I promise we're alive..

So whenever something happens in our family, I always have the greatest intentions to blog but those good intentions often don't materialize into much as you can tell by my lack of blogging. I hopefully will do much better this summer and document more. I don't know why I dont blog more, I find writing my thoughts and life happenings to be therapeutic in a way. Anyways, here are just a few things that have been happening lately in our crazy, oh so busy lives.

Carter is growing up so fast! I know every parent says that it feels like yesterday that their child was born. For me, my feelings aren't any different. He is growing, moving, and doing all kinds of new things. He has recently started saying "daddy" at random times and ironicly often yells out "ma ma" when he needs something or wants something.

Carter has also learned how to climb the stairs and loves to climb on anything and everything he can get his hands on. We've already had our moments of tumbles and falls. Just the other day, Carter climbed up and leaned on the gate that protects him from going down a set of stairs in our house. We'll I guess I failed to secure the gate tight enough and Carter ended of taking a tumble down the flight of stairs. Can we say horrible mom award? But, I'm quickly learning that he's a tough little kid and that he has little to no fear. He was right back to leaning up against the gate no less than a couple minutes later (with mom close behind this time).

Carter will turn 1 in a little over a month. I completely plan on being an over-the-top mom and making his cake out of fondant. Truth be told, its always been my dream to own my own baking/cake shop so now is a perfect time to practice those skills. Curious George is the theme and this is kind of the design I'm thinking of:

While is doesn't look extremely difficult, I think it will take some good practice beforehand. I just hope that it turns out.

Recently BJ took a trip to South Africa for his MBA. To finish his Masters, he needed to take a class that focused on international business. If there's one thing you have to know about BJ its that he LOVES animals so the minute he found out those going on the South Africa trip would also get to go on a safari, he was hooked. I originally was going to join him on the trip but the idea of spending all my vacation inside business instead of out touring the area didn't really appeal to be nor did it make me want to shell out $3000. Ironically, (and stupidly I might add..if stupidly is even a word), the trip left the weekend before Easter and so when they got to SA, they found that most of the business they were going to tour were closed. This meant that the class would have a majority of the time in SA to tour and do fun things they wanted to do. Needless to say, I was a little bummed hearing all the fun things he got to go and do but I was happy that he got to go. Here are some of the pics from his trip.

He swam with Great White Sharks.. so jealous!

Was able to pet adult cheetahs. The cheetah wasn't tranquilized, just asleep.

He was able to visit an orphanage while there. A bunch of the people in his class and BJ bought soccer balls to bring and give to the kids. I guess they just kick balled up trash around for fun. I told BJ that if he wanted to, he could bring one of them home!

Yeap, he was close to that giraffe. Again, I'm jealous..

Here he is visiting a lion exhibit. This 'baby' was only 3 months old.

While BJ was off have an adventure, I was here taking care of Carter. It actually wasn't as rough as I thought it would be but I was ready for him to be home.

So here's hopefully one of many posts to come. I'll post some South Carolina trip and Easter stuff soon. :)

A little update...

This month has just seemed to fly by with everything thats gone on with BJ and I. I am officially 32 week and 5 days along and life just seems to be getting more and more uncomfortable. I swear I haven't had a good nights sleep in over a week due to my mind just racing about all that there is left to do before the baby comes. Plus, I have just weird and probably to come peoples classification, "psychotic" dreams that drive me insane at night!! I swear lately I'll have those dreams that I have partial control over the outcome and in the attempt to make the dream good, I end up making myself crazy at night to where I'll wake up repeatedly only to go back to the same dream over again. SO annoying... Can anyone relate?

Then, there's those nights where my brain just doesn't shut off no matter what I try... I've been told its just a 'first time mommy' thing where I try to plan everything down to what I'll do if I go into labor early, step by step, and that when I have other children, I won't have quite the same problems with worrying. I don't know and I guess won't find out till I have another child but one thing is for sure that this whole no sleep thing is no fun at all... Oh yeah, and I have a sweet head cold. :)

Other than the fact that I've been a whiner the past couple of weeks, BJ's been working on our basement. Over the past month we've gone from a framed couple of rooms to a sheet rocked, mudded, and base boarded basement which make us both very excited. Every time I go downstairs it seems like something has gotten done or has changed. BJ and crew have done a fantastic job. It's moments like this where I'm so happy to be married to a man who is so driven to achieve. I myself can take none of the credit for its progress other than I am the one who cleans up all the dust that comes up and makes a mess of the other rooms in our house. I don't think I've ever dusted this much in my life. All for a good cause though right?

After the sheet rock... (Sorry these pics are out of order)

Before the sheet rock...

Other than that, BJ and I are both counting the days till we are done with school and work... I believe we have a total of 30 working days till I am finished with this school year and BJ will be done with his masters classes till the fall. The end of the year is always difficult for me at school with wild children but this years 9th grade bunch seems to be my own personal hell. I don't think I've ever loathed teaching a class as much as I loathe teaching them. Not only is it difficult to teach them in general but teaching with a teacher at the same time who has no discipline skills whatsoever makes some days downright ridiculous.. Its bad enough that I have to get onto my class about misbehavior and such but when I have to be Hitler for his class to, it emotionally drains me and in all honesty, it's unfair that I have to always be the bad guy. I'm sure that I am the hated gym teacher for many and I'm ok with that..I'm sure one kid likes me in that class...maybe. I guess if it means that those kids know I'm not a push over, than its worth something right? Regardless, I chant everyday in my mind 30 more days, 30 more days.....

Fashion Intervention

BJ received a gift card to Foot Locker for Christmas last year to go buy new basketball shoes. Upon arriving home from the mall, I see he's bought some nice black tennis shoes and I immediately became very impressed with his selection of shoe style. Lets be honest, BJ has rarely ever needed help from me in the dressing himself department and so why would shoes be any different??

Last Wednesday, it came to my attention that we needed to have an intervention when it came to his sock/shoe style. Now I know men care a bit less compared to women when it comes down to their gym attire but this was more than I could bare... Just take a look...

Oh how I love him... I just thought it was to funny. He was kind enough to pose for the camera so that we could document for future reference why white socks and black shoes do not go together... I actually think he could careless how his socks and shoes match but needless to say, I will be buying black, no show or short socks in the very near future... :)