Florida #2

Finally, a beautiful day in Florida!!!!! Bright sunshine, and about 70 degrees. It was windy, so that made it feel much cooler than it really was, but we still have the worn-out, been-in-the-sun-all-day feeling right now. In fact, it's only about 8:20 and we're ready to head to bed! We pretty much spent all day on the beach. Camden took one long three hour nap (the second half of it was with me after I came inside after being hit HARD by a football while I lay serenely in the sand soaking up my personal time - not cool) and we enjoyed a mid-afternoon lunch at a restaurant called The Beach House and spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. Camden started saying (with his mouth, not just the signs) "more," "book" and "poo poo" today! Pretty fun to see him adding to his vocabulary! Enjoy these photos!

The water is freezing!!! I didn't know Florida water got this cold! brrr!

Our little path to the beach...

Scott went for a nice long run on the beach...

Our family...

Swimming in the pool (which we did twice today!)

He is one cool dude!

Camden got his own water and wouldn't let us help him drink it!

We also ordered him a little kids meal for the first time ever today (usually we just share our meals with him) and it came with an ice cream! He was very excited, but wasn't very good at sharing it with me!

We found a little playground after lunch...

Back to the beach...

Camden had fun chasing the birds on the beach...

I was very content in the sun...

Eating dinner on the couch...

Our little patio with the path to the beach...

Yes...Camden had ice cream twice today. Scott and I didn't get much the first time around, so we went out before Camden's bedtime and got some for ourselves (we just shared a little with Camden)...

After trying one ice cream place yesterday that is hailed as the "best desserts in the greater Tampa area" we were pretty disappointed with our experience and thought we'd try this other place we had passed. We like Tyler's better!

It's been a wonderful day, but we're tired and are off to bed! We're hoping that with the time change Camden will start sleeping until 5:30 instead of 4:30...we're not keeping our fingers crossed though. Goodnight!

Florida #1

After a long day of travel on Thursday we made it safely to our destination on Anna Maria Island. We haven't flown with Camden since his first Christmas when we flew out to Ohio, at which point he was about 4 months old. Let's just say that flying with an infant is MUCH easier than flying with a toddler who doesn't like to be held in one place for long and has very concrete "needs" which must be met in a very specific and immediate manner. The first hour of the flight he was somewhat of a terror. Granted, we had been up since 5:00 in the morning and he was overtired and overstimulated, but he was certainly letting everyone on the airplane know just how he felt. He was sooo tired, but couldn't fall asleep with all the noises and people around him. We tried pacing in the back of the plane, watching Sesame Street on the computer, snuggling...nothing was working. We finally put in a Curious George movie that I had rented from the library and put headphones on his head and got him nice and cozy on my lap while Scott held the computer and within 5 minutes he was fast asleep. He slept for about an hour until we hit some major turbulence, but was much happier and more manageable for the remainder of the flight. We didn't have a real meal until about 3:00 in the afternoon and by that point we were all ready to cry and scream. Needless to say, we were happy to get settled in our little Bungalow and get some rest. Unfortunately, it's pretty much been raining and thundering non-stop since we got here, but in the few moments of decent weather we've been taking full advantage of the ocean which is about 20 yards from our door. Here are some pictures to show you what we've been up to...
Scott and Camden on the tram at the airport...happy to be off the plane!!

Checking out the ocean for the first time...

Pure joy...

Finally getting some food at Applebee's after a LONG day...

Playing in the pool with Daddy even though it was sprinkling and cold! Luckily the pool is heated...

checking out a biiiig dead jellyfish on the beach Friday morning...

After his morning nap we went to the Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium. It was awesome. This is a research Laboratory and also has a hospital for injured sea turtles and manitees. We were very impressed with the whole place!

Playing with Daddy in a touch pool! Daddy was very brave and picked up a big hermit crab!

Crazy fish!

I know this is blurry...but Camden was fascinated with the sharks swimming by him! He kept laughing and squealing with delight...

Petting some stingrays!

Silly faces at snack time...

Dolphins!

After an early dinner at a pizza restaurant the skies finally cleared and we spent an hour and a half running around the beach and swimming in the pool (until it started raining again! UGH!)

My favorite...

Collecting some shells for Ami and Bepa's house...

Camden LOVES playing in the pool with Dada...

Practicing putting his face underwater!

Reading some books with Mama after a long day...

We've had a great time so far despite the weather. Camden slept through the night until 4:45ish the first night, but had some trouble last night. We woke up to bright sun this morning (well, that's a lie. We woke up to pitch darkness...but once it got late enough the sun came out)! Scott just brought Camden out to the beach while I finished this blog up and I can't wait to go join them and see what this place looks like in the sunshine! Another update to come soon!

Exciting News!!!

So the word is officially out...We are so thrilled to announce that we are expecting another baby in September!! Camden is going to be a big brother! We found out we were pregnant in mid-January, but wanted to be extra cautious and enjoy the privacy of that special time together, especially following the miscarriage we experienced in September. People have asked me if I've been nervous every day of this pregnancy after what I went through this fall, and I have to say that once we passed the point we had been when we lost our last baby I have felt pretty confident.
During the short weeks that we knew of our pregnancy with our second baby I had been super hesitant and nervous. I was constantly checking for spotting and was almost not surprised when it happened. This time around, I've felt differently...nervous, yes, but not living in fear. I am now 12 weeks along and we just heard our baby's heartbeat yesterday for the first time. It was beating fast and strong at 160 beats per minute and our midwife assured us that everything looks great! I'm already beginning to show! MUCH earlier than I did with Camden, but I know that is normal. Don't worry...I'll be posting belly pictures along the way! :)

We are already talking to Camden about his little brother or sister and he gives my belly kisses every day. He is fascinated by a book we have that has photographs of what the fetus looks like at each stage of pregnancy and he loves to look at the picture of the 12 week baby and point to Mama's belly!

Thank you for your prayers as we continue through this pregnancy. We couldn't be more thrilled and feel so blessed to be able to give this child a loving home.

Outdoor Adventures!

It is hard to believe a week has already passed since I last posted!  Time is flying by these days!  We are officially on Spring Break for the next 2.5+ weeks and are already loving being home together with nothing to do but hang out with our little one.  It's been a fun and full week since I last blogged and here are some highlights of what we've been up to...

Building a snowman with Daddy...

A walk around campus...

Our dorm is heated by wood and Scott has the joy of loading the furnace multiple times a day to make sure we stay toasty warm. Camden LOVES helping him out...

He's a good helper...

My handsome hubby...

"Camden, say cheese!!!" so here he is smiling and doing his sign language for "cheese"(the kind he eats!) So cute!

Teamwork...

On Saturday our friends Joey, Anna and Brad came up to watch Scott's basketball game and hang out with us for the evening. It's always so fun to see good friends and makes us miss living closer to so many of our best college friends. Although Joey put forth his best effort, Camden was scared of him, but loved his girlfriend, Anna. Here are Camden and Anna reading a good book together...

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day! The sun was shining, the sky was bright blue, the temperature almost reached 50 degrees and the kids all cleared out of campus! Yahoo!! Scott was busy giving a test in the morning and sitting in faculty meeting all afternoon, but that didn't stop Camden and me from having lots of adventures outside. I went for a long walk pushing him in the stroller and then when we got home we played outside for another 45 minutes. Here are some fun pictures from the day

 

  

 

Are those buds I see on the tree?

Having fun with Mommy...

Camden is obsessed with airplanes right now, which is kind of fun since we'll be boarding one a week from tomorrow! WOOHOO!!!

Camden has gone pee-pee on the potty twice now! Pretty exciting! He's really cute and tells us when he wants to give it a try. Here he is practicing tonight...

Yahoo! We are on...