Tooth and Scoot

Little Chloe has had a big week.  She got her first tooth this week and she started scooting.  She has been doing this arched back frustrated shake and scream thing every time she wanted to move but didn't know how - see below.  I have some good videos, but I have a hard time getting them off the camera.

She started rocking on her hands and knees a week ago and then Saturday night she just all the sudden scooted forward to get something she wanted.  I told Carson she would soon be following him around all the time.  To which he replied "I don't mind," then with a worried face he said "I better go clean up my Legos" and he ran out of the room.

Here is my sweet girl

Carson learned about the presidents last week at preschool.  He now is very confused on the difference between prophets and presidents.  I showed him the $1 bill and asked who it was.  He replied "Lorenzo Snow."

Chloe is Sitting Pretty

Chloe is now six months.  She is sitting up really well and is getting pretty creative with her syllables.  She is starting to sleep better.  She actually slept through the night a few nights ago, but it was just once.  She cries for a bit but is starting to be able to put herself to sleep.  She loves to laugh at Carson.  He has taken up playing peek-a-boo with her and it never fails to make her laugh.

Her six month stats: 20 lbs 14 oz, 29 inches long.  Still way off the charts.

Head Shot

 So in the professional world, I am expected to have a head shot.  I recently joined the alumni board of the ASU accounting fraternity and they requested my professional head shot.  Luckily, my company will reimburse for this expense so I set an appointment.  The photographer told me to wear my suit and perhaps a strand of pearls.  I spent the night before searching linked in profiles for a head shot pose I liked.  Here are my conclusions - professional head shots are outdated and CHEESY!!!  Almost every single one of them make me laugh.  They look all serious and stoic or the have their arms folded with a cheesy smile.  I just feel like there has to be a way to bring these up to date.  Shouldn't it reflect me?  I don't own pearls and I can guarantee I wouldn't wear them at this point in my life.  (Not that they don't look good on other people, they just aren't me right now...maybe in 10 years).  Anyway, the appointment got canceled because the photographer was double booked and so I had to take my own at home.  For every few "professional" ones, I just had to break out.  I ended up submitting a pretty classic pose...wearing my suit (but no pearls).  But the pics below are the real ones I wanted to submit.

Christmas

We headed up to Spokane for Christmas.  All I wanted was some crazy snow, but that didn't happen this year.  It's real hit or miss there.  We did enjoy the cold(er) weather and had fun with my whole family.

We went tubing...

Mt. Spokane - gotta love the tube lift.  Carson lasted 30 minutes.  Once his feet got cold, he was done.

We went rollerskating...(hands up if you remember the good ol' Jr. High days at Patteson's)

Learned that Karl is pretty talented on skates and that I did not miraculously all the sudden become good at skating.  Since the last time I skated was at age 13, I thought maybe I wasn't good at it just because I was awkward 13.  Turns out you actually have to practice or something to get good.

Played a lot of Kinect...sorry, no pictures.  I was too busy crushing the other dance crews with my mad skills.

We also all got sick...so that was fun.

Here are some cute pics of my baby girl (back at home)...

She has become obsessed with her toes and sucks them a lot (especially in the bath tub).  She is also sitting up pretty good and is quite pleased with herself.  That one is a recent development and I haven't snapped a pic yet.

Here is Carson and Chloe with the Woodard cousins before we left.  There is another boy, almost 2, but you know 2 year olds.  It was quite a feat getting what we did.

My New Favorite Activity

Around 7 pm, Chloe has been getting a little silly lately.  Carson will jump around crazy and she laughs and laughs.  Carson seems to like having an audience too.  Here is a short video.

Chloe had her 4 month check up.  She was 27 1/2 inches long and 19 lbs 2 oz.  She seems to be about the size Carson was at 6 months.  She took the shots like a champ.  We are now working our way to sleeping through the night.  We cut out one of her two middle of the nights feedings.  In a few weeks I'll probably try to do away with them completely.  I asked the doctor if she was waking up because she needed to it and if I should keep feeding her in the night.  He responded "Look at her, she doesn't NEED to be eating in the middle of the night."  Proof - check out the chunky thighs below.

Carson is taking a sports medley class.  They learn a new sport each Saturday.  It has been pretty cute.  So far his favorite has been whatever they played most recently.

Here is Chloe all bundled up while we watch Carson play.

We started Chloe on cereal and then veggies last week.  She is doing great.  She'll actually eat it so I'm pleased.

 Although most of the time I'm dealing with this:

Bib Eating

 And this:

 Spoon Grabbing

 And this:

Handsucking

Here is just a cutie picture:

Chloe playing Legos with the boys (don't faint mother - she was kept away from all actual Legos and she was not left unattended next to small Lego parts.  No choking hazards!)

Kisses and Cuddles

Alright moms of boys...when do your little boys stop wanting to cuddle and have kisses?  Carson's independence grows stronger everyday and it hit me the other day that I may only have a few years left.  I don't know as I never had brothers.

Carson has always been independent.  He was the type to run into nursery at 18 months without even saying goodbye to me.  He tackles new situations with very little trepidation.  He must get this from his dad because I was terrified of unfamiliar settings as a child.  After his first week of preschool he informed me that he didn't need me to walk him to the door anymore.  So as the other moms walk their kids to the door, I stand by my car and watch to make sure he gets in ok and then give a wave to his teacher.  After a few more weeks he told me he didn't need a goodbye kiss anymore (although I usually say "kiss" and he does it before he realizes that he wasn't going to).

I dropped him off at the primary program practice - 100% new situation for him, and he insisted that I didn't need to get out of the car.  So I made sure he followed some other kids in and I figured he would be ok from there.

Don't get me wrong, I think his independence is extremely admirable.  I wish I had a little more confidence in new situations even now.  I am constantly impressed by this aspect of his personality.

There are still several moments a day when he wants to cuddle or lay across my lap as I scratch his back and we say silly things to each other.  He usually surprises me with an "I love you" when I'm feeling down (or grouchy).  He is very sweet.

So how many more years do I have of cuddles with my son?  And then after that I guess you find a new way to connect and let your son know you love him.

Indian John

Carson has become quite sensitive to us laughing at the things he does or says.  While we laugh because we think he is cute, he gets embarrassed and upset.  So we try and hold it in.  It's a really hard habit to break.  Especially when he comes into the room and tells me he is Indian John and that he has a wacker.  (Translation: he is Indiana Jones and he has a whip).