The better binky

Chase has discovered his thumb and really really likes it. So does mom! Unlike a binky, we always know where it is, it never gets lost, he can find it himself, mom doesn't have to worry about forgetting it on a long car trip to town. Yep, really like this thumb sucking. Well, other than all the folks who keep telling me he will have to have braces. (I asked my doctor and he said it's fine and very seldom results in crooked teeth, so there!) At any rate, it looks pretty cute right now.

All Tuckered Out

Carter after a long day with Dad. Robert is so great about taking Carter whenever he has a slow day or has to spend most of the day running errands in Billings. Carter loves going with him and generally is asleep by the time they get home.

Working on Vocals

Here's a short clip of Chase working on his yelling. He was pretty sure he wasn't getting enough attention. He really gets bouncy too in that chair!

The New Year

Robert has been using my camera a bunch this month for a job, so I don't have many pictures to post right now. I need to get it back, but until then, I'll just update with the latest news--not that there has been too much going on around here. It's mostly been too cold (up until the last two days) and I've been busy trying to get everything ready for tax season. That and my sisters got me sucked into Facebook. It's really pretty interesting to see who all is out there and what they have been up to, people I haven't seen for years. I kinda had it in my mind that Facebook was for teenagers, but no so. Like I needed one more thing to take up all my "spare" time.

Carter keeps me busy trying to keep her busy. She has an inventive little mind when left to her own devices (like all little kids I'm sure). Playing in the wood ashes all over the kitchen floor, covering the dog in lip gloss, flooding the bathroom, finger painting the kitchen cabinets with flour--it's been a busy month. We played find the frog yesterday. I would "hide" her stuffed frog in the living room somewhere and she would come racing in to find it. She was starting to get pretty good at it when she decided it was her turn to hide it and I would come find it. That was so funny. I would come into the living room and she would be so excited that she would go jump on the frog where ever she had put it--so I couldn't see it I suppose! If she managed to contain herself so that she wouldn't go jump on it, she would keep looking at the hiding place while I pretended to not be able to find it. Exasperated with my inability to find it right away, she would finally just tell me.

Chase is getting bigger fast. I'm going to have some impressive arm muscles by the time he starts crawling and walking. (maybe not as impressive as Corinne's) It's so interesting to see just how different of a baby he is compared to his sister...I never really thought of babies really having much of a personality, but boy they sure do right from the start!

Cousins

Chase likes attention no matter the source. Cade really wanted to hold him, so we sat him down with all the mommies closely watching. My camera (err...camera skills or lack thereof) didn't even come close to catching how fascinated Cade was by Chase. Chase cooed and talked to Cade and was pretty laid back about the whole thing. Carter came over to see what had all the moms' attention but I couldn't get her to stick around for a nice picture...still on camera strike and no good bribes in site.

Christmas Eve at Gramma and Grampa's

We had dinner on Christmas Eve at my parents house along with my sisters family. I managed to lose my camera on Christmas so these were the only pictures I got of the unwrapping chaos. Carter really liked wearing her Santa hat. I'm still rather sad about missing all the pictures on Christmas, but I'm glad I got these.

All the little kids tearing open the presents. Carter and Chase both got some wonderful gifts. Dress up clothes were a favorite on Carters list among books, new clothes, blocks and other toys. She received quite a great haul. She's so lucky to have such a large loving family. Chase isn't quite old enough to get into the spirit just yet, but his parents were very grateful for the additional new clothing, toys, etc... Surprisingly no diapers for Christmas. I think news of my enormous stash has been leaked (He's ready to move into size 3 diapers but I bought WAY too many size two's and I'm trying to figure out how to either return them or get him to squeeze into them for another month. Ha.)

Play dough

Carter loves playing with play dough. I found a great fast recipe online and we spend hours playing with the stuff. Carter likes me to make her a bird nest that she fills up with round "eggs". She also really likes using the rolling pin, cookie cutters and a fork for whatever reason.

Having Blake come play too is just icing on the cake.

Graduation!!

My cousin Wynne graduated from nursing school this December. It's been a long hard road for her and I'm so proud of her. However eye surgery the day before the party (not her fault since the party was a "surprise") might have been a bit much. She wasn't feeling too hot. However, we were glad to all come together to celebrate her accomplishment. Aunty put a lot of work into the party and it was a nice get together right before Christmas.

Chase enjoyed all the attention....

Carter was in her hide from the camera mood, but I did sneak one in. She loves parties. I can get her to do almost anything (including curling her hair) if I tell her we're going to a party. Her favorite part of this party was all the cookies!

Visiting

I got Chase all dressed up warm to go see Gramma. The weather has been so darn cold and I thought Chase looked so cute in his little snow suit.

I think Gramma enjoyed holding Chase!

Yummy

Chase has discovered that he really likes to suck on his fist, although his fingers are a close second.