Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend my brother, Stephen, and his family came to visit for a few days. We were so excited to have them come and visit and it was Casey's first time to meet Carson. Well the weather last weekend was horrible here and so we got a few rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge and spent our time in the indoor water park. Let me tell you, this place is awesome! It was so much fun. For kids it is just perfect and it has lots of slides that are so fun! Aaron couldn't come until he got off work but we just went on the rides over and over. The kids were worn out by the end and slept for a couple of days. Carson got his first little swimsuit and really liked walking in the water, laying down in the water, rolling over in the water, and kicking in the water. He was also spoiled with attention from his aunts, uncle, and cousins.

7 Months

I just feel like he is doing so much each month now that I am having the hardest time keeping up with it all. I try to document things as they come up but he is just changing everyday it seems like. We just love this little guy more each month and he just gets more fun all the time. He is certainly in the busy, exploring stage. He just wants to touch everything and can't sit still for one minute. He wants everything in his mouth and especially would love to eat paper. Some big events for this month are:

Real Food, and let me tell you, this kid was hungry. I couldn't possibly tell you what his favorites are because he downs everything. He loved all the vegetables and we are still making our way through the fruits. He loves the cereals, just all of it.

He went through a sticking his tongue out phase, all the time. He would just stick his tongue out at you. He just thought it was so funny.

He got another tooth and it came in SO much better.

He loves to be thrown up high in the air and for me and Aaron to throw him back and forth between us.

He is back to rolling all around again, I guess he decided it was fun again and he is scooting some to get toys.

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He cries when we take away toys or remotes that he wants to play with. He is so into remotes and cell phones.

We had some nice weather and so we love to visit the park to swing and go down slides.

He loves to stand and hates to sit. When I try to make him sit, he locks his legs and won't go. He loves to stand on and hold onto his crib or onto the drawers in his room. Sometimes we stand and I let him slowly walk across the room.

Carson would love to sit and play with Josie but Josie is in now way interested in sitting and playing with Carson.

He has a new friend in the mirror who he thinks is hilarious.

I think (fingers crossed) that the 5 AM feeding is gone, for the most part. Solid foods have made a huge difference in his sleeping.

He still has fine tiny, blonde hairs upon his head. And he looks like he's starting to get a little chunky to me.

He loves reading books, well trying to eat them; bath time; monkeys jumping on the bed; and feeding himself. He still goes to anyone with arms just as happily as he goes to me or Aaron.

ReMARKable Run

On Saturday Aaron and I ran in a 5K for Mark Evans who is a long time friend of my family, who was critically injured in a motorcycle accident 3 years ago. We had so much fun participating in the run and were happy to see so many people there. This was Aaron's first 5K (well that he can remember) and he ran the whole thing. He has been getting ready for a couple of weeks and he did great. Finding time to work out is tough when you work long hours and I couldn't believe when he would come home and go running after work, late at night, alone, in the rain, he is tough! He had so much fun that he came home talking about us doing a triathlon together this summer, um... we'll see, are there any that don't include swimming? :)

And off to Arkansas for New Years

We finished off our busy Christmas break with a trip to Arkansas to spend New Years with Aaron's family. We had a great time and it went by super fast, as always. Josie was, of course, so excited as soon as we turned down Aaron's old street. She just loves Arkansas. It started off pretty rough because Carson was sick. He had a fever and was just so congested. He wasn't sleeping good and had such a hard time nursing. Well finally that tooth came through he got much better. I am seriously hoping that the sickness is coincidence with the new tooth and not what will happen with each tooth because that could be brutal.

We spent lots of time with family, lots of time eating, saw Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, rocked in 2010, I chopped off my hair, logged lots of miles running hills, and spent lots of time playing games.

And then when we got back, we went straight to my family's house to spend time with Cory and Delaney before they headed back to Utah. We went to the movies, out to eat, and stayed up so late. (We, meaning everyone but Aaron he was sick, sick, sick) Then on Saturday, Aaron went to the Cotton Bowl at the new stadium, which he says is awesome. He had great seats, here is a view from where he was sitting.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was very exciting, I think we were so excited for Carson to wake up when in actuality it was just another day for him. He did enjoy all the wrapping paper, which he of course wanted to eat! We didn't really get Carson any presents so he only had a few to unwrap and we only got each other a couple of gifts so the actual unwrapping part didn't take too long. The most excited person may have been Jo Jo who could smell her stocking. After we finished unwrapping gifts and relaxed for awhile, we got ready and went to my parents house for a huge dinner and more presents. The food was fabulous and it was fun to watch everyone open gifts. Carson got lots of books this Christmas which he loves and was spoiled by his aunts, uncles, and grandparents. (Which is why Aaron and I don't have to spoil him :) I joke around about what Aaron and I got for Christmas because it clearly shows how we spend our time. Aaron got work pants, shirts, socks, etc.; while I got running shoes, socks, clothes, and a jogging stroller. Hey somebody has to support this running habit of mine. :)

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas, you would not believe what we found

Yes an entire blanket of snow covering the ground.

Poor Dad still had to go out because he works so hard

Carson and Mom stayed warm inside, Josie ran all around the yard.

All the presents were wrapped so beautifully under the tree

And the Piersons waited in anticipation to see what their gifts could be.

Clothes, new shoes, perhaps a new bedroom set

And of course, soft reminders, it doesn't matter what I get.

A fabulous dinner is how the night began

Steak on his new grill, made by my man.

Oh no, how could we have forgotten lime juice for the punch!

It still turned out great, not even some leftover for lunch.

The sky has turned dark, Carson's time for bed draws near

We must get him down before our roof is covered with 8 tiny, reindeer.

A bath for the babe, then tucked in his new pajamas so snug

Mom and Dad find special presents, waiting for them on the rug.

Darling new pajamas for Mom, stripes for Christmas red and white

Even pajamas for Dad that he could wear that very night.

A yawn from the babe, it is time to go to bed

But wait, "we need a family picture" is just what Mom said.

Then after reading the Nativity, we take time to remember

All our wonderful blessings this year from January to December.

A great job, a beautiful home, becoming a father and a mother

Health, great friends and family, and the best - each other.

As Mom and Dad finally climb into bed, snuggling up close

Dad whispers, "I love you" as Mom's eyes start to doze.

A thought crosses my mind on this Christmas so white

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

6 Months

So my little guy had his 6 month check up yesterday. My goodness, 6 whole months and 3 BIG shots. I went ahead and gave him the flu vaccine. He was a trooper though. His official stats are:

Weight: 16 lbs. 8 oz. (25th)

Height: 27.5 In. (75th)

Head: 17 In. (30th)

I talked to the doctor about my milk and how I was worried it was affecting his weight gain but she said she didn't think so. She thinks he seems extremely active to her and is burning his calories and since I just barely started rice cereal all the additional food will bring his weight gain to where it should be. So that made me feel better. Honestly, I'm super proud of myself for nursing this long. I wasn't sure I would.

Just a few milestones this month:

Sitting up, he still falls over but enjoys sitting and playing with his toys.

Sippy cups, he loves to drink water.

Rice cereal, he loved it! We could not get it to him fast enough. This is the video of his first feeding and as you can see he cried in between each bite because he wanted it so bad.

He has started saying ba, ba, ba and I think ma, ma, ma but I probably imagined it. :)

And, big news is, the First Tooth! He got it right on his 6 month birthday. His Grandpa Pierson found it. Teething is not so much fun.

Other than this he's mostly doing the same things as before grabbing for everything, but started looking for toys when he dropped them. Putting everything in his mouth, laughing more, all the normal stuff I think. Loves for us to sing to him. Still loves his bath time and grabbing our faces.

No hair growth and has kinda lost interest in rolling all the way over. He still doesn't seem to show any hesitation to have other people hold him or new people.