Happy 2nd Birthday!

Yesterday, our sweet little girl turned 2! It's so cliche, I know, but seriously, WHEN did two years pass us by? Two years ago, I didn't fully know how such a little person could affect my life... how could such a small little thing cause me such worry? Sleep deprivation? Joy? Happiness? Frustration? Pride? Overwhelming LOVE? How could such a precious little thing allow me to realize with a fullness I've never known before of God's love for ME?! To realize if I love her this much, how much more does Christ love ME?! Campbell, thank you for giving me and your Dada the priviledge of parenting you, loving you, and teaching you the ways of this crazy world. We mess up alot because we've never done this before, but thank you for showing us grace, sweet girl! We love you and wouldn't have traded the past 2 years for anything!

We kicked the weekend off with some awesome time with my sisters, Gretchen and Heather and their 5 kiddos at Gulf Shores. They were so sweet to spend the 2nd half of their Spring Break with us and celebrating Campbell's special day. Thank y'all for coming all the way here, my lovely sisters! It wouldn't have been as much fun without y'all here (and I wouldn't have had y'alls mad organization skills at the party;)) I love you both so so much. My wonderful parents came in town just in time for the party and are staying through the weekend, and I love having them here! Campbell, can you have a birthday EVERY weekend? hehe.

Here are some pictures (slightly out of order) from her birthday party at the Old Town Daphne park. We had a blast with family and close friends-- running, sliding, swinging, eating Campbell's favorites (Cheetos, Lays, and cookie cake). We even had a little flair from our favorite purple dinosaur, Barney in the form of plates/napkins/cups. After the park, my family came back to our house for pizza and playing in the yard. What a wonderful day!... (and a plug for my BFF/roommate from AU, Leah, who made the precious "2" shirt. Leah, it was fabulous!)

I love these weekends...

Happy Weekend! If you're fortunate like us, you're enjoying 80 degrees and GORGEOUS weather! The humidity down here in L.A. (lower Alabama) has yet to reach 100+%, so for that we are so very grateful and are soaking up every ounce of outside time that we can.

This week has been blast. The play set was finished on Tuesday, and we have spent literally up until sundown every night this week, outside! Campbell. LOVES. IT! And this mama LOVES the fact that her appetite has totally stepped it up a notch and her sleeping is phenomenal. I mean, seriously, both Ryan and I have had to wake her up twice this week in order to get to work on time.






We kicked off the weekend with a family b'day party in Atmore with my inlaws. Campbell loved seeing her cousins, eating delicious steak and chowing down on some SUGAR! Whew! An almost 2 year old with a big 'ol honkin' chocolate cupcake at 8pm?! Insanity. And, a Chatty Cathy on the 45 mins drive home!




Today we went to Fairhope for the annual Arts and Crafts Festival with some friends. It was wonderful to be outside and get fresh, Spring air. Campbell LOVED sporting her new flip flops. And, yes, they are white (sorry to my fashion-forward friends, I do realize it is pre-Easter/pre-Memorial day). But, really, who can pass up a little Spring-Summer flair on a day in the 80 degree range when your child is wearing sunscreen?!



Hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and you are enjoying this gorgeous weekend!

Spring?! Is that you?

This weather has been incredible! We have loved getting to open our windows, take family walks around the neighborhood, and even starting my Zyrtec/Flonase combo for the season hasn't dampened my spirits.

Well, as we near Campbell's big "2" b'day (and somehow, she already says she's "2" when you ask how old she is), we have been thinking how much fun an outside playset would be for her. And, by looking at this shirt of my "not-so-prissy-girl-child", I think she will never want to come inside once it is built.


(no, she wasn't at the scene of a MURDER, she just decided to finger paint at school with some good 'ol ketchup).


Ryan has a Contractor-buddy who is going to build us a mack-daddy playground! I am so excited! Here is all the lumber and our little cheerleader ready to start building. I can't wait to see the final result in time for her to blow out those big 2 candles.






Campbell continues to bring us such joy everyday with her changes! Though the "terrific" (ha) 2's" have begun and tantrums are definitely presents mostdays... Some of her current milestones are-- She is referring to herself as "Beebol". She likes to go around the house and label different items into categories, "That Mommy's" "That Dada's" "That Beebols". She says, "No Thank You" to most foods she doesn't care for. She LOVES to sing-- her favs are "Are you sleeping?" "Twinkle Twinkle" "The Barney Song" "Jesus Loves Me". She is quick to tell us that she has made a "mess". Potty Training still continues... (as I watch her run by this office naked as a little Jay Bird) it's hard to keep a diaper on her. She is such a helper-- she loves to help me load the dryer, dishwasher, feed O'Malley, cook, etc. We continue to be in awe of this sweet creature the Lord has blessed us with!

Hope all is well (few readers), and that you can enjoy this wonderful weather, whereever you may be. Happy Weekending!!

Wow!

Seriously, where has the time gone!?

I have been so MIA lately for various reasons including starting back to work at 32 hours a week, a long weekend to Orlando (sans baby) for Ryan to be in a wedding, Campbell having tube surgery for her little ears and weekends with fun, out-of-town visitors. It's nice to sit back down at the computer and attempt to catch up. But, what better way than via pictures?

I actually posted last week, but couldn't get the durn computer to upload my video. I wanted to share Campbell's mad dance moves from the halftime show of the Super Bowl. One day, when my computer is functioning properly, I will try once again, because it will surely lift your spirits on a bad day.

Even though it's been a sickly Fall/Winter, Campbell continues to crack us up with her funny ways. Her vocabulary is rapidly expanding and constantly makes us laugh with the combinations she puts together! Most recently, and following tube surgery where I have to put drops in her ears, she exclaims, "Mama! Don't like it!" And, anything she enjoys, you will hear, "Agi (again), agi". Just this evening, my heart was warmed as she prayed to "Jesa (Jesus)" before going night-night: "Dear Jesa...blah blah blah.. night night. Amen" Sweet baby girl.

So, as I attempt to figure out how to blog on the more exciting goings-ons, here are some pictures of our funny, little pumpkin. Taken from my sisters' visit to Daphne (on Fairhope pier), a visit from my parents, and just hanging around the house.

Enjoy and have an awesome week!

Weekend "Bow"nus

What happens when I'm cooking dinner, and Campbell and Daddy steal away for a bit in her room?




Happy Weekend everyone!

Christmas 2010- "A Comedy of Errors"?!!?

Hello and Happy New Year! I trust that all of you had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. A time to reflect, not on your lack of funds from all the shopping, but the true reason for Christmas. Christ's birth.

As the title would suggest, ours was, well, interesting... and stressful. As seen below, Campbell is exhibiting how we all FELT, but Ryan and I tried not express in pictures. It goes without saying that our little family Christmas picture will not be framed this year.



Yours truly had a sinus infection, Campbell had 1. Croup 2. An ear infection 3. Temp of 102 (sometimes +) and 4. A virus. And, the sweet hubby had poison ivy ALL over that no amount of cortisone, Calomine lotion or steroid injections would heal! So, after a house call from a pediatrician friend of mine, an extra Z-pack from my Dad, and another prescription of anti-itch meds from the local doc-in-the-box, we were back in full swing. A big shout out to my poor parents who probably should've worn masks to combat our little family's germs, but endured and offered LOTS of help and TLC. Below is the "pink meddy" of choice and our new, current favorite DVD that we hear around here about 16 times a day. (Thank you, Mimi).




Despite all of the illness, a Christmas Eve fender bender with my father-in-laws' car, and me breaking my parents' washing machine with one of Campbell's mittens, it was a wonderful holiday. Atlanta provided us with a WHITE CHRISTMAS! Campbell scored mucho loot from both sides of the family! The hubby gave me a KINDLE and my 1st pair of real DIAMOND earrings! We got to play with my sisters' yellow Lab PUPPY (or "huppy" as Campbell says)!





We didn't get alot of pictures on the actual DAY, but the fun continues around here as toys, Cozy Coups, grocery carts, light-up puzzles, Mardi Gras beads and stuffed animals crowd our house.




Here's to a great start (and germ-free) 2011...

Have You Ever?!

Oh, how this pumpkin melts my very heart.




One of these days, I will catch up with the goings-on from this holiday season. It's been a busy one so far, and we can't wait to celebrate with both sides of our family here in AL and in GA... for now, here are some pics of the sweetest and most hilarious little one south of the Mason Dixon. (are we south of the Mason Dixon?)

Thanksgiving turkey--




Me with Campbell, Mindee (my SIL) and youngest cousin, Cate.-





Learning how to "smile" for pictures--




Love to all my little readers out there in blogworld! I pray that you each are experiencing a special and Joyous Christmas season so far...