Happy Easter 2013

What a beautiful day it has turned out to be!  So, why am I spending time on a computer posting pictures you might ask??  It is a good question... I should be doing that laundry that is waiting to be washed!   :)

We were supposed to have gone to Austin to spend Easter with Frank's parents and GG, but with Big Frank not feeling well after being in the hospital this past week we have postponed the visit.  So I checked with my family and everyone thought it would be fun to go to our church and then have lunch and an Easter Egg Hunt here at our house.  The weather forecast all week predicted a rainy Easter and that is what we were expecting today.  And this morning it was rainy with lots of thunder and sheets of rain hitting the windows.  I was up around 7:30 this morning getting ready before the kids woke up and as I saw the rain outside of the window I hoped we would have some breaks in the storm to get some family pictures.  When we went to church for the 10am service it was not raining and felt nice outside, but it still looked like it wanted to rain.  By the time we got out it looked like it was clearing up and that was so nice to see.  And now it is absolutely beautiful outside!  It is almost metaphoric...  a dark and gloomy day turned joyful... much like the sadness of Jesus's death and then the celebration that HE is risen!   The church service was a very joyful time with the choir and orchestra.  I love the song "Christ the Lord is Risen Today"....  such a triumphant song.  I found a version on YouTube that is nice and is much like how it sounded in church this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbpsmBbZMg
We also sang another favorite, "The Hymn of Promise", which I spoke about last Easter.  It really was a wonderful sermon and church service.  After returning home we got some family pictures and pictures of the kids, then it was time to get lunch prepared!  While doing that Frank and Justin his the Easter eggs for Emerson (and Cameron- though he is too young) and we enjoyed an egg hunt before lunch.  There were lots and lots of eggs!  CC and GrandPaul brought bubbles as well and Emerson had a blast chasing after them!!

Here are several pictures from our Easter celebration today.  So many fun memories...

This is a video of Emerson chasing bubbles!

I'm so thankful for our family... our beautiful children, and the love and support we have in both of our extended families.  While it was not the original plan for Easter, I'm thankful to have been able to enjoy it with my family and to have gone to our church service.  We will work out a time, hopefully very soon, to spend a weekend with Frank's parents to enjoy having lots of fun with them in Austin.  We continue to pray that his health improves and that the cancer is gone.

Cameron is 11 months old!!!

I know, I say this every time, but seriously I just don't understand how it could be that he is already 11 months old.  Time just goes so fast these days, gosh I wish I could slow it down.  This evening as Frank and I were enjoying the time with both of our kids and he had finished giving Cam his bottle, I just watched both Cam and Emerson.  It doesn't feel like he is a baby anymore.  It feels like he is already growing up so much... his personality that has changed and grown into what seems to be an independent, stubborn yet sweet, sneaky, and loving little boy.  And Emerson is 2 going on 5... she is definitely a little girl now... I may use the term baby to describe her still, because she will always be my baby, but there is no denying that she is growing up.  Your babies can't remain babies forever and there are so many joyful things to experience with our kids, but why does it happen so fast?  I want to go back in time and hold Cameron and Emerson as babies again... hear their cooing... enjoy their baby smell...  On a regular basis a parent with grown children will say something like "Enjoy it all now... they grow up too fast", to which I normally say something polite like "Oh, that's what I hear" when what I want to say is "Stop reminding me because I can't do anything to stop it and it makes me sad!" as I probably almost burst into tears.  I don't say that kind of thing because I think it may make me sound like even more of a nut job when I think some people already have their concerns.  But back to Cameron, who has continued to grow so very much this last month... always learning something new!!  Here are this month's highlights:

• We just dropped another bottle, so Cam has 2 bottles with 8-9 ounces each, and a yogurt in the afternoon.  For most of the month he had 3 bottles with 7-8 ounces each.  
• He is eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  A combo of the pouches, stage 3 jar food that actually smells good even though it has no taste??, still enjoys the Gerber stars, and sometimes the melt away yogurt pieces.  Usually he will have at least 2-3 pouches, 1-2 jars, and some other food.
• Now he also eats real food!  He has enjoyed scrambled eggs, sweet potato, mashed potatoes, tried some peas that were not a huge success, some cut up apple, macaroni noodles cut into small pieces, cheerios, and I think I am forgetting some other things. 
• He is much better with the sippy cup, but still has to have help.  He would rather grab it and drop it on the floor!  That is another new game for him! 
• Cam takes 2 naps still, one from 10-12 and another from 3-5, but sometimes he sleeps really long in the morning and then we will give him just one long nap in the afternoon.  For the most part he wakes up around 7:45-8 and is in bed around 8:30.
• We had to buy a few more size 18 month clothes and they fit really well! 
• He is in size 4 diapers and should be here for a little while.
• I weighed him the other day and he was a little over 23 pounds, so I don't think his weight has changed much, but he is taller.  His legs are also skinnier, which makes me a little sad since his baby fat is going away!!
• This little boy is super fast with crawling everywhere and can really take off.  
• He always wants to climb up the stairs now and tries to head that way what seems like every 20 seconds.  He is relentless and every single time you will stop him and tell him "no sir" as you pick him up and he has a MELT DOWN.  It is a major insult to him... little boy has a temper!  
• Speaking of melt down, twice this last week Cam had a tantrum... spread out flat on his belly on the floor, screaming and kicking his legs...  I thought maybe I was just imaging it when I saw it until KK confirmed.  Ha ha... so young to have a tantrum, but he was mad!!  Also related is that earlier this afternoon when Emerson wouldn't give him a toy he wanted both KK and I saw him come after her with his mouth open ready to bite her!!  I know I shouldn't laugh, but it was pretty funny.  It is not going to be long before he can really hold his own with Emerson and I think we may have WWIII in our house when that time comes!  :)
• Cam is still also sweet with his sister and loves her and she loves him... they play together so much now.  Laughing and giggling with each other... still not sharing super well, but that is ok.  
• Now Cameron is walking using his walker!!  He will push it around and walk behind it!!  I am not sure this means he will walk in the next month, but who knows.  He doesn't want any help with walking so it will be on his time and terms!  
• We took Cameron on a stroll in the wagon for the first time this month and he and Emerson really enjoyed it!  
• This month Cam also got his first hair cut, which I posted about that whole situation.  :)
• Cam is still saying "mama" and I also think he is saying "dada".  Now we will also work on "sis". :)
• Sometimes he drools like crazy so he pretty much always has a bib on still... he also has been really upset a few times and I think he has more teeth coming.  So far we do not see anything.
• This month Cam also was baptized, which I posted about too. :)
• One of my favorite things is rocking and holding Cameron at night before I lay him in bed.  I love how he holds on and lays his head on my shoulders... such a sweet little boy.  

Here are 2 videos:

Before I got my phone he was saying "mama" over and over and then when I got it out he stopped and just said it once!  :)

Getting around using his walker!!  

And now for some pictures!

My happy little boy!!

Such joy!

I love that face!

He curls his feet like this and it melts my heart... 

So happy to be outside!

The cutest little 11 month old boy!!!

Cameron's Baptism

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14 NIV

Today was a very special day for our little guy... Cameron was Baptized!  We are thankful for the family and for KK and family and Ron and Francis for coming!  Big Frank, Dorthy, and Virginia came up this weekend from Austin, but Big Frank was not feeling well this morning so Dorthy stayed with him while Virginia (GG) came to the service.

Cameron was dressed so handsomely with his linen while shirt and pants, and the tie that made the blue in his eyes stand out even more.  As the preacher held him before the congregation he even commented that his eyes were the bluest he has seen.  :)  Then we moved to where the holy water was for the baptism.  Just as the preacher was placing the water on his head and praying for him, while we all laid our hands on him, little guy decided to get his hands on the preachers microphone.  He grabbed it and jostled it enough to kill the mic!  The preacher was graceful and made light of it, but instead of preaching his Palm Sunday sermon hands free, he had to use his hand held microphone. :)  I then took Cam to the nursery because I hoped he could get a little nap since the service was during nap time.  Then I was able to sneak back in during one of the hymns.  Emerson was the best behaved she has ever been during a church service.  We didn't even have toys for her to play with, but she sat there watching and listening and was so good.  I just couldn't believe it.  Afterwards we came back to the house to enjoy some lunch that I mostly got from Cafe Max.  They have delicious chicken salad, pasta salad, and I also bought their caesar dressing.  I also had a few other treats, a cake I ordered, and CC & PaulPaul brought cookies they made.  Big Frank and Virginia had a little bit to eat and then hit the road to get back to Austin since Frank was not feeling well.  I hate that they came all this way and that he felt so terrible... I know they wanted to be able to enjoy this time, too.  :(   We all ate and then after that opened up Cameron's baptism gifts and some Easter gifts since we are planning to go to Austin for Easter.  The kids both had a really fun time playing with the toys and gifts... They were both in need of naps after this... we all needed a nap actually!  Here are some pictures from today.

Sweet smiles before the service.

Family picture following the service

All of us following the service

God Bless Cameron

Some fun treats  

Gifts and Easter baskets for the kids

Cam with the cross we got him... his facial expression here is a little funny to me.

Cam already reading on of the bibles he got.  :)

 Paul Paul and Emerson wearing the bunny sunglasses... ha ha

More of the Arboretum!

Last weekend we all visited the Arboretum again to take more pictures... I was on a mission to get some Easter pictures and pictures for Cam's first birthday party invitation.  The weather was absolutely beautiful that day.  In the early part of the morning it was a little crisp, but with the sunlight coming through it really felt wonderful.  Emerson had such a fun time playing with the Easter eggs I brought for the pictures and little Cam did, too.  It was entertaining watching Emerson run around, playing make-believe acting like a princess.  That is a big thing for her right now because she likes to be called a princess.  We actually use this to our advantage when we want her to do something.  It goes like this... If she doesn't want to change in to her pajamas for instance...  Frank:  "Emerson, princesses like to wear their pajamas."  We may have to repeat, but she becomes convinced that she should wear the pajamas.  :) So anyway, it is fun watching her and listening to her mind wander freely.  Cam was also in a great mood just going with the flow of things... We are truly so blessed to have such cooperative and sweet kids.   Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.  And my mission was a success, by the way.  I think we got some really fantastic pictures.  Yay!!  :)

Bounce!

Last weekend we were in Austin visiting Frank's parents.  We had a fun weekend visiting and Emerson got a really special surprise... a bounce house!  Frank's parent's old neighbor bought a bounce house to have for when her grandson visits and thought Emerson would enjoy it too.  So she brought it over for the weekend and we set it up in the media room.  In a matter of minutes the "castle" was inflated and ready.  At first Emerson was not sure about it... every time we have gone to a carnival or outdoor activity that has a bounce house she always refuses to go in.  This time was different though because she was more interested for sure.  Slowly she gained the confidence to give it a try and before we knew it she just wanted to play in her castle and bounce all the time!  :)   Here are a few pictures from last weekend of Emerson enjoying the castle and of the Paul guys!

Cam's Poor Hair!

I've had a productive day... it has been a really great day.  We had fun this morning going to the Arboretum, then enjoyed delicious BBQ at Spring Creek, came home and got both kids in bed for naps, while they napped I ironed some tablecloths, filled Easter eggs with candy, and filled the Easter baskets for the kids.  So after dinner I got to thinking that I could trim Cam's hair.  I had noticed that it was in his eyes and knew I needed to get it trimmed.  Without really thinking and acting rather impulsively, I googled how to cut hair.  Seriously, I did.  I watched a quick little video on tips for a successful hair cut and thought to myself, "I got this".  Well, I did not.  Poor little Cameron has now forever lost his sweet little baby hair that was so wispy over his eyes and his hair is crooked.  It looks like a chilly bowl gone very badly.  It looks like I cut a ton of hair, but I really didn't.  It was just a few little snips.  :(   So now we are going to have to get it fixed at a real kids hair place where they can fix the damage!  I just want him to look great for his Baptism, Easter, and his birthday.  I hope his hair will grow back fast!

Happy Update!  I took Cam to Cool Cuts on 3/11, a kid's hair place, so they could fix his hair cut and make it look better.  I was a little nervous he would not be ok with a stranger messing with his head, but he did so well.  He sat in a chair that was made to look like a car and we buckled him in without a problem.  He sat up and held my hand pretty much the whole time until he decided he was really interested in the steering wheel on the car.  No tears or screaming, just one cute and adorable little boy. :)  Here are the pictures from his hair cut.  

After having some time to adjust to it I absolutely love his hair cut, but it was so sad at first!  He looks so much older to me now.