A Day Date

Ry and I had a day date this week.

An unplanned and unconventional day date.  Filled with glamour and romance.

It all started on Monday afternoon when we both started feeling crummy, and was solidified on Monday night when we had matching garbage bag-lined garbage cans on both sides of our bed.

Mmhmmm.

Somehow, we survived the night and when Camden woke up in the morning, I found myself having to change him on the ground.  That boy thought it was a real hoot that I was trying to change him with my eyes closed and was repeatedly putting my head on the floor to rest. 

Poor boy. He was so happy to see me and I wasn't exaaaactly reciprocating his elation. 

My mom came to the rescue and took Cam for the day.  Thank God, because seriously, there was no way in the hiz-ell that Ryan or I were capable of caring for our crazy-mobile baby boy.

So, our day date was full of a non-snuggly-party-on-the-couch, Ryan complaining it was too cold, me complaining it was too hot, sipping lots of Gatorade and Sprite, Dr. Oz, and very little actual talking to each other.

I told you - full of glamour and romance, people.

I decided it wasn't necessary to document our lovely day together.  Instead, I'll share a picture of who you really want to see - and this pretty much sums up anyway.

Take Luck,

LP

The Weekend of Epic Proportions

Have you ever had a trip or adventure planned that you built up in your mind to be totally amazing, only to have it fall short?

Yeah, this past weekend in St. Louis was the exact opposite.  It was the weekend of epic proportions.  I almost feel that I need to go all Harry Potter on you and break this recap into two parts.  But, I won't do that.  I don't have time for two parts!

Ever since we booked our tickets to St. Louis for my college roommate, Becky's wedding, I've been talking (mostly with Tiff) about how amazing the weekend would be.  Our class was super close all through our four years at SIU, and it hadn't been since Krystal's wedding in 2008 that we were ALL together.  And since then, three of us have had babies.  Seeing my best gal pals and introducing future Salukis?!  How could it not be a reunion for the history books?

I was very nervous about flying with Camden by myself, but my little love crushed my (low, very low) expectations.  I should've known he would be a little traveling champ.

My sister-in-law, Cara, was kind enough to let us crash at their house, yet again.  Seriously, you should be jealous that she's my sister-in-law and not yours.  She. Is. The. Best. Ever.  Did I mention that she invited my best friend and her little family to stay with her as well and that it was practically a giant slumber party?! Yep.  And she also bought matching jammers for Liam, Camden, and Huck.  Seriously, this woman is a saint.

Since we were only in St. Louis for 48 hours, Ryan elected not to join.  And I didn't blame him.  Luckily, my little love stepped up and was my fashionable date to the wedding.

 

(And that bow tie?  There are no words.)

After the ceremony, it was picture time.  The babies were not going to be attending the reception, so we had to document this future-Saluki-reunion while we could.

Between naps and before the reception, we put Camden and Huck in the cutest little matching outfits that my mom bought - sweatsuits that had Levi's overalls printed on them.  So adorable.  But not as adorable as the little baby hand holding that was going on during our little photo shoot.

My sister-in-law and mother-in-law were amazing enough to watch Camden and Huck while we went back to the reception.  Cara kept us updated with texts and pictures, that I know both Tiff and I really appreciated.  We knew they were in excellent care, but it was still comforting to know that they weren't melting down or setting the house on fire during their "boy's night out."

The wedding was so beautiful.  Becky is one of the most creative people I know - and you could tell she put so much thought and effort into the details.  She was a beautiful and glowing bride, and I know that she and her new hubby are going to be very happy together.

We ate, we danced and we sang, but we mostly just sat at our table and caught up with one another.

I can't really put into words what these girls mean to me.  We practically lived and breathed together for four years, and it truly felt like we picked up where we left off in 2008.  Our head coach couldn't make it to the wedding, so we made sure we sent her a picture of what she was missing out on.

I can't be certain, but I bet she was really bummed.

At times I thought I must've been out of my frigging mind to travel with Camden, by myself, all that way, for a 48 hour trip.  But the fact that he had the opportunity to spend time with his grandparents and great-grandparents, his aunts and uncles, his cousin, his "aunties," and his future best buddies, makes me feel sort of frigging genius.

I will remember this trip always.

(To see non-iPhone pictures and to hear more about our trip, check out Tiffanie's blog.  You won't be sorry.)

Take Luck,

LP

10 on 10: November 2013

10 on 10: 10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!

(We were traveling home from St. Louis yesterday. Better late than never!)

[1] Early morning tummy tickles with future best buddy, Huck.

 

 [2] Playing choo-choo' s with my favorite 2-year old boy.

 [3] Drooling over these waffles.

[4] Coffee (and a James spoon) are necessary when your child wakes up at 4:30.

[5] Tupperware and a spatula?  Cheap entertainment.

[6] Chasing my favorite 2-year old.

[7] Catching Cam getting love from his Auntie and Grandma.  Heart melting.

[8] Face-to-face with Lola.

[9] Quality couch and snuggle-time with Grandma.

[10] Bye bye, Columbia.  We'll be back for Christmas!

Take Luck,

LP

Camden - 11 Months

Well, I guess it's time to face the inevitable. As much as I've tried to deny it - the countdown to my little love being 1 year old is upon us.  Gone are the days when I can prop him up on the chair and he stays put long enough for me to get a picture of him.  He will sit still and smile until I put the camera up to my face and then all hell breaks loose and he's all over the place.

 

No fun stats to share, yet again.  He won't have another well baby check until next month.

He completely ignored my birthday request for sleep and took his first significant steps on my birthday, October 17th, and hasn't really looked back since.  Thankfully, he still prefers to crawl as it gets him places a lot faster than his orangutan/drunken sailor body can move.  He prefers crawling, and so does mama.  I'm squeezing out every bit of baby that I can.

In addition to learning to walk, Cam is mastering his waving and high-fiving.  I am certainly biased but it's about the cutest thing ever to see his chubby little fingers wave hello and goodbye.  He's fascinated by earrings, buttons, zippers, and anything that crinkles when you touch it.

After his fourth ear infection in six months, we became the proud owners of a referral to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) specialist for a tube consultation.  Our appointment is on Thursday, and I'm really anxious to hear what the doctor has to say.  In some ways I'm afraid of hearing that he needs tubes, but I also am confident that if that was the course of treatment - it would help him greatly.  Any sniffle or cold turns into an ear infection, and he's constantly tugging at them.  We'll see!

Sleep is still a monster, and I don't even want to go there.  I told my best friend, Tiffanie, that I never thought we'd still be battling the sleep monster after 11 months - but it seems like there's always something to disrupt him whether it's illness or teething, illness and teething, or meeting a new milestone.  At this rate, he won't sleep until he's five.

I'm too much of a chicken to push real solid/finger foods.  I apparently having a choking complex.  Must be a first time mama thing.  For now, I'm riding the pureed baby food train and he seems to be just fine with that.

Camden lights up my life and seems to charm the pants off anyone he meets (although not literally, thank goodness).  He is happy, happy, happy, and for that - I am grateful.

Now, I'm off to browse first birthday party invitations... Wah wah.

Take Luck,

LP