Happy Easter!

We had a FABULOUS Easter! At first I was pretty bummed that we wouldn't be able to go to the Egg Hunt at Bellingrath and go to church on Sunday, but it ended up being a rather nice weekend. It was kind of nice not having the hussel and bussel that usually comes with a holiday weekend.

As I had talked about in my previous post I had several things planned for Parker and I think he really enjoyed all of them. We even watched a church service on tv from one of the local baptist churches. I absolutely didn't want to miss hearing about the great sacrifice my savior made for you and me! It was a wonderful sermon! He has RISEN INDEED!!!

Here are some pictures we took of the days activities!

These are the boys Easter baskets! I bought Parker's from Pottery barn for his first Easter so naturally this Easter I went back to Pottery barn for Carter's but to my dismay they had discontinued them! I was so sad but then I got the bright I idea to look on ebay and I found one. It was already monogrammed with his name and ever thing! Pretty cool, huh!?

Parker checking out what the Easter bunny brought him!

Look at my cute little bunny!!!

Carter's checking everything out with his new duck buddy the Easter bunny brought him!

I was so excited about dying eggs with Parker for the first time this year! It had been several, several years since I had dyed eggs...I forgot how much fun it is!!! I'm not sure who had more fun, Parker or me! Later I used the them to make some very yummy deviled eggs.

Later that afternoon Bobby hid some eggs in the backyard for a mini egg hunt for Parker. He LOVED it! After he'd fine one he'd say "where some more?" and then when he found the next one he'd say "dere it is!". I was impressed at how well he did at finding them. We only had to help him find a couple tough ones.

After dinner I made some sugar cookies and let Parker decorate one for him to eat. I was going to let him decorate them all but he was sticking his fingers in the icing and with the HFM Disease I didn't think it would be such a good idea to let him touch them all! The one he made looked pretty yummy!

All in all it was a GREAT day! We were able to praise our Lord for the AMAZING price he paid for our sins so that we may reign with him in heaven one day and we managed to have a little fun, too!

What a week!

We've had a very interesting week here at the Stinson house! Some of it good and some not so great. I think I'll start with the good seeing as I feel like the not so good parts have kind of taken over this week.

Well for starters, Carter has rolled over by himself three times!!! I can not believe he's only 3 months old and already starting to roll over. Parker was around 4 or 5 months old before he finally conquered that milestone. I've been a little nervous about Carter sleeping in his bed because although he can make it over onto his belly he can't quite get his arms out from under himself which causes he's face to be smooched into the floor/mattress. I've been sleeping with the video monitor screen on and every time I hear him make a noise I have to check to make sure he's still on his side or back...so far so good!

Also, Carter turned 3 months old on Wed.! I know I say this every time he turns a new month but it's hard to believe my baby is already 3 months old! This means he is officially no longer a newborn. He's such a good baby too, so laid back and easy going! He'll lay on his play mat and talk to his toys for such a long time. He especially likes the little vibrating fish toy we have for him. He gets so excited when he sees it that he'll start kicking his little legs and waving his arms up and down. I know he's not doing it on purpose but he even looks like he's making a fish face when he sees it. Here's a couple pictures of him with it.

Now for the not so great part of the week. Parker has had Hands, Foot and Mouth Disease since Tuesday. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's a rather common childhood illness that gives the infected person a rash on his/her hands and feet and blisters in his/her mouth...hence the name. You would think by the name it's something someone gets from a third world country! It's really not even that serious of a disease although it is HIGHLY contagious. I called our pediatrician and she said there's nothing you can do but give Tylenol and Motrin for the discomfort. They also told me to make sure he doesn't get too dehydrated because the blisters in his mouth will cause him not to want to eat or drink anything. He's been pretty pitiful for most of the week :( Because of the blisters in his mouth, he's not really ate much more than yogurt and bananas for the past few days. We only had a couple really rough days and one night he ended up sleeping in the bed with us so I guess it could have been worse. My biggest fear has been that Carter will get it, so I've been trying with all my might not to let Parker touch him and I've been washing my hands like crazy before I pick him up! So far nothing has shown up on Carter but this thing has such a long incubation period that we probably won't be out of the clear until the end of next week :(

I was told that they are still contagious until the sores in their mouth are gone so we decided to forgo the Easter Egg Hunt at Bellingrath today. We are also going to have to miss church tomorrow as well. Of all the weekends for this to happen of course it's going to be on the one when we've got so much going on! Oh well, I guess their always next year. I decided since we can't do all the things we'd planned on outside the home, I'd bring a little fun to us so tomorrow I'm planning on doing a little egg hunt for Parker in the backyard. I also thought he'd enjoy decorating some cookies and dying some eggs. I want to make sure he's aware of what the true meaning of Easter is so I also have a craft planned to help explain Christ's resurrection to him. Who knows...this just might be the best Easter ever! I'll post some pictures from the day soon. Until then everyone have a VERY blessed Easter! He Lives indeed!

Easter Eggstravaganza

This morning our church put on their annual Easter Eggstravaganza so we decided to take the boys and check it out! They had several activities set up for the kids, a hay ride and even a pony ride. When we got there the first thing Parker noticed was the horses. I asked him if he wanted to ride and he said yes, which wasn't really so surprising. I figured when it got to be his turn he'd chicken out, so Bobby and I debated whether we wanted to stand in the extremely long line for nothing but to my surprise when his turn can he got on the pony and made it through the entire ride! As he was riding he kept telling the pony "giddy up horsey"! On the ride home he told us "I big boy ride da horsey". It was precious!

They also had a ball toss set up that Parker really enjoyed. Bobby tried to explain to him that he had to throw the ball in the bucket but instead Parker simply walked over to the bucket and dropped his ball in. He was pretty proud of his "throw"!

Claiming his prize for the ball toss!

This is what Carter did the entire time we were there...he had a great time!

They also had a Easter bunny that you could have a picture taken with but when I asked Parker if he wanted to sit in his lap he said no...oh well, maybe next year! All in all it was a good time on a beautiful morning! I just LOVE spring time!!! Next weekend we're planning on taking the boys to Bellingrath Gardens for the Easter Egg Hunt on the Great Lawn. I took Parker last year and it was so beautiful! I'm planning on dressing them in their Easter outfits and taking pictures so hopefully they'll cooperate ;) I'll post those pictures next weekend! Until then, get out there and enjoy this beautiful spring weather God has so richly blessed us with!

Long Time No Blog

I realize it's been a while since I've posted the latest going ons at the Stinson abode and that's because there really hasn't been anything too blog worthy to write about! Everyone's doing very well...growing way too quickly! Carter has been sleeping all night for the past two weeks minus one random night about a week ago! I can't tell you what a blessing a full nights sleep has been! God knows exactly what I can and cannot handle and I truly think that's why he has blessed me with two GREAT sleepers ;) Carter is such a happy baby and really only cries if he's hungry or sleepy. The only complaint I have is he's not a very good napper but I think he's trying to get in enough feedings during the day so he can make it all night. He's like a little camel!

Parker is getting to be such a big boy! He's new favorite thing to do is watch Planet Earth over and over again. We were a little worried some of the fighting and killing scenes would upset him but all he says is "they not nice". I'm amazed every day at all the things he already knows and how much more he is learning. He knows all the ABC's and even a few of the sounds they make, can count to 10 without skipping any numbers, and knows all of his colors. He still absolutely adores Carter and asks me to put him on the floor all the time so he can lay next to him and talk to him. Although he's still like a bull in a china shop when it comes to his little brother, I can tell he's really trying to be more gentle. All in all he's a pretty good little boy!

Bobby and I are so truly blessed! God is so GOOD!

Parker thought it would be funny to put his sunglasses on Carter!

Could they look anymore alike?