Family time

we're so glad when daddy comes home! glad as we can be..!
Carter would not let anyone else hold him but Ammon, he really loves his uncle!

On Carter's first birthday

This is so cool, I can bang on it, it reflects me and I can climb on it, too!
What is this big yellow thing?
I kind of like sitting here.
When there weren't 20 other kids crawling up it, Carter gave the slide a try.
Ready to swim!

On Carter's birthday, Jason was supposed to be out of town, but the snowstorm the night before cancelled his flight and we were all together on his big day. We took him to the mall where they had an indoor playplace and to swim at a gym we have a free trial membership at, we think he had a pretty good time!

more hodgepodge

some of Carter's first unsteady steps
He's such a helper, he likes to do laundry!
What a happy explorer he is! And what a drooler!

hodgepodge

Goofing around with his little turtle walker, this thing really helped him pick up walking speed! He's wearing a vest Livi made for him, isn't it nice?!

Carter did remarkably well at the bowling alley, as long as we kept him well fed...

Oh Carter loves all his pretty aunts!

Carter's first Christmas

We're sitting on the new mattress set Jason got me for Christmas, very nice!
Ooh dada, what is that? Can I eat it?!
At Nana's house, Carter kept trying to eat the ball on Jason's Santa hat.

He'll shoot us for this one in a few years..! But he's such a pretty little boy!

Can't start too early! Hopefully Carter will stick with piano longer than Mommy did.
Buddies.

Visit with Jason's mission companion David

David and Kristina, the REAL reason he came to Cincinnati.
comps-lifelong buddies
Keeping baby warm.

Bath time!

Who loves the bath? Carter does! He thinks it's hilarious when you hit him with a tidal wave and you should probably wear a poncho if you're the lucky one bathing him...

Carter and Grandma having a good time.

Carter getting ready for Christmas

Thanksgiving

Carter likes Ixchel, she's not so sure about this little bald man who wants to hold her hand...!
Uh, are you sure she can handle me? I'm a squirmy worm!
It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the Avilas! We love you guys!
Grandpa Hammer and Carter getting to know each other a little better.
Grandma Ruth with her grandson and great-grandson.

catching up...

Oh what fun it is to play at Sharon Woods!Especially with Uncle Ammon, Carter just adores him!
Horsing around with David Naranjo, one of Jason's mission companions in Spain who came to visit.
Post-bath happy baby, getting ready to take a chew on whatever happens to be nearby...

So we haven't posted anything in a while...not that we haven't been taking pictures or anything, it's just that dial-up is soooo SLOW! Good news, we finally got high speed! And Carter is asleep so I can post something in peace. So I'll try catching up a little bit, these pics are a little old, but I'll get to the present eventually.

Our House

For those who haven't come to visit us yet (ahem... and you know who you are), here are a few photos of the house we bought a year ago.

Carter Laughing

Here is Daddy getting Carter to giggle a little. The video is a bit outdated... Carter no longer laughs when we sneeze or shake our heads, but he loves to be tickled!