I LOVE this blanket.

This is why Nanna Simpson made it with organic yarn.

Carter Sings?

Here's a silly little self-indulgent video. Shows Carter smiling in action, which, if I must say, is about the cutest thing I personally have ever witnessed. He also sings a little opera. Apparently Queen is either the best example of opera Eric could come up with, or it was the only example Eric could come up with.

Uncle Harry Steve

Carter meets Eric's Uncle Harry (or Steve depending on who you ask). Carter made it out with his fingers, but just barely.

All American Cutie

Grass for the first time. He wasn't really sure about it...


At the Botanical Gardens on the 4th of July.

Smiles

Yeah I know we've been slack posting, but just look at this face. Could you tell him not to do anything cute while you're messing around on the computer?

Bath Time

The first "full" bath went surprisingly well. Carter liked the water and didn't complain a bit. He's already almost too big to be washed in the sink. Que sera sera. Several pics because I couldn't decide.

He has no idea what's coming. Poor kid.


Notice how we managed to take bath pictures without his little bits showing? He'll thank us for that someday. Right after he gets mad that we posted all his baby pictures on this blog.


There's that suspicious look again...


Drying off. And coming to the end of Carter's patience with us.


Clean baby. Check out the hair a'la Don King.


Clean babies smell good.

First bottle

He looks like he needs a drinking buddy...

...There's one. Already hanging out with the ladies and knockin' back some brews. Relax folks. The cap is still on.

It's really hard to hold onto Carter with so many willing volunteers. Tonya and Carter are also hair twins or at least hair cousins. This was infinitely interesting to Carter.

Is that goose following me?

Today is Carter's one month birthday. We decided to go to Country Park and walk the loop around the lake. As usual, he slept through most of it. We tried to show him geese, baby geese, ducks, turtles and a snake. All he managed to see was a tree. At least we're making progress.


Lots and lots of geese. And babies. It is spring after all.


Carter had lots of new friends. Unfortunately, he was blissfully unaware of any of them.


Carter and Mommy. He DOES have eyes. And look! They even open!

Random Pics

Just a few random pics from recent events. I don't have anything brilliant to say as an overall comment, so I'm just throwing pics up. After all, that's what you really came here for anyway.

Grandma Simpson and Carter "resting their eyes".


The "OGs" (Other Grandparents) come for a visit.


Daddy wants Carter to have an appreciation for all types of music. Finally SOMEONE that likes to hear him play the didgeridoo.


Chris' nephew Fletcher will have a new little brother very soon. For now, he's practicing with Carter. Hair twins. So cool.

First taste of homemade strawberry ice cream. He'll like it better later. Or maybe he's mad about the fauxhawk we gave him. Nah. That's not it.

The Great Sleeping Houdini

He starts out sort of like this.


This morning we found him like this...

I swear he started out with clothes on. I know Eric and I say we support anything he wants to do that will allow us to retire early, but I seriously hope Escape Artist isn't it. Anyone have a lifetime supply of valium I can borrow?

Suspicion

Just love this look. He does it a lot. Especially around bath time. I don't think he trusts us.

Work with Daddy Day

We took Carter to Computer Tree to meet all Eric's co-workers. We spent most of the time trying to wake him up because everyone wanted to see his eyes. Not much luck. He was out. From his posture in the first picture, I don't think he got much out of his first server lesson either.

Eric gives Carter his first lesson in nerd...I mean servers. :)


Is that Lisa? Holding a baby? You saw it here first, folks.


Kim had a hard time sharing.

My First Charity Walk

Carter went on his first charity walk today to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We raised $555.07. Carter slept the whole way. He's been on several walks and still has yet to see anything outdoors.

Mmmmm Pizza!

Carter had his first outing tonight to celebrate his first official week in the world. Slept blissfully through the entire thing. Then it was home for cupcakes. Not a bad day all in all.

Mom and dad, Aunt Juniper, Uncle Eric and Miss Scarlett took Carter out for pizza.

Happy 1 Week Birthday, dear Carter...


It's all rather confusing at this point, especially the icing on his nose. Daddy helped him a little with that.

Doctor's Appointment

Carter had his first doctor's appointment this morning. He has gained half an ounce from his weight leaving the hospital. The doctor said he was amazing. We thought so, but it's nice to have a medical opinion to confirm it. He was pretty happy about it.

Family Album

Grandma Simpson. We were toying with a title of "meemaw", but she resisted.

Grandpa Simpson. Carter's middle name is Simpson after him.


Grandma Hughes. She was SO ready for her first grandbaby.

Papum Hughes. Three generations of Hughes men.

Nanah Hughes. Carter has lots of grandmas to love him.


Aunt Candace. Reminiscing about Rachel being that small.

Cousin Rachel. Carter's only got one first cousin, so he's lucky to have such a great one.

Coming Home

We were released from the hospital a day early, since everyone was doing well. I just couldn't stand the hospital any longer, and am happy to be home.

It seems so strange that you have to pass a test to drive a car, but they just let you walk out of the hospital with a baby without any instructions on what to do with it. We made it home (both miles), and I only gasped at Eric's driving twice (which was the slowest I have EVER seen him go).

Night 2

Night #2 went way better than night one, in my opinion. Carter and I got about 4 or so hours if sleep. Carrie stated awake most of that time being a little neurotic. Saw the pediatrician this morning and be says baby Carter is good. Since everybody is doing good we maybe getting out if here today. I'm sure the puppies will be very happy to see and meet everybody.

Eric

Day One

So here it is midnight of day 1. We have been at the hospital for about 12 hours now with very little down time. Carter Simpson Hughes was born at 2:20 PM, he weighs in at at 10 lbs. 1 oz. 22 inches long. Here are a few pictures from strategic moments. Ignore the time stamp on the pictures, I was in a hurry and didn't want to take the time to fix the clock.

First we will start with the boy himself with a little of Mom in the back.

This is us before everything gets going.

Carter just minutes old.

A little bit older and already learned how to relax.

Just like every other parent (did I just call myself a parent?) I have a ton of pictures that I'm sure will be forced upon some of you but this is it for now. Did I mention that not only is he big but he is loud too. Thanks to everybody for the support and well wishes. We are all doing well and recovering nicely. More soon.

Eric

Getting started...

This is our first and only attempt at a blog...to keep everyone informed that wants to be. We'll do our best to be witty, intelligent and entertaining, but please remember that we will be running on very little sleep with a newborn. Be patient with us. Very often this may be straight information and pictures only.

As of today, we're 8 days past our due date and still waiting for baby Carter to arrive. He's apparently got the same sense of timing as his mom and dad, who are both procrastinators.