Carolina In My Mind

Saturday we decided at the last minute to head to Chapel Hill to check out the Carolina basketball museum - too bad we weren't smart enough to check the hours because they close a 1pm and we arrived at 1:30! Needless to say we had to change our plans. Carter always talks about Carolina's campus so we decided to just walk around and let them get some energy out. They had a blast and I tried to get some good pics but don't think I was too successful! The good news is I guess we'll have plenty of other opportunities for picture taking in Chapel Hill!

Chicago Promenade

I know you gave me this CD a million years ago Brian and Sarah, but I just wanted to tell you how much I love this song! It's a mixed CD that's in my car so I haven't been able to listen to his other songs but I'm definitely hooked! This version unfortunately doesn't do it justice in the little bit that I heard but I guess it's better than nothing!

I'll Absolutely Try...

Carter has said some pretty funny stuff lately so I need to post it before it's long forgotten! On our snow day he started complaining about his knee hurting but we can't seem to find a thing wrong with it - for the past few days he's told me that he's sick because of his knee and he doesn't think he's feeling the right temperature! I think he basically just wants to get some yummy liquid ibuprofen or acetaminophen because he tells me that it'll be better if he can get some medicine for it.

One day a few months ago I met my friend Amy and her kids for a lunch date at Moe's. Carter was an absolute terror (crawling under the table, wiping his dirty little fingers on their spotless glass window, turning around in his seat...you name it, he did it!). We came home and had a lengthy timeout in his room so he could think about how bad he was. Everytime we drive past Moe's he'll say, "Mommy, there's Moe's!" Lastnight he said, "Mommy, will we ever get to go back to Moe's again because I really like their quesadillas?" I told him that we could maybe go back soon but that he'd have to be really good because he'd been so bad before! "Can we maybe go there when I'm an adult then?" I said he probably wouldn't have to wait that long but he'd just have to be really good on our next try! He said, "Mommy, I'll absolutely try to be good!" I almost lost it - he says so many "grownup" things now but I don't think I've ever heard him say absolutely!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

The weather forecast was actually right and we ended up with 6 or 7 inches of snow today! I had to work lastnight so I was scared to death coming home this morning but I just took my time and listened to all the advice my yankee friends had given me, like going slow, not slamming on brakes, etc., etc.! I was fine and the roads weren't too bad - it was more the other crazy drivers that acted like the roads were clear and drove like maniacs that I had to worry about. I was like a kid this morning and too excited to even try to sleep so we dressed everyone in their winter best and headed out to have fun. Carter loved it and just smiled and played the whole time - Cooper wasn't quite sure what to think and was much happier being held and observing than being an active participant but that was fine with me! I tried to bring him in for his nap around 10 but he screamed bloody murder as soon as we walked inside so we went out for a few more minutes to watch everyone playing. I napped when Cooper did and then we went out to play again this afternoon and built a snowman - I think it's now missing it's carrot nose thanks to Hallie but we at least got a few pictures of it before her crime! Carter was so proud of he and Jamey's creation! Sorry for the picture quantity but you know we don't get snow very often so I had to make the most of it:)


One of the rare pictures when Cooper wasn't being held!

I think this is my favorite from the day because he just looks so sweet.

What a sweet smile from Carter, huh?

He tried to catch the flakes on his tongue the whole time.

I love this boy!

I don't get the chance to hang out with just Cooper very often but when I do it's so much fun. He thinks our furniture is his playground and loves any chance we give him to climb on it and play dare devil! I promise he didn't hurt himself at all this time! Carter had to go to school this morning and I could hardly believe the thermostat in the car said 18 degrees! He was pretty bundled up but his bad mama accidentally packed the wrong toboggan (he and Cooper have matching hats) so it's a little snug but I'm sure he'll be fine!

He loves Baby Einstein as you can see!

Waving Bye to Daddy on a chilly morning!

Look how big I am!

He Wore PJ's!

It was hard to believe for me too, but Carter did wear his PJ's to school last Friday, just like he was supposed to! "Raff" and Otter were even allowed to make the trip so he could show them off to his buddies! Of course as soon as we walked in the door from school he wanted to change into his real clothes that he picked out. He has a dresser full of clothes that rarely see the light of day (long sleeve shirts, jeans, etc.!) and I've really been trying to encourage him to wear more "boy" stuff and I think I'm finally getting through. I know it's mean but I told him one outfit he was wearing (khaki corduroys, carolina blue turtleneck, super tight argyle sweater vest!) looked a little girly and I think Sarah Rogers can be my witness and would definitely agree with me! Now when he brings me his clothes he asks me if they look like boy clothes or girl clothes and he's actually been wearing his jeans and tennis shoes!

Before school...

...After school

Hello?

You can still see the food on my cheeks even after my baby wipe bath!

The dogs are back inside after their too long exile and Cooper loves them (they love his leftovers from the highchair, too!)

Pullin' out all the stops because our household can't bear for the Heels to start 0-3 in the ACC

Thriving Boys

Cooper went to the MD for his 15 month appt. and a few immunizations a week ago and I forgot to post anything about it so here goes. Forgive me for those of you that don't really care about lots of detail but I plan to use my blog as some sort of baby book for them as well so I have to keep these things compiled somewhere! He weighed 20lbs 6oz, which was like 10th percentile but where he's been all along, his length was 31.5 (50th) and I don't remember his head circ but it was 75th - it must be that incredible brain he has up there taking up all the space. I had worked the night before so Jamey was brave and took them for me. I am so blessed to have such a helping husband and they were both great, aside from Cooper crying a lot in the exam room. He is so funny now and has developed quite the temper - whenever he gets mad (which is usually because Carter has taken something from him or won't let him get where he wants to go) he balls up his fists and "headbutts" anything in his way. It's a little scary to me but I guess it's better than swinging those little fists at something! He isn't the most verbal child just yet but he does say mama, dada, ottie (which we think is otter), ayee (we think means our dog Hallie), baby and bye, bye all the time! It's so fun to watch him at this stage b/c it seems that everything he does is an adventure and he gets so excited at all the cute little things - if you ask him if he wants to go upstairs, he'll just smile and sprint to the gate like it's his job and when you ask him about bathtime, he stands at the tub and pulls on his clothes trying to help get them off so he can hop in.

Where to even begin with Carter?! He's such a chatterbox and goes on and on and on about anything and everything in his little Southern voice. He is so sweet and fun but too smart for his own good and learning more about sharing (thanks to Cooper) everyday! He has become quite the little metrosexual and only likes to wear certain things, like topsiders, khaki's or corduroys, oxford shirts, sweaters, and sweater vests! He looks so cute with his little preppy self but it's getting annoying that he refuses to wear anything else! He picks out his own clothes in the morning and wants to dress before we even leave his room because he says his pj's aren't very nice looking. I'll try to persuade him to wear jeans and tennis shoes but I don't win very often! The other day for school he wore something like this but only under the condition that he could change into his nicer clothes when we got home from school. Tomorrow he is supposed to wear pj's to school but he's already told me a few times he doesn't want to because they don't look nice! I think I'll be able to talk him into it but I guess time will tell...

Happy New Year, Tarheel Style

2009 is starting out great for me if I must say so! I was scheduled to work tonight but they called to see if I wanted to take a vacation day because we were very overstaffed. Needless to say I was pretty excited that I'd get to spend the whole weekend with my family rather than at work. Hopefully this is the start of good luck for our household after a New Year's Day meal of barbecue, blackeyed peas, mustard greens, and cornbread. I guess I have to admit cornbread was my only contribution to the meal but fortunately Jamey is an awesome cook so I was well fed - even Carter liked it all and that's a real testament to how good it was! Here's the only New Year's Eve picture we took and it looks like my resolution should be pretty evident - get rid of double chin but oh well. We'll see how that goes and enjoy the alma mater; do you think he could sound more nasal if he tried? Don't forget to pause the playlist at the bottom of the page to get the full effect of the video:)