Perhaps we should have put her in the bed instead of in her Bumbo seat. And really, I have got to do something about that hair!!!
Click here to see our little sleepy head!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Long awaited photos
Here's a shot of Saturday night "bath time" - other nights of the week we approach bath time with more of a "let's get this over with" attitude...but on Saturdays there are bubbles, toys and social interaction.
Alison loves for Camden to dump water on her head!
Alison loves for Camden to dump water on her head!
Here are a few from the pumpkin patch. A friend of Camden's (and Alison's) had her birthday party here in October. It was great - just hard to get into the "fall" festivities when it's still 90 degrees outside!
A high-five for Tyrone!
And a fist bump for Austin
Picking out our pumpkin
Alison's "bucket pants" say it all...
Farmer Camden
This one is from a dinner out at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.
What else would you do with a kid's meal bag?
The second weekend of October we went to NC for my 10-year Homecoming at Western Carolina University. These pics are from our drive home after returning to Dallas late Sunday evening. The kids were great on the flight...but they couldn't make it all the way home before they passed out asleep.
After pulling in the garage, Ryan brought Camden inside and laid him on the changing table. Changed him, got his pj's on and got him to bed...he never woke up.
And this is a kid that hardly ever falls asleep in the car and if he does, we pray not to hit a red light or traffic on the interstate b/c he'll immediately wake up if the car stops moving.
That'll tell you how exhausted they were!
That'll tell you how exhausted they were!
Here are just a few random ones...
Hittin' the bottle!
Goooooo Redskins!!!
The first week of November we were all in San Diego as Ryan attended a professional conference.
Here are a few pics from that trip...
Camden's first time in First Class...don't get used to it, kid. If we don't get our "Unlimited Domestic Upgrade" then you're in Economy Plus!
On the way there our flight from LA to San Diego was delayed so we ended up with a four hour layover. We decided to leave the airport and take the bus to a local park and then have dinner out before returning to the airport. No, we aren't typically that brave...we were traveling with one of Ryan's co-workers and his wife and four kids who used to live in LA and invited us to tag along with them. It was much better than killing four hours in an airport with a toddler and a 7 month old!!!
Happy Halloween 2010
We had already left for San Diego when Halloween arrived so we missed trick-or-treating in our neighborhood and the Fall Festival at church.
But we still dressed up as we made our way around San Diego.
But we still dressed up as we made our way around San Diego.
My adventure to the park with the kids (flying solo and traveling by city bus and trolley no less)
A day at Coronado Beach
At the Science Center in Balboa Park
Playing in the water fountain outside the Science Center
Alison's favorite thing on the menu at Hard Rock Cafe?
The actual menu...
The actual menu...
At the San Diego Zoo
we're thinking Millie might like to have a "cat" of her own?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
First time...last time
I started reading back over the blog and I quickly noticed how much more I posted about things when Camden was little than I am about Alison. It's not that I'm failing to capture photos and video or not writing down things to scrapbook later, it just that I'm not getting around to uploading, writing, and publishing the blog like I should.
I know Alison will probably hold it over my head later...giving me grief for not "caring" about her firsts like I did Camden's. While it is true that everything isn't "new" like it was when he was rolling over, sitting up, cutting teeth, pooping all over everything (see the post from 6/2/08 if you need a refresher on Camden's first poop fiasco) it is still exciting to see it happen for her. She's so pumped that she can sit up now and watch Camden as he makes laps in the house...she just laughs and laughs every time he runs past her. She's hates anything and everything we try to feed her from a spoon...but she can down 8 ounces of milk in about 3.7 seconds - at some point we're going to have to make her learn to eat solids whether she likes it or not. And, she's also got a tooth that's all but broken through her bottom right front gum...which is evidently painful judging from the attitude she's had the past couple of days.
I love having a couple of days a week to spend with just her as Camden attends Mother's Day Out at our church. It's nice to run some errands with only one kid in tow or to come home and clean the house or do laundry without having to swat a tiny human off of my neatly folded stack of towels...but my favorite thing about MDO is having time to just snuggle, coo and make googly eyes at her while she lays next to me grinning and repeatedly saying, "Da-da" over and over again (Ryan's eating that part up!).
I had a thought just the other day that was kinda sad but special in its own kind of way - the thing that I realized makes posting about Alison's "firsts" just as important. As you may or may not be aware...Ryan and I are not planning to have any more kids. It's something that we've prayed about, talked about, etc. and we feel a great sense of peace about having "just" two kids. Of course, if down the road we feel like God is calling us to something different...we'll be obedient to that call - but as for now, we feel as though our family is complete.
So, in light of the fact that Alison is (most likely) our "last" kid...my thought was that not only am I documenting her "firsts" but I am also simultaneously documenting our "lasts" - several of which we've already experienced...the last time we deal with middle of the night feedings...the last time I carry the bucket seat around...the last time I buy a pack of newborn diapers. Some lasts are just around the corner...the last time I change a diaper...the last time I put a kid to bed in a crib (although if she's anything like her brother, it'll be several years...he's still there and hasn't tried to climb out yet)...the last time I feed a bottle...etc, etc, etc.
And it's not just the "lasts" that I've thought of...it's also the list of "last firsts" that have me thinking too...the last time it's the first time she rolls over...the last time it's the first time she eats solid food...the last time it's the first time she says "mommy" or "daddy"...the last time it's her first day of school...the last time it's the first time some idiot boy breaks her heart...the last time it's her first time behind the wheel...the last time is the first time she visits a college she's thinking about going to...the last time it's the first time she brings home the man that will someday be her husband.
I think what happens is that it's easy to capture the "firsts" - and while the lasts are just as important, you don't realize that's when it was until the time, the moment, the season of life has come and gone. And while I am taking pictures and getting a video recorded now and then and I am writing down things to remember to scrapbook later...I know there are some of you (especially the grandparents) who want to see these "last firsts" too. I had planned to make blogging regularly my New Year's Resolution...but since so much will happen between now and then...I am making it my "November 10th Resolution" instead. I know you've heard this pledge before...but now that I have had my "ah-ha" moment I promise - not you and not me, but Alison - that I will do better.
And if it saves me a little grief through her teenage years by not giving her any additional ammunition to use against me, well that's just a bonus. :o)
I know Alison will probably hold it over my head later...giving me grief for not "caring" about her firsts like I did Camden's. While it is true that everything isn't "new" like it was when he was rolling over, sitting up, cutting teeth, pooping all over everything (see the post from 6/2/08 if you need a refresher on Camden's first poop fiasco) it is still exciting to see it happen for her. She's so pumped that she can sit up now and watch Camden as he makes laps in the house...she just laughs and laughs every time he runs past her. She's hates anything and everything we try to feed her from a spoon...but she can down 8 ounces of milk in about 3.7 seconds - at some point we're going to have to make her learn to eat solids whether she likes it or not. And, she's also got a tooth that's all but broken through her bottom right front gum...which is evidently painful judging from the attitude she's had the past couple of days.
I love having a couple of days a week to spend with just her as Camden attends Mother's Day Out at our church. It's nice to run some errands with only one kid in tow or to come home and clean the house or do laundry without having to swat a tiny human off of my neatly folded stack of towels...but my favorite thing about MDO is having time to just snuggle, coo and make googly eyes at her while she lays next to me grinning and repeatedly saying, "Da-da" over and over again (Ryan's eating that part up!).
I had a thought just the other day that was kinda sad but special in its own kind of way - the thing that I realized makes posting about Alison's "firsts" just as important. As you may or may not be aware...Ryan and I are not planning to have any more kids. It's something that we've prayed about, talked about, etc. and we feel a great sense of peace about having "just" two kids. Of course, if down the road we feel like God is calling us to something different...we'll be obedient to that call - but as for now, we feel as though our family is complete.
So, in light of the fact that Alison is (most likely) our "last" kid...my thought was that not only am I documenting her "firsts" but I am also simultaneously documenting our "lasts" - several of which we've already experienced...the last time we deal with middle of the night feedings...the last time I carry the bucket seat around...the last time I buy a pack of newborn diapers. Some lasts are just around the corner...the last time I change a diaper...the last time I put a kid to bed in a crib (although if she's anything like her brother, it'll be several years...he's still there and hasn't tried to climb out yet)...the last time I feed a bottle...etc, etc, etc.
And it's not just the "lasts" that I've thought of...it's also the list of "last firsts" that have me thinking too...the last time it's the first time she rolls over...the last time it's the first time she eats solid food...the last time it's the first time she says "mommy" or "daddy"...the last time it's her first day of school...the last time it's the first time some idiot boy breaks her heart...the last time it's her first time behind the wheel...the last time is the first time she visits a college she's thinking about going to...the last time it's the first time she brings home the man that will someday be her husband.
I think what happens is that it's easy to capture the "firsts" - and while the lasts are just as important, you don't realize that's when it was until the time, the moment, the season of life has come and gone. And while I am taking pictures and getting a video recorded now and then and I am writing down things to remember to scrapbook later...I know there are some of you (especially the grandparents) who want to see these "last firsts" too. I had planned to make blogging regularly my New Year's Resolution...but since so much will happen between now and then...I am making it my "November 10th Resolution" instead. I know you've heard this pledge before...but now that I have had my "ah-ha" moment I promise - not you and not me, but Alison - that I will do better.
And if it saves me a little grief through her teenage years by not giving her any additional ammunition to use against me, well that's just a bonus. :o)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I've Got the Golden Ticket
So over the last few weeks we've celebrated Ryan's 34th birthday, made a quick trip to NC for my 10-year Homecoming at WCU and made it successfully to the end of the potty training era. All in all, it's been a mostly uneventful few weeks at our house.
I did however, receive something that I've never even been in a situation to receive before in my entire life...my first speeding ticket. Now, this isn't the first time I've driven faster than the speed limit...that's pretty much expected on the roads in Dallas...if you drove the speed limit around here you'd get run over. But a couple of weeks ago I was headed to the doctor and the road I normally take is out b/c of a bridge replacement so I had to go a route I'd never been before. I'll admit, I was running a little late and distracted by both my baby in the backseat and looking for detour signs so I really had no idea how fast over I had been going when I saw that motorcycle cop behind me...honestly, I didn't even know how long he'd been back there so that'll tell you how aware I was of the situation! Luckily I was only doing 42 mph in a 30 mph zone (and it wasn't a school or construction zone) so no immediate revoking of my license was necessary.
For the most part, the officer wasn't too bad...he did however irk me with his response to my question of whether he could just give me a warning ticket considering this was my first "pull over" since getting my license in 1993. His response, "I would think this would be a great opportunity to teach your children about actions and consequences"...my response to that, "we're currently working on learning to extend grace and forgiveness at our house". Yeah, that didn't get me anywhere...but I felt better after saying it. :o)
After I called Ryan (and yes, I cried like a little girl) I called my insurance company b/c I didn't even know how the process worked or what I needed to do. I found out in the course of the conversation that since this was my first speeding ticket, I could either pay it and get the points on my insurance, pay a fee and do deferred something or other meaning I just can't get another one in the next three months and then it'll go away or I could take a defensive driving course and it would disappear like magic. I also found out that the defensive driving course would save me 10% on my car insurance over the next three years (which, considering the cost of car insurance in Texas is a pretty nice chunk of change) so I opted for that.
I immediately started looking around for defensive driving courses and I found out that it doesn't really matter how the material is delivered...it just has to be 6 hours of instruction followed by a standardized test. First I considered doing it online but I heard from others before me that it's really a pain...no "doing it quicker" than the computer will let you and you can't open other windows with the instruction material open. Like I could find a time when I'm home that I could have six uninterrupted hours to work on this...I can barely manage six uninterrupted minutes! Then I found my solution...a class on Tuesday nights at Joe's Crabshack where the presentation is done by a bunch of comediennes! So for $30 I get to have a child free night of laughing about driving defensively, all while removing my ticket from my driving record and saving a boatload of money. I feel like I should write the officer that gave me the ticket a thank you note!!!
Other than that, things have been pretty normal around here...a few Sharpie marks on the wall, a squirrel (we think) in the attic, Alison starting solids, you know, just the usual stuff. :o)
I did however, receive something that I've never even been in a situation to receive before in my entire life...my first speeding ticket. Now, this isn't the first time I've driven faster than the speed limit...that's pretty much expected on the roads in Dallas...if you drove the speed limit around here you'd get run over. But a couple of weeks ago I was headed to the doctor and the road I normally take is out b/c of a bridge replacement so I had to go a route I'd never been before. I'll admit, I was running a little late and distracted by both my baby in the backseat and looking for detour signs so I really had no idea how fast over I had been going when I saw that motorcycle cop behind me...honestly, I didn't even know how long he'd been back there so that'll tell you how aware I was of the situation! Luckily I was only doing 42 mph in a 30 mph zone (and it wasn't a school or construction zone) so no immediate revoking of my license was necessary.
For the most part, the officer wasn't too bad...he did however irk me with his response to my question of whether he could just give me a warning ticket considering this was my first "pull over" since getting my license in 1993. His response, "I would think this would be a great opportunity to teach your children about actions and consequences"...my response to that, "we're currently working on learning to extend grace and forgiveness at our house". Yeah, that didn't get me anywhere...but I felt better after saying it. :o)
After I called Ryan (and yes, I cried like a little girl) I called my insurance company b/c I didn't even know how the process worked or what I needed to do. I found out in the course of the conversation that since this was my first speeding ticket, I could either pay it and get the points on my insurance, pay a fee and do deferred something or other meaning I just can't get another one in the next three months and then it'll go away or I could take a defensive driving course and it would disappear like magic. I also found out that the defensive driving course would save me 10% on my car insurance over the next three years (which, considering the cost of car insurance in Texas is a pretty nice chunk of change) so I opted for that.
I immediately started looking around for defensive driving courses and I found out that it doesn't really matter how the material is delivered...it just has to be 6 hours of instruction followed by a standardized test. First I considered doing it online but I heard from others before me that it's really a pain...no "doing it quicker" than the computer will let you and you can't open other windows with the instruction material open. Like I could find a time when I'm home that I could have six uninterrupted hours to work on this...I can barely manage six uninterrupted minutes! Then I found my solution...a class on Tuesday nights at Joe's Crabshack where the presentation is done by a bunch of comediennes! So for $30 I get to have a child free night of laughing about driving defensively, all while removing my ticket from my driving record and saving a boatload of money. I feel like I should write the officer that gave me the ticket a thank you note!!!
Other than that, things have been pretty normal around here...a few Sharpie marks on the wall, a squirrel (we think) in the attic, Alison starting solids, you know, just the usual stuff. :o)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Brave...crazy...or a good balance of the two?
This past weekend we decided to take the kids camping...yes, camping - in a tent, for an entire weekend, 5 hours from home, with a (almost completely potty trained) 2 year old and a 4 1/2 month old. Like the title asks, "brave...crazy...or a good balance of the two?"
After packing the car to the point that absolutely nothing else would go in it,
we set out early (4:30 a.m.) on Saturday for DeGray Lake State Park in Arkansas. After a quick breakfast we set up camp - Camden loved helping to pitch the tent and get out all the supplies.
We spent the weekend at the lake, at the playground, taking walks and playing football/baseball/soccer or whatever was Camden's sport of choice at that moment.
Alison was her usually compliant self - just hung out in her Bumbo at the picnic table with us or lounged in her swing while we sat in our camping chairs.
We had a wonderful time - Camden thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. From sleeping in a tent...
to making and eating s'mores...
to playing in the lake with Daddy...
there were only a few times when we heard any whines of protest from him...and that was usually because it was time to stop whatever super-fun thing he was currently doing to move on to something else.
The weather couldn't have been better - low 90s during the day (and our site was completely shaded) and just cool enough at night to need a blanket over you.The bugs were actually at a minimum too...which definitely makes for a more enjoyable evening outside.
I have two "memorable moments" from our trip - the first was having Camden wake up next to me both mornings around 6 a.m. and quietly ask if he could snuggle between me and Ryan until it was "wake up time". I've decided that my firm stand on "absolutely no co-sleeping" doesn't apply when you're all in a tent together in the first place. :o) My second...and probably my favorite...came Sunday night when I took Camden out into a clearing in the trees so that he could look up and see the thousands of stars above us and hearing him gasp and say, "ooooo, somebody put sprinkles on it!" - I'm certain I will never forget that reaction.
I think we've decided we could make this an annual Labor Day activity for our family - although we may have to take next year off...I'm not too sure how I feel about taking a "crawler" camping for the weekend. But I'm certain to make a point of getting my two "city kids" into the great outdoors as often as I possibly can.
I do want to share a quick word of thanks to my mom and dad - although I have been known to give you grief about all the camping trips you "made us endure" and how I was jealous of all the cool things we could have been doing if we'd stayed at The Sea Mist, I am actually glad that you took the time to instill in us an appreciation for the great outdoors. I love that I know how to setup and light a lantern, how to roll a tent back up so that it fits back in the bag...on the first try, and exactly how to roast a marshmallow to make a perfect s'more. I know that staying in a hotel would have probably been more of a "vacation" for you (b/c if I learned anything with this weekend trip, it's that camping with kids is not really a vacation for the parents)...but would we still be talking about just sitting in the mall so that we could be in the air conditioning or packing up everything we owned in the middle of the night in the pouring down rain and heading home because we finally decided that a tent was not really the best place to be when Hurricane Hugo made landfall if we'd stayed at The Sea Mist? :o)
After packing the car to the point that absolutely nothing else would go in it,
Alison was her usually compliant self - just hung out in her Bumbo at the picnic table with us or lounged in her swing while we sat in our camping chairs.
We had a wonderful time - Camden thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. From sleeping in a tent...
to making and eating s'mores...
to playing in the lake with Daddy...
there were only a few times when we heard any whines of protest from him...and that was usually because it was time to stop whatever super-fun thing he was currently doing to move on to something else.
The weather couldn't have been better - low 90s during the day (and our site was completely shaded) and just cool enough at night to need a blanket over you.The bugs were actually at a minimum too...which definitely makes for a more enjoyable evening outside.
I have two "memorable moments" from our trip - the first was having Camden wake up next to me both mornings around 6 a.m. and quietly ask if he could snuggle between me and Ryan until it was "wake up time". I've decided that my firm stand on "absolutely no co-sleeping" doesn't apply when you're all in a tent together in the first place. :o) My second...and probably my favorite...came Sunday night when I took Camden out into a clearing in the trees so that he could look up and see the thousands of stars above us and hearing him gasp and say, "ooooo, somebody put sprinkles on it!" - I'm certain I will never forget that reaction.
I think we've decided we could make this an annual Labor Day activity for our family - although we may have to take next year off...I'm not too sure how I feel about taking a "crawler" camping for the weekend. But I'm certain to make a point of getting my two "city kids" into the great outdoors as often as I possibly can.
I do want to share a quick word of thanks to my mom and dad - although I have been known to give you grief about all the camping trips you "made us endure" and how I was jealous of all the cool things we could have been doing if we'd stayed at The Sea Mist, I am actually glad that you took the time to instill in us an appreciation for the great outdoors. I love that I know how to setup and light a lantern, how to roll a tent back up so that it fits back in the bag...on the first try, and exactly how to roast a marshmallow to make a perfect s'more. I know that staying in a hotel would have probably been more of a "vacation" for you (b/c if I learned anything with this weekend trip, it's that camping with kids is not really a vacation for the parents)...but would we still be talking about just sitting in the mall so that we could be in the air conditioning or packing up everything we owned in the middle of the night in the pouring down rain and heading home because we finally decided that a tent was not really the best place to be when Hurricane Hugo made landfall if we'd stayed at The Sea Mist? :o)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Two days in a row...
Don't get used to it! :o)
Just thought I'd share a cute video of Camden performing his ABCs...
Enjoy!
ABCs by CMF from Mandy Jo on Vimeo.
Just thought I'd share a cute video of Camden performing his ABCs...
Enjoy!
ABCs by CMF from Mandy Jo on Vimeo.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
An Attainable Goal
Perhaps the best thing for me to do right now is not commit to posting on a routine basis. Seriously, I thought I was busy in college...then I graduated and got a job...I thought I was busy working full time...then I got married...and thought I was busy being a wife while working said full time job...then I had one kid and found I was busier than I'd ever been before...even though I'd stopped "working" to stay home...
Then we had our second child and there are some days when I feel like I deserve recognition for taking a shower before dinner time! I'm not kidding...busy has taken on a whole new meaning. Between keeping both of them fed, diapered, educated, entertained, and socialized...I have barely a second to myself. It doesn't help that they have "opposite" nap routines - i.e. she's asleep when he's awake and vice versa. And I have to admit...when I do get that coveted moment alone, the blog just isn't high up on the priority list...getting that shower in and possibly going to the bathroom with complete privacy, now that's a priority!
The ease and availability of Facebook has also allowed me to feel like I can "slack off" in the blogging area. I can snap a picture on my phone and upload it directly to my FB page - one little statement and hitting upload vs. finding the cable, connecting the phone/loading the SD card, logging in, writing a blog post, etc. and you can see how with my limited "free time" FB is just so much more attractive. Because so many of you that read the blog are also my (or Ryan's) Facebook friends and you see the pictures, read the funny things Camden says, and generally know how things are going with us, I just let the blog slip by the wayside. However, I do understand that not all of you are on Facebook and to you, I apologize for the lack of update...
My last "excuse" is that MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is getting ready to start in the fall - and while I was busy last year serving as Hospitality Coordinator for a group at a church here in Irving, I've reached a new level of busy this year as I hesitantly obeyed God's calling to start and coordinate a group at my home church. God has blessed that (initially reluctant) obedience and I am so excited to have 56 moms and 81 kids registered for our group this year. We are now down to the wire in our preparations - lining up speakers, placing moms at tables, training table leaders and mentor moms, etc. etc. etc. So when the kids are finally in bed for the night, I use what little time I have before passing out from exhaustion to work on MOPS stuff and catch up with Ryan.
My hope is that as Camden starts his two day a week preschool on September 7th and MOPS launches on September 20th, things will slow down for me a little and I can have a little more time to myself. Blogging may not get moved up on the priority list, but hopefully the increase in the amount of free time I have will allow me to get to things I don't normally have time for.
In the meantime, since I know for a fact there are a few of you who are eagerly awaiting current pics of the kids, here are few from our recent beach trip to tie you over...
Then we had our second child and there are some days when I feel like I deserve recognition for taking a shower before dinner time! I'm not kidding...busy has taken on a whole new meaning. Between keeping both of them fed, diapered, educated, entertained, and socialized...I have barely a second to myself. It doesn't help that they have "opposite" nap routines - i.e. she's asleep when he's awake and vice versa. And I have to admit...when I do get that coveted moment alone, the blog just isn't high up on the priority list...getting that shower in and possibly going to the bathroom with complete privacy, now that's a priority!
The ease and availability of Facebook has also allowed me to feel like I can "slack off" in the blogging area. I can snap a picture on my phone and upload it directly to my FB page - one little statement and hitting upload vs. finding the cable, connecting the phone/loading the SD card, logging in, writing a blog post, etc. and you can see how with my limited "free time" FB is just so much more attractive. Because so many of you that read the blog are also my (or Ryan's) Facebook friends and you see the pictures, read the funny things Camden says, and generally know how things are going with us, I just let the blog slip by the wayside. However, I do understand that not all of you are on Facebook and to you, I apologize for the lack of update...
My last "excuse" is that MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is getting ready to start in the fall - and while I was busy last year serving as Hospitality Coordinator for a group at a church here in Irving, I've reached a new level of busy this year as I hesitantly obeyed God's calling to start and coordinate a group at my home church. God has blessed that (initially reluctant) obedience and I am so excited to have 56 moms and 81 kids registered for our group this year. We are now down to the wire in our preparations - lining up speakers, placing moms at tables, training table leaders and mentor moms, etc. etc. etc. So when the kids are finally in bed for the night, I use what little time I have before passing out from exhaustion to work on MOPS stuff and catch up with Ryan.
My hope is that as Camden starts his two day a week preschool on September 7th and MOPS launches on September 20th, things will slow down for me a little and I can have a little more time to myself. Blogging may not get moved up on the priority list, but hopefully the increase in the amount of free time I have will allow me to get to things I don't normally have time for.
In the meantime, since I know for a fact there are a few of you who are eagerly awaiting current pics of the kids, here are few from our recent beach trip to tie you over...
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