Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Friday, December 14, 2012

one of C's favorite people

{i'll give you a hint, it's not a she}  ;)

mommy wasn't sure what to expect this year before we went to see Santa.  last year, you were a mess and not a fan!  oh, how things change in a mere 365 days! 

you told him all about guitars.  surprise, surprise.  maybe next year you'll get the whole, tell Santa what you want, not what you already have concept.  ;)

Friday, November 30, 2012

thanksgiving 2012

you had a great time celebrating thanksgiving with all the people that you are so very thankful for!  however, with your current dislike of the camera and it being natalie's first thanksgiving, there are few pictures that capture your thanksgiving!  but, this picture of you and uncle don in your amish hats is one of my all time favorites!

first, you celebrated with mommy's side of the family in brooksville on the saturday before thanksgiving.  mimi, g.g., nana, papa and uncle don were all there and you helped make a special placemat for each person there.

then, the day before thanksgiving, we went to orlando to celebrate with daddy's side of the family.  there was lots of food, grandma and grandpa z, aunt karen, aunt cheri, uncle todd, and erica and drew too.


on thanksgiving day, you had some time to play with grandma and grandpa, which was probably your favorite part of our time in orlando, before we headed home to a very non-thanksgiving dinner of homemade spaghetti and meat sauce!

it was some great, extended family time!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

halloween 2012

{serenading your sister}
originally, mommy thought you and daddy would make great cowboys and natalie and mommy would be indians, BUT you are currently infatuated with both jason mraz and guitars, so we based this year's halloween costumes on you and your loves (even though it was natalie's first halloween, so she should've had dibs.  next year.).  you as "jason" + natalie as a tambourine player, mommy as a drummer and daddy as the lead singer = the Z family folk band.

daddy found a battery powered guitar that plays pre-recorded songs that we bought to give to you for your half birthday and to be your instrument.  but when miss sylvia brought you her daughter's old guitar (your "real guitar"), we just couldn't say we already bought you one after seeing how excited she was to give her daughter's guitar to you.  in the end, it was good to have both, since the one daddy picked out was just the right size for you to hold while riding in the z family band tour bus, aka the double stroller.

before heading over to aunt cheri's house, we stopped by kat's house to see if she was dressed.  she wasn't, but she was happy to see you all dressed up.

we had a pizza party at aunt cheri's before heading to her church for trunk or treat.

you LOVED running around in the dark with your guitar.  you still didn't care much about the candy, even though mommy bought you special nut free, organic, dye free lollipops to sub out the candy you received that was contaminated.  

we didn't stay long, it was late, there were mosquitoes and natalie was hungry, but you enjoyed every minute of it!  it was a great halloween!


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

at two and a half

carter brian,

you've had quite a big last three months!  during that short period of time, you've gone through a pretty big transition; you are a BIG BROTHER now!  

the place for you in mommy's heart is even bigger than she thought it was!  you are such a sweet boy and a joy to all who know you.  we are so so SO lucky to call you our son.

at two and a half, you...

....pretend everything is a guitar.  you have a "shovel guitar", a "rake guitar", a "fishing pole guitar", a "broom guitar"...and now, thanks to Ms. Sylvia (our housecleaner, who you ABSOLUTELY adore) a "real guitar"!

...watch Jason Mraz (and Thailand's Got Talent) on youtube

...(mostly) know your colors (sometimes you get green, blue and purple mixed up) and shapes

...sing your ABCs while playing any guitar you can find

...were a bit unsure of Natalie at first, but you kissed your little sister for the first time on her 6week birthday

...shower with mommy, daddy and a pretend guitar every night and sing Farmer in the Dell, Old McDonald and 5 Little Monkeys

...prefer juice and water at dinner time, just like mommy

...have a stuffed bear that you put in Natalie's swing or bouncer (with the vibrations on)

..."read" books to Natalie when she's awake

...like to have picnic lunches at your picnic table

...are really into the Curious George books these days

...have some new favorite toys courtesy of your baby sister, including "The City" (mega bloks), bristle blocks, an excavator and bulldozer, and construction play doh set.
...are doing better feeding yourself using utensils, IF it's a preferred food

...have been known to steal cookies from the pantry

...ditched your stride rites for Toms

...say, "carter's a man" thanks to your big man on campus pajamas

...have hazel eyes

...are thrilled it's scarecrow season again

...have rest time in your crib midday more often than naptime

...wear a "night gown" as you call it (thanks to the "my n book") for nap and night, since you've been known to take your sleep underwear off!

...speak clearer all time!  you tell us stories and have an incredible memory!

...are a bit scared of going poop in the potty, but have mastered going pee in the potty!  you've gone weeks without an accident.

...tell mommy to "walk away" when she goes in the bathroom with you

 ...got your second year book a few days after we were home from the hospital.  you LOVED us "reading" it to you!
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more favorites!





{at daddy's 20 year high school reunion}





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how we celebrated your big 2.5 birthday
you had a gift when you woke up.
it was a new "city".  your gift was supposed to be a real guitar, but when Sylvia came on Wednesday and said she had a surprise for you (her daughter's first guitar), we couldn't tell her no! Even though the guitar we bought you had arrived a day earlier and mommy was so excited about it.
 later you and mommy made cupcakes, but you weren't able to have one at lunch because you threw your milk on the floor on purpose.


you DID earn a cupcake at dinner, finally!  why no candles, you wonder.  because daddy said that we need not confuse you with birthdays and half birthdays.