Resolutions

Normally, I'm not one for making a lot of resolutions, if any. I have goals in life and things I want to accomplish but don't usually feel the desire at the New Year to create new ones at that time.

However, this year I have a few things I'd like to work on.

I have been such a slacker at blogging of late. I would really like to attempt to blog much more frequently as it's such a great way to record the little things that I will soon forget if I don't write them down. One way I'm going to try to accomplish this is to publish a post on MY blog before I sit down to read other people's blog's throughout the day. I also have really been enjoying finding ways to become a bit thriftier and more creative of late and would love to blog about some of my ideas or things I have discovered through reading other blogs. I'm debating whether these ideas should just be added to my existing family blog or whether I should create a new blog specifically with thrifty, creative ideas in mind. Hmm...I'm leaning more towards keeping it on my family blog but we shall see. I hope you'll join me in reading little snippets from our family's life in the next year. I love hearing from my readers...if I still have any...so don't be shy! Leave a comment if you have something to say.

On one of the blogs I read, the writer decided to do a simple, new-to-her project each month to teach herself something new and expand her horizons. I would love to do that as well but haven't yet made a list with the things I should try although I have started one. If anyone has any ideas of something they think I should try, please do let me know. I would like to attempt curtains for one room of the house we move to, make peppermint playdough for Taeya and 10 other ideas (at least). Please share if you have something up your sleeve that is easy to do, preferably thrifty and practical.

We just wrapped up a lovely visit with my husband's family. They came out a couple days after Christmas and left this morning to return to CA. We had a great time playing games, playing in the snow and baby snuggling.

 Brecken and his sweet little grinning face.

 Looking intently at Mama.

 He's a BIG boy. This was before he was even 2 months old.

 Grandma is ecstatic at holding Brecken for the first time.

 All bundled up and ready for the snow. It was about 6 degrees outside.

 Our little family ready to go sledding (all except Brecken went sledding).

 Taeya going down on her own. She didn't last long because of how cold it was.

 Taeya's first time trying out her snowboard!! Yipee!

 That's a smile on her face! She did great.

Taeya was eating her toast the other day and held it up and said, "Look, a heart beep." (her term for a heart). I, of course, had to take a picture of her heart-beep toast. 

My little man turned 2 months yesterday. He is definitely a GROWING boy. My mother-in-law guessed he's about 14 lbs now. We'll find out tomorrow at his 2 month check-up. Brecken is beginning to make eye-contact and smile and "talk" very intentionally now. I absolutely love his little grins and they definitely make my face light up as well.

Happy Birthday Taeya!

Today is my daughter's 3rd birthday! What a special girl she is. I remember the day she was born so well. We have had such a wonderful three years with her and pray that we can celebrate many, many more together.

This morning, Taeya snuggled into bed with us and whispered, "Merry Christmas." I then said, "No, it's your birthday!" We sang to her in bed and she loved it. At church, the whole church sang to her as well and she just had this shy little smile on her face but I think she was thrilled at the same time.

All morning, I was asking her how old she is. Her reply most times was, "I'll be three after Christmas." I would then remind her that Christmas was yesterday and it WAS after Christmas. We had a great time celebrating as a little family today. Phil's parents are coming in two days and we'll celebrate again with them and then have a few friends over sometime in January for a little friend birthday. Because her birthday is so close to Christmas, we have only celebrated with family the past two birthdays.

If you'd like to see pictures of Taeya's birth, they can be viewed here: http://coloradocampersphotos.shutterfly.com/taeyasbirth

Family Update

Well, after 10 months of unemployment, God has provided a job for my husband. We'll be moving to another town about 5 hours away from where we currently live, still in Colorado. It is definitely bitter-sweet as we have many friends in the area we currently live. However, at the same time, we are THRILLED to have employment in the near future once again.

We are now busy trying to figure out what to do with our house. We are planning on renting it at this point and have already sold Phil's car that we'll no longer need as he'll have a company car. We'll be moving mid-February so at this point, we're not really thinking about the move and all the packing. Once the holidays are over and family leaves, we'll get into high gear and start packing and weeding out things we don't want to move.

Here's our family Christmas card and Brecken's birth announcement.

Life has been GREAT as a family of four. Brecken is a wonderful addition and very loved by his sister (and his parents of course). Taeya loves helping with changing Brecken's diapers, putting his pacifier back in when he's crying and giving him lots of hugs and kisses. She even willingly shares her toys with him. What a blessing our children are!

Brecken update: he was weighed this week and was a chunky 12 lbs already!!! He's in the 96% for height/weight and is 7 weeks old today. He's one big guy and is already wearing 3-6 month clothes and has outgrown anything smaller. He has some reflux issues and tends to spit-up after almost every feeding but as you can see, it hasn't negatively affected his weight!

Favorites

Here are a few of my favorites from the hospital. We had such a good delivery experience.

He's HERE!!!

Brecken Zachary Camp

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Brecken Zachary Camp was born by scheduled c-section (although I went into labor the night before. They slowed contractions enough to wait until our scheduled c-section time). He arrived at 10:20 AM, Nov. 3, 2010. He weighed 7 lbs 13.8 oz and was 19 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great. Everything has gone so smoothly from the c-section to recovery and nursing. Taeya appears to love her baby brother and keeps asking if we can bring him home.


We think that Brecken and Taeya look SO much alike as newborns except that Brecken has a head-full of his daddy's dark hair. He looks a lot like his daddy did as a newborn.

Here are two pictures of Phillip as a newborn. What do you think? Does Brecken look a lot like his daddy?

Maternity Pictures

I was very blessed today to have a friend take some maternity pictures for me. I've been pretty lax about recording this pregnancy with pictures this time around. When I was pregnant with Taeya, I took pictures of myself on a regular basis but never had a fun maternity photo shoot and I really wanted to make sure I documented this pregnancy before baby boy comes. We had fun taking pictures in my little town. We went across the river for a few pictures and then to a local rail-road car that sits in town. Beth did a great job and best of all, was free!! I'm going to take some family pictures for her this weekend (as long as this baby doesn't decide to come early!). Here are a few of my favorites. I think I actually have 50 favorites from today! I uploaded all of my favorites to Facebook so you can view more there if you're friends with me on Facebook .

Counting it Down

I only have 14 days until I get to meet my little baby boy! Less than that because I'll be having my c-section early in the morning. I am ready for this little one to arrive but surprisingly, I can't believe how far I am in my pregnancy. I feel SO GOOD these days. I am getting naps during the day which has really helped but overall, I feel really good and not at all like I'm near the very end. Life as we know it, will soon be very different....and I'm excited about it!

My ticker is accurate as far as how far along I am in my pregnancy but it's 5 days ahead of the delivery date since I'm having a c-section...so just subtract 5 each time and you'll get baby's due date.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

On October 10, we decided to head to the local pumpkin patch as a family and let Taeya pick out a pumpkin. We usually go with a group of friends when we do our Annual Harvest Party. This would have been our 3^rd year but unfortunately, we’re not throwing a Harvest Party seeing as I’m 8 ½ months pregnant. This was the first year we went where it wasn’t really cold yet and we had a fun time walking around the patch looking for the perfect pumpkin and taking pictures. You can see our family photo from last year in the blog header. What a fun outing it is to go to the pumpkin patch. Although the pumpkins cost a little more than the grocery store pumpkins, it’s a great way to support local farmers and it sure is more fun than picking out a pumpkin at the store. This is a tradition I hope we will continue to do for many more years to come.