One Year Later

Wow! It has been a year since my little girl was born. I am still in shock at how fast it has gone.

This time last year, if someone had told me that a little 7 lb 5 oz baby would totally turn my world upside down, I 'm not sure that I would have believed them. My life is so completely different than it was before, and I wouldn't change a thing. I am completely blessed.

Before I had Kameron, my life was empty. I had a great husband, but I felt like something was missing. That missing link was my child. I tried for so long to have a baby, and I had begun to think that it would not happen for me. I was devastated just thinking about the possibility that I couldn't have children. Then something wonderful happened...I finally peed on a stick and the result came out positive. From the moment that positive sign showed up I loved my child. I didn't know if "it" was going to be a boy or a girl or who it would look like, but I knew I loved it.

As my belly grew and we found out "it" was a she I fell even more in love with her...my little Kameron. When my water broke I shook with fear and anticipation of finally meeting her. I had to labor for 36 hours and end up having a c-section before I finally saw her. She was beautiful, but I didn't get to hold her until I got to recovery. Once in recovery, the child I had longed for was finally in my arms and she was breastfeeding like a champ. Finally I was a mom. From that day things have continued to get better. Sure, we have had our bad days, but I can't complain.

I'm a mom....it's my title...it's my job description...it's my life. I sit here with tears streaming down my face in awe of the fact that God blessed me with such a sweet, lovable, beautiful girl. She is my very own. There is nothing better than her laugh, her smile, her kiss, her arms around my neck. She has my heart....she IS my heart. I would do anything for her.....she is my world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my sweet little girl! I will love you always!!

Better but not great

So, the past two weeks I have tried my hardest to do better about eating and exercising. I have definitely improved. I am consuming fewer calories and exercising more. Last week I exercised 4 times and so far this week I have exercised 3 times. So, much better, but not where I want to be....5-7 times a week is my goal. Hopefully I will be able to reach it soon.

Today was a great day for exercising as the weather was beautiful for the first day of Spring. So, my sister and I went to the Riverwalk downtown to get some exercise and enjoy the weather. After walking for an hour some of which we were either toting a 20lb baby or pushing a HUGE stroller, we stopped and had a picnic lunch. I packed us ham sandwiches on wheat bread and Katie brought apples. I felt very accomplished after we finished our walk, and now I am hurting everywhere!!! At least I know that my walk worked!!!

Here are some pictures from our walk.....









As you can see it was a beautiful day!! I'm so glad that I was able to enjoy it.

If you are downtown, check out the Riverwalk sometime. http://riveralliance.info It's free, beautiful and family friendly! :)

Until next time.........

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30 WHOLE minutes on the treadmill......and OMG am I ever wore out!!!! My heart is still racing and I have sweat pouring off my body, but I am so proud of myself. Per my nifty counter on the treadmill I burned 194 calories and walked 1.429 miles. :D

Okay, so I'm going to be honest...I have NOT stuck to my New Year's Resolution(s), I failed to work out, I failed to diet and many other things. I have excuses, but what's the point in saying them? The only person I failed was me. My whole reason for losing weight is to be healthier and feel better about myself. Am I tired of being fat? Yep! Am I even more tired of not recognizing the person I see in the mirror? For sure! But the one thing I am most tired of is not feeling good...physically, mentally, emotionally. I am drained in so many ways. I am hoping that if I can get my weight under control that some of these things will change, we will see.

According to the counter on my blog it is 3 weeks and 2 days till Kameron's birthday. WHAT?!?! When did that happen?!?! The other day when I was taking a walk around the neighborhood with her, I thought back to this same time last year....I was 36 weeks pregnant, walking the same neighborhood praying that it would induce labor. I was MISERABLE!!!! All you ladies who have been pregnant know what I am talking about. You think that surely this belly can't get any bigger and surely the Lord will show you mercy and let this time be over now. But it was 3 weeks and 2 days later before I met my precious baby. I still can't believe that it has been almost a year. She has changed my life completely, I can't imagine my life with out her. She is the sweetest, most beautiful, enjoyable baby I have ever met. She walks and talks all the time now...her new favorite thing is to tell everyone "HEY!", and yes she has a southern accent. She is so dern cute!!! The other day she completely melted my heart when I was holding her, she reached up and put her hands on my cheeks and gave me a kiss. I didn't even ask for one! She all by herself decided to give me a kiss!!! Ahhhh, I love that child to pieces!!!

Sorry, to any of you people that actually read this blog that is has been so long since I wrote, but life has been so busy. Until next time...........

Her name is Kameron...and she rocks!!!

So, it's been a while since I gave Kameron updates so check them out below. She is growing up way too fast, and everyday I am amazed by what else she has learned. I still can't believe she is 10 1/2 months old!!

~She is officially walking. She took two steps a couple of weeks ago, and never looked back. She walks all over the house now and it is the cutest thing ever!

~She officially has 10 teeth!!! Her molars are only partially through the skin, so we are still dealing with the issue of her being uncomfortable because of them. Hello, Tylenol...you are my new friend!!

~She is saying/trying to say a lot of words!!! She says...pretty,Daddy,Momma,uh oh,yay, hey and Bubba (I have no idea where that came from, but she just started saying it one day). She also tries to say please, thank you and "I don't know", but it comes out "uh duh".

~She claps, waves, blows kisses, gives kisses, puts her hands on her head when you say "Oh no!!", claps when you say "Yay!" and does a really cute shoulder shrug and puts her arms out when you say "I don't know!".

~When she isn't teething, she normally only wakes up once a night. Which makes me very happy that we have ended the getting up every 2-3 hours! But teething has us reverting to our old ways.

~She is now 20lbs and the last time she was measured she was 27 inches long! She was 7.5lbs and 19 1/2 inches when she was born, so she has grown A LOT!!!

~She has really mastered her sippy cup and finger foods.

~She loves to have her teeth brushed, and always wants to help me do it. Which can cause a little bit of problem when I'm trying to brush them and she is trying her hardest to grab the tooth brush!

~She has officially learned how to throw a fit when she doesn't get what she wants. Sheesh...it is already starting!!

~She has learned how to open the cabinets and take things out of them. So, that means I am making a trip to Wal-Mart today to buy the nifty cabinet locks. Oh joy!!

~She loves babies, puppies and kitties. And every time she sees one of the aforementioned, she proceeds to scream "DADDY!!!'. And I proceed to explain that "Yes, Do you see that puppy, baby, kitty, etc.?". To which she looks at me and occasionally will say the correct word, but typically she continues to yell "Daddy!" with the most serious expression on her face.

In a month and a half, she will be 1 year old!!! How did this happen so fast? Why did it have to happen so fast? I have enjoyed watching her explore and change into who she is today, but I only wish she would have done it a little slower. Now, that's not to say that I'm not proud that she does so much for her age. Because I totally am, but I miss my baby that would just snuggle with me instead of pushing against me to get down. **Sigh** But that's the nature of things. Just like when you get a puppy they are so stinking cute and then before you know it they are a big dog who digs up your yard. So, I know that before I can blink Kameron will be a teenager!! **Sigh** I can only imagine how that will be.

Thank you for reading about my little girls latest accomplishments. Until next time....here are some more pictures!!

Blowing kisses!


Decked out in her winter gear for our SC "blizzard"

RELIEF......

....Around 3pm this afternoon my answering machine went off (I didn't hear the phone ring because we turn the ringer off when Freddie is working nights) when the machine went off I glanced at my phone and saw Lake Murray Pediatrics....my heart dropped. My heart dropped even more when I pressed the play button on the answering machine and heard Dr. Guyton's voice asking us to return his call. Some many thoughts ran through my head as I picked up the phone to hit the "redial" button as fast as I could. Constant prayers were running through my head please let it be okay....Lord, I'm trusting you., the phone rings and the receptionist answers the phone, I try to sound calm as I ask for Dr. Guyton, but my hands and insides are shaking and so is my voice. He picks up the phone and begins to tell me why they drew blood and took a urine sample, yes I know all of this, please hurry up and tell me what's going on I say to myself. "After looking at all her blood work and tests we ran...everything looks perfect" PERFECT!!!! Yes!!!! Ahhhh, I breathe a sigh of relief and I shake even more as tears start to fill my eyes. This has been the hardest, longest week of my life waiting on these results. And I was prepared to wait another week as we were initially told it would be 2 weeks before we got the results. I am beyond thrilled that he called us today, and even more thrilled that she is healthy.

Thank you, Lord.


Oh, how she lights up my life!!!

Perfection

Every little piece of her is perfection...from her tiny little nose to her toes. How can someone be so perfect? But she truly is. I love everything about her.

~I love how her eyes crinkly on the sides just like her daddys when she smiles.

~I love how she squeals when she takes off running behind her walker.

~I love her laugh and her smile....they light up my life.

~I love how she investigates new things and how almost everything is labeled as "Daddy!" in her eyes.

~I love the way she smells.

~She is the smartest baby I have ever known.

~She is very willful and demanding.

~She is a drama queen, but is also a sweetheart.

~She already has the biggest personality.

~She is so cute when she takes her wobbly steps, and even cuter when she realizes what she is doing and slowly squats so that she can sit on the floor!

~She has her daddy, her Noni and Granddaddy, her aunt and of course me wrapped around her little finger.

~She is a blessing...and more than I could ever ask for.

So, you see...to me she is absolute perfection.

But my "perfect" daughter may not be medically perfect. My heart is heavy with anticipation for tomorrow and I can feel the tears starting to pool in my eyes. I don't want her to have to go through pain as they run tests on her. I don't want to have to sit there as she cries and shakes in fear. I don't want to think about the possibility of something being wrong. Everyone says "It will be okay..don't worry about it, etc." I am trying, believe me, but all I want as her mother is for her to be happy and HEALTHY! I don't want her to have MSUD (maple syrup urine disorder) or any other health problems. I want her to continue to be perfect in my eyes AND the doctors eyes. I am trying my best to trust God in this situation as well as many other ones, but it is so easy to doubt Him.

No matter what happens, she will always be my perfect little girl who lights up my life. And hopefully there will be nothing wrong with her and it will be just as my friend, Jeanie said "It's just her sweetness coming out is why she smells so sweet."

The last minutes before bed....

She is heavy in my arms as sleep overtakes her....her little hand twitches against my breast as she begins to dream. I carefully pick her up to reposition her on my shoulder and gently squeeze her. I inhale the sweet smell of her shampoo and my heart fills with joy.

She's mine...actually my daughter! Thank you Lord for this special blessing, my sweet angel, my heart.

Her breath tickles my neck as she snuggles in closer and wraps her arm around my neck. I know I need to lay her down, but I don't want to. I want to stay like this forever; feeling every breath she breathes, inhaling her sweet smell, treasuring this special moment. The last moment of the day where she is completely still and I can actually snuggle with her, my favorite moment of the day. But it's time to lay her down, time to say goodnight. So, I carefully walk into her room, place a gentle kiss on her brow and lay her in her crib.

Good night, sweet baby....I love you more than you will ever know!