51 Weeks + Some Emotions

So, blogger has changed and I'm finding myself a bit disoriented. I apologize if there are any errors or things in strange places... plus, a little note. My boy is getting SO TALL that he no longer fits diagonal in the camera frame. I have to turn him completely horizontal to fit him {and his stringy limbs} in the picture!

My baby. He turned 51 weeks this week. You know what that means? Next week is 52 weeks... equaling one year. His one year doctor's check up. He'll no longer be a baby, but he'll always be my baby. Even when he leaves me and goes off to college to meet some beautiful girl who he will marry and then really not be mine anymore. Then I'm going to have to dance with him at his wedding {and we all know how the tears will flow}. Then they'll have babies and the only thing I'll be able to think of is that he was MY baby once. I'll love those grand children {I've instructed Bobby that my Grandmother name is to be "Gigi"}, but I'll never love them like my own baby.

Gosh, I love that boy. I'm not emotional about it at all, either.

Over the past week, I've felt a huge weight. Perhaps it's the impending doom that Camden is turning one next week. Perhaps it's the fact that I've been a parent for almost one year now. Whatever the reason, I get a little teary eyed thinking about it. I am responsible for this little guy. He is mine. All mine. He depends on ME to learn things about life. What if I don't have the best opinions about things? What if I don't know how to teach him calculus? What if I don't know every story in the bible to share with him? Surely I'm not fit to be responsible for everything this sweet, little boy will learn or get into. It's me that's responsible for teaching him how to love, or how to follow the rules, or how to respect others. I have trouble doing all of those things in my OWN life correctly, how am I going to teach him?

I suppose I just pray. Without ceasing. And teach Camden to do the same thing. Because we can't do it all on our own. We are sinners by nature and that is our burden. Trusting in God is the only way we're going to get through all of this...and not just "get through." We're instructed to live fully and give happily back to the Lord what we're given. If I can teach Camden at least that, then I think we'll be ok.

Until his wedding. Then I may really need some help. Or an extra-large box of tissues.

Happy 51 Weeks, my sweet baby Camden. Oh, how your Mama loves you so. {Daddy does too!}

April Summer

It's 84 degrees outside and it's 82 degrees inside our house. I refuse to turn on the air conditioning in April out of principle. I'm beginning to lose this battle because we were experiencing this heat in FEBRUARY. We've only had a couple of cold days this winter and spring. My poor winter coat has only been used a handful of times!

Toady was especially warm and beautiful out, and I couldn't bare to be in the house any longer. We went to Starbucks to grab an iced coffee, and Camden split a mini cherry pie with me. When we got home, I grabbed all the buckets I could think of along with some various kitchen supplies and headed outside with some water. I stripped my poor, sweaty baby down to his knickers and put him by the buckets full of water to play! He had so much fun splashing and dumping the water. He kept begging to put his feet in the water, so I finally took off his diaper (yes, we are still doing cloth diapers!) and let him sit in the water. MY oh my, it was like I had a different baby on my hands... free as a bird, diaper less and carefree! If only he could have a bottle of milk in his hands, he would have thought he was in heaven! Have I told you how much my boy loves to be naked? Anyway, it's amazing how long a couple measuring spoons and cups and funnels can keep a baby occupied.

This weekend was my first time spending the night away from BOTH my boys. I think Camden missed me because all he has wanted to do yesterday and today is cuddle. It warms this Mama's heart. Now that he's walking and VERY busy, I know those cuddles will not come often. I'll enjoy them when I can.

Now that baby is sleeping and I've picked up the house a bit, I'm on the verge of a nap and I think I'd be ok if I took it on my computer desk. It is 82 degrees in this house, after all. Can't remember the last time summer took place in April. The heat and fresh air... it's good for my soul.

Please excuse the quality on these next few, they were taken with my iPhone.

49 Weeks + Cruising

We have a big cruiser on our hands... in a week's time, Camden has gone from walking here and there, to walking almost the majority of the time. He's not afraid to fall, which I guess is helpful for his confidence in walking.

In taking our weekly pictures, we go through the same routine: undress to the white onesie, lay the zig-zag sheet on the floor, lay down on the sheet, snap a few pictures, wrestle Henry (his monkey), etc. It's funny because after 49 weeks of the same routine, I laid the sheet on the floor, and Cam has immediately started to crawl onto the middle of it and sit down - like he knows just what to do! I guess I should give him some credit... he knows the drill by now. It's just funny to me that he knows it!

Anyway, not much to report this week except we're all getting ready for his big ONE year birthday party! Vintage baseball themed, of course, with a southern twist. I'm so thankful that my sweet friend/fellow photographer (and graphic designer of MB Photography's new branding - coming soon!), Krista Jones is coming to take pictures of the day. I can be a bit relaxed now, knowing that there will be some pictures with me in them!

My birthday was this week and I can remember just last year... 9 months pregnant and due in one week. Bobby helped me waddle to a nice dinner in some very tight maternity clothes. None of my shoes fit because my feet were so swollen. Needless to say, this birthday was much more comfortable as I got lots of hugs and snuggles from my little guy! 26 is a hard number for me... no longer in my "early 20's." It's looking to be a good year though :)

I got him Tiny TOMS in navy and red and they are the cutest things! They appear to be very comfortable, but who knows...

Whenever he's on the "big bed" he likes to stand up, so we always sing "No more monkey's jumping on the bed!" and shake our pointer finger.... he's catching on! Every time he stands up, he'll start shaking his finger!

Oh gosh, I love this boy.

Pointing to the fan...

Cruising!

11 Months Old

Just shy of ONE year old, sweet boy, you are truly my little heart. I cannot believe Camden turned 11 months this week. I feel like just I was just pregnant, then all of a sudden had a baby. He was here, and the weeks seemed to go by slowly. 11 Months is almost worse than one year, because I have a month to think about him turning one. Then I no longer have a baby. I will have a toddler, and I don't think I'm ready for all that comes along with toddler boys.

It has been officially one week since Camden took his first steps on his own. Since then, he's gotten a lot more confident about standing on his own and walking several controlled steps in a row! Today especially, he's let go of my hand a few times. He walked across my bedroom earlier, and this afternoon, he walked around the kitchen island unassisted! I have to rub my eyes - is this really happening? He's still a baby and now he's using his legs!? Very strange to see.

Anyway, our boy has also been busy cutting some molars. He now has a total of 11 teeth - three of which are molars. Through those teeth have been coming "words," or mimicking noises. He seems to say a new one every couple of days. Among his vocabulary are: DaDa, Mama, NoiNoiNoi ("no no no"), di-dah (kitty cat), tuck (truck), among others. He's also starting to sign on a regular basis, which is very helpful during meal times. He will consistently sign "more," "all done," "water," and "airplane" which has nothing to do with meals, except we hear airplanes fly over occasionally during lunch and we talk about it! We have an iPad App for sign language that we watch together - it has babies actually doing the signs, which Camden enjoys.

In other news, my business has taken off more than I could have ever imagined in only 3 years. A couple is flying me out to PARIS to take pictures for their wedding!! I am overjoyed and cannot believe the opportunity. I am taking Bobby to carry my bags and we'll be spending some time in Deauville, Normandy and Paris while we're there (the wedding itself is in Paris). Luckily, it will be our five year anniversary while we're out there, so we'll get a chance to celebrate baby-free :) Most of you - friends and family - had a huge role in encouraging me to keep going, or have given me some sort of business advice along the way. For that, I'm genuinely thankful. God has blessed us beyond my dreams.

I hope all of you enjoy your Easter with family and friends. Remember the reason we celebrate - so that we have hope after we die through Jesus Christ. Many blessings to you!

Walking!