A funny thing happened on the way to the....

That's it-you guessed it!

Carter is expecting a baby brother or sister in early September. We heard the heartbeat this last Tuesday, loud and clear.

I guess we will have to change the name of the blog, yet again! BUT, that is the least of the needed preperations for the next few months!

 
 

Christmas 2005 pictures

ahhh-give me that camera
Originally uploaded by adine_stokes.

Here are the holiday shots from Christmas. To see all the pictures, just click on the main picture, and you will be forwarded to the whole album, which you can navigate through on the right hand side.

ENJOY

Walk the Line

January 18 - Carter began walking.

Actually, before the 18th he was taking a timid step here and there, but it is as if something in his brain said, "Hey, you don't walk, fall on your bum RIGHT NOW!" and he did. Starting on Auntie Laura's 30th birthday, Carter began taking more then one step and did about 5 in our living room that night.

All weekend, he has been a walking fool. I think his furthest distance to date is the length of our hallway to our living room - this is about 20-25 steps (baby steps that is, he has little pudgey legs, you know). He did this without stopping, or holding the wall. Pretty darn good.

I was talking to Laura about this whole walking thing. It seems like babies milestones are spread into these moments that people most often ask about. "Is he walking yet?" I have to admit, seeing my little man walking is quite a thrill, but he does so many other things that make my heart flutter - walking doesn't even cover it.

Carter loves to hug his teddy bear, Wayne. He kisses him, throws him on the floor and gives him a big hug with a squeal. He also loves his puppet, Mutton, and she gets the same treatment. Honestly, what can be more amazing than seeing your child express love?

I know I will regret saying this, but the temper tantrums are also an amazing development. Carter seems to have quite a will - I don't quite know where he gets this. It does not happen often, but if frustrated enough, and if pushed to the line, after not getting what he wants will result in a full collapse of little baby body on the floor, followed by a holla. The worst is when he actually hurts himself in the process of doing this, because then you have to console him, rather then letting him writhe in anger until he gets it out of his system. It is amazing to watch this little body become more independent. To know he has needs, express those needs, and express them vehemently - how can you not wonder in the amazement of that?

Seeing his brain change and form is like watching a tributary grow. When one day he doesn't get something, and the next day he does - not only is there a look of accomplishment on his face, but you can see the new synapses firing on the path they have just created. I love watching him figure out that the reason he can't open the drawers in the bathroom is because they are taped shut (we don't use them anyway, and wanted to prevent little pea-fingers from getting caught) and by pulling off the tape is the only way he can open them. Fire, fire, fire goes the synapse.

So, yes, Carter has 7 teeth now. He can walk, he eats off a plate very well, and no longer uses a bottle. But these are not the most interesting things about him. We are not defined by our milestones, but the moments in between.

Christmas Update

It has been over a month. I apologize to all those loyal readers out there. I will do better. Darn New Years and its resolutions. With all the photos and updates, the days have just made it more difficult to post. But I see now that this is not fair to you, dear readers.

Some changes for 2006? I think I am going to start using Flikr-so Carter's pictures from Christmas can be found once I post them there. I am still in the process of researching how to post video footage from our camera. Once that is up, you will have a whole ream of videos to watch, which will take you all off my back should I have another hiatus from posting.

Over Christmas Carter got to visit with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Heppner. They even let him play their piano, which he really loved. Over at Grandma and Grandpa's house Carter got to play the piano there as well, and there are hopes on the Heinrichs/Heppner side that Carter's concert piano future will be all because of them.

Carter had great fun teaching Ant Jennette at her house all the areas that she needed to re-baby proof. In all honesty, Ant Jennette had done a stupendous job, and there was really very little that Carter got into that he shouldn't have. Carter also enjoyed waking his Ant up every day. Attacking poor Ant her in her bed while she snoozed, and waited for the impending pounce (she never saw or heard him coming, he is a stealthy baby).

Tante Kirstin, Uncle Dan and Eric put up their house to host Carter's birthday party, which was a blast for Carter. He got some cake-YUM. He was a very lucky boy and got lots of presents, and many many photographs of both the eating and the opening. I have a great photo of Eric and Carter at his party, both playing with a toy, looking very seriously at the toy, and facing each other. Just a tinch of family resemblance with the intensity.

Carter also got to visit with Lilja one afternoon. Actually, the kids ate lunch, then napped together (in separate rooms, but at the same time) while the parents hung out. After nap time both kids played together. Lilja is so great with babies, and is going to be such a great older sister. She fed Carter snacks, shared her toys, and was very good at driving around him and avoiding him in her buggy. As Lilja zipped from living room to play room, Carter tried to catch up by crawling after her. Lilja was so great at side-stepping Carter, slowing down, and even steering around him. If ever those two want to take a car trip together, Lilja is driving.

Alison hosted Carter at her house one afternoon and evening. In the beginning, the kids had a hard time acclimating to one another. Alison would try to give Carter a hug, and Carter spent a good portion of the time crawling away. After dinner however, they crawled from room to room with one another. It seems the shyness of Carter passed after he decided he wanted to go exploring, and who better to go with then the owner of the house...the hottest hostess with the most-est?

Jackson Penner also showed Carter a good time at the McDonalds Play Area on Kenaston. (Honestly, not a fan of McDonalds and the marketing machine of unhealty food, but their play areas can't be beat, in the winter especially [although Kirstin and Eric go to an indoor playground in River Heights that is pretty cool as well]. On this trip we visited 2 McDonalds play areas...Carter loved them both.) Jackson is 5 months older than Carter, so it is always amazing to me to see Jackson. I know that everything he is doing Carter will be doing soon as well. Jackson was running on the play yard, and also speaking quite a few words! While the kids played Derek and Sonya showed us their new investment-a cottage. It is beutiful, with lots of room for everyone to visit and play. We are in the process of inviting ourselves up for a visit ;)

Carter got to meet Uncle Mike and Antie Georgina from Ottawa this trip. He taught them the thrill of the Christmas tree, the sparkly bulbs and how to bang on Grandma and Grandpa's tv. Also, because Carter was sleeping in the room beside Uncle Mike and Antie Georgina, he made sure they were awake by 6:30 every morning-most often they went back to sleep (fools!)

The Ammas and the Papa's had Carter over for breakfast one morning during our. Poor Papa made a lot of food because he thought Matt would be coming, but it was all delicious. Carter enjoyed the waffle, as well as the toast. At this point, Carter had not discovered the piano yet, so he did not give his performance. Next time.

Talia and Morrie invited us over for lunch (can you see a food theme here...we went a lot of different places, and ate a lot of food!). Carter not only ate his lunch, but got in a few handfuls of nuts and bolts. He really liked that. He also enjoyed the toy Chihuahua (can you get smaller than a Chihuahua?), Zarah (sp?). She was fun to touch when she was behind the baby gate, but kind of scary once Talia brought her out to pet later on.

On Christmas Carter got to see the entire Benediction clan. He had fun playing with Adam and Nicholas, and I wonder what things will be like the next time we see those guys. Carter and Nicholas could get into a lot of trouble together, and I can only hope Adam and Eric will help them stay the course….

Those of you who we didn't get to see, I am sorry. We did have quite a packed schedule, and got out as much as possible. Carter was pretty cagey near the end, and was quite relieved to be back home, in his green robot room. He let out a little scream, and waved to everyone he missed. Thank you to all of you who hosted us, we had a great time, and look forward to our next visit.