Jude is One!

The birthday boy

This past weekend we traveled to New Orleans to celebrate our sweet nephew Jude's first birthday.  I can't believe this little guy is one year old!  Jude and Carter are about 3 months apart, so I can only imagine the stuff they will get into and do as they get older.  :)

We drove down Friday evening after Kurt came home from work.  Carter did pretty well on the ride down and slept a good chunk of it since it was during bedtime.  When we arrived around 10:30, Carter had other ideas about going to sleep and decided that he needed to stay awake to play and talk until almost 1:30.  According to him the party had already started.

Saturday was the big party.  Jack, Sally, Kurt, and I helped Brent and Melanie get ready for the big day by prepping the house with decorations and making the cake.  The guests arrived around 4.  All the little nieces and nephews ran back and forth between inside and outside.  There were party hats, glasses, punching balloons, and a pinata for all to enjoy.  Then all the little ones "helped" Melanie open Jude's presents in a matter of minutes.  Jude received all toys, not a single piece of clothing.  The next part was the cake.  After an enlightening round of "Happy Birthday", baby Jude had his first bites of cake and ice cream.  Like most babies, he enjoyed playing in the cake more than eating it.  The party was a success.

Pre-party fun

Party Hats!

Silly glasses

Old Man Carter

Getting ready for his cake

On Sunday, we all took a brunch cruise on Steamboat Natchez.  We are seated right by the band so had great music to listen to and yummy food to eat.  It was raining that day but we still enjoyed our time on the boat.  That evening we decided to give the boys a bath together.  I think they loved it.  Carter did his thing and just sat like he always does and Jude was a little busy body checking everything out.  After the boys went to bed, Brent, Melanie, Kurt, and I enjoyed a delicious dinner and just hanging out with each other, laughing and making fun of each other.

Breakfast with Grammie before the boat ride

Playtime with Jude's new toys

More playing (I think)

Going for a ride in Jude's new wagon

Bath time fun!

Naked babies!

Love those cute tooshies

Monday, Kurt, Carter, and I hung out with Brent and Jude for a little while and then headed back to Houston late afternoon.  Having learned that Carter did not want to go to sleep when we arrived in NOLA, we had decided that when we got back to Houston, we would let him play and move around for a little while before going to bed.  I think it worked.  All in all, we had a fabulous time!

8 months (almost 3 weeks later)

Yes our little Carter is 8 months old.  He is such a fun little boy and we have enjoyed watching him change each month.

Food:  Carter has come a loooonnnnngggg way in the food department!  I'm thinking it just took him a little while to get use to the texture of food in his mouth.  He now loves all kinds of fruits and veggies...green beans, squash, sweet potato, carrots, pears, bananas, blueberries, prunes, and peaches.  He even eats peas now!  In fact he gets really excited about them.  We have even given him puffs and some other baby foods that dissolve easily, which he seems to enjoy.

Sleep:  Still being Carter.  In general sleeping and going to bed is getting better.  He still has some rough nights, but just hoping each month gets a little bit easier.  As far as napping goes, he typically naps anywhere between 30-90 minutes at a time.  His morning nap is usually the longest nap of the day.  The afternoon ones typically are the short 30 minute ones. 

Activities:  Carter is still not crawling.  He does a lot of rolling and pivoting to get what he wants.  When sitting he has scooted himself along to get to his destination but he is not very fast at this, and so gets distracted along the way.   Carter loves playing in his jumper.  He thinks its the greatest toy ever!  Carter has been "talking" more.  What a sweet voice he has.  I love hearing him coo and babble to himself or whoever is listening.  Also Carter got his first two teeth in the center bottom!  They have broken through the gums but haven't fully emerged.  It is so funny watching him trying to figure those things out.  He is constantly rubbing his tongue along the ridges or putting his thumb/finger in his mouth.

Each week I take Carter to "hang out" with his friends.  Some days we go to the library for infant lapsit.  On Fridays we go to a baby sensory class.  Other days we just try to meet up with friends at someone's house, the park, the pool, etc.  Carter loves watching and interacting with other kids.  It's pretty funny watching all the little ones "talk" and "play" with each other.

Carter with his buddy Issac.  They are 2 months apart.

Carter with his buddy Eleanor.  Eleanor is 2 years old.

In the ball pin at the children's museum

at the children's museum

playing with the other babies at baby sensory

at the zoo.  this tiger is made out of thousands of legos!

Photo Shoot

In late May we had family pictures taken of us here in the neighborhood.  At the time Carter was 6 1/2 months old.  He is now 8 months old.  Yes, I'm a little behind.  8 month update coming soon!