Trouble along the way...

It seems my father-in-law and his friend Bruce have had a slight mishap on their cross-country bike trip, and even made the local paper: http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/MNH0101/607270393/1732/MNHnews
Steve talked to his father last night, and they are both doing fine and ready to continue on their way. They expect to reach Maine on August 22nd, so they are nearly there. We are so proud of them! It is pretty inspiring to say the least. Don't forget to check out their blog: http://goingtopott.blogspot.com
They have done a great job documenting their journey.

Not much to report from here. My OB appointment this past Monday went well -- Griffin continues to grow and grow. I can't believe he'll be here in less than 9 weeks now! We are anxiously awaiting the closing on our new house tomorrow afternoon, and then my father, Buzz, will arrive Monday evening. We can't wait to see him!

Back to work...

After I typed the title to this post, I had to go check the calendar and count how many actual work days I have left...only 15! August 31st can't come soon enough. I am so looking forward to being home with Camden.

Steve was able to get the city water hooked up around lunchtime on Saturday. In the picture above, you can see the boys filling in the gaping hole that Steve had to dig across the front lawn, and also the Haneys' garage sale in full swing in the background. There are a couple of problems remaining with the meter, and a couple of plumbing leaks, but those will be addressed after the Haneys leave, so that we don't have to turn off their water again. The city will be replacing the meter, and Steve will fix the leaks. Now, all that is left is the closing, which will take place on Friday morning. We are both getting pretty excited. The sad part is, Lew and Roberta will be pulling out of town sometime on Sunday. It doesn't seem real that they are leaving - - mostly I try not to think about it. We are going to miss them so much. This past Sunday, we had a brunch at our house for Lew, Roberta, their daughter Joan, and her partner Irene. We had such a nice time.
Not the best picture, but that's the back of Steve's head, Camden (wearing a party hat because he thought it was a birthday party), Roberta, Lew, Irene, and Joan. It was fun watching Irene run the yard sale over the weekend - - she is such a people-person, not to mention, a fantastic sales person! It sounds as though they were able to sell quite a bit. They will give it another go this coming Saturday, and see if they can sell a few more things.

Steve's 20th high school reunion took place this past weekend in Maine, and last night we had some fun looking at a bunch of pictures from the festivities that have been posted on the internet. We found that many of his classmates hadn't changed much at all, while many were utterly unrecognizable. There was a huge turnout, and it looks like everyone had a lot of fun.

Tomorrow I'll pay a long overdue visit to Jeff, my hairdresser. I'm hoping the man can work a miracle because my hair needs some serious help. We shall see. Then, in the afternoon I'm off to see my OB. Steve was supposed to be out of town this week, but ended up staying here, and I'm so glad. I'm having a hard time with my back these days, and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get things done without him.

Off to bed...we have an early start tomorrow.

Ditch Digging and Other Fun Things

Uhh.....yeah. So here is what is currently happening with us. The house we are trying to purchase has well water. The Veteran's Administration says that if you have city water available, you must be hooked up to it. The new house has been on well water for at least 32 years, probably longer. The city doesn't actually care if we have city or well water, but the VA does. So before we can sign on the dotted line, we have to prove to the VA that we are hooked up to city water. Unfortunately, making that happen is no small task. Steve spent 10+ hours yesterday, digging a 3-foot deep ditch, from the road to the house, and his job is far from done. The first picture shows Steve just moments ago, and as you can see, the man isn't too excited. The connection pipe is in bad shape, the water meter is old and outdated...not good. Steve assures me this is all going to work out just fine, but it is stressful none the less. I say this, and I'm not even the poor fool in the hole. The kicker is that this is going to be one of the hottest days yet this year. So, if all goes well today, we will be hooked up to city water by the end of the day, the VA will be happy, and we can close on this house next week. Keep your fingers crossed!

Free

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind

and melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing,

but to free the breath from its restless tides,

that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence

shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top,

then shall you begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs,

then shall you truly dance.

-Kahlil Gibran

Please send thoughts of comfort to my mother Roberta, and her brothers and sisters, as they say goodbye to their mother today.

Age Three

It seems that seasoned parents love to frighten novice parents with tales of "The Terrible Twos", yet, I dare say, nobody ever mentioned Age Three. Sure, when Camden turned two he started talking a whole lot more, could get into more trouble, etc., but was relatively mild-mannered, looking back on it all. Since Camden's third birthday last month, life has taken on a new sort of direction in our household. I dare say, we are now living with a midget who seems to think he is in charge. Other changes that have occurred: increase in sassiness, increase in tantrums, decrease in all sense of reason and rational (I'm talking about Camden, not me). You may be wondering why our dear son is sporting rabbit ears in the above picture. That would be due to the fact that he has seen "Wallace and Grommit and the Adventures of the Were Rabbit", and for about a two hour stretch yesterday, insisted that I call him, "The Were Rabbit" whenever I addressed him. He further informed me that he would be addressing me as, "Maaaaaaaaa", in the same manner that Babe the Pig addressed his dear friend Ma, the Border Lester Ewe, in the movie, "Babe" (you would be correct to deduce that we've watched a couple of movies this past weekend).
Oh, and did I mention the talking? The NON-STOP-NEVER-PAUSING-TO-TAKE-A-BREATH talking? Witness a recent conversation between mother and son:

(Setting: in the car, on the way to Boise)
Camden: "What's that, Mummy?"
Heather: "That's a tractor, Camden, but you know that!"
Camden: "What he doing?" (he refers to everything and everyone as "he")
Heather: "He's working."
Camden: "WHY he's working?"
Heather: "Because that's his job."
Camden: "WHY that's his job?"
Heather: "Because that's what tractors do."
Camden: "WHY that's what tractors do?"
Heather: (feeling slight tinglings of brain that is about to explode) "Because it is."
Camden: "WHY because it is?"
Heather: "I don't know."
Camden: "WHY you don't know?"
KA-BOOM!!

Now, you may be thinking, Get A Grip, Lady. Kids Ask Lots of Questions. They Are Curious By Nature. Okay, while that is true, the above is just one example of about 537 identical conversations that occur between my son and I, whenever we are in the car, in the house, at the store....when we are awake, is probably a bit more accurate.

Steve and I are currently regrouping and doubling-up on our efforts to ensure that we guide our Dear Son through this "phase" (oh please Lord, let it be a phase), so as not to end up with one of those children that cause other parents to cringe when they see him coming. I'm quite sure he will turn out just fine. I've had many parents tell me, "Just when you think you know what you are doing, things change." Boy, is that true.

All of this being said, there is still no place I'd rather be than with my son (okay, sometimes I'd like to be in a silent room, preferably in a tropical locale, sipping a large glass of perfectly chilled Pinot Grigio, but that's a post for another day). May I also say that if you attempt to inform me that your child is smarter, cuter, or sweeter than my child, I'll wrestle you to the ground and pin you, until you take it back.

Alberta C. Dunphy

My grandmother, Alberta C. Dunphy (known to most as "Bertie") passed away peacefully and quietly this morning in Pittsfield, Maine. She was born on October 19, 1904, so she would have turned 102 years old this year. My Grammy was a wonderful, strong, stubborn woman, who valued her independence. She made great yeast rolls. She was an expert knitter. She had the best sense of humor, and had many, many friends. She liked to call me "Heather Jane". She had seven children, and is survived by five of them. Please keep my mother and her siblings Winston, Eldon, Shirley, and Jean, in your thoughts. I loved her dearly, and will miss her. I'm so happy that I was able to spend the morning with her, when Camden and I visited Maine last year. The first picture is from that visit. The other is from when Camden met his Great Grammy for the first time, when he was about 8 weeks old. I'm so glad he got to meet her. I wish Griffin could have, too. I love you, Grammy. Rest in peace.

A Griffin update, and more pictures...

Had my follow-up ultrasound this morning to check on Griffin's kidneys, and they look fine! Also had my glucose tolerance test and passed it with flying colors, so I'm happy about that. Now I start seeing my doctor every two weeks. This pregnancy has flown by!
After my appointment, we took Camden to the Boise Zoo, and now we are home relaxing.

Here are some more pictures that I had wanted to post yesterday:

Here are the boys, working on the trim

Camden, holding his cousin, Banzer

Giving Banzer his binky

Banzer, almost 7 weeks old

The Man's Room

The house we currently live in is technically a 3-bedroom home, but in the 5 years that I've lived here, the third room has never had a floor, ceiling, or electricity - - it has been mostly closed off to the outside world, and used as a huge storage closet/junk room. It has been a source of embarrassment for me in the few times we've entertained, when Steve has happily included it on the "tour" of our house. The plan for this third room has always been that it would be an office for Steve - - a place where he could study, work, and scheme (a family trait from Steve's side). He's fantasized about having a recliner and a "globe bar" in there too. Therefore, this third room has always been referred to as "The Man's Room". Alas, when we found out we were having a baby back in January, it quickly turned into "The Play Room", when we realized we needed somewhere to put all the toys and extra baby gear that we would soon be dragging out of storage. Then, life threw us another curve when the opportunity presented itself for us to purchase our next door neighbor's home. Now, Steve is working hard to finish the house in general, and we had a major development this weekend, when he hung the new window in the Man's Room. It use to have a very tiny, narrow window that let in virtually no daylight. The new window is huge, and as you can see, really brightens up the joint:

This is a view of the new window, through the glass door to the room. Those familiar with our home (mainly our folks) are most likely gasping as they look at this picture. I'm sure it isn't quite as thrilling for the rest of you. I think Steve and I are both feeling a bit sad about the fact that finally, after all this time, things are coming together around here, just in time for us to move out. Due to multiple circumstance (mainly, two deployments) this house has been under construction since Steve purchased it in 1999. Someday I'll compose a blog about the changes that have occurred here over the past five years, to give you a better idea.

As usual, Blogger is only allowing me to post this one picture - - I will try again later and hopefully I'll have better luck. Today it is 113 degrees in the sun, so I have pretty much stayed inside with the air conditioning. Tomorrow I have a glucose tolerance test (for gestational diabetes) and a follow-up ultrasound (to check on Griffin's kidneys), so I'll post about that tomorrow afternoon.

In the Kitchen

Tonight, we had marinated chicken breasts on the grill, and I had fun preparing some side dishes and dessert, earlier today. I thought I'd share some recipes. I tend to make Steve a bit crazy, because I'm forever tearing recipes out of magazines, or printing recipes off the internet, and he wonders why I don't just refer to my gigantic collection of cookbooks. What can I say, I can't help myself.

Best Potato Salad (from Cooking Downeast, By Marjorie Standish)

Pare and cook eight medium-sized potatoes. Drain and cool enough so they may be handled. While potatoes are still warm dice them in a bowl. Pour the following dressing over them, doing this while they are still warm to insure better flavor:

dressing:
8 tbsp. vegetable oil
3 tbsp. vinegar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
a shake or two of red pepper (*I omitted this)
1 tsp. dry mustard
2 tbsp. parsley (I used dried parsley)
2 tbsp. finely minced onion

Stir salad with dressing so that each piece of potato is saturated. Cool, then refrigerate. Leave in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. When ready to serve, mix with mayonnaise. Serves 8.
**I halved this recipe. Steve isn't a fan of potato salad, but said that he loved this. I added a sliced hard-boiled egg to the top.

Grandmother's Pound Cake (from allrecipes.com)

• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/3 cup flour
• 3 tbsp. + 1 3/4 tsp. milk (I used heavy whipping cream)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan (or spray with nonstick spray). In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour alternately with the milk, mixing until just combined. Spread batter evenly into loaf pan. Bake for approximately 60-70 minutes - - start checking around 55 minutes by inserting toothpick until it comes out clean. When done, remove from oven and immediately loosen cake edges from pan with knife. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

(**To serve, I sliced the cake and lightly brushed each side with melted butter, then grilled each side lightly on the grill. I made a warm fruit sauce from blueberries and blackberries, and poured some over each piece, and topped with whipped cream.)

Friends, etc.

Yesterday, my dear friend Joy (http://mamacitalujan.blogspot.com) came to visit, along with her beautiful son, Antonio (a.k.a. "Paco"), and we had such a nice time. Joy was one of the first friends I made when I moved to Idaho in 2001. Back then, she was the assistant to the President at Albertson College of Idaho, and I was the assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Dean of Students, so we worked across the hall from each other. Joy is a wonderful friend, and I feel lucky to have her in my life. We don't get together as often as we'd like, but I am hoping once I am home full-time, we might get the chance more often. Paco and Camden had fun playing together. Paco is a full year younger than Camden, but nearly as tall! Not only is Paco handsome, but the boy is bilingual (Spanish and English), and smart as a whip. Anyway, it was great to be able to catch up with Joy over coffee...I'm hoping we'll do it again real soon. Here's a shot of the boys, as Joy and Paco were leaving:

Joy, I hope you all had a wonderful time in McCall! Talk to you soon!

Today, I took a little time for myself and headed for the Big City. First stop was Starbucks, for a bagel, Frappuccino, and the morning paper. What a treat! After that I did quite a bit of browsing at various stores, spent some time at Barnes and Noble, and then started making my way back home. While I was out, Steve and Camden went to the dump, and to the lumber store for some building supplies. Steve will be working on the house for the remainder of the holiday weekend, but we do plan to cook out on the 4th. I have some cleaning to do tomorrow, but mostly Cam and I just plan to hang out and have some fun. Hope you are all doing the same!

Java

Okay, so I have a serious problem. This morning, I drove all over creation in downtown Boise, trying to get to a certain street, to a certain coffee shop, for a certain mocha that I recently discovered. There are a lot of one-way streets in Boise, so I kept missing the street I needed, and ended up driving around in circles. Alas, I finally reached my destination, and am happily sipping said mocha, made with Mexican chocolate. Yum. I think the fact that I know my mocha days are numbered (really nowhere to get a good mocha where I live) is causing me to obsess about them. Must get a grip.

Also wanted to share Camden's first school picture. I was so pleasantly surprised that he actually smiled -- he's at the stage right now that when he sees a camera, he makes very silly faces. I will have to try to get his class photo scanned so I can post that, too.

General Update...

Just thought I'd post an update on what is going on with us lately...

Steve is very busy with work, but enjoying his new job. His new responsibilities at the armory also keep him very busy...it seems as though he is working two full-time jobs now! I'm sure once the dust settles a little more, it won't seem so stressful for him (I hope). He's been getting out and running a lot, and is beginning to get in some mountain biking here and there, which is great. In his "spare" time, he's busy working on the house - - this past weekend he trimmed out the new kitchen window, and nearly completed the new siding on the kitchen. I'm sure Lew and Roberta are happy to see that, instead of the Lowe's wrap! I believe this coming weekend, he's planning to finish wiring the 3rd bedroom, insulate, hang sheetrock, etc. We have a new window for that room on order from Lowe's, so once that arrives I suppose he'll be hanging that, trimming it, and putting the siding up on THAT side of the house. After those major projects are done, we'll be hiring someone to tape and texture, and refinish the hardwood floors. A few other cosmetic fixes in the house, and, at long last, it will be done. I know this will be such a huge relief to Steve!

Camden continues to be obsessed with the movie, "Cars", and I believe he's talked his Dad into taking him to the movies to see it for a second time, this coming weekend. He has made some huge improvements in the "eating" department - - I'm afraid I created quite a picky eater. I think while Steve was away, I wasn't doing a lot of cooking, and got into the habit of fixing him what he wanted every night, so when Steve came back and I actually started cooking meals again, he would pitch a big fit every night, like we were attempting to poison him or something. I put my foot down last week (although my pediatrician told me to do this, long ago), and simply gave him what the rest of us were eating. I'm happy to report we are going into our second week of family bliss at the dinner table, with Camden trying all kinds of new foods, and rarely putting up any kind of fuss over it. Another huge improvement for Cam has been that he is now saying, "Excuse me, please" before interrupting, when Steve and I are talking. Mind you, he is still constantly interrupting, but at least he's found his manners! I'll take what I can get! I created a very simple "chore chart" for him this week, so we are going to start implementing that within the next few days. He's very much wanting to do everything by himself now, meaning, he does not want assistance at ALL. While I know this is a good thing, it makes me just a little sad to see him becoming more and more independent. Alas, that will only continue, and I know the best thing I can do for him is to encourage him!

We are currently "in the process" of purchasing our neighbor's home. The VA came out last week and appraised it, so now we are all waiting to see what they say. The Haneys' daughter arrives from Texas in a little less than two weeks to help them pack up, and it looks as though they will be leaving right around the end of July. We should know within the next two to three weeks when the closing will be. So much going on. It is causing me a small amount of stress, just thinking about cleaning out our house, moving, settling, and getting Camden ready for Griffin's arrival in less than 100 days, but I'm quite certain it will all work out just fine.

As for me, I'm feeling pretty good. I do have to say, this pregnancy is so much harder on my body than when I was pregnant with Camden. I think the first pregnancy is what really aggrevated my back condition, so being pregnant this time has been especially hard. I don't like feeling so limited physically, and I really don't like not exercising, but all of that is temporary, and I'm hoping by the end of the year, I'll be back in fighting form. Griffin is a fiesty little guy, and by the looks of me, he's going to be a bruiser, just like his big brother. I'm getting really excited for our next ultrasound on July 10th, so we can get another look at him.

Beautiful Baked Ziti

Here is a great recipe that my mother shared with me - - I prepared it over the weekend, divided it in half, served one pan, and froze the other. Steve loved it, so this recipe is definitely a "keeper".

Beautiful Baked Ziti (serves 12)

Ingredients

One package sweet Italian sausage, cooked as directed and cut into coin slices (*I used low fat turkey sausage)

8 oz. dry penne pasta, cooked according to package instructions

26 oz. jar pasta sauce

3/4 cup water

1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

1 tbsp. chopped garlic

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. black pepper

10 oz. package frozen garlic bread, thawed and cut into 12 slices

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (*I only used about 1.5 cups)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Roma tomatoes, sliced into 12 slices

12 fresh whole basil leaves

In a large bowl, mix cooked sausage, cooked pasta, pasta sauce, water, chopped basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and pepper. Toss gently. Place mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Place 12 slices of garlic bread on top of the mixture and cover with mozzarella. Dip tomato slices in olive oil and place on each bread slice. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until heated through. Tuck basil leaf slightly under each tomato. Let stand 10 minutes to help set before slicing and serving.

*Mine browned a little more than I would have liked, so I gently set a piece of tin foil over the top when I noticed it was browning too much, and turned the temp down to 375 degrees. Also, I omitted the tomato slices for the batch that I froze, and will add them when I cook it.

More Balloon Pictures...

Here are some more pictures from yesterday...

This was my favorite balloon...the official Disneyland 50th Anniversary balloon

Another pretty one...

Sleepy boy!

Balloons Over Boise

This morning, we got up at 4:30 a.m. (gulp) so that we could make it to to Ann Morrison Park in Boise, in time to see the final launch of the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic, and it was spectacular. It has been going on for the past 3 days, and on Wednesday and Thursday, as Camden and I were commuting to work and school, we'd see all the hot air balloons flying over Boise, so we thought it would be neat to actually go see them launch. Each morning, the balloonists competed for a different goal, either to fly for distance or speed, direction or other tasks that test their piloting skills. Although Camden loved watching them in the sky earlier in the week, he suffered a couple of major meltdowns, once we were amongst all of the balloons. The poor kid screamed in utter terror! Luckily, after lots of consoling from his parents, he calmed down enough to actually enjoy himself. I don't think he was quite prepared for how large the balloons were "in person", the flames from the fuel that lift the balloons into the sky, or even the loudness of the emcee's voice over the speaker system.
The turnout was amazing - - we weren't sure how many people would actually get up that early, but there had to be nearly a thousand people, young and old. There were probably about 25 balloons in all, and they were absolutely beautiful.
After we left the park, we headed for Hyde Park and had a lovely breakfast at Java Cafe, and then headed back home. We intend to spend the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out. The boys are planning to pitch a tent in the back yard and camp out tonight.

The Alpo Dog Food Can was Camden's favorite balloon

I have a bunch of other great pictures, but once again, Blogger isn't letting me post any more than I've already added to this post. I'll try again tomorrow.

Ahhhh.....Friday

I'm sitting here, having a bowl of cereal, enjoying the morning air and the silence of my home. Steve left early this morning so he could get in a mountain bike ride in the foothills, before heading into the office. I've got laundry in the washer, the sprinklers running outside, and about 50% of my housework done, so I'm feeling like I've actually accomplished something, and it isn't even 7:00 a.m. yet...yahoo!
I had wanted to post this picture a few days ago, but I was having trouble uploading pictures so I wasn't able. That's my father-in-law, Dev, on the left, and his good friend Bruce on the right, the day before they set off on their cross-country bike trip. My father-in-law is 67 years old, and he is pedaling (yes, I said pedaling) his bike from Washington state to Maine. Pretty amazing if you ask me. We have received a couple of updates and, so far, they are doing great. I think it is really inspiring to see these guys fulfilling a life-long dream.
On a side note, the brick house you see behind them is the house we are currently purchasing. I'm getting more and more excited as the days go by. On the same token, I'm heartbroken to see our beloved neighbors, Lew and Roberta, leave. I'm quite sure they are the best neighbors anyone could ask for. They are in their late 80's, and have decided that the time is right for them to head for Texas and move in with their daughter. I haven't really stopped to think about what life will be like without them around (probably because I am avoiding thinking about it). While Steve was in Iraq, Lew watched our house like a hawk, and helped me with so many things. They've lived here for about 30 years, moving here from Seattle, after Lew retired from the railroad. I have a feeling I will be quite lonely without them, and so I'm feeling a need to reach out to my other neighbors now and get to know them better, in hopes of filling the hole that will be left when Lew and Roberta leave. I'm going to miss them so much!
Camden and I don't have much on our agenda today - - I have some baking to do, and I probably ought to balance the check book. The temperatures are set to start creeping toward the 100's, and in my condition, I'm dreading it! The checker at the grocery store last night said, "You must be ready to deliver!" (I think she's the third person to say that to me this week), and when I replied that I wasn't due until the end of September, she simply said, "Poor thing!" Thank goodness for air conditioning, is all I can say!

Violet and Banzer

I thought I would write a post about my beautiful niece and nephew. The picture on the right is my sweet niece, Violet Jean. Her parents are my brother Kevin and his wife, Rachel. She was born last October, and I'm sad to say, I've yet to meet her. I love getting pictures of her, which come frequently from my mom, Aunt Jean, and Rachel. She has the most beautiful hair, and she always looks so happy. My folks just love her to pieces, and love to spend time with her. I have to say, she is one lucky little girl to have her Nana and Papa close by, because they are absolutely wonderful grandparents. They are so great with Camden, and he loves them dearly. I hope that I will get to meet Violet in person very soon, and I hope that as the years go by, I'll get to spend lots of time with her.
On the left is my sweet little nephew, Banzer Pake. His parents are Steve's brother Rex and his wife Kasey. He will be one month old this week. He is just about the sweetest boy you've ever seen, and so happy. I feel so lucky that he lives just three miles down the road. I got to see him a couple of times this past weekend, and loved holding him. He is already growing so fast. I'm happy that Camden, Banzer, and Griffin will get to spend lots of time together. Just felt like showing them off, and saying how happy I am to be an aunt!

Camden is Three

It is really hard for me to believe that Camden turns three today-- these past three years have flown by, it seems. He came into the world at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 19th, via emergency c-section, after 34 long hours of labor.

Camden has changed my life so profoundly, and I'm quite certain there is no way for me to even attempt to sound eloquent in explaining what I mean. My love for this boy is beyond explanation, so I don't think I will even try to put it to words.

Camden is a sweet, affectionate, and smart boy. He loves matchbox cars. He can identify most trucks and construction equipment without a second look. He likes fig newtons. Like his mother, nothing makes him happy quite like a trip to Starbucks (mom likes a cinnamon mocha, Camden likes chocolate milk). He has his father's beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes. He loves Thomas the Tank Engine. He likes to dig in the dirt. He likes to be naked. He loves books, and would let you read to him all day. He loves his dog Riley (sorry, Sadie). He likes to ride on Daddy's shoulders. Camden is a joy to know and love, and he brings Steve and I more happiness than probably either of us ever thought possible. Happy Birthday, sweet boy. Mummy and Daddy love you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

It has been a little hectic around here the past few days, and I haven't made time to post. I was having some contractions during the middle to end of the week, and was supposed to be off my feet as much as possible, but that is pretty hard to do with a rambunctious toddler running around! I'm feeling better this weekend, after some rest, and doubling-up on my water consumption.

Steve finished Annual Training on Friday, so Camden and I are very happy to have him home this weekend - - it has been awhile! Steve's father arrived back in Idaho this past Wednesday, and his biking partner, Bruce, arrived yesterday. We will be heading down to Rex and Kasey's later this morning, to send them off on their cross-country bike trip.

Here is the cake I made for Camden's 3rd birthday, which we celebrated yesterday, so that Steve's dad wouldn't miss the celebration. It is "Lightening McQueen" from the new movie, Cars. I'm happy to report that Camden was pretty impressed. We didn't have cake and ice cream until 4:00 yesterday, so the poor kid spent the day asking over and over, "Can I have my cake now?" We also let him open his gifts yesterday. Tomorrow, on his actual birthday, he and I will do some special together - - maybe go to the zoo.

Here's Camden opening his Matchbox Car Cargo Airplane, from Nana and Papa. Please note that Riley never misses a gift-opening occasion. The poor dog loves presents. He is just holding onto the hope that one day, one of the presents will be for him. Whenever my parents come to visit, he knows that they usually bring a gift for him in their suitcase, so he will wait impatiently for them to hurry up and unpack, pacing frantically the entire time.

Camden is still sleeping as I type, but shortly we will head up to Rex and Kasey's house for breakfast with Dev and Bruce, and have a little send-off as they start their trip. I have additional photos that I want to post, but for some reason Blogger isn't letting me post any more than these two. I'll try again later.

Back to Normal

Obviously, someone is feeling better. Yes, those are undies on his head.
Yesterday, Camden was again doing really well when he woke up, so we hopped into the car and headed to my 24-week OB appointment. Griffin is doing very well, and continues to kick like crazy. I don't remember Camden being this active in the womb! My doctor talked to me in a little more detail about a repeat c-section, so I feel even better about it now. My doctor is wonderful - - I feel so lucky to have him. After the appointment, I took Camden to the movie theater for the first time. The boy was impressed, to say the least. We saw the new Disney Pixar movie, "Cars". It was great! Those Pixar movies amaze me. Camden looked so cute, practically being swallowed up by the big movie seat, with a big bag of popcorn in his lap. We had a wonderful time.

Here is a recent picture of me at nearly 24 weeks. I feel gigantic, and was starting to think I would end up even larger than I was when I had Camden (we're talking LARGE). However, I was pleased to learn yesterday that I am 11 pounds lighter at this point with Griffin, than I was when I was 24 weeks pregnant with Camden. Phew! There's hope for me yet. I am actually feeling really good - - I've noticed in the last week or so that my back isn't hurting quite as much, and I certainly have a lot more energy, which I love.

Camden is home with me this morning, and then we'll head off to Boise to do a "trade off" with Steve, so that I can work this afternoon. That nasty stomach bug is still working its way through Cam's preschool, so we thought another day of R&R at home might be a good idea.

We received some great news last night - - my dad will be coming out for a two-week visit, July 31st-August 14th! See you soon, Papa!