Lovin' the Water

We have turned into quite the pool rats over the past two weekends. We have spent much most of our free time at the pool. So much time, in fact, that I accidentally stood up the electrician who was coming to replace and repair some lights for us on Friday afternoon. Yikes. The good news is that he agreed to come back!

Carter plays so hard when we are at the pool that he is wiped out when we get home. Yesterday, he even took 2 naps! He hasn't done that since he was about a year old.

If you are wondering how he wears himself out at the pool or even if you aren't, please take a look at the video to see just one of the ways!

Lazy Morning

Since, apparently, we got more than our fair share of sunshine on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, we are finding things to do indoors on this rainy Memorial Day morning. Judging from the pictures below, indoor activities wear Carter out just as much as do the outdoor activities!

snoozing with Wrigley

guess the roll over to get comfy sent Wrigs to find somewhere to snooze where she wouldn't be disturbed

We hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day {and that Uncle Steve has a Happy Birthday!}. Thanks to the men and women who gave their lives for our country and the freedom we enjoy!

Hello, Summer!

We made our 2009 inaugural trip to the pool yesterday. It was absolutely the perfect day for it! It was a beautiful day, 70 degrees when we got there, well above 80 when we left, and not a cloud in the sky. Carter and I were the first swimmers at the pool, so for a good hour we had the baby pool all to ourselves. {Nick joined us after a round of golf.}

I was worried that Carter was going to be a little hesitant about the water since it has been since February swim lessons that he was in the pool, but he proved fearless. When we got to the baby pool, he promptly threw all of the toys from the basket into the pool, and then climbed right in after them. He had a great time playing in the water, climbing in and out of the pool, and jumping in!

Carter was looking pretty stylish in his new vineyard vines swimsuit that Steve and Emily gave him for Christmas. We had to wait through the chilly winter to break it out!

He loved splashing in the water. He would use one of the dive sticks to splash, and then say "splashes, splashes!"

A little before lunchtime, more friends started to arrive, so we were able to play in the pool and enjoy the sunshine with them as well. We are certainly looking forward to many more fun summer days at the pool!

Saying Goodbye

Haley & James at their going away party

I am not even really sure how to start this post, so I guess I'll just jump right in and say that we are super sad to be saying goodbye to our good friends Haley & James, who are moving to Boston at the end of the week. Without being too sappy, I'll just say that the two of them are incredible people and amazing friends. We have been {and will continue to be!} tremendously blessed by their friendship.

the four of us in Tuscaloosa for the Ole Miss-UA game 2006

When we moved to Indianapolis, we knew that it would be hard to be 500 miles away from our families. What we didn't count on was making the kind of friends who seem like family; the kind of friends who make being 500 miles away from our families a little easier. Haley and James are definitely in that group.

Haley with Carter before he was a week old

Carter smiling at Haley at the Gilroys' house

They have checked on our house when we were out of town. They have picked up Wrigley from the kennel when we wouldn't get back in time. They have been with us to celebrate all of Carter's big milestones to this point. They have celebrated good news, good times, holidays, & special occasions with us. They've been there when things were less than rosy. And, I'd like to think, we've done the same for/with them.

James playing with Carter on July 4, 2008

And, while we are sad to see them go, we certainly wish them all the best as they head back out east. We know that there will be calls, visits, FB updates, and hopefully adventures together in the future. We also know, though, that for us, Indy won't be quite the same without them. Best of luck! We'll miss you, Haley & James!

the four of us at the Gilroys' going away party

Mama's Helper

Last Friday morning, Carter insisted on getting out the step stool to supervise as I made cinnamon toast. When he got up to the counter, he found a magazine that he was really into and lost interest in the cinnamon toast I was making.

I thought that he looked like such a big boy in these pictures. It is just crazy how fast he is growing up! He is talking up a storm and trying to say and/or repeat almost all words he hears. It is so fun to watch; it almost seems like he is tasting the new words as he says them. He is truly a joy!

I just thought this next picture was neat. I was experimenting with my camera and I thought the exposure on this one resulted in a cool picture.

Never too early

Around here, it is never too early to prepare for Crimson Tide football season! Carter is getting pretty rowdy just thinking about it!

We have a wine cooler that stores shakers (or pom-poms for those of you in the Midwest) when it is not in use cooling wine. It sits up pretty high on a piece of furniture in our family room. Yesterday morning, Carter was standing just below them pointing up and saying "shake!" So, when I got them down for him, this is what he was doing:

Hopefully, we'll be able to at least take him to the Quad, if not to a game.

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a lovely Mother's Day today! We started our day by sleeping in until 7:30 if that really even counts as sleeping in! and then were off to church. After church, Carter and Nick took me to Highland for a very yummy brunch. It was such a great morning. By the time we got back home, Carter was tired and decided to take a 3 hour nap!

When he woke up, we went to get some flowers so that we could make it look like spring around here. Nick put the flowers in the flowerbox out front, while Carter and I worked on the pots on the front porch. Carter also tried out his hot wheels rock n roller that Haley and James gave him that we have decided is now a necessity...the child has to learn to self-propel!

What a wonderful day that I got to spend with my two favorite people! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and be a mom to this precious little boy!

Carter's Newest Trick

This afternoon, Carter was playing in his room while I was putting some things away in our room. He rolled a ball under his crib, and came to ask me for help getting it out. I said that I would be in there as soon as I finished what I was doing. Back into his room he went. Apparently, he figured for himself how to get the ball. When I went in there, the ball was back in its rightful resting place and this is what I saw:

Moving Right Along...

...to the next object he can sit in.

I have a basket that I keep under the sink to put dirty towels and bibs in until it is time to take them downstairs to wash. The basket was empty this morning, so Carter pulled it out and decided to play with it.

First he put his lamb lovey in the basket. Then, he decided that he, too, could get in the basket.

Look, Mom, this one has a handle!

Now, let's see if I fit the other way.

Not quite, but there's a nice little ledge to sit on

I suppose all of this basket-sitting fun has taken its toll and wiped out my little one, who is now on 3 and a half hours of his nap! Gearing up for a big night of watching the horses race at Churchill Downs, I guess!

Boxed In

Earlier this week, I had a diaper box sitting by the front door waiting to go out with the trash. Carter was downstairs with Nick and when I came down the stairs, I heard him laughing and talking. When I peeked around the wall, this is what I saw:

He was so proud of himself and was torn up when we made him get out of the box so that we could put it on the curb!