Karter at Ten Months

What a difference a month makes. I'm pretty sure in that in this last month, Karter has made a pretty thorough transformation from BABY to BOY!!! How sad . . and yet how fun!  Since growing up is inevitable, we embrace each and every stage and each and every day!  Having said that . . .it seems to me that is is easier having a baby . . .than having a boy.  This boy is trouble!!  But he is still pretty sweet.

One of his favorite things right now is the piano. . . which is fine and dandy if no one else is on it.  But if I have decided to play, or Kevin has been told to practice . . .his fascination with the piano is rather inconvenient!

Oh ya.  Though the piano book basket gives him pretty good height, the black binder is at least an inch higher . .

 He is also gravitating to more "big boy" toys.  He is certainly not terribly interested in his baby toys anymore.

 My sister Mel snapped these pictures at Bible Study a couple weeks ago.  Here is Karter and his buddies (with Spencer missing sadly). (L-R Dennis, Karter, Kyle, Mason)

 I hope that I'll see all these boys helping out in my kitchen in 16 years when they come to visit!

 Did I mention that Karter has decided that now that he is a big boy, he should help out around the house?  

 He helped tile the fireplace . . .

 He helps me with paperwork ALL THE TIME!  He is fascinated with my keyboard as well and gets my screen stuck a little too often! 

 (You'll should also take note of his tuft of hair that is curled out . . . if he wakes up like this, it is pretty hard to get that piece of hair to stay down. It'll take a complete dousing . . .a licking of the fingers and applying it to the hair . . (my that sounds gross when you write it down . . .but I'm certain I'm not the first or last to apply this technique) . . is only temporary. The hair will stick out again a  few moments later.

 He helps load and unload the dishwasher . . .

He helps empty out the compost . . .

 Karter has also reached the bruise stage.  He is most often sporting at least one on his head.

 Kevin decided it was high time that Karter start learning the basics of hockey.  When Kevin learned we were expecting Karter, he hoped it would be a boy, so that he would have someone to play hockey with (though I must say, Kade has filled that spot quite nicely as he has really acquired a love for the game too)  Anyhow, Karter is getting some of the basics downpat.

 I love his face in this picture. He looks so disgusted.  I imagine it is a similar look to the ones Jonathan and Kevin give when things don't go quite right in their hockey games.

At ten months, Karter:

• sleeps through the night!!!! I know.  Incredible.  I just couldn't keep it in any longer.  It's been a good 2.5 weeks of this blessedness. . . and I am quite enjoying it.  I didn't really mind waking up several times in the night for him. I was used to doing things efficiently in such a way as to lose minimal sleep. But.  This is fun.  I like it.  I'm sure you are curious as to the wretchedness I had to endure in order to get him to downsize his "wakeups" from as many as 4 or 5 . . . to ZERO!  Well, here goes:  nothing.  I did nothing different.  It just must have been time.  (or he really did take my friend Marieke's words of . ."He'll have to stay at Grandma's for a week so she can train him!" to heart:))
• still doesn't nap great.
• always sleeps on his belly with his bum in the air.  So cute.
• seems to understand stairs and the pain that will follow if he goes down on his own.
• has decided to start climbing stairs . . and I'm pretty sure does NOT understand the danger of falling down if you don't remain focused.  He hasn't fallen yet, since one of us is usually behind him . . .but I'm sure he'll sneak up on his own one day soon. Hopefully he can stay focused and not turn back!
• is starting to display a bit of a temper.  He will push our stools around the room. If he gets stuck, he gets mad and will squeal and/or bite the chair. It's kind of funny right now. 
• claps his hand.  Always with a smile.  Our favorite after supper song right now, as a result, is "Clap Your Hands, All You People."
• says "Opa" and occasionally "Oma" and "Mama".  But almost always it is "Opa" to which I respond with "Mama!" and he gets a big smile and says, "Opa".  and back and forth and back and forth. He loves that game.
• is walking around furniture etc. very adeptly.  He can stand on his own for a second or two, but usually figures out what he is doing and immediately stops.
• hates hats or anything else on his head.
• is usually barefoot b/c nothing stays on his feet very well.
• has rough/dry skin on his knees and feet from all his crawling. (callouses?)
• is a pretty fast crawler.  We all love the sound of the "slap, slap, slap" as he motors across the hardwood.
• has started to climb a bit.  He climbs up onto the piano bench and my window seats. And then finds out he is quite stuck and  . . .a little nervous about the height he has to descend.
• still LOVES most of his food. He is an excellent eater. When he sees his bowl come out, he gets so excited . . . and then usually a little mad when we put it away b/c it is empty.
• has learned how to flush the toilet. And enjoys doing so. A lot.  (needless to say, he can no longer play in the bathroom as I shower/do hair/makeup etc.)
• likes to empty a few of my cupboards.  The lazy susan with my canned food on it is a favorite.
• has battled with colds, runny nose a bit . . .and is a bit grumpier as a result, but nothing we can't handle.
• loves his siblings.  Kylie especially is such a big help with Karter on her days home from school. I really miss her extra set of hands and eyes when she is in school.
• has tarnished my french doors.  We have a rather open concept main floor . . which means that the only place to lock Karter out/in is the office.  So there he stands and looks through the windows and peels off the paint.  He gets locked in/out of Kylie's play areas rather frequently.  I understand her frustration.  He is not the best playmate yet.
• is a bit shy sometimes . . . he studies people very well, before deciding he should give them a half-smile or a shriek!  He definitely loves his mom and dad.
• loves balls.  He will chase the ball all over the house. It is really cute. He picks it up and throws, and then follows after it. 
• was rather frightened by my central vac hose at the beginning of the month.  It would move, and he would cry b/c he was scared.  He has moved on from that, but still watches it very carefully as it slithers about.
• has figured out how to turn our radio/CD player on.  This is rather humorous when the volume is on quite loud and he isn't expecting it. 
• is a load of fun as you can see.
• is still pretty cozy and will snuggle with me. I LOVE that!
• makes each and every one of us here smile many times a day!
• is loved!

And a little funny story to end the post.  Funny b/c no harm was done and b/c I always wondered how a mom could do such a thing:)!

Yesterday we had Bible Study.  I had to teach the kids class, so I had some toys in the van to take along for them to play with.  I also had an e-test and oil change scheduled, as we often do during Bible Study since it is right down the road and therefore very convenient.  So I dropped my baskets, supplies, and toys off at the church and was going to head over to drop my van off, when my sister Mel pulled in. So Kylie stayed back with her.  I carried on to get the van dropped off - except what they do there is actually hop in my van and bring me back to the church and then bring my van back so they can do the work on it.  So the guy drives me to the church and we small talk for the two minute drive.  I get out and wish him a good day and walk into the church.  He drives off.  I see Mel once again, who immediately informs me that, "You forgot your baby."   Ahhhh!  I did!!  I turn in circles trying to decide whether I should call them and tell them to drive back or if i should run after him.  Mel calmly hands me her keys.  Oh ya. Good idea.  I jump in her van,  drive down the road, see my van turn in, see the guy head inside (thankfully, he didn't head right for the hoist), and I discreetly pull up beside my van. I smuggle my still sleeping Karter from one door to the next and off I go.  They'll never know.  And it makes me smile . . .b/c no harm was done, and I just can't believe I did it!  I'm also slightly curious how long it would have taken me to figure it out, if Mel hadn't notified me right away . . . Anyhow, now I am one of  "those moms."