My first...

So I think my mom started this blog so that she could share things about me with our friends and family - especially those in NC and NE that aren't around all the time. I think her intentions were and are to share a lot of my firsts...you know, first words, first steps, first day of school, etc.

Well tonight I had a first that I felt like you all should know about...my first trip to Krispy Kreme!!! It really was torture being there and smelling those wonderful doughnuts being made and not being able to eat one. I tried persuading mom by telling her that since the "hot now" sign was on they would melt in my mouth and I didn't really need teeth to eat them, but she wasn't buying it. I think she just didn't want to share her doughnut with me...

I did manage to wear the famous hat and I must say, I make it look good...

I really tried for that doughnut...it was just out of reach. Mom kept dangling it in my face but I just don't have that hand eye coordination thing down to a science quite yet...


I did manage to get my hands on those wonderful toys mom always brings when we go out...I think she calls them feet...they are great fun!!!





I did manage to get my hands on daddy's coffee though, and it was fabulous...if I'd only been washing down that doughnut!!!

Look at me!!!

Since I am well on my way to becoming a big boy and it won't be but another couple of weeks or so until I get my first taste of something other than milk, mom and dad decided to give my big boy chair a test run.

Mommy's constantly reading all of these "advice" books, websites, magazine articles, etc. to get ideas for what to expect in my ever changing stages of life. Most of the good advice she's gotten though has come from her friends that are mommies and have been there, done that. She's in a mommies group here in Dallas and one of her new friends recommended that she not wait to introduce the high chair and the new food all at the same time - it might be over load to my otherwise not very exposed to lots of things self. Which is a good idea - I tend to have sensory overload on regular occasion. So we're going to do at least one meal a day in the big boy chair between now and my 6 month birthday when I get to start eating rice cereal (which my cousin Jay says is fabulous!).

I wanted to share with you how well I did with the experience. Really though, take one look at me, I don't really care where I am eating, as long as I am eating. She could probably stand me on my head and as long as that bottle is in my mouth I am good to go.

I also like to kick my legs - a lot - all the time - even when I am eating. I figure...why wait until the pounds are packed on to start working out. I say, work it off as it's going in...stay ahead of the game, that's my motto!

Check it out!


I'm a Big Boy! from Mandy Jo on Vimeo.

I am sure that there will be lots of things to post in the next few weeks, but definitely check back toward the end of September so you'll get to see how I well I've learned to handle the solid food - and to see how well mom and dad have learned to feed it to me!

At the Zoo

Yesterday we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. My Granna Jane is in town for a visit so we've decided now would be a great time to see the sites of DFW.

Since I spent most of the day in my carrier seat locked into my stroller...all I really got to see were all the different tree tops and an occasional ceiling or two when we toured an indoor exhibit.

I did get to see the bears and I loved them. Mom took a video of me and the bears but unfortunately, we can't figure out how to turn it so it's right side up. So if you'd like to see the video of me and the bears, tilt your head to the left and hit the play button below...


Brown Bear, Brown Bear from Mandy Jo on Vimeo.

Just a quick hello from Mandy Foster on Vimeo.

Am I cute or what?

You have to see this...

Last night I was going through some pictures on my camera so I could send some to NC for Oma and Granna and I thought I would share these two with all of you...

Since Camden's arrival, we've been taking his picture each month next to Ryan's old Pound Puppy, Freckie. I thought it would be nice to have a "sentimental measuring stick" next to him in each of the pictures. I've planned to take a picture each month until at least his one year mark (but maybe until he's two) and then catalog them all in his scrapbook. I thought it would be neat to go back and see the monthly progression of his growth and development.

Little did I know that the growth between months 2 and 3 would be quite so dramatic. Take a look...

Camden at 2 Months:
















Camden at 3 months:




















My friend Judy didn't see him very much between these two shots because of all of the moving to TX and traveling to NC so when she saw him at three months, she thought I had picked up the wrong baby sometime while I was in NC and brought a completely different kid back to Dallas.

But I'm sure he's mine...he's already sporting an attitude like the one I know I had when I was a kid...I've heard the stories over and over. Most of the time he's a perfect angel - sweet like I'm sure his daddy was when he was a kid - but he has his moments and I can't even get upset with him because I know he comes by it honest. =)

I just thought I'd share the pictures from when he was 2 months old and he was below the 3rd percentile for his weight and height. Now he's over 14 pounds and all the way up to the 30th for weight and 50th for height - it's true...things really are bigger in Texas!!!

What I Wouldn't Do...

Back "in the day" when I didn't have any kids and it seemed that all of my friends did, I enjoyed watching how they interacted with their children and I can remember all of the times I said to myself..."when I have kids..." Many of them had wonderful ideas on discipline, scheduling, potty training, etc. and I remember taking mental notes on a lot of things.

But it's also amazing what you think you will do, what you plan to do, what you say you will never do and then what ends up happening when you're in the driver's seat.

One of the things that I said I would never do - "the bragging competition."

I remember listening to friends, coworkers, acquaintances, etc. go on and on about the amazing accomplishments of their children. It was almost like there was some secret competition going on between them and they couldn't admit they were always trying to "one-up" each other. "My kid is talking...can you believe that...only 9 months old and already quoting Shakespeare." Which would be met with the reply, "That's really amazing (cue the rolling eyes)...my child is doing really well in his Little Gym class. His teacher thinks he'll be ready for the Olympic games in 2016 - he'll be the youngest gymnast in history!" OMG - give me a break!

I had already planned all of my well timed and well rehearsed remarks for when the day came that my conversations included comments like these from other moms.

For example, when Ms. Supermommy decides to inform me how her child only drinks organic juices and looks down her nose at my Juicy Juice juice box, my response will be..."good, they'll wash down those crackers she just ate off the sidewalk quite nicely."

When "Little Joey" is talking up a storm and Camden hasn't said a word, I'll just inform the crowd that he can talk too, he just doesn't want to show off.

And when push comes to shove, I'll just ask the doting mom if she'd just like to arm wrestle for the title "Mother of the Year" and settle it once and for all.

Yes...famous last sarcastic words.

Now that Camden is here and he's doing all of these really cute and amazing things...I totally get it. Not that rolling over is such a big deal when you look at the entire picture of things he'll probably accomplish in his lifetime, but considering all he's done up to this point is lay on his back and stare at the ceiling, rolling over is quite amazing - and I don't mind telling everyone I can about it.

His new favorite pastime is to have some of his "tummy time" inside his Boppy. He loves being able to look around.

Millie will often lay down in front of him and they just lay there and look at each other. I've got to get a picture of that...


He also makes this hilarious noise with his mouth - it's combination of shrieking and blowing a strawberry and it even makes him laugh when he does it. And that laugh is just intoxicating. I thought the smile was enough to send me over the edge, but that laugh just makes me melt.

He's by no means walking, talking, or even sitting up unassisted quite yet (believe me, if he was you'd have already heard about it and seen pictures posted here) but he is spending every day being the most amazing and adorable kid on the planet.

And yes, I know that all of you other moms just had the knee jerk reaction to "one up" me on that one with thoughts on your kid...and I totally agree - and that's the beauty of it. Because each one of us is so in love with our own kid and know just how amazing they are, we all want the world to know that we are the parent of "the most amazing and adorable kid on the planet." Which means that my child will get to grow up surrounded by all of your wonderful and amazing kids...and that's definitely something to brag about.