Carter's First Birthday Party

We had a lot of fun putting Carter's very first birthday party together.  Or should I say I had a lot of fun...  Gabe did a very good job supervising the boys. :)

We invited just a few of Carters little friends his same age to enjoy the party with him.

and aren't they cute!

We were kinda able to get a picture or two of a few of them together...

As you can see the homemade balloon bouquet was a hit... for Sam anyway!  He had a lot of fun until he got tangled up.  I don't blame him for getting upset about that.

We tried to get into the party spirit, but he didn't seem to be too fond of the hat, even though he looks darn cute.

Then it was time to enjoy the cake!

Preston enjoyed it a little too much... and a little too soon. :)

Carter had his own little cake for the occasion.  I had a photo shoot with him the morning of which is why half of it was already missing by the time the party started.

He started out by slowly examining.

Then he dug right in!  I personally find this next series of pictures rather hilarious...

Watch it fall!

He was sure proud of himself.  You should have seen his shirt pocket, it was filled to the brim with cake!

Sam is only a few months older than Carter and was doing an awesome job with a fork!

On to the presents we went.  By this time Carter was down from his sugar high and ready for a nap, but we still think he had fun, and Preston sure loved helping him!

He's such a little man already!  Happy Birthday Carter!

After the opening of the presents we of course did enjoy spending a little time enjoying them!  Thanks Holly for taking these pictures for me!

To see more of Carter and the oh so fabulous decor and details check out my photography blog, it's too many pictures to put in just one post.  One-year pictures of Carter to come soon!

I can't believe it's been a year!

Carter was born a year ago today, and in some ways it seems as though we've had him with us forever, but in other ways it's amazing to me that we've had him this long.  Time has just flown by, and he has grown up so fast! 

I still remember how small he was when he first came home with us, although he was bigger than his older brother was when he was born.  He was such a sweet baby, and it's a good thing he was after all the trouble he gave me while I was pregnant. :)

Just a year later he is a big, very spunky troublemaker with quite the personality.  He has eight teeth (four more than Preston had) and is walking all over the place.  Some of his favorite things to do are chewing on spoons, climbing stairs, splashing in water (including the dog bowl and toilets), eating the dogs food, playing with Bentley, eating my hair, eating yogurt and cheese, playing with cars, following his big brother around, and wrestling with him, finding microscopic things on the floor to put in his mouth, and being outside.  You'll often find him sleeping with his bear's ear and his left thumb in his mouth, he is a lefty you know... or with my hair and his thumb in his mouth.  I much prefer the first. :)  Although he likes to get into trouble he is still as sweet as can be and loves to snuggle, we're so lucky to have him!  More to come on his adorable (if I say so myself) birthday party, but here is just a sample of his sweet face in the birthday boy hat.

I can't forget to mention that today is also my (big) little brother Kyle's birthday as well.  I was actually talking to him on the phone about ten minutes before Carter was born on his birthday, he was very excited to share his day.  Kyle turned 19 today and will soon be serving an LDS mission in Managua, Nicaragua.  We all know he will be an amazing missionary because of his social skills and love of the gospel!  But we'll miss him!  More to come of him too... eventually. :)

Happy Happy Birthday to both of these spunky boys!

Preston and Dalia

This past Wednesday at storytime Preston and Dalia decided they were best friends and held each other's hands while we walked out to the car.  It was so cute I was glad I had my new camera phone there to capture it all since I didn't have my big camera with me. :)

Don't worry, he wasn't giving her a ring although it does look like that doesn't it?

This one is my FAVORITE!  I kind of wish I had my nice camera there just for this shot.  I love it.

Doesn't Preston look so grown up in this?

He should, he's always going for the older girls.

They have so much fun together dancing...

and jumping.

I love storytime, good friends, and moments like these.  :)

The Runaway - Middle of September 2009

I decided to be brave and take both boys for a walk on my own one afternoon.  Preston wanted to ride his bike instead of riding inthe stroller with his brother.

He even let me take a few pictures of him.

But as I stopped to take a few pictures of the flowers...

He ran... fast!

Luckily I caught up to him again right as he was going around the corner, but that was the last  time I let him ride his bike on a walk. :)

Playing at Home with Grandma and Grandpa - September 2009

We loved just hanging out at home when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit last fall.  Even Bentley loved having someone new to play with.

Preston wanted to show them all of his trains.

And he showed Grandpa his tent

While Grandma cuddled with little Carter drool and all.

We also found some time to go for a walk as a family and Grandma was nice enough to take a picture of all of us together.

It was such a pretty evening.

Preston tried riding his bike for a little while too, but then ended up pushing it.

While Carter hung out half asleep in the stroller. :)

January 4th - Carter Get's Up On His Knees

Of course I had to get my camera out to document this stepping stone in Carter's life.  It's weird looking back now because he's so much bigger, leaner, and of course mischevious than he was then. 

Just Look at that sweet face. :) 

When I first got my camera out he stopped getting up on his knees and decided to just lay there on his tummy...

then he rolled over...

played with his hands...

and sucked his thumb...

until he finally decided to give it a try again. ;)

I think he was kind of suprised he was doing it,

but got the hang of it right away, and never stopped moving after that!

Of course his big brother was causing trouble while I was busy taking pictures...

I had given him a sucker.  He finished it off then thought it was pretty funny to put the stick up his nose.  Boys! :)