I have a confession to make...about a month ago I really started to worry about my ability to love two kids "equally". I just wasn't sure I could juggle having two and making sure that one or the other didn't get the shaft when it comes to my time, my attention, and especially my patience. To make matters worse...Camden is such a good kid. Don't get me wrong, he has his "two year old issues" like any other kid...but he's always been a good sleeper, a good eater, and an all around pretty "textbook" baby. (If you're familiar with "The Baby Whisperer" and my personality, you'll know that's a good thing.) I honestly thought that if Alison wasn't quite so textbook and took too much of the the time, patience, etc. that I have for him away, then I was essentially "cheating" on him.
Then she arrived...and I quickly realized that just when you think you've been giving all of your love to someone, you find that you have the capacity to love even more.
I knew this was true when Ryan and I went from being "a couple" to being "a family" but I really thought that it was because the love was different. I had all of this new love for Camden b/c I love him in a totally different way than I love Ryan. But I love my kids with the same kind of love...so I was worried that there wouldn't be enough love to go around. It's amazing how love is just multiplied without any effort on the part of the parent or the child - that there's connection that exists that bears no explanation b/c there really is no way to explain it.
Don't get me wrong, I know there will be many moments when even though I love my children, I really don't like them very much (it happens most often during her 2 a.m. scream fests or when he's having one of his "two year old issues" I mentioned earlier) and I know that because my children are different, I will love them differently. But it's great to know that while I love Ryan with all my heart, there's more than enough love remaining in that heart to go around for the kiddos too.
I am totally in love - with my husband, my kids, and my Jesus (who gives me the strength to get through the scream fests and the "issues") and it just keeps multiplying everyday!
Ryan's mom was in town this past weekend for a "pre-Alison" visit with Camden. Since she's soooo much better about taking pictures than I am, I swiped these from her camera to share with you...
Camden in his new Nemo suit - a handmedown from a friend - he would leave it on 24/7 if I would let him.
A booty shot of Nemo...
Camden in his kitchen -
a future Food Network star in the making
Granna and Camden in what will hopefully be our last snow of the season!
The next posting may be to announce Alison...we're two weeks from the due date. Keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you posted!!!
Away went the engine without looking back...and we were on it!!!
Yesterday, our child learned that we are the coolest parents...ever. In fact, he told us about a hundred times using that very word - "cool". It was intermixed with another 100 uses of the word "awesome" - so all in all, we felt pretty good about our decision to take him to ride Thomas the Tank Engine for his birthday rather than getting him another toy (which he needs like he needs a hole in his head...seriously, we're running out of room to peacefully exist in our house b/c half of it looks like a Toys R Us and the other half looks like a Babies R Us!).
We started off the morning in the giant inflatable Thomas bounce house and it just got better from there. From everything to playing with the wooden train sets in the Imagination Station Tent to meeting and getting his picture made with Sir Topham Hatt to actually riding on the train, the morning was just full of one giant smile after another. It certainly made the day even more special for him to share this adventure with his friend, Amanda with whom he does just about everything. Her mom, Kristina, and I think it'll be absolutely adorable to have all of these pictures for their "wedding slide show" about 30 years from now. :o)
After the train ride we came back to the house for a cookout with some friends and a Thomas the Tank birthday cake to round out the day's festivities. He loved being sung "Happy Birthday" to by all of our guests...and even waited for us to sing to him again when he had another slice of leftover cake at dinner that night. Here are a few pictures from the day and a link to the Picasa Album with all of them. Enjoy!!!
Our little engineer playing at the Thomas Table
Camden and Amanda enjoying a snack together before the train ride.
So my mom was in town the past 5 days and I've (along with some major assistance from Ryan) worked my @$$ off to get the nursery put together. How'd that turn out, you ask? Well, the room is painted (rejuvenate green and tuti fruiti pink) and the new blinds are up...but the crib is in pieces and the changing table is still on order. I'm not stressing...I've got 45 days left to get it all done - unless of course she decides to show up early like Camden did...in which case, I'm down to 34 days. :o) Still, plenty of time to get it all accomplished, right?
The main reason for my posting today is to share a picture with you of Camden. The other (more way fun) thing that we did while mom was here was to get our maternity photo session checked off the infamous "to do" list. Debbie Anderson of Polka Dot Cottage Photography took our pics by the canals at the Omni Mandalay in Las Colinas. She's still working on getting them all posted to her gallery, but she sent me this one and I just had to share it with you. I know I am biased, but this kid is ridiculously adorable...must've gotten that attribute from his daddy.
Once she's gotten them all done and we've placed and received our order, I'll have a whole CD full that I can post and share with you. Debbie will also do the newborn session in April once Alison's arrived (before she's 2 weeks old) so there'll be more on the way after the big day. We'll keep you posted...but for now, there's a storage unit assembly job calling my name!!!
Last Thursday we were able to witness "Dallas weather history" as we got a record breaking 12 1/2" of the white stuff in just a 24 hour period. Moving here after four years in Nebraska still means it's not the most I've seen at once, but still...enough to put "life on hold" as they figure out how to manage all of the issues that come along with snow in a place that doesn't regularly get any.
It's actually quite amusing to watch how people in Dallas drive (and I use that term loosely) in inclement weather as opposed to watching people in Omaha who have been doing it since they got their license. Fortunately, the good thing about snow in Dallas is that even with a record breaking amount, it was back in the 40s a couple of days later (with temps in the 60s forecast for this week) and the only remnants still around are the few pitiful piles where some pretty impressive snowmen once stood. This is actually my favorite kind of snow - pretty coming down, it's warm enough to play in it for a day or so, and then it all melts away.
Speaking of playing in it...that's exactly what we did. Camden loved the snow and once we got outside, he had no interest in going back in. We mostly played on the swings in the backyard and threw the ball around. He also liked making snowballs to throw for Millie to catch. Here are some pics from our snow adventures...I have some video too but I am currently searching for the cable to hook the camera up to the computer to get it off...I'll keep searching but enjoy these in the meantime.
It's been 34 days since my last posting...my sincerest apologies...
In my defense, I was without a computer for 10 or more days of those 34 so you should at least cut me a little slack. My laptop was possessed by the devil or something b/c we couldn't get it to do anything except get halfway through the boot-up process before beeping, freezing and then just sitting there. Ryan had to lay hands on it (and install a new hard drive) but now all is right with the world and I am back to the land of Facebook, Blogspot and Gmail on a regular basis.
My second defense is that January was just plain boring...there wasn't that much to write about. After the whirlwind December we had - full of parties, gifts, trips home to NC - it seemed as though all we did in January was hang around the house and "recover" from the previous month. I had a couple of OB appointments - one included the ultrasound where I learned that I DO NOT still have placenta previa (yeah!!!) and I don't have to schedule a planned C-section for baby #2. We also learned that Baby #2 is still a girl...which was a relief since I've already sorted through more than 14, 28-gallon totes full of girls clothes that have been given to me by my generous friends - not to mention that my pal Kristina had already ordered the extremely girlie shower invitations. :o)
Camden has, for the most part, spent the entire month eating. Literally...I have no idea where he puts all of this food. I am starting to think that his legs are hollow. Seriously...one morning he had 3 bowls of oatmeal, a cereal bar, 2 clementines, and a bowl of cereal before I cut him off. I know all the "experts" tell you that kids his age should just be allowed to self-regulate in their food consumption, but I had to cut him off...we were running out of food for the next day! His other new "trick" is to count to three himself when he knows that he's doing something he shouldn't be. For example, tonight he stood up on the sofa and when I looked at him and told him to choose knees or bottom, he responded by saying, "one...two...sit" and then promptly sat down. Of course Ryan and both busted out laughing, which warranted the response, "I'm funny" from our precious child.
It's safe to say that there's just not a lot going on around here...which is kinda nice considering how much will be going on around here in just a few short weeks. It's hard to believe we're only 9 weeks away from the due date. We're getting pretty excited - I was hesitant in the beginning, but the more dresses, bows and shoes I receive from friends, the more excited I get about having more than just jeans and tshirts in the clothing rotation. Camden, for his part, is pretty excited about having a baby at our house too. I don't know how much he really understands, but if I point to my belly and ask him who that is he always replies, "As-uhn" and then leans in to kiss my belly...and gets upset if I don't let him "kiss the baby". I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this sweet spirit he has now will continue even after she arrives.
I promise to get some pictures posted soon too - we have our pregnancy photo session coming up mid-month while my mom is here to visit (this way she can wrangle Camden while we get the shots that he won't be included in) and then of course there's Camden's birthday in March so I am sure we'll have lots of pictures to share from our train ride with Thomas. Above all else, I promise not to go another 34 days without posting something so check back soon for all of the "not so exciting" things that are going on around here! :o)
Just wanted to wish each of you a very happy new year and nothing but blessings for 2010. We are currently still in our pajamas having just enjoyed our 2nd breakfast of the day, reading books and playing Memory with two of the most adorable 21 month old boys you've ever seen, and listening to the ocean rolling in the background. Is there a better way to start a new year?
We head back to Dallas tomorrow and I promise there'll be pictures of Christmas and the beach trip posted eventually.
For now, enjoy your own New Year's day and may 2010 be the best year ever!!!
