Carter Christmas 2011

Where has the time gone! I noticed the last time I made a post was the 1st of December...blogging and being a mom is kind of hard =), but I will do my best! Our sweet Nyla is getting bigger. She is 5 months old and 14 lbs and LOVES her rice cereal. You would think we were feeding her steak the way she kicks those little legs and feet...it is so cute! Everyday is such a blessing with her...she is very smart and a little bossy (smile). She is a very happy baby! I love to see her smile! Since I haven't made a post in a while I must catch you all up with her week by week pics...

18 weeks (playing in her swing)

19 weeks (tummy time!)

20 weeks (helping mommy wrap presents)

D, Nyla, and I were able to share our first Christmas together. We had such a wonderful day! Nyla was able to have her grandparents here at the house...so her first Christmas was very special. I will say that Nyla racked up in gifts...she really didn't understand what was going on (she was only interested in the ball on the tree), but she is really blessed!



Our tree






The night before Christmas...

Nyla in front of the tree

Nyla and Mommy in our Pjs




Christmas morning...

Nyla before Mommy and Daddy woke her up

Daddy and Nyla reading cards from Mommy

Mommy and Nyla

Daddy D and his Keurig

Our sweetie!

Nyla and one of her many gifts

Nyla getting help from Mommy opening gifts

Mommy helping Nyla with more gifts

21 weeks (isn't she pretty!)

We look forward to sharing many more holidays together. It is my hope that D and I will instill in Nyla the true meaning of Christmas. It is not about all the food, gifts, and wearing yourself out physically and financially trying to get material things...those things are an added bonus (smile) ...but it is about focusing on our Lord and Savior who was born and later paid the ultimate price for you and me.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

Thankful

What a busy past few weeks it has been! We were fortunate enough to experience our first Thanksgiving as a family. We celebrated with D's side of the family. We had a wonderful time! Nyla was able to meet her cousin Serenity who is 2 weeks older than her. They stared each other down for a little bit (it was cute) and Nyla pretty much slept the rest of the time. I believe she was worn out from the previous day (my mom and I went all over town shopping for a dress for Nyla).

Of course during this time we reflect on what we are thankful for, but I have to say that I try and do that everyday. Just to wake up each morning, have a job to go to, food to eat, a roof over my head, a loving and supportive husband, a happy healthy baby, family and friends, my health, and to serve a God who loves me unconditionally is enough to be thankful for. Nyla's first thanksgiving

Time is just really flying by! Nyla is really developing and growing into her own. She had her second set of shots and the Dr. said that we were free to start her on rice cereal. For some odd reason D was really nervous about this giving her cereal (you would have thought she was going to the prom or something...don't know why he was so nervous). The Dr. said it was best to give her cereal in a bowl with spoon because it is good for helping them learn to use their tongue which would help in speech development. I think I was more apprehensive because it was a sign that she is growing up and I want her to slow down a little bit =) It has actually gone pretty well. At first she cried because we were not feeding her fast enough, but she is now getting the hang of it. She opens that mouth wide when she sees the spoon headed her way!

Not a happy camper

Slowly but surely

The highlight of this past week was Nyla's baby dedication service at church. It was a wonderful time and the service was beautiful. Nyla slept through the dedication (smile), but D and I were wide awake to accept our responsibility to God as parents to Nyla. I pray that we will do the best that we can for Nyla and continue to lean on Him for guidance.

D, Nyla, and I after church

Nyla at 17 weeks

Carter Family Pics 2011

We finally had family pics made! I have imagined this day for a long time. Nyla was VERY sleepy, but she held on long enough for us to get some shots together (with her eyes open)...thought I would share! (Portraits done by Rodney Armstrong--http://rodneymendel.smugmug.com/)

A Year Older...

Yesterday I turned 31 years old...Yes 31! D told me that I don't look it at all (smile) I am blessed to see another year. I am sure there is something that I know this year that I did not know last year. I am just so thankful for God's grace and guidance and His countless blessings in my life. I am very thankful for my family and friends that He has placed in my life.

I do know that this year has brought a wonderful blessing and joy in my life...her name is Nyla (smile). I was actually pregnant with Nyla on my last birthday, but I did not know it at the time (I actually found out 4 days later)...what a pleasant (and long awaited) surprise! So to be here a year later with my sweet Nyla is a wonderful blessing! Me and Nyla (for my b-day)

I enjoyed a wonderful day with my family on my special day...D cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me, we attended church together, I attempted to watch a movie with D (I ended up watching my eyelids--smile), and I received some pretty nice gifts too! D wanted to make sure that I really enjoyed my day ( I think he asked me that like maybe 5 times---lol!) Of course I did! I think for me it has always been the simple things in life...I don't need a lot of fanfare. Just the simple things. So for me being with family and seeing another year was great for me!

Nyla and pa pa

(Pa Pa brought Nyla a gift for my b-day)

Can you say spoiled?!?

Yummy Red velvet cupcake (D made them for me)

Nyla at 16 weeks

(aren't her tights cute!)

Friends

14 weeks

The weeks really fly by lately...working on the blog will be in the back of my mind but that is pretty much where it resides...in the back of my mind (smile). I am having to be at work at 530 as opposed to 6 and you will be surprised as to what a difference that 30 minutes will make. We had a time change on last weekend but I cannot really tell the difference. As 9 pm approaches, I cannot seem to keep my eyes open...I have been curled up next to Nyla on the couch by that time (smile)

Our baby girl is growing! Everyone said enjoy the moments because they go by fast and it is very true! We are quickly approaching the 4 month mark (and I am quickly approaching 31!) We believe that she will be turning over soon and when she has tummy time she props those knees up. D and I are enjoying her so much. We can't say it enough how thankful to God we are for her.

These past few weeks we have enjoyed some time out with friends. Last weekend it was girls night out (smile). Me and Nyla went to dinner with my friends. This particular group of friends are my eating out buddies. I don't know how long we have been doing it but we rotate in picking out a restaurant (some place we have never had) and rating the quality. I honestly don't know if we have found something that we rated as a 10 yet! We had a nice time and I was excited to bring my little one along.

Nyla and I before dinner
(we had to leave dad at home)

Nyla and "Ms. Rashauna"





Nyla and "Mrs. Casandra"







(I had to share these pics just because they were cute!)




My mom texted this to me at work

We pulled out the bumbo this week

(so cute!)



Ok! Back to scheduled programming! Today D, Nyla, and I were able to have breakfast with our friend Karen (Karen is responsible for hooking D and I up in Jr. High) It was great seeing her and chatting about parenthood (she has a handsome 1yr old named Christopher). It is funny because I have known Karen since 7th grade...to talk about motherhood and marriage is so funny. We definitely did not have that on the brain in 7th grade (smile). We definitely had a good time! (hoping to see her Christopher on the next visit)

Karen and I

Nyla ( 15 weeks) and her Korean auntie Karen

I am so thankful for my friends and the friendships that God has given me. I always tell people that God didn't give me biological sisters but I have some wonderful girlfriends who are my sisters in Christ. I hope as Nyla grows that she will develop some long lasting friendships just as her mother has done.

Nyla

11 weeks old

Yep! That is a pic of our baby girl! She is growing up! Too fast for me...I am trying to keep up! D and I are just so blessed to have her in our life. D said that he gets goose bumps still when he thinks about having a child...it is amazing! I enjoy coming home from work and receiving that toothless grin...it just makes my day. Nyla found her hands and last week she found her feet...it is funny how they look at things with pure amazement. She likes to "talk",squeal, and watch tv...yes! she is a tv watcher (maybe that is a result of me watching a fair amount of tv towards the end of my pregnancy since I couldn't stand on my feet for long periods of time) 12 weeks old

I have been back to work almost a month now and I am getting adjusted. I still feel bad leaving her... it is like my heart breaks a little, but I am adjusting I think. She is definitely in good hands...we are thankful for my mom. She is sooo good with her!


These past few weeks have been busy (that is why the blog is 3 weeks behind)...seemed like October came and went. D and I had spoke a while ago about getting Nyla a costume for Halloween...well by the time the conversation came back up it was the Friday before Oct 31st...D picked up Nyla a costume. He told me over the phone that it was a spider costume...a spider! I really did not for see my sweet girl as a spider...I don't like spiders myself...I had imagined her to be a pumpkin (because of her round face) or a lady bug (that just seems feminine), but I had to trust Daddy D. The spider costume turned out to be cute! The only problem was that the headpiece was too big. It looked like a helmet on her small head =) I had to pick up some things for the house so I had hoped that I could find her something to wear (we were literally at the ninth hr)...in the back of my mind I knew that all the costumes would be gone and picked over, but hey I thought I would give it a try. I walked around Target for awhile and had just about given up when I made one more circle around and there it was...a lady bug costume for an infant! God heard my request =) It was the only one all by itself!
Nyla did not understand what was going on when we put the costume on her...I am sure when she gets older she will look at these pics and wonder what her parents were thinking =) She looked so cute though! We took her to our neighbors house just so someone else could see her. After about 30 minutes she was over the whole costume thing and was ready for sleep...she did indulge mom and dad and let us take 20-30 pics!

Daddy and Nyla

Our lady bug

Mom and Nyla

Nyla " Lady bug "at 13 weeks