My Buddy.
Although Carter runs (seriously is ALWAYS RUNNING) 12 hours a day and doesn't really know how to "go slowly" or "calm down", I admire so much about him. He is so fast but also incredible steady! He has amazing balance for his age and can climb and jump off of anything.. yes.. this part scares me. He talks fast, eats fast, runs WAY to fast, plays fast and basically everything in his life is just FAST! But still as his mommy, I get to freeze time and take a moment to enjoy every little slobbery kiss.
Those are my favourite moments... but he won't always stop what he's doing to give me a "Chiss" (as Carter says) So I will savour every single one of them every single time. Sometimes, Carter and I.. don't see eye-to-eye. He has his way of doing things and he is one little stubborn boy... but more then not, we make a pretty awesome team. He helps me clean and pick up his toys.. he sleeps with my blankie every night and says that he loves it because it smells like me.. like I'm sleeping right beside him! - Melt your heart and make you wanna cry kind of stuff right! He really can be the sweetest little boy and I love him more and more each day.
He is also the cutest little thing! (I love as parents, we automatically get to say our kids are the cutest ... being totally bias as every parent should be)
But he also is such a PUNK sometimes! (this next picture was BY FAR Carter's favourite picture of himself to date lol)
He tells you like he sees it. Ive even just recently gotten "in trouble" from Carter for saying the word "mine" or "you not bein' nice enough to me" as I put him in time out for pushing his brother.. lol.. things that make you want to burst out laughing in the moment but have to hold it together for the sake of a "lesson learned". We give Carter his space, but never too far. We let him make wrong choices and then deal with the consequence ... we are always there, watching him, teaching him and letting him teach us things too.
I have no idea if I'm doing this whole parenting thing right. Sometimes when we have a really bad day with multiple tantrums, freak outs and disasters I go to bed thinking "what am I doing wrong?" I feel defeated and I wish I was so much more sure that I was making every right move... but Im trying and learning too. The other night, I was trying to put Carter to bed for the 100th time.... and sitting in the hallway to make sure he didn't sneak his way out of his room .. AGAIN.. which is what I usually do.. every single night lately. But the other day, as I waited in the hallway, I heard him telling stories to his little elephant (aka: "Ellie").. he talked about his auntie Lena.. and some kind of watch.. and how "mommy not buy that watch" and went on and on about his life. It was magical! I sat there actually hoping he didn't fall asleep right away. Listening to my little man speak to something he loved was so so sweet and it really made me feel like I was in heaven as I listened to him. What a beautiful evening sitting in the hallway with my back again the wall just listening. Its hard sometimes as a mother to just sit and listen when they don't know thats what your doing, but it really did melt my heart.
Sometimes I wish I had all the parenting answers.. but I just simply don't, and thats ok. I learned what I do know from one amazing woman. She has been there for me through thick and thin and always has put me before herself. She is a great example of the love of a mother.. and thats my mother.
I can call her crying with my parenting problems or anything and she just knows when I only need to vent, or need advice or suggestions. Thanks mom for always being there for me! And did I mention she is an amazing Grandma... of course!
Last weekend, I really REALLY wanted to go on a date with Carter. We invited Grandma to join us... it was a blast! Carter was so excited for his date with Grandma & Mommy.. and I have to admit I was too! I had a hard time sleeping the night before just thinking about the fun! I miss those days with just Carter and sometimes I long for days to just bond with Bentley. I think its so important to have some one-on-one with each child when you can. We were lucky.. we went and took Carter to the movie Frozen in the theatre. He loved it! And nearly ate an entire medium popcorn all to himself! WHOA!
It was so special for us to take him, to spend time with him and for him to spend time with us. I love memories like these. Simple and sweet but that will last a lifetime.
Carter, sweetheart... I love you so so much! You can always make me laugh and you really seriously say the funniest things! I am so lucky to be your mommy and I promise never ever to take that beautiful and amazing privilege for granted. You mean everything to me.