A Southern White Christmas

Let me begin by acknowledging that I'm well aware of the fact that I have readers in the Wisconsin, Colorado, and Michigan areas-- places where snow is about as rare as Starbucks or McDonalds. And really, while I've called North Carolina home for seven years now, I'm originally from the Northern Virginia area, right on the border of Maryland and DC (read: I also saw a decent amount of snow growing up).

Still, after living in the south for the better part of a decade, snow becomes exciting all over again. If so much as a flurry falls from the sky, the entire population of the state parades to the grocery store to stock up on milk and bread- just in case we're going to be barricaded inside for weeks due to 2 inches of snow. Schools announce their cancellations days in advance.

And when we find out that we're going to experience our first white Christmas since, like, 1947?! Well, it's hard not to get caught up in the anticipation.

And so, when we woke up to several inches of snow on Sunday morning, I layered Camden's clothes (he has no real snow clothes-- hey, it's the south!) & headed outside to watch him experience his first big snow.

Alright, I'm ready to go! Let me see this snow you speak of.



This is what all the hype was about?! I'm not so sure how I feel about it.



On second thought, I think I love it.



Yes, a white Christmas is so rare in the south that we were nerdy enough to run outside and take a picture of our house with a snowy lawn.

Merry Christmas, Baby (A Recap)

I'm still in semi-disbelief that Christmas is over and we're winding down the last week of 2010. I'm fairly confident that we were put in some kind of time warp this year and experienced every day, week, and month in turbo speed.

So, yes. Christmas is done. It was Camden's second Christmas, and his first Christmas with real presents from Santa. Last year, when he was a cuddly sleeping lump, he got a few new outfits. This year, Santa must've gotten the memo that Camden was a very good little guy & he was showered with more gifts than any one year old really needs. Have I mentioned yet how much I absolutely loved shopping for Camden? Having a kid makes you feel like a kid all over again when it's Christmas time. It's just one of the many, many perks of parenthood.

We had our gift exchange and Christmas dinner with Matt's family the weekend before Christmas. Camden had a blast at his aunt and uncle's house. I alternated between being terrified he'd break something in their gorgeous, fancy (but extremely un-babyproofed home) and being afraid that he'd dive head first into their glass coffee table or fall down their winding staircase. Thankfully, we escaped with no broken keepsakes or bones and had a great time. Camden scored some fun new toys, we managed to get a decent family photograph after several failed attempts, we ate a delicious dinner, and Mommy enjoyed a nice, big glass of wine. Success.

On Christmas Eve, we headed to my parents' house for dinner and a sleepover. My younger brother, Chris, was in town from Chicago. We ate another yummy meal and headed to bed early (well, some of us anyway. Daddy AKA Santa had plenty of toys that needed assembling with the assistance of Uncle Chris).

I was unsure how Camden would react to his toys on Christmas morning. I thought he'd either a) be more interested in the boxes and/or tissue paper than the gifts or b) find one gift he really liked and not be interested in playing with anything else. I was wrong on both counts. Camden was in awe of all of his gifts and devoted equal time to inspecting and playing with nearly every toy.

After our traditional Christmas morning breakfast (oyster stew, minus the oysters for those of us who can't stomach even the sight of those slimy creatures and omelettes), my sister's family came over to exchange gifts. The house became a chaotic whirlwind of flying wrapping paper, excited squeals, and some very happy little boys. All in all, a pretty perfect Christmas morning.

I had visions of capturing Camden in his adorable Christmas PJs, happily enjoying his gifts from Santa. I soon realized that in order to make this vision a reality, one must remember to actually pack said adorable PJs. That's what happens when you pack a suitcase while drinking a delicious glass of sparkling white wine. Ah well.

Growing up, Santa Claus always left our gifts unwrapped & displayed on a chair where we could easily see everything when we first came downstairs in the morning (because, let's face it, Santa doesn't have time to wrap presents for every kid in the world. Let's be realistic). Santa decided to continue this family tradition with Camden:




Where to begin?!



Everything was SO exciting:



My very own laptop:



Playing some music with Pop:



I love Christmas!



(That lovely slash across his forehead? Was caused by Tupperware, believe it or not. And, of course, the injury happened just in time for Christmas pictures. Isn't that the way it always works?)

Merry Christmas!

Camden's second Christmas was a blast and Santa was very good to him, but more on that later. For now, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

And what a difference a year makes.

Last Christmas (and one of my favorite photos of all time):



And this year:



Merry Christmas...and now it's time to go wait on the snow.

Comprehension & Mischief

Camden understands so much these days. Show him a page in a book & ask him where the dog, ball, bird, or fish is-- and he'll squeal with excitement and then point a chubby finger towards the subject matter. Ask him where your nose is on your face. He'll show you (and then he'll place a hand on each of your cheeks, draw your face to his, and try to head-butt you. Or maybe that's only when I'm the one doing the asking.)

He's also great at following simple instructions. When it's time to read, I'll ask him to bring a book to me & he'll walk over to his collection, pick one out, and bring it back to me. Then he'll plop down in my lap. This also works out well when Mom is being lazy and it's time for a diaper change. "Camden," I simply say, "Go bring Mommy a diaper." Sure, he might bring me 6 or 8 balled up diapers, but they work just as well.

With this age of increased understanding comes an increased curiosity-- and an increased desire to get into mischief. Over the past few weeks, it's become common for me to find one of Camden's toys floating in Maggie's water bowl. When I go to get something out of the pantry, I often find one of his cars sitting neatly on the shelf next to a box of cereal. Also, I've found a Cheerio laced carefully through a branch on the Christmas tree, just like an ornnament. My most amusing discovery to date? Yesterday, I opened the fridge to get some milk & I found Camden's winter hat sitting on one of the shelves. Inside the fridge. I'm not quite sure how my mischievious little guy pulled that one off!

Now, for some photo evidence. A little background: Camden was completely quiet, which is always, always a dead giveaway that he's about to get into some sort of trouble. I snuck around to the dining room (where we hide Maggie's food and water bowl) and sure enough, there he was!

Oh, Hello Mother. I'm just about to stick my hand in Maggie's food bowl and then put a foot in her water bowl. I mean...nothing.


What? You act as though I'm not to be trusted!


Whatever, I can't fight the urge anymore.

I'm 30. How did that happen?

"Remember when 30 seemed so old
Now, looking back,
It's just a stepping stone..."

-Alan Jackson, Remember When

PS- Guess how I'm spending my 30th? Reporting to jury duty bright & early this morning. I wish I was kidding.

Dreams of MLB

Every time Camden picks up a ball and hurls it across the room with his left hand, I look over to find Matt beaming like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Look, he used his left hand again," he'll say excitedly.

Because, you know, left handed pitchers have a huge advantage in Major League Baseball. And if Camden is going to be a Baltimore Oriole one day, he'll have an easier time making the team if he's a lefty. Pure and simple logic, right?

But conversations like these inevitably lead me to think about my younger brother. Put simply, he is not an athlete. But that didn't stop my parents from signing him up for every sport known to mankind when he was a kid. Let me clarify: my parents aren't the Stage Parent types. They didn't put unrealistic pressure on us, ever. I think they truly believed that they just hadn't found the "right" sport for my brother to play, so they kept searching. He tried soccer, baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, and bowling. Most attempts were short-lived, lasting only a season or two. I think it was some time after he quit the wrestling team in high school that we all realized that he simply wasn't an athlete.

As "After School Special" as it might sound, my brother truly came into his own towards the end of high school. He excelled in all things creative. He put together a band with his friends & booked small gigs. He wrote songs. And stories. When he stopped trying to be something he clearly wasn't, he found himself. (I know, I know- cue the sappy end-of-episode music.)

If Camden dons the orange and black one day? You can bet Matt & I will be in the front row at Camden Yards, cheering him on (and probably holding up embarrassing homemade signs).

If Camden decides that golf is more his speed? We'll be thrilled. And I'll do my best to overcome my long-standing opinion that watching golf is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

If he decides to try out for the basketball team, Matt will take him to the court on weekends to perfect his free throws.

If he decides to follow in his uncle's footsteps and start a band, I'll be proud to be a groupie. And if he gets the lead role in the school play, Matt & I will be the cheesy parents who show up every single night to give him a standing ovation.

Because no matter what Camden decides to become, we'll always be his biggest fans. And there is only one thing I truly want him to be:

Happy.

One Year Appointment & Stats

At Camden's one year check-up, it was reinforced to me once again how important it is to truly like your child's pediatrician. It's such a relief to know that we've found the right fit for us. This well child check-up was the first one in a very long time that I left feeling encouraged instead of discouraged. Yes, I am still smitten with Dr. Wonderful.

First thing's first: weight. Camden is (still) a skinny thing. Or, as his pediatrician described him, lean & muscular. He's just over 19 pounds, which puts him in the 5th percentile for weight. Instead of telling me to force feed him butter & sour cream like Dr. Obsessive frequently suggested, he simply said, "Well, look at you & look at your husband. What do you expect?" He told me that Camden is active, healthy, & thriving and that's what's important. (Side note, because I found this funny: Matt & I used an online calculator to determine our own weight percentiles. Guess what Matt's is? Yep. He's also in the 5th percentile.)

We also talked a lot about food. He told me that Camden should be eating primarily table food now, which I knew. I'll be honest, though: prior to this doctor's appointment, I had still been feeding him some pureed baby food. My reasoning? It was easier for me to monitor how much he was eating this way (because Dr. Obsessive had drilled it into my brain that Camden was too skinny). Dr. Wonderful told me that if I try to count every bite he takes, I'll drive myself insane. Clearly, it didn't take long for him to peg me as the Type A control freak that I am. He told me that children Camden's age rarely sit down and eat what we would consider a full meal; that they actually just "graze" and snack a lot throughout the day. So, it's my job to offer him healthy foods throughout the day & it's Camden's job to tell me when he's full. Even when I don't agree with him.

We've also begun the weaning process over here. I've cut out one feeding so far, and will cut out an additional feeding every 2 or 3 weeks. I'm guessing that the middle of the night nursing session & the very early morning session will be the most difficult to cut. And if they take a little longer to get rid of? Oh well. I'm going into this weaning process totally relaxed and with an open mind. Giving myself a deadline seems silly and needlessly stressful.

So, obviously, we've introduced cow's milk. I would not call the inital introduction a smashing success; Camden would take a sip and then pull the cup out of his mouth and stare at it in disgust. Sometimes he'd throw the cup across the room. One time he even opened his mouth and just let the milk come rolling back out of it. But Day Two went much more smoothly & things have continued to improve since then. Apparently milk is an acquired taste. At least Camden seems to think so.

Now, for the fun stuff!

At 12 months, Camden:

• Is constantly on the go. He walks, he runs, he climbs-- he's basically unstoppable.
• Talks in his sleep. We've heard lots of "ba" and "ma" while he's sleeping.
• Is nursing 4 times in a 24 hour period (5am, 2:30pm, 8:30pm, 12:30am).
• Is starting to drink cow's milk.
• Is eating more table food. His favorite foods are: peas, pasta, Gerber cheese puffs, American cheese, banana pieces, avocado pieces, Honey Nut Cheerios, & chocolate pudding.
• Loves to dance! He dances to everything-- commercials with music, his toys that play music, his Daddy's singing. If it has a beat, he will stop whatever he's doing & dance.
• Claps his hands.
• Will point to things in books, ornaments on the Christmas tree, parts of my face, etc. (If we ask him where something is, though, he'll turn & look but will not yet point to it)
• Will look down at his shirt if we tell him "Camden, your shirt has a ___ on it."
• Smacks his lips when someone else is eating or drinking something he wants.
• Still only has 2 teeth (bottom) but is currently working on the top two.
• Weighs 19 lbs, 1 oz and is 30 inches tall.
• Loves to kick & throw balls around.
• Says "Mama". He still says "Dadada" (though not TO Matt yet) & we think he's trying to say "ball" and "byebye".
• Is completely obsessed with Special Agent Oso.
• Continues to be my awesome napper & terrible night sleeper (though nighttime sleep is, thankfully, improving).
• Enjoys Story Time at the local library.
• Is so much fun & such a blessing to us.
  
  
  

Scariest Night Ever.

Over the past couple of years, I've read some posts by fellow bloggers about babies falling off changing tables and beds, or falling down stairs. And I've also read some tragic posts about babies falling into swimming pools or into canals. My reaction is always the same: I get a sick knot in my stomach and have to stop reading the entry. And, as sympathetic as I might feel towards these parents and certainly towards the babies, I will admit that this thought always crosses my mind: How did they let that happen?!

As parents, it's our job to protect our children and keep them safe. I am an extremely overprotective parent. It could be argued that I'm borderline overbearing. I follow two steps behind my son when he's walking outside so that I can catch him if he happens to stumble. I avoid people (even relatives!) if they have so much as the sniffles, because it breaks my heart to see Camden sick. He sleeps in our bedroom because I feel more comfortable having him close by, where I can keep an eye on him even during the wee hours of the night.

And still, we had an accident here a few nights ago. One of those kinds of accidents that I'd read about on other blogs and wince and think: How could this have happened?!! My answer: it only takes a second. And even the most meticulous, overprotective, control-freak parents sometimes look away for a second.

So let me give you a brief set-up of our house before I tell you about the scariest night of my life.

When you walk up our stairs and head left, you'll find Camden's room & Camden's future playroom (currently under construction) across the hallway from each other. If you head right when you walk up the stairs, you'll find the gym room & the theater room directly across from each other. Hopefully that gives you a decent visual. This tour of our house is relevant, I promise.

And here's our staircase. Scary steep, right? I know.



A few nights ago, Matt, Camden, and I were upstairs in his playroom. Matt was disassembling a bed that was in there, since this room used to be a guest bedroom. Camden was playing with some of the toys we'd already set up in the room. I was sitting next to Camden. Matt opened the playroom door so he could start moving the bed into our gym room (which, as you recall, is down the hallway). Camden immediately jumped up to follow his daddy out of the room. Of course, I jumped up as well and followed a couple of steps behind Camden, since Matt was too busy moving furniture to supervise.

At this point, Matt walked into the gym room and started putting the pieces of the bed down. Camden followed him into the room. I stood out in the hallway by the gym room door, but turned my back briefly to look at the screen in the theater room across the hallway. Matt didn't notice Camden leave the gym room because he was busy rearranging bed parts. I didn't hear Camden walk less than a foot behind me as he passed me in the hallway.

But I heard this loud and clear: an awful, terrifying, will-never-forget-it-as-long-as-I-live CRASH. I swear my heart stopped when I heard that sound. I literally froze in place for several seconds trying to determine the source of the crash. I think Matt and I realized what happened at the exact same moment. We both sprinted towards the stairs, white-faced, and in a state of panic. There were screams as we looked down to see Camden at the bottom of the stairs. I don't remember Matt running down the stairs, but I do remember him being at Camden's side. Meanwhile, I stayed at the top of the stairs screaming & asking if we needed to call 911.

Miraculously (and I don't use this word lightly; truly, I think this was a miracle), Camden was totally fine. Yes, he screamed his head off for about 5 minutes. Then he wiggled to get out of my arms, climbed down, and walked straight over to his favorite toy. He turned it on and started playing as if nothing had happened.

I was completely unconvinced that a one year old could take a spill like that and walk away unscathed. "We need to take him to the hospital to have everything X-rayed", I remember saying repeatedly. But we wiggled legs, bent arms, touched fingers and toes, ran our hands along his rib cage, felt his back and belly, and checked his head for bumps. Everything was in tact. That didn't stop me, however, from watching Camden sleep for several hours that night.

This story could've had a much different outcome- a busted lip, broken limbs, paralysis, or worse. We were lucky. I share this experience to drive home the point that it truly does only take a second for an accident like this to happen. Also, if you have a mobile baby & have been delaying babyproofing, get on it ASAP. (We have a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs but had put off ordering one for the top since we don't spend much time up there. Two days before this accident, our gate for the top arrived at the house but it was missing a couple of parts that we needed to install it. Those parts arrived today and you can bet that gate will be installed the second Matt walks in the door tonight.)

The Christmas Tree? It's a hit.

Camden was much too young to show any interest in last year's tree. This year, though, he's mesmerized. He constantly walks into the dining room to admire it. And then, as I hold him up, he points out his favorite ornaments to me. It's so much fun getting to experience the holidays through his little eyes.

Happy Thanksgiving...slightly late.

To say that this Thanksgiving and last year's Thanksgiving had some contrasts would be an understatement.

Last year, I had a brand spankin' new baby at home. I was averaging a couple of hours of (interrupted) sleep per night. My body was a hurricane of post-partum hormones. And yet, Matt & I still decided it would be a good idea for us to host both sides of the family at our home for Thanksgiving. (No, I wasn't cooking. I'm not that insane.) Most of that day is a blur to me, but I do recall a few things: I was in that awkward phase where I no longer looked pregnant, but I couldn't wear any of my old clothes without looking like a hooker (read: my jeans might as well have been painted on). I think I tried on about 5 outfits before settling on something that wasn't completely frumptastic that morning. Then Camden wet his adorable "Thankful for Mommy" onesie probably about 30 seconds after I put it on him. I also remember motioning for my sister to join me in a corner of the kitchen and then whispering to her, "I am still bleeding. Is this normal?!" (Little did I know, I had about 8 more weeks of that fun left!) By the end of the day, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed with Camden. And I think I did just that-- around 5pm.

This year, we hosted Thanksgiving for both families once again (albeit on different days). Camden played independently or with his cousins for most of the day. We ate delicious food, talked, laughed, & watched lots of football. It couldn't have been more perfect. And I even waited until almost 10pm before I went to bed this year (gasp!).

A couple of things didn't change between this year and last year, though.

1. I am so incredibly thankful for my husband, my son, and my wonderful family. The holidays tend to bring out the sentimental side in everyone, but I really do make a conscious effort to count my blessings every day of the year.

2. Camden wet his Thanksgiving outfit. Again. (Hence the wardrobe change in the pictures to follow)

I realize I'm perhaps a tad biased, but this is one handsome (and grown up looking!) kid:

The Original Five (My awesome family):



Me & the Momma:



Camden & Mommy:



A Family shot:



Camden & my baby brother (visiting from Chicago), otherwise known as Uncle Chris:



And here's Camden & his Pop (my dad):



As I've mentioned before, my older sister, Lauren has 3 boys. Her youngest, Will, is just 5 months younger than Camden. They're going to be best buddies when they're older. How cute are they?!







You can't really tell in this picture, but Camden and his cousin Alex were dancing to the music the ball popper makes. It was pretty darn precious:



And, finally, this is what we call the Look of Love (Camden was watching his Uncle Jeff carry around his oldest cousin, Jacob, on his shoulders):


(As always, thanks to my sister, Lauren, for being the family photographer.)

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Big Day Recap

Camden's first birthday party had all of the makings of a Recipe for Disaster. The day before the party, we discovered that a very fussy, clingy Camden also had a low-grade fever. I immediately took him to the doctor, suspecting another ear infection. Fortunately, there was no ear infection to accompany his cold this time. Unfortunately, the pediatrician noted how inflamed and swollen his top gums were and deemed the culprit behind his discomfort to be teething.

Teething + Runny nose + Stranger Anxiety = A Recipe for Party Disaster

So, you can imagine how much I was looking forward to hosting 20+ people at my house the next day. I was having visions (nightmares?!) of a snot-nosed, crying baby spending the duration of the party on my hip.

And even though we only got about 3 hours of sleep the night before the party, it turned out to be SUCH a great day. Really, it couldn't have been better. Camden's teething pain seemed to take a back seat to the fun and excitement surrounding him. And that stranger anxiety? Dare I say it's improving? Instead of bursting into tears when approached by a not-so-familiar relative or friend, he would simply stare inquisitively.

And now, for pictures:

It was a beautiful day outside. Camden had so much fun pushing his car around the backyard, playing ball, and hangin' with the big kids:





Here's Camden with his cousins & honorary cousins. The only one missing is Camden's cousin and sidekick, Will, who was partaking in the Boobie Bar when this picture was taken:



And here's Will, clearly enjoying one of Camden's gifts. Tasty!



Camden enjoyed his cake. I even found some in his diaper when I changed him later:









And, finally: "I've had enough of this party. I'm outta here!"

Happy First Birthday, Camden

Click here to view Camden's first year slideshow.

Dear Camden,

Where has this first year gone? It seems like only yesterday I was feeling you roll around in my belly (and kick me in the ribs!) while I anxiously awaited your arrival.

And then came November 21, 2009. The biggest, happiest, most important day of my life to date (well, the day I married your daddy was pretty good too). After a relatively easy labor (if there is such a thing), you came out all on your own, when I wasn't even pushing. You were a determined, active go-getter from day one.

The minute I held you in my arms and kissed your tiny blonde head, I was in love. Deeply, fully, completely. Some say it's not possible to bond with a little stranger so quickly. I know otherwise. You were no stranger to me. You were a part of our family from the very first breath you breathed.

The earliest days weren't always easy. As a clumsy first-time mom learning the ropes, there were many days (and late nights, and early mornings) when I cried. I also worried. A lot. I wanted to make sure I was always doing what was best for you. I knew that being your mother was the most important job in the world, the biggest task I had ever undertaken in my 29 years, and I wanted to do it perfectly.

Thankfully, I learned over the next couple of months that there is no perfection in motherhood. That's half the beauty of it. It's unpredictable, demanding, exhausting, occasionally frustrating, and certainly not perfect. But you know what else I learned? Motherhood, and specifically being YOUR mother, is the best job in the world. I would not trade a moment of this first year with you for anything, ever.

Thanks to your fantastic dad, I have been able to stay at home with you during this past year. What a gift that has been. When I was pregnant, I often worried that being a stay-at-home mom was not for me. I thought I would miss getting dressed up in the mornings and going to work. I thought I would miss the interaction with other adults on a daily basis. And while sometimes there are moments when I think of those things longingly, those moments are fleeting. Because I have had the time of my life being at home with you every day. I love that I am there for every single moment of your life-- both big and small. I remind myself every day not to take it for granted.

There is a framed picture of you taken at one of my first ultrasounds sitting on the side of our bathtub. The frame reads "Miracle". And while my active, handsome, joyful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed son bares no resemblance to the gray form floating in that picture, you still are our miracle child. It was a long road to bring you into our lives, but I would turn around and do it all over again in a heartbeat. Saying that you were worth the wait doesn't do it justice.

Your dad and I often joke that if we could have custom-created a child, you would have been the outcome of that creation (well, maybe we would have selected the "sleeps through the night" button, but we can't have it all now, can we?). Really and truly, you are the perfect match for our family. You are the ideal combination of sweet and silly. You're active and independent, but never hesitate to walk over to your Daddy or me for some cuddling. You're a bit on the shy side, but you love big and enthusiastically with people you know and trust. You're curious, you're eager, and you're kind. You have the best laugh in the world and your kisses melt my heart.

This past year has been such a blessing. You've made your Daddy and me better people-- more patient, more loving, more thankful. I wouldn't think it possible if I didn't already know it was true: I love you more with every passing day. You're my son, my first-born, and you'll always be the one who made me a mommy.

Happy first birthday, Camden Miller. You are so loved.

Love,
Mommy

And that's why I give instructions.

This morning, my mom and I went to do a little Christmas shopping for Camden. He was napping when we left and as I rushed out the door, I gave Matt a couple quick instructions.

"Here's his outfit for the day," I said, gesturing towards a tiny pair of jeans & a camoflauge onesie. "Oh, and he'll probably want a snack when he wakes up. I'll do lunch when I get home so just give him something small. Like maybe graham crackers, cheese, or..."

I trailed off when I saw Matt's annoyed expression. I knew what he was thinking. I can handle this. He's my child too. I'm not a moron.

It's not that I doubt his abilities as a parent. Not at all. It's just that I spend all day, every day with Camden & I know his routine inside-out.

But after getting the look from Matt, I quit with the directions, said my goodbyes & headed out to shop.

Fast forward 2 hours. I walk in the door to see Camden playing happily with his daddy, dressed in the very outfit I laid out. Perfect. And then:

"Hey, guess what I gave him for a snack?" Matt asked me.
"What?" I started to get a little nervous.
"I thought it was leftover grape food...."

My mind is racing at this point. Grape food?! What on earth is that?! Does he think that's a flavor Gerber makes? Did he feed Camden grape jelly?

"...it was actually prunes." He continued, laughing.

I keep an emergency carton of Stage 1 Gerber prunes in the pantry in case of constipation. Correction: I used to keep an emergency carton of prunes in the pantry. They are now gone. Because Camden ate them. For a snack.

I was actually slightly impressed that he somehow coaxed Camden into eating half of the container. Poor kid. He was probably thinking Daddy is lots of fun, but I sure do prefer Mommy's snack choices.

Oh well. Like I told Matt, he's no worse for the wear. But Matt will be changing the next dirty diaper. I'm not going near that thing.

Walk like...Tick Tock?

My son is walking! Camden started taking a couple of steps at a time several weeks ago. In the past week, though, he has truly begun to master walking & can almost cross an entire room before plopping down on his diapered butt.

While watching Camden practice this new skill, I've had that Bangles song "Walk like an Egyptian" stuck on a loop in my head. But the truth is, Camden walks nothing like an Egyptian. Actually, he walks a lot more like Tick Tock from Return to Oz. Does anyone else remember that movie besides my sister & me? If you do remember that "sequel" to The Wizard of Oz, perhaps you recall this loveable character:

And if you remember him, then maybe you recall his unsteady but determined walk. And Camden's version of the Tick Tock walk? Is so unbearably adorable.

I CAN NOT BELIEVE MY BABY IS WALKING.

And on a lighter note (Happy Halloween!)

We took our little lion trick-or-treating with his cousins and some neighbors last night. And by "trick-or-treating" I mean that we strolled him around to a couple of houses & let him watch as the big kids rang doorbells and shouted out "Trick or Treat!" He might have even scored a couple of bags of Skittles for his parents. I can neither confirm nor deny that information.

Camden & Mommy:

The family shot:


Camden and his Nan:


With my parents (Nan & Pop)-- he's not so sure about the costume right now:


The cutest lion I've ever seen:


Making himself comfortable for the ride:


Happy Halloween!