Some pics from Florida

This was the view from our balcony while we were at the beach in Florida. I'm not used to getting the oceanview room. And I'm sure we wouldn't have, had we not booked late and gotten sent to the villas because the hotel was full. It was quite nice. Of course, so is a new flatscreen television, which would last longer than 3 nights. But I digress....

Mama! I can't believe you didn't pack a swimsuit for me. How am I going to lounge on the beach in style?

During a break from the conference, we explored a marshside trail. Apparently I am the tastiest member of our family. I was killing mosqsuitoes left and right while they got only a couple of bites.

Arden in mommy's arms as she watches her big bro running and playing....

This was the "bridge slide" in Carterspeak. Don't know why, we haven't gone over any covered bridges lately.

RUN! If you tell Carter you want him to run, he takes a deep breath before going anywhere so he can yell "Runnnnnnnn!" as he pounds off. This yell is puncuated by a little vibration in his voice every time he has a footfall so it's really more like RuNnNnNnNnNn!

Is this an old picture? I think so, but perhaps Cierra got out the St. Paddy's day lei once again. I wouldn't know, I've been so busy the last couple of days getting all of our tomatoes and peppers planted once again. Now everything save the watermelons and basil is in the ground out there. Cierra's been watching them both and doing really well with it, so that I could have the time to get this done.

It's too bad I didn't have the spare time to take many pictures while I was doing it, but this weekend was my first time watching them both while Cierra was in class. It went really well! The first morning I had them both, I took them out to eat for a nice breakfast. Carter tried to eat all my bacon, but other than that, he behaved very nicely. Arden snoozed through the whole thing on my chest in the ringsling. Then we went out to the grocery store and had our first shopping trip together. Arden didn't like riding in the cart, but she seems to hate being in anything with four wheels.

All right, as promised, there are our beach pics. Now I need to lie down....

Back from the Beach!

I cannot even tell you how many pictures I took trying to get this one. Carter was playing with Cierra's phone and every so often, he'd give me a big smile and say something happily. The rest of the time he had a vacant expression. I'd sit there and wait, wait, wait. Bored, I'd take a few snaps of Carter-zombie. Then, just as I'd give up, he'd flash a smile, which was gone by the time I'd yanked the camera back up for a blurry picture. Well, we've spent the last 4 days on a road trip to Florida for a conference. We drove back this afternoon and boy are we glad that is over. Turns out Arden is not a fan of the car seat. I had to sit in the far back most of the drive and attempt to keep the kids happy. If I lean way forward and dislocate my arm at the shoulder, I can let Arden suck on my finger. Fun stuff.

We'll get some beach pics up soon, but for now, enjoy these snaps of mother and daughter spending quality time together.

Arden is pretty good at just hanging out peacefully... as long as she's not in a moving vehicle. And she is full of milk.

"I don't want to put this cranberry up my nose, I just can't help myself." Just kidding, he hasn't done anything like that... yet. I wasn't there for the taking of this, so I don't know what was going on. But it must have been pretty upsetting to get him to make that face while eating one of his favorite foods.

Carter trying out his new rain boots. Now all we need is a puddle!

We'll return soon with some beachin' pics!

I am Sick of Sick

Meet Carter Tabony. This is Carter after he's let loose with a piece of peanut butter toast. It almost looks like one of those thin villanous mustaches and a lil' soul patch goatee. I've been seeing a lot of things smeared all over Carter lately. Everybody around here has been sick forever. Strike that. I'm told it's been less than a week. Well, anyway, since Arden came along 3 weeks ago, Cierra's been handling her at night and I've got Carter. So you'd think I've got it too easy, wouldn't you? I'm not so sure. Carter's had 2 different colds during this period, including a sore throat that kept him up half the night, morning diarrehea for most of the past week, and a cough so energetic it keeps setting off his gag reflex. I keep waking up to a series of screams and coughs, only to run into his room in time to see him blow lunch and dinner all over his sheets. Often I get him hosed down, the sheets taken off and changed and I'm just staggering back to change my shirt when I hear him go off again. Is it wrong to train your kid to sleep in a poncho on a plastic tarp? Last night it happened again at 3:30 and I could not get back to sleep the rest of the night. I got him put to bed tonight and 15 minutes later I'm running in from the garden (the monitor's got range) to witness another scene from the Exorcist. This time Cierra had stuffed him full of blueberry smoothie for dinner so for one terrifying moment I thought he was throwing up blood. The purple stain soaked through the sheets and onto the pad and pillow so I'm currently putting OxyClean through its paces. Oh, he really hates this. It's just torture for both of us. So unfair to watch it happen over and over.... Grrr. I get him clean and give him a hug and put him back for more of the sleep he needs to get better. Arden's been spitting up a little more than usual too as part of all this. She might be a little more irritable too. Plus, she and Cierra have been treating thrush with genitian violet, a purple dye (more purple!) that give her an adorable purple lipstick (Goth Baby) look and, when smeared around by her little hands, a five o'clock shadow. Hobo Baby! Aunt Kaelie came to visit her new neice right around the time that Flumageddon started a week ago. She only stayed a night but I think we still managed to make her one of our growing list of victims. Mwha ha ha hack cough wheeeeeeze. Sorry Kaelie, we hope it was worth it.

Arden is Daddy's little girl. Whenever I get her on my chest, she usually calms right down and drifts off to a wonderful, peaceful sleep. Those are precious moments. Everyone keeps commenting how Arden looks exactly like me. Looking at the above picture, I have two reactions to that....

1. They're absolutely right. That is almost scary.

2. How sad for Arden. I am so sorry, sweetie. Tell Mommy's genes to start resequencing or something. They have to take charge in this situation!

2b. Wow, I know you're sick Hunter, but that's no excuse for looking like that. If you were slouching around a medical facility instead of slowly denting that couch, somebody'd be putting an oxygen tube in your nose and parking you next to the defillibrator.

No pictures, please! I'm trying to sleep here. Arden has a hammock style bed called the Amby which lulls her back to sleep battery-free. She does pretty well in it. There was one moment early on when Carter tripped over the support for the thing and fell against the bed, setting it swinging wildly in a crazy motion. I ran over, expecting Arden to start screaming at any second. She was asleep, peacefully enjoying her very first thrill ride.

Let us give paws for a moment to be thankful for Carter's good attitude as he soldiers on with this illness. Carter's Oma and Opa (that's Grandparents to the rest of us) and his Aunt Alexis sent him a tickle monster book. I'm supposed to wear the gloves and tickle him as we read, but he likes wearing them and we love the look.

Caught: One Hobo Baby. Found this one trying to stow away in an empty boxcar. Book her!

Even though he's had such a rough time being sick all week, Carter has lots of happy moments every day. Here he is (admittedly looking a bit dazed) having picked a flower....

... auditioning for the cover of Family Fun....

.... Decorating the front steps with his sidewalk chalk....

... and popping out of our overgrown shrubbery with a delighted "Boo!"

On a final note this week, I've been writing this blog for over 2 years now, and I monetized it at some point during the first year. I don't do it for the money at all, I do it so that all of our friends who want to see what is going on in our lives can, because if I had to keep up with everyone... well, let's just say that I am terrible at time management. Google just sent me an email or pop up window or something that said I should do it, and I was like, "Money? Sure, I could use me some of that. I mean, if you're just giving it away in exchange for pictures of cute kids and rambling prose."

So I did that and forgot about it until just now. I clicked in to look at my stats. Over 4,000 page views later, I've earned a total of... buckle your seatbelt... $2.47. Think I'll keep my day job as a lunatic gardener.

Family Time Continues!

Carter is getting along with his baby sis. And by getting along with, I mean mostly ignoring. He asks about where she is sometimes, he knows her name, but when I bring him over to her and show him Arden, he eyeballs her for a second and walks away to do something else. What can you do with a baby? he seems to say.

All of us together for a second... before Carter scampers away again. Arden never even knew we were taking pictures.

Arden enjoying a little snuggle time with Uncle Krin! Krin dropped by for a short visit this weekend just as he got back to the States from Turkey. Krin knew how to keep his nephew from feeling jealous.... he brought Carter a bunch of books and an awesome train set!

Krin is a natural! We told him he should have a couple of these things. Of course, there's a couple things he needs to do first.....

Hunter's parents, Mike and Betty, came down on Thursday for a 2-day visit. Betty was estatic to have her first granddaughter... she always wanted a girl of her own, but had to give up that dream after having her third boy. She was instantly in love with Arden and was a big help holding her whenever there was a need. Mike also enjoyed the kids but was a huge help to Hunter. Together they planted nearly two thousand onions and repotted all of Hunter's tomatoes.

More hangout time for Arden in Uncle Krin's lap! Mmmm.... comfy.

Carter got to try on Krin's shoes. Maybe someday they'll fit!

Oh dear. I think I'm getting sleepy again. Must...stay... awazzzzzzzzzzzzz.

It's hard to believe that we were playing outside in short sleeves just a few days ago. Now it's nearly freezing outside! And it's been raining for days, with pretty much more rain in the forecast.

Zzzzzz. Wha? Oh, yeah. I'm getting up. Be right there. Just going to shut my eyes for a seconzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Arden has quite a hat collection. It seems impossible that someone with more than 10 hats wouldn't have a single one that can stay on the head for more than 10 minutes. They just slide off of her downy head fuzz.

Arden takes her first bath. This is from the previous week when Deann and Greg were here. Deann helped hold her while Cierra washed.

I made fun of Cierra for buying this expensive bucket specially designed to bathe babies... but it did enable me to get this cute feet picture during the first bath.

Carter's been working with sidewalk chalk. He likes to pick up colors and make 2 or 3 slightly curved lines, then move on to the next color. Our driveway just got a lot more festive!

Cierra's such a babywearer... Under 2 weeks old and Arden is already a fashion accessory.

Carter walks his "balance beam" outside. He's getting ready to show off for Aunt Kaelie when she comes to visit this weekend!

Snuggle time with daddy! Apparently I produce the best swaddle.

Finally wide awake! Now, which one are you? The one with milk or the one who just bores me to sleep?

Carter's taken to eating cream cheese toast all by himself. This could get a little messy....

Arden enjoys a little grandma time. And Grandma enjoys a little Arden time.

It's a mutual thing. Next week.... more cuteness!

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!