Tushy

I think Camden's tush is the absolute cutest tush around. 

So the other day before bath time I decided to try to get some pictures of it.

Cam cooperated for the first, hear me first, picture. 

Then he found my camera strap and decided to chew on that. 

And then it was over when he attacked the camera. 

Maybe its sweet revenge for all the times I pull the camera out and snap his picture. 

If you can't beat it, eat it. 

7 Months Old

 Baby Boy you are seven months old! 

Just some fun things about you-

You have started to eat "puffs". Thats at least what we call them. They are all different flavors and practically dissolve in your mouth. But you insist on chewing them. You look like Popeye when you do and I laugh every time. Speaking of laughing, you have figured out that you can blow raspberries with your mouth when you are eating and make your food go everywhere. This makes Mama laugh which in turn makes you laugh. Like really laugh. So I laugh some more and so do you. We are exhausted when your bowl of food is empty. And we are covered in your food. 

Mean Mug baby

You are wearing size 2 diapers but I think you will finish out this last pack and then we will switch you to size 3. You weigh 18 pounds and I know that because you have had 2 ear infections and bronchitis. So we have been to the doctor twice this month. You are wearing size 6-9 month clothes and size 3 shoes. 

You love to sit on the floor and play with your toys but lately you want to pull up on Mama or Daddy and stand. You like standing a lot better than anything else. You have also taken some steps. Not by yourself but they were purposeful and got you where you wanted to go. I have said from the beginning that you would skip crawling and go straight to walking, and I think I might be right!

You have started to reach for people that you want to go to. And you reach for your daddy a lot! You love him (sometimes I think you love him more than you love me-and we just can't have that!) You can also put your binky in your mouth by yourself. If you run across it in your bed, carseat, or play area you pop it in your mouth and go on with your business. When did you get so big and independent?!

You made your first trip to the beach this month and you had a blast. You were scared of the water at first but when you warmed up to it-you loved it! I hope you are a beach bum in the making like your Mama.

Bugga Boo-
This month has been my favorite yet. You are becoming more like a little man every day. You make decisions for yourself. Not the hard kind-just whether to spit your binky out or blow your food on me. And you shine with a smile when you make your decision whether I approve or not. You have eyes that light up a room and when people see you thats the first thing they say. And then you smile that smile to get them to keep dishing out the compliments. And I giggle to try to be humble about how darling my boy is but inside I am thinking, "Oh yea-my babe is the cutest on the block!" I am on summer break and baby that means that we get to spend lots of you and me time! Daddy is going out of the country soon so we will have lots of one-on-one time. I can't wait! As always, I am praying for your heart daily. That you may come to know Jesus and use those eyes to look deep into the heart of someone who needs you and share the gospel with them. You have a purpose baby boy. I know it with every fiber of my being.

All my love,
Mama

My First Mother's Day

Since I became a mom I...

... have learned how to survive on less than 3 hours of sleep

...rejoice at the appearance of teeth

... can cook, talk on the phone and sway with a baby on my hip

... have become a song writer-just whatever fits the mood to calm a crying baby

...learned how to get a shower in 5 minutes all while praying that the baby stays asleep

...have taken more rectal temperatures than I ever wanted to

...have learned to love the Lord more that I thought possible

...have lost all control of my "picture perfect" life

...became an actress- I will do anything to make that boy smile

...have realized that I'm not #1

...have kissed chubby cheeks more than any annoying aunt in the world

...have prayed daily for the well-being of my baby

...am humbled beyond belief

...have been blessed more than I could express

[where I was this time last year]

6 Months

Little Boy, you are 6 months old. And not so little anymore. 

*Weight*

Birth: 7 lbs. 9 oz.

Now: 17 lbs. 14 oz. 

*Length*

Birth: 21.5 inches

Now: 28.5 inches

*Likes* 

You are changing by the day and so are the things that you like. You used to love your swing-not to much anymore. But you do love floor time when mama or daddy are down there with you. You love to eat. Forget a bottle, you want the real stuff. You have even tried a few things off mama and daddy's plates. You still like your binky and all 4 of your lovies. Yes we have 4 and yes you need them all to sleep. You like to talk to anyone and everyone who crosses your path. You will even talk to your feet if they listen. You like to have all the attention in the room. 

You have 2 whole teeth since this picture. And you worked for everyone of them. 

*Dislikes*

You do not like teething. Nor do I. It is H E double hockey sticks these days. Especially at night. The nighttimes are the worst. You don't like to be left alone in a room. You cry almost immediately if you see us walk out. If you don't actually see us leave then I will give you 5.3 seconds before you realize you are alone and you freak. You hate shots. You reacted the worst to your 6 month shots. They on top of teething have made you one big ball of snot, fever, and grumpy. You have been such a joy my love :) 

*Facts*

You are in size 2 diapers. We have stayed in this size longer than any other. I like that. You are wearing size 6-9 month clothes and size 2-3 shoes. You hate to be patted when going to sleep. You would rather be rocked these days instead of being layed down in bed awake. You eat a jar of 2nd foods and an 8 oz bottle at each setting.  

  

*Special Talents* 

You are good at jumping in your jumper. Its like an exersaucer but on springs. You love it. You are also extra good at batting your eyes at me and getting me to do anything you want. I am helpless under your spell. Rolling over has become a cinch so you now push up on your arms and kick your legs like a mad man. You are so close to crawling. I am ok with you NOT crawling yet. I have a feeling then when you start to move, you won't stop. 

Camden, 
I can't believe that you have been with us for 6 while months. It has gone by so fast. Each month gets better and better. Your personality is starting to show and I can tell you are going to be a funny one. Just like your daddy. I like that. But you must promise me now that you two won't gang up on me. If you do I am just going to have to have a baby sister to be on my team! You are the sweetest boy around. These days I love to cuddle with you while I am asleep. I even have to talk myself out of going into your room, getting you out of your bed, and cuddling with you for hours. Instead I just go in and watch you sleep. I imagine you and Jesus talking in your dreams. I'm not sure why- I guess you are such at peace. Sweet baby, in 6 more months you will be a year old. Lets slow down just a tad. I can't handle it if it goes by any faster. 


I love you baby boy. 
Mama

I always swore...

...That if I ever had a boy I wouldn't give into the dirt, worms, and John Deere bit.

But when it looks this dang cute, I just can't hardly stand it.

Zoo Day

This weekend, Nate's family came up and we all went to the Memphis Zoo. We packed ourselves a picnic lunch, loaded up the cars, and we headed off. None of us were prepared for how cold it was. This winter has been so warm that we all mis-predicted the chill in the air. But that didn't stop us. We bundled Little Man up and off we went. 

Lydia loved the polar bears. She ooh'ed and ahh'ed herself silly. 

Next, we saw the grizzly bears. It was feeding time, but first it was play time. This little guy showed off.

                                                       

Camden touched the glass and wasn't even phased when the bear came right up to us. I, on the other hand, and guilty of letting out a screech. 

Seriously, I love this man. I told him to smile with Camden. But I really just wanted a picture of him. I can't imagine my life without him. 

And another man I can't imagine my life without! 

Y'all. He is really that cute! 

 The tiger was watching some ducks swim around and we just knew we were going to see he go after one. But he never did. 

Cousins.

Camden also got some good time in with his Mammy and Papaw. 

Daddy and Daughter time.

And Camden-Papaw time. 

And Camden-Daddy time. 

We had such a fun time. The sun ended up coming out and warming everything up. All of the animals were out and doing their thing. Camden slept a lot of the time so he was a happy baby. Family and animals-can't get much better than that.

identity

Its been a while since I have posted anything other than pictures and things to do with Camden. And while I love that boy more that anything in this world, he does not define me. 

I have struggled for the past few months with figuring out who I am. I thought and thought and couldn't place my finger on my identity. "Who is Whitney?" I asked myself daily. Was I a teacher? A wife? A mother? A housekeeper? A youth minister's wife? 

Who was I?

And then something happened in our family and my life was turned upside down. (I know I have mentioned this mysterious thing several times and have not explained myself. I promise that one day I will tell you all about it but my feelings aren't healed and I am still praying for forgiveness toward others and until I find that, I have to keep it private-without outside influences.) I was not just upside down but inside out and every which-a-way possible. I had nothing to cling to. I could control nothing. And it was in that moment that I realized that I needed to cling to the Lord. The one who had been holding me waiting on me to realize who I was. I was a child of God. 

I was His daughter. Who cared if I was good at being a mother or a wife in that moment. All I could focus on was being known as His. Because He was the only one who could take care of all my needs. He didn't care if I was good enough at what I did. He didn't care if I made the bed or taught the correct material. He only cared that I was His and He was mine. 

What a feeling it was to know who I was. Who I am. 

Where is your identity found. In whom is it found in?