Why God Made Little Boys

Why God Made Little Boys

God made a world out of his dreams,

Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,

Prairies and plains and wooded land,

Then paused and thought, "I need someone to stand

On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,

Explore the plains and climb the trees,

Someone to start out small and grow,

Sturdy, strong like a tree" and so...

He created boys, full of spirit and fun,

To explore and conquer, to romp and run,

With dirty faces, banged up chins,

With courageous hearts and boyish grins.

When He had completed the task He'd begun

He surely said, "That's a job well done."

~Unknown

Happy Birthday Jack!

One year ago today a sweet little boy named Jack was born!  I had no idea this precious little boy existed until a few weeks later.  Meeting Korey has been such a wonderful thing, we may not talk everyday, but we know we have a special bond that will always keep us friends!  We both have little boys who are one year old and rockin' an extra chromosome that we are crazy about!  Korey is an amazing mommy, she is so involved with Jack and she has started a fund called The Jack Pot.  The Jack Pot" Fund will benefit Jack's friends in need who are part of the Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro.  Once "The Jack Pot" is more established, this fund will be used to help local families of children with Down Syndrome pay for expensive medical or therapy co-pays, medications, or medical supplies that they struggle to afford on their own.

Jack,
On your first birthday, we just wanted to tell you that we are so happy we have you as apart of our lives.  It has been great seeing you and your bff together at play dates, even though Carter makes you cry!  You are such a loving, happy, beautiful little boy with so much determination.  You have big things in your future and we can't wait to watch them unfold.  We are so thrilled Carter has a friend to grow up with! 
We love you, and HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY JACK!
Love,
Jeff, Kristin, and Carter!

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead

And you're miles and miles

From your nice warm bed

You just remember what your old pal said

Boy, you've got a friend in me

Yeah, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

If you've got troubles,I've got 'em too

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you

We stick together and can see it through

Cause you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be

A little bit smarter than I am

Bigger and stronger too

Maybe

But none of them will ever love you

The way I do, it's me and you

Boy, and as the years go by

Our friendship will never die

You're gonna see it's our destiny

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me





Carter will always have your back!



Puddin' Paintin'

Carter's therapist recommended finger painting with pudding.  I totally suggest it, it's fun and safe to eat!  He got some of it on the paper, some on the walls and the floor, even on mommy, but it was mostly ALL OVER CARTERBUG!

The man who hung the moon

Carter had his first trip to Florida to visit his Great Granny.  It was a 10 hour car trip, and he did so well all the way down.  When we finally got there it was so good to see Granny, and to walk in the house.  I love my grandparents house, it's a shrine to my childhood.  The house is filled with pictures of us (me, my sister, and my cousin Jennifer) from birth until adulthood.  It has this distinct smell that I love, that takes me right back to being a carefree kid, and of course it makes me miss my Papaw more than anything! 

Some of you may know my grandfather passed away five years ago from cancer. It was such a blow to our family. We were all there right by his side the day he left this world and entered another. He knew how much we loved him, and if you ask me that was the best way you can go. Having your spouse by your side, your siblings, both of your daughter-in-laws, both of your children and your grand-children holding your hands, with each and every one of them telling you how much they love you until you slip out quietly. I miss him so much everyday, but something about being in that house makes me a little nostalgic for the past. I will always think my Papaw hung the moon. From the time I was born until I was 22 years old I would crawl up on his lap. My favorite was when he would just gotten home from playing golf, he would sit in his recliner and I would sit in his lap and lay my head on his shoulder. I loved the smell of golf sweat, old spice, with a hint of a after a round of golf beer. I miss sitting beside him at the breakfast table, and him making Granny laugh so hard she couldn't catch her breath, I miss his bear hugs (they literally took the breath right of you). I miss the way he laughed, and him tapping the steering wheel and his glass with his ring, I miss him singing, I miss his golf tan and how I would always tell him to take off his socks when he was barefoot, I miss him driving 100mph on the highway, I miss his stories, I miss seeing his big ol' ears in the car in front of me, I would always tell Granny "haha all you can see is the top of his head, and his ears sticking out the side of the seat", I miss him taking us skiing on the boat, and he would go really fast for me and really slow for Whit and Jennifer.



Me and Papaw (his last Christmas, I was 22)



Me Papaw and Whitney

Me and Papaw

Papaw and his girls (Kristin, Whitney, and Jennifer)



It was so hard on me that he wasn't at my wedding, I know he was there in spirit, but I wish he could have been there in person. I carried his picture on my bouquet and had a lit candle at the alter in memory of him. I wish even more that he could hold Carter. I know he would have been in love with my little boy. I had a dream right after Carter was born...It was my whole birthing experience just like it really happened, but in the dream my Papaw was in the left corner of the room smiling. I really feel that was his way of letting me know that he was there, and he was happy about this little boy coming into the world. I like to think that he had a say in giving us precious Carter.

During our visit to Florida, my Granny, Carter, and I went to the cemetery where my Papaw is buried. I am by no means a fan of cemeteries, but the particular one is beautiful and so peaceful. I really wanted to take Carter out there to visit. It was a good day...

...yep little boy, he would have thought you hung the moon!

 

MeaSleS smEshLeS

So Carter has been sick off and on now for a little over 3 weeks.  We have battled with a double ear infection along with double pink eye with a 103 fever.  Then last Monday he woke up with a 103 fever with a rash.  Of course, being a first time mom I am going to panic when my adorable little boy wakes up and looks like a strawberry!  We took him to the doctor, his diagnosis...Parvo, yes dogs get parvo, but so do humans.  Well Thursday when Carter woke up the rash was at its worst!  He was covered head to toe, throwing up, dry heaving, shaking...this was not my happy baby!  Me angry and wanting to know what the heck was going on with lil bug...we took him to the doctor and we find out Carter has atypical measles or rubella from a reaction from his MMR vaccine! His doctor said he has not seen this in 10 years and it happens in 1 in several 100 kids.  Yep Carter was that one kid.  Poor fella!  Luckily he is NOT contagious, he is feeling better, he just has to go around with this way awesome rash all over him...yuck!
They lasted a whole week, but...

They are all gone today...HOORAY!



Mother's Day

I am so thankful to be celebrating my second Mother's Day with Carter!  What an accomplishment and an honor it is to be celebrated on this special day!  I had such a great day yesterday, I got to sleep in and woke up to Jeff and Carter giving me a sweet card and a 1 hour massage gift card (much needed I should add).  We went to brunch with my sister and my momma at Printworks Bistro we sat outside, luckily it turned out to be a beautiful day.  I had some yummy french toast and mimosas!  We were planning on going to a baseball game later that afternoon, but Carter decided he didn't need a nap so I figured that would not make for a fun afternoon at the ballpark, so he and I eventually took a nap.  My mom and sister came over for dinner and we finished mother's day off right by playing my moms favorite game, sequence. 

I feel that I am a good mother, I hope that Carter thinks I am a great mother...it's the little things that make me feel like I am doing a good job.  When he wakes up early in the morning his eyes are half shut, but he still smiles because he knows I am there.  When I pick him up he hugs my neck so tight.  When I give him his first bottle of the day, he is too tired to hold it himself, but he does manage to hold my finger with his tiny little hand.  Every time without fail, as I am getting him to sleep he makes a noise then I do it back, this goes on and on then he laughs that adorable laugh.  If he sees me coming into a room, he grins so big his eyes close.  When he helps feed himself with a spoon he waits for me to say YAY Carter, so he can clap for himself!  I can ask for a kiss and I get one, smack on the lips, slobber and all!  I know where his ticklish spots are and how to get him to laugh, I know how to hold him a certain way to get him to sleep, I know which cry means what and how to get him to stop.  Motherhood is amazing that's all I can say, I am so lucky to have this precious little bug, the one who made me a mommy.

Quick Carterbug update

Wow I have been so slack with my blog lately...I have excuses I promise.  I have had finals, they are over and done with and so are classes!  I have also had a sick little Carterbug on my hands too!  He is all better now but all last week poor lil bug had a double ear infection, pink eye is both of his sweet little eyes, a 103.5 temperature, a runny nose, and a nasty cough.  Poor little fella, thank goodness he feels better.  There is nothing worse than feeling helpless as a mommy, when you don't know what to do to help your child feel better.  The only thing that seemed to work was to hold him so that's what I did, and loved every second of it. 

So lets see what has been going on here lately...well I am so excited to celebrate my second mothers day with my sweet boy.  Last year he was 3 weeks old so he didn't do to much celebrating, but this year I have a feeling he will!  I am officially done with classes forever, for good, no more!  HOORAY, that was tough playing mommy, wife, chef, maid, and student!!!!  Carter has been pulling up on everything (including the bathtub, which scares me to death!)  He is even starting to cruise a little bit.  He eats everything from spaghetti to ice cream, but he has to hold the spoon or fork or shove the food in his mouth himself,  he is drinking whole milk now which is a wonderful thing (easy on the belly and the wallet!)  He has six teeth and more are coming in, they are big, pearly white and straight, this makes mommy happy since I am a dental assistant and I look at every single persons teeth that walks by me ( I can't help it).  He thinks everything is hilarious these days he cracks up at the littlest things, he also has a fake laugh that is pretty hilarious in itself!  He is a growing boy, he is 30 1/2 inches and 20 pounds. He is sleeping well sometimes sleeping until 7 or 7:30.  He is just an adorable mess and I love him to pieces.




Getting a sink bath was always something my sister and I did as babies at my Granny's house, something about taking a bath in the sink was more fun than the bathtub!