Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! We were lucky enough to have our wonderful "Uncle" Jerry dress up as Santa and pose with the kids :) 

Back in September he decided he was going to stop shaving and see what happened :) As Christmas drew closer, they decided he'd make a great "Santa!" As you can see, he did!!! 

Thank you SOOOOOO much for sitting around in that hot suit so we could get some wonderful pictures!!! :)

Cici picked up the hats for the boys :)

All the boys with "Santa" :)

Mommy and Baby Camden...he's getting SOOOO  big!

look out world...

Here he comes...

Our precious baby boy revealed not one, but two new teeny tiny little white teeth yesterday.

I guess all Camden wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth :)

Anyone who has kids knows it's virtually impossible to get a photo of 1 day old teeth, but there will be one eventually...keep waiting :)

t.g.i.F.

Did you say it's FRIDAY???

I just LOVE this picture!!!

more

Unedited but still precious!

happy Thanksgiving baby :)

picture of the day

Still getting through all the pictures...here's one for the day :)

sifting through...

We are home safe and sound. It has been a long day of getting settled for Camden and I and a long day at work for David.

We finally got home a little after 6:00 this morning after a VERY rough VERY long night! 

Camden did great on the ride TO Tennessee, but the ride home was a COMPLETELY different story. He screamed almost the entire night and did not really go to sleep until we got on the Turnpike! (about 9 hours in to our 10 hour drive) I'm actually still amazed we all survived it.

It's late now and I'm off to bed. David isn't home from work yet.

I have TONS of pictures from Tennessee, but it is going to take me a while to sift through all of them. (Literally, over 400 pictures!)

We took loads of pictures of the whole family...so far, this is my favorite...

It really captures what happens when you mix brothers, coordinated outfits, bribery, and cameras! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

sucking on a ball point pen?

We are in the unfortunate, lengthy process of moving.

UGH! I know I've said it before but I really can't stand moving...bottom line, we've got to be done by Sunday, because we are leaving then to go to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. Though we are very excited to get to Tennessee and enjoy our time with everyone, it's going to be a stressful few days leading up to our trip. :(

Here are a few pictures of Camden in the past few days...

I know I mentioned in my last post that Camden had Thrush, he's doing much better now! Thankfully. My funny story about the thrush is the OTC medication I used to help him heal up a little faster. Gentian Violet is funny stuff...it works wonders for Thrush, but it makes your baby look like they have sucked on an ink pen. The first time I tried it, I shook the bottle, not realizing it was open just a little and Camden and I were both turned immediately purple. Thus the subject of the first two pictures here...

Even purple, he's still precious! :)

Here he is in that awesome shirt from Aunt Ashley that we saw back in June

Here's a happy baby in his stroller

Camden is gone to stay with G-Mom and Grandy for a few nights. We are thankful to them, as always, for helping us out! He'll be coming home to a new house! :)

sweetness...

I just had to steal this picture from my 
Mom’s blog to share with you! :)

Camden with his cousins Benjamin and Warren

we are a family of sickies...

I know it's been ages since I've updated.

Obviously things are just a little crazy trying to balance work and home.

Camden had a great couple of days staying with his CiCi...and eventually Poppie, down at their house in Parish. They brought him back to Orlando last Sunday and spent the day with us before Poppie flew out of Orlando very early Monday morning.

No one in our house is feeling great right now. Camden was the first to come down with a cold. I took him to the doctor on Tuesday...It worked out ok because I happened to be off work for Veteran's Day anyway. The doctor said on Tuesday there was nothing we could do. We should elevate the head of his mattress and make sure to suction out his nose a few times a day. He also mentioned it looked like he might have some Thrush . I didn't think much of it because I hadn't noticed any white spots in his mouth and explained to the Doctor he had a bottle just before we left the house. However, last night, as I was about to start feeding Camden, I noticed he most definitely is displaying signs of Thrush so I went ahead and called the Doctor first thing this morning. So far, I haven't heard anything back, which is supposed to mean they have called in some meds for him. I'm hoping that's the case...obviously, it's much harder to take him the Doctor on the spur of the moment now that I'm working!

David and I are both fighting colds as well...at this point I'm a little worse off than he is, but that's fine with me since he spends more time with Camden these days than I do.

Camden's babysitter, Rita, is working out so wonderfully! She just absolutely adores him and he adores her! It is such a wonderful situation and we are so thankful to have her!

We are currently in the process of moving and that's NEVER fun. We are moving to a different house in our same neighborhood and I'm just beyond dreading it! I have always hated moving, but I think every time before, I've found a reason to get excited about it...like I was looking forward to a fresh start. This time, I'm not. I don't want to be moving at all and there is so much to get done and so little time to do it in...not to mention, having a baby around on top of everything else. We have to be completely moved by the week of Thanksgiving. We are going to be in Tennessee that week so we have to be done with everything before we leave.

Speaking of coming to Tennessee, we have decided we will drive through the night to get there. Camden is sleeping through the night consistently and it just seems insane to drive during the day when he's going to be miserable being stuck in that seat and we'll have to be stopping every 3 hours to feed him. I think we'll just be better off to do without some sleep and arrive in Sparta on Monday morning...with plenty of people willing to watch Camden and let us get caught up on some sleep! I'm excited David is actually getting to come to Tennessee this time, it's been almost a year since he was there so I know he is looking forward to seeing everyone and getting to enjoy everything again! :)

So, this weekend is going to be spent nursing colds, thrush, and packing...don't you wish you were here!?!

Thanks so much for reading! I'll try to put up pictures soon!

...

MOM!!!!

Mommy! ... PLEASE QUIT LEAVING ME HOME WITH DADDY!!!

Woo HOO

YIPEE

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camden went to bed at 8:00 last night...it's 7:15 am and he's STILL asleep!!!

He finally slept straight through the night!!!

busy times

ok ok, someone (hm hm...Aunt Evelyn) has informed me I'm slacking :)

So, here ya go!

After all, it is Friday...and my baby is sleeping! :)

Ok, work is INSANE! It's certainly going to take some getting used to...not just because I'm coming back after almost 5 months off, but because my kids are...well...there is really no delicate way to put it...extremely intensive! I come home exhausted every day from trying to protect myself and my students from each other! It's all ok though, it's just going to take us all some time to adjust to each other. These kids certainly take some serious time to adjust to changes in authority!

Camden has had a good week. He stayed with his Grandma Gege on Monday...Daddy was home with him on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and today he was home with his babysitter Rita. His normal schedule will now be home with Rita on Mondays and Fridays, Daddy on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Mommy and Daddy on Saturdays and Mommy on Sunday! He seems to be adjusting really well to me going back to work. All in all, he's less fussy everyday and I could not be happier to see him growing out of the Colic! :)

We visited with my sister and her family at disney last weekend (there are some pictures on her blog if you click her name). We had a lovely time celebrating Benjamin's birthday with them on Saturday and then Camden went to G-Mom and Grandy's for the WHOLE night!!! :)

It was my first night away from him and I think we both did pretty well! Thank you guys again so much for keeping him and giving us a much needed break! :)

Ok...I think that's enough talking for now, here are some random pictures from the last few weeks...

wow wow wow...

Ok, running on three hours of sleep, just wanted to check in...
I went back to work today...(teaching autistic kids (K-2) for those who don't remember)
I've always been in special ed but this is my first year with this class. It was really interesting, to say the least!
I spent my ENTIRE day running, at break-neck speeds, after my students who literally run out of the classroom and around the school (which is a florida school so it's all outdoors, no indoor hallways = straight for the parking lot and into the road if I don't get them fast enough) and/or picking them up off the floor and attempting to get them to do their work!
My back is KILLING me...I just took on of the Rx ibuprofin they gave me when I had Camden...after I got back from the mall where I bought a new pair of running shoes, that is!
ahh...I love my job :)

So cute it's scary...

Thank you G-Mom for my precious Halloween outfit!

quick update

Just a quick update...I've been slacking on the blogging this week.

Camden did great at his Doctor's appointment. He weighed 12lbs. 2oz. He was 23 inches long. His Doctor said he looks "perfect." He got all his shots and they did them really quickly so he didn't stay upset for long. He slept for almost 24 hours after his shots...so, that was a really nice break...didn't last long. :) He had a few doses of Tylenol over the course of the next few days, but he's all better now!

We are leaving again tomorrow for our 2nd trip to Tennessee. One of my dear friends from college is getting married this weekend so I'm excited about being able to be there. I am SO sad that David will not be able to make this trip with us either. :( 

He is still been working tons and getting more and more shifts as a bartender, so we are happy about that. 

Camden has not been sleeping well at all for the past few days. At night, we've had no problems, but he has only been taking 4 to 5  naps that last 30-45 minutes. :( Hopefully a trip back to CiCi and Poppie's will get him all straightened out! :)

However, I must say, he slept one 7 hour stretch last night...that was pretty nice! :)

I need to go and get packed now! We've got an early morning tomorrow!

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow is Camden's 2 month Doctor's appointment...aka, the day he gets his first shots! :(

I'm REALLY not looking forward to it. Also, not looking forward to the appointment I have at 9 am with my Doctor for my thrush. :(

It will be a busy day but I'll do my best to update before bedtime. 

SMILE...for the camera! (despite what you're wearing)

Let me first say, I had NOTHING to do with the outfit my poor sweet boy was forced to wear for these pictures! 

I simply stood idly by as his father dressed him...I didn't think I should put up a fight, in front of the baby and all :)

Anyway, the point is...we captured our first "social smile" on "film" (not sure how to say that anymore since we rarely use film...doesn't sound right to say we captured it on memory card...oh well, moving on...)

I was THRILLED we finally got a real real real smile and so happy I was standing there just armed with the camera as if I knew it was about to happen :)

Camden's daddy started talking to him and he just looked right back at his Daddy and gave him a HUGE smile! Of course, he was looking at his dad, so that means not the camera. :)

Instantly following my elation about this new fantastic photo was my extreme disappointment that THIS is the outfit he is wearing in the picture that will HAVE to be included in the scrapbook of his life! Ugh! 

Oh well, we got a smile and it is super cute! 

peek-a-boo...or a new hat?

Camden was playing on his play mat the other day and it was just too cute...

The thing he has over his head makes a "crinkley" noise when you move it around. 

I was working around the house and walked into the living room to see him like this...

I think he had a hard time deciding if he should wear it as a hat...

...or just play peek-a-boo with it...

Either way...it's precious! :)

Happy Birthday G-Mom!!!

Camden went to visit his G-Mom at work today for her birthday...

Happy Birthday G-Mom!!!

Grandy was there too... :) Camden kept on smiling for his Grandy! It was soooooo cute!

Tennessee

Here are some pictures from our trip to Tennessee

Camden meeting his great grandmother, Mamaw

And then meeting my his great grandfather, Poppa

Camden with his aunt Susie (great-great aunt) :)

And his great-great Aunt Dianne

Cousins Angel and Sophie

Camden with his Poppie

With CiCi after his bath

Camden with his future best friend Dylin...My dear friend Lindsey's little boy who you may remember was born on Davids birthday...he is 34 days older than Camden

Me with Dylin :)

makeover...

I gave the blog a makeover.

What do you think?

I got my hair cut...

So, while in Tennessee, I decided to get a MUCH needed haircut...

Turns out, after 4 years of barely cutting it at all, I had enough to donate it yet again...Just like I did 4 years ago :)

Here's what we did with what I had left...

no time...

No real time to update now...please check out my Mom's blog to see what we've been up to :)

how cool is this?

I just found this website that will make a book out of your blog...

For example, I could make a scrapbook for Camden of this blog and he would have a hard copy of it forever and ever! 

I'm impressed! Very impressed! :)

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

In other news, Camden and I leave in the morning for Tennessee! We are super excited to see everyone there and Camden can't wait to finally meet his Mamaw and Poppa...not to mention his great great aunts and uncles and cousins! Ah...fun times :)

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous about taking a 7 week old baby on a plane! :) However, if we get him started early, hopefully he won't have any problems with it later on. Lets face it, the kid is going to be flying a lot. :)

Don't know if I'll have time to blog from Tennessee, but I'll be armed with plenty of pictures when I get home :)

Meanwhile, David has the yucky job of stay home so he can work and take care of the house and the dogs :(...we are really going to miss him! 

super cute

The ever popular "sideways glance"

Falling over but I love the look on his face

and this is how he feels about having his picture taken when he's still hungry! :)