18 Months + Thanksgiving

Now that it's almost Camden's 19 month birthday, I figured I'd better blog his 18 month pictures before I officially win Bad Mother of the Year!

We've had a busy month... I wrapped up my last wedding for 2012, and the last wedding before Baby Sister arrives in March! I'm now swimming in thousands of pictures I've taken over the last several weeks...all of which need to be edited! Bobby is trying to finish up his capstone project to finish his Master's Degree. His weekends have been spent in the basement in front of a laptop. Oh, and Camden? He's been busy learning how to do this:

Oh Boy.

This month was fun-filled for our energetic, little boy indeed! He received his first hair cut right before Thanksgiving, clocked lots of hours playing with Jack-Jack, his closest cousin, switching from his crib into a "big boy" toddler bed, and learning how to jump off high surfaces.

I'm so thankful for him in so many ways, and every day he fills my heart with joy! But some days, I just need some patience, and a heart for swift discipline and teaching. This boy would shoot himself out of a cannon if he had one. Apart from jumping off of high surfaces (like his tricycle seat, steps, his bed, the toilet....), I made the mistake of showing him how to do a forward roll. Yes, my pregnant self is still able to do a summersault! Not easily, I might add. However, Camden thinks it's the greatest thing and insists I keep showing him. He still needs assistance (thankfully), but we have our nightly floor show for Daddy when he gets home from work. Mostly it ends in uncontrollable laughter and a bruised tailbone (all at my expense, of course), but gosh, I love to hear my boys laugh!

A lot like the little Christmas lights we'll be stringing around the house, our boy has been putting words together a lot more this month! "Meow ow-side....coooooldddd!" and "No toushhh 'bacuum,' no no" (no touch, vacuum) are among the most popular.

He still loves his Mickey Mouse, which we watch every morning at breakfast! He also loves Grandma's  "nano" (piano), Nana's "how-sh" (house), and most importantly, "choco-lat."

After his 18 month check up, he weighed in at 24 pounds and 32 inches tall. Still very, very shy around Men and not too interested in Potty Training yet.

On Another Note:

We had a great Thanksgiving, full of family time and traveling! We spent the whole weekend up in Baltimore/Severna Park with both of our families. It was nice to see everyone and catch up. I feel like we've been so busy this summer and fall that we've hardly seen anyone! I'm thankful to be back at home and listening to my Christmas music once again :) Can you believe Christmas is less than a month away?!

Hope you all had a great Holiday and are now filled with the Christmas spirit!

Dear Camden...

Dear Camden,

Eighteen months ago, you were a glimmer in Daddy's and my eye. We spent countless hours talking about you, planning for your arrival, and dreaming of what you'd be like when you got older... We listened to your very heartbeat at every doctor's appointment with our breath held, making sure everything was just fine. We worried about what kind of parents we'd be to you, and how we could be the best and give you everything we possibly could.

When you arrived, our worlds ended and new ones came about. Before, it was just Daddy and Me. Now, it was the "three of us." How thrilled we were, and how perfectly you fit right into our lives. Even Killian was happy that you were here... that is, until you started to move about! Your newborn days were precious, and we spent every minute we could just staring at you, studying every finger, squishing every cheek, kissing every toe, and holding you so very close.

I dreamed for May 3rd, 2011 to come my entire life. I will admit that I was nervous. How would we raise you to love Jesus and to know His goodness and kindness in such a world full of sin? How could we protect you from our own sin? I will not remind you of this when you are a teenager, but Mama and Daddy are poor sinners, too. We all make mistakes, but thankfully love - HIS love - gives us hope that those mistakes will not do us in. Now after eighteen months of being your Mama, I can find more comfort in that than ever before.

You are cute as can be, and so SO smart. But darling, when you flush your Thomas the Tank train down the toilet so it gets stuck, or when you scale my pantry shelves to get to the chocolate, I need to call on Jesus for some patience. You are learning, too, and it's our job to teach you things that are right and wrong. I must say, that I never thought I'd have to teach anyone NOT to eat the week-old crumbs from under the dining table!

My little sunshine, you are most certainly our Light. Although sometimes you are far too busy to give us a hug or a kiss, the lovin' you do give out is cherished endlessly. We know that you love the moment Dada walks through the door from work, or that there are times when all you need is your Mama. We so enjoy watching you grow and learn, from the minute you wake up and ask for your "mulk" (milk), to the minute your tired - but still watching - eyes hit the pillow at night. Our Cup overflows with love and joy.

At eighteen months, you are the busiest little boy. Lover of hiding in homemade tents, flashlights, "Meow" (Killian Kitty), lawnmowers in the grass, bath time, vacuums and singing, you never stop exploring and learning. Although you never sit still long enough to read a book, somehow, you speak and repeat like you were born to talk! I never thought hearing you say (or at least attempt to say) words would be such a sweet sound to my ears. I just keep waiting for the day you will say "I love you, Mama." 

Dada and I love you beyond any measure. And these last eighteen months have been the best we've ever known. What was life without you, my Sweet? With a new baby sister on the way, I can only imagine what a fun and creative big brother you will turn out to be! Love Jesus, my dear, and hold Mama's songs close to your heart. Love EVERYBODY. Be kind, strong, and keep your curious spirit. Do not be discouraged by the darkness in this world, but instead bring light to it by sharing the joy you already have in your happy, little heart.

Happy 18 Months, Sweet Little "Can-Nin" (what you call yourself). We love you,

Mama & Dada
Killian and Mr. Turtle, too :)