Jackson's First Snow

It is rare that we get snow here. If anything its usually just some flurries that might freeze overnight and get icy. They forecasted a dusting of snow for yesterday and it did in fact start snowing around 11 am. People thought it wasn't a big deal as it usually isn't but then it was evident around 1:30 or 2 that it was really sticking. The schools closed and everyone basically left work at the same time to go home and to go pick up their kids from school. It was the biggest traffic jam I have ever seen. Well I didn't actually see it because I was home but thanks to facebook and the news I got to see what it looked like out there. Basically the highways were gridlock as were side streets. Some spots started to get icy fast ad since most people here don't know how to drive in these conditions there was accident after accident and people we sliding around on the roads.

Jimmy left work at 2 and headed home. We live exactly 4 miles and it took him over 2 and a half hours! His brother left at the same time and didn't get home until after 8 pm! And that was after ditching his car on the side of the road and walking the last 2 miles. There are endless stories of people stranded in their cars overnight and where people had to leave their cars and walk to the closest place. Even stories of kids stuck at school and stranded on buses on the highway! It was a very crazy time and I am so thankful I was home with my kids and that Jimmy made it home safe and sound. My heart really went out there to all the people who were stuck.

We went out to play that evening once Jimmy was home and also played the next day in it. The snow was so dry you could hardly even make a snowball much less a snowman. Jackson really enjoyed playing in the snow and going sledding. Camden stayed nice and warm inside the house!

Shortly after it started looking out my front door

The snow was so dry it was hard to make a snowball

But we still had fun throwing the snow!

Camden: 4 Months

Camden is 4 months! There is nothing better than the sweet sound of baby giggles. I still go back and watch videos of Jackson's baby giggles. Camden started giggling this month. He loves to be tickled on his chest and on the inside of his chunky thighs! He also loves to giggle when you hold him up in the air as if he was flying. He rolled over from tummy to back and also rolled over back to tummy once during the night.

Camden is nursing every 3-4 hours during the day and waking once maybe twice a night. He gets very distracted now while nursing which makes it very tough since my house is anything but quiet with a busy, loud toddler running around! Even the sound of chewing on some crackers will make him stop, pop off and look around to see whats going on. Very frustrating but I'm pretty sure it passes or maybe I just got used to it before.

Camden goes to bed around 8 or 8:30 usually and is waking up one or two times a night. We finally transitioned him to his crib and then a week later he was sick with croup and the pediatrician told us to put him back in the rock and play in our room so he was elevated. He is napping in the swing mostly during the day but we need to work on breaking that habit soon.

He likes playing on his playmat and also in his exersaucer. Although sometimes that only lasts for a couple of minutes. He loves watching Jackson and also loves reading and looking at books. He focuses so much on the books where I know Jackson enjoyed reading at this age but don't think he was so fixated on the pages! He loves looking in his new mirror at himself too!

Camden weighed 14lb 10 oz (34%) at his 4 month check up and was 25 inches long (46%). His head was 16 in (62%). Hopefully he's not going to need physical therapy like Jackson did (for his torticollis and plagiocephaly). He got 2 shots and the oral vaccine. He screamed for a minute but was ok shortly after. Camden is wearing 3 months and 3-6 month clothing and is wearing size 2 diapers.

Jackson, Sebastian and Camden

So serious!

Loving his new Exersaucer

Jackson, Connor and Dillon in the track suits Aunt Megan sent for them. Jackson loved it and asked to put it on as soon as he opened it

It's hard to get everyone to smile at the same time for photos!

It's never too late to still wear Christmas jammies

Jimmy and I went out one night and the babysitter took this picture. Poor Camden wasn't too happy. Someone sent these super cute jammies to the boys as a gift

He was about over it at this point...looking for an escape route

Weekend at the Lake

Jimmy headed to FL to celebrate his dad's retirement from Delta with a golf weekend. Since I still couldn't be alone with the boys we headed to the lake for an extra set of hands to help. Our first night did not go well at all. Camden went to bed at 9 and was up at 11:30, 1:30, 4, 6 and 8. Ugh! He wasn't even awake that much as a newborn. The next day was a long long day.

Jackson and Camden played on the playmat

Playing with Papa

After the first night he slept a little better but still woke up a couple times. I'm not sure what it was but he wasn't such a happy camper that weekend. We were happy to get back home and try to get back to normal sleep!

2013: Year in Review

Wow, what a year 2013 was! It was full of ups and downs and laughter and tears! We had 2 fun family beach trips - Sanibel Island, FL and Flagler Beach, FL, I was miserable with pregnancy nausea for months, we celebrated Jackson's 2nd birthday, rebuilding our deck and adding a screen porch (can't wait until spring to use it again!) a getaway to Amelia Island for Jimmy and I, hospital stay at 28 weeks, bedrest for 8 more weeks, replacing both HVAC systems in our house, the birth of our 2nd sweet baby boy, Camden James, adjusting to life with 2 kids, never-ending viruses and colds and yucky stomach bug, plenty of snuggles and playtime with my boys, amazing friends and family who helped out and brought meals and gifts over, watching Jackson change so much over the year, Thanksgiving with family, falling and breaking my wrist and having surgery the day after Christmas, luckily having amazing family support and help, Christmas with a 2 year old - everything was magical (and he might have thought all the presents were his...) birthdays, date nights, endless power struggles with a 2 year old, and the list goes on. Even though there were lots of tears shed I wouldn't trade this past year for anything. I thank my lucky stars for my wonderful hubby, 2 sweet boys, amazingly helpful parents, caring and supportive family,  and sweet thoughtful friends.

My lack of blogging...

Coming back from my neighbors house the morning of Dec 17, I slipped and fell with the weight of my entire body landing on my right wrist. I knew instantly it was bad so we raced to urgent care. I am so thankful Jimmy still happened to be home. Sadly I broke my right wrist pretty badly and was in extreme pain. After doing x-rays and putting a splint on it we headed to see my Dr who has performed several hand surgeries on me. They did a process called reducing it and then casted it until they could schedule me for surgery. The cast was up past my elbow making it impossible to do almost everything. They had an opening on the 26th for surgery where they had to put a plate in and finish straightening my bones out. The pain is much better now at 1 week post op. I go back to the Dr on Monday and will find out how much longer I have to function one handed! Right now I am not allowed to lift anything heavier than 1/2 a pound with my right hand. Needless to say that makes it pretty much impossible to care for Jackson and Camden by myself when I can't even pick them up or change a diaper!

Jimmy and my mom have been amazing! They are cleaning, cooking, changing diapers, holding and rocking Camden and pretty much everything else around the house. One of the only things I am still useful for is feeding Camden, however, someone still has to bring him to me and burp him.  My dad has been helpful too when he's been here. I am so fortunate to have parents who are retired and are so willing to come stay for extended periods of time helping me!

I have lots of posts to add here once I have more use of my right hand. So please check back to read about our Thanksgiving, Santa visit, Christmas, Camden's monthly updates and more!

My fingers were in Chinese finger traps with a weight pressing down on my upper arm trying to stretch out my forearm. Then they put a plaster cast on after molding and trying to realign the bones

Then added the fiberglass cast which kept my arm bent at a 90 degree angle

 I got some pretty flowers and a new Christmas Cactus plant :)

NYE 2013

We decided to go out for NYE this year. We met up at a Japanese place with Danny, Candice, Sofia and the twins and also Rian and Meghan. We had 6 adults and 5 kids (3 of which were babies under 4 months). It was actually a lot of fun and everyone was pretty well behaved. We also played pass the baby! Ha! Seriously, since I couldn't even hold Camden everyone was super helpful with him and the twins. Candice was smart to bring a playmat to lay down so the babies could lay on it.

Jackson and Sofia

Carsten and Everett

They loved it!!