Ducks...Round 2!

Last Monday evening, we hurried out of the house during the little bit of time we still had daylight and headed down to the neighborhood pond to feed the ducks. Carter was scared the first time we took him there but this time, he warmed right up and even let a duck eat bread out of his hand. He walked around all in between ducks and would throw the bread himself. My parents met us for about a half hour and we had a good time watching him have so much fun. The whole time we were there, Carter kept saying duck, duck, duck...so very cute!


Riding down to the pond in the wagon


Closer shot of Mr. Wagon Man


I love this close-up of his face...if only we could get rid of the paci!

Daddy & Carter - love his little smile

Ducks!

Checking out the ducks up close and personal

Heading towards MiMi to get more bread

Hey ducks, it's me, Carter!

What are ya'll looking at?

And even more bread still...we used a whole loaf

With Big Daddy

With MiMi & Big Daddy

Saturday Play Date

On Saturday for lunch, we planned to take Carter and Katlin (with my parents) to Back Yard Burger so they could eat and then play at the indoor playground. However, when we got there, there were lots of big kids who were running WILD inside the play area, so we just watched for a few minutes then had lunch. Oh well, sometimes your good intentions just don't turn out!


Waiting on Katlin to arrive...Carter pretends to drive and honks at EVERYBODY!


Carter & Daddy - love this picture :)

Patiently waiting on chicken, fries, milk...anything!

4 Wheeler Babies

On Friday afternoon, I picked up Carter early and headed to the park to meet my parents and Katlin. We brought the kids' 4 wheelers they got for Christmas and let them ride around on the grass. Katlin loved it and rode both her and Carter's cars, but Carter could have cared less and spent most of his time just running around on the turf at the water park. The weather was nice (mid-50's) but was still cool, so we only stayed about 45 minutes. These are a few pictures I snapped as they were looking anywhere but at the camera!


Katlin riding her 4-wheeler


No kidding, she wanted to jump off to go give Carter a kiss


Smooch - love how Carter has a little smile like, I love you, Katlin!

Carter riding his 4-wheeler

Katlin wanted to test Carter's 4-wheeler out in case it was different from hers!

Animal Sounds

Carter has just blossomed with all the things he can say and do lately. He can point out his head, nose, eyes, and teeth. When you ask him what animals say, he can correctly tell you moo for a cow, "mow" for a cat, woof woof for a dog, and ah ah for a monkey. Here's a short video of me trying to get him to say all of these last week...he was stuck on the monkey, though!

Rasberry Video

Carter is such a copy-cat these days, so when I was blowing rasberries on his belly, he wanted to do it to Derrick and I. Since my belly is housing a baby at the moment, I thought you'd all enjoy the shot of him blowing on Derrick's belly much better! He thought this was the funniest thing ever and did it for a good 20 minutes. Derrick kept saying, he is just spitting on me, but Carter thought he was really doing something fun to Daddy!

2010 - A New Year

Sorry that I have been so negligent in posting Carter pictures for 2010 so far. I promise that we're settled about 85% in the new house, and I should be much more consistent from this point forward. Of course there is the little issue of a new baby in 10 weeks...but hopefully the time off will help me keep everything up to date!

Carter is getting so big and is in such a fun stage these days. He is talkative and repeats things we say...even big words like elephant! Here are some pictures I snapped this week to commemorate the first couple of weeks of the new year.



Smiling out the window on the way to the babysitter's house


Carter, smile at Mommy!


This is his new thing....show me your teeth! (He has 8 now...8!)

Son, that's not dinner...it will be ready soon :)

Where are your teeth again?

Sweetest little man in the whole wide world!

Final Video of 2009

Here's a short video of Derrick reading to Carter on Christmas morning. He brought Derrick the book and mouse and held his hands up like, "read to me, Daddy." Moments like this make my heart melt.

Dancing with the Stars...I Mean, Babies!

Tilt your head and enjoy these videos of Carter getting down on Christmas morning to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer! You can even see a little bit of Katlin dancing, but she was camera shy :)

More Christmas

On Christmas day afternoon, we went to Derrick's parents house to celebrate with them and the 5 siblings, spouses, and 8 other grandkids. It was an absolute blast! Carter got a Chuck my Talking Truck and Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase from Nana and Pop, a set of Baby Einstein books from The Fosters, a sign for his room from Shelby & Justin, a gray peacoat from Amy & Family, and bath toys from Uncle Jim & Jason.

On Sunday, we had Derrick's dad Tom & all the siblings, spouses, and grandkids over to our house for more Christmas gift exchanges. Carter got a cute Old Navy fleece and ABC toy from Tom, and the other kids got outfits & toys as well. We had a great time and hope that our house can be used for many more family gatherings in the new year!


Playing with his new boat


He loves the tub now and would stay in there until he froze!

Uncle D & Kirsten

Uncle D & Emma

Just Emma - Sunday

Kirsten & Savannah

Zack - our little model

All the grandkids except Thomas...we missed you, buddy!

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning, we rushed and let Carter see what Santa brought to our house, then hurried to mom's for 9:00 breakfast and gift opening. Dad always makes a ton of food, and this year was no exception - we had bacon, biscuits, eggs, donuts, and cinnamon rolls...yummy!

The kids got WAY TOO MUCH stuff! They each have their own bag that says "Dear Santa, I've been naughty" that mom fills with their toys so they can just dig in and don't have to fool with wrapping paper. They each got a sit and spin, toss across game, power wheels 4 wheeler, Dora and Diego dolls, outfits, flashlights, cars, SpongeBob dolls, a singing puppy, and more that I can't even remember.


Katlin in her tutu from Jeanne


Mr. Powdered Donut face


Derrick went in for a big kiss!

Carter standing on his Alabama table from Jeanne

Climbing up...he loves this little table

Light saber - a big hit!

Katlin & Big Daddy (snuggling with Diego)

It's called a SIT and spin, son, not a STAND and spin!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve for as long as I've been alive, my whole family has gathered at my Nanny's house for gifts, food, and fellowship. This year was our first Christmas without her (it had been 8 months exactly on Christmas Day), so we wanted to try to keep the tradition going and put a little spin on it by drawing names and making gifts for one another. We had a great time, even though it was rainy, nasty, and cold outside.


Carter wearing Pop's glasses


He is so silly...


Carter & Mommy the night before...we were exhausted with preparations!

Pretty little Katlin

Derrick opening his gift from Aunt Pat

Part of the room of family

The other half...

Derrick got a Pennington plaque - it is already on an easel on my bookshelf in the living room :)

Little Gym Videos

Here are a couple of videos that I didn't get to post before the holidays...of Carter having fun at Emma's birthday party at the Little Gym. In the first one, he is doing a flip on the wheel with the help of the two girls working. (He did this no less than 20 times, even after the other kids were playing different games).

The second video is of him on the air mattress jumping thing...as you can see, he didn't do too much jumping, but he had a great time walking, falling down, and getting right back up again!

Christmas Pictures

Today during Carter's nap (yes, December 20), we finally put up our Christmas tree. Let me just say that we'll definitely have to get a much bigger tree next year - this 6 foot one looks so tiny for this house! Carter was being a pretty good sport and was actually wearing his antlers, so I was quick to snap some pictures. We always try to send Derrick's grandmother out of town a family picture for Christmas, even pre-Carter, so I didn't want to fall down on tradition this year. Here's hoping that if I mail it tomorrow, it will make it in time!


My little reindeer


There's my smiling boy


About to rip off the antlers

Just a shot of Carter...looks like he's about to make a break for it

The last shot - he was probably tired of me dancing and singing trying to get him to smile!