Ooops I forgot to mention...

CARTER IS WALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and has been going strong since June 9th. I've been meaning to do this post for a while, but was trying to get some good footage of him in action. OH WELL!! I have a few short videos from my phone that I'm going to try and put on this post if possible.

I figured I would also go ahead and do a 13 month update (which he will be tomorrow) because we are going to the beach and I know I will have tons of pictures and posts to do from that. I can't wait!! It's our first vacation in over 2 years.

At 13 months Carter weighs 22.4lbs and is 30.5 inches long. Yes, I know his measurements sound huge and we constantly get comments about how big he is from strangers, but believe it or not he is only in the 50th % for both! As opposed to being in the 75th & 90th % for so long maybe he is finally slowing down a little.

He says kiki (kitty), mama, dada, Maci (AAA-C), ba (ball), and he sounds like he is copying us on a lot of other things we say. For example, if I say "where's daddy?" he makes a ssss sound and dada. Or if I yell at Maci Rose he will come behind me raising his voice with all kinds of make up words too!

Saying he's into everything is an understatement!! I don't know if it's because he's a boy or 2nd or what, but I never remember Maci Rose being this mischievious. He knows what he's not supposed to do, touch, etc. and he will look back at me with a smile and still go straight for whatever he's not supposed to.

Here is the view from my bedroom/bed out into the loft/playroom area.

My bed has been my personal desk for a while. I sit up here with my laptop and check email, do schoolwork, pay bills, fill out my calendar book, & make to-do lists all while being able to watch the kids play. The kids usually know that I'm working and to leave me alone. Well not lately!! Carter can climb up on my tall bed by putting his foot on the box springs and pulling his way up. Once he is on my bed my piles of paperwork go in every direction, all my coupons are unorganized, and most of the time he is pounding the keys on my laptop. Then Maci Rose sees that he's allowed up here (not really,,,but he didn't get a spanking) so she comes in here and starts playing with him and jumping on the bed. I have really got to get SOME place that can be just mine to put stuff and know that no kid can get into it. It's driving me crazy!!

Besides walking, getting into everything, and saying a few more words his 12 month update still stands true. He is such a smiley boy with the biggest blue eyes and longest eyelashes!!  I love him dearly!!

Here are a few videos of him lately...

Have a great 4th of July!!

New Additions

We've had some exciting new additions around here recently. On June 7th my cousin Katie had a new baby girl, Kathryn Rose aka "Kate". She is absolutely beautiful and we have enjoyed loving on her!

My other cousin had a baby on June 10th. A little boy named Caden. 2 new baby cousins in the same week!!

And the Moore family got a new baby too. A baby kitty named Whip. She and Maci Rose are best friends!!

This is how I found her when I went to turn Maci Rose's tv off last night. So cute!!

 (Notice her arm around her neck)

Welcome to the family everyone!! We're glad to have you all to love on!!

Thanks Mom!

For these adorable matching outfits you made!

She has made Maci Rose at least 10 smocked dresses in her 3 years of life, but this is the first outfit she's made Carter so far. She originally made the dress for Maci Rose and since it was puppy dogs I asked her to make a matching outfit for Carter. This was her first time making a john-john and it turned out really cute!

We had family pictures taken on Saturday and they got to wear their new outfits for the first time!!

Many thanks to Stephanie Benzaia of Benzaia Photography!

Frugal Friday

Ok guys this is really cool!! Forget buying any more stain remover for your clothes!! I don't know who told me this or if I read it somewhere or what but it REALLY works!! And I've been doing this for a few months now & I'm amazed at the results! Here is the new Shout, Resolve, Oxyclean, or whatever you are using for getting stains out of your clothes.


(drum roll please!!!!)...............

As crazy as it sounds this is some powerful stuff!!  Make sure you buy the real Johnson's product though because "off brands" just don't do the trick. Take the shampoo and rub it on and in the stain or stains that you are trying to remove. I usually rub it in really well within the first 12 hours that the stain gets there and then I lay the item outside in direct sunlight which will fade the stain tremendously. Then wash the item of clothing with your next load of laundry and WALA the stain is GONE!! I mean you don't even see the first sign of where it was. It's AMAZING!!

Last Sunday night we had a big dinner over at my house with lots of family and we had lasagna. Maci Rose was wearing a new white with black polka dot sundress she got for her birthday.(I know right, I shouldn't have put her in white.) but at the time I didn't think about it. She got lasagna all.over.that.dress!! I was so sad because I just knew it would join that pile of clothes in her closet that are known as "play clothes". The stain had a good 4-5 hours to set in before I even noticed it, but I rubbed lots of Johnsons baby shampoo all over it that night and layed it in the sun for about 2 hours the next day and it faded to where you could hardly tell where it was. After I washed it, it was good as new!

I've used it on strawberry, popsickle, chocolate, and tea stains. IT REALLY IS AMAZING TO WATCH IT WORK!! Try it!! and let me know what you think!!!

(There are 2 new posts below. I'm trying to get caught up with all my pictures because I have a lot of new and exciting things to share, but I'm trying to back track a little first.)

Have a great weekend!!

Carter's Birthday Party

Carter's party was fishing themed this year. We served gummy worms and sweedish fish and some pizza bites, chips, and other candies. It was at our house with 2 kiddie pools and a sprinkler going in our backyard. The guests wore their bathing suits and we all hung out outside in the 90 degree heat for the most part. It was from 10-12 in the morning so it wasn't too bad.

Carter with Papa

 Food and drinks

 The birthday boy!

 Maci Rose and our next door neighbor McKenzie in matching swimsuits!

 Carter with his great grandma!

 My parents bought him a water table and it was a huge hit. Here they are building it.

 Look at that red hair!!

 Playing with Jaxton, who is 3 weeks younger than Carter.

 He wanted to eat the "1" candle instead of his cupcake.

 Finally digging in a little bit

 The cupcake table

 I made these cupcakes. I used a spray paint food coloring for cupcakes to give it color. It's really cool and I have 2 cans left over so I'm trying to think of something else creative I can use them on. Lily Pad Boutique made the cupcake toppers, the invitations and the banner. I love them!! They did a great job!

 Grandmothers and Great Grandmother

He gave bubbles for party favors.

 The banner

 Up close

We had another 50th birthday party to make after Carter's and this is the only picture I got from it. I know it's probably not a good idea to ride kids on top of your drink cooler, but it sure made for a cute picture!!