Thanksgiving and birthday parties.

It's the night before Thanksgiving and I'm feeling particularly thankful right now. This long semester (that I almost didn't complete) is officially over in a few short days. I am so, so incredibly glad I stuck with it. I was looking at my plan of study that hangs on the side of my fridge earlier tonight and it struck me just how close I am to being done. And I almost gave all of that up. So, yes- I am thankful that the semester is almost over and I'm thankful I stuck it out.

I'm having such a great time with my kids right now. It's no secret that there are some stages of childhood that are a little more challenging than others. It's not that Camden and Macey's current ages don't come with challenges-- they most certainly do-- but I'm just really loving where they are right at this moment. I'm so incredibly thankful for them. I hardly remember who I was in my life prior to having kids; I have no doubt that I was made to be their mom.

I'm thankful that I have a husband that gets up in the middle of the night to go rub Macey's back when she's teething and is having trouble staying asleep. He also spends countless hours playing Star Wars Angry Birds with Camden just because there's nothing else Camden would rather do at the moment. I will never get tired of seeing two blonde heads go flying past me into the foyer when they hear Matt's key turn in the door at night. I'm thankful that my children have an excellent father.

There are so many other things: I'm thankful for a mom who would (and does) drop anything to be by my side whenever I need her. I'm thankful for a dad who has always supported me and my decisions. I'm thankful for a sister that lives right down the road and who is also a babysitter, carpool partner, and friend. I'm thankful for a brother who can make any situation funny with his sarcasm and wit.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this year has provided you with a lot to feel thankful for too.

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On a completely different note, we celebrated Camden's fourth birthday party this past weekend. It was Ninja Turtle themed (of course). I debated whether or not to include preschool friends this year, but ultimately decided to stick with family (and neighbors who are like family). I think we'll start the "friends parties" next year.

Since it was TMNT themed, we had pizza for dinner. I'm pretty certain that Camden and Will didn't stop running for the entire two hour party. We all had a blast.  And now, some pictures:

TMNT cake courtesy of Nan. Seriously, I'm so lucky to have a mom and sister whose culinary & artistic abilities far surpass my own.

TMNT cupcakes courtesy of my sister. She's pretty awesome.

 He opened his presents in record time. I told Matt that I feel old having a kid who's big enough to be in the 'action figure' stage!

 

Birthday Boy!

The aforementioned non-stop running.

Happy fourth birthday, sweet boy.

 

My precious family. 

And just like that, he's four.

My sweet Camden Miller,

Four years ago today, you made me a mommy for the very first time. I had no idea back then the ways in which you would change my life. All I knew was that I had waited for you for a very long time, you were finally here, and I was so in love.

And that was pretty much all I knew. Thinking back on the first days, weeks, and months you were home makes me laugh now. I had no idea what I was doing, which was such a foreign feeling for me. You see, your mommy is a bit of a control freak, a planner, a perfectionist to her core. But you came into my life and made me realize that there are some things that can't be meticulously mapped out; that life isn't always orderly and neat. There were countless days I spent just holding you on my chest, feeling your back rise and fall as you slept with your body curled up against mine because you wouldn't nap any other way. There were so many nights that I stared at the clock at 3am, wondering if I'd ever sleep again. There was attempted (and failed) sleep training. There was your acute stranger anxiety that made me have to be fiercely protective of you. Then there was your speech delay and all of the days we spent driving to the best speech therapist I could find and all of the evenings we spent working on your flashcards because I just knew you were going to get it; I couldn't wait to hear your voice.

No amount of planning, studying, and reading can ever fully prepare anyone for the ride that is first time motherhood. The early days with you taught me that sometimes life is more beautiful when you surrender control. You were this tiny, perfect human, that I loved more fully than I could ever have imagined possible. You challenged me in ways that I had never been challenged before. There were a lot of things I didn't know (how on earth would I ever have time to keep my house clean? Why oh why did you always wake up 45 minutes into a nap?! Should I get dressed and put makeup on every day if I'd inevitably just end up with spit up down my shirt and stuck inside all day long?) but the one thing I did know was this: You were made for me.

From the first moment I held you in my arms four years ago, I was completely in love. I felt such a deep connection and bond with you and those feelings haven't waivered with time. You've changed so much in the past four years, but sometimes I still see traces of the baby you once were. You're a cautious boy who thinks things through before acting. You're loving and kind and you have such a good heart. You're nurturing to your little sister. You're very smart and intuitive. You're thoughtful and sensitive. You have a great sense of humor. You're so many things that make me proud of who you are, Camden.

You're in preschool now, which is such a huge milestone and one that filled both of us with some anxiety initially. But you've adjusted so well and it warms my heart to hear you ask if you can go to school on a random Saturday morning. When I drop you off in the morning, your teachers tell me that they've seen big changes in you over the last couple of months; you're more confident and comfortable in the classroom. You're growing up, buddy. You know what else? You rarely remember to hug me goodbye before heading into your classroom. Instead of making me feel sad, your eagerness to start the day and your confidence walking away from me with the knowledge that I will never be too far makes me so proud of you. My goodness, you've come such a long way.

Sometimes we sit together in the evenings and play games on the Kindle. The other night, while we were in the middle of an intense game of Ant Smasher, I said to you, "Camden, I really like you." And I meant that. I love you of course, and you know that, but I like you so much too. I like who you are and I like the glimpses I get of the person you're becoming. I just enjoy your company so much. You didn't seem to think my declaration was too strange, as you continued to smash ants while responding, "I like you too, Mommy."

Happy fourth birthday to my first born- the one who made me a mommy and the one who taught me that there is so much beauty to be found in the imperfections of life. I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine and I will always be your biggest fan.

Love,
Mommy

It's that time again...

Yes, it's almost Camden's birthday time. But more on that later. For now, it's time for an updated interview with Camden. Click below to view:

Interview with Camden: 4 years old

14 months, road trips, and Halloween

Macey Jean,

Happy 14 months to you! You took a road trip with Mommy and Nan last weekend and you did such a great job. Our first stop was Richmond, VA so that you could meet your great-grandmother. You charmed her and your great-uncle while we were there (they both said you look like a little china doll). We ate lunch at Great Grandma's kitchen table and you turned to her seated next to you and said, "Hiiii." Then we ran around outside in her big back yard and watched you collect countless leaves. We had a nice time and you went with the flow in your typical carefree manner.

We continued our girls' road trip by heading up to Northern VA-- Mommy's hometown. You found the hotel luggage cart to be particularly exciting and enjoyed running back and forth between our connecting hotel rooms. Mommy had to attend her childhood best friend's baby shower later that day and Nan brought you at the end of the shower so you could meet everyone. Once again, you handled walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces with ease. Everyone loved meeting you and couldn't believe how petite you are at 14 months old.

Unfortunately, our road trip happened to coincide with the time change, so after a not-so-great night of hotel sleep, our day began at 5:30am on Sunday morning. I'll admit that was my least favorite part of the trip, but overall? You get an A+ for being a great and easygoing travel companion. Thankfully, Daddy and Camden met us at Nan and Pop's boat house on Sunday afternoon and you took a 3 hour nap while Mommy crashed on the couch. We both felt much better afterwards and you mercifully decided that 5:30am is not an ideal wake time for either of us.

Now, a few quick 14 month stats:

• According to my home scale, you are weighing in at 17 lbs, 12 oz.
• You now have 6 teeth-- 4 on the top, 2 lone teeth on the bottom.
• You have transitioned to one nap a day at 12:45pm. This nap usually lasts around 2 hours.
• Bed time is now 7:45pm. You normally wake between 7-8am.
• You're a bit more adventurous with food now, but I still have a hard time getting any fruits and veggies in you. I primarily get veggies in you by mixing them with mac & cheese. Whatever works, right?
• You play much more interactively with Camden now. Often while I'm making dinner in the evenings, you two are riding little push cars around the house, chasing after each other and squealing.
• You talk a lot. I had a running list of words you can say, but I lost count over the last few weeks. If I had to guess, I'd say you have between 30-40 words right now.
• You are starting to combine two words here and there! You say, "Hi Daddy", "Bye Daddy" and "good girl". You amaze me with your verbal abilities.

And finally, we can't forget Halloween. You were only a couple months old for Halloween last year, so you really got to experience trick-or-treating for the first time this year. You weren't very interested in going up to people's doors to get candy (your awesome brother, cousins, and neighbors collected extra candy for you), but you were very interested in running up and down the street in your Minnie costume while holding your pumpkin bucket. And yes-- your Minnie ears miraculously stayed in place.

 

With my Ninja Turtle & Minnie Mouse.

 

Nan & Pop trick-or-treated too.

The trick-or-treating gang.

Minnie on the loose!

 

Minnie's stash.

And one of the boys.

 

 

 

Happy 14 months, my sweet girl. You are so very, very loved.

 

Love,

Mommy