WOW...the difference a day makes...

I can't believe how many new words Carter is learning to say each day! It is so crazy! He is just talking and being a little copy cat!! Today alone he has added Tiger and "copter" (short for helicopter)! He has really started this in the last week! It's so fun, but so frustrating trying to figure out some of the words. He has one that I have no idea what it is but he says it all the time. I hope to figure it out soon before we have a toddler size melt down over me not understanding. For fun here are a few of our newest words over the last week...
-Carter "Caaadaaar" He drags out a lot of words, I didnt' know I sounded so country until he started repeating us!!!
-Helicopter "copter"
-Elmo "Velmo"
-truck "tuck"
-hi "hi"
-girl "guurl"
-tiger "tiguh"
-train "choo choo"
-cat "meow"
-bus "buuuh"
-firetruck "whoo whoo" like a siren sound!!!
-and my favorite for wanting to eat Goldfish....he just puckers up his lips and moves the bottom one up and down like he is making a fish face!!!! I'll try to catch that one in a pic! Too cute!
Hope everyone is having a good Monday so far! I'm enjoying the cool 78 degrees out today!
Love,
Crystal

Swallow Study Results

Since my last update we had our swallow study done. The Radiologist ticked Scott and I off so bad I've had to wait a few days to post so I wouldn't spend the post ranting about her. Soooo the results were normal. He was such a big boy and they got good views. They said they will send a final copy to my Ped and the ENT that referred us, but that it looked normal. So that is great! On the other hand we still have no explanation for the choking. He's been doing much better lately, but I still hold my breath with every meal and snack until he is done. We will now see a GI to see if it's reflux. But like I've said for the past week, there will be no more "hold your son down while we torture him" testing. I'm done with that...give me some drugs and if they work then it's reflux, as easy as that. If they don't work then it's not reflux and we will move forward with the next step, whatever that is.
So today we got Carter's haircut...anyone else have problems with their toddler freaking out over a haircut??? I would love some advice...lollipops, stickers, holding him, watching tv, and sitting in cool cars have all failed. I hate to see him so upset, of course when we got home we noticed she had cut is neck with the clippers so that explains a ton. Ugggghhhh.
After the traumatic haircut we went to the pool! Carter is so cute! He would rather play with red solo cups on the stairs than swim or jump in to his Daddy! So we sat on the stairs and played!
We are looking forward to our cookout at our house tomorrow with some really great friends! 8 adults and 8 kids, one dog, one sprinler, one pool, and one slip-n-slide! Should be fun! I hope to get my camera cooperating so I can have some cute pics to post! Have a great weekend!
Love,
Crystal

Bad day at the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor

So to catch you up quickly. Carter has been snoring loudly since he was about 1. I did not think nothing of it but brought it up at his 15 month check up. You could hear him down the hall with his door closed so I thought this may be a problem. They immediately referred us to WONDERFUL Dr. Herrmann at Scottish Rite. He saw us and put Carter on a med to help with the "normal for toddlers but slightly increased" swelling in Carter's nose passages. So it worked wonderfully and still does. We went today for follow up so we could brag about how great it was to not need surgery.

Unfortunately Carter has always been the kid that with every meal you have to tell him to "chew it up", "small bites please", and "take a sip" to help wash down his food. He for some reason has always seem to have problems. A few times as we were introducing new foods he choked to what we thought was really bad. We would have to jerk him out of his highchair and start to do the Heimlich. Great thing was that by the time we got him out he had cleared his own airway. Well this Sunday changed all of that...

In the morning we were having pancakes and Carter wanted some. So I gave him a small one without syrup for him to munch on. (He already had breakfast) Because of the above mentioned I always watch him like a hawk when he is eating. I looked over and he was frozen with tears coming down his face and turning dark red. I realized he was choking. I grabbed him out of his chair and had to do 5 back thrusts of the Heimlich to get the food dislodged and then get it out. He was so scared...so were me and his Daddy. But we remained calm and got him all calmed down. I was a mess. So later that night he is eating chicken at a local restaurant with us and my in-laws and it happens again. I get him out of his seat and by now his lips are blue. I pound on his back again and out it comes. It totally upsets my little man and all of the family. I hate that it happens.

So I tell these 2 stories to Dr. Herrmann today and he says, "That worries me that he is doing this". So we are in process of a work up. Today they sprayed numbing meds down Carter's nose and Scott and the nurse had to hold him still so Dr. Herrmann could look with a tube down Carter's nose, back of his throat, down to his voice box. He was looking for any reason why he has been choking. The results were his nasal passages are swollen so continue the meds for his snoring and expect that after he starts mother's morning out in the fall that it will get worse. Great(insert sarcastic face). He also said that his adenoids are 50%enlarged and his tonsils are moderately enlarged. His voice box is still getting to where it should be. So with all of that he said he doesn't really think that surgery would fix the choking problem. He wants us to do a swallow study. So in the near future, we will go to outpatient radiology at Scottish Rite and have a swallow study done.

I will keep everyone posted on that. Please say a few prayers that Carter doesn't have anymore choking incidents. It really scares me so bad.

On a good note I'm attaching a few pics for your enjoyment! Look at how he is growing so fast! I just love him!!!

Growing so fast...

So to update...we bought Carter his first tricycle. We were at our Godson's birthday party and he had a Batman tricycle that Carter loved. So of course we went and bought a new Disney the Cars tricycle of which he can't even reach the pedals yet! What were we thinking! Anyway, he loves to push all of the buttons and enjoys all of the sounds! We also scored a great little kitchen set with a ton of pieces for $35 on Craig's list! He is loving it! He likes to cook eggs...he is soooo much like his Daddy in so many ways!!!

He has learned to say the word "NO" and uses it correctly. Great...what everyone has warned us about. "Just wait until he learns the word No. You'll be so sick of hearing it", yes folks, I'm already tired of hearing it!! But atleast for now, it is only to tell us if he doesn't like or want something. It isn't in response to us telling him to do something! Notice I set for now!!! I know it's coming!

Carter is so funny. He knows what so many words mean but yet he is hardly saying any understandable words at all. But he completely knows what we are saying to him! I know he'll get it soon! He is a great little helper around the house! He gives Diamond her treat every morning and night and helps to feed her. He also helps us do his laundry. Now I know you are thinking he is 20 months...she is crazy. But he prefers to push the basket to the laundry room from his room, hand you his clothes to load in the washer, and likes to put them in the dryer when they are done. When they are dry he then puts away his own socks and bibs and then putss the basket back in his closet! Too cute! I hope it stays this fun as he gets older! He also loves to help sweep the kitchen floor! He MUST help you change the trash bag and put a new one in it! Everynight he cleans up all of his toys in the play room and puts them all exactly where they go! And boy does he get upset if something is in the wrong place! NOW THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMAN HE FINALLY GOT FROM HIS MAMA!!!! And I looooove that he has a little OCD from me!!! He also likes to get his own bib for all meals and throw away all diapers! I love this stage of wanting to help so much! I just let him do it all!

He is so smart too. About 4 weeks ago he started pointing to objects in a book when I ask him to show me which was which! We showed this to his Mimi and Poppi and they were quit impressed tonight! What grandparents aren't proud of their perfect grandchildren!

Alright this is getting long. I always think to post when he does some of this cuteness and always forget so there you go! A little update on my littleman!

Love,
Scott and Crystal

My Dream Come True...

My littleman drinking from a sippy cup,

watching my love share a snack on the couch with our childhaving a little boy that lines up his cars and makes the "vroom" sound while driving around the living room floor,

watching three generations play together,

seeing my Mom snuggle with another child like she did me,

(Mom doesn't snuggle other children)

watching my Daddy put shoes on his little buddy,

and coming in the door from work and going straight to playing on the floor!

These are all of the things I used to dream about and pray for while we were trying for 6 long years to have our perfect little man! Many women dream about holding there little baby and how fun little babies are. Scott and I used to talk about our dreams of having a child...a little person that is a part of the family! A little person who we could talk to and play with. I wanted Scott to be able to have a little buddy to share night time snacks with! We wanted to have our own little family so bad. When Carter was born it was instant love that ony another Mother understands. I have enjoyed every moment and am so thankful for my little family. After capturing these few moments in the above pics in the last month I realized...our dream has come true! All of the pics are just exactly what we always wanted! I'm so happy and proud to be Carter's Mommy and Scott's wife! I am so blessed for all that we have been given. Thank you Lord for answered prayers and the BEST gift from God!

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Remember those who have fallen for our freedom.

Love,

Crystal

Annual Beach Trip for Mother's Day

So when Carter was born we decided to make an annual trip to Destin Florida. We started out own family tradition. So for all of my Mother's Days (both of them) we have been on the most beautiful beach!

This year we thought we would be smart and wake up early and leave around 3:30am so Carter could sleep most of the trip and it would not be so hard on him. BIG mistake...we were so quiet and got him out of his bed and placed in his carseat so carfully! Then we were out of the driveway quickly. Well it didn't matter because guess who stayed awake until 5am. Well when he and his Daddy passed out (b/c Scott had been at work until 3am) I thought "Great I can really jam to the radio and drive in the quiet". Well a short 25 minutes Littleman woke up and was awake for the rest of the drive. He did so well though. We stopped and let him run around for about 20 minutes and hit the rode again!

When we got there we met my parents at the wonderful house we had rented. THey had already been grocery shopping so we were ready to enjoy the pool in our backyard and the beach! And boy did we! Carter didn't really care for the hot tub or slightly heated pool too much! He enjoyed climbing the stairs at the house the most! Then we took him out to the beach and he was sooooo happy! So happy in fact that when I picked him up to take him to the house to get ready for dinner we pitched a toddler size fit! So for the rest of the trip we took him after nap so he could play until it got chilly on the beach which meant it was dinner time! He loved playing in the sand! He didn't mind the ocean but was perfectly happy playing in the sand all day! I did learn something new about myself...I can't build a sandcastle to save my life!!! It sprinkled a little one morning so we took that time to go do some shopping! The next day the morning was a bit cooler so we opted for the race car track that had a small area for wee ones! It was Mother's Day morning so it was not very busy. It was like we had the place to ourselves. They were the first "rides" Carter has ever been on! He really enjoyed the swings, train, and spinning tops! We had such a great relaxing time! I wish we could have stayed a bit longer! I look forward to many more beach trips in the future!

Love,

Carter's Mommy

Birthday weekend continued...

So today we went to Scott's lifelong friend Chris' little boys First Birthday party. We got there a little late, as Carter was napping when the party started. So we let him sleep and took a very happy boy to the party!

His new thing is to yell and scream excitedly when we pass a pasture because he just knows there must be either cows or horses in there! So he neighs or moos like a cow and then starts clicking as if he is calling them to him! He gets this from his Nana and I when we call her horse to the fence at there farm! He associates all pastures with horses or cows because that is what it is like on the way to Nana and Papa's house!

So when we got to the party as usual Carter jumped right in and started playing with all of the toys and did not really care who else was there. After a few people left and it got a little more quiet he decided he really like to play with the Birthday boy and another little boy. Of course he loves jumping and balls so he loved the jumpy house with balls. He also got to play with a kitchen set that was outside. He thought this was really cool because it talked to you and made all sorts of sounds! We may have a chef and soccer player both on our hands!!! I hope everyone enjoyed the outdoors as much as we did today!

Now I must get ready for our beach trip this week! Sooooo excited to see how Carter responds this year! I'm sure chasing a 19 month old around the pool will not be too relaxing!! But I won't be at work and I'll be with family...enough said! Stayed tuned for an update when we get back! (I'm really trying to stay up to date on our little family so Lou Ellen doesn't delete us!!!)