best friend squabbles documented like these two lucky girls do.

Addie and Ella's first fight was around 14 months over a baby stroller. Nearly 5 months later we have, well documented, their second. I couldn't help put continue to snap pictures at the hysteria going on brought on by placing 2 identical gold trees in front of them. Ella really wanted Addison's tree and Addie wasn't going to give it up with out a fight.

On a sweeter note, a couple of weeks ago, I was taking a quick picture and noticed these two best friend's curls. Although, they with out a doubt, both have beautiful curly hair, each one's curls are VERY unique, just like these two toddler girls themselves.

Carter's Top 10 List at 3 Years Old: #1

#1. Race Cars
Tonight I asked Carter, "What is one of your most favorite thing?" Carter softly replied, "Balls... basketballs are the bestest." I said, "Really, you don't like race cars?" And he said, "Oh no, mom, they are MY FAVORITE!" So #1 & #2 may be a bit of a toss up. However, slowly beginning about 6 months ago when Carter got his first "Lightening McQueen" match box size car, they have been a continuously growing focus for Carter. About 75% of his birthday gifts involved a race car and Carter couldn't be happier to have a different type of race car in every room in the house. Our hallways get much of the "speedway" action and Carter seems to have a co-driver by his side at all times.

Notice his ultimate prize for a good visit at the dentist laying on his feet... a new race car.

Other things to remember Carter by at 3 years old:

1. Blake and I have consistently changed from "MaMa" & "DaDa" to "Mom" & "Dad."
2. His favorite color is red. (His first basketball winter league team color is red!)
3. Favorite Food: oatmeal
4. His sweet sweet demeanour. He doesn't like to be alone and prefers Blake or I in the same room with him all the time.
5. Favorite Toys: match box race cars, balls, motorized Percy, any little toy that moves
6. Favorite Books: The Picture Encyclopedia
7. Typical Schedule: up at 6:30AM (in the midst of learning to go to bathroom on his own and get back into bed until 7AM.) Nap usually 1-3:00, bedtime ideally at 8:15 but can easily stay up until 9:00. He won't sleep in in the morning if he goes to bed late.
8. Favorite People: any man - Dad, Grandpa, PaPa, Pops, Uncle Mike. He's very much a man's man.
9. We can easily take him out to dinner and he can sit there nicely for an hour if we made him.
10. So patient with his sister. Most of the time she is beating up on him at this age and he just starts crying and yells for us to come help.
11. We have used "1-2-3" Discipline since he was 20 months and he gets past "2" to time-out about 2-3X a week now usually when he is exhausted.
12. Finally, for the most part, quit waking up from afternoon nap in horrible cranky mood like he did for over 9 months.
13. At 3 years old - he can fit into many 2T things, especially in waist, but length of pants is too short. I am buying mainly 3T for him in everything in the last 2 months.
14. 14. Weight: Height: (All to come after 3 year check up next week.)
15. Strange Things: Since early Summer, hates all water in his ears. He wouldn't put his face in the pool water ALL SUMMER and cries when we wash his hair.
16. Misc.: Ear tubes stayed in 2 years, took him for ENT follow up 2 weeks ago and right one had just fallen out of place and was due to fall out any day. He is still complaining of right ear hurting or "feeling funny" periodically 1-2X a week.

Carter's 3 Year Old Well Visit!

Carter had his 3rd annual well-visit trip to Dr. Cuming. He had an easy and great checkup and only had to get 1 little shot.

Weight: 33.5 lbs (gain of 3.5 pounds in 1 year)

Height: 38.5"

Carter's Cupcakes!

It seems like more and more I am getting blown away by how independent Carter is becoming. For instance, who would have thought, after a couple of weeks of working with his dad on how to crack an egg during our weekend breakfasts that he can pretty much do it by himself. He's so thorough and detail oriented.

Carter was very sure that he wanted chocolate cupcakes with white icing to take to school to celebrate his birthday with his friends. He was so incredibly proud when he had finished the task. These turned out so much better than last years!

The coolest thing for me was getting to spend mid-morning with Carter's class. It is so cool to see the routines that the kids' have. The one below is a fun and fast-paced song they all sing to get ready to pray.

Then they all fold their hand and bow their heads and say a prayer together. Each day there is one child chosen and for all 3 meals (2 snacks and lunch) who gets to say out loud the 3 things they are thankful to God for during the group prayer. It was so wonderful to see this flow so effortlessly and smoothly.

Finally, Carter personally passed out a cupcake to each friend.

Now, the funny thing that happened at this point is we all got ready to sing Happy Birthday to Carter and I don't know if the lime light and special attention got to him or what but he started to have a little melt down. Ms Sandy had the great idea of singing Away in a Manager instead and all the kids did the sign language signs as they sang. So sweet.

We are so unbelievably thankful for these 3 ladies - Ms. Cassie, Ms. Sandy and Miss Amanda. Although Carter is still the youngest in the class, everyone is officially 3 years old now!

Carter's Top 10 List at 3 Years Old: #'s 4, 3, 2

#4. - Candy

This boy will do ANYTHING where a reward involves a piece of candy. Whether it be for going #2 in the potty or getting up in the morning and going to the bathroom ALL BY HIMSELF without waking us up, he will do it if we talk "candy" as a prize. Notice this picture was taken at 7AM after a successful trip to the little boy's room and then getting back in his bed all by himself... the things we will do to reward good behavior including M&M's for breakfast (only occasionally!)

#3. - Books

We noticed a strong attraction to books at a fairly young age for Carter and we are so lucky that as he has gotten older and more independent he continues to absolutely love books and to lay in bed and just read. Last week for his birthday, he got the Tag Reader and he uses it perfectly.

#2. - Anything with a BALL or SPORTS

Some would say it was because we introduced him early but I genuinely feel he was made to love all things ball and sports related!