Friday, February 29, 2008

Happy Holiday

Because I deemed today a holiday we didn't have to clean any bathrooms, do any laundry, or run any errands. It was such a nice and relaxing day, I think I might make up more holidays! Seeing how it was a sunny 83 degrees outside we decided to hang out at the park for awhile. When we first showed up I just about turned around when I saw swarms of children running around the park. But lucky for us they were all headed to the four charter buses waiting for them in the parking lot. So we decided to stay and I am so glad we did.
We packed a lunch for the two of us but Camden insisted on eating the grass and twigs he found on the ground. I seriously couldn't pry it away fast enough. Oh well, it's good for his immune system, right?
In an effort to reduce the amount of dirt inhaled, I had him stand on his stroller while he checked everything out around him.

Side note: You see that kid in the background? He was fishing with his mom and you should've seen how excited he was when he finally caught a fish! I tried to get a picture but just ended up looking like a creepy stalker mom!
Camden also decided that in honor of the holiday he would enjoy drinking from his sippy cup. He downed the entire drink in no time!

After the park we came home to "rest"(because we had such a hard day so far) while watching "Hairspray" , man I love that movie. And not too long after that we headed out to meet Dan for the fish fry his work puts on during Lent. All in all this was one good holiday, happy LEAP YEAR!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Rock Star..I Mean..Rock Band

Dear Blog...

I am very sorry I didn't make time for you yesterday. I was tied up for three hours playing the role of a ROCK STAR. This role requires much time, talent, and energy. But I must admit, it was a TON of fun.
We ate yummy food, had an awesome band, and the world's greatest fans cheered us on. I am hopeful I will be asked to play this role again in the near future.
I thought I was exhausted by the end of the night, but this little guy wouldn't budge. He fell right to sleep on the car ride home and never even woke up until 5:50 this AM(are you kidding, he went to bed 3 hours later than usual and woke up 1 hour earlier).
Good times!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

mmm...mmmm...good

A huge tradition from my side of the family is making homemade ice cream at family get togethers. I remember when I was younger my Papa had an old school ice cream maker that you had to churn manually. All the grandkids would take turns with Papa and help make the ice cream. It seems whenever I call home and my family is eating together I ALWAYS ask what's for dessert(I think I have a problem). I totally get jealous when I can't be there with them for homemade ice cream. So this last year for Christmas my parents got us the exact same ice cream maker they have, it's the best kind! I have been wanting to bust it out but been afraid to make a huge thing of ice cream for fear I'd eat it ALL. Well, tonight we invited over a few friends to share this delightful treat with. It always makes me a bit nervous to have people over when trying a new recipe I have never made before(my Mom and Nanny always made it when I was home, I just ate it). But I was pleased with the results and I think they were too.
Doesn't that look so thick and creamy? It was yummmmmy! I am sure we will be having this more often, only next time we will venture out and try another flavor other than vanilla.

And just in case someone didn't want ice cream I made molten lava cake as well.

Here are the recipes:

Molten Lava Cakes
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp sugar
Butter eight 6oz ramekins with the above 2 Tbsp and sprinkle with sugar. This is to be sure you can get your cakes out once cooked.

6oz semisweet baking chocolate
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 large eggs
4 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup flour

In a medium sauce pan melt chocolate with the 1 1/2 sticks of butter over LOW heat. Cool slightly.
Whisk eggs and egg yolks in medium bowl. Then whisk in flour, powdered sugar, and melted chocolate.
Pour into prepared ramekins, dividing equally.
Place ramekins on baking sheet(can be made several hours in advance at this point-cover and chill until ready to bake).
Pre-heat oven to 450, bake cakes for 10-12 minutes until edges are cooked but center is still soft.
Remove from overn, while still warm run a small knife around cakes to loosen, turn over onto serving platter.
Serve warm topped with ice cream and strawberries.

Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 pint whipping cream
2 quarts of Half and Half
3 cups sugar
2 pkg of "junkit ice cream mix", or six tablets(this is found in a small box by the jello)
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Mix junkit and sugar together. Stir in cream and 1/2 of half anf half. Pour into ice cream maker. Add remaining half and half and vanilla extract. Stir. Let your ice cream maker work some magic!

New Sleep Habits

Camden has really been struggling lately with letting himself fall asleep. This was hardly ever an issue before and it has become quite the problem for ALL of us now.

Yesterday when I was working Dan said Camden just would NOT take a nap. Until he laid him on the floor to drink his bottle, and this is what he found a few minutes later.
What more can a kid ask for...a clean diaper, a full belly, and a good ol' nap on the floor!

Cam took a rockstar 3 hour nap for me this morning so I wasn't thinking an afternoon nap would be an option. But as soon as he was getting fussy, I laid him in his crib and he fell right to sleep. About twenty minutes later I went to check on him and this was what I saw.
You know his neck will be cramped when he wakes up, but I was NOT about to move him! I love nap time!

Monday, February 18, 2008

I Want To Suck Your Blood

So here is the picture I promised of my handsome little vampire! It's not the best picture, but the only one we could get out of him. If you look close you can see his top two side teeth.
It is so funny when he smiles big and his teeth show. I wonder if his front two will ever break the surface!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Too Tall

I am glad I find this humorous now, because last night I did NOT feel the same.
Today we will be lowering the mattress in his crib to prevent this from happening anymore.
Tell me how I am supposed to ignore this and let him cry himself back to sleep? Not happening...I could see him falling completely out of the crib.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Dear Cupid...

I am so in love with my two Valentines! Thank you for sending them to me and making this the best Valentine's Day ever!
I am one lucky girl, check out my two hotties!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

the not so...Happy Day

Camden's 8th month mark was spent at the doctor's office today. That darn ear infection we went to the doctor for two weeks ago still hasn't gone away. It is staying for good! He has been running a fever of 103+ for the last two days, poor kid.

I am not a very patient person as it is, and this just hasn't been pretty. I am dreaming of the night we get more than two hours of sleep in one stretch. I really hope this round of antibiotics does the trick. If not, I am sure a plane ticket home to grandma will cure it.
Camden now has 5 teeth; 3 on the bottom and 2 on top. Only one problem, the 2 on top are not the front 2...they are both right next to the front two. He is one cute snaggle-toothed boy!

Weighing in at a big ol' 20.15 lbs, Cam is looking like he is thinning out, but the numbers aren't agreeing.

Pulling himself up on the couch is his new big acheivement. He acts so big and tough until he falls and it scares him half to death. He is currently working on walking along the couch.

He loves anything that has to do with the outdoors. Even if it is just standing at the back door looking through the glass.

Talking to himself is something he must of learned from his dad. That is probably the reason he makes the noise "dadada" and not "mamama".

I have noticed that Camden is starting to become "clingy", I am not sure if this is because he has been sick for so long, or if we are going to have a problem with this.

And the winner for his favorite toy is a toss up...the telephone(yes he has called people and I didn't know until later), and the nintendo paddle.

Happy 8 months baby!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

How Do I Love You

Today was a fun mail day! Camden received his first Valentine from my mom.
Thanks for the box and paper. I am sure someday he will enjoy the book too.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Clarification

For the last two weeks Camden has been making the sound, "dadadada". I would just like to set the record straight that he is not saying the word "dad", he is just making a sound! I WILL NOT agree with Dan that Camden's first word is "dad". He will have to say it a little more convincing before I give in to something like that.

I know, I am a total nerd. I should just be happy that my son is learning to speak, right? NO! He will say "mom" before he says "dad". Why, because I am the mom and I said so(I have waited a LONG time to use that line).

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Best Ever!

Don't ask me why I found it okay to talk about cookies and not leave the recipe for inquiring minds. I have never been a huge chocolate chip cookie fan because everytime I make them they are flat, ugly, and rock hard the next day. But these my friends were the exact opposite! Delicious in every way!

Cream:
1/2 C. butter(1 stick) or margarine
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1/2 C. crisco (this must be the secret ingredient...mmm..more lard)
3 teas. vanilla

Add:
2 eggs

Next:
2 3/4 C. flour
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. baking powder
1/2 teas. salt

Last:
chocolate chips(as much or as little as you would like)

Bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

New Discoveries

Camden has made a few new discoveries as of late.
He has discovered how fun it is to stick his fingers in the outlet and see mom's reaction. At first I freaked out, thinking he was going to get shocked. Then I thought about just letting him figure it out on his own. Ya know, "that'll teach ya" attitude. And last, I gave in and bought the stupid outlet plugs. Now I am "one of those parents". Camden has recently discovered the doggie door. He thinks it's fun to play with it and stick his face up there. I, on the other hand, don't find it very entertaining. I think that door is filthy and I can just see him crawling out of it and busting his face.

Side note(speaking of the dog): Today I put Camden down for a nap and he was trying to fight falling asleep by crying. I was downstairs and could hear him crying for about 5 minutes. Immeditaley after the crying stopped, the laughter started. I found this very odd so I went upstairs to peek in on him. His door was wide open(first clue; I always keep it closed), and the dog came running out, wagging her tail. I thought this was a little wierd so I closed his door and went back downstairs. Not even a minute later the laughter started again, so I quietly and quickly walked back up the stairs to "catch" whatever was going on. Chewie(the dog) was standing by the crib wagging her tail and Camden's arms were reaching out trying to grab the dog, as he was laughing hysterically. It was pretty funny.

Another funny thing I noticed Cam doing today was looking at his reflection on the oven door. He sat here and tried to touch his face for at least 5 minutes.

P.S. Don't mind the barf running down his chin. This is a constant in our house so we are pretty used to it by now.


Just a few other funny things happened today that I want to remember. For some reason(maybe the antiboitics) Camden has been full of gas. And when he toots it is pretty manly sounding, and today was no exception. He tooted so loud he looked behind him, a little frightened by the noise, to see what it was. I was busting up, so glad I witnessed this.

I walked out the back door to put a load of laundry in the washing machine(our laundry room is outside) and closed the door behind me. When I was finished and ready to come back in the house I found Camden lying in front of the door, making it impossible to open and let me inside. It was really pathetic of me trying to explain to my 7 month old that he needed to move in order for me to get back in the house. He just thought it was really fun to look at me waving my hands around, so he laughed and stayed in one spot. I had to get down on my hands and knees, reach up through the doggie door, and move him out of the way. By the time I did that and got back up on my feet, he was back in front of the door. He is one fast little mover. Needless to say, it took me a minute, but I out smarted him and got in.

He is quite the character. I can really see a crazy personality coming out in him, I love it!

Friday, February 1, 2008

The Nerve!

What's that you say? You have been waiting ONE hour and you want to get in front of me? Oh sure that's no BIG deal; I have slept great the last two nights, by kid is screaming hysterically for no reason, and I haven't been waiting for TWO hours. Go right ahead if you feel the need.

AND SHE DID!

Seriuosly people...here I am standing in line at the Wal-mart pharmacy, Camden is screaming because he has a sinus infection as well as double ear infection, and she has the nerve to ask if she can get in front of me. Oh and don't you worry I told her how long I had been waiting right after she told me how long she had been. I had been there twice and long as she had...AND...there was nobody behind me in line. I really hope that five extra minutes she saved made her day.

I am sure it did because she was so grateful and thanked me over and over again...oh wait...no she didn't.

And to top this fabulous day off, when I got home and busted out Camden's antibiotic I found nothing but white powder in the bottle. Let's just say I was not very happy. I immeditaley called the pharmacy and asked the poor girl that just happened to answer the phone if my son was supposed to snort the medicine or if perhaps there was a mistake. She didn't catch on to my humor so I asked to speak with the pharmacist. The pharmacist asked me to come back in but I reassured him he didn't want me back there. If there was anyway for me to make this magic potion at home, it would be in everyone's best interest. He quickly explained how to mix it and apologized.

SO after a long day...here I am ending it with a post! Ode to medicine, it better help!