Well, let me tell you this... In the easy-to-use category, Windows Live Spaces beats just about everything else out there.  Yes, it's a fact.  I spent a couple of hours on Googlepages uploading these same images (well just some of them, since it was a colossal pain).  WLS has taken care of everything in a matter of about 15 minutes -- AND it turned the images right side up automatically.  I'm impressed.

There's just something special about a room with a baby in it -- especially when that baby is learning to walk!  Carson's FIRST BIRTHDAY was March 14.  He is walking very well now... that means that Nana has to get a little faster to keep up with him.  I also need to "clear the decks" before he comes to visit.  It's funny how many things he shouldn't have that now have a magnetic pull to him when he's near!  ;-)

 

In any event, I came across this little bit, attributed to Pablo Casals:

 

"Each second we live in a new and unique moment of the universe,
a moment that never was before and will never be again. And what do
we teach our children in school? We teach them that two and two make
four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach
them what they are?  You should say to each of them, 'Do you know what
you are? You are unique.  In all the world there is no other child
exactly like you. In the millions of years that have passed, there has
never been a child like you.  And look at your body -- what a wonder it
is! Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move! 
You may be a Shakespear, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the
capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel.'"

 

Oh, I second that.  The heart overflows when a child runs through it.

Carson is ELEVEN months old today!  I don't kow whether I'm having so much fun, or just getting too old, but ma-a-a-a-n! is time flying!

 

Carson took his first unassisted steps last week, and can stand on his own if he's not thinking about holding on to something.  He's starting to become a "discriminating eater," much to his mother's frustration.  He loves his bath.  He is pretty much potty trained for #2 -- I know that's TMI, but I wanted to record it for later... like when he's 13, or 20... evil Nana!  ;-)

brrreeeport

Scobleizer is testing a theory for blog searches: http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/02/13/the-brrreeeport-report/. brrreeeport is the word... brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport brrreeeport   So far, Google has found 72 - it was 63 only about 5 minutes ago.  What's the score now?  http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&q=brrreeeport&btnG=Search+Blogs

It is surprising, amazing, and just a little weird how quickly time flies.  Especially in this digital age where everything appears, is outdated, updated, and outdated again...  I find a certain dissatisfaction with the digital . . . its perfection . . . its ability to be manipulated not only for good, but also for a good deal of mischief. . . 

 

I dunno.  When I look back at things, I can hardly remember all the hundreds (thousands??) of digital photos I've taken -- and some lost -- but it hurts to think that perhaps my grandchildren will have nothing but DVD's full of digits.  I have recently turned my free moments into quilt study, and hope to begin churning out something with a little longer life expectancy.  I guess I'll take some (digital) pictures of them and post them as I complete them.  ;-)

 

Anyway. . . I'm thinking that there's only ONE thing that matters in this life, and it isn't this life.  It is life beyond this life with our Heavenly Dad -- the One who knows every fiber of my Grandsons' little bodies as well as He knows mine . . . as well as he knew my great-great-great-great-(you get it)-grandparents.  The One who, in spite of who I know myself to be, loves me as if I were the only one to love.  That's pretty incredible.  I am blessed at this realization.  And to think -- we will be face to face with Him.  Astonishing.

 

So -- What can happen in 10 months?  Well, Mr. Carson has SIX teeth, and is now crawling on hands and knees, with the occasional army crawl.  He pulls himself up to stand whenever he wants to, and is sure to be walking in the next few weeks.  You can see it when he stands there, that walking is what is really on his mind.  He is very determined, and I know it won't be long.  He calls us by names now, Mama, Dada, Nana, and Papa, and will look for the one if you ask him, "Where is (______)?"  He plays the no-no game, shaking his head and laughing.  He nearly always insists on feeding himself -- something he's learning to get better at, but has perfected getting Cheerios into his mouth.  He plays patty-cake, and wants everyone else to do it, too.  He knows the ASL sign for "more," and does it to ask for more.  He also knows and responds to the ASL sign for "eat," but doesn't do it yet.

 

Oh, one more thing Carson has mastered:  crocodile tears on demand!  I guess some things never change.  *wink*

Kayti took her curly-haired babe to see Santa this week.  He was having a wonderful day, encased in his little sling-pouch, watching the Christmas shoppers and all the holiday lights.  He even enjoyed cooing at Santa's set while he waited in line briefly before getting his picture taken.

 

When it was his turn, Carson even sat on Santa's lap, still taking in all the holiday sights -- it was, after all, his first venture into Christmas-World.  However, after allowing Carson time to see Santa fully, his mama called his name, in order to pose properly for a photo.  At that time,  Carson realized that he was with a stranger, and his beloved mommy was... sniff, sniff... over THERE!   WAAAAAA! 

 

PRICELESS!

It's hard to believe that November is here -- now half gone!  Carson is 8 months old today.  Many new things for him have begun this past month: