Year End Wrap Up

2012 brought about lots of happenings in our household.

In January I wrote out a list of goals to accomplish in the new year. I wanted to be more present in my daily activities as I felt like Camden was growing up way too fast. I feel that this was accomplished rather well, as evidenced by my lack of blogging it goes to show that I am stepping away from the computer and enjoying my free seconds. As a working mom, that is something that has to be done. I spent as much time away as I do with him, so it's important that I soak it up. I also had a goal of maintaining a healthy workout routine. I'd go as far to say that is still a work in progress. I'll continue to work at that. My other goal was to read the bible in a year, and as of 12-26 I did just that! Woot! This was the month where I also struggled with learning how to discipline Camden and what would be the right steps for us as a family. I also videoed Camden running to me when I pick him up at daycare. I'm happy to report that he still runs when he sees me and yells "mamma mamma" the whole way over. I love it, and will be so sad when it stops!!

February brought about buidling a playhouse for the backyard, first swim lessons and first Bounce U party. This was also the month that we helped launch a new campus at church, and it was one of the most rewarding and best things we have done. We got more invovled in church, volunteering on the Host Team and meeting people weekly. It has really been a blessing.

March brought about the beginning of molar teething, Camden graduated diaper dolphins and we continued on in the next round of swim for another eight weeks to bring us right up to swim season. We were plagued with fevers and while teething and getting kicked out of school because of it, but still staying strong!

April we took a mini vacation to Great Wolf Lodge and had a blast. On Easter, Camden actually understood that he had to pick up the eggs. Until he found out that there were things INSIDE the eggs. I did my first Pinot's Palette painting party with friends and for my birthday my brother let me shoot his guns. I can now say I have shot a gun!

May brought about more teething and biitng for Camden, and he graduated rooms at daycare. We spent some time with the cousin's helping them build a fence and had a great time there. We dedicated Camden at church, and gave him the life verse of Zephaniah 3:17. It was such a special time, and I love that we get to take him to such a great place to learn and grow in Jesus.

June brought about fun stuff. We transitioned Camden to a toddler bed after continual climbing out of bed in the wee hours of the morning. We rode bikes and ate sno cones and played in the sprinklers. I took maternity pictures for my bestie Jennie and I think they turned out simply amazing, it was work I was truly proud of, one of my first real sessions! My bestie Tiffany and I threw a baby shower for Jennie at my house.

July brought about At the Movies series at Church. It is simply amazing, and we love going to visit nearby campuses and helping set up ours. It's always a fantastic series, so much to look forward to! We watched fireworks that Camden seemed to enjoy before requesting to watch Mickey Mouse. We swam lots. Pearl got really sick and we were all really worried about her, took her to the vet and after an arm and a leg later - she was on the up and up. We swam some more.

August came so quickly, and with it came Camden's second birthday. We planned a joint birthday party with his cousin and rented a big water slide. For me, the big thing that sticks out about August was finding out about my "spot" Sheldon. I had no idea what kind of spot he was, or what he was doing in my brain. It was a stressful time, not knowing what was going on. Thankful that I signed up for volunteer MRIs to learn more about it and maybe catch something early. I was called and told about this the day before Camden's birthday. It was stressful and scary when I was trying to focus on the happy time that was Camden's birthday.

September was here so fast. We visit the zoo, went to friends birthday parties and snuggled together, all of us. Camden moved again to another new room at daycare. Camden got sick with the vomits, and it was pathetic. The actual date of Camden's birthday party fell on Sept 1, as it was the first free weekend. It was so much fun, the kids LOVED the water slide, and we stayed late and played as a family after everyone left. It was great! It also served as a great distractor while I waited to hear back about my spot, "Sheldon".

October was another fun month. We visited the pumpkin patch and Camden got to go on his first pony ride. I'll never forget how excited he was to ride the ponies - he even remembered the name of his pony, Cherokee, months later after riding. Camden and I had a solo trip to the zoo, where he loved getting to run around and play. I took my sister in law's maternity photos, Camden started saying "I you Momma" (I love you momma) repeatedly, Husband and I went to Homecoming walkarounds at our Alma Mater and I threw a baby shower for my sister in law. Halloween flew by us, we trick or treated with the cousins and Camden just LOVES spending time with them. He was the same thing he was last year (a lion), because he could still fit and the kid wasn't about to wear anything on his head anyway.

November brought about our 6th anniversary, and on this date it was when I took a pregnancy test confirming what I had already suspected by Halloween. I worked that day, but left the evidence and a note out for Husband. Camden started becoming a little chatty cathy this month, talking all the time. We had an amazing Thanksgiving, announcing to our family that Camden was getting a promotion - to big brother! It was an exciting holiday and we were thrilled to share our news. I also had my first doctors appointment with my new doctor, and got to see the the little baby C.

December crept up on us quickly. We had holiday gatherings, work parties and events going on like whoa. Baking and being thankful and seeing Christmas lights. I had my second appointment with my doctor. We started new Christmas traditions like Elf on a Shelf and visited the Christmas Train for the first time. Christmas was good to us and we were blessed beyond measure. By Christmas I was officially 3 months pregnant and things were looking good. Even today, on the last day of the year we are taking Camden to his first OSU basketball game. Excited for the memories, and you can't beat free tickets! Thanks Heather!

Looking back on this year, we have been incredibly blessed. We have had our ups and downs, our questioning moments and our trials. But God always prevails, he never gives up on us, and he is faithful. He has brought us so much good out of such trying and scary times, that I can't help but tear up when thinking of all I DO have. We were so blessed by this pregnancy and that its timing fits perfectly into what needs to be done with further brain scans. I feel completely at ease with everything and know it's all in His hands.


By the way - We haven't announced on fb about our news and don't plan to yet, so those that are friends IRL (in real life), heads up!

Looking on to the next year my goals are simple: I want to continue to be the best mom to Camden, wife to Husband I can be. I want to be able to deliver a healthy baby and carry it healthy as well, spoil Camden in his last months as only child, and continue to learn and grow as a wife, mother, child of God. I started another year long reading plan, and other than that? My goals aren't too super ambitious. Just to take care of things. To take pictures. To love on my kid(s).

Happy New Year, friends!

Christmas

I'm writing this on my phone, as my computer has been acting up lately as it severely wants an iOS update. My phone needs the same but it needs to be on the updated computer, it's all a chain reaction.

But that has nothing to do with this post! Since I worked Christmas and was bummed out by it, we had Santa arrive a day early so I could be there to enjoy I as well. Luckily Camden is young enough that it was okay. It was a great morning on Christmas Eve filled with presents and family. We then got ready and layered up and went to the Zoo as a family to get out and play. It was 40 degrees out but a blast. We returned and put C down for a nap while husband and I cooked and then we woke C up early and headed to my parents house to do our Cmas. It was fun and relaxed and we had a blast. Camden got some fun toys and we were blessed for sure.

After we left there we went to Chris grandmother's house on his mother's side and did Christmas there like we always do on Cmas eve. I got some new shirts and Camden got a fun fire truck. It's always great seeing family.

We crashed as soon as we hit the pillow, then Christmas started with more presents for C at his other great grandparents house. He got a big Donald Duck, some cars and trucks, some fantastic helicopters and a pillow pet. After leaving there it was naptime and then Christmas with the in laws.

Again we were incredibly blessed many times over an had a good time hanging out, letting the kids run wild and watching a sappy movie. It was great. Camden got numerous toys, bowling pin set, a book set and some clothes. A little racetrack an plenty of stocking stuffers. He got a vacuum and books from his cousins and he asks to vacuum all the time and keeps asking to read. It's cute!

It was a busy and fantastic holiday. I'm sad it's all over all ready, I wish it lasted a whole week.

Watching Camden open his gifts my heart just swelled with pride. So blessed!

Attached are some pics from our zoo trip and our family Christmas. So fun!

Mental Health Funding vs Gun Control

Like many of you I can't help but think about the mass shootings that have happened this week, two of them! One at a mall and one at an elementary school. So many people look at these incidents and think gun control is the obvious solution.

As a worker in the mental health field I beg to differ. Personally I go straight to the issue of mental health and people getting help when they need it. A person can be completely fine, for years. Then out of no where they can snap and kill dozens of people. The problem lies not when they buy the gun, but before they snap. When they need help but don't know how to ask.

A friend of mine and fellow health care worker posted this "we teach diet and exercise in schools, but nothing about coping skills, self monitoring and definitely nothing about seeking help. An educated individual and an educated public allows for less of the "slipping through the cracks"". She goes on to say that what should be a priority continues to suffer budget cuts and most people speaking up tend to be those working in the field. I have to say I agree completely.

Instead of focusing on the mental health of people we will continue to revert to gun control thinking that will solve our problems. Here is an article showing the cuts on funding, might be worth a glance.

http://www.nami.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentFileID=147763

And please join me in praying for the families in Newton. Obviously one young mans mental health status not only affected his family, but 26 others who no longer have their loved ones, and countless others who lived through this tragedy and may be forever scarred and affected by the events of today.

Jesus be near the broken hearted at this time.

Christmas Traditions

I saw this posed as a question on another bloggers website that asked us to link up with our Christmas Traditions.

I couldn't help but stop and think about what traditions we have started for Camden thus far.

One tradition that we started just this year was the Elf on a Shelf. We used to always play "find the milk" after he took a bath in the evenings, and he LOVED that game. So I don't really think he gets the Elf's story this year, but he definitely enjoys finding it each morning because he loves the "find the...." game. He excitedly will point him out to us each morning, running the halls and checking the rooms for him. It's pretty darn cute. He even was able to name his Elf. We offered him many suggestions from Jingle to Buddy and Max and every name in between, but he suggested Gil. You may be wonderng where on earth did he come up with such a name? Well, Camden's favorite show is Bubble Guppies, and my dad asked him not too long ago what his favorite character's name was. And he responded with "Gil", who happens to be the silly blue headed Bubble Guppy on the show. Thus, our Elf's name is Gil. The only issue I see with this is with his young age, he's going to look for Gil after Christmas and there will be no Gil. So, it'll stink that one of his favorite games will come to and end for 11 months. Oh well, good thing he will probably have plenty of new toys to play with.

Another tradition that we have as just a family is adopting angel trees and being involved in LifePacks through church. He's still too young to understand now but I really want him to learn that it really is more about giving that receiving.

My husband has traditions that carried over, like going to his Grandmother's house (Camden's great grandmothers) at 7 am on Christmas to eat mush (fried cornmeal) and sausage and biscuits and to open presents. They all cram into their tiny house, snack away and make sure they all sit in their EXACT SAME SEATS each year. We also go to my husband's OTHER grandparents every Christmas Eve and eat dinner and open presents and hang out. It's really a lot of family in such a short time!

I am hoping that Camden will gain more interest in Christmas lights as he grows older, and will enjoy that more often. We have gone to Rhema the past two years to walk and look at lights, but I think Husband and I enjoy that more than little C. He does at first, but the novelty wears off pretty fast. We decorated our tree together too, and this was the first year Camden was able to help. You could definitely tell where his eye level was, as everything hung a little long and low. :)

We did Christmas Train for the first time this year and as awesome as it was, I'm not sure if that will be a yearly thing or not. It was fun though, that's for sure!

We will definitely read the Christmas story, and I'm hoping to do an Advent calendar or something along the lines next year when Camden is a bit older and maybe will understand better.

I will say, it has been so much fun deciding what traditions to start for our family!

Weekend recap

Long time no post! We had the busiest weekend in a long time! We did Christmas train on Friday night, I had two photo sessions, we did home improvement work to fix some outlets (I get to say "we" because I did help hubby run the lines/wires during naptime), we saw lights at Rhema and we spent the better part of our free time looking for my keys that I "lost". The house got a good cleaning after getting turned upside down multiple times.

Finally found my keys after a long weekend of searching, in my pants that I had already washed AND dried. Big fat fail. It appears as if the keys are ruined, but at least I know where they are on the plus side.

Chris was thoroughly annoyed as can be expected, especially after my phone incident a few weeks ago. But on the plus side my sweet hubby is the BEST. Not only did he quietly voice his frustration, but he surprised me with a new camera lens and a flash for my camera when I got home Friday! He had to take a half day to be able to sign for it so he could have it all before we headed out on the Christmas Train. So sweet of him! He really hustled to get it all. And he got the high grade lens even though I said I would settle for the medium. He kept saying "you wouldn't of been happy". Whatever, would too! But I am extremely happy this way too!

Camden also had some sickness this weekend that was random. Two of the days and mostly in the middle of the night he would cough and then vomit. Just once, and like 24 hours apart. And it was gross. He didn't run a fever, acted fine if not even better after. It was just bizarre. He denied anything hurting, and all doctor appointments were full so I am just waiting it out. So far no incidents since this weekend. But he is still coughing and I think I may have a slight touch of PTSD from the events as I jump everytime he starts to hack.

Been trying to wrap up end of the year stuff. Getting final doctor appointments and making sure we spent enough on flex spending. Let me just say, I think we are going to own lots of band aids very shortly!

That is all I can think of for now. Evenings are spent enjoying this uncharacteristically warm weather out riding trikes and bikes or spent at the gym or editing photos. So much to do, so little time left before Christmas!

I will leave you with a few picture of pictures of Christmas Train and a shot of my gorgeous nieces' newborn photos!