Face Photos

We have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of Camden. I'm pretty sure we took 94 the first day he was home (not really, but you get the idea). I always had the camera by my side so I didn't miss a thing! Well, that's not the case with our little Parker. I'm a bit preoccupied with a toddler and a baby and don't snap photos as often as I would like. So, on February 10th I decided to take a few of our 2.5 week old. He has quite the expressions for a little guy!

Six Special People

My boys are extremely blessed...they have six incredible grandparents! Parker has now met all of them! We were fortunate to have half of them here on his birthday and the other half came to see him soon after. We are so thankful for all of them and the love they give to our little ones.

Grandpa and Parker just a few hours after he was born

GG was in the room for the birth. Parker is fresh here (you can tell by his head).

So peaceful in Papa's arms

Papa and Parker on his birthday just before he headed to the airport

Papa and GG

Grammy and her two boys (Camden just woke up...obviously)!

Grammy met Parker on February 1st

Gramps holding Parker for the first time on February 17th

Gramps and Grammy with their favorite grandsons!

Comfy with Gramps

Memaw and Grandpa with (a tired) Parker

Memaw met the little man on March 12th

Memaw and Grandpa with 2 out of their 3 grandsons

Big Brother Love

Camden loves giving Parker hugs and kisses. He loves to touch him and talk to him, but he will not hold him. Whenever Parker is awake Camden wants to say hi! He's the best big brother!

February 10, 2011

Cozy, Clean, and Comfy

cozy with mommy

so sweet

squishy face

first real bath

all clean!

camden testing out his comfy chair from grammy

watching the game with daddy

our newest addition

Mod Block Boy Baby Announcements

Shutterfly has personalized baby birth announcement cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

What we know and love...

...about our boys.

Camden:

• still LOVES guitars! He puts on "big shows" daily and says, "Thank you everybody for coming" into his microphone after he performs. Hilarious!
• has quite the imagination. The other day he was playing with Noah's Ark when it started raining in his room! He gave Mommy and Grammy an umbrella and we had to get on the ark to stay dry! You can also find him making trips to the "store" to buy "things." He also has to "call somebody" to help him decide which spoon he should use for his cereal in the morning.
• he is a big fan of Sid the Science Kid and gets really excited when teacher Suzie sings
• independent is his middle name! He wants to do everything by himself or at least help with whatever is being done.
• he likes to tell us what to say to him. Examples: "What's Camden doing?" "Mommy say, 'Sit down Camden!'"
• the dark is not his favorite. We purchased a night light and it's a big deal for him to turn off his light, close the door, and point out that he can still see everything.
• "What instrument that?" is a question you'll often hear when it's time to eat. He likes to sit in his seat and pretend to play something while we guess what it is.
• stall and stall some more! He has mastered the art of delaying bed time. He has to ask a question, look for something, jump in his bed, etc.
• he likes to talk to Jesus by himself. We used to pray with him before bed and now he says his own prayers...precious!
• does a great job talking to his little bro (my fave is when he says, "Hi sweetheart" in a high pitched voice) and giving him gentle love

Parker:

Here is a list of his "firsts"

• walk
• big spit up (we think we have another reflux baby on our hands...unfortunately)
• diaper explosion
• trip to the mall
• time at church
• Community Bible Study with Mommy and Camden
• doctor's appointment
• growing out of clothes (from a size NB to 0-3 months)
• moving up a size in diapers
• bath
• story time
• time with Grammy and big bro while Mommy and Daddy went on a dinner date
• ride in the Moby wrap

other:

• he is still quite the grunter!
• he's a strong feller! Lifts his head and pushes with his legs much higher and stronger than an (almost) 4-week-old
• loves listening to his big bro talk to him
• is not a huge fan of the carrier
• still likes to suck, but can't always keep the binky in his mouth
• has a knack for pooping right after getting his diaper changed
• likes his baths now that he can get in the water

our alert boy

testing out his step-stool from Papa and GG

our little old man

playing a ditty

checking on his baby bro

Camden looks so big!

Loving Two

The other night, Jonathan and I took Camden out for a dinner date while Grammy stayed with Parker. We started talking to another couple who had a toddler and one on the way (she had 4 weeks to go). She told me to look up a poem called "Loving Two." It made her cry. It made me cry too. This is for you, Camden James. Mommy loves you!

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me.” And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t," knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. Author Unknown