3 Years and 11 Months

Almost a month ago, Austin had a birthday. It's so incredibly hard to believe that I have only blinked, and my baby is now a big 3 yr old! What's even harder to believe is that my new baby will be 1 in just a month! I'm not ready for his first birthday. Over the last year, two of my closests friends have, at different times, called me bawling about how fast their children were growing up and how they are already sad about when they are grown (which for both was spurred on by the movie Marley and Me....I was advised by both not to see it). I haven't shared that sadness until just recently, as Campbell is approaching his first birthday. I really do keep thinking he's my baby (and when I say 'baby', I'm really meaning my brand-new newborn), and so I'm finding myself amazed at all the things he's doing because he's just a newborn! :)

There's so much that they are both doing, saying, and keeping us in stitches and on our toes about, but here's a bit about each....

Austin: What a do-er he is! He is busy all day long 'do'-ing....and narrating or singing as he goes! He is particular about things, especially his most prized possessions, his cars and trains. He loves to make Campbell laugh (and cry sometimes too, I'm afraid). He tests his limits (and ours) quite often, which keeps Andy and me going before the Lord on a daily basis asking for wisdom. :) He finally likes to brush his teeth (Halelujah!) and loves to spit in the sink! He loves loves loves to sing Jesus Loves Me and the second verse to Jesus Loves the Little Children, which goes "Jesus died for all the children," but he thinks says, "Jesus diaper all the children." He just likes music in general, and gets excited when he gets to go to worship at the beginning of the church service. He loves books and having "school" with mommy. He is very helpful, especially with older people. All during Thanksgiving he helped his great-grandmother get around with her walker...at one point I realized he'd helped her right into the bathroom when I heard him exclaim that she had underwear, too! He also has quite the sense of humor....his latest was today when he shut his eyes real tight and told me he couldn't go get Camp's wipes for me because his eyes were broken! :) I guess I should also mention (for Andy) that he's into sports, especially Alabama football and wrestling matches with daddy and Campbell!

Campbell: He is 11 months today, but going on 3! He tries really hard to keep up with big brother...which means I've got two busy loves going non-stop from the moment they wake up! Campbell starts his day with the biggest smile you've ever seen! That smile now proudly displays 4 1/2 teeth! And he works on that 1/2 tooth with everything he finds to put in his mouth! He doesn't like to be fed by spoon anymore, but will eat almost anything you put in front of him, as long as he can feed himself. I'm still nursing, which is almost a month longer than I got with Austin (woo-hoo!), but will be starting to ween this next month....this child will miss it, unlike his brother. :) He walks all day with his walker, and even took a few turns with his great-grandmother's walker this past weekend...of course, hers didn't sing or light up, but he had fun with it, nonetheless! Camp loves loves loves his big brother, and does everything Austin does...he pushes little cars and trains around just like Austin (which I feel like is a pretty big skill, but maybe I'm just in that "newborn" thinking again), he roars and roars with Austin (but his sound more like baby lion cubs), and he can blow whistles. He, too, has a sense of humor and loves to laugh...today, he kept putting his paci in my mouth and belly laughing as if it was the funniest thing ever! He also snuggles and kisses and loves to be rocked.

Andy and I are amazed at the love we have for these two...what two beautiful, wonderful blessings!

Small Victories...

It's been a difficult past two years as we've had to "deal" with Austin's food allergies....reading EVERY label we pick up, going to several different stores to get the special things he needs; spending more on those special items when my friends are saving tons on their groceries; looking in the pantry and realizing I have nothing he can eat; taking all of his food on vacation with us and packing him meals and special treats when we go out or to a party; having to explain to others the ins and outs of his allergies, but still having some not get it; lying awake at night thinking of all the situations he'll be in where there'll be "dangerous" food and wondering if we or someone else will be there to oversee, or will he take these allergies seriously and be responsible about them as he gets older and more independent; and the list goes on. But the most heartbreaking is having to tell him no when other children are enjoying the goodies without a care in the world...thankfully he understands now, but it's still heartbreaking.

However, we serve a God that is for us and not against us! And He loves my little Austin more than I do and shows us His love and faithfulness in every area of our lives, even this one! In the past few years, I've learned ways around Austin's allergies...making him separate meals, substituting ingredients here and there, etc. But lately, I've decided that all the things I make, he should be able to eat too....I'm on a mission! Where dispair and fear have lived for sometime, there is now a burning fire...a desire to include Austin! If he's going to face tough moments in the world around us, I can at least make him feel safe and included at home! I've been scouring websites and researching recipes and ingredients that are allergen free or easy to modify, but that also TASTE GOOD! I've committed to 1-2 new recipes a week, and so far only one has been a bomb! I feel like a whole new world has opened up to us! God is good!

Last week Austin had his first chocolate chip cookie and hot cocoa! Revolutionary!! He was in such disbelief about the cookies that he kept asking, "my have this?!" "my eat this?!" His excitement fueled my fire! This time my heart was melting, instead of breaking. :) Small victories...

(I have pictures to include with this post, but having trouble getting them from my phone to the computer.)