Twelve Months of Coco Baby!!!
Blue baby in the NICU.
Key to sleeping: Fisher Price Sleep and Play. I Love You!!!
Big Sister and Little Brother
Happy Easter!
Loves his Momma
First trip to the pool. Loves water just like sister.
Summer fun. Relaxing and watching some t.v.
Two handsome boys ready for church in their suits.
Someone gave this boy some whip cream on mommies birthday.
Favorite person: Georgia First Word: Georgia First thing he looks for when he wakes up: Georgia
Learning to stand up: Happy Thanksgiving!
First trip to the beach and the east coast.
That's our handsome little man!My little Coco baby is now Carter boy! Well not quite but he is getting there. I can't believe our little man is already one. Since yesterday I have been thinking a lot about this time last year. It was a whirl wind. On Monday I went to the hospital for an amnio. On Tuesday the prepped me for the c-section. Then took Carter to the NICU immediately. Then he and I tried to get strong as quickly as possible from different hospital rooms. I hated it! I know the Lord has a plan and believe me I learned so much from this experience, but I hope we never have to go through that again. Some things I learned were that #1 The rain falls on both houses. Looking at the different moms and their babies I realized that trial come regardless of who we are but the way we live our lives prepares us for the rain. We can face the trials of life with clarity, support and faith when we follow the gospel principles that we find in the scriptures. #2 of those principles I was taught how important fasting is again. I don't fast very often because of my health but when I do it is usually from something not a full fast. I fasted from sweets for 24 hours. I knew through prayer and the faith of Stephen that Carter would be okay but I still felt so sad and worried. I fasted with the purpose of feeling closeness to the Lord. I know that the spirit was strong with me because of that effort I made to sacrifice. #3 How blessed I am to have my mom. She went through a loss of a baby when I was 11. I was so grateful to have her here to support us. She was able to understand my crazy that week I think because she new what I was feeling. #4 How much I love my children. I was so worried about Carter and wanted to do all I could to help him but I also worried about Gigi and her ability to understand why her mom was gone and couldn't come home with her. I know some moms who don't leave their babies sides but I felt a need to take care of both of my children. Luckily the nurses at the NICU were amazing. I had complete confidence in them and what they were able to provide for my baby boy. So when I left to take care of Gigi I knew he was in good hands. (But I was still pumping every two hours to make sure that I was providing him the nutrition he needed to get strong and come home.) #5 I have a wonderful husband. Bubba was so strong and supportive. He puts up with my crazy better than anyone. When I feel like I am falling apart he is always there picking up the pieces and keeping us all together. He doesn't show his fear because he knows I need him to be my rock.
Carter has come a very long way from the 5lb 15 oz baby in the NICU. He is so bid and strong. But he has always been a strong boy. Carter is just a happy, curious, loving boy.
He is happiest when Georgia is in the same room as him or he is following her around the house. They play well together and G loves her Coco baby too. She calls him things like Coco baby or Coco boy and Son. I love when she calls him son it is too funny. He also gets really excited when he sees his Dad. I know he loves me so I think it is too cute how excited he gets to see his Dad.
Carter currently is walking, making talking noises, gives momma kisses, eats most things put in front of him especially protein like chicken, turkey, eggs and hot dogs. He loves doing Itsy Bitsy Spider and Patty Cake. Just today in church I noticed him trying to sing the hymns in Sacrament meeting and Primary. He likes t.v. for a few minutes and then he is off again. He likes some books with things that stick out of the pages like the fish counting book. He says Georgia, Hi Dad, Momma, sometimes it sounds like Nana and he loves to point at things. He doesn't like his car seat, diaper changes or sleeping through the night. He is a flirt and very social. Out with his Dad the other day he got a free balloon because he kept flirting with the people at the party store. Bubba thinks he might be more active than Gigi. Heaven help us! Carter smiles a lot and loves to show off all three (almost 4) of his teeth.
He also just started learning how to color. He likes to try and color but then he gets hungry and tries to eat the crayons. He is in the process of switching over to cows milk which means we will miss out on some special bonding time. But we'll make it up somehow. On Carter's actual birthday we drove out to the hospital so that Carter to could make a donation 
of some clothes and blankets for other little baby boys. The nurses were excited to see us and thankful for our gift. They couldn't believe how bid Carter was and that he ever started out in their NICU. It does seem crazy to think. He really is such a big boy now. On Saturday after his birthday we through a 
little party and invited a few people for cake and ice cream to help us celebrate. I now there is so much more to say about Carter. He rocks! He has made such an amazing contribution to our family and we are so grateful to have him. He helps me be a better person. I am so glad that we figured out a way that I can work from home and be with him and Gigi.
