January 2009
Eric and I ring in the new year with my dad's side of the family during a ski trip to Colorado. I was about 6 months pregnant, so I didn't do any skiing, but I did enjoy the time spent with family.
Eric and I ring in the new year with my dad's side of the family during a ski trip to Colorado. I was about 6 months pregnant, so I didn't do any skiing, but I did enjoy the time spent with family.
Also, Eric and I get down to business in Carter's room. 
February 2009
Gavin and Devin turn 1!! We celebrate with them at their birthday party in Tyler.
As Carter grows, so does Mommy. I have a baby shower at the end of February, and the reality of becoming a mother grows more and more real, and scary!
Baby Shower Fun!
Stasha, Me, and Kaylah... All of our babies were born within about a week of each other! 
March 2009
As my pregnancy nears the end, my last day of work is a celebrated, but bittersweet, day. I have two baby showers this month. One given to me by my sweet coworkers, and another by my thoughtful students and their parents... which was a COMPLETE surprise. I am sad to be leaving, but looking forward to a month or so of rest and preparation for Carter's birth.
As my pregnancy nears the end, my last day of work is a celebrated, but bittersweet, day. I have two baby showers this month. One given to me by my sweet coworkers, and another by my thoughtful students and their parents... which was a COMPLETE surprise. I am sad to be leaving, but looking forward to a month or so of rest and preparation for Carter's birth.
April 2009
While I wait for my sweet boy to make his appearance, I have some serious swelling in my feet and CRAZY nesting urges. Also, my cousin Chris comes to visit from California with his wife Debby and their new baby girl Zoe, who is 3 months old. This certainly makes me eager to have Carter already. I didn't have to wait long, he was born only a few days later. Finally, after only about 4 hours of labor, and a few good pushes, mine and Eric's life is forever changed. Carter was born at 12:36 pm on April 13, 2009. He weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 19 3/4 inches long. Words can't describe what we felt on this this day. Love, love, love. After 2 days in the hospital, we went home and started life as parents.
In labor... trying to distract myself from contractions.
Swollen and water logged like you wouldn't believe!
Happy Birthday, sweet boy! We LOVE you SO much!
Tiny little guy!
Glad to be holding him finally, but still a little out of it.
What an angel.
Ready to go home!
Resting comfortably after filling his belly, day 2 at home.
First bath, day 2 at home.
The loves of my life.
Precious boy
Stormie begins to warm up to him
May 2009
As Carter turns one month old, he is sleeping in his bassinet in mommy and daddy's room, and he is nursing really well. He has his first bottle at 4 weeks, and Daddy is excited and proud to feed Carter for the first time ever. Carter loves to snooze anywhere and everywhere. He meets his cousins and his friend Olivia for the first time this month. Also, my first Mother's Day was a very special one. Eric and I are loving being new parents, but are definitely still adjusting to life with a new little one.
Daddy giving Carter his first bottle ever
This kid could sleep anywhere...
...in any position...
...no matter how strange...
...see???
Carter, Devin, & Gavin
Olivia was born the day after Carter. Me and her mommy are great friends.
June 2009
Carter's second month is a lot of fun. First smiles and "talking" melt mommy and daddy's hearts. He is sleeping about 4-5 hours at a time during the night, nursing well, and is still in mommy and daddy's room. He LOVES to take naps in his swing, too. Daddy celebrates his first Father's Day, and we leave Carter for the first time overnight with my parents to celebrate our wedding anniversary at the Gaylord.
A few of Carter first smiles caught on camera
Big grin!!
Still sleeping in Mom and Dad's room
Loves the occasional nap in the swing
So handsome!
Mommy and Daddy celebrating their anniversary without Carter
Nana and Grandad feed Carter pizza while Mommy and Daddy are at The Gaylord
July 2009
Carter continues to hold his head up well during tummy time, and he even rolls over for the first time! We get to hear his first giggles this month, and he also has his first dip in a swimming pool. He is going to bed about 9:30, sleeping until about 5:00, waking up to nurse, then going back to sleep until about 8:00. Since he is sleeping 8 hours at night now, we decide to move him into his crib in his room. Hard for mommy, but such a BIG milestone!
Tummy Time!
Mommy caught my first roll on camera!
Sleeping in his big boy bed, but still swaddled.
Probably time to ditch the swaddle soon since he can get out of it!
First time in a pool with Mommy, 4th of July
Specifically remember this sweet boy being very giggly during this car ride. So darn cute.
August 2009
After a book recommendation by our pediatrician at his 4 month visit, we are focused on unswaddling him for bedtime, which turns into an all around reconstruction of his sleep habits, day and night. After only a few days, he is sleeping without being swaddled, and learning to soothe himself to fall asleep. Mommy and Daddy work to get him on a routine nap, feeding, and bedtime schedule that is very successful! Before we know it, he is putting himself to sleep, drops his early morning feeding, is sleeping 11-12 hours at night, and has mastered his 3 nap a day schedule, too! He really enjoys his daily morning strolls around the neighborhood. Other big milestones are the discovery of his feet (so cute that he plays with them all the time) and learning to sit up! And of course, Carter's first football season (college and pro) are upon us before the end of this month. Daddy couldn't be happier about that!
Sleep training is EXHAUSTING!
Very cool in his shades
Playing with his little feeties!
Sitting up independently for the first time, and hating it.
Little Vols Fan
GO COWBOYS!
September 2009
Mommy and Daddy celebrate her 25th birthday with a 5 day trip to Vegas! First time for Mommy leaving Carter was tough (yes, she cried while driving away), but we had a fun trip nonetheless. After Vegas, Carter starts rice cereal and oatmeal. He now seems to notice Stormie - he smiles at her, and he watches her constantly! Also, Carter and I join a playgroup, and have fun meeting new mommies and babies!
I won $11 on this slot machine!
Fountains at The Bellagio
First bites of rice cereal
Messy face!
This boy LOVES his dog!!
One of Carter's first playdates. PJs and breakfast at Rachel & Presley's
October 2009
Right as he celebrates his half-birthday, he is introduced to baby foods and juice in a sippy cup. Not a huge fan of green beans at first, but he quickly warms up to it all, and becomes a really great eater. Also, we are both still enjoying all of our fun play dates with our new friends!
Prunes take some getting used to... as most new things do!
First sippy cup experience, such a big boy!
Stroller train full of sleeping babies... Autumn at the Arboretum playdate.
So many sweet angel babies. Playdate at Ashley & Mia's
Mommy and Carter at his first Halloween Party
November 2009
Carter has become a master at rolling all over the place, but shows no intent to crawl any time soon. He loves to play sitting up and laying down both, and has especially enjoyed his excersaucer the last few months. As he eats more solids, he is still nursing well, but definitely drinking less and less milk all the time. And play dates with our friends have become a MUST! We wouldn't (and couldn't) give these up. Mommy has made just as many friends as Carter has, and we always have so much fun! Mommy takes her first trip without the boys, and goes cruising the gulf to Mexico with a bunch of girlfriends! Even with VERY rocky seas, she had fun, but was glad to be home with her boys again. And, Carter celebrates his first Thanksgiving with each side of the family. Finally, we think he may be starting some serious teething!
Moving all over the floor
Rolling everywhere and getting into trouble
I ♥ my excersaucer
One of the many cute shots taken of Emily and I on our cruise
While Mommy was away on her cruise, the boys play...
Turkey Day 2009.... Looks like SOMEONE had too much turkey!
December 2009
Carter is starting to reach really far for toys while sitting, which gets him onto his belly. He's still not too interested in starting to crawl, but I think this may be the way he learns to do it - by reaching and getting into position. Also, he has started to LOVE his Johnny Jump Up! We have started giving him little bits of grown up food, as well as the more advanced baby foods (puffs, biscuits, melts, etc.), and he continues to be a great eater! Carter is eating 3 "meals" a day of baby food and nursing 4 times a day. All this eating of real people food has really done a number on Mommy's milk production, and the process of weaning looks to be in the near future. Carter attends his first sporting event at Cowboys Stadium - a college basketball game! And of course, he celebrates his very first (white!) Christmas with everyone that loves him the most! He continues to be a great sleeper, but is working on the transition to 2 naps per day, one morning and one afternoon. This new schedule has put a little bit of a damper on our playdates, but we still manage to spend plenty of time with our friends, including several holiday parties!! We're hoping to see a tooth pop in before the official end of the year, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It HAS to be soon, though!
Weeee!
Carter's first trip to Cowboys' Stadium... the first of many, I'm sure
HAM!
Opening gifts is so much fun!
And, it has to be mentioned that Mommy BEAT her weight loss goal for the end of the year. I've lost 63 pounds since Carter's birth, which is miraculous considering I only gained 47 while pregnant! I am very proud of myself, but can't take a whole lot of credit. I attribute 80% of it to breastfeeding, and about 20% of it to my own healthier food choices. Either way, it's nice to be this size after having a baby.... I didn't think I'd ever see it again!!
I wish each of you many blessings in the coming year! If 2010 is evan half as good as 2009, I'll be happy. Here's to a great 2010!!
Mmmm... biter biscuits are new this month!
Typical playdate Mommy/Baby action, Holiday Party at Nikki & Ryan's
Christmas Jammies Playdate at Misty & Gavin's
Brrrr!!
Opening gifts is so much fun! 
And, it has to be mentioned that Mommy BEAT her weight loss goal for the end of the year. I've lost 63 pounds since Carter's birth, which is miraculous considering I only gained 47 while pregnant! I am very proud of myself, but can't take a whole lot of credit. I attribute 80% of it to breastfeeding, and about 20% of it to my own healthier food choices. Either way, it's nice to be this size after having a baby.... I didn't think I'd ever see it again!!
I wish each of you many blessings in the coming year! If 2010 is evan half as good as 2009, I'll be happy. Here's to a great 2010!!
We made it BACK to my parent's house for the Powell Family Christmas. My dad's parents, each of his siblings (with their spouses), ALL of my cousins, and my cousin's babies were able to make it this year. It was so fun because we had three little ones running around. Carter, of course, Hayden (who is my cousin's little boy, and he's 21 months), and Zoe (my other cousin's little girl who will be 1 next week). I think that was the first time we had everyone together since my wedding in June of 2007... but of course we had the 3 new additions!
Carter enjoying his Baby Touch & Feel Farm Book
So handsome... look at that wild HAIR!
I have a picture of Carter like this when he was 4 months old. I couldn't believe how much he'd grown when I compared the two. I know, he's going to hate me for these later. 
