Bathtime fun, and a little look back...

Connor and Camryn are becoming closer and closer each day. Camryn is so enamored with Connor; her face literally lights up when he walks runs into the room! As much as I want Camryn to stay a cuddly little baby, part of me is looking forward to the fights that will come between them, because with that will come a lot of fun, and an incredible bond, I am sure!


I've got a blogging friend with beautiful twin girls (Hi Lissa!) and when I read her posts and watch the videos and pictures, I sometimes wonder if I had my kids too far apart, and will they ever share a bond like her twins do? Well, obviously twins have that a special bond that comes from being together from the very moment of conception, but each day I can see Connor and Camryn getting that bond as well, and becoming more and more like 'siblings' then the big boy and the baby blob! Camryn is becoming more and more of a little person, and Connor is starting to interact with her as such... and well, it's adorable!

~~~~~

I always told myself that no one would ever see this picture, but I'm really starting to love it - it sums up the way I felt the day Camryn was born so effectively, that I finally had to share it:

This picture was taken shortly after I got out of the recovery room, when I am holding Camryn for the first time. If you've read Camryn's birth story, you know that it was a pretty intense event! As they were wheeling me back to my room, covered in warm blankets to help stop my shaking, I was crying like I never have before! I remember taking Kleenex from a box they had placed on my chest saying, "I don't know why I'm crying, I'm happy!!"  In this picture I'm talking to my mom, and telling her Camryn's name. Her middle name, Mina, is after my mom, whose name in Dutch is Harmina.  Derek and I have had this name picked out since we were pregnant with Connor, and, a small part of me knew I had to be having a girl this time, because I knew I had to name her after my mom!  I see so many emotions in my face here... relief, joy, exhaustion, and yeah, probably even some disappointment about having another C-Section. 

I think that's what made me post this today, actually. I still need to come to terms with the fact that I will never birth a baby the way my body was meant to. In the end, how my beautiful babies got here is pretty insignificant, and even though I know that, I still struggle with feeling like I have missed out. I still think about this often, and hopefully, over time, I will find my peace with it.

More food, and more fun!

On Monday we had Camryn's 6 month check up, and also a weight check for Connor.

Connor's doing well - he was 28 pounds and change, and just over 36". he's gaining slow and steady, as per usual! He's been a pretty good eater these last few days, more willing to try new things, so I'm considering that a giant leap in the right direction!

He's still loving school, and will ask pretty much every morning if today is a school day! He no longer even hesitates when I leave, he just says, "Bye Mom!" and heads of to play! I've been asked to take on the role of Treasurer for the Preschool next year as well! It's a little intimidating, but I'm going to meet the current Treasurer next week and learn the process! I'm excited to be involved in Connor's school, but hoping I don't get overwhelmed once I go back to work out of the home, also.


Connor and Camryn are starting to play together, and it's pretty adorable! Connor will head over to give Cam a toy or dance and sing for her if she's unhappy and I can't get right to her. It's so nice to see the love between them grow! I think that Connor is finally realizing that she is a person and not just a blob that cries and poops! (Though he still does ask for 'the pink stuff' (aka the Febreeze spray) when he gets a whiff of her dirty diaper!!

 

  

~~~

Camryn's appointment went well also! She's 14 pounds and half an ounce, which is almost a full pound less than Connor was at 6 months. (Why do I continue to compare them? I don't know!) The Dr. gave us the go ahead to feed Camryn anything that I want to (no dairy, of course!) saying that there is no correlation between delaying foods, and the likelihood of an allergy developing. He said peanut butter, eggs, chocolate, all of those things were okay, as long as the consistency was appropriate for her.  I still think I will hold of on those things until a year though, there's so many other things I want her to try first, anyway!

So, I made her some steamed apples, pureed and then strained to an absolutely silky perfection... i added just the right hint of cinnamon...they were divine, if I do say so myself! I had given Camryn a slice of apple to suck on while I was making them, and she went absolutely batty for it, so I was just giggling with the anticipation of how happy she would be to try my applesauce! I mean, she devours rice cereal like it's going out of style, so this has got to be a step up, right???

Wrong!!! She acted as if I gave her a lemon!!! She kept opening her mouth up for more but would give this unpleased face after every bite! Of course, when I think about it, it's the first thing she's ever eaten with a real taste, so I bet it was pretty overwhelming for her! I now add it into her rice cereal, and all is well again!

 

  

  

We've also started using the bath ring for her, and now she and Connor can bath together without me in there,(without me in the tub, I mean, I'm obviously still in the bathroom! I reread that and realized I sounded completely negligent!) and I think they have a pretty good time! I have to use a towel to keep her from slipping, but I think she's totally loving having a little more freedom! 

Well, that's about it for now! Looking forward to spring, and being able to have the kids outside together!