Carter is 18 Months!

We cannot believe our "baby" is 18 months old!!! He had a great check-up yesterday with the doctor. He is 28 lbs. (75th percentile) and 33 1/2" tall (80th percentile). We are so proud of our Carter! His favorite thing to do is be outside. He loves playing outside with his sidewalk chalk, riding in his red buggy car, going for walks, helping mommy and daddy with yard work, playing on our neighbor's swing set and going to playgrounds. Carter babbles nonstop and points to everything he recognizes/wants. He is also able to say a few words including "boo, uh-oh, eese, mama, dada, up." He is great about listening and following directions when he wants to. He knows to sit on the step so I can put his socks and shoes on. He also knows that time-out is sitting on the step and calming himself down when he is being disobedient, which doesn't happen too much. Carter loves reading books, throwing balls, hitting the baseball with his bat, pushing his lawn mower around the house, watching Barney and his favorite DVD which still is Praise Baby. We love that Carter is a snuggler. He loves giving hugs and kisses. Some of our favorite moments is in the morning after he wakes up to put him in our bed to have some cuddle time. He loves laying on mommy and daddy and we love tickling him and just waking up together, even though it is often 8:30am. We cannot thank God enough for creating Carter. He is such a wonderful gift and blessing. We know he is going to be a wonderful big brother in about 10 days. Carter, mommy and daddy love you more then you will ever know and we know God has special plans for your life.

Down the Shore with Best Friends!

On October 11th and 12th we had the fun privilage of going down the Jersey Shore with some of our best friends, the Coucharas (Joe, Laura and Joey) and Reigners (Eric and Carol). Laura and Carol are my two best friends from high school and it is rare to be able to get away with them and their families. We all got down there on Saturday and after lunch we got the two little guys, Joey and Carter, to the beach. Since it was pretty breezy outside we bundled them up and didn't expect them to enjoy the ocean water as much as they did. To our surprise Joey was the first one to fall into the water, which he actually loved! Carter was also eager to jump the waves with his daddy and eventually fell into the water as well. The boys loved just sitting on the wet sand playing with some beach toys. Soon it was back to the house for naptime. After the naps, we all got ready to go to the boardwalk. We had a nice dinner at Mac n Manco's Pizza and enjoyed taking the boys on a few rides. After a nice walk on the boardwalk we enjoyed some ice cream from Kohr Brother's. After putting the boys to bed, we adults enjoyed watching the Office all night long thanks to Carol! We had many good laughs and good talks. Sunday was spent eating some great meals and just enjoying being able to relax at the beach house. It was the last big getaway for our family since baby boy #2 is suppose to enter the world in about 2 weeks. I think the reality of it hit me when Carol said to me as we were saying our goodbyes, "Well, I guess the next time I will see you is at the hospital with your newest addition!" Thank you best friends for a great weekend getaway!

Happy Fall!

Carter and I went to Willow Creek Orchards with our MOPS group on October 9th. It was a beautiful day and actually felt more like summer then fall weather, but it was still a lot of fun doing something in honor of the fall season. Carter's favorite part was picking berries and eating them...or should I say having his mama pick them and give them to him to eat while he sat in the lovely grass. Carter also got to go to their pumpkin patch and pick out his first pumpkin. He picked a great one which now sits right outside our front door for decoration. I am blessed to be able to stay at home with Carter and do these fun events...thank you Ryan for working so hard for us...we love you lots!!!

Sesame Place

Our wonderful friends, Albie, Katie and Landon Guerra, invited us to spend a fun-filled day with them at Sesame Place on September 27th. Landon is about 4 months younger then Carter and they are quickly becoming good buddies. They enjoyed playing together and going on some rides together. Sesame Place was decorated for the fall season, which was beautiful. The boys walked through their first cornstalk maze with their mamas who couldn't seem to find their way out without the help of the daddies. It was a fun day with great friends...what else could we have asked for? Thank you Albie, Katie and Landon!!!