Growing Up

A. Crib, also known as pommel horse...

B. Ghetto crib...because we didn't have a rail.

C. Big Boy bed with rail, smile, and a good nights sleep with NO pacifier!!

Well, last week we noticed Camden was using the side of his crib as a pommel horse...he had great form, but we were afraid he would become too top heavy and topple out of the crib(Picture A). So we made the executive decision to go from crib to big boy bed....sigh. It is hard to believe he is getting so big. Colin climbed up to our attic (and didn't fall through the ceiling) to get our crib conversion to toddler bed kit. Camden was hilarious "helping" daddy. Everything Colin would say, he would repeat. Camden had his Elmo drill and was very focused on putting the bed together. My kid is adorable! After getting the front of the crib off, we noticed that the rail we thought that came with the kit was missing....we went back up to the attic (again successfully not falling through), and came back empty handed. Hmmmm, why doesn't this have a rail? After all the built up excitement of a big boy bed, we simply turned the bed around so the front (rail-less side) was flush against the wall and he was still closed in, picture B. (the back of our crib is much higher then the front, so we only worried he would pommel horse off the sides). I immediately went to Target's website (who doesn't) and looked for toddler bed rails.....they only make ONE (that I could find). All rails are made for twin and full beds.....because most conversion kits come with a rail....oops. (Next time, well). So I ordered our $30 rail (not bad, and a cute rug for free shipping if you had an order of $50 or more), and it came in yesterday. Camden helped me put the rail together with his Elmo drill and screwdriver, and we waited until bedtime to turn his crib into an official big boy bed(Picture C). Camden was climbing in and out, and in and out, and in and out, and in and out....and we just knew it was going to be a L-O-N-G night. We got the mattress, three lovey's, two blankets, two pillows, and random dog back in the bed, read a book, prayed and rocked....laid him down....and waited. We waited for him to get out of the bed and play (I moved all his stuff up high). We waited for him to beat on the door (doorknob thingy on the door). We waited for something....and nothing. He feel asleep! Now I know this may just be luck on the first night, but I am so proud of our boy! He is also on night two without the pacifier...I know go big or go home right. Why not do everything at once? So my baby boy, is now a big boy. We keep telling him that, so I should start to believe it too, right?

I eat/ate too much

I didn't realize how much and often I was eating until I started recording it. I don't know how many times in the last three days I have wanted to go to the pantry and snack on something. I justified it before that it was a small snack and didn't really matter because it wasnt a meal....I know, I am crazy. I have been so hungry the past few days, but I know that this will get easier, and I am eating better for sure. No blizzards, blasts, or butterfingers for me....eventually, I will let myself have a treat, as for now....I am being strong. It was good to pinpoint why I was eating and how much I was eating....even though I still want to EAT ALL THE TIME! I have also been drinking a TON of water....I mean a TON. Hoping that the water and better selections in the food department help me drop 15+ pounds....we shall see. Discipline, I can do this.

All my Fountains

Cute picture of my boy playing in the "carwash"/fountains at mom and dad's pool

(You know I had to put a picture)

This song is on repeat at the Stout house....love the lyrics, reminds me of a sermon at church a few weeks back.

Chris Tomlin, All My Fountains song lyrics

This dry and desert land

I tell myself,

“Keep walking on”

Hear something up ahead

Water falling like a song

An everlasting stream

Your river carries me home

Let it flow, let if flow

A flood for my soul

A well that never will run dry

I've rambled on my own

Never believing I would find

An everlasting stream

Your river carries me home

Let it flow, let it flow

Open the heavens

Come Living Water

All my fountains are in You

You're strong like a river

Your love is running through

All my fountains are in You

Come on, and rain down on us

Rain down on us, Lord
J

ohn 4:13-14 Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."

Some Summer Favorites

We have been swimming!
Going out to dinner

1. This past month my mother in law, Pam discovered through a routine colonoscopy that she had colon cancer. After surgery, recovery, and tests.....her reports have come back clear. Praise God! We love you Nana!!!

2. LOVE having my summer off, and spending it with my sweet little man. We have had so much fun. We take it easy in the morning, eat breakfast, watch a little KET, play guitar, then usually head out to the pool. So thankful for this time with Camden.

3. Weddings and babies.....we have two big weddings coming up this fall, but we are gearing up for these two special celebrations. My cousin is marrying his sweet girlfriend of 10+ years, and we LOVE her....it is going to be a wedding to remember....in St Louis. Camden is joining us and our sweet friend Jess is coming with us to help take care of him. Our other wedding is my childhood friend, J Ford....I get to be the maid of honor...and I am honored. We are going to Nashville this weekend to hang out with her, her awesome fiance, and U2...no big deal :) PLUS, I get to throw two showers (one baby, one wedding) in July...if you need invites or anything really artsy and cute contact my friend Shannon, she will hook you up!

Let's not forget babies....little Leighton and Brooks are here, baby Lincoln will be here soon, and my sweet baby niece AUDREY LANE will be here in October....I can't stop buying her stuff, girls are SO much fun and frilly.

4. Cozi.com is an amazing website that is helping coordinate the Stout family schedule! I love it....it is easy and FREE....seriously FREE...you must try it. It is compatible with apple and my cool kid old school pc.
Is your family schedule quackers?Let Cozi help. We’re so good at helping families get their ducks in a row that we decided to make it official. Cozi sets a Guinness World Record

5. Speaking of Apples, I sold my iPad, I am just not cool enough for that sweet piece of technology. I am just a cut and paste kind of girl...none of that apple, click....whatever. I think it is a great product, just not for me. I am happy that a really amazing woman got mine!!

6. Calorie Counter is an app I bought for my iphone (I am keeping that from Apple), and I am starting to keep track of my calories today. I want to lose 20 pounds by all the weddings....I wend over 52 calories today...and I could really eat this picture frame next to me right now. I may run up to the store and buy celery or carrot sticks just to have something....this will get easier. I just need to take charge of my diet....the way I eat stinks.

7 Passion: Here For You is a MUST have....I can't stop listening to it. I really think I can bust out Christy Knockels Waiting Here For You, but who can't. It is kind of like Alicia Keys....I can sing just like her. Seriously, if you are lead to worship through song....you have to get this.

8. Camden...oh wait, I already mentioned that....He is awesome.

9. Acorn class prep....I am swimming in stuff at my house for my new classroom and just itching to get into my room. Thankfully, they are doing renovations up at TLS so I can't go....or I would probably be there too much. Right now my room is FULL of boxes from my favorite K team, love you girls.

10. Hubs...my sweet hubby let me sleep in this weekend and cooked breakfast both Saturday and Sunday....he is a keeper. I love the picture of Camden and Colin above, somebody LOVES their daddy.

That is all I can think of right now....I know I am such a lucky girl.

Well hello friends

Man, I just haven't been feeling the blog for a while. I don't know why, I just have not been motivated to sit down and write. I know when I first started it was an outlet for our infertility struggles and a place to write down the story of Camden. Recently, I just have felt empty. Not really able to put words together to place in the blog. Not a bad empty....just mute. Make sense? I don't want to force it, so I just have avoided it.

I have officially started my first summer as a teacher....meaning no work, and some sweet pool time with my boy. It has been a blast. We went to the Louisville Zoo a few weeks ago with a great group of girls. It was so much fun watching Camden. He loved all the animals, especially the penguins. He didn't know what to do with his excitement....he clapped and squeeled. I loved it! I do have a few videos....and pix, I should post those :)

Tomorrow we are going to Salato in Frankfort. I don't really know what to expect animal wise, we have just heard some good things about it. Packing our lunch and going exploring.

Our little guy has turned into quite the fish. He LOVES the pool. He sits on the "beps" (steps) and will jump into the open water. He wears water wings, but still loves to try and dunk his head. he loves the fountains on the side of the pool, and always asks to go "up high." He is putting more and more words together, although I believe he speaks fluent chinese. I don't know what he is saying half of the time....but I love it!

He is running, swinging, and falling. He is going to be one of those boys that has a knot on his head and two skinned knees all summer. He is adventurous and brave. He is the best....can you tell I really like him? We keep talking about school next year, and I ask him if he wants mommy to be his teacher, and he does say yes. We shall see how that goes this fall. Thankful for my teach teacher Flora....she is going to help with the mom/teacher duel roll.

I guess that is it for now.....hopefully I will be back in less then two weeks.