Dawson is THREE!

On Monday, May 14th Dawson turned THREE!  I cannot believe how quickly the past three years have gone!  Dawson's birthday party is the weekend following his birthday, so on his actual birthday we celebrated at home!  We had originally planned to go to the zoo, but it rained almost the entire day.  He had a great day, anyway though playing at home! 

Dawson's very favorite toy is is John Deere tractor, so we got him a trailer to pull behind it.  He saw one a couple of months ago when we were out shopping, and he's talked about it ever since!  He calls it a "frailer" rather than trailer, though!  We didn't wrap it, but rather just had it already assembled with a bow waiting for him.  He was so thrilled with his "frailer!"  Despite the rain, we let him hook his trailer to the John Deere and drive around the yard for a few minutes.  He loved the trailer so much that he didn't want to leave it outside, so the first couple of days he had it we had to detach it and bring the trailer inside when we came in!  Silly boy.  He's had fun hauling all kinds of things in that trailer, and I can say that we will never have a stray stick in our yard because he loves driving around looking for sticks to load in his "frailer" and take to the stick pile! 

He also had a blast playing with his new basketball goal from Nana and Grandad.  Thankfully we were able to set it up in the playroom, so he could enjoy this present even though it was rainy on his birthday.  He's been having so much fun playing basketball, and he's surprisingly good at it!  I was impressed.

Since I was making the cake for his birthday party, I had not planned on making one for his actual birthday.  Dawson, however, informed us the night before his birthday that he was excited to blow out all his candles on his birthday.  Thankfully Nana and Aunt Emmie were willing to make him a cake for Monday.  Dawson has been obsessed with this bunny that is very interested in our garden, and he's even named the bunny Mr. Snacks.  They made a farm-themed cake, and put a lot of rabbits on there with a sign that read: "Mr. Snacks' Farm" and Dawson loved it!

I had decided that every year starting at age three I will ask him the same 20 questions to see how they change over the years.  So here's the interview with Dawson at age three:

1. What is your favorite color? Green
2. What is your favorite toy? My trailer and my John Deere!!
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberry
4. What is your favorite tv show? I don't know!
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken Salad
6. What is your favorite outfit or things to wear? Gym Shorts, boat shoes, bow ties (hopefully he doesn't want to wear these three together!)
7. What is your favorite game? playing ROWDY with Daddy (laughing!)
8. What is your favorite snack? Suckers!
9. What is your favorite animal? owl
10. What is your favorite song? Veggie Tales
11. What is your favorite book? The Three Little Pigs by Dr. Seuss (any book title he talks about right now, he always says it's by Dr. Seuss)
12. Who is your best friend? Charlie Gibson, Daddy, and Jude
13. What is your favorite cereal? I don't know!
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride mine John Deere and chase the birdies
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday?  I don't know!
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Panda!  Panda Doggie and Panda Turtle and BBB (big brown blanket)
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Biscuit with the butter not melted (??)
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Mac and Cheese
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Bentley!

We got a kick out of Dawson's answers to these interview questions.  We especially love that he aspires to be Bentley when he grows up; that should be interesting!  John told me that when he was little (around Dawson's age) he told his parents he wanted to drive a garbage truck and drink beer! Isn't that hilarious?!  I would like to point out that when I was little I wanted to be a doctor.  :)  We got a good laugh out of Dawson's response to this question, though!

We had fun celebrating Dawson's third birthday, and I will blog about his birthday party soon!  We love our big three year old boy and are so glad he had a happy birthday!

Driving his John Deere with the new "frailer"

for the first time (in the rain)!!

The trailer was waiting on Dawson when he

got up!

Look how excited!

Shooting the first basket!

The cake on his actual birthday.

Isn't it cute?!

Dawson blowing out the candles

on his cake!

A Wonderful Mother's Day

Thanks to John, Dawson, and Carter I had a very happy Mother's Day!  John had to work Mother's Day weekend (meaning he had to sleep during the day), but we still had a great day.  He brought in Cracker Barrel for breakfast on his way home from work, and we all enjoyed eating breakfast together.  The boys then gave me my Mother's Day gifts of the Clinique big bonus bag and a gift card and appointment to get my make-up done and get some new make-up (yay!).  Dawson and Carter are good shoppers!  :)  I'm hoping to go get it done this week, since we've been very busy since Mother's Day. 

Then Dawson, Carter, and I went to visit my Mom for a little while and wish her a happy Mother's Day.  I spent the rest of the day playing with my two wonderful boys in the playroom since it was a rainy day.  Dawson and I also baked together in the kitchen while Carter relaxed in his bouncy seat on the kitchen island.  After John got up for the evening, we had dinner that Dawson had helped me cook.  Then John's Mom came to visit so we could wish her a happy Mother's Day as well (unfortunately, I forgot to get the camera out while Nana was here).

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, and I am very thankful to be a Mommy to the two best boys ever!

Me and my boys on Mother's Day!

Wishing my Mom a Happy Mother's Day!

(love how Carter decided to stretch during

the picture!)

Dawson, Carter, Uncle Logan, and I wishing

my Mom a Happy Mother's Day!

Carter is One Month Old!

The past month has absolutely flown by.  We cannot believe our baby is already a whole month old, but we have enjoyed every minute of his first month!  Carter's fourth week was another fun and busy one!  We had fun going to the library for storytime of which Carter slept through about half.  After storytime Dawson requested that we walk across the bridge and into downtown Maryville to visit Nana's bakery like we had been doing before Carter arrived.  I agreed since I had Carter in the double stroller, and Dawson was thrilled.  Carter was awake the entire walk there and back and while we were in the bakery. 
In Carter's fourth week we also went to a playdate at the Gibson's house.  Carter relaxed in their baby swing about half of the time, and I held him the rest of the time...not really a "play" date for him yet, but Dawson had a blast playing with Charlie!  AND an added bonus for me, John went along since it was on his off day, and entertained the boys while Andrea gave me a much needed hair cut!  She used to do my hair when we lived in Huntsville, so it was great to have a friend cutting my hair again.  I had about 4 or 5 inches cut off, and I am so glad to have it shorter again!  Dawson and Carter were both sleepy after their morning playdate so they conveniently both napped at the same time that afternoon!
Then that night Nana and Grandad came to babysit Carter and Dawson for about 2 hours (that's about the maximum Carter can go between feedings) while John and I had a little date!  Back in March I attended the Women's Today Expo and won a free ballroom dancing class, so this made for a fun and different date!  In college John and I took a semester long ballroom dancing class and had fun taking it together, so I knew we would have fun at this lesson.  We learned a little fox trot (which we remembered from the college course), and then learned a swing dance!  We had a lot of fun, but it was great to get back and see our boys after the lesson!  Both boys did great, although after I had been back about 15 minutes Carter decided he was starving! 
During Carter's fourth week I also started using BumGenius cloth diapers (and cloth wipes that I made a few months ago) on him!  I was so excited to start using them, and I still am after a week-so that's a good sign! 
On Saturday Carter had a very busy day!  In the morning we all went to Thompson Boling Arena for my brother's high school graduation!  I cannot believe that "little Logan" is a high school graduate.  Congratulations, Logan!  We're proud of you! 
Dawson did great sitting through graduation since he sat between his Daddy and his Pop, and Carter also did really well snuggled on his Lolly's lap during the entire ceremony.  In the afternoon Dawson, Carter, and I (John was sleeping because he had to work this past weekend) went to Logan's graduation party where we got to see a lot of family and friends-and Carter got to meet a lot of people for the first time while we were there too!
And now for the stats, at one month Carter weighs 10 pounds 9 ounces.  His doctor was very impressed that he's gaining almost an ounce a day and growing very well!
Enjoy the pictures below from Carter's fourth week!

Carter in his shark and fish pajamas!

Carter's first time wearing a cloth

diaper!

Another picture of Carter in his first cloth diaper.

Having some tummy time.

I have been meaning to address Carter's

hair since he was born since you may remember

back to my 36 Week Update when I declared

that according to the ultrasound tech who had

been doing her job over 35 years, Carter was going

to have A LOT of hair.  I was picturing a lot more

hair than what he has when she told us this, so

I was surprised when he didn't have a full head of

hair.  I will say he has more on the back than on top.

In the picture above I was trying to get a good shot of

how much more there was in the back than the top, but

also of his cute swirl on the top of his head.  My

sweet boy!

Carter curled up getting sleepy on the blanket

my Aunt Faye made for me before I was born.

Another picture of Carter on the

blanket made by Aunt Faye

that was his Mommy's

27 years ago.

And one more picture of Carter on the

blanket.

This blanket Carter's laying on was also made

for his Mommy before she was born.

This one was made by her Aunt Phyllis.

Look at Carter's sweet smile here!

Carter on another blanket made by Aunt

Phyllis for his Mommy before she was born.

Carter wrapped up in a doll blanket

that someone made for me when I

was little!  Now I have a real

baby to wrap in this doll blanket!  :)

Carter on the blanket from our good friends

the White's which was one of the first things

we received for baby Carter!  He loves to snuggle

with this soft blanket!

Carter relaxing.

Saturday was the first time Carter has

worn shoes!!  Dawson was thrilled because

they look like Dawson's boat shoes.

Carter wore these to Logan's graduation

party, and Dawson had to make sure everyone

saw them!  What can I say, I may have two boys

but I love to dress them up and Dawson seems

to appreciate it since he wants everyone to notice!

The full outfit he wore to graduation...

seersucker sailboat outfit with boatshoes.

(Dawson wore a matching seersucker

bowtie with boatshoes).

John, Dawson, Carter, and I with Logan

after graduation!

Dawson with his Uncle Logan at graduation.

How many nephews get to go to their uncle's

high school graduation?!  Pretty special!

BUT followed by a million questions, my favorite

of which was "why did Uncle Logan wear

that funny hat?"

Carter with his Uncle Logan after

graduation.

I decided that for Carter's monthly

pictures we would take some of just

Carter and some of him with his big

brother.  Dawson still loves to hold

Carter, so he was thrilled hold him

and take a picture...if you can't tell

from this expression!

Carter 1 Month

Dawson 1 day shy of 3 years.

Carter's One Month Picture.

I think Carter looks SO BIG on

Dawson's lap here.  Can you tell

someone is still a proud big brother?!

Carter's solo pictures at one month.

He looks so tiny in his big yellow chair!

This was NOT staged!  While

I was trying to take pictures of

JUST Carter, Dawson leans over

the chair arm and kisses him on the

forehead as I'm snapping the picture!

Sweet, sweet brothers.

Our Fun 3rd Week with Carter!

Time is flying by...Carter is THREE WEEKS OLD today!  He had a very fun third week.  On Saturday I took him to meet his Great Mamaw for the first time.  Then on Sunday his Great Aunt and Uncle, Arlene and Wayne, came for a visit.  Dawson was excited to see them, and he couldn't wait to show off his John Deere and other toys to Wayne. 

On Monday, John and I took the boys to the zoo.  Carter slept most of the time we were there and rode in the stroller.  Dawson, on the other hand, had a big time as usual.  To do something different, we spent most of our time in the kid's play area this time.  Dawson got to pet Barley the Turkey and the sheep and goats in the petting zoo.  After leaving the petting zoo, Dawson-completely innocently- threw a handful of goldfish crackers into a cage that had two turkey's in it and was NOT part of the petting zoo!  Oops!  John managed to fish most of the goldfish out, and thankfully the turkeys did not seem interested in eating the food!  :)  After the petting zoo and the turkeys, we let Dawson play in the water area since it was so hot!  He didn't have on swim trunks so he thought it was hilarious that he was allowed to get his shorts wet.  We enjoyed our picnic lunch, and then saw more animals before heading home.  John, Dawson, and I were exhausted from the morning at the zoo, but Carter who had slept the whole time was wide awake for most of the afternoon!

Wednesday was a busy and fun day.  I took Dawson and Carter to the library for storytime, and they were both very quiet and good listeners-Carter was even awake this week!

In the afternoon, I took Carter to the doctor for a weight check.  I couldn't believe it when he weighed in at NINE POUNDS THREE OUNCES!  I gave myself a little pat on the back for all the feedings!  :)  He really is growing and filling out, but I didn't expect him to have gone from 7.13 at birth and 7.4 by the time we left the hospital to 9.3 at 2 weeks 5 days.  He will go back to the doctor next for his 1 month check up.

Then on Wednesday evening, we went to Lolly and Pop's house to celebrate Pop's birthday.  We enjoyed yummy BBQ and the had birthday cake (that Dawson helped me make-so it had a lot of sprinkles!) for dessert.  It might as well have been Dawson's birthday because he first helped Pop unwrap his gift from us and then helped blow out all 64 candles!  (He's practicing for blowing out his 3 candles in a few weeks!)  Carter snoozed most of the time we were there but got plenty of snuggles!

Thursday morning our friends the Gibsons came over to have a water playdate in the backyard.  We inflated the pool for the first time this year.  The water was cool, but Charlie loved it while Dawson said it was freezing!  The boys had fun playing outside and in the water though!  Carter wore his pool attire also, but chose just to relax on my lap while the big boys played!  By the afternoon when Dawson, Carter, and I went back outside, the water had warmed up.  Dawson was so excited that it was warmer he got right in without thinking...with his clothes on!  Silly boy!

This morning I took Dawson and Carter to Sandy Springs park to meet up with a mom's group for the first time.  Carter relaxed in the Moby wrap the entire time as content as could be, while Dawson ran, climbed, jumped, and played on the playground.  After playing at the park we went to Nana's bakery to met John for lunch.  This was Carter's first time in the bakery, but he snoozed most of the time.

Carter is still doing well about sleeping, in my opinion.  At night he will usually sleep about 3 hour stretches and is pretty good about going back to sleep after eating and being changed.  He's still sleeping in the bassinet in our room.  During the day he eats a lot more frequently-about every hour and a half to two hours.  I think this past week he has started to have a little bit more awake time during the day too.  He is so sweet!  I can't help but want to hold him all the time. 

Dawson continues to be an awesome big brother.  Any time Carter cries-which is rare-Dawson says, "I want you to feed him now!"  When we're riding in the car, Dawson always tells me when Carter's head falls and needs to be propped up again.  Dawson still loves for me to put Carter in bed with him for a few minutes each night.  This week Dawson has asked several times to get to hold Carter.  He's so excited to do it, but after about 30 seconds he is always ready for me to take him back! 

Here are some pictures from our fun 3rd week with Carter!!

Carter's Great Mamaw holding him

for the first time!

Visiting Mamaw.

Carter relaxing in his bassinet.

Dawson has started enjoying his pacifier

a little more now, although sometimes he

still refuses to take it.

Dawson standing on the turtle at the

Knoxville Zoo.  John and I both have

pictures of us from when we were younger

sitting on this turtle.  Dawson said the

turtles back was too hot to sit on, so he stood.

Milking the cow at the zoo.

Playing in the water area at the

Knoxville Zoo.

Having a blast!

This is what Carter did while Dawson

played in the water.

My attempt to get a picture of both boys

at the zoo.  Dawson was much too distracted

by the animals to sit still for long!

Dawson and Carter with Mommy at the

Knoxville Zoo.

This is what Carter did the majority of the

time we were at the zoo!

Dawson (with his treat-a sucker) at the zoo.

Dawson helping Pop open his gift.

Dawson and Pop with the birthday cake!

That's what 64 candles looks like!

Dawson helping Pop blow out the

candles!  (We had to open the door

to outside to help the smoke clear

out from all the candles!)  :)

Carter in his swim attire laying

on a beach towel relaxing while

Dawson and Charlie played in the water!

Just relaxing on his beach towel.

Dawson and Charlie playing in the pool!

Carter's Lolly made him some things to look at

since it is supposed to stimulate their brain

to look at black and white contrasts.

We put his bouncy seat on the island

and hang these sheets from the lights.

Carter loves to look at them, and he always

gets a very serious look like he is trying

to figure them out!