We love Auntie Pam

Silly Aunt Pam!!!

Reunion

The last time we saw each other was in the hospital.  That time was a mix of emotions: utterly thrilled to have Carter, scared to death of motherhood, and grieved to think of how Rachael (Carter's birthmother) must be feeling. We left with hugs, thank yous, and talked about arranging a meeting in about a year.   Well...we couldn't wait! 

I talked about it all week long and absolutely LOVED the looks that followed.  If you have not experienced adoption, you can't understand the bond that it produces.  I was asked all sorts of questions.  "Won't it be strange?" was the most common.  I can tell you honestly-NOT AT ALL!!!

The visit was great!  Carter was sleeping when we arrived, but didn't think that Rachael and Doris needed to wait longer to hold him and see his adorable chubbiness up close and personal.  He showed off his million dollar smile, his constant talking, and even his gas problem.  *Sorry about that one, ladies!*

It is amazing to think that God knew from the beginning of time that our two families would be joined together forever by this little miracle.  I thank him everyday for that.  I pray that this relationship will help Carter understand his adoption and how loved he is.

In other news, we tried oatmeal for the first time today...

Male Bonding

While I was away at Camp Lutherhaven with my 8th grade confirmands, Travis was able to spend a little one-on-one time with Carter.  First, though, Carter had his first slumber party at Nana and Grampa's house.  He was thrilled to be able to spend time with Aunt Kearstyn, too!

When I got home, I couldn't help but want to rock him to sleep. 

We've been reading LOTS of books.  My favorite for some reason is becoming Are You My Mother? for obvious reasons.  He will sit very patiently and listen to most of all stories.  A few of the longer ones end pretty abruptly.

We have also begun reading our Bible and watching Veggie Tales.  Since Travis and I were fortunate enough to have attended a Lutheran elementary school, we we able to learn Bible stories, prayers, and receive religious education on a daily basis.  I would LOVE for Carter to have the same opportunity!  Unfortunately, there is not a school close enough to where we live.  It will be our sole duty to teach him all these things...so why not start young?!!

The other day, Travis was holding Carter and Travis starting pretending to cry.  Carter started belly laughing.  He thinks that wailing sound is hilarious!!

Getting Good

I think every new mom has those moments when they first bring their child home from the hospital.  The moments where you sit and wonder, "What in the world do I do with this kid?"  I could have been heard not only saying that, but also telling Travis that I didn't know what to do in other situations.  Obviously I don't know everything.  I am sure there will be days that baffle me as a mother.  However, I finally feel like I am getting really good at this!

Milestones:
Carter is huge!  We visited with one of our neighbors today who just had a 5 pound 7 ounce baby girl.  Carter looked like a linebacker next to her.  Don't get me wrong-I think he is perfect! It was just so funny to see.

We continue to work on using his arms during tummy time.  He is strong, but chooses to suck on his wrists rather than lift his head and chest off the ground.

Smiles galore!


Still loves "Baby Praise" but is getting sick of DVD #1.  On to the next one... He ditched the bouncy seat in favor of this big boy toy:

Carter had a big week!  He had cold #2 (thinking it might be allergies...).  Travis jokes that when he walks into the infant room at daycare it is like walking into death.  Snot, sniffles, and sneezes everywhere.  It is not their fault, but I have to keep reminding myself that it is helping to build his immunities.

He also was adored by the masses at Grandpa Richard and Liz's wedding. (Yes this is his Easter outfit....it served double duty.)

The Alabama Vonderau's came up for the occasion and fell in love with his "soft head."

He loved the DJ and fell asleep at 8, noise and all.  My favorite part of the evening was when Travis and I slow danced with Carter in between us.  "I'm so in love with you, it just keeps getting better. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Forever and ever.

Every little thing that you do, Baby I'm amazed by you."

Mr. Personality

This week, Carter was full of personality.  He has randomly been smiling, but whenever I would put him on the spot ("Hey Travis, come watch this.  He smiles when I do this!") he would freeze under pressure.  This week he was laughing and smiling at everything.  Carter especially loves when I pretend like I am going to give him a big smooch, then back up at the last second or when I put the binky in his mouth and pull it out.  For some reason, he thinks both are hilarious.

We've been spending quite a bit of time at the lake with my great-grandpa, who has been under the weather.  I like to think that Carter helps to brighten his day. While we were there one day, the weather was incredible!  We played outside all day-watching the waves on the lake, looking at shells, finding a crawfish.  I can't wait to see Carter running along side his cousins in search of turtles and frogs in the creek!

Auntie Pam and Allison came to visit this week.  Allison (who is one of my youth group girls) was home from college.  Carter loved getting to tell her all the cool stuff he has been doing since he last saw her.  P.S. Shout out to the ladies at Cornerstone University who read this!!!!


For those of you who know me well, know that I REALLY enjoy to shop.  Now that Carter is here, I find myself doing most of that shopping for him.  I love to find little outfits that are funny (I bought a onsie that says "Eligible Bachlor" this weekend) or little man outfits.  He Easter outfit is by far my favorite!

The Easter bunny brought Carter his first Easter basket.  Rachael and her parents sent Carter a bunny (he loves to eat his nose), an outfit, and a 'stud muffin' bib.  Travis and I got Carter two Veggie tales DVDs, books, an an outfit.  I added some candy in there too.  Since Carter can't eat sweets yet, I guess I will have to help him with those :-)

We spent Easter at the lake with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandpa, great-grandpa, and friends.  Everyone loves this little guy so much!  Travis and I are blessed to have such incredible families and friends who have supported us on this journey.

11 weeks

I'm afraid I am going to miss out on something.  One of my friends told me that there is an unspoken rule at her son's daycare that unless the parent tells them about something new the child can do, they will not talk about it.  For example, if her son were to take his first step, they will not tell her about it.  They won't say a word until she mentions that SHE saw his first step at home.  She would never know if she missed a first that way.  Sometimes I feel like I am going to miss so many of Carter's firsts because of having to take him to daycare.  I hope they adopt this rule there too!

Luckily for both of us, Carter and I were able to spend last week together because of Spring Break.  He is changing so quickly-sometimes I have to stop and think, "Oh my gosh, he is already (fill in the blank)!"  A few of the changes I have seen this week are:  
He talks constantly, and I really believe that he thinks he is holding a real conversation with whomever he sees at that time.

He is reaching up to play with toys and grasps things for a minute or so.

When Carter sleeps, he raises his hand straight up into the air and leaves it there for a while.  I like to joke that he is already becoming the good student and often call on him, "Yes, Mrs. Carter.  Do you have something to say?"

He likes the T.V. now.  I promise when he grows up, T.V. time will be limited, but right now he LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES to watch "Baby Praise."  If you haven't heard of it before, it is much like Baby Einstein (which I know has been recalled) but it not nearly as strange and is set to contemporary Christian music.  If you don't have it for your child, I highly recommend it.  (Thanks Biz and your mother-in-law for turning me on to it.)

We are developing a schedule.  I am quite a random, non-schedule type person, so this has been different for me.  We decided to enforce a 7 P.M. bedtime.  It is working out really nicely and Carter is adjusting to it fine. 

A few excitings things from this week:

We visited with Kaylynne at Trine!

While we were enjoying our time together, we surprised Aunt Kearstyn at I.P.F.W. for her birthday.  We brought her lunch and hung out with her on campus.  We also got to visit with other family, like Gma and Gpa Knoch, Nana, Grampa, Papa Richard and Liz, and great grandpa K.  It was a busy week!

Because I started out talking about first, I have to share this.  Monday was my first birthday as Carter's mommy.  I didn't ask for anything because I couldn't think of anything else I could possibly want.  His birth grandmother wrote me a nice little message and I responded that I would have to think of something new to wish for when I blew out my candles this year. 

Thank you God, for helping to make this wish come true!

Aaa-choo!

Ten weeks old and Mister Carter has a cold :-(  At first I thought it was from the walks we took last week.  Was it allergies or did I not bundle him up enough?  Walking into daycare possibly explained it all...there were runny noses everywhere!!!!  Travis and I took him to the doctor who told us to keep doing what we were doing (humidifier, awful awful nose sucker, etc.)  I don't think Carter likes me this week after all the attacks on his nostrils.  He does seem to be getting a little better every day.

We also changed his formula to a sensitive version of what he was eating before.  Until this silly cold goes away, I won't be able to tell if he is content with it or not.

Before the sniffles, sneezes, and coughs we were really enjoying the outdoors as a family.  When Travis would get off work we would pack up and hike to town and back (2 1/2 miles).  The first time we did this, Carter was not content sitting in the stroller-he wanted to see the world. 

Daddy and Mommy ended up taking turns carrying him.  This worked out well because Hendrix got so tired that he stopped, laid down in the street, and REFUSED to walk any further.  The looks we got from passing cars were priceless.