Teething Again

Carson wouldn't let go of mommy

I set Carson down to fix a bottle and he got into the cookies. At least he ate a little something that day.

What a sad face.

Poor, poor little Carson. We feel so bad for him. I can't believe that it's already that time again when all is slobbery and wet. We went to church on Sunday and he was doing great! He was happy and all over the place and going to people that he has never met before and getting into their stuff. Around 3:30, he came down with a fever. He was 102-103 all day long. He would not let us put him down the entire day. We tried getting him to eat some popsicles, which helped for a while, but that was all he would even eat. So, I decided that if I had a long night with him, I would probably have to be the one to call in sick for the day. Boy was I right. Carson stayed up until 5 in the morning with occasional 10 minutes here and 5 minutes there. He would wake up screaming. The Motrin or Tylenol didn't touch his fever, which made it worse. We let him sleep in our bed with the fan blowing cool air over him, hoping that would cool him down for a while. It was so cute because he wouldn't lye down unless he kept his arms around my neck.

Then yesterday he was feeling a little better. During the day he was okay. My parents watched him for about 2 hours while I ran some errands before our trip to St. George. I was even beginning to wonder if we should even go. Then, last night we had to get him out of his crib around 3:30 and I was up with him until almost 5. He would try to suck on a bottle, but he would cry even harder. After the Motrin set in, he took a while getting comfortable again and he went back to sleep.

Dave was supposed to be up by six this morning, but I set his alarm for PM because I took a nap yesterday, due to exhaustion, so he didn't get to work until 8:30. We left today around noon and I have been catching up on my blogs in the car. How cool is that??!! I have done my past 4 blogs all in the car. The pictures aren't loading, so I'll have to wait until we get to the hotel to get my pictures posted.

Carson is doing great! He fell asleep in American Fork and has stayed asleep and we are arriving in Cedar City right now. He has dealt with the car very well on our last few excursions. That was my worst fear of the trip. When we went to Goblin Valley in April, he did horrible. He cried half of the way to and from there, so it's been nice to have a quiet car. Carson has only had about 4 and a half ounces of his bottle and we gave him some bread and chicken. I had a kids meal from Wendy's and he loved the frosty.

I want to say thank you to the Gatorade company for inventing Propel. That is the only thing he will drink when he's sick. I know it's sugar water, but at least it keeps him hydrated. He won't drink anything else.

What I loved most about it, was that he wanted me most of the time. He would cry every time he lost sight of me. It makes me feel so good to be his mommy.

The Property

Carson on the swing

Dave and Carson in front of the picnic table and fire pit

Our family in front of "Big George"

Dave and Carson in front of the out house

Mom and Carson in front of the tree house

The random blue barrels

I have to admit, Dave and I both didn't want to go to "the property". It was the last thing we wanted to do since we didn't know how Carson would deal with the long car ride and the fact we were leaving to go to St. George this coming Tuesday. Dave's Grandpa and Grandma Petty own about 15 acres of land up Spanish Fork Canyon in Duchesne County. Dave and I didn't decide to go until after our fishing trip around 11:00 pm. Dave knew that he would regret not going up with his family from Missouri that he never gets to see. It's also walking down Memory Lane for Dave and his family, so we went. I have to say that we actually had a really fun time up there. Carson did awesome. He didn't cry once on the way or coming home from the property. He stayed awake until we got to Spanish Fork and then slept until we got to the property. Then he slept all the way home from the property, so we were all happy campers.

We got to see Big George (the camper), the treehouse, huts made from sticks by Dave and his brothers and sisters, and his cousins, the outhouse with the moon on the door, and the random trailor top and some blue barrels.

Carson's First Time Fishing

Carson fishing! Wow, he's holding his own pole!

Carson enjoying his Oreo cookie

Mom catching a fish

Grandpa catching a fish

Around 3 o'clock today, Dave, Carson and I got an invite to go with my parents and Gina and Beau to East Canyon to go fishing. It was short notice, but we made the best of it by grabbing our poles and tackle box and headed on up. Of coarse Little Miss Dummy forgot we'd left the fishing licences at home when we were about to go on the freeway, so we had to hurry and turn around. We got up there and we had a fun time. Our poles were cast out into the water for about 45 minutes. I am proud to say that my dad and I each caught one! Gina and Beau got to take them home for dinner. Dave hates cleaning them and preparing them and I don't really know how to, so we let them keep them. At least they became a meal for someone. It was fun because my Uncle Norm, Aunt Linda and her daughter, son-in-law and kids came as well. We weren't planning on meeting them there. They just told us the lucky spot and they were there when we got there.

When I caught my fish, it wouldn't reel in because my line was wrapped around one of the eyelets on the fishing pole, so I grabbed my line and pulled it in myself. I want to thank Dave for being the one to grab it and try to get the hook out of it's stomach or throat. The fish had the hook in there good and we couldn't get it out. It's so sad when fish start gagging and fighting for air. It's so weird how excited you become when you catch one. You're sad to make it die, but you're so happy that you catch it. I guess we're never happy.

Carson had a blast. He got to hold on to the pole for a bit, with our help. He also got to eat some yummy Oreo cookies, so that made his day. We all had a very fun time!

Happy Birthday Utah

Carson with his mommy

Carson hugging his cousin Maile

Carson and Maile intrigued with the fireworks

Carson on the trampoline

Carson swinging with his cousins Noah and Baden

Carson with his cousin Maddie

The 24th of July is one of my favorite days of the year. I guess if I lived in another state, it wouldn't be. I remember when I was little, on the 24th of July, we would always go to my Uncle Norm's house because it was my cousin Alyssa's birthday. We would go swimming in their pool, eat lots of hamburgers and hot dogs until we made ourselves sick, and then count down the hours until it was time to light fireworks. Now that I've grown up, things are a lot different. It's funny how things aren't as fun as they were when you were a kid. I think the funnest thing now is watching all of my nieces and nephews "ooohhh and aaawww" over each firework. The food is still good too!

This year Aunt Pam, Uncle Bruce and Sam and Mandy with their 4 girls came to Utah to celebrate this wonderful state-wide holiday. They live in Liberty, Missouri. It was so fun to get to know them better. They are so nice. We also got the pleasure of hanging out with Leisa and Scott Allen and their kids. They live in Santaquin so we don't' get to see them very often. Before I met Dave, Leisa lived in my ward. Every time she would walk in with those adorable redheads and the blonde one, everyone would smile and lean over to each other how cute they all are. Then she moved. It was so weird because I never thought that I would see them ever again, but Leisa is Pam's daughter, which makes her Dave's cousin. So, it's nice to see all the cute redheads and now 2 blonde ones.

We had a fun BBQ at Doug and Angela's house and Carson even got to go swimming. This swimming experience was a little nicer since the water had been sitting out in the sun for a few hours. I didn't have my camera until after I Carson was done swimming, so I didn't get any pictures. I bet everyone is shocked about that! I am a picture taking freak! Carson got to swim, swing, Jump on the trampoline, eat yummy food and had a lot of fun with all of his cousins. He got pretty hungry when we all started gathering for fireworks, so the first few scared him. Hey, screamers still make my ears hurt. Then after his bottle, we came outside and he loved the fireworks. He loves his cousin Maile! He got to sit on the chair with her and enjoy some fireworks. He even gave her a few hugs. We had an awesome time with the family!

Carson's Accomplishments

Over the past month Carson has learned to do some really fun things.

1. He has learned how to drink from a straw.
2. Dance to music (mom playing Guitar Hero).
3. Smack his lips after he tastes something yummy or sees something he thinks is going to be yummy.
4. He is starting to recognize things. We'll say, "where's the fan?" and he'll look up and point at it. We'll also say, "where's the dog" and he'll look around for Duncan and point at him when he finds him. The other night Dave had a bouncy ball and a golf ball and Dave would tell him which one to get and he'd grab the right one every time.
5. When he puts something into his mouth from off of the floor we'll say, "give it to mom/dad." and he'll pull it out of his mouth and put it into your hand.
6. He has learned what hugs are. We'll tell him to give us hugs and for the most part he'll give you one.
7. He has learned how to walk. THAT'S RIGHT!! Dave and I are so excited to tell all of you that he is starting to walk. He doesn't go far. He mostly does it after Dave gets home from work because he is so excited to see his daddy. He just needs to learn how to get up and walk now. He will pull himself off of things and walk to something a little ways from him and grab onto that, but he can't get himself up and walk.

I had to do that one last to surprise everyone. Within the last few days that walking started at non-existent to semi-pro!

Moved In

I am so happy that I actually get to blog! It has been a while since I had the time to sit down and write an update on the family. I am posting a bunch of blogs about Carson and the holiday, so feel free to scroll down and read a few things if you would like. I just wanted to catch up on all of the fun things that we have been up to lately since I haven't had time to blog because of the move.

I am also happy to say that we are all moved in! There are about 4 boxes left. DVDs and pictures are still in boxes because we can't put the DVDs on the entertainment center or Carson will keep pulling them off, as well as the bookshelf and all of the books.

Dave and I just wanted to start off by thanking my sister Gina and my brother-in-law Beau for letting us live with them for 4 months. We really needed it! They helped us get to where we wanted to go and save a little money as well. It was harder for me and my sister that we moved out because we both get lonely and it was nice to have each other there. We are really happy to be in our own place again. I bet Gina and Beau are happy that they get to put everything back, due to the redecorating we had to do while Carson was there.

We now live in the Windwood Apartments! We love the floor plan and the price of them. That is why we lived with Gina and Beau so long because we wanted one of these apartments. It will help us be able to save a little more each month to get into a house here in the next couple of months, years, whatever. We are so happy to know most of our neighbors, considering it's Dave's old ward and neighborhood. We had to borrow a stick of butter last night and it was nice to be able to go to someone we know and ask for it. Thanks Jer and Kelli!

Our first night was horrible! We moved in on Thursday and that night all we heard was fire truck sirens. We assumed it was because of all the pyrotechnics of fireworks. It was so disturbing for Carson, so he slept with us. The second night the fireworks were disturbing, so he slept with us again. He is now sleeping in his crib and sleeping the same as he was before we moved. He wakes up once a night now, which is better than 5 or 6. We went to church that Sunday and we felt very welcome, so we are happy to be where we're at! We also had an ant infestation, but we are good now because Jer and Kelli saved us again by letting us use some of their ant poison!

Just a quick update, Dave is still at Usana. It is funny that I have to mention it every time I do a blog, but hey, you never know. He has slowly been looking for a job for the past little while because he would like to work at Usana until after Usana's Convention that they have every year.

I am doing Monday's and Tuesday's at Jordan Valley. I am on call on Tuesday nights from 11 pm-6 am, and I'm also on call every 8 or 9 Saturdays, so that's nice. It's nice to work my two days, but yet I still wish I was home with Carson those days as well.

Carson is now 11 months old! It's crazy how time passes by so fast. He is getting ready to walk. He'll take steps on his own, but he loses a lot of confidence and hurries and sits down. He loves airplanes, snow cones (horrible mom), ceiling fans and being outside. He hates grass, swimming (well, in cold hose water) and scraping his knees on the cement, so we walks on his feet and hands on the cement. We love his little personality. He's definitely a persistent little boy and he's happy as well. He's always on the go. He keeps us moving.

I also wanted to add really quick a thanks to everyone who helped us move, Andrew, my dad, and Beau and Gina. I wanted to thank Randy and Peggy for letting us use the truck and Connie and her husband for letting us use their trailer!

Fans

I just wanted to start off by saying how much I miss Carson while I am at work, even though it is two days a week. My parents and my sister are so awesome to watch him for us. It always gives both Dave and me a sense of peace knowing that he is with someone we know and someone who deeply loves Carson.

My parents taught Carson to love fans. They also taught him how they spin and spin. I know most kids love fans anyways, but he LOVES them. He will lye on his back and spin his arm in a circle because he knows that it is spinning around and around.

What a fun thing to watch him do!

Future Wal-Mart Greeter

I have to admit, our family loves Wal-Mart! I can find everything there for cheaper than anywhere else...well, almost everything. Sometimes Carson and I will go there just to look around for something to do. We usually need something there though. Carson is to that age where he has started to learn how to mimic, so he has learned how to wave.

As we walk through Wal-Mart, he waves at everyone that we pass, missing an occasional few. It has really started bringing me out of my shell. I am a shy person enough as it is and it's always been hard for me to warm myself up to people. I have never talked to more strangers in my life. We also get many smiles, laughs and waves back.

Now if I were to wave at everyone in Wal-Mart, they'd all think I was crazy. It makes it so much sweeter for people to get a hello from a sweet baby boy like Carson.

Airplanes

Here is a little story about Carson that I hope will bring a little laughter to everyone who reads this. Carson happens to be in love with airplanes. I really need to get him some toy ones because he loves them. When we are outside they always fly over our heads and he doesn't miss one. I swear he can hear them before we do! Every time he hears one, he looks up and reaches his right arm up to the sky and goes, "whoah" in baby language.

This morning when I pulled him out of his crib to take to Grandma and Grandpa's house he was still sleeping. He lied his head back on my shoulder as we walked out of the apartment and out the door. I started climbing up the stairs and down the pathway as an airplane flew overhead. I stopped for a second to see what Carson would do. Sure enough, Carson with his eyes still shut, lifts his head off my shoulder and reaches up with his right arm towards the sky and looked up. As soon as the airplane had lost it's noise in the distance, he lied his head back onto my shoulder as we continued to the car.

Like I said before, he doesn't miss one airplane!

Happy Fourth Of July

Happy 4th!!

Our family watching the fireworks

Jackson sharing his rootbeer float with Carson. What a nice cousin!

Carson swimming for the first time...he doesn't like cold hose water.

Carson is so cute in that swimming suit

I just wanted to say Happy Fourth to everyone! We were lucky to be able to take a break from our moving for a day and spend some time with both of our families. My sister Gina had to work at 5, so we had a BBQ. Then we went up to Doug and Kirstin's to watch some fireworks and eat Rootbeer Floats. It was a very fun day!