Friday, January 14, 2011

Happy Birthday Carsten!

My dear little Carsten,

One year ago today I held you in my arms for the first time. I was already in love with you before that, but holding you strengthened our bond! Over the last year you have done a lot of growing. You put mommy through a few scares when you were just a few weeks old, but you pulled through and have grown into such a cute and healthy boy. I love watching you discover the world around you. You are very active and always trying to climb or crawl wherever you are not supposed to be! I look forward to all the years we have ahead of us...watching you grow and change. I love you son, Happy 1st Birthday!

Love, Mommy

Here are some of my favorite photos from the first year of Carsten's life:

January 2010- My little glow worm


February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010- Camp bath
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010- Kitchen sink bath
December 2010
January 14, 2010- Celebrating his 1st birthday!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Medical training and a Rylan conversation

This week we started classes again. It is nice to get back into the routine again, although the break was refreshing. These first two days back have been all focused on health and wellness courses. We have a nurse here who is training us and at the end we will get a certificate that shows we have some basic medical knowledge and skills. These will most likely prove very useful someday.

We both learned how to use an otoscope (for the ear) and how to take blood pressure. I learned how to give an injection! Jeff was the lucky recipient of some saline solution into his arm! He said it did not hurt at all, so I guess that means I did all right. Jeff had no desire to try giving an injection to anyone and he says if I ever need one I can talk him through it at the time. I think I will be forced to give my own injections if the need arises as Jeff might pass out or something :)

On another note completely, last night as I was finishing dinner, Carsten was screaming in the corner with the toys and this is the conversation that Rylan had with him:
"Here's a drink. Want to play with me?
Carsten continues to cry
"It's okay. You don't have wong hair you have wittle hair. Come here, you can play with me."
Carsten calmed for a few minutes as Rylan showed him different toys and then he proceeded to scream again. Rylan gave it his best effort!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Taking turns being the pusher

Carsten pushing big brother around

Rylan pushing Nugget around

Daddy pushing both boys around

Carsten in his big boy shirt from auntie and uncle

Shoveling snow

We got a lot of snow last night. Just a few days ago it was raining and all the snow had melted away. Well it is back! Jeff went out last night around 5 p.m. to shovel the walkways. As you can see in the pictures it snowed a lot over night leaving him with as much shoveling to do today! Rylan decided to go out and help!



Thursday, December 30, 2010

Our growing Carsten

I was sitting and watching Carsten today and realizing that he is suddenly within the past two weeks doing so many new things. I wondered before I had him if I would be as excited when a second child did their "firsts" as I was with my first born. Well I have my answer because it is just as exciting! Here are a few of Carsten's new tricks:

  • He waves hello and goodbye by opening and closing his little hands
  • He blows kisses and even makes the sound "mm-wa"
  • He throws a soft baseball (basically lets it fall out of his hand, but fully knows what you are asking him to do)
  • He "moos" when he sees Rylan's little cow
  • He is starting to say "ball" and he says "mama, dada, bubba and nana"
  • He claps whenever he does something he is proud of or if someone says "yeah"
Carsten enjoying his sled ride

Carsten and Grandpa enjoying the outdoors

Demolishing a teething biscuit
He is so much fun and is really starting to show more and more of his little personality!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!

We miss you all and really wish we could be there to celebrate this glorious day with you! Thank you for the many gifts and cards that have been sent to us! We love you and can't wait to see you again...in person! Here are a few photos from this morning and yesterday when we were out on a walk.
Carsten watching daddy and brother play in the snow!

Carsten and daddy coming in from the cold

Carsten and Auntie Ju-Ju out for a walk


Rylan got lots of "Cars" toys!!

Carsten got his own "Cars" to play with big brother!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Our world is white


This picture gives a taste of what it has been like here lately. We have been getting snow storm after snow storm. At times it feels like we are in a human snow globe that continues to be shaken! We are really enjoying the weather except for the road conditions that follow. It is hard to drive in the snow and now we are a bit fearful after the accident. It sure is beautiful here and I never really get tired of sitting in the house watching snow gently fall to the ground!