One Year Pictures

Here are a few of Carson's 1-year portraits, along with a few family portraits as well. I figured I would hit two birds with one stone, although we ended up getting more family portraits than 1-year ones because sweet little Carson decided to turn into cranky, tantrum-throwing Carson - I know it's hard to believe! =) Actually he wasn't THAT bad, but he just wasn't in the mood to sit still to get his picture taken, which is understandable for a 1-year-old. The first picture is my favorite.

Dancing Carson

Carson LOVES to dance. All you have to say is the word "dance"...and he starts bobbing up and down or shaking his head. When Jason is watching football and one of the team's fight songs starts playing, Carson will start marching his feet in place. Carson has the beat! Maybe I should put this kid into dance lessons! =P

New Word!

Today Carson started saying a new word - BALL! Which is one of his favorite things to play with, so I knew it was only a matter of time. I will try to get it on video, along with his other words, but once he sees me getting the camera, he gets quite shy. Hearing him speak actual words makes me such a proud mom!

Mommy's Little Helper

Carson is a big help when it comes to cleaning. He loves to help me with all the chores, well except for one - vacumming. He is scared to death of the big vacuum when it is on, yet he loves to try to use the cone vac or pretend to vacumm with his ball popper. I'm sure it is just the loud noise it makes. The past couple of weeks he has started to put his own toys in the toy box before bed. He will also put his bath toys away in the basket when bathtime is over. He always looks so serious when he is doing this, like he is doing something really important. He's such a little sweetheart. =)

Here is a little video of Carson helping me wipe out the pantry.

Pretzels

Carson has figured out all the food is in the pantry, so he decided to help himself to a back of pretzels the other day while I was cooking dinner. He had been playing in the kitchen, and all of the sudden I realized it was really quiet, so I turn the corner and this is what I found!


It looks like he is trying to play innocent with me!

Now he is trying to share. =)

Carson loves his books!

Carson has become quite fond of his books! He must get that from his mommy. =) He brings me books and then sits on my lap, ready to listen and point. Sometimes he will even go to his room and look at books by himself. His favorite object to find in a book is a ball....as you can see in the picture below!

Some of Carson's favorite books right now are: Goodnight Moon and Rock One Baby (before bed books), Snuggle Puppy, Toes Ears and Nose, Bob's Busy Saw (from the Bob the Builder series), Happy Baby Words and Elmo's Fun at the Farm book (which has buttons to push that make farm sounds).

Trip to the Orchard

Carson and I joined our friends Jessica and Logan for a trip to Apple Annie's Orchard in Willcox, Arizona yesterday. While Carson got to enjoy being out in the great outdoors with all the rocks, grasshoppers, trees and fruits and veggies, I found a bunch of goodies to cook with this week, including: apples, green beans, jalapenos, green chilis, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and squash. Carson helped me pick some of the apples and green beans, but mostly hung out with Logan and liked being pushed around in the wagon. Below are some pictures I took, although in a lot of them the kid's eyes are closed because it was so sunny or they are looking away, but I got a few good ones.

the boys and their apples


Carson picking an apple off the ground


Logan in the wagon


Carson in the wagon with his squash


Carson in the orchard


Logan in the orchard


Veggies galore! (Jessica and Logan in the picture)


Row of Veggies


Carson picking a green bean...too bad he looks so out of it!

First Haircut...finally!

I kept putting it off, but Carson has finally received his first haircut! He did a wonderful job sitting in the chair and found a bunch of things that peaked his interest to point at. Before we left, the stylist gave me a little card stating the date with some locks of Carson's hair, which will be great for my scrapbook! I forgot to bring my camera to the salon, but I tried to take some pictures when we got home; however, he would not sit still!

Our handsome little boy

Fingerpainting

I decided to try fingerpainting with Carson the other day. He did alright for the first 5-10 minutes, and then I think he thought it was food, so we ended our session early! =) I'm so excited that he is getting to the age where I can try different crafts and games with him.

What Carson is up to...

Carson is now 13 months and still seems to be learning new things everyday! He's so inquisitive and fun to be around. He loves being around other people and will wave at everyone in the store. I think our playgroup, where he has many friends, has helped him with this.


Some things he is doing now:

• He knows where nose, eye and mouth are, and when you ask him, he will point to them.
• He also knows where a bellybutton is, and will lift up your shirt and point to it when you ask him where it is.


• He will also say "Moo" when I ask what a cow says and "Vroom" when he sees a tractor, car or truck. He will also say "nana" for banana. Of course this is all if he isn't distracted by something else! Conditions have to be right, haha. =)


• He says "mom" or "mum" very well, but he has done this for a long time. He has also started saying "dada" a little more than he used to.


• He associates his shoes with being outside, so whenever he wants to go outside, he'll get his shoes and either bring them to me or the backdoor. He does this ALL THE TIME!


• He's learned to open doors, so we have to make sure to keep the front door locked!


• He will try to tickle you in the armpits until you start laughing (because that is where we tickle him!).


• He still loves to swim at the Cove or in his kiddie pool in the backyard. We try to swim 1-2 times a week.



• He's such an affectionate little boy and will come up and give you hugs at random times (or when he is tired!). He is the best hugger!


• I don't have any video of this yet, but he likes to dance when he hears music. It's so fun to watch!
  

Jason and I are excited to see what he'll learn next!