Carter, the toddler

This is kind of a random post, but Carter has recently graduated from pure babyhood to toddlerhood - now mature at 16months, he suddenly looks like a little boy to me and not a baby anymore (of course he'll ALWAYS be my baby, but you know what I mean!). For about a week he had a yucky virus that left him grumpy and sensitive and he has now returned to the land of the living (I'm soooo grateful). As he was emerging from his 'funk' - we spent the day with the Saunders - Here are a few pics of him when he wasn't feeling well that I thought were cute...


Seriously, he is checking out the bike with his fingers firmly in his mouth - I don't think his fingers left his mouth this ENTIRE week!

I love him in shoes!!!

Carter was so upset I wouldn't share my Kashi cereal with him - I had to take a picture You'd think it was Lucky Charms or something. Seriously, if you've tasted Kashi, you understand my delight with this picture!

Our new favorite past-time

Recently, we've been heading to the oceanfront at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset and it has fast become a favorite thing of ours to do. We've been going to 31st street - there's a playground (although it's now gone!!!) and the boys can't get enough of the sand. We've picnicked a few times since discovering this great new past-time!


Carter loved the birds

Anderson & Erin

This visit Carter was very 'under the weather', but he was pretty content at the beach

No matter the temp, Anderson loves to be in his bathing suit!

Soccer!!!!!

Anderson, the soccer player - one of the "Seattle Sounders"
listening to his coach, Anderson is #13 and Ryan is sitting to his right.
waiting for his turn
isn't his shirt a bit on the ridiculous side - believe me, I've now washed it 3times in HOT HOT HOT water trying my best to shrink it!!!!

Anderson had his very 1st soccer game last Saturday after his 1st game was rained out. I essentially 'grew up' on the soccer field - so I'm selfishly hoping he is a soccer player forever. The soccer field was occupied for this week's game, so his 1st game was in a gym at the YMCA which made for a quick moving soccer ball. Let's just say we're looking forward to playing on the grass. Anderson's shirt is more like a dress than a shirt, but I suppose he'll just be able to wear it for years to come! His best bud Ryan is on his team too - and apparently they are the only boys on the team!

Marriage Retreat in Nags Head

Mark & I, along with 3 other couples from our small group, headed to Corolla in Nags Head for a getaway marriage retreat weekend. Another couple came and facilitated the material and we were able to have some meaningful lessons and also spend time fellowshipping with our good friends. On Thursday nite, the ladies headed up sans men to 'hang out' - we watched Grey's Anatomy and then headed to the outlets for some shopping and lunch Friday. We had a great time with each other and all got some great deals at the GAP outlet! The men arrived Friday nite and we all had an awesome dinner together and dug into the material. The theme of the weekend was 'fill your cup'. Saturday we enjoyed breakfast together, had more time devoted to the material, and then proceeded to our individual "dates" - Ok, yes, we all headed to the same restaurant - we all sat at different tables (which had the hostess thoroughly confused), but nonetheless enjoyed ourselves. Sunday a.m. was time for packing up and heading back to pick up kiddos and get to church in time to serve. We had a great time and are so grateful that the Lord has provided us with such dear friends with whom we share the same goals & dreams with!


Before 'date nite'

Hopefully Amy or Mark won't kill me for posting this pic. Mark found Amy's Navy badge & hat and decided to play 'dress up'. Goodness, this is classic Mark....

Anderson, the diver

While we were in FLA on vacation, Anderson mastered the 'dive'. He dove in the pool all week long. This boy is FEARLESS!!! Check out my little Greg Louganis....

Putt-puttin'

While we were in Orlando for vacation, we decided to do dinner out, but easy -so we went, whereas, but Chick-fil-A. Ok, so we go to CFA all the time, but this time, Carter scaled the playground - yep, he climbed all the way to the top! I was a bit nervous that I would have to go retrieve him (I was in a dress), but after playing in the 'tube' for awhile, Anderson convinced him when it was time to go.

After dinner @ CFA, we headed to Putt-putt - this was Anderson's 1st experience with putt-putt and neither Mark nor I had gone in years! Anderson had a great time. I'm not even sure who won!

the Judds on vacation

crazy Anderson

can you tell that is Carter -he is at the very top of the playground at CFA!

the 1st time putt-putter

so much to do, so little time for blogging!

One of my favorite past-times, blogging, has been shelved the last couple of weeks. We've just been crazy busy. I still have more pics to post from our FLA vacation, from the marriage retreat, from Anderson's 1st soccer game and more!! I'm about to take a gazillion more pics this weekend for Anderson's bday party and we have family here (always a reason to take pics), and my sweet niece Avery's 1st bday is this weekend too!!!! ARGH, I'm falling more & more behind! Oh well.

Here's something I've wanted to post for awhile for memory sake, so this will just have to do for now!!!! And, to boot, I'm so far behind reading friends blogs too - I don't feel like I know what is going on with anyone right now!!!! I will catch up soon (i hope!!!)

Anyway, a couple weeks ago we had Carter's 15month check-up and Anderson wanted to go with me so he could hold Carter's hand (great big brother!). I also found out that the flu shots were in and that both boys could get them too at our visit -so grateful since this would save a later trip & gas, etc. Anyway, this meant that Anderson would now be getting a shot too. This boy loves to get shots - from the moment I told him, he said "it won't hurt me" - "I won't cry". I'm thinking to myself, we'll see about that. In the past he has done great, but as he's getting older & more fearful of 'stuff', I thought for sure he'd wimper a little... Carter's shots come & go and Anderson is the great big bro holding his hand and comforting him. Here comes Anderson's turn - he just watches the nurse give him the shot - he didn't look away, no flinching, no tears -nothing!!! He must have gotten that from Mark, b/c I'm a big wuss when it comes to needles & shots (I mean huge wuss!). Anyway, here is the best part:

Mommy: "maybe you can be a doctor or nurse one day, Anderson - you did so great with the shot!"

Anderson: "nah, I just want to be regular, like daddy, I want to be a dad!"

Doesn't that just melt your heart!!!!! What an impression Mark has made on my boys!!

the Judds do SeaWorld 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Airborne!!!!

Here are my 3 Judd men preparing for our departure from Norfolk to Jacksonville - Anderson was beside himself with delight! Thank goodness for direct flights is all I'm going to say!!!!

My little water baby!

Just like big brother, Carter is absolutely fearless of the water!! It scares me to death! I love that my boys aren't scared of the water, but at the same time I want them to respect the water. He loves going under and doesn't think twice about it - no tears, just smiles! We had to keep little man under careful watch around the pool - he would just walk in if we let him (& boy did he try!)


Carter and his favorite pool playmate, Poppa

Slam DUNK!!!!!

This puts another meaning to the term "Slam Dunk"!!!

Anderson sound bites

I wanted to post a few 'memorable' things Anderson said during our vacation - I'm sure there were many more, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind ...

*"Daddy, do you want to eat some hot dogs & watch sports?"

*as we were playing putt-putt and we were starting a new hole, Anderson came up to me and said "Mommy, you probably won't be very good at this hole - it's really hard"

*as we landed in the airplane from ORF to JAX, Anderson said upon landing "That's what I'm talking about!!!!"

This little guy just cracks me up! I love him soooo!

Reunion 14years in the making....

Some of you friends know I've recently plugged into Facebook and thru that have reconnected with many highschool & college friends. I had a friend, Heather, from elementary thru highschool and somehow we didn't stay in touch over the years. She & her husband, Mark, live in Jacksonville FL and since we were going to be spending some time there for our vacation, we arranged to meet up (after 14years!!!!). So, here we were Mark & Heather & Mark & Heather - all UGA fans. It was so great seeing her (she looks just the same) and it was fun introducing our Marks to each other. They both love UGA, so they instantly hit it off! Besides our names, it was so neat to talk about all of the new & old things we have in common- motherhood, our children, friends, our faith, etc!

Tatooed!

For some reason I let Anderson convince me to tatoo him on his chest - he used to be content to tattoo his hands or arms, but now I think he has seen some grown men with tattooed chests..... Oh my! ~Check him out!!!

(BTW, he's shooting webs in case you didn't know!) ; )

100% Boy!!

This morning we had to go back to the ENT for Carter to have his tubes 'follow-up' - - we basically woke up, had breakfast & hopped in the car for the 8:30 appt. We got to the office and had to wait for a few minutes in the waiting room - - Anderson found the children's books and for a few minutes read a VeggieTale book he had found - that only held his attention for a few minutes until he spotted the magazine stack. Do you know that Anderson ran and grabbed the latest Sports Illustrated, sat down & starting rattling off information - "mommy look" - it's Michael Phelps, look its Tiger Woods, look tennis, look football, baseball - you name it!!! Mark is definitely a sports fan, but its amazing how Anderson knows this stuff. Sure he's watched his share of college football, Braves games, the Masters, Olympics - but he's not a couch potato, so it's just amazing how boys (or men) just know sports!!!

1st Day of School!

Anderson had his 1st day of school on Wednesday - everything went off without a hitch! No tears, no whimpers -nothing but a happy preschooler!

Challenge Accepted!!!

I graduated from my YMCA 6 week challenge today - the team leader did my 'after' measurements to see what I've accomplished in 6 weeks - - she was so proud of me - in 6 weeks of hard work - of both eating well and working out - - I have lost 12 inches! That's all around - hips, waist, bust (oh no!), thighs (oh yes!), calves, arms, etc! I could tell from my clothes that I had lost inches, but had no clue how many. Needless to say, I'm really happy with the progress I've made and at this point am considering it good 'momentum'. I'm re-enrolling in the program at the Y as I have to have the accountability. Zumba, anyone?

Labor Day in Charlotte

We headed to Charlotte for Labor Day to meet my brand new niece Anna. We had planned a trip several weeks ago but had to cancel due to Carter being sick. We left VaBeach bright & early Saturday a.m. to make it to Charlotte for lunchtime. Anderson has the BEST time playing with his cousins - Benjamin wrestled with Anderson all weekend long. According to Benjamin, Anderson is quite the opponent, especially for being almost 4 (watch out Carter!). Carter had fun running after the cousins and did great, especially considering he had tubes in on Friday!
My brand new niece Anna is so beautiful, and such a little Judd. She is 8weeks old and some change and is so easygoing (I guess being the 4th child contributes to that!)

We took the crew to Chick fil A donning our team spirit. Anderson & Mary Scott didn't want to oblige us for a pic, oh well.
Bulldawg Love
our little bulldawg pup
Mark & Brian went to rival teams - Brian went to GA Tech, Mark went to UGA

Anderson kept asking me to hold Anna.... here's the 1st time...
Anderson got to sleep in Uncle Brian's sleeping bag -all cuddled up next to his cousins - bedtime couldn't be easier - Anderson informed us that he didn't need our help
This is what Benjamin & Anderson were doing all weekend...
Anderson holding Anna again
someone needs to tell Carter that he isn't a baby anymore

We had all the kids dressed in their madras for church on Sunday - Anderson refused to get in the picture, but they were all so cute 'Mad for Madras'
Brian & Monica
MaryScott has a precious little personality - she kept paying us little 'over the booth' visits at lunch...
Carter meets Oreos.....
We didn't even have to tell him about how good milk goes with Oreos!