Self Feeding!

NINE MONTHS OLD!

Carson is 9 months old today! We can hardly believe it! He celebrated by breaking in another tooth, bringing the grand total to 2! (Both on the bottom).

Carson has reached so many developmental milestones in the last 9 months:

• 6 weeks - first smile
• 2 months - sleeping through the night
• 3 months - first full blown giggle
• 4 months - rolling over from stomach to back
• 5 months -solid foods
• 6 months - breast milk to formula, sitting up
• 7 months - da da dadada da dada....ma mamama mama
• 8 months - clapping, dancing, and standing
• 9 months - two bottom teeth!

We don't have our 9 month check up until later in August, but we did weigh the little guy (or should I say BIG GUY) tonight before his bath...19 lbs 7 oz! I can barely lift him in his car-seat anymore. We are thinking he is pretty close being to big for his infant car-seat, and have started to research our next car-seat purchase.

Another big change in recent weeks was dropping Carson's crib mattess as low as it could go. One morning, I woke up to a very scary view in our video monitor! Carson has both hands up on the crib rail, and one knee propped up on the crib bumper...he looked like he was about to dive over!

Ryan and I never considered that it was time to lower the mattress, as Carson shows no interest in crawling, sitting up from a lying down position, or even rolling over on to his stomach from his back! The things babies do when left to their own devices...

 Usually I sneak in his room before I turn in for the evening, and kiss him goodnight one more time...now I can't reach him :(

Six months ago, this first time Mom was very worried about SIDS, and all sorts of items that should NOT be placed in a crib with a baby at night...those days are long gone :) We find that the more Carson has in his crib, the longer he will let us sleep in on Saturday mornings! Luckily, he has pretty much grown out of that scary SIDS stage.

The last 9 months have been absolutely fabulous...we can't believe they have flown by so fast. We feel like we have a decent baby routine, and everyone knows their role, including Chomper. She is well aware that her place is below Carson's highchair during all meal times. She even sits by it around 9 PM at night as if to say "can we feed him again guys, please, pretty please?" Here she is taking full advantage of other baby perks:

 Why else was this lovely quilt placed here?

We are excited to see what the next three months bring us, before Carson turns 1 years old! Maybe he will crawl! Maybe he will skip crawling all together and go straight to walking! 

Keep checking in to the blog to find out!

BATHTIME!

We used to get away with 2-3 baths a week, but since the introduction of self-feeding and sunscreen, we find our selves having bath nights almost daily! Special thanks to Carson's friend, Mackenna, for teaching him to splash! This is pretty much what happens for about 10 minutes straight during bath time:

A Day at the Beach!

Carson enjoyed a trip to the beach with 

his friends, Grace and Mackenna!

 The one and only time Carson's hat remained on...

 Good thing he didn't get sunburned! The hat will soon be off...

 First ice cream from an ice cream truck! 

Summer right of passage!

 He looks like someone in this pic...

I think maybe Grampa Moose when he was a baby!

 Sand is so yummy!

 Maybe seaweed is too?

 Not so much...

 Carson loved Grace's red wagon!

 He kept trying to reach out for Grace!

 Carson could dig for hours...

 Fun in the tidal pools with Carson's buddy, Mac!

 Maybe I will like it this time?

 Seaweed is SO FUN! :)

Love this pic...

The only time all 3 of them were in the same place at the same time!

A TOOTH! A TOOTH!

Carson woke up this morning with a tooth! Its the bottom middle left tooth...Mommy was so excited! Daddy doesn't quite believe its there, as you can't see it, only feel it.

Since May...I have been saying "He is going to get a tooth any day now!" So I am excited to say that today its for real!!!

He was very cranky last night, and super clingy to Ryan. He wanted nothing to do with me feeding him, bathing him, or giving him his last bottle. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess!

He slept wonderfully last night, as we had to wake him up at 7:40 AM for his 7:45 AM departure for daycare...we are crossing our fingers that the next few teeth go just as smoothly!

Here is some adorable pre-tooth drool...

COUSIN DYLAN HAS ARRIVED!

Dylan Robert Curtis was born at 2:08 PM on Sunday, July 17th, 2011. He was 7 lbs 4 oz, 19.5 inches, and shares a birthday with his Great Grandmother, Mom Mom (Beverly Curtis).

Heaven, Alex, and brother Nicholas are doing well! Carson is so excited to be a BIG cousin!

Loungin' like a man already...

Ok now...who taught Carson how to spit??

It was just sooooooooo funny to Carson!

HIGGINS LAKE!

Over 4th of July weekend, Carson, Susie, and Ryan traveled to Higgins Lake in Michigan. We had a wonderful time introducing Carson to all of his cousins! 

 Carson met his great-grandmother "Nan" for the first time!

Nan could not believe that her own daughter, Patty, was a grandmother!

 Uncle Sam, Aunt Kristen, and Nan

 Not sure who is more silly...

 ...Aunt Kristen or Daddy?

First boat ride!

 Daddy attempted to swim across the lake!

 Carson was not a big fan of his life jacket...

 All of that fresh air made Carson a sleepy boy!

 So sleepy that he napped on the water!

 Now this is what I call vacation!

 So peaceful...

Carson loved spending time with Aunt Kristen. She treasures these moments as she is currently swamped in graduate school!

That's one patriotic baby! Who just ate a yummy dinner!

Carson and his first cousins once removed! 

Twins, Alex and Adam, are so excited to be "big cousins"!

 Mommy and baby had a blast at the lake together!

It was surreal to be there with my own child!

Carson's first Meyer Family bingo game!

Way to carry on the tradition! Mommy played bingo at this age too!

What a great vacation with family! So much fun to see Grammy, Grampa Moose, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Sam, and the rest of the Meyer crew! 

Looking forward to spending time with the Curtis side of the family over Labor Day!

A Visit From Friends!

We were very excited to have Sully, Alicia, Amanda, and Joe come and visit us for a weekend, all the way from Maryland! We went into Boston, up to York, ME, and had a blast!

 Sue Briggs would be proud!

 Carson and Daddy in York, ME

 Amanda and Joe enjoying some lobster bisque

 Sully and Katie

 Alicia and Susie, the original roomies!

 Look at those cheeks...

 Nubble Light House 

 First time playing in the sand!