Campbell turned 2!

You will notice that the title of this post is - Campbell TURNED 2.  That's because I am soooo late - his birthday was April 7th. At his 2 year well checkup- he was about 26 lbs which is 32% and 32 inches, which is 90%.  He didn't get any shots this time and of course requested a lollipop promptly upon arriving at Dr. Pielop's.  He's one sharp little kid and catches onto everything, especially what Austin does, which is not always a good thing.  Campbell loves all things construction - trucks, workmen, dirt, shovels, excavators, cherry pickers, skid steers, backhoe loaders, and I could go on and on.  He gets to see PLENTY of construction when going to Austin's school - the whole Memorial drive is torn up and giant machines cover the road every day as they work on the 3 year project to expand the road.  Fun times - adds 20 mins to our commute.  Oh well, at least Campbell is entertained.  He enjoys going to Mother's Day out and even calls his teachers by name.  When I drop him off - he runs down the hall to his class, finds his nametag where we place his backpack, carries his lunchbox inside, and quickly finds a book or toy to play with.  Big change from September when he cried every day being dropped off.  His teachers, Ms Marian and Ms Leticia, say he is the most smiley, enthusiastic kid.  He certainly is social and outgoing in my opinion (don't think he gets this from me).  When we have friends over to play - he greets them at the door and starts talking, while Austin hides from them.  Totally different kids- it's crazy.  Now that I am working part time, Campbell loves spending 1 day a week with DiDi and MiMi- sometimes he goes to Lakeside fitness center nursery with DiDi and sometimes MiMi takes him to the library story time.  He has climbed out of his crib a few times when protesting a nap but hasn't made it a habit.  He can get out easily without hurting himself and only does it if we leave him WAY too long after waking.  So for now he is still a crib sleeper.  Not sure when we will move him to a big boy bed, possibly sharing a room with Austin.  He is wearing size 4 diaper and size 24 month clothes.  He likes to eat meat - hamburgers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, steak, turkey, chicken, you name it.  He enjoys grilled cheese sandwiches, cauliflower, carrots, cantaloupe and watermelon, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, bacon, sausage, fruit snacks, popcorn, and of course ice cream. He got a sandbox from MiMi for his birthday and loves to dig in the sand!  When swinging a golf club or baseball bat - he swings left handed but eats right handed, so who knows, but it's interesting and we'll keep watching/hoping for a lefty :)  He says please and thank you - how could you ever tell him no?  He will repeat everything and sure is talkative.  He likes singing "ABC", "twinkle, twinkle", "Jesus loves me", and "head, shoulders, knees and toes".  After the Masters this year, David taught him to say "Jordan Speith" when asked who his favorite golfer is.  So cute, and smart!

We had his birthday party at our house in the morning on April 17.  It was a construction birthday party - complete with trucks, shovels, construction cones, and dump trucks.  We had chick fila nuggets, fruit, and goldfish.  Kept it simple.  I made a cake with a road and put mini CAT machines on it.  He LOVED the singing "Happy birthday" and blowing out the candles.  This kid like the spotlight.  He does not get that from me, at all.  It was so cute to watch him enjoy his "struction" party. 

Campbell, we love you and can't believe you are 2 YEARS OLD.  Keep smiling, little buddy!

Oh, just digging in the dirt

You mean, I can't sit in this dump truck?

Playing Tball while sitting, now that's the life.

Add dog :)

Sandbox with big bro

Donut for the birthday boy

Big boy on his real birthday - April 7

And ice cream later that day - with DiDi

In Heaven - at Austin's swim lesson. A giant excavator!

Cake!

Just playing trucks, with a hard hat

Birthday party craziness- Carter, Ben, Austin and Will

Digging sand box

Loving the shovels from Carter

Marshall joined in the sand fun

Snacks with Meredith and Marshall

Watermelon

Bounce house too!

Construction cake galore

Singing happy birthday

Blow them out - make a wish!  Big Bro helping

This is his thing

Austin and best buddy Ben

Cake time!- Carter, Meredith and Marshall

Big cousin Summer overseeing the littles 

Easter 2016

Easter parties started the weekend before Easter with our neighborhood party.  It was Campbell's turn to be scared of the Easter bunny while Austin wanted to hug her and smile for a photo.  Just last year he was still scared.  Growing up!  There was an egg hunt for the 2 year olds and under - Campbell quickly figured out there was candy in each egg :)  Austin had to wait until the 4 and up egg hunt but brought home plenty of eggs with candy that we are still working to eat - one a day! They bounced in the bounce house, played on the playground, enjoyed chickfila and decorated cookies.  

Later in the week, Austin's school had their Easter party.  More egg hunting, cookie eating, and fun with friends.  Campbell got to tag along with me to big brother's party - lucky little boy!  It is so fun to see Austin interact with his classmates - he loves going to school and his friends there, especially Ben Hampton.  On Good Friday, I took off work and the boys didn't have school so met the Hamptons at the Wilchester playground.  The boys ran around for 2 Hours!!  And Julia and I could just sit and chat, for the most part.  Yay! On Saturday morning, we went to the Lakeside Easter egg hunt, breakfast and visit from the Easter bunny.  Campbell liked hunting eggs but did not like the bunny.  Oh well!  Austin had fun with his buddys from school- Parks and Brooks Board, whose family is also a Lakeside member.  Granddad, Annabelle, Allison and David came too!  Unfortunately, DiDi missed it because she was sick. :(

On Easter morning, we made it to the 8AM church service. That's a feat.  We celebrated Jesus and his resurrection with our church family and then came home to host our family for lunch.  DiDi, Granddad, Annabelle, Allison, David and Mary Carol and Drew came and Stephen, Ricki, new baby Hudson even came!  We had honey baked ham, chicken fingers, hash brown casserole, salad, fruit, rolls, mimosas, carrot cake and cookies.  Yummy!  Allison brought eggs filled with money for the kids to hunt.  It was a fun morning and I actually got to host since mom's kitchen is being remodeled. ;)  That afternoon, we went to the MiMi and Big Deal's house for more Easter family fun - dinner and an egg hunt too, this time with more money and candy!  The kids had so much fun playing with big cousins Ben and Summer.  We are thankful for family and for the reason we have Easter - Jesus lives!

Loving the bunny at BGP party

matching bros

Jeans at BGP party it was cooler weather

On the hunt

Campbell not having the bunny 

His loot!

Dalmatian class Easter party

CML egg hunt

Buddies - Carson, Jay W, Austin, Ben

Lakeside egg hunt

Sweet smile

Goofy smile

Turtle watching

Turtle watching with Parks and Brooks 

Family

All the grandkids with DiDi and Granddad

What's in the eggs at MiMi and BD's house?

Candy!

Ben counting the $

Cousins

Stephens grandkids

Reading with Summer- so sweet!

A new year

It is March and I am just now posting about occurrences in 2016.  Talk about WAY behind.  I am going to play catch-up through pictures.  I feel like this is a lazy way but it is all I have in me right now.  What matters is that we have an account of life with our crazy boys for the past 2 months.  The pictures show the fun, happy, silly times.  There have been tons of those, of course.  We have also had our share of terrible twos tantrums by Campbell and "independence" tantrums by Austin.  Campbell is learning about time out for tantrums, hitting and occasional biting attempts.  We are trying to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible.  Austin is desperately trying to do everything on his own as well as assert his older brother status over Campbell.  Mommy struggles with letting him try to cook his own pasta, pack his own lunch, and scoop Savannah's poop on his own.  I think because I know what can happen if he doesn't do it right - a huge mess that we have to clean up or a very very sugar filled, unhealthy lunch box.  I know I need to release my control some - he will grow up.  I need to teach him how and let him try.  Teach him healthy habits and let him soak it all in.  These are phases....

Now onto the pictures!

Testing out multiple Christmas gifts at once - nice combo Campbell - sweeping, dust busting while protecting your head 

Austin putting together his puzzles in the background while Savannah lounges in the middle of the chaos

Put together all 4 Christmas puzzles- check!

Trampoline days

We call this his motorcycle (aka a plasma balance bike)

Bubble shooter on the trampoline - what could be more fun?

Struction worker Campbell - his latest obsession. The only books we read are about backhoes, bulldozers, excavators and dump trucks. 

You are under arrest, Mister striation worker

Zoo with Austin's best bud Ben (and his little brother Will) on New Years Eve morning

Snacks by the giraffes

Cute boys, where is Campbell?

Bouncing with the balls

The Jungle Book - a hit with both, especially Campbell.  He loves the Elephants that march, the Tiger that ROARS, the snake that "sssss", and the monkeys that "ooh ooh aah aah". Imagine him making all of these noises and marching - hilarious

Driving the delivery truck at the Children's Museum

Making pasta noodles in the museum restaurant

Future artists? - Campbell proceeded to paint his hair orange immediately after this picture was taken after I said "don't paint your hair". 

Reviving the patient in the ambulance

Spinning tops at our first visit to Discovery Green  - a hit on a beautiful day, which I will say was right after the Children's museum visit because I was VERY energetic that Saturday to hit up the museum and the Green back to back (sans-daddy who was playing golf)

Selfie on the spinning tops

More! 

Is this backwards?

Trampoline hair!

Post bath brother buddies 

Learning our states! 

Infamous bathtub pictures - I don't have enough of these

Mohawks and smiles

Hugs for DiDi

Hiding from mommy

This boy loves his trucks and construction books -so much so that he brings them outside to read on his motorcycle

Orange and blue - rooting for the Denver Broncos on SuperBowl Sunday

All smiles for his class Valentine's party - this boy loves his sweets!

Delivering Valentine's to each classmate's bag with buddy Ben Hampton