Cameron,
One of life's important lessons is that God's timing is always better than ours. It seems like nothing happens when you are impatiently waiting, and then all of a sudden, a million things happen at once. We have been so busy and exhausted and stressed, and you have been your sweet self all the while.
First, we packed up almost everything in our house last weekend. Chad was so over-the-top generous to come help your daddy load the heavy things like the washer & dryer, fridge, and big furniture. And then he figured, while he was there, why not just help us pack everything? Dishes, clothes, bed frames, you name it. We were down to the bare minimum for the next few days until we moved out officially on Tuesday night. Good thing we spent Saturday evening at the pool as a nice reward for all that hard work! You were so excited to jump all over Daddy and kept accidentally throwing your head back and into the water. Thankfully you didn't seem too scared, but we decided you have got to have swim lessons next summer to reign in all that energy!
Sunday evening, your Uncle Jordan and Savtah arrived for his week at a diabetic kids' camp. Not exactly the best timing for them to have a relaxing week, but they have been a great help in keeping you entertained and cleaning the house. Savtah did squeeze in some time for herself at the spa - something she never does!
Tuesday evening was a bit stressful as we booked ourselves a hotel room and had to have everything out of the old house. I think Daddy was still a little sentimental about leaving so many good memories behind, but I told him I would much rather leave good ones than because of bad ones! We finally made it to the hotel around 9:00 and you were still awake but sleepy at the pool. You wanted to roll around and play in our big giant bed rather than go to sleep. But the next morning, with only a 10 minute drive to daycare, you did great!
Of course, our "two closing appointments in the same day" didn't go as planned. Our 9:00 got pushed to 10:00, and our 12:00 got moved to 2:30 and then was more like 4:00. Lots of waiting, but we knew that we absolutely had to move in that day! The seller's were gracious enough to sign a temporary lease, meaning that even if we didn't fund that day, we could still move in. Thank the Lord that we had so many good friends there to help us! They were amazing. People from church and Bo's softball team were so incredibly fast at moving everything. When I got there after leaving the title company, picking up you at daycare, and picking up drinks at a convenience store, we arrived to the house and saw just how much had already been done!
The entire storage container, one trailer, and two vehicles had already been unloaded. Furniture was in place, beds were assembled with sheets on them, and people seemed to be working in every room unpacking boxes! It was such a tremendous help and made everything seem totally manageable.
We still have a bit more organizing and decorating to do this weekend, but I am so thankful to be in our new home and get settled into the neighborhood. The drive this morning was gloriously short, and I said a prayer of thankfulness as I arrived at my office right on time. No more stressful drives through endless traffic!
More big news is on the way today... Mrs. Cara should be having Baby Hattie very soon!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Please be a toddler, please be a toddler....
Cameroni,
Another action packed weekend followed by a much needed day of rest! Saturday we were so lucky to have Kevin watch you for a few hours so Daddy and Mommy could tackle some much overdue yard work. After we had the septic tank inspected for the new home owners, there was a huge gaping hole and missing mulch everywhere, so we finally got it looking mostly back to normal. It was so unbelievably hot, even at 9:00 am, so I was glad that you were off having fun and not stuck home with us. We even packed more boxes and took apart some furniture to put in the storage container. It has been so nice to be able to pack things as we go along rather than having to cram it all into a U-Haul truck on our actual moving day.
Sunday was such a treat because we got to see Ben and the Pattesons back at church. He was so sweet, asleep again all cuddled up on his daddy's chest. I am always a little envious of snuggly babies, and apparently you decided to humor me for just one day. After we made it home from lunch, you and I both took a two hour nap and then you decided to come lay with me in bed for another hour. You seemed so tired and kept asking for your "baby" (your little pink lovey with a bear on top) until you eventually went to sleep on my chest. You NEVER do that anymore. It was so sweet to see your head moving along with my heartbeats, which I think were sort of soothing since your ear was right over my heart. Even your daddy was surprised to see you there, but he let me enjoy it for at least another hour.
But of course, it can't last forever. This morning you were the teenage version of yourself! Even though Daddy said you went to bed early last night, you were super tired and crabby this morning when I tried to wake you up for school. You rolled around and yawned, rubbed your eyes, and pull your blanket over your face. Finally, I just turned the lights on and started making all kinds of racket around your room. The last straw was just to pick you up and try to start getting you dressed. And you had a total meltdown. You were screaming, "Night night! Night night!" You were so desperate to go back to bed, running to your crib and trying to climb up and in! And I so wished that we could just go back to bed. Fortunately, your Daddy was super calm and endured the screaming to change your diaper and help change your clothes. He sat in your rocking chair and asked why you wanted to go night night, and even offered to let you sleep on the way to school. I was just watching bewildered. Super Daddy to the rescue!
Tonight, I think it will be an early bedtime for everyone.
Another action packed weekend followed by a much needed day of rest! Saturday we were so lucky to have Kevin watch you for a few hours so Daddy and Mommy could tackle some much overdue yard work. After we had the septic tank inspected for the new home owners, there was a huge gaping hole and missing mulch everywhere, so we finally got it looking mostly back to normal. It was so unbelievably hot, even at 9:00 am, so I was glad that you were off having fun and not stuck home with us. We even packed more boxes and took apart some furniture to put in the storage container. It has been so nice to be able to pack things as we go along rather than having to cram it all into a U-Haul truck on our actual moving day.
Sunday was such a treat because we got to see Ben and the Pattesons back at church. He was so sweet, asleep again all cuddled up on his daddy's chest. I am always a little envious of snuggly babies, and apparently you decided to humor me for just one day. After we made it home from lunch, you and I both took a two hour nap and then you decided to come lay with me in bed for another hour. You seemed so tired and kept asking for your "baby" (your little pink lovey with a bear on top) until you eventually went to sleep on my chest. You NEVER do that anymore. It was so sweet to see your head moving along with my heartbeats, which I think were sort of soothing since your ear was right over my heart. Even your daddy was surprised to see you there, but he let me enjoy it for at least another hour.
But of course, it can't last forever. This morning you were the teenage version of yourself! Even though Daddy said you went to bed early last night, you were super tired and crabby this morning when I tried to wake you up for school. You rolled around and yawned, rubbed your eyes, and pull your blanket over your face. Finally, I just turned the lights on and started making all kinds of racket around your room. The last straw was just to pick you up and try to start getting you dressed. And you had a total meltdown. You were screaming, "Night night! Night night!" You were so desperate to go back to bed, running to your crib and trying to climb up and in! And I so wished that we could just go back to bed. Fortunately, your Daddy was super calm and endured the screaming to change your diaper and help change your clothes. He sat in your rocking chair and asked why you wanted to go night night, and even offered to let you sleep on the way to school. I was just watching bewildered. Super Daddy to the rescue!
Tonight, I think it will be an early bedtime for everyone.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Potty Time, Excellent!
(Yes, that was a very bad allusion to Wayne's World.) I honestly don't know anything about potty training other than what my friends have casually mentioned. But apparently Cameron is a potty training overachiever and has just decided to do it herself. She is probably very lucky to have seen Emerson and Ainslee being such big girls and using the potty, so she thinks she needs to jump on the bandwagon. She has always been interested in it, but only recently has she been proactive in telling us she wants to go.
Apologies in advance, this is going to be a poopy post!
The other night Bo noticed that she looked like she needed to go, and asked her if she wanted to use the potty. She sat up there like a big kid and actually pooped in the toilet! I thought that would actually be the harder one for her to learn, but she just seemed to know what to do. So we did our happy dance and clapped and kissed her so she would know what a good thing it was.
Then I headed out for this guy:
On a weird note, I actually read an article where this guy bought five different potties of all sizes and prices, and this one was the winner. Super simple and cheap. Cameron was very excited that it was pink and had a bear.
The funniest part was that I brought it in right before her bed time last night and she was so excited to sit on it. She wouldn't get off to go to bed! She was determined that she needed to use it. We tried to explain that she could try later and that she was doing great, but she was super bummed to have to leave. And sure enough, this morning, she said that she needed to go and sat right down to pee. I couldn't believe it when Bo came to tell me that she had really gone! But then of course, she had a meltdown when we had to put her diaper back on and go to school. We gave her teacher a heads up that she might be asking, but the bad news is that her classroom doesn't have a bathroom attached to it. Not sure how that is gonna work. Her teacher can't exactly leave all the other kids to take her down the hall.
It looks like we won't be rushing anything, but I can't believe how quickly she seems to catch onto this. I wish we could have waited a bit more on the timing, but perhaps once we move we can focus more intensely on it. One weekend at home with lots of juice should do the trick, right?
Apologies in advance, this is going to be a poopy post!
The other night Bo noticed that she looked like she needed to go, and asked her if she wanted to use the potty. She sat up there like a big kid and actually pooped in the toilet! I thought that would actually be the harder one for her to learn, but she just seemed to know what to do. So we did our happy dance and clapped and kissed her so she would know what a good thing it was.
Then I headed out for this guy:
On a weird note, I actually read an article where this guy bought five different potties of all sizes and prices, and this one was the winner. Super simple and cheap. Cameron was very excited that it was pink and had a bear.
The funniest part was that I brought it in right before her bed time last night and she was so excited to sit on it. She wouldn't get off to go to bed! She was determined that she needed to use it. We tried to explain that she could try later and that she was doing great, but she was super bummed to have to leave. And sure enough, this morning, she said that she needed to go and sat right down to pee. I couldn't believe it when Bo came to tell me that she had really gone! But then of course, she had a meltdown when we had to put her diaper back on and go to school. We gave her teacher a heads up that she might be asking, but the bad news is that her classroom doesn't have a bathroom attached to it. Not sure how that is gonna work. Her teacher can't exactly leave all the other kids to take her down the hall.
It looks like we won't be rushing anything, but I can't believe how quickly she seems to catch onto this. I wish we could have waited a bit more on the timing, but perhaps once we move we can focus more intensely on it. One weekend at home with lots of juice should do the trick, right?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Welcome Home Ben!
Our dear friends have welcomed home their sweet new son Ben from Ethiopia this week. I think God had it timed just right that he was completely asleep as we greeted them at the airport, because I think our big group with signs and balloons and big smiling faces might have overwhelmed him a bit. He was so precious, asleep in his daddy's arms. Look at this face!
I have been told that they will need some time to bond together and get adjusted to things before they expose him to too much. But seeing as we will be moving in just a few weeks and will be no more than 5 minutes away from their neighborhood, I can't wait for us to spend more time together and get to love on the whole family.
I am so intrigued and touched by Keith and Danielle's decision to follow God's calling on their hearts and open their family to this beautiful boy. Coming from Ethiopia, one of the five poorest countries in the world, sweet Ben might have had to battle AIDS, malaria, famine or water-borne illness. He was fortunate to not be the one in ten children who die before the age of one, of those that survive, one in six die before age five. (Hearing his story of his mother's death and his malnutrition, this certainly could have been the case for him.) Half of the children in his home nation will never attend school, and 88% will never make it to secondary school. Only 24% of households even have access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, and many families live in a small hut with their fire pit and livestock.
How blessed are we, to call America our home. Ethiopia is roughly twice the size of Texas, but is home to 4.8 million orphans. That is just slightly less than the entire populations of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio COMBINED. Can you imagine if those entire cities were filled with children with no one to care for them?
Here are the scriptures that have so touched my heart today:
Psalm 68:6 "God sets the lonely in families."
Isaiah 54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your curtains wide... do not hold back."
John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted what I asked of him."
James 1:27 "Religion that is pure according to God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows who are suffering, and keep oneself unstained by the world."
Isaiah 43:6 "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth."
Psalm 68:5 "God is the father to the fatherless and a defender of widows."
Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive a spirit of bondage to fear but a spirit of adoption. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
Welcome home, dear Abenezer. Welcome home!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Twenty Months and Counting
Miss Cameron,
The months are going by way too fast. You are turning into such a grownup girl, so opinionated and determined to do it all by yourself. You refuse to let us help you with most things, especially eating! You seem to be developing nice manners, always saying thank you ("dit you!") and usually saying please when we prompt you to. You are quite the DJ in the car, immediately demanding "my shongs" so that we put in your CDs of Veggie Tales or the songs with your name in them that you got as a birthday present.
You are growing and getting to be so active. You have the cutest little wobbly run, and you love to get tossed up in the air and wrestle with Daddy. We have been swimming a few times this summer and you loved getting to splash and swim with him. You look so cute in the lifevest that Jordan passed down to you. I think next summer we will head for swim lessons at our new neighborhood pool!
I can already see such a sweet and gentle spirit in you. You love to hold hands with your friends and are quick to give them toys or books to share. You have even given me a few tender moments of snuggle time when I let you watch your Elmo DVDs on occasion. You have really enjoyed getting to spend lots of time with Ainslee, and I hope that you both will adjust quickly since they are moving to Kerrville in just a few short weeks. We will definitely be spending lots of weekends with them, but I know our weeknight dinners will be few and far between. The good news is that she won't be too far away, and I have a feeling we will eventually spring for a second bed in your big girl room to come!
But you will be so much closer to some other friends once we move. No more long hours spent in the car stuck in traffic everyday! It will be such a short drive home from the Pattesons and the Mowreys! And to top it all off, the Pattesons are bringing home their boy Abenezer from Ethiopia as I type this. I can't wait for you to meet him and become his dear friend.
I am sure that moving will be a little confusing to you. We will have to paint your room quickly and try to make it feel like home. But I know that you will grow and have fun and learn to love our new house. Our family will be blessed there because you will be there! And you are the most important thing that makes it a home. You are all that I can ask for, everything I could dream of. A beautiful, smart, funny girl that is growing up right before our eyes.
Love,
Mommy
Friday, June 18, 2010
House Update
Camo,
I've been a very bad mommy blogger this month because we have been so busy. Mommy and Daddy were very excited to get an offer on our house and have had to start juggling appointments and requirements for that. We had the inspection done and have to do a few things to make everything is in perfect working order, like having our well checked over and maybe having the septic tank pumped. All doable, just time consuming and more money to pay. We are hoping things go smoothly so that we can be officially under contract and start shopping for our next place!
So much to consider - good schools for you, room for Joe Dog to play, plenty of space for entertaining and guests. We are willing to update some things, but I don't want to have to live with a hideous kitchen for 5 years. Wallpaper, fine. Ugly paint, fine. Carpet needs replacing, fine. But I can't deal with a complete overhaul!
We have a list going of places we are interested in, but have really only seen them online or by driving through the neighborhoods. Our realtor didn't want to schedule a bunch of showings until we were ready to buy. It just seems like we are just going to have to go from zero to sixty!
But the most important thing is that we will be together as a family for a new start. Away from all this traffic and congestion and stress. I can't wait to start the next chapter with you and Daddy!
I've been a very bad mommy blogger this month because we have been so busy. Mommy and Daddy were very excited to get an offer on our house and have had to start juggling appointments and requirements for that. We had the inspection done and have to do a few things to make everything is in perfect working order, like having our well checked over and maybe having the septic tank pumped. All doable, just time consuming and more money to pay. We are hoping things go smoothly so that we can be officially under contract and start shopping for our next place!
So much to consider - good schools for you, room for Joe Dog to play, plenty of space for entertaining and guests. We are willing to update some things, but I don't want to have to live with a hideous kitchen for 5 years. Wallpaper, fine. Ugly paint, fine. Carpet needs replacing, fine. But I can't deal with a complete overhaul!
We have a list going of places we are interested in, but have really only seen them online or by driving through the neighborhoods. Our realtor didn't want to schedule a bunch of showings until we were ready to buy. It just seems like we are just going to have to go from zero to sixty!
But the most important thing is that we will be together as a family for a new start. Away from all this traffic and congestion and stress. I can't wait to start the next chapter with you and Daddy!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
I Love You Too
I have been trying to get Cameron to say I love you. I even bought the DVD "Elmo Loves You" because it explains what love is and shows ways to express love, like hugging or making cards or doing sign language.
So the first complete failure was last week when I did the signs one morning as she was leaving with Daddy. I said, "I love you" and she looked at me and smiled, and said "I love Daddy." Yes, I know!
Then last night, we had the Gilbreaths over for pizza and pedicures. Cara can pretty much no longer reach her toes anyway, and they are headed to the beach this weekend. Gotta have nice toes! So I did hers and mine and Ainslee's too. Cameron missed out because of her early bed time.
So just before she hit the sack, Bo brings her over to say goodnight to everyone. I say, "I love you" and she smiles and does the signs and says "I love you." But she points to Cara! Oh yeah, it hurt a little bit. First person to really get the love was Mrs. Cara.
But Ainslee was sitting next to me and looks at me and goes, "I love you" and points right to me. So we laughed and did it back and forth a bunch of times. To which Cara replies, "She has never said I love you to me!"
Apparently we have to swap children to get any love around here. And maybe it helps to bribe them with a Barbie pink pedicure. :)
So the first complete failure was last week when I did the signs one morning as she was leaving with Daddy. I said, "I love you" and she looked at me and smiled, and said "I love Daddy." Yes, I know!
Then last night, we had the Gilbreaths over for pizza and pedicures. Cara can pretty much no longer reach her toes anyway, and they are headed to the beach this weekend. Gotta have nice toes! So I did hers and mine and Ainslee's too. Cameron missed out because of her early bed time.
So just before she hit the sack, Bo brings her over to say goodnight to everyone. I say, "I love you" and she smiles and does the signs and says "I love you." But she points to Cara! Oh yeah, it hurt a little bit. First person to really get the love was Mrs. Cara.
But Ainslee was sitting next to me and looks at me and goes, "I love you" and points right to me. So we laughed and did it back and forth a bunch of times. To which Cara replies, "She has never said I love you to me!"
Apparently we have to swap children to get any love around here. And maybe it helps to bribe them with a Barbie pink pedicure. :)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Finally, Some R&R!
Hi Little Love,
We had the most relaxing weekend with friends and family for Memorial Day. Friday was a rough day at work, but your Grammy came to visit that evening and we had a great time. Your daddy even got to hang out with some of his buddies for dinner and a movie. The next day we all headed to Wimberly for some fun shopping, and then you got to go to the Walls' house for the evening while we headed to La Fogata, a San Antonio tradition. Grammy and I loved the pina coladas! We even headed to have a glass of wine with the Mowreys before we came to pick you up. We were quite amused to see that your pack-n-play had been set up in the Walls' upstairs bathroom so that you could snooze in peace. You were totally passed out!
Then Sunday, we all went to church together, enjoyed lunch with lots of friends, and then Grammy and I snuck away for a pedicure while you went home to nap. Our pedicure was wonderful, your nap was a bit more difficult. Daddy said you wanted to stand up and jump so much that you made yourself sick! Too much milk! Fortunately, after a quick change of jammies and sheets, you crashed for a pretty good while. We wanted you to be in a good mood since we were having friends over for dinner!
We had an easy barbecue with sausage and hot dogs and got to enjoy sitting and talking to everyone. Jennifer Z came over, who is pregnant with twins, and we all took turns suggesting baby names for her. My favorites are Averleigh (her own creation) and Aiden. Cute, right?
You and Ainslee played in the backyard with the sprinkler while Braden ran himself silly chasing your little pink soccer ball. You were so exhausted, but managed to stay up until nine - super late for you! We loved having the Gilbreaths over and Cara's sister Lauren. They were our last to leave because we were enjoying some good laughs on the back porch. Your Daddy said that nights like that make him think that maybe we should stay at our house a little longer.
Not going to work on Monday was such a special treat. We slept in, had a nice breakfast, and got a phone call that there was a showing scheduled for 11:00! Of course we still had things to clean up from the night before, but we managed to leave everything nice and neat when we headed out. Grammy and Bruce had to make the long trip home, so we were sorry to see them go. We spent a few hours at Elizabel's house for her 3rd birthday party. (You got her a cute outfit and a fabulous book about a little girl in love with her mommy's grown up shoes!) You had a great time even though you were a little sleepy before we even got there. You did fall in love with Lizzy's Radio Flyer tricycle, which Daddy has now said we have to get for you. Then you crashed in the car as soon as we left.
Daddy is still working on a little home improvement project for me in your bathroom. I had been thinking that a bright coral mirror would be so cute to match your new shower curtain. In a fit of frugalness, your Grammy suggested we just buy molding and frame out the mirror that was already in there. Turns out, it will probably be only slightly cheaper (I picked out nice molding) and did cause some tension between Daddy and I over how exactly it was going to get completed to my satisfaction. But hopefully we will get it finished and hung up tonight!
I love you so much and had a great time watching you play and act like a busy toddler. You are such a grown up girl! I will try to post some pictures of our fun weekend soon!
Love,
Mama
We had the most relaxing weekend with friends and family for Memorial Day. Friday was a rough day at work, but your Grammy came to visit that evening and we had a great time. Your daddy even got to hang out with some of his buddies for dinner and a movie. The next day we all headed to Wimberly for some fun shopping, and then you got to go to the Walls' house for the evening while we headed to La Fogata, a San Antonio tradition. Grammy and I loved the pina coladas! We even headed to have a glass of wine with the Mowreys before we came to pick you up. We were quite amused to see that your pack-n-play had been set up in the Walls' upstairs bathroom so that you could snooze in peace. You were totally passed out!
Then Sunday, we all went to church together, enjoyed lunch with lots of friends, and then Grammy and I snuck away for a pedicure while you went home to nap. Our pedicure was wonderful, your nap was a bit more difficult. Daddy said you wanted to stand up and jump so much that you made yourself sick! Too much milk! Fortunately, after a quick change of jammies and sheets, you crashed for a pretty good while. We wanted you to be in a good mood since we were having friends over for dinner!
We had an easy barbecue with sausage and hot dogs and got to enjoy sitting and talking to everyone. Jennifer Z came over, who is pregnant with twins, and we all took turns suggesting baby names for her. My favorites are Averleigh (her own creation) and Aiden. Cute, right?
You and Ainslee played in the backyard with the sprinkler while Braden ran himself silly chasing your little pink soccer ball. You were so exhausted, but managed to stay up until nine - super late for you! We loved having the Gilbreaths over and Cara's sister Lauren. They were our last to leave because we were enjoying some good laughs on the back porch. Your Daddy said that nights like that make him think that maybe we should stay at our house a little longer.
Not going to work on Monday was such a special treat. We slept in, had a nice breakfast, and got a phone call that there was a showing scheduled for 11:00! Of course we still had things to clean up from the night before, but we managed to leave everything nice and neat when we headed out. Grammy and Bruce had to make the long trip home, so we were sorry to see them go. We spent a few hours at Elizabel's house for her 3rd birthday party. (You got her a cute outfit and a fabulous book about a little girl in love with her mommy's grown up shoes!) You had a great time even though you were a little sleepy before we even got there. You did fall in love with Lizzy's Radio Flyer tricycle, which Daddy has now said we have to get for you. Then you crashed in the car as soon as we left.
Daddy is still working on a little home improvement project for me in your bathroom. I had been thinking that a bright coral mirror would be so cute to match your new shower curtain. In a fit of frugalness, your Grammy suggested we just buy molding and frame out the mirror that was already in there. Turns out, it will probably be only slightly cheaper (I picked out nice molding) and did cause some tension between Daddy and I over how exactly it was going to get completed to my satisfaction. But hopefully we will get it finished and hung up tonight!
I love you so much and had a great time watching you play and act like a busy toddler. You are such a grown up girl! I will try to post some pictures of our fun weekend soon!
Love,
Mama
Monday, May 24, 2010
When Life Gets Away From You
Cameron,
Mommy is sorry. Sorry that I let things run away with me sometimes. That I let work drain my fuel tank, and then I feel terrible that I don't seem to have anything left for you and Daddy other than a short fuse. I am very ashamed of some of the things that I said this weekend. I feel like I say things out of anger and frustration and later can't believe that I did.
And this morning, I get to work and see my memory verse notepad turned to Ephesians 4:2. "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." And that is definitely not what I have been doing.
There is no excuse for my behavior. I am going to work hard this week to show you and Daddy that I love you and know how important you are. That no amount of stress or sleepiness or moodiness should allow me to be ugly. Because you are so full of joy and sweetness and laughter that it just runs over.
Sometimes I truly see our garden as a metaphor for life. You have to be deliberate with the things that you allow to take root and which ones you need to pull up. It takes dedication to keep watering the blooms and pruning things in the right shape so that they grow the right way. And when you let things run away without supervision, you turn around and are overtaken by weeds. That's how I feel this morning. It's time to put on my gloves and get dirty again. I want this garden to produce only things that are lovely and enjoyable to everyone.
And I am hoping that Daddy will read this and take the last part of my memory verse to heart too. I could sure use some of his love to make allowance for my faults. And I think this means he is getting a really awesome Father's Day gift.
All my love,
Mama
Mommy is sorry. Sorry that I let things run away with me sometimes. That I let work drain my fuel tank, and then I feel terrible that I don't seem to have anything left for you and Daddy other than a short fuse. I am very ashamed of some of the things that I said this weekend. I feel like I say things out of anger and frustration and later can't believe that I did.
And this morning, I get to work and see my memory verse notepad turned to Ephesians 4:2. "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." And that is definitely not what I have been doing.
There is no excuse for my behavior. I am going to work hard this week to show you and Daddy that I love you and know how important you are. That no amount of stress or sleepiness or moodiness should allow me to be ugly. Because you are so full of joy and sweetness and laughter that it just runs over.
Sometimes I truly see our garden as a metaphor for life. You have to be deliberate with the things that you allow to take root and which ones you need to pull up. It takes dedication to keep watering the blooms and pruning things in the right shape so that they grow the right way. And when you let things run away without supervision, you turn around and are overtaken by weeds. That's how I feel this morning. It's time to put on my gloves and get dirty again. I want this garden to produce only things that are lovely and enjoyable to everyone.
And I am hoping that Daddy will read this and take the last part of my memory verse to heart too. I could sure use some of his love to make allowance for my faults. And I think this means he is getting a really awesome Father's Day gift.
All my love,
Mama
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Eighteen Months, Brilliant!
Hi Sweet Girl,
Mommy got to take you to your 18 month checkup this week and you are growing so perfectly! Everyone that got to see you went out of their way to say how smart you are. They were so impressed with how you listened and whispered to me what you wanted. You even said "doctor baby" when our real doctor, Dr. Beatty, came to check you out!
Three cheers that you didn't have to get any shots, and you are still just the right size. You weigh 26.1 lbs (75th percentile) and are 31.5 inches tall (50th percentile). We had to answer some questions about your development, like if you can take off your shoes and socks or if you are starting to be more creative with toys and blocks. You are just off the charts, Cameron! So smart.
You are really starting to try and repeat everything we say. This week you said "gosh" and "dude" when I didn't really realize I had said them. Guess I will have to be very careful! And you want to do so many things by yourself! We can't help you eat at all which means you tend to make a big mess. Somehow we are going to have to get you to politely tell us you are finised instead of sweeping off everything on your tray to the floor! But you are so playful and funny and beautiful.
Even though these last few weeks have been a little crazy with Mommy's work, I am so thankful that you are such a happy girl and that you love spending time with us at home. Daddy said the other day how much he loved watching you and I play hide-and-seek and how we both laughed and laughed. You are growing up so fast!
No news on the house, so we are just going to enjoy being here as long as we are. I want to still enjoy spending time with you outside (while we still have nice green grass!) and we are definitely going to throw a few parties this summer. I am so looking forward to work slowing down, getting to take a vacation to spend time with family, and letting all our relatives spend time with you. You sure are loved, Little Girl!
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