Carson's 1st Haircut

Who needs a serious haircut at just 3 months old? This guy. His hair was seriously out of control. It stood up on it's own accord and looking back on these pictures I can't believe we let it go as long as we did. It's laughable! April 24th, 2014 we took the plunge and trimmed these awesome hairs.



Given Carson was 3 months old he did great. Phil had a steady hand and Carson sat well in the Bumbo. I was a bit anxious and instructed Phil to not take off too much. Dad did a great job!



Gorgeous baby blues.



Scrummy baby toes! I'm writing this post 6 months after the fact (sneaking it in it's proper blog order) and it's crazy how I miss this age already and Carson is still most definitely a baby. I will always miss my kids as babies, all 5 of them. It's a tangible ache.



The finished product!

It is FINISHED!

Hooray! Phil officially completed his last rotation for medical school at noon today, April 17th. A.maz.ing!

His last rotation was a research/reading rotation with an internal medicine doctor. He read 2 books, created a power point presentation on a topic she gave him and wrote a short essay reflecting on his career path. He submitted it all today to her and when he pushed that little "send" button it was done. Wahoo! Phil was giddy and just plain relieved. FINISHED!!!



I am so proud of him. He was worked incredibly hard, has persevered in the face of so many challenges and we have come out on the other side stronger. I can only imagine how it is going to feel when we finally walk away from residency, 4 more years!

Carson's Blessing

Sunday, March 23, 2014 we blessed our sweet Carson Grant Gunnell. Phil gave him a nice blessing and
after sacrament meeting we gathered with our immediate family members in our home for a luncheon. Gramps Gunnell was incredibly generous and catered the meal from Honey Baked Ham. It was delicious and such a lovely gift to be able to not worry about the food and prep and just enjoy the party. We are grateful for his foresight and kindness.

It was a full house! We had almost 30 people present; Phil's sister Wendy and her family, brother Reed and his family, brother Jared and family, my parents, Phil's parents, Gramps Gunnell and the Rapier grandparents. Our favorite neighbors/family the Whittaker's joined us as well. Kendra came armed with her apron and helped in the kitchen like a saint. The family also pitched in with the meal, bringing gorgeous strawberries, Susan made a lovely chocolate cake, Andrea made cookies and I made a lemon blueberry cake.



We had a nice time just visiting and eating delicious food. We are so blessed to have wonderful family and friends who love us and love our children. We are going to miss having them in such close proximity after we move for residency.

We love our sweet boy.

Carson: 3 Months

Wahoo! Posting in real time here, for this post at least. Last week Carson turned 3 months old. Little love is growing entirely too fast. His little body is filling out nicely and he is getting stronger and sturdier with each passing month.

The glorious hair is getting longer and is still soft and smooth. I can't bear to cut it at this point but he will certainly need a haircut or two before his first birthday.

 

Carson is not a fan of tummy time but we try and get a few minutes in each day. I admit I am not very good at making sure it gets done but he is able to lift his head without a problem. He LOVES interaction and when we talk and coo at him. He readily responds in turn and will mimic our sounds. He also will blow raspberries and thinks it is fun when we go back and forth playing motorboat with our mouths and sounds.

He has discovered his hands this month and will suck on them. He also will pull his hair and ears while nursing.

The kids fight over who can sit by him and they get grumpy and whiny when they feel slighted. 

Freshly bathed and I put some gel in his hair, it gets a bit of curl when wet and held with product.

 

He loves to sleep on his belly. I am conscious of rotating his head to keep it beautifully round and of course to preserve his hair.

 

Carson is now moving into size 2 diapers and is solidly in 3 month clothes but we are still working the 0-3 month onesies too. 

I have started singing a little diddy to the tune "We love you Conrad" from Bye Bye Birdie to him and he loves it, big grins, lots of kicking and cooing:

I love you Carson, oh yes I do

I love you Carson, and I'll be true

When you're not with me, I'm blue

Oh Carson, I love you

Carson: 2 Months

Carson turned 2 months old March 3rd. Yes, very behind over here, story of my blogging life... BUT at least I take the images on their respective time frame, I just don't get a chance to sit down and document.

This sweet boy continues to bring us so much joy. We love him so much. His eyelashes really started filling in during his second month and his hair only continues to grow, he hasn't lost a bit of it. This makes me very happy, I love his hair.

At two months Carson was wearing size 1 diapers, size 0-3 month clothes. He eats every 2-3 hours and has the happiest disposition. He cries when he isn't pleased that you have put him down or is tired. At his well visit his stats were: 24 inches in length and 11 pounds 4 ounces in weight.

Sleeping babies are the best, aren't they? This picture makes me want to smooch on his fluffy cheeks.

Kate continues to dote and love on him. Constantly. She always asks me to put him down so she can play with him. She loves to hold him or have him sit by her on the couch. She is the first responder when he cries, running to fetch his pacifier and she genuinely gets distressed when he won't calm down and she will get upset with me if I don't come and rescue him promptly.

Max is also loving and kind to Carson but doesn't take the mothering interest in him that Kate has, probably because he doesn't have a chance with Kate around! Ha. He loves him very much and is also very helpful.

Rhett loves Carson too but is generally too busy to pay him much mind. He has gotten the brunt on the new baby changes but is taking it in stride. He has never shown any aggression towards Carson, he just gets sad that I can't hold him like I used to or that I am always telling him to go play.

The picture below was taken roughly 6 weeks ago, when Carson was 6 weeks old and here is the caption I posted on Instagram:

"My greatest struggle as a mother is striving for that elusive balance. Everyone needs everything from me, usually at the same time. This picture sums up my life right now: baby on my lap or in my arms, a sad toddler waiting for physical love and attention, Max needing assistance with his shoelaces. Not pictured is Kate waiting off to the side, the spit up on my shoulder, my unshowered and disheveled state and bleary eyes. I love my life and I love my kids but by golly I am tapped out."

Just after the 6 week mark Carson hit his smiling milestone. Below is the first image I have of the real deal. He is so beautiful to me.

Then later that week or so he unleashed and he has been smiling nonstop since.