Carter's First Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas we all had, especially Carter! We spent a few days going back and forth between each of our families get togethers. Wednesday the 23rd we spent at my parents house with my mom, dad, brothers, my brother's girlfriend, and my mom's mom. We had a delicious dinner, where Carter had his first taste of mashed potatoes, which he LOVED! Then we opened gifts. Carter got a lot of fun toys, including a basketball goal, a baseball tee and bat, a vtech sit to stand learning walker, and a few books. He seemed to enjoy opening his gifts, and we all loved watching him. After Carter went to bed, everyone else exchanged gifts. Eric and I got a lot of great things from our family that we wanted and needed, and it was great family time spent together.

The next morning, we packed up and headed straight to Eric's parents. Luckily we beat the weather there, and were able to sit in a warm house, and watch the snow fall, but not have to get out in it. How neat that it snowed for Carter's first Christmas!! We spent Christmas Eve exchanging gifts with his parents, grandparents, and sister. Carter was, again, overloaded with gifts! He got a fun push wagon from his grandparents, a little scoot around car from his great grandparents, and a rocking horse from Aunt Beth, along with lots of other little fun toys. Even though Santa visited Carter a little early this year, he made a stop buy my in laws with loads of stuff for my twin nephews. Gavin & Devin came over Christmas morning, and we were all entertained by them while they opened their gifts. They are at a really fun age... they know who Santa is, and loved getting in to all their new toys! We enjoyed a nice lunch with them, then headed back to my parent's.

Sorry for the lack of pictures here... should be getting copies from my inlaws soon, including snow pictures!

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!

Debby & Zoe, Me & Carter, Logan & Hayden

Carter's first Christmas was just perfect, and of course, Eric and I loved every minute of watching him enjoy it! Hope yours was every bit as wonderful!

Carter's First Gift Opening Experience

Eric got Carter a special gift from him, and couldn't wait for Carter to open it, so we let him... and one other fun gift. Here are a few pictures and videos of Carter's first ever Christmas present fun!!

He needed a little help getting started

Ooooo.... Daddy got Carter his very own Tennessee Vols hat!

He liked the tape the most I think. The bow took a close second.

Another one! The tissue paper was fun, of course.

Carter opening the gift Eric got for him....

It was VERY close to naptime. Please excuse the small meltdown.

This cracked us up. Carter started to (ever so slightly) bob his head to the little jingle.

This is the first "dancing" we've seen him do.

Family Day at Cowboys' Stadium

On Saturday, my dad was kind enough to take us to the Texas vs. UNC basketball game... us being me, Eric, Carter, my mom, my two brothers, and my oldest brother's girlfriend. Although we're not huge fans of either team, it was fun to go as a family to the game, and to see the stadium. Anyway, it was Carter's very first sporting event, and he was SO good. His naptime fell right in the middle of the game, but there was so much going on that he was content just to sit and play and look around. And he loved watching the huge screen.

Carter and Daddy headed into the stadium.

Family Pic

(Notice the GIGANTIC parking lot with not one single car in it....

Thank you, Jerry Jones, for closing off the lots close to the stadium,and making us park 10 miles away)

Everyone watching the screen, including Carter.
Nana, Mommy, and Carter

Nana gave Carter her lime. YUM!

And Uncle Andrew gave Carter a new hair do... so silly.And of course, a few shots of the stadium.

THIS is just plain ridiculous.All set up for a basketball game

Christmas Parties!

We've really enjoyed all our holiday themed play dates lately. I think we've now been to 3 total. Eric and I also went to one for the Mommies & Daddies at Rachel and Cameron's last weekend, too!! It was nice to mingle with the other couples, sans all of our babies!! Here are a few cute pictures from one of Carter's Christmas Parties. All the babies wore their Christmas jammies.

Caroline B., Gavin, Ryan and his mom Nikki, Carter, Luke, Connor, and PresleyCaroline H. on the far left (also Misty, Gavin's mommy) and Mia on the far right

Uh oh, a fight is about to break out for that book.

After it passed through each of their hands a few times, Carter ended up with the book.

Sweet Moments... on video

Carter is so good about sitting and entertaining himself. If you catch him in a good mood, he'll sit and play quietly for SO long! It's nice for me because I'm able to get a lot done during that time. This day in particular, he sat and played for about 2 hours with no complaints.

Later that night, it was close to bed time, and he was getting very tired and fussy. Daddy always knows how to put a smile on Carter's face. This is SO cute!!

Here he is, just being precious...

And a few more pictures, too.

BRRR!!! My little man all bundled up to run errands yesterday. Carter enjoying his Baby Touch & Feel Farm BookSo 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.

And, as I sit here at the computer and blog... this is what Carter is doing right next to me. It makes me tired just watching this!!

Sweet Moments

I haven't been the greatest lately about blogging. My apologies. I've been busy trying to get all the Christmas shopping/wrapping done, and now that I have, I'm way behind on posts! So, here are a lot of cute pictures I've taken lately of little man. And look for a few videos coming soon, too.

Carter in his jumper... he's really figured it out, and loves it! He will jump... and jump... and jump. Being goofy while playing with his toy box.
He loves to use it as a drum!
So sweet with his little hands clasped together
He sat and played so good while Mommy wrapped gifts.
Precious.

I put him in his swing (in hopes that he would settle down and take a cat nap). I left the room for a minute, and when I came back in he was leaning forward, just having the best old time! I guess I need to start strapping him in.

WEEEE!!!

Sleeping Angel

He was playing with Daddy on the floor right before bed. I guess he was tired so he layed his head down on Daddy's shoulder and just sat like that for the longest time.

It looks like they're both sleeping right here... but they're not!

Christmas Time is In The Air!

Well, we got our tree up this weekend, along with all the other Christmas decorations and lights. I guess the holidays are officially here. I'm excited about this Christmas because our WHOLE family will be here this year. Not only is it Carter's first Christmas, but his second cousin, Zoe's, too! They'll be here all the way from California! It will be fun to see them together, and we can't wait to spend the holidays with everyone.

Here are a few shots of us decorating the tree as a family for the first time. Carter didn't really care much about it. He pretty much just sat in the floor and played, and didn't pay too much attention to what we were doing. Not sure why I expected much more than that.

Here, we are hanging his "Baby's First Christmas, 2009" ornament

that he got from Eric's grandparents! And Carter helped Eric hang his favorite ornament... Troy Aikman.

Nope, I'm not gonna smile. Where am I, anyway? And what is this thing??

I guess this is pretty cool....

I ♥ my Jingle BellYAY!!! Christmas time is here!