Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Addition & Subtraction

I am so good at math....we have added two people to the Ross family in the last seven days and have lost one bachelor.

I have a cousin! Lucas Paul Ross was born on 7/7 and weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces. Get big, Luke, so we can play!


I have a new aunt! Melissa Valentine married my Uncle Boog on 7/11. I had a great time giving Grammie & Paw-Paw hell while Mommy and Daddy danced the night away at the reception. Welcome to the family, Aunt Melissa!


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Oh, no.

Oh, yes! Carson has mastered being a cutie...



...as well as:

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Kabobfest

For the past two years, I have hosted a family BBQ at my house for my mom's side of the family. This year's event pretty much revolved around Carson-watching. My family's attraction to Carson is best described as "vulture-like." It was cute, really, and allowed me time to take care of the food and down a few beers throughout the day. Life is good!

And by the way, Carson is 9-months old as of Monday! Here are his big-boy stats:

Weight - 22 lbs. 12.5 oz (85%)
Height - 30" (95%)
Head Circumference - 45.6 cm (55%)



Friday, June 26, 2009

What's on the menu?

Again, if Carson could speak, it would have gone something like this...

MOMMY: "What do you want for breakfast today, Baby?"

CARSON: "I'd like diced peaches and pears for breakfast....and a few Ritz crackers. By the way, I ate mashed up spaghetti and meatballs for lunch yesterday at school. I also had corn and diced peaches. What do you want to eat for breakfast, Momma?"

MOMMY: "I believe I'll eat crow, Kid."

Carson decided to graduate to table food yesterday. That's right, just hours after I blogged about my frustrations. Coincidence? I don't think so...Carson, you continue to teach me valuable lessons and put things in to perspective. I love you, Bug!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Another one bites the dust.

I love my kid dearly, but I am annoyed with his "non-baby" progress. Here we go...

1. Carson will not drink from a sippy cup. When you put it in front of his face and attempt to put it in his mouth, he screams and throws a fit. When you put the cup on his high chair tray, he runs it through his Ritz crackers and Puff supply and then hurls it on to the floor. Annoying.

2. Carson has no interest in holding his own bottle. Why would he? Mommy let's him lounge in her lap like a "pig in slop" (I'm pulling from my rural vocabulary with that phrase!) while he devourers a warm bottle. Carson must some how know he'll have to feed himself for many years to come, so why rush it? Annoying.

3. I am Carson's personal PEZ-like Puffs dispenser. He will eat 20 Puffs in one sitting, if I feed them to him. He does pick them up off of his high chair tray and hold them, throw them and move them around; he just won't put them in his mouth. (Side note - he will self-feed Ritz crackers, just not Puffs.) Annoying.

4. Carson will not eat table food. I think he's texture-averse. He ate a nearly-crunchy-green-bean-rice-cereal concoction like a champ yesterday, but he would not eat mashed potatoes off of my plate. When I put them in his mouth, he "fake" gagged and spit out the mashed potatoes. When I tried to trick him into eating a spoonful of half-green beans and half-potatoes, he spit it out. When I gave him a spoonful of chunky green beans and rice cereal, he ate it and then smiled at me. Annoying.

I am a first-time mom who is trying to transfer her professional, left-brained, project leader, persuasive, control-freak skills in to raising a strong-willed 9-month old boy. If Carson could speak, he'd say something like this....

"Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
"

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wildlife Reserve

a.k.a. My Backyard - take a look at our friendly "neighbors."

Not just a deer, but a Buck.

These two were playing in the sun like puppies!

Monday, June 22, 2009

My Daddy's Day

This week was my daddy's first Father's Day, so I tried my hardest to make him feel special, because he's the best daddy ever! After we got up on Sunday, we snuggled on the couch together and played on the floor. It was fun!


Mommy and Daddy and I went to breakfast with Grammie and Paw-Paw since they were in town for the weekend. (They came in for Daddy's Open House on Friday, which Mommy said was a success!)


After Grammie and Paw-Paw headed back to Illinois, Mommy and Daddy and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner. Check out the picture Mommy took of us - Nathan Earl Ross, Carson Earl Ross and Kenneth Earl Ross - what a good lookin' bunch of men we are!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

It's a Jeep thing.

You wouldn't understand.


(Nate's first baby is in this picture - Maverick!)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Ten random things...

that have happened since Mommy last blogged:

1. Mommy has worked a lot.


2. Daddy has worked a lot.


3. I have a really bad cold and now take Tylenol like a pro.


4. Mommy, I hate to tell you this, but I have a girlfriend. Her name is Rylee, and we hold hands during buggy-rides at school.


5. Mommy bought me new Pedipeds because my feet are huge.


6. Mommy, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Melissa's friend (Amber) and Mommy's friends (Kathy and Susie) stayed out until 5a while partying it up in Chicago last weekend for Aunt Melissa's bachelorette party.




7. Mommy and Daddy worked outside all day yesterday and got everything "summer-ized"...whatever that means.


8. Daddy and I hung out last weekend while Mommy was out of town. You get an A+, Daddy, for taking care of me!


9. I need to sleep more. I really am a happier baby when I nap more than 1 hour a day. Go figure.


10. I got my first tooth. I told you not to stress out, Mommy!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

It's Tricky - It's Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Trrrrrricky)

Here's how this went down...Mommy, Daddy and I were at a friend's house last night for a BBQ. Fun! Mommy and Daddy seemed so impressed by Jonathan's walking and Sophia's "big girl bed" that I felt I had to pull a little something out of my bag-o-tricks. So, I clapped my hands together last night AND fed myself a banana cookie - both for the first time.

Who knew eating kabobs, or chicken-a-bobs as Sophia calls them, with Mommy and Daddy's friends would inspire me so much?!


Saturday, May 30, 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Angels and Demons

I loved this book. Let's hope the movie is better than Ron Howard's take on "The Da Vinci Code."

My little bug has learned how to throw fits. And quite well, actually. He tenses every muscle in his body, wrinkles is nose, closes his eyes and squeaks out a very high-pitched sound. This can go on anywhere from 5 seconds to two minutes, depending on how long I can stand it. I'm not sure if the fits are caused by separation anxiety or frustration, but what I do know is this -- Goodbye, child-care books. Hello, parenting books. (Sigh.)

Angel...

Demon...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Dance Party USA

The Casey Clan was in Missouri this weekend visiting family, so we road-tripped it to Salem to join in the fun. (Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Casey for letting us crash your party...again!) The day was filled with great food, good conversation and genuine family-time. We even managed to "bust-a-move" to Mr. Casey's Elton John renditions on the baby grand. Thanks for the serenade, Maestro!

And it was great to see you Jason, Kori, Jackson and Sidney. Safe travels back to Sooner-country!




Sunday, May 24, 2009

Weeeeeeeee!

The weather last Sunday was beautiful, so we loaded up the bug and his stroller and headed to a nearby golf community that has its own lake/beach. After a stroller ride around the lake, we put Carson in a kiddie-swing. He loved it! Another family was there playing in the sand and heard me say I forgot my camera. They offered to take pictures of Carson and email them to us. How nice!

Thanks to the Westhughes, Carson's first swing-ride was documented. : )



Thursday, May 21, 2009

Chatty Cathy

Parent-Teacher Conference: Yes, Carson's day care hosts parent-teacher conferences for all ages. What did I learn about my blue-eyed wonder? He's a social butterfly - so much so, that he insists on facing outward while taking his bottle so that can keep his eyes on his friends. He's even had trouble napping lately because he cranes his neck while in his crib to check out " the action" in the room. I can't wait to see what first grade brings.

I mentioned to my friend Kim that I distinctly remember getting reprimanded by my first grade teacher, Ms. Campbell, for talking during story time. Typical first-child-and-therefore-pleaser that I was, I was mortified by the scolding and cried.

Note to self: Self, do not over-react when Carson brings home a note from his first grade teacher saying he's too chatty. You were, too!


Sunday, May 17, 2009

Family Ties

Did anyone see that Michael J. Fox special that was on a week or so ago? God love Marty McFly.

This weekend was another family-filled couple of days. My sister flew in on Wednesday; Carson loves her! He didn't really take his eyes off of her at first. I think he was thinking, "Umm, you kind of look like my mom, but you aren't her. This is weird." My parents joined us on Friday for a day of shopping. I actually left them all at the mall for a couple of hours to go get my hair cut. When I rejoined them, Carson's diaper was hanging down to his ankles. No one thought to change him in my absence. They all got an "F" for the day with that one. (Mom, your grade was raised to an "A" after your Baby Gap spree. :)

Nate spent all day yesterday with the boys for Boog's bachelor party, so Mom, Dad, Brooke, Carson and I had a relatively lazy Saturday morning. (Okay, so my dad planted some stuff for me outside and didn't "lounge" as much as the rest of us. But my landscaping looks better than ever. THANKS, DAD!)

Needless to say, I barely know what to do with myself today without the Flesner clan around. I miss you guys already!






Friday, May 15, 2009

GQ

Carson may not have had on his "Sunday-best" today, but he's still a cutie in my book.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Backlogged

I have done a terrible job of blogging these last few weeks. I guess that means I am getting busier at work, so I try not to take the "Where are the blogs?!" comments I get from my parents personally - it's PwC's fault!

LAST WEEKEND
My parents were in town! Nate and I actually spent Saturday evening at Busch Stadium (No, the Cardinals weren't in town. Friends of ours invited us to an exclusive tour of the stadium - appetizers on the field, a tour of the clubhouse and press box, dinner overlooking center field, etc. And in case you are wondering, Albert Pujols' boxer-briefs hang on a plastic hanger just under a picture of his kiddos in his locker.), so my parents manned-the-fort and watched Carson for the night. I honestly think Carson had more fun than they did. Being "entertained" 24/7 took on a whole new meaning for him.


On Sunday, we had breakfast with my parents before they headed home, which was followed by a very lazy afternoon for Nate, Carson and me. The three of us then met Nate's mom and dad and Greg and Carrie for dinner. What a great first Mother's Day?!



MONDAY & TUESDAY
I spent Monday and Tuesday in Chicago for work. Other than writing down Carson's food specifics, Nate was on his own and did a great job. It was almost as if the boys didn't miss me. What's up with that?!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Weekend Warrior

That's me! My parents don't seem to be slowing down and are keeping me on the go constantly. This weekend we went to Table Rock Lake for an awards banquet for my Grandpa Ross. He received the Physician of the Year award from the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. (Wow - what a mouthful.) This was my first time in a hotel, and I loved it. After we settled in, Mommy and Daddy pushed me around the resort in my new pimp stroller. It's for big boys - I face forward in it and can see everything that is going on. Some lady in the gift shop told me I was cute and gave me a green smiley-face sticker. Mommy smiled and put it on my bib. I'm pretty sure I scratched it off at some point during our adventure and stuck it to my sock, at least that's where it was when Mommy got me ready for bed.

Anyway, I slept in my pack n' play all night long. It was cool. I can't wait for our next adventure!


Dad's checking out the hotel specs while I read my lady bug book.

Don't Grandma and Grandpa look nice?!

Is this thing over yet?

I'm checking out Great Grandma's necklace....it's a toy, right?

Awwww...

Take me home, please.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Clips

At my parents' request, here are my attempts at capturing "Da-da":

Attempt 1


Attempt 2


Attempt 3