Failed Christmas Card Attempts

For two nights, we've been trying to get a decent shot of Carter for our Christmas cards. Every time we put him in his Santa suit or near the tree, he cries and cries, which makes Derrick and I scramble to try to get a decent shot while yelling at one another to make the baby smile already!


This one was actually a maybe.

Doesn't like sitting up with the presents.

Sick of the tree...

What are you doing to me!

I hate this!

Can't even look at the camera anymore.

Smiling at dad...not the camera.

Looking at dad instead of the camera....sigh.

Showing off his chins.

Startled.

Literally, the best shot we got!

Get me out of this outfit!

This present better be for me.

Thanks, mom, for cutting off my head.

Over it.

Wanting to cry.

Looking at Daddy so he'll pick me up.

Hey, I kind of like the view down here.

Nope, never mind.

Mom, I'm not old enough to stand up - hold me!

Saturday Night Playdate

Last weekend, Derrick and I attended his work Christmas party at the Butcher Shop. Carter stayed with his MiMi (my mom) and got a chance to see his older cousin (by a week!) Katlin, as well as Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Scott. He was pretty fussy all night, but was okay if he was being held, bounced, or rocked....he is spoiled rotten!


Derrick & I - in our Alabama outfits - too bad we didn't win the game!


Carter sitting with Uncle Scott. My Dad said that Carter sat there watching the Alabama - Florida game and wringing his hands like he was nervous.


Sweet little Katlin - a big girl now!

Carter & Katlin - I think he's mid-cry and she's looking at the camera crazy.

The kiddos again - complete with Carter's drool...yuck!

Christmas with the Crank!

Last week, I was off work and made an appointment for Carter and Katlin to have their Christmas pictures made together. Katlin, as usual, was hamming it up for the camera. She smiled while the photographer put her in a little gift box and rang jingle bells above her. Mr. Cranky-Pants Carter, however, was having NONE of it.

He cried virtually the entire session. We stopped for a feeding break to see if that would help calm him down, but NOTHING worked, so we had to just go for it and try to get a decent shot of Carter not sobbing.

This is what we ended up with:



This is the best one of Carter by himself...like I said, I didn't have much to work with but hated not to buy just a few to give out to family.

Here's hoping that we have a better experience when we are having our family portraits done this weekend!

Katlin Update

Katlin is steadily growing, gaining weight, and catching up to the big kids! She had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday where they weighed her and charted her height. She is now 9 pounds, and 6.5 ounces and is 22 inches long! She has come so far for being such a little preemie. Her doctor even said that probably by next month, they won't even be considering her a preemie anymore because of how fast she was growing.

We love you, Katlin, and are so proud of all you are accomplishing!

Here are two of the pictures from her infant portraits at JC Penney. The quality isn't that great since I had to scan the pictures, then resize on my computer, but they are cute nonetheless.


Laying in her Mama's hands - just like a little doll.


Posing for the camera - she is a BIG TIME ham when the cameras come out!

3 Month Video

Here's a video of Carter talking to Daddy....of course, he was "talking" much louder / more frequently before I got the camera out, but you can still hear some baby noises!

Gap Baby

Here are some cute pictures of Carter in his little Gap outfit from Scott & Susan Beall. Each night, we sit Carter up on the couch and try to get him to play with toys, listen to us read books, and just take in everything around him.

Here's a picture of Daddy tickling Carter's chin.



Carter's just chilling out watching some tv.


Slipping down to a slumped position.

3 Months Old

A picture with Daddy in his robot jammies on his 3 month birthday!



Yesterday, December 2, Carter turned 3 months old. The time has flown by and yet it feels like we've had him in our lives forever. I can hardly remember being pregnant, and labor is a total blur...people always tell you that you forget everything when the baby is born, and that is completely true. All you do is celebrate your perfect little one!

I hope each day that Carter knows how much Derrick and I love him and love spending time with him. We sing and dance and do anything we can to make him smile and laugh...it is the highlight of our day every day! He makes the late night and early mornings so worth it and is the perfect addition to our family. We love you, baby boy!

I took this picture this morning (Dec. 3) to show you all the little king of the king sized bed. He was flinching at the orange light on the camera, but I couldn't resist showing off those chubby, gigantic cheeks!

Just a Sunday...

This past weekend, my Aunt Debbie (mom's sister) came in town to visit, Christmas shop on Black Friday with us, and see the babies! We had such a good time, and it made it so much easier to deal with Derrick being out of town all weekend on a golf trip.

As a bonus, she brought her brand new monogramming machine with her. We customized hand towels, onesies, burp cloths, blankets, and more! It was so fun playing around with her machine and actually learning a little bit in the process.

On Sunday, Lindsey & Katlin came to visit and design a couple burp cloths!


Lindsey, Mom, Katlin, and Aunt Debbie


Mom, Katlin, & Aunt Deb


This next picture requires some explanation. Carter had been fussy all day, and crying so much he was sweating. Derrick and I took his clothes off to take his temperature, and he grabbed at the money on the bed. I just put it in his hand, and there's the shot below. It may not be hundreds, but twenties aren't shabby for a 12.5 week old!

It's all about the.....Jacksons?

Carter & The Saldo's

Garrett turned 15 last week, so we went to El Porton with the family to celebrate. Here's the birthday boy looking less than thrilled with the cake and sombrero!


Happy Birthday, Uncle G!


Carter all cozied up to Uncle Justin on Thanksgiving.


He's bringing chubby back, ya'll - and Garrett finally smiled!

A Robe & A Thumb

Carter has finally mastered getting his hands to his mouth - and most of the time in his mouth. I think he is trying to suck his thumb, but he just shoves as many fingers in as will fit until he gags or coughs...but he goes right back to it again!


He's like, "Look at me mom, I got my hands!"


He's probably so over having his picture made already...



With his MiMi after a bath - in his adorable little robe.

Full robe shot - I promise it's not this short, he is leaning back and we wanted a shot of the duck on the front!

Katlin & Carter - Christmas Shopping

Carter and Katlin had breakfast together last Monday. I was off work all week, so Lindsey, Gail, the babies, and I went to IHOP for some yummy, fattening pancakes! After breakfast, we took the kids back to Lindsey's to feed them then we headed to Target to pick out some Christmas surprises for them.


Katlin asleep - mid bottle


Now she's up!


Lindsey snuggling with a very tired Carter

Katlin in her dress and leggings

Both kids together - who knows who they were looking at!

Smiles!

Here are some pictures from last week. I have so much blogging to catch up on that these posts are just going to be short and sweet!


Carter smiling at MiMi - in his overalls


Taking in the world all around him



As usual, watching the game with Daddy - looks like he's trying to escape!

Content, chubby, and chillin'!