knock knock

Eye Update

Carter is scheduled for tear duct surgery on June 14th. And yep, that's all I have to say about it right now. I'm trying not to focus on it/dwell on it/worry about it, etc.

handsome fella

ONE year birthday!

I feel like Cartboo's birthday was so long ago! These pictures seem so old but it wasn't even a month ago. Anyway... moving on to the point of this post. Carter turned one! ONE WHOLE year old. Geesh. Seems like just yesterday Joe and I were going out for our last night as a family of 2 and then the next morning headed to the hospital to deliver our little bundle of baby boy. It is insane crazy how much having a baby has changed our lives. I could not imagine my life without this super special little dude in it.

I thought I'd be super emotional about him turning one and growing up. I wasn't as emotional as I thought I'd be. While I totally loved, and sometimes miss, the days that we'd snuggle and nap on the couch all day long and he'd fall asleep in my arms multiple times a day, etc. I am so excited for what lies ahead. I know I soaked in every second of Carter being a tiny tiny baby and I don't have a single regret. Some think babies should sleep in their cribs. I thought Carter should sleep on me/in my arms/in our bed and I am so very glad that I/we did what felt right at the time because those are some of my favorite and most cherished memories. Ok, my point is I loved the past year and sometimes miss the moments we had but I am not sad he is growing up. He is so much fun and every age seems to be my favorite age! I love watching his personality develop and to see him learn new things each and every day. The past year has been amazing and I'm sure the upcoming years are going to be just as amazing and just as memorable.

Carter made out like bandit on his birthday. Kid had so many presents it was insane! However, I'm sure Carter would have traded all of his presents to be able to spend his birthday with his Nana, Papa, Uncle Jason, Grandma, Grandpa, etc. He still had a fun time opening his presents. He totally understood that he had to rip off the paper to see what was inside and he had a great time ripping the paper and tasting it too! He had a pretty serious look on his face the entire day :)

cute butt


alligator that clicks and clacks as you pull him along




count and learn cookie jar... Carter LOVES the cookies and likes to take them all over the house


taking a break from opening presents


one of his new books! Carter loves to read books.


reading with Dada... who needs to retire this Twins shirt!


Carter's first tool box




notice the scrunched eye brows... that was his expression all day




















smushed up face smile!

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The weekend after Carter's birthday we went down to Phoenix to celebrate! We went to the Phoenix Zoo and Carter LOVED it! Seriously loved it. He smiled at all the animals and was totally captivated by everything around him. When we move back we're totally getting zoo passes. It was so much fun and such a nice zoo. They had this little area that you walk into and they had 16 little monkeys running around in the trees above your head, in the bush 6 inches away from your knee, etc. It was so cool and Carter was so fascinated!

We stayed at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass which worked out really well. Carter had a blast exploring the room and looking outside. (We asked for a ground floor room and he loved the big sliding glass door)

He crawled around and explored the room like crazy! He had a blast. He also took his first steps while we were here. It was pointed out to me that Carter like to do big milestones while on vacation. Crawling in Cabo and his first steps at the Sheraton. The picture below is with Carter's new giraffe that he got at the zoo. He was giving it some love.

Carter loved each and every single animal at the zoo and smiled the entire time we were there. To say he loved the zoo is a complete understatement. I don't think we've ever seen him have so much fun! Joe and I had a blast too. It was so fun to go out and do something as a family - especially since the zoo was so nice and Carter totally loved it!

The little monkey area I talked about was so much fun. These little monkeys were running around all over the place and were so close to us! Carter was fascinated by them. We stayed in there for quite a while because Carter was totally captivated watching them run around. (These pictures are not zoomed in at all. They were that close!)

this is inside the little monkey area

There was also a little petting zoo with goats.

Baby elephant

Giraffes

I love giraffes!




I love the zoo! And my mama looks drunk in this picture, but I'm cute so it gets posted!

I love animals!

He is looking and some really goofy pigs in this picture!

Relaxing and drinking some milk after a long day!

We also went to the park by our house. Carter had fun crawling down the hill and playing.

I love this picture. Sometimes Carter will crawl up to me and lay on me. This time he went even further and gave me a kiss!

I love this boy!

We had a great great weekend celebrating Carter's birthday. It was so relaxing and fun all at the same time. I don't think Joe or I realized how much we needed a weekend get away and to be able to spend some real time as a family. We all came back tired but totally refreshed and rejuvenated at the same time. Being a family of three is amazing. Having a baby has been... an experience (for lack of a better description) that has totally surpassed all of my expectations and has been beyond my wildest dreams. That little bug makes me so happy and the love I have for him is indescribable. Happy first birthday to my little dude!

Sorry some of the formatting is goofy. This post took a while and it got saved a little wonky.