Spring Quarantine

Car-car-

We are making this most of this quarantine. We are finishing up school virtually, and trying our best to entertain everyone while Daddy and I both work full time. It's not easy, but we are trying our best!

Mommy's birthday - at home -

No more skating at Shelby CC- instead on the side porch!

Quarantine art work - on the window

Quarantine Project 1 - we cleaned the area at the bottom of our yard and named it Taylor Springs - like Lockeland Springs 

We had a date night at home - at Taylor d'food -  you were a wonderful waiter!

Easter - at home edition.

We watched mass in our pjs on tv, and hunted baskets inside because it was raining. 

Cascarones - outside in the rain!

More Taylor springs cleaning...

Our fairy garden - 

You guys painted - the fence!

 Everyone got hammocks!

And finally - we made a Gaga ball pit!

1st Lost Tooth

Late bloomer - you finally lost your first tooth at the Pickin' Party :)

Poop Progress

Carter!

You are finally pooping on the potty at home and at school! Whoop! Whoop!

After over a year of traditional potty training and no success- whatsoever- in the poop department, Mommy and Daddy finally met with an ABA therapist - who taught us a specific, extinction technique. And only 2 weeks later of using it, you starting pooping on the potty. 

Here's I wrote to the therapist - 
9/14 met with Ms. Kate - ABA therapist- extraordinaire!

9/15-9/29 - did correction technique every time, he had an accident at home

9/30 after 2 nights of him pooping in his pants after we sent him to bed, we sent him to be without pants...and he pooped in the potty (in his room) - 1st time!
10/1 - accident at school, no pants at bedtime
10/2 - No poops at school; de-panted him once he got home/sent to bed without pants, 2nd success!
10/3 - 10/4 - success all weekend, including the regular potty/and he went by himself with pants on
10/5 - success at school and home!
10/6- success at school and home!
Success every day since!!!

You were crazy cute the day you went at school- when I picked you up. You kept saying - "I'm just so proud of you!" All your friends came up to tell me, and several of them went home and told their parents. Then their parents sent me congratulatory texts!

We're making less and less of a big deal each time you go now - but you still insist on making an announcement and asking us to come take a look. 

We really are just so proud of you! But also very thankful for the therapist referral - best $80 I've spent in a long time!

Love you, stinker!

1st Day of Three's Class

Hey Cart-

Well - you barely made the cut to the Three's class due to your potty-training "issues". Mom and Dad are really hoping Ms. Laura and Mr. Isaac can break your stubbornness!

You're still pretty cute...and clearly worked your magic twice in a row with Daddy to get lovie in your 1st Day picture -

This was also the 2nd night in a row where you woke up in the middle of night wanting to cuddle with Daddy. Then you and Daddy fall back asleep and sleep in till 7:30a! This morning I left with Maevy before you two sleepy heads were even awake!

T4 (January 2015)/ Three's Side by Side (August 2015)

Maevy 1st Day - Three's (2012), Carter 1st Day - Three's (2015)
I like your summer tan!

We have lots of work to do this year - can't wait to start working on your letters and writing!

Good luck!

- Mommy

T-4

Look who started T-4 today. Your obligatory lice hair cut makes you look tall, skinny, and grown up!

Potty time

Guess who sent you something last weekend?

You were not at all interested most of the weekend in going potty. You would get mad and yell "NO POTTY!. But then when you did have an accident, you would immediately tell us.

You were proud of yourself when you did sit on the potty, and would tell everyone....but you didn't actually GO potty. Mommy and Daddy kept at it.Then last night before bedtime, you did it! You even went a little, went to bed, and the yelled for Daddy to come back. You needed to go more! This morning you went again with Daddy!

I don't think this week will be accident free, but I'm hopeful we're moving in the right direction. Good luck to your teachers. :)

Keep up the good work! (Note to self- buy more jelly beans!)

Love,

Mommy

Good-bye Bottles

Hey Cart-

I totally forgot to tell you that over Easter weekend we went "cold-turkey" on the bottles and switched you to a sippy cup. You threw a couple fits, one included you rolling yourself back and forth on the floor 4 or 5 times. I just kept offering you your sippy cup which you would swat away and then finally you took it. Ahh...sweet milk.

Lunch time at school-  (I love all those little feet dangling - Vivian, Carter, Simon and Bennett)

 That's a big plate of food!

Now a couple weeks later, we are down to our last can of formula and we're not buying another one. Cow's milk- woop! woop! It will take a little getting used to, especially since you like your formula milk warmed up. But I think with Miss Tina's help at school, you'll figure it out.

Such a big boy! (They're building a nice, gated deck outside for the nursery. You got to watch today, but tomorrow you'll get to roam free outside! The title on this picture from the school blog was- "cutie pie".)

PS. I hope to start buying you some fresh milk from JD Milk at the farmer's market. But I did fork over the big bucks this week and bought you some organic whole milk from the fancy grocery store. I'm still treating #2 right. :)

Love you,

Mom

1st Haircut

Baby boy got his 1st haircut yesterday in preparation for our family pictures this weekend. You did great, and are pretty stinkin' adorable. I asked for a "hipster-chic" do, but really just wanted a trim around the ears.

Before-


During-
I think this picture is adorable. Just like Daddy, relaxed and peaceful. Daddy often falls asleep during hair cuts. :)

During- (smiling at Mommy)

Almost Done- (This is the best "after" picture we got because you were getting pretty fussy. It was dinner time!)

Great job, big boy!

Love you,

Mom

Look who's walking...

Just this week, you started taking more steps like 5 or 6, and we finally caught a video. Great job, Cart!

Keep up the good work!

Love you,

Mom

Show me your teeth

Car-car-

I got the title of this post from a Lady Ga Ga song. I do love some Ga-Ga. Anyway- you've got teeth!!!!!

You've been gnawing on everything these past couple of months, and your 2 bottom front teeth finally popped through a couple days ago. Pretty stinkin' cute....

Also you've been starting to sleep with your adorable booty in the air, which shows me you can get those knees under you. Scooting is around the corner...

Love you,

Mama

Freed from Baby Jail

Carter-

Mom and Dad have been freed from Baby Jail. Woo-hoo!

Definition: baby-jail (noun)
The period of time during a baby's life when he/she is not sleeping through the night, waking one or more times to be comforted or fed; thus making it virtually impossible for one or both parents to feel completely rested and whole throughout the day. 

For the past few months whenever Mom and Dad have had to turn down an offer to go out with friends late night or sometimes even at all, our excuse is always- baby-jail.

Just like with Maevy, it happened to work out that your 4 month birthday fell on/close to a 3-day weekend. We knew you were big enough to stop these middle of the night feedings; so Mom and Dad decided to "Ferberize" aka let you cry-it-out. I was worry that you were really going to put up a fight, but you did great! By night 2, you weren't even crying. You would just wake up and whine for a little bit.

Night 1: 10:30p- cried for 25 minutes, 2a- whined for 15 minutes, 4a- whined 10 minutes
Night 2: 3:45a- whined 20 minutes
Night 3: 2a- whined 15 minutes

It's now a week later, and you are still waking up once, but not really crying, just talking. I think you'll eventually figure this whole thing out. The best part is Mommy and Daddy are out of baby-jail, and you are falling into a more consistent day-schedule. I think the whole middle of the night snacking was throwing everything off. Here's your new day-time schedule-

6:30a-  Wake Up!- nurse (estimated amount- 6oz)
8:30- 15-20 minute nap
9:30a- 6oz bottle
10a- long nap (goal- 60-90 minutes)
12p- lunch, eventually followed by 6oz bottle
2p- long nap (goal- 60-90 minutes)
3:30/4p- 6oz bottle
4:30p/4:45p- 15-20 minute nap
6p- dinner, followed by bath and 6oz bottle
6:30p (ish) Bedtime

Man, I love a good schedule. It's just so nice to know how your day is going to go. Plus I think you like knowing what's coming up next. :)

In the epic words of  Braveheart's William Wallace, " FREEEEE-DOMMMMM!"

Baptism

Hi Carter-
We spent the weekend in Memphis. You met your Aunt Anna and you were baptized! Monsignor Creary who baptized your Dad, (married your Mom and Dad), baptized you as well.

Mommy found an adorable, smocked jumper for you to wear, and Grandma had it embroidered with your monogram and baptismal date.

You are blessed to have two wonderful Godparents- Aunt Robyn and (soon to be Uncle) Jake. (They just got engaged- yay!) They are so excited to serve a special role in your Christian journey.

You were great during the actual baptism and fell asleep towards the end of the ceremony- hence all the "relaxed" looking family pictures.

Afterward Grandma had the whole family over for a little brunch and party. Godmother Robyn got you a cute onesie with a cross on it and your name embroidered. (The Wyckoffs like some embroidering.)

  

Happy Baptism day Carter! Love you!

1st Bath

Hey Carter-

Mom and Dad broke out their favorite baby bathtub this week to give you your 1st bath. At first you didn't know what to make of it, but then you calmed down and seemed to enjoy the warm water. Bath time is part of your bedtime routine that started this week- eat, bath, book (eventually), and bedtime.

Last night after our routine, you went almost 5 hours between feedings. Thanks, Carter. Mommy needed the rest.

Love you, 

Mommy