Thank you random lady at Pancheros

Last week we were sitting at Pancheros eating lunch when this random lady walked up to our table and said, "Thank you for enjoying your son. He has been so fun to watch! Enjoy him."

Not sure where she was sitting or how long she was watching, but it made my day. Some people might think it was kind of creepy, but seeing the genuine look on her face I knew that she truly meant it.

After being gone for 5 days in New Orleans, while Camber got sick I was so ready to spend the weekend with him! Doug and I had finished eating and instead of hurrying Camber through his lunch, we were just sitting, talking, and playing.

Now don't get me wrong, I had a great time in New Orleans.  I learned so much at our conference and we were able to go explore the city as part of our Inquiry Conference.  It was amazing seeing a city come back from such tragedy during Hurricane Katrina.  As part of my inquiry project I studied locals' Katrina stories and being able to talk to people and hear their story was my favorite part. I also loved the Beignets from Cafe Du Monde, the authentic shrimp (I don't like any other seafood), the company (I went with a great group of teachers), and our conference. But it was truly inspiring hearing how people recovered from such a life-changing event!

Hot chocolate from Cafe Du Monde. The Beignets are amazing!

On the way back to the hotel one night there was a random mini-parade. They were handing out beads! (and flowers)

Such a great conference!

We started our inquiry project at the Louisiana State Museum where they have a Katrina exhibit

I have decided that I will never take another vacation away from Camber. It was the worst torture ever being away from him, especially while he was sick! I am so glad he was at home with Daddy though. Doug did a great job taking care of him, cleaning our whole house, and buying me flowers to return to. Maybe I should leave more often......


Nope! I plan to enjoy my time with Camber!

Birthday Button

The week we spent in the NICU after Camber was born, was an emotional roller coaster. We would get good reports about Camber's progress, but the tubes, wires, and machines stole the experience I had wished for.  It was hard to take it all in at the time, and I was mad that I had to deal with it.

  Many times a day, a sweet lullabye would play. Finally we asked what it was for and the nurses told us that they played that song each time a baby was born.  It was called the lullaby button.

   It sounds horrible, but I hated it each time that song came on. Doug would say, "Aww, another baby is born." And I would respond, "Oh great, a healthy baby. Why couldn't we have that?!"  I was mad and was reminded of the fact that our birth experience wasn't what I had hoped for.

  When I was home on maternity leave I saw a story on the news about the birthday button.(click that link for the WhoTV story from Channel 13). And then I was even more mad. Who pushed the button for Camber? We didn't. Did the nurses do it for us? In all of the hustle and bustle of getting Camber up to the NICU, did someone push it to celebrate his birth?

   No one pushed it! So I decided that I wanted him to push it for his first birthday! I talked to some people and finally got in touch with a social worker at the NICU who said it was a "very reasonable request" and she "didn't know any reason why we wouldn't be able to." I was SO excited! We were going to push that button!

   Later that day, after talking to the social worker she called back. She was just going to confirm time and date with us. That's what I thought...

  Nope. She said that she had talked to the director of maternity services and we wouldn't be able to come in and push the button. Stupid! She listed off a few reasons why we wouldn't be able to. But I was bummed!  I had it in my head that we would be able to do this for our little guy. To celebrate the year he's had!

  I let Doug know how bummed I was and he went right to work! He scoured the internet looking for a birthday button.  He found a game show button and decided he would make one.  He bought a music playing birthday card and took out the button and wires. He wired it up to the new game show button, put it in a box, and wrapped it up. To make our very own BIRTHDAY BUTTON.

My hubby is so talented!

  After opening presents this morning Camber was able to push his very own birthday button (over and over) to hear a very special birthday song! It was better than any lullaby button at any hospital!

This will definitely be our very own birthday tradition that we will pull out year after year!

We started our morning with presents!!  Camber is an expert at opening gifts. 

Then we celebrated by going out to a Birthday Breakfast! Mommy and Daddy both took the day off work to help celebrate our little stinky turn one! 

After breakfast Camber took a nap and we were trying to decide what to do for a 1st birthday! We had thought about taking him swimming at a hotel pool (there are a few around here you can pay to use), but we don't have any swim trunks that fit him. So we thought, "What does Camber love to do?" Walk! 

So where could we go to just let him walk? The mall? Ok!  So off we went. Mommy got to buy a few things while Camber just got to walk. It wasn't busy; he could stop and look at things as long as he wanted. No one told him to hurry up or move out of the way! We also let him play in the play place for awhile (and wiped down with major amounts of hand sanitizer and soap afterward!).

What more could a one-year old ask for?!

Well little boy, you have blessed our lives more than you'll ever know. And yes we may complain about the sleepless nights or your crazy personality, but we wouldn't trade it for the world!  You are the best thing that has ever happened to us and we love you so much!  

"Today you are you, that is truer that true. There is no one alive, that is youer than you!"

-Dr. Suess

We're gonna party like it's your birthday!

On Saturday we were so blessed to celebrate our little guy's first birthday!  I had been planning for quite some time and may have gone a tad over board. But hey, you only turn one once, right?!

We had the cutest baby ever, dressed in his sweater, bow tie, and adorable blue Chuck Taylors. Daddy even had a matching pair (although I didn't get a picture).

 Camber got a custom wagon for his birthday (all done up by Daddy) and he loves it. Every time we visited Daddy at his shop Camber would beg to get a ride.  He spent most of his party in his wagon being pulled around by whoever was willing.  His cousins, Payton and Taylor Jo, were kind enough to pull him around :-)

My theme was Oh the Places You'll Go (by Dr. Seuss). I had all of these things ready to go, but Aunt Cas pulled it all together for our guest book table.  Thanks Cas!

You can be anything you want to be! 

Aunt Cas did this for me. All of that stats about Camber.  24 pounds, loves lots of food, has lots of nicknames (Bubba, Stinky, and CT).  

 Our librarian's daughter does some painting so when I heard this I asked if she could do a couple paintings for Bubba's party. These are so cute!

Even Jaxson wore Chuck Taylors!

 This was Camber's look all night long! He didn't think he needed to smile for a single picture! Such a stinky!

Thanks for all your help Aunt Cas!

We served some really yummy lasagna (both regular and chicken-thanks De!). Camber loves lasagna and was content while eating. (He always is).  Those "I am one" stickers didn't last very long!

After dinner it was time for presents and boy was Camber spoiled.  He got so many fun things to do!

Opening all of these presents makes a boy sleepy. 

To end Camber's party was the CAKE! After "blowing" out his candle he dug right in to the frosting. He didn't like the feeling of the frosting on his fingers, but once we cut the cake open he was loving it!

 Can't believe I have a one-year old!

When we got home and unloaded all of Camber's things we got him ready for bed. He was in bed just a  few short minutes, before getting sick. I guess too much cake, on a tummy that has never had sweets just doesn't mix well. Poor guy! No more cake for this guy :-)

Thanks to EVERYONE who came to help celebrate our little guy and helped make the party a success!