happy heart day!

For Valentine's Day this year, Carson and I made heart-shaped sugar cookies. He had fun "helping" and especially liked to grab handfuls of dough and squeeze it:) But, he ended up having even more fun "washing dishes" and making a big mess!

The final product!

After a fun story time at the library Tuesday, Carson and I delivered cookies to some sweet friends and neighbors.

And a couple of pics with my sweetie with our new camera! The other one has been sickly since I dropped it on the porch a couple of months back.

Keith and Carson worked together to make me a sweet Valentine and got me peanut butter m&ms and hot chocolate and surprised me with it when I got home from class Tuesday night. It was perfect! My boys know me well:)

I hope you felt loved yesterday...and everyday<3

ten on ten: february 2012

With motivation from my virtual friend, Kelly, I decided to join in on ten on ten this month. It's a fun way to document your day. All you have to do is snap ten photos, one every hour for ten consecutive hours.

before I can hug my boy in the mornings, he insists that I hug his three best pals first:)

we read a few books after breakfast.

then, we bundled up to play outside for a bit.

carson and i share a sweet potato for lunch almost everyday.

pinterest+coke zero+the last white chocolate reese's tree=a naptime treat for mama

since it was too cold for a morning walk outside, I had to burn off that reese's inside.

after nap, we had a snack/dance party:)

then, we went out to eat with sweet friends to our very favorite mexican food joint.

daddy gave carson zurberts before putting on his pjs! there was lots of sweet laughter from both of them:)

and i organized paper for my next craft project!

18 months

February 2, 2012

32 pounds 13 ounces (98%)
34 inches (92%)
Head (90%)

Sweet Boy!!

We love you oh so very much! We love to watch you grow and learn new things every day. You are such a blessing to our family, and we can’t imagine life without you. You’re sweet and fun. You’re friendly and full of energy. You love to talk and explore. You love to read books and play outside. You love to sing songs and do chores. You give big hugs and kisses. You are an absolute joy!

You are a big boy. You’re taller and stockier than most other kids your age. In fact, you’ve even passed up the two boys that used to give you hand-me-downs, and they’re a year older than you are! The doctor says you’re perfectly proportioned and just right! Reenie says you look a lot like Daddy did when he was your age. We are so very thankful that you are such a healthy boy.

You started walking just a few days after your birthday and gradually got faster and more comfortable on your feet. It wasn’t long until you were even running! As long as you’re awake, you like to be on the move. You’re curious and you’ve got plenty of energy. We love to watch you explore your surroundings.

You say so many words! I’ve done my best to remember them and list them here, though I’m sure I left out a few, because lately you say a new one every day.

Mama	hi	eye	Bible	nana (banana)
Daddy	bye bye	ear	ball	bagel
Baby	thank you	mouth	backball (basketball)	potapota (potato)
Bobel	please	nose	car	green beans
ReRe (Reenie)	more	teeth	tractor	bread
Papa (Pops)	clap	knee	boat	cheese
GiGi (Granny)	aw oh	back	bear	cream cheese
Meme (Aunt Misty)	ouch	bebe (belly button)	dog	cado (avocado)
Laura (Aunt Laura)	wow	chin	turtle	yoyo (yogurt)
KK	whoa	arm	mumu (music)	apple
LaLa (Lindsey)	rock	hair	beans	pear
Rick	stop		beads	wawa (water)
MarMar (Margaret)	no		sock	milk
Don (Jon)	go go go		shoe	bite
Bo			hat	ice
me			diaper	spoon
			moon	bowl
			Hohoho (Santa)	light

You like to make animal sounds and can say so many! You know the sounds for sheep, cow, dog, cat, horse, duck, monkey, and owl.

You can point to lots of body parts too. You know head, hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, chin, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, tummy, belly button, back, legs, knees, feet, and toes.

You have a lot of nicknames, so not only do we call you Carson, we also call you Carsy, Cars-a-Doodle, Doodle, Doodle Noodle, CarCar, Mr. Handsome Pants, Buster, and Butternut.

You love when we sing songs with you. Your very favorite is “Frosty the Snowman,” and you request that we sing it over and over again by saying and signing “more.” You join in by singing “La La LaLaLa,” and when we get to the end you pat your legs when we say “thumpity thump thump.” Then, you say “bye bye” to Frosty. Some of your other favorite songs are “I Just Wanna be a Sheep,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “All God’s Aminals,” and “Thank you, Lord.”

You always remind us to pray before meals. You fold your little hands, bow your head, and say “thank you, thank you.” It is so sweet. You like to eat lots of different foods. Every morning, you wake up ready for a banana. You also like yogurt, blueberries, bagels with cream cheese, muffins, pancakes, and eggs. For lunch, you like sweet potatoes, sandwiches, cheese, bread, avocados, goldfish, and peanut butter. For supper, you like green beans, chicken, hamburger meat, rolls, and pasta. For snacks, you like pears, apples, animal crackers, and graham crackers. You love to get drinks of water from Daddy’s big cup with a straw; it’s such a treat! You always ask sweetly by signing and saying “please.” You also really like to get bites of ice for a little treat.

You and I take a walk every day that the weather allows it. You do such a good job riding in your stroller looking around and waving at cars. You do a good job in the grocery store, too. You are always friendly to the other shoppers, and it makes the older ladies so happy when you smile and wave at them. You’ve taken a lot of big trips and are a great car rider, and we are thankful for that. You love to listen to your CDs, Playground and Slugs and Bugs, as you ride in the car. You love to go to Bible class and spend time with your sweet teachers. You blow kisses and wave good-bye to people. You love to read books. Sometimes we read as many as ten in a row! You love your babies. You carry them around the house and take good care of them. You also really love your blue teddy bear. You are great at putting your rings on the stick, and you are beginning to stack blocks and work puzzles, too. You are having fun with your new car and basketball goal that your grandparents got you for Christmas. You recognize the letter o and love to find it everywhere! Anytime you see words, you begin looking to see if there is an o.

You even like to help do chores. You help clean up your books and toys. You take things to Mama or Daddy for us. One of your very favorites is empting the dishwasher. You hand me the clean dishes so I can put them away. You also help put the clean clothes in the dryer, and identify each piece of clothing as Daddy, Mama, or Baby. You lead us around the house and gather up trashcans and dump them in the big can in the kitchen each week before we take it outside. You put paper in the recycling basket. You make doing chores lots more fun!

Aunt Misty made you a fun game with all of your family members’ pictures on magnets, and you love it! You look at the pictures and talk about your sweet grandparents and aunts all the time. It is precious! When you think about your family members and friends from church, you say their names, look for pictures of them, and sometimes you even pray for them. You’re such a sweet and thoughtful boy!

You go to bed about 9:00 pm. At bedtime, you put your babies and bear in your crib and give Daddy hugs and kisses. Then, we go to your room, and you push the button to turn on the sound machine and turn the light off. We read books, say a prayer, and sing songs while we rock for a few minutes. Then, I put you in bed and you have fun playing and talking to your babies before you fall asleep. You sleep for 11-12 hours. We love waking up to your sweet and happy voice saying “Mama, Mama, Daddy, Daddy” ready to begin a new day!

Thank you for being your precious self, Carson Clark. We love you so very much and are thankful that you’re our boy! Raising you is an honor and a joy! We’re trying to soak up every minute because you’re changing so quickly. We pray that you continue to grow and learn. We pray that you know how much we love you and how much God loves you.

Mama and Daddy

more books!

Two bloggers whose writing I enjoy and learn from just released ebooks. I read them both in just a couple of hours, and though they are short, they are both filled with much insight and inspiration.

The first is by Jamie Martin. She blogs at Steady Mom. Her tagline reads: "on the journey toward intentional, professional motherhood," and though I haven't been reading it for too long, it seems to be an accurate description of her blog. Her ebook, Mindset for Moms: from Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days focuses on the power of positive thinking for moms and was a blessing to me. It was clear that she worked hard not to waste words, and therefore was able to share a lot of wisdom very quickly. I appreciate her reminders to live in the present and to develop a constant attitude of thanksgiving. Practicing positive thinking and looking for everyday blessings really can transform our lives in wonderful ways. I'm going to add her other book, Steady Days, to my long list of books to read.

The second is by Amy Julia Becker. She blogs at Thin Places. She writes about faith, family, and disability. She looks at life critically and challenges typical ways of thinking. She has a daughter with down syndrome and much of her writing hopes to inspire people to rethink the ways we think about disability, realizing that God creates everyone perfectly to be a unique blessing to the world around us. Why I am Both Spiritual and Religious was inspired after the popular you tube video "I Hate Religion But Love Jesus" went viral. She suggests that people want spirituality without religion because they've experienced religion without spirituality. Using the "Be still and know that I am God" passage as her framework, she makes a case for Christianity as a spiritual religion. She does a great job of explaining why we need both and how either one, without the other, is meaningless. I look forward to reading A Good and Perfect Gift at some point, as well. It's about how having a daughter with down syndrome shaped her faith, and I'm certain it will be a blessing.

If you're looking for a quick read that inspires you and makes you think, I recommend either one of these. Happy reading, my friends:)

The Glass Castle

One of my goals for 2012 was to read a book every month. Disciplining myself to read has been a great blessing. I've already finished two books and am half way through two more.

Upon the recommendation of my mother-in-law, in January, I read The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. It was amazing. Even if you're not typically a reader, read this book! It was amazing and easily gets five stars from me.

Here is the book description from Amazon:

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

what a difference a year makes: christmas edition

I realize it's now February and a bit late to post Christmas photos, and yes, I'm always playing catch up when I finally decide to update the ole blog, but to be fair, we didn't celebrate Christmas with Keith's family until mid-January, so I'm not quite as late as it might seem:)

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas this year, with both sides of the family. Spending time playing and relaxing with the people we love is such a blessing! My parents and sister were able to come here and celebrate with us for a week, then we were able to spend another week with Keith's grandmother and parents in Memphis and St. Louis. Carson is at such a fun age and really enjoyed the Christmas festivities. He got some fun new toys and both of our talented moms worked really hard to make him fabulous handmade gifts too. They each made awesome quiet books that are perfect for church!

For Thanksgiving, I posted some pictures from this year and last year to compare and see how much Carson has grown, so I thought it would be fun to do the same thing with a few photos from Christmas. Of course, there are lots more pictures on facebook, if anyone is interested:)

with his stocking last year:

(my sweet mama made our adorable stockings!)

with his stocking this year:

(no the stocking didn't shrink;) my boy has grown sooo much!!)

reading with granny and mama last year:

reading with granny and mama this year:

(yes, i realize i'm wearing the very same pjs!)

reading with bobel last year:

reading with bobel this year:

2012 goals

"Goals are dreams with deadlines." -Diana Scharf Hunt

With the holiday craziness wrapped up neatly for another year, the internet is abuzz with resolutions, fresh starts, theme words, and goals, so I've been thinking a lot about my goals for the new year. I'm working through Simple Mom's newest book, One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, and I've already marked off five projects! I hope writing down a few specific and attainable goals will help me live out our family mission statement more fully.

"Your body is built for walking." -Gary Yanker

exercise at least four times a week

It's easy to get moving when it's pretty outside and I can push my boy around the neighborhood in the stroller, but getting on the treadmill is a lot harder for me, so with winter looming, this one may be a challenge. Thankfully, our winter has been very mild so far. This week has been especially pretty, so I've already gotten four days of walking in!

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." -Mark Twain

read 12 books

This one will be a challenge for me because, though I read lots of blogs, books are typically too big a commitment for me, and even when I start a book, I often don't finish it. I've read only the first few chapters of way too many books. Inspired by my dear husband, who read a book a week last year, I'm hoping for a book a month! Maybe I'll post little reviews on here to help hold myself accountable.

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris

give away or throw away at least 365 items

Drawing inspiration from this quote, I want to get rid of at least one item for each day of the year. The new year has be in a decluttering mode, so I'm off to a great start on this one. Let's hope I can keep it up!

"What a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp." -Author Unknown

write and mail at least one note per week

This is an ongoing goal of mine. I go though periods of time when I send lots of notes, then there are periods where I send none. I'm hoping for at least one a week. So far, so good!

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." -from my favorite childhood television show, The Wonder Years

document Carson's growth and development at 18 months and 2 years

For his first year, I did this every month, then made it into a fun book that I will always treasure. It seems he's learning new things every single day, and it's a bit overwhelming to think about documenting every detail, but surely, I can hit the highlights with two letters this year!