The Barr Mansion

On September 17, 2005 Adam and I got married. It was a beautiful day (albeit a HOT day) to get married in an outdoor ceremony. After our vows were exchanged, we headed to the Artisan ballroom of the Barr Mansion. It's a beautiful barn that originated in New York in 1770. It was disassembled and moved to Austin, TX. Here, it was rebuilt using the original timber into a beautiful building fronted entirely by glass.

Today I found out that the ballroom caught fire in the early morning hours from being hit by lightning. The building is a total loss. All that is left is the carcass of what was once a breathtaking building and the glass that covered the entire front of the building. I am so sad. While it's comforting to know we have pictures and memories of what it used to be, I still feel so sad that it's gone. Even if they replace it, it won't be the same. It won't hold that same history. It won't be born of the original timber that came from New York in the last 1700s. It's the place where Adam and I became a family. I feel so sad for all the brides and grooms who won't get their dream of becoming a family there. My thoughts go out to the owners of the Barr Mansion and all the work they put into making these memories so wonderful for all the people who got married and the friends and family who got to be part of those beautiful weddings. Thank you for my wedding memories. Every time I think of them, I can't help but smile.

Water Fun

Carter loves to play with water. In the tub, from the hose, even a spray bottle makes him happy! Here he is helping me water the grass.

Firsts

This weekend Carter got his first haircut and a taste of Amy's ice cream. A pretty good weekend was had by all. See for yourself.

Mother's Day!

I had a great Mother's Day. It started out with sleeping in! Until 10! I used 2 earplugs. That helped. Next was brunch at Lambert's (best brunch in town if you ask me) and then jewelry shopping at Eliza Page where I received this beauty from Adam and Carter




After brunch Kate and I saw an amazing movie called Babies. It was the perfect Mother's Day movie that left us laughing, misty-eyed and wanting to snuggle our babies right when we got home. The day ended with dinner out. A perfect day if you ask me. I got to do exactly what I wanted to do with the boys I love most and I didn't have to cook one thing or clean one dish. Who could ask for anything more?

15 Months

I have been lazy. I have not updated. I am sorry.

In a nutshell, here is the recap:

Growing:
Carter had his 15 month checkup at the end of April. He weighed a measly 21.5 pounds and is 30 inches tall. He checks in at the 10-25% which is up from where he was at 12 months. His head continues to outgrow the rest of him and put him in the 75%. So he has to carry that giant noggin on that tiny body. This is why he isn't walking...yet...at 15 months. The doctor assures me he is on the cusp and we shouldn't worry until he is 18 months old. He explained to me that his head throws off his center of gravity and that is most likely why he isn't walking. Maybe so but I think he just has a bad case of the lazies. Lately he follows me around the house crying for me to pick him up. I hope he does walk soon. I can't wait for him to be able to play on the playground with the rest of the kids.

Little Parrot

Here is a list of words that Carter says now (in no particular order):

Dog, Dada, Kate-Kate, nana (banana), cracker, Jason, Baga (grandma), Opa (grandpa), sock, light, Carter, hot.

He is a parrot, he will try to repeat anything. ANYTHING, except Mama.

He pats my leg and says "Dada".

sigh.

FINALLY, a birthday celebration!

This weekend we FINALLY got to celebrate Carter's first birthday. Adam's parents were coming in town and Carter was finally not sick so it was the perfect time to try (for the third time) to have a family celebration. We had brunch at El Chile with Jason, Kate, Milo and Lu, Kae and Tony. To be honest, this wasn't Carter's first taste of cake. And to be even more honest, he did get to lick the frosting spatula the morning I make the cake. So it didn't hurt my feeling too much that he completely snubbed the cake.



Happy birthday baby boy! I can't believe you are already ONE!

1 Year Old!

I realize this post is a week and a day late of Carter's first birthday. We had small plans to commiserate this date. Baga and Opa had flown in to celebrate it. Our friend Katie was going to make him cupcakes with dogs (his favorite animal) on them. We invited family to the house for snacks and cupcakes. We planned on taking lots of pictures and I had visions of Carter plunging face first into his first cupcake. This was THE PLAN. Carter had an alternate plan in mind. He woke up ON HIS BIRTHDAY with a fever of 103 and spent his first birthday at the doctors office. So, his birthday came and went without a single picture. Fast forward a week (today). PLAN B was for Jason, Kate and kids to come for a mini belated celebration of an early dinner and home-cooked cake from Kate. Once again, Carter had another plan in mind. Again, he woke up with a fever of 102.8. Sigh, one day we will get to celebrate his birth and there will be lots of pictures to prove it!

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of him today feeling as pitiful as possible:


Here he is at the park yesterday fooling us into thinking he was back to normal:


Despite the fact that we haven't officially celebrated his birthday, I still want to celebrate what he has done this first year!

1 year old stats:
Height: 29.5" (25-50%)
Weight: 19.8 (measly 10%)
Head Circumference: 46.3 (50% you know, to store his big ol' brain!)

Carter can't walk yet but he probably could if he wasn't so lazy. Yesterday he saw a puppy from afar and was so busy waving to him that he didn't realize he was standing unassisted THE ENTIRE TIME. He can DO it, but he just lacks the motivation.

He signs. To date he can sign for:
Water
Cracker
All Done
Bye-bye (does this really count as a sign? I doubt it)

He can talk. To date he can say:
Dada
Mama (not very often though)
DOG!
Kate Kate
cracker
hot

He can point to:
his bee-bo (belly button)
our nose, eyes, mouth

He gives kissed, with his mouth WIDE OPEN.

He LOVES to dance, to anything. Every time he see's the iPod he starts shaking his head and booty.

He tries to blow his knows. When he sees me do it he will grab a kleenex and blow (with his mouth) into it.

He is super silly, super cute and just awesome any way you slice it. I love him more every day and am sad and excited that he is 1.

I hope he won't be sick for his 2nd birthday too.

Dear Santa,

Please skip my house this year. Really!

Love,
Carter



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