Happy 1st Birthday Baby!!

I'm having a hard time writing this post. This day is so monumental, I want to say something profound. The reality is, I'm in love. I'm in love with you Carsyn and I love your Daddy even more because of you. And Love makes you stupid some times and I can't think of anything great to write.

This time a year ago I was in recovery and you and your Daddy were probably in the nursery. You weighed 6 lb 14 oz and my hands were so swollen I could barely bend them. Thankfully your Daddy is hands on. He changed your diapers for the first 48 hours. You were wearing itsy bitsty Newborn diapers and yesterday I just bought size 4 for the first time. Technically you can still fit the size 3, but they were getting a little snug.

You now have an extra tooth on top for a total of 3 on top and 4 on bottom.
You've totally switched to whole milk.
You are funny. You enjoy peek-a-boo. Some times you just laugh out loud. I'm sure one day you'll tell me and Daddy the story.
You have the sweetest little belly.
You are still timid with the whole walking thing. It will come.

Carsyn. This last year has flown by. I hope some day you will read this blog and enjoy it. That you will appreciate our daily life and know that your Daddy and I love you so much!

Christmas 2009 Blizzard

Here is the view form our Tahoe driving north to Oklahoma on Christmas day.

What should have taken 2 hours 45 minutes tops, took us almost 6 1/2 hours. With a 1 year old. Thank the Lord she slept most of the way.

The roads in Texas were horrible. No exaggeration, we probably saw over 100 cars/trucks/semi on the side of the road between Bowie and the river.

It was a LONG day. Notice the sun is setting?

Here is the Red River. It divides Oklahoma and Texas. We were so thankful to be at my parents house safely.

Christmas Morning

Spring Cleaning in December

Here is the Maytag W/D Tony and I got a little before we were married. Tony moved into our house in May 2003. So we've had these about 6 1/2 years. They've been good to us, but the dryer has been giving us fits about starting.
So we sold them on Craigslist. Nuts. No W/D. What will I do with all my spare time????

Create a spreadsheet that compares 4 local stores front loader W/D sets. Then head to Best Buy for a price match. I love a bargain and I believe that's what we got!

This set is fancy! My new favorite feature. Sanitize. Gotta clean all those sick yucky germy baby girl can't live without blankets.

Here is my little helper. She's just as fascinated by our new appliances as I am.

Yes, she's still sicky. Praying she'll be well tomorrow!

Yucky Eye

Poor Baby Girl has Yucky Eyes. My friend Julie was watching her on Tuesday and called me about 1 and said Carsyn's eyes were matted shut after her nap.

So I went to pick Carsyn up and called the doctor. They called in some eye drops to the pharmacy.

Now, after 3 doses of eye drops, she looks LOTS better. Her eyes are still red and puffy, but barely any gunk.

She's been very clingy and tired. But overall, she's been a good baby, as usual.

Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but this is the first time Carsyn has had to get a prescription. She wasn't even in the system at the pharmacy. I contribute that to breastfeeding and a small daycare. I just pray she continues to stay healthy!

Hello Up There

Does that look high to you? Up there are the very top. Well, actually two steps from the top.

It doesn't look high to Carsyn. Nope. She climbed up the stairs last night. Went to change clothes when I got home from work, left her to play in the living room. Crawled from the living room all the way up the stairs.

Yup, it was terrifying. She was laughing and my heart was in the throat. Forgive me for the lack of baby in the picture. We're trying to discourage the stair climbing and I didn't think it was wise to put her back on the stairs to get a pic.

Prepare to be Impressed

Look what I made.

It's turkey. Yup. Turkey. We bought one too many turkeys for Thanksgiving and I hated to see it go to waste. Tony and I (mostly Tony) are trying to eat better. Eating better does not include frying a turkey.

So here I come with my big crock pot and chick broth.

I know I know. You're wondering what the impressive part is. Crockpot=easy.

I SKINNED THAT TURKEY. What?!? Oh yes I did. It was gross!!! So much, I don't even want to talk about it anymore. But to be healthy, I put on my big girl mommy pants and made that turkey healthy! Carsyn watched from her highchair while eating Peas and Puffs.

Tonight she got to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
It was a hit. But Daddy's home and who cares about food now.

Cutie

I'm an Idiot

I'm not being too hard on myself. I really should have seen this coming. How long can you use the 'I'm a busy working full time mom' excuse?

Last night Carsyn had left over Thanksgiving food like the rest of us. I warmed up mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Those things get hot fast in the microwave.

Carsyn gets hungry fast too. She goes from 0-60 in about 6 seconds. Heaven forbid you bring a bowl of hot potatoes over to her high chair with a spoon and not shovel it in. So I'm sitting there with some potatoes on the spoon and blowing on them. The purpose was two fold. 1. to cool the food. 2. to entertain her by blowing in her face. She likes it.

This process went well for a few bites. All right. Things are looking good. I've got this mom thing under control. I know you experienced moms out there know where this is going. I blew a few too many times. Too many because Carsyn got the idea that it was fun. But she had to one up me. She had to blow with food in her mouth. Yup. She. blew. mashed. potatoes. in. my. face.

Nothing else to do but laugh. Love that baby!

Happy 11 month Birthday!

Um, excuse me. I believe that is a little girl instead of my baby. Little girl, can you please scoot over so I can see my baby?


I can hardly breath typing this. 11 months. 11 months. With so many friends and family members pregnant, I recount the day Carsyn was born often. I remember everything so clearly. I remember the pain, the stress, the lack of sleep, the stitches, the invasion of privacy, the fear, the first cry. Oh my, that first cry. The world stopped. I took a deep breath, looked at Tony and said, that's our baby. The world stopped for that moment and it was just us. After that moment, the Earth started spinning at warp speed and hasn't slowed down. The ride has begun and there is no getting off. That's ok though. You are worth it all. Thank you for being our baby.

You:

wear size 3 diapers and 12 month clothes.

are incredibly happy. Everyone says so.

have the pretties blues eyes, just like your daddy.

rock when it comes to sleeping! from 7 pm until I wake you up after 6 am. I also hear you take a 3 hour nap at daycare.

only gave kisses to daddy this past week when we saw everyone for Thanksgiving. You pretty much think he hung the moon.

are busy, and nosey, and persistent.

eat really really well. I don't think you know the word full.

say Dadda and Momma all the time. I'm actually beginning to believe you can tell us apart.

are an incredibly easy baby. Very content. You play well by yourself AND with others. That's nice.

hate getting your nose wiped or your finger nails trimmed. One day when you want me to pay for a mani/pedi I will remind you of this horror.

sing, clap, raise your hands give praise unto your Maker. When we listen to the Message in the car you like to chime in. It makes me happy.

are getting braver. I see you letting go and almost standing on your own.

walk behind your toy.

can climb the stairs.

can step on top of the bumpers in your crib. They are gone now.

Ok, so you're a little messy. I'll let it slide because you were at Granny's house. But next time Aunt Misty won't be there to pick up your books. You'll learn. I'll teach you.

Thanksgiving

We had Tony's family down for Thanksgiving. I know I know. You're thinking "Wow, Crystal. You're a super mom. Just call you Martha (as in Martha Stewart, domestic goddess). How did you work all week, clean your house and cook Thanksgiving dinner for 15 people? And have an amazingly cute baby. You deserve a medal."

The only truth in that glowing statement of me,is that I have an incredibly cute baby. I mean how adorable is that turkey shirt.

Truth is:

Rosa and her daughter came and spent over 5 hours cleaning my house on Monday. Tony's parents came Monday night. Donna watched Carsyn and cooked all week. So the reality is, she is the domestic goddess.

Basically I'm more of a loser because this is the only other good picture I got. Here is Tony's sister, Charity, and her new husband Chris.

MawMaw

Carsyn is really looking forward to spending more time with MawMaw at the lake house. Momma is really looking forward to sleeping in while Carsyn spends time with MawMaw. Thanks for the extra 1 1/2 hours of sleep this morning!!

OU Game

This was back in the day when we won. (last weekend). It was Tony's birthday and we got tickets to the A&M game.

Tony and his buddy Scott.

Me and Misty.

The A&M band is so amazing. Pictures don't do it justice. Even if they are slightly cultish.

Boo Boo

Look at her check. Don't worry. It's faint. But there is a little bruise. Carsyn fell at daycare. No ones fault. She's just wobbly. It's a sign of things to come.

Toast Please

Carsyn has begun eating some 'table food'. Little pieces of bread, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese. Mostly because I tried those Gerber Graduates and those things are so gross. She ate them, but I couldn't stand them. Up until then/now, I had eaten everything she ate.

Mostly to satisfy my own curiosity, I have Carsyn a piece of toast at Golden Corral on Saturday. Half a piece. She couldn't get her hands on it fast enough. She really really tried hard to get the entire thing in her mouth. Needless to say, I took it back. All of it. She hadn't managed to get one little bite. I'm sparing you the yuckiness that followed. Then I gave her little pieces of the other half.

This Boat was Made for Water

Daddy loving on his baby girl. He's pretty thrilled about the whole thing. Boat and Baby.

Making waves at the Lake of the Arbuckles.

MawMaw holding on tight to Carsyn.

How cute his her Dora life jacket??? It's a smidgen big, but it'll be perfect by this summer.

O Captain my Captain.

Our friend Brett rode up with us to help get the boat all situated He's really good with Carsyn.

Bubbles

Tony's mom and dad bought Carsyn a little bubble maker. She kept her distance.

Here she is, rather bored. In fact, she's acting like those bubbles don't exist. That new cup is WAY more interesting.

OK, wait. What is this? Maybe life's not all about this cup. I mean, it just has water in it anyway.

Oooo, maybe I like these bubbles. Let me try. I need to touch it, maybe taste it.

OK, I'm serious now. I need to get to the bottom of this bubble thing.

Sorry, I don't have a good pic after this. I was on 'don't eat the soapy water' mommy mode.