Carter's First Words

Carter is much more vocal these days and sometimes when he "talks" it sounds like he is saying real words! Hattie captured a sweet video of him the other day while she was babysitting. He loves those puppies!

Meeting Nana

Carter got to meet his great Nana (Linc's grandmother) while we were at the farm last weekend! I was awful about taking pictures and don't have any of her holding him. Sunday morning I was in the middle of feeding him when she had to leave but here are a few pics Linc snapped with his phone:

Time to burp!

Saying hi to the camera

Saying hi to Nana

Story time

Landscaping

What? A blog post that has nothing to do with Carter? I can hardly believe it myself! The other day my mom came over to baby sit so I could get some work done in the yard. I've been playing with the plants near the front of the house since we built the stone wall almost two years ago. After two hours of digging in the dirt, rearranging plants, and adding some new ones I think I am finally happy with the results!

View from the front yard

I added two new rose bushes and rearranged some plants

Now the space is much more filled in and colorful!

A little more wild next to the garage

Carter Goes to the Farm

I don't have a ton of pictures from this weekend, but we spent it hanging out with Linc's side of the family at the farm! It was Carter's first road trip and he napped the whole time out there. He also did surprisingly well overnight, only waking up once to eat around 3am and then going straight back to bed. Carter got to meet his cousin Ethan for the first time, as well as Aunt Alena, Uncle Mark, and his great Nana. There was lots of cuddle time with Bella, a few naps here and there, and play time with new toys! We also got to spend time with Cole, Leslie, and Madison but I guess I was too busy to bring out the camera. Here are a few shots I got to remember our time at the farm!

The little white farm house!

View across the front lawn

Ethan and I were exploring the yard looking for bugs!

Bella, Carter, and Ethan swinging on the porch.

Taking a great nap on Bella's shoulder!

Snuggling with Bella on the porch!

Baby C wore his farm equipment jammies just for Bo!

All that fresh air wore us out!

Zonked

That must have been one great nap!

Playtime Videos

We're busy this weekend but here are
some videos in case you need a little baby C fix!

Taste of Forsyth

Thursday evening we went with friends Shari, Bill, and baby Spencer to the Taste of Forsyth. It was being held in the Avenues nearby and featured restaurants from all over town. Food samples started at 50 cents and we got to try a little bit of everything! It was such a nice evening and we managed to get there before the crowds began so we hardly had to stand in line. I think our favorite samples were from Cheeky's and Jim&Nicks so we'll definitely have to try them out in person to see what else is on the menu. Thanks Gordon Family for coming with us! We had so much fun!

Baby C slept the entire time! He was worn out from Gymboree!

Me and Shari

Family Photo
Check out baby C's bald patch!!

Baby Brigade Goes to Gymboree

On Thursday the Baby Brigade took on their first Gymboree class. We all met up in the afternoon for a free trial class for babies ranging in age from 0-6 months. I have to admit, C was a little young to really enjoy it to the full extent, but I could see how it would be great to join when he is a bit older and more interactive. The class had us singing songs, doing baby massage and stretches, watching bubbles, practicing tummy time, and playing with puppets. We ended with the babies under the parachute, some cuddle time, and the good bye train! It was a very stimulating environment and all the babies were exhausted afterward! It was so much fun to watch them all together, see their eyes light up when something excited them, and view their different reactions to the activities. It is definitely something we will have to consider doing again!

Baby C is ready to go!

Miles and Carter watching the bubbles

Macey and Nicholas ready to play!

Macey, Nicholas, Miles, and Carter

Miles, Carter, Spencer, and Dylan

All the "March" babies

Watching the colors of the parachute above them!

Listening to Ms. Michelle give us instructions

March Mommies
Nancy and Dylan, Shari and Spencer, Me and Carter
Kerri and Miles, Krissy and Nicholas, Laurie and Macey

Baby Brigade Goes for a Stroll

Our March Mommies group continues to grow in size and I am so excited to have a great group of girls (and little babes) to hang out with and swap stories. This past Tuesday the Baby Brigade took on a new section of the Greenway and welcomed another new friend to the group (yes, another boy!!) Carter and I had to go to the dentist after our walk so we missed the couch shot, but there will be others and we can't wait!

March Mommies (minus me and Nancy)
Kasey, Kerri, Laurie, Krissy, Shari, Katie

Carter (10.5 weeks) and Brooks (8 weeks)

Tiny Madeleine (8.5 weeks)

The Baby Brigade
Brooks, Nicholas, Carter, Spencer, Madeleine, Miles, Dylan, and Macey

The March Girls: Madeleine- 8.5 weeks and Macey- 12 weeks
The March Boys: Brooks- 8 weeks, Spencer- 10.5 weeks, Dylan- 7 weeks,
Miles- 13 weeks, and Nicholas- 8.5 weeks, (not pictured- Carter- 10.5 weeks)

Crafting with Carter

Somehow in the last ten weeks my little baby grew a bit and is not so little anymore...I spent this weekend going through Carter's closet and taking down all the items that are too small for him. I came across the three hand painted onesies that Aunt Kris had made for us and just couldn't bring myself to pack them away. I had two empty frames that never made it on the wall in the guest room and so I got an idea! Instead of boxing them up where we wouldn't be able to see them, I would cut them up and put them on display! And so...

...with a trim here and a cut there...

...the onesies became wall art!

Now I just have to figure out where to hang them!

Look What I Can Do!

Getting so much stronger every day!

A little snack when he gets tired!

Good Morning Baby C

Suddenly 6am doesn't seem that bad...

A Decade Together

Ten years ago Lincoln and I became "official." We had no way to predict that we would still be together after all this time but I had a feeling, even back then, that I had met my soul mate. We have been through so much together and it truly has been the best ten years of my life. In honor of this special anniversary, here is a peek at the journey we began more than a decade ago!

Lincoln and I met in April 2000 at our local church. He was about to turn seventeen and I had just turned sixteen! Our friends had each brought us that night to youth group and he introduced himself afterward in the parking lot. Because we lived close to thirty minutes away from each other and attended different schools, we used the internet to communicate after that night- getting to know each other via emails and online chat! One thing led to another and we realized we really clicked. We decided to meet up again in person and go on a group date.

Linc drove "up north" to my part of town and we went with some of my friends to play frisbee at the park and get ice cream. We chatted for what seemed like hours and when I finally had to leave to take my friend Jessica home I knew he was something special! We officially began dating in May of that year and the rest they say is history!! After high school, Linc attended the University of Virginia and I entered the nursing program at Clemson. When I realized that teaching was my true calling I transferred in state to attend Georgia Southern so I could receive the Hope Scholarship. We managed four years of long distance dating going as many as four months at a time without seeing each other.

On a trip to New Hampshire with his entire extended family, Linc asked me to be his wife on the Fourth of July 2004 while we were kayaking around Squam Lake. It was the most beautiful back drop to the most perfect proposal and of course I said yes! After a two year engagement we finally tied the knot on Kiawah Island, SC and began our life together as husband and wife. Take a look back at my Weddings Wednesday posts (here, here, here, and here) to see more pictures!

We lived in California for about two years until a job opportunity moved us back home to Georgia. Lincoln is self employed and designs computer games and I am an elementary school teacher. If you've been following along lately you've read all about our expanding family and welcoming sweet Carter into the world! We are approaching our fourth wedding anniversary but I'm not sure we'll be able to top last year (our trip to Greece and finding out we were pregnant!!). I'm so thankful to have this blog to help me remember it all!

Linc- you are (and have always been) my rock and biggest supporter. I am so thankful you had the courage to approach me that night so many years ago. We never could have imagined how life was going to turn out and I feel so blessed that you have been by my side since then. No matter the distance, our love kept us together and we continue to grow stronger every day! You are such a hard worker and take such good care of me and Carter. I am really proud of the man you have become over the last ten years and everything you have accomplished. Thank you for growing up with me and growing old with me! I love you more than you will ever know and am grateful to be your wife. We may have chosen our wedding song a bit randomly, but the words are so true:

And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away
You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I have inside
I won't ever be too far to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
And be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call

More Farm Yard Fun

Guess who went 8 hours in between feedings last night...?

We let Carter dictate his evening feedings and my sweet boy is finally settling into a more acceptable, natural night time routine. Last night I fed him at 10pm, put him in his crib around 10:45 and I didn't hear from him again until 6:15 this morning! I actually woke up first and laid there wondering how much time I had left! I am so proud of him and hope there are many more nights like this in the future. I forgot how good it feels to get six consecutive hours of sleep instead of having to get up multiple times a night. Fingers crossed it wasn't a fluke!

And now, because I can't help myself...here are a few more pictures and two short little videos I took back on Mother's Day!

His little face just lights up every time I put him on his play mat!

Having so much fun!

Flirting with his new puppy!