A few of my favorite things...

One of my favorite things about reading blogs is finding out about new things. Recipes, project or craft ideas for Carver, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Now, I know I only have three readers (two of which are my mom and sis), but I thought I would share a few of the things I recently, or not so recently, have come to love.

1)


I recently melted the lid of favorite Nalgene in our dishwasher. Sad. Then Daniel talked me into switching over to a Camelbak water bottle. I had a little bit of a hard time adjusting, but now I'm a fan!

 2)


Probably my favorite snack at the moment.

 3)


Definitely my current favorite cereal and go-to breakfast. Love.

 4)


These bangles are from ETSY. The two round ones have a "C" initial on them, to represent my boys of course. The other is an infinity symbol. I adore these. (Thanks, Mama!)

 5)

TOMS, oh TOMS. How I love thee.



My latest pair. They are TALL. Like, really tall. But super cute.



Another current favorite-- they are silver and white-ish. This classic style is still my favorite. I think I now have four pairs. And I have my eye on a couple more. If you haven't tried TOMS, you are seriously missing out.

Tiny TOMS. Carver is beyond cute in his TOMS. He has two pairs, and needs more :)

6)


Love Love Love. I wear this bracelet almost every day. Courtney, Michael, and Jules got me a gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl and this is what I chose. It is so special to me.


7)


Lucky Brand Ballet Flats. From Mama last Christmas. I wear these all the time. They are SUPER cute and go with everything. I need them in black. And maybe red...


8)


I have loved this shampoo and conditioner for the last decade. I think I will use it for at least another decade to come.


9)

Bubble Necklaces. I love statement necklaces. I got these this summer, off of ebay. They are really amusing to me.

10)


Michael Kors Tortoise Shell Watch. My fall/winter must have.



Just for fun...

September Phone Dump



We attempted to go to a community event-- Carver was terrible. He had some corn and then we left.



Daddy and Carver went camping out at camp! I don't think a lot of sleep was had, but I'm pretty sure Carver loved it.

Sweet boy. Daddy got to hold him during dinner out one night.



My Guys.



He's a happy baby. Except at night. And for Daniel. But overall, he's a happy baby.



No caption needed. This is just funny.



I love this girl. And this picture makes me really miss her sister. I would sacrifice many things to sit on the porch with Delia again.

I have few pictures with this cutie. So, I resort to taking awful self portraits. Someone, help!

Baby Winston. Trying to get out of Carver's path. There are only so many places a dog this size can take cover.



Carver has found this crown SUPER fun. He made it in school several weeks ago and it is still in one piece. Amazing. And yes, he still loves his pacifiers. No, we are not proud. I am currently hanging my head in shame. Don't worry-- he only uses them at home. Or in the car. No public appearance. Don't judge.



"D" is for Dog! Another school project that gets played with at least once a day.

Enjoying an evening walk out at camp. I love fall weather. And having a nice place to walk.
Burn, calories, burn.

"Round-up Day" at church! Carson sporting his western wear. And a weird look on his face.

Oh, the little things.

Kids are funny. Watching them learn new things, say new words, and grow into these independent little people is so entertaining.

I have a million "Carver" stories, most of which I only think to share with my mom or Daniel. This one, while by no means hilarious, was cute and noteworthy since I have pictures to document.

It went something like this:

Setting: Upstairs in my "office." Carver finds a really fun highlighter that has tiny post-it notes attached. I'm pretty sure I've had this highlighter since grad school.

Daniel sitting in my desk chair working on the computer, Carver standing just behind him plucking out the post-its one by one and then handing them to Daniel, and saying "Here you go," every single time. (i.e. Pluck the post-it--"Here you go," Pluck, "Here you go," Pluck, "Here you go.") Finally, I told him to just throw them in the trash (rather than hand them to Daddy).

Two seconds later he has disappeared.

I wander downstairs looking for him and he is standing at the kitchen trash can, still plucking out the post-its and throwing them away. A painstaking process.

Pluck the post-it.

Raise the trash lid.

Throw it in.

Close the lid.

Repeat.

And on and on and on until there are no more.

This is funny to me for a couple of reason:

1) Why didn't he use the trash can located about 6 inches from him in the office rather than going all the way downstairs to use the one in the kitchen?

2) Why is it that the first decent pictures I get of him in MONTHS, are while he is playing with a trash can?

9 Months

Oh my sweet girl. These last weeks have felt exceptionally hard. I wish you were here. I wish I could sleep at night. I wish you were still taking up room in our bed, sitting with me on the porch, taking road trips with me, following me around the house, and begging for snacks. I wish this grief would lift. I wish things were different. I miss you little one.

Meeting Sweet Riley

When Julia was born 15 years ago, Lyle and I were at the hospital. We wandered around searching for food and just exploring in general, we tried to sleep in the waiting room and we (impatiently) endured the hours waiting for her to make her debut. We were only 17 and it was kind of a bizarre, but exciting adventure to be there in the building waiting for her.

When Courtney went into labor with Riley at the end of July I SO wish that I could have been there. Under any other circumstances (like not having a 2 month old myself), I would have been up there in a flash, waiting at the hospital, eager for Riley to arrive.

A couple of weeks ago I (finally!) got to meet sweet Riley when my brave sister took a week-long road trip with her and stopped by our house for a quick visit. It wasn't nearly enough time to adequately love on that sweet baby, but I am SO thankful, and a little ashamed, that Courtney brought her to see us. Sorry Sis, that I couldn't get up to Maryland to see the little one and you had to do all of the traveling.

Riley is already so loved and going to be such a sweet addition to our family. I simply adore my nieces and nephews. Fifteen years (and 1 month) ago, I became an aunt for the first time and it changed my life. Julia has been one of my greatest blessings in life. I am so thankful for her, Bailey, Will, Tommy, Anna Kate, and now, little Riley.

Welcome to the crazy Carver clan little girl.

Carver with Andrea, Courtney's friend and traveling partner. And, Carver's new BFF.

The babies cruising around the Dillard House. Love the BOB stroller!

Carson and me at the Dillard House.

Aunt Courtney and Carson. (hee hee hee, Carson looks silly here)

Aunt Courtney and an uncooperative 2 year old.

Me and Riley!

Riley and Carson.

Carson trying to pull Riley's ear off-- we had to peel back his fingers one by one. Poor girl...

I am so excited that Courtney and I have kids only 9 weeks apart in age. It has already been so fun to get to share this with her, good stuff, bad stuff, funny stuff. Yay for a really great sister :)

Carson-- 4 Months

Four months with this sweet boy have flown by. I just can't get enough of his chubby face and enormous smiles.  Seriously, I could snuggle with him all day. But, I have a 2 year old, and a house, and a job, and weight to lose... So we fit snuggle time in when we can but it is never enough.

Stats (approximation):
Weight: 16+ lbs
Height: 25 or so inches

New Stuff or noteworthy stuff:

1) Carson has started chuckling!

2) He loves to suck on his hands and thumb.

3) He has a favorite pacifier. We lost it this week and it was an ordeal. No worries-- it has now been replaced. Whew.

4) Rolling, rolling, rolling. Even when strapped into seats that make it impossible, he still tries.

5) Starting to show an interest in some toys.

6) Still getting up 2-3 times a night. He also takes about  2 short little naps in the morning and sometimes another short nap in the evening before bedtime. I'm planning to start getting him scheduled a little better in the coming weeks. He goes to bed sometime between 7:30 and 8:30. He wakes up happy and ready to go around 6:00 or so. Yay. Not really. That was sarcasm.

7) He finds his big brother REALLY fascinating. And, as a side note, Carver has been super sweet to him lately. Bringing him his pacifiers, patting him on the head, and even hugging him occasionally. Love it.

At the risk of getting repetitive and annoying I just have to say it again-- I adore these boys. I am so incredibly thankful that I am their mom. I am blessed. Exhausted, overwhelmed and often impatient-- but oh so blessed. I can't wait to see what new stuff Carson figures out in this next month.

And, just for fun, some of Carson's  most common expressions.

Distracted. Usually by Carver or some unseen but fascinating thing over "there."

Perplexed.

Joy!

Suspicion.