6 Months

WOW...this first 6 months has gone fast! I turned 6 months old on Mommy's birthday, April 15th!! Mommy and Daddy are enjoying watching me grow and change everyday. I am rolling over, grabbing at everything I can and anything I grab goes in my mouth! I am sitting up, a little wobbly though if I don't have help.

I went to my 6 month appointment today and weighed 19 pounds and 5 ounces :) Dr. Leidman says I am very healthy and doing well. Time to start eating cereal!!

We went and had family pictures and my 6 month pictures taken. Mommy says I did a great job! Here is the link to see the rest of our pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rjihrke/CarterS6MonthPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCP3R5MKglqvhxgE#

Happy Easter!

My 1st Easter was a wonderful day spent with family and friends:) Grandma and Grandpa Ihrke and Daniel came on Saturday night. We went to mass at 9 on Sunday morning, I slept through most of it! After chruch, we all went back to our house. We were joined by Grandma and Grandpa Tomlinson, Rebecca, Charlie and Frieda! They all enjoyed a wonderful looking brunch, I can't believe they didn't share! I am really interested in food these days, I watch everyone eat.

I got lots of fun stuff for Easter. I had a lot of fun playing with my new toys!

We haven't taken the time to write about our trip to Texas! The day I turned 5 months old, Mommy and I got on a plane and visited our friends Jenny, JC, Addison and Grant in Harker Heights. We spent Sunday through Thursday hanging out in the sun and spending time with them! When we got there on Sunday we got to see some of the soldiers coming home from Iraq. We even got to drive through and see Fort Hood, Thanks JC!! On Monday we went to one of Mommy's favorite restaurant, Pappasito's! Mommy and Daddy's good friends, Rondy and Brandie, joined us for dinner there. I was excited to meet them and Mommy was so glad to spend time with them!

Tuesday and Wednesday we spent time hanging out and relaxing. Mommy and Jenny took just a few pictures of me, Addison and Grant, (haha) only 351 of them!! We had a great time there and really miss the Texas sunshine and our friends. I really miss hanging out with Addison and Grant! (Mommy misses sharing recipes and catching up with Jenny!)

Mommy was excited to show me Texas and introduce me to great friends. While we were there I tried many things! I finally figured out how to roll from my back to my stomach. ( I figured out how to roll from my stomach to my back a few days earlier!) I also began eating some cereal and Mommy even let Rondy give me part of a tortilla at Pappasito's! It was tasty:)

I did such a good job on the flights that we are going to California in June to visit Aunt Mindy and Uncle Kevin!

What a BIG day!

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas! Well today I finally got to see the great state of Texas. We got up really early this morning and Daddy took Mommy and I to the airport in Omaha. I did really great on the first flight, thinking this flying thing was a cinch! When we landed in Houston and walked off the plane, Pappa's BBQ was right there!! Right around the corner Pappacito's and Pappadeaux. Mommy and Daddy really miss the food in Texas! The second flight was very noisy since we were on a smaller airplane flying from Houston to Killeen. What a big day for me! And to think...all this happened today, on my 5 month birthday!

4 Months!

I am now 4 months old, very hard for Mommy and Daddy to believe! I am really having fun learning that I can make noises. Usually testing out my lungs when it's bedtime. I am also working on rolling over, although rolling on my side is the best I can do right now.

Mommy and Daddy are really learning how to take care of my contact. I usually don't mind when they take it out once a week to clean it. Mommy has mastered getting it out, Daddy is better at putting it in. Dr. Suh and Dr. Mendoza have taken great care of me and say that things are looking great with my eye. I have to have an annoying patch over my good eye for 2 hours a day, to help my other eye become stronger. I am really NOT fond of this at all. Daddy says it really isn't doing much good when I scream and having my eyes closed or decide to go to sleep. I haven't quite figured out that this is actually to help me!

I am enjoying my new friends at daycare. Carin takes great care of me and my friends too! There is a little girl there that loves to help take care of me, she is a great helper for being 2 years old.

Mommy and I will be taking my first plane ride, to TEXAS!! Mommy and Daddy are excited for me to get to go there. Mommy and I will be staying with Jenny, JC, Addison and Grant. I can't wait to meet them and see Texas. Mommy is most excited about spending time with her friend and getting to eat at Pappasito's!

Three Months Old...and I can see!!!

Is winter ever going to end? Every time we go out I have to get all bundled up...Mommy and Daddy talk about Texas, isn't it warmer there!?!?!
I am growing and changing ever so much. I weighed 15.4 pounds at my doctor appointment last week. I had to go in because Mommy was worried about my cold. I wasn't eating very well and knew that one of my chins was in jeopardy!! I am feeling much better now though:)
Last Monday I started wearing my contact. Dr. Suh said he is very proud of my progress and Dr. Mendoza (who is in charge of my contact) said it is looking great. Mom and Dad were glad that I slept through the appointment since they had to practice taking my contact in and out. I don't bother it at all and am amazed at what I could see with it in. That evening when Mommy was changing me she was excited about the looks on my face, smiling at things I could see. They have to take it out every two weeks and clean it over night. Much better than we originally thought! I can't imagine them having to do it daily, although I really have gotten used to them messing with my eyes. I have to have the good eye patched daily, but only for 2 hours. That is so my other eye can become stronger.
Mommy is back at work now, and I am going to Carin's during the day. I really like it there! Mommy would like to stay home with me but since she has to go to work it's a great place to spend my days. There are other kids there for me to watch and someday play with. Even a dog for me to get used to! Mommy comes sometimes at lunch, she says the days when she doesn't get to see me are VERY long!
I am starting to laugh more and have really been more interactive! I love looking at new things, and watching the colors and things move on the t.v. Pretty soon I will be able to roll over. I have mastered rolling on to my side, but haven't quite figured out how to roll over on to my stomach. I have learned how to take out my pacifier, but haven't mastered putting it back in. I do love sucking on my fingers too!
I guess that is all for now, time for bed! Another big day of surprising my Mommy and Daddy to come!

Happy Holidays!

My first Thanksgiving was wonderful! We celebrated with all of my grandparents, Kelly and Tyler, Daniel, Deb, Don and Christopher! It was a great day and we had many things to be thankful for, including wonderful family and friends. Mommy says I continue to do well, amazing them more and more each day. I am now making noises and smiling!

Tomorrow I will have my 2nd eye surgery. As Dr. Suh (who Mommy and Daddy say I will grow up to know well!) says that my eye healed too quickly. The scar tissue is keeping my eye from dialating so they will be removing this scar tissue. Hopefully this surgery will only take 30 minutes and go as smoothly as the first one. They will do this surgery outpatient so we will not have to stay overnight in the hospital. We will stay in recovery for 3-4 hours, or until I am eating well and acting like myself after the anesthesia.

Due to the surgery we unfortuately had to change our holiday plans. We had planned on being in Garner from today through Christmas Eve. (We are excited that Kevin and Mindy are home for the holidays, I can't wait to meet Uncle Kevin!) Because we can't travel we are excited that the Ihrke's will be here to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We look forward to spending time with family and can't wait to see them!

On Christmas Day we will celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa Tomlinson and Uncle Jason and Aunt Jo. Next Chritmas I am excited that I will have a cousin as Jason and Jo are execting their first next year! Friday night we will get together to celebrate with Rebecca and Charlie and then go to Prairie City for the Tomlinson family Christmas on Saturday!

We are excited for many Christmas celebrations for my First Chrismas! We have been blessed so much this year . Please check out the pictures below from Thanksgiving and my first visit to Santa...who I am not quite sure about!

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Carter

High Five!! Great Sucess!!

No, my name not a Borat,..... it a Carter... Mine eyes have seens the glory of the coming of the light...in both of them. Yes, the cataract was removed on Wed. and Dr. Suh says it was picture perfect. My night in the hospital was not near as nice as the last stay. The difference between that first OB/GYN floor and this pediatrics thing is like The Plaza vs. Motel 6.

Now I am home and doing well. Looking around thru an eye patch of all things. I can't have any contact sports and need a driver for several weeks. So, I guess I will forego rugby and stay in the stroller. I am tired of eye drops being placed every hour or so. Now they have me at both ends.