Camden's 2nd Birthday + Back From Florida

Even though we had to fly back to the freezing cold from sunny Florida (just in time to still get away with not having to pay for Cam's airfare!), yesterday was so much fun celebrating Camden turning TWO! 

We continued on with the tradition of putting balloons in his room to see when he woke up and he, not surprisingly, loved every single second of it. He was so excited when we picked them up from the floor and put them all in his crib with him - it was the cutest thing and even better than last year, which I thought would be hard to top. 

After a birthday donut and a pretty big sugar rush, he went to school (where they had an adorable birthday sign with balloons on the door for him) for the morning but I picked him up with Grayson at 2 and took him to the store to pick out a new toy. He picked out a soccer ball (which made this soccer mama SO happy) and a new Paw Patrol ball. I mean it when I say Cam is super athletic + coordinated - everyone is always commenting about it. I just know he is going to LOVE playing sports. 

The rest of the day was spent watching one of his favorite movies (Toy Story), opening presents once Billy got home from work, eating cake (he blew out his candles like a champ!), and refusing to go to bed because he wanted all the balloons to sleep in his crib with him. I totally should have predicted that. :) As far as presents go - we got him a hockey net + sticks, some cars, a new puzzle, a Paw Patrol blanket, and some play doh kits (he is loving it right now!)

 He was running around the house so happy + being silly all day, which is exactly how birthdays should be! His actual birthday party is this Saturday, so it's nice that we will get to celebrate with family and friends then. I can't wait to share all the details from his party, too!

OK, let's chat Florida for a minute - can I just say that I'm a much happier person being around palm trees, sunny skies, and the beach? It's like my mood instantly changed getting off the plane there. I really need to talk Billy into moving there (even with the hot summers) because it's just SO nice to not have to be stuck inside for 3-4 months per year due to the cold. Not to mention, much more convenient because you don't have to put a 1,000 layers on your kids before leaving. 

I plan to have a post up tomorrow sharing pictures + more about traveling with two kids, so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Camden

To Our Sweet Camden-

 Two years ago, we looked at you with wonder as you made your grand entrance. Today, we watch you in awe as you've turned into a smart, fun, curious, energetic, special little boy who is destined to do big things! From your first step...first word...and first day at "school" you have shown me what a life full of love, discovery, and joy looks like! You are full of energy, but are sensitive and know just the right times to cuddle, too. You can play with anything and anyone, which I absolutely love about you. It's obvious you were born to be a leader! You are a go-getter who loves to explore new things. You are crazy athletic for a 2 year old - it's amazing to see. And of course, you are double the fun and twice as wonderful as you were last year! I can't wait to watch your grow and learn over the next year! Thank you for two of the very best years of my life and for making me a mommy. You are my everything!

We love you more than you'll ever know,

Mommy, Daddy & Grayson

Grayson: 5 Months Old

aaannd it's right about now when looking at these pics that I have the fever again (just kidding...maybe...)

Weight: 16 lbs 6 oz

Height: Not sure - will find out at his 6 month apt

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Clothes: Pretty much all 6 month clothes now, even some 9 month (pains me to type this) sleepers

Diapers: 2's

Sleeping: He is still taking 3-4 naps during the day - has his last bottle around 7pm then goes to bed right after. Unlike Cam who is a 7am riser on the dot everyday, he will sleep in until 8 or 830 sometimes!

Likes: Peek a boo // being tickled // sit me up seat // books with music // laughing at his brother //

Dislikes: The only time he fusses is when we don't have his bottle ready and he has to wait a little bit for it (give it to me now!) Sweet thing loves his baba!

Eating: 6 oz every 3-3.5 hours, 6-7 oz at bedtime bottle. I think I'm going to start cereal/first foods soon!

Health: Poor little Gray just can't escape the sickness! He got an awful stomach virus and bronciolitis the day after Christmas and it lasted about 5 days. It was so sad, but he was such a trooper - rarely fussed and stayed his happy self. Somehow Camden didn't get it, but me and Billy did get sick one day. Also, I was talking to our pediatrician about how Camden, born in the winter, was hardly ever sick his first year of life but how Grayson, born in the summer, has been sick so much and he explained he sees that a lot because Grayson's immunity is at his lowest heading into winter but when Camden was 4-6 months old it was summer and not flu season. Makes total sense!

Milestones: Rolling over both ways // grabbing toys and/or faces/hair :) // SITTING UP on his own for the most part! (doesn't last long but he is very strong and always wanting to be upright)

Since he's getting older and much more alert/engaged, he is staying up for longer periods of time which is so fun, but also makes it harder (aka takes more time) to leave the house. Him and Camden are in the beginning stages of "playing" with each other now  - meaning Cam will give Grayson a ball and Grayson will look at it and hold it and smile at him. Even something as small as that is just adorable to witness, so it makes me VERY excited for the next few months! They have the cutest brotherly bond already and mommy and daddy just love it!

 favorite pictures this month:

 

Christmas 2016

Happy 2017 you guys!

I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve! Honestly, I've never really been a big New Years Eve gal. Even prior to having kids, I would rather just skip the crowds, uncomfortable heels, and chaos and do something more low-key. This year since the Buckeyes were playing (let's not even talk about that outcome), we just made some appetizers + ordered from our favorite restaurant for take out and watched the game at home! It was perfect and exactly what I needed after a really busy Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, today I wanted to do a quick recap of ours...finally. Mainly so that I have all these pictures and memories to look back on! 

I think we had 4 different Christmas celebrations this year: with my stepmom's side, just our family, Billy's family, and then with my parents the day after Christmas. We went to Cleveland 2 days prior to Christmas, like we've done for the past few years, and stayed with Billy's parents which was a good time because we got to spend more time with them and it was fun being with everyone on Christmas day. On Christmas Eve Billy's family always has a party and his one uncle dressed up as Santa for the kids! It was so cute! Cam was shocked I think because he was a little hesitant to sit on his lap at first, but we did manage to get a pic of both boys on his lap after he found out that Santa brought him a football...ha.

Camden was much more into Santa and opening presents this year. He got right into ripping the paper but it took a while to get through opening the presents because he would want to play with a toy after opening or he would get distracted, but he loved seeing everything Santa brought him! He was a good little helper too by helping baby brother with his gifts...

This Christmas was all about Paw Patrol, Toy Story, blocks/Little People sets, a new trampoline, ball pit, and puzzles! My parents got Camden his FIRST big boy car and he was so excited about it! He's already taken it out for a spin a few times when the weather has been nice and had a blast driving it. I'm sure when in the spring/summer it's going to be his absolute favorite...

Christmas was even complete with a first sledding experience (for Camden-video below-he loved it so much!), seeing Santa's reindeer in the backyard, and going to see some amazing Christmas lights up the street from Billy's parents house...

And of course, my heart could have not been more happy having Grayson with us to celebrate (his very first Christmas!) since it was at this time last year we were telling our families about us being pregnant. His biggest gift this year was an anywhere chair (we also got Camden his for his first Christmas) and then he got a bunch of musical toys, teething toys, and clothes. That boy brings us SO much happiness and above all the other gifts under the tree, he has been the best + perfect gift to our family this year!

PS: I swear Billy WAS actually with us even though he's MIA in these pics (couldn't have done it all without him), we just were horrible with getting a family picture this year!

His month 5 update will be coming up next :)