Always, Sometimes, Never

I Always...
Wish I was one of those people who kept their house clean all the time.
Kiss Seth goodbye before work, when I get home, and before bed.
Call Carter "squirt."
Snuggle with Bentley at least a few minutes a day.
Critique my parenting and wonder if I'm a good mom.
Am tired since I had a baby.
Wish Carter would sleep through the night consistently.
Am thankful for a loving, supportive husband.
Kiss Carter a thousand times a day.
Am thinking where I want to go on vacation next.

I Sometimes...
Let laundry pile up so high I have to do a few loads in order to have some things to wear.
Lose my temper and say things I'll later regret.
Vacuum the house and call that "cleaning."
Google WAY too much (brain tumor? cancer? or just a headache?)
Nap for hours (not too often anymore).
Want to open my own cupcake bakery (and then realize how much work it would be and change my mind because family is more important).
Feel completely overwhelmed.

I Never...
Want to take my life and everything I have for granted.
Iron. Seriously, ever. I haven't used one since 2007.
Want to spend more money than we have (i.e. go into debt - well, besides the mortgage and maybe a car payment)
Will stop worrying that a loved one will die.
Will forget the day I met Seth, or the day I had Carter.

Sicknesses Abound

Well, Carter has pinkeye. It was bound to happen - most kids in daycare get it at some point. At least it was at the end of a week when I'd be home on Friday and we have nothing going on Saturday. He also has a cold with congestion and coughing. Last night was HORRIBLE. He would absolutely not go to sleep anywhere but in our arms. I slept holding him in the living room almost all night except for the hour and a half Seth relieved me so I could take a nap.

On top of that, Seth has had a sore throat, coughing, and congestion for about a week. Since holding Carter all during the night and having his face inches from mine, I have an instant cold with some coughing as well.

This house is being quarantined and disinfected at some point when Carter lets me put him down.

Train of Thought...

A little sentimental in this post and a little funny.

First and foremost, this is the week last year that we heard the precious sound of our little boy's beating heart. I was eight weeks pregnant on September 25th of last year. Wow, how time has flown. I so vividly remember being about to throw up as I sat there in a cheesy hospital gown waiting for the doctor to come in. And I certainly remember being put at ease when she walked in the room and said "so, you're knocked up, huh?" and then chuckled. She was old so it made us laugh. But I was so much more at ease when she rolled over the little peanut and we instantly started hearing the heartbeat. Ah, memories.

Now for the funny...

As we sat here a few minutes ago, I asked Seth if he knew what this week was (referencing the above) and AGAIN, he said "Constitution Day." I'm having deja vu...remember this? :)

Also...Seth has been talking in his sleep a bit more than normal lately. We are generally very tired so it doesn't seem that odd to me. (No lie, I just stopped and laughed so hard I cried anticipating writing this down...it won't possibly be as funny to you because writing it just does it no justice).

The other night, probably 2 a.m. or so, Seth starts mumbling and sort of pushes me away a bit and says "Watch the baby!!" Naturally, I freak out and sit up, thinking he means he brought the baby into our bed after his feeding. No, Carter is not in there. So I said "huh??" And he said "Shh, I'm working on my prezi." (for reference, a prezi is a new presentation software for teachers -- he had been working on his "prezi" before bed for back-to-school night). Hysterical.

And then a few nights ago, he rolled over in bed and started "shhh-ing" me and patting my butt like we do to Carter when he's fussing. I laughed so hard during the night and it still cracks me up.

That's all for now - just wanted to share some memories and funny moments. :)

Things I Don't Want to Forget

For our own personal record, I would like to remember forever and ever that our son, Carter, born the 6th of May, slept ENTIRELY through the night on September 20, 2010. Not a single peep all night for his pacifier, to eat, or anything. It was lovely, even though I thought something must surely have been wrong this morning when my alarm went off.

Please, oh please, let this be the new normal.

Please?

Our Little Cowboy

I think this outfit is just too darling. My cousin got it for him. It says "baby buckaroo" and has little horse as feet. He looked so precious in it so I had to share! :)

Flowers

Life has been hectic. I feel like my head is spinning and I haven't had a chance to sit down in weeks. I have, of course, but it doesn't feel like it. I'm craving a nice, fall day when Seth, Carter, and I (and Bentley too!) can enjoy fall and RELAX. I need some family time.

So suffice it to say that I was super bummed yesterday when Seth called me at work and told me he was pretty sure he had to work that night. He never works Mondays so it never even crossed my mind. But sure enough, he had to. So it was just Carter and I again.

I expressed to Seth that I was sad, bummed, and just overall "blah."

And you know what my wonderful husband did? He left work early to surprise me (albeit more like freak-me-out-like-no-other when I heard the kitchen door slowly open)...

...with a bouquet of roses in hand.

I love him.

A Few Pictures of Carter!

Four Months.

Carter, at four months, you:

- Wear size 1/2 or size 2 diapers (we want to use up the 1/2's we were given as gifts)
- Are wearing size 3 month, 3-6 month, or 6 month clothing - mommy is super confused because you are way bigger than the 3 month weight on Carter's clothing, but it still fits you!
- Weigh 18 lbs, 8 oz. (this was on 9/17, when he was 4.5 months) and are 25 3/4 inches long. Your weight is in the 97th percentile, and height is in the 90th percentile
- Constantly watch us as we move around
- Started daycare...it took you a few days to adjust but they said you are really warming up to the place and are happy when you're there - they said you love to play and sit by the other babies to "talk" to them.
- LOVE when people look at you eye-to-eye and talk to you constantly. You sometimes cry when we move behind you where you can't see us (separation anxiety, here we come!)
- Are so strong! You love your exersaucer, sitting in your bumbo and playing in the jumperoo.
- You sit really well supported and even sat about five minutes completely unassisted at daycare a few days ago
- Are getting better in the car; you still don't love your car seat but you're getting much better
- Nap so, so much better. You had a rough few days at day care when you first started, but you've been doing better lately (and even took a three-hour nap on 9/2!)
- Are doing much better with your acid reflux, but we're still figuring out the perfect combination/dosage of meds
- Still "coo" all the time, squeal, and flail your arms when you get excited
- Smack your toys around on your playmat, grasp toys really well, and push the buttons on your exersaucer!
- Started putting everything in your mouth
- Love to suck on your hands all the time, which is nice when your paci falls out
- Started sleeping swaddled with your arms out and you've been sleeping MUCH better
- Smile all the time and laugh out loud at the most random things
- Are doing better at putting yourself to sleep. We don't rock you all the way to sleep anymore so that you go down drowsy. Very rarely do we have issues anymore
- LOVE bathtime and SOAK us when we bathe you because you are kicking so much
- Started getting less milk during the night as we start to wean you off that feeding at all
- Went mini-golfing with mommy and daddy and were such a good boy in your stroller!
- Eat 5.5 ounces every 3-4 hours during the day (more like 3) and about once between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (sometimes twice)
- Get a 6 or 7 oz. bottle before bed to help hold you off longer
- Love to be outside and are liking your stroller
- Went to Philadelphia with mommy, daddy, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Jason, great-grandma, gramma, McKenna, and Elijah to visit Uncle Bradley at college. We had a Labor Day picnic at the park (you even took an hour and a half nap in your stroller!!!)
- Love to watch Baby Einstein language learner and Baby Beethoven

We love you tons, baby Carter, and can't believe you are already four months old. Time is going SO fast. Pretty soon you'll be eating solids, then going to kindergarten, then going to college and getting married. Don't grow up too fast, mister. You are our sunshine, and we are madly in love with you.

Some Things I'm Looking Forward To!

I'm so excited that fall is almost here. NOT excited that I need to take some drastic measures to get back to looking decent in my pre-pregnancy jeans. And I better hop on that STAT since jean-wearing is creeping up pretty quickly.

Anyway, here are some things I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks:

- Getting my very first pumpkin spice latte (low-fat of course, to help with the aforementioned jeans issue). I hear they are back at Starbucks already!
- Wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and going for walks after work.
- Putting Carter in his adorable fall clothing before he grows out of it.
- Starting Carter on solids and making his baby food.
- Visits from family over the next few weekends.
- Being a part of the activities at Carter's school (daycare) like the Fall Festival, grandparent's week, Holiday parties...um, party planning? CHECK!
- Apple and pumpkin picking and making applesauce.
- Carving pumpkins with the little guy.
- Decorating the house!!
- The installation of our new heat pump/central AC and the addition of some new vents downstairs to make it warmer in the winter!
- Moving the new toy shelf we got Carter (and I painted) downstairs and filling it with some of his toys!
- Open windows...ahhh.......

What are YOU looking forward to this fall!?