Carter the Photographer

Carter loves to take pictures.....kind of like his mommy! Typically his shots are of random things, but he actually took this one of us. No bad for a 2 year old....

Our Little Brother

Baby Gavin wore jeans for the first time last night. Looks like mommy needs to buy a bigger size though because we had to unbutton them!

What a handsome little fella!

Gavin goes to Gymboree

Baby G posing with Gymbo!


Wow! This is fun says a smily baby G....
Gavin liked Gymboree the clown. He loved pulling at it's red yarn hair

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Carter went and visited his Noni Micheli so Gavin and I have some quality time alone. So, I decided to take baby Gavin to a Gymboree Level 1 class. The class is geared for babies 3-6 months of age. We sang songs to them, the babies did some tummy time, looking in mirrors, parachut and bubbles. Gavin was a little afraid of the parachut, but loved the bubbles and just staring at the teacher and the other little baby boy in the class. I really enjoyed spending some one on one time with baby G and taking him to class. I think this fall we will sign him up for a class too.

Cheap Entertainment

Yep, that is a diaper box............and underneath it is Carter. Maybe Santa can get off cheap this year and just bring a bunch of cardboard boxes this year. Now if we can only figure out how to convert a box into a guitar we would be all set!

A Funny Family Photo

Looks like baby Gavin was the only one that was looking at the camera! haha~!

Spiderman

Carter got a new and cool pair of PJ's for a potty prize!!!! The spiders body even lights up red when he moves.

Potty Time

As you can see Carty places the stickers wherever he deems appropriate. We are not putting them on any set days. Of course we have an Elmo potty chart, Elmo, Cookie & Grover stickers and Sesame Street undies!

Ok. So I am not going to brag too much in this post or jinks myself. However, Darrell & I are beyond PROUD of all the potty training progress Carter has made this weekend. We were determined to be DIAPER FREE and it has been exactly 2 days now without them! Day 1: 4 potty accidents. Day 2: only 1 accident and it was durning naptime (too tired to pee!). Keeping our fingers crossed for an accident free day tomorrow. Also, he has made "#2" both days in the potty! So, I just had to post his sticker chart. GREAT JOB CARTY!!! You are such a BIG BOY! Thanks for making this "not as difficult" as we thought it would be thus far! xoxo Mommy

Old Friends Catch Up & New Friends Meet

Today Gavin and I joined my girlfriends Michelle (w/ 10month old daughter Kylie), Bean (w/ 5 month old daughter Gabriella) and Marsha. It was the first time that Michelle and I got to meet each others babies. Marsha who is a newly wed, got a brief training (whether she wanted it or not!) on motherhood and how it really changes your life for the better of course! We all had lunch at Maggiano's, which is a great restaurant and all 3 babies were on their BEST behavior so us mom's were able to somewhat sit back and chat. It was really great seeing everyone and I hope we continue to meet up more regularly. Although Bean & I still chat daily, it is hard for us all to actually get together and meet up for a visit. Bean and I had decided it would be best to leave big brothers Grady (3yrs.old) & Carter at home with their daddy's. They would have never sat that long!

The Wiggles Concert

Last Sunday Kendra and I took Carter to the Wiggles Concert at the Rosemont Theatre. We were cracking up watching all the kiddo's rock out and dance in the aisles. Let's just say Carter's Wiggles guitar was a huge hit. He wouldn't let go of it! It was a super cute show. Even mommy and Aunt Knee Knee were singing and dancing. I think the song "Fruit Salad" is Ken's favorite. "Hot Potato" would be Carty's and mommy like "Toot-too Traveling Big Red Car."

Gavin turns 3 months old

Today our little angel turned 3 months old. The time is just flying by and I wish I could keep him a baby forever!!! They grow up so fast and I love how much he enjoys snuggling with me! Let's see.....since he is 3 months old today I decided to jot down his 3 most favorite things thus far:

1. Sleeping! Loves naps, doesn't bother trying to say awake for anyone AND sleeping thru the night.

2. His yellow duckie toy that is hangs from his carseat. LOVES staring and smiling at this thing! It is hilarous to watch him look so amazed by it!

3. Having mommy hold him& snuggle with him. Loves to lay with his belly on mommy's chest and have his butt patted.

Sorry daddy & Carter, but just being honest! Don't worry though "brother goose" aka...Gavin loves you guys too!

Love you baby G! So proud to be your mommy~ You are truly a wonderfully happy and precious baby.

Aunt "Knee-Knee" & Boys

I just had to post this cute picture of the boys and Aunt Knee "Butts" as Carter refers to her as. It was a bright and early pose......yep about 7am....the Aunt Knee-Knee Butts was up helping me out! Can't say I know too many aunts that get up at the crack of dawn to help their sisters with her "one volume....LOUD" children! Both Carter & Gavin just love spending time with Kendra. I have to say she has been a tremendous help since she moved back from LA last fall. I can ALWAYS rely on her to help me out whenever I need it. She even got to be in the delivery room when baby Gavin was born, which made his arrival even more special. Thanks Ken for all that you do for me. I am forever grateful and love how much you love my boys! They are very lucky to have you as an aunt and one day when they are older, I think they will really realize it too!

Welcome Baby Leah

Leah Frances Burkart was born on Tuesday, August 11th. I finally got the chance to meet her and visit with Tricia just this week. She sure is a cutie! Now baby Gavin will have a little girlfriend to play with when we go home to visit! Congrats~ Tricia, Dan & Big Bro Chase

Union Pier, Michigan: Family Vacation 2009

Our family


My little fish watching the sunset

The Micheli family at the beach watching the sunset

Daddy & Baby G going for a walk along the beach. Gavin liked riding in the Baby Bjourn facing forward so he too could see the sunset and check out the beach.

I love this picture of Gavin. He is so precious and those eyes.....are just stunning!

Gavin's first time in a pool. He liked it!

Uncle Kevin playing at the beach with Carty, Mallory & Callie

A beach shot!

Mommy's big boy getting ready to jump!~ What a fearless little cutie pie!

2 tired cousins & one furry red monster say "Good night!"

This year we went again with Darrell's family for a nice 3 night stay in Union Pier, Michigan. Darrell's sister Maureen and her husband Mike rented a nice, big home were they graciously let us all stay. This year Gavin also joined us! So Darrell and I packed up and ventured out with both boys. Gavin saw the beach and lake for the first time and went into a swimming pool for the first time! He of course went with the flow and was the best baby!~ Carter had some first as well. This year he jumped off the diving board at the pool all by himself, played in the sand at the beach (last year he didn't like the sand) enjoyed some blue gelatto, toasted a marshmallows for smores and even slept in bed with his big cousins! Let's just say......Carter enjoyed ever aspect of the water, both pool & lake. We couldn't get him out! It was a nice and relaxing little get a way and the weather was absolutely beautiful the whole stay.

Carter our "Little Fish"

WOW! Look at our little dare devil go!

Getting ready to play "Timber!"

This summer Carter has really enjoyed swimming in any and everyone's pools! Today he and daddy went for a nice swim in Noni Micheli's pool. Daddy came up with a new game called "Timber" where he puts the fearless Carter on his shoulders and then slowly falls backwards and yells "timber!" And the log (aka...Carter) falls flat on his back in the water. Carter totally goes under the water while playing "Timber" and loved it! He also loves going off diving boards. As he did this weekend at our family friends pool party. However, his FAVORITE pool game to play is plain and simple........daddy throwing Carter up in the air as high as he can and then Carty comes splashing down! What fun!

2 Brothers + 1 Elmo= Love

Yep, we have 2 Elmo lovers in our house now! Gavin enjoys "licking" the furry red monsters eyeballs! And big brother Carter shares his Elmo very well with baby G. We may have to buy a Cookie Monster doll now so that each boy has their own Sesame Street character!

Gavin & Mommy

This picture was taken right before Gavin's nightly bath. I post this because I kind of think he resembles me in it. We are still unsure who Gavin looks like the most. So far, we really don't see much brotherly resemblance. So we will just have to wait and see........

Aunt Rene's Newest Stud Muffin

Yep, Aunt Re-Re has a new stud muffin in town! Gavin! When we got this onies I just had to take a picture of him in it just for her! Aunt Rene has been referring to Carter as her "stud muff" since he was born. So now of course little brother is called the same!

Looking who is ROLLING OVER these days....

Baby Gavin John (in his adorable Mickey Mouse PJ's might I add!) at exactly 10 weeks and 3 days old. Mommy went in to check on him in the morning and he was peacefully sleeping on his tummy! WOW! What an advanced baby!

Our Playgroup Friends

The "mini" playgroup. Gavin enjoyed hanging out with Maxine. Maxine is my friend Sara's daughter. Maxine is 1 week older than Gavin. Maxine also has a big sister named Ella who is 2 yrs. old and Carty's friend!

Lots of kiddos! Paloma, Carter, Ella, Taylor, Mary Meyers, William, Jonah (on couch). Diego, Sofia and Jake (on floor). Caitlyn decided not to pose in this one. Missing is: Zach & Brady

Carter and I met a group of 12 mommy & baby friends back in June of 2007. Since then some have left, a new few have joined, but we have definitely made some GREAT and lasting friendships. This group of ladies have been so helpful to me and supportive to me. I really consider them good friends and look forward to bouncing ideas off of them, learning from them, "venting" to them and going out once a month for a mom's night out! We are all in the same boat. Our children are all within 2 months apart in age. They are also the group that graciously brought dinners over to us when Gavin was born. Carter loves meeting up with his friends every Tuesday and so do I. So, this past Tuesday Carter and I decided to host the playdate at our house! It was so hot/humid out I thought why not have 13 children under the age of 2.5 yrs. at my very small house? Just the smile on Carty's face as he opened up the door to greet his friends made it all worth the while.

Giggly Gavy

Baby Gavin just loves to smile and giggle these days. If you tickle his chin you are sure to get a big smile!

The Cutiest Load Of Laundry

I don't think I have ever seen a cutier load of laundry!

Visiting GREAT Noonie Jean

Everytime we are home my mom makes it a point to bring Carty up to the Spring Valley Nursing home to visit her mom, my grandma, Carter's great Noonie Jean. Carter loves going to visit there and is really patient and kind to the elderly people there. He especially likes to give Noonie Jean kisses and help push her wheel chair around. Although, Noonie doesn't remember Carter's visits or really fully understand who he is, I know it is important to my mom that Carter gets to know her and hopefully will have some recollection of her when he is older. Our Noonie Jean was the very best grandmother back when we were children. She and my papa Lester were the kindest, most generous and loving people on this earth. They would give the shirts of their back for anyone. It makes me sad to think that my boys will never get to meet my papa Lester and won't have much of a memorable relationship with my Noonie, but we do what we can. And for now, all we can do is continue to bring Carty up for his visits and hopefully Gavin soon too! I know you can't read this Noonie, but hopefully my mom Linda will pass this along to you. I love you and although I don't see you as often as I should....you will always have a very special place in my heart and each day I aspire to be such a very good and happy peson just like you were!