Christmas Eve

Carter didn't have time to stick around for the group photo. He was done with the nativity. He was in such a weird mood all night and had the worst luck. He fell in the hall and got hit in the head with the heavy door. He has a nice mark on his head front that. He wasn't about to pose for pictures in his Christmas pajamas.

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Carter's Christmas PJ's

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Carter's Christmas PJ's

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It Was A Big Raccoon

In the last 6 months I've been responsible for taking out the back and now the front end of my parents minivan. I hit a big fat raccoon dead on the right side going 65 mph the other night. I didn't even have time to slow down. We were almost home so we made it there before every fluid in the van leaked out. Then the van had to be towed to the shop! It destroyed the radiator, the oil pan, and all other kinds of damage. Now it's fixed and all pretty I think I'll stick to driving their Jeep. Which is also damaged, just not by me. 😉

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Sick Little Guy

Carter is sick. Dad and I each got thrown up on twice yesterday. Today his stomach seems more settled but he's running a fever. He's trying to play but keeps coming back for rests and loves. Luckily Mom, Marijka, and I finished most of our huge refurbishing of the house project so we can give him the attention he needs. I'm excited to see how everything looks after they put in the flooring today.

 

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Swimming in Mesa

Carter loved the swimming pool at the place we stayed while in Mesa. He and Dad went down a couple of days and took advantage of it. It must have been pretty warm in order for my Dad to get in it. He doesn't do cold water. Carter enjoyed just kicking his feet and pushing himself around the pool.

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Trip to Mesa

Mom, Dad, Carter, and I have been enjoying the warm weather in Mesa, Arizona this week. When my Dad heard was going to Arizona in November he immediately decided I needed to bring along Carter's favorite babysitters. My niece Victoria took out her endowments tonight and my nephew Zach is getting married tomorrow. I'm so grateful I'm able to be here to share such special moments in their lives with them. The temple was so gorgeous when I came out tonight and the temperature was perfect. I had to sit for a minute and just enjoy this view.

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Carter & The Dog Cage

I don't know what it is about this boy and dog food. It's a never ending battle to keep him away from the dog's dishes. If I'm not fast enough he takes their food and puts it in their water. I'll find him walking around with something in his mouth and when I ask him to show me he will hand me a piece of dog food. He will carry a handful around and feed it to them piece by piece. Janalee took care of Benji one weekend. When we went to pick him up Carter took the opportunity to shut himself in the cage. I wonder if he thought it might slow me down enough he could get some quality play time in with the food. His only problem was he had already knocked the water over so most the fun was gone.

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Brooklyn & Carter

Brooklyn has adored Carter since the day he was born and he loves her too. She is a huge help and I love when she can come stay. I'm sure she is a huge help for Mom with their new baby Crew. He us such a doll.

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Pumpkin Walk

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My Little Pirate

My little pirate was determined not to look at the camera on Halloween.

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Deer Camp

Carter loved being around the horses and dogs at Deer Camp. Having Dad all to himself couldn't have made him happier. He had such a good time. I have never seen him happier. I stayed up there an extra day because he was having so much fun.

Happy Halloween

We had a busy day today. It's good we wore Carter out. Otherwise I don't think he would have fallen asleep. Between all the homemade root beer he drank and the candy he was on a major sugar high.

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Halloween 3 Years Ago

Me and my "kids" 3 years ago. They are always so much fun.

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My New Hat

Fortunately Carter doesn't always get this excited about things at the store. It's when he gets excited about something random in the store it becomes pretty impossible to say no to this face. Luckily we were shopping for a hat so it wasn't a problem that day.

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New Boots

Carter showing off the new cowboy boots Grandpa bought him.

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Happy Birthday Dad

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Decorating Cooper's Grave

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Going for a Drive

Carter loves when he can get Grandpa to push him around the yard. He makes a motor sound as they go.

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Cruising the Mall

If Mom forgets the stroller Grandma and Aunt Marlee will rent you a car to ride around in. Uncle Tom makes great man power. Carter took the experience very seriously. It was cute to see him moving the steering wheel around.

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Dandelions

Carter discovered if you blow on a dandelion it can stick on your lips. Do now he pulls the seeds off with his hand and throws them.

Exploring the Yard

Carter decided to explore the front yard yesterday. After getting the dandelion seeds stuck on his lips he decided just picking them off with his hand and throwing them was a better idea. Pretty soon he discovered Boxer and Winston his 2 best friends and we moved on to play with with them.

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Happy Anniversary Honey

September 26, 2009 Who would have thought six short years later and Kyle would be gone. Even knowing what I know now I'd do it all again. Differently, but again😉. Happy Anniversary honey! I'll see you again someday.

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Monkey Business

Carter wants to know why he has to give this monkey the change he finds when he wants to swallow it instead. He's checking it out pretty closely. It even got a kiss. With all the change Grandpa and Tyler leave around its filling up fast.

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Silly Dog

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Huntington's Walk

Mom won this hat in a bucket raffle and Carter loves it. I haven't been able to keep a hat on him all summer. Had I only known I just needed to get him an expensive cowboy hat to block the sun.

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Growing Up

Carter is walking all over the place now. His Aunt Kari passed down the cutest little Nike gym shoes. He wears them everywhere. When I look at him I see my baby fading away and there's a little boy in his place. He has so much personality and is a strong willed little guy. I love him so much. He's keeping me hoping.

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Fun in SLC

Riding on the luggage cart is serious business for Carter. We spent last weekend in Salt Lake and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Sandy. It was a nice hotel and we enjoyed our stay. We were in Salt Lake to participate in the Huntington's Disease Team Walk for Hope on Saturday. Carter wasn't acting himself and was a little cranky.

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It's Mine!

Are men born with the remote instinct? If Carter can get his hands on the remote he's a happy boy. These pictures made me laugh. He wasn't even facing the TV.

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Huntington's Disease Team Walk for Hope

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Sinking Into Sleep

As Carter lays on me I look over at the clock.  It's 3:03. Our bed is slowly getting softer. It's a chance you take when you sleep on air. As I have done since Carter was born almost 8 months ago. My room and the room designated as Carter's are in the basement. But that's not where we sleep.

Marlee got married right before Carter was born. They were living in Pocatello. When they were staying here while she was working she wasn't thrilled about them sleeping in her bedroom across the hall from my parents. 

My Mom wanted Carter closer so I suggested we switch the nursery and Marlee's room temporarily. Marlee and Tom got their own place in September but by then I had begun what was to become a seemingly never ending run of one brace, cast, etc, on my foot and the stairs became a problem.  

So 8 months later here I am. I know he should be sleeping in the crib I'm looking at. It just happened to get filled with everything from our whirlwind late night arrival the other night and I'm still cleaning it out. I've got friends and cousins who would say I'm crazy to co sleep and I'm getting ready to move us downstairs and put him in the crib. When he was young he slept in a Fisher Price cradle thing but he outgrew it. The truth is since then I've loved having him close. Just this past week he's started finding me in his sleep. Suddenly I will feel his little arms come up around my arm and his warm little body snuggle in close. At night when he starts rubbing his eyes and signaling its bedtime Dad takes Carter and his bottle and they go to bed together. Then the first time Carter stirs around midnight I move him in with me. I think Dad likes finally having justification for going to bed at 7:30 pm. 

I also love how in the morning after he's been jabbering with me for a while I'll hear my Mom say, "Carter, Come see Grammy." And I'll sneak a little extra sleep while they snuggle. Or my dad might walk by and snag him for Grampy time in the recliner. If my Dad walks down the hall and ignores Carter you would think Carter's world was ending. I love that they have this relationship. It's priceless. It means so much to me that they have let me stay here and have helped out the way they have. My parents are my rocks. 

Carter - 6 Months Old

Carter just turned 6 months old. I can't believe it has been 1/2 year since he was born. This is a fun age. He is trying to get into everything he can reach. He is eating soft baby foods and is enjoying it. He really likes bananas. He and Grandpa have both had the flu. Carter had Influenza A. He was so sick. I had my right foot operated on on the 29th so it's been interesting with everyone sick and my not being able to carry him. It was pretty rough for a few days. 

Carter still doesn't like the binki and doesn't suck on his fingers quite as much as he did. He has been drooling constantly now for months. We change his bib about 4 times a day. He rubs at his ears and cheek but still no teeth. It would sure be nice if they could just break through and we could decrease the drool. I love when he looks at me and I say, "Hi." He give me the cutest smile. His whole body lights up when he sees me. If he is facing away and hears my voice he will turn his whole body trying to find me. 

He sits in his high chair now during dinner and entertains everyone. Christmas was a lot more fun just having him around. All he wanted was to suck on the wrapping paper. I didn't wrap most of his gifts. He got a couple of toys and some clothes. 

He was Jesus at the Christmas Eve party. Brooklyn was Mary and he just laid in her arms and looked around like he was wondering what this was all about. He was as good as can be. He is so laid back. I am so very blessed.