Fall Family Fun

We went to (yet another!) pumpkin patch, The Pumpkin Express, this weekend with my parents. It was out by their house in Argyle, and it was great! We were able to squeeze in a lot of fun before the bad weather came rolling in. It started pooring on us just as we got in the car to go home!

Riding on the Choo Choo with Daddy, enjoying a sucker

Check out that blue tongue!

Just us three

Carter and his Nana and Grandad

This boy is obsessed with cars lately, he loves to "drive"

My fav pic of the day, running around in the haystack maze. He had so much fun in there!

He loves pumpkins... he calls them "kepas"

Carter and daddy enjoying the little play house

A really cool hollowed out tree trunk!

This makes me smile

Getting brave and heading in

Second fav shot of the day... this boy loves his Grandad!

He was done with the tree trunk by the time we got here... oh well, still cute.

Teeter totter fun!

He adored this... probably would've stayed on there all day if it wasn't for
Mommy & Daddy's back sides getting sore! =o)

Big boy!

LOVED this pumpkin patch... we'll be going back every year!

Carter and Lila

Earlier this week Liz and I got together to let the kiddos play. Lila is 9 months, and oh, so cute! She crawls all over and pulls up on things, and loves to clap! I have a hard time remembering Carter like that, but it wasn't that long ago. She was very interested in watching Carter buzz all over the place. And he enjoyed watching her, too!

He had a walker like this one at Grandma & Grandpas that he used a lot when he was younger, and he acted like he remembered it! He insisted on getting in Lila's! This cracks me up.... he looks like a giant stuffed in that little baby toy!! It played a bunch of fun little tunes, and he just sat in that thing pushing the button over and over and kept on dancing (with his arms, mostly, above) while Lila watched in amazement. Below, they're clapping together to the music!


 
Carter was mostly well behaved while we were there, but he is really starting to give me fits lately.... not fun! I think he was training Lila how it's done, so she can do the same for her Mommy soon! Anyway, hopefully we get a chance to play with Liz and Lila again soon!

Go Rangers!

We're so excited that the Rangers are doing so well in the playoffs! I found this cute little outfit at a kids' clothes consignment store in Friso... barely worn, and only $8! And I think it'll fit him next season, too. Great deals make me happy!

 If only that were a baseball.....

Road Trip

We took a family road trip last weekend to Ruston, Louisiana. It was Carter's first!!

Eric went to college at Louisiana Tech, and my cousin is currently playing volleyball there. So we decided to head over for homecoming and the football game, and watch Caitlin's games as well. We left Friday around lunch time and got there about 5:30. Carter did really well in the car, with the help of an hour and a half nap, the DVD player, and of course, my wonderful Mother in law who kept my boy entertained in the back seat! He did get a little restless, and the last 45 minutes of the drive was pretty rough! Once we finally arrived, we met my aunt and uncle (Caitlin's parents), Caitlin, and Eric's college friend, Mark for a nice dinner, then hung out at the hotel, visited, and watched the Ranger game.

Saturday was a busy day full of visiting the campus, making a trip to the bookstore to get our LA Tech gear, back to the hotel for lunch and nap time, next to the football game where LA Tech beat Idaho, then to my cousins volleyball game against Boise State (unfortunately, they couldn't pull it out), then back to the hotel to have Carter in bed (finally!) by 9:30. Whew.... makes me tired just remembering it!!

Sunday we were up and on our way home by 7:00am, and home by 11:30 for lunch. Carter did SO well during the long car rides, and considering how cooped up he was at the football game, he was a little trooper. He really enjoyed the girls' volleyball game, too. I knew he would, because he thoroughly enjoyed the last one of Caitlin's games we went to in Arlington. Something about the ball popping up and flying through the air, and all the girls yelling got him so excited, and really interested in watching the game.

It was such a fun weekend with family and friends, and I'm glad we went! Looking forward to our next trip!!

Taking a break from the car to stretch our legs and have a snack.

 First time to cross the state line!

 Look at that cute polo I found for him at the bookstore. Best part: CLEARANCE - $5!!

 Roaming the campus Saturday morning

 Eric was so proud to bring Carter there!!

 Pretty "fowahs"

 Channel surfing just before nap time

 Finally made it to the game!

 Love this picture of my two boys!

 Go Tech!

 ♥ ♥ ♥

 At Caitlin's game.... she's the tallest one, just to the right of the ref.

18 months.... WHAT?!

My "little" boy is 18 months today.... I'm kind of in shock about this. We don't go for his pedi check for another couple of weeks, so once we get 18 month stats, I'll be sure to post them. Until then, here is what Carter is doing at 18 months.

• Carter has more words now than I can even count. My mom suggested one day, starting in the morning, I just write down every word I hear him say, and see what all I get. If I get around to doing that, it should be interesting!
• In addition to having numerous words, Carter also has started saying short sentences. Among his favorite phrases are "Bye Daddy," "Hi Mommy," "More please," "Daddy mowing." Random, I know. 
• He's really gotten into toy cars. He loves to push them all over the floor, coffee table, wall, whatever is around. And he also makes a "vroom, vroom" noise while pushing them. Really, he loves all things 'transportation' right now. He recognizes the difference between cars, trucks, buses, trains and airplanes and all their respective sounds. He will point them all out to me while we're driving down the road.
• He's starting to help clean up his own toy/book messes, which I love! He follows basic directions really well.  
• He is REALLY into music, singing, and dancing! His favorite song to sing is still the ABCs, but he loves when we sing any song, really. He also love the Hot Dog Song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.... he walks around the house singing "Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Dog." You should look it up on youtube if you're not familiar.... SO cute! He also loves having the radio on in the car, and when catchy music comes on the TV, he almost always dances or bobs his head. He still loves watching GLEE with me every Tuesday, too!
• He's kind of scared of animals. Every time we've been to a petting zoo or pumpkin patch lately, he has been very nervous and hesitant around them, usually doesn't want to go close to them, and definitely won't touch them. Hopefully soon he'll realize how much fun they can be!
• Still very much into his books. He has a few favorites that he has somewhat memorized and he can pretty much "read" them along with me because he knows what is on each page. Also, he's started to say "The End" as we finish each book.
• He is really picking up his good manners. Can say and sign "Please," and does so when appropriate. Also, says "Thank you" (Tay too) about 75% of the time. Today I even heard him try to say "You're Welcome." Love my polite little guy!
• Can say several of his friends and family members names. Shout outs to: Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Gadad (my parents), Matt, Adew (my brothers), Geema & Geepa (Eric's parents), Mayon (Mason), Mia. We're working on many others! But I really love hearing him call people by his version of their names.

Here is my little man at 18 months... saying "Cheeeeese," of course!

This sure is a fun age... we love you Carter!

Just Listed!

After several weeks of decluttering, reorganizing, completing home projects, and realtor meetings, our first home is officially FOR SALE! I'm so excited to see how this whole process goes, and can't wait to see what the future holds in terms of our next home! Now if we can just make it through the chore of keeping the house perfect for showings! I'll definitely be keeping everyone informed on how it's going.... wish us luck!

Pumpkin Patch

Carter and I went with some friends to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm earlier this week. There were goats, sheep, and cows to feed, lots of pumpkins to see, and we got to go on a hayride around the beautiful property! It was a great day!

 Carter & Mason drive a tractor!

 Little sweeties!

 Oh you know, just doing a little farming!

 Mason takes London and Carter for a spin.

 So many pumpkins!!

 The boys go pumpking picking....

 Found one, Mom!

 Mommy and Carter on the hayride

Tennessee Kid

I took some pictures of Carter this weekend while he was sportin' his Tennessee gear that Eric got him on his last trip to Nashville. I think he looks so grown up.... where did my little baby go?

 He loves his Stormie girl!

 Dad and Carter found a grasshopper!

 Love this!

Uncles and Airplanes

It was so nice this evening, Carter and I decided to spend most of it out in the backyard. While I sat and enjoyed the weather and a glass of wine, Carter "spoke" with his uncles on the phone (or a palm-sized woodchip that he plucked out of the flower bed) and did a little airplane spotting (which he is absolutely obsessed with lately). My youngest brother, Andrew, is at school at UT. Carter "talks" to Andrew on the phone daily, but since I caught it on video this time, I thought Andrew would enjoy seeing it! You can tell this boy misses his uncle. He also occasionally "talks" to my other brother, Matt, and my mom, Nana. But I guess since he sees them more often, phone conversations aren't as necessary!

ABCs