Growing Up so FAST!

Today is all about Carson. Carson had a HAPPY day! (not that she doesn't have these all the time, but today she told Daddy that she was happy!) Last night she bought (and paid for!) Dora the Explorer big girl panties! She's on her way.. She's not wearing them full time yet.. but she's wearing big girl panties a few hours a day!

Today, she got her "big girl school bus bed"! three of her cousins have slept in this bed, and now the bed is Carson's. She was a little nervous at first when we were taking her crib apart.. but once she saw the school bus bed intact... she was in love!

Finally, she got another day of play out in the 10 inches of snow that we got overnight, along with some hot chocolate and homemade cookies to go with it.

Yes, it was a happy day and now she is fast asleep in her big girl bed.

Christmas Checklist

So here is my Christmas checklist:
1. Deck the Halls - CHECK
2. Buy Presents - CHECK (and with 2 weeks to spare too!)
3. Wrap Presents -CHECK!
4. Pull out Christmas China - CHECK
5. Visit the big guy in the red suit - CHECK

I'm all done! Now what? I guess I can bake some cookies. We are all ready for Christmas! I must say.. I'm not used to having everything done so early... I'm usually scrambling around until the last minute. I guess I can thank my clients for that.. I'm usually still up to my eyeballs in meeting planning at this point. This year no conference between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Woohoo!! I could get used to this!

Carson visited Santa. She was "brave". She's very much into the idea of Santa, Christmas trees, lights, and presents. Meeting him was a whole other story. She was miserable last year when we tried to sit in his lap, and I guess she remembered the experience, because she was not eager to meet the man who would bring her toys. She did end up meeting him and she told him that she wants "Dora and Dora's friend Boots" for Christmas. Hopefully she'll be pleased with what Santa and family bring her!

Merry Christmas to all and if I'm not on here before.. Happy New Year too!

We're back!!

Anyone out there? I wouldn't blame you if you gave up on the blog. It has been a while! As you can imagine, life with a 2 year old is pretty fast paced! We have had an incredibly busy summer and fall. Between family happenings and work, there really hasn't been a moment to stop and breathe until now. With Thanksgiving coming up, I just want to say how thankful I am to have such a great family. Quite a few members of my family have had their share of medical drama this year, and I'm glad that everyone is healing (or have healed) nicely! In the midst of our jammed packed Fall, Steve and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary!! We didn't get to properly celebrate the occasion, so we are planning a trip to New York City really soon to toast to our 5 years of wedded bliss!!

Can't forget about Carson! She is 2.5 years old now.. Hard to believe. We're those parents.. We're the ones that sit there at the dinner table and marvel at how cute she is.. (we're biased.. we realize this) She really is that cute though. Such personality. I'm still hoping that she has a career on Broadway one day. We're working on the singing and dancing. She's got the flare for drama.. so we could be on to something!!

Like most 2.5 year olds, we too have hit the stage where Carson tells us "NO" (with a point of the finger) and "IT's MINE"... We're also getting into the "IT's YUCKY" phase too. Please don't be offended if she says this to you. We're working on this issue. ;) She may pout or give you a mean stare (see above note about flare for drama) when you first come up to her... give her a moment.. she'll warm up to you. Carson also thinks she is scared of a lot of things that she wasn't afraid of previously. We hear "Carson scared" a lot... I'm not sure if we'll be seeing the big guy in the red suit this year. She freaked out when she saw him from a distance this past weekend. sigh.

Halloween was a blast. She ended up as a Fairy Witch, after her stint as a chicken proved a bad idea. Just like last year, she had the best time going from house to house saying "trick-or-treat" Getting her into a costume was a challenge.. but in the end, she enjoyed her witch costume and didn't want to take it off.

The holiday season seems to be in full swing already, and it is only the 18th of November. Since I won't be traveling for work this November/December.. I plan to fully enjoy the holiday season.. The radio stations are already playing Christmas music 24/7. I will be decking the halls really soon!!

You can find us out back...on our new deck!

Old Deck....................................... New Deck!!

We finally put a real deck put on the house! If you are ever looking for us... try out back on the deck. We'll be living there the rest of the Spring/Summer. (more pictures on the picasa page for those who follow).

Oh, and since we were experiencing wonderful Summer-like weather on the very weekend that our deck was completed.. we grilled out. A lot. Carson (who loves corn) got to experience her first corn on the cob. She's a fan (just like her momma!).

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Don't Say Anything At All!

That's what my momma always told me!

It has been 4 months since my last post, and I can sum up the time quickly. Carson has been SICK, sick, and sick again. This has been the longest, coldest, snowiest, depressing (and did I mention sick) winter that I can remember. Sure, there have been some good moments... Christmas, a trip to Charlotte, Carson's emerging (and engaging!) personality, etc... but for the most part I have not been inspired to write..

Like I said, most of the winter we dealt with Carson's various forms of daycare-itis - this was the best... some weird crazy viral rash. 3 trips to the doctors that week- She was seen by 4 doctors. No one could explain it.. just a virus. Luckily it went away a few days later...



The winter wasn't all bad! We did go to Charlotte for GM's 91st birthday and got to see a large part of the Southern family. Here's a favorite picture of mine from that trip... Steve and Carson at Freedom Park.

You know what? I'm done with the blah mood. Spring is coming, and I'm feeling inspired again. We have a new deck being put on, Carson's 2nd birthday is coming up fast (wow!!), and summer plans are taking shape. Carson is doing great (minus yet another cold!)!! She's talking, jumping, and singing away! She has joined a Music Together class with her Nonie (Pam) and she's a little rock star! Happy and Healthy!


I am moving forward and will be writing more, but one last thing... Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentine's Day, St. Patty's Day, and Happy Easter!! (now I'm all caught up!)