Christmas in review...

CWH had his own little tree he decorated

We all had a great Christmas, except Steve had to work on Christmas eve, Christmas day, and the following weekend. The weekend before Christmas was our Wolfe and Dugas Christmas party that was at BeBe and Pop Pop's new house. We've really got the Chinese Christmas thing down...it went very smoothly and I think everyone ended up with something they wanted. The outdoor fire was nice, and it as nice to have a new baby in the family (Dausen).

On Christmas eve, Carter and I got dressed up for the candlelight service at church, but on our way to pick up Steve from work, Steve called to say it would be at least another hour before he was ready. Carter and I headed to Barnes and Noble so that he could play with the Thomas the Train set - he entertained himself for at least and hour and twenty minutes, and still didn't want to leave. He was crying "Gordon! Gordon!" as we left the store (one of the trains). We didn't make it to the candlelight service, but we did make it to Candelaria's for a nice family Christmas Eve dinner. We checked out the lights in River Oaks afterwards - Carter likes to point out all the Christmas trees.

Christmas day was spent at Katy at the Carltons, where we had a big feast and presents. We are up to our eyeballs in toys. I am desperately trying to keep all the pieces to everything together, but he keeps hiding things in our shoes, in random drawers, etc. I think CWH really likes the customizable play table we bought - we bought the tool kit and the kitchen kit that goes with it. The doctor kit he'll get for his birthday, which we are starting to plan.

Cute things he does nowadays...CWH is on a first name basis with us. In the morning, he stands in his crib and hollers "Er-ca, Steeeve, Er-ca, Steeve" until we come get him. Still a picky eater, likes straw-bees (strawberries). Straw-bees is actually the same word for his toy "screwdriver". I had fun keeping him while Steve was at work, but it certainly makes one appreciate stay-at-home moms! CWH loves roll call of all his family members - he's always running through everyone's name...BeBe, Pop Pop, Jen-NAH, Zee Zee, Granny, Scott-tee, Paw Paw etc.

Halloween costume/Almost over croup...

School Halloween Party

Carter's Elmo Pumpkin

Little man's been sick this week, spending his days lounging in his jammies. We've been blessed with lots of family help. Can climb into the bathroom sink apparently. Saw his first snow last week!

Baby's first..... PINK EYE!

Pink eye is expensive!

25$ doctor copay....66$ eye drops......3$ Thomas the Train flashcards to keep CWH occupied while the drops go in....

The good news is he's gained a pound in a month! I am one of those annoying moms that constantly worries her kid isn't eating enough/growing enough.

Our trip home is postponed a day, will reassess the situation in the morning.

Happy Thanksgiving anyway!!

22 Months - It's all about Thomas!

Go! Go! Thomas!

It's all about Thomas the Train. A $10 wood train goes with CWH everywhere, including bed. Today he is decked out in his Thomas shirt. New sayings: "Ready, set, go!" before pushing his cars. "Bed?!" when we try to rock him to sleep - he doesn't want to be rocked anymore :(
My favorite - hug attacks! Likes books, watches way too much TV. Went pee pee in the potty a couple of weeks ago! Apparenty, he does that from time to time at school. I don't think we are ready for that....Maybe when he's two...

He's still our biggest joy.. 22 months later, it still feels like Christmas each morning as we go into his room to say good morning. What a great way to start the day!

20 1/2 months

Here's a few pics - one of Steve and me since we never take pics of ourselves anymore, just CWH. The other are of CWH's first Astro's game.

Since the last post, I am happy to be home for a while after trips to Palm Springs, CA and Cleveland, OH. CWH is bonded more to Steve due to my absence, so it's time to set things right again :)

His big things now - always wearing the Cars backpack, learning to "pick up" his toys before bed. Matchbox-type toy cars are huge for him right now. Used to spend forever in the tub, now he hates it. Feeds the cat - gets the huge tupperware container out of the closet and everything. Got a couple head bumps at his day care, which made me sad, but didn't bother him much. Praying for protection from H1N1. Glad autumn is here - looking forward to spending some time outside!

19 1/2 mos Family Picture Day!

Here are some pics of picture day with my family and Carter's aunt Linz's family. Uncle Scotty took the kids for ice cream while we picked out the pictures.

We bought Carter his first potty this past weekend. He's a little young, but the day will be here soon. I came home to find Steve already took it out of the box and let him play with it. I missed his first moment seeing his new potty! It's now in the bathroom for him to get accustomed to it, it just needs batteries (so it can cheer for Carter after he goes!). It even has a fake handle to flush.

19 1/2 mos Catching up on photos!

Carter had fun at the Hermann Park Splash area this summer. He's hanging on to his Cars sippy cup in the middle pic- he has a Cars couch, Cars push car, Cars shirt, Cars sippies, Cars punching bag, Cars matchbox cars - he really should watch the movie at some point.

19 months...and 1 day

Just a short and sweet update....new words today - "nana" (banana) and key. loves the old-school blow up bopping bag (the one with sand in the bottom). Likes to shake his finger at us and say " No, no no!" and fusses at us, although we can't understand the details of the fussing. Had a good time this past weekend with his Granny/PawPaw while Steve and I went to Austin (I kayaked for the first time - usually not the outdoorsy type but it was fun!). CWH still tortures the cat and the cat allows it. He usually is a good sleeper, but has some bad nights (I've been up since 2:30 am!). He's gaining proficieny with spoon/fork. LOVES "gogurt" - will eat two a day or more. Loves Sonic drinks...

I've got cute pics on my camera that I need to upload soon!

18 months!

CWH turned 18 months last Friday. He spent a few days at his BeBe and Pop Pop's and had fun at a waterpark in Louisiana. The bad news is that he has "herpangina", a viral infection that has caused sores in his mouth and high fever (up to 103.6). He is better today, but wont eat or drink much (lots of popsicles). BeBe is on her way, as Steve is home sick as well :)

The pic is from June - CWH is heading to school on Splash Day!

Little man is 17 months and doing well after surgery

Here are some pics of CWH playing in sand at his BeBe's house. It's been an exciting time for him this month. He started at the UT Child Development Center June 1, and as expected, the first few days were a transition for both of us. He's adjusted quite well. It's been almost a month and no illnesses. They have fun activites like splash time and popsicles. However, we surely appreciate all the love and kindness that his previous sitter showed him before he went off to "school". We do hope to keep in touch!

CWH spent three nights at his BeBe and PopPop's house while Steve and I went on vacation. It was our SEVEN year anniversary, can you believe!? We had a lovely time at La Canterra in San Antonio. CWH apparently didn't miss us too much, and even slept good away from home, which is unusual. He even had a play date.

CWH had surgery on Friday (June 26) for bilateral inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair. We were headed home after the 8:15 am operation by 9:10 in the morning! CWH did great, although we were all quite anxious to have it over with. He was chasing the cat after about an hour of being home.

New words that I can think of off the top of my head - apple, happy, abby (abby cadaby on sesame street? dunno.) He likes to play peek a boo, and sometimes uses his feet for peek a boo when in the car. He will sort of slap your face and laugh, which, of course, is not funny. He has learned to pull the cat's tail, and takes his Lighting McQueen car all over the house. He can work chunky puzzles. Still a picky eater, but favorites are chicken rings, oatmeal, cheese, and he likes to suck the juice out of apples and spit out the rest. He now takes one long nap after lunch. Not sure how long he would sleep, because we wake him after it's been three hours!

That's enough for now!

16 month old little mister!

Mr. Carter turned 16 months old this past Sunday. Thanks to Jeremy for taking our pictures! The bottom one is a pic from the zoo today. CWH is more interested in touching signs, trash cans, and climbing on things than watching the animals.

This week we found out we got a spot for Carter at the UT Child Development Center near our house. Carter has been so well cared for by his sitter, and she and her family have given him so much love. We have been really blessed to have a place like that for Carter to go. I always knew it would be emotionally hard to transfer him to "school", but it seems to be time. We will at least give it a shot.

I have missed my little man recently as work has taken up all my energy and then some. I think things will get better in the next few months at work. My family deserves more of my time than I can give them right now. Carter is growing into a little boy too quick to not cherish more of this time wtih him!

Check-ups and Crayons

Little man had his 15 month checkup on April 23. I was nervous that such a picky eater would have fallen off his growth curve. Sure enough, he went from 25th percentile down to 8th percentile. I was thinking of ways to add heavy cream and fat to all his meals, but when the pediatrician came in, it turned out that the nurse had just plotted his weight wrong on the growth curve. He's still actually 25th percentile! The numbers are:

Weight: 22 pounds 14 ounces (25th percentile)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (60th percentile)

Head circumference: 19 inches (85% percentile) (His head is bigger to hold his extra-intelligent brain :)

He is still a sweetie. We're anxiously awaiting some new words. He does blow kisses and wave "Hi" to strangers. The pictures are him drawing with his first set of crayons. Apparently toddler crayons are triangular now. The middle pics are a father/son trip to the zoo while I was working today. The last pic is Carter playing with his bath letters his ZeZe bought him.

CWH gives good hugs, and still wants mommy to rock him to sleep. I am a little embarrassed to say we still use the bottle at times, but it's the only way to get milk into him. Otherwise, he will occasionally sip from the sippy cup, and the milk gets warm and I wonder if it's still good, and spill-proof isn't really spill-proof.

We're back!

After a long hiatus, the Carter Chronicle if finally back online. Our camera had stopped communicating with our computer, and we just got a new Canon Elph, so we are good to go.

Today's was Carter's 2nd Easter, and he spend it in Cleveland/Coldspring with the Hightower family, including his great-grandmother, MawMaw Hightower. He had a good time playing on the piano and hanging out with his cousins Lauren Jillian. When we got back to Houston, we went to the Garden Center for some photos. 15 month olds don't stay still long, so there were lots of shots of him running off. Today he discovered a new favorite food - cucumbers! He's got a lot of back teeth coming in, so I'm sure it feels good on his gums. The temper tantrums are getting a little more intense, and are most likely to occur when it's time to get in the high chair!

Carter's First Birthday!

Gymboree Day

We had a coupon for a Gymboree class so we though we would check it out. Carter had a blast, and we had a blast watching him! It was a nice break from Carter's condo-life. He loved the bubbles, the parachute, and just wandering around in general.

Carter's First Haircut

Carter had his first haircut yesterday, after much resistance from BeBe and Pop Pop. He slept 95% of the time! He even slept through much of the clippers. His Dad had a haircut first. We went to TGF Haircutters b/c they had a cute car you could sit in, but I just held him the whole time.

In other news, we are going to a class at gymboree today for the first time! Carter is broadening his food menu - yesterday was the first drive-thru chicking nuggets! His favorite is tex-mex. We're also transitioning to whole milk and off the bottle.