Grandmas and Grandpas and Greats, Oh My!

This weekend we went to Ty's hometown to visit his family.  Ty's parents and both sets of grandparents live in the same town so Carter got to see his grandparents and his great grandparents.  It's right around a 4 hour drive and we've really struggled with the trip in the past.  Normally we leave right after Ty gets home from work and arrive after Carter's bedtime.  Under those circumstances the trip ends with an hour or hour and a half of Carter tiredly crying.  We decided to try something different this trip.  We bathed Carter and put him in the car seat ready for bed.  He fell asleep within 30 minutes of leaving and slept until the half-way point when we drove through a town and the street lights woke him up.  He cried for 30 minutes before I reached back and cupped his face in my hand.  Feeling my touch, he stopped crying and eventually fell back to sleep.  When we arrived Carter fell back to sleep within a few minutes after laying him down in his Pack N Play.  Our new plan worked perfectly!

Ty took the day off on Friday so we traveled Thursday evening and had all day Friday and Saturday and then a half day Sunday before traveling home.  Friday morning we visited one set of great grandparents for breakfast, Carter's Gigi and Papa.  Papa had made a rocking horse for Carter to play on.  He also took Carter on a tour of his shop.  Carter thought it was fabulous and loved walking around, falling in saw dust, and checking out all the wood.  Aunt Tina also came to see Carter and brought her 2 dogs.  Carter loved the dogs and followed them around saying doggie.

Sitting in a high chair used by many more before him!

Reading with Papa!

Checking out Papa's shop.

Kisses from Papa.

Checking out the backyard with Gigi.

We headed back to grandma and grandpa's in time for a light lunch and naptime.  Carter was exhausted from all his visiting and exploring and napped for 3 hours for the first time in months!  When he woke up we headed straight over to his other great grandparents' house.  He began to realize that each new house he went to had a whole new set of toys for him to play with.  He had a blast playing with all the toys and practicing going up and down the stairs.  We took a nectarine with us for Carter to eat as a snack.  He walked by the table, saw it, grabbed it, and walked around eating it.  I was shocked!  I had never given him a whole fruit to eat bites of, I always cut it into pieces for him.  I was amazed to see him go to town eating it!  Carter's grandma and great grandma were both on the floor playing with him.  Then he wanted to go down the stairs so his grandma went with him and his great grandma stayed at the top of the stairs.  They threw a ball back and forth and Carter thought it was hilarious!  Just now looking through the pictures, I'm so disappointed I didn't get a picture of him with his great grandma.

Carter with great grandpa.

Multitasking with his nectarine!

 

Grandma cooked potato soup for dinner, but Carter was not a fan.  He hasn't had soup before and I think it had more to do with him not being successful feeding himself.  He's all about feeding himself and will slap your hand or spoon away if you attempt to feed him, unless you are sharing something special from your own plate!  After dinner grandma gave Carter his first full hair cut.  He got a little trim around the ears before his first birthday, but this time he got a big boy hair cut.  While I was watching I was so torn.  He looked adorable with his new hair cut, but he also looked so much older!  I got a little bit emotional during the hair cut although he definitely looks very handsome now!  

 

Handsome big boy hair cut!

Saturday we stayed at grandma and grandpa's house and took it easy.  Carter's grandma surprised everyone when she came out in an outfit that matched Carter's!  Despite the cold temperatures we ventured out to the park after Carter's nap.  He enjoyed the slides and attempting to climb the ladders.  That evening Gigi and Papa came over for dinner and were impressed with Carter's appetite as well as his range when throwing unwanted food from his tray!  Carter tried his first cookie and loved it!  Carter's grandma got down on the ground and chased him around on her hands and knees.  At one point Carter rushed over to me and was so excited about her coming up to him he was laughing and shaking from excitement.  It was the cutest!  After dinner Ty's best friend, Brian, came over to visit after dinner with his new fiance, Annie!  After 10 years of dating they just got engaged!

Carter posing with Gus the Gorilla.

Eating his first cookie.

 

This morning great grandma and grandpa came for breakfast and we enjoyed time together before the KU game.  Soon after they left it was time for us to hit the road so we could take off at naptime.  Carter napped for an hour and a half and then woke up and played in his car seat.  He did a great job on the ride home!  We were very pleased with Carter's traveling during this trip and are excited to make the trip again soon!  Carter's ear tub surgery is tomorrow.  We have to arrive at the hospital at 5:45 am and his surgery is scheduled for 7 am.  Please send thoughts and hugs our way!  I will update tomorrow letting you know how everything goes!  Hopefully by 10 am we will be home snuggling and recovering!