Carter’s Update

February Fun!

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:03:00 -0800

February is the last month in Bakersfield for Carter and I and it’s proving to be pretty exciting one. You’ll have to excuse the majority of the photos from this blog entry were taken in my iPhone.
Since Carter has gotten more active his toys have been on the move as well, this was one evening when he managed to make a “fort” out of his airplane chair and red car walker. He was having a great time playing back there:

I know this next photo is the back of him, but it’s one I look at and realize our baby is a little boy! He grew a pants size in length, but not his waist so he’s wearing a lot of belts now and look how low his activity table is now.

And speaking of that activity table, he has found a new use for it on our bathroom. Here is a short video (57 seconds)

Carter also started going to “school” once a week, we go together and the class is 2 hours, but to date he hasn’t made it that long. He gets to play with other kids and each day they do planned activities, art, fine motor, learning objects, etc. He enjoyed the day they had free play time and the theme was transportation.

He has also spent a lot of time at the new house with us, he especially likes pushing around the step stool and also a 6ft ladder.

And a video of him actually pushing it all by himself (28 seconds)

And then he and Co-Pilot hanging out on the little couch

We were out and about one morning, Carter was pretty happy with his baby laptop and his shades, what’s next, Starbucks?

Back at home, he is pretty good at moving his toys around to get where he wants to go, after turning my back for a minute this is where I found him. The new house has cabinet lucks....

And last for this entry, he was out running errands with me and as cranky as he was I got a few good laughs out of him and caught one with my iPhone camera.

I think I am getting the hang of semi-regular blog updates, hope to see you back here....soon!

Happy 2010!

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:08:49 -0800

Well I finally see it myself, Carter is looking more and more like a little boy and less like a “baby” every day.
We brought in the new year quietly at Grandma and Papa’s house but don’t be fooled by our lack of enthusiasm for 2010 because we’re expecting a fun and exciting year ahead.
For starters, we have officially gotten our keys to our new home in Murrieta, CA and spent this past weekend getting it ready for us to move in. We think we found just the best neighbors (ha ha) and it’s such a nice friendly neighborhood, which we are not used to, but enjoying.
Carter helped out Daddy and Papa at the new house on Saturday, he really enjoyed pushing the step ladder around and also cruising the “conversation pit” in the back yard and exploring the putting green. No we didn’t get many photos of that, we were working! Yesterday Carter played while I worked on getting the kitchen in order.
The other fairly new thing in our lives is that I am attempting to learn photography, not just taking photos, but really learning how to use the camera to it’s fullest potential. I hope this brings more photos to the blog for you all to see.
I attempted a quick mini session one afternoon, practicing shooting in manual mode, I think I got a few cutes ones of Carter and Miss Co-Pilot too.
I never tire of seeing Carter smile, I think Co-Pilot was making him laugh

Cheese smile

One more that we actually took inside

And Miss Co-Pilot was my test model for the camera setting, but she looks annoyed with me.

This is one of Carter’s favorite things lately, he plays with his “twin”, they laugh, they dance, they jump at the mirror and they kiss, very funny!

Bath time!

Co-Pilot modeling in my parents garden

And we visited Grandma Bernice, Carter got to take a nap on her bed

She always seems to enjoy getting to see Carter

Hanging out together outside

Carter having fun on daddy’s shoulders

Then helping me push the stroller
Then he got to go on an outing is his blue car, he loves that thing.

And finally I’ll end from a quick photo I took while we were out on a walk in the new neighborhood

As far as a quick update, we have been lucky that Carter has remained in good health for all of this last year. He will be meeting a new pediatric urologist once we move to determine if he needs further surgery, but luckily there is nothing urgent at this time. He’s been cleared through all his other specialist and other than standard tests for eyes and ears, he’s got a clean bill of health. We do have some management of his Hirschsprung’s disease, but that is mostly just his diet.
Carter is getting around really well these days, he uses anything and everything as a tool for walking and is cruising all over the furniture, walls, etc. He isn’t quite ready to walk independently, but I don’t think it will be much longer. And yes, I have my running shoes warmed up.
We have the move scheduled for March 1 and Carter and I will get settled into the new house and learn the area. Meanwhile Scott and Kelsey will remain in Bakersfield during the week while Kelsey finishes her senior year. By June we expect to all be under one roof again, which will be nice.
Thanks as always, for stopping by. And don’t worry, I will be sending out our new address and information in the coming month or two.

Holidays were happy!

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:09:02 -0800

We hope this entry finds you all doing well and are recovering from celebrating the holidays and thinking about your plans for 2010.
This year was so much fun watching Carter try to get into all the gifts, he tried to use the boxes as toys, tried to eat the packages and he and Co-Pilot had their annual box fest, they were trying to open this one a couple days before Christmas.

The day before Christmas Eve we had visitors from Aunt Madonna and Uncle Tom who we fondly call “faux Grandma and Grandpa”, it’s an inside joke that their grandson Zack started, but really it fits because they are so good to us and our kids. Carter was busy so not too many clear shots, but here is madonna stopping Carter from eating our table (I think)

Reading Carter an adorable book they brought him

Co-Pilot thought the wrapping paper was the best part
Faux Grandma smiling at Carter

We had another visitor who stayed with us through Christmas, our friends Weimaraner, Abbey.

Carter and Co-Pilot tested out her big bed we bought for her before she arrived, I’m sorry, but I love nothing more than seeing these two together. Co-Pilot acts like it’s a burden, but trust me, she is by that boys side all waking hours.

A quick shot of Co-Pilot after her last bath, she loves to get up on the counter where I blow dry her, while she is up there, she was practicing her new trick, this picture turned out really cute.

Now back to the holidays, on Christmas Eve we went to Scott’s Aunt Tanya and Jackie’s house and all the kids got to open presents over there. Here is Carter just getting there and exploring.

Mom was looking good, (I think she is standing by the wine)

Dad and I are close behind

Oh this is Carter’s blog, so where is Carter? Uncle Chris has him, they share the same birthday too.

Carter had a lot of presents to open, he liked the paper and all his neat new toys with buttons and sounds
Carter’s big sisters, Kelsey and Rhiannon look on with their gifts

Look at all those fun buttons!

Opening his stocking

Having a little snuggle with Grandma

Papa can always get a laugh out of Carter

Getting ready to open presents

Birds eye view is a fun angle

Carter’s idea of how to open his gift

With his new toy and Co-Pilot right there

The cutest gift under the tree

He got a tickle me Elmo and CP in the background with her new harness, called a Buddy Belt that we got from Lisa at Pussy and Pooch Pet Store

Carter and daddy opening a present. Abbey slept in the middle of the room

Co-Pilot getting in the action

She stayed right in on the action and has been sleeping since Abbey left last night, busy girl!

After presents our breakfast was ready, a Spinach and Pancetta Strata

Yay, new toys!

Later on Christmas Day, we were back at Scott’s Aunts’ house, they were wonderful hostesses and everyone had a great time. Here is Carter laughing with Grandma.

Outside, it was a lovely day!

We put Carter in the tree and yes he was well supervised (held onto!)

I hope you made it to the end, because this is my favorite photo of the day!

And finally, we have some news that we are moving in 2010 to Murrieta, it will be a slow process getting from here to there, but we did already buy a house and over Thanksgiving our friend Amber at Lotus Blossom Photography took our picture in front of the new house.

We hope 2010 is an exciting year for all of us and that we get to hear from all of you soon!

Until next time, hugs from all.

Carter is 2!

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 23:38:45 -0800

Happy 2nd Birthday to Carter!
So much has happened since our last update, but I don’t think I can re-cap it all at once. The further I fall behind in my blogging, the harder it seems to get caught up.
We spent the first couple weeks of November in Europe with Grandma and Papa, celebrating their 35th Anniversary, our 5th Anniversary not to mention my dad’s birthday was Nov 2, Scott’s was Nov 3 and Carter was right after we got back on the 22nd. Carter shares his birthday with Uncle Chris and Uncle Dave and everyone stopped in to wish Carter a Happy Birthday which was so nice.

For Carter’s birthday theme I decided on red rocket, because this is one of his favorite toys.
He was wearing his Halloween jammies so I thought I’d put him in his chair and take some pictures.
That lasted about a second and this there was this

and this, he is all boy and quite the toddler these days!

At some point I will put our Europe pictures here in the albums section, but for now I am going to fast forward to after our trip. It sure was good to be home, Carter settled right in and was full of energy, he knocked down this gate and tried to climb it

He can almost do pull ups on the gate

Before we knew it, it was his birthday and we had a nice get together here in Bakersfield.

The cupcake tower:

Two of the girls from his therapy place came by to wish him a happy birthday, that is Jessica on the left and Sabrina on the right, Carter loves them both!

Him opening his presents from them

I can’t believe our little guy is 2!

He has been keeping daddy company during football, but his team has had a rough few weeks!

We also had a nice party for Carter at Grandma and Papa’s house so all the S. CA family could celebrate with us

And we got that photo and then this one of the birthday boy all tuckered out. Luckily our friend Amber was there to photograph the entire event, I will share those photos later, we will thrilled to have her, check out her blog at
Lotus Blossom Photography <------ Click there

Here is a picture of Amber in I in La Jolla before I took her to the airport :(

I think that is going to wrap it up for today, I do have more photos and more to share, so stay tuned and as always thanks for following Carter’s progress!

Fall Festival at Riverwalk Park

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:52:43 -0700

Today we headed out early to attend the “Fall Festival” at the park right up the street from us. The park is dog friendly so it was nice we were able to take Co-Pilot too.
So we found a little display where we tried to take “Pumpkin Patch” type pictures, which it’s no Bishops like I grew up with, but at least we got the kids with pumpkins. We still have almost a week to seek out a better spot, but for now, this is what we got, some funny ones!
Arriving with the kids and getting everything loaded
Carter had to check out the pumpkins and make sure he wanted to sit by them

Daddy got a close up of Carter
Right after this for or a SPLIT second, I thought I lost Co-Pilot, my heart must have stopped. I had her leash on my wrist (or so I thought I did) and I was situating Carter for pictures and keeping him from falling off the bail of hay, all of a sudden I realize her leash is not on my wrist and I don’t see her ANYWHERE. I yelled for Scott to grab Carter and I was heading towards the water to make sure she was not there first, as I start to run off I look back and she was about 3ft away from me, around the corner from the bail of hay AND had gotten her leash tangled around the post of the easy-up, so I guess as far as being a runner, she’s not! Not this time anyway.
So here she is after the dramatic rescue

With daddy

Just the little ones together, Carter is constantly smiling at Co-Pilot, I’m pretty sure it’s not all mutual, but I think it’s cute.

There wasn’t much for Carter to do yet in Fairy Tale town, but he enjoyed getting out of the stroller for awhile

And Co-Pilot also enjoyed the rest

We were following the yellow brick road, Carter didn’t mind the hay, but he sure was sneezing a lot, he is *so* my child!

I thought this would be really cute for them to peek their heads through, but neither cooperated.

We went back to our little photo op spot, but Carter was ready for a nap.

Okay I guess I’ll see what this is
He got a little smile when I told him Grandma was on the phone

I think he’d had enough

So we went home and he didn’t make it even 5 minutes before he was asleep and Co-Pilot felt the same way

And I’ll leave you with a bit of a smile, this picture was a couple weeks ago when we were shopping with Grandma and Great-Grandma.

Thanks for looking!

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