Celebrating in Winston Salem

The week before Christmas was spent with Daniel's family in Winston Salem. We tend to only be there once or twice a year (because Daniel's parents visit us often in GA), so it is always nice to go back to Daniel's hometown.

Delia is incredibly afraid of being left behind. Once the luggage comes out she goes into panic mode. This is her traditional place in the luggage stack.

Playing outside with Daddy.

He really loves this hat. He likes to randomly wear it in the house.

Clearly everything is a potential toy...

There was a lot of celebrating going on-- Christmas and Carver's 2nd birthday. It was an eventful few days.

On the way to Winston we dropped in for a quick visit with Ellen, Terry and Emerson. It was much too short but so worth it :) I totally failed to document the visit with pictures.

Their favorite spot at Nana and Papa's house. The girls kind of like each other.

While in Winston we hurriedly put the finishing touches on Carver's first 2-year-old birthday party. This one had a sports theme and was really fun. I think he had a great time and we loved seeing some of Daniel's extended family whom we love so much and only get to see about once a year. (Thanks to Carver's Nana and Papa for helping so much with party preparations.)

The food and company were perfect. I just love celebrating the life of this boy!

During the night we placed balloons all over Carver's floor so that he would wake up to them on the morning of his birthday! Thanks to Ellen for the super cute idea, and Daniel for blowing up all of the balloons. We'll probably make this a tradition. Note to self: we probably need about triple the amount of balloons in future.

On Wednesday morning before heading home we celebrated Christmas with Carver's Nana and Papa.

I am especially grateful for, and in love with, this beautiful Crestridge t-shirt quilt made for me by Daniels' mom. Isn't it beautiful? I just adore it.



I am so thankful for our time in Winston. Thankful that Carver has such fabulous grandparents on both sides of his family tree. It is always such a joy to me to watch our extended family love on Carver. So far we have been able to see both of our families every year for Christmas. I know that one of these years we will want to start establishing Christmas morning in our home, but for now, I really like being able to see everyone each year for the holidays.

In celebration of Carver turning 2 we turned his car seat around to forward facing!! I didn't know if we would meet the 2-year recommendation for keeping babies rear-facing but we did it!!! Glad to see his sweet face in the car, finally :) But, safety first.

On your second birthday....

Dear Carver,

Tomorrow is the big day-- the day you turn 2. I've got to admit-- I'm not as sad as I thought I would be. I feel a little tug of pain that you are getting older, that every day your babyhood is passing and soon it will be gone altogether. But the much stronger emotion is this overwhelming feeling of anticipation of what is to come. I can't wait. I really can't.

Each day you learn something new. You change, and grow, and challenge me, and bless my heart in incredible ways. You are increasingly making your opinion known (loud and clear!), and evolving from my baby boy into this sweet and crazy toddler with a pretty fiery temper.

Some days you drive me crazy. Really. But I wouldn't change anything about you--not a single thing. Because I know that your occasional stubbornness and defiance means that you won't let people walk all over you in life. That you will not be easily swayed or influenced by others. Your friendliness and affection tells me that you will be a people person-- and your indifference to discipline and reprimands let me know that you will not be ruled by pleasing others. So when we struggle a little now-- I know that there is a greater purpose for it all. You are being molded into the boy that God intends for you to be. And, I get to witness all of this change and growth every single day.

And there is nothing I would rather be doing with my days.

I am still making more mistakes than I would like. And sometimes I handle situations...and you...in ways that I am not particularly proud of. I'm working on it. And, I'm working really hard. Because, while I'll never be perfect, I want to be the best I can be for you. I want to be what you need me to be-- whatever that is. I have a lot to learn, but we're getting there.

Since your last birthday we have had a number of "lasts." These make me particularly sad. It makes me anticipate the "last" time we will do any number of things...

Like the last time you will let me pick you up.

And the last time you prefer me over anyone else.

The last time you smile at me from behind your pacifier.

And the last time you enthusiastically tell me "hi" every time I walk in the room.

The last time we spend all day, every day together.


These things make me dread you growing up. So, I focus on all of the things I can't wait for...

Like the first time you tell me you love me.

And the first time you play baseball.

The first time you come home with stories from school and friends.

And the first time you say something that just completely blows my mind.

Carver, in just a few short hours you will be 2 years old. It has gone by so quickly. In a flash I'll be saying "tomorrow you'll be turning 20...or 30...0r 40..." But, I want you to know that no matter how old you get you'll always be my baby boy. You'll always matter more to me than you could ever imagine. You will always be loved unconditionally, prayed over constantly, and unfortunately, worried over consistently. It's just what moms do.

I am so proud to be your mom. So very proud.

These have been the best 2 years of my life. The very best.

Love,
Mama

'Tis the Season

Hooray! December has final arrived and with it the Christmas season. My favorite event of the year. Celebrating Jesus' birth, visiting with family, holiday traditions-- I love it all.

We are already starting to get into the Christmas spirit. The Christmas lights are up, the tree is half-naked thanks to Carver removing all ornaments he could reach, and the stockings are hung.


We're ready!

Helping Daddy with the Christmas lights. This child has no fear, but I have enough for the both of us.

When we made him get off the ladder...


Delia, Lea, and Winston's stockings

Here are some other things we've been doing recently to get in the spirit:

* Making a box filled with goodies for Operation Christmas Child. I think we'll make this a holiday tradition.

* Decorating cookies to take to the local soup kitchen. We did this with our friends from MOPS. Carver contributed by eating the cookies and then playing while I decorated all of the remaining cookies.



* Christmas parade in Cleveland and dinner at Creekside Deli.



* Eating a lot of mint M & Ms-- I wait all year for these :)

* Adding Christmas books to our bedtime story line-up.


* Christmas pajamas! We decided they should be worn for the whole month of December, not just Christmas Eve.



* Christmas shopping (not Carver's favorite activity).

* Caroling! (Coming up this Friday morning. I think it will be an absolute disaster trying to contain Carver at a nursing home but...we'll just have to see what happens).

We have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. We have a couple of Christmas parties with friends and camp, we are heading to Winston-Salem for Christmas with Daniel's family, and then my family is coming here for our second "camp Christmas."

I'm so excited. I just love this time of year.

Thanksgiving in Bartow

I am always very thankful when it works out for us to celebrate a holiday in Bartow. There is just something that feels right about going home for the holidays. This year we were able to spend about a week in Bartow. We visited friends and family, planned fun things with Carver, and enjoyed a break from the cold weather of GA.

We went to the zoo (of course) and bought Carver one of those back-pack leash things because he refused to ride in the stroller or hold a hand. I'm pretty sure we put it on backwards...

He did not love the monkey backpack-- he kept saying "I stuck, I stuck"

Grandmama had a "walnut hunt" for Carver-- which he loved. I think I'll have a video to post later, I'm experiencing technical difficulties.

Lea participated too.

We celebrated Thanksgiving day down at my aunt and uncle's house. Here Mom and I are with my aunt and 2 of my cousins. (Fun fact-- one cousin is 40-ish and the other is 50 or so-- don't they look fabulous? Glad I come from good genes.)

Chuck E. Cheese's

Other fun moments that were not captured in film...

* Visit with one of my BFFs Courtney and her family at their beautiful new home in Orlando. All visits, even ones that are much too short, are special.

* Visited with Dillon. Carver seemed immediately comfortable with him. Climbing up on the couch beside him, holding his hand, bringing him things-- so sweet.

* Date night at Harry's! So.much.fun.

* Dinner at Carrabba's-- maybe not worth mentioning to most, but I had been desperately craving it.

23 Months

Just a few short weeks before the baby turns 2. I can't believe it. I'm a little sentimental about it, but more so I am so very excited to see what this next phase will bring. I love watching Carver learn new things, pick up new tricks and idiosyncrasies, develop skills and personality quirks. He is an incredible joy, a big ball of energy, and a beautiful mess. He makes me laugh and he drives me crazy.

He's perfect.

Onto the final "monthly" blog update:

1) Verbal skills are increasing rapidly. Carver "talks" all the time, most of which we still can't identify but he is adding additional words and using some words with more frequency. He has started saying "Mama" regularly, which he hasn't done in about a year, and he says "hi" every single time someone walks into a room. Both of these words, of course, he has been saying for over a year-- but now he uses them all the time. His new favorite words are "I stuck"-- also his first 2-word phrase. He says it when he is "stuck" in his highchair or stroller, etc.

2) Carver is becoming much more steady on his feet. There has been a noticeable reduction in injuries recently, though he usually still has a bump or bruise somewhere at all times. He runs more than he walks, and continues to love to play outside more than anything else.

3) Sleeping patterns are a little unpredictable. He sleeps around 11 or so hours at night, and about 3 hours for his nap each afternoon. Hoping this doesn't change anytime soon.

4) He loves to be held, and especially rocked in the glider. He is super affectionate and likes to hug and give pats on the back.

5) Still in love with his pacifier. We'll be saying goodbye to those shortly. Not excited about what will happen at naptime and bedtime without them.

6) Carver loves Buddy Fruit pouches.

7) He survived his first attack by another toddler at the nursery last week. Two bites in about an hour-- one on each wrist. He was a complete wreck when we went to pick him up.

Much has been consistent over the last few months so there is not quite as much to report this time. Birthday party planning is in full swing and we are super excited to turn his car seat around in a few short weeks. Otherwise, I could do without the little one getting any older. But, since I can't freeze time I might as well enjoy what is to come.

Chubby Monkey-- Carver's 2nd Halloween

It is basically impossible to get a decent picture with Carver these days...