My sweet boy.
My germ-infested, dirt loving, rambunctious, destructive all-boy of a child.
How are you 20 months old?
You are so ornery.
And you are most definiltey spoiled.
Which I said would never happen.
You scream or whine if we don't do it your way.
And you can be really, really gross. But I love you more every single day.
Even when you head butt me.
Or smack me in the face.
Or throw a toy at me.
You even think it's funny to kick sometimes.
We are doing our best as parents.
To discipline you. And tell you no.
You despise going in timeout.
We want you to be a good boy.
And you are, mostly.
You have a sweet side that melts my heart.
Especially when you say "Ahh luh ooo"
And you still give open-mouth kisses.
You go in phases of preferring mama over daddy, or vice versa.
But, let's be real, we all know you're a mama's boy.
Your favorite things are shoes, hats, cars, bikes and lawnmowers.
More like obsessions.
You wear your hat 24/7 when at home. Seriously.
We can't pass the riding mowers at Lowe's without you yelping "mowwwww!"
You are talking so much now.
Our favorite game is saying all our friends names at school.
Lainey, Mallory, Alex, Grady, Logan, Jack and Miller.
And Ms. Patty and Ms. Heather, of course.
I love it when you point all of them out to me when walking in the room. It's just the cutest. You talking.
You're still obsessed with the book Go Dog, Go!
We took a 2-week hiatus, but you're back to requesting it. "Go Go!"
Another bedtime fave is looking at photo albums.
You can point out Nana, Gammy and cousin Maddie.
Kid, you finally ate ice cream and requested more!
We've only been trying for eight months.
I was beginning to question if you were my child.
Speaking of food, you're still a good eater.
Still love you some fruits.
You've tried a lot more junk food in the past few months.
So if you see a bag of chips laying out, or any snack for that matter,
We better be ready to give in or fight back.
It's not abnormal for you to have bruises.
In fact, your legs are constantly covered in them.
You have no fear, kid.
And are constantly falling down, being too adventurous, and testing the limits.
Only now, you like for mama and daddy to kiss your boo-boos.
"Do you want me to kiss it?"
"Yeeeah" (in the most pathetic voice ever) I swoon every time.
Working full-time makes things really busy around our house.
And most times, I struggle to even get dinner on the table.
Our entire house is never clean all at the same time.
And nights with you are never long enough.
Baby, you take every single ounce of my energy.
And sometimes I lose my patience.
But, that smile, and sweet little laugh makes it all worth. So very worth it.
You are everything to us, sweet Carson.
Big Boy. C. Stinker. Stinky. Stinks. I promise we don't really think you stink.
The last time I sat down to write a monthly update about the main subject of this blog was three months ago. Three!
What have I been doing!? I'm literally kicking myself for missing several months because I feel like so much has changed (even though I said I wasn't going to do an update every month after his 1st birthday).
If you're interested in the series, it's called Watch Me Grow. I've documented his growing and changing since he was a newborn and it's seriously one of my favorite things on this blog.
Call me narcissistic, but I'm a proud mama. I love going back and reading these posts. I love looking at old pictures. I love reading what I wrote about his development. And I love experiencing it all over again.
What I was feeling at that moment.
Carson, you are officially a crazy toddler. When I said you were all over the place a few months ago, boy was I wrong. You are really all over the place now. You are a handful, but so much fun.
Your smile and laugh are so infectious and we just light up when we are with you.
I can't get enough of your kindhearted spirit and innocence. Don't get me wrong, you have your ornery moments, but your affection and love is simply addicting. You've become extremely snuggly in the past few months and will give us open-mouth kisses all.day.long. I love it. Please don't stop until you're at least ten. Mmmkay?
Our time on the weekends is always special because I get to fully experience you. I know that sounds weird since I'm your mom and all, but I miss out on so much time with you when I'm at work.
Sometimes, I wish I was a stay-at-home mama, but other times I appreciate the things you are learning at school and the independent toddler you are becoming. It's pretty common for you to come home with a new trick and show off for us. I'll say "Wow, good job buddy, I definitely didn't teach you that!"
You recently went through a phase (about 2 weeks) where you cried when we dropped you off. Leaving you when you are upset is hard, but I think the arrival of some new teeth were contributing to your fuss-pot-hold-me-all-the-time attitude.
You now have 12 teeth buddy! All your first molars are through, and let me just say, we had some extremely sleepless nights because of it! As I already mentioned, you went through quite the needy phase, but seem to be back to your normal self...waving bye-bye to us and saying it as we exit your classroom.
Speaking of you saying things...you finally say and use mama correctly! You have said here and there for quite sometime now, but instances were few and far between and you never said it in the right context.
Well my sweet son, you now say it to me when you want something, when I'm not in the room and you want me, or when I'm gone and you are looking for me.
I was feeling a little left out with all your "da-da" talk, so I may or may not have teared up when you said it over and over a few weeks ago.
And yes, I caught it on video. I was seriously so overwhelmed with happiness at his moment.
I'm not gonna lie, when you say mama, it just melts my whole heart. I can't wait until you can tell me you love me back. Until then, I'll continue to tell you ten thousand times a day. And kiss you all over. Are you sick of my overly obsessed affection yet? Good, cause I'm not either.
Other words in your vocabulary include da-ga (doggy), more, yeah, no, go, duck, ba-ba (for your sippy cup, water bottles and regular cups) cracker, bubble, ball, book, uh-oh and yellow. An older girl in your class loves the color yellow and always points it out, so I think you picked up on it from her. You also moo, baa, quack and roar. My fave is the roar. Carson, what does a lion say? And you'll let out a low growl. I die every time.
Playing outside, bath time and reading books are by far your favorite activities. After dinner we say, "Carson, do you want to go take a bath?" And you'll run down the hallway screaming with excitement to the bathroom. It's the cutest.
Story time has become quite the family soiree. Most nights, we settle down in your room (Jakey boy too!) and struggle to escape without you trying to get us to read every book on your bookshelf. You're so intrigued and curious by the images, and taking in every word we read.
You love turning the pages and pointing out things you know. Sometimes you say them. Favorite things to find and point out are dogs, or "da-ga" as you call it. Your receptive language has really taken off. You can point out a bird, duck, dog, sheep, fish, cow, lion, zebra, giraffe, baby, sun, crab and ball.
The routine goes like this: you bring me a book, climb into the chair on
my lap, we read it, you get down to get another...repeat, repeat,
repeat.
Every time we finish you say, "mama, more." I think you know how to work things in your favor because I always give in.
You would stay outside all day long if we let you. You love the park. You love the driveway. You love the deck. Heck, you even prefer the garage over playing inside. You cry when we go inside.
The park is a new adventure for us. Sure, we've been going to the park since you were a baby, but you can now climb the stairs of the play equipment all by yourself (without giving me a heart attack) and you go down the slides by yourself. Oh, and I can't even try to help you or hold your hand...or you throw a hissy fit.
Mr. Independent I tell ya.
Doing things on your own is all you want to do these days. And you want to do it just like the adults do.
Remember when I wrote about you loving the stairs so much at 12 months? Well, yeah, that hasn't changed one bit. You.Love.Stairs.You've mastered going down them by yourself on your belly (feet first of course), but have thrown a wrench in our progress by trying to go down like we do. Living in a split-level house doesn't come easy, and you've definitely taken some tumbles, but I'm glad you've found something you love so much. Stairs. How exciting son.
I think everything you come in contact with screams at you "Hey Carson, climb me!" You climb on everything. And every time I see you climb something, I see an ER trip flash before my eyes.
You're pretty opinionated these days. You aren't shy about
telling us yes and no. Carson, do you want to take a nap?
No no. Do you want to go outside. Yeah Yeah.
It's all happening too fast for me.
Everybody talks about how fast they grow up, but I really didn't know what that meant
until now. All these memories and moments I already cherish so very much
and you're only 16 months.
I can't imagine what's in store for us big boy. My heart is happy.
Love, Mama
Carson at16-months:
In the Closet: Mostly 18-24 months Diapers: Size 5 Teeth: The number of teeth you have has doubled since the 13-month update. You have 12 teeth! Six on top, six on bottom. Grub: Anything, but peanut butter. You are getting really good at using a spoon, but primarily still use your hands. You love dipping. Pita Chips + Hummus, Chicken Nuggets + Ketchup, Chips + Salsa. You want to do everything just how we do it. Favorites: any fruit (clementines are a new fave), meatballs, mac and cheese, spaghetti, string cheese, green beans, sweet potatoes, marshmallows (oops), chocolate bunnies (double oops), yeah, Easter was not the best for your eating habits. Sleep: My good little sleeper is missing. In fact, it's been about a month since you have slept through the night. You still sleep 10-11 hours at night, but with at least one, sometimes two wake up calls. Teeth? Training us to have your way? I don't know, but will my good sleeper please come back? New Activity/Development: Lots of babbling/talking, pointing for communication, knuckles, jumping (it's so cute to watch you try and jump), pointing out not only your belly and your foot, but now your head, nose, fingers, toes, ears, mouth tongue and teeth!
Loves: Being outside, bath time, story time (your favorite books are Goodnight New York City and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?), stairs, Jake, playing chase, being tickled, sweets, balls, babies, dancing, jumping Hates: Haircuts, getting dressed, getting diaper changed, coming in from outside, daddy's drill (figured it out while he was putting together book case)
I told myself I wasn't going to continue these updates every month after Carson turned one.
And here I am, writing about my 13-month old.
I just couldn't help it. He's changing and growing, and doing new things right before my eyes.
It's an every day kind of happening. Each and every moment, I'm grabbing my camera to capture these little moments.
These special moments I don't want to ever forget. So, I'll continue to write them here.
And one day, he'll read these and make fun of his mom for documenting every little detail of his life.
But what he won't realize just yet, is how these details aren't little. They're real. They're cherished. And they're ours.
Our memories. Memories, that create a scrapbook in our minds. The mind that gets lost in reverie thinking about these moments.
They're everything to me.
Carson, you're just over one and I can already see you as a teenager. When on earth did you get to be such a big boy?
With such a big pot belly!
You've taken a backseat with being a good eater, but man do you have a little pot belly. It's terribly cute. But I'm your mom and think everything about you is cute.
You are learning so much these days. You're watching us, and we are noticing. It seems like anything we do, you want to do too. Especially noises. We will make the most random noises with various connotations and rhythms and then you will try and mimic them. It's hilarious. You've even started taking our phones and putting them to your ear acting like you are talking on the phone. What are you, fifteen?
One of your newest things is dancing. You learned at school. Any time you hear one of your toys that has music or a kid-friendly tune, you start bouncing up and down and swaying back and forth. It's just the cutest.
You're still my tiny destructor. Our house if pretty much a disaster and you are constantly making messes. Your favorites are emptying all the bathroom drawers and cabinets, the Tupperware cabinet in the kitchen and anything you can destruct.
I'll find random things you carry all over the house, or drive myself crazy looking for things I know you took and misplaced. There have been several occasions where you have put your sippy cup somewhere it's not supposed to be (toy box, kitchen pantry), and then you'll find it days later and try to take a drink of old, spoiled milk. Oops.
You're just too dang active kid. You definitely keep me and your daddy on our toes.
The big kid room at school is going better than last month. You are doing well with the one nap and enjoying all the big-kid toys and outside play. I'm not sure you have enjoyed getting bit three times (yes, three!), but I'm sure you'll be the biter or troublemaker someday.
Speaking of a troublemaker, you have become a bit of a roughouser. I'm sure that comes with growing up and being a boy, but we visited a baby friend today and you gave him a not-so-nice slap on the face. I know you don't understand gentleness yet, but you will eventually.
Telling you no doesn't make you laugh anymore. In fact, you now cry. I think it's because we have gotten more stern and serious about getting you to truly understand when you are doing things you aren't supposed to.
Even though you can be rough (ahem, I blame it on the tiger), you can also be quite the lover. One of the most precious things you do these days is give hugs.
You love to hug babies, but you've also been giving me hugs when I get home from work. It just melts my heart. Yours too. You get the biggest smile on your face when when you give hugs, and it's the greatest sight in the world.
One of these days, you're not going to let me hug and kiss you like I do. And I don't want to think about that day. It's going to be a sad, sad day.
Just remember, I'm always here. With my arms wide open. If you need a hug son, I will gladly take one. So I can remember the days when you were thirteen months and gave me hugs all the time.
I love you sweet boy.
Love,
Your Totally Obsessed Mother
Carson at 13months:
In the Closet: 12-18 months
Diapers: Size 4 and 5. We found a box of 4s in the garage and they still fit ok.
Teeth: Still rocking out six teefers Grub: Whole milk, and anything we can get you to eat. I think you might turn into a berry with as many blueberries and blackberries as you eat. Sleep: I should really take this one off because it hasn't changed much since you were 6 weeks old. We are really in for it when we give you a sibling someday. You sleep 11-12 hours at night and take one nap during the day (2+ hours). New Activity/Development: Using signs for milk, more and all done. We still consistently encourage you to wave, clap, blow kisses, give hugs, high fives, shake your head no, and nod yes. Working on going down the stairs on your rear (aren't you proud I didn't say butt!?).
Loves: Bath time, the life-size tiger, carrying shoes or bags around the house, your pottery barn chair, books, phones, remotes, anything heavy, shoulder rides, pushing cars around, pulling your train. Hates: Being restrained. Going in the car seat if you don't want to. Getting things taken away when you're not supposed to have them. Getting your diaper changed if you don't want to. Being told no.
If you're an avid follower of this blog, you've seen my super exhilarating posts about my kid every month. The series is called Watch Me Grow.
Each month, I attempt to capture a photo of Carson. I post them here for you to see (usually late because that's how moms roll), but mainly for my own personal reasons.
I accompany the photo with his monthly statistics and write him a letter or stories of what went on that month.
I know the content of this blog tends to be rather boring (hello...more
pictures of Carson), but these monthly posts are so near and dear to me. I love them.
Sometimes they're mushy (okay, there's always mush involved), and sometimes they're funny. But, what makes them so special is the journal of memories I'm creating by explaining the experiences we most often forget.
Call me obsessed with my kid, but I love going back and reading these. It reminds me exactly how I felt at that moment, what I was experiencing as a mom at that time, and just how lucky I am to call him mine.
I highly recommend this to any mom. Even if you don't have a blog, write down stories in the baby book or a journal, and snap a picture each month.
It's priceless and simply amazing to see how much how they change.
It's been 12 whole months since he came into this world and Brian and I are still those rambling, sappy, overly
impressed parents you make fun of in public.
Every new experience, every milestone, every first-time happening and we are jumping around yelling how intelligent he is. I'm just like every other mom walking around thinking I have the cutest kid with the highest IQ. It is so annoying.
Carson's 12-month stats:
Weight:21 lbs (50th percentile) Height:29 in (25th percentile) Head circumference:18 in
In the Closet: Mainly 12 months, some larger, some smaller (pants)
Diapers: Size 5, but finishing out the 4s. You blew through the 4s big boy.
Teeth: Six! Two on the bottom and four on top. I still blame all your fussiness on teething, in case you were wondering. Grub: Anything we eat, you try. Sometimes you spit it out and shake your head, making it seem like we just fed you dirt. But, for the most part, you'll eat most things. You went through a short phase where you wouldn't even eat your favorites, but I think we are past that. You love blueberries, meatballs, spaghetti, squash, peas, craisins, grapes and bananas. That sweet tooth is still prominent. Sleep: 11-12 hours at night. Two hour (+/-) nap during the day. New Activity/Development: Walking, talking, waving, clapping, blowing kisses, giving hugs, high fives, shaking head no, nodding yes.
Loves: Still loves the stairs and phones.
All his new toys! Making messes. Getting into everything. Mommy and daddy. Watching things fall. Taggie blanket. Hates: Playing by himself. Being restrained. Going in the car seat if you don't want to. Still eerie of the vacuum.
Carson, thank you for giving your daddy and me the best year yet. I knew you would bring so much joy to our lives, but I had no idea we would feel this.
It's just amazing son, being your mom.
You're so big these days. And very independent. You want to do everything on your own, and get frustrated if you get into trouble. You're independent, but also clingy. You have shown your first signs of stranger anxiety ever these past few weeks. You'll play on your own, but you want us in your sight.
Dropping you off at daycare when you cry and walk towards me is heart wrenching. It's the first time I've actually regretted working and not staying home with you. Ok, second. That first day leaving you when you were three months old was really tough.
Leaving you will never get easier. I hate being away from you. Trust me kid, the feeling is mutual. I want to be with you all the time too.
Just like the Baby Center update told me, how you want to be with me and dad all the time and that's why you're going through this clingy stage. I love you sweetie, more than you'll ever know, and I'm working so we can send you to college someday.
You pooped in the bathtub for the first time the other night. It only took you a year. I screamed like a little girl and shouted to your dad to come help. Good job buddy, but this overly-clean, anal mom could do without those bathtub poops.
The newest game you love is what we call "monkey see, monkey do." You repeat everything we do. It's completely adorable. We laugh, you laugh. We shake our head no, you do the same. I fold laundry, you want to fold laundry. What are you trying to say? You want to be just like me?
If you're having one of your "moments," we can normally cheer you up by showing you a video of yourself (you're so vain), or making things crash to the floor. I don't know what it is, but you like watching things fall. Knocking over stacked up blocks, stacked up Kleenex boxes, you just love seeing things crash.
Telling you no makes you laugh. You think it's funny to get told no. In fact, you are doing it right this very moment with the tall vase downstairs. You have one hand on the vase and you're looking at me like, "Look at me mom, look what I'm doing. I know I'm not supposed to and am just waiting for you to tell me no."
You ornery little booger.
Hey, Elvis.
You transitioned to the new room at daycare two weeks ago. You're adjusting, but noticing the changes. The one nap is throwing you off a bit, but you did awesome with the transition to whole milk and no more use of the bottle. We pretty much switched cold turkey and it's like you don't even miss it!
You're having problems sharing. But you'll get there. We both will. See, my sweet boy, that's the fun part in all this. All these new experiences we are learning together. You, me and your Daddy. The three musketeers!
Well...until we give you a sibling someday. Yep, I hate to say it, but you won't be the favorite child forever.
But you know what? You will always be my first born. The one who changed our lives forever. The one who taught me everything. How to be a mom. And how to love like this. You make me so very happy.
I'm already a mess. And it's just like everyone said it would be.
I'm that sappy mom who whimpers at the site of one of his baby onesies, cries when looking at old pictures, and sulks when he wants to do something himself. And when he pushes me away? Oh, this mom has a downright meltdown.
I'm just not sure I'll ever come to terms with this toddler stuff. It's horrifying, really. I guess I need to face the facts and let it happen.
Carson at 11 months:
In the Closet: Mainly 12 months, some smaller, some larger
Diapers: Size 3, but just getting through our stock. We have the 4s ready for your tushy.
Teeth: Five! Two on the bottom and three on the top. Grub: Most anything and everything. Except honey and nuts of course. You try it. You like it. You eat it. And when you don't like it? You throw it on the floor. And then Jake comes running. Sleep: 11-12 hours. Love you for this child. New Activity/Development: Walking, but not very well. You're close buddy.
Loves: Blueberries and animal crackers. Going upside down. Climbing Stairs. Walking toys. Getting into everything. A little game I call "hide and appear"...hide around anything...doors, chairs, blankets, coffee tables, toys....then appear. You love it and laugh hysterically. Hates: Being ignored. Getting your diaper changed when you don't feel like it. Falling down when you are tired (your screams could be heard a mile away). Vacuums.
Carson, you are such a big boy.
I can't believe how independent you have become. You don't like us to hold your bottle, you don't like to be rocked, you push our hands away if you don't want something, and you make it very apparent something isn't going your way by screaming very loudly.
At least you still give me the occasional cuddle at bedtime. They are few and far between, but those nights, the nights you let me rock you to sleep, are just priceless.
Two nights ago, I found myself holding you so close, and so tight, just staring at you for what seemed like five minutes. Forty-five minutes later, I finally managed to lay you down and tip-toe out of your room.
Your dad and I sometimes fight over who gets to put you down. I always win. But that's because he is a gentleman and gives me what I want. Are you taking notes?
I just can't help it. It's the one time I can stare at you, play with your hair, stroke your cheeks, touch your little lips and kiss you goodnight without you trying to pull away to play with the next thing you can discover.
Discover. Huh, that's a word you should know. It seems you are discovering each and every thing you are not supposed to. I like to call you my tiny destructor because that's what you are. I pick up the same mess three times before we even walk out the door in the mornings.
Speaking of morning. You have a thing for pooping right before we walk out the door. Every. Single. Morning. Is that your way of saying you wanted just five more minutes with your mommy?
I'll take it.
The other day, you were trying to knock over the tall glass vase in the basement, I, from across the room say, "Carson, no, no." You stop, look up at me and start shaking your head left to right. Brian and I were both like, "where did he learn that!"
So what do you do? Go back for the vase, so we say no again. And you shook your little head back and forth again. It was so so cute.
You took your first steps this past Sunday. A few days past your 11-month birthday. You have been trying a lot more this week, but you seem to fall a lot. I have a feeling you'll be an actual walker by next week.
Can't we please just stop the time and enjoy this very moment, right now? I don't want to think about tomorrow, or you walking, or your first birthday, or your first day of kindergarten, or when you leave me for college. You better to go to college mister.
I just want to think about tonight. Your very first Halloween.
A night where we will dress you up and take lots of pictures, goo and ga at you in your costume while you look at us like we're crazy.
We're not crazy sweet boy. Just totally in love with you.
But for tonight, I just want to enjoy our not-yet-one-year-old.
