Rodeo Y'all!

There are two weeks every year in March where time stands still a little bit and the Austin Rodeo comes to town. 

I grew up going to a county fair with 4H shows and horse races. The Austin Rodeo is pretty similar with the livestock show, it's just seems a little smaller and has more sparkle bedazzling.

The minute you step onto the fairgrounds your senses explode:  the food, the animals, the sound of music and laughter.

This year was the first time we have taken kids with us. We were there for about 90 minutes and spent almost that (without the purchase of adult beverages).  It's definitely not the cheapest adventure we've experienced, but the joy I got seeing Cameron with the animals was so worth it. 

We went back to visit the tractor's at least 3 more times. The two older gentleman that were there loved us... or maybe they hated us, I'm not really sure.

We rode the smaller of the two ferris wheels, and Cameron was a champ. Tim, on the other hand, was a bit of a scaredy cat and couldn't stop discussing the missing bolts and bungee cords that were holding it together.  You know he loves us: normally he wouldn't have stepped foot on it.

Cameron said he didn't want a corn dog, but Tim got one for himself. Look who ended up with the entire thing! (side note: Payton was a little upset that no one would share with him.  Tim was too.)

Next year we'll stay a bit longer and try our hand at catching the actual rodeo events.

I have a feeling that Cameron is going to be glued to the muttin' bustin'!

ChepUp

(AKA Ketchup in our world)

My sisters were home this weekend for Easter and heard Cameron's term for ketchup, "chepup" and thought it was hysterical. Sometimes the day-to-day pieces of love that I get to keep in my pocket sneak into the ears of others and I forget just how hysterical and cute they really are.

Anway, in honor of this I decided it was time for some catching up... or chep-up! :)

* Every time I open my car I laugh at the items that I find.  Currently you would see, 3 reusable grocery bags, 7 toy cars, 1 Oscar-the-grouch sock, 1 stride-rite shoe, 3 plastic Easter eggs (2 with candy still in them melting), a pack-n-play, 3 baseball hats, boogie wipes, a bottle of allergy medicine, an empty bowl, a TCU football, and a stroller.

*  Cameron has started picking a few stuffed animals to sleep with at night and they have to be placed in certain places next to him when he sleeps with the covers on top of them too. When we were talking about all of his stuffed animals, he said:  "Aunt Erin has A LOT of animals!"  Aunt Erin, if you're reading this, know that you're animals are being carefully watched when Cameron visits you.  I'd rather he not love stuffed animals quite as much as you do, but it makes me smile that he's realized your love of them and that he finds joy in your joy.


*  Payton's 1st Birthday was simple and perfect. He ate a bean and cheese burrito with a side of rice and a large piece of "green" funfetti cake with chocolate frosting. More than likely he'll be on whole milk 100% by next week and has transitioned to 1 nap a day on a COT at school. Oh and did I mention, he's been off bottles for about a month. Where, oh where, has my little boy gone?  He's also saying "uh oh" now and it makes my eyes sparkle.

*  I'm not sure who taught Tim how to say the name Jeremy, but he says it Jerm-y instead of Jer-em-y.  This has now become a battle of wits in our home. We read a Thomas the Train book occasionally that includes a character named "Jeremy the Jet Plane". Tim continues to tell Cameron it's Jerm-y and I argue that it's Jer-em-y. Then I laugh so hard that I cry and tell Tim to please not ruin our Son.

*  Easter was great, although a little chilly in the morning.  We went to church for a little egg hunting where we taught the boys what a soccer goal was, you know the more important lessons in life. Cameron was trying to pick only blue eggs, since those were his favorite but we talked him into picking a few other colors so that his basket was colorful like a rainbow.  Saturday night Tim learned of another funny tradition that my family and I do -- our Easter bunny hides our baskets. He always has. So of course, he was going to hide Cameron & Payton's. Tim thought I was crazy but went along with it. Cameron was pretty pumped when he found his in the bathtub, "Silly Easter Bunny!", but Payton just wanted his moved so that he could play in his walker. 

*  There have been days where I find myself floundering a little, especially at 8pm when I'm stuck in the bathroom praying that Cameron is going to pee.  I don't like complaining or whining and I really do try to make the best of everything. But I have my moments. That's when we randomly find a patch of bluebonnets on the side of the road (even if it's a pretty busy intersection) and we have an adventure. Spontaneity cures a lot of my floundering. Sometimes the grind, the schedule, the discipline eats at the free-spirited, flower-child part of my soul and I just have to break the redundancy. That's when my heart pauses and I forget about that frustrating 16"potty that haunts my dreams or the dinner that I don't want to make or the laundry that I don't want to do... that's when we break away and just breathe.

And breathing is good.

Really good.

So there, that's my chepup. The weather is warmer finally and I think it's official that winter is over. I have the itch to spring clean and move furniture around so it must be that time of the year. 

Happy Spring!

Dear Nugget

Happy Birthday Nugget!

It's here!

You're One!

Today we celebrate that we've all made it a year with you by our side.  We celebrate you and your bright eyes.  We celebrate you and your many smiles, the squishy face and your dramatic cry.

Cameron has decided that your favorite color is green, because his is blue, so we will have green cupcakes while you hopefully enjoy your green mini cake.
Your Dad has decided that he's probably already ruined Cameron so he will focus "his efforts" on you.
I have decided that you are far too methodical for your own good. You know exactly what you want and how to get it. You know how to play the game with whomever you're playing with.  You have figured out that in order for us to make sure that Cameron is behaving that means that you can misbehave. or get whatever you want. or misbehave.

You squirm and wiggle and you have a hard time sitting still, but you are happy.
You pound and spit on my windows leaving all kinds of awesomeness for us to find later, but you're happy.
You poop and scream when you want more food, but you're happy.
You want to be held and put your head down when someone isn't giving you what you want, but you're happy.
I've heard cankles and thunder thighs twice in the last two weeks, but you're happy.
You can't catch up to Cameron just yet, but it's a fun game to try and you're happy.

Besides, you'll forever be wanting to catch up to Cameron.

A year ago I was sitting in the hospital watching TMZ (I blame Tim) waiting to meet you and stressing about what we were doing to Cameron, but you've rounded out our family in so many wonderful ways. The laughter that you have brought to our world is music to my ears.  The thing that I'm most thankful for though?  Because of you, we have brothers and you two have each other.  A year ago you became one of the best gifts that Cameron will ever receive.  The language that you two share is something so magical. I know you won't always agree with me, but I promise - you're cherished.  Besides, technically, for almost 2 months of every year he's just a year older than you -- keep that in your back pocket.

Here's to making it through, high-fiving along the way and growing from here! At one years old, you make #2 Benton look mighty good!  Now go make your Mama proud and start walking!

We love you to the moon & back Little Nugget!