Monday

Most people hate Mondays.

I love them.
After a busy weekend, of having to share my baby, on Mondays, I get him all to my self.
At least until DJ gets home from work.
Today we played all day.
Karson learned how to walk behind his toy.
He is such a boy.
If something is in his way...no worries...he will just push through it.
He giggled so hard, he had me crying.
He loved on his Molly.
He snuggled with me in the rocking chair, and let me rock him to sleep.
The days of rocking him to sleep are fleeting.
I cherish every snuggle I get.
We played with the Get Well Soon balloons from
Aunt Katie & Uncle Shawn
and
Aunt Leesha & Uncle Brian.
Karson is so lucky.
He is so loved!
He tried more times than I can count to play in Molly's water dish.
He repeatedly took bones from her.
Then giggled, and gave them back.
Continually reminding me why I love our Molly so much!
He found his stash of Christmas presents in the entry way.
The ones I insisted he not be with us when we buy.
Another one of those, he won't know...but Mommy will times.
And what did I do when I found him playing with his Christmas gifts?
The ones that Santa will bring him on Christmas Eve.
The ones he is not supposed to know about.
I took a picture.
Because that is what good Mommies do.
Then I swept him into the living room for more giggling play time.
Today we stayed in our pajamas all day.
Today is one of those days I want to always remember.
Spending the day with my sweet baby boy.
Giggling. Playing. WALKING. Snuggling.

I wish I could keep him 8 months old forever.

Hevea Paci Review

Karson loves his pacifier.

Mommy and Daddy love that Karson loves his pacifier.

We have never fought the paci, we encourage it.

I was thrilled when we were given the opportunity to review the Hevea Pacifier.

Hevea pacifiers are 100% all natural rubber.

They are packaged in 100% recycled materials.

Their packages are even printed with soy ink.

I was so excited when the pacifier arrived.

Aren't the packages cute!

I followed the instructions, and boiled our new Hevea Pacifier for five minutes.

At first, Karson did not want anything to do with it.

Every time we put it in his mouth, he shot it across the room.

We let him play with it, and kept trying.

We realized the problem was that his usual pacifiers form to his face.

This one seems to go away from his face.

After a while we figured out it wasn't that he didn't want it.

He was just unable to keep it in his mouth, and got frustrated with it.

I do not think this would be a problem for newborns, or babies new to having a pacifier.

Karson was just used to having a certain one, he had to relearn how to use this one.

It didn't take long and he figured it out.

He loves this pacifier now.

It is much easier for him to get into his mouth himself.

I love that this pacifier is made of 100% natural rubber.

They are BPA free,

phthalate free,

PVC free,

and contain no artificial colors.

There are also really cute!

Karson's pacifier has stars and moons in the corners.

There also have cars, crowns, and flowers.
So cute!

They also have an organic cotton pacifier clip, organic cotton pacifier storage bag, and a teether.

I think Karson needs the clip!

So cute!

The only thing I do not like about this pacifier, is how far it sticks out of his mouth.

When I am rocking him to sleep, or have him in the Ergo, he rubs his face on me.

Trying to fight the sleep. :-)

When he does this, he tends to knock it out of his mouth.

Overall we are thrilled with the Hevea Pacifier.

Of course now that we only have one...Mommy needs to get some more.

...and that paci clip!

You can visit Hevea Baby USA's Facebook Page HERE.

Thank You Hevea Baby for letting us review your pacifier!

This was not a compensated review.

I recieved a Hevea Pacifier from Hevea Baby USA to review.

This is my honest opinion of their pacifier.

Karson's too. :-)

Don't Turn Your Back...

...for even one second!

Thankful {Karson's Surgery}

Tonight I am thankful.

I am thankful that we were facing something so minor today.

I am thankful that our sweet baby boy was only having extra cartilage removed.

I am thankful that we have an amazing hospital nearby.

I am thankful that the nurses and doctors were so sweet to our baby.

I am thankful that they played with Karson until the full belly giggle came out.

I am thankful for the play room, where Mommy left her germaphobic-ness at the door, and let Karson crawl around and play with all the {germy} toys.

I am thankful for time blowing bubbles with my baby.

I am thankful for the stroller we could take walks in; when Karson was restless, tired, and hungry.

I am thankful that the doctors let me go back with Karson until he was under.

I did have to argue for this.

They may be doctors, but I am Mom.

I know what is best

I am thankful that everything went as planned.

I am thankful that when Karson woke up, Mommy and Daddy were right there.

I am thankful he had no problems coming out of anaesthesia.

I am thankful for his paci, Praise Baby, his new snuggly puppy from Grandma Nana, and extra snuggles from Mommy and Daddy.

I am thankful these were all such a comfort to him.

I am thankful that 2 hours after he woke up, he was ready to go.

I was once again thankful for the playroom.

I am thankful we got to come home with a happy and healthy baby.

I am thankful he is sleeping soundly in his crib.

Tonight as I go to bed, I am thankful we were only there for a simple procedure.

I will say an extra prayer for the Mommies and Daddies who have to deal with heart problems, cancer, tumors...

For the Mommies and Daddies who go through so much more than having extra cartilage on their baby's ear removed.

Pumpkins

I have this think about traditions.

Why should we wait to start them until Karson can remember?

So we don't.

He may not remember carving a pumpkin when he was 8 months old.

Mommy and Daddy will though.

We will remember how he investigated the pumpkin at first.

How he loved to play with the stem.
How he was so interested in what was inside,

but was so unsure about touching it at first.

He would poke at it, but wouldn't pick the "innards" up.

How our big, brave, Molly watched from afar.

(I swear she is afraid of everything. Yet, still tries to jump on DJ's lap when he is on the riding lawn mower.)

He was so proud of his pumpkin!

Happy Halloween!

(a little late)

KARSON ALLEN CRAIG

Karson, please don't play with Molly's toys. Karson, please don't put Molly's toy in your mouth.

Karson, don't you dare put that in your mouth.

Karson, it is not funny.Karson, don't even think about it!Karson, thank you for listening to Mommy!

KARSON ALLEN CRAIG!!

A Lesson

Last week we learned a very valuable lesson in the Smedley Household.

A computer...a drink...and an 8 month old..

They don't mix!

Which is why I have been missing in blog land for a while.

An awesome computer guy,

a new keyboard,

new other stuff that I don't understand,

and we are good to go!

New family rule:

NO DRINKS BY THE COMPUTER

EVEN IF YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT THERE.

Karson is FAST.

REALLY FAST.

Lesson learned.