Picture with Santa

Last week (or the week before that...I am not sure...they are all running together), Carter's daycare had a "breakfast with Santa" event. They have different things for the parents and kids to eat, plus everyone gets their picture made with big guy! I was very nervous about Carter getting his picture made with Santa. As many of you know, Carter is not always the social butterfly...and is particularly scared of hairy men at times:). He did suprisingly well though. I tried to not call attention to Santa at all when we were in line. When it was our turn, I sat him in Santa's lap and tried to keep his eyes on me by making funny faces and talking to him. We were doing okay until Santa started talking to Carter. He looked at Santa, felt of his beard, then looked at me with that panicked look as if saying "get me outta here!" The professional photographer got some great shots before Carter even realized that he was in Santa's lap, so it turned out okay. Here are some pictures that my friend Krista took...they were in line right behind us. You can see the moment Carter realizes that someone is holding him. Glad she captured that!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had such a great time during Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is always kind of a marathon for Donaven and I. We try to make it to every dinner since our families are so close in proximity...and usually it wears me out...and I am stuffed by the end of the day, with three Thanksgiving meals to eat! This year, we still made it everywhere, but I really didn't feel rushed and we had time to enjoy the day. I even contributed some dishes to each dinner, which is good for me, as I am no Paula Dean (or whoever you think is a great cook)! Carter really enjoyed being at the Old Place (for those of you who don't know, that is the my great-grandparents old house that we now use as a deer camp/gathering place for Thanksgiving). There were tons of leaves to play in...and since we don't really have a lot of trees at our house, it was something new and very interesting to him.


Carter also got a lot of extra TLC this weekend from his relatives. I am so blessed and thankful to have such a great family.

Cool hat, huh?

Playing in the leaves is so much fun!

Carter and his Pop

Little Monkey

We have had an activity filled Halloween! Tuesday night, we dressed Carter in his monkey costume and went to Boo at the Zoo in Little Rock. I just had to let him wear the costume more than one day...too cute to waste on just one night! He had a pretty good time, but it was really too old for him. He did enjoy looking at all of the costumes and flashing lights...but I think that Donaven and I probably enjoyed it more than he did. I really think he will enjoy it next year, so we will try again!

Today, I took him to daycare in his costume...there were several of the babies that were dressed up in his class, so it was so cute to see all of them. There were lots of butterflies, bees, etc. I have always thought that babies dressed as monkeys were cute, but I didn't just pick it because I liked it...promise. He just seems to love monkeys. From the time that he was a little baby, he has always seemed to like them. My Aunt Connie gave him a little monkey that makes the "oo-oo-a-a" sound when you press his belly when he was like 2-3 months old, and he has always thought it was funny. I also bought him a hand puppet that is a monkey, and he obviously prefers it! So he HAD to be a monkey...and he has not minded his costume at all either...in fact, he will look at himself in the mirror and talk and smile at himself when he has it on. I am glad that he liked it.

Finally feeling better

So on Saturday when I said I was looking forward to a nice Sunday, I felt a little twinge in my stomach thinking, "I shouldn't say that". Little did I know that the twinge in my stomach was the friendly stomach virus. Everyone, except one little person who will remain nameless since I don't even want to say it out loud as I fear it will happen, has gotten the stomach virus in our household. Today, though, we are all feeling so much better. Yesterday was my normal "day off" from work, so Carter and I stayed home all day and played. He keeps doing new stuff every day, so I had a fun time seeing what I could teach him. Here are some pictures from yesterday and this afternoon with Amy. Carter loves his Amy, as you can tell. I also wanted to post some pictures that showed off his front teeth. He has started to squint his nose when he smiles, and it is so funny!

Nice Weekend

This has been such a nice weekend. We have finally just had time to relax, which is nice. Last night, we went to the Bryant High football game. It was really exciting because both Bryant and Cabot were undefeated...and we won! I have not been able to go to any of the high school games this year, so it was fun! Carter did not have as much fun as I did. He was a little scared of all the yelling and excitement...although he got a little more used to it. It has been funny to watch his personality emerge. Right now, he is really not like me or Donaven...he has his own little unique way! He has been sick the last couple of days, so he has been a little grumpy, but thankfully he is getting back to his self and is sleeping a lot better. We have actually both been pretty sick, but I'm feeling a lot better now too!

Today, we have had a very lazy day. We had a chance to take a nap and then do a little shopping tonight. I look forward to a nice Sunday tomorrow...and then back to work on Monday!

I have some pictures to add, but for some reason I am not able to upload them. I will try again tomorrow.

9 Months Old Today

Today is Carter's nine-month birthday. I know this is what everyone says, but I truly can't believe how much he has changed from December 28, 2006 to September 28, 2007. As of today, he has four teeth (two top and two bottom) and he is able to crawl like a little wild man, pull up on anything that is or is not standing still, dance, occasionally get up the nerve to try to take a one-handed step, and say "ba" for ball (without me even asking him to)! Donaven will never admit this because he says that he doesn't want to pressure him to do sports, but I know that deep down that inner coach is doing a touchdown dance because his little boy is showing interest in football! However, as an aside note...Carter may not be able to say it, but at this time, he is equally interested in shaking his little pom-poms, which is very entertaining.

Here are some nine month pictures that Amy and I took this afternoon.

Joining in

I have had so much fun reading so many blogs lately, that I have decided that I should start one too. I am not great at keeping up with this kind of stuff, but hopefully I can stay on track and update at least a few more times before Carter turns 1! Here are some pictures of Carter in the last month. He will be nine months old this week (on the 28th). It is so hard to believe how time has flown by.

Carter at his first Bryant Ballgame. Go Hornets!

Carter has learned the how to pull up and cruise on just about anything. Here is a picture of one of his first locations to conquer.

Carter loves being outside. Here he is at my parent's house in his new swing...which he LOVES!

Another picture of Carter and I at the ballgame cheering Daddy on!
Thanks to Aunt Amy for always remembering her camera.