Ant Bite

Since I document every little 'first' in regards to Camden's life, I must not leave out his first ant bite or bites. I was pulling weeds in the front yard while he was playing in the bark right next to meet. Of course little ants are everywhere and unable to be avoided. As he was playing, he looked at me with a displeased look and said, "Uh Uh." Since he was rubbing his feet together, I looked there and noticed one measly little fire ant crawling on his left foot. I knocked it off and noticed that he had a few red spots on his foot. Since he did not seem to be bothered too much by it, we continued on. Once inside, I re-examined his foot and found that the ant bit him at least six times, one on each side of his ankle, one on his fourth toe and two on his pinky toe. How my child was not crying when he got bit, I will never know!

The Boys

Since moving out of my sister's house, I must say I have missed my nephews. They are awesome boys and I really enjoyed being around them so much. Last week I texted my sister to see if the boys wanted to come and hang out and spend the night with us so they wouldn't be in the house when their maid came. She agreed, so yesterday they came packed and ready to stay the night. Connor is staying with us this week, so I figured between Camden, Connor, Mason and Braden they could all entertain one another.

Sure enough, they all seemed to have a great time. I got a preview of how it will be to have a houseful of boys here. I heard a lot of playing and noise coming from the upstairs game room which was music to my ears! Everyone got along and played so well together. I can't wait to have them over again!

Braden's 'Traveling to Grandma's' bag that he converted
to 'Traveling to Ant and Uncle' - LOVE IT!!!!

Camden cheezin' with Braden, Mason and Connor

Everyone cheezin' except Camden, who the boys were trying to imitate

17 Month Update

ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) has been coming to the house twice a month to work on Camden's walking. He has been doing awesome with his walking, however his left foot still continues to pronate a little. Our therapist gives us different exercises to do with Camden to help strengthen his left leg as well as his core strength. Today when the therapist was here he recommended that we make and appointment with Hope Orthotics for them to evaluate Camden to make sure he does not need any type of arch support or other orthotic to assist in getting that left foot straight. He said he really is not certain if Camden needs anything since he is progressing, however he hope to dismiss Camden from their services at the end of August and just wanted another opinion regarding his left foot. So his appointment is set for mid August. Also, another thing the therapist asked us to do was to keep a list of how many words Camden is saying and show it to him during Camden's appointment today. So for the last two weeks I have been writing down words as I remembered and so far he is a little of 40 words. I must say, it definitely makes communicating with him much easier!

Since we have been keeping that list, it reminded me that I have not really given an update on Camden's progression other than his walking. So, I thought I would take the time to do an update:

• He continues to wear size 4 diapers
• He wears a size 5 shoe
• He wears 12 to 18 month shorts and 18 to 24 month shirts
• He says over 40 words, including I don't know - "I dknow", up please - "Up peez", pizza - "teeza", baseball - "b-ball", bees, tree, baby, apple, down, goal, star, amen, juice, done, keys and shoe
• He loves to use silverware
• He eats any food I put in front of him, especially sweets and bread

• He generally eats 4 times a day and drinks milk with his meals (about 24 ounces a day)
• He loves his juice - however really only gets to drink it once a day, otherwise he has 'Wawa'
• He still takes Prevacid 15mg solutabs for reflux
• He still takes Miralax 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp daily
• He continues to sleep 11 to 12 hours a night
• He takes one nap a day, which is generally 1 1/2 hours, sometimes 2 hours
• He loves to walk and crawls very little
• He loves to takes baths and play in the pool

• He sleeps on his stomach and side more than on his back
• He loves to take pictures

• He loves anything that has to do with balls, be it putting them in a basketball goal, kicking them in a net or throwing them

• He loves to be outside
• He loves to read books and have books read to him

• He is still a very happy little guy

Girls Weekend

One of my best friends in the world, Lisa, turned the big 4-0 in June. Since before her birthday, Lorrie and I were planning something fun to do in order to celebrate her as well as her birthday. The first weekend our schedules were clear and we could get away was this weekend. After much anticipation and waiting, we were all ready! Lorrie and I had thrown around a few different ideas of places to go, but ended up planning a trip to the Kerrville/Fredericksburg area to enjoy a wine tour along with anything else that came our way. I must say, I don't think we could have picked a better trip!

Saturday morning we headed out with no certain plans except to be in Kerrville for supper that evening at my parent's, where we would be staying. We decided we would go through Austin and stop there to eat lunch. We ended up going to The Oasis on Lake Travis and having lunch accompanied by a beautiful view. When the waiter found out we were celebrating Lisa's birthday, he said he would bring out a treat. We were hoping they would make her do something crazy, like dance around while they sang to her, but for her sake, he just brought out a bowl of sopapillas and cinnamon ice cream and told her to enjoy.

The beautiful view of Lake Travis

Me and the birthday girl

Me and Lorrie

After our lunch, we headed on to Kerrville where we spent the evening listening to some crazy music while laughing and chatting with my parents and eating some awesome blue cheese burgers - which ended up being a great hit!

Buckhorn Lake Resort where my parents live

On Sunday we woke up and headed to Fredericksburg for the long awaited wine tour. We met our tour guide at the "limo" at 10:30 am and after her giving us a little history of how the wineries came about and telling us the plan, we headed towards Johnson City to eat an early lunch before heading to the wineries.

Lisa and Leeann in front of the limo

Me, Lisa and Lorrie on the limo and ready for some fun

We ate at a little cafe called Silver K Cafe where we all had honey pecan fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It reminded us of a restaurant that we loved in Orange during our high school years called Someplace Special. Their honey pecan fried chicken was probably pretty close to being as good as Someplace Specials so that was a great treat.

Lisa posing in front of the restaurant

We all loaded back into the van and headed to our first stop which was the Texas Hills Vineyard. It was a great little winery in Johnson City and they had what we felt was some of the best tasting wines! I think we all learned a great deal at the first winery as to what our tastes were and how you can change the flavor of so many wines just with what you are eating (chocolate or spicy). After that, we headed to our second stop which was William Chris Vineyard. This one was definitely not our favorite. We did not care for the atmosphere, nor any of the wines.

Lisa in front of William Chris Vineyard

The third stop was Pedernales Cellars, and this one too was a favorite. We all found out that we liked goat cheese at that winery since our hostess served us different crackers with goat cheese and jellies that complimented the wines we were tasting. This is where I purchased a bottle of white wine that I found to be the best out of all our stops.

A beautiful view of the hill country in the background

Our fourth stop was at a neat winery called Torre di Pietra Vineyards. Here we could actually see the beautiful grapes on the vines and the atmosphere there was one we liked. They had some 'fun' names to their wines, such as Dirty Girl and Red Flirt. It was a neat place.

A view of part of the grounds of Torre di Pietra Vineyards

Grapes on the vines

Me, Lorrie and Lisa enjoying peach bellinis

Our fifth and final stop was Grape Creek Vineyards which was also a favorite. Can you see a running theme that four out of five were our favorites?


On our way back to the vehicle, our tour guide took us by the Peach Haus so we could buy peaches or any other thing we desired. Due to the drought, the peaches were small and expensive, so we passed on that, but did pick up a few other jellies and marinades there.


By the time we got to the vehicle it was close to 5:00 pm and we were starving. We decided to eat at Mamacitas in Kerrville and asked mom and dad if they would like to join us, which they did. We had a great meal sharing with my parents about our fun day.

Me, Mom and Lorrie

On Monday, we headed to the James Avery Headquarters in Kerrville and watched some of the craftsman do their job and also visited the retail store.

Lisa and me

One of the rooms where the craftsmen do their work

We then headed to the mall to see if they had any exciting clothes or shoes for Camden. After that, we headed to Fredericksburg with food on our mind. The day prior, our tour guide had told us about a hamburger joint that is one of the top three in Texas and recommended it to us. It was called Alamo Springs Cafe and was located by the Fredericksburg Tunnel which was about 13 miles outside of Fredericksburg on a small county road. I must say the appetizer of roasted garlic and goat cheese on toasted bread was very good, as were the burgers.

The front of Alamo Springs Cafe

Me and Lisa inside the cafe

We then headed back into Fredericksburg to the Pie Shop there where we picked up a few slices of homemade pie.


We then headed to a produce stand to pick up a few odds and ends. Along the way, we took some pictures of scenery as well as art.

Lisa taking a picture of the scenery

We then headed home by way of Austin. While in Austin, we stopped by the apartment complex where my sister and I lived while there. That brought back some memories. . . .

On our car trip home, we did what three girlfriends do best and that is talk. Lorrie had brought a little tin can that had questions to ask one another to learn more in depth things about your friends. After we finished those, we came up with our own questions to ask. One of the questions Lisa asked was if we could name a wine reflecting our personality what would it be? Now mind you, Lorrie had to amend some of these, so here are the final names.
Lisa - Berry Sassy Thank You
Melinda - Talkative on a String
Lorrie - Mommie's Miracle Potion

I must say I learned a thing or two about my friends that I never knew - which you would think after all these years you would know everything about them. But unfortunately, time, marriage and raising kids interferes with the time we are able to spend with one another and we seem to miss out on all the little ins and outs we used to know about one another. We laughed so much that our stomach muscles need a few days to recuperate. We honestly had a great time and are already looking forward to the next girl weekend getaway! Luckily, Lorrie turns 40 in two years (before me I might add) and then it will be my turn, so surely, we will come up with something great to do then!

The First Real Owie

Shane was finishing up some yard work when Camden and I went 'side' (outside) to see him. Since Camden is walking everywhere, I put him down on the cement driveway while Shane and I trimmed some hedges. As we were admiring our work, Camden was walking and accidentally kicked Shane's shoe, thus causing him to loose his balance. He fell forward and caught himself on his hands, however since the driveway has a slight downward slope to it, he over compensated and smashed his head directly into the concrete.

After many tears, he held some frozen peas and carrots on his head.


Within no time, he was just like his old self. Bless his heart - I know this is the first of many!

Silliness

I am afraid we have a clown on our hands! Camden enjoys doing anything that will get a laugh from anyone. Between that and him doing things that he doesn't even realize are funny, Shane and I spend a lot of time laughing!!

While I was unpacking boxes, I had clothes scattered on the floor. Camden of course wanted to help, so he sat right in the middle of all the clothes. When he got up, one of my bras got stuck to his shorts. As you can see, it didn't even phase him!



He is always giving us cheesy grins and making us laugh.


As you might recall, he loves to put things on his head and has done so for quiet some time. He was having a great time putting a wash cloth on his head .

Another favorite thing of his to do is to grab my kitchen towels and drape them on his head or on his walker and push them around the house. In these pics, he had been sitting by the fireplace reading while I was in the kitchen cooking. He all of the sudden laid his books down, came in the kitchen, grabbed the towels and then took them back to the fireplace and continued to read. Doesn't it make you wonder what goes through that little head?

One towel on his head and one in his hand.

Ready to read his books!

Such a happy guy!

Tooth #12

Camden has been fussy off and on the past week which usually indicates a new tooth arriving. Sure enough, tonight while I was brushing his teeth, I noticed a pearly new white nub coming in on the bottom left hand side! Looks like his teeth are filling in nicely on the left side. His right side definitely has some catching up to do!

New chiclet on bottom left side

Silverware

While at my parents, mom had mentioned to me that I really needed to get Camden some bigger silverware to eat with since he was still using his baby spoons. He has been more interested in feeding himself lately, and as you can imagine, with a baby spoon, he has not been very successful. So today I went and bought him some new silverware with his favorite color (blue) on it. He absolutely loves the new silverware. He seems to like the fork more than the spoon since he can get things to stick on it and not fall off on the way to his mouth.

Camden with his new fork