Monday Carter Edition #3

Ok, I know, it's not Monday! But hey, what's better than a little Monday Carter to brighten up your Tuesday?! We've been a couple of traveling fools and this Monday found us arriving in Midland, Texas. My mom graciously hired me to paint for her this week and the weeks following Thanksgiving (hint, that may mean my life in "blog world" will be a little slow, I'm a working woman now!!) Carter is getting to spend her days with the Oh So Sweet "Miss Brooke" and her cute little baby Cooper. She is loving it, and I am missing her. But, it is VERY temporary, and I'm reminding myself of that everyday. So, needless to say all this excitement left my little Monday Carter pooped! She was so tired she had to literally be drug out of bed and she protested all the way. "It's cold mommy, I'm not ready to get up yet..." I feel that way every morning, couldn't we all use just a few more minutes snuggled warm under the covers?

Needless to say, Tuesday Carter was asleep before I could get her PJ's on her, she didn't even make it to dinner!! I love this little girl so much. I think on these days that we are not spending too much time together my biggest fear is that somehow she will forget that...I know it's just my own silly insecurity, but I just want her to know she is cherished.

Dear Daddy, I miss you! I've missed getting to see you on the computer lately, sorry we are so busy! I've made some new friends and got to play at the park today! I am also having fun pretending I am a puppy named Gracie. I crawl around and hide under things, and when people find me I pant and wag my "tail". Laynce and Leslie sure are nice, last night I wanted to sleep with them, but mommy wouldn't let me. I hope you are having fun flying, I wish you could fly on over and see me! I love you so much! Big Kiss and Big Hug! Love, Carter

27,000 Feet

We've arrived! I love traveling with Carter. Really. At the end of the day when I look back on all we accomplished together I feel proud, tired, and even more in love. The journey from Washington to Texas is a long one, but more than worth it. For a couple of girls who are missing their main man a cross country trip is just what the doctor ordered, and the view from 27,000 feet isn't half bad either.

Breakfast of Champions...Somewhere above Colorado...

Passing the time away with a smile...

The best way to occupy a 3 year old? Free reign of the digital camera...

Finally! The city lights of Austin shone brightly...

And we were greeted by two of our favorite, very well dressed, people...

Let the fun (and the spoiling) begin!

We've had a great weekend so far, I'll share some pic's soon! Tomorrow we're heading up to Abilene, Abilene prettiest town that you ever have seen (not really, but it rhymes, sounds good, and the fact that my lovely parents occupy a sweet little cottage there makes it very pretty indeed)!

And off we go...

We're headed to our home away from home. Texas and the sun (not to mention some extra moo-lah I'm going to make working for my artistic momma) are calling our names. Today was a LOOOOOOOOOONG day of packing and tying up lose ends, but I'm so glad that tomorrow night I will be greeted after a long day of travel by my best friend and sista'. I'm so thankful this week for the fact that I am close to my family. I have begun to realize that this is not always the case for everyone. Evidenced by the fact that some people are shocked to learn I am actually excited and really want to spend the next 6 weeks bouncing around Texas visiting my family. Are you kidding me?! There is NO other way I would rather pass my time. I'm so glad that I have the support of my family and friends and really don't know that I would survive without it. So, ready or not, here we come! First stop is the home of this very fun Aunt...

Bye, Bye little vampire teeth!

Last spring we were at the playground that is less than a block from our house. Carter was enjoying playing and the undivided attention she was receiving from some older girls who were there as well. They were probably about 7 or 8 and were treating her very much like a small living doll. It was all fun and games until one of them turned to me, smiled very sweetly, and said, "Ooohhh, she has such cute little vampire teeth!" Seemingly negative, but spoken like such a compliment, Nate and I just laughed and went on our merry way. The observant little girl at the playground had just noticed what has always been a little bit of a mystery around here...Carter's front tooth which grew in with a "V" shaped notch right in the middle. If people notice they usually assume she fell or had some sort of accident. The dentist says it is a fairly common occurrence, and I always looked at it as a sweet little imperfection that made her slightly unique. However, on our last visit to the dentist Carter did an amazing job! She actually sat perfectly still and let them clean her teeth. She was a pro...

So, the dentist suggested that she would probably do just fine with the procedure he would need to do to fill in the "little notch in her tooth" as we fondly call it! You know what, he was right! She did awesome! They gave her a little "happy gas" through a "kitty mask" (all their kid friendly terms) it was pretty funny. She was so relaxed, and kept giving me these sweet little smiles. Here is the transformation...

It was amazing what a big difference this made to me! I think only those who know her well would ever notice, but I was very proud of her, and she is very proud of her "new tooth"!

Many Thanks!

Monday Carter Edition #2

Today Monday Carter decided to sleep in. This little critter didn't wake up until almost 8:45! After a quick breakfast of Raisin Bran we were off. Our walk to the car was delayed slightly as she stopped to check on the recently deceased earth worm in the center of our garage. It's been dead for a few days now, but she stops to monitor it progress every time we leave the house, according to her he only has a boo boo and should be good as new sometime very soon! She was happy to be wearing yellow (this weeks "color" at Mother's Day Out) and toting a very special bear from her Mimi (for bring your teddy bear day to school day). She was also looking pretty cute sporting the new ($2) shorts we found at the Gap...


Dear Daddy-One week down! I miss you and I love you with all my little heart! You make me proud! XOXO Carter

Giggle Box

Carter has the best giggle ever. It is just contagious and hilarious and so fun to listen to. We'd had a pretty long day yesterday. We drove over to Bellingham for her dance class and then, like the brilliant mom, I am I decided it would be really fun to go to TJ Maxx, which was followed by Target and the Gap (because spending the afternoon perusing stores for "good deals" is every 3 year olds dream come true). The highlight of Carters afternoon seemed to consist of using the stool, that some absent minded Gap employee had left out, to climb on and "teach school". People who were shopping were quite entertained, I on the other hand was a little annoyed, every time I tried to get near her to do a little size checking she would sternly tell me I shouldn't be in, "her area". Great, she's already sick of me. We made the trek home and were both a little tired. But, after dinner Carter got her second wind and turned into some sort of crazy person. I got it on video, but this went on for a good hour...

As a complete side note, if anyone is wondering why my three year old is wearing a onesie let me just tell you that someone gave us a pack of Large onesies at a baby shower before she was born. Somehow those suckers have traveled around with us for 3 whole years...they FINALLY fit, and make for pretty good lounge wear!

We also had fun doing our best "Francine faces". For those of you who aren't familiar, Francine is the best friend to DW, they are both characters in some of Carters latest favorite books about Arthur (or Artho-with a long O) as she likes to call them. Anyway, she's been doing her best "Francine" for a while now and we always get a kick out of it...

I joined in on the fun...

And then we ended the night with a little tickling, because it was just necessary.

Nothing can make me laugh quicker than hearing Carter laugh. Nothing can make me sad quicker than seeing her cry. Not the everyday cry, but the cry that means her little heart is really hurting. We've had a few of those over the last couple of days. I'll be honest, I'm not sure how to handle that. She is at the age where Nate leaving seems to really affect her, but it's usually not until around now (the week mark). Initially she doesn't seem to understand the fact that he won't be back by lunch, or dinner, or the next day. Then it starts to set in, he's still not here. When we pulled into the driveway yesterday she had just woken up from a nap and when she saw his car sitting there she got so excited and yelled, "Daddy's home"! Talk about a heart breaker. She's been having trouble sleeping at night, really not like her. That's usually when she cries or gets really sad. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the fact that it's also when she's most tired, I know I feel like that's when I have the most trouble holding it together too. I mean 90% of the time she is seemingly unaffected, it's just that 10% that's a little troubling. I'm just doing the best I can, but I still don't feel like I'm succeeding. I feel like the bridge between the two people I love the most, I just want them to continue to feel loved and connected to the other one. I'm so proud of my husband and his sacrifice, I'm so concerned about the way it affects our sweet little girl, I'm so in love with them both. One week down.

And, on a more positive note...I just have to give a shout out for Zappos! Wednesday I noticed the tiniest little whole in the toe of my UGG, but a hole none the less! I was disappointed to say the least. They had only made it through one season, which wasn't what I had hoped for. After a quick call to Zappos, I was shocked when the lady informed me they would be OVERNIGHTING me a new pair! They arrived by Friday! In a world of lackluster performance I was thrilled to learn that CUSTOMER SERVICE LIVES!!!!