Big Brother!

Going back a few months...Carson took a Big Brother Class about a month before Maggie was born.  He was funny about the whole thing; saying he didn't want to play with dolls, and then proceeding to man-handle the doll once he got a hold of it.  I must admit, we wondered how our little guy would do...and yes we've had a few crazy moments already, like when he accidentally kicked her in the head the first night she was home!!!! But, he loves his sister, and although I'm sure she'll get roughed up a bit, he is already showing signs of being protective of her.  I guess he's cool with knocking her around, but god forbid anyone else tries to do it!

Maggie Update

Here are a few more pics from Maggie's birthday...and some updates from the past month.  She's nearly 3 months old and she's growing, growing, growing!  She's been smiling for about a month now, and this week she's become interested in her hands - or maybe she's just discovered she has them.  Tonight, I snapped a few pics of her just staring out at her outstretched hand, funny!  Could she look any more like Carson???

Maggie is Here!

Maggie Grace arrived on 12/15/10 at 8:03 a.m., weighing 7 lbs 4 oz, and was 19.75 inches long.  We've gone pink in her honor, but just for a bit ;). She looks like her big brother, but she is already a very different baby than he was.  She's a little calmer than he was, and even though she came into the world weighing a whole pound more than Carson, she just seems more petite than he was. We've made it through the first month, and Michael and I are getting used to surviving on less sleep. :)  More updates to come...

Before and After photo.....

 Above about a 1 1/2, below 4 1/2!

Fall Pics

These were the few pictures we got from Halloween and pumpkin patch time.  Carson enjoyed all the Halloween festivities and raked in the candy on Halloween night.  He was Darth Vader (without a mask), but preferred posing for the camera as a "zombie"...nice!  He loved carving pumpkins, but not the smell...clearly :).  We are anxiously awaiting December and the arrival of Carson's new baby sister.  Pics of her new room to come shortly.  Dad did a great job painting the room, putting up wainscoting, and putting together furniture.  Grandma Connie is making her bedding set, and we are excited to see it all together very soon!  We are almost set for our new arrival :)!

More Summer Favorites

I realize that we've been such slackers the past several months, but we'll try to do better about blogging.  There were still some fun pics from our summer, and I decided to post just a few more before moving on to fall.  It is hard being so far from family, but when we do get to travel "home" it's such a special treat, especially for Carson.  He's spent most of his 4 years away from some of the people who love him most, and it's so fun to see him with all his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  He adores them all, and looks forward to every visit we get with them.  Here are a few more of my favorite pics from our summer in CA and OR and TX.  Carson is such a lucky boy!

Hello Again!

We've been busy, but clearly not busy blogging...Here are some highlights from Carson's summer.  We went camping in Oregon and California with grandma's, cousins, aunts and uncles, and Carson's god parents.  We took a trip to Six Flags, and Carson and Dad rode lots of coasters and water rides.  He was just tall enough to ride some of the big ones, and with no fear-reference to hold him back he was game to try just about anything - even the upside down Shock Wave!  We did have a pretty low key summer other than those few trips, but we did spend some time hanging out with friends swimming and playing!  In September, Carson started his last year of Pre-K, and we began getting ready for the new addition to the family -- a baby sister due just before Christmas!  That's right, Carson is going to be a big brother! Of course you all knew that already :)!  Carson got a new bedroom, complete with a new paint job, and Dad has been working hard getting the new baby's room together (No, we don't have a name picked out yet.)  We'll post more pics soon, but this should get us back on track, sort of :).