It's almost party time!

I could be upset that they're more than a week & a half late, but I was too busy awing over my baby turning one.

That aw quickly turned to tears. I was dancing with Cameron while watching Yo Gabba, Gabba! The kids were making funny faces, so we were dancing along to the music. Then I realized he's not going to need my help standing up for long. Paul saw I was getting teary eyed & hugged me. I said, "I'm not crying. I'm not, I'm NOT!" Quickly the tears turned to laughter, but it's still so bittersweet.

Not that I wasn't expecting tears but I don't really understand why I'm crying. I guess because I wish we could relive some of his first, or that I'm happy he's happy, healthy & celebrating his first year of life.

It seems that lately he's turning more into a boy than staying my little baby. Now we're greeted with him standing in his crib than laying down, waiting for us to pick him up. Wanting to walk rather than crawl around the house, throwing the ball farther than an inch for Sadie & mimicking more words. His new word is "star", taught by Miss Ruth from daycare.

I don't know what I expected with Cameron's first year, but I can say it's been quite the ride. :)

I think we're the ones being trained. ;)

We’re pretty big on routine around the house. I’ve read again & again routine does not come easy with a baby, but it works for us.

One of our routines or habits, we will knock on Cameron’s door before going inside. That way if he’s crying he knows we’re going in or just for the sake of doing it. :)

On our way to lunch Paul shared a cute story from this morning, so I thought I would share it with you.

It was time to get ready & Cameron was still sound asleep. So, Paul knocked on his door (yes knocked, it’s polite) & started singing good morning. He didn’t turn the light on since Cameron was still half asleep. Paul helped him stand up & right away Cameron started signing “light”. So, being the good daddy that he is Paul promptly turned on the light. Of course that made Cameron smile ear to ear.

I love watching him understand & use his signs. He’s using them more & more each day & it’s so cute!

I know seeing rather than reading is more entertaining so I’ll try to post some video.

Did you know, some dogs are brown?

Cameron is non stop "talking". You can tell there's so much he wants to say & I'm sure the moment he can, he'll talk for a day straight.

Tonight after daycare we stopped inside our leasing office. As I sat there signing paperwork Cameron talked (read: flirted. Ay yi yi wait until at least puberty....wait no. until your 3o's) with the office assistant. She commented on how well he held a conversation. Oh really, is that what you call it? Because at times I can barely get a word in nevertheless hold a conversation. So, I thought I would share another one of his favorite things, talking. :)



He's getting better with signing too. Along with dog he's been saying/showing "fan" & "light" more & more each day.


We can't take the credit for everything, just 99.9%. His friend at daycare, Stefano would say tick tock through out the day. I guess it's fun to do because before we knew it, Cameron was chiming right along with him.



What's that? You want more video of Cameron?! Ask & you shall receive my dear Cameron fans. Did you wonder how to sound like an airplane? Watch closely & listen well, Cameron will teach you.



Next lesson, The Law of Gravity.

Today, I'm going to take over the world.

To say Cameron has a strong personality is an understatement.

For being so young, he already behaves so grown up at times.

Well, grown up in a baby kind of way. :)

“I don’t want to sit in the cart mama, I want to sit on the floor.” Ok, happy baby.

“Oh, a duckie washcloth. Let me reach over & pull it off the shelf. Here mama, you can buy it for me.” Ok, happy baby.

“You really don’t have to lay me down to take my medicine. I’ll willingly drink it sitting up. I’ll even cry for more, because I know it will help me get better.” Yay, happy baby.

“Oh, I think I’ll crawl today.” Yaaa – Wait, what?

Yup, just like that Cameron decided he was going to crawl.

I went to pick him up from daycare last night & Miss Becca was so excited to tell me the news. She said it was for a few seconds but he was definitely crawling. At first I was a little upset that I didn’t get to see for myself, but then I sat Cameron by the kitchen while I got his dinner ready. And he just crawled on over to the dogs dish bowls & started taking their food out. I couldn’t help but laugh, laugh because of course that would be the first thing he would crawl too but the fact that he was on the move.

When Paul came home I had plenty of video to share with him. We just kept laughing & replaying the footage.

I just can’t believe it. My son, Mr. Anti Crawl I can reach it if I just stretch enough, decided he would crawl. Not just semi crawl, but crawl as if he’s been doing it for ages too. I can’t help but laugh, he just does what he pleases & there’s really no guessing what he’s going to do next.

So, if/when he declares he’s going to be an astronaut, President or a cowboy that wrangles cats, I won’t be the least bit surprised. I’ll just think back to this day & say, “I think you’ll be the best *insert aspiration here* there ever was.”

I love...

I love how you smile when I say, I love you.

I love how you wave your arms in the air out of excitement.

I love how little thing, like going up/down the stairs excites you.

I love how you’re learning to sign back (allll done!)

I love how you can play alone, but always welcome the company.

I love how you smile & devour your snack, when daddy ask, “can I have some".

I love how you think about sharing, and then do it.

I love how your voice trembles & lips quiver when you're upset.

I love watching you give love to Oscar & Sadie.

I love how you use my shirt to pull yourself up.

I love your infectious laugh, your bubbling personality & how you're quickly turning into a little boy who knows what he likes & what he wants.

But most of all I love you.

I love how you can turn a simple moment into a priceless one.

I love how you can make me stop what I'm doing, dash for the camera & capture every priceless moment I can.

Mama, look at what I can do.

Yes, now lay down & act like a baby.

*sigh* As ironic as it sounds, I cannot get over how big Cameron is getting.

I use to think it was so silly when people would say, "my baby is growing up so fast!"

Of course they are, they’re babies. Babies grow up, duh.

But now that I have my own, I can see exactly what they were talking about.

It's not about them growing bigger.

Or all of the milestones that they've met.

It's about the journey we’re made together.

Of course Paul’s always been there, but there’s a special bond I have with Cameron.

Feeling his hiccups, his kicks to holding him in my arms for the very first time to knowing what to do to make him calm down, not knowing what to do but being there just the same.

I remember I couldn't get over how this baby was at one time in my belly. Even when he was so very small I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Each passing day my love grows right along with him and I honestly don’t know what my future held without seeing him right there with us.

Now I see this little boy emerging from what was once that tiny baby.

Big boy! I can't wait to see how tall he is next Halloween. :)

Through out the day he insisted on standing up. Shakin' his groove thang with Miss Tessa.

I've never been a huge fan of baby shoes. I thought it was silly to buy shoes for a baby that has no use for them. But after the pumpkin patch we went out & purchased Cameron's first pair of shoes.

I think he likes them. :)
PHEW! This standing up is hard work mama.
One of Cameron's favorite things, is yelling the moment we leave the house. He loves hearing his voice echo through out the hallway.
I'm sure the neighbors appreciate it, especially when we leave before 7 during the weekday.

This last picture just melts my heart.

*sigh*

So know I understand, my baby is growing up too, too fast.

Baby Rule #3

Do not question the love a boy has for his ball.

It's become bit routine to "check out" a toy from daycare.

Cameron picks out one (whichever one he plays with the most that week) and we return it the following week.

We've had big toy truck, xylophone alligator, ball with toy hamster inside, tambourine, small toy truck, toy that had spinning ducks....you get the idea.

Well Thursday night I went to pick up the Cheese & what did I find?
He was playing with the room beach ball, hmm.

Miss Ruth said the first day she brought it in for beach day, Cameron was scared of it.

So scared, he would cry if it got too close to him. :(

But over time & I'm sure watching everyone else have fun with it, he's grown to love it too.

What a wonderful story right?

It's great, really it is.

Cameron put the ball back, we're not taking the huge beach ball home.

Note to self: Do not try to take beach ball away from Cameron.

So, as comical as we looked I placed Cameron in his carseat & he held onto the ball.

I was too busy saying, "are you kidding me? we're taking the beach ball?" to take a picture.

As soon as we came home he went straight for his new toy & well, had a ball. ;)
This is my ball Oscar, you can look at it but don't touch. Matter of fact, stop looking.
Mama, cross out Infant & put Cameron.
Ok mama, I'm going to throw it to you & you throw it back.

See, wasn't that fun?! Now let's do it 1,432 more times!
As usual, Friday was daddy & bebe day.

When I walked through the door Paul told me all about Cameron's love for the beach ball.

Yeah, I think he likes it just a tad.

Paul even surprised me with a video to show proof.

It has a Blair Witch vibe, but it was sweet that Paul thought to record & share with me.



Ahh, to be that content with a 99 cent ball. :)