Having Boys...

So one of the hazards of having boys... we are now haunting construction sites. We live in a new development where there is building going on all the time, but now we found a big building under construction. It is a perfect spot to take lunch and park and watch. Today we got to see a steamroller, multiple dump trucks dump gravel right in front of us, a tractor (the driver was kind enough to wave and make a little boy's day)...
Reese took the picture of the steamroller.

Once you get me started...

So, now this is my thing... I am replacing some old pictures in frames on our mantel and thought this would be a cute 8x10... We'll see. I really wanted a great one of the two boys together, but getting two kids to act photogenic at the same point in time is rare.

Carsten's 9 Month Pictures...

I finally got around to taking pictures of Carsten for his 9 months (at more like 10 months...).

Middle of the Week...

I couldn't resist trying to get these two in a picture together. They are both at a hard age to try to capture just the way you want, so I've decided to just let them pose themselves... Carsten was teary, so it's not the best, but I think they are pretty cute myself!

Odds and Ends...

Carsten was less than cooperative today with a little photo shoot I wanted to do... I've been trying to get a good picture for his 9 months, but he would rather be on the move. The photo above was when he took the tool I was using to make him smile (the duster)... oh well.


Reese decided he wanted *spikes* today and it worked fine since he woke up with morning hair...

Monday Updates...

Here we are again... I would like to say that I haven't updated because I've been so busy with some project or housework or... but, let's see. I've been busy with two boys and minimal housework. Saturday Jim took the day off and we spent the day as a family. We met a good friend for lunch--thanks again Barb! We went shopping and had a slow day. We were glad to have dad around!









Carsten with his imfamous "Ohhhh".


Carsten smiles... he is pulling up really well these days and experimenting with the stairs. He has even gotten to where he can get off the landing by going headfirst, but he catches himself... I'll have to video it sometime. Today Reese and I tried to teach him to come down the stairs backwards, but I don't think he *got* it.



Reese *playing* the broom. That is what it looked like, but he was really using it as a scoop on a tractor. Now that we've mentioned that it looks like he was playing the guitar he uses it to produce his own version of music. Reese is growing. He loves to sing and dance and just be busy. He can still be found building most of the day.

Carsten Ola is crawling now on all fours--sometimes.
There are times that the old scoot is much faster.

Ben and Mindy came by for a visit last night... Reese LOVES Ben! Commonly heard last night, "let's go build".

A few more videos...

Reese trying his ABCs again...


Carsten waving...

Oh, Sunny Day...

It was a beautiful day here, so we took lunch to the park and blew bubbles...

Sharing...

We went last night to Papa and Grandma Paula's for dinner. Carsten now likes *the car* as much as Reese--and two don't fit. Steering wheels and boys just go together as Carsten just grabbed on and *drove*.

Carsten talking to himself...


The boys riding on Pooh cars together...

Ladders and First Hair Cuts...

Carsten Ola got his first hair cut today thanks to Kent W. He looks like a little boy now. His little wispy hair was sticking up and running over his ears, so it was time.


Carsten appears to be getting yet another tooth as the drool has turned into a fountain and yesterday he was running a little fever.
He pulls up on everything and scoots all over. He has about four bruises to show for his efforts in getting around.






This is one of Reese's favorite toys, an old step ladder. He drags it around and *fixes* all sorts of problems. It gets him two steps higher than his little world. On Monday he was wanting daddy's ladder so he could touch the clouds with his hands...

Here we are...

Carsten longing to be outside with Reese. He is pretty content to just stand at the door and watch his brother, but it won't be long and he'll want to join in.

So, we are still here... It has been a busy week of..... ***warranty work***!!! I have not enjoyed having people come in and fix walls, floors, counters, etc... or not come when I've been told they were coming. It has messed up a few naps and feedings (for Carsten) and been just a little aggravating. I guess if we intend to build a house I'd better get used to sub-contractors...


Reese was bribed to be quiet and take a good nap today with the promise of getting to play outside. The weather has gotten nice enough that he wants to be outside all day every day.

The reason Carsten is not outside crawling around... The patio is made of aggregate which is not kind on knees and other body parts that might come in contact with it.

Carsten Crawling (his version)

Reese's ABCs...

Construction?

Reese had to help Opa put together a little table on Saturday. Of course we are big on safety, so he wore his hard hat.

Found this one and thought is was cute... Reese and his baby--George.

Cutie...

I love it when Carsten sits like this on his knees. Too cute. He often sits like this and plays with Reese. He is still not up on his knees for crawling yet, but does the forward half-crawl quite well. He is pulling up on everything and usually chooses the most unstable items in our home to do it. Rocking chairs, chairs on the kitchen floor (slippery), items too small to hold him up, etc... you get the idea. Fun times at our house!

Thanks...

Thanks for all the tips! I went today to Target and bought 4 ice cube trays (2 for $.99)... I will now freeze the food I make in ice cube trays and then transfer those to Zip Lock bags. Everyone has been most helpful--now if you'd all just come over and help???

A couple of Reese sayings this week:

"Mommy it pretty works"--in reference to the hammer he was letting me use.

"My finger is size for my nose"--in reference to how well his finger fits inside his nose.

"I want to tell you something. In the morning I pick the boogers out because thems not good for you"--you can figure this one out!

Little Bit of This and That...

Call me Betty or Martha, whichever... Here is my attempt at making baby food. Production is on and I still think Rae Ann is amazing for thinking this stuff up. Carsten loves it and goes for it with gusto!










These two don't *play*, they are always *working* according to Reese. "Carsten, you want to work with me?", "Mommy, you want to help me build?"

Carsten has four teeth now and today looks the most painful as the tooth works it's way down... He is gnawing on everything.

More on Brothers...

So, of course I don't always have all my thoughts together... I have more to say on siblings/brothers.
Most of us have a sibling and I'm sure our parents watched us become friends, enemies, allies... It seems like one of those things like having your first baby, getting married, buying a house, that to you it is such a big deal and you are sure you are the first ones to experience it. Watching Reese and Carsten relate I'm sure I am the first to see this and the only one--not true... Experiences like this are priceless and I'm glad that everyone gets to enjoy them. Sorry this sounds not too well put together...
I also wanted to add that I am well aware that these two boys might very well be fighting before long. We already have the occasional tussle over a toy and a few tears let loose, but the majority of the time Reese is exceedingly kind, gentle, and understanding of his brother. I can't say it is the other way around yet because Carsten just doesn't get the whole gentle concept and he is somewhat of a bulldozer at this point.
Other than watching our two boys become friends we are dealing with the ever present colds that seem to frequent our house these days...

Brothers...

So, I've wanted to post about this for some time... Brothers.
I have to say that there was a time that I questioned having a second child because I liked Reese so much, Reese was an easy baby, what if our second one was a hard baby, could I handle two kids, what if the second child changed my relationship with Reese???
Now 9 months after second child I am reaping the joys of siblings.
Reese is the one who can get Carsten to smile at any time. Carsten bursts into a grin when he sees Reese first thing in the morning. Reese wants to *play* with Carsten all the time now. Carsten seeks out Reese and sticks by him. They seem to have a language all of their own and private jokes already.
As others have said on their blogs--my heart is full!

Carsten and Eating...

Rae Ann you are the best! Success at dinner tonight with Carsten and Apple Sweet Potatoes!!! I made a huge batch and he liked it (in the picture you can see some clinging to his nose).

I still don't understand the difference between sweet potatoes and yams. I bought sweet potatoes and they were a light yellow and smelled like regular potatoes... anyone out there understand the difference? When you buy sweet potato baby food it is always orange and the cut-up sweet potatoes at Costco were orange--so are they really yams?