Carter Says MOO!

He can talk and thanks to the miracles of modern technology (and a little encouragement from Dave) you can hear him!

Mr. Independent

Carter has become very handy and even more independent lately. He's very willing to help daddy water the plants (as long as he gets squirted also).


He frowns upon his mother and father cutting up his food into bite size pieces and he prefers to hold the entire pancake/burger/meatball/piece of chicken etc.

When Susan tried to give him a quick wash of the feet he somehow weaseled his way into getting a full bath in the sink.


And hey... who wouldn't love a 105 pound dog's slobbery foomanchu tickling the top of their head?


Carter scored a baby pool with a slide at his cousin Jett's Party. When we told him that it was too hot to play outside (it has been a fiery 100-108 this week) he just pulled the baby pool right out and started to blow it up on his own. Saving Carter 4 1/2 hours of blowing, Susan stepped in and saved the day. Carter has been cooling off daily in his new slide pool. He has even mastered the belly slide.



Carter keeps up his Parrotish skills as he masters new words and phrases every day. He has now begun to put together sentences and has been able to express his thoughts on subjects. Example:

"Look at the tractor Carter" - momma

"Big Tractor" - Carter

The tractor drives away past our house.

"Where Tractor Go?" -Carter

"It Drove Away" - momma

This is where Carter would usually repeat "Drove Away" about 5 times but just the other day he threw me a curveball.

"Go Find It" - Carter

Carter is the Life of the Party

Carter fears no social situation and he isn't afraid to take the reigns on a country western dance floor with a sippy cup of milk and whales on his pants! Here are some pictures from his latest exploits as an 18 month old that can say teriyaki.

Carter's Homies

Carter's been hopping from house party to house party quite a bit lately. He's old enough now that he can interact and play with the other kids (which is nice for his mother and father who don't have to hover over him like bees on a flower). One thing I'll say about Fresno is the weather right now sure is nice!

Frankenbelly! / Gavin's New Bellybutton GRILL!

So the doctor tells me my bellybutton transitioned from a inny to and outey because I have a umbilical hernia otherwise known as a bellybutton hernia. It went down like this:
Doctor: You have a bellybutton hernia and I'm sending you to a specialist.
Gavin: Ahhhhhh, okay, when?
Doctor: Next week.
Gavin: Ahhhhhhh, okay.

And then one week later:
Specialist: I concur with your doctor, it is a umbilical hernia and we need to operate.
Gavin: Ahhhhhh, okay, when?
Specialist: How about 2 weeks.
Gavin: Ahhhhhh, okay, I guess.
Specialist: Here is what the incision will look like. This purple pen will wash off so don't worry.



So two weeks later I was put out for a little bit over an hour as the doctor sliced above, around, and below my bellybutton. He opened me up and repaired the hernia with some mesh. The details of all of this are still a bit sketchy but he's the specialist and I'm just the guy with the hernia.

The day after the surgery I took off the bandage and was a bit surprised to have 22 staples holding my midsection together.



After 4 days the pain has subsided and now the most uncomfortable things currently are:

1. The hair on my belly is growing back in and wearing a shirt makes it uncomfortably itchy.
   
2. The fact that every night I have unconsciously scraped my hand across my stomach making for a rude awakening.

I should be 100% in about 3 more weeks. I'm looking forward to being "normal" again and not walking around like a hunchback. :)

Carter's Grandparents Come To Visit

Ed and Aleene flew out from Pennsylvania to spend 10 days with Carter (well... Carter's parents too but mostly Carter). Travis, Beth, and Lindsay drove up from Ridgecrest and spent the weekend with us. Here are some of the picture highlights of the trip.

PLAYTIME!

Carter LOVES TO PLAY....

With bubbles in the tub....

With bubbles in the yard....

With chalk on the patio.....

At the park on the slide....

On the play structure....


With his Mama when she reads him a book....

With his Cousin Lindsay on the swing...

With balls in the yard....


With his Cousin Lindsay on a slide....

That boy just loves to play!