Corbin is 7 Months

I forgot how much fun this age is!!

They seem to come alive around 6 or 7 months, it's just so much fun!

Corbin is really such a happy happy boy!  He's very enthusiastic about food.  He is eager to crawl.  He is currently rolling everywhere he needs to be and pushes waaay up or does a plank...all in prep for crawling I'm sure.  Corbin LOVES to jump in his exersaucer (total waste of money for Carter, by the way).  He can jump like a maniac!! 

I love his smile!  He has twinkly eyes that seem mischievous to me.  I love his laugh and even his new protesting-sleep-cry, it sounds like a baby doll!  He is so "into" all that is happening in our home that he protests sleep by pushing me or trying to sit up as I hold him to rock him.  Ahhhh, rocking him.  I think rocking him (like rocking Carter) is just the best feeling in the world.  He fits perfectly in my arms now.  Such a good size.  He's cozy there and I can stare at his calm sweet face.  These moments wont last. Gosh I love it!!

Here are a few pictures that capture his personality!

LOVE this smile!

Very long, narrow feet.  Right?  I mean strangely long and narrow!!

Baby Plank!  Work it boy!!

Isn't this a yoga move??  (I hate yoga.)

Hi.  

(He's modeling his jacket.)

Upside down pacifier.  The VanSickle in him.

Yes, those types of things are oblivious to me.  Inside out socks?  Matching socks? Carrot for an earring back (Grammy)? Pacifier upside down?  Not a big deal.

Face.

Modeling again.

LOVE this outfit.

If we have a third, this will be passed down. Love it!

See ya!!

Bob & Larry (And other Carter-isms)

Bob and Larry are a part of our daily routine.  Don't know Bob and Larry?

How can you not know Bob and Larry???

Kidding.

Bob and Larry, as in the hosts of Veggie Tales, are Carter's favorite characters of all time.  He got 3 new CD's for Christmas and you'd have thought he opened chocolate (if you are me...that is exciting).

We listen to them all.the.time.  If Carter is in the car, Bob and Larry are on.  2 reasons:

1. When Bob and Larry are on he's listening to age appropriate, good, quality music.  With a nice healthy message or story.

2. When Bob and Larry are on he is so focused on them Mommy and Daddy can talk.  It's true!  A real conversation without interruptions!

Which is more important??  Totally depends on the day.  :)

Carter really focuses on the words of the songs.  He has started singing along, which is totally cute, by the way.  And he asks tons of questions about the songs.

Like:

What is "holy", "mighty", "righteous", "blessings", "sin"?  "What's this song about?" Not going to lie...some of these questions are hard for me to give him a decent explanation.

But I love it!

There have also been a few connections made from the songs to real life.

1. When Corbin is sick (always)..."Maybe we can ask God to take Corbin's sick away, like that girl in the Bible."

WOW!

2. "You are mean to me MOM!!!  Is that a sin???"
Me: What a sin?
"If I say "YOU ARE MEAN TO ME!!""
Me: Do you think it makes God sad??
"Yes."
Me: So what do you think?
"I think it is."

3. Me:  Carter hold your fork down please.  It could hurt your eye.
"Like the man on the street who couldn't see??"
Me: Huh??
"In the Bible and Jesus fixed his eyes."

4. While reading his children's Bible, he has noticed some of the stories have a song to go with them!

5. OH and this one just happened before dinner...He tripped on a toy and started to cry.  I asked him what was wrong.  He said "I stumbled in the light (Whaa!) I stumbled in the light.  It's not dark and I fell."  Ha ha!!

Any who, I thought I better write these down.  Man, I love watching these kids grow!!

We're baaaack!

Well, we're back. 

Our hard drive crashed and so did the thousands of pictures we've collected as a family.  :(  Needless to say, we're starting over.  Honestly, it makes me sick in my stomach to think about it.  But this is just an example of why blogging is so important and OBVIOUSLY some system to "back that thing up."

While we've been away, I've been taking pictures, just have to take time to get them on the blog now.  I thought we'd start off with some photos of Corbin's 6 month birthday and Carter's 3rd year!

I'll be back with more stories and pictures....but you know me and my overwhelmingness about blogging, I had to get the ball rolling.

I tried to be all pinteresty cute.

But I don't even know how to tie a tie.

Carter's Party!  

It was awesome...

1. At a rec center!

2. They ran and played.

3. Someone else cleaned!

Cheeeeese!  Look at that smile!

Take 2!

And another good smile!

Love how he eats cake!

Look at his face.

Look again!  Hahaha!!

Corbin: Laughing

Who has a great laugh and funny mom?

This guy:

3 Months

Dear Corbin,

You are officially a baby and not a newborn.  And to type that is bittersweet.  When I look at pictures from 3 months ago I can't believe you will never be that itty-bitty again.  However, when I'm enjoy YOU as you are now, I'm thrilled with who you've become.

You are the happiest little baby ever!!  You are so smily and giggly it is addicting to play with you.  You seem to be very social, like your big brother.  You are a great eater and are weighing in at about 15 lbs!  Big boy!  You've flown your fist international flight and met both sets of grandparents and all of your cousins.

You still sleep a ton.  But as I remember, that is the life until babies are down to one nap, right?  You sometimes like to fight sleep and trick us by acting super happy and then screaming within the same minute.  Who can blame you?  There is so much fun going on with your big brother in this house!

I hate to post this again, but it's kind of on the short list of what you are doing these days...you are a gassy boy.  Even after cutting dairy, you are just gassy.  Not nearly as bad and you aren't in pain.  But you do just toot constantly.  I'm afraid you are going to take after your uncles.  Once again, I'm thankful God prepared me for boys by having some crazy brothers.

**ADDED Sunday, November 18, 2012:
As I'm wearing you in the Baby Bjorn, I'm reminded of the major progress we've made since our first night together in the hospital up the road.  You are really on a little routine these days.

Wake around 8:00 (give or take :30min).
Morning: Eat, Play Sleep.  Once or twice through, depending on nap length.

1:00 (give or take :30 min).  Wrap you in your swaddle for a big nap with brother. Wake around 3-4:30.

Afternoon:  Depending on the length of your big nap, either just eat, play, bathe and to bed by 6:30.  OR eat, play and mini nap, bathe, bed by 6:30.

6:30 (give or take :30 min) bed.  And this can mean eat then go straight to sleep.  Or eat, sleep, stir/request food off and on for the next 2 hours.

I LOVE routine!!  I know they change.  But I just love having an idea as to why you may be fussy.  It's usually because you are ready to move on to sleeping or eating.  So nice to have a way to communicate with you!

While on the topic of communication, you have a new cry.  Imagine a child fake crying.  That is what you do.  I know it's not a fake, but it's a new version of the sound you know how to make.  And this is your warning whine.  When you do this, it means you are ready for bed.  Thank you!

Your head strength is amazing now!  You love to look all around from the baby bjorn or do some tummy time in front of the mirror.  You love that baby in the mirror!

And finally, while I'm rocking you or wearing you, if you are ready to nod off, you simply turn your head toward me so that your face is covered and call it quits.  I'm guessing you like it super dark.

See, we do know more about you thank I previously thought!!

*****

Here are your 3 month pictures!  We love you so much!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Carter and Lucy

Had to Share..

I've just uploaded our pictures from the past month and decided these four couldn't wait.

Corbin sleeps a TON.  But in the little time he's awake, he's so happy!!

(Unless he's tired again.  Ha!)

So glad I caught this.

I LOVE this boy!!!

Brotherly Love

I have lots to blog about but life is crazy.  However, I did not want to forget what happened today.

At the mall, while shopping for a birthday party gift, we made a pit stop at the pet store.  You can't pass the pet store without taking a look, right?  I was wearing Corbin in the Baby Bjorn.  Carter was running from pet to pet.  When he got to the lizards/dragons he needed me to lift him up.  So I one-armed him up on my hip.  While he was staring at all of the lizards/dragons I notice that Corbin was staring up at his big brother, smiling, and laughing!!!  He was so excited that his big brother was joining him on Mommy!  It was the sweetest thing!!

I really think this was the first time he noticed Carter and seemed happy about it.  I think he really knew that was his brother!