stats: 33 in, 26.5 lbs

Today was Cam's year appointment. It was a month late, but we were willing to wait until we could see our regular pediatrician (as opposed to the nurse practioner) because we LOOOOOOVE her. We left feeling quite happy and incredibly thankful that we have a very healthy, fun, adorable baby boy (he's quite happy as well, as you can see).





Last night I had my first Bible Study as a group leader. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed facilitating the discussion time at my table. The ladies I sat with won't be in my permanent group, but it was still fun to meet them. The leaders had to make treats and I made peanut butter balls. They are always a hit wherever I bring them as they are cute and delicious. Here is the recipe. They are quite time consuming, but they freeze great so you can make them ahead of time.

1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 stick softened butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 cups choc chips, melted
M&Ms

Mix first three ingredients (easiest if you do it with your hands). Form little balls. Drop melted chocolate over the top with a spoon and top with M&Ms. They make approx. 30-40.



Today as we were driving home from an errand, Chris made two funnies I thought I'd post:
1. After asking what we were having for dinner and my responding that we were having hamburgers, he said, "Mmmm! Sounds good. Just make sure to cut out the middle half of my bun!" This was said with quite a bit of sarcasm as he teases me because I have been known to do this very thing (to cut down on the carbs). :)
2. While on the freeway, I said, "Could you maybe not follow quite so close to that car ahead of us?", to which he responded, "Sure. I'll trade you straight up for no singing". Apparently I had been belting out Sir Oliver's song (a Cam favorite) without realizing that maybe I didn't sound as good as I had thought!

Before you think my husband is rude and insensitive, I should tell you that both of those were totally done in fun and I wasn't offended in the least...rather I laughed quite hard! OK, I must run. We still haven't seen the season premiere of the Office and our Tivo is screaming for us to come see it!

kalepa

Cam's favorite song is from the album, "Sir Oliver's Song". The song is about a monkey named Kalepa. As you can see, he really gets excited about Kalepa and his banana...which is quite fitting because Cam LOVES, LOVES, LOVES bananas (as do most babies I'm sure)!!

(copy/paste)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIkc-Ic_yz4

"...me too!"

What is it that makes people feel so much better about something once they find out someone else has experienced the same thing? If, after taking a test in school, I found out my friend also had a hard time, I didn't feel as badly about bombing it. If my friend and I were trying to eat healthy, and we both messed up by scarfing down a Cold Stone, for some reason it wasn't as bad since I had a partner in crime. I have found this to be true BEYOND WORDS when it comes to mommyhood. I honestly think I would have been much harder on myself over this past year had it not been for my friends and family who consistently told me that I wasn't alone. When I learned that my sister also had napping issues with her girls, I didn't feel like such a rotten mom. When I talked with fellow moms who had difficult breastfeeding experiences, I didn't feel like such a failure. Even today at MOPS, another gal told me that both of her kids did horribly in the nursery when they were babies. I immediately felt better about the fact that Cam has yet to remain in the nursery through a whole church service.

I think when you are a mom, you tend to have this unrealistic idea that every other mom has it so much more together than you. When Cam was younger and not sleeping through the night, I used to look at women in the store and think, "I bet she isn't tired and she gets 8 hours a night." It is like we innately have this problem of assuming we are the only ones struggling with sleep, cranky babies, feeling overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, etc. It is so refreshing to talk to another mom who has been in your shoes. This is one reason why I love MOPS. Spending time with other moms and talking about things we are going through is invaluable. Even if you don't click in most aspects of your personalities, moms can ALWAYS find something to talk about related to their kids!

I went over to my mom's house a couple days ago and we went to her friend's house. She has a trampoline in her backyard. As you can see, it was quite a highlight for Cam!!

sports

A friend of mine emailed my sister and I regarding our dislike of sports. She is an avid sports fan and was curious as to how someone could have such a great distaste for things dealing with leather balls, nets, wooden sticks (bats), and the like. I had Chris read her email and he chose to respond. I thought his email was hilarious, so I thought I'd post it. :)

"This is Chris, Kelly wanted me to read your email. She
prefaced it that it was about sports and that you were
trying to get Kell and Susan to like sports. Here's
how the rest of the conversation played out:

Me: Karen likes sports?
Kell: Yeah she likes this one team.
Me: What team?
Kell: I don't know . . . it's on her blog.
Me: What sport?
Kell: I don't know, it's on her blog.
Me: (thinking . . . Karen must've just typed the name
of a team in her blog somewhere)

So, I visit your blog and see a football helmet, not a
baseball helmet, basketball uniform, hockey sticks, a
football helmet. Let's just say it's an uphill battle
Karen. I'm holding out hope that our son will force
her to, but I'm not holding my breath.

True story:
I'm on my way to Vegas with a car full of guys. Kelly
calls me on my cell phone to tell me that she's in a
restaurant with some girlfriends and "Kobe O'Brien"
walked in...clearly the distant Irish cousin of the
infamous L.A. Laker.

A helpful hint, if you happen to know background of a
player (i.e. girlfriend, wife, kids, legitimate or
illegitimate, prior misdemeanors, where they live,
how much money they make, etc., it can add another 10-20
minutes of viewing time.

Good luck and thanks for fighting the good fight."

Petco

Saturday we made a trip to Costco. Boy was it different on a Saturday! I had not been on a weekend in a long time and it was soooo crowded. We decided to stick with going during the week. You still get the yummy samples but don't have to hassle with the crowds. Although has anyone ever noticed that they never have samples in the bakery section (the most important section of all!!)? That night I read my latest Rachel Ray magazine while Chris watched the USC game.

Sunday I went to church while Chris stayed home with Cam. We then made a trip to Petco. I had heard that they have dog adoptions on the weekends. Since Cam LOVES dogs, we thought he would enjoy it. He did, for the most part. I neglected to think about the fact that dogs bark. And yes, you guessed it...dog barking = Cam crying. Fortunately he did get in some good giggleing with the non-barking crowd and also enjoyed seeing the guinea pigs inside the store (but honestly, I think guinea pigs are among the ugliest little creatures!). After Petco we stopped by my parents for a while, then headed home.

On a side note, Cam has started doing something a little strange, and maybe slightly concerning. He puts his hands up to his ears. Usually it is one at a time, but sometimes it is both. It isn't the typical rubbing of the ears that babies do when they are tired. It is almost like he is giving himself earmuffs. I've noticed he does it when he is tired, which is sometimes throughout the day since we are having some napping issues. Anyway, I'm going to ask our doc about it when we go in for his check up. I've never seen babies do this, and I've worked with a lot over the years. It is almost like they are bothering him, but he never gets fussy or upset about it. Here is a picture where I caught him in the act.

sprinkles

Wednesday night I had my first leadership meeting for the women's Bible study, which is starting up in a few weeks at our church. I was asked to be a small group leader, something I'm super excited about. I enjoy leading discussions and am glad to start getting more plugged into our church, something we have been wanting to do for a while. It will also be a great opportunity to meet other young women (hopefully some fellow moms...stay at home moms would even be better!!). I know I'll be a little nervous to lead the first few times, but I'm sooo lucky to have a resident expert in small group leading in my mom. She actually did some of the training of the small group leaders at her church. So she'll be able to help me with things that might come up, like how to handle it if someone dominates the conversation, or getting asked questions I don't know the answers to, etc.

Thursday I met my friend, Ruth, at the park for a picnic. I was a little worried because the temperature was in the 90's. However it was actually quite nice sitting in the shade. We talked and ate for a while, then let Cam swing on the swings. He loves the swing! It has gotten to the point where he throws a mini fit when I have to take him out.



Ruth brought me a little gift. She had been down to the LA area and to a shop called Sprinkles Cupcakes. I tried one when I got home and, in the words of Rachel Ray (for all you Food Network fans), YUM-O!!! I didn't think I could have a cupcake that tasted all that different than one you would make at home...but this took the cake (no pun intended!!). Thanks Ruth!!

talking

There are a lot of statistics out there regarding the number of words said by women vs. men per day. I would venture to say that Chris and I are actually pretty even. I'm lucky that Chris is very good about sharing details with me that typically men wouldn't share (such as topics covered during a time out with friends). I think normally he wouldn't do this, but he knows how much I love hearing it, so he indulges me.

There is a difference in our talking, however. I tend to do a lot of talking to myself...or maybe it would be called rhetorical talking. For instance, we just got back from Costco and as we were about to drive into the driveway, Chris said, "Do you realize you have been talking non-stop since we got off the freeway?" In fact, I had done that very thing! Here is a portion of my ramblings: "I think we should try more hole in the wall places to eat...let's go for dinner with Cam at that one Mexican place...what if I had told that lady at Costco to move...ha-ha...that was so awkward when I tried to get past that lady, wasn't it?..." My train of thought was all over the place!!

Another thing I do (and I think this comes from my mom because she always does this) is to slow down when I'm driving and talking at the same time. If I'm really into what I'm saying, I'll ease off the gas, without realizing it. Many times, Chris will put his hand on my leg (like to push my foot down on the gas) in a joking manner to let me know I need to speed up. :)

So there are my thoughts today on talking. Any input?

petting zoo

I took Cam to the petting zoo today. We had been before (a few months ago) and he wasn't too into it. I thought maybe he would enjoy it more now that he was a little older. He did like seeing the different animals (especially touching the nose of the goat) and riding in his stroller along the dirt trail. Chris has been pretty non-stop with work lately, so it was a fun little date, just the two of us.



I'm not sure which animal was his favorite, probably all the ones that didn't make a noise...he was NOT a fan of the sound one of the big birds made. It must have hit that pitch that just seems to get him.



Tonight Chris and I ate dinner outside on the patio. I remember when we first got married, we moved to an apartment that had a balcony. I was so excited b/c I pictured us eating dinner outside all the time. We rarely ever did. We again have rarely used our table outside here at our home. I think the main reason is that I'm always too lazy to clean off the table and chairs. But I decided to get off my booty and do it tonight. It was such a pretty and cool evening, very worth the 3 minutes it took to give the table a good clean!

coffee and nursery update

Saturday morning I met my friend, Ruth, for coffee. I have REALLY enjoyed getting to see her more often now that she has moved back into the area (we went to jr. high, high school, and college together!). We had good food/coffee and even better conversation. Ruth and I have had some great spiritual conversations over the years. I remember we went to New York with another friend for spring break one year. Our conversation on Saturday reminded me of the dozens of similar ones we had back on that trip.

Afterward we went shopping so I could look for a dress for my upcoming high school reunion. I don't remember the last time I have gone shopping with a girlfriend. I used to do it ALL the time pre-Cam days. It was lots of fun and I even found a dress!



Chris went out to Peyt and Liesl's for another UFC fight on Saturday. He was even able to sneak in a movie with his friends before the fight started ("3-10 to Yuma"...he gave it a 9 and really enjoyed it). This morning we went to church. I had decided to stay in the nursery with Cam. However I quickly realized that the reason he normally cries is not only because I'm not there, but also because there will always be one baby who decides to cry. Cam simply cannot handle it when other babies cry or even make a loud noise. He goes from happy to crying (hard, shortness of breath type) in a snap. I had to take him out for a walk a couple of times. Long story short, I think Chris and I are going to rotate going to church for a while. Yes, some might think that is not the best solution, but at this point, I'm not sure I care. It is best for Cam right now and best for us. Hopefully down the road he'll be able to stand hearing other babies cry.

When we got home from church, he played by himself in the kitchen for about half an hour. He LOVES to throw a ball, crawl to it, throw it, crawl... He used to just stop when it got caught under the table, but now he goes for it and gets himself caught quite frequently. :)



Later we went outside to play with the hose, another favorite activity of his.



Fun weekend. :)

least favorites

My sister's most recent post got me thinking about my least favorite foods (as well as Chris's). I've actually found that there aren't a ton on the list. I've grown to like a lot more now that I'm older. Here is a list. You might not find this that interesting, but I would find your list interesting...so leave them in my comments!

*Tomatoes (will eat them sometimes only b/c they are so good for you)
*Lobster, shrimp, clams (basically anything where the texture is super squishy)
*ANYTHING spicy
*Fruit desserts (fruit and dessert DO NOT go together--if I eat an apple pie, I'll eat the crust and crumb topping)
*Blueberries, raspberries, huckleberries (basically any berry except strawberries)
*Nuts in dessert (they are fine by themselves or in pasta...but they get in the way of my chocolate)
*Sushi (one word...yuck)

I'm sure there are more...but that is all I can think of right now. I think I know most of Chris's, so I'll do his list for him (with my added comments, of course!)

*Beans (except refried--this one is super sad for me b/c I love beans and they are so healthy and are in so many dishes)
*Veggies (except green beans and broccoli..but only in broccoli salad with the mayo dressing...this is also super sad b/c there are so many yummy veggie recipes and they are sooo good for you)
*Chocolate (this is simply a sin...I can say no more)
*Whole grain anything (he'll eat whole wheat bread...as long as it isn't super hearty/dense)
*Fish (any kind)
*Soup (he'll eat it, but it can never be the main dish...only a side dish)

Ok, your turn!

Fudgey German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

For Cam's birthday, I made cupcakes. I also decided to have a richer option since cupcakes, to me, are rather wimpy when it comes to a true, rich dessert. I made some cookies that have become Chris's absolute favorite. I got quite a good response from the other party goers and numerous requests for the recipe. They are super easy, although a little time consuming. Soooo...if you want to wow your friends at the next BBQ, may I suggest...Fudgey German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies?

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup Cocoa
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 tbls. milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Store bought can German Chocolate frosting (or could be called Coconut Pecan frosting)

Mix all ingredients (except the frosting). Form 1 inch balls (or larger if you want big cookies). Press down each ball with a spoon. Bake 8-10 mintues at 350 degrees. Once cooled, put a dollop of frosting on the inside of one cookie and place another one on top to form a sandwich. These are great to freeze ahead of time.

Thank God for Baby Einstein

Yesterday we went to a BBQ at a friend of my parents' (can someone enlighten me on the apostrophe rule for whether it is parent's or parents'???). The day leading up to the BBQ had not gone that great. I think remnants of the overwhelming weekend must have still been in Cam's system. He just was not a happy camper. We are experiencing nap issues, which makes for a very tired boy. Tiredness combined with crankiness (for whatever reason) made for quite a morning. Anyway, we arrived at her house and tried a couple of things to make our young man happy. We first tried the pool, which lasted about 10 minutes.



Then we tried the trampoline, which worked, but I wasn't big on the idea of spending a hot afternoon taking turns jumping on the trampoline to occupy him! So after debating whether or not to pack up and head home, we decided to give Baby Einstein a try. Bingo!!! We were able to eat our lunch and visit a little all while the munchkin enjoyed watching nature and toys put together in one fabulous DVD. And my parents actually oohh'd and ahhh'd at quite a few nature scenes. So thank you , Baby Einstein, for helping turn a "having to leave before we even got to eat" BBQ into a, "getting to at least stay for the food and a little talking" BBQ!!



Today Cam seems to be back to normal. :)

He's 1!!!

Yesterday we had Cam's 1st birthday party. I simply cannot believe it has been a year. Chris's parents drove down from Fresno for the weekend. We also had his brother's family and my parents over. We had an open house and many of our wonderful friends came out. We were and are sooo appreciative to everyone for making the drive (especially considering a few hit horrific traffic!). The party didn't go quite as I had planned. I anticipated Cameron to be somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of people, but I didn't quite expect how much it would affect him. Unfortunately I spent a lot of time upstairs with him as he just needed time away from everyone. We were able to get some quality time with our friends once he went to bed, so that was a highlight. Despite the outcome with Cam, we are incredibly thankful for our adorable, fun, and amazing little boy. He truly has added so much to our lives and I'm so excited to continue on our journey with him! Here are some pictures.

Opening presents...


His baseball cake...



He wasn't quite sure what to do with his cake. As soon as he touched it, he quickly took away his hand. :)



This, unfortunately, was a common face throughout his party...poor little thing just wasn't used to all the people!