Turning the Tables

I was rocking Carter trying to get him to wind down for bed when all of a sudden he starts giving me zerberts on my neck. Once he realized he could make that funny noise with his lips there was no stopping him and there was no stopping my laughing. It was hilarious and was extremely ticklish.

A Few Smiles to Get Over Humpday

Here is a fun video of some playtime before bedtime. It is a little longer than other clips I have posted but I just couldn't cut some of the clips! Hope you don't mind.

A Bit of Irony

After a long week we decided that nothing sounded better than going to bed early Friday night. We thought that a good nights rest would rejuvenate us so we could enjoy the weekend. So, we had dinner, straightened Carter's play area and headed upstairs for bed around 9:00. Just as we were about to turn out the lights Carter started making some noise, which was pretty typical. What was not so typical is that the noise turned into fussiness which turned in to a very awake and unhappy baby boy. We took turns comforting him and rocking him back to sleep for 3 hours. We could both get him sound asleep on our shoulder but as soon as we would lay him flat in the crib he would wake up and the fussing would start all over again. I was having flashbacks to when he was 3 or 4 months old. We went through all the possibilities - teething pain? stomach pain? ear ache? or was he just playing us for some extra mommy and daddy cuddling? Whatever it was - it was extremely draining and our night of rejuvenation did not come to fruition.

Since our Friday night early bedtime failed, we decided to try again on Saturday night. No such luck. We had a repeat performance of the Friday night drama. It is very difficult to make such good progress with Carter's sleeping schedule to have a big setback, even if temporary. And thankfully it was just temporary - or so we hope.

On Sunday night we were up a bit later as usual and guess what? Carter slept through the night for the first time. He slept from 7ish to 7ish. Amazing. I guess staying up those few hours Friday and Saturday night caught up with him. Last night was decent as well. He woke up to feed around 10:30 but then slept until 6:45 this morning.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that we are back on track and whatever was bothering Carter Friday and Saturday night is in the past.

Home & Garden Show

We arrived at the Home & Garden show just in time for an overpriced and underwhelming lunch but we got to scope out the many booths from upstairs while we ate.

The garden section was full of beautiful ideas and it smelled delicious. We tested out some cool pruning shears, asked questions about possible berry bushes or fruit trees for the backyard, and Adam tried to convince me that we need chickens too! I am not sold yet. But, we completely forgot to ask about our wire grass issue. Thinking back, I don’t recall seeing a vendor or booth that would have been appropriate to ask such questions but I still can’t believe we forgot all about it! The home section was very overwhelming. It seems like our old house could use a little bit of everything – our 20+ year a/c probably won’t last much longer, our windows are very drafty and the storm windows rattle, the idea of a solar heated water source is enticing for environmental reasons…the list goes on. They were willing and eager to sell us anything and everything. But, for now we just gathered ideas.

After the home show we visited a fun architectural salvage store. It is full of old doors, fireplace mantles, doorknobs and light fixtures. It also had an abundant supply of old pastel colored toilets. After all of this excitement, Carter decided to take a snooze on the way home. Lately, whenever he takes a nap in the car, he always falls asleep holding on to the toys that hang down from his car seat. Take a look. Last week he zonked out with both hands holding on to two different toys. I am itching for spring. But the weather forecast this morning reminds me it is still winter – highs in the 40s for the next week. So, for now, we will research and plan and be ready to tackle our ideas as soon as the temperatures allow.

Oh - and a quick note of THANKS to our neighbors Jane & Mario. We had a bit of a plumbing problem late yesterday afternoon. As the water was heavily dripping from the kitchen ceiling to the floor I rushed next door for help and they came over and saved the day.

Blue & Brown Striped Boys

Carter woke up in time to send Daddy off to work the other day. They were playing in the kitchen while Adam was fixing his typical bagel and cream cheese breakfast for the road. Carter is all smiles and giggles when he gets to play with Daddy in the morning and when Daddy gets home from work at night. Truth be told, I am really not sure who has more fun, Daddy or Carter. I sure do love my boys and love watching them play together.

The picture below is a face I see when we play together during the day. Carter definitely recognizes his toys now and I think he is even bored with some already. So I try to cycle different toys in and out of the mix regularly. When I bring a new toy into the mix he explores it so carefully and has this super serious look on his face.
We are going to the Home & Garden show this afternoon. We plan on asking lots of questions about our wire/spider/Bermuda grass issue and hope to get lots of ideas for our backyard. More to come...

Craft Night

I was blog hopping yesterday morning and came across a fun and easy idea of stenciling designs onto onesies, shirts, aprons, etc. I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and Michaels for a few supplies...$15 & 2 hours later I had these adorable clothes to show for it. See below for step by step instructions.1) You will need the following supplies:

* Freezer paper - I found it at Wal-Mart next to the wax paper and aluminum foil
* Clothes to stencil - I used a pack of 5 onesies for $5 at Wal-Mart plus a blue short sleeve shirt for $2

* Fabric Paint - I bought Tulip paint at Michaels (be sure to use their 40% off one item coupon that is usually in every Sunday paper)

* Exacto knife and something to cut on - thick cardboard should work fine

* Iron

* Paint brushes or sponges

* Stencils - I found mine on clip art and through google image searches

2) Select a stencil design: You can either draw the stencil design directly onto the freezer paper or print the stencil onto the freezer paper. I chose the latter - here's how: I copied and pasted the image into Word and then used the Format Picture tools to change the size of the image to a size appropriate for the onesie. Next I cut a piece of freezer paper to 8.5" x 11" and loaded it into the printer. Be sure you print on the paper side of the freezer paper - not the wax side.

3) Cut out your stencil design: Carefully cut out your stencil design using an exacto knife. Be sure to have a piece of thick cardboard or other cutting mat beneath your blade so you don't scratch your furniture. This can be a tedious process - remember the more intricate the design the more tedious the cutting. This train was nice and easy...the frog you see later, not as easy. :)

4) Iron your stencil to the onesie: With your iron on a dry setting, iron the stencil design onto your piece of clothing, wax side down. This should only take a few seconds. Once you are done ironing check your stencil to make sure it adhered to your clothing well. If not, repeat the ironing process.

5) Paint your onesie: Before you begin painting, you need to protect the backside of the onesie from having excess paint bleed through. You can do this by either inserting a piece of cardboard into the onesie or by ironing another piece of freezer paper to the inside of the onesie. Select your color and use a sponge or sponge paint brush to add paint to your onesie. Start light and then add as needed. Do not over saturate your brush or the paint might bleed under the lines of the stencil.

6) Let dry: I let the paint dry overnight.

7) Peel away stencils: Once the paint is dry, carefully peel away the freezer paper. The paint I used recommended waiting 72 hours before washing.

What do you think? If you decide to try this yourself and have any questions - just let me know.
(Oh - and the butterfly is not for Carter - it's a gift for a baby girl.)

Another Weekend Update

Sorry we have been out of touch for a few days. We have been busy and I have been a bit under the weather. I have been battling a terrible sore throat for over a week now so I went to the doctor last Friday to make sure it wasn’t strep and that I wasn’t contagious. I have always hated the throat culture test – I was a big baby about it well into my teens – but I submitted to the test voluntarily this time – a sure sign of how bad it hurt. I think mom used to have to hold my arms down when I would get that test as a kid and I am certain there were tears involved. Anyhow, I was also unsure what I could take to fight the cold since I am still feeding Carter so I was fighting it solo without much luck. The good doctor gave me some Carter-safe medicine and I am feeling a little bit better every day.

We had a good Valentine’s Day. Adam surprised me on Friday night with flowers from our local florist. Instead of traditional roses, Adam has always opted for a bright and cheerful array of flowers. This bunch had one very unique stem – a Bird of Paradise. I had seen these before but didn’t know what they were called. Adam filled me in on the name and then the funniest thing happened – that flower kept popping up over the weekend. On Friday night we watched some old episodes of 30 Rock and there was a big bunch of Birds of Paradise in the background of one of the scenes. Then, on Saturday morning, the Birds of Paradise flower was featured on a PBS gardening show we were watching. Has this sort of thing ever happened to you before? Have you ever learned a new word and then heard that same new word multiple times in a short time frame? It has happened to me before and always surprises me.

Since none of Carter's favorite babysitters were visiting this weekend we decided to cook in for our Valentine's dinner. We made a trip to the Fresh Market grocery store and bought ingredients for our dinner: peaches and mozzarella salad, New York strip, rosemary sweet potatoes, with chocolate covered strawberries and raspberries for dessert. It was all very yummy. And the trip to Fresh Market was so much fun. I think plenty of others shared the same idea for a quiet Valentine’s dinner at home because the place was packed. I took a number at the meat counter – number 83. When I took the number they were serving number 55. Quite a line. But there were plenty of other ingredients and free samples to keep us occupied until our turn.

On Sunday we took advantage of several Presidents’ Day sales and made some furniture purchases. Check out our new couch, ottoman, and dining room furniture. Quite a letdown to go spend money on furniture and come home with nothing! But I am anxious for the deliveries. The ottoman was the right size and price but not the right fabric for our new color scheme so I plan to sew a slipcover for the ottoman once I find the right fabric. I am little nervous about the light color of the sofa, but we have a 7 year fabric protection plan that promises to clean or replace any food spills or baby accidents so I am hopeful the fabric is pretty durable and easy to clean.

The dining room table and sideboard are totally different from what we thought we wanted. But it caught our eye on Saturday so we went back to look at it on Sunday and we liked it even more. The wood grain is really beautiful – and kid friendly? – we hope. We haven’t purchased chairs yet – still looking for something a little different but affordable. We think/hope these pieces will all work together in our space. I will be sure to post pictures once the deliveries and decorating are complete – just wanted you to see a sneak peek at the direction we are heading. And thanks to those of you that voted in the carpet showdown poll and for those that e-mailed separately. Going into the poll, the small squares option was my least favorite, but it was the overwhelming winner so I am reconsidering it. Thanks for participating!

Problem Solving 101

Carter has a new favorite toy – his basketball goal. He is not really in to “playing” basketball yet. Just likes to bang on the hoop with his hands, grab at the basketball player trying to dunk, and eat those basketballs. The balls are just big enough for it to be a challenge for Carter to grab them and hold them. Today he was pretty focused on trying to get a ball in each hand. His left hand was good to go – ball in hand. But the other ball was resting just outside of Carter’s left leg. (this picture was taken later) He kept reaching across his body with his empty right hand for the ball, but he couldn’t quite get there. So, what does he do? He puts the ball that he has in his left hand into his right hand and then grabs the other ball with his left hand. Success. Once he had both balls he tried to eat them at the same time.

Enjoying it while we can...

..."it" being the warm weather. It is mid February and I am fully aware of the fact that average temperatures are usually in the mid 40's - not the upper 60's - so we are enjoying it while we can. We have strolled through the neighborhood, walked to the coffee shop for some hot tea, played in our foyer with the front door open. Such a treat from the frigid winter temperatures. I have been battling a sore throat for the past week so Adam came home early yesterday to help take care of Carter. It was still daylight and still warm so Adam took Carter to play in the front yard. He immediately started grabbing the leaves on the ground and explored each leaf with such concentration. It was fun to watch.

I could only sit and watch all of the fun for so long - I ended up snagging a few Carter hugs & kisses (that's what I like to call the 'open mouth slobber on the cheek while pulling my hair' pictured below).

We also played the 'swing Carter between my legs' game - a favorite sure to get lots of smiles and giggles. I love his arms in this picture - it reminds me of riding a roller coaster. We might have an adventurous one on our hands. So far he doesn't really seem scared of much. I sure hope he doesn't try some of the things Adam has (running with the bulls in Pamplona) and if he does he should tell his mother and girlfriend after he is safe and sound (just as Adam did).

Here is one final Carter shot from yesterday...couldn't resist myself. And if you are still itching for more, I added a few others to the February album on the left.

I do enjoy living in a region where there are actually four seasons each year. It always seemed to me growing up a bit farther south that there were only a handful of amazing spring days before the summer heat and humidity set in for months. Then, the winter months were relatively mild with a chance of snow once every seven years. So, while this week of warm weather has been a treat, I look forward to a few more weeks of enjoying my coffee for the warmth (as well as the caffeine), of resting on the couch all wrapped up in a blanket, and dressing Carter in hats and hoodies (isn't he a cutie?)

Weekend Update

We had a good visit from Gram this past weekend. She arrived by airplane for the first time…which greatly limited the amount of Carter stuff she was able to bring. But she managed to find room for a cute Valentine’s Day onesie, book, and a couple of other small goodies. However, these goodies almost didn’t make it to Carter. We were just about to get in the car when mom examined the suitcase she grabbed at baggage claim a little more closely. We almost brought home a bag full of Fred’s clothes, not Gram’s. She obviously was paying more attention to her handsome grandson than her huggage! (but how can you blame her, really?) I quickly ran the suitcase back to baggage claim but there were no suitcases left! I located the Delta baggage service desk where I found Fred and Gram’s bag. Fred was glad to have his luggage and I was glad to grab Gram’s and be on my way.

The rest of the weekend was much more uneventful. Carter showed off all of his latest tricks and gave Gram many hugs. One of his newest tricks that makes mommy and daddy laugh hysterically involves bathtime. I wish I could show you by video but Carter might not appreciate a video of him taking a bath on the internet, so I will do my best to describe it. After Adam washes Carter’s hair he uses a plain old plastic cup full of water to wash away the soap. Adam has recently been teaching Carter a little ‘cause and effect’ lesson by then filling the cup with water again and then pouring the water on Carter’s tummy. The first few times Adam did this Carter just studied the water and then grabbed at the cup so he could put it in his mouth. But lately, when Adam starts pouring the water on his tummy Carter kicks his legs as strong as possible, giggles and squeals, and makes the biggest splashes possible for a small baby tub. It is a loud and messy affair, but absolutely hilarious. As soon as Adam stops pouring water Carter is still and calm. But when that water starts pouring again, it is nothing but laughter and splashing. There is no way I am describing it as funny as it is, so you will just have to either use your imagination or trust me on this one.

In other Carter news, he is so close to crawling. He can now get on his knees and rock back and forth. When I try to lay him on his tummy he now lands on his hands and knees. We have also introduced carrots and peaches to his dining menu – he loves them both, of course. When we go out to eat we can now ask for a high chair. And when I go grocery shopping I can now place him in the front of the grocery cart. He is transitioning to 9 month clothing as well. His 6 month shirts fit him around the belly, but the sleeves are kind of three quarter length – is that as stylish for a baby as it is for ladies shirts? His 6 month pants started to look like capris, so he is definitely wearing 9 month pants - or no pants at all so we can enjoy his pudgy but adorable thighs.

The weather this weekend was amazing – bright, sunny, and unseasonably warm. We took a stroll through the neighborhood and spent some time in the backyard planning our garden. Before we can plant anything though, we have to fight our wire grass battle, or shall I say war. We fought a few battles last year with intense weeding and later newspaper laying under mulch. The wire grass won those battles, but if Adam has anything to say about it, and let me assure you he does, the wire grass will NOT win the war. Our next attempt will be some weed defense fabric. If anyone reading this blog has any experience or success stories at fighting wire grass, please share!!! More to come on garden planning later…we have some fun ideas in the works.

Comfort

That was the name of the restaurant that we took Adam for his birthday lunch. Except we didn’t go to lunch on his birthday because he got pulled in on a project at the last minute. So he had Wendy’s for his birthday lunch. Anyhow, Comfort was pretty good, even if it was the day after Adam’s birthday. It is a meat and three kind of place that can get a bit upscale in the evening but was just right for lunch. We shared meatloaf and fried catfish with mashed potatoes, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, and green beans on the side. I was pleased they had macaroni and cheese on the menu – otherwise how could they call themselves Comfort? I was very pleased and surprised when they answered ‘yes’ to my ‘do you have sweet tea’ question. Even more impressed when they brought out said sweet tea in a mason jar. This place knows what I like. Carter seemed to enjoy it too because he got to play with Daddy.

Happy Birthday Adam!

28 was quite a year for you…

You became a dad, completed two degrees, became a homeowner, passed the bar, started a new job, and moved to a new city. All the while you kept the same calm and reassuring demeanor about you…very important for the husband of a 7 month pregnant wife who was certain we weren’t going to have a new home in time for the baby. You also made me laugh countless times – many times bringing me to tears from laughing so hard. You have been the greatest dad I could have imagined to Carter and I love watching him get so excited when you get home. Perhaps I should start squealing too? I always look forward to starting and ending each day with you by my side. It truly keeps getting better and better. You are my best friend and I love you dearly.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Welcome to 29!

(The pictures above are of Adam (left) and Carter (right) at about the same age - see any resemblance?)

What a Trooper...

Carter has been all over town lately with me while I grocery shop, furniture shop, babyproof shop, etc. Lately he has been a pretty flexible co-shopper. Sometimes I get him out of the carseat and hold him while we shop, other times I leave him in the carseat and place the carseat in a grocery cart, and other times (if I am lucky) I can stroll him around and he will take a nap. Although he shortens my shopping time he is a very fun companion to have. Here is a quick snippet of how some of our "conversations" go...

Carpet Showdown

We need your help. We are making progress on redecorating our living room. Here is a quick before picture...


The blue corduroy chair, coffee table, end table/media center, and wool rug all came as hand-me-downs from Susan (THANKS!). The antique rocker was handed down by Mimi. And the red (faded to a lovely pink) couch was purchased by me just out of college. The green walls were painted by the previous owners and somehow they worked ok (or at least we thought they did) with the rest of our furniture.


But now, we are ready for a change and we are slowly replacing all of the above items. Basically, we want a clean, somewhat modern room with burnt orange, green, and browns as the primary color scheme. Here is a quick description of what we have in mind.

*The blue chair and rocker have been replaced by these chairs purchased at Cost Plus World Market.
*We are looking for a clean-lined, non-overstuffed couch in a neutralish color.
*We are going to paint the wall leading to the dining room a burnt orange and the remaining three walls a darkish khaki.
*The window wall will have a bookcase on the left and a media console on the right.
*And the carpet...this is where you come in. We have brought home three samples of possibilities. Here they are:


1) Diamond:
2) Double Square:

3) Small Square:
We are not carpeting wall to wall - just getting the carpet bound as an area rug. These are all stain resistant carpets - a must with Carter - and are pretty soft to crawl on - another requirement. What do you think? Do you have a favorite? Don't pay attention to the color - these are just the colors on the samples I was able to check out. Which is your favorite pattern?


Please cast a vote in the poll at the top left of the blog. We will leave the poll open until Friday. Thanks in advance for your help!

Come on in...

...and this is what you will see:

We found (what we think) is the perfect piece for our entryway this weekend. I have been craving a piece of furniture to welcome me when I walk in the door and this does the trick. I have also needed a place to stash mail, keys, junk, stuff that keeps accumulating on the stairs or by the front door. This piece is it and it is just right.

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It is a 1940's mahogany dresser with three deep drawers and a bowed front. I found it at an area antique store on Friday and took Adam back to see it on Saturday. When I saw it on Friday, I took a picture of it, but the price was a little higher than I wanted it to be. On Saturday, we learned that piece was 25% less - which made the price within budget and a good deal. We took the price tag off, paid for it, and Adam returned 30 minutes later with an empty RAV-4 ready to pick it up.

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Adam frequently surprises me with flowers - and I always enjoy them. But, we haven't had a good place to display the flowers. So I had put a moratorium on flowers until we found a piece for the entryway. Check out the new flowers - I beat Adam to the punch and bought these at the grocery store last night.