Separation Anxiety

Ok, so let me clarify... I said in my description of Carter that he doesn't cry much. And based on the amount of fussing I dealt with yesterday, I'm thinking I may have jinxed myself- that or as his grandma would say, he must be teething or sick ;)

He's a really happy guy overall when he's with me or Taylor, and 90% of the time he's happy to meet and be held by any stranger...but that other 10% of the time, his fiery side comes out and he is absolutely inconsolable.

Our doctor said he had early separation anxiety at around 3-4 months... Of all the things to start early!
He is totally happy with Taylor when I'm not around, but he has had some pretty intense crying fits with both our parents, leading to calls that cut our date nights short, so I am pretty shaky leaving him still (although mostly out of concern for the babysitter's sanity!). Our last couple date nights away from him have started out a little rocky, and once with tears (from me!). But it gets easier each time...he loves my parents, and we have found a super patient babysitter who he loves, and she keeps coming back, so I am trying to convince myself that he must be getting better...

However, this past Sunday we decided to try leaving him in the church nursery ... Big step for me since I hadn't done a background or reference check on the sweet older women volunteering there :)

About half way through the service, I saw one of the women scanning the pews and I instantly knew she was there for me. Sure enough, when we made eye contact, she gave me a little wave... And as I walked out of the sanctuary, smiling and already apologizing to this nice lady, I could hear the screaming...and was soon met with a shaking, choking, red faced little man. On the bright side, it was cool that the minute they handed him to me, he stopped crying, but at the same time, I don't want him to be overly attached... I don't know- hopefully with time and lots more time spent around strangers, it will resolve itself (?)! But I just had to clarify that statement about him not crying much- it was an unintentional misrepresentation ... He's an angel with me and Taylor- but babysitters beware- when this little guy gets mad, he is as stubborn as they come and does not wear himself out without a fight!

Hoping for better luck next Sunday... If they let him back in the nursery!

Carter's first 6 months!

June 2011

FIRST PICTURE!

First Family Pic

The very first person to hold him, Grandma Linda!

Meeting Grandpa Mike

with his aunt Megan

 

Car Ride Home...and ready to fight!

Meeting Gamer for the first time

JULY 2011

Funny faces

First Bath- exhausting!

Meeting grandparents 

AUGUST 2011

Holding his own bottle for the first time

First Smiles!

First Laughs

SEPTEMBER 2011

Meeting Aunt Anne and Uncle Bobby

First toy snuggles... this poor monkey is no longer with us, thanks to Nemo!



First plane ride, all the way to Seattle!



First Husky game

Meeting great grandparents- 5 Childress men :)

And his great grandmother

OCTOBER 2011

First Halloween!

First trip to Mt Pleasant to see his Naynie

Second Halloween costume 

Getting ready for his first Vandy tailgate

All bundled up for his first cold weather day!

Ready for the Titans game!

NOVEMBER 2011

First rice cereal

Dressed by dad

First real food! We gave up on bibs ....

Meeting cousins

First time being sick- hand foot and mouth disease-yuck!

And mom got it too! it was the worst! 

First piano lesson with Grandpa

First Thanksgiving

DECEMBER 2011

First Professional Pics!

First Christmas

Meeting Santa!

Catching up

I've started quite a few posts over the past 7 months... But I can't ever seem to finish them. I keep trying to fill in all the events that have transpired since my last post, but clearly, that is just not working! So, my hope now is to just post a couple thoughts at a time- which for a much-too-wordy writer like me, is quite a challenge!

Since my last post, we've traveled to Italy, France, England, Seattle, Louisville, Vegas,Key West, Kansas City, and L.A.; we've moved from Florida to NASHVILLE; I got pregnant and lost the baby 6 weeks later; Taylor decided to stop coaching and move into the business world; my sister found out she is pregnant with TWIN (!) boys;and most importantly, we've added a new member to our family! Finally...a two-legged little one! 

Here's a quick snapshot of this new little Childress ...

Carter ...

LOVES to eat and will eat anything. I'm still nursing, but he doesn't mind formula, warm or cold, peas, carrots, bananas, squash, avocados...ANYTHING... If he sees us eating, he'll start smacking his hand against his month asking for (or really, demanding) some too, so restaurant trips are becoming quite a production for his parents...and staying home is becoming the norm!

He's huge... He's already into 18-24 mos clothes sizes. And he officially jumped off of the chart at his 6 mos appointment, measuring in at almost 20 lbs, and 29 1/4 inches! His weight is actually in the 75th percentile, which the doctor said was totally normal for a highly active (!!) boy like him... I was told by every ultrasound technician throughout my pregnancy that I had quite an active little guy in my tummy, and he has proven them all right. If he isn't rolling around or grabbing anything he can, he's kicking his legs or wiggling! And when he's "standing," he's always trying to jump up and down! I'm going to have my hands full when he can take off on his own! haha :)

He laughs at pretty much anything Taylor and I do, which is really a great ego boost for both of us...and the absolute BEST sound in the world! And he handles the constant barking and toy-stealing of his canine siblings like a pro-- although, we'll see how long that lasts ;)

He can only sit through about one short book at a time, unless it's "Five Little Monkeys"- he can hear that one over and over and over, and it never gets old!

He is anything but quiet... he takes after his dad! He really doesn't cry much unless his mom misses his signals or doesn't have a bottle on hand at every moment... BUT he is always making noise- happy sounds, frustrated sounds, word-like sounds, and his new favorite...a squeal/screech that sends the dogs running for cover- and he'll do that one over and over, laughing at himself every time... At least he has a good sense of humor, and his mom has a lot of patience! :)

I'll stop now... here I go trying to capture every little detail, and there is just no way to put Carter in writing. He is the most wonderful, exhausting, precious little bundle, and I am completely overwhelmed by how much I love him!