Forever.

Thought I'd start with some adorable kids so you wouldn't be quite so "it's about time" about my absence. I know. I say I'll do better and then I leave a picture of my big ol' pregnant self up front and center for 4 months. Jeez. And I thought summer would be the ultimate time for me to catch up! I did have time...I guess I just wasn't feeling it or something? My time was much better spent with our kiddos! We got Ella for all except 2 weeks of the summer! We had lots of fun going to Summer Reading Program events at the local library, hanging out at the house, and just enjoying one another! We got to go on vacation with my family to Branson, MO, in July and with Kaleb's family to the lake in August. Both trips were WONDERFUL and PERFECT and just great times spent with our families!! The kids l-o-v-e-d every minute of both trips, and I know that all the grandparents and aunts and uncle did too! And so did Kaleb and I!

I spent a long of time at the end of the summer working on getting my new classroom ready. I really don't see the point in putting pictures of all this up because they're all on my Facebook, and everyone who reads this is on there, too, so I don't know why I should put them both places?? So I'm not. Anyway, I started back to work for New Teacher Orientation and then Staff Developments Aug. 9. I was worried about Kam, as he had become such the extreme Mama's boy over the summer when it was time for us to leave him with anyone other than family. He cried the first couple of days when I dropped him off, but he quickly fell back into his old routines and he is loving it just as much as he did last year! It's so wonderful to know that he's well taken care of and we LOVE that it's just him and 3 other kids there.

Ella started back to school August 18 as a real kindergartener!!! She LOVES school. She is learning so much...and her mom has been working with her on her reading, so she called us last week and read 14 pages of a 32 page book to us!!! I honestly am flat-out amazed at how quickly she's picked up reading. Not just memorizing pages...recognizing sight-words and sounding out others. She is doing so well!! And she started ballet last week and she loves that as well! We got to go up and hang out with her last weekend for Labor Day and it was so great to see her. I swear she's grew a year's worth just in the few weeks it'd been since we saw her!

I am absolutely loving my new school!! Kaleb and I are both from small towns, and we've always wanted to raise our kids in a place like that as well. And I am really hoping we stay in Orangefield, because I can definitely see our kids making it home! The other teachers have welcomed me with open arms, and I learned the names of my 74 4th graders really quickly! I really think this'll be my best year yet. Woo hoo!

I've been trying to keep up with all the stuff Kam is doing now...I wrote a letter a few weeks ago to him so I wouldn't forget it all. And tonight I added some more. But I wanted to share some of the things he is into right now! And I am also totally copying off of my Due Date Club friend, Elisabeth, and making a list of the words he says. (What a great idea, Elisabeth!!)

We have fallen into a nice little routine of bath, brush teeth, fix a bok (bottle of milk), read some stories, sing a couple songs, and go to bed. He loves it and he LOVES to read!! He has a few favorite books right now. During the day, it's a "Trucks" book that has sliding panels. He brings it to us to read, and we do it, but it's more of a "What kind of truck is this?" book than a story book. At night time, hands down it's "Please, Baby, Please" by Spike Lee and Tonya Lee. Oh. my. goodness. The boy LOVES this book! And I'm glad because I do too!!! I bought it a few years ago for Ella and she quickly fell in love with it! It must just be super-appealing to kids, because now I can put as many books as I can find in front of our boy and he will ALWAYS choose "Please, Baby, Please," or as he says, "Baby, baby, baby!" There is a spread in the book that shows the baby pouring a bowl of cereal on her head and the words are "Not on your HEAD, baby, baby, please, baby!" And I would always rub Ella's head when I'd get to that part. And soon she would start rubbing it herself. Well, I did that to our boy a few times and now not only does he rub his own head when we get to the page, but tonight as soon as I finished reading the page before, he started rubbing his head! Tell me that's not smart! He also obeys when he's told to shut any door. And most of the time when he's told "No" although we are still working on that.

He is talking up a storm...he will mimick almost anything! Here are the words he can say...the first ones are in order of appearance, but that might not last for long. And I am sure I will leave something out!!

1. Mama/Mommy (I think he might've said Dada first...cannot remember)

2. Dada/Daddy/Gaggy (all what he calls Kaleb)

3. Baw (ball)

4. Pappy/bappy/boppy/poppy/pappiesss (paci)

5. Dawg-dawg (dog)

6. Bite (of food)

7. Juice

8. Ah-pa Juice (apple juice)

9. Bok (sippy cup)

10. Eh-wa (Ella)

11. Paw-paw (Kaleb's dad)

12. Ma-ma (He says this for "Mema," Kaleb's mom)

13. Nan-nan (Nan, my mom) (He will NOT say Bip, my dad!)

14. Kay-teee (Katie, my sister)

15. Teh-too (thank you)

16. Puppy

17. Battt (bath)

18. Ride-ride, or sometimes wide-wide (Ride. In the boat, in the golf cart, in the buggy, in the vehicle...the boy just wants to RIDE!)

19. Duck

20. Ta-tuh (tractor)

21. Eat

22. Buhk/Bik (book)

23. Baby

24. Tuck (truck)

25. Tuh-tur (Tucker, Kaleb's parents' dog)

26. Cheeeess (cheese)

27. Cookie

28. Poo-wee (like it's stinky)

29. Na-tee (nasty)

30. Hi!

31. Bye!

32. Heh-oh? (Hello, on the phone)

33. Ca-wi-back (Also, on the phone...we think this must be something like Call you right back?)

34. Peez (please, but not very often)

35. Hossie (horsie)

36. Wabbit (rabbit)

37. Wion (Lion)

38. Eyessss (He does this and then pokes you lightly in the eye=) )

39. Teeeeess (He doesn't have the "th" down yet. It's teeth)

40. Ice

41. Wain, wain, wain (rain, anytime it thunders or rains)

42. Awwww! (When he hugs his friends)

43. Shooss (Shoes)

44. Poo-poo (Gross, I know, but I'm listing 'em all!)

45. Tee-tee (Again, I know, I know!)

46. Nah-na (Nonna, his babysitter)

47. Guhbuhguhbuh (Yo Gabba Gabba, his very favorite TV show at the moment)

48. No, no, no (How could I forget this one??)

49. Yight (Light...he points out EVERY single light we see)

50. Wock-wock (rock rock, in the rocking chair)

51. Pish (Fish--real ones and Goldfish crackers)

52. Wow-wow (Round, round, for when he spins in circles and makes himself dizzy)

53. Aht-Aht-Aht (Hot, hot, hot)

54. Wing-wing (Swing, swing)

55. Pop-pop (Pop-Tart, tied with pancakes and waffles for his favorite breakfast food)

56. Mine!!!

I know I am leaving some out...hopefully I will actually update this when I think of them!! (Or when his grandparents remind me after they read this=) ) He also can point to his hair, ears, eyes, and nose when prompted. And belly. He lifts up his shirt for that one=) He loves flirting with waitresses in restaurants and then acting shy when they talk to him. He's quite the little flirt. He also yells "Hi!" to ladies when we pass them in the store. Unless they speak first, then he's all shy again. Silly boy!! He's started to act like his big sister and pretend to be a dog and sometimes a cat. He drops to all fours, crawls around, and does his impression of a bark or a meow. It is hilarious.

I almost forgot! Kamden also got his first haircut last weekend!! What a change that made in his little looks...the picture you see above is not what he looks like anymore! I will try to get some more pictures up soon.

I think that's enough for tonight. I really will try to do better!!! Oh, here's a picture of me and the other 4th grade teachers in our fabulous new shirts! Yay!

Our One Year Old!

Oh, that sounds so weird.

I have spent the majority of this day completing, "A year ago today..." statements. A year ago this morning, I looked like this:

Yikes!!!

A year ago around 2:14 (or 2:16? How bad is it that I don't remember?!?!?!) this afternoon we met this little guy for the first time!

A year ago rightthisveryminute I was feeding Kamden one last time before sending him to the nursery so we could get some rest for the night. I was tired. But I was the happiest woman alive...I was officially a MAMA!

And now, a year later, I sit here at my computer, with my sweet baby boy sleeping soundly across the hall, trying to figure out how in the world did we get here so fast? Has it really been a year since I looked into his eyes for the first time? Has it really been a whole year since our lives changed so completely? And has it only been a year that Kamden has been in my life? (Well, a year and 9 months, technically.) I am overcome with joy and gratitude that God decided to let Kaleb and I be Kamden's parents here on earth--that He chose to give us this tremendous, humbling opportunity to care for him and love him. He is perfect and healthy...and I don't know why God decided to give us such an amazing blessing in such a tiny baby (at the time ha!), but I am forever changed.

Kamden, our perfect, precious son,

We love you more than you can ever imagine. You bring us such joy, such happiness, such hope. When you smile at me, I feel like the most important person in the world. When you laugh, it is infectious. When your little face scrunches up and you squeeze your eyes as tight as they will go and try to muster some big, sad tears when we tell you "No," we might laugh for a minute...because you are so darn cute...but it also just breaks our hearts to think that we've hurt yours! You'll learn eventually that we don't let you eat paper or climb on the hearth for some really good reasons. But for now, we'll just have to keep watching you do your best to squeeze out some tears and work us over!

My sweet boy, I pray that you will grow up knowing how important it is that God is first in your life, and I know the only way that can happen is if we show you. So I pray that, while I know we will not always be the perfect parents, that we will be able to be examples of Christ's love for you and that we will never forget that God is the reason we have everything...each other, your amazing, sweet sister, our wonderful, loving families, our faithful friends, and you. I pray that He will continue to be in the middle of mine and your Daddy's relationship and in the very center of our family. I pray that He will keep you safe and well and keep all of us in His perfect will.

I love you so.very.much my sweet, precious boy.

Happy Birthday! And never, ever forget...I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be! Momma loves her little son!

P.S. I promise a much less sentimental post another day this week with birthday party pictures. Just feeling quite weepy and nostalgic tonight!

Almost a Year Old!

Things have been pretty busy around here! Most of my time on the computer has been swallowed up by my newfound hobby--creating invitations and announcements (and 1 business card and 1 t-shirt graphic) for a ton of people!! I made Kamden's birthday invitations and then a couple people needed help with theirs and that led to me creating a grand total of 8 birthday invitations, 1 graduation invitation, 6 birthday Thank Yous, and the 1 business card and the 1 t-shirt graphic. I am LOVING it!!! I would put up pictures but I am pretty sure that everyone who reads my blog is also my facebook friend=)

I opened up a shop on Etsy, but I haven't put anything in it yet...waiting until after Kam's birthday party this weekend. It is stressing me out just thinking about it!! I'll be baking 2 of the layers for his cake tomorrow evening, 2 Thursday, then my sister is coming to help me put it all together and decorate it on Friday, my parents are coming on Friday for the weekend...we have family coming from out of town and are expecting between 40-50 people at his party! I am so excited! I just want it to be the best ever!

Kamden still isn't walking...or really even showing any attempt to! He still sits down as soon as he realizes he is standing on his own. He discovered the stairs at his Mema & Pawpaw's house a few weeks ago and now that is ALL he wants to do when he gets to their house! He is pretty quick, too. But he dives headfirst to go down. He pretty much dives headfirst to get down from ANYTHING. Kaleb asked me the other day (as he was diving off the bed), "Do you think he realizes that we are the reason he doesn't hurt himself when he lunges off of stuff?" I sure hope so. His next statement was something to the effect of letting him fall one day to teach him not to do it. I am 97% sure he was kidding! Haha!!

Speaking of Kaleb...my sweet husband...yesterday he went grocery shopping with me (HUGE deal for me), and today he went to Beaumont after work to pick up Kam's birthday gift from us AND he went to Hobby Lobby AND Michael's looking for cake stuff for me!!! And last week he, out of the blue, ordered the cutest phone cover for me! Sigh...I really do have the world in this one here!!! I love him so!

So, Kam will be a year one in less than a week. I am trying not to think about it. Or about the fact that I'd planned to have him weaned by then...he only nurses about 3 times a day and gets 2 sippies of formula at his sitter's...I am trying to figure out what to do next. I know a lot of things say that he will wean himself when he's ready and he still climbs up, assumes "the position" and starts nuzzling me when it's time to nurse. I am not quite sure how I'm supposed to tell him no???

Oh, that's another thing. Before now, Kamden would only really cry, I mean all out, tears streaming down, cry, when he was in pain. Well, now he has added "hearing the word 'No'" to that trigger list. Man. He really enjoys throwing food on the floor after he's finished eating. We say no. Sternly. And he starts working on the tears...the mouth turns down first, he turns red, and then the tears come. Sometimes it takes him a bit to work them up, but he sure does it big!! What a mess.

He also can say "Mama," "Dada," "bah" for ball, and "Nah-nah" when he's hungry. He waves bye-bye and occasionally blesses the person being left with a quick "Bye!" We swear we've heard him say "Eh-wa" for Ella, but he won't do it on cue. He loves singing "The Wheels on the Bus." He slaps his hands on top of one another when we sing it to him (his Nonna (his sitter) taught him that one!) and yesterday he actually did "Deep and Wide" for me! Well...he did the deep part. I was proud! This weekend we also discovered that he can catch a ball! I kind of flipped out when I saw it. I wish I would've recorded it!

He refuses all forms of baby food as well as food that's hotter than lukewarm. He loves fruit (oranges, peaches, and strawberries are his favorite) and his sitter tells me he loves veggies, too! He is a big fan of grilled cheese and loves brisket. When given a choice, he's chosen red meat over any other option at the time. He still loves his yogurt, goldfish, and animal crackers.

He gives big, wet, mouth-wide-open sugars when we ask for them most of the time. However, if he's holding any inanimate object (a stuffed animal, a picture, a pan) he will give it sugars every single time! And he kisses himself when he sees his reflection in a mirror. Tonight he also started giving me eskimo kisses...he doesn't quite grasp them yet, I don't think, because when I try to go nose-to-nose he just opens his mouth wider. Ha!

He's gotten so good at putting himself to sleep. We'd fallen back into the habit of rocking him to sleep, and we wanted to be sure to nip that again, and the last few nights he's gone down without any fuss. Tonight he talked for a while, but not in a whine or anything. I think he was probably saying his prayers.

I know this has been long, and it's basically been all about Kamden, but it's mainly for my records.

I have an Ella story! No picture of it because we haven't seen her since it happened...she cut her hair. I mean she cut her hair. It is short. I mean short. She'd been saying she wanted a haircut and her mom made her an appointment...but our girl is more of a proactive person, a "right now" kinda gal, so she took matters into her own hands. I promise I'll post pics of it after the birthday weekend!

(Pre-hair cut!)

We went up to see her weekend before last and were able to take her to Hodges Gardens...she pretended to be our hiking leader. She did a great job!

This is a picture of my dad and Kamden. Somewhere there is a picture of my Pappaw holding my dad on that same piece of petrified wood (which you cannot see, but trust me, my dad is sitting on it!) at Hodges a lllooooonnnngggg time ago. My goal: find that picture!!! Either way, this one is adorbs!

I think that'll do it for this update. I will (hopefully) be back after this fun-filled weekend!!

Spring Break #2: Ella's Home!!!

Ella's home!!!

That's the most important thing I have to tell you about this weekend=) Here's a rundown, though. Friday after work we loaded up and headed to Many via Jasper, where we got to meet up with the Williamses for a long overdue dinner!! It was so great to catch up with them! After a delicious Mexican dinner, we made it to Many around 10 or so Friday night. Saturday morning we got up and had breakfast with my family...

then headed out to get Ella!! We weren't the only ones excited to see her...

Kamden was watching out the door for her to arrive! It was the cutest thing!

We spent the day in Many on Saturday and then headed back home to Bridge City for the week. This morning, we went to church then came home for some lovely outside time! It was a BEAUTIFUL day!! This evening, Ella helped feed Kamden...

And entertain him...

With Pat-a-Cake...

And Peek-a-Boo!

He loves his sister so...and so do we!!

I cannot tell you how wonderful and complete it feels to have her back with us for a bit!! Just wish it could be longer! This is my last week before my Spring Break, and usually I'm wishing the weeks away until it's here. But if I wish this week away, it means Ella's week with us will be up...so I am all for dragging this week out as long as we can!! Hopefully we can make it a good one!

Spring Break #1

Friday evening, our friend/pastor Mark came over with his boys (we missed you, Lauren!!) to hang out while Kaleb did some work on his golf clubs. Now, the Snodgrass boys are 3 and 4 months, and Kamden was very much in awe of Paul, the 3 year old (after he investigated Luke, the 4 month old, and attempted to give him the initial head swat that he gives everyone he comes into contact with). So when Paul went to play in Ella's room, Kam followed closely behind.

A sidenote to say that Kamden loves Ella's room. We keep the door shut most of the time, so when he can get in, it's like a whole new world for him. She has this easel with dry erase markers, chalk, and watercolor paint. He's tried to taste the paints before, so last time he was in there I got smart and moved them out of his reach.

Fast forward to last Friday night...when Kaleb comes out of Ella's room holding Kamden and saying, "Hey, Jenni...are watercolors nontoxic?"

The kid is still here and never got sick, so I am going to go with a yes on that. Our boy...is there anything he won't eat?? (FYI, the answer is yes...and it involves most baby food right now.)

Saturday Kam & I stayed home while Daddy went to play golf...Kam got his special weekend breakfast of a pancake...

and cereal with blueberry applesauce. I say it's special...but really if the boy wants a pancake, the boy gets a pancake!

This week, the school district that Kamden's sitter lives in was on Spring Break, so she took the week off, too. It also happened to be Kam's Nan's (my mom) and Aunt Clair's Spring Breaks as well! So my mom came down Sunday afternoon and stayed through Wednesday evening! I know she had the best time keeping Kam...and I really enjoyed having her down here!! It really made me realize how much I miss my family and made me a little sad to know that we can't do things like that more often. But....such is life, right? So, Nan went back to Many on Wednesday and today Aunt Clair and Mema (Kaleb's mom) kept him. He hasn't been spoiled at all this week!!! He got to play outside all day today, and I hear he is quite the gardener! Ha!! Aunt Clair will be keeping him again tomorrow, then we will be off to Many for the night so that we can get Ella tomorrow!!! Because next week is Spring Break #2 for our house! I'm not off until next week, but Kaleb's taking off Monday to have a Daddy/Daughter Day with Ella, and then he will keep Kam for a couple hours in the morning the rest of the week until his mom can come to keep the kids. They are going to have so much fun!! I wish I could take off some, but I am way out of days at school...I've already been docked for 3.5 days, so I'm trying to save anything else for emergencies! After this week, we start our final week of Spring Break...mine! So Kam will be out of the sitter's for 3 weeks!!! He'll go on Monday of this next week and one day during my week off so I can get some errands run, but other than that he is in full family mode. And I think he loves it. Ha!! I know that he loves his Nonna (sitter), too, though! Hopefully he will do just fine when he goes back at the end of the month.

That's about it for tonight...I am worn slap out! Hopefully I will be back with a post after this weekend, finally with some pics of our sweet girl again!!! I cannot wait for this next week with her!!!

Oh, one last picture...did you know that Kamden loves to empty entire packages of anything he can get his little hands on? And then attempt to eat whatever he empties out? Yes, even diapers. Hey, at least they're clean ones!

10 Months Old!

Believe it or not, our sweet boy is 10 months old today!

That means that in 2 more months he will be a year old!!! Everyone says how quickly time flies and how fast little ones grow up...and even as much as I try to squeeze every ounce out of each day with him, I am still sitting here shaking my head, trying to figure out how in the world we are at 10 months already.

This week, Kam's decided he's not such a big fan of baby food anymore. He's ready to eat our food. All of it. Any time anything is being put into our mouths, here he comes, licking his chops and pleading with his eyes (and his little whimper). Tonight he was able to coax some Crescent Chicken Pot Pie out of his daddy and some WW Giant Fudge Bar out of me. After a whole cup of diced peaches and an attempt at baby food. We also learned that while he usually loves loud noises (i.e. the vaccuum cleaner, hair dryer, etc.) he is not a fan of the lawn mower. Kaleb tried to take him for a ride on it this afternoon and it didn't go so well. He'll have to learn to love that one! He's also started giving sugars on the lips, but only when he feels like it. Apparently, Sock Monkey deserved some love this afternoon!

Happy 10 Months, my sweet baby boy! I love you so very much and I thank God daily for allowing me to help raise you here! You are such a blessing in our lives. Your smiles melt my heart, and hearing you say "Ma-ma" makes me prouder than I've ever been before. I love you, I love you, I love you!

3 Years and a Fat Lip Later...

Three years ago today, that was me, minutes before I became Mrs. Kaleb Breaux!!! Can you feel my excitement? If you would've asked me then, I would've sworn to you that there was no way I could ever be happier than I was at that very moment.

But I am! I am happier, more fulfilled, and more in love with my sweet husband than ever before!! On one hand, I feel like there is no way it's been 3 years already since we walked down the aisle. I still get giddy just thinking about being able to say that he is my husband!!! On the other hand, I'm shaking my head in disbelief that it's only been 3 years...I feel like we've been together for much longer than that...I cannot imagine life without Kaleb, and find it hard to remember what life was like before. I do know that I love him more today than I ever have...and that I am so very blessed that God has given me the most amazing husband in the world! He is absolutely perfect for me, and I truly am The Luckiest!!

In honor of our 3 year anniversary, some awesome things happened! I got the most beautiful bouquet of roses at school today!! I just love getting flowers...and getting them at school is even better!!

Also at school, I got a new computer!!! Well, newer...new to me...and it is awesome!!!

And lastly, in honor of our anniversary, Kamden decided to be a little dare devil and push his Tonka walker at full speed through the kitchen...sideways...and then the groove between the tile of the kitchen and the wood laminate of the living room stopped the truck...but not Kamden. Our sweet boy went over the truck and came up screaming and bleeding. I won't lie...I freaked out. My calm, level-headed husband kept his cool and helped me get myself together so we could comfort Kam. There was a lot of blood...I was so scared he'd knocked a tooth out or something. But he just busted his top lip. And he busted it good. My poor baby. Nothing would soothe him except nursing...that definitely did the trick! He calmed down immediately, and then wanted his paci (which I thought would definitely be out of the question). He let us eat our supper and then happily played during his bath and post-bath minutes-of-freedom like nothing had happened. I mean, he can't see that his top lip looks like his mama was Angelina Jolie instead of me. =)

So, minus that little mishap, today has been just great! And the week is almost over! Saturday night, Kaleb's parents are watching Kamden so that we can have a Valentine's Day/Anniversary date!! We will definitely do dinner and we are trying to figure out if we can squeeze a movie in there, too. We shall see!!

Also, hopefully I will be able to get a 10 month picture and post up of Kam-man tomorrow...cannot believe it's time for that already!

Lastly, but definitely not least, please say a prayer for our sweet Ella Claire! Her mom told us today that she's got that dreaded stomach bug that's seemed to hit just about everyone lately. We are praying that she gets over it quickly! I am sure she is miserable, and I hate that we can't be there for her!!

That's it for tonight, folks...until next time!