"Cheeee!"

It was so nice today, so we played in the water on the back porch. Whenever a camera is in sight C will say "Cheeee"! The first video is of Carter saying cheese and the second is of him saying ball ("ba") and bye bye. I love hearing him talk, it is my favorite thing right now.

16 Months

Carter is 16 months old and it has been a while since I updated on all his new tricks. First off, he is such a joy to watch and he is a very happy baby. He babbles constantly in his own language but we are beginning to pin-point actual words here and there. So far, here is a list of his words: Mama, Dada/daddy, yay, bye-bye, ball, cheese, bubbles, and I'm pretty sure he tries to say thank you but it sounds nothing like it just yet.

He has been walking since about 13 months and he is now starting to run pretty well. He claps all the time and says "yay", especially when he knows he has done something good. He can kick a ball around the house like he's playing soccer. He got a set of play golf clubs from Mom and Pop and he LOVES them...Chad teaches him how to hit and then caddies for him and tells him what clubs to use next, it's really cute!

He loves books, he looks at them all day long. I have most of his favorite books in a little plastic wheel barrow by his bed and he drags all of them out. The majority of the day he prefers his books to toys. We also have bathtub books that he looks at in the bathtub. He is learning to get off the couch feet first although sometimes he goes head first, but we're getting there! Anytime he gets a hold of his comb or brush he brushes his hair and then puts it in his mouth.

He has 4 bottom teeth and is about to have 4 (or more) top teeth, we are fighting the teething battle currently.

He loves playing outside and has a meltdown when someone goes out and won't take him along. When he gets excited about anything he turns into an absolute chatter box and when he wakes up from a nap he wants to be cuddled for a few minutes. I could go on and on :) He is getting to be a big boy and we are enjoying every minute of him.

*Newer post below

Mother's Day

I had a great second Mother's Day. I am more thankful for Carter everyday, he is such a joy. I am blessed that the Lord has chosen us to raise this beautiful child.
We spent Friday and Saturday at the lake to celebrate my Mom's Mother's Day, and then we spent Sunday with Chad's Mom. Below is the picture Carter made me in Sunday School, I love hand print pictures!!
Earlier in the week, Carter and I also made Mother's Day cards for his Grandmothers. They also had his hand prints on them...and let's just say that it didn't go quite as I expected. You know, as a Mom, you picture in your head how a "special" moment is going to go and then it usually turns out a disaster...you'd think I'd learn by now that a 15 month old is unpredictable! So we get out all the supplies to do the cards and I first have him color a "picture" inside the card with crayons; well, he scribbles for a moment and then wants to take off around the house with the crayons in hand. We all know this is a recipe for disaster, so I run after him (this happens several times) and he becomes a noodle and lays on the ground crying. Somehow we finish coloring both cards and I strap him in his high chair to do the hand prints. Every kid likes getting their hands in paint, right? Nope. Not mine. Screamed the entire time, fists clinched; and I'm not really sure how I got the hand prints but I did and they looked pretty decent, I wish I had a picture! Our mother's loved them, and that's all that matters, even if the experience of making them wasn't quite as wonderful as I pictured it, ha!
When we got Carter from the nursery on Sunday, they said he also hated making this picture below, oh well, at least it wasn't just me!

Here are some lake pictures from the weekend:

Carter in Owen's bouncy

Boat ride

Grandma and Owen

Avery and Carter on their new seesaw

Avery and Carter and their new watches, Hello Kitty and Spiderman. They think they are big stuff ;)

Just a few of my favorite things..

I have tried a few new products lately and I have been impressed with most of them. I thought I would let you in on a few good ones just in case you need some recommendations.

ITEM #1: Clean and Clear Acne treatment
This ointment has been great. It claims to reduce swelling and redness within 8 hours and it definitely has been true to it's claim so far! I break out here and there so I just needed a spot treatment and this seems to have done the trick. I got it at Wal-mart for around $6.

ITEM #2: Jergens Natural Glow "firming" lotion:
I LOVE LOVE this stuff. I had originally bought it last year and liked it okay but for some reason this year I am a BIG fan. This spring I had a bottle left over from last year...used the rest of that one and have already bought a new one (side note: if you bought this product last year and didn't like the smell-KERRI- then you should buy a new bottle this year because they have improved it and the scent is very different and not as strong).
Anyways, the point of this product is it is a moisturizer that has a bit of self tanner in it, but it is so subtle, you will never have streaks and it just takes the pastiness out of your skin. Also, if you use it when you have an actual tan, it seems to help the fading process and you keep your tan much much longer. This year they have added a "firming agent" and it is supposed to help firm up your skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
The color develops over several days of use and is at it's maximum after 7 days. Just use the moisturizer as you would use any other lotion...oh and make sure you wash your hands after applying :) Got this one at Target, it goes for $7.99 but I had a coupon :) Not sure how much it is at Wal-mart, it may be cheaper.

PRODUCT #3: Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship products.
Well, I made a rash decision when I was pregnant and I chopped my hair off. I really don't know what I was thinking...must have been the hormones. Now I am growing it back out (almost there)...and I have started using this to help keep it healthy. They have a shampoo, conditioner, and leave in conditioner and I have been using all three. Gives your hair a great smell and texture and helps protect it against breakage. If you don't have long hair, then Herbal Essences makes several other types of shampoo/cond. that are for your type hair, ie. short, frizzy, wavy, straight, more body...etc. $5.00 at Target and Wal-mart

PRODUCT #4: Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray

This is a spray that will protect your hair against the heat that you use to style your hair. I use it when my hair is wet right before I blow it dry, and then once it is dry I use it before I put the straightening iron on it. The formula is very light and doesn't leave your hair feeling gross. I like it! Around the $3.50 range at Target.

At the moment those are my fave products and I thought I would share them with everyone. So, any marketing folks reading this... feel free to give me a free product, I'll use it and promote it on my blog and then you can compensate me :)