"Me Do It, Mommy!"

That's what I hear all day long from Carter. Whether it's getting his own water from the fridge dispenser, to picking tomatoes, to getting dressed, he is definitely working on being more independent. It's so bittersweet. Isn't it all though? So many times I find myself mourning yesterday or dreading tomorrow that I miss the process of today.

Here was today's scene. (Sorry for the blur. It's grayer than gray here, unlike last week, and my flash batteries are d-e-a-d.)







He's so proud! I really don't have a baby anymore, do I? *sigh*

Waiting for Molly

Not Even in Junior High

My middle name is Autumn. Yesterday I was leaving my mom's, and Carter was staying there for a little visit. They were yelling goodbye to me out the front window.

My mom yells, "Bye, Sarri Autumn!"

Carter yells, "Bye Sarri Babum!" (That's his word for bottom.)

Then he started cracking up.

So now, everyone's favorite thing to do is ask Carter what my name is.

"Sarri Babum!" (snicker)

Here's a picture of the little stinker.

I've been called many things in my life, but 'bottom' was never one of them.

Play Day

We had our buddies over yesterday for a long summer playday. By the end of the day, everyone was filthy, exhausted, and happy from a big day of playing!

Berries and Friends

Maddy was feeling left out that she missed blueberry picking when she was at camp, so the other day we headed out to a local berry patch. Judy was planning something similar with her crew, so we met out there and picked berries. The kids picked a few too, but there was definitely a lot of eating and running around! They were all so happy. Madeline did pick a ton, and we've been enjoying them! (We also got a handful of strawberries!)

Busy Day at the Farm

Today is the last day I am watching Grayson and Molly for the summer, so we all decided to take a field trip to The Farm (where I grew up). It was a GORGEOUS Oregon day and we all had lots of fun. Well, the kids did anyway...I was sweating trying to keep up with walking Molly and (still!) crawling Carter.

First, was the 'train' ride that Papa Vroom Vroom rigged up. They rode it out to the pond.




Next, came the canoe ride. Sweet Grayson got a little nervous because he was pretty sure he saw some stingrays in the weeds. (The weeds on land, that is.) The pond has dried up quite a bit the past few weeks, so it was mostly a 'canoe-turn around' instead of an actual ride around anything, but still fun! They saw tadpoles and dragon flies too!











While Papa and The Bigs enjoyed the pond, Carter, Molly, and I walked over to a patch of daisies for a photo shoot!

































Then everyone joined in....




























The kids also got an excavator demo, a tractor ride, and a 4 wheeler ride! I had 5 VERY tired kids on the ride back home...hence getting so much blogging done this afternoon!

A Tale of 3 Children

Chapter 1: Madeline
Madeline (in her announcement voice): I have some boy news.

Me (trying to be serious): Um, do you have a boyfriend?

Madeline: NO! (Rolls eyes again.)

Garrett: A boyfriend! Who is it, ME?

Madeline (rolls eyes): NO, GarrETT. Well, I was walking past Andres today and he said, 'Hi, Pretty Eyes.' Josh says that Andres loves me.

Me: Does he?

Madeline: YES!

Note to Madeline: 1)You are too young, 2)Please don't be boy crazy, 3)I am NOT ready for this!!

Chapter 2: Carter
6 AM. I am laying in our not-nearly-big-enough-bed between Joel and Carter. (Carter had joined us somewhere around the 2am hour- like always). Carter's big blue eyes pop open. He rolls over, crawls up and leans on me, stares at Joel and says, "BOO!" Total deadpan. Joel and I burst into laughter, despite the early hour.

Chapter 3: Garrett
Setting: In shoe store while purchasing new ballet and tap shoes for Madeline.

Garrett (eyeing sparkley purses haning nearby): I want a purse.

Me: A purse, huh?

Madeline: GarrETT! Purses are for GIRLS.

Me: Well, men carry Man Bags, I guess.

Garrett: Well I want one. I want a boy one. With a purple star with sparkles.

Me: Hmmm....we'll see!

Good luck with that, sweet boy.

He doesn't walk, but...

he sure does CLIMB! Carter is pushing 13 months and has not taken a step. He is NOT interested...at ALL. He crawls all over, and is so fast! He knows how to get up and down stairs pretty well. (We still use the gates though!) And lately he has taken up climbing...in a MAJOR way. I have found him in some pretty 'compromising' positions the past few days! Eeek!

Molly is mad because she WAS there first!


He is actually climbing DOWN here. A couple times I have caught him on the table playing with the lamp! (Didn't take time to snap a picture of that.)


"Look what I found, Mom!" YIKES!


I finally moved the rocking chair and slipped the rockers underneath this big cushy chair. So far, so good!


This is one of the first times EVER that he has let people help him walk. Usually he just goes all noodely on us and crawls. He was pretty proud of himself today though. I think it may be because he had a big audience at Maddy's soccer game!