The Houston Zoo

My sister and her family decided that they were going to go to the Houston Zoo today and invited us to come along. Shane had been sick with a horrible stomach virus on Monday and Tuesday, and was still weak and trying to recover. He decided not to go, but Camden and I decided we should get out and 'blow the stink off' of us (as my dad would say). Camden had not been running fever since yesterday morning and seemed to being doing fine, so away we all went.

Camden LOVED the zoo! His favorites were the sea lions and the monkeys. He was so curious and intrigued by everything, that in the five or so hours we were there, he would only drink 2 ounces of formula and of course would not take a nap. He did, however, drink formula and ate some food when we got in the vehicle and then slept on the way home. I loved watching him and loved how Mason and Braden wanted to push him in the stroller. I hardly had to do anything except take pictures!

Mason, Melissa, Braden and Camden getting ready to go inside the Zoo

Mason and Camden

Camden and Braden watching the sea lions

There were two baby elephants - so cute!

Posing in front of the BIG elephant - Roll Tide

Hook Em' Horns

Braden pushing Camden in the stroller

Mason and Braden posing with the monkey

Camden was intrigued with the giraffes

Camden petting a goat at the petting zoo

Melissa and Camden checking out a bear

Sinusitis

For about 3 weeks, if not longer, Camden has been fighting a runny nose and cough. It has pretty much stayed the same, until last night. It is always routine for me to check in on Camden right before I go to bed, and I always feel his face to make sure he does not feel warm. Well, last night when I checked him, he felt rather warm to me and sure enough his temperature revealed 101.9. So I woke him up and gave him some Motrin and then he went back to sleep. Around 2:45 am I heard him in his room whimpering and coughing and went in and got him and gave him a bottle and he stayed up until about 4:00 am. I noticed then when I was up with him, that his breath smelled foul and one of his lymph nodes on the right side of his neck was swollen. I suspected infection, namely sinusitis. So sure enough this morning I called and made an appointment for him. He weighed in at 18 pounds 4 ounces. His pediatrician checked him out and sure enough diagnosed him with sinusitis and an early ear infection in his right ear. She prescribed him Omnicef and requested that we follow up in 10 to 14 days so she could recheck his ears. Even though he had been running fever and coughing quiet a bit, he still was in a wonderful mood! Believe you me, I do know how fortunate we are!!!

Camden's First Christmas

Camden had a great time today visiting with family and opening more gifts. His morning started with the norm - his bottle. After getting some food in his belly, we made our way to the Christmas tree to see what Santa left for him. Since Camden has an affinity for rocking, Santa brought him a talking rocking horse. And since Camden loves music and lights, Santa also left him a V-tech Learn and Discover driver. Santa also left him a Fisher Price Rock-a-Stack toy.

The toys Santa left for Camden

Camden a little unsure about riding his new rocking horse

Riding with no help

Playing with his new stacker toy

After the rest of us ate breakfast, we all gathered around the living room to open presents. It is the tradition in our family that one person opens a gift and then the next person opens a gift and so on until all the gifts are opened. It allows everyone to see what each person gets and to me, allows us to spend a bit more time together as a family. Even though it takes a little longer to get all the gifts opened by doing it this way, Camden did absolutely wonderful and waited his turn each time, usually occupying his time playing with paper or checking out one of his new toys. He received a huge turtle scoop for the bath tub as well as bath tub toys (which we have been waiting for so we can start taking 'big boy' baths), ornaments, a Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Rhymes storybook, Crawl Along Snail, clothes and money (which will go towards his college fund).

Camden playing with his toy while waiting his turn

Who is that precious guy in the mirror?

I think I will give him a kiss!

Paper is fun!

Giving his new turtle a kiss

Checking out his new ornament from his Great Aunt Maxine

Mason showing off his new Power Band

Braden showing off his new football figurine

Shane showing off our Christmas present from Camden

Family picture with our Christmas present from Camden that he made at school. The ornaments on the tree and the lights around the edge are his finger prints.

The rest of the day was spent eating, visiting with family and playing with Camden and his new toys. Camden ate lots of good things for his Christmas dinner including turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, roll, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. It was really nice to spend this Christmas with my family on Christmas day. It has been quiet a few years since we have all been together on Christmas day and so we felt it was way overdue!

Our First Christmas as a family of three!

Merry Christmas

Hood Family Christmas

We left Tuesday evening for Lumberton to spend a few days with Shane's family and celebrate our Christmas with them today on Christmas Eve. We ate breakfast and then opened presents. Camden had a great time playing with his new Sit to Stand Learning Walker, V-tech airplane, clothes, Leap Frog My Pal Scout, and a few other items. He was not too sure about the actual opening of the presents, but was definitely interested in what was in the package.

Unwrapping the airplane

Camden liked listening to Scout talk to him

He was thrilled with all the bright lights and music on his walker

Connor posing with Gavin and Camden

After opening gifts, we headed back to Tomball to spend Christmas with my parents as well as my sister and her family.

Picture with Santa

Today Camden finally made his way to see Santa. While in line, he was extremely excited and I was slightly optimistic that we just might end up with a good picture. However, the second I sat him down on Santa's lap, the water works started. Camden was not the least bit thrilled that I sat him on a stranger's lap. I apologized to Santa, who was so sweet and soft spoken and assured me that this was just something little ones go through. He was wonderful despite Camden's tears.

Waiting in line

Playing with some large blocks while waiting

Picture with Santa 2010

Christmas Decorations

While we were gone over Thanksgiving weekend, my sister and her family put up the Christmas decorations. She normally puts a tree upstairs, and this time allowed us to use it as our Christmas tree. She decorated it with nut crackers that my uncle gave her several years ago. He thought they would be something the boys would like. While getting out her decorations, she happened upon Camden's memento box that I brought with us from Alabama, and found an ornament that one of my co-workers gave me. She thoughtfully placed it on the tree for him. She also placed the ornament Braden made for Camden at church.

The Christmas tree upstairs

The ornament Braden made for Camden at church

Camden's first ornament

The mantle and tree downstairs. Camden's stocking is the crimson one on the right side.

Suck It Up

For several months now, while eating out, Shane will give Camden water through a straw. Today, after church, we went out to eat and I decided to go ahead and order Camden a drink of his own. After a little help from Shane, Camden finally figured out how to drink water from a straw.

Getting prepared

Drinking through a straw with the help of Dad