Carter - 4 Months

The little man keeps growing and growing! Carter entered his 4th month and with it came 4x the cuteness. He's really getting a more and more distinctive look, a little bit like his brother, but very much his own man. The thighs and cheeks both got a little more pudge and his overall M.O. got even more chill, a very even-keeled baby. He'll go with the flow as long as their is a friendly face to smile at and a warm body to hold him.

Couple fun milestones and big events in Carter's life this month:

1. He learned how to laugh. He had started hints of it last month, but he really knows how to let those giggles roll now. He finds it truly delightful when we bounce him up and down on the bed by pushing the mattress down on either side of him as he lying on the back. Or if you tickle his upper thigh, inner ribs, his "pecs," and pretty much any sensitive spot. He's very ticklish!

2.  He figured out how to roll over. Unlike most babies who roll from their tummies to their backs first, Carter decided to take the hard road and roll from his back to his tummy. Already training for his breakout performance in pee wee football in 5 years. He musters up the willpower, heaves the weight of his legs over first to get some momentum, tucks his head down super tight, and then allows his arms to follow the trajectory. We actually missed the first time he did it. We were packing up the car, left him on the activity gym on his back, walked back into the room and he was on his tummy.

3. He took his first plane ride! We went up to New Canaan to visit Nene and Pops for a "sip and see" in his honor. While Brooks marveled and articulated every bit of the flying experience, Carter kept a low profile, was mostly agreeable, and stayed nice and quiet.  But I'd say he rather enjoyed himself!

4. He met Nene's side of the family - Uncle Bert, Aunt Michelle, Sean and his girlfriend Gina and Allie and Mike. They showered him with love and affection and lots of sweet gifts.  And the next day he met all of Nene and Pop's great friends.  No one could believe how calm and agreeable - and HUGE - he was! It was a big social weekend for Carter. He was passed around like a hot potato to no less than 25 people over the course of the weekend.

5. And perhaps the most important of all... he got a new nickname.  MEATBALL. We have to give credit to Bryson's cousin Jacquie who coined it.  While we laughed at first, it's really so perfect we cannot stop saying it. Carter's head is so round and such a perfect sphere, it truly resembles a meatball. And the best part is that when he get a little cranky we can call him a "spicy meatball," coined by Bryson's other cousin Brandon. Brooks even calls him meatball now too. We may regret it later if it sticks, but for now it's just so much fun to refer to him as the delectable little ball of meat that he is!

We love you, Carter. You and your sweetness gives us tons of smiles.