Comparing Babies

Recently people have been saying that Arianna looks more and more like Cameron. I personally don't see it. Last night I was giving her a bath and I grabbed one of Cam's towels when I was getting her out. I remembered taking a picture of him in the towel so I grabbed my camera. The flash was bothering her eyes for some reason (she's usually quite the ham) so she's squinting in them. She is almost 9 months and in these pictures Cam is almost 5 months! He was huge compared to her! What do you think? I still don't see it.

I do think her eyes are going to stay blue like her big brothers though. They may actually be bluer than his. How did two brown eyed parents end up with one definite blue eyed boy and probably another blue eyed child? And how did *I* end up with a blonde hair blue eyed girl?? Regardless, I think she's beautiful!

Animals and Inmates!

Today we went to the farm that is run by the prison. Cam had so much fun! We were there for about an hour. I think next time we will bring a lunch and eat it there since they have some picnic tables. It was a little strange with the inmates walking around and only a few guards (who weren't really in uniform) but they can't be *that* bad if they're out in the public right?!? Cam was funny and kept asking what the men in orange were doing! It was hard to get him to leave but I did so by promising he could go to Toys R Us and pick out a toy with his birthday money.

Le'ts Play "Red Sox Ball!"

Cam got a T-Ball set from his best friend Elijah for his birthday. He LOVES it. He spent all day playing "Red Sox ball" with Daddy in the yard. He hit it a few times off the T but then he wanted Steve to pitch it to him. After Steve showed him how to hold the bat he did really good! He also wanted to wear his hat backwards, I have no idea where this came from. Every time he went out to play baseball I would have to turn his hat around...This kid truly is a character! Arianna had a great time sitting on the sidelines and watching! Though one time she did get a ball square in the forehead. Steve and I were amazed at Cam's arm!! That kid can hit and throw!

The Pirate Party That Got Washed Ashore...

Despite the torrential downpour and the loss of electricity I think the kids had fun. After the day was over, it hit me. I had a craft for the kids to do! Oh well, I don't think they would have sat long enough to do it (well, Cam wouldn't have!)

I swear every event in Cam's life will involve rain. I'll just have to warn his future bride that it will most likely rain on their wedding day! Thank you to those that came. Cam and I appreciate it! We hope you had fun despite all the rain!






"Goonies Never Say Die" I wish he would have let me get a good pic of the shirt!

Cam's 3 Year Well Visit

What a crazy week we've had. Arianna got the stomach bug. I went into check on her last Monday night and she was soaked. I thought Steve didn't put the diaper on right because he was the one to put her to bed. But when I moved her I realized only her upper body was wet. Then it hit me, it's puke. WONDERFUL. She would start coughing then throw up. We brought her in with us and she got sick a bunch more times until she passed out on me. I thought it was just post nasal drip that she was gagging on then throwing up. Then Steve (step dad) told me him and my Mom had been sick the previous 2 days. Again WONDERFUL. She was sick all day Tuesday and seemed to be getting a little bit better. I did everything wrong though. I stopped her solids but continued to give her the formula. Of course I prolonged it.

We celebrated Cam's birthday on Wednesday nite. He was so cute. He was so excited for presents, a birthday hat, birthday cake and ice cream! When we started singing Happy Birthday he got all shy and was saying "Please stop singing! Please stop!" It was very funny.

It was a great day until later that night when Steve heard him getting up. Yep, he got the stomach bug too. He hasn't been sick since he was little. It was a disaster. He didn't want to throw up in the toilet or a bucket. He was holding it in and screaming NO NO NO. I wasn't feeling so great at this point myself but luckily Steve has a stomach of steel. Steve ended up sleeping on the floor with him (Cam's choice) and he got sick a few more times but by morning he was feeling better. Unfortunately, I was not. How Steve escaped this is beyond me!

Today Cam had his well visit. I had been preparing him for it and he did great...until we had to wait 45 minutes to be seen. It was a disaster. He was going crazy, Arianna was going crazy and the worst of them all Steve was going crazy. By the time we got called Cam was a mess. He would barely stand on the scale and stand up straight to be measured. We got 32 3/4lbs (up 5 3/4lbs since last year) and 37 1/2" (up 2 1/2" since last year). I'm not 100% sure those are correct though. Head circumference was 50cm (up 1.5cm since last year). I swear Arianna's is right about there!

Our concerns for this appointment were his constant waking at night and his over abundance of energy. Dr. D asked about his waking at night and we told him it has been happening for 3wks now. I broke out the Ferber book and we have been following that. We have tried putting him down later at night (though probably not as late as we should 9:30 is the latest we have lasted), I wake him after 2 hours of napping, and when he wakes at night I lay him down without saying a word yet he's still waking 2-3 times per night. He's also waking up with the birds, 5:30 every day despite our attempts of turning his room into a cave. Every morning he wakes and says "daddy the suns up" so he thinks its time to get up. Since we tried following Ferber Dr. D said, "Well, why not go see Dr. Ferber?" WHAT? Go see "The Dr. Ferber?" Ok!! I have to admit...I am very interested in meeting him, he's like a celebrity!

After we talked about the sleep issues we talked about the overabundance of energy Cam seems to have. He said the sleeping could be tied into it, it could be that Cam doesn't require a lot of sleep (well that's all well and good but *I* do!!) or that it is just the beginning of A.D.D type behavior. I guess children who eventually become diagnosed with A.D.D do have sleep disturbances. As we were trying to talk Cam was climbing up onto the exam table, then jumping down, spinning on the stool, trying to get out the door, telling me he wanted to put his pants on, telling me he wanted to put his shoes on, grabbing at cups. I said to the Dr. "he's like this all the time, he's non-stop." He said every time he's seen him he's the same way and he is very active, more so than the average 3 yr old. It did make me feel a little bit better hearing that, I must say. Cam is a handful and knowing that its not just me and that I'm doing something wrong by not being able to control him makes me feel a little bit better. Dr. D said we need to try and find something to channel his energy. But it's hard there isn't much for 3 year olds.

So, I am going to set up the appointment with Dr. Ferber and we will go from there. Arianna's 9 month appointment is on June 10th so I will be able to talk a little bit more about Cam when it's a lot calmer.

Happy 3rd Birthday Cameron!

It really is hard to believe that Cameron is 3. I feel like we've already been through so much in just 3 short years:
*We moved when he was 6w old into our house and while it is by no means my dream home nor is it my "forever house" it is home. I do love our yard and knowing that our neighborhood is safe and quiet.
*Cameron has a passport and has been out of the country! I did not leave the country until I was in high school. I didn't get a passport until I was in my 30s! I hope to get him a few more stamps before it expires in 2012.
*My poor Cameron has already had one major surgery and one minor surgery. He has had more surgeries and hospital stays than me. I wish I could change that.
*Cameron has a baby sister! There were many, many times I said he would be an only child but he's not. Seeing them play together is so worth it!

Watching and helping Cam grow as a person has been my greatest accomplishment. Thinking back to his 2nd birthday and today there is a world of a difference in him. A year ago we were worried about his language development. He was talking but he was not forming sentences. He was barely putting two words together and I was so nervous about it. I would see other kids his age and even younger kids talking in full sentences and he just wasn't there yet. As the months progressed he got there. By the time Arianna was born he had a word explosion. It was amazing. Even in the 8mths since she has been born his language has continued to grow. As his language grew I expected his intellect or reasoning to grow also but he just wasn't there yet. I was never able to say to him "Cam you cannot do that because this will happen" or "Mommy has to help Arianna too" he just didn't get it. I would always complain to Dianna because her Elijah (who is 3mths older than Cam) was always one step ahead of him. She would always say "don't worry, he'll get there." Well, I am *so* happy to say that CAM IS FINALLY THERE!! I have noticed over just the past few weeks that I am able to talk to him and not at him. He loves to ask me questions about how things work and "why Mommy?" I am finally able to take him places and not have to worry about him running off or throwing a temper tantrum. I now know that I can handle it because I can talk to him and reason with him. I finally feel like I'm doing this "Mom" thing right (most of the time)!

Seeing how much he's changed in just 3 short years is just amazing. I am so excited to see what this next year brings with him starting school and potty training!

One Year Ago...

today I was 23w pregnant with Arianna and hospitalized for pre-term labor. Wow. Thinking back to that time and how uncertain everything was is really crazy. It happened so suddenly and it was so unexpected. We had no idea if she was going to make it or if everything would be ok. Thank God it all turned out ok in the end and we have a perfect baby girl who is 8 months old! I truly think Arianna is always going to give us a run for our money through out her life. In the very beginning it was the bleeding I experienced, then the pre-term labor, then we find out she's breech at 39w, then she's colicky for 4 1/2 months, the constant ear infections, luckily we're in a lull right now...her teen years should be fun!

Story Time

Arianna's 8 Months Old!

We celebrated by having a little impromptu photo shoot before going out to dinner. This child loves the camera. I really wish her brother did too!


I decided to try and give her some puffs. She has mastered the pincher grip so I didn't think she'd have a problem. She did great picking them up!Well once she got them into her mouth the trouble started. Arianna has a very sensitive gag reflex...I was hoping she'd just gag a few times, the puffs would dissolve and it would be ok. Which is the reason why I was snapping pictures as she was gagging...Well, it didn't work out quite as I had thought (does it ever?) She threw up everything, I mean *everything* the whole 6 oz bottle she had an hour before was in her lap. I tried to do the sweep of her mouth but there's nothing to sweep! The puffs turn into mush! Sigh. This child and food is just not a good combination. Table food is going to be a blast.