Clemson vs Louisville - Banks' INCIDENT

Clemson played Louisville for the first time this year. There were surprisingly a lot of Louisville fans that made the trip to see the game. Clemson brought home the W, but this game was a fail for the Carters. This is a story we're not proud of, but one we will surely laugh about one day...

My mom ended up having to travel for work at the last minute, so Patrick and I decided we would just take Banks to the game with us. We have seen lots of babies around his age in the stadium and figured we could do it too! It was another 3:30 game, and he did great at the tailgate the week before. The weather ended up being really hot, which was much different from the last game. Banks did great at the tailgate, and took a nap during the first quarter of the game (I took him under the shaded area in the stadium). He woke up for the second quarter and seemed to be enjoying himself. We were about to go out for halftime when all of a sudden everyone around us in the stands gasped. The sweet older couple that sits in front of us for all the games turned around and we realized there was something wet all over the man's back. Turns out, Banks had HUGE blowout... actually the biggest one he had ever hand and there was poo EVERYWHERE. I'm talking all over Banks, Patrick, me, the man in front of us, the ground, the diaper bag, the seats. EVERYWHERE. It was so embarassing. I've actually never seen Patrick so embarrased - he just kept saying, "Oh my God" over and over again. We cleaned up everything and everybody the best we could with wipes, stripped Banks down to his diaper, and ran out of the stadium and back to the car. We got home as fast as possible, submerged us all in bathwater, and watched the second half of the game from the couch.

The poor boy ended up having a terrible stomach virus that lasted the rest of the week. And we were left with the memory of Banks' first time in Death Valley. As the sweet couple in front of us said, "That will be a story you tell at his wedding one day." I'm sure Patrick would rather just forget it haha.

We did get some cute pictures before the incident happened:

Clemson vs NC State

The NC State game was a big day for Banks. It was a 3:30 game so we thought it'd be the perfect time for Banks' first Clemson game! It was a beautiful day, although it was a little cooler than usual for the beginning of October. My parents came with us so that Banks could spend some time at the tailgate and then head back home before gametime.

Selfies!!

Sometimes Mommy (and Daddy) just have to take some selfies with our boy!

10 Months

I know that this post may not be in the exact correct order, but I wanted to make sure I got it done while I still remember what Banks is doing at 10 months old. Banks is still eating his puree food really well, even stage 3, but he is still not too fond of any table food or anything he has to chew. That includes puffs, which most babies love. From what I hear, "food before one is just for fun," so we're not going to worry too much yet. The plus side to him not eating finger foods is that he gets to stay in nursery 1 at his daycare for longer and not move up to the next room. Momma's not ready for that step yet!

Banks still isn't walking quite yet, but he is SO very close. He is pulling up and letting go and standing for several seconds without holding on to anything. He is such a happy little guy overall and just such a pleasure to be with. I miss him when I'm away from him just for a few hours. He loves to clap his hands and he has steady been saying, "dada" for about a month now. He is just starting to say, "mama" occasionally, which makes my heart jump every time! :-)

He is starting to sleep through the night again, with the help of teething tablets, as his teeth are coming in like CRAZY! He is also doing better with not fighting us to go in his high chair and car seat like he was for awhile. Separation anxiety is beginning to set in when I drop him off at daycare in the mornings, but the ladies in the nursery (Jeri and Beverly) are so wonderful with him. I think they want to hold on to him in nursery 1 too! Who doesn't want to spend as much time as possible with this sweet baby though?! He's the best!

UNC and Patrick's Birthday Weekend

Patrick's Birthday was on a Friday this year, and it just happened to be the Friday before the UNC game. That worked well because lots of friends were already coming into town to stay with us. We went to dinner with Matt and his girlfriend, Susie, Andy and Julia, and Will and Ashley at Earle Street Grill. Then we got to go tailgate with everyone all day on Saturday. It was a wonderful weekend and a great way for Patrick to bring in his 29th year.

9 NINE months!

Banks is 9 months old. NINE months old! He is quite the comic and Mr.Independent. He got rid of that helmet and has been discharged from physical therapy. The physical therapist said he is really advanced with his gross motor skills, and believes he will grow out of the head tilt. Speaking of gross motor skills, he is SO mobile. He can pull up on anything and everything, and is beginning to let go of things to stand for a few seconds without holding on. The ladies at daycare constantly tell me that Banks is the "dare devil, trouble maker, wild man." He gets it from his Daddy :-)

He no longer nurses at all (he stopped right after he turned 8mos) and eats his pureed food like a champ. He is not a fan of any table food, or any solids with texture. He actually gags and sometimes makes himself vomit when we try to get him to eat anything besides pureed foods. I'm sure he will eat and develop a taste for more foods at his own pace, just as he as done everything else. We will keep introducing him to new things! He has had quite a bit of illness this month, upper respiratory infections, his first ear infection, coughing, and the latest is a tummy bug. His pediatrician says it's just part of being in daycare. We don't mind dealing with the "normal" little illnesses considering what we went through with his kidney. He sleeps through the night most of the time now unless he is sick and needing some extra TLC.

He now has 6 teeth and now the bottom left lateral incisor is starting to come through, which will make 7. I thought I would miss that gummy smile, but seeing him flash those teeth is super cute too! His stats from his 9month appointment:

Weight: Just under 20lbs - 50th %

Height: 30th %

Head circumference: 60th %

He went through a phase about 2 months ago where he said "mamamamama" all the time. All of a sudden that stopped and now he is on to, "Dada." It seems that "Dada" will have to be marked as his first real word. He says it directly to Patrick when he walks in the room. As much as I hate to admit it, it might just be the cutest thing in the world to hear that little voice calling his sweet Daddy.

This boy steals our heart every second we are with him. He is SO SWEET and even if he is wild, I love his precious little spirit that shines through more every day.

Nap Strike

 Banks has never been the best napper, but now that he is SO aware, he's quite the fighter when it comes to napping. He sleeps pretty good through the night so we can't complain. He is also the cutest little nap fighter ever! This is what nap time looks like in the Carter house:

Or maybe he's just a little spoiled and doesn't want to nap in his crib (for some reason hehe)

Ashley and Will get engaged!

Will called Patrick and told him that he was planning to propose to Ashley and that he wanted us to be there to celebrate after he popped the question. We were thrilled for them and were so happy we got to go to Charleston and be a part of the celebrations! Banks stayed in Elliott with Nannie and Pops while we made the trip to Charleston. 

My little tiger

These pictures are too cute of Banks in his Tiger gear and tiger stroller!

Clemson vs. SC State

Clemson played SC State in the first home game this year. It was hot hot hot! I ended up selling my ticket and went downtown with Kimberly and Carrie. It's always a good time with the girls downtown, and much more comfortable in the AC!

Clemson vs. Ga in Athens

Patrick and I decided to go to the first game of the year - Clemson vs. Georgia. I had never been to Athens before and wanted to check out the scene. We had a great time even though we didn't win this one.

We found Rusty, in his crazy tiger shirt!

Cousin time

Ellie and Anne Collins came into town for the first football game of the year, and we got some really precious pictures of the cousins... Ellie acts like the sweet Momma and says, "I want to hold baby Banks!" I'm so glad they love each other!

Updates from Banks' 8th Month...

I didn't do much updating during Banks' 8th month of life. This baby is BUSY and doesn't leave much time for sitting on the computer :-) I asked for a boy, and I got one. I can already tell he's ALL boy! Here are some updates...

Being cute...

Pulling up on everything...

Stealing the remote...

Harassing Demi...

Playdates... (Logan and Rollins & Asher)

Stealing Grandparents' hearts...

Playing in boxes...

Eating and Scrunching that little nose up...

And that about sums up Banks' 8th month! :-)