Catch up - Before vacation!

At the end of July we had Melia's first birthday party. Cameron had lots of fun playing with the kids! He also helped her open all of her presents. Daddy wasn't thrilled, but he was really intrigued with one of her baby dolls.

 

Cameron had a night where we made him a bed on the floor to camp out. Well, when I went to bed I found he had completely undone the original bed. In it's place he had covered himself up with a yoga mat.

 

 A video of Melia tucking Cameron in on a night when she wouldn't sleep herself.

 

 

 

Just before vacation, we took the kids to a pizza shop that let's them make their own pizza. He and Ava had so much fun!

 

 

 

When it came time for his birthday party...he remembered doing this and thought they needed to have me be the pizza cooker so they could scream this at me. ;)

 

 



 

Still such a good big brother! Loves holding her hand to help her walk.

 



Moments with Cameron

Cameron now knows his birthday. He can also button a shirt all by himself...you can't help him so it takes forever! We recently watched ET...he was glued! Well we started it towards the end where ET gets sick. The next night he asked if it was still on so we could watch it again.
Funny Cameron moments...

We were watching Ghostbusters. In one scene the lady's phone rings (a land line phone). Cameron asks "what's that?". All we could do was laugh and say...you know you're old when your kid doesn't even know what a home phone is.

One morning while we were getting ready for work, he brought us 2 books. The first was "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". The second was a huge compilation of Shakespeare I still have from college. He was asking if we could read them to him. I told him we could read him one chapter each night before so he could be the most effective 3-year out there. We have not actually read either to him.

Cameron has this imaginary friend that we simply call "the boy"...that's his name. It was literally a game we were playing that stuck. He now talks to the boy and we have to "make the boy talk" all the time. Well we were in an elevator full of people and Cameron starts saying "mom I want the boy to talk...hey boy?". I think he said it 3 times before I could get him to stop saying we'll make the boy talk later. How do you explain to a 3-year old that it's not something we do in public in front of everyone. LOL.

His most exciting development (at least in his eyes) is that he can now pee standing up! So we sent him in before bed, which is our usual routine. He comes out all proud and screams "mom & dad come see...I just peed standing up". Our immediate though was oh crap this kid just peed all over the bathroom. I think he made it all in the potty! David went in to check and there was a little bit of water on the floor...we think it was water anyways...from where he washed his hands.

He gave her a "santa" beard...on her forehead.

Melia is his sticker board.

4th of July!

We went to watch fireworks done at Red Rock Casino. There is a little park pretty much across the street. It was a great place because we had a spot on the grass. It wasn't too crowded...perfect location!



We also had some fireworks at home that we did (as usual). This year Cameron was more interested in sparklers...though poppers are still his favorite. We split everything to do half Wednesday night (4th of July) and the rest Thursday night.

Just Keep Swimming!

He has done so well with swimming lessons!! His second lesson he was a bit apprehensive to get in the water. We had a slight crying spell. Once he was in though he had fun. In his second lesson he put his face in the water with no issues. We were shocked! They were even practicing "falling" in the pool (or doing Humpty Dumpty as they call it) and going back to the wall. The girl he had at the second lesson was great with him.

His third lesson was great too. He got right in...maybe because he knew he was earning Chuckie Cheese with that lesson.

 

His fourth lesson was a huge milestone. This guy got him to do a "rocket ship"! He tucks into a ball and they throw him up in the air to fall into the water. And he did it with no goggles on. Miracle for Cameron!! After this lesson he asked if Daddy & I could be his swim teachers.

We only scheduled 5 lessons total. We figured by that point he had made such strides and had really gotten over his fear of the water. We started taking him to our community pool and told him we could be his teachers as long as he continued to do just as well. He can tread water and get around on his own with the help of a raft or swim vest. Enjoys going! Those 5 private lessons were so worth the money.

Our community pool has a great little water park too. We've been working on getting him to go down slides now. He will only do one...the smallest. Making progress though.

Swimming Lessons!!

In preparation for vacation at the beach, Cameron has started swimming lessons. He was excited before the first session tonight. Thinks he can swim. However, if you know my kid you know he hates to have water splashed. We struggle to get him in the shower or tub let alone the pool.
We found a place down the street that offers some private lessons. He was in the pool with lots of other kids in classes, but he was 1-on-1 with an instructor. We figured that would be the best for a few sessions to hopefully help him get over his fear so we can get him in a group session.

We bought him goggles to keep the water out of his eyes. He looks so funny! Every time his teacher asked him to do something he'd shake his head no. Then after a while he would try it...everything except putting his face in. Overall, did such a great job - in spite of several crying spells and wanting us. They did a great job keeping him going and re-focusing him. Of course at the end of the lesson the first thing he said was "I don't want to come back again".

We have pulled out all of our bribery tricks to get him prepped for going back this weekend. He was told for every 3 lessons he goes to and does good we will let him pick out something fun to do (Chucky Cheese or a movie). I have a feeling the next lesson on Saturday is not going to be as easy.

Other June activities involved a trip to the circus. Cameron wasn't happy during the pre-show. We forced him to take a picture with a clown...and he was sitting on Papa Rick's shoulders. He seemed to enjoy the show though. Got a little restless at the middle, but after intermission he was back into it. It was a great show for the money! Even Melia enjoyed it.

Jumping on 1 Foot!

Cameron has been trying to learn how to jump on one foot.

Wearing Daddy's shoes.

Driving w/ Daddy's sunglasses.

Enjoying his ice cream! Good to last drop.

And he is beyond obsessed with Wii (still)...especially Super Mario Brothers! Got a video tonight of him trying beat a Koopa. He constantly jumps up and down and paces all around. Usually gets really worked up when he loses. This video is just a little glimpse. It's usually much better.

Rest of April 2012

The kids got their belated Easter baskets from Grandma Donna & Grandpa Malcolm. Cameron had a great time taking everything out, opening the eggs, throwing the grass around. He made a huge mess...that Melia rolled around in and tried to eat.

 

David and I have started doing the Insanity workout. Cameron has been a great workout coach! He joins right in and provides his motivation "you're doing good...it's almost there (watching the timer)". It's really funny watching him try to do everything. The video is him doing mountain climbers.

We are also starting a chore board for Cameron. Figured it was time to give him some responsibility since he is already helping with most of this stuff. He was excited because we told him he could start earning an allowance if he does all the things he is supposed to do each day/week. Well the night I explained it I used the example of "feed the cat" as one of the things he could do. Later I went to check the cats bowl and he screamed "NO, that's my business". He rushed right in there, checked the bowl, and promptly came back to say "I checked it, it's empty, give me some money please." Not quite what we had in mind. Now every time we talk about the cat he says it's his job to do it. We are going to start him off with $3/week. Some of it he will have to put in his save jar. The rest he can spend on the stuff he wants...gum ball machines, claw games, and little toys or treats. Should be interesting.

Then just a couple of random pictures.

Melia's swing - clearly too big!

On a ride with dad at San Gennaro.