Cameron is getting to be a very confident walker. It's like a whole different ball game having a walker around. He opens drawers, and cabinet doors which he couldn't reach before. He can also open the office door and the bathroom door. He has this very determined look on his face like "watch out world, here I come". He can now reach and open the trashcan which for a while he had mistaken for toy storage. Time and time again I found small toys that Cameron would bring and drop right into the trash. I am sure we have lost a few of them which I haven't noticed to pull back out. He also likes to splash in the toilet water and occasionally drop a toy or two in there as well.
He loves to chat, and now points to all sorts of objects and says something. Most of the things he points to he calls "Babee". He has said the words "Baby" and "Ball" multiple times. He says "daddy" and "baba", sometimes "papa", and an occasional "mamma".
Cameron loves to play with toys that have balls in them. We brought the ball popper out which Sascha was terrified of when we gave it to her for Christmas 3 years ago. He just loves it, almost squealing with joy as the balls keep jumping up in the air. He likes throwing them, and catching them, and I think we've heard him say "baseball" before, or at least that's what it sounded like. Cameron's other favorite toys are things we keep in our kitchen drawers. Since we haven't babyproofed most of the lower cabinets, he can pretty much get into everything, and spread it all over the floor: cups, tuppawear, pots and ziplock bags, he loves it all.
His eating has become pretty random, he seems to really like to feed himself, which creates a huge mess for us to clean up. Also he likes to try new things, and he doesn't enjoy eating left overs... hmm... sounds like daddy! I am of course beyond thrilled to have at least one child who eats. At this point he is more likely to eat what we eat, yet I still have to make something separate for Sascha. Oh how he loves to throw food down on the ground once he decides he doesn't want to eat it anymore. I can't wait for this phase to be over. Our kitchen floors are very sticky because of it. This is also the case with your toys, you love to throw things, balls especially, but now you throw everything. I think secretly daddy is hoping this skill will develop into "pitching" in baseball, but for now it's just a mess of your toys being everywhere.
Teeth, Teeth and more Teeth. Cameron got 2 of his upper molars, so now we are up to 9 teeth.
Even though I don't want to admit it, it would probably be a true statement that you are not as easy going as before. You have started to demand things, point to them and cry, you raise your arms up to be picked up all the time. It must be pretty frustrating to try to communicate with us and tell us what it is that you may or may not want or if something is bothering you. You also cry when you're frustrated, like if you shoved a ball into a cup and it won't come out, you get mad, cry and throw the cup. These may be signs of what's in store for us when the terrible two's hit. I am thinking you might be the type to throw more tantrums than Sascha did. On the other hand, you are becoming very playful lately. Giving high fives, playing peek-a-boo, and trying to keep up with Sascha when she is running around.
We put a train table together for you and Sascha, and it looks like you're not really ready for it. Sascha likes it and plays with it, but your main mission is to destroy it. So after a few days we told Sascha that unfortunately we will have to take the track and the trains off the table (we haven't done it yet) because Cameron is just not old enough to play with them. So she decides to go up to Cameron and explain the situation.
Sascha: "Cameron, did you hear that? Mommy and Daddy are going to take away the trains, all because you are here". I tried so hard to hold back the laughter. I just love these sibling interactions you guys are having.
Sascha definitely takes on the "boss" role, but she can also be so gentle, sweet and caring, you can see it in her eyes that she wants to help Cameron learn and do the things that she is already able to do.
Cam had a pretty bad cold for a few weeks, and finally I took him to the doctor after 2 sleepless nights of coughing and crying. Turns out he had an ear infection and a bronchital cough. He got a breathing treatment at the doc's office and antibiotics, so it seems to be getting better, but he's still pretty clingy especially to mommy. Also getting that medicine in him is a challenge and a half. The few times I have tried on my own he was so unhappy and started crying, then coughing and then would throw it up. So we have adapted to a different approach. One person holds Cameron, the other has the medicine and the entertainment. We dance, we clap, we give him 2 or 3 types of sippy cups to see which one you may choose. It has become quite a spectacle. Sascha is usually pretty amused, and sometimes she helps us distract him from crying which is pretty cute.
Cameron is growing like a little weed right before our eyes, although when we were at the doctor's office you only weighed 20 lbs 5 oz. Less than 1 lbs gain since your 12 month appointmet, but at least you finally broke 20 lbs.
People say time flies when your children are small and that goes double when you already have one kiddo to take care of. It's a total cliche, but so very true. I often feel like time is passing me by so fast that I don't notice the little things that Cam starts to do, the way I noticed with Sascha. I don't worry about things like is he doing this or that that he should be doing at his age. Sascha's personality sometimes needs all that undivided attention. Cameron is happy being an independent little guy. So no I don't worry about the fact that I haven't seen him stack blocks on top of one another yet, or how many words are in his vocabulary. It's a constant challenge to try to give each child the attention they deserve and so need. I just hope I am doing an good job balancing life, since I feel like out of all my jobs as a mom raising and parenting my two kiddos is really the most important one at the end of the day.
I find that I am changing my parenting views. There is so much responsibility in being a good role model, and I am so much more aware of what I say, how I act, and what I want to teach my kids. I am so much more critical of my behaivior as well as people around me. I think about what I say more, how I act, what I teach my kids, and sometimes that involves changing my perspective. I see so much of my parents in how I react or deal with certain situations, and sometimes it's good, and sometimes I wish to change it. I guess having kids really changes your perspective on some aspects which in my mind I thought I had figured out... humbling experience to say the least.
Sascha says she will not want to do something because she is too shy, I try not to tell her to stop being shy... because that's her, and I don't want to tell her not to be herself, or be more extroverted even though that would be a more "accepted" behaivior. Sure I may find it uncomfortable when people say hello to her, and she just stares back and doesn't say anything clinging to my leg, but what do I say or do? She is still learning how to come out of her shell, and I don't want to tell her that it's not ok to be shy or timid, because I want her to be comfortable with who she is.
Cameron can be shy as well, especially when I am holding him, he will sometimes hide his face in my shoulder if someone approaches and says hello. My sweet cudly boy, I just want to squeeze him tight and never let go.
A photo from the Valentines Day pictures session, I just love your big smile
Flying Superman moment with Grandpa
One of my favorite photos from Knotts Berry Farm.
Watching a silly western show, looking very serious in a baseball cap.
