Thursday, December 29, 2011

7 Months






Happy (belated) 7 month Birthday Campbell - you turned 7 months on November 29th

I say this each time, but you are at such a fun age!
You sit up totally on your own and when you do fall over, it's because you mean to
You don't seem to have any interest right now in crawling but you love to stand and you really love to jump in your jumperoo
You love to eat!  (Wonder where you got this from, ha)
You love to pick up your own food, so we have begun to give you small, very small pieces of food you can grab - bananas, avocado
Both your bottom teeth are completely in and visible!! YAY.  They are so cute
Your smile and laugh are infectious
Your sleeping has been a little off - you seem to cry and make lots of noises in your sleep and then wake yourself up and expect me or daddy to come in and get you...you're a smart one little ladybug
You love the books "Goodnight Moon"  "Hoppity Hop Bunny" "Peek-A-Moo" and Dr. Suess's "Go Baby"
If you don't like a book being read to you, you physically slam it shut!  You certainly know what you want
You have had a rough month of being sick.  You had your first infection..PINK EYE which turned into a double ear infection..poor baby.  And then a horrible cold and cough.  No fun for anyone.  Daddy and I spent much time doing snuggles with you
I finally let you put your lovie in your crib with you and you LOVE it
You aren't really into Paci anymore.  You take it at bedtime but other than that you never have it during the day
You love your toy mailbox and constantly want to "hit" the plastic letters that you put inside together.  You even hold out a letter to Daddy or I and that is our signal to HIT your letter..haha it is so funny and so cute!

You are our darling baby
We Love You


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Catch All

Radom items I have either thought about or experienced and items I haven't blogged about but don't want to (read:  I don't have the time) do 500 individual posts.

1.  How the hell do you find time to workout - like a serious workout with a baby?  Running with the jogging stroller is sooo hard, No?

2.  A constipated baby is no fun and very sad

3.  I feel I am not doing the whole "feeding solids" to my baby correctly.  Yes, I know there is no right or wrong, but I don't do well without some guidance and structure especially when it comes to the health of your child.

4.  This is huge...Campbell got baptized on October 8, 2011.  It was so special to us and am so grateful for friends and family who traveled to be there

5.  I am striving to be a better Christian and am growing more in my faith.  This feels good.

6.  I take time out of each day to tell God how grateful I am.  I have A LOT to be grateful for.

7.  I need good make-up.  Something to make me feel "put together"

8.  There are still so many things I want to do with Campbell's room - this would be the only downside to waiting to find out the gender...you then need to complete the room once you know if your baby has boy parts or girl parts.

9.  I have already begun addressing my Christmas cards!  Yay to this one.

10.  We are traveling to CT for Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to seeing family, I am not looking forward to having a 7 month old on a plane.  I am not looking forward to having her "off" her schedule/routine for 5 days, especially since right now her naps are are soo good!

11.  I have learned so much in 6 short months about being a mom, a parent, a partner. 

12.  My favorite time of day is when I get to go in and get my baby in her crib in the morning. 

13.  I have already begun thinking and starting to plan her 1st birthday

14.  I can't stop this list now, I really want it to end on a number with 5 - OCD much??

15.  I can stop now I am on a multiple of 5.  I end with..I truly love my life and the people in it.  BLESSED is an understatement.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Happy 6 Months

Happy 6 months Campbell.   I CANNOT believe you are half-way to your first birthday.  Saying that brings happy tears to my eyes.


I always say this but time is flying by and everyday I wish I could freeze time.

YOU

1. You weigh 16.6 lbs

2. You are in size 3 diaper

3. You eat about a 6 oz. bottle every 4 hours and now eat a "lunch" and "dinner" of "solids."  So far, you have had Rice cereal, Oatmeal, Bananas, Apples, Pears, and Sweet Potatoes.  You LOVE oatmeal with cinnamon and applesauce.  You also LOVE Mum-Mums!  You HATE mashed bananas, but love little pieces of them.  Pears a natural laxative for you, ha.  You just started to grab and put food in your mouth, so we have began giving you small pieces - this makes Mommy so nervous about choking!  But I realize you have to learn and I am happy that you are learning new things like this.  Today we are starting Avocado 
4. You go to bed each night between around 6:30pm-7:00pm and sleep until 6:30am! 

5. You are a very loud sleeper
6. You take about 2 (maybe 3) naps a day.  They range from 45 minutes - 1 1/2 hours
7. You love to laugh
8. You sit up all by yourself now
9. You are learning the motions of crawling, however, right now you move backward instead of forward, ha!
10. You hold and grab toys and when you get excited to kick your legs and arms like crazy, it is so cute
11. You can put your paci back in your mouth when it falls out.  We now have like 3 pacis in your crib at one time
12. You are now impossible to change as you just try to roll over and get away

13. You LOVE your jump-a-roo
14. You are one TEETHING baby!  Drool is constantly running out of your mouth and everything is constantly being put in it. 
15. You show interest in books we read and let us know when you don't like a book

16.  You love to yell and scream - it's your way of talking


I could write a novel about how much you mean to us and how much our love for you grows daily. We thank God daily for the gift of you. We love you Campbell.








Tuesday, October 4, 2011

5 months


Happy 5 month Birthday Campbell.

You are at such a fun age!
You love to smile and laugh
You can sit up fairly well on your own but you want to do it all the time which still requires a hand behind you
Now that you can sit up up (some what) you are impossible to bathe
You found your feet and they are in your mouth ALL the time, ha
You learned how to blow bubbles and that is all you do all day
Everything is always in your mouth!
You just recently realized who Abby is now and want to constantly touch her, it is so cute!
You now know your name and look at us when we say it
You know exactly who Daddy and I are and are beginning to experience a little seperation anxiety when others hold you - I hate this, but in a funny way love it that you feel loved and secure with us
You have the BIGGEST smile when we come and get you in the morning or after naps
You just learned how to jump in your jumperoo
You LOVE your rice cereal but HATE sweet potatoes - we are taking a little break from the solids and are starting again in a few weeks
We call you a hippie at heart because you LOVE music and being nudey

You are our darling little girl
We Love you








Sunday, September 25, 2011

Campbell eats a meal

I know someone who started solids yesterday...(well, not true solids...rice cereal if I must be honest)




Contrary to the expression on the last picture, she LOVED the whole experience and even helped us guide the spoon to her mouth.  Proud mom and dad moment.

Excited to explore the world of fruits and veggies, one pureed cup at a time.

Monday, August 29, 2011

4 months


Happy 4 month Birthday Campbell.

You do lots of fun things now and your personality is really starting to show!
You just learned how to scream and squeal when you're excited
You laugh out loud
You smile all the time
You "talk"
You are so squirmy
You are super strong
You love to pull my hair
You love to constantly pat Daddy and I's face when being held
You love to cuddle and sleep in our bed in the morning before we start the day
You are a fantastic sleeper!!

You are the apple of our eyes
We love you

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The horrible, no good, very bad day

Or so it felt that way.  I think yesterday tops my charts as one of the most annoying days.  Let's start with B.K. is gone on a business trip (don't bad days always start this way for moms).  Campbell is teething...side note:  I learned post child that teething actually means  things just "shifting" in their tiny mouths, not necessarily cutting a tooth. 
She was up the night before from 12:30ish to around 2:00ish.  Then decided that 5am was a fantastic time to start the day.  Hold up sister, 5am is wayyy to early for Mommy, so it was paci time and back to bed until 7am.  As I am bringing my darling little munchkin downstairs, I notice the dog dry heaving. So, baby in tow I run to the backdoor and am frantically trying to open it to let this dog get outside and puke when I hear and see dog vomit at my feet.  Side note again:  I DO NOT DO DOG VOMIT.  I gag.  I get mad and angry at the thought of cleaning it up.  I just can't do it.  Buuuuut, I had to since I was holding down this fort solo yesterday. 

Campbell goes down for her morning nap.  I get "ready" for our Mommy and Me yoga class we have on Tuesday mornings because I know when she wakes up it will be a quick feed and off to class.  Just as stated previously she wakes up, I feed her, I grab her and all the essentials and load us in the car.  Put the keys in the ignition and NOTHING.  The battery died.  Lovely.  Well, I guess we won't be going to Mommy and Me yoga today.  (Which truth- be-told it's really 45 mintues of bouncing Campbell around on my knees and listening to other moms compete about how long each of them have breastfed for....I am certainly out of this clique when I pull out my bottle of water and add her formula).  So, I proceed to unload us and our goods from the car and journey back inside the house, praying B.K. renewed our AAA.  He did.  I called and the AAA man was out at the house in an hour.  However, he started my car and told me that my battery is really bad and it will most likely die again and I should replace it.  Now, being the smart, savvy woman I am I knew this was a ploy to get me to buy the battery off his truck, so I politely declined.  As, I was walking back into the house the mother in me slapped the savvy business woman in the face and went running back to his car and said, "Actually, yes please, fix it."  I think the pure fear of being stuck running errands with your infant and your car shutting off due to a dead battery would make any mom just a little uneasy.  To the tune of $122.76 I was the owner of a new car battery!  Woohoo! 

It's now around the time for Campbell's midday nap.  She maybe sleeps 30 minutes.  This will result in having to walk her around the house and push her in her stroller up and down the driveway singing The Wheels on the Bus... around the 4pm mark. 

Moving forward, after the lack of nap, I am walking downstairs and notice my pictures on our ladder bookcase in the family room are shaking.  First thought, oh lord the ceiling fan is about to come crashing down from our cathedral high family room ceiling.  Oh sweet lord.  But no, we had an earthquake!  Odd.  5.9 earthquake in VA felt all up and down the east coast.  Anyways, the earthquake itself was not the part that added to my horrible, no good, very bad day, it was rather the possibility of having our hot water heater leak gas if it was shaken enough during the earthquake.  I was told repeatedly by CNN to stay on HIGH alert if I smelled gas in my house.  I am already a little neurotic (I'm a parent) so the thought of a posioneous gas leaking into my house with my 4 month old here makes me just a little more crazy!

Here comes the fun part of my day. Abby.  our loving, sweet, chocolate lab.  Abby, oh Abby, is bleeding.  From her paw.  She has a decent sized bloody blister type thing on her paw.  It's now about 2pm.  I call the vet and they tell me to bring her in.  I load my 83 lbs chocolate lab, my 4 month old (who, as a reminder, has now not slept since her 30 min stint around 11am), the stroller and myself into the car to go to the vet.  I might add Abby isn't good on a leash.  B.K. and I take full responsibility for this, but still in times like this it's annoying.  She almost knocks over the stroller while I'm trying to get all 3 of us in the door to the vet.  Thankfully the women behind the counter come to my rescue and took her.  I then have to wait, and wait, and wait for the vet.  Come to find out it's a wart.  Gross.  $102.00 to be told it's a wart.  word of the day, lovely.

It was just one of those days.  The days that you feel annoyed and frustrated while it's all happening but are able to be grateful when you sit down to have a quick bite to eat at 9pm because you realize it really wasn't that bad and my family is still blessed beyond words.

Until we meet again annoying day.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Time management

This post is coming from a follow-up to a recent conversation and blog post by a dear friend of mine. read here 
By nature I am a very organized, on-time (for the most part and pre-baby of course!), and somewhat OCD individual.  Luckily, or not-so-lucky, for our daughter I married a man who is exactly like me in that regard.  You could say our household is full of structure and routine and we LOVE it that way.  However, having a baby changes you in more ways than one.  Where we use to eat dinner most nights around 7-7:30 we now are struggling to eat even a bowl of cereal by 9pm!  Campbell has a bedtime routine that takes about an hour - bath, lotion/baby massage, jammies, bottle, rocking.  After one of us puts her to bed its a mad dash to pick up from the day and have something for dinner.  I am feeling like if we don't use the crockpot dinner is a complete crapshoot OR we aren't eating until 9pm. 

Are we just horrible at time management?  How can we be better organized for the dinner time rush?
Must.come.up.with.solution.soon.

Side note:  I would eat dog food everynight for the rest of my life for this little lady...



Her cuteness consumes me....

Friday, July 29, 2011

Happy 3 months Campbell

Happy 3 month birthday Campbell.  We can't believe you are already 3 months old.  Time is flying by and almost everyday I wish I could freeze a moment in time.

YOU
1.  You weigh 12.2 lbs
2.  You are in size 1 Pamper diapers
3.  You eat about 5 oz. every 3-4 hours
4.  You go to bed each night between 6:30pm and 7:30pm
5.  You only wake up once during the night to eat (normally between 2-4) although some nights you have made it all the way until 6am!
6.  You take about 3-4 45 minutes naps a day
7.  You smile and coo all the time - this started around 6 weeks
8.  You learned how to roll over from your back to tummy in the last 2 weeks and you now occassionally roll from your tummy to your back
9.  You are starting to have a little bit of separation anxiety when other people hold you.  You look around for me and daddy
10.  Last week you began sleeping in your crib.  (Tear tear)
11.  You just began to grab at your toys
12.  Your hands are constantly in your mouth!
13.  You loved to be rocked in your sleepsack with paci before each nap and before bedtime.  Daddy and I use to sing but you began to fuss at this - maybe our voices were NOT music to your ears, ha.
14.  You like to be held facing outward
15.  You are so content, nosey, lovable, and sweet little baby.


I could write a novel about how much you mean to us and how much our love for you grows daily.  We thank God daily for the gift of you.  We love you Campbell.




Thursday, July 21, 2011

You can call me Martha

No, really you can call me Martha Stewart because I recently made a FANTASTIC recipe of hers I saw her cook on the TODAY show the other morning.

The recipe is as follows:
Ingredients


All-purpose flower, for rolling
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 1/2 ounces grated sharp white cheddar (2/3 cup packed)
3 medium tomatoes, cut into ten 1/4-inch-thick slices
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Ground pepper
1/3 cup small basil leaves, for serving

Preparation
Active time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min + cooling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and middle thirds. Lightly flour a rolling pin and work surface and roll out puff pastry to a 14-by-16-inch rectangle. With a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 10 rounds and transfer to two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets; with a fork, prick each round all over. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese on each, leaving a ¼-inch border, and top with 1 tomato slice. Brush with oil and season with pepper.

Bake until pastry is deep golden at edges, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let tartlets cool completely on a wire rack. (Store between layers of parchment in an airtight container, up to one day.) To serve, top with basil.

Ta-da

Perfect for a summer meal with a salad and of course a glass of vino!

Also, we recently returned from a week at my in-laws in CT.  It was miss C's first plane ride and she did nothing short of fabulous - thank God.  We had a great time spending time with family and friends but it's always nice to be back in your own home, in your own bed, and back in your daily routine. 



Eeek we look horrid, oh well had to capture the first plane ride


Picture with her Great Grandparents!


Hi Bug!


Friday, June 24, 2011

Finding time....

This was taken April 29th 2011 at about 1:30pm.

6 hours later......

Our darling Campbell Madison was born at 7:24pm.

We have been consumed with lots of hugs and kisses to this little lady



Finding time to blog has been nearly impossible.  But I'm trying and am hopeful I will get back to it regularly once I can pull myself away from this sweet face...

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Life most annoying things

FOLDING THE FITTED SHEET.

I spent a good 20+ minutes this morning trying to fold our queen sized fitted sheet.  I know my mom showed me how to do this a very long time ago, but having her explain via cell phone just didn't seem like that would do much help.  So, I took to the internet, because bunching it up and throwing it in the closet was just not going to cut it for this obsessive-complusive lady anymore.  However, the YouTube videos and MarthaStewart.com website didn't seem to help much either.  I got lost in the words of the step-by-step and hitting pause to catch up on the actions being shown in the video were too difficult...in a desperate plea I ask, "Do you know a fool proof way to fold a fitted sheet?"  Please advise ASAP as the.fitted.sheet is now bunched in my closet.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

It was worth all the wait.....for the baby bedding that is

Pictures of Baby M's nursery.  Now all we need is the baby.

From the door into the room







Changing station


One of the 4 baskets
One of the 4 baskets



The Window Valance

Decor pieces above the rocking chair



Could NOT be any happier with the room!  Waiting over 15 weeks for the bedding to be completed was well worth the wait!

Hope Baby M enjoys
 

Monday, April 18, 2011

Reflections

10 days from today is Baby M's due date. 

Will he/she come early?  Will he/she come late?  Will I be a mom to a son or to a daughter?  Today, I woke up and had breakfast with my husband before he departed to work and I started my daily to-do list...will tomorrow we be in a hospital holding our newborn baby?  Have we got everything needed to make it through those first few weeks?  What did the OB office say we need to do when my water breaks, again?  The questioning, the joy, the excitment, the fears, the pure and utter anticipation in waiting for the arrival of your newborn baby is unlike anything I have ever experienced.  It's a good wonderful thing, but it certainly tests your patience!  It's hard to believe we are ACTUALLY going to have a baby.  A BABY!!!  We will be entering into a new phase of life, parenthood.  Gosh, that sometimes seems so exciting and in the same breathe so scary.  Will we be good parents?  How will we know what to do?  Can I reach the pediatrician 24 hours a day 7 days a week?!

All the things I think every new parent thinks and worries about.

To baby M:
Today is 4.18.2011, exactly 10 days from your due date.  Your dad and I are so excited to meet you!  Everyday we pray for your arrival.  Everyday we talk about you (for hours) and play a guessing game as to who you might be - it is so fun not knowing.  We are full of anticipation, joy, and happiness. 

You are an absolute blessing from God and we feel so honored that God chose us to be your parents.  We pray that we do a wonderful job and that you love being apart of our family.  You are loved beyond words.  Your extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends love you and call daily wanting to know if you have made any progress in your upcoming debut.

Your dad is a truly remarkable and amazing man.  He has spent hours reading his "dad" books and attending all your baby visits with me, as well as, going to all the new parent classes.  Everynight before him and I go to sleep we talk about you and if tonight will be the night.  He loves that you can already hear his voice and he wants you to know who he is, so sometimes he purposely talks loud or directly into your home (my belly) so you can hear him over and over.  He cannot wait to be your father and I have no doubt in my mind that you and him will be the very best of friends.  You both are blessed to have each other. 

As for me, I have been blessed to have you all to myself for the last 9+ months (however, I am ready to share you with your daddy).  I remember when I first felt you move - it felt like a little fish swimming through my stomach or like a little bubble popping, it was wonderful.  Now at 38 weeks and 4 days your kicks and punches, rolls and turns sometimes hurt!  You notoriously kick me in my left hip several times a day.  I actually love this.  It lets me know that you're there when I haven't felt you in awhile.  You are such a big, yet small, little thing.  You are always most active in the morning and at night and ALWAYS after I eat.  You probably hear my voice more than you would like to as I love to talk - hopefully, you will love to talk too!  You are my angel and I am blessed to have you.

We love you unconditionally Baby M.  We hope to meet you very soon.

Hug you, kiss you and love you,
Your Mom and Dad

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Baby Shower and Week 37

I have been blessed with fantastic friends.  This past Sunday, April 10th, my previously talked about fantastic friends held a baby shower for me and baby M.  It was, simply put, perfect.  The company, the food, the gifts, the decor...everything was great!  Thank you all.  And a big THANK YOU as well to my mom and sister who have traveled long and far to be at and contribute to every baby shower that has been held in our honor.  God has blessed me beyond words.  Pictures below...


Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby M is the size of a watermelon. Weighing in at about 6.5 lbs and about 19 inches long

Total Weight Gain: 27 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I wear all maternity pants - love the jeans and leggings! Everything else is my normal stuff.  And it's gettin' HOT in NC, but I refuse to cave and buy maternity shorts - although, they are super cute!

Gender: We shall find out when this little baby arrives

Movement: ALL the time especially after eating and at night

Sleep: Frequent urination is now very much apart of my nightly sleep routine, so getting a goodnights sleep seems nonexistent
What I miss: Raw sushi, a fabulous nights sleep, occasional adult beverage, lacing up my tennis shoes, shaving my legs without looking like I was attacked in the shower

Cravings: no real cravings, rather just hungry and thirsty ALL the time

Symptoms: My feet hurt by the end of the day and sometimes they are swollen - lovely!, I will get contractions here and there, which feel so painful for the 30 seconds that they last so I really can't imagine labor..eek.

Best Moment this week: Knowing that I am Full Term!