Summer....It went by in a flash

Summer went by in such a flash so I think a semi quick recap in pictures will be faster than post after post explaining all the fun we had during our break.

 Karter finished Sonshine School with a sweet little program where they sang "Read your bible and pray everyday" and "If you're happy and you know it"  Karter was a big ham while on stage.  He loved being in the spot light.

 B and KJ went to a baseball game

 Numerous trips to the skate park

 I ran my first 5k.  The Dirty 30

 Visited many splash pads

 KJ and Daddy painted me a mug for Mothers Day

Went to the lake

 Finished the Dirty 30

 Drove the boat

 Ate birthday donuts

 Celebrated Fathers day

 Enjoyed time with family

 Had watergun fights

 Rode first roller coaster

 Went to build a bear for pooping in the potty

 Went to a mommy/son pirate swim party

 Went to the lake for the 4th of July

 Stayed up way pasted bedtimes for fireworks

 Went to first swim lessons

 Watched the summer olympics and had an olympic picnic

 more swim lessons

 Made my first pinterest project

 Made bathtub paint

 went on a girls trip to the lake, came back with a souvenir to prove a good time was had

 played with dart guns

 discovered the greatest park ever

 went to see my favorite band EVER!

 more dart gun games

 ate with chopsticks

 visited a new children's museum

 climbed a rock wall

Had first t-ball practice

 more museums

 had first t-ball game

 had last t-ball game

 made treats with sticker grandma while mommy and daddy went on a date

 a the biggest corndog at the fair

 did face painting at daddy's regatta

 mommy and daddy celebrated 7 years of marriage

went to the zoo to feed the birds
Summer 2012 was so much fun.
Sorry pictures are out of order.

Potty Training

In July we had thought about potty training. Karter had been showing some interest in it, mostly he didn't want to be dirty. So B and I decided after my trip to Baltimore, for August workshop, we'd try it out. So the second week of August we drove head first into the potty training world. To get started we went to Lowe's to purchase a large tarp, then to Crest for all kinds of goodies(AKA JUNK), and then to Target for 2 packages of underwear and a potty seat. Can I just say that underwear are EXPENSIVE. Who knew?

I had decided we'd try the 3 day method so we tarped the entire living room, let him run around in underwear and did stickers and goodies for rewards. Karter did okay but we quickly learned that the underwear held him in too much like a diaper did so we removed them letting him run around naked for the remaining 2 days. After that he did much better. He picked up on it pretty quick and we haven't had too much of a problem with #1. #2 on the other hand is a different story. He is terrible at going on the potty. We've had too many accidents to count. We are still working on this 6 months later but we are seeing some progress.

I will say that having a child in diapers is expensive but way more convenient.
Also during potty training we decided it was time to convert Karter's bed into a toddler bed. He only climbed out once, falling on his head and leaving a carpet burn, never to do it again. But he was getting so heavy to lift over the bar and lower him back down leaving me with a back ache. At first he did so good staying in his bed, almost like he didn't know he could get out of it, but after 2 weeks he started coming in to our room at 3 a.m. saying he wanted to watch Mickey Mouse. After talking to a good friend, who talked to her pediatrician, we decided to put a lock on the outside of his door. Now his room is "his crib" plus it gives me peace of mind knowing he won't unlock the door and go outside.

Tuesday is our favorite day

Tuesday has become our favorite day of the week. Every Tuesday we go to the Library for lapsit. Lapsit is from 10:15-11 a.m. For the first 15-20 minutes we do free play. Karter usually does the puzzles, magnets or cars. He has ventured out to dress up, kitchen play or even blocks. But mainly he does the same thing every time. After free play we sit in our circle and listen to music, read books, bubbles or do parachute play. Karter doesn't usually participate during the songs. He loves to listen to them and he is taking in every single verse and word being sung. But he will not do the hand motions or movements. There's too much of a crowd. After lapsit is over we go check out our books. We usually get 10 books 2 of which HAVE to be Curious George. Karter loves to give the librarian our card and hand her each book. I'm sure they hate this part because it takes for ever. So if the self checkout is available we will use that just so we don't frustrate the poor ladies. After we get to our car Karter usually starts making his song suggestions. He loves to sing AFTER we get in the car or get home but he won't do it there. These songs are his current favorites: 1 little 2 little 3 little bubbles, finger poppin', shake my sillies out and we have to do little mouse little mouse. We do these every day.
On one particular Tuesday, after lapsit, Rachel Soper invited us to go to the Fire Station with her, Luke and Leta. I have been wanting to take Karter but never wanted to go alone. So this was an added bonus for K. He got to see the firemen, firetrucks and hang out with Luke.
Karter loved the firehouse. Mostly he like to run around like a crazy man but he did enjoy sitting in the firetrucks and seeing all of the neat equipment. When we were about ready to leave the firemen handed L, L and K stickers and coloring pages. They also let them take turns shooting water from the hoses. Luke and Leta loved doing that but Karter, Nope he stayed off to the side or tried to run back to the car. He didn't like that part. Karter loved visiting the fire station

Detecting heat. It was a pretty cool toy

Leta wasn't too sure about sitting there for a quick picture

Karter had to do everything Luke did

I love these 3

Karter did not want to spray the water hose. He was perfectly happy with his sticker.

Luke and Leta spraying the water hose