Family pics

We had occasions to take a family photo a couple of times lately, which is rare, so just wanted to document :)

Birthday Boy

Carlton turned two on the 17th!  Our little boy is growing up.  He rarely sits still - usually only to read books - and is endlessly curious.  He has a fantastic vocabulary and is constantly surprising us with new words and concepts he picks up.  He's not a cuddler, but he'll laugh and joke and play with you all day, delightedly requesting, "More!' whenever the action pauses.  Carlton has wholeheartedly embraced his role of big brother, affectionately squealing his version of Clara's name numerous times a day and showering her with hugs and toys.  He is a delight to our souls.

On his actual birthday, Mark and I gave him his present to open....a radio flyer wagon!  Many fun trips around the yard, down the street, to the pool ahead.

On Saturday we had a party for him, just my parents and siblings and our good friends the Gross family (who have twins Carlton's age and a three-year-old).  It was such a sweet time of celebrating our little man with loved ones! 

It was a tractor-themed party, as Carlton loves any car-truck-tractor-wheeled vehicle of all sorts. 

The kids got to make and decorate 'grass' party hats to go along with the farm theme. 

Carrot cake was the cake of choice this year (after trying chocolate on his first birthday), and Carlton was pretty into it at first.  He ended up leaving most of it on his tray, though, practicing more moderation than his mother :) 

One of the big hits of the day was the new car ramp from his grandparents.  Matchbox and Little People cars flying left and right.  Could.not.be.happier.

Another milestone

Carlton recently hit a milestone, the transition to a big boy bed. It was time for Clara to move into the crib (and leave the bassinet), so it was time for a new bed for Carlton. He took to it easily and loves it! The transition was actually surprisingly smooth, and seemed fitting right at his second birthday.

Down...

Up...

Tucking in his elephants...

Three months old

Our baby girl at three months!  A sampling...

Birmingham

The first weekend in November we took our first trip since Clara was born, to Birmingham, AL for a wedding of Mark's cousin.  We had a blast seeing family we hadn't seen in a while and hanging out with Ricky and Eden at Eden's parents' house, who graciously hosted us for the weekend.  Clara did superb meeting all the new people!  We especially cherished our time with Grandma Dee, Mark's grandmother, as she got to meet her newest great-grandchild. (And the only time we captured in photos the whole weekend!)

 

Halloween

Halloween weekend was great.  We attended a neighborhood festival on Saturday, and got both kids in their duck costumes.  When trick-or-treating time rolled around the next day, Carlton was going to man the door with us, but the duck costume was not a hit the second time around.  Oh well :)  The boys carved a fabulous pumpkin, too!