Camden's first year: A video!

As I get closer and closer to meeting baby number three, I get more and more sentimental about my two boys and how fast they're growing up. I can't believe how insanely fast time flies with kids!! I really can't handle it. Time needs to just freeze for a second. 

The other day, Jord and I were looking over some videos of Cam as a baby, and we realized we had never put his "first year video" together (... and yeah, he's almost two. Whoops!). So Jord worked his magic, and made this adorable video of Camden's first year. Better late than never, right?

You should know that I cry every time I watch this. I blame the pregnancy hormones!!

But seriously, it's the cutest. Take a look.

(and when you're done, you can see Boston's first year video, here!)

Camden's first birthday!

It's amazing how fast one year can come and go. I feel like I was just waking up Jordan to say "BABE. This is it. Take me to the hospital!!"... and little Camden Race was born. 

And then suddenly? Suddenly my baby is grinning and crawling and eating cheerios off the ground (older brothers have the besssst table scraps!). I mean really though. SLOW DOWN, TIME! You are killing me with this 'growing up' business. Hashtag babies4life!

But seriously. How does a baby go from this...

...to this??
In just a year!!?

 It's just amazing. I mean, with the first kid, I feel like things are fairly normal. You mark down every mile stone, remember every step taken, know every detail about their habits....etc. But when the second baby comes along?? Fugettaboutit.

The doctor starts asking me things at his one-year appointment like "So, when did he start eating solid foods?"

and I'm like, "Uhhhh, four months? Oh shoot, maybe that was Boston."

So they're like, "Okay, what about sleeping? When did he start sleeping through the night?"

and I say, "Uhhhh, a couple of months ago? Or, maybe it was a couple of weeks ago?"

So then they start saying things like, "Okaaaayyy, maybe writing it down would be a good idea?"

Because hi. Mom brain. It's a thing, people!! You can't expect me to remember these details when I have more than one baby to keep track of! Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.

But anyways (wow. That was a tangent!) .We decided to celebrate our little chubster with a few friends, and some cake and ice cream. Because any chance to pound the sugar, you know? Birthdays are the besssst.

(And lookout below for iPhone photos! A bunch of blurry ones, comin' 'atcha quick!)

I made Camden a giant blue cake, because the messier, the better. At first he didn't quite know what to do with it... and by "at first", I mean the first three seconds. Then he dove in with full force and never looked back.

Nakie baby cake party!!

^^FAVORITE EVER.^^

^^Proof that Boston was there, too.^^

Camden, I am so happy you came into our family. You are the happiest, most content little boy, and not to mention you have the freaking cutest dimples on the earth. I love your fuzzy head, your little gap-toothed smile, and your big brown eyes. I love that you have tan lines in your chubby arm rolls, and I love that you follow Boston wherever he goes. You are mellow, and so so cuddly. You are the sweetest baby ever. 

You are such a light!

^^We love this kid. Smurf face and all.^^

Happy birthday, little man. 

I love you!

A note for Cam.

Dear Camden,

Today you are six months and seven days old. I swear you get happier every day, which I didn't think was possible, since you were basically born grinning. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that you weren't just always in our family. That at one point, you were just a little bean in my tummy, and not here. Because now, look at you. Your dimpled face, your chubby fingers, your big sparkly eyes... I just melt.

You have the brightest, happiest spirit that I have ever met. Little boy, you are a perfect fit for our family.

I'm sorry that sometimes (most of the time) your big brother gets all of the attention...because well, he's Boston. And he is kind of a crazy monkey ("I not monkey, momma. I big boy!"). I hope you don't feel too left out. But you know what? I'm pretty sure that in about six months, you will be running around and shenaniganizing (what now?) with him, so I don't feel too bad.

But anyways, the point is this: thank you, Camden boy. Thank you for coming to our family and bringing us light and smiles every single day. Thank you for teaching your brother how to, well, be a brother. And for putting up with him trying to stuff food items in your mouth. And for letting him give you his ever-smothering loves and hugs.

Thank you for being patient with us as we try to be parents. With me, as I learn how to be your mom. As I try and figure this whole 'two-kid-business.' Thank you for being a bundle of rolly polly squishy happiness that I can smoosh and kiss daily.

I love you Cam Bam!
I can't imagine life without you in it.

Mom

A little post about nursing.

Hey Friends!

Let’s talk about nursing, shall we?

I'm gonna put this out there:  I’m not a fanatic about breastfeeding or anything, but I am proud. Proud that I have nursed my two babies into chubby, squishy balls of perfection. Nursed them until they had full tummies and happy closed eyelids, night after night. Nursed them out of tears, and into soft baby snuggles. Nursed them, rocked them, held them, and loved every second of it.

But not everyone feels this way about nursing moms.

 

Here’s the thing. There is a sort of embarrassment that comes for some women with nursing, which I get, but hate. Why should we be embarrassed by such a natural, beautiful thing? We shouldn’t have to feel ashamed of feeding our babies, society. You’re kind of the worst. 

So let me throw you some scenarios.

There’s the whole ‘awkward mid-restaurant nursing episode’, with wide-eyed patrons and waitresses digging holes into your skin with their eyeballs, saying [but not saying],

 “Um, you’re doing that here? Now? In PUBLIC?”

Why yes, yes I am. My baby is hungry, so I’m going to feed him. You’re eating, aren’t you? He wants to, too. And no thank you, I wouldn’t rather sit in a bathroom stall and try to balance uncomfortably on a nasty toilet while holding the most precious bundle in the world. Thanks, though. For the offer I mean.

Then you have the whole ‘nursing in the car in between stores while shopping’ episode, feeding your tiny babe in the front seat. People walk by and try to act cool, but they snicker to their friends and lift a shoulder in your direction…as if to say “Geez lady, that’s disgusting. Doing that for the world to see.”

Guess what, friends? It isn’t. It isn’t gross or weird or inappropriate in the least. In fact, it is a beautiful miracle for both mother and baby to experience. Over and over again. It’s wonderful. If you could see those sweet baby eyes looking up at you, feel those chubby hands clinging to your shirt, smell that powdery and sticky baby newness, you would know. You would know what a precious thing it is.

Nursing isn't always the easiest thing. And I know there are situations when a mother cannot nurse her baby, and I have no judgment for that. Each mother knows what is best for their baby, and in my case, that has always meant nursing them, even when the situation isn't ideal. I have nursed in dressing rooms, various parking lots, restaurants, vacant church classrooms, at family functions, ward parties, standing up- sitting down, you name it. When a baby's gotta eat, a baby's gotta eat! 

Like I said, I’m no fanatic about this issue. But also, I am not ashamed. Not ashamed to share beautiful moments with my sweet babies, and not ashamed to talk about it. Nursing helps me feel empowered as a woman, and mother. It helps me feel of my Heavenly Father's love and divine roll for me. It is a blessing, and I wouldn’t trade it for a thing. 

More awesome thoughts from other ladies about nursing here and here. 

Oh, and and an sa-weeeet slam poetry sesh on breastfeeding here. (Watch this, now. It is perfection.)

The blessing day of Camden Race.

I love when new babies are blessed. It is such a special day! Maybe I am just an overly-emotional mother or something, but oh geez, the second that the blessing starts...I lose it. I cry the whole time. Babies are the most precious things!!! Wow. And I get to keep two of them! I can't believe it. 

Anyways. Camden's blessing day! We had family travel near and far to come, and friends too! The blessing was beautiful, and then we headed over to a park for some food with everyone afterwards. It was such a perfect day! (Except when Boston grabbed out several cans of soda...shook them violently...and handed them to unsuspecting victims. So yeah.)

Onto the barrage of never-ending photos, with minimal wordage. (I am in the middle of moving and I am tired and lazy and I don't want to explain pictures and stuff like that or punctuate at all so don't be mad or anything okay? okay. youda best.)

 [ P.S. Sydney and Sydney's camera, thank you times three million for these!!]

Whitney. GURL. You take some pretty epic photos. Where do you acquire such talents??

srlsly tho.

4 rls.

uda bst.

(too much?)

 Also, the Packers, the Wrights, and the Jacobs have thee cutest little girls ever. Boston was one lucky little dude to be surrounded by them all day long. Dear Brittlee, Abbi, and Kloee: Polygamy? Sister wives? Something like that?

...kidding, kidding. Sit down everyone.

Dear Tanner. You are such a creepstache. But I will still miss you and your five chin hairs.
Love, Kelsey.

But seriously. These girls and Boston.

!!!

...and you thought I was done with the polygamy bit.

Hey Ashley. Do you not have the cutest child?? I mean look at her. Ca-uuute. All five pounds of her!

Group pictures! Lets talk about how group pictures are draining. Getting children to sit still? stand in one place? look at the camera? And smiling?? (Just the thought! I am shuddering.) Sometimes group pictures make me want to take a nap. Cam feels the same way. Just look at his poor little screaming mug.

Also, I acquired a new child in these photos! And she is pretty stinking cute, so I'll take her! (You won't mind, will you Kim?)

 

The whole group!!
What a good looking bunch.
Hey Syd, do you see? I photoshopped you right there in the front.
(jk girl. Thanks for taking the pic!)

"Hey husband! Lets take a selfie! With the zoom clear in!"

And now for one thousand photos of Camden Race McMurtrey the third (minus the third) on his blessing day. Because on a day that is all about you, you deserve at least that many photos. So I won't even feel one bit bad about posting them.

And hello. If these pictures are not the cutest things in the world, then what? What is cuter??

Camden, you are the love of my heart. (Is that even a thing?)
I just kind of want to eat your face because it is the cutest thing I have ever beheld.
You are so perfect!
Well, you are.
How am I so lucky to have you and your brother AND your dad??
I must be doing something right.