Lazy 5 Ranch

This morning we took a family adventure out to Lazy 5 Ranch. It is a small ranch/zoo where most of the animals roam free. There is a 3.5 mile dirt road you can drive on to view the animals and feed you can purchase to help see the animals in a more up close and personal manner. We had received warning from friends to not drive our car on the road, but to pay for the wagon ride. Everyone seems to "know" someone who had an animal climb up on the hood of the car or had an ostrich peck at the car. Even though our cars are older, we did opt for the wagon ride (where feed was provided). Carly didn't seem 100% sure about our fun family outing; however, she quickly warmed up to the idea. And appeared to have a wonderful time! I can't wait to take her back next spring when she is even more interested in animals.

Waiting for the Wagon Ride


Getting Ready to Go!


Feeding a Bison


The View from Behind the Wagon as we left the Bison


Looking Ahead to See what is Next!


Dave feeding a Long Horn


Looking Intently


HELLO!


Running to See MORE Animals!

There are A LOT more pictures on our photo website.

It's been a BIG week!

Carly has had a week filled with many big moments.

Monday - She started taking a bath in the big tub, retiring her whale tub.

Tuesday - This was her first night in 2-piece pajamas.

Wednesday - 11 months old! (only 1 more month until 1 year old)

Thursday - Carly began stacking her rings in the stack-a-tumble in the right order and stacking building blocks on top of she other. She also tasted pulled pork BBQ for the first time at our church's annual BBQ.

Friday - We went shopping for Carly's first pair of BIG girl shoes. And demanded to be allowed to walk through the mall showing off her shoes, and then stomping around the house listening to the sounds she could now make.

11 Months

We are officially 1 month away from Carly turning ONE!! To think about it, I am absolutely blown away that she is this old. I know many moms cry when their little babies turn 1; however, I'm not expecting tears. I'm expecting for the day and HUGE event to come and go with the idea of her actually being 1 not setting in. When it does set in (which will probably the first time someone asks me how old she is after her birthday), I will more than likely cry like a baby!

Today Carly began to put the top ring on her rock-a-stack and to work on stacking blocks. She also really enjoys to look at her books, roll her plastic truck and train around, climb the stairs, look out the windows, play with all technology (remotes and phones especially), pull dishtowels off of the oven bar, pull plastic ware out of her cabinet, and WALK. There is still the occasional crawling, especially if she wants to get somewhere FAST and she has tripped trying to walk there quickly. She is also having a lot of fun "getting us" when we are laying on the floor. Dave or I will pick Carly up and give her zerberts on her belly; as a result, when one of us is on the floor she will walk over and body slam us, giggle, then act like she is giving us zerberts. It is actually quite comical.

We have also made a few changes to Carly's bedtime routine recently. On Monday night Carly began taking baths in the big tub. She was constantly trying to stand up while in her whale tub, so Dave thought maybe she would sit longer in a larger tub. She has really enjoyed her bath time and extra toys in the larger tub. Last night she began sleeping in 2-piece pajamas. She had been sleeping in a long sleeved onesie and we were suspicious that she was getting cold in the middle of the night. She and I went searching for a 12 month light-weight sleep 'n play, but couldn't find one. I was able to find many light-weight two piece sets of pajamas. We decided to try a pair of these pajamas that was already in her closet. I was very skeptical that she would transition into a new type of pajama well, but she did. She really looks like a big girl wearing her 2-piece pajamas, especially when she wakes up in the morning and walks around her crib. Pretty soon she will be walking into my bedroom to wake Dave and I up wearing her 2-piece pajamas.

Carly still doesn't have any teeth, but we aren't worried. Recently she has had days filled with excess drool, so we believe her teeth are slowly making their way up to the gum line. They will come in their own time, and I'm not eager to hurry the teething experience on.

At 11 months Carly is eating:
~ apples
~ avocado
~ banana
~ barley
~ biscuits
~ blueberries
~ broccoli
~ butternut squash
~ carrots
~ cantaloupe
~ cauliflower
~ Cheerios
~ cheese (cheddar & American)
~ chicken
~ green beans (Gerber only, and mixed with rice)
~ gyro meat
~ macaroni and cheese
~ nectarines
~ oatmeal
~ pancakes
~ pasta
~ peas (Gerber only)
~ peaches
~ pears
~ pita
~ rice cereal
~ turkey
~ waffles
~ whole wheat cereal
~ yellow squash
~ yogurt (mixed with various fruits)
~ zucchini

Applesauce

Tonight after dinner Dave got Carly out of her highchair and walked over to the pantry, with Carly following closely behind him. He got himself out an applesauce, and Carly began reaching for it and staying on his heels. Carly even began pushing her highchair around. She and Dave then sat together at the table sharing the cup of applesauce, it was beautiful!

Carly's Turn


Daddy's Turn

Run Forest, Run...

David and I both ran in a 10K this morning. We both had the goals to finish, which we did! David beat his time from the Cooper Bridge Run, which made him VERY proud. I met the goal of running/jogging the entire race, but came just a few moments shy of meeting my goal of finishing the run in an hour. (My unofficial time was 1 hour and 2 minutes.) Either way, neither one of us every saw ourselves participating and completing in this type of "activity" and we have! David twice and me once now. We are actually signing up for another race. Four weeks from today I will be running a 15K and David will complete a 5K while pushing Carly.

Pre-Race photo
(David had to retake this picture.
I apparently was OVERLY excited and cheesing in the first photo.)

Growing Up

Reality hit Dave and I today. Carly is growing up and will turn one next month. Last week Dave ordered Carly's "big girl" car seat. He installed it last night, and today was her first day in it. I am amazed that 11 months ago I was still pregnant and eagerly awaiting to meet Carly, and now she has moved out of her bucket seat into her larger seat.

10/24/2010 - Testing out the car seat for the first time, brings out a great face.

9/15/2010 - The day her new car seat arrived

9/17/2010 - First trip in her NEW car seat.

Still Having Fun

Carly is continuing to have fun with Jake. Occasionally they chase each other, avoid each other, or have sweet encounters like this one:

A Little Bit of Me

When we venture out as a family many people will comment about how much Carly looks just like Dave.

(April 18, 2010)

Recently I found a little piece of me foating around in Carly's personality.

I honestly walk around with a similar water bottle glued to my hand. I guess she is starting to pickup a handful of my traits.

Beautiful Morning

This morning was a beautiful fall morning in Cornelius. The temperature was cool, there was a breeze in the air, and it was wonderful. Carly and I ventured over to one of our county's parks to enjoy this beautiful morning and to meet some of our friends. This was Carly's first trip to the a park since she began walking independently two weeks ago. I wasn't quite sure what to expect of her. She really had a great time just toddling around under all of the equipment, banging on the bottom of the slide, and watching the older kids play. Although towards the end she did get quite brave, she approached a preschool aged boy who was playing with a dump truck and tried to take it away. In typical preschool form he snatched it back and shouted, "mine". She'll learn one of these days not to snatch a toy someone else is playing with.

Thankfully, I did remember my camera this time. Here are two photos of her enjoying this morning's amazing weather.

Big Morning Out

Carly and I had a BIG morning out. We met a friend of hers (and her friend's mom too) for breakfast at a local southern style restaurant. During breakfast the two girls kept waving at each other across the table and to other patrons in the restaurant. They also snacked through our meal. Carly helped me out with my pancakes (syrup free for her) and scrambled egg. (I did choose my meal according to her taste buds... I knew assistance from her was unavoidable.) I was very impressed with how well both girls did at the table for over an hour. The last time we all met for breakfast I was much more rushed, Carly had decided meal time was over shortly after our food arrived. This time they observed everything happening around them and snacked. (It amazes me how long a few pieces of pancake, egg, and Cheerios can last, Carly is not a speed snacker.)

Following our breakfast we all headed over to the local library for story time. Carly is in the infant group and has babies ranging from 4 months to 23 months. (There is also a group for 2-3 year olds and 4-5 year olds that she will get to go to later.) During this time each week we sing, listen to stories, play with bubbles, and occasionally get to play with a few toys. It is by far the BIG event of our week. I actually refuse to schedule anything over this time. Mr. George, the librarian, is so animated and welcoming to all of the children. Carly feels comfortable moving around and going to visit other parents and children during this time. It is wonderful to see her in such an element.

Carly seems to have really enjoyed her big morning out today. We got home a few minutes after 11:00am, I walked out of her room around 11:20am from putting her down for nap time, and she is STILL sleeping. (A 2 hours nap is VERY long for her, she is typically 1.5 hours to the dot.) Maybe we will have to schedule BIG mornings out each Wednesday.

Playing Together

As Carly began crawling she really took an interest in Jake. He was not so sure of her and her crawling over to him. Now that she is toddling around, he is becoming more interested in her. It has been really cute to watch them interact.