Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The First Year...

















 A year of shared discovery,
milestones for you and me.
These special baby firsts
leave the sweetest memories.

Your first day of life you entered
a big world – bright and new.
I discovered life’s great miracle,
and watched my dreams come true.

Your first bath you experienced
warm water and shampoo
I enjoyed soft baby skin,
and its sweet heavenly perfume.

With your first smile you responded
to a grown-up’s silly patter.
I realized when you smiled,
all else ceased to matter.

Your first tooth you welcomed
with a grin and happy cheer.
I treasured your new feature
as a prized baby souvenir.

With your first steps you found
independence from my hand.
I learned I’d have to watch you fall,
in order that you stand.

Your first birthday you discovered
your first cake and birthday song.
I discovered your first year,
had too quickly come and gone.






I can't believe it's been a whole year already!

From the first time I held him, heard his first cry
Love had a face, and he looked into mine
Now a year has passed, how time does fly
A year full of firsts, special child of mine.
First giggles,
First tumbles,
First teeth,
First smile,
Every second worth all the while.
A very short year, full of firsts and fun
I love you so much, Carson David, I can't believe you're ONE!!


I can't believe you've gone from this..

 To this so quickly...
 

Carson's Birthday in Pictures

 Carson's Smash Cake
 Mom, do NOT make me wear this hat on my birthday!
 Big boy!
 12 months old!!
 Mmm, lunch!
 Uncle Brian
 Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd
 Great Aunt Tina and Cousin Josh
 Mmm...frosting!
 I only want the frosting!
 Yummy yumm!!
 This feels funny mom!
 Cute boy!
 We didn't really smash our cake too much!
 Carson's big cak!
Decorated high chair for the birthday boy!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Words of Wisdom and Hilarity...

Excellent sleep advice...

"You shouldn’t sleep train at all, before a year, before 6 months, or before 4 months, but if you wait too late, your baby will never be able to sleep without you. College-aged children never need to be nursed, rocked, helped to sleep, so don’t worry about any bad habits. Nursing, rocking, singing, swaddling, etc to sleep are all bad habits and should be stopped immediately.
Naps should only be taken in the bed, never in a swing, car seat, stroller, or when worn. Letting them sleep in the car seat or swing will damage their skulls. If your baby has trouble falling asleep in the bed, put them in a swing, car seat, stroller, or wear them. Use the crib only for sleep and keep it free of distractions. If the baby is having trouble adjusting to the crib, have them play in it first. If the baby wakes up at night and wants to play, put fun toys in the crib to distract them.
Put the baby in a nursery, bed in your room, in your bed. Co-sleeping is the best way to get sleep, except that it can kill your baby, so never, ever do it. If your baby doesn't die, you will need to bed-share until college.
Keep the room warm, but not too warm. Swaddle the baby tightly, but not too tightly. Put them on their backs to sleep, but don't let them be on their backs too long or they will be developmentally delayed. Give them a pacifier to reduce SIDS. Be careful about pacifiers because they can cause nursing problems and stop your baby from sleeping soundly. If your baby sleeps too soundly, they’ll die of SIDS.
Don’t let your baby sleep too long, except when they’ve been napping too much, then you should wake them. Never wake a sleeping baby. Any baby problem can be solved by putting them to bed earlier, even if they are waking up too early. If your baby wakes up too early, put them to bed later or cut out a nap. Don’t let them nap after 5 p.m. Sleep begets sleep, so try to get your child to sleep as much as possible. Put the baby to bed awake but drowsy. Don't wake the baby if it fell asleep while nursing.
You should start a routine and keep track of everything. Don’t watch the clock. Put them on a schedule. Scheduling will make your life impossible because they will constantly be thrown off of it and you will become a prisoner in your home.
Using the "Cry It Out" method (CIO) will make them think they’ve been abandoned and will be eaten by a lion shortly. It also causes brain damage. Not getting enough sleep will cause behavior and mental problems, so be sure to put them to sleep by any means necessary, especially CIO, which is the most effective form. CIO is cruel beyond belief and the only thing that truly works because parents are a distraction.
Formula and solid foods will help the baby sleep longer. Solid foods shouldn’t be given at night because they might wake the baby. Don't stop the baby from nursing when asleep. Be wary of night feeds. If you respond too quickly with food or comfort, your baby is manipulating you. Babies can’t manipulate. Babies older than six months can manipulate.
Sleep when the baby sleeps. Clean when the baby cleans. Don’t worry. Stress causes your baby stress and a stressed baby won't sleep."

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

10 & 11 months

I'm combining these...because I'm behind, and because they're pretty much the same. In fact, everything is pretty much the same.

At his last appointment, Carson weighed 22 pounds or so. He's a toad. :)

The tubes in his ears went well...although he was a bit traumatized for awhile after and cried everytime we would leave the room. Poor babe. He's been much healthier though ever since!

No mare paci in this house...we took it away during the day and he fussed for a week or so and seemed like he missed it. We gave it to him a little while longer if he woke up in the night, but we've been completely off it for a couple weeks now!

Next, we're working on getting rid of the bottle. We've finally found a sippy Carson likes, so we've tried whole milk, water, and formula in it successfully. We're replacing several bottles with meals, and are down to 2 or 3 bottles max, and I think the night time one will be the only one we have here soon.

Carson has 3 teeth! Still none on the top. The last one on the bottom popped through suddenly, we didn't even know he was working on it!

He is still wearing 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

He's still not completely crawling, but he army crawls all over the place and can definitely get where he wants to go...which is usually not where Mommy wants him to go. I think he's frustrated not being able to walk or crawl yet...I'm hoping that is the reason for the whining and it will end soon when he gets more mobile.

I can't believe his 1st birthday is a couple short weeks away...seems like just yesterday he was a newborn. It's a great thing because he gets more and more fun as he ages, but he's very quickly becoming not a baby anymore, and it breaks this mama's heart.

I love you Carson David!


Pictures for your enjoyment...

11 months

 10 months