29 and a day

so, it was a big birthday this year. very memorable, but not necessarily in a good way. one bright shining moment: carson started to call me mommy, not just mama. it's so sweet!! i'm not crazy about rain, so that just made it all the more depressing. the day started with me taking a sick baby to the doctor. he has been having a really bad cough, so we thought it should get checked out. good thing we did!! he has an upper respiratory infection, just shy of pneumonia. poor baby!! he also got the flu shot, which went over like a lead balloon. we left there to get his medicine at the pharmacy. since they weren't ready for us, we rode the "ni" 5 times to pass the time. carson seemed to enjoy it, so i couldn't complain. we went home to play and wait for daddy. when daddy got home, i had lunch ready for carson, but he didn't eat much. i left for work where we had a nice lunch and cake - yummy!! thanks, shelley. :) too bad daddy called to report that carson had fallen and hit his head in the garage. rough day, little guy! i came home to sweet cards from carson and cj. carson and i ran an errand while daddy made me chicken florentine - it was great! too bad i didn't get to eat for 30 mins or so; carson was very upset. i gave him a bath and even jumped in to enjoy the bubbles with him. of course, he had to slip and bump his head on the tub as we were getting out. man oh man, kiddo!! we snuggled up to tigger as we fell asleep.
i was home until 12 on tuesday since i had a late appointment. good thing i was home! i was nauseous all morning and carson wanted his mommy. lily ran away (was sorry to have to find her) - good thing she was at the neighbor's house. carson fell asleep on the way to linda's then wailed when i left. it was horrible! i wanted to grab him and run home. he fell asleep on our walk/run then we played in the bath again. i just love to hear him giggle!!
he's doing much better than he was, and he's doing a great job with his breathing machine. he helps put the fish mask on, then he likes to turn the machine on to start and off when done. good thing he's helping - he has to do it 3 times a day for a week! he likes his medicine. he takes the dropper and sucks the medicine out. makes life a lot easier. hopefully he'll be all better soon. i hate having a sick baby!!
fyi - so far, being 30 sucks, and i'm only 2 days into it!!

Yellow cupcake

Yellow is the theme this week at Linda's and "patty cake" is the song. So, they made cupcakes with yellow frosting yesterday. Carson had one at daycare then another one for dessert last night. Looks pretty yummy!! (It was pretty good too!)

Playing in the "wa-la"

Cj was watering the yard, and Carson decided he needed to be watered, too. He would get tagged by the sprinkler, laugh, then run off. He turned around, shouted "wa-la" (water) then headed back to the water. Needless to say, he was soaked after 10 minutes and was a little cold from the chilly water.

Good looks

Carson got this onesie from Brittany, and he's finally big enough to wear it. Cracks me up!! "Good looks courtesy of Mommy" -- exactly right!! Too bad he looks just like his daddy...

heading to the porch to jump
strutting down the sidewalk
running
mad little man
look at what I got in the mail

Overalls

I LOVE little boys in overalls. Too darn cute!!!

Lake 2009- day 3

Another beautiful day at the lake. We tried to run around and squeeze in all the fun, sun, and relaxing that we could before heading out. I made Carson stay awake until we hit the road, a little after 2. I wanted to make sure we got a good nap in, since he didn't sleep at all on the way to the lake. I was NOT going to go thru that again. Carson was asleep before we even got on the road outside the lake, not even a mile away. It was great!! He slept for a little over halfway when we needed a potty break. We had "l-ein" (Little Einsteins) and "manny" (Handy Manny) to keep us entertained almost the rest of the way. All in all, he did really well, with a couple of minor hiccups. Boy, were we ready for our own beds that night!!
sweeping the kitchen floor
posing with Grammy in his new Nebraska shirt
posing with Mama
Cruising in the golf cart
Getting chocolate gravy
smiling at Carly
driving the boat with Uncle Merlyn
Grammy and Grampy on the boat
Dr. Carson strikes again
Having a farkling good time

Lake 2009 - day 2

So many pictures that I decided to break up the photos into days. Saturday was so much fun! Let the farkling begin!! Carson took a 3 1/2 hour nap, so Grammy taught us how to play Farkle. We had a great time in the sun, laughing and drinking. We had a fire in the fire pit that night. Carson became a football player that night (although he didn't realize it) as we took my nickname of "booty" and made that his name. He would sit on the step (bench) then jump up with his arms up as he took the field. Booty Rardin!! I took Carson in to get him ready for bed and he told me he was ready for bed as he pawed at the side of the bed. I layed down with him to get him to sleep, and he reached over and held my hand. I fell in love all over again. Needless to say, I fell asleep with him. So much for the fire.

Sweeping the patio - no more leaves, Uncle Merlyn!
Playing "ni" with Aunt Diane
Carson and Aunt Diane
with Mommy at the bonfire
Mama and baby at the fire pit

Lake 2009 - day 1

Carson and I went to the lake with Grammy and Grampy this year while Cj and Tanner stayed home. The car rides were a little long, but we sure had a great time when we were there!! Carson is now obsessed with driving, after cruising in the golf cart. He also chased "mow" (meow for Louis the cat) around the house. Louis (lou-lou) wasn't quite sure what to think about this rowdy boy. Aunt Diane, Carly, and I learned how to farkle - thanks Grammy - and I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. It was nice to get away and we are anxiously awaiting our next visit to the "compound."
Riding the "ni" (horse) when we first arrived
Swimming with Grammy
Napping with Grammy
Tired baby
Reading with Grammy
Glasses - Carson came walking out with these on to surprise everyone. We cracked up!!
Dr. Carson
Dr. Carson checking Mommy's ears
Chasing "mow"
Carson took over the bed!!

Growing older

Since I will be (sadly) leaving my 20s this year, I thought this email I received from my mom seemed appropriate for this BIG occasion.
Personally, I think it can be hell getting older, but life sure is a fun ride.


Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It
is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step..
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time the time it needs.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41 Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."