He Speaks!

Tonight we were on the way to the gym and Deagan was babbling as usual in his carseat. We all play games where we make sounds and see if he can imitate them (like ahhh and ooo), usually he does pretty well. Tonight though, he brought out the big guns- all on his own. It was quiet and he yelled "Ba Ba Bahhhhhhhhhhhh!" At first I thought he said Momma, but not quite. I made him repeat it a gazillion times:)
Then tonight when he was getting his jammies on Olivia was singing "La La Lu" (thanks Angie for putting that video on your blog and refreshing Olivia's mind of that song:) So Deagan copies her and belts out "La La La!"
It's so fascinating to be a parent right now. He's at the stage where he's changing each and every day- dramatic little changes. And I'm so lucky to be a part of it and see everything!

Did I mention he can stand now?

His kneel ended with his first successful pull up into a stand. He was so excited that he actually let go, fell back and bashed his head on the dinosaur...but it didn't phase him:)

He's the master of pulling up too, here he got on his knees to reach a toy 

The Evolution of a Crawl by Deagan Carter

Long ago (last week) he was doing what we like to call the "Inchworm." Where he would lay on his tummy, dig his head into the ground while sticking his butt up in the air, and pushing off with his feet- only moving maybe an inch at a time.
This weekend he started flopping forward from a sitting position onto his belly while trying to reach for things. I was playing with him in his room when it just seemed to click- and of course I had the camera. So scroll down and you can see the steps in which he is learning to crawl.
It all starts with a sit, then a belly flop, then a reach (just to be sure moving is in order). Then he goes into a full on push-up! It's quite the site to see:) Then he'll quickly tuck his knees under his belly and like magic he's in the crawling position.
Now if he could just learn to go forward, not backwards! He hasn't quite figured out the whole alternate your knee movements yet. But he's evolved each and every day. Even today at playgroup he scooted all the way across the floor and can now go from belly back to sitting.
He's on the move and there's no stopping him now;)

There you go with that camera again momma, but I just can't seem to get him to smile...hmm 

step 1- sit

The classic sitting start position, he's got his eye on the target...

step 2- sitting reach

The see if I can reach it while still sitting pose

step 3- belly flop

Rrrrrreach for it....

step 4- push up

Drop and give me 20!

final step- tuck knees and smile

Woo-hoo, I got my knees under my belly and I'm ready to go places!

LOST

Are you watching LOST? If so, how great was tonight's episode!!!! And what the heck is that glow in the dark map on the wall? I wish I had TiVo!!!!! I guess it will add another dimension to the show and give them something else to do. But how will they get that wall down again? And will Lock even tell them about it? And how did that guy (I knew he was an 'other') stop the thing from doing it's thing once the time ran out? CRAZY! But I'm addicted. Oh yeah, and it's convenient that someone dropped them a big batch of food...but that also means that the whole Dharma thing actually exists and is still going on. Someone knows there are people on the island. But did they drop it for someone else? As usual, what would LOST be without all these questions to keep us coming back for more:) There are two shows I can't miss- LOST and Grey's Anatomy! And if you don't watch them, then reading this you must think I'm a crazy woman.

Happy Birthday Brother!

Happy 26th Birthday Nick!!!!!! I can't believe it was so long ago that I lost you. It seems like just yesterday we were talking about moving to California and my crazy adventures in Australia. I still see you everywhere, in the airport, the mall, on your bike...are these signs or just coincidences? Regardless it still takes my breath away every time! I see you in my baby's eyes and in her devilish smile, where else would she have gotten it from;) I love it! I love the memories we share and the secrets we have. You gave me the happiest childhood any girl could ask for! I still have dreams like you're still here, tickling Olivia and tossing Deagan up in the air expelling tons of giggles. I wish they could meet you! I wish they could feel your free spirit. I still wake up all the time wondering if it was real and if you're really gone. And then I wish I could fall back asleep and go back to when life was so simple. But if there's one thing I learned from you it's to live life to the fullest and do what you love, take chances, and don't worry too much about what everyone else thinks! I love you man. I know you're here and I know you're rocking out in heaven today!!!!!!!

My Buddy and Me:) These are some of my favorite pictures from when we were little. I can't help but think about Deagan and Olivia when I see these. And all the adventures they'll go on- and all the mischeif they'll cause;) A sibling is like a built-in best friend! 

Olivia twirling around on my bed in her new pretty easter dress, waiting to go get her spring picture taken with live bunnies. We went and it was a disaster. I'll give you the short story- it wasn't the kids, it was the photographers. They had no idea what to do with two young kids and the lady scared the crap out of deagan to the point where he was screaming or just wouldn't look at anyone! We didn't get one single smile out of him- right the kid who doesn't stop smiling, and they told us to be happy with a picture in that at least Olivia was smiling because he was a baby and babies don't smile...sure thing wacko! It was so dissapointing:( But we found another one across town and we are going to try again next weekend:) Wish us luck! 

Do they look sick? They were playing with their new found in the garage toy from when O was little, the "dancing monkey!" 

He's going to kill me for posting this, but it was saturday at 5:30am and he was leaving for his first-ever-on-his-new-bike race (well time trial). And he looked so cute and so excited, and I was so proud! I love you honey;) 

A little fun in Olivia's room 

Olivia is like a little mommy to her brother. She loves to change his clothes (even his diaper), give him baths, and feed him! 

Deagan's first teething biscuit. We tried to tell him that he didn't need a spoon, but he didn't seem to care. He loved it!...and made the biggest mess ever:) 

Here We Go Again!

Seriously, could my kids please stop getting sick and catching every little thing that goes around!
Olivia has been teething her two year molars (finally) the past two weeks. She's had a fever at night and runny nose and a little cough- no big deal right, it's just teething it will pass.

Deagan is also teething (yes, his first two teeth still haven't made an appearance). So he has a little nasal drip and cough. No big deal, right?

WRONG! Not only do I have two teethers, I have two sick teethers that just happened to catch a bug while their immune systems were down from teething. Last night Olivia kept complaining that her ear hurt. We just blew it off, figured she'd watched the Elmo Goes to the Doctor movie too many times and was trying to get some yummy medicine out of us. Well she woke up twice last night screaming about her ear.

So this morning I decided to take them in, the cough wasn't bothering us, but the ear might and it's the weekend so better now than urgent care later.

Well good thing I did because WHAMMO two kids with double ear infections- yet again. And not only does Olivia have a double, but she also ruptured one of her eardrums. And the puss filled fluid leaked out and sealed in the form of a postule over her ear- OUCH! Dr. Carter was a little shocked that she wasn't screaming her head off. And that Deagan, once again, didn't show any signs of anything. Weird kid!

So they've got a cold, sore throat, double ear infections, and 'tight chest' in which they are both wheezing. YUCK! So they both are on an oral steroid, oral antibiotics and wonderful breathing treatments every three hours.
Oh wait? I'm sorry did you have any plans for this weekend, well not anymore.
Our doctor was joking that she'd hire me an at home nurse to help this weekend! HA! I need it, because I'm getting sick now too!

But perhaps the best part of the story is that they both had to get two shots each. One antibiotic, one steroid. And they said that's the worse combination that they give in their office as far as ouchies go. So here I am, by myself, trying to carry out two screaming kids who just got poked twice. The waiting room full of people had a nice laugh at that one. And Olivia still won't walk three hours later- she says it's burning (apparently she inherited that from her momma as a baby). And she tries to walk but kind of drags herself along crippled. (It's cute to watch, but oh so sad for her). She was excited to get shots at first, because Elmo gets them in the movie. However, she had no idea what they really were and we'll see if she watches that movie anymore!

So here we go again, battling sickness. It's going to be a great weekend too, sunny highs in the low 70s. But we'll be here, having a movie marathon. Let's just hope this all clears up soon:)

Every Woman Dreads....

This week I accomplished a task that every woman dreads....at least every woman that I know. BATHING SUIT SHOPPING!!!!! And not just bathing suit shopping, but first summer after you've had a baby bathing suit shopping, which is totally different from any other summer. Yes, you Michiganders might still be freezing up north, but down here it's getting to be that time again. And styles sell out quick, so I thought I'd attempt it. Actually, things went very well and I walked away happy, not depressed with myself. I guess exercising does make you feel better inside:)
Now the first day that I actually wear it, in public, that might be a totally different blog story!

Imagination Movers Concert

On Sunday our health club put on a concert with the Imagination Movers. It was AWESOME!!!!!! Olivia had so much fun. She was dancing like a rockstar and singing along, not to mention doing all the movements (which is rare). We had a great time and then treated ourselves to Buffalo Wild Wings afterwards. It was a great family day!

The Garthe's Visit

Well it was a great 'long' weekend with a nice visit from Jeff's parents. The kids had a great time and LOVED seeing their grandparents. They got so spolied seeing family all of the time up north, I think they really miss being around everyone. And I finally got to test my cooking skills on someone other than Jeff! (I think I passed). Overall it was a great time, thanks GiGi and PaPa Ron for being so wonderful:) We love you!!!!!!!

I'm not sure who's having more fun here?!?! 

A little airplane ride is sure to bring the smiles 

Getting love from GiGi 

A little update

Yes, I haven't updated in awhile, but things are crazy here. Jeff is FINALLY home:) And his parents are down visiting too! So we are keeping very busy. Olivia is overjoyed with Daddy, and elated with GiGi being here. She has pulled out each and every toy she owns to show to them. Deagan is a wild man who loves to chase around his Grandpa in his walker. Life is good, we're just taking it easy:)

Oh no! She did not just post that picture below!...MoooooooooooooM! 

No this isn't a fussy face, or a yucky face, it's actually a happy face. Olivia and I do this 'silly smile' to each other all the time. You scrunch up your nose and barely open your eyes. It's a silly little thing and we've done it as long as I can remember. Well Deagan has picked up on it and will now do it on cue. It's so adorable. We have had many a good laugh watching him and his version, every time I see this picture I just crack up!!!!! 

Olivia's version of the 'silly smile' that we do 

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Well not much going on this week in the Carter household. Just hanging out with the kids. Yes, I'm obsessed with them and I post way too many pictures- but I just can't get enough of them and I love every inch of them so much. I must take twenty pictures of each of them a day! I want to share them with everyone that is so far away and doesn't get the daily smiles that I do! So I hope you enjoy my large postings of pictures:)
p.s.- JEFF COMES HOME THIS WEEKEND:)

Olivia's many faces:)