Sweet Cameron... already turning 1!

It's hard for me to believe that it has already been a year since sweet Cameron was born.  Time passes much too quickly with the busy lives we have.  It's hard to stop and just enjoy all the wonderful moments, though we try.  In a way, I have been preparing myself for the reality of Cameron turning one.  With Emerson I was just merrily going along having fun with birthday planning and the night before she turned one it all sort of hit me.  With Cameron it has been on my mind constantly... this little voice reminding me that he is growing up and is slowly turning into a little boy.  Still a baby, but well on his way to outgrowing so many things that make him a baby in my mind.  Things like how mobile he is... how he has begun feeding himself... getting ready to drop bottles entirely for sippy cups... So I have been holding him a little longer at night... giving him even more kisses... adoring his precious smile and grin.  This is part of our nighttime routine...after getting in pajamas and brushing his teeth we snuggle. When he is sleepy he lays his head on my shoulder and I LOVE it so much.  I just hug him back feeling the weight of his head as it rests and it is often at that point that tears fill my eyes... the overwhelming emotion that comes through me.  I'm so thankful for him... even though it has been a year I sometimes can't believe how blessed we are.  So tonight, it was no different.  It was a little later because we had gone to the golf club to take pictures, but after he was ready for bed we snuggled.  He laid his head on my shoulder, and I cried.  I told him how much I loved him and that I couldn't believe he was about to be a year old.  Sweet little boy was so tired that after snuggling a little he was ready for me to lay him in bed.  As I left his room I was a little sad... though when I think about it I shouldn't be.  What a wonderful year it has been watching him grow, even if it has happened too fast!  This time last year I had no idea that I'd meet him the next day, but I'm so thankful.  A year ago I sat in this same spot on the couch, but I was over 50 pounds heavier and was so uncomfortable!!  My belly round and stretched to hold this amazing little boy.  If I close my eyes and enjoy a little silence I can think back to that feeling... of rubbing my hand over my belly and feeling him move.  Motherhood is such a gift... an amazing adventure.

To my sweet little Cameron... Tomorrow you turn ONE and we have some really fun stuff planned for you!!  I'm taking off from work to enjoy some extra time with you on your big day.  We will see how you like some cake, which I have ordered from Walmart thanks to the tip from Laura (thanks girl!) and then next Saturday we have your birthday party with family and friends.  Happy, Happy Birthday little man...  I love you so very much!!  

Here are two pictures from my first moments with Cameron... one right after he was born when we first met and the other is a few hours later when we were laying skin to skin.  I love these pictures capturing those special moments.

This last picture is of me giving Cam his last bottle.  Oddly, we have gone through all of the formula after mixing it half/half with milk over the last week or so and tonight was the last of the formula.  Tomorrow we will officially move to using sippy cups only with the organic milk... So I fed him the last one... it isn't the end of cuddles while he has milk because we will definitely hold on to that for a bit longer... though I know it won't be long before that changes too and he is running around drinking his milk!

Bluebonnets 2013

This year we took bluebonnet pictures at the JC Penney headquarters instead of the field at Fujitsu.  Apparently we did not get enough rain in the area so bluebonnets were not as abundant as in years past.  It has been a little bit of a bummer that the field at work did not have as many as it has always been nice to drive by the sea of bluebonnets.  With this being the case, I was also disappointed because I wanted pics of the kids, but then I heard, through my sweet friend Barbara, that there were bluebonnets at JC Penney.  One night a couple of weeks ago we headed over to get pictures.  I hoped to get some of both kids together, but it wasn't in the cards.  :)  Also, I realized after taking the pictures how very little I know about using the camera and changing the settings as most of my pictures have shadows on faces and I think some of that is corrected with settings.  Still, I got some cute pictures!  As we were getting stuff loaded in the car a sweet couple saw us and offered to take our pictures, which was so nice!  She asked if I minded if she changed off "auto" to manually select settings, which I of course did not mind! In just a minute or so she took several great pictures of us and the kids were looking for pretty much all of them.  They probably were wondering who she was... so I think the plan for a good picture is to find a stranger to talk to them so they will both look at the camera!!  :)  

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!!  :)