Madison and Carson Update

While Jason keeps me busy crawling all over the place, Madison and Carson continue to keep me on my toes as well. Madison now enjoys coloring, painting with water colors, and playing with playdoh. She is now completely potty trained (Praise the Lord!!) and has even had some completely dry nights. She has been doing remarkable in this area but I have hesitated to post because I didn't want it to backfire on me! She loves to listen to music and dance to it and she loves the TV a little too much. I grin from ear to ear when she arrives downstairs in the morning and wants to read her Bible or when she says her Bible memory verse (I'll get that on video soon). Carson just wants to be involved in everything Madison is involved in. He's now hiding when he goes #2 so I'm hopeful that when the time is right he'll potty train easily. His laughter is contagious especially with Jason. After nap time they often can be found in their room standing in their cribs laughing at one another. I'm just praying that Carson doesn't learn to climb out anytime soon! Fortuneately he's become a very sound sleeper and often sleeps right through Jason crying either at the beginning of nap time or at the end. Here are a few pictures of the two characters.

Carson with his hair spiked after bath time thanks to Sam.
A cheesy grin from Madison.
Carson just relaxing like a big boy on the deck.
And Madison playing pretend on the deck with her car. She loves to carry around a small book and sometimes a pen as she pretends to go to the store.

Jason--8 months

Jason is 8 months and oh so busy. It is obvious that he intends on getting involved in as much as possible with Madison and Carson. He is an expert crawler and much to my dismay is now pulling himself up to a standing position! Not a good thing at bedtime. It takes him seconds to roll over and be up standing in his crib. Unfortuneately he doesn't do well getting down which meanes he just stands there screaming until we come back in to lay him back down. Sometimes it means multiple trips to the boys' room before he finally gives up and goes to sleep. Fortuneately Carson is put to sleep by his screaming! I don't know his exact weight but he is almost too uncomfortable in the infant car seat so I'm about to move him to a larger car seat. He still only has the two teeth he got at 6 months but I think there are a few ready to come through on the top.

Here are some recent pictures of our baby!

Posing on a rock at the Rio over Labor Day weekend.
Busy playing with toys.
Finding me in the kitchen and standing at the gate waiting for his bottle.

Trying to check out the contents of the toy box.
And my favorites...the other day we were spending some time out on the deck. Jason wanted down of course, but I really didn't want him crawling on the rough surface. I put him in the car and he was so excited. Although Carson wanted to maintain control of the car, Jason was able to enjoy a little time in it.

I never really think that Jason has that much hair but after his bath a few nights ago I was trying to comb it as he was moving this way and that and he ended up with a mohawk. I guess he has more hair than I thought!

Labor Day Weekend 2008

We were blessed over Labor Day weekend to have Grammy and Grandpa visit us from Ohio for 3 days. They arrived late Friday night and then left around noon on Monday. While they were here we (Grammy, the 3 little ones, and I) went to DC/Virginia to see a few memorials (see previous post), went to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, saw the Acts Musical at CLC (Grammy, Madison, and I), went to church, had a yummy steak and salmon dinner at home, and played some cards. As always Grammy took loads of pictures...a few which I've posted below. We can't wait until they come back for another visit at the end of October!
Grandpa, Grammy and the grandkids at the Rio.
Grammy and Madison before the Acts musical began.
Grandpa enjoying some one on one time with Carson.
Carson enjoying the big kid swing at the playground.
Madison staying close to Grandpa...since he has control over the fruit snacks!

Visiting the Memorials

While Grammy and Grandpa were in town, Grammy, the kids, and I took a Saturday outing to DC and Virginia to pay visit to the World War II Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. Grammy's dad fought in World War II so this visit had special meaning for her. Even though we knew the kids would've loved the metro trains, we opted to drive into DC and then into Virginia. In the end it worked out so well. We were able to find a parking spot within a block of the World War II Memorial and didn't have to pay the meter and parking at the Air Force Memorial was across the street and free also. It "paid" not to take the Metro!

What was a must....2 strollers--the single and the double. The kids did great! Even though they had no idea what we were visiting they thoroughly enjoyed the time outdoors!

It was a beautiful day and a hot one. The World War II Memorial is in between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It makes for some nice pictures.

Grammy and Madison posing for a picture.
What beautiful fountains!The Lincoln Memorial far in the distance. Mommy and the 2 big kids taking a break at the Memorial.
Carson and Mommy posing in front of the Washington Monument.

After visiting the World War II Memorial we stopped for a quick bite of lunch at one of the roadside stands. Madison kept busy feeding the small birds in the vicinity and then a good amount of time chasing them.

And on to the Air Force Memorial. 2 years ago we attended the "opening ceremony" of the Memorial at the Pentagon but didn't actually go on site where the memorial is located. Grandpa served in the Air Force for 21 years so this site has special meaning for him. Unfortuneately he didn't come with us because he wasn't feeling well.
Both Madison and Carson were a little apprehensive about these tall statues.
You can also see the Washington Monument from the Air Force Memorial.
It was a great trip--even Jason was still smiling by the end of it all!

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

Jason continues to be on the go. He just never stops moving. I put him in the jumper for the first time the other day (it's only safe to do when Carson is not around!) and he acted as if he had been in it before. He just kept jumping and jumping...with a little assistance from Madison now and then.

Getting Along...Precious Times

On most days I can feel like I am constantly disciplining Madison and Carson for not sharing, for pushing, and for various other reasons. They can get into it so easily and provoke one another so quickly. Madison used to be able to easily "control" Carson to some degree by force but Carson has toughened up. He doesn't just stand there and take it anymore...he pushes or pulls right back. And Carson has been getting into trouble lately for not being gentle with Jason. Since Jason now spends a good amount of time on the floor he is easily in dangerous territory. So I've finally captured some pictures and videos of the 3 getting along. This will be a post that I will come back to often for some encouragement.

Madison and Carson enjoying some morning juice.

Madison carefully feeding Jason his bottle.
Those who have interacted with our children know that they don't sit still for long. They are typically on the go so it's rare that I can capture some shots of them sitting still and sitting together.
Yes, we need to work on the saying "cheese" pose!
Carson and Jason enjoying some extended play time together and working so well at sharing.

Madison and Carson are also learning to play together and cooperate. Just the other day as I was busy around the house Madison persuaded Carson to get into the rocking chair with her so she could read a story to him. Fortuneately my camera was close by and I captured the moment. It's hard to tell whether he's there by choice or because she has him in a head lock!

The last video was captured by Grammy while she was here over Labor Day weekend.