Hanging Out at Home

We are never home. No, really.  I mean NEVER home.  Try to call our landline.  You won't get us...ever. If I am not at work, I am always running errands, going to work at church, going to visit our friends, hanging out with Papa, etc....   This weekend Carter and I spent an entire day at home.  That is big for us.  We had so much fun!  Carter found toys he had forgotten about.  It was like Christmas all over again.  It made me realize that we need more days like that.

The weather was chilly, but sunny, and great for playing on our deck.  

  This is what he does when we ask him to show us his "face."

Later that night, we were sitting in the living room. After a few moments of silence from his bedroom, I went looking for Carter.  Here's what I found:

He said he was "rea a booookkk."

20 Months

I guess we skipped a few, huh?!  Life with a toddler is busy to say the least!  I am a bit sad that I didn't document all the little things, but I guess I can revel in the fact that I was so busy enjoying them that I didn't have time to write about them. 

Carter is the love of our lives!!!  I remember pre-mom stage hearing people talk about not being able to imagine life without their little one(s).  Yeah, yeah.  To be totally honest, I remember a blog somewhere on here about remembering more sleep, etc.  What I am trying to say is that I CAN'T imagine not having him to make my days so bright.  I am so in love with him and so greatful that God (and Rachael) chose me to be his mommy! 

Okay, let's think back to the last posting....I guess I have 4 months of catching up to do.  The best way to do this is to ramble.  Enjoy!!!

Carter runs everywhere.  We only walk when there is something cool to look at.  I am literally chasing him wherever we go.  He no longer walks with his hands up-now he bends them at the elbow and sticks them out in Chris Farley fashion.

He eats us out of house and home. I can't imagine the grocery bill when he grows up to be on the football team.  His favorites are fruit, McDonald's cheeseburgers, sweets of any kind, and milk.  Healthy, right?

Lately he has started watching "Thomas the train" but rarely is interested in T.V.  I won't complain, although sometimes it might be nice to have him occupied while I am cooking dinner.   He likes to "help."  We all know what that means....

Bathtime is still his favorite.  He soaks the entire floor and walls.

Carter is in LOVE with his Red Rider tricycle bike, Daddy, the dog, his tree swing, swimming, and Papa K.

He repeats everything!  My favorite things he says are "tur-tle," "bellybutton," (as fast as possible), "apple," and "love you."  He first few sentences were "I want Daddy," and "I'm reading a book." 

We are officially in a big boy bed now.  The other day he thought he was spiderman and crawled up and out.  So far, so good.  He hasn't figured out that he can come off the bed.  I think it's hilarious!

We are not sure how we will live during the winter, because this kid wants to be outside ALL THE TIME and mommy boycotts cold temperatures. 

I have to admit that I adore our daycare.  For those who didn't hear, we had a few little biting incidences (put together with the fact that they are pretty full and had to promote a few kids to the next room early) so Carter is now in the 2 year old room. They are so great at teaching him new songs and doing crafts with him.  He hears about Jesus and prays before meals.  He even gets to attend Chapel once a week.  He loves to fold his hands, listen to the prayers, then scream, "A-men!"  It secretly melts my heart everytime.  I am working on teaching him to say, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!"  for the Christmas program since he is being demoted from baby Jesus. 

It was today in the grocery store that I realized that I needed to keep this up-to-date.  We were shopping and he waved and smiled and said hello to everyone we passed.  He brought so many smiles to stranger's faces.  One elderly woman even stopped to talk to us and held his hand.  He and I chatted and sang the whole way through the grocery.  He helped me pick out things and reminded me that I needed bananas (nanas). I am so proud that he such an outgoing, caring boy. 

Sometimes I think that I want him to stop growing so fast and I miss my baby, but then I remember all the adventures that are in store for us as he grows up.  We have been given a true gift and we are enjoying every minute of it.

15 and 16 months

I guess both Carter and the time is zooming right past me now.  I realized that I had let the fifteenth month slip by, but I didn't realize how late I was at updating this until today.  Happy exhaustion is my guilty plea....

Let's see.... What doesn't Carter do now?  He is walking, and partially running.  It cracks me up that he still walks with this hands pointed straight up.  The daycare ladies teased that Carter walked around all the time saying "I'm number one," because his pointer finger is usually pointing up too!  He LOVES to play chase.  He has such a mischeivious grin on this face, and I am in awe that is growing fast enough to even understand that it is a game.  If anyone says, "Oh no!" and heads the opposite way, he'll go for them, open his mouth wide, and "catch" them by grunting and grabbing their legs.  Sometimes he even gets really close, then turns around, screams, and wants you to chase him.  This could keep him occupied for hours!!

I think out of all of us, Carter loves the dog best.  In the morning, the first word is 'dog.' The last word of the day is 'dog.' Every other word during the day.....yup.. 'dog.'  Carter feeds him, chases him, hits (his version of petting) him, and tries to tackle him.  I'm just thankful Carter doesn't eat the dog's food anymore.

Like a good teacher's kid, Carter loves books.  I smile really big on the days that his paper at daycare has "Carter loves books" or "Carter read books for a long time today" or "Carter listened to our story well today."  The adoption agency sent us a prayer book and a bible this weekend that we have been reading at bed time. 

My eat-anything-any time- any where kid has disappeared.  Carter is still a good eater-he just is a little more picky about the things he munches.  NO MEAT!  I can sneak it in ravioli and he'll do hotdogs (sometimes) and chicken nuggets (I'm not sure I would count either of those as real meat).  He likes almost all veggies and even ate asparagus once.  WE LOVE SPAGHETTI!!!  I feel guilty about giving it to him WAY too often.  It really is the easiest thing to pack for daycare...  Of course, in true Keller fashion, any kind of sweet is okay in his book.

Carter's all-time favorite activity right now is taking wagon rides.  Miss Elomie at school said that when he hears the word wagon he freaks out and goes to the door immediately.  We have been walking almost every night around the addition, and he never wants to go in.  Grass is okay, dirt is yummy (don't worry, he hasn't eaten that much), and water is GREAT!  It's almost time to see if he likes cold lake water...  Speaking of the lake, Carter's swing is up, the life jackets are out, the dock is in, and we are ready.  He even got a floating seat for Easter.

Easter was great this year!  Of course Carter didn't get the idea of Easter egg hunting, or the reason for Easter, but he liked his basket, his gifts (especially the chocolate/marshmallow egg from the Halls), and hanging out with the cool, big boy and big girl cousins.

Hmmm....life is busy!  What else can I say?  Carter and I spent our second Mother's Day together.  Not just that day, but every day, I feel so blessed to get the chance to be a mom.  Not just anybody's mom.  HIS mom.  He is hilarious, and loving, with a fiery temper.  He is goofy, and serious, and smart.  He fits so perfectly into our little God-given family that I can't imagine being without him.  I am greatful for him, for Rachael, and for the relationship we are able to have.  Carter will always know how loved he is-that I am sure!