Camden Turns 4!

Love this crazy, sweet, compassionate, shy, expressive guy who gets excited about EVERYTHING!

Camden turned 4 on August 18th! Since Belen was starting school and everyone seemed to be out of town for final summer outings we had a small family party on his birthday then had a party, embarrassingly enough, two weeks later!

Camden had a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Party! It was really cute.

He rubbed off his tattoo right after I put it on him. He's all dressed up as Jake!

Belen had a lil' tatoo hayday! I think when she finally finished she had 8!

We took some ideas from Aunt Miranda and had hot dogs. 

Traditional toppings for the kids and Hawaiian hot dogs for the adults. 

We had chips, lots of fruit, ring pops, cotton candy, pirate temporary tattoos, pirate hats and pirate gear kits as favors. 

Camden was dressed up as Jake in costume and daddy got a blue and white striped shirt and dressed up as Smee. 

It was simple and the kids and parents had fun. Just the way I like it!

Camden will be staying home with mom this year for some homeschool preschool and will start Kindergarden next year.

He's SUPER excited.

Camden is the guy in the family that seems to take it upon himself to right any injustice around him. He's compassionate and will stick up for and protect both his sisters.

That being said...he's 4 and suffers from all the normal afflictions most 4 year old boys suffer from.
I still see glimpses of his sweetness.

I am also VERY pleased now that he has stopped peeing all over his bedroom floor and is now FULLY potty trained!

Art Corner

Masterpiece or Mess?

In case you were wondering, 

the Crayola Washable Paint

.....

not so washable after all. 

At least not from carpet.

An afternoon at the Lake

We moved, earlier this year, to yet another place that has VERY hot summers.

Luckily this nice area also has several lakes nearby.

Since today was day number two of 100 degree weather we decided it was high time to check out one of the local swim areas we've heard so much about.

An invitation from a friend was all the encouragement we needed for a little family adventure.

Our morning was a bit of a bust.

Leaving later than we had planned I was fairly sure I'd remembered all the important stuff.

Lunch.

Water.

Towels.

Sunscreen.

Kids in car.

Camden insists on putting on his own seat belt.

He's pretty good at it.

But it still takes awhile.

And we were off!

Only a few wrong turns..

the kids fell asleep.

Quick stop at the Visitor's Center for a Park Pass.

We've got to be legal ya'll!

And we finally arrived.

Nice beach, fine rocky shoreline.

Mountains jutting upward all around us.

Trees shading lots of the beach.

Making the 100 degree weather not quite so bad.

Belen quickly made herself at home.

Challenging herself to keep up with her friends.

Swimming from the beach to a floating dock perhaps 50 yards offshore.

Yes, there are lifeguards!

She swam back and forth about four times during our visit.

Do you see Belen WAY out there on the dock? Sitting. Blue floatie.

Camden took awhile to 'warm up'.

Choosing instead to sit with me in the shade.

"Me no swim in lake."

Just for a bit.

Then he wanted more than anything to catch up to Belen,

on the floating dock.

I tried the water.

It was cold.

I don't do cold water.

I told Camden I wouldn't swim with him to the floating dock.

Perhaps next time we go we'll bring daddy to take him.

Campout

These are the pictures the boys brought home from their camp out earlier this month

You remember, the one conveniently scheduled for my birthday.

I really didn't mind.

Belen and I had a unique opportunity to spend a special evening together.

Just the two of us.

And when Saturday night rolled around,

(The day after my birthday)

Zak took me out on a birthday date!

Dinner, birthday burger at Red Robin.

You too can get a free birthday burger if you sign up for their Red Royalty card.

Did you know that they will put a veggie patty on ANY of their burgers?

I did.

It's amazing.

I got the classic burger (veggie patty) with A-1 sauce added.

OH MY!

Then we went to a movie.

While waiting in line to purchase our tickets a gentleman announced, standing nearby, that he had tickets (for the movie we'd wanted to see, in 3-D no less) that he was giving away.

FREE.

We took the tickets.

He walked away. 

We entered, and gave our tickets to the ticket-taker.

He directed us to the correct theater.

We chose seats (there may have been only those two seats left, together even. Lucky us).

We enjoyed our movie,

in 3-D,

FREE!

But I digress.

Here is what the boys did while Belen and I had our girls night:

Early morning by the fire.

Sharing some warmth.

Exploring a cave during an early morning hike.

Just hanging with Dad.

Here's what I heard about the trip

They stayed up WAY late.

Camden slept like a rock.

Not surprising, this kid will sleep anywhere!

Dad didn't sleep much at all.

They woke up at the crack of dawn.

Several hours before Camden normally wakes up.

Camden cried when it was time to break camp and load up the cars to go.

He slept the whole two hour drive home.

Then cried again when he saw me.

AND ran away from me.

I think he would have ran all the way back to camp if he could have.

Loves Within; teaching

School-at-Home

Freedom?

After 4 weeks in a very restrictive splint.

Camden went back to the orthopedist.

New x-rays.

Hope for removal.

Will Camden be able to splash in the bathtub today?

A story in pictures.

Maybe in two weeks...

Broken

This last weekend was a blur of errands.

Does Belen have everything she needs for school?

Nope.

None of her clothes fit all that well.

What does fit is more appropriate for a different climate.

Clothes, backpack, lunch bag, thermos. 

Crud, the lunch bag zipper is broken.

Why didn't I check that at the store?

An errand for another day.

Camden fell.

Like he's fallen a hundred times before.

Only this time he's hurt, really hurt.

He's holding his arm.

A trip to the urgent care.

Some x-rays.

A broken bone.

They didn't have a splint.

Just a sling.

A little boy trying to be a little boy.

Mom running after him.

Have you ever tried to keep a two year old in a sling?

Will he fall again...that's not right. 

When he falls again, will it will hurt?

So I keep after him.

"Camden, keep the sling on"

"Camden, don't use your arm"

"Camden, let's fix your sling"

"Camden, you need to keep it on"

"Camden...."

Please don't get hurt again.

Today he saw the orthopedist.

I begged for a cast.

The doctor said "no, a splint is better"

"he will take it off" I say

"then put it back on him" they say

I cry...yes, embarrasingly enough, I cry.

"if he takes it off," i say, "we will be back for a cast."

Time Out

Every once in a while even this sweet boy does a thing or two that he shouldn't.

Snow Day!

Some late February snow was great fun for the kids!

Camden and Grandpa

This picture was taken a month ago 

when Grandma and Grandpa came to stay with the kids while 

Zak and I had a little Spring Break get-a-way. 

Everyone had a great time!

Feeding Camden

Belen LOVES to help feed Camden. She's so sweet and fun, she does "airplane" with the spoon flying it all around Camden's head before finally coming in for a landing in his wide open, eager little mouth.

7 Months!

Camden just turned 7 months old this last week. He continues to be a very social and easy-going little guy. The many different sounds that he is able to make now is pretty awesome, he is babbling and working on a wide range of different pitches. He also loves to blow raspberries.

Camden will grab anything and everything within his reach, he is curious about everything and eager to explore. He's getting closer to crawling and can scoot backwards on his tummy and do a baby version of a Downward Dog. He has great balance and just over this last week can sit up and balance for as long as he wants to. He also still loves to stand if mommy props him up to the ottoman.

Camden quite obviously is a lover of life and people. He is quick to laugh and smile at the slightest hint of silliness and rarely cries. He is a joy to watch grow and discover.

About 2 weeks ago he had a well-baby appointment and weighed in at 16 lbs 4 oz and was 25 1/2 inches long!

Camden is 6 months old!

Wow! The last 6 months have just flown by! I can't believe my baby is getting so big! His well-baby exam isn't for a couple weeks still so we will get his official numbers then but a week ago he was about 15 lbs and is about an inch shy of growing out of his infant car seat!

Camden rolled over for the first time early this last month but hasn't really done it since. He loves to roll onto his side and just hang out there for a long time. He also loves it when mommy props him up to the ottoman (pictured above) with a toy so he can practice his balance and strengthen his legs. He is very strong and can stand and balance for quite some time. Camden also still loves to talk and smiles and laughs easily. He continues to sleep well through the night but will periodically wake up around 3:30 or 4 a.m. wanting his pacifier and will then go right back to sleep until 7 a.m.

Camden's favorite toy is his rattle. He loves to bang it really loud but will occasionally get a little to excited and hit himself in the face...sad.

We recently brought out his jumparoo which he also loves! He loves to bounce, pound and grab and also loves to put everything in his mouth, especially mommy's fingers!

Camden is working really hard to get his knees up under his body in preparation for crawling but isn't quite there yet. In the meantime his balance while sitting has improved. He can sit upright while supporting himself with his arms in front of him. Mommy is sure to be close by to catch him from the inevitable face plant when he gets excited and tries to lunge to grab something out of his reach.

 

Camden and Belen playing "Memory" last night.

5 Months

On January 18th Camden turned 5 months old. We completed weaning him to a bottle when he turned 5 months and he is doing extremely well. Camden continues to be a happy, easy-going baby. He is content to just hang out and chat. He loves to play with mommy's hands, kick on his play blanket until he rotates himself in a complete circle. Perhaps he's just trying to keep an eye on the action. Camden is becoming very good at grabbing things and mouthing them and he is very good at telling mommy and daddy what he wants by reaching for and grabbing things. He continues to sleep well through the night (11-12 hours), and his daytime naps have gotten a bit longer. Rather than taking 4-40 minute naps a day he will sleep for about an hour and a half 2 times, then 4o minutes in the evening. This napping schedule varies considerably depending on what the family is doing and Camden's sleep-needs. Sadly, most of Camden's long dark hair feel out over the last month or so. Luckily it is growing back in pretty quickly but it is looking a lot lighter than when he was born. The longest remaining hairs are in the mohawk area but they are so thin that they just lay right down.

Well Baby

Camden has his 4 month well baby check today. Here are the numbers for our little 4 1/2 month old sweetie!

Height 24 1/4" = 25th %
Weight 13 lbs 6 oz = 50th %
Head Circ. = 10th %

My little preemie has caught up and it doing amazingly well!
He's grown 1 3/4 inches and gained 2 lbs 3 oz. since his 3 month birthday 6 weeks ago!

Comparisons

Camden, 4 months old

Zak, 4 months old

Perhaps you will agree with me that the resemblance is pretty strong between these two?

Merry Christmas!

Camden Rhys was born in August. He was 5 lbs 10 oz, 18 inches long. Although he was born one month early, he has grown considerably and he has cute rolls in his legs now. He is a very happy and social baby. He loves to talk, kick, and play.

Belén Olivia turns three in January. She loves to sing and dance and is such a girl. She loves everything pink, eating chocolate, and dressing up pretty. She is very active and social and loves the nursery at church where she can play with her best friends. More recently she has learned to use the potty! Mommy loves that.

Allysia is an aspiring foodie and loves to try new recipes that use lots of fresh, locally grown produce. Allysia and Belén spent most of the summer preparing the new family home for Camden’s arrival. They both had a great time exploring their new town, getting everything ready for baby brother, and spending some special time together. Allysia loves being a mommy for Belén and new baby, Camden. She also loves living closer to her family and best friend who live in Washington.

Zak graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in the spring and started working on a Masters of Accountancy in the summer. He interned at the IRS in the summer also. He went hunting for the first time and harvested a 9-point whitetail buck. He accepted an offer to work for Moss Adams in Washington after he graduates (again) in May 2010

4 Months Old!

Camden has discovered his hands and loves to put them in his mouth, and watch how they can move, bend and grab things. He is very interested in his feet as well but isn't quite flexible enough to put his feet into his mouth, much to his disappointment. Camden also likes to try to do little sit ups with a some help from mommy, he loves to practice standing and sitting up as well. Camden is a very happy baby and quite a talker! Just after Thanksgiving, Camden learned how to sleep through the night and did so consistently until this past week when he started to wake up around 3 or 4 a.m. again, usually due to a persistent stuffy nose.

Camden has such a sweet, easy smile that makes his eyes sparkle. He squeals in excitement and will instantly coo and gurgle as long as he gets some face time with pretty much anyone. I do not have official numbers to relay how well Camden is growing but he just started using Size 2 diapers and is wearing 3 month and some 3-6 month clothes. He has cute little rolly-poly legs (that are very ticklish) and the biggest feet I've ever seen on a little guy his age (his 0-6 month socks are not fitting so well).

Camden is 3 Months Old!

I don't know if these numbers are terribly accurate but according to my nifty home measurements Camden is 11.2 pounds, (approximately 11 lbs 3 oz). He is 22.5 inches long and his head circumference is 15 inches!

Camden is an increasingly social little guy. He loves to try to talk and eat at the same time. He is an easy smiler and is very active when he's awake. Boy does he love to kick! Camden loves it when people coo back at him and will hold up his end of a cooing conversation for quite some time!

We've attempted a regular schedule this last month with Camden's naps during the day as well as a regular bed time and morning wake time. Immediately after we started the schedule Camden started sleeping anywhere from 7-10 hours at night! That sure made mommy happy. But that success has been a bit sporadic of late so mommy has decided to loosen up on the daily schedule and let Camden figure things out for a bit. We will keep the regular bedtime and morning wake time though.

Camden is very strong and loves to stand up with mommy's help, he is also working hard to gain control over his harms and tries to use one hand to steady the other and get it to his mouth...he's not quite there yet but it won't be long!

Camden is such a sweet little boy...It really is incredible how different 2 kiddos can be but his easy personality has been such a blessing to me as a mommy...The only thing that really gets him upset is if he has to wait a few minutes for his meal...but what boy would be any other way?!