It's official. My baby is no longer a baby but a full blown toddler. On 11/12, Camden turned 2. Yes 2!!!!!!!! How that's possible I don't even know. But in the blink of an eye our baby is gone and in his place is a smart, sweet, independent little boy who has a lot to say these days!
Camden was so excited to turn 2. We talked about his birthday for weeks leading up to it. He has been practicing so hard on how to hold just his index finer and middle finger up so he can show everyone he's 2! Whenever someone would ask how old he was going to be he'd say 'I be 2!' very excitedly!! :) We celebrated all weekend long and I think he had a pretty fun filled birthday weekend full of laughter and a whole lotta love!!!! I'll hopefully get the chance to write a post on his birthday celebrations at some point but today I wanted to do a little Camden update. I don't even know where to begin because there's so much to say - so I'll start with the basics.... At his 2 year well child appointment he weighed 24lbs 12.5oz (13%) and was 2'10.25" tall (45%). Oh, and his feet - his feet have been growing like crazy!! I swear he was in a size 4 for quite a while - was only in a size 5 for a very short time - and now wears a size 6 (and probably won't be in them long!!) He wears mostly 18 months clothes - has a couple 12 months pants that still fit - and wears 24 months stuff too - he's really all over the place with sizes actually. He is your typical toddler and hardly eats anything. Right now he'd be happiest if we only allowed him to eat applesauce, grapes, and black olives every day - all day. He really loves his 'milkie' too. He also has quite the sweet tooth (that we keep in check pretty well I think.) He LOVES donuts more than anything (hint - he had a donut tower cake instead of a regular birthday cake at his party because that's what he wanted!) The child talks NON-STOP. Seriously. Matt and I are pretty quiet people so this is new to us :) If he's not talking he's singing or humming to himself. He talks in full sentences and has great manners. He knows his ABCs, his colors, shapes, and can count to 20. He has great number recognition (through 10) and recognizes most of the letters as well. He loves Elmo, dinosaurs, play doh and superheroes (especially Hulk!) He loves to watch short You Tube videos on Matt's iPad while he does his treatments (and would totally sit and watch for hours if we'd let him!) He loves to run and is seriously non-stop all day, every day!! He was officially diagnosed with asthma so we do 2 nebulizer treatments a day. He is fiercely independent - it's amazing and frustrating all at the same time :) But I'm also pretty proud of him for it. He is so incredibly sweet - he loves his people so much. One of my favorite things is when he asks for a 'family hug.' That's where either Matt or I are holding him and he pulls the other one in for a 'family hug' :) He loves it - but I love it more <3 He is very attached to his binky (still only gets it at bedtime and nap time - except when he's being cranky at daycare and then she gives in and gives it to him - argh!) and the boppy pillow. He loves to snuggle in our bed in the mornings. He generally sleeps 7:30 - 7 (though some nights he's not asleep until 8 and there are also plenty of mornings he's awake by 6:30...or earlier!!) He takes one long afternoon nap - at daycare it's 2 hours and at home on the weekends we'll occasionally get slightly longer ones as he plays 'catch up,' He still loves to help around the house - helping make coffee, unloading the dishwasher, helping with laundry, putting groceries away, making smoothies and oatmeal, etc. He is seriously funny these days - has a great little sense of humor and makes us laugh every day!! He loves to hide and play hide 'n' seek (and he's actually VERY good at it - will stay there and be quiet - quite impressive for a 2 year old!) He is so incredibly smart - like seriously. I've said it a million times here but it's true. People say it all the time so I know it's not just us. We work with him a lot at home but I also have to give credit to daycare. They do a lot and he's around some older kids (3 year olds) so he learns a lot from them. He loves babies and can't wait for his new baby cousin to arrive. He throws a temper tantrum like no other but is usually calmed down pretty quickly (we usually have him look at us - we tell him to take a deep breath - and then we talk it out/explain things to him.) We continue to talk to him as if he were 6 rather than 2. We've always talked to him a lot, explained ourselves, etc. Right now he does really well when we say 'Ok Camden 2 more minutes.' And then 'Ok Camden - 1 more minute.' etc He also does REALLY well when given a choice in situations where he is upset or could get upset - well really, we like to give him a choice whenever possible - it really helps him. Pretty much he's perfect in our eyes and is so incredibly loved!! I never get sick of hanging out with him and just being around him. Being his mommy is by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I never thought I could love someone like this - and yet every day my love for this little boy grows and grows. Camden Matthew - I love you today...tomorrow...and always.
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*This post idea is 'stolen' from Amanda because I'm not a real blogger so I have to steal real bloggers' topics.
HOME LIFE. Home is where my heart is. I love being home with my M & C. Nothing makes me happier than being with them, hanging out, playing, or doing whatever. I'm a total home-body so obviously home is where I want to be and where I am happiest. Add in a super cute and fun little boy and there is nowhere else I'd rather be. When I'm home and C is awake my full attention is on him. With being a FT working mom my time at home is precious so I've really been trying not to stress about the 'not so fun' home stuff (like cleaning) and focusing more on quality time with him and the hubs. C is at such an amazing age and I just love being around him. It's seriously the best <3 I've also been very busy at home with things like planning C's 2nd birthday, Christmas shopping, and doing as many fun activities as possibly. Home life is busy...but fun!! WORKING MOM LIFE. I hate it. I hate being a working mom. OK I take that back - I HATE being a FULL TIME working mom - I'd love to be a part time working mom. I really think that is the perfect balance. And I'm so jealous of people who get that opportunity. It's really the best of both worlds if you ask me. Even almost two years into this I haven't accepted the fact that this is my life. It's hard - it's really, really hard - harder than anyone realizes I think. I think it'd be easier if my job wasn't so demanding or stressful. I work a lot - too much - and I really hate that. So this part of my life is my biggest struggle - always has been and always will be. I'll never be a stay at home mom nor will I ever be able to work part time. So I keep pluggin' away and doing the best I can with what I've got to work with. FITNESS LIFE. I've mentioned a few times on here that I've been slacking in the fitness area of my life. I still work out just not as much as I always had. Once I'm at the gym - it's all good. It's just getting there lately that's been hard. I think I've been thinking about it too much. I just have to treat it like any other 'appointment' and just get it done and over with. Related to all this is also the fact that I've been eating like crap. I am your classic stress eater. And boy have I been stressed lately. So not only do I need to get back on track with my workouts but also my eating. FOOD LIFE. Let's see. I've really been into fish tacos and BLT salad. These are definitely my two favorite meals right now and they've been on our menu every week for the last few months probably. But now that the weather is cooling down I'm looking forward to soups and stews. We did have chili on Monday and it was sooooo good. I am also really looking forward to roasting squash (acorn and butternut squashes are my favorite!) more often. On a much less healthy topic - give me all the salted caramel foods you got. My favorite late night snack has been lactose free vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with a little bit of coarse sea salt. I am legitimately obsessed!! Oh and DD - you've done it again - salted caramel coffee - Mmm Mmm Yes Please!! TV LIFE. With the temps cooling down all I want to do at night (instead of working out) is to snuggle on the couch, watch TV, and eat ice cream (see above!) Whenever we get the chance we still binge watch Homeland. I don't even know what season we're on but I do know the last few episodes we watched weren't that good so hopefully that changes. At the gym (ya know....when I actually go...) I've been watching Chicago Med or This Is Us. Watching TV is the only way I get through cardio at the gym...anyone else with me on that?!?! C LIFE. C is pretty much amazing - I mean I know I'm his mom and all and therefore I'm biased but seriously - he's incredible. He's smart. He's independent. He's funny. He's sweet. And he is quite the little man these days (seriously, my baby is gone...*cue big fat alligator tears*) He counts. He sings. He talks NON-STOP. He is constantly running (in fact I don't think he ever walks these days LOL) He has quite the sense of humor and loves to tease us. He has become quite a picky eater and would eat only applesauce and maple syrup if we let him. He also has quite the sweet tooth and loves going on donut dates with mom and bagel dates with dad. He is obsessed with band aids and typically has at least 3 or 4 somewhere on his body ha-ha Basically he's my favorite and the love I have for him is more than I EVER imagined (and grows more and more every day - how that's possible I don't even know <3) And there ya have it - a little life update... So here we are - Thursday. So I'm jumping on the confession bandwagon... I CONFESS... ~ I bought a Starbucks soy salted caramel mocha frappucino (no whip) yesterday and it was life changing. Seriously worth every single calorie. And if I were rich and had the money to support that habit daily I totally would!! So, so good! ~ I am still totally lacking in the workout department. I used to work out 5-6 times a week and now I'm lucky if I can force myself to do it 4 times a week. ~ I had a donut date with this little man this morning and it totally made my day. ~ We've had another scary week with Camden and his breathing. He has always struggled with breathing - wheezy, crackly, etc. But if you remember about a month ago we had a REALLY scary experience. When we had gone to the doctor the pediatrician at the office diagnosed him with asthma. But when we went the following day to his regular pediatrician he didn't want to call it asthma. So Tuesday I got a call from daycare that his breathing was really bad again. I took him to the doctor immediately and his oxygen level was down to 91/92. At that point he was 'officially' diagnosed with asthma. So right now he's on an oral steroid and nebulizer treatments with albuterol. Then after that we will have to do a morning and evening nebulizer treatment with a different type of steroid until further notice. Hopefully with us treating the asthma we shouldn't have any more episodes. Definitely scary and I HATE seeing my baby sick :( ~ I am totally obsessed with the jean jacket I got on sale from Old Navy a couple weekends ago. I've worn it so many different ways and would totally wear it every day if I could :) Today I'm wearing it with a fun skirt, a simple t-shirt and my black wedges - perfect for a warm fall day!! ~ I bought these booties. And I gotta say they are not comfortable at all. Like they hurt at my ankle/shin because there isn't a sock there to protect that area. That was my biggest fear with booties and it came true. Am I wearing them wrong? Or is that just the way booties are? Please help!! I really want to wear these more because other than that issue I love 'em - they look great with leggings, skinny jeans, and even skirts and dresses so I know I'd get a lot of use of them.
So it's almost a year later - but I just realized I never did a post about C's 1st birthday (what sorta mom am I?!?!) So here ya go - better late than never, right?! :)
We went with a ball theme and kept everything simple...I think it was a pretty darn cute birthday party if I do say so myself. C did great the entire time and enjoyed his cupcake (with a little guidance from mom and dad!) I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.... Lately, I've really been trying to update my wardrobe and get some new things. I rarely buy myself clothes - and when I do it seems like it's always a lounge/comfy shirt or some plain ol' t-shirts. So I really want to invest in some key pieces that I can wear not only to work but also on the weekends. I purchased a pair of booties (may need to exchange for a smaller size though) and have plans to buy some over-the-knee boots, as well as a jean jacket, military vest, and some colored skinny jeans/pants.
Here are a few of my favorite fall inspired outfits (all found on my Pinterest board!) Dear working mom,
I see you getting up day in and day out trying to find that balance. I see you trying to do the best you can and it never being quite enough. I see you trying to be the best employee you can be AND the best mom you can be. But you can't be both at the same time. But you'll keep trying. I see you struggling with the guilt of being a working mom. I understand what it's like when you want nothing more than to be there for your child 24/7....but sometimes you just can't. I know how hard (and SCARY!) it is to drop your child off at daycare every day. I know the heart break you feel when you go to leave and your little one is crying and there is NOTHING you can do about it. I feel your exhaustion, no matter how many hours of sleep you get. I understand how guilty and sad it makes you feel when you constantly hear 'well I didn't have to deal with that - I was home with my kids.' I know how sad you feel when you think about how much you're missing out on because you work. I know that's a difficult pill to have to swallow. I know how lonely it can feel at times. It seems like everyone else around you either stays home, or only works part time, or has more people around to help them. But you're not alone. I see you wipe your tears away quickly and paste a smile on your face as you go into work each day. You are strong and do what needs to be done. I know how overwhelming it is for both parents to juggle a stressful, demanding job that requires a lot of hours. I know how heavy the weight of the world feels on your shoulders - trying to do it all - trying not to fail - trying to just keep up. But listen. You're not alone. I feel you - I understand you. You're doing the best you can - every minute of every day. You're not perfect but you're trying. You're trying to keep it all together. You ARE a good mom. You ARE a good employee. You ARE a good wife. You ARE a good person. And, most importantly, your child LOVES you unconditionally. What you're doing IS enough. So keep on truckin' along. Keep your head held high. And keep on doin' what you're doin' (oh - and don't forget the coffee and wine...LOTS & LOTS of coffee and wine!!!) Another weekend in the books. Seriously, why do the weekends fly by? We are trying to soak up as much summer as we can - and of course, our almost 2 year old keeps up on our toes every second :) There is never a dull moment in our house.. By the time Fridays roll around we're all beat. I picked up a pizza on my way home for dinner, C went to bed, and then Matt and I spent the evening watching Homeland. We are seriously OBSESSED!! Saturday morning I got up early and got my 6 mile run in. As soon as I got home Matt left to work out so C and I just played and hung out together. As soon as Matt got home we all showered up and headed down to my parents. C took a nap on the way down so he was ready for a fun filled day. My sister and brother-in-law were away so my parents were watching my nephew. The boys had lunch together (well attempted - ya know...toddlers and eating...I'm not sure how much either actually ate) but anyways, after lunch we headed to a local petting zoo. Seriously, C was in HEAVEN!!! He hasn't stopped talking about it. We had so much fun and both boys got a pony ride!! If you ask C what his favorite animal was he'll say 'yak' (yes, there was a baby yak there - soooo adorable!) My nephew fell asleep on the way back to my parents house so we ended up just heading home, which was good because C ended up taking another nap on the ride up. We ran a couple errands then headed home in time for a quick dinner. Sunday was a doozy of a day let me tell ya....C was up really early and was CRANKY!! Matt also woke up with pink eye so our Sunday was off to a great start :/ Matt headed to urgent care and by 8am C was in his stroller and we were off for a loooong walk. He ended up falling asleep for about 20-30 minutes. While Matt waited for his prescription he grocery shopped so he got home around 9:15-ish or so. Then he headed back out for open gym at his Crossfit box. C and I played, went to the park, and he helped me with some food prep and laundry. He has always loved helping us out and I think it's the cutest thing ever - he truly loves being a big boy and helping us out. He was still pretty cranky throughout the morning and really just wanted to be held. Once Matt got home we fed C an early lunch and he was asleep around 12:20-ish. He ended up sleeping until 3:20 which gave Matt time to do some work for his classroom and do some other things around the house & for me to finish the food prep AND get to the gym!! We had some ice cream for a little afternoon treat and spent the rest of the day playing and being outside. We grilled up some burgers for dinner and enjoyed dinner outside (oh wow I'm going to miss eating outside once the weather turns cold!!) C was in bed early - we finished up some stuff for the week - and Matt and I were in bed shortly after 9 (yes, we're old....) And that's a wrap...another weekend in the books!! What did you do?
We had quite the busy long weekend. It was a lot of fun but let me tell ya - we're all exhausted. Saturday morning Matt and Camden joined me for the first 3 miles of my run. It was perfect running weather and I loved running with my family. I continued on for 3 more miles and Matt headed home with C. After our run, we all got ready for the day and headed to Springdale Farm. This is a local farm owned by Monroe County but ran by a local not-for-profit. Camden had a BLAST seeing all the animals - he was in his glory let me tell ya!! :) We then headed to my parents for a cookout with them and my sister. After dinner we headed to Dansville to watch the balloons. We got home, I cut Matt's hair, and whipped up two desserts for the next day's festivities. On Sunday we were up and getting ready pretty early. I cut Camden's hair and then we were off to Matt's parents' house for their first annual family reunion. It was an absolute blast!!! Camden LOVED being around all his cousins and second cousins and EVERYONE and especially loved the bounce house and the pool!!! You should have seen this kid - he had the best day EVER!!!! I don't think I took any pictures that day because we were all too busy having fun!! We were all exhausted and as soon as we got home Matt and I settled in for a couple episodes of Homeland. Monday Camden woke up sleepy and miserable. We had plans to go to the lake and hang out with some of Matt's Crossfit people but decided against it since Camden was clearly off schedule and needed to just stay home. He took two good naps that day and by the end of the day was acting more like his happy self. During his afternoon nap I went to visit my grandpa in the hospital and then came home to take a nap myself since C was still sleeping (big shout out to my hubs for doing all our food prep for the week while I was a lazy bum and slept ha-ha) We just spent the rest of the day at home getting things done and playing.
It's been a CRAZY couple weeks let me tell ya. So a little (I mean long) recap of what's been going... Starting August 18th I was officially on vacation with my little family. So that Thursday the three of us headed to a local amusement park. It was a gorgeous day and we all had a blast! Since that was also our 4th wedding anniversary, once C was in bed we cooked a delicious meal together and had a bonfire, complete with s'mores!! It was a great start to our little 'staycation.' Friday morning we met up with my parents and nephew and spent the morning boating. It was another gorgeous day and we all had a lot of fun enjoying the weather and boating. After naps, we hung out at my parents house. The boys are at great ages (they are only 7 months apart!) and really love being around each other and playing. Saturday we had my friend's daughter's 1st birthday party and then we headed to Saratoga to visit Matt's oldest sister. Sunday we just hung around the house and the cousins all played together. The weather wasn't great but it was so nice to have a relaxing day just hanging out. During C's nap we took our niece and nephew out for ice cream which was a treat for all of us. We really love spending time with all our nieces and nephews! On Monday morning the three of us headed to the race track and walked around downtown Saratoga. We later met up with Matt's sister and her kids and spent the afternoon and early evening enjoying Lake George. The kids played on the beach, we spent time at the arcade, we ate Polish Water Ice (my fave!) and just had fun!! We left that night around C's bedtime and made the 4 hour drive home. On Tuesday and Wednesday we just hung out around the house - trying to get some things done as well as relax and enjoy being together. On Thursday I went into the office for about an hour before heading to Buffalo for our annual overnight strategic planning event. I hated being away from my boys but so thankful it was only for one night and, of course, thankful for Facetime :) Thursday was our 'fun' day - we were able to tour the naval park on our own and then went on a harbor cruise before enjoying dinner and drinks. Friday was spent in meetings all day before heading home to my little family <3 Saturday was just a regular day. But then Sunday. Sunday was horrible. C woke up and was having trouble breathing. He was wheezing a little but mostly we could see how hard he was working to breathe. We called the doctor and spent over 3 hours in the office. He had 3 nebulizer treatments and a dose of a steroid. He basically slept all morning on me, though not soundly due to difficulty breathing and constant interruptions. We finally got home and saw a huge improvement in his breathing. He ate a quick lunch and was back down for a nap. He was clearly so exhausted from working so hard just to breathe - my poor little baby. It was such a scary day for Matt and I. I am happy to say he is doing much better!!! We were sent home with a nebulizer and continued those treatments on Monday and Tuesday. He will finish up his steroid prescription today. I am so happy to have my sweet baby back and looking forward to this long weekend!!!!
I Confess... ~ the hubs and I both got hit with a stomach bug earlier this week. Then this morning around 2:30 I woke up with a cough and a wicked, wicked sore throat. So, yeah it's been a fun week. ~ Tuesday I could barely walk I was feeling so awful from the stomach bug. But I suffered through my morning at work and then 2 hours of talks about investments offsite (at a super fancy country club)...then proceeded to puke my brains in the bathroom in front of my boss. At that point, yes, I went home. ~ I don't think people realize how intense and non-stop my job is. I'm an Accountant/Accounting Manager. Don't I just sit at my desk all day? Yeah, um, no - not even close people. Not even freakin' close. ~ This little boy is the absolute light of my life. ~ Since I haven't been feeling well all week I haven't eaten much of anything. I'm thinking ice cream for dinner tonight sounds absolutely perfect. Not to mention that would make me the coolest mom ever, right?! ha-ha :)
~ Even though I don't feel so well, I'm thinkin' of hitting up Target tomorrow night in hopes of some sales on summer clothes. I still have some birthday money to spend!!! ~ Matt is bringing Camden to work tomorrow so we can all have lunch together and I am so looking forward to it. I love showing him off to everyone here, not to mention, I love that I'll have that little bit of extra time with him. ~ Matt and I are no longer mama and dada but instead mommy & daddy and it legit makes me so sad. My little baby is growing up WAY, WAY too fast!!!! ~ We have no concrete plans this weekend and after last weekend that EXCITES me like no other. The weather is supposed to be perfect so I'm hoping to maybe go to the Park Ave Fest, the splash pad, and maybe do some blueberry and raspberry picking. What are your plans for this weekend? This past weekend was fun - so, so much fun. And exhausting - so incredibly exhausting. But awesome memories were made. Kids and adults alike had a blast and that's really all that matters. I only worked a half day on Friday. I picked up C from daycare and headed down to my parents house. Camden was going to have a sleepover at Nana & Papa's house!! I hung out there for a couple hours and then headed to pick up our niece and nephew. Their birthday gift this year was a sleepover and some one on one time with Uncle Matt and I. Our first stop...a Red Wings baseball game - complete with pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy, balloon animals and FIREWORKS!!!! It was a late night and the kids were out cold 2 minutes after we left the parking lot!! Saturday morning we all got up around 8;15. We facetimed with our little man quick and just hung out. Matt left to get Camden around 9 and got home shortly after 10. While Matt was gone the kids and I played downstairs. The highlight was blowing up an entire bag of balloons and seeing who could get their balloon the biggest without it popping :) Once C and Matt got home we headed out for donuts! Next on the agenda? The zoo. It was a quick trip but all the kids had fun. Kids and animals go together like PB & J - that's just how it is :) After the zoo we headed home for some lunch and put C down for a nap. During his nap time we watched the movie Tarzan. Once C was up we were off again - this time to Canandaigua to meet up with Matt's sisters and other niece and nephew. We ordered pizza then spent the rest of the time swimming at the hotel pool. All 5 kids are little fish - they seriously had SO much fun!!! We left around C's bedtime and he fell asleep on the way home. Sunday we got up, I gave Camden a haircut, then we all scurried around to get ready so we could be in Canandaigua by 10:30 for a birthday brunch for Matt's mom. I've gotta admit - we were all tired, and having Camden sit long enough to enjoy a meal out is tough. But we survived (barely...) After brunch we attempted to join the rest of the gang for a geocache. But Camden just wasn't having it. He was crying. He was tired. So we cut out early so we could get home. It was a fun weekend but dang were we all exhausted!!
You win some. You lose some. Well let me just tell ya - we've been losing a lot more than we've been winning. The ebbs and flow of life as two working parents. It's hard. And even 20 months into this I still haven't figured it all out. I can't quite find that balance of working a stressful, demanding, exhausting job (that quite honestly I hate!), being the best mom I can (and want to be!), finding time to work on my marriage, staying fit, and finding time for me (oh, I forgot to add in keeping up with the house and family and friends!) Honestly, I don't think I'll ever find that balance - and that's a hard pill to swallow. How do some people do it?!? I need to know their secret :)
And toddlerhood...it's no freaking joke. Matt and I always joked that C was such an easy, perfect baby that toddlerhood was going to be payback. And honestly some days that is totally true. Don't get me wrong - C is still an easy, happy baby most days. But lately we've had some really rough days - the not so glamorous side of kids that people don't talk about. And I get it - the last 4 days he hasn't been feeling well. I understand that and that of course plays a huge part in the rough days we've been having. But he's also your totally normal toddler who gets frustrated, has temper tantrums, doesn't know what he wants (even if he thinks he does), and clings to his mama like no other. So - yeah some days are hard. Like really, really hard. It's amazing to see your tiny newborn grow up a little more each day. For me, that's been one of the most amazing parts of being a mom. And yet on these hard days I remind myself of two things - I WILL miss this one day and it's totally normal. And the funny thing about kids - when you're are at your breaking point...just when you're about to go over the edge your kid will stop, look up at you, give you the biggest smile and bury their head into your shoulder for the sweetest hug and all else is forgotten. It's amazing how they have that ability :) And you go on to fight another day and know you wouldn't give it up for the world (just don't ask me right now if C is going to be a big brother anytime soon LOL) So there ya have it - the not so glamorous side of things. You know me - I don't sugar coat things and I tell it like it is. And yet being a mom is my most favorite thing EVER!! Our weekend was pretty low key. No real plans. It was HOT! HOT! HOT! both days so we stayed inside most of the weekend. C isn't feeling 100% - a constant runny nose, slightly congested, a cough, and super clingy - so a low key weekend was exactly what we needed. Saturday during his nap I went and got my hair done - lightened it up a bit for *what's left of* summer. Then Saturday night Matt went out after C was in bed so I had the evening to myself. So what's a girl to do?! Eat s'more Oreos, drink wine, and watch a chic flick (I rented The Choice - soooo good!!!) Sunday C was pretty miserable and he definitely tested our patience. But he did have fun helping me make some zucchini bread. And he got a surprise visit from Mimi and Pops (who spoiled him with his first t-ball!) Once C was in bed Sunday night I cooked a yummy dinner of grilled chicken and pineapple and also threw some thick slices of yellow squash on the grill for a yummy, healthy summer dinner. And that's pretty much it for us - not the most exciting weekend but hey - it was still good!!
Hoppin' back on the Confessions train this Thursday... I CONFESS: I forgot my cell phone at home today and I feel very lost without it. I've already started thinking about Christmas. I created my Christmas 2016 tab on my Excel budget worksheet and I've already started putting down ideas for people. And I hope to start Christmas shopping next month! Camden's favorite treat is a donut. He is his mother's child :) I'm stressing out already about C's 2nd birthday party. I've picked a theme - animals because if you know him you know how obsessed he is - but I just don't know how big or small to make the party. I'm getting my hair done Saturday and I freakin' cannot wait. I'm excited - and READY - for a change!! That everyday Camden makes me a super proud mama. He is getting so big and though I hate that he's growing up, seeing him learn and grow is just so amazing. He's so smart (I know, I know every parent think their kid is the smartest!) He has such good manners. And he's sweet - he is soooo, soooo sweet. I am soaking up these days let me tell ya. I started using essential oils with Camden and I'm a believer. I can't wait to start experimenting with others. I was never on the bootie (shoes I'm talkin' about...) bandwagon. I thought they were ugly. But these - these have changed my mind. What do you confess?
Two of our PR guys here at work started their own photography and videography business a few months ago. If you remember, back in May they did Camden's 18 month photos. So last week when one of the guys asked if I was interested in doing a mommy and me photo shoot (for free since they'd be using the pics to advertise) I jumped at the opportunity!! It was a casual shoot - just Camden and I being us...playing, laughing, and being goofy - they are all perfectly imperfect :) He got some cute shots and I'm so happy to have these photos!!
This past weekend was fantastic. The weather was perfect. We had no real plans. We laughed. We played. We caught up on life. It was glorious and for that I am thankful.
I got a 6 mile run in Saturday morning before the boys were out of bed. After that we played and just hung out. At 11 Camden and I had a 'mommy and me' photo shoot. Once that was finished we came home, ate lunch, and C went down for his nap. During that time I was able to clean the house (which was VERY needed let me tell ya!) After Camden got up we all headed to Sam's for our monthly stock up trip. After Camden went to bed, Matt and I had a date night at home. I actually cooked a 'fancy' dinner (ie not in the crockpot ha-ha) - we sat outside and just talked while we ate - we enjoyed some red wine. It was much needed and it was perfect! Sunday I hit up Pilates as usual then we headed to the zoo. Camden is obsessed with animals and he's at the perfect age for the zoo. His favorite (this time) was probably the baboons!! It is so much fun to see him get so excited and talk about all the animals. Seriously, this age is just the best <3 During nap time, we were able to get more done and I also snuck in a nap since C slept for over 2 hours!!! It was glorious! After nap time, we went outside to play in the sprinkler and water table and were also able to hit up the park before dinner. Camden went down the BIG slide all by himself for the first time and LOVED it!! He did it 3 or 4 more times :) Mama's big boy <3 We finished our prep, I did some banking, and then Matt and I had some time to watch some TV before hitting the sack early. I love summer weekends with my sweet little family <3 Why hello there! Long time no talk. Summer is in full swing over here and it's just so busy all the time!! But I wanted to pop in and give ya'll a little life update - because I'm sure you all care :) But that's the purpose of this blog - right?!?! So anyways, our little family is over here working hard and playing harder! Camden is no doubt a full fledged toddler - he yells, he screams, he runs, and he talks non-stop. He is also just about the sweetest thing ever - he's the best hugger EVER!! He loves the summer just like his mama - being outside is his favorite. He loves to swing, play with water, and just run around. He's pretty dang cute and honestly so much fun - I want to freeze him at this age :) Work is work - you know how it goes. Gotta do what you gotta do. Matt's summer session started this week. It's only 3 weeks long and then he has the rest of the summer off. He has also started coaching CrossFit at the gym he goes to so that's been fun for him. In non work related news, we both got new tattoos a few weeks ago. We've been wanting to get them for years now - but then I got pregnant, and breastfed for over 18 months - so we were finally able to do it together once Camden was fully weaned.
Let's see what else. Oh, I have an appointment next Saturday to get a haircut and highlights and lowlights from an actual salon!! I'm really looking forward to it and excited for something different. Tomorrow Camden and I have a 'mommy and me' photo shoot. A couple of guys I work with started up a photography and videography business so they offered to do a photo shoot for free to use in advertising. So yeah - I'm pretty pumped to get some cute pics with my favorite little man!!! Other than that, life is life. We keep pluggin' away - doing the best we can - and enjoying summer as much as possible!!! On Sunday we had some pictures taken at a local park. The weather was gorgeous. The lilacs were in full bloom. My little man was lookin' extra cute. So without further adieu...
Well today's the day. My baby is one and a half years old. 18 months. 548 days old. How is that even possible? Seriously. Did I not just give birth like yesterday?!?!
We're pretty much obsessed with this little dude. I mean seriously - he's just the best. And this stage? I just love it. He's fun. He's goofy. He understands you. He converses with you. He's smart. He's loving (seriously, he's so freakin' sweet.) But along with all that goodness comes temper tantrums. And frustration. And meltdowns. But luckily, all the good stuff outweighs all that stuff that I could do without. So onto the important stuff... ~ Camden is finally outgrowing most of his 9 month clothes (though today he is weighing size 9 month pants!!) and is in 12 month clothes. He probably weighs about 22-23lbs. He has grown height wise a lot lately!!! ~ he's obsessed with Elmo - like legit obsessed. Where he gets it from I don't know because he doesn't watch Sesame Street. ~ His vocabulary is off the charts. Just this week he has started to put 2 words together, such as "more nana" (more banana) and "me on" (him wanting to turn the light on) and "no thank you." He no longer says 'yeah' but instead a very clear YES!! :) ~ Books - seriously this kid LOVES books. It's the first thing he asks for in the morning and the last thing he wants before bedtime (and pretty much all day too ha-ha...I'm not complaining though!!) ~ He doesn't walk these days - he runs. ~ He loves to be naked. ~ He's obsessed with taking baths, washing his hands, vacuuming, and being outside. ~ His favorite foods are milk, watermelon, eggs, and black olives. ~ He has a preference for things and likes to be given a choice, whether it's what clothes he wears, what he eats, etc. ~ He has recently been obsessed with pillows, which is pretty dang cute if you ask me <3 ~ He is very interested in the potty so we sit him on it a lot. He will even tell us occasionally when he is peeing so hopefully he's easy to potty train (which we'll be doing VERY shortly!!) ~ He has also gotten really attached to his binky, which I don't love. I didn't have a problem with it because he has always just had it at nap time and bedtime. But lately he's been asking for it during the day and whining for it. That pretty much sums him up at this point. I'm sure I've forgotten a ton of things but that's basically my little man right now. We are totally, completely in love with him and think he's the most amazing, cutest, sweetest little boy EVER!! It's official - Mother's Day if my favorite day of the year. I get spoiled. I get to celebrate all the amazing moms in my life. And I take the time to reflect how incredibly grateful I am to be a mama. Seriously, this weekend was the best and exactly what I needed.
Saturday I got up at the crack of dawn and got a 6 mile run in. It was quiet. It was cool (but humid too so that was strange!) It was exactly how I like to start my Saturdays. We then headed down to watch our nephew play baseball (seriously watching 7-9 year olds play baseball is the freakin' cutest!) Then we headed to my sister-in-law's for a late lunch with them. She made a delicious meal, we ate outside, and just enjoyed each other's company. After that we headed to my parents' house to celebrate Mother's Day with them and my sister. We had a great time together and the boys had a BLAST playing <3 On Sunday, I got to sleep in until 7!!!! Camden was so excited to give me my presents. It was the cutest thing ever and of course I cried because seriously - Camden (ahem - my husband) is the best gift giver EVER!! After that, we headed out to breakfast and got home just in time for Camden's morning nap and for me to head to the gym. Camden woke up shortly after I got home, so after a quick snack, I took Camden to the park while Matt grocery shopped. After Camden's afternoon nap we headed down to Matt's parents' house to celebrate Mother's Day with everyone. It was such a fantastic weekend - I couldn't have asked for anything better. Oh, and another reason it was such a perfect day?! I finally did something I've always wanted to....at breakfast we anonymously paid for the older gentleman's breakfast who sat behind us. It was the best feeling ever and I hope to be able to do it again soon. |
AuthorHey ~ I'm Renée...just your ordinary, 30-something Accountant, new mommy, wife, runner, foodie, & Pinterest addict! Welcome to my newest adventure...stay awhile...look around...and keep comin' back! Archives
January 2018
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