Favorite Places (Year 2)

Although Cami still enjoys hanging out in the refrigerator, she now has a new favorite place: outside on the front step. She likes to stay out here for long stretches of time, just watching the neighborhood happenings. Too cute.

First Day of School

I was unable to freeze time, and so, Cami had to start "school" this past week. We are calling it "school" instead of daycare in an effort to prevent Mommy from having a total and complete nervous breakdown as she returns to work. I am happy to report, however, that so far, so good! Cami is doing well at school and likes playing outside with her classmates. Mommy is also doing well returning to work. Hopefully next week will be as successful as the first. These are some pics of us on our first big day!! You can tell by the look in Cami's eye that she new something strange was going on.

Me and My Daddy

It has been a little challenging to blog these last couple of weeks, as we have been preparing for some huge changes in our household. So I thought I would catch everyone up on some of the latest happening around Casa Anderson.

Cami continues to be a little "mini-me" to Chris. She just adores him and vice versa, and I think these pics show that affection.

Cameron Juliet: Year Two

So it's a new year for Cami--one full of possibilities and firsts! In honor of this exciting time I felt the blog needed to look new as well! I am in the process of turning all of the blog entries from last year into a hardcover book. It will be a great archive for our family, and will help us remember when Cami achieved certain milestones during her first year on earth. I can't wait until she is old enough to sit down and enjoy it cover-to-cover.

This year, however, will be very different. I will be going back to work, Cami will be going to daycare and the Grandmommy will be spending even more time with her partner in crime, I mean, granddaughter. This year, just as last year, I am sure, is bound to be full of adventures, triumphs and tears. In the meantime I am trying to delight in each and every moment of the next two weeks before I return to work.

Happy First Birthday Cameron Juliet!

August 2, 2008

To My Darling Daughter Cameron,

This past year has gone by so quickly. It's hard to put into words how much I love you. You have made your daddy and me so happy, and truly completed our family. Thank you for being such a good baby from day one. You have been very patient with me as I learn how to be a mommy. You are such an angel child. You sleep well every night, you eat well, you give hugs and kisses and you are quick to laugh and smile. You are all and more that I prayed for. I knew I would love you, but I never new how intense the love would be. You are the sunshine of my life, and I would walk to the ends of the earth just to see you smile. I loved it when you were a ittle bittle bubs, when all you could do was sleep, but I love you even more now. I could sit and watch you for hours. You are the most adorable little girl I have ever seen. You are curious and adventurous, loving and smart. But my very favorite thing about you is how much you look like your daddy. It is amazing how my the two most important people in my world are so connected. I can't wait to watch as you accomplish each milestone in your life. I pray more than anything to savor each and every day with you, as you are already growing up too fast for me. Thank you for filling my heart with so much love it is overflowing. You will always be my baby girl, my sunshine. I love you more than I could ever write. Happy First Birthday!!

Love,

Mommy

The Crazy Mom Club Called....

...I am now the President. Some of you may have noticed that Cami's Party Dress was not an exact replica of the dress on the invitation. I purposely did not add the little pocket. I thought it was perhaps too difficult and just beyond my gluing capabilities. However, a dear friend and loved one, who shall remain nameless, commented after seeing the dress, "It's beautiful!! But where's the pocket?!?!" I was dumbfounded. Perhaps others shared her thoughts. I knew right then and there my plans had to change: I would have to now add the darn pocket!! I am happy to report that I am pleased with the results, and I think it does complete the dress. I am also happy to report that the beloved, and brutally honest, friend was integral in helping with this addition to the dress. Like I said, I think this whole incident confirms that not only am I a member of the club, I think I may be the president.

Crazy Mom Club

I am now an official card-carrying member of the "Crazy Mom Club". Here's why: with Cameron's 1st birthday quickly approaching, many friends have asked me, "What is she going to wear?" Although I had a cute summer dress picked out, it suddenly became apparent to me that this dress will not do, and there is clearly only ONE thing that my daughter can wear to her first birthday party: the dress on the invitation. I was so pleased with the cute invitations I found online for the party, and as you can see, there is an adorable hand-drawn party dress on the front. When I mentioned this idea to my husband he thought it was great and asked me where I could buy the dress. Cute. No, unfortunately this dress would not be available in any store, or even on the world wide web. I would have to make the dress. Now this is amusing for several reasons, the biggest of which being, I cannot sew. Deterred, I was not. I called upon my crafty friends and family members and requested they help me, the now crazy mama. Aunt Bridget and Mom were troopers and at this point are quite used to me being a "visionary" without the talent to bring my vision to life (this is where they come in). So to make a long story short (too late, I know) there we were, the three of us, like Fairy Godmothers, creating this dress for our little Cinderella, if you will. I cannot express how happy I am with the result and how thankful I am for Cami's Fairy Godmothers!! The dress is so perfect, and even better than what I had envisioned!

Today, as I was gluing the rick rack onto the bottom of our creation (yes, I said gluing--it was the only way, and yes, I said 'rick rak' too which has to impress some of you that I know what that is and can use it correctly...) I thought to myself that this was only the beginning. There will be many dance costumes, Halloween costumes, school play production costumes and even school projects that I will be helping Cami create over the next 18 years, as I am sure my mom can attest to. I vaguely remember my mother helping me turn a shoebox and a wrapping paper roll into a giraffe once, but I digress...

The point is that I am proud of myself, and my vision. I am proud of the final product. I am proud of Cami's Fairy Godmothers who are the talent behind my visions, and who will be needed in the future, I am sure. And I am proud to be a card-carrying member of the "Crazy Mom's Club"--because my daughter is going to look gorgeous at her first birthday bash!!

Not a Baby Anymore

Nothing new to report these days, I am just struck by how grown up she seems to be all of a sudden. I caught her in a moment the other day, watching "Sesame Street" and eating her snack--she drinks from a straw now! It seemed so "little girl" to me--not baby-like. Then I put her in the adorable apple dress donated from our "west coast family" The Burns, and she just looked so darned mature, as she walked, unassisted, all over the house. I love it when I walk into another room, and I hear her little footsteps coming down the hall, and then see her little face peep around the corner to find me. So as we approach her 1st birthday (15 days to go) I just wanted to show some last pics from her days as a "baby". Toddlerdom, here we come!!

OCNJ

Our first official "Family Vacation" to the Jersey shore was a success! I cannot believe how much work it is to go on vacation with an 11 month old. It was all well-worth it though, as Cami had a great time! She spent time with her beloved Grandmommy and Poppi, got to ride the horses on the merry-go-round, fell in love with a 2 year old boy at the beach, and would not let us drag her out of the freezing cold surf! She is definately a beach-lover. There are a few pics of our time down the shore, and as you can see, Cami enjoyed herself so much she fell asleep like a ton of bricks!

Pierced Ears

So we are just back from our week's vacation at the shore, and I have so many pictures to share regarding that trip--but first things first: we finally pierced Cami's ears! Chris and I have been wanting to do this for many months now, and we finally got the courage to put our daughter through it. The procedure was a rough couple of minutes. Cami didn't even like the woman putting the marker dots on her ears! But, my baby was a trooper, and was calmed by Mommy right after her ears were pierced. She has been great ever since--she doesn't even wince when we clean them and hasn't since the second day. She is so brave, and so strong, and so girly now!!