A Jam Packed Month of October!!

Pumpkin Patch Time

Saturday, October 15th, we took Carli to a pumpkin patch in Winston-Salem. This was a fun afternoon of running around. Of course, she had to kiss the ghosts & pumpkins. She also had to touch most of the flowers that were for sale. She loved to climb on the wagons and in the "shed" built from straw.

Carli even picked out her very own pumpkin. It wasn't big enough for her, but it was the one she could pick up on her own.

"Boo-uh"

The weekend before Halloween, a little puppy was brought to school that had been abandoned. One of the students took him home, but found he was not a match for their family. Not wanting the puppy to go to the pound, I agreed to take him home to see if he would get along with our dogs and Carli.

It didn't take Carli long to learn the new word "puppy". She ran around the back yard chasing him along Jake & Lucy. A friend, Teresa, suggested the name "Boo" but we didn't really like it. Joe came up with "Boomer" so that became his name. By the end of the long weekend, Carli had learned to say "Boo-uh" and loved playing with him-except when he kissed her in the face!

Trouble is...Boomer was so little that he could easily slide under the gate. We had to rig a contraption to keep him in the back yard with Jake during the day. When we would get home, Boomer would sit at the back door, whining until someone let him in. Guess he decided he needed to be with Carli and play.


I'm not touching that pumpkin

Joe got a big pumpkin for him and Carli to carve into a Jack 0'lantern. After cutting out a hole in the top, he proceeded to get Carli to help him clean it out. Carli would have no part in that venture! She looked at him as if it say, "You want me to put my hand where and touch what?"
She did kiss it (of course) and did finally touch the top.
But she wasn't happy with the guts that stuck to her finger. So she just watched Joe clean it out and then became fascinated with the end result. She told it goodbye every morning when she left the house.

Halloween

This year for Halloween, Carli was a dalmation. The idea came to me one night when I was folding her laundry. We had bought a pair of "spotted" pants because they were so close to being dots, which Carli LOVES. As I was folding them one night, I thought they looked like dalmation spots. Joe was easy to convince, since he is a retired fireman.

After finding fabric that matched so closely that it was scary, I made a hooded cape, complete with ears, and a tail to match. Carli loved wearing them so much, they will have to go in her dress up box.

Before Trunk or Treat at church, I had Austin come home and get into his turn out gear so I could get a picture of "A Fireman and his Dog". Carli didn't like sitting on the ground with him and quickly got up to run away. Austin grabbed her and I was able to quickly snap this picture. I love it!!

At church, Carli loved running around in the empty parking lot. She ran to all the decorated cars checking out all the decorations. She wasn't afraid of any of them. Inside, she went up and down the stairs on the stage and ran around and around the tables, checking out the various costumes. I was a little afraid she would be scared of some of them, but the scary ones are the ones she loved to check out. She didn't win the costume contest :( but I thought she was the cutest little dalmation in town! After trunk or treating around the parking lot and a quick visit to trick or treat at Grandma & PawPaw's she was one pooped out little puppy!

My Little Thief!

Last night after dinner, Carli found a bag of TGIF chips that were on the table. She quickly proceeded to pull them down, sat on the floor, and began to eat them. At one point she even "hid" under that table.

After eating several, she must have thought eating them from the bag was too much work, so she dumped them onto the floor. Not wanting them to go to waste, we let Lucy in to clean them up. This made Lucy happy, until Carli decided she wanted to help Lucy eat them. Carli began to pick them up and give them to Lucy. Lucy didn't like that much, so she ran to the couch and laid down. Not good enough for Carli who thought Lucy needed them, so Carli took them to her.

It wasn't enough for Carli to just give them to her, so she then began to feed her.

Carli sure does love her Lucy!!

It Is Fair Time!

Today, we took Carli to the Dixie Classic Fair for the first time. We couldn't wait to see how she reacted. After nap time, we got her dressed and took off. While Joe got tickets, Carli and I waited outside the entrance sign. She kept looking around and around at all the people and the sights.

When we got inside, Carli's eyes were wide as she looked around at everything. She kept pointed to everything! She loved almost everything she saw. Everytime she heard music, she was rocking that stroller back and forth.

We walked around and around looking for rides that Carli would be able to ride. We were beginning to give up when we saw these little jalopies on a track. Joe rode with Carli. She enjoyed them for a bit, but I think they went around a couple of times too many. That is when she tried to get out.

Next we found the carousel. This was more her speed. Carli and I found a cute white horse and climbed on. As it started to move, Carli began to smile and laugh and laugh. She laughed just about the whole time we rode. I think that if we tried, she would have ridden it again and again.

Next we went to the animal farm. Carli went inside the petting zoo and fed carrots to the billy goats and the llama. Joe said there was no fear in her. She just gave that carrot to each one and giggled. Next we went into the sheep area and saw the sheep owned by friends of ours at church. She was given permission to pet one of the bunnies when she promptly wanted to kiss. Too bad, she was at the wrong end of the bunny to kiss. After petting him, he hopped off, leaving behind a little "gift" for Carli-which we didn't let her keep.

After dinner from the Walkertown Civics Club, we headed home. Joe and I thought she would fall asleep since it was almost bedtime, but Carli played and played all the way home. I believe she had a good time and will want to go again!

Middle of the Night Woes!!!

Lately Carli has had quite a bit of trouble sleeping at night. It all started last Saturday night (Sept. 24th). Joe did their normal nighttime routine...bath, teeth, and story. He then tried to put her to bed just like every other night for over a year. Carli began to scream!! Not the usual crying like "I want to play instead of go to bed" but a blood curdling scream at the top of her lungs! So Joe goes back in and tries to calm her down, unsuccessfully. I had to go in and rock her until she went so deeply asleep, I could put her in her crib. Sunday & Monday nights, same scenario. Another hour of rocking to get her down. Tuesday morning though, she awoke at 5:15 with the same screams and wouldn't go back to sleep.

Tuesday night, it got worse. After rocking her to sleep, Carli slept for about an hour and then awoke to the same screams about 9:30. We tried to bring her to our bed to sleep for a bit. no go. First, we had to turn on a flameless candle because she didn't like the darkness. Then she thought the light meant it was time to play. She would lay down and then pop up. Over and over this happened for over an hour. Finally I just put her in her bed and let her cry. It broke my heart!!!! But afer about 15 minutes, she finally laid down. Quiet at last...but it didn't last. Carli awoke three different times that night-screaming each time. After trying to get her to calm down, I finally gave up and just let her cry it out. After 10 mintues or so, she finally did each time.

Wednesday was better. Carli woke up again about 9:15 but went back to sleep on her own after a couple of minutes. But then at 4, she was screaming again. She wouldn't calm down...probably because she could see the hall light was on from Joe being up...so she got to sleep in the bed with Mommy. No playing this time...right off to sleep.

By the weekend, Carli was still stirring in her sleep, but she was only whimpering for a few minutes. I will be glad when these teeth finally break through.

Where did the summer go?

It is hard to believe that my second summer with Carli is over. I have enjoyed being home with her, but I am ready to get back to my students. I have returned to my childhood watching Sesame Street again with her. Some of the characters have changed but many of them have stayed. We watched so much of the Fresh Beat Band that I am singing the songs even when they are not on. It has been great watching her grow and learn this summer. This fall should be fun as it brings fall festivals, Halloween, Christmas and her second birthday! Next summer will come so slowly!

Beach or Bust!

From July 24-29, Carli went to Emerald Isle with Daddy, Mommy, and Poppie (Elaine's dad). She had quite the good time!

Carli showed the waves no mercy! She loved to run in the spray and tried to "step over" the waves as they crashed against the shore. Most of the time, the waves would knock her down as she tried to walk into or out of the water. She would just laugh and laugh as she went back for more!

Carli loved the sand too. She enjoyed digging holes and picking up fists full of sand. She even helped her Daddy build a few small sand castles. She had a "sand snack" and took a sea shell hunting walk with her Poppie. She tried, unsuccessfully, to bring a bunch of sand home in her swim suit. She also tried to catch the sea gulls that were flying everywhere. Once Poppie threw a piece of a sea shell away and the gulls thought he was feeding them. Took a long time to get them to leave us alone.

On Thursday, we went to the pier and let the wind whip through our hair. Carli even tried to see what was WAY below, but couldn't get out of her stroller...much to her dismay. Then it was off to Dairy Queen for a little ice cream to beat the heat. Carli couldn't decide if she like the chocolate Daddy & Poppie had or the Peanut Buster Parfait Mommy was eating. Either way, she got lots of icold ice cream.

Carli really liked being with her Poppie. She chased him, laughed with him, played with him, and just enjoyed being with him. But everyone was glad to be home and sleep in their own bed!

1 & 1/2 years old!

Hard to believe that Carli turned 1 1/2 years old just a few weeks ago. She is really growing and her personality is shining through.


What do I love?

• the way her face lights up when Daddy gets home or when she sees Elmo anywhere!
• hearing her giggle as she plays
• her independence as she eats oatmeal with a spoon
• watching her find her favorites in flowers that she must touch and anything with polka dots
• learning body parts or how to pucker up & give a kiss
• listening to her talk-some words are clear ("here" and a very southern "hey") and some not as often as she once did ("mommy" & "daddy"); adding new words this summer ("bye-bye" & "uh-oh")
• RUNNING through the house just laughing as she chases cats that scurry across the baby gates to get where she can't go
• watching her dance and clap to music
• seeing her pull all the books off the shelf in her room to find just the right book to sit down and read
• her beautiful smile and expressive eyes-she is gonna cause trouble for her daddy when she gets older!
• listening to her snore as she sleeps
• the look on her face as she eats a piece of ice
• her tiny little feet

What drives me crazy?

• pulling everything out of drawers, baskets, paper from the printer...just about anything and everything she can get her hands on.
• struggling to get her to eat... She loves Joe's jalapeno potato chips and my pesto pasta. She could drink her weight in milk if we'd let her..
• Fits of anger when she doesn't get her way or when you have to change a diaper as she rather play.
• waking up at 7am...no more sleeping in during the summer vacations
• teething...will she ever be finished?

Would I change a thing?

Nope...I love her more and more every day. I can't wait to see what is right around the next corner with her.