We have a camera and have had one for a quite some time but I'm a terrible blogger. I apologize to anyone that looks for updates.

No camera

Our camera has officially died. The only pictures we have are on our phones :( Once I figure out a way to put some updated pictures on here I will. I know, I'm a terrible blogger.

February

Happy belated Valentine's day! We didn't do much with Carson to celebrate this year but he did get some nice clothes and toys from his grandparents. He's always so spoiled and we really appreciate it ;) Next year I think we'll do Valentines for his friends at "school".
Carson is still obsessed with trucks and any type of transportation. Whenever we see a truck he points and makes an engine sound, it's so cute. He also makes siren noises for fire trucks, police cars and ambulances. We have several books, puzzles and iPad apps that he cannot get enough of. Speaking of the iPad, it's probably one of Carson's favorite things. He knows how to turn it on and select which program he'd like to use. When I'm getting ready for work in the morning I sit him on our bed and let him do his thing. He even knows how to get back to the home screen and pick something else out. There are so many awesome educational games and books for him to use on it.
In addition to loving trucks he also loves animals. He knows almost every animal you can think of, you say the name and he'll point to the picture. He can also make numerous animal noises like cow, pig, cat, dog, monkey, rooster, snake, frog, elephant and lion/tiger/bear/dinosaur (those all come out the same, haha). We are still working on animal names, he doesn't say many of those but hearing him say whale is the cutest!!

 Like everyone else, we are so ready for spring. I normally don't mind the winter but this year it stinks because Carson is much more active. He doesn't really care for the snow. We've gotten out a few times but he never wants to play in it, he just kicks it around and crushes it under his feet. On the days that it's really cold (like today, in the 20's) we try to make it to Twice the Fun (indoor gym/play center). We actually go there often, like once a week and it's the perfect place for Carson to burn off some energy!
Last weekend we went to the Boston Aquarium with my family and Carson had a great time. It was really packed, which was a bummer, so Trapper had to put Carson on his shoulders to see most tanks but he loved seeing the fish, turtles and sharks. He also got a stuffed seal to take home, thank you memere!
We are really enjoying our little family and sweet boy! He can certainly test our patience (he's discovered the word "no") but overall he is so loving! He likes to kiss and hug us, our dogs and even animals in books. When we went to visit our friends Courtney and Craig (Cameron's parents, Carson's BFF), who just had a baby girl and he was so loving to the baby! He got blankets to cover her up, kissed her head and would make the sign for baby (which is rocking your arms back and forth, like you would a baby). It's so awesome to see him be so nice to others but it's really the best when he's sweet to us. I LOVE when he looks up and wants a kiss or comes in for a hug and puts his head on my shoulder, it's to-die-for!

I also forgot to mention stickers. Carson LOVES stickers. He (most of the time) puts them on paper or his hands but every once and a while he finds a new spot for them, like his face! Fortunately we haven't had any end up on walls or furniture!

Halloween, Thanksgiving & Almost Christmas!

It's been a while since I've made a new post so let's start with Halloween! This was the first year we put Carson in a costume and it was so cute! We dressed him up like a shark and got some really good pictures. Our original plan was to take him trick-or-treating but by the time that rolled around he was too tired. He only lasted in his costume for a few minutes before he started whining and pulling at it. Oh well, at least we got some pictures!

Now on to Thanksgiving...

This year we went to my dad's the weekend prior and had an awesome dinner of loster and steak! On Thanksgiving day we went to my aunt's house (where we go every year) and celebrated with all my extended family. Carson had turkey and mashed potatoes, not to mention cranberry sauce which he loved and shoveled into his mouth with his hands.

 I can't believe Christmas is 2 weeks away! I have no idea where the time has gone. Carson will be 18 months next weekend, crazy! He is the best little guy, such an easy baby and so animated! He has us constantly laughing. He is OBSESSED with trucks right now, everything is a truck. He was saying the word car but now all cars are trucks so we're working on the difference. The worst part is that he can't say truck so it comes out like "buck" or the other word, that rhymes with truck but starts with an "F". Most people think it's quite humerous, except me, like the times we're out to eat and he shouts the F-word while looking through his truck book.
In addition to trucks we're still doing a lot of reading. I can't even count the number of books we can go through in a day. Carson is also starting to like coloring. He will sit for a few minutes and draw on paper, daycare says that he loves to make projects. I've also noticed that Carson is content for a while playing alone. He takes out all his animals and makes their noises or will drive his cars along the couch.
It's starting to get realllly cold out and I hoping that we get some snow. Carson was too young to play in the snow last year but this year we have his snow pants hanging in the closet, ready to go! I'm really excited for Christmas. I can't wait to see Carson open his presents! I think he's going to love Christmas this year.

What's this??

Carson has learned the phrase "What's this?" and says it allll day long. It actually comes out more like "Wsss thssss?", it's so cute. However, answering to him constantly can test our patience! He has also learned the word "hot" and now everything is "hot", even when something is cold or has no temperature. Sometimes when I give him a snack he'll start saying "hot" and lift his hands up but his snack is a cracker or raisins. We are trying to teach him the difference but it's not working yet. He also loves to play with phones. He will use any object as one, holding it up to his ear and saying "hi" or "hey". He has two play cell phones and even one of our old cordless phones to use but sometimes he prefers random objects.
Carson still loves to read. We probably look at 15 books a day, most are repeats. He is learning animals and can recognize a lot through pictures. He can also make the sounds that cats, dogs, pigs and frogs make. He really likes to look at First 100 Words and anything with cars. He is also still into his mega blocks but now he plays with all the pieces and makes big towers/buildings, instead of using only the single ones.

Carson had his first black eye a few weeks ago! (I thought I took a picture of it but now I can't find one...) We were both in the kitchen and all of a sudden I heard him start to cry. I thought maybe Pete knocked him over or he hit his lip but then I saw the huge grape-sized lump under his eye and it was instantly black and blue. I was afraid he chipped his eye socket or something so I called the doctor. They couldn't see hikm for a few hours and since he had calmed down it didn't seem urgent. Within a few minutes he was back to himself, running after the dogs and playing. After talking to my mom and a friend I decided not to bring him to the doctor. I still don't know exactly what happened but I'm thinking he bumped his face on the window sill. He loves to stand on the radiator and look outside. The bruise stayed for about a week but then disappeared and now everything looks fine!

Last month we went to the Rochester Fair and Carson loved the petting zoo. He fed goats and a giraffe! We walked through all the barns and saw horses, cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits, llamas...the list goes on! He even "won" a prize playing a game and we all enjoyed the fair food!

This year we are going to dress Carson up for Halloween, he is going to be a shark. We also want to take him trick-or-treating. This will be our first time out in Sanford. We haven't figured out where to go because no one on our street participates. The first year we lived here I decorated and bought a ton of candy but only 6 kids came, 4 of which lived on our road at the time. Last year I didn't bother getting candy or dressing Carson up so we'll have to ask around to find out which neighborhood is best.

I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year. I think it's going to be so much fun with Carson. He is growing up so fast! We love to see how he changes each year and gets more enjoyment out of things.