Galveston trip

Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to Galveston. I think Camille's favorite part may have been sleeping in the hotel bed (instead of her crib). She preferred to eat breakfast sitting on the coffee table (only in a hotel). She loved playing in the sand and the water at the beach. I have more pictures, but I need to have Matt show me how to get them out of my e-mail and onto the Blog.--Stephanie

Camille's new hat

I've recently been terrible about neglecting Camille's blog. Matt and I were able to get away to San Antonio for a long weekend at his birthday July 20th. In this picture Camille is wearing the hat that we brought back for her.--Stephanie

Silly Matt and Camille

New Baby

We had our sonogram and found out that our new baby is a little girl! She's measuring small just like Camille did but looks healthy so far. Camille is excited to be having a little sister. Acutally let me correct, as she did to me this morning. She's not having a "little sister"--she's having a "baby sister." Well, Camille's baby sister has been kicking me a lot lately. She's head up and feet down, so it feels like she's actually standing up and walking around in there. We're excited. The baby's due November 10th. This pregnancy seems to be going much faster than Camille's. We're much busier now, and that explains it. My work is extremely busy, with us being short a therapist, and Matt has been busy studying for the CPA exams. Of course Camille keeps us on our toes as well. We're getting ready for a week without Camille as she goes to Nana and Papa's house in Houston for next week. Matt and I are looking forward to a 4-day weekend getaway starting Thursday to celebrate Matt's 30th birthday on July 20th! I'll be married to an older man:)--Stephanie

Ice Cream cone

I just dicovered these pictures from a couple of weeks ago. This was Camille's first ice cream cone. She had never liked ice cream before, and often would not even try any of ours. She started talking about them one evening, so we took her to TCBY for her first ice cream cone. She wanted strawberry, and I didn't realize that the strawberry kiwi flavor (the only strawberry they had) was a sorbet, and she didn't like it. It was icey, not good for licking. The experience was a flop, though you can't tell in the initial picture. She liked licking Matt's vanilla cone, but she desperately wanted a "white cone" of her "own." She was on the verge of a temper tantrum. I felt bad because I ordered something she wouldn't like. On the other hand she chose it and I didn't want her to think she could change her mind and order something else. The cones were pretty expensive, and we left in near tears. So, in the next picture you'll notice that we drove over to McDonalds and got her a vanilla cone (at 69cents) and all was well with Camille's ice cream experience. Though she didn't eat that much of it, she had a really good time. And the ice cream tasted pretty good there too, but who am I to judge. I'm pregnant, and most all food seems good to me these days.--Stephanie

more pics from Indiana

more pics from Indiana

pics from Indiana trip

For some reason I couldn't add the pictures onto the Blog yesterday. Here's another try.
--Stephanie

Trip to Indiana

We just got back from a wonderful trip with Camille, myself, and my mom to Indiana to visit Camille's great grandparents. The weather there is so nice this time of year. Camille had a great time, getting to spend lots of time outside in the mild weather and being the center of attention. She discovered the joy of repeatedly unlocking a padlock with a key, but she needed help to lock it again. This game lasted at least an hour the first day of play. She loved riding on the train at the park, though we couldn't capture a riding picture in 2 rides due to camera malfunction and the Camille non-cooperation. Camille loved exploring the shed with a flashlight and sitting on the riding lawnmower. She even knew the name of a totem pole we saw outside a museum because she'd seen one on her cartoons. She is starting to pretend more, and loved playing "store" at the park.

To give everyone more space the 3 of us slept in a hotel. It's hard being in a hotel with a 2 year old. This was also the first time Camille has slept in a big bed. We had to go to bed early to get her to sleep. Mom and I were stiff from being in the bed so long, but we dared not get up because she really needed the sleep. Mom and I slept together in one queen bed and put Camille alone in the other with pillows surrounding her. That was the way to go for us. It's no treat to sleep with Camille. She was happy to get back to her crib tonight. I'm going to keep her in the crib probably until right before the new baby arrives. That'll give us time to decorate her new room, too.

I have a doctor's appointment next week and will then schedule and appointment for a sonogram. If all goes right, then we'll know the sex of the new baby. Camille is finally happy about the idea of a new baby and being a big sister, even if she does say that she has a baby in HER belly.--Stephanie

Boating fun

We had a nice time this weekend taking our neighbors out on our boat. They have 2 daughters, age 14 and 5. Camille and the youngest are equally enthralled with each other. At first Davina was afraid that Camille was going to fall out of the boat, and she felt the best way to secure Camille was to press her hand down on the top of Camille's head. Surprisingly Camille didn't say a word, and I just kindly reassured Davina that I would take care of Camille. The bigger girls loved going on the tube pulled behind the boat. Camille got on the tube a couple of times for a short duration right up next to the boat, but she would only get on with the kids. I guess Camille felt big. Camille giggled and laughed loudly most of the trip, making herself the center of attention. Camille wasn't brave enough to float in the water, but she did enjoy splashing everybody on the back swim deck. She also has no interest in the community pool. She said she just wants to swim in our little pool, and she does have a blast there.--Stephanie

Turtle sandbox

Camille now has a green turtle sandbox over at her Grandma and Grandpa's house, just like the one I had as a kid. Camille spent hours outside with the sandbox today scooping sand and water by the tablespoonful. She tried to be careful to let as little sand as possible touch her skin. She's a little texture sensitive!

Remember when viewing these pictures you can double click on the picture to see a bigger image. --Stephanie

Yellow Flowers

We spotted this field with yellow flowers next door to Camille's school. She loved getting to pick flowers for a boquet. Unfortunately, the flowers were not happy in water and wilted soon afterward. It ended up to be a cute photo anyway.--Stephanie

Camille with the Firewheel wildflowers

We didn't get a chance to take a picture with Camille in the bluebonnets this year. It was just not a good year for bluebonnets around here. I guess it was too dry. So we'll have to use these for the annual comparison instead. I'm putting in the previous 2 years pictures as well for interest.

Fun in the backyard pool

Camille had a blast after I inflated the pool for the first time this year. She splashed and had a great time while I sat in a lawn chair in the small bit of shade under our young oak tree. --Stephanie

Camille with Casey bear and Matt

Camille's Aunt Krissie is home from college at Case Western Reserve U. in Ohio. She brought Camille "Casey" bear, of course wearing an Alpha Phi ribbon. Camille loves Casey. --Stephanie

Weekend with the Smiths

We all had a nice time in Tyler and Carthage last weekend. It was combined into a big family get together, meet and greet for 2 cousins' new fiances, and celebration in a ceremony for Matt's grandfather having a building at Panola College being named after him. Camille especially had fun with all the cousins around her same age. At the Tyler family gathering Camille took a little while to warm up to all the kids, and then she went wild playing with everyone.

Camille loved her first driving experience. I've rarely seen such an excited and happy look on her face as when she drove the battery powered jeep. Fortunately Shannon had already tied the steering wheel so Camille could only drive in circles. That's a good thing because she doesn't have any concept of steering. She also didn't have much concept of looking ahead, and the kids ended up playing bumper cars a few times. This was an event requiring active adult supervision because none of the kids are old enough to look out for each other.

I think probably her favorite thing was playing in the puddles with all the kids after it rained a Texas-style gully-washer. All the kids got soaked and had the time of their lives!! They were dancing, stomping, and riding tricycles through the water. They had to go straight to the bath for cleaning off and warming up afterwards. --Stephanie

Here's the picture to go with the previous post. I don't know why I can't edit and add the picture this morning. I'll try this. --Stephanie

Seeing Jack Hadskey eating corn on the cob reminded me to offer it to Camille. Camille loved using the corn holders. I think that cob is almost as big as she is! --Stephanie