Deployment

Time is a funny thing. Sometimes it seems to fly by and other times it drags by so slow I wonder if it is going backwards. We have known about Nathaniel's deployment since last year, a year to get nervous about it, a year to worry about it, a year to wonder about, well....everything. We knew the day would eventually come when he had to go...but it always felt like something that was in the future...looming, but not ever happening. Well the day of Nathaniel's deployment has now come and gone...and you know what...We are going to make it and it is going to be a good year. A friend of mine told me that this time is not only a time to survive but a time to thrive. It isn't a year to put our lives on hold, but a year to grow, a year to learn from. One year...that is all...the great thing about time is even though at times it might seem to drag it is always moving forward, the day is going to come when Nathaniel will be back here and we will all be together again.

Nathaniel in formation about to head out. (he is the one looking back)Last family picture before Nathaniel heads out. Camden was quite fascinated by Nathaniel's gun.Before the soldiers leave, you have about 5 hours of just waiting around and Camden was one tired boy so he had one last snuggle with his daddy. When I grow up I want to be just like my Daddy. Just waiting around.

Temple Trip.

The day before Nathaniel deployed we had the opportunity to go to the San Antonio temple. The day was perfect. We had a great time with just each other and couldn't of asked for a better last day together. Thank you Haley and Amanda for watching Camden for us that day!!!

When family comes to town....

The week before Nathaniel deployed we were super lucky to have my parents come and visit us. We did so many fun things...we visited the Austin botanical gardens, Had an amazing Thanksgiving dinner for Nathaniel since he will be deployed over Thanksgiving, went to seaworld on a GREAT day...hardly anyone there and the weather was amazing AND military families get in free once a year *SWEET*, we had dinner on the riverwalk in San Antonio, went hiking, visited the "bat" bridge in Austin...and SO much more, but like any great vacation it is over before you know it...hopefully mom and dad will come visit again..soon...hint hint :)

(The following pictures are in reverse order, oops)

Saying goodbye to mom and dad at the airport.
Grandma and Camden
Grandpa and Camden Daddy and Sleeping Camden at the bat bridge waiting for the bats to come outAmanda, Dawson and Coleman waiting for that bats. Family picture time. Walking around the Botanical Gardens. Grandma, Grandpa, and Whitney. Camden may not be smiling in this picture but he really did enjoy sitting on the grass...for the first time ever!!!!

WHAT...6 months already

I can not believe little man is already 6 months old...he is growing up SO fast. At his 6 month appt. he weighed in at a whopping 20.1 pounds and was 28 1/2 in. long!!! He is a big little guy :)
Right now he can:
*scoots backwards all over the house
*sits up by himself.
*feeds himself finger foods (mostly graham crackers, which he loves)
*doesn't like baby food, I think mostly because his daddy spoiled him with tastes of grown up food, so now I just puree my dinner and viola Camden is a very happy little boy!
*Is very very close to crawling, he gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth. He will then put one hand forward and scoot his knees forward but then he collapses!!!
*Does not like snuggling at all unless he is super tired and you are feeding him his bottle.
*LOVES bathtime.
*Still loves anybody who will pay attention to him and will let anybody hold him...but prefers his mommy slightly more *happiness*
*says Dadadadada and can roll his tongue and goes RRRRRRRRRRR
*everymorning when I get him out of his crib he will grab my shoulders and give me a huge hug.
*and last but not least...if you get your face to close to his mouth he will LICK you!!!!!

Sitting in his High Chair for the first time. (thanks mom and dad for buying it for him, it makes meal times so much easier!!!)
"helping" me make the bed.
Daddy letting Camden eat his corn on the cob..this could be why he hates baby food, l.o.l (also don't mind the finger he is giving everyone, what a naughtly little boy :)

Little getaway

Before Nathaniel deployed he was able to take two weeks of leave and my sister being the wonderful person she is took Camden for a couple of those days so Nathaniel and I could enjoy a few days together. We headed first to a water park we had heard was awesome, Schlitterbahn. We ended being a bit disappointed by the water park. But that's ok we had a great time together. We then headed down to San Antonio for the night. We stayed in a nice hotel right on the river walk..a great walkway with a ton of restaurants/shops. The couple of days flew by though and soon we were heading back home to our sweet little boy (although I'm not going to lie it was quite nice to get away with just my hubby :)

The riverwalk up by our hotel.
Starting the trip.

Camden is ready for a NAP!!!!

I would never of guessed the blessing that it would be to have my sister and her family live so close. I absolutely love it, not am I only getting to know them a lot better, we also all get together a TON!!!! This past monday night we had FHE at our house and roasted hot dogs in our back yard, we had a great time!!

Camden is a bit tired in this picture, but he really did enjoy the night. what a little trooper!

Amanda and Nathaniel....with some YUMMY food!!!

My neice Whitney, Camden and I!!

Dawson cooking his hotdog over the fire. ( you can kind of see our back yard...we still have a bit of work to do, but we love that we have our fire pit in!!!)
The men concentrating on the hotdog roasting!!!

Mr Camden

Camden is growing up so fast, here are a couple of pictures from the last couple of weeks:

You can't really tell in this picture but Camden was SO sick of the car so I decided to take pictures of him and make funny noises to try and entertain him

When I went to go check on Camden during his nap this is how I found him, just lounging.

Belly time. He is SOOOO close to crawling. He lifts his whole chest of the ground and gets up on his knees but still is not quite coordinated to crawl!!

I was waching my neice Whitney and I asked you to entertain Camden for a minute so I could get the dishes done and this is what I found when I came back!!! and Camden LOVED it!!!