Carter Turns Two!

This little boy is two already. Where does the time go? Carter has had a week full of fun and surprises. Mommy and Daddy got him an early birthday present when his baby sister Arden showed up on Monday... and then they tried to make up for all of the attention she'd be stealing by delivering a bunch of new toys interspersed throughout the week.

There's the set of wedge stacking pieces that make interesting towers for him to knock down, there's a brand new racetrack that he loves to watch wooden cars race down, new books...


Carter's got a new picnic area out near the garden that will be perfect for evening meals.... and we've even got a Carter sized table in addition to the one for adults. That comes courtesy of a Christmas present from the Baers, who are in town visiting now. Not only that, but for his birthday, they bought Carter a pony!

Well okay, it's a pony bike. But we should be thankful it's not a real pony, knowing Deann it could have been and then we'd be trying to build a stable and get permits from the city. Carter seems enthusiastic about his pony. He can't push the pedals yet but he is good at the dismount.

Carter is all smiles during the day, but nights can be a different story when he is sick. Mother nature had a present for Carter too... a nasty cold that kept him up on Thursday and Friday night. Friday it was so bad... he screamed and screamed and would not sleep so I had to make 2 Wal-Mart runs for different medications. Wal-Mart in the middle of the night... is there anything more depressing? First time I'd been there in 2 years, but when your kid is in pain, gotta put aside your preferences and just get him what he needs.

Carter had fun last Saturday, when we had our garden friends come over and plant some onion seedlings. That's him enjoying a wagon ride with his friend Clara. One of his last moments as an only child... Cierra came home right at the end of their play session with some very early labor pains that would result in Arden arriving 1 1/2 days later.

Adjusting to life with a sister... Carter is playing by himself a bunch while we tend to Arden. But he's always been independent. If we're not in his face, he'll just amble up to the front room and start pulling toys out of his bin.

He might be great at being independent, but he sure does love playing with others! Here Carter is with his playgroup friends Christopher and Rowan. Carter and Christopher have really become great playmates over the last few times, really chasing each other around screetching, laughing and smiling at each other. Carter used to be more of an observer and now he's getting in the game! Greg (or Papa) took Carter down to our playground today and he observed a family playing hide and go seek... he figured it out and tried to join in!