Carter and friends

Seated from left to right: Paloma, Jonah, Luke, Carter & Brady (who was a bit sad). Missing is Caitlyn. She wasn't up for a pic!


Today it was our turn to host the Tuesday playgroup meeting. So Carter and I invited all of our friends over to our home to play. The toddlers all had a fun time and Carter was the BEST host ever! He shared all of his toys nicely and had to greet everyone at the door and open it himself to welcome them in with a big smile. It really was so cute to see! After a hard morning of play he went down right away for nap and left mommy to do clean up duty all by herself!

Daddy's 1st Round Draft Pick

Well, I saw this tshirt at Old Navy and couldn't resist. Even though I am completely indifferent about football season and "fantasy" football, it is still fun to dress Carter up for the part! Who knows, maybe Carter's shirt will bring Darrell good luck in his league this year!

Hanging out with Uncle Kev

Carter & Uncle Kevin are on line searching for a NEW HOME for us!!! We are lucky to have Kevin's expertise in the whole real estate market so that when we are finally ready take the plunge he can help us out. We are also grateful that Uncle Kev's lives only a few blocks away from us so we do some trade off's. I cook him dinner every now and again and he babysits Carter for us (after he is fast asleep of course) so Darrell & I can have a date night! On a serious note though....Carter really loves Uncle Kevin and it is so cute to see them play/wrestle around together.

Our home town(s)

Cutting the grass with Grandpa Dave for the very first time

Watch out! I think Carter is going to put it in reverse now.

Carter is thinking that this is pretty cool gramps!

Swinging along with Grandpa John

At the Peru mall riding the icecream truck ride.

Often times city friends of our ask.....now were exactly are you from? What is Spring Valley like? I laugh. I tell them it is a small town 90 miles southwest of here. I often tell them it is near Starve Rock many people know of that location. Or I just tell them to listen to the John Cougar Melloncamp song " Small Town." That will pretty much some it up. I never thought I would find myself saying this but as much as I could not wait to escape the small town boredom and gossip, lately I have been looking forward to visiting a lot. The main reason is simple. It is Carter. Carter absolutely LOVES going to our home towns (mine is Spring Valley & Darrell's is actually considered the "village" of Dalzell) to play, run and be with his grandparents. Carter has really gotten attached to all four of his grandparents lately and Moxie my mother-in-laws adorable dog. I think it is the space thing. Both grandparents have nice big yards, one has a swing, both have pools, friendly neighbors and just so much to see outside versus the hustle and bustle of city living and noise! We do hope to move some day soon to a bigger home with a backyard for Carter, but we won't move home, home "SV & DZ," but just a bit closer. Anyways, we feel very fortunate to have Noonie & Grandpa Dave & Noni & Grandpa John so close our son and so helpful to us!

GO CUBS GO

Carter is a true CUBS fan in this outfit! One of Darrell's clients was so thoughtful to give Carter this CUBS hat. It fits him perfect and it really helps keep the sun out of his eyes. So now that the
Cubs won the National League Central Division Championship and will be going to the playoffs to compete for the World Series we will be for sure sporting our gear! HAHA......Mike & Brady Mulligan~Carter is laughing at you Cardinal fans!

Michael Phelps Junior

Well folks we may definitely have a future Olympian on our hands here. As you all know Carter LOVES water. So lately he has been showing mommy some of his new tricks in the bathtub. He loves to do the back float now. He will totally submerge his ears in the water and sometimes even his whole face. He loves to be under the water and is absolutely fearless of it. He will just pop back up, look at me and laugh! Bath time supervision is a very serious job at the Micheli house! He is too cute in this picture~~~

Having a Ball

Carter "having a ball" at Ben Sexton's 2nd Birthday party. The party was held at MyGym. It is a very fun gym with toddler appropriate equipment to play around in. Carter's favorite thing was the BALLS though!

Carter & Paige Spychalski "his girlfriend" playing in the balls together. Looks like Carty is a little stuck!

Lil's Kickers

This is a picture of Carter and his best buddy Luke Foster. Carter & Luke have been friends since Carter was 4 months old. Luke's mom Colleen and I really enjoy each others company too and I feel so lucky to have met them! Both "Carty" & "Lukie" are enrolled in Soccer together. After running around playing what is supposed to resemble "soccer" they ended the class out on the bench having a much needed snack!

1.5 Year Check Up

Carter went to see Dr. Bergquist today for his year and a half check up. He received his Hepatitis A shot and Flu Shot. We decided to give him the flu shot this year in hopes to avoid another trip to the hospital come this winter. Carter was a trooper getting his shots and was a total ham for Dr. Jen. He absolutely loves her. She is a great physician!
Stats are as followed:

Weight: 25 lb. 2 oz (50% percentile)
Height : 34 1/4 inches (95 % percentile again!)

He check out nice and healthy. All we need to work on now is language development. Carter definitely gets his "point across" to Darrell and I, but we want to really work on more words now that he is a whole 1.5 years old!!!

A Work of Art

Did Picaso make this frog? NO....Carty did! What a masterpiece this is! With mommy's help of course Carter made a frog out of clay and paint at the trial Art Class we took today. This was the first Art class he attended and he seemed to enjoy it. He did try to eat the paint once and didn't like wearing the smock, but for the most part was really interested in it. We talked about the color green and sang froggie songs too!

Random Silly Shots

Soccer

Mommy's Lil' Kicker. What a big boy! He is already to start the game!


Hmmm...this net thing is pretty cool. Maybe a future goalie??



The class ended with a game of parachute

Today Carter started soccer today. He is on the Chicago Lil' Kickers team with his buddy Luke Foster. Their coach is Ms. Hannah and she is a very nice and patient coach. Carter got to wear his uniform for the very first time and learned to kick the soccer ball. He like the soccer net too and just running around in general. He had lots of fun! Our soccer team plays inside the Menomone club gym so it is a perfect extra curricular for the winter months ahead!

18 Fun Facts About Carter

Feel free to call me cheesy, I don't mind. My baby is 18 months old today and so I thought I would share 18 things about Carter some of you may or may not know.

1. Carter gives the greatest KISSES ever. He is oh so sweet!
2. Carter has the most amazing blue eyes. They will melt your heart when you look into them
3. Carter has the funniest giggle. He loves to laugh and always has.
4. Carter has 14 teeth
5. Carter is the BEST morning snuggle bug. He loves to crawl into bed with mommy and snuggle for an extra 1/2 hour or so every morning.
6. Carter's favorite book to read is Good Night Moon (or goo-goo moo as he calls it)
7. Carter has a binkie obsession that we just can't break!
8. Carter is passionate towards water. He is definitely our little fish. He loves bath time and any lakes, oceans, rivers, faucets or anything that has water in it.
9. Carter is a speed racer with his Elmo Car. Watch out, he will literally run you over
10. Carter dislikes strollers, grocery carts, the changing table, getting his teeth brushed , sand and wearing socks.
11. Carter's favorite snack is Pringle chips or red grapes
12. Carter has been to 3 states (Indiana, Michigan & Wisconsin) but has yet to fly on a plane.
13. Carter has spent 3 nights in ICU at Children's Memorial Hospital for a severe case of bronchitis last winter. It was the scariest time of my life. We are so grateful that he is ok.
14. Bubbles! Enough said. Again, another obssession of his!
15. Baby Einstein. Carter has always loved his BE videos. These tapes have been our absolute life savers over the past 18 months. They always seem to get him excited.
16. Carter loves musical cards, toliets, cell phones, elevators and DVD players....anything with buttons too! He loves nature walks out by the river and just exploring outside in general.
17. Carter has extra wide feet. We refer to them as the Fred Flinestone feet. So naturally he loves to wear his CROC shoes.
18. Carter is a healthy and happy little toddler that is learning new things everyday and we are SO lucky to be his parents

18 months ago today....

18 months ago today......Darrell & I were blessed with this little angel.

A Fun Day with Noni Micheli

Noni Micheli came up to visit Carter today and brought him a nice little surprise. Another MUSICAL card!! This one was a Halloween one that giggled instead of playing music. Carter of course loved it. Noni & Carter enjoyed some quality time together playing with his toys, doing bubbles and going for a couple walks along the river. While Noni & Carter were having fun together, I got a ton of Neighborhood Nannies work done. Noni cooked us a nice meal and then had to head back home. Carter gave her one of his special kisses and escorted her down the elevator and to her car. He was sad to see her leave and cried all the way back up the elevator. Thank you Noni for visting me today, I had lots of fun. xoxo~Carty

Lounging Around

Just chilling out, taking it easy, lounging around......just doesn't happen to often in the life of a toddler. Perhaps, it was the change in weather today???? Who knows?? Carter decided to lay down and read one of his favorite books on the couch today. He looks like such a little man in this picture. I couldn't resist posting it and it was SO nice to see him doing this.

Labor Day Weekend: Lake Geneva, WI

Michelle, the bride Marsha, Me, Bean, Nick, Jackie & Jen. 18 years of friendship still going strong!!! Marsha's wedding was a blast. She of course looked beautiful and the reception was such a blast. It was so nice to catch up with old friends and watch our dear friend get married. Realistically we all see each other maybe once or twice a year, but everytime we get together all the old highschool memories and good times are shared again. There is never any silence or lack of words, we all have SO much to say! Congratulations Marsha & Jeff!


Me & "Momma" Bean. Melissa announced that she is expecting her second child this spring. Congratulations Bean. I am so happy for you!



Me & Darrell enjoying an evening out~

Me, Michelle & Bean after the wedding ceremony. Looks like I am the only one that "can" drink these days. Michelle is expecting a baby girl this fall.

The Ketcup Monster! Carter loves ketchup these days. He would eat it by the spoonfuls if he could. We had dinner this night at a restaurant called Popeye's. It was a nice seafood place on the lake. They served "popeye spinach dip" too, but Carter wasn't too much into that!

After a long day of playing in the waterpark with Daddy.....Carter & Noonie took a nice little snooze together.

Carter & Daddy having fun at the waterpark. We stayed at the Timber Ridge Resort. The resort has a huge indoor waterpark that was perfect for Carter to play in!

Daddy & Carter running through the Mushroom. He LOVED all the water falling on him

The jump-a-roo swing was quite fun too!