52 Weeks + Spring Fun

It's here. And I never thought it would be here, but it's here. My baby turned 52 weeks on Tuesday. Although he's not officially one yet, our weekly picture routine has come to a close. If I hadn't been fussing over Camden to get him to hold still for the picture, I would have been crying. If I had been crying, then Camden probably would have hugged me and patted my back like he does to his stuffed animals when he thinks they're sad. And then I would have cried even more, because my baby is not really a baby anymore.

He laughs, he gets mad, he wines, he signs and communicates, he blows me kisses every morning when I'm nursing him.

I can't believe how big he's gotten over the last year. Shoot. Just looking at his 3, 6, 9 and 12 month comparison, he's such a different baby! But I suppose that's bound to happen.

We had lots of fun this week. I've been trying to prepare for his FIRST birthday party this weekend so we've been busy, but we still had time to be outside and enjoy the nice weather! This boy loves to be outside, and even better, he loves to get dirty and splash....and occasionally take a drink from the garden hose.

Tomorrow he turns one and my heart will explode with sadness and joy all at once. Can someone please pinch me?

He was soaked by the time we came inside.

Just taking a little drink.

He loves sitting on "big chairs," as we call them. Or our "big bed" in the mornings.

We walk every day up to get the mail. He loves looking at the truck! If he could run, he'd be doing it.

My sweet trouble-maker. I tell him "no" a million times, but the toilet paper roll never ceases to fascinate. I'll know I forgot to close the bathroom door when the entire roll is emptied on the ground.

The year. This makes me so sad, but so happy all at the same time.

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!

Made to Walk

I've been a very very very bad blogger, I know. It's been about 3 weeks since my last post. Ugh. Well, I have a good reason... wedding season has started back up, along with this fabulously delicious weather and I've just been so darn busy.

Oh, and one more thing. Camden started to walk. And he wants to go EVERYWHERE.

I'm convinced this boy was made to run. Even his delivery doctor said when he was born..."He's gonna run out of there since he's so late!" Although he does not walk totally on his own, he does not want to crawl. He just wants Mama's hand to walk him wherever he wants to go.

In three weeks' time, I feel like he has grown up so much. His language and communication in particular have developed incredibly. He's mimicking a lot of words, and will ramble off lots of "words" together and look at you like he's trying very hard to tell you something important! Baby Jack came to visit us last week (along with Aunt Christina) and he would point to Jack and say "Ack!" This is also the same noise he says for "snack," but I'm pretty sure he means Jack. He will not do it consistently, but he will do some sign language that we've been teaching him: water, please, more and all done. Another major development: Camden now has 11 teeth! He's gotten about 4 of those in the last month, poor guy.

We have had some amazing weather these past few weeks... who would have guessed we'd be wearing summer clothes in March?! This time last year, I was uncomfortably pregnant and we had just had a minor snow storm! We have been eating lunches out on our deck and afterwards, we'll explore all the fun, bite-sized things we can find... most notable acorn hats, which look surprisingly like cheerios. Great!

I cannot believe it, but my baby is almost one. He'll be 11 months old next week and is just as wonderful as can be. This is SUCH a fun age, and I'm so thankful for every day I get to spend with Camden. Can we just hit pause please?!

Aunt Christina and Jack came to visit us last week... we spent the evenings outside enjoying the weather! Jack is such a happy, little thing!

My little explorer.

He's not sure about the grass, but he LOVES the mulch. Especially when he grabs big handfuls of it and throws it!

A little kiss for his Mama.

Cousins! It is so fun to see them together each time we visit! They interact more and more... they are so fun with each other now!

Happy Birthday to my big sis, Christina!!! One year closer to the big 3-0! We celebrated with sushi, cupcakes and champagne :)

A little clip of Camden walking!

And a little clip of the boys wrestling... it's starting early!

Snow Day + 44 Weeks

We had some snow the other day. After a week of 60+ degree weather, snow was the last thing I thought we'd get! The daffodils don't like it at all, and it's strange to watch the budding trees of spring get covered up with icy flakes. The birds were still chirping, but the air was quiet. A clash of seasons, not really expected. By the end of the day, the snow had all melted, the sun was shining and it was 50 degrees again. I don't understand it.

After his nap, Cam and I bundled up and braved the cold. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he didn't like it when I made him stand up by himself so I could take a picture! No smiles, really...he just observed.

We went back inside and cuddled together for a while. He actually sat still on my lap while I sang songs and he played with my fingers. Next winter, he'll be old enough for hot chocolate with marshmallows. This year, I'll take the quiet afternoon full of cuddles.

Camden is 44 weeks this week - he just passed 10 months old. I can't believe it. I know I've been saying it all along, but where has my baby gone?! He's so busy, he just wants to explore everything. He doesn't sit still for long.

My sweet, baby boy is still there though. I put him to bed the other night, like I always do. I pick him up, we say our prayers, I sing him a song and hand him his pacifier while wrapping him up in his blanket. Mid-way through the song, he picks his head up and looks at me, takes his pacifier out of his mouth and gives me a big {open mouth} kiss. He put his pacifier back in and then rested his head back on my chest. Right after that, my heart melted and it will never be the same. This boy loves his mama and I will remember that moment forever.

10 Months and such a big boy.

Catching up on Camden

I've been sucked in. It was mid-February and 65 degrees outside. I have one very squirmy, little boy on my hands who would like nothing better than to explore life outside our back door. After all, the cat gets to sit out there... why can't he?!

We've spent the past couple of weeks here and there, but mostly outside enjoying all of this glorious weather. I remember mild winters in my 25 years, but nothing like this. I think I've worn capri pants more times this winter than I have my winter coat. I'm certainly not complaining.

Camden is quite the active boy these days... as if he wasn't before. He's using his walker toy a TON, walking to and from the kitchen, back and forth to the front door, up and down the stairs, around and around the kitchen island, opening and closing every door in the house. Life is very interesting for a curious 9-month old. He is certainly full of that - curiosity.

Apart from exploring every inch of the house and back deck, Camden has started to "talk." A lot. I'm not sure where this chatter came from, because he used to be rather quiet. Now all of a sudden, he likes to hear himself. He'll point to his shoes and babble on for five minutes (he's also discovered his pointer finger and uses it all. the. time.). He'll lift his hand up to the ceiling fan and ramble on about that for a while...complete with inflection and facial expressions. I could have sworn the other day, he came up from nursing, saw his shoes on the bed next to me, pointed to them and said "Shhewww!" He looked at me, *Blink Blink,* as if to say, "Duh, Ma... shoes don't go on the bed!" He consistently says "Mama" and "Dada," and is able to wave at appropriate times, but doesn't necessarily wave on command.

Anyway, I have loved every day we've spent together over these past 9 and a half months. It's really amazing how their little brains develop so quickly. Everything is new. Suddenly I feel a great responsibility to teach him so many good things about this world and about our God who loves us.

So here are the past 3 weekly pictures that I haven't had a chance to blog yet, plus a few extras in MomMom Markel's rocking chair that sits in his nursery!

His new favorite game: Peek-a-boo. He now initiates the game and loves my long curtains for better hiding :)

Boo!

Sleepy Baby.

Goodness, I love this face.