baby proofing...

Greetings!

Just one week left in Virginia! We have lots to share -- Mr. Cameron has been a busy boy! He finally cut his top two middle teeth. So much for the vampire look lasting until Halloween ;-). Last month, Cameron started pulling up to stand and was 'scooting' bit by bit on the floor. Now Cameron is pulling up to stand EVERYWHERE - and clearing the contents off of any surface when possible. He's also crawling (although, he still does "the worm" most of the time) and is moving FAST. And getting into EVERYTHING. Bolt down everything, wrap it all in bubble wrap or HIDE it from sight. He also gets himself back up to a sitting position. Poor Elke has to keep her toys away from him! The bad part about the standing is that he'll pull up, but can't figure out that he just has to "let go" to "get down." So we'll hear him fussing because he's tired of standing! This is especially a problem in his crib! We are looking forward to moving to a one-story home, as our living room has stairs going up to the second floor, and stairs going down to the basement (which have a safety gate in place for now).

Grandpa and Mimi came to visit for Memorial Day weekend - and Cameron had a BLAST! He loved all of the extra attention, snuggles and wrestling on the floor. Clint and I put Cameron in their bed in the morning - but we waited until after 7 a.m. :-)

Springtime - lots of news!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.... long time since the last update! Since getting back to Virginia last February, Cameron has had ear infections #2 and #3 and also cut teeth #3 and #4! March and most of April were not fun, haha, for anyone! Now a funny thing is that the latest teeth came out-of-order. Cameron has his two bottom teeth (that came in at the end of January), and the teeth that just came in are his "eye teeth" -- he looks like a VAMPIRE when he smiles! I'm hoping the top middle teeth come in soon!

Cameron starting sitting up on his own at the beginning of April, at about 6.5 months. I thought he'd never sit up. He had no interest - he was happy to roll all over the floor. Rolling is still his preferred mode of transportation, although he's close to crawling!! Also at 6 months, he starting saying "da da," but stopped after two weeks. He's still a very active, alert baby -- Cameron likes to be entertained, flirt with girls and be around people in general. He is VERY happy being walked around in the Baby Bjorn (baby carrier that allows him to face forward). He's getting back to sleeping through the night, now that the ear infections and teething are done (knock on wood) for now.

Cameron is still funny about solids, which is common with reflux babies - most are late-bloomers when it comes to 'food.' Squash and carrots are the current favorites! He does not like rice cereal, but he'll take it if it is mixed with a veggie.

With Cameron's tummy issues, we ended going to the allergist to get some answers, as milk and also soy are problematic. We found out that he is allergic to APPLES and SWEET POTATOES, in addition to being lactose and soy intolerant. I never realized how many foods had milk or soy in them, or how many foods and juices contained apples. The allergist recommended that Cameron be tested again after he turns "1." We're hoping that he'll grow out of the allergies and intolerances. The good news is, is that he isn't allergic to wheat, dust, dogs or cats, or any of the other foods he has tried so far!

GiGi and Aunt Blake came to see us for Easter! Cameron LOVED all the kisses and attention. Aunt Blake makes him giggle! He discovered his love for carrots with GiGi. We went on lots of shopping trips - and Cameron was such a trooper! GiGi and Blake made sure the Easter Bunny brought Cameron some extra new toys, as well as a bathing suit and sunglasses!

Clint found out the week after Easter that he has ORDERS to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for THIS JUNE! I am soooo excited for him, but my head is spinning with the short notice to MOVE! We have found a house in Hampstead, NC. Hampstead is 15 minutes from the beach, 20 minutes to Wilmington (aka civilization) and 30 minutes to the back gate at Lejeune. A bit of a commute for Clint, but it's a straight-shot with no traffic. The house-hunting went well! We even had some time to visit a church and spend some time at the beach. We found a house in a quiet neighborhood (with marina & golf course!). It has a big fenced-in back yard for Elke and Cameron to play in! Speaking of Elke, she absolutely LOVES the beach. I think I'll have to start spelling it out, as I do W-A-L-K or R-I-D-E.

Finally! An Update!!

Cameron on Christmas Morning with his "Big Teddy" from Uncle Grant! We let him stay pretty naked for Christmas morning, as it was warm in LA - he was happy about that!

Snuggling with Mommy!

Staying warm!

There is no way I can post ALL the pictures, but I'll squeeze in what I can from the holidays.
Cameron is getting to be a big boy! He went to the pediatrician last week for his 4-month-shots. He weighs 15 lbs and 8.5 oz, and is 26 inches long. On January 31 and February 2, he cut his first and second teeth!!!! At 4 months and one week!

Visiting with Grandma Starr in Houston

Below: Sitting with "Aunt" Jamie

Getting some lovin' from Kim!

Above: Playing with Grandpa!










Hugs from Aunt Ashley

Hugs from Pops! (Cameron loves to steal his glasses)

Sitting with Marmee -- Cameron loved greeting her in the morning before she left for work :-)

Cameron got to meet his great grandparents - Clint's Nana and my Grand daddy. He also met his Aunt Ashley (thinks she's pretty) and Uncle Grant (thinks he's funny).

Below: Visiting Great-Granddaddy!

Below: With GiGi on Christmas Day!

Above: Clint's baby picture! He and Cameron look some much alike!!!

Below: 3 Generations!!Above: Cameron with Daddy, Nana, GiGi & Aunt Blake

Also while we were in Louisiana, Cameron caught his first virus (brochiolitus), got his first ear infection and his first diaper rash! Not fun! I now know why it is no fun for anyone to have a sick kiddo.... or a sick kiddo on antibiotics!

Cameron also likes to "stand" or bear weight on his feet. Check out the "Superbaby" video below! He loves his "Bouncing Jumparoo Horse" that was a gift from Brad & Adriane (see video as well). He still enjoys playing on the floor, and now is starting to roll - as a mode of transportation. He still sometimes gets stuck!

We're now attempting to feed him some rice cereal, but he isn't so wild about it yet! We may need to wait a few weeks and try again.

I thought I'd add a few more pictures and one more video (an older one and a newer one) before we take off this week! Here are a few pics of Cameron watching football with us, and of him during "tummy time."

Cameron slept NINE hours straight last night, got up at 5:30 a.m. to eat, then slept until 8 -- so about ELEVEN HOURS! Man, if every night could be like that :-). Actually, if he only gets up just once, I'm a happy camper. His naps were a little scattered today (we had Baby & Me this morning) and he mainly napped in the car. He was SOOOOO CRANKY this evening and SCREAMED when he woke up from snoozing in his swing. I think I lost some hearing in my left ear. So we gave him a quick bath (yes, screamed through that even), fed him, and had him in bed before 7 p.m. So some nights aren't all that great! Haha. You take the good with the bad. Elke also whacked him in the face with her tail today, and I just don't think he got over it ;-)

We leave in one week for our RV Adventure!!

Clint and I have been making lists (and checking them twice) and getting things ready.

We depart VA on 12/20 and will arrive in LA on 12/21. We'll depart for Texas on 12/26 and depart from there on 01/01. Clint will then depart LA for VA on 01/02. Cameron, Elke and I will stay in LA until 02/?? when Clint comes to gather us!!

Updates on Cameron:

He's really getting good at grasping objects, as well as focusing on people and things. His neck muscles are getting stronger! His head is still pretty wobbly, but he can hold it up when held upright or on your shoulder and can lift it during "tummy time," even though he's pretty lazy about it. He now really really enjoys bathtime! His splashes are getting bigger and bigger. Even if he's getting tired and cranky, he hears the bath water running and perks up!

Sleeping...

On *good* nights he wakes up just once! He will often sleep a 6-7 hour stretch, but sometimes will only sleep 4 hours at a time (momma does not like those nights!). He usually takes a couple short naps in the morning (30-45 mins) and another in the afternoon (time varies, sometimes an hour, sometimes more). We've learned that it is BEST to give him his last feeding in the 7 o'clock hour and to have him down if possible by 8... or things are not fun!

Cameron typically wakes up for the day around 6ish, but has been known to sleep until 7 a.m. Again, all of these trends could disappear/go haywire at any time!

Elke is doing well! She still loves to lick Cameron. Funny thing: she has some stuffed toys, which she used to DESTROY in a matter of minutes. She now carries them around the house and brings them to her bed with her. Is Elke showing her maternal instincts :)?

Cameron is also still, of course, the Spit Up King. I often go through at least a couple shirts during the day! Cameron can go through at least 3 outfits. So friends and family, apologies in advance for spit-up on you, your floor, your furniture. And family, please also accept my apology for the amount of laundry we have to do!!

Things are going well! We're all busy trying to get ready for our big RV trip down south. They offer hourly childcare for non-working moms at the Child Development Center on base... I was planning on bringing Cameron there so I could do Christmas shopping, but they are re-doing all of the floors there and won't have hourly care available until after the holidays! Cameron has been a trooper so far - I just have to have good timing :-).

Cameron has some new toys - both which allow him to reach upward for toys, rattles and noise-makers. HE LOVES THEM! Anything with lights and music makes him laugh. He is getting better at holding his head up, as well as grabbing toys.

Cameron sleeps more now than he did at weeks 2-4 now that he has a happy tummy! He FIGHTS sleep, and always needs to be soothed to sleep for naps, but has been napping well in his swing lately. He goes from happy-playtime to cranky-fighting sleep very quickly! I'm hoping after 3-4 months I can start putting him down for naps and he can soothe himself a little better.

He is still continuing to do really well with the Nutramigen (aka liquid gold) and Zantac. Still lots of the projectile-spit-up, but he's gaining weight and the burping/spit-up isn't bothering him too much, thanks to the Zantac. I'm hoping he won't have to take it (Zantac) after 6 months.

Until next week...