one of my new favorites

One of my new Carter favorites: he yells for me when he's ready to get up from his nap. LOVE! He is slow to wake up and does not appreciate being gotten up too quickly. He likes to take his time, lay around for a bit, talk to his blanket/puppy/truck/etc. And now when he's ready he yells for me. It makes me happy!

Have I mentioned that 20 months is my favorite age?

You know what else makes me happy? The fact that our Christmas tree is only 1/3 decorated. That 1/3 being the very top portion of the tree. 95% of the ornaments that were put on the bottom 2/3 were taken off by Carter and played with then hidden in some random place.

craftastic update... nesting?

Yesterday my mom told me I was "nesting". This could very well be true. My (and Joe's) to do list is so long these days and it is driving me crazy. All I want to do is check the items off and call it a day. Like I seriously have this crazy desire to cross the items off my list. Yes, this could definitely be nesting. It could also be the result of moving, the holidays, and a baby on the way that has created this never ending list of things to do, things to see, etc, etc, etc. I will say though that closing in on baby girl's delivery date, 4 weeks from tomorrow, has lit a fire in me.

35 weeks pregnant and feeling it. So. Very. Tired. All. The. Time. All I wanted to do during Carter's nap was crawl into his crib with him and nap - even when I'm not tired this sounds amazing. I love snuggling my dude. But I didn't. Instead I made a changing pad cover. Yeay! I think if I'd had more time I would have done two different fabrics to spice it up a bit.

see that pile of pictures in the background... that's on the to do list too

I also pumped out some button letter monograms for Carter and Mya. Lets hope her name stays Mya as these buttons are glued down in an M shape! For some reason I didn't take a picture of Carter's.

No matter what is on my to do list, or how pressing the timeline may be I ALWAYS have time for this.

Snuggling on the couch and reading books, chatting, or watching toons is one of Carter's favorite things lately. He loves to be close. Scratch that. He loves to be sitting on top of me with my arm around him. It is adorable. He will walk me over to the couch, sit me down, and then climb up on my lap to snuggle. Sometime we just sit there and chat and he is totally content. He's normally such an active guy so I make sure I really take advantage of these times. Lately we talk a lot about him becoming a big brother.

This truck is currently one of Carter's most favorite trucks. Sometimes he'll climb up on my lap, sit for a minute or two, then climb down, go find this truck, and climb back up to snuggle. Love him!

I also got out my real camera this past weekend. Although the pictures can't be posted yet as it will ruin a surprise.

Ok, I have to get off the computer and bust out the sewing machine and cross off another thing on the list: changing pad cover #2. Then off to bed!

bulldoze!

The other day Carter and I were playing in his room and he grabs one of his trucks - a bulldozer - and says "bulldoze!" I was like "hmm, did I hear that right?" Sure enough, he knows what a bulldozer is. Carter has some construction trucks and normally I call them trucks and occasionally say what they are - bulldozer, dump truck, etc. But it definitely hasn't been anything that I've focused on trying to teach him. So when he suddenly said "bulldoze" I was totally shocked! It amazes me the things he picks up so quickly and that we may not even realize he is learning.

20 months is seriously such a fun age. The other day he woke up from his nap and played for a bit in his crib (as per the normal) then all of a sudden I hear "mom, juice!" over the monitor. A few seconds later "mom! juice!" Kid cracks me up. Love him!

PS. Today marks the one month count down to Mya's birthday. Crazy! I'm kind of hoping she doesn't come early (we have SO much to do still) but we'll see!

Santa!

Dear Santa,

Sorry I didn't want to sit on your lap. I was much more interested in the train set you had on the table next to you!


Love,

Carter

Here is last year's picture. Look how much smaller he was!

martha!

DISCLAIMER: all photos in this post are crappy cell phone photos. Everything is much more vivid in person. I need to stop being lazy and get out the real camera.

You can just call me Martha! Lately I've been all crafty. Sewing, making mobiles, wall art, etc. I'm not sure what's gotten into me, but I'm all about the DIY crafts, baby bedding, art, etc. And I'm loving it! It has been a fun thing that I enjoy doing and a fun way to put some personalized stuff in our rooms. Plus it saves us money, which Joe likes.

Previously a lot of my craft projects haven't turned out like I thought they would. In my head I envision these amazing things, but then I'd learn that my sewing abilities don't quite aline with the visions in my head. So when I told Joe I was going to make Carter and Mya's bedding he was like "ehh are you sure that's a good idea?" I could see dollar signs washing down the drain in his mind. And rightfully so! In the past that has totally happened, and he had a right to be nervous. Hell, I was nervous! But I decided I was going to do it, come hell or high water, and guess what?! A few hundred bumps in the road later I did it! With some help from my mom and later my dad.

Here's my first project. Sorry these are all crappy phone pics!!! Carter's new bumper. I was SOO sick of his old one and I loved this fabric. It turned out so great! After it was finished I think I said to my mom a hundred times "wow I'm so impressed with our sewing abilities!"

Having success with Carter's bumper gave me the confidence I needed to tackle another bumper, plus black out curtains. (and soon to come a bed skirt and changing pad cover) I was so nervous when I hit the "buy" button on all this fabric. I'd never seen it in real life and it was three different patterns, etc. I was nervous, but all turned out well and I love the fabric!

Black out, custom size curtains. Success! These took some work, measuring, cutting, lots of pinning and sewing and most importantly lots of patience. For 3 non sewers (my mom, dad, and myself) it was the blind leading the blind on the best way to create these curtains. I am so happy with how they turned out.

And her bumper.

Her room is very clustered right now. We have a queen size bed in there too for when my parents come to stay to watch Carter while I'm in the hospital and after she's born. So we can't really put it together yet. But the gray walls and pink are so awesome!

Side note: big thanks to Papa for painting Carter's room to perfection and helping Joe paint Mya's room, also to perfection!

I also made a mobile for Carter's room and am going to make one for Mya too. I don't have a picture of it right now, but I'll post them soon!

Also in the works are button monograms for each of them. Here's a picture of my very rough draft. I need to spray paint my canvas white before I can continue... and yes I know I can't spray paint so I need to wait for someone to do that for me. I'm so excited to see how these turn out!

Carter's

Mya's

We also had Tucker make a paw painting for Carter. This will forever hold a very special place in my heart. One of Carter's very first words was "Tuck". Carter loved loved loved Tucker. That's all this emotional pregnant woman can say about that right now. It's a really special thing and I love it. This will hang in Carter's room.

I've got at least another 10 projects I really want to make. More wall art, another mobile type thing, etc. As these projects get pumped out I'll post pictures.

You may have noticed I called baby girl Mya a few times. We're finally decided on a name! Also, my c section has been scheduled. January 12th. Crazy! That time is coming so quickly and yet we still have so much to do! I do not recommend moving to a new state while very pregnant. I need to go get my car registered and get a drivers license.... just what I want, my drivers license picture to be taken while 8+ months pregnant. Hell even tackling these sewing projects has been a little rough with a huge 8 month pregnant belly to work around.

I realize the blog has been neglected lately and my pictures have all been crappy cell phone pictures. I need to work on that... when I get some time!

One last random thing. Carter's vocab is progressing so much each and every day. This morning he looked at me and said (while he also signed it) "more milk please". Seriously melt my heart cute. A full on sentence and the please... enough to turn me into a sloppy mess! He's such a polite little dude.

very hot!

It has been a while since I blogged. We've had a lot going on. Saying a very sad goodbye to Tucker, Carter and I moving in with Nana & Papa, our stuff arriving from MN, Joe driving up from AZ, getting settled into the new place, etc. I am happy to report that we are really getting settled and are loving living so close to family.

I wasn't sure what would happen to the blog now that we live close to family. This whole thing started as a way to keep family up to date with what was going on with us. However I think it has become more than that. It is also a way for me to document different stages in Carter's life. I love going back and reading things from when he was younger and seeing the pictures and videos. And Carter loves to go on the blog and watch videos of himself! So my little family sharing blog has turned into an online journal of our lives so it will keep going.

Carter has changed so much in the last monthish. He vocabulary is taking off and he is learning a new word or two every day. He is also starting to put words together. The first time was at the doctors office. He went up to the fish tank, waved and said "hi fish". His most recent saying is "very hot!" Anything that is even remotely warm is "hot" to Carter. Once Papa or Nana, can't remember who, said something was very hot Carter took that and now says it all the time. So cute!

Carter is also really into giving kisses lately. Obviously we LOVE this! I've been trying to teach him to give kisses for a while now and now he does it! He puckers his little lips up and even makes the smacking sound. Joe told me the other day "my favorite thing you've taught Carter is how to give kisses".

My other favorites are how he says "please" and "help". If he gets frustrated by something he'll look to us and say "help" and wait for us to come help him. We're raising a polite little boy who says "please" so cute!

Carter is really starting to use his words when he wants something. Instead of whining for what he wants he will say "help", "please" or tell us what he wants. Like milk or a snack, etc. The other day he brought me over to the fridge, asked that I help him open it, then pointed to an apple and said apple. Then after I got it I told him to go sit in his chair, so he walks over to the table, climbs in his chair and ate the apple. So amazing!

We are starting to be able to have these interactive dialogs between us now and it is amazing to see how much he understands and how much he can tell us. He's turning into such a little boy!

He is a huge snuggler still. I love love love that about him. I hoped he'd be a snuggler and he didn't disappoint.

In other news he is officially 3 feet tall/36 inches. We were at Nan & Papa's the other week and Nan says "I swear he's gotten bigger. He wasn't able to reach all that before." At this point it had only been 2 weeks since she'd seen him last, but I had to agree that he did seem taller. So we pulled out the measuring tape, laid Carter on the floor and measured him. Carter wasn't impressed with the break in playing and looked at us and signed and said "all done!". So stinking cute!

Nan & Papa got Carter this awesome slide. I was worried it would be a little too old for him and he'd have trouble climbing the ladder and getting onto the slide. Carter proved me wrong! I helped him up 3 times and after that he was a pro. He loves this slide and says "weee" as he goes down, then he'll get up, sign more, then run back to the ladder and climb up and do it all over again! So much fun for him and such a great way to get some energy out on the chilly days. Now if we could just convince Nan & Papa to let us take it home with us!

While Carter and I were staying with Nan & Papa we did a lot of yard work outside! Carter thinks Papa's garage is like one huge toy store! Little brooms, big brooms, leaf blowers, rakes, shopvac, pumpkins, etc. Carter stands in the garage and looks at the tool wall like it's Christmas!

Carter is still a very active little boy but he is also getting into things like playdough and coloring. We made some playdough the other day and it has been a big hit. When I was making it I wasn't sure if he'd even be interested, but it is a great thing for sorting and squishing cars into!

Cars and trucks are on the top of Carter's list. He LOVES his cars and trucks! They are the only toys he plays with lately. Papa made Carter a little garage for his cars. Instead of using it as a garage Carter flipped it over, climbed in, then shut the door. Pretty cute!

In other news we are SOOO happy to report that Joe will be working on the U of M project. We are never guaranteed where Joe will be working or that it will be in the same city or even state as where the office is/where we live. We've been battling that for the past 5 years. That is one of the main reasons we moved back to MN. At least if Joe had to work out of town we'd have the support of family and friends here in MN. With 2 kids that was such a huge thing for us. We knew moving back that there was no guarantee Joe would work in Minneapolis. In fact, during one of his first meetings with his boss in MN it was brought him that they needed people in North Dakota. Joe came home and told me this and I thought "here we go again". Although I know by now not to take anything that Joe's company says as a fact until it actually happens. (Joe's boss actually told him not to say anything to his pregnant wife about it because it wasn't a for sure... Joe didn't listen to his boss, although he should have!) Things change so much with that company. So when we moved back and found out Joe would be working at the U of M we were ECSTATIC! That means Joe will be home each night, I wouldn't be a single mom during the week, etc etc etc. The positives of this are endless and we are sooo very happy with this news! It is a big weight off our shoulders for many reasons and we get to be a family that is together every night.

Last but not least, I only have 7 more weeks until baby girl is due. Time is flying by so fast. With the move and the holidays it is all happening so quickly! I am still nervous about adding a second baby - mostly for the logistics of it all - but I'm also getting more excited as well. It's all starting to feel more real now that we're getting her room ready and making bedding and stuff. She's going to be here before we know it!

All in all things are really going great for us. We're so very happy to be back in MN. While it is very cold we are LOVING being able to see friends and family. Carter already has Nan & Papa wrapped around his little finger. Speaking of Nan & Papa I have to give a huge huge thank you to Nan & Papa for helping us out so very much the past month+. From taking off of work so Joe and I could go find a place to live, watching Carter, their open door for us to stay there, getting my car, helping us move in, painting, etc. etc. etc. we cannot thank you enough. I do not know how we would have done this move without your help and support. Your selflessness, caring, and giving are beyond words and Joe, Carter, and I are all so thankful to have you in our lives. Thank you so much for everything you've done for us! Your support means the world us. And I love that we've only been back for a few weeks and Carter already loves you both so much and gets excited to see you. Makes me happy! Thank you for being amazing!

sad