Our Growing Family

Thursday, April 15, 2010

2 Months...

Two months have gone by since my birthday...these months have been filled with mainly sickness and traveling. We've gone round and round in our house with all sorts of yuckies, from a couple of bouts with the stomach bug to strep, and a few others in between. Even today I took Austin, who's been healthy for a year, to his 3rd dr visit in a matter of weeks. I thought it was strep again, but thankfully it's just "post-nasal drip" (I've always thought that term was funny). We've had to miss out on all sorts of playgroups and small groups, which was really a bummer during the never-ending-rain (hello cabin fever!), but was a MUCH easier pill to swallow once the sun began to shine! Ooh, and now we have a new playground set which will make stay-at-home days fun! (Thanks to Andy's parents! And to Andy for building it!)

Thankfully though our well times fell during our trips to the grandparents! Almost a month ago we went to Andy's parents for an air show at a base near their house. It was a lot of fun and one of the first really nice weather days we'd had!

Austin and Nani (I have more pics, but haven't uploaded them. All of these are off my phone)

That next week I went to surprise my parents b/c my dad was having surgery to remove the cancerous tumor from his knee (and replace the knee and part of his femur). I went alone, so I could be available to help without the distraction of two little ones. :) The surgery was intense, and the recovery slow-going, but my dad does his exercises and gets around well with a walker. (By the way, please pray for him...results from the tumor they removed weren't the greatest. They'll go tomorrow to talk more with the doctors. Pray for a miracle! Thankfully my Heavenly Father just happens to be in that business!!)

My dad in the hospital. He may make me take this pic off b/c it doesn't even look like him, but I love it b/c it was the best I had seen him before I left. :)

We all went to Greenville again for a long weekend visit at Easter, which was lots of fun! All of my sisters were there too, so my parents were especially pleased! The boys had a great time running free on 3 acres, and we all enjoyed the beautiful weather by spending sun-up til sun-down outside! :)

Other than that, the boys are growing right before our eyes! It's amazing to see their minds at work in the different stages they're in - Austin notices and observes everything...streets, patterns, people (and their moods), etc... And Campbell only jabbers, but he doesn't miss a thing! Nor does anything he grabs escape without first being put in his mouth. Guess it has something to do with the 5 teeth he's got coming in (help me, Jesus!)! It's also the most precious thing to watch Camp do, or try to do, all Austin does. They have fun together and love to laugh! What more could I ask for?!

My little gardener...Austin loves to dig and plant. Here's his grass he planted. Yes, that's lunch on his face :)

Wrestling time! The boys favorite! Can you find Andy??

The first day the ladder was up on the new playground set, Camp acted like he'd been climbing for years!

The first morning the slide was up...so what if it was 7:30am?!

A smoothie break to cool off!

We left Austin's door open the other night b/c he had a bad dream. The next morning I heard some commotion beside our bed, and this is what I found. You think he wanted something??? :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A Shout-Out of Thanks.....

This past weekend Andy and I had the most perfect weekend..... well, I guess perfect for me since it was my birthday and we did and went according to MY likes. :) I had also requested to have a kid-free weekend, and Andy made it happen. He planned out the whole weekend, making my birthday a 3-day event! This is where the shout out comes in....Andy, thank you so much for a wonderful and fun weekend, complete with great company, yummy food, good shopping, and sunny weather (I know the last one wasn't your doing, but it just made it that much better)! You fed my love language, and I appreciate you making my birthday so special! I love you always!!!!

Our only pics from the weekend...
Brunch on the balcony at Edgars

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, January 01, 2010

Happy Birthday Campbell!

As of Wednesday, I offically now have two toddlers! Campbell is one....wow! Poor thing, his birthday nearly came and went without being noticed with Christmas, my dad being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his knee and having to start heavy chemo pronto (more on that later, but please pray for him!), traveling, etc.... I started feeling guilty that he wasn't going to have the big shebang that Austin had, so I quickly threw together a family party....we HAD to get the infamous first-birthday-cake-on-the-face picture!

Campbell has become quite the little boy. He started walking a few weeks ago, and over Christmas, be became a pro! He's having a ball keeping up with Austin! It was cute to see Austin get excited about Campbell walking, too! Campbell's only real word is "Ei" (which can mean either Levi or Amen) with an occasional "dada" and an even more rare "mama". He jibber-jabbers all the time, and today I went in to get him from his nap, and he was just lying there singing....precious! He loves to clap and dance and play peek-a-boo. He is on the move and very busy, but still the cuddle-bug he's always been. Oh, he's also squared away the sound an elephant makes.... and just in time for the National Campionship game! :)

What a wonderful blessing our little Camp has been! He is so happy and such a trooper...I could learn a lot from him. He loves his family, especially his big brother. It is the most fun for Andy and me to watch their realtionship develop and grow. We pray daily they will be the best of friends, having fun and encouraging one another, as iron sharpens iron. Happy Birthday Campbell! We love you!

Austin helped me make Camp's cake...and lick the bowl! (and yes, that's a boxed cake mix you see in the back....didn't have time or energy to make anything original or creative :( but how can you go wrong with chocolate on chocolate???)

starting to dig in....

and loving it!

"Now what?" wondered Blackbeard Campbell

This is what we refer to as the "stink eye" for those of you familiar with the movie Juno.... unfortunately, it's one of Austin's favorite poses when we're trying to get a good pic!

Oh, we thought this was funny....I think Austin got a little confused with us talking about Christmas being Jesus' birthday and his Nani's birthday, and that Camp's birthday is right after Christmas....too many Happy Birthdays and Merry Christmases to keep up with! Because on Campbell's birthday, we opened Camp's door to get him, and Austin yelled, "Merry Christmas, Campbell! No...uh...Happy Birthday, Campbell!!" :)

Monday, November 30, 2009

3 Years and 11 Months

Almost a month ago, Austin had a birthday. It's so incredibly hard to believe that I have only blinked, and my baby is now a big 3 yr old! What's even harder to believe is that my new baby will be 1 in just a month! I'm not ready for his first birthday. Over the last year, two of my closests friends have, at different times, called me bawling about how fast their children were growing up and how they are already sad about when they are grown (which for both was spurred on by the movie Marley and Me....I was advised by both not to see it). I haven't shared that sadness until just recently, as Campbell is approaching his first birthday. I really do keep thinking he's my baby (and when I say 'baby', I'm really meaning my brand-new newborn), and so I'm finding myself amazed at all the things he's doing because he's just a newborn! :)

There's so much that they are both doing, saying, and keeping us in stitches and on our toes about, but here's a bit about each....

Austin: What a do-er he is! He is busy all day long 'do'-ing....and narrating or singing as he goes! He is particular about things, especially his most prized possessions, his cars and trains. He loves to make Campbell laugh (and cry sometimes too, I'm afraid). He tests his limits (and ours) quite often, which keeps Andy and me going before the Lord on a daily basis asking for wisdom. :) He finally likes to brush his teeth (Halelujah!) and loves to spit in the sink! He loves loves loves to sing Jesus Loves Me and the second verse to Jesus Loves the Little Children, which goes "Jesus died for all the children," but he thinks says, "Jesus diaper all the children." He just likes music in general, and gets excited when he gets to go to worship at the beginning of the church service. He loves books and having "school" with mommy. He is very helpful, especially with older people. All during Thanksgiving he helped his great-grandmother get around with her walker...at one point I realized he'd helped her right into the bathroom when I heard him exclaim that she had underwear, too! He also has quite the sense of humor....his latest was today when he shut his eyes real tight and told me he couldn't go get Camp's wipes for me because his eyes were broken! :) I guess I should also mention (for Andy) that he's into sports, especially Alabama football and wrestling matches with daddy and Campbell!

Campbell: He is 11 months today, but going on 3! He tries really hard to keep up with big brother...which means I've got two busy loves going non-stop from the moment they wake up! Campbell starts his day with the biggest smile you've ever seen! That smile now proudly displays 4 1/2 teeth! And he works on that 1/2 tooth with everything he finds to put in his mouth! He doesn't like to be fed by spoon anymore, but will eat almost anything you put in front of him, as long as he can feed himself. I'm still nursing, which is almost a month longer than I got with Austin (woo-hoo!), but will be starting to ween this next month....this child will miss it, unlike his brother. :) He walks all day with his walker, and even took a few turns with his great-grandmother's walker this past weekend...of course, hers didn't sing or light up, but he had fun with it, nonetheless! Camp loves loves loves his big brother, and does everything Austin does...he pushes little cars and trains around just like Austin (which I feel like is a pretty big skill, but maybe I'm just in that "newborn" thinking again), he roars and roars with Austin (but his sound more like baby lion cubs), and he can blow whistles. He, too, has a sense of humor and loves to laugh...today, he kept putting his paci in my mouth and belly laughing as if it was the funniest thing ever! He also snuggles and kisses and loves to be rocked.

Andy and I are amazed at the love we have for these two...what two beautiful, wonderful blessings!

Monday, November 02, 2009

Small Victories...

It's been a difficult past two years as we've had to "deal" with Austin's food allergies....reading EVERY label we pick up, going to several different stores to get the special things he needs; spending more on those special items when my friends are saving tons on their groceries; looking in the pantry and realizing I have nothing he can eat; taking all of his food on vacation with us and packing him meals and special treats when we go out or to a party; having to explain to others the ins and outs of his allergies, but still having some not get it; lying awake at night thinking of all the situations he'll be in where there'll be "dangerous" food and wondering if we or someone else will be there to oversee, or will he take these allergies seriously and be responsible about them as he gets older and more independent; and the list goes on. But the most heartbreaking is having to tell him no when other children are enjoying the goodies without a care in the world...thankfully he understands now, but it's still heartbreaking.

However, we serve a God that is for us and not against us! And He loves my little Austin more than I do and shows us His love and faithfulness in every area of our lives, even this one! In the past few years, I've learned ways around Austin's allergies...making him separate meals, substituting ingredients here and there, etc. But lately, I've decided that all the things I make, he should be able to eat too....I'm on a mission! Where dispair and fear have lived for sometime, there is now a burning fire...a desire to include Austin! If he's going to face tough moments in the world around us, I can at least make him feel safe and included at home! I've been scouring websites and researching recipes and ingredients that are allergen free or easy to modify, but that also TASTE GOOD! I've committed to 1-2 new recipes a week, and so far only one has been a bomb! I feel like a whole new world has opened up to us! God is good!

Last week Austin had his first chocolate chip cookie and hot cocoa! Revolutionary!! He was in such disbelief about the cookies that he kept asking, "my have this?!" "my eat this?!" His excitement fueled my fire! This time my heart was melting, instead of breaking. :) Small victories...

(I have pictures to include with this post, but having trouble getting them from my phone to the computer.)

Friday, September 18, 2009

Take Me Out to the Ball Game....

It's been raining here for weeks, so last week at Andy's game, all the kids played in the dirt, and I took home this sweet little mudpie! :)

Andy plays softball for our church's league, and Austin LOVES going every week to the games! We go early many times so that Andy and Austin can throw with each other on the field... which Austin thinks is big stuff! He gets so excited and talks about it all day, hardly napping because of his excitement. And when it's time to head to the ball field, he is sure to have his cap, his glove and his ball!

Last night, we went to dinner with some good friends, the Hunters, who unfortunately we don't see often, but love their company when we do! They also have 2 boys, and are expecting their 3rd soon! It was raining (again) last night, so after the boys finished eating Andy and Todd let them play outside in the rain....Heather and I talked about how we love that their daddies let them do things like that, otherwise if it were up to us, they'd hardly get the chance...who cares if their clothes are soaked and dirty and they sometimes have to ride home naked?! :) I'm learning to let go and it's fun!

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Seriously, where does time go??

I did start working on a post a few weeks ago that had a lot of July 4th pictures and all, but.....oh well. I know in every post I talk about how busy we are and how fast time is flying...but seriously, I blink and another month has gone by! Does anyone else experience this? I am trying hard to protect and savor my time with my boys because I know soon enough they'll be grown.

My sweet Campbell just turned 8 months Sunday, and I still think he's a newborn...even though he's crawling everywhere and into everything he can get to! And Austin will be 3 in two months...crazy! Even though their growing up is happening faster than I'd like, we are enjoying watching them hit milestones, watching their personalities develop, and watching their relationship with each other grow!

Austin is a great big brother! He has become very loving and responsible, esp when it comes to Camp....making sure he's not putting things in his mouth that don't belong there, sharing his toys (usually ones that aren't his favorite, but nonetheless sharing), kissing him and saying "I yove you, Camel," and most recently, wanting Campbell to be a part of the nightly wrestling matches...Austin will fall and grunt and flip all around Campbell, but being careful not to fall on him. :) Austin also is good at seeing a need and without being asked, tries to meet it as best as he can. Today, for instance, I told Austin that I'd nurse Campbell in his room while he played with his trains. He said, "Okay!" and got one the biggest pillows off his bed and put it against the wall for me to lean back on (which is something I've never done before)! He was taking care of his mama! I wanted to eat him up!! He gets this wonderful trait from his daddy!

Campbell just LOVES Austin and will take any attention he can get from him. He tries hard to imitate Austin and laughs at everything he does...which Austin loves! Campbell also likes to pull on Austin's curly hair...he just can't resist if he's able to reach! I really think he's trying to put it in his mouth, where everything he gets a hold of goes...argh, it's a racket! But he's just as good as he can be and has the biggest smile I've ever seen! And it's contagious! I wish I could bottle it up to save forever! Camp also jabbers a ton, when he can get a word in...I'm usually the only one who gets the biggest doses of his jabbering b/c we get some alone time before Austin wakes up from his nap. :) I get some good snuggle time with him, too...he is SO cuddly!

Here are some pics from the last month or so....not as many as I'd hoped to put...i accidentally deleted a lot from my camera. By the way, not sure why my pics look grainy on the blog :(

4th of July at the lake

Kayaking with Poppa

Austin has gotten to be so brave in the water this year!

Think Camp's hair will be curly like Austin's?

Not really a good pic, but this was one of his first times sitting up playing, and he was so happy!

Happy Anniversary to us! 6 years and more in love!

One of our last nights with the Jonases before they left for the year...we miss you!

I think this pic is cute of Austin and Mallory...we'll have to keep showing him pictures so he'll rememer her when they come back!

At the lake with Bama friends

At the lake with cousins, Sam and Kathryn

Austin loves to "mow" :)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Life

Life with children provides a a roller coaster of emotions - joy, laughter, heartache, worry, anger, bewilderment, fear, amazement, love - and the list could go on. For the past few months I've tried hard not to worry or fear about Campbell and the spot on his head, but have failed miserably most of the time. Consumed at moments with the what-ifs and unknowns of it all. However, the biopsy went great last Tuesday. Camp was an absolute trooper....early morning, no breakfast, poked, prodded, put to sleep, and two stitches to boot. I just called to get the results and found out it's not anything harmful or serious. Praise Jesus! It's just an hemangioma, which is a benign overgrowth of blood vessels, and are rather common and will go away over time. Thank you for all your prayers!

Other than that, Campbell is doing great! He is growing fast and on the move! For several weeks Campbell has been sitting up, but not for long periods of time. I kept thinking he should be sitting up fine now, until it occurred to me that he CAN sit, he is just always in pursuit of something he wants! This kid is already scooting on his hands and knees towards toys he sees or trying to keep up with Austin! I guess with him we'll be bypassing that sit-in-one-place-and-play stage. :)

Austin is growing up, too! I'm amazed more and more by him everyday...things he remembers, things he says, things he knows, things he does! And while many of them require discipline, it's still pretty neat to see his mind working. :) Just this morning I heard something going on with Levi's food dish (which he knows is off limits), and when I walked in the kitchen, there Austin sat vigorously stirring dog food in Levi's water bowl with a straw from his juice box. When I asked him what he was doing he said, "making pancakes for Levi!"

As far as the rest of our life goes, we are enjoying the time we are haivng with friends and family we don't see regularly...in fact, we've either been out of town or had folks in town every single weekend since May! It's been busy and hectic at times, but we're making memories! I'll hopefully post some more pics soon of all we've been up to.

Sorry for the long post....you know how it is here on our blog - feast or famine!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

32 Years and 6 Months

Happy late birthday to my sweet husband! Andy turned 32 last Thursday. We took him to Iguana Grill to eat, then Friday morning my sister came to keep the boys while Andy and I went to the lake. We had such a fun time - we pretty much stayed out on the boat for two days straight...something we can't do as much of anymore because of naps and feedings and tantrums over sunscreen. :)

Over Andy's bday, I was humbled by the fact that he was created for a purpose that only he can fulfill...and how wonderful that Austin and Campbell and I ARE a big part of that purpose. How blessed we are to have him! We love you, Andy!

It's hard to believe that our little baby is 6 months old today! I feel like he should only be like 3 months! Seeing how Austin is shooting up right before our eyes makes me want to hold on to the baby stage longer...but I know Campbell is getting ready for bigger and better things! I'll be starting him on solid food...wow, how are we already here?! I mean, I'm still using the Boppy for every nursing (even though he is now 15 1/2 lbs)! I can't believe that the short time we've had him is how long it'll be until his first birthday!

We are having the best time with Camp...he's so alert and full of personality, loving to talk and laugh and look you right in the eyes! And he just loves watching and touching Austin. A couple of weeks ago when Ausitn was gone for a week, Campbell was so fussy - not wanting to do anything but be held. It didn't occur to me until later in the week that he was used to being constanly entertained, so I guess he was just bored not having a bunch of running and yelling and playing (and fit pitching) to watch!

On a more serious note...yesterday we went to a pediatric dermatologist to have a spot on Campbell's head checked out that he's had since birth. The dr didn't really know what it was, but didn't seem to think it's anything harmful. However, we are taking Campbell next week to have a biopsy done in order to be sure. We're praying for the procedure to go well and that all results will be normal.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Two Months in Pictures....

This is one of my favorite pics b/c we take down and set up these tracks every few days...it is something I absolutely love doing with Austin, and Camp likes to watch!

Camp is learning to sit up...he can go about 15 secs on his own :)

Austin has learned to open the fridge...he wanted juice :)

Austin got to spend a week with GeeGee and PoPo...he had a big time going to the zoo, watering the garden in the mornings, and having all sorts of fun!