September 2006 Archives

We picked out Carter's pumpkin today.  It's a special one, because she picked it our herself from the orchard!

We drove to Center Grove Orchard, north of Ankeny about 10 miles.  Before choosing just the perfect pumpkin, we took the tractor ride from the entrance about a mile toward the back of the orchard, and manuevered around the corn maze.  Andy and Carter led the way ... and we did have to turn around from a few dead ends!  But we did make it out!  Carter played with the straw and hay, and we took the tractor back.  The trees and leaves were all changing colors, and it was beautiful!  Next, we had a quick snack - a carmel apple and apple cider!  YUM!  We got to pet the animals, and then chose a pumpkin perfect for Our Pumpkin!  It was a fun-filled fall afternoon!

Carter and Mommy getting ready to go to the Orchard!  Yeah!

Daddy and Carter on the hayrack ride to the corn maze

Daddy and Carter in the maze - which way now, guys?

Carter riding back to the Orchard after a rough time in the maze

Carter and Daddy, being corn ...

... and Carter and Mommy - a true batch of Pumpkins!

Carter's cider.  Despite the death-glare on her face, she liked the treat and had a blast!  So, I never want to hear, "she's not naughty!" ever again!

Carter loved the animals

... especially the piggys

Punky picks her pumpkin!

I adore Mackenzie and Kelsey!  They are awesome chicks!  But with busy schedules, it's hard to find time to get together.  So, we make time!

Tonight, we got together for a Girl's Night Out.  We had fattening food and drinks at Bennigan's, and talked girl talk.  Stuff like crazy men, outrageous baby stories, and wild adventures at work.  And we laughed and giggled the whole time!  By the time we left, most of the restaurant knew we were going to Sugarland.

We got to the Val Air Ballroom, and parked across the street.  Now, I've been to enough concerts to know that the guys who are helping you park and asking for money usually have a "security" shirt on, or some form of identification.  Not an orange sweatshirt, overalls, and a beer gut!  So when Toothless-Joe said it'd be $5 to park, the three of us looked at one another like ... right ...   To get us moving, I paid him.  And, yes, I know, he's going to use my hard-earned $5 for booze!  Whatever, it's all in the name of Girl's Night!

The Val Air wasn't what any of us expected.  It was a little retro, in a good way, I guess.  We wondered up to the floor area, which was general admission, and in our usual manner, made fun of others.  The opener - some Ricky guy I've never heard of - played for about 45 minutes, and he sucked!  My attention span was failing, and Mackenzie's is way shorter than mine!

Finally, finally!, Sugarland came out.  It was crowded and hot, but awesome!  They played all their good songs - and the crowd sang along, horribly off-key - and all their to-be-coming songs - which I loved!  It was a blast!

Sugarland was awesome, but spending time with Kelsey and Mackenzie rocked!

Bennigan's with the Girls ("girls" being Mackenzie and Kelsey, or "girls" being boobs, your call!)

The opener: Ricky something-or-other.  He wasn't so good, but neither was this guy's bald head!

Jennifer & Christian of Sugarland!  YEAH!

Sugarland is my favorite band EVER!

My girls!

Carter loves books.  She enjoys being read to, but more-so, she physically enjoys the books.  She likes to flip pages and look at pictures.  Scattered around the house, we have baskets of books.  She knows where each basket is, and will randomly pull out each book to look at.  Who knew she would enjoy the basket as much as the books?!?

"AHH!  BOOKS!"

"AHHH!  BASKET!"

"Ahh!  Good times with Mommy!"

Andy, Andy, Carter and I were in the mood for something fun and exciting ... so we had dinner at Burger King (very exotic, I know!).  After dinner, we gave the play place a shot.  It lacked the ball pit of McDonald's, but we were the only ones there, so it evened out well.

Carter and I enter the tube ... 

She's pretty excited about our new adventure!  I had to mostly drag her though the maze of tubes to the top, where the slide began!  But it was worth it to see this smile!

I swear, Carter may be partially Hispanic!  During pregnancy, I think we ate at the Cazador Mexican Restaurant at least once a week!  And since Carter's arrival, we've mananged to dine at this delicious establishment a couple times a month.

It's rubbing off on her: she loves rice!

... I'd try a spoon, but this works, also!

Muy Bueno!  

Daddy may have  big ears, but they aren't handles!  And the little hair he has left shouldn't be used for reigns!

Sing it with me:  Naughty baby!

This week is Homecoming Week at school, so of course it will be the longest week ever!  I'm ready to hear all about the one who TP'ed whatever and got caught, the one who snuck out to go to the dance, the one who did God-knows-what for how-knows-why!  

But, in the spirit of things, I decided to dress up for the themed days of the week.  Monday is Dress Up (nicely) Day, Tuesday is Decade Day, Wednesday is Crazy Day, Thursday is Tropical Day, and Friday is Spirit Day.  With Andy and Tim's help, I chose a flowered green, orange, and white number for Decade Day, but only after weeding out these gems ... themed outfits to come this week ... until then, enjoy!

I'm not sure what decade this would fall into, but I know it's BAD!

This one was hard to pass up ... it is pretty awesome ... but my actual Decade Day dress is totally better!

Proof positive that Carter is now a stand'er.  She's still a little shaky and building confidence, but she's standing on her own from 30 - 60 seconds a time!  What a Big Girl!

I CAN STAND!

Look!  It's evening meals at the Chalupa household!

We are so poor, that this is the only "toy" Carter can find to play with.  If you would like to support a child for pennies a day ...

Charming, I know ....

What a fun day!  Stephanie and Isaac Alexander came up for our first, official play date!  We met up at the Science Center for lunch, and then toddler exploration.  The babies enjoyed the toddler zone best (duh!), but also enjoyed the other parts of the Science Center and hanging out together!

After the Science Center, we played at our house and had dinner with Tim and Andy.  We contemplated going to Chicago to see "Wicked" for my birthday - cross your fingers for me!  All in all, it was a fun-filled day with good friends and fun adventures!

Carter and Isaac, the Gruesome Twosome!

The babies enjoying the pin-wall.  Carter was so into the wall that she actually stood, completely unassisted!, for about 30 seconds!

Isaac and Carter, plotting their world domination, one block at a time

Enjoying the ball-roller-thingy

Again, Carter was so interested in the ball-roller-thingy, that she stood on her own!  She's holding on to nothing and no one is holding on to her!

But standing independently can grow tireseome, so Carter took a break ... on Isaac's lap!  Good thing they're friends, and he didn't mind!

Carter trying to manuever a bubble

Isaac making bubbles or taking a bath - you decide!

Who was most facinated by the bubbles??  Andy!  But we all enjoyed his monsterous bubbles, too!

Carter and the ball - a long time favorite

This "station" shows children the effects of wind on different surfaces, like feathers and sequins.  Or babies!  Note: Isaac and his facination in the pinwheel in the back

The pinwheel is so awesome Isaac just had to have it!  It's a good thing no one saw!

Trying to get a big-girl drink ...

... the standing went better than the drinking/bath

The kiddo's enjoy, and try to catch, the marbles

Later, we relaxed at home with Carter's choice of movies: Monsters, Inc.

It's nice to know that it's not just Carter who likes to mess with the buttons on the TV.  Evil children!

This website it crazy, but kinda fun!  It was passed on to me from Boots, an adamant surfer who finds all sorts of goodies like this.  You upload your photo to the website (totally free, or I wouldn't have done it!), and it compares your features to those of famous people!

Here are some results:

 Carter                                                              Dakota Fanning               
Only because they're both little kids with cute blue eyes

 Me                                           Lindsay Lohan                               
I freakin' wish (so does my husband)!  Not all Gingers look alike!

Andy                                                           Matt Dillion            
Totally the bushy, unkempt eyebrows (that are dying to become a uni-brow!)                        

Tim                                                            David Schwimmer

Weird!  It's because they're both "black!"

Andy                                 Angela Lindvall

... for the first time in my blogging life, I don't know what do say ... I am comment-less!

Call her a HOODlum or a hell-raiser, but we love her!  AND we love her hoodie!

It's Thug-Baby!

i love Halloween!  From the way-back-when times when I went trick-or-treating with Carrie and Tracie around the 'hood, to recently, when Andy and I dressed as Justin and Britney - I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  I love the costumes, pretending to be someone different, and all the mystery and fun!

While we were at Target this evening, Andy, Tim and I sampled some Halloween costumes for our favorite little toddler.  Which do you love the most?!?

Choice #1:  Pooh Baby

Choice #2:  Booty-Baby Pirate (my personal favorite, and Daddy's, too!)

Choice #3: Masquerade Baby

 Choice#4:  Fairy Baby

Yes ... adults playing in the costume aisle is a little childish (but I love it!), however, WE were not the ones running around in the gorilla and chicken costumes!

 Tim's infamous pink hat!

Could it be ... Satain?!  Or a pissed off Ginger?

... huh ... my kids at school are right ... I am a Witch ...

Little details are known at this moment, but it appears that Amy and Jonathon are moving!  Is it because of their neighbors???  I don't know ... but you heard it here first! 

Proof-positive!  The Pint/Kort's are moving!

Carter and I went shopping this afternoon for a gift for Emma's first birthday and for paper for Natalie's birthday (Natalie turned 4 last week).  When we got home, it was like heaven!  Carter had boxes and boxes to play with!  Sneaky, little snoop!

If she's this nosey now, just wait until Christmas!

... because on top of the diaper box is where we need to be!

This evening, we made fall cookies - "Monster Candy Corn Cookies."  After supper (mac and cheese and ham, and mixed veggies), Carter had her own cookie and milk.  She literally stuffed little handfuls into her mouth, puffing her chipmunk-cheeks out further!   That's my girl - we love cookies!

A big cookie for a big girl!

Thata girl!  Stuff it all in those chubber-cheeks!
Milk, please!

"I love Mommy's cookies!"

Carter's new favorite toy: the phone.  Which is fine and good, until she calls Mexico!  Just look at her look back, like she doesn't know that's off limits!  She knows, but doesn't care!

"Can you hear me now?  Good!" 
... yeah ... great ... until I get blamed for $87 long distance bill!

First and foremost, I heart Andy ... 99% of the time.  During that 99% of the time, he is fun, supportive, silly, smart, and an awesome daddy and hubby.  But ... that other 1% of the time he is a total DEE DEE DEE!  He does stupid stuff (like "forgets" the wipes for the daycare, when they're IN FRONT of where he sits at the table each morning or ON TOP OF his keys and wallet!), acts like a jackal (like the time he ran over my foot with his car, the time he called me a "chunk," and the time he broke my big toe).  

So, for each of those DEE DEE DEE moments, here is my Sunday post.  I'm not describing anything; it's not necessary.  Just sit back and enjoy!

Hearts,
Kelly

This is the awesomest thing since the "ANDY!  YOU ROCK!" incident in the kitchen at our duplex!!!

Who knew that things her size would tickle her so much?!?  She loves this little red chair!  Cheeser!

Goofy, little Cheeser!

Before Courtney's birthday party, Grandma Linda and Carter picked apples from the tree outside.  For the longest time, Carter didn't realize that you could eat the apple, but eventually - like all things do - it ended up in her mouth.  Before I realized it, she'd gnawed a circle around the apple!  I guess apples are now on the OKAY list for Carter!

"What a yummy apple ... I think I'll have some!"

"Ahhh ... I'm so full ... look at my full tummy"

Poor little apple, didn't stand a chance!

Saturday was Courtney's 1st birthday, and of course we came to visit!  After a crazy, long, busy week, a birthday party was wonderful!

Carter and Courtney are so funny!  They hadn't seen one another since Carter's birthday, a month ago, but instantly both knew who the other girl was!  They would stare at one another and smile, giggle, and give "love pats" (which, I guess, are better than love slugs!!).  There were lots of friends and family, good food and birthday cake!  Courtney didn't get half as messy as Carter, but she was still too cute!  And, of course, there were presents! 

It was a wonderful afternoon, and we're so happy to have been able to spend it with our favorite niece!  Happy birthday, Courtney!  We love you!

Carter and Courtney, two of the most precious, adorable Chalupa's ever!

Courtney, me, and Carter
It's amazing - 9 months ago, they looked so much alike.  Now, it seems like the only commonality between them is their last name!

Courtney, Andy, and Carter - a proud (and tired!) Daddy and Uncle!

I'm not a die-hard football fan, but it's good times to watch a game or two.  I've always been impartial, but in the last few years I've been brought along to Iowa games with Andy, Shane, and Kelsey.  They have put much effort into teaching me the fundamentals of Iowa Football, so just once a year I have to pick a side, and it's gotta be Iowa (for fear of being deserted by my loved ones!).  

So today we all donned our gear and supported our team.  Go team!

It's Spirit Baby!  The daycare poll: 2 Iowa babies and 1 Iowa State baby (as of 7am)!

Daddy and Carter - she's either fighting the black and gold or Daddy: which is it?!?

A couple of cute football fans!  

That sounds a little icky, but she's too cute to not "coo" and "ahh" over!

Somewhere between "getting ready for pj's" and "getting into bed," we got side-tracked, and ended up playing in the living room.  Ashley and Deanna, our neighbors, are right: She is adorable!!!

She's got "the pose" down!

Lovin' the fuzzy pillow!

What a sweet, beautiful baby!

1. Building the tower

2. Leveling the tower

3. Laying on the tower

4.  Rolling on the tower!!!

With the return of chilly, snuggly mornings come the comfty blankie!  The last blankie Carter had was her swaddle blankie!  Months ago!  But with out new-found maturity comes the blankie.  It takes some adjusting, but it's worth the coziness!

Our precious Sleeping Beauty

Blankies = wonderful happines

Blankies = not totally understanding how this works yet!

Today, I would like to make a life-long promise to my wonderful daughter and the members of society who I cherish greatly:  I will never teach my daughter to drive!  That's Daddy's deal!  ... but that doesn't stop us from preparing for the days of driving!

Look!  We're Britney Spears & Tater Tot! 
"We're country, y'all!"

Carter is building good habits early on: first you complete your work, then you can play!

Carter thoughtfully reassembles the "donut tower"

But once the work is over, she's all giggles! 
"Look!  The green donut is an accessory, too!"

That's my Cheeser!

Question:  How lucky is Andy?  Let's evaluate.  The average person knows a red-head, and - if he or she is lucky - is even a friend of a red head.  Andy is surrounded by red-heads, otherwise known as Gingers.  Andy 2, Amy, Carter, me - seriously!  How lucky can a guy get?!?

Andy's racy red-heads!  What a lucky Daddy!

Carter has loved bananas since day one of jar food!  It was her first fruit, and will probably always have a special place in her heart ... or tummy!  After supper, we were cleaning up, and she got fussy (probably because she refuses to eat more than three bites of anything not fruit or veggie!).  I gave her a bit of a banana.  She was so thrilled with it, we cuddled on the kitchen floor for more!  What a cheeser!  Cheeser with banana!

Pucker up the kisser and have some banana!

This is ornery!  Carter has one cabinet she can get into in the kitchen.  Look at her face: do you think she knows she shouldn't be in the cabinets?!?

It was a Carter and Mommy weekend, and it was wonderful!  We practiced walking, ate Ev's oatmeal cookies (yummmm!), watched Sesame Street, and played all day!  Days like Sunday make days like crappy Monday's go so much smoother!

Cute, take 1

Cute, take 2!

For the record, this is why Carter taunts Sammy: cause Sammy taunts Carter first!

Sammy's just desserts: that's what you get for teasing Carter at snack time!

Any guesses??? 

If you guessed "colored with markers" you would be correct!  That orange mustache sure doesn't give it away, does it?!?

Are we moved already???

All Andy did Saturday was pack (and pull a muscle in his back!), and all I did today was pack.

I've come to the conclusion that packing bites! 

After awhile, I just started throwing junk in a box!

It doesn't look packed!

Carter, in the great pursuit for her stuff!

... for all the trouble she causes, and all the things she gets into, Carter is actually pretty wonderful.  Even  when she smells like a stinky wedge!

... and when she was good, she was very, very good.  And when she was bad, she was horrid!

Go Dragons! 

The first group of kids I ever taught, in 2003 as 6th graders, later become the third group of kids I ever taught, in 2005 as 8th graders, and have now become my favorite group of freshman.  This is the only reason I would pack up Carter, and Andy and Tim, and ask them to sit through a football game.  But it was gorgeous out, and our field's been re-turfed, and it was kinda fun!  Carter was 100% impatient, and squirmed the entire time.  Her favorite part was the "Mini-Dragon Cheerleaders" who cheered at half time.  We came last, and left at the start of the 4th quarter.  It was a real nail-bitter: 50 - 0.  Take that Hoover!

Carter and Andy enjoyed the game with the best seats!

The Fighting Freshman lineup ...

... totally massacres Hoover: 50 - 0 with 4:38 left in the 3rd quarter

Carter and Mommy cheering on the Dragons!

Okay ... let's first set the record entirely straight:

The week of Carter's birthday - August 15th - I was cleaning like a madman.  I had just gotten the downstairs living room torn apart and put back together, and was going to clean the carpets downstairs before the big party.  Now, Andy 2 had borrowed the carpet cleaner and told us it was "streaky" from being clogged with cat hair.  I knew this, and so did my husband!, but I cleaned anyway.  As I was about two passes into the cleaning, I smelled a funny scent.  Since I could place it, I just kept cleaning (smart, I know).  On about my fourth pass, sparks shot from the carpet cleaner, then the power went out.  I had blown a fuse.

Apparently there's one fuse for the downstairs, or something, because the surge of power messed up the computer.  Here's where things get fuzzy ...

... the speakers were on a surge protector, the mouse was on a surge protector, the monitor was on a surge protector, but the actual computer itself - the costly part of the whole she-bang - not on a surge protector!  So, you see my friends, the computer being broken is not my fault.

Breaking the vacuum and nearly setting the house ablaze - totally my fault!  I am a tool and should have cleaned it out before using it.  True Kelly-style, I know!  Breaking the computer - absolutely, 100%, without a doubt not my fault!  Duh, Andy!  Enough said!

So, now that that's been cleared up (again - not my fault!!), I would like to welcome everyone back!  We've got backed up photos (from  September 1st to today) to share, and hopefully you love them like we do!

As always, enjoy!
Hearts,
Andy, Kelly & Carter Chalupa :)

For the bazillionth time in her little life, Carter is sick, again.  I think she's had her share - someone else's turn, please.  She was up Thursday at 3am, standing at the side of her crib, wailing.  Andy took her to the doctor, and she's congested (per usual?!), and has an ear infection.  So we're back to the good ol' Nebby and medicine.  

Carter's such a trooper!  I know this sucks, but she's been good about treatments so far

... if potatoes were bad, the Cherry-Red Elmosauce is worse!

She may be holding  the spoon, but actually used it very little!

Andy's been working crappy, I mean long, hours this week moving some program from pilot to production (I think), so Carter volunteered to take on some of the load to spend more time with Daddy.  What a good girl!

Helpful, I'm sure ... 

A few of you may be wondering something.  Why is it that it has been 5 days and Kelly hasn't posted new pictures of Carter!  Its just not right, is it?

This is due to a joint effort from both of us. 

Backstory:
Kelly was doing some carpet cleaning last month which resulted in a power surge running through the house.  I was lucky enough to discover that, for some odd reason, our home pc wasn't hooked up through the surge protector.  The pc didn't like that and has been giving us difficulty ever since in the form of random reboots about every 10 minutes of use.

In an effort to fix those problems I ordered some replacement hardware for the computer.  While installing the new pieces over the weekend (which starts by ripping everything apart) I inadvertently bent about 20 pins in the bottom of the new CPU.  This will pretty much ruin any CPU, so I don't recommend it.  So with that I had to order a new CPU to replace the one I just bought.  It should arrive by the weekend and hope to have it installed for Kelly to catch up on all of the wonderful things you've missed!

Since Carter has mastered many tables foods and conquered the cup, we thought we'd bravely start working on the spoon.  Ooo-eee-vay!  First, Carter insists on holding it with her left hand the majority of the time (I'm blaming Duane, Brian, and Corey!), and second, she is an absolute mess!  The baby books say to let her be messy - she'll wash up.  Easier said than done!

Step 1: place spoon in left hand to irritate Mommy and Daddy and insert in potatoes

Step 2: Manuever the potatoes from the bowl into my mouth without losing them from the spoon ... this is hard ...

Step 3: Enjoy pototoes, but look like I don't, so Mommy and Daddy will feel sorry for me and just feed me themselves!

Today - Labor Day - we did what Andy and I do best: bum around.  Carter's isn't so good at it yet, but as she becomes a teenager, I'm sure she'll figure it out!  She wants to run and go and do, and we want to sit and watch and relax.  We're working on our coflicting views.   But Carter started the day off running - in her pj's!  She got her energy out in the early morning by crawling all over the kitchen, and when she'd cause mischief, Andy and I would make her walk away to something more positive.  Her punishment for being naughty: walking practice.  At this rate, she'll by walking by October!

How cute is this kid, anyway?!?  She's officially taller than the trash can (and, consequently, can get into it easier now ...)!

I don't even know what to say ... eww ... 

 Okay ... I will admit it: I am a sucker when it comes to Carter.  I usually buy too many tops - some she nevers wears, and too many toys - the exciting ones with lots of noise and activity!  But I never would have imagined she'd be so amazed by two glasses cases at Grandma and Poppy's!  I think we originally gave them to her to keep her out of something else (or everything else probably!!).  When put them over her little hands, and she clapped like a seal, and giggled with joy!  It's crazy what will capture this one's mind!

Look at that smile!  I'd give her just about anything to see that mug!