Busy week...

Monday Carson had his six month check up (he's actually seven months old but we've been a month behind ever since his hospital visit). Here are his stats: 16lbs 11oz and 26 7/8". The Dr. was impressed that he was able to reach for his pacifier and put it in his mouth. He is soooo close to crawling... he gets in the crawling position, scoots and pushes off from his toes. Any day now... He had his immunizations and was terribly fussy for two days. This little guy is the most mild-mannered, happy baby so having a fussy and needy baby for two days was different. Luckily, today he's back to his happy self!

Last week we had a fun "mini" vacation. We drove up to Palmyra, NY and went to the Hill Cumorah pageant. It was a lot of fun, but both Justin and I were exhausted. We both ended up falling asleep toward the end of the pageant. Averie had a nap on the way up and was refreshed and thrilled to be in New York. She kept telling us that when we get to NY she's going to see Jesus. I told her that it will not be the real Jesus because Jesus is in Heaven and she said "Uh-uh, Jesus is in my heart".

We also went to Niagara Falls. I'm so glad we did, it was amazing! The drive from Palmyra to Niagara Falls was 1 1/2 hours. We had a package of Oreo cookies to snack on during our drive. I found myself mindlessly eating cookies and decided I should put them on the back seat to get them away. We arrived at Niagara Falls and Justin and I jumped out of the car to get the stroller ready and the kids out. As I reached in to unbuckle Averie I saw the cookie package and reached in to find ALL but four cookies were missing the cream! When I looked at Averie and asked why she ate only the cream out of the cookies she very matter of factly replied "Because I don't like the black part."

We took a lot of pictures but I haven't downloaded them from the camera yet. Watch for another post to come soon with pictures.

Amish Country in the Summer

This picture is for Mom and Bama. This view should be familiar, it was the same road we took on our Amish Buggy Ride in February... I wanted you to see the same country in the summer when everything is green.

June Vacation

Well, I'm sad to say our "summer vacation" has come to an end. Mom & Dad Johnson and Cameron visited us for a couple weeks in June. Cameron left on the 11th and Mom & Dad yesterday. Each time our visitors leave the house is quiet and it leaves us feeling slightly down. Averie avoids saying goodbye, she wouldn't get out of the car to give Grandma and Grandpa a hug and tell them goodbye (she avoided saying goodbye to Rosie, Bama and Bugga a few months ago too). Averie is sick... I thought she was being dramatic because she was sad about everyone leaving, but she's had a fever and I can tell she doesn't feel well. Today was a sick day so I didn't go back to work as originally planned.

We did a lot of fun things while everyone was here. Hershey Park, Mt. Gretna, picnic in the park, Gettysburg, Intercourse Pretzel Factory and shops, Amish Buggy Ride, playing in the sprinklers and hanging out & watching movies.

Carson and Averie also received a "baby" blessing. Yes, Averie is slightly older than a baby, but she never received one as an infant so we took this opportunity to do so. They were both blessed by Grandpa Johnson. Averie was very excited to have her blessing. I was slightly concerned that Carson might squirm or fuss, but he was perfect. Afterward, we had lunch at the house with some close friends in the ward. Cameron got to be here for the blessings, but unfortunately, we were rushed to head home for lunch and didn't get a picture at church while he was here. This picture was taken the following weekend on Father's Day.

We finally have updated pictures of Cameron! The kids had so much fun together! Averie tagged along with Cameron just as little sisters do. Cameron enjoyed it for the most part, but every once in a while was annoyed with her, just as older brothers are!

Happy Birthday Papa Moni!

What good looking kids!

This is a recent picture of Cameron. He's so grown up and such a good looking kid! We are soooo excited for him to visit in June. Mom & Dad Johnson are coming as well and we are looking forward to spending time together.

Averie is such a good big sister. This morning I awoke when I heard the music on Carson's mobile playing. I heard Averie in Carson's room talking to him. I layed in bed for probably 10 minutes listening to Averie babble to Carson... It was something like this (all in a sing-song baby voice): "This is Elmo and this is Cookie Monster... (a few minutes of playing with a musical Sesame Street toy) ...Cameron's coming in June and we're going to Chocolate World! We're going to Chocolate World, yes we are. Don't you love Chocolate World? Yes, we are!" Then after a few minutes he began fussing, so she came into our room and said very matter-of-factly, "Mom, Carson's hungry." Such a sweet girl.

Carson is such a good baby. He sleeps so well in his crib, in fact, sometimes I have to wake him up in the morning. He smiles all the time. It's difficult to get pictures of him smiling because as soon as the flash on the camera goes off he gives a puzzled or startled look. This picture is without flash. It's difficult to see, but if you look closely you can see his spiky orangutan hair... it's so cute!

I love this picture! I took this before she realized I had the camera. As soon as she realized I was taking pictures she wanted to pose.

Look at these darling, little, chubby feet!

This is Carson's startled look... I swear he was smiling right up to the point the flash went off.

Catching up on the last month...

I went back to work on March 17th and I'm not at all thrilled about it. Oh well... I guess it's not that terrible and I see great things in my future (that don't include RRD)! You gotta do what you gotta do - right?

Averie actually really enjoys being back at KinderCare. Carson seems to like it too. He has some really good teachers in his room who I can tell care for him because they are loving people, not just because it's their job. This puts my mind at ease and makes it easier for me to work.

As the kids grow, it's so much fun to see their very distinct personalities. Averie and Cameron are pretty similar, I even catch Averie giving a "Cameron" look now and then.

-Cameron and Averie are both "doers". As a toddler, Cameron liked to dis-assemble and re-assemble the vacuum. Averie likes to sort anything small into any type of container (i.e. beads into muffin tins or rocks into small bowls).

-Averie was alert even as an infant... Carson is sleepy and laid back.

-Averie liked to be swaddled... Carson likes his hands free.

-Cameron and Averie always wanted to sleep in our bed (Averie still tries!)... Carson prefers to sleep in his crib.

-Carson is as content as can be in the arms of pretty much anybody... Averie's pretty picky about who she gets close to and Cameron took a while to warm up to people.

-Carson is a little chub... Averie was a pretty average baby... Cameron was pretty thin.

-Averie absolutely loves to play dress-up in anything girly or princess. Cameron loved to dress-up at this age, but he was in to super heros and Peter Pan (I can think of a really cute picture of Cameron in a Peter Pan costume, I'll dig it out and post it).

I could go on and on. I just enjoy their sweet little spirits!

Believe it or not, Carson enjoys tummy time. He's pretty strong and can hold himself up very well (in this picture he had a little assistance).

Averie had a lot of fun coloring Easter Eggs this year. This is also the first year that she really seemed to understand the meaning of Easter. It's still engrained in her head because she speaks alot about Jesus' death and resurrection.

Averie and Carson on Easter morning. The Easter bunny must have known about Averie's obsession with my "cumbrella" because she got her own pink "cumbrella" maybe now she won't break anymore of mine!

This is about the time that Averie told us that "I'm so happy in my heart!".

Poor baby!

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later... I was just hoping for later... Carson got sick. Poor little guy started with a big, adult-like cough. He had a few more coughing spells throughout the weekend and by day three seemed really uncomfortable. Since it was Sunday and I didn't think it warranted an Emergency room visit we treated him with Tylenol and some time in the steamed up bathroom. Monday morning he seemed better but I called the pediatrician's office anyway. Carson happened to have his two-month well baby visit the next day and he did seem to be better so they suggested we have him checked when we came in for the regular visit. By one in the morning he had gone downhill and was really uncomfortable. He finally fell asleep around two and slept the rest of the night. At his Dr. visit the nurse took one look at him and told us she didn't think he would be getting any vaccinations. They checked his oxygen levels and gave him a breathing treatment. The Dr. evaluated him then admitted him to the hospital. At the hospital he was put on oxygen and an IV. His RSV test came back positive... Poor baby had RSV and pneumonia! I felt like such a terrible mom for waiting as long as I did! He ended up staying for four days. The pediatric unit was full and we had a shared room with another little baby who had RSV. Just like Carson she was two-months old and was also born at 35 weeks. The room was cramped, especially in the evenings when we squeezed two cots into the room on top of the two hospital cribs. By day two he was better and day three really well. The Dr. reduced his oxygen and took him off the IV. If all went well that night he would go home the next day. He did well that night and the next day was given the OK to go home.

Poor Carson went into the hospital sick and pathetic and he came out a brand new guy! Friday evening during some quality time with Dad he was in a good mood and smiled a lot. Since then he's been smiley and coos a lot. He's still a bit wheezy at times and gets breathing treatments, but he's so much better.


We are so blessed to have family and friends who kept Carson in their prayers, our Home Teachers who made a trip to the hospital on a very cold night to give him a blessing and the McBride's for keeping Averie through it all.