Halloween 2009

For the fourth year in a row, we spent Halloween over at my brother and sister-in-laws home. As many of you know, we are far and away the youngest family in our neighborhood; its a gorgeous place to live, but its not so great for trick-or-treating! Chris, Tina and Owen's neighborhood on the other hand is slam packed with young ones. Cameryn decided to be a Butterfly Princess (again). It was a bit too cold for Reid to go out, so he was designated as the door greeter with Mimi & Grampy :-) I did put his cousin's Yoda head piece on though - just for pictures! Enjoy...

Pictures

Just a sneak peek at some of the professional pics we had done of Cameryn & Reid this past weekend...they are so darned cute!

Reid is Walking!!!

Reid took his first two steps Friday night and it was no stopping him after that! He continued to toddle around all day Saturday and even surprised us by dribbling Cameryn's little pink soccer ball around. It's just amazing to us that he moved from crawling to full blown walking in two months...what a little overachiever :-)

Reid's Creative Side

Reid had a BLAST last week 'painting' at daycare! He and two other babies were present on this particular day and apparently he was the only one who jumped right on in. From these pics you can just imagine what he looks like after eating spaghetti for dinner :-)

I'm Back!

After a 4 week hiatus, I'm baaack! I know, you can hardly contain yourselves ;-) So, to catch you all up quickly, here is what has transpired with the Nardello's over the last month.

• Reid turned ONE July 10th!!! It was emotional in so many ways, but we are so proud that our baby boy is so healthy and happy! He weighs 18 1/2 pounds and has finally made it onto the full term baby growth chart for weight (5%) and head size (50%!). Still quite a bit shorter than the average 12 mo. old...I know, SHOCKING! He's also walking as long as he is holding onto something. We are making the transition from bottle to sippy cup and are also beginning to introduce whole milk! Such a big boy :-)
• We went to NY for a wedding and spent a nice long week with family. I certainly have learned however that vaca with two little ones is NOT very relaxing! A side note about this...on the way home we decided to fly standby...not the best idea. We called ahead and were assured that there were 15+ seats available on the noon flight, so we headed down two hours early and checked Reid's car seat (bad idea). Needless to say we did not get out on the noon flight and the next flight out was delayed until almost 4pm. Trying to entertain a 1 year old and a 3 year old for 5+ hours is not my idea of fun. Anyway, they had 2 seats available on the 4pm flight, so I decided I could channel my inner wonder woman and fly BY MYSELF with both kids. Really they were both very good on the plane (except Cameryn fell asleep and peed all over her seat cushion...nice.) and Jimmy made it to Atlanta on the next flight shortly after us. WHEW!
• This coming Saturday Jimmy and I are attending my 10 year high school reunion - I'm very excited to see some old friends!

A Precious Gift

For the better part of this difficult and emotional year I have felt a particular pain when I think about how the boys never spent time together in the 'outside world.' After my emergency c-section they were whisked away and put in separate incubators, Reid on C-PAP and Jameson on a ventilator. I can't tell you how many times I've wished that I could have just had ONE picture of the boys side by side. Unfortunately that has been an impossibility...until now.

My dear friend Aja has given me a such a precious gift. She is an incredibly talented artist and offered to draw a portrait of the boys together. I sent her what few pictures of Jameson I had along with a few pictures of Reid. This portrait came in the mail today. I am literally crying as I write this blog...tears of joy to finally have a picture of the boys together...tears of sadness for what I wish could have been and ultimately tears of gratitude for this amazing friend of mine. She has been such a huge part of my support system over the last year and words can never express my gratitude to her.

Aja, thank you so much - this picture will forever have a special place in our home and in our hearts.

One Year Ago Today

I've learned that as strong and positive as I try to be, some days I'm still just going to feel broken... For the past month or so, I've felt a dark cloud approaching. I know that I should be elated that Reid has done SO well, and I truly am thankful for that, but I'm just not looking forward to his first birthday. I'm scared because I don't think I'll be 100% happy like I should be. It's back to the roller coaster of emotions for me...facing the one year 'anniversary' of the life of Reid and death of Jameson terrifies me. I can't tell you how many nights I've laid in bed thinking about my three children. I can't help but play the 'what if' game and I wonder if it will always be so. Bottom line is that I love my children with all of my heart. Reid and Cameryn feel that love each and every day. I think in a different way, Jameson feels that love too. *************************************** One year ago today, I was five months pregnant. One year ago today, I was given news that terrified me. One year ago today, my world started crumbling. One year ago today, I began a 22 day bed rest regimen. One year ago today, I looked into the eye's of loved ones and saw fear. One year ago today, I cried for hours - I've only cried harder once. One year ago today, my priorities shifted and the small inconsequential things stopped mattering. One year ago today, I still had a ray of hope for the possibility of Jameson's life. One year ago today, I began a LONG journey that has made me a stronger person inside and out. I sure have come a long way from where I was....one year ago today.

The Next Soccer Star!

We signed Cameryn up for an instructional soccer camp a few weeks ago. Yesterday was the first session and Cameryn was SO excited! She did ask if she could wear a dress...we compromised and she wore a pink shirt with pink socks (pulled up, of course!) and brought her own shiny pink size 3 ball. The video below is Cameryn and Jimmy "warming up" before the session started. She's got a little bit of work to do, but hey, it was her first try :-)

And another video of her dribbling with 'little touches'...well more like pushing the ball :-)

She really had a lot of fun. We've got some major work ahead of us in teaching her things like locking her ankle when she kicks the ball and NOT using her hands all the time! Well, unless she wants to be a goalie :-) She has had no training at all and suprisingly was very good at dribbling and it's apparant that she will be very fast too.

Here are a couple of still shots from the afternoon...

And then we finished off the afternoon with a nice swim in Owen's neighborhood pool...can't wait to do it all again next Sunday!

Rub a dub dub...

...two munchkins in a tub! My friend CB blogged about the success she had giving her two little girls a combo bath and I thought I'd give it a shot too -what a blast they had together! Reid tried his best to crawl out of his baby tub and laughed at Cameryn's silly antics the whole time. Cameryn just loved having her 'Baby Reid' in the bath with her too :-) Here are a few pics. Oh, side note...those are not bruises on Cameryn's eyes and face. She got into my makeup back and decided to doll herself up.

Pics from Cameryn's 3rd Birthday (Link to Snapfish)

Amanda really took some wonderful pics at Cameryn's 3rd birthday bash...thanks my friend - you're the best! So glad we finally were able to meet Miss Addison :-) http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=58231244052237958/l=1787404009/g=37380514/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=943800009/a=37380514_43493495/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=62%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Happy Birthday, my Princess!

Seems impossible...I can't believe Cameryn is 3 years old today! I swear it feels like these years have flown by. From the moment I found out I was pregnant with Cameryn, other 'veteran' parents have been telling me to enjoy my babies while they are small, because they grow up so fast. I'm realizing just how true this is...on one hand it makes me sad to realize I'll never get this time with her back. On the other hand, it is so exciting to see her grow into this amazing little person. She really is something else - I couldn't have asked for a more loving and beautiful daughter! Here are just a few pics of Cameryn through the years....

Like Father, Like Son

Just a quick pic to show (once again) the uncanny resemblance between my husband and son....so cute!

Reid is on the Move!!!

Watch out world, Reid is on the move! He crawled for the first time on Saturday during Cameryn's third birthday party. It was very exciting... In reaching this major milestone, we have also come to a bit of a dilema...what to do with the little rascal at work! This has been an utterly unproductive day so far. I put Reid down on the floor so that I can do a little work and next thing I know he's zipped halfway across the room and is heading straight for all the computer cords! AHHHHH! Dr. Kahn (Reid's ped.) has cleared him for daycare...I hate thinking of putting him in for many reasons. There is the selfish reason (I want him with ME!), the financial reason (ummm, we might as well be making another house payment!) and of course the health reason (germs, germs, germs). Dr. Kahn and I agree that his safety outweighs all of those reasons though! I mean, babies and computer cords DO NOT make for a good combo. Decisions, decisions...

FLO-RIDA!

Ahhh, we just recently returned from a much needed vaca in Florida! We were so fortunate to get to spend almost a week in Boca Raton visiting Jimmy's parents, his sister Janine, our nephew Ty, old friends and extended family. We flew down and yes, we were 'that' family on the plane for a short while. But hey, an hour and a half on an airplane beats 11 hours in a car anyday in my book (note, my husband would STRONGLY disagree with me on that one). Here were some of the highlights from the trip:

• We had a nice visit with Reid's long distance cheering section (i.e. the ladies that Carol works with)...it was so wonderful to finally show off my babies :-)

• We also had a wonderful time at Jimmy's cousin's wedding...congrats again to Heather and Manny!

• Spending time with Kevin, Jenn & KJ was very fun...KJ is Kevin and Jenn's baby boy. He is about 7 months old (3 mo. younger that Reid) and outweighs Reid by about 5 pounds! He is a BIG boy...what a cutie!

Now we are gearing up to do it all again...six weeks before Michelle and Steve get married in NY! I apologize ahead of time to the passengers who will be on our flight up north :-) On one last note, today (5/29) is mine and Jimmy's 5 year anniversary! Happy anniversary honey! I looked it up and apparantly, the fifth anniversary is gifted with wood???? I'll hold out for the diamonds!

Updates

I just realized that I haven't done an update on the kids growth/accomplishments in quite a while! Here are a few little things to catch you up... REID:

• Reid was 10 months old this past Sunday (5/10).
• He weighs about 17 pounds, 6 oz -- I know how many ounces b/c we had to have a baby scale at our house, obviously for when he first came home. I still weigh him every other day!
• He (FINALLY!) has fat rolls on his chubby little thighs :-)
• He has two teeth, both on the bottom.
• His hair is starting to curl and is really getting quite long.
• He is somewhat mobile...still hasn't quite figured out the crawling mode of transportation, but he can roll, scoot and rock with the best of 'em!
• He sits very well on his own now...no more tripod!
• He says mamamamama and dadadadada pretty regularly, although I still don't think he really associates the sounds to me and Jimmy.
• He LOVES LOVES LOVES his big sister - no one can make him belly laugh harder!
• He is starting to wave to people.
• He's still eating stage 2 baby food - his favs are squash, sweet potatoes and bananas. Least favs are green beans, peas, and surprisingly applesauce and peaches.
• He sleeps pretty consistently from about 8pm - 7am...I know, I am SOOO lucky!

CAMERYN:

• Cameryn will be 3 years old on June 1st! My how the time flies!!! Hard to imagine that she will be starting Pre-K in the fall of 2010!
• She weighs roughly 30 pounds.
• She is SOOOOO smart - and no, I'm not just saying that b/c I'm her mother! I am constantly running into people who are truly amazed that she is only 3.
• Her favorite color is pink.
• She would choose to wear a dress every single day if I let her.
• She doesn't like being dirty.
• She has a bit of an obsession with shoes (as blogged about before) and insists that they, along with her panties and hairbows match her outfit.
• Her favorite 'toy' of the moment is Barbie. She does still watch Dora every evening though.
• She spontaneously likes to give me and Jimmy hugs and kisses and tell us she loves us, which we used to have to prompt her for. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this!
• She has been completely potty trained since Christmas of last year.
• She absolutely LOVES her 'baby Reid' and has never once shown any signs of jealousy. I think we feel pretty certain that she will never try to give him away to the exterminator (Janine) :-)
• She goes to bed around 8:30 and gets up around 7:00 -- again, I know I'm lucky!

All Tuckered Out

After a super fun filled weekend, which included our nephew Owen's 3rd birthday and of course, Mother's Day celebrations, we were all in need of a nap! Reid was so tired he opted to catch some zzzz's in his jumperoo. Check out the cool long johns my mom bought for him :-)

Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma

Reid is officially babbling non-stop - or as I like to think, he's conversing with me in 'baby talk'...I just can't understand him! At the very beginning of the first clip you can hear him say 'ma ma ma ma ma'. The logical part of me understands that he is just putting sounds together, but the emotional part of me says he's saying mama! Cameryn's first 'sounds' were da da da da, so I couldn't be happier that I got ma ma first this time. After all, Reid is a bit of a mama's boy ;-)

The second clip is just cute...nothing really to show other than his 'tummy time.' You hear me ask him if he can crawl to me - he is not crawling yet, but he's getting close!

Pool Time!

Cameryn has been very excited about the weather getting warmer for one sole reason...she wants so badly to go to the swimming pool! We were invited to a friends house who has a HUGE blow up pool with an awesome slide. We got her into her new bathing suit (which, by the way, she pronounces 'baby soup' -- too cute, I know) and headed on over to the pool. She had a blast and even went down the big slide all by herself! The first time down the slide scared her and I think she got water in her eyes and nose. We convinced her to try again by assuring her that I would catch her before she hit the water. Check out the video clip below...gotta love the face! And yes, I did go down the slide too - sorry no video :-)

Earth Day

As you may or may not know, today is Earth Day. Honestly, I only know this because Cameryn's daycare is celebrating. I knew they would be doing all sorts of projects today, so I thought I'd try to explain Earth Day to her this morning. Turns out it's a REALLY hard concept to explain to a two year old. I finally settled on telling her that Earth Day is a special day where we talk about how much we love everything outside...like the sky and the trees. She looked at me like I had three heads, so I didn't have much faith that my "teaching moment" had taken root. Boy was I wrong! As soon as we got to daycare, Cameryn ran up to Ms. Sue Anne and exclaimed (in a VERY loud voice) "I LOVE GRASS!" I have to admit, I did snicker like a teenager again :-) Happy Earth Day.

I've Created a Fashionable Monster!

I will absolutely take full responsibility for the fact that my 2 year old has a SERIOUS shoe fetish! Not only does she love, love, love shoes, she also has a bit of a complex about making sure her shoes match her outfits. I'm actually embarrassed to admit this, but the girl currently owns 19 pair - and they all fit. In my defense, most of them were purchased on e-bay or at consignment, but still... Jimmy has put his foot down and said NO MORE SHOES! He also says I will have to deal with the problems this shoe fascination will cause in the future. She has also started insisting that her hair bows and panties match her outfits...I'm in SO much trouble! Here is a scanned copy of her daily report that came home from daycare yesterday...as you can see she would rather be uncomfortable than DARE wear shoes that don't match her dress (read what her teacher wrote in the right hand section)... In case you can't read it, it says "Cameryn said her toes hurt her in her flip flops, but changed her mind when she was offered shoes that did not match." :-)