Some recent pics!

Hi I realize my last post was a lot of words!! Here are some recent pics of my sweet boys!

Birthday Party:

oh yea it was the BIG SpongeBob Bouncy!! and we had it the whole weekend!

Couldn't resist these! :)

Some outtakes from our Thank You card photoshoot:

For those of you in the metro Atlanta area, we got our bouncy from www.jumpandslide.com.

We did have to pick it up (they will deliver for a fee), but we got to keep it from Friday to Monday! Due to weather we only were able to use it Friday night and Saturday but it was a killer deal $100 for the whole weekend. I would highly recommend them, they loaded it, gave me everything I needed and got it back out of the truck for me. We didn't even have to get it folded back up properly.

Hope you enjoyed the pics, and I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas Season coming up!!

The Difference Between 3 & 4

When I took Camden for his 1 year check up--the doctor warned me about the "Terrible Twos" he warned me about how bad they are, and he let me know that it would start around 18 months! That didn't give me much time to prepare my strategy!! So 18 months came and went. . .24 months came and went. . .36 months came & HOLY CRAP, forget the "Terrible Twos", we were full swing in the Terroristic Threes!! AHHHHH!!

Now in Camden's defense (and I know you've read it before)--he had a lot of changes right around the time he turned 3--new brother, daddy gone, new school, new life really--so I'll give him that! I will still say age 3 was the most challenging thus far, and I know there will be more challenges but now that I've survived year 3--I know I can handle anything thrown my way! :) ha-I'm always so confident when I'm talking with my keyboard!!

Okay--I've covered the threes, now let me tell you a little about the FANTASTIC FOURS!! It's like we have a completely different kid. There are still some meltdowns here and there, and some attitude (to be expected, he is his mother's child)--but seriously, I can't believe the difference between 3 & 4. Camden does chores (he's yet to clean his playroom-see note about "some meltdowns"), he puts away his underpants and socks (bottom drawer), he puts his hang up clothes on hangers, when we come in from school he gets his folder and lunch box and puts them in the kitchen and then he hangs up his book bag!! It's great!! Another thing that we've noticed is he is so much more affectionate, he loves on us ALL the time. Not an hour goes by without him stopping what he's doing to tell us that he loves us. Now, I'll admit, sometimes it's a delay tactic, but I pretend it's not and just take it all in!! He's always willing to pitch in when it comes to Evan--most recently Evan has had to start getting breathing treatments (he hates them), and Camden will come in and do his best to entertain him! Camden dresses himself (this was not an easy feat), is learning to give himself a bath (daddy has a hard time with this one), and currently we are working on wiping our own bottom (and by "our own" I mean "his", and it's a work in progress)! STILL-big changes in the Conner household people, BIG changes!

I write this post not to tell everyone how perfect my child is--he's not! I write it to give hope to the Mom's out there who are at their wits end with their 3 year old! You are not alone, you are not doing anything wrong, and I promise--there is an end in sight!! I think 3 is a tough age because kids are learning independence and they aren't sure they want to be independent. . .but they aren't sure they want to be babies either. They are also learning to communicate better, but it's frustrating to have to repeat yourself to Mommy and Daddy all the time. You know, I really have no idea! All I know, is the changes I've seen in my little man in the past couple of months are welcome ones!!

Evan

Dear Evan,

It's really been a year--a WHOLE year!! I can't believe it! This milestone for you has been a rather emotional one for your mommy! We started out a little shaky, you were definitely a more "high maintenance" newborn than your brother :), but we made it through the crying (it took about 3 months, and we were BOTH crying!) and we made it through your Daddy being gone, and well--we made it through mommy learning how to be a "stay at home" mommy!! You are such a sweet sweet little boy! Your nickname is MonkeyMan and you come by it so very honestly!! Again, unlike your brother, you are very
adventurous and seriously all over the place!! I remember the whole spill we got at the doctor about leaving toilet seats down, bathroom doors closed, doors to the outside locked when we took your brother to his 1 year check up. It didn't really apply there--but to you--to you it APPLIES ten-fold!!! Let me offer you an example, while it's fresh in my memory: Last night in the period of about an hour and a half you closed your arm (yes your whole arm) in a drawer, tried to crawl into the bathtub with your brother using a stool that was next to the tub (and if it hadn't been there you would've pushed it there), tried to crawl over the gate keeping you from the stairs to the playroom, and crawled into a laundry basket and then face planted to get out. . .

Now I know what you are thinking, you are thinking "wow mom, you might want to keep a closer eye on me", maybe you are right, but truly I turn my back for a second and you are out of here!! :)

You are at the stage where you eat anything put in front of you!! It's a great stage! I'm hoping it sticks longer for you! You love pb&j, and bananas, but your love for eggs seems to be dwindling. You have such an infectious smile, whenever I tell you "no" you look at me for a second stunned and then flash it for me! I can't help but smile back! My favorite thing that you do right now is come up and lay your head down on me, or give me a hug! It's very very brief (as you don't really stay still long), but so wonderful just the same!! Here are some things you LOVE right now:

Your Big Brother! You would follow him anywhere, even to the ocean!

Your dog Penny! you do your best to play with her, and nothing thrills you more than when she is receptive.

Your monkey/blanket thingie-every time I put you to bed you look for it!

Stacking cups

Music--it is so fun to watch you and your brother dance around to the Laurie Berkner band

Any sort of electronic-remote, laptops, phones, etc--if you shouldn't have it, you really want it! That's a pretty typical male trait!

I'm sure there are so many more things for me to share, like you don't take a bottle anymore, and you hate for anyone to feed you--you'd rather do it yourself. However, I'm going to have to bring this letter to a close now! You will be waking up from your nap very soon and I still have some chores to do!! Your Daddy and I love you very much!! You have added nothing but joy to this family! We are so excited to watch you grow over the years, but I would like to request that you not grow too fast as my heart just can't take you boys growing so quickly!!

Love,

Mommy

Camden

Dear Camden,

It's hard to believe that it's been ALMOST 4 years since your Daddy & I first brought you home (we didn't actually bring you home until the day after Thanksgiving)!! You entered this world 6 weeks early, but it has never held you back in any way! You bring such joy to our lives every day! You have turned into such an affectionate little boy, daddy and I are showered with hugs and kisses from you every day. You and I were able to get to know each other VERY well while your daddy was away last year. The most important thing I learned about you is that you may LOOK like your daddy--but you ACT like your mommy!! Let me tell you some things about you:

--you LOVE TV, especially SpongeBob! you come by this pretty honestly, your Mommy & Daddy have a love for TV as well!!

--you are a VERY PICKY eater! What you ate yesterday, you probably won't eat tomorrow. The only thing that is consistent is chicken nuggets, and cereal--it could be worse, but it's frustrating just the same. I know you'll be fine because I was! I was the same exact way, and I LOVE to eat now--it will come!!

--you LOVE your little brother. you have amazed us from the very first minute you were in the room with Evan. Daddy and I are so proud of how good you are with him!

--you really enjoy school, you usually come home singing and you always have some sort of craft you have made for me!

--favorite color: red

--favorite food: tacos

--favorite Disney Character: Buzz Lightyear

--for your 4th birthday you got a new bike (from mommy & daddy), and a 4-wheeler (from your grandparents)--we just knew for sure that once you got that 4-wheeler you would never ride your bike, but you know what??? WE WERE WRONG! You love your bike, and ask to ride it almost every day!!

--you still sleep with your "Mr. Frog", he's been your loyal buddy since Day 1! when you are tired you still smell his feet, and when mommy isn't feeling well you will bring him to me and stick his feet to my nose! he always makes us feel better!

--you are a very cautious, shy, and quiet (till I get to know ya) kind of kid! this is comforting for a mommy, I'm hoping you stay cautious but break away from the shy a little!

Buddy--that's a lot about you, and I know there's a lot more! Our lives changed the moment we found out you were coming! You really are such a blessing and a joy for all of your family, and we know you will continue to be!!

Love,

Mommy

ps--my favorite words from you lately: "Mommy, I need some mommy-time"

Normal. . .

What is normal exactly?? The question of the month for me has been--"SO, have things gotten back to normal yet? "

If you've asked me this question, don't worry-you aren't the only one, and it really is a valid question!! Before Jason left we had a 3 year old and a 6 week old, now that he's home we have a 4 year old and an almost 1 year old. . .that being said, there was no normal for Jason to come back to!!

As far as Jason and myself go--we have gotten back to normal. We were pretty much there as soon as we said our hellos in CA! We are lucky that way, it's never really been a problem for us to just pick up where we left off. Now that we are back home I have to give Jason big props--he's fallen into step with the boys, and in some ways it's like he never left!! I feel like I never slow down--which is funny b/c I really had dreams of having more time to myself once Jason got home. . I'm still waiting on that time :) I honestly feel like I'm busier now than I was before, however, I don't feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders--when I'm having a bad day, I know that I will have a bit of relief in the evening, and Fridays actually feel like Fridays!! The big joke amongst some of the wives while the guys were gone was "TGIwhat?? " Everyone around us was always so happy for the weekend, but for us it just meant 2 more days that would be longer than the others b/c everyone else was doing family stuff and we were most likely going to be doing the same thing we'd been doing the 5 days previous, only alone! We have seen lots of changes in Camden as well! I'm not sure if it's that he's growing out of his 3's or if he's just more at ease with Daddy home!! He seems happier, and more obedient (?sorry, I know that's probably not the word I'm looking for, but it's the only one I can come up with to describe it). The manners that we've been pushing for so long finally seem to be clicking, and for the most part he stays in his own bed ALL NIGHT!! It makes me happy that he is doing so well!!

Since Jason has been home we've had a case of H1N1, 3 cases of pink eye, and a trip to the hospital for wheezing (Evan)! We also had a wonderful trip to Disney, the beach, and a soggy Halloween with friends and family! Things have been busy, and it seems will continue to stay that way!! We are looking forward to celebrating the boys birthdays next weekend and enjoying all of the holidays that are coming!!

I have so much more to share and I do apologize for my lack of posting, but we really have just been so busy!!! I'll try to post on Camden's birthday later this week--we did a family celebration and he got a bike from Mommy & Daddy--which he LOVES!! (SIGH OF RELIEF)