Many the Milestones

Life has been really busy lately.  In the last few weeks, Carder has experienced several milestones:

First Snowfall (11/17/2011)

First Glimpse of Our Decorated Christmas Tree (11/18/2011) and he loved the lights...


First Long Roadtrip (11/21/2011-11/27/2011) during which he made his first trip into another state.  He traveled through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.  On the way to Georgia, we left at 6:45 pm after we both worked all day and drove straight through the night.  Carder slept in his carseat from about 7:30 pm until around 5:45 the next morning.  He was a great traveller - all things considered - and my mom thinks we should change his middle name to "Roadtrip".

During this roadtrip, it was his first time meeting several new relatives and loved ones.  These included Great Grandma (Gin Gin), Great Grandpa (Pop), Great Grandma (Janice), Aunt Karina (my best friend), Aunt Cameron (my college roommate) and her 6 week old daughter Ella Kate, and several other friends of mine and Derek's.  He also met his great aunts and uncles.  The only person missing was his Uncle Andrew (who is currently on a tour of duty with the military).

He had his first Thanksgiving (11/24/2011)

And, he had his first overnight stay in a hotel.  (11/26/11)  I didn't think to take a picture of this as a milestone at the time.  Oh well.


During the roadtrip, he became very interested in cups.  So, on 11/28/2011, he made his first attempt to drink from a sippy cup.  He has now mastered drinking from it, but hasn't figured out how to hold it at the right angle to get anything from it yet.  However, he will gladly drink from it if Derek or I hold it for him.

On 12/18/11, Carder tried meat for the first time.  We gave him turkey in preparation for Christmas.  He seemed to enjoy it despite how disgusting it smelled.  And, TMI I know, his poops after the meat smelled just as nasty as the meat in the jar did.

Also, in the last few days, he has started to do this thing where he puts his arms out and grabs hair on each side of my head and pulls me closer to him - almost like a hug.  It is super sweet and it absolutely melts my heart.