Baby It's Cold Outside

Houston doesn't really get what I would consider "cold." At least, it hasn't yet. But it has been pretty chilly the last few days and a light jacket or sweater was needed when venturing outside. Well, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to put Camden into one of his new "cold weather" outfits. I choose an adorable hoodie we got at Carter's Black Friday sale that has little ears on top.
Why? I'm not sure...but it's cute. I snapped few pictures (okay..more than a few) before heading out to the grocery store.

Little Laundry Helper

On occasion it is a little difficult to get daily house keeping things done with Camden up and around. I normally get most of these things done while he's napping. Laundry, though, is one of those things that needs to be folded once the dryer quits. Less wrinkles, fresh clothes and I can get the next load going.


As I was folding today Camden decided he wanted to help unfold the towels. After refolding and placing the laundry out of his reach I turn around to find him playing with the laundry basket. I picked him up, put him inside and did what any mother would do...take pictures.
He wasn't much help but he sure was cute!

Spoon Fed

Camden has always seemed to have an "I can do it myself" sort of mentality. He's independent, strong willed and stubborn. We're not sure where those last two traits came from. Although, Brian would be quick to say that it's me....but he'd be wrong! :) Ha! Ha!

Anyway...Camden got to a point where he would not eat without fighting you for the spoon. I understand him wanting to do it himself, but he didn't yet have the coordination or control to get the spoon or any of the food in his mouth without throwing a huge fit and making a mess. Thankfully, we were able to start introducing little finger foods. This gave him an opportunity to feed himself. The spoon and finger foods could live happily together...for the time being.
(messes and an occasional fit still included)

A few nights ago we were having mashed potatoes with our dinner. I loaded up his spoon with potatoes and offered him a bite. He pushed the spoon away and whined. I tried again with the same outcome. I finally decided to give him the spoon and let him make his normal mess when, to my surprise, he held clenched the spoon in his hand, raised it to his mouth and at the mashed potatoes off of the end. I gasped and then cheered. My baby was feeding himself with a spoon!

So, what did I do next?
I loaded up another spoon full and grabbed the camera.




He's such a big boy!
Surprisingly enough, there wasn't even that much of a mess to clean off of him after he was done. He's my little spoon fed boy now...or should I say, self-spoon fed boy? :)

Deck The Halls

Brian and I dug out the Christmas tree, decorations and lights a few nights ago. We attempted to put the tree up while Camden was taking a nap. Attempted being the key word. He decided that he didn't want to take a nap so our decorating was cut short. We managed to assemble the tree and put the lights on but the decorations would have to wait until the following day. Camden wasn't much help while decorating. Although, he was as cute as a button.


All of the tree's decorations are new. I was tired of our blue and white decorations so I caught a good sale and purchased red, silver and gold balls that just so happen to be shiny and glittery. My favorites! :) I was tempted to purchase black ornaments to accompany my red and silver ornaments and have a Tech tree. I would have given into temptation had they had the size I needed. *sigh* Maybe next year. For this Christmas we have a beautiful red, silver and gold tree...Camden's first Christmas tree.


As for Camden and the Christmas tree...we had to create a blockade. The bench that matches our kitchen table and is usually pushed up against the kitchen island is now used as a fence to block Camden's access to the Christmas tree. We've already had to rearrange some of the ornaments close to the base of the tree so that they're out of his reach. He's able to get close enough to touch a few of the lower branches but not close enough to get a good hold on one and pull the entire tree over on top of himself.


I'm so excited to share the meaning of Christmas, gifts, sweets, songs and family traditions with Camden even though I know he won't remember or even understand what's going on. Having Camden makes me remember how magical Christmas was when I was a child and has brought some of that magic that was lost with age.


Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of our exterior lights...whenever we actually get those put up. Or, should I say, Brian gets them put up. :) All we'll be missing then is cold weather and snow and then it will really feel like the Christmas season. *sigh* I suppose I'll learn to live without those two things though.
Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

It's taken me a little longer than usual but I've finally managed to motivate myself to write a blog. So here it goes...

Brian's family came down to Houston for Thanksgiving. (Now keep in mind that they are from Las Vegas when I mention their mode of transportation.) They drove. Two adults, two teenagers, multiple suitcases, Christmas presents and more tools than you can count (Brian's Christmas Presents) made a straight 26 hour trip to the Bayou City. I don't enjoy being in a car more than a few hours and I don't want to imagine having to make the trip they made. I suppose it shows how much they love us! :)


We began their visit with an afternoon of rest and recovery from the drive and concluded their first full day in Houston with a seafood dinner on Kemah Boardwalk. Day two was filled with a visit to the Houston Holocaust Museum and an attempt to shop at a down town mall. (Little did we know that everything closed early due to the Thanksgiving holiday.) Brian and I have been to the museum before but were happy to have the opportunity take his family since his Dad is Jewish. It's so sad to see, read and watch what happened to innocent people and how those that survived have persevered.


Thanksgiving day was filled with food, football and a relatively lazy day. This was my first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner on my own and, if I do say so myself, it turned out great. We had turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, broccoli and cheese, sweet potato pie, crescent rolls and pumpkin delight (my specialty). There was more than enough food to feed a small army...yea for leftovers!


Black Friday was filled with shopping. Yes, we are some of "those" crazy people who go shopping at the wee hours of the morning to snag good deals. Well, I shouldn't say we...I should say Brian and Howard. :) Brian's Mom and I waited until late morning to hop out and catch a great sale at Carter's. Camden is growing like a weed and was in need of new clothes. We caught the early bird sale and combined those great prices with a 25% off coupon I had received in an e-mail and we took home bags full of clothes for a mere $80. That may sound like a lot until I tell you that we waved over $90!! Yea for Black Friday and e-mail coupons! Now Camden has no excuse to run around half naked.


Early Saturday afternoon we said our goodbyes and saw everyone off. The week seemed to go by so quickly. Having Brian's family here made me miss my own. It's hard being away but it also makes seeing everyone that much more special when we do get together.

I hope everyone had a Thanksgiving that was full of love, family and yummy-yummy food. On to the next holiday...How many days till Christmas?

Potty Professional

Camden is ten months old today! It is near impossible to believe that in just two short months my baby will be a year old and no longer be a "baby" at all. He's growing up way to fast already. *sigh*

On to the potty story...
Camden may just be a few months short of a year old and no where near the age of being potty trained but he is already a little pro in the bathroom...at flushing that is.


When I was cleaning the other day he was crawling up and down the hallway and playing with a few toys I had out when he decided he wanted to come into the bathroom and check out what his Mommy was up to. I'm not sure why, but it seems to be the case for most small children, but he was immediately drawn to the toilet. He pulled himself up (keep in mind I just cleaned and the lid was closed) and started to check things out.
It only took a few moments for him to find the lever that flushes the toilet and only a moment more for him to pull down on it with both hands causing it to flush and him to laugh. This continued several times before he was off to throw toys into the bathtub.


Thank goodness everything was squeaky clean and free of germs. Maybe since he's mastered the flushing technique early I won't have to remind to do so every time he goes to the bathroom once he's potty trained. (I made myself laugh with that comment)

A Blast From The Past

I dug into the closet and found another one of my old toys to accompany the rocking horse I pulled out a few weeks ago. Honestly, it gets a little monotonous to play with the same toys over and over again...more so for me than Camden I'm sure.

I continually try to rotate his toys so that there is always something "new." So what did I pull out? (if you can't already tell)
My little toy piano.

It was an exceptionally noisy choice but one which is worth the clanking sounds that it makes. Camden loves "playing" songs for Mommy and Daddy and gets a kick out of the fact that he can make the noise so easily. It's the perfect size for him...all he's missing is a bench seat and a tiny stand with sheet music.