Swim and Eating

   Carson has been taking swim lessons for about a year now.  In the last three months he's really started to grasp the concept of what he's doing in the water.  Yesterday he did full 'bobs' (holding on to the  edge of the pool, going under and come back up) all the way under on his own!  The last couple months he would put his mouth in the water and then up to his nose, but yesterday was the first time he went over his eyes and then all the way under.  Once he realized he could do it he was a bobbing machine.  He's learned all the songs we sing in class as well and now is doing the hand motions with everyone else. 
    I'm also letting down my guard and allowing Carson feed himself with a spoon.  When he eats he turns the spoon or fork upside down and ends up dumping it on his shirt if it's not stabbed on the fork.  He's been showing a lot of interest in feeding himself so I got the bib on him (first time since he was just over a year old) and let him go for it.  It went much better than expected and he's learning to keep the spoon level, otherwise nothing gets in his mouth.  We still have a long way to go, but he's growing up! 
   On Sunday we went down to Owen Beach and Jason was showing Carson how to skip rocks.

Fourth of July

   We spent the fourth of July weekend down in Ashland for my 10 year high school reunion.  It was so great to be back in town!  We took a walk through Lithia Park and hit up my favorite pizza place, Giseppis!  Carson went to his first parade in downtown Ashland.  He loved watching the people and listening to the music, he even got a balloon!  We had a couple breakdowns due to the jet fly over at the start of the parade that scared him and also when the ambulance set off its horns right in front of us.  I was really looking foward to the warm weather down there (low 90s) only to realize when it's that warm all I want is to be inside in air conditioning!  I much prefer Tacoma summers in the low 80s. 



Running through the sprinklers with Gabby

  
                                             Playing baseball with Bobby

Watching the parade

 

Keeping himself entertained on the car ride home

Peek - A - Boo

Mascots and Water Park

I started writing this post about three weeks ago and just never finished it, so here is from June 27th!   
   We went to the Rainiers game on Friday night and were lucky enough to have Rhubarb (the mascot) come and visit.  Now was the time to find out if Carson would be scared of people in costume.  He looked at him and was interested, but as he got closer he wasn't so sure.  He put his hand out for a high-five, but by the time Rhubarb got to him he was terrified!  Needless to say, he did not high-five him.  As Carson spotted him throughout the stadium he would point and make noises like, 'don't let him come back here!'
   Carson had his first experience at a spray park on Saturday.  He was so excited to see the water, but didn't want to go in by himself.  So he drug me in by my finger and once I got him to touch the water he was more comfortable.  He would touch the water and then run back to me and sit on the edge petting the dog that was lying on the grass.  I'm still not sure which he liked better, the dog or the water.   

   My Bible study group met for the last time last night before a summer break, so we decided to sit outside by the fire and roast marshmallows for s'mores.  Carson ate graham crackers and helped hold the stick while roasting the marshmallows.  He ran around outside all night long in the grass, in the dirt, and the rocks.  For the first time in his life he asked to go inside!  He had so much fun outside he ended up taking a bath before he came home.  
   Today we ventured down to the beach and Carson had fun throwing rocks in the water.  We spent the day digging in the sand, climbing on logs and running through the grass.   A group of seals popped their heads out of the water at us as they passed through the sound.  We put on his sandals so he could go in the water.  He would get his toes right to the edge of the water but in the end decided he didn't want to go in.  I don't blame him the water was really cold! 

Videos

Pitching just like Daddy


Perfecting his swing


Run run run

Outside Fun

     Carson is spending as much time outside as he can; weather and parent permitting.  The neighbor kids were playing with sidewalk chalk and Carson wanted to make his mark on the ground too! 



Oh, I'm supposed to draw on the ground
not my pants.



     Last Saturday we spent the whole day outside and had beautiful weather!  In the morning we went to my Mom's club pajama brunch and went to a birthday party in the afternoon.  Carson was lathered with sunscreen, but the longer he was outside the pinker he got.  He did a good job of drinking water, but all the fun toys were in the sun.  We took Carson inside and he looked like a lobster!  We kept him inside and drinking water and soon his skin tone was back to normal.  Just today I noticed a couple freckles popping up on his face.                                                 Along with playing outside comes falling outside too.  Carson was wearing shorts on Monday and took a spill on the sidewalk.  His first official scraped knees.  We may keep pants on him outside a little bit longer.   



Hello?

Easter

     We had a great Easter!  He is risen!  We went to church and then had Easter lunch with Gary and Carolyn.  Carson did three Easter egg hunts this week.  The first one was on Friday with my moms club, then a community hunt on Saturday and finally a practice hunt at home on Easter morning and then another at Papa and Nena's house.  It's a good thing we had so many, on Friday he put one egg in his basket and then pulled it out and threw it!  Later he got up to three eggs in his basket before he dumped them all out and walked away.  At that point I think he thought they were just balls.  Once he realized there were treats/toys inside he did a lot better. 

 

We made cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Easter and gave Carson a few bites without frosting.  Here is the result... 


Easter Egg Hunt at Papa and Nena's