pleezz...

I am sure everyone has seen those sappy jewelry commercials during Christmas time... well, I get a big kick out of them because the women in the commercials are portrayed as such idiots!! Anyways, I was feeding Carson and watching one of the commercials, when the commercial was over I said "oh please!" and Carson started cracking up laughing. He kept laughing for literally 10 minutes everytime I would say "oh please!" I just caught the end of it- but it's pretty funny:

Christmas

Here's a couple pictures and videos to share of Carson's first Christmas:

Carson had so much fun unwrapping presents and eating the paper and boxes!! Santa brought Carson lots of fun gifts... he is officially spoiled from both sets of grandparents :)

Steve, Miranda and I were lucky enough to get to go snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor on Christmas eve, it was the first time I have been for almost 2 years since I was pregnant last year. We had so much fun!!

Uggh!!

So, as if the Christmas season hussle and bussle isn't stressful enough, we have definately added to it this year!! We have decided to take our house off the market and attempt to rent it out. We made this decision for a few reasons. The first being that it could be a great long term investment, the second is that we found the house of our dreams in Washington. It's on a hill that overlooks the Columbia River and has cherry hardwood floors, granite counter tops, floor to celing windows and is layed out like a lake house!! We love everything about the house- especially the deal we could potentially get if everything goes as planned!
Needless to say, we have been pretty stressed out lately! This morning Steve woke up telling me about an expense he forgot to mention last night and I looked at the clock- it was 7 am. I told him it was way too early to start with the house talk... but unfortunatley it is consuming us right now.
I am so thankful for all of our many blessings and I have faith that what is meant to be will be... I just wish it would "be" soon :)

Zoo Lights!!

We took Carson and ventured out to the zoo to check out the Christmas lights. Steve and I had a "discussion" before we left on whether Carson would appreciate the lights or not. I, of course said that he would love it!! Carson decided to prove me wrong :( He loved the lights for the first 15 minutes, after that he wanted to go home and sleep. So, we bundled him up in his stroller and let him sleep through the fun. We rode the train and saw some really neat lights including elephants, alligators, and monkeys all made from lights!

So, all the "books" say this is the time to start teaching your child "no" (8 to 9 months). This is hard for me because up until now, Carson hasn't done anything to deserve a "no." Lately, he has been testing me! Today I decided to try it out, he was going straight for the computer cord to put it in his mouth... I sternly looked Carson in the eye and said "Carson, NO" he looked at me and cracked up laughing! Well, that went well!! Later, he was being impossible to dress by trying to turn over while I change him, so once again I looked at him and turned him back on his back and said "NO".... once again he looked at me and cracked up laughing!!! GREAT! I am already beaten down by my child :)

Last but not least, I did get the ER job!! YAY! (I think) So, I will start at the end of January. I am pretty excited to be in the ER, I have always been interested in the "emergency" aspect of nursing with the blood and intensity! I am just not too excited about being at work 40 hours per week -yuck!

Christmas pictures

Holly came over this week to help us with some family pictures for our Christmas cards (cutting it close- I know). They turned out pretty cute, even though Carson refused to cooperate. Everytime the camera was close to him, he would close his eyes and scrunch up his face. Here's a couple pics to share:

We got into the Christmas spirit this week and also picked out a Christmas tree. Grandma Caudle was staying with us for a couple weeks so she came with us to find our tree. It was actually snowing when we went, but since it's Portland it didn't stick :(

I had a job interview today for an emergency room position at SW medical center in Vancouver. I am pretty excited about it. It would be a two year commitment for full time which is not the greatest... but it is right down the street from Grandma Gail!!

Keep in touch!! We miss everyone- hopefully I will get the Christmas cards out soon :)

Thanksgiving

Ok... so the last blog was suppose to have a video of me playing guitar hero, but it wouldn't upload, so unfortunately I can't share the video of me being a rock star ; )

We ended up going to Prineville for a few days and celebrating Thanksgiving there at dad's house with the family here's a picture of all of us after dinner:



Carson had lots of fun taking a bath in dad's sink:



And last but not least, here are a couple pics of the family bowling after Thanksgiving:

Want a good laugh??

Steve came home last night with guitar hero for the playstation 3, and I am officially addicted!! So, I thought I would share with you what a dork I am! I had no idea Steve was recording me until the end of the song. (Also, I had just gotten back from the gym- so I look beautiful!)

We were acting like children who just opened the best present EVER from Santa Claus!

I am not starting this blog with "so, I know I haven't posted in a while" because Steve says that is how I start every blog :)

The news of the week is that Carson's first tooth finally came through! He was a little fussy and not his normal happy self, then we went grocery shopping and when he was in his carseat in the basket he grabbed my hand and chomped down on my finger- ouch! I couldn't believe there was a little tooth in there!

Grandma and Grandpa Caudle came home from California-- yay! They couldn't wait to see Carson so they have him in Prineville for a couple days. It will be nice for me so I can get my house ready for guests at Thanksgiving. This will be my first Thanksgiving dinner at my own home, I am pretty excited. Thanks for checking in!!

I know I haven't updated in a few days but I am STILL sick!! I called the Dr and they said they won't prescribe me an antibiotic until I have been sick for over 10 days- uggh! So, I am going on day 8 now... and I swear to never get a flu shot again! I haven't gotten one in a couple years and this year everyone at work talked me into it. I know that it weakens your immune system allowing you to catch crap that I got; and just to prove my theory- Steve hasn't gotten it yet! Carson had a bit of a sore throat, it was sad... he would swallow and make an "ouchie" face and cry. Luckily it only lasted a day or so (knock on wood).

Carson holds his own bottle now!!! But, only when HE decides it's a good idea. He still wants to be cuddled and fed, but every once in a while he will grab the bottle and drink the whole thing all by himself! Also, he sits up now and loves it! I guess all I had to do was tell how behind he was and he figured out how to accomplish all these new things just to prove that he can.

This video is for Grandma to entice her to come home.....

Photo Shoot!!

Here's a few of the pictures we got las week!! They turned out really cute! It was a last minute decision to get his picture taken, I was at Babys-r-us getting some gifts for showers and I decided to get Carson's six month pics taken. They are pretty casual, but I love them! I am really sick right now-- uggh!! I have a sore throat, headache, cough.. all the works! I told Steve that I feel bad because I only have a cold and I feel like I am dying, yet I take care of very sick people all the time who don't complain as much as I do. I will be a better nurse now!! (and a better wife who doesn't complain so much)

Halloween

Carson was Mickey Mouse for Halloween!! Well... not for very long because he hated to wear the ears and the gloves! We went to Grandma Gail's house for dinner and pictures. Carson was being really cranky so we didn't get very many pics. He actually stayed the night at grandma's house that night :) Unfortunately both Steve and I had to work the next day so we weren't able to take advantage of the opportunity to sleep in. On the days off we have together (like today) we argue about who's turn it is to wake up with Carson, this morning it was 5 am :(

This weekend Carson and I went to Amie's house for her baby shower. There was a little girl there who was born April 7th and oh boy.... she was going circles around little Carson. She was crawling, sitting by herself and holding her own bottle! Carson can only sit up for a few seconds by himself and he scoots in circles (not crawls) and he is not interested in holding his own bottle! So, Steve and I (as first time parents) are like "why can't Carson do all that?" I know it's all individual, but every parent wants their child to do everything earlier than their peers :) It was an interesting experience to see Carson interacting with all the children there, it was pretty much the first time he had been around other babies and was able to interact with them.

We still haven't sold our house :( not even close- we have only showed it a few times. It's sooo discouraging! The market sucks!! Hopefully soon we will be able to move closer to Grandma Gail!

Oh by the way... the Starbucks cup was empty by the time Carson got ahold of it. It was pretty cute though :)

Sorry for not updating in a while, I have been thrown into real life again after vacation with work and Carson. Work is going good, it's really hard... hopefully I will lose some weight because I run all day long! I hate leaving and coming home when it's dark- 12 hour shifts are really long, but it's worth it when a patient is grateful and appreciates your care.

Carson is still not crawling but is closer everyday. He still goes around in circles and backwards. He has also perfected his scream, it seems to get louder and louder everyday! He sits in his high chair now like a big boy! He is actually 14lbs now and 27 inches long! It's hard to find clothes that fit him because he is tall and skinny.

Steve is going to the Oregon USC game this weekend with my dad, Carson and I are going to stay home and get lots of rest :)

We love to hear from everyone, leave us a message and let us know you are checking in!

Back from Hawaii

Well... I decided to change blogs because we were running out of room on the babysites. We are back from vacation now :( It's funny because when you are actually on vacation you don't realize how nice and relaxing it is until you come home to real life.


We went with some friends (Dan and Stacy) and stayed in a condo in Kehei Maui. It was nice, right on the beach, but I did miss the maid service of hotels. It's not fun to have to do housework on vacation.


Carson was not crawling when we came home... but he was playing patty cake and going in circles on his belly. Also, he is wonderfully loud now! He loves to tighten up all his muscles and scream- then he just smiles. I have been working the last three days so I am exhausted! I will share more stories after some sleep :)