Carter's 1st Birthday

I'm a little late in getting this post up. Carter turned 1 years old on August 20th. He had a great day. It got started with one birthday waffle and candle. Then it was time for his television debut on Good Things Utah. Then that night he had his first backyard birthday bash. He had some grandparents, all great grandparents, and Uncle Beau, Aunt Nicole, and Auntie Elva there . He had his very own cake and was allowed to go at it. However, he just discovered a fork for the first time and was determined to use that instead of hands. So, he didn't get very messy...which I guess is a good thing? The messy cake pics are good for the old scrapbook though. He enjoyed opening up presents and playing with new toys. One thing he didn't like was his birthday hat...we could barely get him to keep in on long enough to snap a couple of pics. All in all it was a great day. We're so happy to have Carter as a part of our family. He brings so much joy and happiness into our lives. Here are some of the milestones that Carter reached during the last 13 1/2 months. He started rolling over both ways just a few days shy of 7 mos. He also started sitting up unassisted at 7 mos, but was a pro by 7 1/2 mos. He didn't start doing the army crawl thing until about 10 mos. He did this forever it seemed. I thought he wasn't going to ever really crawl. But he finally did start to crawl at around 11 mos. Then he didn't even start to try to walk for a long time. At about 13 mos he started walking around the furniture. He was kind of chicken and didn't dare try it on his own. Then on Sunday, September 27th he took his first steps by himself at church. Throughout the next week he really started picking it up. He got braver and braver, and by the following Sunday (13 1/2 mos) he was walking long distances all by himself!! He is doing very well and soon will be cruising all over the house. He already knows how to open the doors around the house too. He is suddenly growing so fast. In some ways he still seems like a baby because he LOVES his bottle and his binky. But that's ok...he can stay my baby for as long as he wants!! We love ya Carter, aka Boopsy Boo! Shh don't tell Dad, he hates that nickname.

Fall Photo Shoot

I had a little photo weekend with the boys. First we got their pics taken at JC Penny's, just in case mine didn't turn out. Then I took them around the Valley for some more. At the time it seemed like things weren't working out very well, but in hind sight I think we did pretty good. I know a lot has to do with our new Macintosh computer that we've wanted for a really long time. It has a pretty good photo editing program, a basic one, but that's good enough for me right now. Now I just need to get some printed out and displayed. I love taking pictures and editing them, but the process usually stops there because now I do all my scrap booking via photo books on the internet and therefore don't really print them out anymore. But I'd like some bigger prints for around the house. Well, hopefully I can keep improving and learning more photo techniques!

UBIC Parade

I was in the UBIC parade this year. I haven't been in a parade in a long time...but it's not what you think. Actually "A Piece of Cake Weddings and Events" my company, was in the parade. It was really cute. I had a convertible car that I borrowed from my neighbors family's car dealership. I had my advertising car magnets on the doors and then decorated it as a just married car. Then my darling little neighbor girl wore my wedding dress and veil. Her boyfriend wore a vintage blue tuxedo t-shirt and top hat and they drove the car while playing some fun wedding songs...(Chapel of Love, etc). Unfortunately the crowd couldn't hear the music...too bad because it was a nice touch. Then following behind the wedding car was myself driving a golf cart, also decorated with advertising signs and wedding bells, etc. I was carrying coolers of Otter Pops. I had four of my sweet little Achievement Day girls help me out by passing out the Popsicle's and also paper fans with my logo and information. In theory it was really cute and in reality it was kind of cute. The little girls were in matching dresses and had floral wreaths in their hair to emulate flower girls. They carried baskets full of the fans and Popsicle's and walked along side the golf cart and passed them out to the crowds. We ran out of stuff and got way behind our convertible car and were pretty much holding up the whole parade...but other than that it went well. I think it at least got our name out there and some awareness. And you know how the saying goes...bad publicity is better than no publicity. So even though we may be remembered as that disorganized wedding place that was holding up the parade...at least we'll be remembered!

Wild West Cuties!

We entered Maddix & Carter in the UBIC baby show. The theme was Wild West Cuties, so they needed to dress up in Cowboy or Native American attire. Needless to say, they didn't win anything (you only win if you were in cahoots with one of the judges) but they looked absolutely darling and did really well. I don't need someone else to tell me that they are the cutest kids in the whole darn town...in my eyes they are!

Summer Splashing

Maddix and Carter's summer splashing events included playing on the Slip & Slide (which Maddix only would run down, never knowing how to slide on his tummy), playing with Fireman Elmo toy, sliding and splashing in the huge backyard water park we borrowed for my activity day girls, going to the pool at the rec center in Vernal, and last but not least going boating at Flaming Gorge with my dear friend Natalie and the whole Rawlings bunch...which I heart. They are so much fun to be around!

1/2 Birthday...My Favorite Things About Maddix Lately

Today is Maddix's 1/2 birthday...so he's 3 1/2. Normally I don't celebrate this, which we didn't do much but I had free store credit at Staple's that had to be used up so I bought him an artist smock and water paints. And I always feel a little bad because he gets the bulk of his presents for the year in the winter and wanted him to have something fun to look forward to in the summer. Of course I sang "Happy Half Birthday" song. And it was so cute because he kept telling me I needed to make him a 'half cake'. What a smartie...half a cake for half a birthday! Anyway this is my little tribute to him because he's just really cracking me up lately. So here's some of my favorite Maddix quirk's recently. He loves the movie "Toy Story" and and also loves to jump off of things lately. So when he jumps he says, "to infinity and beyond" just like Buzz does before he flies. Also he's been so inquisitive recently. I'll tell him something we need to do for example...make the beds. He'll ask why and I'll say something like because we don't use them in the day and it just looks nice. He again ask why and then he'll say, "tell me all about it." I'm not sure where he picked that one up, but it's so cute. Then since it's been the 4th of July and lots of fireworks going on...his new thing is to make me sit down and watch his fireworks show. He'll throw toys up into the air or down the stairs. He'll tell me exactly where I have to sit. But my favorite is how he says the Grand Finale...he'll say,"Look, I've got a really cool granny folly!" Next on the list is his new favorite cartoon...Hong Kong Phooey. He found it while staying up late and watching TV with Grandma Pam. He says it "Honk Honk Phooey" and he'll sing a little song about him being a crazy dancer. It's this old school 1970's cartoon and it is quite entertaining. Luckily we found out it comes on at 9:00 am so he can watch it then. And finally the last thing was when we were shopping with Grandma Pam. She has this habit of buying things in multiples when she finds a good deal. A lot of times she'll buy at least 6 of something and have it on hand for wedding center pieces. Well, she was doing this and Maddix was in her cart. He told her, "Grandma, you don't need that many." Then a little later he said, "Most people only buy one!" How does he know that? He's probably been listening to his Dad and Grandpa Larry! Maddix is such a joy to have around. He is truly one of my best friends and I love him to death.

P.S. His hair is long on purpose. I'm trying to grow it out for that shaggy look. But it's at that I really need a haircut phase...hopefully we'll be over that phase soon!

HAFB Air Show

Hill Air Force Base had their Air Show this year. My Dad got some VIP tickets to the rehearsal show on Friday, so Maddix and I went with Grandpa Lou, Brenda, Ian, Jayme, Derek, and Betty. We had a lot of fun. Maddix especially liked checking out the F-16's and the Monster truck. It was really loud and Maddix could not keep his ear plugs in for the life of him. So, towards the end he got a little antsy to get out of there because it was so loud. Then he fell asleep in Uncle Derek's arms for quite a while. All in all it was a good day and something different to see and do. I vaguely remember going as a little kid, but hadn't been in many years. So, we'll wait for a few more years and hopefully get to go again.

Declared....Potty Trained!!!

Hallelujah!! I'm officially declaring Maddix potty trained. I can't believe the day has finally come. I think there are three things that attributed to his success. They are Miralax (my personal miracle in a jar), Batman, and this little bubble gum machine. The first obstacle that we conquered was with Miralax Stool Softener...need I say more. This just really helped soften things up and get rid of the pain for Maddix. The second was the coveted Batman underwear. He got them from Santa Clause and was told he couldn't wear them until he knew how to go pooh-pooh in the potty because he couldn't ever get Batman dirty. Well one day I was out of underwear for Maddix and had to hurry and throw the Batman underwear on. I told him he better not have any accidents in these because Batman would get really mad at him and not be his friend anymore. So, he took this very seriously. Finally I had to find a toy or something I knew he would really want. He loves gum, so a gumball machine seemed fitting. This set on top of our fridge for quite a while because Maddix was told he had to earn this by learning how to go pooh in the potty, not in a diaper anymore. Well, one blessed day, the day he first wore his special Batman underwear, Maddix did the deed all on his own. I was on the telephone and he went in the bathroom all by himself and took care of business. He then called me in and told me he went. I was expecting a really little one, like in the past...not the case this time!! I was so happy and he got lots of praise, kisses, and treats! Then about two weeks more of this with no accidents, he was awarded his gumball machine. I am so proud of Maddix for accomplishing this feat! He really tried hard and it paid off. Way to go Maddix!