227 days later.......

227 days later........ CTB finally got to meet his Uncle Rusty.  Rusty was stationed in Hawaii with the U.S. Army and had come home for Christmas but had left just one week shy of CTB's big debut! So CTB had to wait and wait and wait to meet his one and only Uncle for 7 1/2 months!

  I knew that I wanted to have something special for CTB to wear but also kept in mind that these were men I was dealing with so didn't want to go to crazy on the cuteness factor!  I ordered a bib from an Etsy Shop that was made out of original army fatigues and had "BEVAN" embroidered on one of the tags.  I was SOO excited about this bib...it looks completely legit! The day before he arrived, CTB and I made a sign to hold for him at the airport in case he didn't see the other 6 people trampling him down ;)

  Finally at 11:30am only 18 minutes after the orginal arrival time (it was late due to storms), Rusty came walking out of the gate!! YAAAAY!!! Everyone had their tears and got their hugs! CTB was very interested in this new man...he looks a lot like RTB but kind of not in the same sense! Now CTB has met all of his aunts and uncles!! WHEW that only took half a year!

 At Auntie Tammy's wearing my cool Bib!

 Holding the sign

"I've been waiting my whole life to meet you! (That's 227 days to be exact!)"

 The handoff!

Hiiii Uncle Rusty!

Caught on video

6 month Pictures

Well I'll start by saying I have over 1000 pictures and 50+ videos of CTB since I got my new phone in April! July 11 my baby boy turned 6 months old and I knew I wanted his pictures to be extra special. My dad, myself, and my sister all had our 6 month pictures taken at Caston Studios. We all have a composite print and I knew I had to carry on the tradition with CTB!
Luckily my grandmother and mom had saved the outfits that we had worn. Since my sister and I are girls I opted for the outfit my dad wore! How special! The day of pictures CTB and I had a great experience! The photographer was wonderful! That day we got the proofs a few hours after the shoot. It took me 3 weeks to decide on which pictures and package we were going to choose! Finally before we went on vacation I ordered the pictures and today the order was ready! My favorite, the composite, made me cry when I saw it!

{CTB's 6 month}

{My 6 month}

{My Dad's 6 month}

Family Vacation 2012

Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Tammy, MiMi, and PaPa went on your second vacation to Myrtle Beach. Mommy had LOTS of planning, lists, and packing to get ready for the big travel day!  Finally, the morning came and MiMi and Mommy left really early around 4am to head down to SC and Daddy, Auntie tammy, and CTB waited to do CTB's morning routine before "locking and loading" to head down. Every bag of CTB's was labeled with the content inside 1. to ensure that everything made it down there and 2. to help out everyone to know where to find things. I tied the cutely typed labels with brown polka dot ribbon and surely enough EVERYTHING made it down to SC in one piece... (plus a little extra thanks to Daddy).  

  The week was spent spending time at the beach, pool, shopping, and the aquarium.  CTB especially loved the pool.  He loved to cruise around the shallow end in his car float with his cool man sunglasses on and hat.  PaPa liked to pretend like CTB were in NASCAR and would swirl him around the pool! CTB also loved to "schwim schwim".  We swore that if we let him go in the water he would swim across the pool.  His legs had the breast stroke motion down perfectly and your arms weren't far behind. We went out to dinner a few times and CTB did a great job being a "big boy" in the high chair at the table!  He also got to eat his first ice cream from an ice cream place I had been going to since I was a little girl, Painter's.  It did rain one day and Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Tammy, and CTB went to the aquarium.  CTB just took everything in. He didn't cry but he also wasn't giggling and laughing.  He just looked around with his mouth wide open for most of the time. 

  I can't wait to continue our family vacations each year down to Myrtle Beach.  I have my fondest memories as a child down there in the summer and can't wait for CTB to make memories of his own!

And then there was TeTe

Well it only took 5 months for you to finally meet your TeTe.  We had sent pictures, videos, and Skyped with her before but the day finally came for you to meet her!  TeTe was in town for her birthday and we rushed over to MiMi & PaPa's house as soon as we could Friday afternoon to see her..

 Saturday was TeTe's birthday party so we spent the morning helping MiMi get the house & porch ready.  That night we celebrated her birthday & CTB was cranky!! Poor baby was just having an off day. Mommy and daddy tag-teamed upstairs with you until daddy just took you home so mommy could enjoy having fun with TeTe!

The next morning before TeTe had to get on the airplane to go back to Indy, we had lunch with her! We are going to miss her SO much but will get to see her for a longer time in August!

Father's Day

Since it was Randy's first Father's Day, CTB and I had planned a day that he would never forget! We sent daddy on a scavenger hunt.  eat each destination he got an envelope that had a clue and puzzle pieces.  We started at home and then ended up HERE!

The Boathouse- enjoyed brunch

Trying out their toes in the water

Bevan Party of 3

THEN............

We ended up @ Maymont

Daddy & CTB did a little off-roading

Two of a kind.....I <3 this picture

Bevan Family...again

Then we ended up.....

At the Carters

Daddy is putting his puzzle pieces together to lead him to his present

It's all assembled!! Go outside daddy!!!

YAAY!! Happy First Father's Day!!!!

Daddy got a grill!!!!

Life Lesson #2

   As RTB and I continue on this journey of parenthood together, we continue to realize things/lessons we want to teach CTB along the way. Recently, I have been thinking a lot about what kind of man CTb will become and how he will treat those around him. So here goes Life Lesson #2.....

"Do not change who you are for anyone."

 Each one of us is unique and different in so many ways.  Our experiences make us who we are today and how we handle situations in life. I hope that RTB and I can provide CTB with a life that is full of laughter, fun, and learning without a lot of "drama" along the way. I'm not saying that I want CTB to live in a bubble but we will try our best to allow him to grow up slowly and be a "kid". As a child you get to experience so many things that will shape who you become as an adult; let those experiences be a piece of who you become. I hold high hopes that CTB will be an independent and productive member of society and will earn everything that he has in life. If this is not the case then I will love him regardless. I hope that CTB never feels the need to change for anyone. If someone in your life is asking you to change a trait about yourself then maybe it is time for them to reflect back on their own character.  People are not perfect and it's the mistakes that we grow and learn life's most valuable lessons from. 

   You have so many WONDERFUL people that surround you as family and friends who are accepting of people as they are. Hold tight to the people who lift you up and let go of the people who drag you down. If a person is more of a liability then an asset to your life then it is time to reevaluate that relationship.  CTB I love you for everything that you are now and everything that you will become in the future!  If you are half of the man your daddy is then we have done our job as parents!

1,2,1,2,4 Dr. A

   We are so lucky to have a pediatrician for CTB that was actually one of mine and my sister's pediatricians when we were younger.  I love his laid back personality yet he is honest and straight-forward!  It is so comforting to have a doctor that can calm "neurotic mommy syndrome" down due to baby acne that you think may be some life threatening disease or your poor little one's first fever! I am SO happy with our visits so far and look forward to many more healthy ones to come!

1 week old

2 weeks old

3 1/2 week baby acne

2 months old

4 months old

   Mommy fail on the 1 month old signature picture in the doctor's office.  I had strep and RTB had to take him! 

   Our next appointment is his 6 month appointment and I think we will be introducing some baby foods!! I'm sure that will be a BIG adventure seeing as now CTB thinks it's hilarious to make sounds with his lips while spitting and drooling EVERYWHERE!!  It doesn't seem to matter that I put him in a cute outfit because it is constantly covered by a Bib! Oh well...here's to cute bibs!

Mother's Day...in Pictures (and videos)

My morning smiles

Mother's Day Gift from my Mom <3

My life!

Gorgeous cookies made by Kooking in Kate's Kitchen

 Eating my "linner" with Auntie Tammy

Tuckered out from visiting ALL the mom's! Snuggling Mommy's fingers while daddy drives<3

A Thanks to all the Mom's!

   We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing women that serve as a reflection of a great mom!  I look to these women daily for guidance and support. Each day I learn and grow from being a mom and it is all thanks to these women. "Mom's" come in all shapes and sizes but one thing that is streamline through and through is that a mom is forever! So I want to start this post off by thanking each woman in our life that epitomizes a great "mom":

Sherry Carter (my mom and CTB's MiMi)- Thank you for being my #1 role model. I can only hope to be as great a mom to CTB as you have been to me and Catie!

Celia Bevan (RTB's mom and CTB's Granny)- Thank you so much for raising such a gentleman! He truly is a diamond in the rough and I hope that we can raise CTB to be a well-rounded gentleman too!

Tammy Bevan (RTB's sister and CTB's Aunitie)- You are such a strong woman and mother! I look at what a great man Jordan is becoming and it is 100% thanks to you!

Janice Hart (my grandmother and CTB's great-grandmother)- Your generous, loving, and patient nature is something I hope I can balance in my life while raising my children.

Eleanor Carter (my grandmother and CTB's great-grandmother)- Thank you for raising such a great man, my dad, to serve as role model of a great man for CTB.

Mary Bevan (RTB's grandmother and CTB's great-grandmother)- Your kind heart and smile are infectious.

Betsey Cremin (my best friend)- Every time I talk or think about you I say to myself "I don't know how she does it".  You literally "do it all"! You have two beautiful children that you take care of 24/7 while P is deployed and do such an amazing job of staying even-keeled in a time when I would be frazzled! You are such a great friend to me and I look up to you so much as a mom! We <3 the Cremin's!

Mother's Day Eve

   Well I was unaware that Mother's Day was like Christmas and was celebrated on two days...I'm not sure my husband knew this either but {Shhh!}  Anyway, I have had pneumonia and poor CTB has been passed around to minimize the chance of him catching anything.  Luckily MiMi came to save the day and CTB spent Friday night and Saturday morning/early afternoon with her. WHEW!

   Saturday morning, I got something I had been talking about FOREVER...well really only since CTB rolled over so less than a week but it seemed like forever!! A PLAYROOM for munchkin!  I was soo excited when RTB was just as excited as me to give CTB a safe place to roll around and play! SO Happy Mother's Day Eve to ME!!!

I definitely still have some work to do in this room.....like the walls, curtains, and arrangement of things but this is a pretty good start! I LOVE that I can be cooking, washing dishes, etc. and I can see CTB playing and rolling around <3

Excuse the "man" voice I have...... that's the pneumonia talking :)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

As previously mentioned, I am very active in Sigma Kappa and we do some pretty awesome events! After our amazing cookout/fundraiser we had one of my favorite events of the year planned..... a baseball game and not just any baseball game but CTB's very first baseball game!
   If you know anything about my side of the family you know that baseball is a BIG deal!  My dad played in high school, I played from the age of 8 through high school, and my younger sister played.  Every time CTB goes to my parent's house and PaPa is there they have to have their "practice"....PaPa practices throwing techniques and batting stances....it's really cute to watch!
  Anyway, we were off to see our very first Flying Squirrels game.  Unfortunately daddy had to work but MiMi, Auntie Tammy, Jordan, and all of mommy's sisters were there!  It was definitely a whole process getting into the game.  I had CTB in the baby bjorn on the front of me and used a modified bag, my vera backpack, for the diaper bag instead of my huge Kate Spade diaper bag I normally carry!  By the time I had gotten him situated on me and my bag straight and we started to walk towards the ticket booth I was already exhausted and had to pee!! Luckily MiMi was there to help shuffle things around and hold this and then hold that!  Finally, we made it into the stands and got to enjoy the game.....well I think we only made it 3 or 4 innings!  Here are so pictures of your first of many more baseball games! I can't wait to watch you one day on the field little man!

And I couldn't resist posting a video of CTB's batting and throwing practice with PaPa

My Mommy is a Sigma Kappa

 I was lucky to join one of the greatest organizations while attending Longwood for my undergrad, Sigma Kappa.  It truly changed my life and gave me lifelong friends. After graduation, I am not the type of person to fall of the planet of the earth and knew that I wanted to do something to give back to an organization that have given me so much during those 4 years in college. I began advising for my collegiate chapter and since then have become the President of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter and a national officer. I love giving back and love all of the wonderful women I work with!
   Now I know that CTB is not a girl but I still pray that one day he will find a group that has high values, philanthropies, and men that will be his lifelong friends. BUT since he is only 3 1/2 months old he gets to hang out with mommy's sisters for now!
  The Richmond Alumnae Chapter had it's annual membership drive/fundraiser and of course CTB came to meet everyone!  A big thanks to RTB for dropping by and to Exclusively at Kathryn's for the cute outfit!

 Mommy & CTB in his cute "My Mommy is a Sigma Kappa" bib

Bevan Party of 3

 Of course, Carter had to have a nametag

Richmond Alumnae Chapter Executive Board

The wonderful women I get to work with on a daily basis!