Camren's First Red Chair Picture-1 week old

I am really excited to be continuing the Red Chair picture tradition that we started with Jax! It's so neat to look back at Jax' pictures and compare the two. Let me tell you the biggest thing is the size! Our little girl is still so tiny. At her last appt she weighed 6lbs 5oz (remember: it's normal for babies to loose up to 10% of their body weight after birth before gaining) Camren Grace does have a little touch of jaundice (where the liver doesn't break down dead red blood cells effectively) but it isn't severe enough to warrant the use of phototherapy (the use of special lights to speed the break down and absorption of cells) We have her third Dr's appt tomorrow to do a re-check and be sure that we are in the clear.

Cam is a good natured baby. She is definitely a sleeper! I have to wake her to eat during the day. (Never had that problem with Jax!!) Everyday she is awake a little more and spends time checking out the world around her. Camren really has just slid into her spot in our family seamlessly!

I look forward to updating you all on both of my kiddos now!

My Kiddos

The first meeting of the siblings that Jax initiated!

Holding Miss Camren for the first time...doesn't he look huge compared to the tiny peanut?

Cute kids

YAY! I did it!!

This is the reaction we gave him and he copied. He now gets excited every time he holds her (he asks daily) or asks to put her in her swing...pretty much anytime he touches her! Funny guy.

Hey...Sister...what's going on?

Introducing...Miss Camren Grace!

All dressed up and ready to have a baby.

Last week proved to be much more exciting that we had anticipated. Justin and Jax had taken their first Daddy/Buddy road trip to the Bay Area, while I was at home relaxing (organizing) napping (lunch with friends) and getting some down time (or something close to it!) After a lunch with a friend and a trip to Labor and Delivery on Monday, my Mom came into town to provide moral support since my guys were still out of town. Tuesday started with a visit to my Dr. office and ended with an appt for a baby! Justin and Jax arrived home around noon and were greeted with my news of "we are having a baby today!" Luckily Jax' G-ma was still in town to spend time with the buddy because we had no other childcare options without her!

Camren Grace Marie was born at 5:32pm on Tuesday October 12th. She weighed 6lbs 11oz and was 19in long. The whole birth experience was amazing. The nursing staff and doctors were relaxed. I wasn't dying. Jokes were being tossed around the room like a comedy club. As far as major surgery goes...this one was a blast! Here are some of the pictures from our first few days.

Fresh from the oven

Camren and Mommy

Proud Daddy

Sleeping Girl

Ready to head home!

Crazy Climber

Jax has turned into quiet the little adventurer. (no surprise here) As his confidence level is increasing so is his sense of adventure and knack for giving me a heart attack!! His latest feat is climbing and hanging from whatever he can get his hands on. Luckily the park that we love going to provides outlets for both. Take a look at this crazy kid!

This is a cable climbing structure that Jax is working on mastering-not yet solo thank the Lord! It's about 12 feet tall and I know my nerves can't handle him at the top just yet!

Getting his feet in the right position thanks to Daddy's help.

Playing Peak a boo

Hanging and then sliding down! Maniac...

My cute guys

18 months old!!

I can't believe that it's been a YEAR and a HALF since this buddy came to live with us. As I write, he is now closer to being a 2 year old than he is to being a 1 year old. But if you were to ask him...he's 18mo going on 18years! If you haven't been lucky enough to experience/enjoy/stare in awe and amazement (or horror) at Jaxon's new found independence--let me tell you it is something else! What ever the task at hand he wants to do it himself!! And if you offer your help before he is ready or wants it--watch out! A melt down is sure to ensue. (he does an excellent impression of the Exorcist)

But I kid. Although he is fiercely independent, Jax is also very sensitive and most tantrums end with his embarrassed cry that it happened in the first place! He showers us with hugs and kisses, along with his High-5's and knuckles. Dance parties (hilariously entertaining!) and pretending to cook have become his favorite indoor activities.

Jaxon is also in a fun phase of mimicking you. From the way he sits at the table minus a high chair now (arms crossed and elbows on the table) to the way he dances or bosses the dogs around (No! NO! dogs) EVERYTHING is copied from someone else. This has made all of us hyper aware of our actions (and words!)

Life with an 18mo old is certainly nothing like I thought it would be. It is so much more difficult, entertaining, heart breaking and heart filling than I ever imagined it being. And as exhausted as I am at the end of the day, I realize that I am infinitely blessed by this boy of mine!

Eating Half Birthday cupcakes in the Red Chair.

(who said I was above bribery??)

At the zoo with Daddy

really?? pregnant lady takes picture with the ELEPHANTS?? lol. I just realized this and it's totally cracking me up! Anyways...my big boy Jax and I (at 35weeks pregnant!)

Little Sister Update

Whelp...We've successfully made it to 33weeks and 5 days of being pregnant! Which means that at the publishing of this post we only have 41 days until the arrival of Miss Camren Marie! (holy smokes!) I've noticed that I am really starting to slow down, playing with Jax is getting to be more difficult and more tiring, which tends to make me sad. On the other hand I still love being pregnant. She is still a mover and a shaker and I am praying that since she's soo active in utero that I'll get a break and have a chill little girl when she comes out. (yeah yeah yeah...insert your heckling and explosive laughter here.) Hiccups have become one of her favorite forms of reminding me that "hey mom...I'm in here". As a matter of fact, as we speak poor Cam's hiccuping away...well either that or she already has amazing rhythm! ;)

Last week I did have a L&D scare. After running around with Jax all day I started contracting...very aggressively and consistently. Thankfully Justin was able to take a couple of hours emergency time so I didn't have to take Jax with me to the hospital! Everything stopped naturally (thank the lord) but was given very stern reminders that I have 2 babies to take care of! The most shocking part for me was the realization that IF I have another labor run at/after 35 weeks-they will not stop me. Instead I'll be wheeled on into an OR and out she'll come!! Yikes!! So besides wanting her to stay baking longer for HER own good...I need her to bake for me. I am NOT ready!! As you can see from pictures...we have her crib and bedding and changing table...but there is still alot missing!! I've been putting off the major shopping trip thinking I had plenty of time...I guess the time's here! I'll post again with pictures of our finished (shopping trip and all...ugh) nursery soon!

Here is the belly in all it's 32 weeks of glory!

As requested by one of our loyal readers/fans!! ;-) (for the record...he's sticking it out and I'm sucking it in so hard I think I may have dislodged a filling!)

Changing table minus a changing pad!

The bedding I love oh so much!

Tunnels and Cash

(forgive the drunken smile...my camera's having a difficult time keeping up with this mover and shaker!)

Tunnels and Cash...

What do they have in common??? Nothing would be the obvious answer. That is unless you've been at my house in the last week or so. The correct answer would be- "things that make Jax happy!"

After spending our entire hour at Little Gym trying to distract Jax with the big toys and steer him away from the tunnel, Justin decided the boy-o needed one of his own! It is now his go to toy to play with while in the house! (and I love it because it lets him get out energy without having to sit in the heat!)

The second of this happy making duo is cash. Yup...as in cash money. Specifically change. As we were cleaning out our garage we were storing loose change in an mug. Jax loved the sound it made instantly! We then took him into his room to put the money in his "college fund" fire truck bank. The result?? A solid half hour of the kiddo sitting on his bedroom floor dropping coins in and clapping for himself! Adorable! And so now anytime he finds money, he runs straight back to his room to drop it in and if we get change while out and about, he will put it in his pocket to deal save for later. Funny funny kid.