Happy 2nd Birthday to Carson!

Well, today is the day we get to celebrate and give thanks for the little man in our lives.  Carson, you have brought your Daddy and I so much joy these past two years.  Your smile lights up the room.  Your thoughts often bring us to tears. Your heart for God and others gives us such joy.  Thank you God for these past two years!

This month we said, "good-bye" to "pa" (aka...pacifier) and "hello" to Mr. Fred the frog.  Carson transitioned so much easier than I could have ever expected.  He "lost" pa one evening and who would have know that he would have slept through the first night without any issues.  The following nights he did ask for it, but his new frog seemed to have provided the comfort he needed to make it through.

It is hard to see in this picture, but this month, we also went through having the hives.  Crazy, I know, but it covered him neck to toe.  We just knew it was chicken pocks:)

Last Monday night, we were able to go see the lighting of the tree in our town. We had so much fun!

 

Carson getting his first glimpse of Christmas.

Our Sweet Little Man.

 

Birthday time!  Bring in the trucks, tractors, diggers....

 

"I'm 2!!!!!"

 

"Blowing out my candles!"

 

"Time to dig in!"

 

Kylie, Grandmother, and Carson

 

 

"Thank you so much for my new toys!"

 

"Love you guys!"

 

Love you, Cars!

 

Carson and Mommy at the Rainforest Cafe.  We thought that he would love it, but the gorillas scared him to death!

 

Carson and Daddy putting up Christmas lights.  Carson is telling Daddy exactly where they need to go!



23 Months-old

It is hard to believe that this time next month, our little man will be TWO!  Each month, I am amazed at all the things Carson has learned.  As always, I am intrigued by his language development and cannot help but stop and laugh at many of the things he thinks of.  Carson continues to LOVE mowers, tractors, edgers, blowers, front-end loaders, etc.  If it has wheels or is a tool, then Carson is in "awwwww".  Unfortunately, this past month has been filled with sickness between Carson having an ear infection and Daddy having mono so, we have spent more time inside this past few weeks than normal.  Despite this little hiccup in our life, the memories keep being made and here is a little glimps of the things that just make me smile!

Sayings from a 23 month-old:

1. When Brandon returned home from the hospital, he was laying on a pillow in my lap.  Carson comes over and says, "Daddy, no snuggle with mommy!"

2.  "Daddy, no bath.  Water too hot.  I cold water."

3. AND my FAVORITE...Carson has learned to sing most of his NT books of the Bible.  He has also learned to quote John 3:16, Mark 12:30, and Luke 1:37.  There is nothing quite as sweet as hearing a little child run around the house saying, "NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with GOD!"  What an amazing reminder!

Actions of a 23 month-old:

1.  CLIMBING!!!  Carson has figured out that the world is a totally different place from the top of a stool.  He has learned to take it into the bathroom to open the "fun" cabinets.  He has attempted to take it into his closet to "pick out a shirt".  He has taken it into the kitchen to explore all of the drawers that mama uses.

2.  BOOMING!  There is nothing in this child that isn't all boy.  One of Carson's favorite actions is to "boom" thing.  Whether it is making a toy fall off of a high place or tackling Daddy, there is always a sweet smile to follow.

3.  Telling secrets:  Daddy is always telling Carson secrets to tell me.  I love hearing, "Daddy says, Mommy, you are beautiful!"

4.  PUSHING! (objects, not people!)  Carson loves to "push" things around.  He loves to push our homemade CHOO CHOO train, all of the strollers, grocery carts, and whatever else has wheels!

5.  DRIVING!  Last but definitely not least, Carson loves to "drive" the car.  "Mama, drive a minute?"  He loves pushing all of the buttons and dancing to the music!

One Tough Longhorn Football Player

Carson riding his first minature horse!

Carson's First Trick or Treating with Ms. Bonnie, his 2-year-old Bible school teacher.

Ms. Joyce and Ms. Betty

Conductor Carson driving the Choo Choo!

Sweet, sweet boys!  Cohen, Jakub, Carson, and Keegan
We miss you guys already, Josh, Sarah, Jakub, and baby!

The Pumpkin Farm

We have been anticipating the cooler weather for the last several months so that we could do more fun things outside.  This month has been filled with going to the park, the zoo, and of course, the pumpkin farm.  Carson has had so much fun feeding the animals, riding the hayride, sitting on the pumpkins, and riding ALL of the tractors.  He has had soooooo much fun that he has been multiple times by this point and each day awaits a new adventure!  Now for a BUNCH of pictures!

 

Carson's First Parade

It is amazing to see life through the eyes of a child! I just have to wonder what he was thinking as he enjoyed his first hometown parade! Yes, it was chilly, but it didn't seem to bother our little man...

The Wizard of Oz

Just look at this smile!

Carson and Grandy anticipating the next float!

Not everyday that you see an 18 wheeler in a parade!  Yes, it is carrying the football team!

 

22 Months-old

Well, another month has flown by.  It is hard to believe that fall is here and that birthdays and holidays are around the corner.  This month I have tried to slow life down a little bit and not be sooooo busy.  I have tried to appreciate the small things in each day that make each day so wonderful.  During this time, it has made me even more appreciative of all of the blessings in our life.  I am so thankful that God created relationships so that in some way we can experience what he feels for us.  So...each day I am reminded of God's love through the eyes of a precious little boy.

Some of my favorites from the month...

1. Listening to Carson talk to his Heavenly Father while attempting to close his eyes: "Dear God Fathers, thank you for mommy and daddy. (pause) Food. (pause) Eggs. Toast.  Mimi Pop.  Granna Grandy.  KK.  Jesus name AMEN!"  (Of course his prayer changes daily, but each day I am reminded of the "little" things to be thankful for.)

2. Watching Carson become Daddy's little boy:  This month Carson has become even fonder of his earthly Daddy.  From the running to the door when Daddy comes home to the crying when Daddy has to stay for a meeting after church, Carson LOVES his Daddy.  Their two favorite things to do together are to watch cartoons and eat a snack in Daddy's chair and to play choo choos! (Oh..and to "fix" things!)

3.  Observing Carson with others:  Carson LOVES his friends.  He constantly asks over and over about many of his little friends.  Whether it is going to the park or going to Bible class, he is constantly aware of each person, especially when they aren't there and he was expecting them to be:)

4.  Listening to this boy sing:  I know that I sing alot by many people standards.  It brings joy to my day, but to see a little boy sing about his Jesus just melts my heart.  This month, Carson has started singing "Thank You Lord for Loving Me".  He can sing every word without cues.  I love the changes in pitch! I also love when he gets into a song and claps his hands, closes his eyes, and really sings it out!

Carson taking a bath at Nannie's.  We were blessed to get to stay at her house on our last visit since mom and dad were having some work done to their house.  Thanks, Nannie!

Carson putting gas in Nannie's mower.  Man he loves to mow!

Carson eating waffles at Nannies!  Yummy!

 Carson and Grandy

Carson and Granna

Celebrating Pop's Birthday

 

Love those kisses, Pop!

 

Man, this boy LOVES to mow!

 

Carson playing at the park

 

The HIGHLIGHT of the day

 

"Bye, mowers!"

 

Love this boy:)

 

Smack kisses for mama!

 

My two boys!

 



21 Months-Old

It is hard to believe that in 3 short months our little man will be turning the BIG 2!  I know that I say it every month, but time flies!  This month has been filled with so many moments to remember that it is hard to write them all down.  First and foremost, we said our good-byes to Brandon's Granddaddy and Carson's Great-Granddaddy.  He will be greatly missed!!!!  I am sure that Carson won't remember this so I hope that by writing it down he will know that his Great-Granddaddy was the one to give him his first pair of boots!  This was a tradition that started with Brandon and has been carried down.  Brandon has many great memories of growing up with his Granddaddy and since I have been around so long, I have my own list started.  One thing that I appreciated about Granddaddy was his concern for my Pappa.  Granddaddy and Pappa only met once, I believe, but it was like they had known each other forever.  Granddaddy always asked me about him and had genuine concern for him when he was sick.  I can only imagine the stories that they are now sharing!

The thing that I want to remember this month about our little man is all of the funny things he has said.  Being a speech pathologist, I am sooooooo interested in language development and Carson seems to amaze me daily. 

This month....

1. Carson started learning how to sing in a deep voice and a high voice.  He dips his chin in his chest, puffs out his lips, and sings the ABC song.  So...funny!

2.  Using his "deep voice", he came around the corner the other day and said, "Daddy, Tickle Monster coming!"

3.  Yesterday, Carson listened to his "Carson" c.d. at the computer.  I had briefly left the room, and I returned to him blaring out "Jesus Loves Me" saying all of the words perfectly. 

4. Carson has started mimicking everything that we say..some of my favorite new words are "actually" and "probably". 

5.  Carson continues to love mowers, measuring tapes, weed eaters, edgers, cement trucks, front end loaders.  Everytime we are in the car, we are on a constant hunt for these things.  He asks over and over and over, "Where's mowers?"

6.  Carson loves his family and friends...he is constantly asking for different people.  He especially has a love with KK.  We had to call her on Skype the other night.  The two of them made "soup" through the computer.  He just doesn't understand why she can't just come over!  I am so thankful to have a little boy who genuinely loves others. 

So...this month the blessings continue...what a MIGHTY GOD we serve!