What We've Learned:

Having Marni around is a good excuse for a cuddle in bed (before tea, no less!):

She had joined us for Thanksgiving weekend and helped out with the cooking for the big dinner.  On her last day here we had a nice quiet morning at home before she got on the road...

I got the chance to knit with the little guy sleeping on my lap...

A nice way to spend the 20 minute post-prandial upright time.

Carter learned a few things, too:

Woah!

Carter's been able to follow objects moving along his line of vision with jerky eye movements for a little while now, so we've been playing with the rattle.  Last night I put it in his hand and he actually held it for a bit...

Check out my baby-ninja skillz!

I've also discovered the power of the forward-facing baby in the carrier!

Behold! The ability to make breakfast
while Carter's  awake!

Now, I just need to learn what his different cries are:  there are times when I just can't figure out what he wants: I've changed him, fed him, swaddled him, put him down, picked him up, and tried to entertain him and still he fusses.  What gives, little buddy?  

Thanksgiving!

The Thomas' came for a combo Thanksgiving/Mark's (the as-yet-unnamed Grandfather) birthday.  It started out with:

Helping dad with work

Some cuddling

And promptly commenced:

More cuddling

And then some more cuddling

Um, some more cuddling

Cuddling with Uncle Jason

We had some dinner:

And some conversation

And then we were all too tired to do anything else besides sit around, cuddle, watch old YouTube videos and pass out.

Saturday Sunshine

We had a lovely sunny Saturday.  The day started with breakfast in bed.  Even though Carter gets that every day, it is still a treat for us.  We are happy to report that he takes a bottle (of Mimi's finest) with no problem, so that means that I get to give the occasional meal -- I love it!

Meal time with Dad

Cuddles

After brunch we started bread, split pea soup, and headed out for a walk down to our local beach.  It is a short walk from our house and there is hardly anyone there this time of year. Shaylie enjoyed the empty stretches of sand to burn off some energy, but ended up getting into a whole mess of sand spurs.   Ouch.
Carter would have been sympathetic, had he been awake.

Sportin Dad's visor

Down at the beach

Shaylie happy to have the sand spurs
 out of her paws.

Carter is definitely starting to grab things more, like Mimi's hair and my beard.  It is fun now, we'll see how we like it in a couple months.  

We found a funny pocket of what we now know is fluid between Carter's skull and scalp the other day.  It doesn't seem to bother him, and the doctor says is nothing to worry about.  The trip to the doctor provided a little more data for the growth chart -- apparently Carter is getting plenty to eat...

One last thing, we've been enjoying a podcast called Spare the Rock Spoil the Child which has a smattering of great kid's music (that isn't boring...).  Check it out if you are so inclined.

In other news...

Carter had sort of a rough day today.

I think he misses Gram and Granddad...

He napped for about an hour in the morning, but then he wouldn't let me put him down the rest of the day - there was walking and laundry and dishes and an errand (see below) and feeding to be done, apparently.  Since it was sort of drizzly out today, mom was feeling sorta lazy and his neediness didn't go over very well (I wanted to nap!).

I did, however, successfully run an errand with him today with no hitches.  By myself.  I don't know why that was intimidating to me - I guess just getting everything together and being prepared for a diaper blow-out with only my two hands.  We went to Return to Oz - a consignment store in Annapolis and I found some fleece-type garments for when it gets chilly out and we go out walking.  The store has a ton of baby/kid stuff and definitely caters to that market - Carter got a royal welcome when we walked in: at least 3 people stopped what they were doing to coo at him and ask me all about him!

The other fun thing that happened today: Carter briefly stopped fussing and had an alert-baby moment while this was playing (and it made me happy, too):

Apparently, Pomplamoose is Carter's new favorite band...