vaca pics

Everyone.

Carson at the water park

Carson at the beach.

Becka, Gwenie, and Carson

Daycare

We are back from vacation and back to a routine again. Just a little update on our trip to Myrtle Beach. I would have to sum it up to an experience. Traveling 16hr in a car with a 1 year old wasn't my cup of tea or Carson's for that matter. We traveled through the night on the way up there and I will never do that again. Carson is a very lite sleeper so every time we stopped she was up and ready to party. It was to much with being tired and entertaining a one year old. Once we got there our place was nice and I really enjoyed spending time with Kim and her family. Her step girls were so nice to Carson and she really enjoyed being around them. I'm sure they didn't like her trying to steal there DS, but they never lead on they were annoyed. They were so sweet and kind. As for the beach I am not a beach goer. I hate the sand and not being able to lay in the water. Carson has taken after me for now and doesn't like the beach either. She hated the sound of the waves, but she did enjoy eating the sand. The heat was horrible. It was like 95 degrees with 100% humidity which is way to hot for me.

We did ended up taking Carson to a water park, which she loved the first time and hated the second. Children are so finicky they like something one minute and hated the next. It was nice to spend time with dad and Kathy. We got to go to this really cool landing place called barefoot landing. We got to see some cool things. Then one night we went to Ripley's Aquarium and I have to say I loved it. You could pet sting ray, and walk through this tunnel and there were sharks swimming around you. It was really great.

The end of the trip came sooner that we planned. After the second trip to the water park Jeff and I decided it was time to head home. Kim was nice enough to let us use her car and they went back with dad and Kathy. I am so grateful to her. The ride home was also very long, but we ended up driving four hours stopping and sleeping and driving the rest of the way home. This time we only stopped twice and made it home pretty quickly. Everything always seems better in the light of day also. All in all it was an experience that we learned a lot from. Carson will not be going on vacation again until she is 3, which we will only fly, and if we do every drive anywhere again she will have to be at least 7. I will post pictures later.

Vacation

There has been a lot going on so I haven't been able to post. Sorry I won't have pictures for awhile, but when we get back from vacation I'm sure I'll have plenty. We have been packing for vacation for about a week. But we did take a few breaks to do some fun things. Wednesday Jeff and I took Carson down to the taste of Peoria. It was so much fun not to hot, and Carson loves to people watch. Jeff and I actually took Carson down there last year when she was like 5 weeks old. Let me tell you how different it is a year later. Last year Carson wasn't a happy camper and we ended up leaving because she was screaming so loud. This year to ate ice cream walked around and danced to the band. We had a blast and got to see Jeff's friend Daniel before he left for college.

Jeff and I discussed when Carson turned 1 we would have her start going to a daycare at least once a week. So yesterday we took a tour of PALS and loved it. She will start going there Monday's. We thought it would be a good idea for her to get some child interaction. They have a more school based atmosphere and think that will be good.

Saturday we leave on vacation for Myrtle Beach. Jeff, Carson, Dad, Kathy, GG, Kim, Mark, Mark's girls, and myself are driving there for some fun in the sun. Please pray for a safe trip and that Carson does ok on the 16 hour car ride.

1 year appt

Well at least when Carson goes to see the doctor she doesn't have shots, but she screams anyway. It is so strange, but when the nurse is in there measuring her length, head, and weighing her she is a happy little camper. Then the doctor comes in she berries her head in my lap and when he starts examine her she screams to the point were she cannot breath. What can you do but just let her scream til he is done. Have I told you lately how much I love Dr Neese. He just returned from Africa on a doctor's without borders mission, which is very impressive I think. Back to my point I have switched Carson over to a sippy cup and table food but still give her a bottle at night. I have been so worried about how I suppose to get her off the bottle before bed, but now my fear is over Dr Neese says he doesn't worry about that until closer to 2 years old. Plus I was worried about when I was suppose to stop letting Carson go to bed with a pacifier, but he said as long as she isn't getting it during the day and it is affecting her speech she is fine til 2 years old on that. So we clear on those things. I asked him about how to doesn't say actual words, but he said that shouldn't be a concern yet. Other than that things are going great. They were impressed she could walk. She is growing like a good little girl should Carson comes in at:

Weight - 20pds 15oz 48%

Length - 30 quarter inches 85%

Head - HUGE I don't know the dimensions but it is in the 97%

She was a good little girl except when the doctor tried to look in her ears, touch her stomach, and wiggle her legs. So basically do the whole exam.

one of Carson's one year pictures. Take by Ona Sidlinger at www.onastudio.com 369.5115 if you would like an appt.