Carter's First Visit Back Home

Yesterday I decided to load up the boys and surprise Bill at work for a lunch date.  It definitely takes a lot longer to gather everything for the trip with a toddler and a newborn!  It took me two hours to pack everything up, load the boys, change about 6 diapers (mostly Carter), and make myself look presentable.  We arrived right on time to surprise daddy for lunch and he was excited to see us!!  The trip went great, both boys slept for the drive.

I decided to go ahead and pack an overnight bag for both Bill and I in case we wanted to visit our families this weekend.  We talked it over at lunch and decided I would go ahead and drive to my parents and Bill would meet us there after work.  The boys and I surprised Papa T and Nana, but let Aunt KK in on the secret to make sure everyone was at home. 

The boys and I hung out with Nana most of the day until Papa T and Bill came home.  We all settled in to play with Nolan, have dinner, and cuddle with baby Carter.  G.G. came down to see Carter for the first time and brought gifts!  She made a Halloween pillow case for Nolan.  When Nolan saw it he smiled great big and said, "cool."  Cool is Nolan's new favorite word.  Carter received a quilt G.G. made and a bag full of goodies!!  Meme and Poppy came over to see Carter for the first time as well!! 

G.G. holding Carter

After dinner Nolan was given a drumstick to eat.  He thought it was really really delicious!!  He kept hamming it up for everyone...

 "Hmmm..... paci or drumstick?"

 Great Meme with Carter

 Great Poppy with Carter

Nolan is Poppy's buddy!

It was a little different sleeping with all four of us in the same room, but it went rather well.  Around 2:30am Nolan wanted out of his crib and laid in bed with us.  Carter decided to take his paci for a little while, so I was able to have an extra hour of sleep!  Bill and Nolan slept through all of Carter's feedings, of course.  Both Nolan and Bill were sawing logs, I'm surprised they didn't wake Carter up.

This morning, we awoke to a delicious breakfast Papa had prepared.  Bill was able to sleep in until 8am.  He came downstairs and said we are moving in with Nana and Papa! I just rolled my eyes and said No Way!  We wanted to take Carter to Gma and Gpa Purcell and Gma and Gpa Funderburk's too.  Bill called and set up times for us to arrive, so we could spend some time with everyone.

We arrived at the Purcell's and Nolan was so tired!  He didn't want to play or have anything to do with anyone.  I held him while Gma and Gpa visited with Carter and Nolan fell asleep on me.  I laid him on the couch and he slept for an hour!!  Poor Bekah wanted to play with him, but he was passed out.  Finally, Nolan woke up right before we left and he was in a much better mood!

 Grandpa and his grandsons!!

 Nap time

 Apparently, Carter was tired too.

After a couple of hours of visiting with the Purcell's, we loaded up and drove to the Funerburk's.  Grandma Donna had tons of goodies for Nolan to play with!  He ran right to the McDonald's station and started flipping burgers.  Grandma and Nolan colored, played with play dough, and ate lunch together!  What fun Nolan had.  Great Grandma Beeler came over to see Carter for the first time!

 Great Grandma Beeler holding Carter

 Carter's turn to sleep on a couch

Having fun....

Lastly, we made a stop at the Chesser's.  Grandpa Tub wasn't able to come down with G.G., so we wanted to stop by and let Carter meet Grandpa Tub.  Great Aunt Julie was there too, so she was able to see Carter for the first time too!!

 Great Papa Tub with Carter

Great Aunt Julie cuddling Carter

 Nolan saw a Halloween frog and thought it was "cool", so G.G. said he could hold it.  I was a little nervous, but he didn't drop it and gave it back to me to put up after a couple of minutes of holding it.

Finally, after we left Chesser's we headed back to pick up Bill's car and then made the trip back home.  Once again, both boys slept the entire way.  I think everyone was exhausted.  When we arrived home Nolan kept laying around the house and Carter slept for four hours straight!!

The census stands that Carter looks like my side of the family, Bill and I make adorable babies, Carter and Nolan are absolutely perfect, and that Bill and I are so blessed!  I have to agree with all of these statements.  Carter did great on his first trip back to visit the family.  It was a good opener for Thanksgiving, which will be here before we know it. 

Choo Choo Train

As most of you know, Nolan has become fascinated with trains and anything to do with them.  He has at least five different little toy trains and a few train tracks to go along with them.  Nana and Papa have a train that runs by their house at the end of their lane.  Tonight while we were chatting over FaceTime with Nana and Papa, a train was going by their house.  Nana went outside so Nolan could hear the train and he became so excited I had to record him!

Usually when a train goes by, Papa will jump on the Kubota with Nolan and run him down to the end of the lane so Nolan can wave to the train.  It is too cute because in the video he waves to the train too.

Love you Pooter!!

The Purcell Brothers

Tonight Bill and I decided to let Nolan hold Carter for the first time.  Nolan is so careful with Carter we thought it would be fine.  I sat Nolan in the recliner with the boppy and placed Carter in his arms.  Bill took the pictures.  Nolan did great!! He became a little antsy after about 30 seconds and I took Carter off of his lap.

Silly Carter

 loves for baby

I bought this plastic bin to keep Nolan's trains in.  Of course, he dumps out the trains so he can sit in it and play.

Brush 'Em, Brush 'Em, Brush 'Em

Every night after Nolan's bath, either Bill or I help him brush his teeth.  Nolan has a fascination with brushing his teeth too.  Maybe a future dentist in the making?!?  The other day Madison and Tiffany were over visiting and Madison needed to wash her hands, so Bill took the stool from Nolan's room into the bathroom for Madison to step on to reach the sink.  Needless to say, Nolan observed the whole event and that night after his bath, went and grabbed his stool from his room, took it into the bathroom and placed the stool in front of the sink.  Nolan then proceeded to grab his toothbrush from the drawer, put the toothbrush under the running water, and then brush his teeth!!  I'm mesmerized at how smart this child is.

I bought Nolan a Sonicare toothbrush for kids because he was always taking mine and trying to use it.  Nolan could care less to use his new toothbrush.  He likes the $2.00 one from Wal-Mart.  Oh well, as long as he is letting us brush his teeth I don't care which toothbrush he uses. :)  Hopefully, when he is a teenager he will continue to like taking care of his teeth......

Nolan's First Bike Ride

Bill and I have wanted to take Nolan on the bike trails since he was born, but there is one problem.  We don't have bikes......  Papa T bought a recumbent bike awhile ago and has wanted to ride the trails as well.  Yesterday was the day to finally make it happen.  Papa T, Nana, Aunt Kelby, and James brought down bikes and a bike trailer for Nolan to ride in. 

I will admit my family looked a little hoosier pulling up with all the bikes in the back of the truck and a bike trailer that had seen better years but, the best things in life are free!! haha  Bill and I didn't have to buy any bikes or a bike trailer.  My parents borrowed a bike trailer from their neighbors that their little boy had outgrown.  It was missing shoulder straps but Nolan enjoyed the ride so much he didn't try to jump out. 

 Papa T wanted to test the trailer out first to make sure it wouldn't unhook or fall apart.

 Nolan couldn't wait to ride in the trailer!

 Nolan loved it!! He kept waving bye bye and smiling.

 Aunt KK wanted to take it for a test drive.

 Papa T, Bill, James, Aunt Kelby, and Nolan all loaded up in the truck and took off to take a ride on the trails.  We will have to evolve a little and buy a few bike racks to fit in with the Edwardsville bikers.  lol

Nana and I stayed back at the house with baby Carter.  Everyone else was gone for quite awhile and we started to become a little worried.  Right when we were going to head out and run some errands, James came riding up the hill on his bike.  The group ended up parking and riding 12 miles back to our house.  Nolan fell asleep towards the end, but he didn't have shoulder straps to keep him leaning back.  Poor baby!!  At least he only slept for the last five minutes of the ride.  Bill recorded Nolan on the trails while he was sleeping.

It's Tummy Time....

I decided to try Carter out with tummy time yesterday.  Needless to say, Nolan wanted to help Carter with tummy time.  Nolan hated tummy time when he was a baby and Carter seems to be following in his big brother's footsteps.  Nolan is so good with Carter!  He kept laughing when Carter would grunt while trying to hold up his head.

Carter did a good job with tummy time even though he became upset towards the end!!

 Brothers

 Not too happy

It amazes me how well Carter is already controlling his head.  Even in the hospital he was holding his head up on his own.  He's a strong little man!!

I recorded a little video of the boys: