Winter Walk

A few days ago we received what is hopefully our last snow of the season. It was wicked cold in the morning and was snowing and freezing rain. The result was ice everywhere. We usually stay indoors but I got motivated to get out and shovel our driveway while Carson napped. The wind had calmed and it finally warmed up to 30 degrees. Never in my life did I think I would be happy about a "warm 30 degrees"!



We all get cabin fever being cooped up and while I was out shoveling Rhett happened to put himself down for a nap at 3 in the afternoon. Not cool. I came inside and roused him and we had a very grumpy, whiny and crying Rhett on our hands. Not cool either. In effort to chase away the grumpies I suggested a winter walk in the nearby woods. We all geared up and headed out into the cold. It had gotten a bit colder since my shoveling but we carried on. And lugging around a snow bunny baby helped keep me warm!



Winter is beautiful, especially when it is quiet and you can appreciate the lovely white snow. Now that it is March it is high time to get a move on Mr. Winter! We've had our fill and fun. Forecast says 40s from here on out! Woohoo!! I am so excited for spring, sun, warmth and park days again.

Carson's Cake Smash

For Carson's 1st birthday I wanted to do a little cake smash photoshoot and usually I do one on my own, and have for the other kids. Living in AZ I had access to various props and backdrops thanks to generous photographer friends. The light is iffy in my house here and with the gloomy winter days I decided to hire it out. We have a lovely friend who specializes in babies and she did a wonderful job. It was fun to sit back and let her handle the details too. Carson did great and repeated his cake crying performance for the camera. Ha!



After cake Erin, the photographer, had a fun idea to do a bath scene. Carson was not so sure about that but after she gave him a toy he warmed up to the idea and had some fun with the water.
I am thrilled with the photos and am so happy to have this sweet time captured.


We sure love this little nugget. He definitely reigns supreme as the baby of the family.

Happy 1st Birthday Carson!

Today Carson is ONE. We celebrated with a simple family party primarily consisting of singing, cake and ice cream.

The day weather wise has been gray and gloomy so light was not at optimum levels. I waited until Carson had napped and eaten lunch and then seized the daylight coming from our front window and I set up extra lamps to coax as much light as possible. I hung a little decor and had everything just so. I shouldn't have bothered!

I brought out the cake, the kids gathered around the table and Carson wanted nothing to do with happily sitting in his chair while we sang to him. He wanted cake and he wanted it NOW. Even his beloved mini M&Ms didn't abate his crying. I called it off and was going to wait until tomorrow to try again. I wanted my Happy Birthday pictures dang it!

Phil took the grumpy baby downstairs and we disbanded. After 20 minutes and my checking the forecast we decided to try again; cloudy and gray for the next 10 days. Carson was happy and playful until he saw the cake. He leaned towards the cake mouth wide open and started crying again when I put it on the table and not in his mouth.

We just went with it and let him call the shots. After all, it's his party, right?

He sampled his chocolate cake with whipped cream/cream cheese frosting and saw that the rest of us also had ice cream. Well, all he had to do was "ask" ie: yell and his dad complied.

All Hail the King!

It is good to be one. And the Boss.

I am a jumble of emotions. I've been lamenting to Phil with each milestone that Carson passes how it is our last one; last gummy smile, last 1st birthday, last crawling baby, last snuggly bum that we get to rock to sleep, last, last, last! Phil usually expresses jubilation that easy(ier) street is around the corner kid-wise but tonight he did say that it is going to be lonely when the kids are grown. Yes, we have a good 18 years to go but I know it is going to be here in a flash. I'm not ready for that. So I am going to drag out this last baby business as long as possible. 

Happy Birthday Carson! 

Max loses his first tooth

Waaaaay back in November, before Thanksgiving Max mentioned that his tooth hurt. This caused my hygienist ears to perk up and upon further examination I was relieved (and surprised!) to see that it was just a loose tooth. Ah! My big boy has his first loose tooth! So exciting. I told him to start wiggling it and that all was well. 

During my time working in the dental office there a two camps of loose tooth kids; the "wiggle it out in 2 days" or "don't touch it! My tooth will erode by itself thankyouverymuch". Max was in the latter group. 

When I took Carson's 11 month pics I sat Max down to snap a few pics of his smile before it was forever changed. Dramatic much? Yes, I am. My babies are growing up and these things make me melancholy. Which means pictures to document.

January 1st, roughly 6 weeks later, after some rough housing and jumping on beds, Max finally lost his tooth! I was thinking we were going to have to take him to the dentist to get it pulled since he wasn't working on it. Plus his permanent tooth is coming in behind and crooked. Little shark.

Due to aforementioned rough housing the famous lost tooth was literally lost. Somewhere in his bedroom rug, under the bed, in his covers, who knows? We were both bummed. I wanted to see it and he wanted to leave it for the tooth fairy. I assured him that she would understand and to start looking!

Miraculously it was found while Max was in time out. Then when he was putting it on his dresser it fell again into the carpet. He found it again though and we put it in a little cup for safety.

The tooth fairy left a $1 bill in the shape of a sailboat with a shiny and sparkly blue quarter. 

 

One satisfied customer.