And the Winter Flew Past Us

We're in the depths of January here on Primevere Street. We have our typical Maryland weather, where it's 60 degrees and sunny one day, then 30 degrees and rainy the next. Unpredictable. That's what Maryland is.

Nevertheless, we're moving on with our days and filling them with laughter, tears (on my part - I blame the hormones), patience (also on my part), and lots of learning and growing. Can I really be 7 months pregnant already? I feel like this pregnancy has flown by, but in the same hand, I feel as though I've been pregnant for ages. My body aches, and I do not feel as wonderful as I did with Camden. Perhaps I am older? Perhaps it was not enough time between pregnancies that my body needed to recover? Perhaps it's the fact that I'm pregnant and chasing around a very {very} active toddler? Who knows. But I do know that I need sleep, a good bowl of sugar cereal at night, and lots of patience during the day. Only by the grace of God, Amen.

Our darling little girl continues to get good reports (as do I) from our midwife, who I'm now visiting every other week. She has been very active in the last couple weeks, which is fun and exciting for me! Bobby enjoys feeling her move around in the evenings. Camden is not so happy about the lack of space left on my lap, poor Dear. As I may have mentioned previously, our little girl is growing with only a 2-vessel umbilical cord (3 vessels is considered normal). When we were first told the news, it was a bit dis-heartening, but we've been seen by a Maternal Fetal Specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and thankfully everything seems to be ok. I go back this week for one more follow up just to make sure she's growing properly. Otherwise, only 7 more weeks left until she makes her joyful arrival!

Camden never ceases to amaze us how smart children are. We really don't give them enough credit. Every day, we hear new words, expressions and even complete thoughts! I always cringe when I hear parents say this, but really, he is SO SMART. I'll slam my palm to my forehead for you now. But seriously, the kid is crazy. Apart from talking, he has also started to sing! We sing songs all during the day, but especially before naps and bed time. He's started picking up on the words and singing along with me. I love hearing his little voice! He will even pray with me at bed time, and although our prayers are rarely the same every night, he knows to say "Dear Jesus" and "In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!"

When putting him to bed last night, we prayed and started to sing some songs. I asked him if he wanted to sing Jesus a song himself, without Mama's help. What song does he pick and begin to sing? Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Anyway, we've moved Camden into a "Big boy bed" that's all his own in order to make the crib available for baby sister. He's transitioning nicely, although looks so small in the large twin bed!

Bobby took a couple pictures for us today, so here are those pictures, along with my monthly belly shot, Camden's monthly picture (I'm late with this), and a couple of me and Cam taken with my remote. Enjoy! 

We like to spin. You would not believe this child's laugh. 

A couple from Instagram: (Follow me @mbphotog)

Oh, how I love this boy.

What usually ensues after promising "suckie" (pacifier) in exchange for sitting on the rocker and smiling too many times. "No mo cheese, mama!" 

Testing out the jump-factor in his new bed!

At Home: Online Yard Sale!

It's that time again... you know, when you look into every closet and it's packed with stuff you never use (and probably will never use). I do this every once in a while, and I think it's out of fear that my basement will turn into "the point of no return" and I won't even be able to walk through it. Or perhaps it's the deep-seeded fear that my closets will one day explode in protest and call me greedy for keeping all of these things I no longer need.

Earlier this spring, I hosted a yard sale. Instead of keeping the left over items (some of which had been put out for multiple yard sales without selling), I boxed them all up, and sent them off to a local thrift store which benefits mentally disabled citizens of the county (goes towards medical expenses, etc). I walked out of there with my tax receipt and a burden lifted from my shoulders. My "for sale" storage bin in the basement was finally empty.... until we found out we were pregnant again and wanted more closet space.

Last year, I held an online "yard" sale on this blog featuring several items of clothes, shoes and other accessories. While I do have some clothes to share with you, this sale is more "home" focused. Things around our house that have barely been used (Bobby tells me that I change my mind on things FAR too often), or hardly even touched. I hope that I may pass them on to you to love them like we never could. *Tear. Sniff. Sniff.* Just kidding. I'm ready to get rid of it and have some space back. Whose with me!?

Here we go. How it works: I'll list these items and they are first come, first served. If you claim an item and pay, I'll mark it as sold! Easy as pie. (Hmmm.... pie. These pregnancy hormones are not helping). If you have any questions about any of the items, feel free to leave a comment here, send me a message on Facebook, or shoot me an e-mail.

Ready, GO! ----UPDATED!

Item #1: Photoshop CreativeSuite 2 Premium Edition, $100 OBO - $75 NEW PRICE! 

Again, this was my first version of Photoshop that helped get my business started! It comes with all of the original CD's and papers, and has been completely uninstalled from our other computer, ready to be installed in yours! CS2 is the full version of Photoshop, so great for someone looking to see if they like it. You are able to install those wonderful Photoshop Action Sets on this version as well. 

Item #2: Antique Bronze Bookshelf Thing - $12 - $10 NEW PRICE! 

Purchased new, again, thinking it would look awesome sitting on a bookshelf. But no bookshelf came, and there's none in sight. It looks really cool, and has a nice antique bronze finish. The "globe" part is slightly tilted to one side (on purpose).

Item #3: Set of 2 IKEA Pillow Covers (Covers only) 22x22 inches in Black and White - $15 for the pair - $12 NEW PRICE!
Loved these pillows from IKEA (technically called the "Stockholm" cushion) and immediate brought them home... only to realize that they didn't go with anything in my house! Silly. They sat on our couch (purely decorative) for about 6 months, then found their resting place in the linen closet for another 6 months. The covers have a velvet feel and look like the houndstooth pattern. They are huge!!! And look really awesome. I just washed them, so they are nice and clean :) They are white and black, in case you can't tell.

Item #4: Set of 2 Silver and Lucite Table Lamps - $40 for the pair - $35 NEW PRICE!
Love, love, love these lamps... they've done nothing but sit on our bedside tables and get dusted. I'm just ready for a change! They are both in great shape and work perfectly. For those of you wondering what lucite is... it's clear acrylic, which looks pretty awesome paired with the stainless that's on the rest of the lamps! They were purchased from Marshalls and will serve you well!

Moving onto other things from my closet....

Item #5: Steve Madden Black Patent Leather Platform T-Strap Heels, Size 8 - $15 - NEW PRICE $12.

Bought 'em new right before I had Camden (desperate to wear something that fit!). Wore them twice and have never worn them again! They are seriously, almost brand new. They have a bit of a platform (which actually makes them very comfortable), and I love the T-Strap look. Looks cute with tights, too!  

Item #6: Aerosoles Gold Bow Peep-Toe Espadrille Shoes, Size 8.5 - $15 - NEW PRICE $12. 
Bought these shoes right AFTER Camden was born because my feet were so swollen! Now they just don't fit. They are really adorable with the bow accent on the toe. I only wore them a couple of times, so they look and feel brand new. Great for spring, summer and fall! Please take them off my shelf so I don't cry when I look at them because they are so cute!

Item #7: Paper Source Ribbon in Silver Satin (36mm wide) Rolls - 4 ROLLS AVAILABLE - $4 Each Roll.  - NEW PRICE $3
Brand new.

Item #8: Paper Source Presentation Envelopes in Silver (9x11.5''), Pack of 5, 8 PACKS AVAILABLE - $8 Each Pack (Retails for $17 each) - NEW PRICE $6/pack
Bought several packs for my old business branding. Didn't use the remaining and Paper Source would not take them back, even though they are still in stock! Frustrating. Anyway, they are great for presenting photographs, resumes, documents, etc. Like a giant envelope, but it's very sturdy.

 Item #9: Paper Source Diagonal Folder Enclosures (5.5x5.5'') in Silver, Pack of 10, 3 PACKS AVAILABLE - $7 Per Pack (Retails for $14 at store) - NEW PRICE $5/pack.
Brand new. Great for mixed CD's (do people still make those?!), invitation holders, etc. Still in stock, but cannot return to store.

Item #10: Paper Source Ribbon Roll in Bluebell Satin (Light blue/Periwinkle) 6mm Wide, 3 ROLLS AVAILABLE - $2 Each Roll - NEW PRICE $1/roll.
Brand New.

That is all, my dear. I wish you happy shopping! 

Ferdinand

One of my favorite stories growing up was that of Ferdinand the Bull. In old country Spain, there was a young Bull who just liked to sit under a tree and smell the flowers, while the other bulls his age liked to fight and demonstrate their strength. One day, some scouts came to Ferdinand's field looking for the next bull to fight in Madrid. Ferdinand wasn't interested in being chosen, so he went to sit under his tree instead. When he sat down, he sat on a bee, who promptly stung him right in the behind! Feeling the sting, Ferdinand started bucking about like a mad - uh - bull? So much so, that the scouts decided that Ferdinand would be the bull to take to Madrid. When he got there, he didn't want to be chased or prodded, he just wanted to see all the nice Spanish ladies with flowers in their hair!

I suppose that I always felt like Ferdinand growing up, which is probably why I was never good at sports! Instead, I preferred cheerleading, where I could wear a cute outfit and put sparkles in my hair. Now, I'm not sayin' Camden is going to be like Ferdinand, but our trip to an empty field this afternoon reminded me of that friendly bull.

Since the weather was relatively warm today, I took Camden out for a little mini "photo shoot." I must say that there is a reason why many people do not take many pictures of their children at this age (or perhaps it's just my son?!), or maybe it's the reason I choose not to photograph many children of this age for my business: it's near impossible. I'm thankful that we were in an empty field, because the sounds I was making to try and get Cam to merely look in my direction were quite embarrassing and obnoxious. I managed a couple, but really all the boy wanted to do was pick the straw grass up and throw it. Towards the end, we found some dandelions, which he found hilarious when he tried to blow them.

Ugh. And can someone please return my baby? Because I seem to have a big boy on my hands here. How did he get so big?!

Can his hair stay like this forever, please? It's so wispy and soft. I vowed I'd never cut it, but people were beginning to call him a girl, so I had to give in... only a little. I still love it long like this!

In an effort to have him hold still for .25 seconds, I asked him where the cow went. He looked at me puzzled, then gave me the sign for "where." Good boy.

He's saying "wun, wun, wun!" (run, run, run). He's quite fast when he runs, too.

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!