pasta boy

My mom sent this to me today and I'm pretty sure I laughed out loud in my office. The funny thing is I've been working with M teaching him how to slurp his pasta and he still can't really do it. Tom says its because "he's all Dutch". So maybe Carter got a few of my Italian genes after all. Thank goodness someone did.

Carter Ellis is 8 months!

Carter is 8 months

He is growing up so fast. 8 months is scary, that means a year old is just around the corner. He is getting so big. He is 20lbs and 28 inches long and trying to move that little body of his. He has no interest in crawling. In desperate times he'll scootch but really that's only to get into position to pull himself to standing. I'm fearful that walking is around the corner. And really I can't blame him, crawling will not help him keep up with his brother any faster, he's going straight to running, I'm sure of it. He is still all smiles. No teeth yet, which is a blessing. He's doing just fine eating everything in front of him and often protests "baby food" because he wants what we're eating. His current favorites are swinging and water play. I can't even wash my hands without him leaping out of my arms. He's definitely a baby that you have to hold with two hands, he will often try to make a leap to something that he sees or wants. Seeing things through his eyes has been so much fun. With two life has gotten more crazy and more fun exponentially! That paired with Carter starting physical, occupational and speech therapy has encouraged Tom and I to not work so hard outside the home. A carpe diem sort of thing. So starting this month we'll each be home one extra day a week and we both couldn't be happier about it. Life is too short! And I mean look at these two....

Mason took this picture, he is quite the master of the iPhone and I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing..this blondie keeps us on our toes. The look on Carter's face is like  "oh ok, that's how its done, thanks Mason".

JOY

family portrait

My dad used to take us to the breakwater after a good storm in Santa Barbara to watch the high surf crash against the wall. So I'm trying to keep up the family tradition. I'm happy to report that I'm the only one that got hit by a wave.

Carter my boy

It doesn't get much sweeter then this...
CEB 6 1/2 months
Sits by himself, smiles, laughs, laughs hysterically at his brother, eats anything he can get his hands on, he prefers what we're eating over any 'baby food', loves the bath, wants to play at the playground just like his brother, loves other babies, sings himself to sleep, he coos, says baabaa, daadaa and I think I've heard him say maamaa but it might be wishful thinking, has the biggest, warmest smile as seen above. He spoils his parents, that's for sure.

Thursday mornings...

Tom works a late shift on Thursdays, so he has Thursday mornings with the boys.

This morning I got this video with this caption....

"Yummm...

C eats all of M's pear.

M eats all of daddy's oatmeal.

Now mommy is out of cookies.

M is eating the skin off of pear, then feeds it to C.

Isn't life grand."

Brotherly love

every morning when mason wakes up he wants to have carter in his bed.
carter loves it.
its like he knows he's in his BIG brother's bed.
tom and i are watching a friendship being made, a bond and it is sweet.

just a day at the park

We are so lucky to live just down the street from an amazing park.

It was time for Carter to experience the swings.

somebody push me!

Look at those legs!

CEB 6 months

my lunch dates

Nona and Grandma Bonnie trade off weeks watching the boys. This week is Nona's turn and these two loves met me for lunch at Whole Foods today. (I know, I pinch myself that I live near a Whole Foods now!)
I had thought that Carter had grown out of the pram but my mom found a new way for him to enjoy the ride. It was fun to see them bouncing along. Aren't they cute?

helper

This is what I have to do to get things done around here.
My little helper Carter.

Home sweet home....

The dust has settled and so have we finally. I think we're finally starting to feel like this is real. That we actually live here. That we can meet Grandma Bonnie at the beach on a whims notice or that I can invite myself (and my family) over to my parents house for dinner 2 nights a week just "because". That we have 4 different fruit trees, and a creek in our backyard. And, most importantly, when i leave for work every morning that I can have the reassurance that the boys are being watched by their grandmothers.

 I knew it was going to be great when we got here, I just didn't know it was going to be this good.

 Carter 5 months

 The boys & tibia...

 This is what a Saturday morning looks like in our house.

 I hope it never changes.

two boys

You only have two hands.

So when the doorbell rings and one is all swaddled for bed you have to get inventive or just let the big brother babysit :)

My heart melts...