Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday is Mother's Day! I can't believe that I am included as one of the "mothers" that is celebrated on this day. A lot of people wished me a "Happy Mother's Day" last year when I was pregnant with Camp, but now there is no doubt that I can participate as a mom!

First few minutes as a mom!

 Being a mommy is totally awesome, and I'm not just saying that because my son's first word was "mama."  Even though I'm still relatively new to being a mother, I am overwhelmed by the significance of this title.  I have always been extremely grateful for the moms in my life, but I have a whole new perspective on this now that I am a mom, too. Motherhood is a huge change and adds a LOT of responsibility (and new worries) to your life, but it is also a truly amazing piece of my life. It's hard to believe that my mom has been doing this for 30 years, but she is living proof that your heart will not actually burst from loving your child too much. I can now appreciate my mom, stepmom, and mother-in-law in a different way. I am starting to know how exhausting, time consuming, and stressful (while at the same time the most incredible and heart-warming experience) raising a child can be, and I'm so glad for all they have done for me (and those other kids they have).  These moms are amazing, strong, talented, kind, and loving women who have been role models for me. Now, I'm one of them.  They have perfectly prepared me for my most important job. Happy Mother's Day to Mommy, SherBear, Mary Martha, and all the phenomenal mothers in my life!!!

Nonna and Camp

SherBear and Camp

Mimi and Camp

 

Celebrating at my baby shower with my mom, mother-in-law, and "adopted" mom, Kathy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Week with Abbie

My not-so-little sister, Abbie, visited this week while Jonathan has been out of town. I was so excited that she finished up with school for the year and was able to spend a few days with us in the lowcountry. It was the most time we've ever spent together just the two of us (well, technically, Camp was here too), and I LOVED every minute of it.

We shopped, lunched, and watched some girly TV. We rented a "chick flick" and ate popcorn together after Camp went to bed. One of my favorite things we did was to make a dessert we found on Pinterest. We combined chocolate chip cookie with a Reese's Cup in a brownie. I even came up with a name for the tasty treats: Triple Threat Brownies. If you're lucky, I'll do a separate blog post on those yummies so you can make them at home ;-).

It was especially wonderful to have Abbie here to help with Camp.  She is great with him, and it is obvious that he loves her. Aunt Abbie made my job so much easier this week! Thank you sweet sister for coming to visit and helping with the baby. I had a lot of fun with you, and I will always be grateful for the special time we got to spend together. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Camp's First Word

On this first day of May, 2012, John DeCamp Howell said his first word!!! After working on the "m" sound with strings of "mamamama" and "mmmm" during the last couple of months, Camp spoke out "mama" clear and with purpose this morning. He was ready to be out of his Exersaucer and only his mama could help him out with that! He actually said it a few times because I was trying to get food in the Crock Pot and couldn't get to him fast enough. Also, I just wanted him to say it again so I could be sure that he really said it. I picked that baby up and hugged him tight with a few tears streaming down my face (partially due to the chopping of onions) as I beamed with joy. BEST. FEELING. EVER! 

Here's a video I took today of Camp (5.5 months) attempting to say "mama" again, but of course he didn't want me to have proof of his first word! He did want to show off his little rolling over trick though :-)

Splish Splash

I recently came upon an article (on Pinterest of course) about the pictures you should take of your children each month. Bath time is one of those special times that it mentioned you could be documenting. I guess the fifth month isn't too late to get started!

Camp really enjoys his bath time. He usually takes a bath every other night before bedtime. We have been practicing splashing and getting water in his face to get him ready for the swimming pool this summer! He loves playing with the washcloth and rinse pitcher (well, he likes putting them in his mouth) and even has a cool bath book he can read (again, put in his mouth). Splish, splash, Camp was takin' a bath!

Ready for bath time

<Insert your own funny caption here>

Trying to help

Feel the waterfall

So fresh and so clean, clean

Dry Guy

Camp's First Easter

This year we celebrated Camp's first Easter in Augusta with Jonathan's family. We enjoyed a lovely service at Grace Baptist Church (Camp played with some new friends in the nursery), ate a delicious lunch, and divided up all the sweet treats from a giant spring basket. Of course, Camp got his own Easter basket complete with rice cereal and baby food veggies! Happy Easter, everyone!

Good lookin' boys all dressed up for Easter

Our sweet little family

Aunt Brooke and Uncle Gary loving on the bunny

Camp entertained his cousins the whole weekend!

Trying to keep my pose for Mimi and Grandad

Whoa.

                                          

                                                                "This is all for ME?"

<Insert your own funny caption here>

Camp the Bunny

Happy Easter from our very own Easter Bunny!!! Camp dressed up in his seersucker and bunny ears for a little holiday photo shoot.

Bunny Hop

Little Bunny Foo Foo

Silly Rabbit

Funny Bunny

Green Eggs and Hamming it up for the camera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Months

Camp is five months old today! I now understand why my mom always used to tell me that she needed to put a brick on my head to stop me from growing. My little man is growing up too fast, but we are enjoying every minute of it.

Not very much has changed since the last monthly blog post, so we'll wait for next month to give all the detailed updates. Here are just a few tidbits for now:

*Wearing size 3 diapers
*Ready to start eating solids- planning to start with rice cereal this weekend
*Can (mostly by himself) pull up from sitting to standing when on someone's lap
*Entertains himself for short periods of time in exersaucer, in crib, or on floor mat
*Going to bed around 9 pm