Growing Up

At nine months Carter is...

Giving us high fives, waving, and doing "SO BIG!!!" (another thing that makes her way diff from Harrison who never did that stuff) (editoria note---no she is not actually high fiving in the picture...but it represents what she does do that I've been unable to capture..picture=going after mommy's camera and trying to eat it..of course...)

                                                                        Getting

                                                                          Into

Everything!!!! (and she loves trying to climb the stairs which usually means climbing one step and hanging out on the landing)

Being Silly 

Dragging her friends all over the house (yes that's a popple---it was mine when I was little) (notice-back on that landing)

 Hamming it up for the camera

 Giving up the highchair in favor of the booster seat and eating lots and lots--favorite are blueberries, bananas, noodles, baby puffs, and of course anything Harrison decides to share

And pretty much still the cutest thing ever (even when she feigns a sad face)

At three and a half Harrison is... 

Going back to rear facing??? No.... 

BINKIE FREE!!!
 Last weekend we braved two malls on Saturday to go to a Build a Bear store and let Harrison pick a new friend to put all of his binkies into--Meet Kermie--

 (Harrison and Kermie enjoying a "waste of 50 cents if you ask me" space ship game after they first met

This was a pretty much genius idea (that didn't come from me). I had no problem with Harrison just using the binkies at night for the last year and a half until he had a dentist appt and she said they needed to go. DONE! It hasn't been painless (we really haven't slept much in the last week) but we haven't looked back and while he does wake up more often he totally understands the binkies are gone and has very rarely asked for them. YAY!!!

And finally...

At nearly 31 (EEK!!) Amber is... 

Rediscovering her natural haircolor? Yep. 2 and a half hour, $150 appts were no longer worth it. Brunette all the way! (for now anyway...)

Happy 4th!

The last week or so has been CRAZY. Last Wednesday our wonderful nanny who I was just getting used to and very comfortable and happy with quit for her 'dream job' running a local office for the Fairfax County Republicans (can't blame her, that job sounds awesome).   I hate hate hate hate hate having to switch childcare providers again. This will be the fourth nanny since Carter was born. I promise we are good employers, I think it's just the nature of the business.  Or a sign that I should stop trying to hard to do it all and quit my job.  Then Friday night there was a freak storm that left millions in NoVA and MD/DC without power. We had no power for a bit less than 24 hours but thankfully got it back just before Cory left for 24 hours to drive his BFF's car from Detroit to Dover.  SO SO lucky.  We have lots of friends who didn't get power back until Monday or even now don't have it. Add record-breaking temps and that's just not a fun situation.  My work was canceled Monday and then closed early yesterday because the AC wasn't working. And now we're home for the 4th of July.  And I think we've found a nanny replacement. The new one is never as good as the last one, but hopefully it will work out.  In all the upheaval and general confusion I'm happy to take a minute and step back and be grateful for this wonderful country we live in where we get to argue and debate and share our opinions. We also have the opportunity to lament about how bad we think we have it as a nation and use our vote in an effort to change things.  If we work hard we can provide a good happy stable life for our kids and our needs are met.  YAY America :) We are so blessed.

(From our super fun ward 4th of July Breakfast this morning. Donuts, water guns, swings, paper airplanes, happy day)

Harrison's little gym show

Yes, this is mostly for grandparents that think Harrison being able to jump like a monkey and what not is cute but he has had lots of fun at the Little Gym this past winter and I loved going to the little end of season show. Harrison was the first one to "perform" and had no fear of all of the parents and kids watching him.  I have another video where he flips over the bar. It's a pretty big deal. He was the only kid that did it.


I know you just love shaky videos and mom commentary. I sure do :)