V-Day

Thanks for the Valentine shirt, Grandpa and Grandma Bentley!

Love the diaper booty

Look at those lips!  He's talking in this pic.

Hope all of you had a fabulous V-day with those you love.  xoxo

Meet Ava!

We met Ava last Friday.  She belongs to Sarah, a friend of mine from work.  Murriel (another friend from work) was there with her husband and son too.  It was so fun to see Sarah and her little addition.  Ava is just as cute as can be!  You can tell she already loves her mommy from the picture below.  Congrats Sarah and Scott on your precious little girl! 

So sweet!  She is exactly 2 weeks old.

Sarah and me with our babies.  Doesn't Camden look big?  I couldn't believe he was ever as small as Ava.

Murriel, Sarah, and me with our little ones.  Seth will be 3 next month!

Roles

I have been a daughter all of my life and friend for as long as I can remember.  Then there's the role of student, which I loved.  I loved school and loved my teachers, inspiring me to venture into the profession myself.  A little later the role of hot chick comes into play as boys fall head over heels in love...hahaha, yeah right!  Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. Back to being serious...it was girlfriend.  I became the girlfriend of a few boys that were great and one or two that were not the best choices, but, nevertheless I learned. After meeting and falling in love with the best boy ever, I became a fiance.  This was different, a strong commitment that would change my life and my last name. :)  This role was filled with anticipation of our big day and what the future held for me and my soon-to-be hubby. Fun! The obvious transition here is wife.  Blessed by an incredible husband, this was one I eased right into.  The honeymoon was incredible and the day that I kissed Jonathan good-night rather than good-bye (Gilbert Grape anyone?...Lace?) was glorious!  The last four months have given me a new role, mommy.  I am honored and thankful to have this one.  Some roles you choose, others are chosen for you, and some are simply desired and never acquired.  For some, the latter describes being a mommy.  I am truly blessed to have a son, a gift.  This role, perhaps the one I cherish the most, has also been the most difficult.  I don't mean the labor or the middle of the night feedings, I mean the change.  I have slipped in and out of roles without thinking twice, but this one is different.  It has transformed me...into a different person of sorts.  I am not a worrier by nature, but now I worry about Camden daily.  Not a negative worry, a mommy worry.  I consider myself to be a confident person, but now I second guess (perhaps over analyze would be more accurate) decisions I/we make about Camden (this ranges from letting him "cry it out" to immunizations).  I talk about things like poop and rashes.  I notice a girl's diaper bag before her shoes--now that is serious! My entire being has been consumed by this one role.  It's like the mommy role is somewhat of a bully and causes all the others to run away.  I have not forgotten them, but have lost sight of them at times. There are moments when I don't want the others because it is exhausting.  My thoughts are incomplete.  I have been internalizing this for a while, yet it is unfinished.  I hesitated "blogging" about it, not wanting to sound negative about mommyhood.  Please understand I love it and would not trade it for the world.  I am just trying to sink into it and figure out where I fit. 

Extra reassurance for the extra concerned...I have no regrets about where I am.  I am simply trying to be true to myself by acknowledging and expressing my thoughts/feelings.  I love my life and those in it.  I am blessed beyond measure.  

I love...

Jesus-my hubby-my son-family-friends-laughing-cozy fires-warm chocolate chip cookies-being a mommy-strawberries-the smell of rain-new shoes...ok, all shoes-chai-the Bible-chapstick-designer jeans-the window seat on airplanes-clean sheets-autumn-hawaii-sports-sunsets-christmas-singing in the shower-dancing-reading-slippers-shopping-Camden's smiles, talking, everything-my wedding rings-inside jokes-cherry coke-white water rafting-when the "light bulb" goes on for one of my students-vacations-turkey sandwiches-music-three day weekends-s'mores-the ocean-nordstrom-fresh snow-people watching-group dinners-perfume-snuggling-good hair days-boutiques-texting-summer nights...and much more! Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

4 months!

Our baby boy is 4 months old! I know, I can't believe it either! Here are some pics from his doc appointment on the 3rd. Please note my pants in the pic of the two of us...he has such a big smile because he just spit up all over me! Here are some things he excels in:
-drooling
-smiling
-talking
-making Mommy and Daddy smile
-explosive pooping
-looking at himself in the mirror
-lifting his head during tummy time
-did I mention drooling?
-sleeping through the night
-grabbing things...or at least making an attempt to grab (fingers, toys, books)
-listening to stories
-tracking with his eyes
Oh, the list goes on, my friends! The scale in the pic says 14 pounds, but they officially wrote it down at 13 lbs 15 1/2 oz. He is around the 50th percentile for weight. He's about 25 inches long (60th percentile) and his noggin is in the 25th percentile. We just love him!

Meet Jacob!

Our friends, Steve and Steph, had their baby on January 9th. She was a champ...he was 9 pounds 2 ounces and she did it all natural! Wow! We went to visit Steph and her new little bundle yesterday. He is so cute! Camden looked huge next to him. Four of our friends had babies in January--tis the season.

Off to church we go!