Landon tells me he wants to be something different for Halloween every day. We have it narrowed down to two different things now, I think, one being a pirate. I haven't made his costume yet but my mom did find a pack of 'pirate' things at the dollar store. He came running down the hall wearing the eyepatch and earrings and I started crying I was laughing so hard. While I was getting ready, Landon was playing in a laundry basket saying it was his boat. What a kid!
I can't say that Landon is FULLY potty trained but we are making so much progress that it won't be long now. We have only been trying to go potty every now and then the last few weeks so yesterday, I really worked with him on going every half hour-hour. It didn't take too long to go in the morning...only 2 stinkin HOURS! It was ridiculous. I kept bringing things to Landon for him to keep entertained because I knew he wouldn't sit for very long. I put him back on after lunch and within a few minutes, he came running and said he "went pee" while I was getting something. Sure enough, he did! He even made it in the toilet. He continued to pee in the toilet 5 MORE times! It was awesome. 
I didn't think the day would go so well and didn't have very many treats so I ran to the store and bought a big bag of skittles. Normally, I would give Landon a handful or something each time but now he gets to pick out one color and he seems to be happy with that. He is really into "Where The Wild Things Are" and the DVD my parents bought him came with stickers. We decorated a container and that's where I keep the skittles. I also printed out a potty training chart online and Landon had a blast coloring it and placing stickers for each time he went pee. 6 times in one day (he went again after I took a picture of the chart)...I can't believe it! He even wore big boy underwear for the majority of the day. We only had one pee accident seriously 10 minutes after going in the toilet and one poop accident (yes...in his underwear) while he was supposed to be taking a nap. Was not fun cleaning that up but hey, we are getting somewhere! I am so proud of my little 3 year old. The first couple of times he peed, I would praise him and make a big deal out of it saying I was so proud. Eventually he would say, "You're proud of me again!" Oh I am so excited to not have to buy 2 sets of diapers for the boys. We'll probably switch to pull ups even though they are kind of pricey but if it will help get the job done, I'm okay with it. Oh, and Carter went number two after 10 days of not going. Mother nature was definately on our side ;)
I honestly CAN NOT believe it's been 3 whole months since Carter was born. He has changed so much in the last 12 weeks. He is alert, smiling, and even giggles every now and then. He's still not the best sleeper and usually only takes little cat naps but is sleeping through the night so that's okay. I didn't love nursing with Landon (after a month it got tough but continued for a while) because I felt like I was constantly feeding. Some days, Carter does the same thing but I knew what to expect and am enjoying that special time with him so much more. I feel like I have more patience with him and try not to sweat on the small things and just spend time with my baby.
His Grandma Wagner has nick names Carter as "Mr. Serious." He will give you this look until he focuses on you and then will smile so big. It's almost like he is trying to figure out who you are or that he's just thinking "Come on, are you kidding?" It's funny!
Uh oh, we have another Landon on our hands! Carter also recently found his thumb. I have seen him sucking on it a few times in the last few days but will also take a binky when he's tired. How cute is this picture of him smiling while sucking his thumb? 
Togetherness
and of course, popcorn! 
Even Carter wanted in on the action. I was going to crop this picture but then I couldn't because Landon is in the backround dancing-hahaha!
I'm not sure who I like on Dancing With The Stars yet but I think it will be a fun season. I didn't quite finish the 2 hour special because I put the kids in bed and it was late. Good thing we record every episode so we never miss it!
Landon absolutely adores his Great Grandpa (My mom's dad. Landon calls him Red Truck Grandpa because he drives a red truck) and it's so neat to see them playing together. As soon as Landon sees him, he immediately wants him to play with him and every time, he does and wants to. He'll usually get down on the floor and play with whatever Landon brings to him. Sometimes when we go over, Grandpa has a car or toy waiting for Landon that came out of his Cherrio box-SO cute that he was thinking of him. When we went over for a visit the other day, the first thing Landon did was ask Grandpa to play on the floor. They played for a long time! Carter actually played a little bit too. At one point, Grandpa and Carter were sound asleep so I went to grab my camera and Landon just had to be in the picture too! Then, I was in the other room with my grandma and it was just Grandpa and the baby and Carter was just talking away. I went in thinking he was fussing but they were just having a good old time together. The fact that Landon and Carter have a great grandpa so close to them that LOVE them is so cool to me. They are such lucky lucky boys!
I think the above picture pretty much explains itself...Carter took a binky yesterday and I was completely beside myself. I really really really couldn't believe it! He has not taken a binky in about a month (unless oocasionally I trick him when he is pretty much asleep.) He was laying on my bed and I didn't think he would take the pacifier but I tried anyway and he started sucking away! I thought maybe he was just in a funny mood and was tricking me but he took it again several times yesterday (and today at church) and even fell asleep with it in his mouth a few times. Yes, Carter put himself to sleep to is own bed...not my arms!!!! I really can't express how excited I am. This particular binky was hiding in a diaper bag I wasn't using and when I was cleaning up the house, I found it. I gave this one to Carter a lot when he was first born so maybe he remembers it, maybe he is used to it? Either way, I don't care! This is so HUGE for me! The AVENT pacifiers are the most expensive ones out there (5.99 for 2) but I will buy 10 more if that means it will keep Carter quiet and content. Since my last post, things have been going so much better. Carter is taking better naps and Landon even went to sleep at a decent time last night. Lately it has been 11pm-midnight...I was able to wake up for church this morning and Landon even stayed in the nursery without throwing a huge fit. I had to stay in there with him for a while and then snuck out but the nursery girls said he did perfect! Oh happy day!!
I love it when Landon colors pictures in nursery. Every time I go to pick him up, he proudly shows me what he has done. He told me this guy had an "owie." Haha. Have I said how much I love my boys? I really do, so so much!
The whole time I was pregnant, people kept warning me that my baby was going to be a holy terror because baby #2 is always that way. I just laughed it off but now I understand what they were talking about! Carter isn't exactly a 'holy terror' but certainly isn't as good of a baby as Landon was. I was SO spoiled with Landon...I thought hey, if this is how it's going to be, I can handle a few more kids! Carter has been having a rough time lately. Don't get me wrong, he has his good moments but has been FUSSY for the last month it seems like. He won't take the binky anymore and it DRIVES ME CRAZY! I cleaned the house the other day and found all of these pacifiers...and he won't take a single one. I've boughten a few different kinds (waste of money) to see if he'd prefer one over the other but all he wants is me. He wants to be nursed ALL day long and I can't handle it sometimes. Mandy left me a jar or formula when she stayed in April with her baby so I have been using that every once in a while just so I can get a break. Thank goodness for that because pumping can be such a hassle. I think part of the problem is that Carter has not been having very much luck with his bowel movements. He hadn't pooped in over a week (about 4 weeks ago, maybe less) and so we gave him a suppository. He was supposed to poop within 15 minutes to 1 hour and it took 5-we were freaking out but he did go. 9 days, he still had not pooped and I tried everything that people suggested. We put a thermometer up his bottom to try to relax the muscles (sick I know but it's what the doctor said we could try) and a few days later, still nothing. This happened while we were in Washington so I ran to the store to get more suppositories and the pharmacist recommended some type of syrup that would be calming to the stomach. Tried that TWICE in 2 days and still no poop. I finally went to the store and bought the suppositories because I felt SO bad for him. He went within minutes but it wasn't as much as I thought it would be. He had been really fussy and had serious gas so I knew he needed something. Well, we got home and it had been about a week and he went on his own and I was so excited. I was at Old Navy with Cody and Brittany and we actually all high fived-haha! Good thing I forgot to pack the wipes and he was so so stinky. Anyway, that was on Monday and it's now Friday. If he doesn't start going regularly, I think I might have to take him to the doctors again. That can't be normal, right? And I just want my baby to be happy. It would make everyone around here a whole lot happier...that is for sure. 
Through this whole irdeeal, Carter has not been sleeping very good either. He'll fall asleep for a couple of minutes and wake up crying. I don't know if it's because he realizes I put him down or if his stomach hurts. It will be midnight or later by the time he settles down and then he'll wake up late in the afternoon and not take a consistant nap and pretty much be up until bed time. What is going on?! I actually got him to sleep for a while in his crib yesterday. He wasn't happy at first but he DID nap and that's all that matters. I feel like the worst mom for letting him cry but what when I've tried everything else, I don't know what to do! I don't want him getting used to always being nursed to sleep and it seems like that's all that he wants. I know that he is getting enough to eat because just look at him. I know he just wants to eat for commort.Yes Carter is sleeping through the night but I feel exhausted by the end of the day. Hopefully things will look up pretty soon 'cause mommy is TIRED! 
Brittany is always making some kind of a treat when I go over to her house and the other day while I was there, she was making muffins. She told me they were super easy and after they were done and I tried one, I wanted the recipe to try it out. They were easy to make! They are perfect for breakfast on the go. Here is the recipe if anyone is interested:
Everyday when it's time to check the mail, Landon likes to come too. I hand him the ads and he carries in his "bills". Well, yesterday, he got a little somethin somethin in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa! My mom is in Conneticut visiting my dad for a few weeks and decided to send the kids a few fun things she found for them. Landon walked out to check the mail with Uncle Travis and happily carried the package to the door. I asked him what he got and he kept saying, "It's for you!" Well, finally I convinced him it was for him and Carter. Then, we opened the package together. Inside, there was an I [heart] NY shirt and a potty book for Landon, a pair of jammies for Carter, and a blankey holder thing for his carseat. They both got a letter from Grandma and "Pa-pa" and a picture of Pa-pa with Mickey Mouse and a picture of Grandma. It was pretty exciting to get such fun things in the mail. Thanks Grandma and Pa-pa! Miss you!
Everytime my mom and I would go out, we would look for a potty book for Landon. We found this exact book a month or so ago but it was for a girl so we decided to keep looking. I'm really glad Landon finally has a book that explains in FULL detail how to go potty after you are done with diapers. It's pretty hilarious actually...and Landon loves looking at it! Hopefully it will help us get the potty training done and overwith!
I have always wanted to try to applique but just never made the attempt. I've seen these tie onesies all over the place and could not believe how much people were charging for them.My sister has been experimenting with her sewing machine lately so I decided to give it a shot too. I made this tie onesie for Carter and I think it turned out adorable. I used a onesie that he already had and fabric left over from a memory board I stripped. I think appliques totally dress up a plain onesie. I am excited to make more...too bad my sewing machine stinks. I'll be coming back over soon, sister! Thanks for showing me how.
I tried to get Carter to smile so big but he had the hiccups and was just not having it. I couldn't decide which picture to post so here you get to see a few different shots. I can't help but take a million pictures of this guy!
Kind of got a half smile. I think he almost looks blonde here.
Landon saw that I was taking pictures of Carter and had to get in a picture too. He really likes having his picture taken and then seeing himself on the digital. Funny boy.
Of course Carter started smiling like crazy AFTER I took off the tie onesie and put on his jammies. That's okay, smiles or no smiles, he is the cutest baby ever!
Chris and I took the boys for a walk last night with our new double stroller. I'm so glad that I found one so we can go for walks together and not have to either bring two strollers or chase Landon. Everyone kept telling me to get a sit n stand because Landon is getting so big but he occasionally will fall asleep while shopping or something so I needed one that would lay flat. Landon LOVES sitting in the back so last night I tried putting Carter in the front without his carseat. He didn't fuss the whole walk so I guess he liked it! Landon would reach forward and rub Carter's head-it was really cute. Now I can actually go for walks by myself during the day and not feel so trapped at home, yay!
The drive home was harder than the drive to Washington. I wasn't really thinking and bought a double stroller that took up almost the WHOLE entire trunk. I found it for half of the price of one in baby stores so it was must! Especially after my shopping fiasco with the kids.The front seat was packed with stuff so I ended up sitting in the back with the kids bulky car seats the whole way home. It was cramped and the kids were cranky but we made it home! Here are some fun pictures of Carter in the car and some of Landon at a "castle" we saw at rest stop. Landon thought that was pretty cool. The trip to Washington was nice but I don't think I want to go on another long road trip anytime soon ;) Maybe next summer!
Our last day spent in Washington was actually Landon's 3rd birthday! In the morning, we went to the neighborhood where I grew up and visited with the Wheelwrights. Landon, of course, found a nintento DS or whatever they are called and did NOT want to leave. When we made it home, I took a few minutes to take pictures of Landon in the yard. I can't believe he is already three and how much he has grown up in the last year. He's not a baby anymore!!! Joan took Landon to get a pair of shoes for his birthday and he picked out spider man light up shoes-nice. Normally, I would never buy shoes like that for my kids but Landon picked them out and loves them so I guess that's all that matters. They aren't too bad...mostly black and white so I guess I'll live...haha. Later that night, we had dinner and a cake for Landon. WAY later that night, I went to late movie with Mandy (The Time Travelers Wife) in Auburn. Luckily, Brady was still up and I was able to see him for a few minutes before we left. Carter came to the movie and I thought he would sleep the whole time but he only did for a few minutes. I fed him most of the time so it wasn't too bad. I didn't end up getting back to my in laws until after 1am because I was sitting in the car, visiting with Mandy when I dropped her off. It's always so hard to say goodbye to her. I was pretty pooped by the time I got home but apparently, my kids thought it was time to party. It was a long day!
