2010 National Western Stock Show

We had so much fun going to the Stock Show last year with Grandma Pat, we decided to go again this year! Davis got into the spirit of things by wearing his cowboy hat. :-) And cute guitar outfit from Aunt Sister.

We paid $10 (a rip-off, I know) for Carter to have his photo taken with the horse but when he saw how big the horse was, he kind of freaked out. I asked Sean to get up there with him so we could at least get some sort of photo. The cowboy horse handlers thought it was funny when Sean asked if the horse could handle both of them. Apparently city folks don't know a horse's weight capacity!

I'm not too sure about this, dad!

Just take the picture so I can get off of here!

Our favorite stop...the petting zoo! The area was complete with hand sanitizer this year, since last year's Stock Show got a black eye from their e. coli outbreak linked to the petting zoo. We triple sanitized our hands afterwards, just to be safe.

We bought a cone full of animal feed before going into the petting area. It was gone in about three seconds. Literally, I put Carter down and this sheep came over and gobbled it all up! The only thing left was a stump from the cone. Thankfully Carter walked away with all of his fingers.

the llama was getting a little too close

Sean petting one of the "chicks".

My favorite carnival game as a kid! Carter was happy to just keep picking ducks out of the water, he didn't care about the prize.

Carter riding in the caboose of the train (he's in the middle on the right side).

Big Bull

Big Scoop

Big Tractor with Big Wheels

ball of energy

Carter showing off his limitless energy while building with Handy Manny.

pediatrician x2

I took both boys to see the pediatrician this morning, no small task. Carter was seen for a follow-up after treating the same ear infection for a month now. He still has an infection in the left ear (the right ear was almost completely cleared up) and we are now trying a third antibiotic. If that does not work, we may be looking at tubes in his ears.
Davis was seen for goopy eyes, for which we now have an antibiotic eye ointment and follow-up for the allergy issues he's been having. We started him on hypoallergenic formula almost two weeks ago and it seems to be helping. He still has some fussy moments at night, but they are few and far between and he is thriving. In fact, he now weighs 11 pounds, 6 ounces! That is a gain of 1 lb, 10 oz in less than a month! I had to start putting him into his 3-6 month sized clothes over the weekend. What a big guy!
We will go back in another week to follow up with Carter's ears and do Davis's two month well-child check. Wish us luck!

gettin' down

Carter got a new Leap Frog video for Christmas and loves to dance to the music. We have to be sneaky...if he sees you recording him, he will stop dancing. His moves crack us up!

indoor fun

Davis at the "gym"

Any mother with young children will tell you that winter days are looooooong days. When it's too cold to play outside, it is a challenge to find indoor activities to fill the day. I tend to get cabin fever and we usually try to get out of the house at least every other day. It does Carter (and me!) a world of good. Anyway, since it has been so cold this week, we decided to mix things up a bit and break out the play-doh! Carter loved it and Davis was happy to just observe.

Making a play-doh hamburger

This is my idea of a good time!

hmmm...

I have been keeping Macey in the house during the day since it has been below freezing lately. Look who I found lounging in Carter's chair yesterday. It happens to sit right by one of the heating vents. Crazy dog!

PE

I almost forgot...Congratulations to Sean for passing the PE! He is now a Professional Engineer (he was before, but now it's official). He studied a ton, in between working and taking care of Carter, and it paid off! He took the test in October and got the good news right before Christmas. Way to go, honey! The boys and I are so proud of you!

Jayhawk country

We stopped in Lawrence as we headed from St. Louis to Denver. It was great (as always) to spend the night at Grandad & Grandma Nancy's house. They take such good care of us & Carter loved playing with "Hip Hop Santa" and the oldie-but-goody Fisher Price toys. However, I had a case of the stomach flu, so I was not very good company and not a very happy traveler! Yuck! Needless to say, this is the only photo I took. Hopefully our next visit to Lawrence will be longer and less sick.

Grandad enjoying some quality "grandson time".

PS: I should mention that Davis was wearing a Mizzou hat right before this photo was taken...coincidence that it's missing from the shot? I think not! And yes, Dad (a Kansas State alum) is wearing a K-State shirt and lives a mile away from the KU campus.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve marked our four-year anniversary! Sean's parents took care of the boys so we could go out on the town--thanks Mom & Dad B! We went to a blues club in St. Louis and met up with one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Mary Anne.

What a handsome guy I married! Am I right, ladies?

A good time was had by all!

Mike Zito on stage with his band

Mary Anne & I were roommates freshman year at Mizzou and became fast friends. She is like a sister to me & I can't believe it's been two years since we last saw one another...way too long. I also cannot believe that it was 16 years ago this month that we won the trip to New York City to see David Letterman. We had all expenses paid for three nights at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square and talked our parents into letting us go alone. It was an amazing trip for two 18-year-old girls! We have so many great stories that could probably fuel a blog of their own. Anyway, I miss my dear friend and wish we lived closer! Love you, Smurfer!

Beilman Family Christmas

Next stop, St. Louis! Carter LOVED playing with his 15 Beilman cousins and Davis was happy to just take it all in (between sleeping and eating, of course). We got to visit with all of Sean's siblings and had a great time catching up with everyone! On Wednesday night, we all went out to eat some authentic St. Louis Italian food and then drove through the coolest display of Christmas lights. We had a fun visit & hope to catch up with all the Beilmans again this Summer at the family reunion. Thanks Mom & Dad B for the Christmas gifts, baptism gifts, good food & hospitality! We love you!

Grandma Pat with Davis

Cousins Savannah & Eiley holding Davis, with Grandpa Dan

Aunt Kristine, cousin Mitchell & Uncle Peter

Three generations of Beilmans

Grandpa Dan & Grandma Pat with the boys

Carter with his buddy, cousin Elliott

Grandma, cousin Adam & Sean

Baptism

After a cancellation due to the snowstorm, the boys were baptised on December 27th in Kansas City. The ceremony was at the same church, performed by the same minister that married Sean & me four years ago today!

Pastor Steve with the expanded Beilman bunch. The white blanket around Davis was made by Sean's mom. It is just beautiful! Thank you, Grandma Pat!!

Our family and extended family...Sean's parents, my parents & grandpa Ted with Aunt Christy & Uncle Josh. Thank you EVERYONE for making the special trips and extra effort to share in this day with us. It means so much to have your love and support. We feel blessed to know our boys will be raised with abundant love and acceptance, gifts you have all given us. God is good!

The Beilmans, Milnes and Grandpa Ted.

Kansas City

Sean met up with Brett and his son, Evan, at the T-Rex Cafe while we were in KC. Brett and Sean are college friends and now they both have boys about the same age. It is too bad we don't live closer so they could get together on a regular basis. Carter had fun playing "dinos" with Evan.

Mimi & I took Carter to play at The Grove at Zona Rosa so he could blow off some steam. We had all gotten cabin fever from being cooped up during the three-day storm & this is just what we needed! Davis was happy to sleep through the entire outing. What a good boy!

Check out the cool tree house slide!

riding Bambi--giddy up!

We went to Crown Center to visit Kaleidoscope and the Hallmark Visitors Center one afternoon. I can remember going when I was a kid, so it was fun to take the boys. We will have to go back when Davis can appreciate it a little more.

Carter loved the bow-making machine! He was a bow-making fool!

Waiting for the finished product to drop...

May I have my bow now, please?

Carter's favorite spot in Kaleidoscope--the "paint cleaning station" (aka: sink)

Sean & Carter with the gingerbread village at Crown Center

Milne Family Christmas

Thomas came to Mimi's house!

Sean & I decided to do the unthinkable and make a road-trip home to Missouri with a newborn and toddler during the middle of Winter. The trip home was a good one and we are hoping the return trip is just as easy. First stop, Kansas City! We stayed at Mimi & Grampy's house for Christmas and had a wonderful time.

Mimi, Grampy & the boys

Mom getting some snuggle time in with Davis

Uncle Josh & Sean

Aunt Sister playing with Davis (in Christmas outfit #1) while Natalie watches

Me with Carter & his Great-Grandpa Ted

Say "cheese"!

Carter with his Uncle Josh

Daddy with Davis Claus (Christmas outfit #2)

Davis modeling Christmas outfit #3

Dear Mimi, Grampy, Aunt Sister & Uncle Josh,

Thank you so much for the LeapFrog books, fun (and noisy!) games, cool toys & cute clothes (especially the MU gear!). We are really lucky boys to have so many people who love us. We had so much fun playing with everyone and our Mommy & Daddy enjoyed going out for a movie while Mimi took care of us! Thanks, Mimi!

Love,

Carter & Davis

date night

The happy couple before our night out on Saturday, courtesy of Dad & Nancy. Can you tell it's been a while since we've been on a date?